Ice Wars signs with FITE
March 31, 2022
FITE and Hockey Enforcers USA, a live sporting events and production company, have announced an exclusive agreement to stream Ice Wars International’s first event via Pay-Per-View.
Ice Wars is a new combat sport described as prize fighting on ice – taking an age-old part of the game many fans love and making it the main event. Ice Wars’ first event, an 8-man King of the Rink tournament, will be presented live from River Cree Casino in Edmonton, Canada on FITE on May 21st.
The first Battle of the Hockey Enforcers event was staged in British Columbia in 2006, to a postitive response from fans. Now, the event’s original organizer, Charlie Nama, has partnered with Ice Wars International head A.J. Galante to produce the first televised Ice Wars. Galante, a boxing manager and promoter, is the former manager of the Danbury Trashers hockey team which was chronicled in a recent Netflix documentary, Untold: Crimes and Penalties. Galante unveiled details of Ice Wars in an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on March 29th.
The agreement between FITE and Hockey Enforcers was brokered by the distribution division of L.A.-based Get Me Out Productions, led by Scott Emmer.
“Ice Wars will not just be one and done,” said Ice Wars International President A.J. Galante. “We’re creating a new combat sport. We are willing to take risks and try innovative ideas, and we will be listening to fans on what’s most important to them. We are a sport, but more importantly, we are entertainment.”
“Even in an era where FITE brought fans Slap Fighting and Pillow Fighting, they still aren’t ready for how intense this action is, with the added danger that it takes place on ice,” added Michael Weber, COO of FITE. “We’re always looking for sports that take a new approach but are based in real disciplines and traditions – the way Ice Wars is based on something at the core of hockey fits surprisingly well. We can’t wait to present Ice Wars to the world on FITE.”
Ice Wars judges are made up of retired pro hockey players– all with tough reputations as enforcers. They include Frank Mark “The Animal” Bialowas, who has played with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and is a Philadelphia Phantoms’ Hall of Famer; Brad Wingfield who has played with teams across Canada and the U.S.; and Jon “Nasty” Mirasty, who has played in several Canadian leagues and is now acting in the upcoming Canadian TV show Shorsey.