The 16th annual National Invitational Scholastic Showcase begins today and runs through Sunday at Northwest Arena.

The goal of the event is to gather the top hockey teams from across the United States and Canada under one format to compete for the Governor’s Cup.

The field for this year’s tournament includes the Jamestown Lakers, Western New York Hockey League; the Bethel Park Blackhawks, Pittsburgh, Class AAA champions; St. Francis Red Raiders, New York state champions and 20006 NISS Governor’s Cup champions; Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pennsylvania, three-time Pennsylvania champions and NISS Governor’s Cup champions; Culver Academy Eagles, Indiana, 2019 and 28-time Indiana state champions; Glenbrook South Titans, Chicago, two-time Illinois Balckhawk Cup Red State champions and 2022 Hoosier Cup champions; Holy Ghost Prep Firebirds, Bensalem, Pennsylvania, 2015 Pennsylvania Class AAA champions and five-time NISS Governor’s Cup champions; Meadville Bulldogs, Meadville, Pennsylvania, eight-time Pennsylvania champions; Medina Bees, Cleveland, 2022 Ohio Club finalists; North Allegheny Tigers, Wexford, Pennsylvania, two-time Pennsylvania AAA champions; Ontario Hockey Academy, Cornwall, Onatrio, three-time NISS Governor’s Cup champions; Peters Township Indians, McMurray, Pennsylvania, six-time Pennsyslvania AAA and AA champions; St. Edwards Eagles, Cleveland, 11-time Ohio state champions; St. Ignatius Wildcats, Cleveland, six-time Ohio state champions; St. Joseph’s Collegiate Prep Marauders, Buffalo, 12-time New York state champions; and University School, Huntingdon Valley, Ohio, 2012 Ohio state champions.

Preliminary-round action — played on both rinks at Northwest Arena — starts at 1:30 p.m. today with the final game of the day beginning at 8:30 p.m. Preliminary-round play continues at 8 a.m. Saturday, with the final game of the day beginning at 8:45 p.m. The medal round is scheduled for Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. on Rink 1 and Rink 2 respectively. The final is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday on Rink 1.

The tournament director is Jeff Mauro.