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. The Labatt Lineup- USA Hockey Pond Hockey Nationals, New England Pond Hockey Classic, and The Lake Champlain Pond Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: Eagle River, Wisconsin Meredith, New Hampshire Colchester, Vermont Time of Year: February 8-10, 2019 February 1-3, 2019 February 8-10, 2019 Ages Welcomed to Play: Adults 21+. Sponsored by Labatt Blue- makes sense! Size of the Tournament: Eagle River, WI is over 2000 players. Meredith, NH is over 2000 players. Colchester, VT is over 1200 players. Special Entertainment: We're going to venture a guess you'll find a nicely stocked beer tent here among other awesome food, drink, hockey vendors at all three locales. What Sets This Tournament Apart: These are the large-scale, well-run, well-established tournaments in the pond hockey world. They frequently sell out well before the holidays, as they did this year. You can expect lots of teams, lots of food and drinks, and lots of entertainment. This may sound like a mass-produced tournament, but each one is a reflection of the area where it's being played. One size does not fit all, and that's what makes this tournament line-up so cool. Third Assist's Take: These tournaments have been going on for over a decade now and have got it figured out. When you sign up to one of these events you have a good idea of what you're getting into, and it does not disappoint. These represent the upper tier of national tournaments and if you're looking to get on the big stage of pond hockey, these are the tournaments for you. Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.usahockey.com/pondhockey www.pondhockeyclassic.com/newengland www.pondhockeyclassic.com/lakechamplain *All photos used by permission from tournament.
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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. Great Lakes Pond Hockey ClassicLocation of Tournament: Superior, Wisconsin Time of Year: January 25-27, 2019 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 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. 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.greatlakespondhockey.com www.facebook.com/greatlakespondhockeyclassic *All photos used by permission from tournament. |
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