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Volume 38 Issue 6
November 21, 2000

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First Olympic test event hits Provo

BY JEFFREY BLACKMUN
U-WIRE
Submitted November 21, 2000

PROVO, Utah — The flags of four nations hang on University Avenue in honor of Olympic ice hockey teams competing at The Peaks Ice Arena this week.

Finland, Sweden, Canada and the U.S. are competing for the Women’s Four Nations Cup as part of the first 2002 Winter Olympic test events. The event began Tuesday, Nov. 7.

"This is our Olympic test event," said Ben Edgson, the Peaks hockey director. "We’ll be able to test and make sure everything is in correct operation for the Olympics."

The Peaks Ice Arena will host men and women hockey events during the 2002 Winter Olympic games.

"It’s very exciting to be hosting them and we hope they have a good experience here," Edgson said.

This week’s event is designed to simulate an Olympic atmosphere to effectively test the facility and its personnel. Among the many things being tested are security, access control, concessions, ice maintenance, volunteers and all the other details that go into hosting the Olympics, Edgson said.

"Hopefully everything will go well and the other test events will learn from any of our mistakes," Edgson said.

Aside from being the first venue test event for the 2002 Olympics, the Women’s Four Nations Cup will also provide an opportunity for local citizens to learn about and enjoy the game of hockey.

"This is exciting for Provo and Utah," Edgson said. "This is what we need in the community to promote the game of hockey."

As part of the event, coaches from the four national teams will hold a clinic and give tips to local hockey coaches, said Mark Martinez, a Provo IceCats player and Springville High School hockey coach.

"Its exciting that a small town like Provo gets to host some big time hockey," Martinez said. "These women are the best of the best."

Tickets can be purchased for the four-day event through the BYU ticket office. 

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