Some of the top young ice hockey players in the world will be getting their skates on in Belfast later this year for a major international tournament.

The Odyssey Trust has agreed to host the tournament involving four top college teams from Boston, Belfast's US sister city.

The event will take place during the US bank holiday Thanksgiving weekend, from November 27 to 29.

Tickets will be distributed free of charge to 12,000 young people across the city.

Belfast City Council heard last night that more than $200,000 has already been raised by the Boston Lord Mayor's Office to cover the cost of bring the teams to Belfast.

The Odyssey Arena management has estimated that the cost of staging the event will be £227,000.

It has asked the council to contribute £40,000 towards it, alongside contributions from Tourism NI, DCAL and Invest NI.

Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson is set to travel to Boston in two weeks' time to jointly launch the event with the Mayor of Boston.

The launch will be part of the Frozen Four event and held in front of 18,500 people.

It gets national coverage in both the US and Canada.

The council last night approved the event, and agreed to send the Lord Mayor to represent the city.

Sinn Fein councillor Niall O Donnghaile hailed the event as good news for Belfast.

Belfast Telegraph