Monster Pond Hockey returns

Perfect weather on Saturday meant ideal conditions for Pond Hockey on Circle Lake. Photo by Jazz Mathon.

For the second weekend in a row the grass roots version of Canada’s game took centre stage – last weekend it was the 3rd annual Northern Honda Canadian Pond Hockey Face-Off, and this weekend it’s the Monster Pond Hockey tournament which has taken over Circle Lake for the 2nd annual event.

“We’ve excellent response from all the teams participating,” said Monster Pond Hockey Co-Chair Moe Bedard about the tournament featuring 18 rinks on the lake located near Pete Palangio arena.

“We have 118 teams taking part, the weather is really cooperating well, the rinks are in excellent condition, we got lots of volunteers and everybody is on board.”

Organizers were faced with parking challenges last year as police received local complaints about parking and handed out dozens of tickets to participants in the tournaments inaugural year.

“We got the parking issue resolved,” said Bedard.

“Parents and kids are coming in on horse sleigh rides from across the street from Pete Palangio arena, we also have a bus bringing people from other parking lots that we have.”

The event began on Thursday with an Elementary school tournament. The event involving teams aged from Tyke to Adult wraps up on Sunday.