This festival is named in honor of Roy Austin III, nicknamed, “ Peanut” to all who knew him. Roy was a hard working individual with a huge heart, devoted friends, and a loving family. He worked part-time for the City of Rome, assigned to the Parks Department and his job included upkeep of Kennedy Arena. He was well known for keeping our bleachers, locker rooms, and warm up room spotless and loved cheering on the players and coaches of the Rome Youth Hockey Association, particularly those playing at the Mite level. Roy’s time with us was short, as he unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 36 years old.

His heart stopped beating, but his memory and spirit is kept alive through the Roy H. Austin III Memorial Fund, which was established in 1997 by the Austin Family and Committee. The Rome Youth Hockey Association is grateful and honored that the Austin family continues to play a valuable role in the youth of the community. The Austin family was instrumental in the “Think Rink Renovation Project”, donating $20,000 exclusively for the naming rights of the beautiful warming room that Roy so genuinely cared for and maintained.

We hope you will come and participate in this spectacular event. There are three divisions:  Upper Mite Red, Middle White and finally the Blue division.  The Mite Red division fee is $600, the White division the fee is $500 and the Blue division being $400. If your Association sends teams from multiple divisions, $25 will be deducted from each team’s entry fee. The festival is a family oriented event.  All participants will receive a “goodie bag”.