Dear Readers,
Today, I present an article entitled 'Pond hockey ignites Canadian tradition', by Darren Lum of the
The Trailer Park Boys Scott Neilson,
from front left, Brad Park, Jeff Wilson, Jesse Johnson and Ryan Wood is
the only local entry at this year's Canadian National Pond Hockey
Championships in Haiburton. This is the team's first entry to the
national championship. They will play this weekend starting on Friday at
1 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. on Head Lake and 8 a.m. and 9:40 at the Pinestone
Resort on Saturday. Finals are Sunday. Absent is Jeremy Miscio. DARREN
LUM/HALIBURTON ECHO/QMI AGENCY
Come this weekend, Haliburton will host a Canadian winter fantasy. With hockey players of every type skating, passing and shooting pucks,
Head Lake and the pond in front of the Pinestone Resort will be a
showcase of Canadiana with the Canadian Pond Hockey Championships Jan.
25 to 27 and Feb. 1 to 3. Although last year the event was cancelled,
mainly due to weather, it has returned, leaving behind Huntsville for
the Haliburton Highlands for the first time since it started in 2006.
Founder Neil Lumsden appreciated the volunteer efforts in Muskoka, but thinks the Highlands offers less of a corporate atmosphere and more of a community one. “It extends even further into the community and I think when it comes to building an event that will last … the idea is to find the location we have … it’s limitless other than the weather,” he said.
Lumsden co-founded the event with Mark DeNobile and Dorian Andrewes. The inaugural event was at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville seven years ago. It drew 110 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams from seven provinces and five U.S. states.The event grew from there. By 2007, the event expanded to two weekends to accommodate growing popularity. Teams have come from the U.S., Scotland and as far as Japan.
Games have two 15-minute halves and are monitored by an off-ice official. Without any offsides and icings, the game is a free-flowing affair (with no body-checking) involving four players a side sans goalies. Teams are allowed two substitutes that can be switched on the fly. Equipment is at a minimum with just skates, sticks, hockey gloves, shin guards, helmets and sometimes elbow pads. Goals can only be scored from within the attacking zone.
Former NHLers the likes of Steve Larmer, Bryan Trottier, Scott Thornton, Brad Delgarno, Gary Leeman and Vincent Damphousse have played, as well as musician Jim Cuddy. Walter Gretzky has been an honourary member. This year’s honourary chairperson is Walt McKechnie. Lumsden is a former CFL player, who played for the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos and the Hamilton Ti-cats. He said sport, like this event, has always been about the people more than anything else.
“When it’s all said and done you don’t remember who scored the goals. You remember who you were playing with. So, the people you meet in sport are what’s really important,” he said. “I met and got to know a lot of really great people that played and continue to play in this event. So, for me that is a highlight.”
He’s reminded of a year when ice conditions deteriorated because of warm temperatures.
As Lumsden was making the call to stop play, he remembers a guy came up to him.
“Look, this is pond hockey. Don’t worry about it. It’s not going to be perfect,” the man said. “So, everyone took their skates off and put their boots on and played like [it was] street hockey,” Lumsden remembers.
It was a testament to the kind of people drawn to this event. This event is more than just a game. It goes deeper.
“Once you get here and play it’s kind of special. And that to me … to watch people play and enjoy, that’s all I need,” he said. On Friday night McKecks Tap and Grill in Haliburton will host an event scheduled for 9 p.m. Confirm with McKecks ahead of time by calling 705-854-0012.
Current Pond Hockey action!
my response.....
Judging by the number of players that come back year after year, Pond Hockey must be more than just a game, as Neil suggests. Similar tournaments, like the one invading Haliburton this weekend are active across Canada and the United States.
The Skatin' Kates
The "Skatin' Kates" barnstorming hockey team. Traveled the North Country by dogsled and toboggan, taking on all challengers during the winter of 1925. They left behind a trail of broken hearts and dented twine.
The Pepper Brothers
The Pepper Brothers--Pip, Pep, and Pop, practicing the infamous "Pepper Pond Power Play." Note: Horse-drawn Zamboni in background.
More Current Pond Hockey action!
Very popular with the older crowd, this year marks the first time for a GreyBreads division, for those over 50 who are just plain tired of chasing youngsters around the rink. Our Precision Label Slo-Timers will be playing again this year. As Neil's Pond Hockey tournament has been active since 2006, many of the originals players fit nicely into this category.
Pond Hockey 2013 in Haliburton!
Friday night, when Pond Hockey is finished for the night, the party will be on at McKecks Tap and Grill in Haliburton. Owned and operated by Walt McKechnie who played with the Leafs way back when, this is a popular 'watering hole' and is expected to fill up early.
The Precision Label Slo-Timers
-30-
Founder Neil Lumsden appreciated the volunteer efforts in Muskoka, but thinks the Highlands offers less of a corporate atmosphere and more of a community one. “It extends even further into the community and I think when it comes to building an event that will last … the idea is to find the location we have … it’s limitless other than the weather,” he said.
Lumsden co-founded the event with Mark DeNobile and Dorian Andrewes. The inaugural event was at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville seven years ago. It drew 110 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams from seven provinces and five U.S. states.The event grew from there. By 2007, the event expanded to two weekends to accommodate growing popularity. Teams have come from the U.S., Scotland and as far as Japan.
Games have two 15-minute halves and are monitored by an off-ice official. Without any offsides and icings, the game is a free-flowing affair (with no body-checking) involving four players a side sans goalies. Teams are allowed two substitutes that can be switched on the fly. Equipment is at a minimum with just skates, sticks, hockey gloves, shin guards, helmets and sometimes elbow pads. Goals can only be scored from within the attacking zone.
Former NHLers the likes of Steve Larmer, Bryan Trottier, Scott Thornton, Brad Delgarno, Gary Leeman and Vincent Damphousse have played, as well as musician Jim Cuddy. Walter Gretzky has been an honourary member. This year’s honourary chairperson is Walt McKechnie. Lumsden is a former CFL player, who played for the Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos and the Hamilton Ti-cats. He said sport, like this event, has always been about the people more than anything else.
“When it’s all said and done you don’t remember who scored the goals. You remember who you were playing with. So, the people you meet in sport are what’s really important,” he said. “I met and got to know a lot of really great people that played and continue to play in this event. So, for me that is a highlight.”
He’s reminded of a year when ice conditions deteriorated because of warm temperatures.
As Lumsden was making the call to stop play, he remembers a guy came up to him.
“Look, this is pond hockey. Don’t worry about it. It’s not going to be perfect,” the man said. “So, everyone took their skates off and put their boots on and played like [it was] street hockey,” Lumsden remembers.
It was a testament to the kind of people drawn to this event. This event is more than just a game. It goes deeper.
“Once you get here and play it’s kind of special. And that to me … to watch people play and enjoy, that’s all I need,” he said. On Friday night McKecks Tap and Grill in Haliburton will host an event scheduled for 9 p.m. Confirm with McKecks ahead of time by calling 705-854-0012.
my response.....
Judging by the number of players that come back year after year, Pond Hockey must be more than just a game, as Neil suggests. Similar tournaments, like the one invading Haliburton this weekend are active across Canada and the United States.
The "Skatin' Kates" barnstorming hockey team. Traveled the North Country by dogsled and toboggan, taking on all challengers during the winter of 1925. They left behind a trail of broken hearts and dented twine.
The Pepper Brothers--Pip, Pep, and Pop, practicing the infamous "Pepper Pond Power Play." Note: Horse-drawn Zamboni in background.
Very popular with the older crowd, this year marks the first time for a GreyBreads division, for those over 50 who are just plain tired of chasing youngsters around the rink. Our Precision Label Slo-Timers will be playing again this year. As Neil's Pond Hockey tournament has been active since 2006, many of the originals players fit nicely into this category.
Friday night, when Pond Hockey is finished for the night, the party will be on at McKecks Tap and Grill in Haliburton. Owned and operated by Walt McKechnie who played with the Leafs way back when, this is a popular 'watering hole' and is expected to fill up early.
-30-
@write_stuff_2 bio at http://about.me/brianweller write_stuff_2@hotmail.com twitter chatter....
It's time to drop the puck! http://bigdaddyharley09.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-almost-time-to-drop-puck.html?spref=tw …
.. Slo-Timers will be there!
#cnphc#haliburton#toronto#yorkregion pic.twitter.com/waiUybZV
No comments:
Post a Comment