Headline       July Brings Hockey back to Northern Lights Arena. 

Alpena, MI, June 22nd, 2010 — Northern Lights Arena announces its July Summer Showcase tournaments for 2010.  Kicking things off will be The Memorial, July 16^th – 18^th, a tournament that honors the memory of four area youth, all involved in hockey, who were tragically taken from this earth too soon.  They are Kristyn Diemond, Brandon Fisher, Bradley Hilberg and Kevin Kadrich.  The games begin Friday July 16^th at 3:00 pm and continue through the weekend until the championship game on Sunday afternoon.  Included in this year’s competition will be two Alpena teams as well as Utica-Eisenhower, Macomb-Dakota, Walled Lake Northern, Cheboygan, Lowell-Caledonia, Lincoln-Milan and L’Anse Creuse North.  “We expect some great games this year!” said Arena Event’s Coordinator Bridge Wertz.  “I’m always amazed at how ready the kids are for hockey while everyone else is outside they are in here just a skating away.”  “We see some great competition.” She added.

The action continues July 23^rd – 25^th with The Bill Gohlke Memorial.  Bill Gohlke was a long-standing supporter of all youth sports but especially hockey.  He believed strongly in Alpena’s “Hockey Heritage” and was always happy to help take care of the “little things” that every team needed done.  He served many teams in numerous capacities including, but certainly not limited to, Assistant Coach, Travel Coordinator, Scheduler, Team Dad, Social Organizer, President of the Alpena Wildcat Blue Line Club, etc.  Bill died suddenly in 2002 as the result of a freak accident at his hunting camp.  The outpouring of support and donations at that time from his friends and the entire hockey community was overwhelming and his family in turn donated those funds to the Multi-Purpose Arena Coalition to be used for construction costs at Northern Lights Arena.  In recognition of Bill’s past contributions as well as his family’s generosity, NLA decided to name the first summer hockey tournament ever held in Alpena The Bill Gohlke Memorial.  This years line up includes some powerhouse teams including Brother Rice, Orchard lake, Birmingham Unified, Marquette, Sault Ste Marie, Royal Oak, Flint Powers, Pinckney and two Alpena teams.  “For July, and the guys really just getting started skating together, this is some great hockey.” Arena Manager Jeff Gilmet stated.  “Last year we were treated to some great battles, and the field is stronger this year with the addition of Royal Oak.” He added. 

Games start at 3:00 pm on Friday and continue through the weekend.  Daily tickets are just $2.00 and a weekend pass is only $5.00.  For more information, or to volunteer, please call Bridge at 356-1878.