The University of Montana's Montana Grizzlies Hurling Team are the reigning National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association hurling champions of America, and the team will be defending their title on home ground in the Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, over Memorial Day Weekend (May 23 - 24, 2015). Make sure you come out to support your local Griz champions!

WHAT: 5th Annual National Collegiate Hurling Championship where the Montana Grizzlies Hurling Team will defend their title as NCGAA National Hurling Champions on home turf
WHERE: Washington-Grizzly Stadium, Missoula, Montana
WHEN: Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2015
WHAT TIME: Gates open at 10.00am both days, games start at 11.00am and continue until approximately 5.00pm
ADMISSION: Kids 12 and under go free, $10 for adults per day or $15 for two days, $5 for young adults between the ages of 13 and 17

Hurling - or iomaint in Irish - is the national sport of Ireland, and can be best described as a mix of lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball. Said to be the fastest game on grass, it is quite the sporting mix and the Montana Grizzly hurlers have flourished since the foundation of the club in September 2013.

The UM hurlers participated in the National Collegiate Gaelic Athletic Association (NCGAA) Hurling Championship for the first time in Gaelic Park, New York, in May 2014 - less than a year after the club was founded - and they beat the other seven American hurling teams contesting the championship to bring the title back west to Missoula.

And only weeks after beating hurling teams from Canada and Oregon in the international Cascade League McEneaney Cup for the second consecutive year earlier last month, the Montana Grizzlies Hurling Team are now hosting the fifth annual NCGAA Championship in Missoula over Memorial Day Weekend. This national hurling event promises to be an extra special tournament as the local champions are intent on becoming the first club to win the National title back-to-back, and better yet, they intend to do it on home turf!

The Montana Grizzly champions will take on teams from across the United States including the University of California, Berkeley Hurling Club; Stanford University Hurling Club; Indiana University Hurling Club - Purdue University hurlers; and the University of Connecticut's Husky Hurling Team.

Sponsored by local Missoula business KettleHouse Brewing Company of Cold Smoke ® Scotch Ale fame, admission to the 2015 NCGAA Hurling Championship games will cost $10 per day for adults to see between six and seven games in the Washington-Grizzly Stadium; $15 for a two-day pass; and $5 for young adults between the ages of 13 and 17, while children 12 and under go free. Gates open at 10.00am both days, and the first games will kick off at 11am on Saturday, May 23, 2015, and finish at 5pm, while the finals will also be held from 11.00am - 5.00pm on Sunday, May 24, 2015. Dinner will be provided in St. Anthony's Parish Life Center at 217 Tremont Street, Missoula, at 6.30pm after the matches on Saturday; entrance is $5 for players and $10 per person for anyone else who wants to join.

Donations to support the future development of the University of Montana's hurling club will be welcome on the day, and cheques can be made out to Montana Grizzlies Hurling. The Grizzly hurlers are also starting local hurling camps for young people this summer; for more information, see the Montana Grizzlies Hurling Team Facebook page at www.facebook.com/montanagrizzlieshurling

Be there to cheer on the Griz champions to another national title - Griz abu!

MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/montanagrizzlieshurling
TWITTER: @GrizHurlers
EMAIL: grizzlyhurling@gmail.com