Tournament Spotlight: Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic

Blog banner of ice rinks in winter landscape.
As part of Third Assist's "Ultimate Pond Hockey Resource" we've reached out to the best pond hockey tournaments taking place this winter in the United States. We want to know where they're at, what makes them unique, and why we should visit this upcoming winter. Safe to say we're sold on the following tournaments.

Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic

Location of Tournament:
Superior, Wisconsin

Time of Year: 
January 25-27, 2019

Image of one of the rinks at the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic.

Ages Welcomed to Play:

18+

Size of the Tournament: 
Can Accept up to 48 Teams: Divisions which accept teams are Open Division, Rink-Rat Division, Senior Division, and a Women's Division.

Special Entertainment:
The tournament features live music on Friday and Saturday nights. It also coincides with the Lake Superior Ice Festival which includes family events and fireworks on the lake at night. 

More about the Ice Festival can be found here: www.lakesuperioricefestival.com

Image of players at the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic.

What Sets This Tournament Apart:
 This event is patterned after the World Pond Hockey Championship held in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick. The Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic began in 2004 and at the time was the only US affiliate/partner of the Plaster Rock Tournament. Some of the key components that sets this tournament apart are that the tournament is volunteer driven, and all profits from the event are directed to the Superior Amateur Hockey Association to positively impact kids lives. The Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic is the only pond hockey tournament played on the largest fresh water pond in the world and one of the only pond hockey tournaments that includes games played under the lights on Friday night. In an area where hockey tradition and excellence have deep roots, the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic embodies the purity of the sport.

Image of a group of players at the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic.

Third Assist's Take: 
You read the reasons above about what makes this so unique. One might even go so far as say Lake Superior is the largest pond hockey rink in the world. As for facts we can actually back up, the Great Lakes Pond Hockey Classic is a long-standing tournament and is the success model for tournaments taking place in the U.S. This is one of the premier tournaments to register for in the entire Midwest, and all proceeds go to a good cause. Count us in.

Where to Learn More About This Tournament: 
www.facebook.com/greatlakespondhockeyclassic

*All photos used by permission from tournament.

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