Team Mexico coming to Saginaw in September

The Mexican National Hockey Team will come to Saginaw in September to participate in a four-team exhibition tournament at the Dow Event Center.

The event is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 15-16 and will feature the Saginaw Spirit, Plymouth Whalers and Erie Otters. The Mexican team is also tentatively scheduled to play the Northwood University club team at the Midland Civic Arena on Sept. 14.

This tournament is the result of the ongoing efforts of local video producer Ricardo Verdoni to find what he called "the elusive Mexican hockey player." Verdoni went to Mexico in June of 2005 and discovered a whole team that competes internationally through the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Verdoni and Spirit coach-GM Bob Mancini extended an invitation to the Mexican National Team and Mexico’s head coach Joaquin de la Garma accepted.

The tournament also coincides with Michigan Hispanic Heritage Month.

For more information on the Mexican National Hockey Team, visit www.mexicohockey.com.