Martin Luther King tournament kicks off All-Star festivities

OYHA Hosts 50 Teams at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den and Amway Center

Orlando, Fla. - The festivities for the 2015 CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic presented by Visit Orlando begin on Friday afternoon as the Orlando Youth Hockey Association (OYHA) hosts a four-day, 50-team tournament at the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den and Amway Center.

"We have a sold out tournament at our home rink with teams from the U.S. and  Canada," said OYHA President Louis Dipaolo. "It's a great experience for our families and players, and to be linked with the ECHL All-Star Classic provides another tremendous benefit. The turnout we have seen this year will help promote the game in Central Florida while providing scholarships that help reduce the cost of hockey for everyone."

The tournament begins on Friday, with the first teams taking the ice at 5:00 p.m. Over 100 games featuring 750 players from ages eight to 18 will be played by the time the championships are awarded by Solar Bears players on Monday, January 19. For the full schedule, click here.

Teams competing in the tournament come from all over the United States and Canada. States represented in the tournament include Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, while teams from the provinces of Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Ontario join from Canada. This year's MLK Tournament is the largest in OYHA history and features the most out-of-state and Canadian teams of any OYHA tourney.

Many of the players participating in the MLK Tournament will also be participating in the Youth Street Hockey All-Star Game during Tuesday's All-Star FanFest presented by Walgreens (Jan. 20) and during opening ceremonies for Wednesday's All-Star Game (Jan. 21).

Select games are broadcast on DSPN Live, bringing all the action directly to your home. The full broadcast schedule is available here.

To purchase tickets for the All-Star Classic please CLICK HERE. To purchase tickets for the Madeline Smith Concert please contact the Orlando Solar Bears at 407-951-8200. The Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit at The Ballroom at Church Street, the Stanley Cup display at Amway Center, and the Hall of Fame Luncheon at DoubleTree Downtown are sold out.

Full and Half Season tickets are on sale now for the 2014-15 All-Star Season. Call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200 or visit OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com for more information.

Orlando Solar Bears Single Game Tickets for the regular season are on sale now! Click here to purchase tickets.

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following ShadestheSolarBear.

Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on discounted group tickets and a list of group benefits, call 407-951-8200 or visit www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at:   http://store.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/

Since beginning operations in November of 2011, the Solar Bears and their fans have helped raise over $900,000 for the Central Florida community. To read the Solar Bears Report to the Community, click here.