USA Hockey Adult Hockey

When players take the ice in the Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championships amid below freezing temperatures and snowy conditions they do so for love of the game, to have fun and maybe score a victory.

Dozens of teams in the 2009 event also feature small supporting casts who brave the cold weather without the benefit of the heart pounding exercise on the rink to warm them up.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Jenny Hillyer from Beaver Dam who was rooting on the Dirty Beavers. “It’s exciting, you just have to watch out for pucks.”

Hillyer was watching the event for the first time and said fans have to plan out time to warm up.

“You just warm up in the van for a little bit and wear lots of layers and wool socks,” she said.

Terry Johnson from Oneida, Wisc., took in the action as a fan as well and said just watching the event is fun enough for him.

“Unbelievably great,” he said. “It’s just a really nice atmosphere to be around. Good clean fun and great hockey.”

Johnson, Hillyer and the rest of the non-playing attendees also had the benefit of events off the ice as the Stanley Cup paid a visit to the lake.

“We saw (the Cup) and we saw the local game, the Falcons and Beavers (Adult checking), and we’re going to go see them again tonight,” Hillyer said.

Johnson, who was sporting a John Deere hat with ear flaps to stay warm, said the atmosphere for fans was so fun he’d “absolutely” plan a return trip in the future.

Following a team and staying warm wasn’t anything new to Maria Severson from Wausau, Wisc., who for the second year was in Eagle River to cheer on her husband and the Dirty Bombers.

“I know the guys love it,” she said. “Pond hockey is a little bit different but the guys really like it because it’s a smaller rink and some great competition.”

Severson was pulling her son along the ice in a sled to keep from carrying him, a move mimicked by several other moms and dads. She said bringing kids to the event is rewarding.

“It’s a nice family experience too because the kids like to see their dads play and it’s a lot of fun,” she said.