Construction will not delay the Johnstown Tomahawks from taking the ice in September as the team is prepared to take hockey across the Alleghenies.

Starting September 2, the Tomahawks will kick off a three-day “community tour” of three local cities. The team will play pre-season games in Greensburg (Sept. 2), Indiana (Sept. 3) and Ebensburg (Sept. 4) in the final tune-up before the team hits the road to to start the 2016-17 season.

Last season, the Tomahawks met with fierce-rival, Aston, at the Kirk S. Nevin Arena in Greensburg for a pre-season hockey game. The game was held in partnership with the Westmoreland Hockey Association, headquartered at Nevin Arena.

The program has sent numerous players to Division I including Army, Notre Dame and Robert Morris. The WHA is part of the Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey League (PAHL) with age groups ranging from Mites to Midgets and skill levels from beginners to advanced.

Additionally, current Tomahawks forward Dalton Hunter, a Greensburg native, suited up for Greater Latrobe High School under the direction of current WHA 18U coach John Winebrenner.

Friday, Sept. 2, the partnership will continue when the Tomahawks host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at 7:00 p.m.

“The WHA enjoyed hosting the Tomahawks last season and the game was one of the highlights of the season for many of our younger players,” WHA vice president Jason Sloan said. “It enabled them to see a high level of hockey on the same ice they use. The game also reignited the WHA program and some pride among the families and it allowed us to grow and add additional events such as a Halloween and Holiday party for the kids. It allowed us, as a smaller PAHL program, to provide something new and different that few other programs can. It has helped to bring in a number of new players for this season.”

The upcoming game will once again act as another for both the Tomahawks and the WHA to grow the game in the Greensburg area.

Sloan added that the WHA is excited to host another NAHL preseason game.

“Just like last season, we are extremely excited to see the Tomahawks on the ice at Kirk Nevin Arena,” Sloan said. “We hope this seasons game will continue to bring both organizations into the public eye and grow the greatest game on earth. It has been a phenomenal partnership that WHA hopes to continue for years to come.”

Tickets are now available for all three pre-season games. All tickets are $5 with proceeds benefiting local youth hockey organizations.

To order tickets, click here.

More information on the WHA

WHA has an in-house/learn to play program for both boys and girls on Saturday nights, a mite program, and 11 teams from squirt to midget including a girls 19U team. All teams play in PAHL. We host the Little Pens program January through March as well. WHA has the annual Laurel Tournament and 2016/17 will be the 46th year we have done so. We also have three Try Hockey for Free Days including October 8 for girls only. All information can be found on our website http://pahleagles.pointstreaksites.com/view/pahleagles or on Facebook @Westmoreland Hockey Association