Hosts Avon Grove HS tonight
Upland’s Elmo Simpanen works the puck out against Greenwich during recent tournament play.
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Upland Country Day hosted and competed in the 39th Annual Boys’ Invitational Ice Hockey Tournament at the John M. Cleveland Rink on campus on Jan. 19 & 20th. Upland’s tournament is the oldest junior school ice hockey tournament in North America, and is believed to be the longest running junior school tournament in any sport.
Teams competing this year were Upland County Day School (Kennett Square, PA); Greenwich Country Day School (Greenwich, CT); New Canaan Country School (New Canaan, CT); The Rectory School (Pomfret, CT); and The Rumsey Hall School (Washington Depot, CT).
The 60 players participating from out of state were hosted at the homes of Upland families. Upland played four strong games in the tournament defeating Greenwich Country Day 2 – 0 and New Canaan Country Day 1 – 0, losing to Rumsey Hall 0 – 3 and tying the eventual tournament winner, The Rectory School 3 – 3. Upland took third place in the tournament. Upland MVPs for the weekend were top scorer Elmo Simpanen, defenseman Sam Schluter and goalie Ryan Snowden.
Each year, the Upland tournament plays host to competitive hockey played between well-coached, disciplined teams with similar program philosophies of developing student-athletes to compete academically and athletically at the next level. More notably, many tournament participants – even those who have gone on to play in high-level prep school and NCAA programs – consider the tournament one of their most memorable athletic experiences.
Next up, Upland Varsity hosts Avon Grove High School tonight at the rink at 6:15 p.m. The Upland Girls’ Invitational Hockey Tournament is Feb. 1 & 2 also at the Upland Rink.
