U.P. Pond Hockey Set for Feb. 24
By Ryan Schlehuber

Twenty teams already have signed up and as many as 300 hockey players could compete on Moran Bay for the first Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championship Tournament in St. Ignace Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 25. Snow bowling for men and women will also be available.

As many as 48 six-man teams will compete in the hockey tournament, which will be held on the ice near Mackinac Grille Restaurant. Teams will be divided in four divisions: men age 21 and older, 30 and older, 40 and older, and women.

Among the 20 teams registered so far are several women's teams, said event coordinator Mark Sposito, who is expecting more teams to register as the tournament gets closer.

In pond hockey, there is no goalie. The goal net is merely six feet long and only five inches tall. Players cannot lift the puck and body contact is kept to a minimum, thus there is no body checking. Games will have two 20-minute periods. There will be between five and 10 rinks created on the ice, each enclosed by walls of snow.

Mr. Sposito is expecting the ice on Moran Bay to be strong enough for the event, however, if it is not, his alternative plan will be to hold the event on the pond behind Little Bear East Ice Arena.

For spectators, there will be a heated tent that includes food and live family-friendly music. There is no admission fee.

The pond hockey tournament is sponsored by St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce, St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, and LaBatt Blue Light beer. The entry fee is $350 per team, which includes at least three games, beer tent tickets, casino packages, and LaBatt Blue apparel. Teams can register online at the Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.stignace. com, or call Mark Sposito at 643-7482.

All players in the tournament must be 21 or older and registered with USA Hockey. Teams will compete for a divisional trophy and LaBatt Blue hockey jerseys.

For those not playing hockey but looking for some outdoor sporting competition, snow bowling will be played at the Grille, starting at 11 a.m. each day. Games will be played as baker bowling, where players on a team rotate turns, totaling scores for three games.

Sunday's snow bowling will be reserved for junior high and high school students. Students can register at school. There is no admission fee for students. Prizes will be awarded.

Lanes will be made out of snow and wood, said Mr. Sposito, "We even will have automatic ball returns."

There will be a $25 entry fee per person to compete in adult snow bowling on Saturday, with prizes awarded to winners.

A 50/50 raffle will be offered Saturday and Sunday.

The pond hockey tournament, if successful, will be the cornerstone for a future winter carnival in St. Ignace, said Mr. Sposito.

"Our long-term plan is to have the winter softball tournament open the week-long carnival and having events throughout the week between that and the pond hockey tournament," he said. "This will act as a vehicle for us to pay for carnival equipment."

Snow softball, which will feature 12 teams, is scheduled to be played on the ice at Mackinac Grille Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18.

Mr. Sposito said the Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce want to provide something for both community members and visitors to do every weekend throughout the year.

"It'll take several years to accomplish, but if we pick off two to four weekends a year," he said, "we'll get there."

Lynne Piippo, director of the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, said next year's winter planning includes adding sleigh rides and hay rides.

"Hopefully, we can spark some interest in the community and get it to really take off," she said. "We see other towns able to pull off big winter events and I think St. Ignace can, as well."

Mr. Sposito hopes many people in the community will support it.

"The future of the winter carnival depends on the output we get from pond hockey and snow bowling events," he added.