Action Tracks, Winter 2013-’14
Page 13
Hockey back to its roots
National pond hockey tourney set in Eagle River
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BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH
NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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After staging highly successful tournaments the past eight years, USA Hockey will return to Eagle River to host its
ninth annual Labatt Blue/USA Hockey
Pond Hockey National Championships.
The four-on-four pond hockey event is
set for Feb. 7-9, 2014, on Dollar Lake just
east of Eagle River.
“We look forward to seeing familiar
faces and many new teams for the experience of a lifetime,” said Ashley Bevan, senior director of adult hockey for USA
Hockey. “This year’s event is shaping up to
be yet another tremendous success. Our
continued growth is a sign both of the success of this event and the hard work of our
staff, sponsors and local volunteers.”
Last year, a record 342 teams competed in the three-day event on 28 rinks on
the lake’s ice, bringing more than 2,400
players to Eagle River.
The event was named the recipient of
SportsTravel magazine’s 2009 SportsTravel Award for the best amateur single-sport event. And in 2011, NBC aired
a segment about the tournament on the
telecast of “Hockey Day in America.” The
recognition has resulted in record numbers for the tournament.
Because of the national publicity, last
year’s pond hockey event attracted teams
from 30 states. The 2014 event is expected to be just as big.
“We look forward to celebrating the
thrill of hockey in its purest form in the
frozen tundra of northern Wisconsin,”
said Bevan. “This event is about the
teams, the experience and the camaraderie while enjoying hockey the way it
used to be played.”
The tournament, which will be staged
outdoors on Dollar Lake, will feature
The 2014 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championship is expected to
draw more than 2,400 players to Dollar Lake.
—NEWS-REVIEW PHOTO
teams of adults 21 years or older divided
into 19 no-check divisions for men and
women, including a 60-and-older division.
There are five divisions for women players. The tournament will be structured
using a round-robin format and each team
will be guaranteed three games.
“We keep coming back because it’s an
awesome event,” said Bevan. “The adult
hockey players are telling us — USA
Hockey — that they want to be back in
Eagle River. They’ve enjoyed this community and pond hockey is a great event.”
Bevan said the event is coordinated
with the help of the Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) and the Eagle
River Area Fire Department.
“With the volunteerism here in Eagle
River, it’s been great for us,” he said.
Pat Weber, fire chief and ERRA volunteer, was in charge of expanding the ice
sheet from 24 to 28 rinks for the 2013
event to accommodate all the teams.
“We try to keep most of the snow off
the lake leading up to the tournament so
we can build more ice for the 75- by 150-
foot rinks,” he said.
The ERRA gets involved by supplying
referees and scorekeepers for all the
games.
“With 28 rinks going, we need referees
and scorekeepers at all rinks during
shifts throughout the weekend,” said
Weber. “In the past, the ERRA has received a nice donation in return.”
Jake Alward, owner of Chanticleer
Inn, host resort for the event, said it’s exciting to have USA Hockey, a national organization, coming back to Eagle River
for the ninth annual event.
“The number of participants has increased each year, with just 40 teams
competing in the inaugural event in
2006,” said Alward. “The players come
from states across the country, so it puts
Eagle River on the map.”
The Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond
Hockey National Championships will include a reception and raffle Saturday
evening at the AMSOIL Eagle River
Derby Track expo hall.
Every participant will receive commemorative welcome gifts and division
winners will receive prizes at the end of
the tournament. Games will feature a
two-minute warm-up period and two 15minute halves. USA Hockey playing
rules will be followed. Rule modifications, a registration form and a tournament schedule can be found online at usahockey.com/adult. Entry fee is ?????????)????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)??????????????????????????)??????UM?!?????????????!?????)????????????? ???)?????????)
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