skip navigation

Pond Hockey Rookies, Veterans Treated to 'Postcard' Day to Open 2013 Tournament

02/08/2013, 9:45pm MST
By USAHockey.com

A record 341 teams and 2,400 players took to Dollar Lake for the first day of the 2013 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey National Championship

The official opening puck drop took place just after sunrise on Friday on Dollar Lake in Eagle River, Wis., amid six-degree temperatures. By the time the sun set, more than 300 teams had played games on a 'post card' scene of hockey bliss to open the 2013 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey Nationals.

"We have a postcard day today. With the sun out coming over the rinks it couldn't be more picturesque," said tournament director Scott Aldrich.

Aldrich said the early feedback indicated that the main constant for the tournament outside of the cold weather was new friends and good times.

"The location and the camaraderie is the big thing. We hear stories about people who make friends and stay in touch with each other," he said. "It's a tradition with teams now and that's what we wanted to build."

The annual tournament broke all the records again this year and the turnout includes a mix of veteran and rookie players. Both groups were all smiles on Friday as the tournament began.

"Part of it is the camaraderie," said Matt Larsen of Get Rad out of Milwaukee, Wis., who has played in the tournament seven times. He offered advice to the rookies on how to maximize the weekend. "I would say, just have a great balance of the competitive spirit and having a good time, which is not hard to do out here."

Cindy Schragle-Harding from Phoenix, Ariz., scored her first-ever pond hockey goal and said she learned a lot through two games on Friday.

"This is amazing. The ice is totally different than what I'm used to skating on. I feel like a brand new skater," she said. "I couldn't believe how big the lake is."

The tournament continues on Saturday at 7 a.m. CT as teams jostle for playoff position. Follow along for scoring updates, videos and more.

Tag(s): Pond Hockey  2013