North Bay’s Pond Hockey Tournament a Success

This is a press release issued earlier this week by the Canadian Pond Hockey Face Off Committee

North Bay, ON – Players and spectators alike flocked to the Education Centre Pond at Canadore College on February 25 and 26 for the first annual Canadian Pond Hockey Face Off.

The successful event had 150 participants age 5 to 55 lacing up to play in the three on three games.

“It was just hockey; Parents and kids getting back to the grass roots of hockey. The young kids were having a great time out there and the parents were on the sidelines cheering them on,” said Brad Gavan, Marketing and Communications Officer for Canadore College and Canadian Pond Hockey Face Off Committee member.

The event’s special guests included former NHL player Bill Houlder, North Bay Skyhawks’ coach Kevin Kerr, and a team of five youth from Louisiana and Mississippi.

It was an exciting weekend with plenty of on-ice action and community enthusiasm. Winners for each division were as follows: Tyke/novice – Pet Value beat out Powassan 13 -12; Atom/Pee Wee – Promo Sports won against the North Bay Devils 26-20; Bantam/Midget – Git-R-Done won 18-16 against Best Western; Men’s Open – Big Brothers beat out the Yellow Tie Squad 17 to 14.

The Canadian Pond Hockey Face Off is anticipated to be an annual outdoor hockey tournament. It was the first of its kind in the area and one of the only “pond hockey” tournaments played on an actual pond.

The event was run strictly by volunteers with a number of Panthers Athletics Council students helping to make the weekend a success.

“When you walked down to the ice it looked like a little village – everyone got involved,” said Gavan.

“Even the parents were out there shoveling. The help from volunteers was huge. The students were fantastic; we couldn’t have done it without them.”

The goal of the tournament was to acknowledge pond hockey as part of Canada’s national heritage and to raise money for improving local outdoor area rinks and support North Bay Minor Hockey.


“It was perfect weather and the perfect weekend for Pond Hockey. The Pond Hockey Committee would like to thank all the community members, sponsors, and volunteers who supported this event and without whom the tournament would not have been possible,” said Paul Robillard, Canadian Pond Hockey Face Off Committee member.