Ek' Note: A HUGE "Thank you" to Hurling Frootmig who sent this in today...This is a tournament that I absolutely must attend next year. This is what it is all about. This is hockey to me. You must check out the photo below that shows the 20 rinks on one enormous frozen pond.
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For those of us who grew up in northern climates, our fondest memories of hockey came from playing pickup hockey from dawn until dusk on outdoor rinks. I remember days that my parents had to come a drag me off the ice before I froze to death. Whether it was in your backyard, at a local park, or on a lake, these places and times represent some of our purest memories of the game.
With this tradition in mind, today is the 1st day of the 6th Annual World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock New Brunswick. This years tournament boasts 120 participating teams that represent every province in Canada, as well as 23 U.S.States, England, The Cayman Islands, Switzerland, Ireland, Egypt, China, Germany and Bermuda.
This 4-day tournament was founded in January of 2002 with 40 registered teams as a means of generating revenue for a new community rink in Plaster Rock. Over the years, the tournament has raised over $200,000 for youth hockey and now draws near to 7000 players and spectators to this small mill town.
The tournament format is a 4-on-4 competition with no goaltenders or substitutions. To compensate for the lack of goalies, the nets are reduced in size from the standard sized hockey nets. The nets remain the full 6 feet in width but are only 10 "high. The games are played on 20 rinks co-located on Lake Roulston.
This year, teams with names like; Cornerbrook Enforcers, 4 Guys from Maryland, Texas Chaos, Lady Speedstick, and Doyleys Lawnmowers, will be looking to knock off the three time champion Boston Danglers, hailing from Franklin Massachusetts.
You can get more information on the tournament at
http://www.worldpondhockey.com
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