Butler County to Host All-Girls Thanksgiving Classic At UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex

BUTLER, Pa. - Nov. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- The Pittsburgh Penguins Elite, a local Pittsburgh hockey organization, is hosting the 11^th annual Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving Classic at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, November 25^th – 27^th. Over 70 all-female teams from the United States, Ontario and British Columbia will be traveling to Butler County to compete in the hockey tournament the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Using USA Hockey's ranking system, the Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving Classic is played on the Tier 1 and Tier 2 levels with U10 to U19 player age divisions. Games will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, November 25^th at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, RMU Island Sports Center and the Baierl Ice Complex. College scouts are expected to be in attendance.

Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau will be launching their concierge services at the tournament. Guests traveling to Butler County can receive guidance on where to stay, eat and experience the county. The booth will be set up near the store inside UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

"The Thanksgiving Classic gives our girls a chance to play their sport at home," said Kathy Pippy, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Director of Business Operations. "There aren't a lot of local teams, which means we travel a lot, so this tournament is a great opportunity for the girls to play in front of their family and friends and college scouts in their hometown."

In 1990, only 6,336 women were registered with USA Hockey. Today, that number has grown to over 65,000 female athletes. The Pittsburgh Girls Thanksgiving Classic represents the growth of women's hockey and serves as a way to showcase the talent of elite women hockey players locally and beyond.

Following the Thanksgiving Classic, Pittsburgh Penguins Elite is also hosting the Mid-Winter Classic at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, RMU and the Baierl Ice Complex December 16^th – 18^th. The tournament will host over 50 teams that will travel from all over the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit https://www.pittsburghpenguinselite.com.