The Second Annual Iteration of the Fremont Freeze Preseason Tournament takes place this weekend Oct. 25-27 in Fremont as well as Omaha.

The tournament, featuring 24 teams (ten 10U, nine 12U and five 14U this season includes Fremont Black and White teams from 10U and 12U as well as 20 teams from Omaha Hockey Club, including a Lady Lancers team.

“This idea last summer of starting the year with a preseason tournament was a product of Fremont’s Angie Wyle, who saw there was available ice early, as well as collaboration with then Omaha House Director Jeremy Gutierrez,” said Fremont Ice Association's House Director Jason Buzzell. “Giving kids the opportunities to play two or more games before November is huge and kudos to Omaha Ice Scheduler Chris Hoekstra and now House Director Chris Marshall for working together this year to make it happen again.”

Most of the games will take place Saturday and Sunday at Sidner Ice Arena, as well as several at Moylan Ice Plex. The bantam division will take place at Motto McLean.

“At the end of the day we are playing games, which is the win,” Buzzell said. “Yes, we will have wins and losses on the scoreboard, but more importantly everyone is getting multiple games to get on the ice and have fun.

That's what it’s all about this time of year.”

The Fremont Ice Association, now operated by SETT LLC will continue to grow the Fremont Freeze Tournament in the coming years. Nov. 9-11 will also mark another full weekend of youth games and the Annual Fremont Cherry Picker will take place in January. It’s estimated weekends like this bring the Fremont and area, hundreds in visitors, as well as thousands of dollars in restaurant, hotel and other revenue. ​​​​