SLP’s Harper Strack, center, faces off with Beekmantown’s Janna Ruest during a game on Dec. 12 at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

SARANAC LAKE — Multiple girls varsity hockey teams from around the state will compete in the Sara-Placid Tournament at the Saranac Lake Civic Center starting on Dec. 28.

The Saranac Lake Placid girls hockey team will face off against the Ithaca Little Red at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28. The Beekmantown Eagles and the Canton Golden Bears will play in the other match at 4 p.m. on Dec. 28.

The following day, the two winning teams will play in the championship contest at 1 p.m. There will also be a consolation match between the other two squads at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 29.

The Sara-Placid tournament has been going on for a while, according to SLP girls head coach Butch Martin.

“We’ve always had a nice Christmas tournament. It’s the first time back in Saranac Lake in three years,” he said.

SLP’s Kendra Levitt makes a play on the puck during a game against Beekmantown on Dec. 12 at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. (News photo — Parker O’Brien)

The tournament was held in Lake Placid last season. The two years prior, it was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The SLP girls team will head into the holiday tournament with a 1-6-1 record. SLP’s sole win came on Sunday, Dec. 17 against East Green Wave at the Ameri-Can North Sports Center in Plattsburgh with a 2-1 victory.

This will be the second tournament that SLP has played this season. The team previously competed in a tournament at the Cerow Recreation Park in Clayton on Dec. 8 and 9. The team lost both of its contests to Oswego and Alexandria Bay.

“Since that tournament, we have played pretty well most of the time,” Martin said. “I think when we don’t play well, we recognize that and try to correct it for the next time we’re out here or the next situation. We’ve gradually got better and improved our position, so when we go out on the ice now, we’re a little more confident because we know we have a chance to win. But it’s not going to be handed to us. It’s going to take some work and we’re going to have to score some goals and defend hard.”

Ithaca, which plays in Section III, is 3-2 this season. The Little Red topped Clinton, Oswego and Webster Schroeder. Both of the team’s losses were against Skaneateles.

“Ithaca didn’t even have a team for the last couple of years because COVID shook them off track,” Martin said. “They’re back on and I think they have some young players like we do.”

The Beekmantown Eagles, of Section VII, are 6-1, having won five straight games — including a 4-0 defeat over SLP. The Eagle’s lone loss was to Section II’s Adirondack United.

Canton, of Section X, is currently 4-2. The Golden Bears defeated SLP, Potsdam, Alexandria Bay and Massena. The team suffered losses to Adirondack United and Oswego.

“It’s a good variety. We have two Section VII teams, a X and a III,” Martin said. “Beekmantown is always a rivalry and Canton is too. For some reason, we face off with them pretty good.”