USA Hockey Adult Hockey

Competing in the 30+ Bronze Division at the Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championships in Eagle River, Wisconsin, Healthy Scratches always has their work cut out for themselves.

Most teams in that division are made up of players in their early to mid-30s. Not Healthy Scratches. The team, which hails from the south suburbs of Chicago and plays adult league at the Southwest Ice Arena in Crestwood, Illinois, are made up of four 50-year-olds, two in their 40s and one 30-year-old.

It can be a challenge for the guys in their 50s to compete against players in their 30s.

“We do shorter shifts and we try to play a little bit smarter, keeping your sticks down and help out the best you can,” said Healthy Scratches captain Ed Belliveau, who is 47. “We’re not going to score 30-something goals in a game, but if we don’t give up 30-something goals, we’re doing something good, too.”

Ron Spingola has played in the Pond Hockey Championships eight years. He competed in a 40+ division for the first seven years on a different team before joining Healthy Scratches this season as a “waiver claim.” Spingola sees a huge difference in moving up to the 30+ Bronze Division.

“The level of play, man,” said 51-year-old Spingola. “There’s some kids out there. When my kid’s in their mid-20s, I’m seeing him there in a few years.”

Playing against younger teams can take a physical toll on the guys. When they are getting into their second and third games of the tournament, heavy legs become a facto.

“A lot of Advil,” joked Spingola, “and Labatt.”

In his eight years on the pond, Spingola has learned some lessons that help him when he steps onto the ice in Eagle River.

“Pace yourself,” Spingola said. “Don’t go hard the first game. You’ve got to pace yourself. You’ve only got a couple hours between games on the same day. It’s great to win a game, but you’ve got to play again in a couple hours, so save something for that.”

Belliveau and Healthy Scratches made their fourth appearance at the Pond Hockey Championships and finished with their best showing. The previous three years, the team went 1-2. This year, Healthy Scratches went 2-1 in the round-robin style tournament.

“This is the first year, I think, that we played three full games,” Belliveau said. “Other years we’d play great in the first half, and in the second half we’d stink it up and lose it.”

What’s been the difference this year?

“We’re actually sticking to a system, a game plan,” Belliveau said. “We say we’re going to do it and we just never do. This year we actually stuck to it.”

Organization on the ice was key. Healthy Scratches decided to have two offensive players essentially make line changes, and the team also had designated players back on defense.

Winning isn’t the most important aspect of playing in Eagle River, but the guys always love it more when they pull out a victory.

“Everybody wants to win a game,” Spingola said. “Everyone’s competitive on the ice, but once you get off the ice you’re sharing a beer with [the other team], too, or going out with the guys. It’s a lot of fun.”

The guys from Healthy Scratches make it a point to get up to the Pond Hockey Championships every year. When registration time rolls around, the guys are on their computers ready to reserve their spot.

The players enjoy the camaraderie they have with their teammates and other teams throughout the tournament.

“Just the good times,” Belliveau said. “We’ve said it from the beginning: We’ll go out and have some fun playing hockey, that’s part of it. But if we win or lose it doesn’t matter; we’re still a good group of guys hanging out and having a good weekend together.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.