 From the quirky to the innovative, we've been hearing tons of ways to keep your fingers warm in freezing temperatures. We're in the business of keeping warm, so here are some of the best ways we have found- Starting with the unusual..  1) Vaseline This is a strange one on us. Did you know NFL players often coat their faces and arms in Vaseline to prevent windburn? It's supposed to act as one more layer of insulation and protect skin from drying and taking abuse in the cold air. We also heard that paramedics north of the Arctic circle often put Vaseline on their hands because they need to keep their fingers nimble in certain emergency situations. Messy, but effective. 2 and 3) Cayenne Pepper/Chili Powder- capsaicin We're grouping these two together. This is another unique tip we've heard from those in the winter running circles. The idea is to sprinkle a little powder or flakes of either cayenne pepper or chili powder onto bare skin, and the skin will react to draw blood to the surface. This is thanks to chili powder's active ingredient of Capsaicin, but the cayenne pepper flakes act the same way. We've heard this is quite effective, but we've also heard a little goes a long ways, so be careful!
5) Liners This is the first step we all go to- find some cheap liners that'll fit in our gloves. Often this can be effective and provide just the little bit of insulation we need to keep our digits warm, but sometimes too many layers can work against us by isolating our finger's heat from each other. Also if you're playing hockey you lose some feel for your stick, but this is definitely worth the first try!  6) Third Assist Gloves
Of course we'll throw a quick pitch for our gloves. We've tried a number of different insulations over the years in our gloves, but we only share our favorites. You can skate around in our gloves, but the primary focus is for hockey- protection and warmth. Our gloves are lined with insulation throughout to keep a warm, but breathable enclosure. However we make sure not to line the palm or finger fronts so the user can maintain full feel of their stick. Check out our selection and see if it's worth a shot for you. Have you tried any of these out- or heard of others? Let us know in the comments below!
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 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. Thompson's Point Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: Thompson's Point, Portland, Maine Time of Year: Usually first or second weekend of March  Ages Welcomed to Play: Adults 18+ Size of the Tournament: We have 5 divisions (Elite, Open Plus, Open Low, Beginner and Over 40 with our max being 28 teams Special Entertainment: Live music on site provided by Brian Papson (Country artist)  Any Special Vendors? Event consist of Portland area restaurants donating food throughout the event for the players. Maine Mariners on site last year. What Sets This Tournament Apart: This event is unique do to its location, out on Thompson's Point in Portland. Also, the TPHC sets itself apart with its hybrid type outdoor hockey. We have boards and a Zamboni on site, this creates a faster game play and smoother ice. The multiple divisions allow it to stay competitive and the participants leave with a great gift bag, we have 20 plus free raffle items, free dinner and lunches. Third Assist's Take: They said it best for what makes this one unique. It's a hybrid. Small rink with boards, good ice, quick game. It's a cleaner and faster game which is always fun. The rink alone is a cool venue, but its location is what sets it apart. Portland, Maine is a happening cultural hub in the northeast and Thompson's Point has all the best aspects of Portland in one location: Good food, beer, music, and best of all hockey. Definitely worth the visit.  Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.thompsonpointhockeyclassic.com www.instagram.com/thompsonsphc *All photos used by permission from tournament.  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. Michigan Pond Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: Whitmore Lake, Michigan Time of Year: February 8-10, 2019  Ages Welcomed to Play: Adults 18+ Size of the Tournament: 8 divisions, typically about 100-110 teams, approx 950 players Special Entertainment: Live band Friday and Saturday, and one HUGE Beer tent.  Any Special Vendors? Lots of vendors for the facilities, and the onsite presence is mostly sponsors. What Sets This Tournament Apart: The tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Michigan Pond Hockey Sports Charities, which provides financial assistance to promote and encourage participation in youth athletic programs. Our tournament provides a three day, festival like atmosphere in the heart of Michigan, and brings people out of their winter hibernation. The event features 24 rinks carved out on beautiful Whitmore Lake. Third Assist's Take: As you may have seen already, there are pond hockey events of all scales and sizes taking place this winter. You can go to a tournament on a national circuit sponsored by large corps, or you can find a local tournament which is lightly advertised and only grabs players within a 20 mile radius. What we like about the Michigan Pond Hockey Classic is that it's the best mix of both. It's an established, well-run tournament with entertainment to last the full weekend, but it still represents the Wolverine state well. This one has been on our radar for years, so we'd be all in to register for a weekend here.  Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.facebook.com/michiganpondhockeyclassic *All photos used by permission from tournament.  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. Last Frontier Pond Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: At The Burkshore Marina in Big Lake, Alaska. Exact Address: 3610 S. Burkeshore Dr. Big Lake Alaska Time of Year: March 8-10 2019  Ages Welcomed to Play: Youth and Adults Size of the Tournament: 9 Divisions (U10,U14, U18, Novice, Co-Ed, Open, Women, Elite, 49ers) 107 in 2018 Special Entertainment: Two free concerts for those 21+ on Friday and Saturday nights. This is in addition to fireworks Saturday night, and a free family rink available weekend-long.  Any Special Vendors: 49th State Brewing Company provides great food, beer garden, food trucks, etc... What Sets This Tournament Apart: One word: Alaska. Oh, the trophy here is pretty amazing too. Third Assist's Take: This tournament is truly one-of-a-kind. It takes place on Big Lake which is about a hour out of the state's largest city of Anchorage. The owners of Third Assist are originally from Anchorage, and Big Lake was one of the first places we played pond hockey. It only makes sense that Alaska's premier tournament takes place in a setting like Big Lake. Cool setting, cool music, cool trophies. This is on our pond hockey bucket-list.  Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.akpond.com www.facebook.com/lastfrontierpondhockey *All photos used by permission from tournament.  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. Maine Pond Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, Maine Time of Year: February 8-10, 2019 (2nd weekend in February annually)  Ages Welcomed to Play: Adults 18+ Size of the Tournament: 70+ teams in 9 divisions Special Entertainment: Games under the lights & welcome skate on Friday night, beer garden, and a player social on Saturday evening.  Any Special Vendors: Spectrum Healthcare Partners, Bud Light, Camden National Bank What Sets This Tournament Apart: We think their trophies set Maine Pond Hockey Classic apart from any other tournament, as they are certainly one of a kind, and on top of that there is a solid mix of divisions. Players come with great attitudes. The tournament takes place at an amazing venue & backdrop as the Snow Pond Center for the Arts is located at a summer camp with over 80 years for summer traditions. Lastly the tournament is easily accessible, located within 10 minutes for I-95 and two of Maine’s larger Communities (Waterville & Augusta). Third Assist's Take: This tournament is the go-to tournament for experiencing the Pine Tree State. Before Third Assist was based in Maine we had heard about this tournament in pond hockey circles. Now we find ourselves just one hour from this tournament and we know we will be making a visit this coming winter. Fun tournament in a winter wonderland and the proceeds go to a good cause. We'll be there.  Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.mainepondhockey.org www.facebook.com/mainepondhockey www.twitter.com/mainepondhockey *All photos used by permission from tournament. |
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