With the wooded bluff and part of St. Ignace's downtown area on North State Street seen in the background, Moran Bay was busy with sports action last weekend. Several rinks were created near the docks of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry and Star Line for the Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championships Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24. Fifty-six, six-person teams were involved in the tournament, and 12 five-person teams participated in snow bowling. (Photograph by Mary Wojcik) In its second year, the Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championships are quickly building momentum, as 55 teams competed this year on Moran Bay, and event coordinators are expecting an even bigger field of teams next year. The competition took place Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24, at St. Ignace.

Nine rinks, 85 hockey games, and up to 330 players, took to the ice on Moran Bay for the event, drawing teams from eight states and Canada, as well as 12 snow bowling teams, more than 50 volunteers, and many spectators. When it was all done Sunday afternoon, seven pond hockey teams were crowned champions.

There were nine rinks, seven divisions, including a women's division, 55 teams, and 330 players participating in the pond hockey championships this weekend. Here, a player from Kreager Towing team cruises in to score against Driftwood Sports Bar's Rusty Blades during Sunday's 21-and-older Silver Division championship game. The Blades won, 32-21. Only one of the 56 teams registered did not play.

The field of teams was large enough to be split into seven brackets, three for ages 21 and older, two for ages 30 and older, and one in each the 40 and older division, and a women's division that included all ages.

The nine rinks, between Star Line's main dock and Kiwanis Beach, were created and maintained by volunteers from St. Ignace Fire Department, men from the United States Coast Guard stationed in St. Ignace, and local residents.

The pond hockey tournament wrapped up the two-weekend Bayside Ice Festival that included an outdoor softball tournament at Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry parking lot the previous weekend.

The "Detroit Stix" were the victors in a rematch from last year's championship game in the women's tournament Sunday, beating the "Hanson Sistas" of Traverse City 22-10. The Stix reached the championship game last year with only three players. This year, they came with six players. In the pond hockey tournament, teams played four-on-four hockey with no goalie. Goals were challenging, owing to the nets being six feet wide and not even a foot tall.

"We had a few problems with the condition of the rinks after being used after a while, but the teams understood that it's outdoors, so they were pleased, overall," said Mark Sposito, who helped organize the event.

The number of teams was twice as many as last year's, and event coordinators are expecting to invite even more for next year's tournament.

"We're expecting to have between 96 and 104 teams next year, with 12 rinks to be made," said Mr. Sposito. "With that many games, we'll probably hold games on Friday, making it a three-day event."

This year's tournament originally was to have 48 teams, however, owing to the growing popularity of the event, Mr. Sposito bumped up the format to include 56 teams.

Perhaps one of the most exciting games of the weekend was the last one to be played, pitting LaBatt's Blue against Rock Bottom Tavern in the 21- and-older Gold Division Sunday, where it took sudden death overtime for the Rock Bottom team to clinch the title, winning 18-17. It was the only overtime game of the seven championship games played. A Star Line's ferry, parked at the company's main dock, is seen in the background. "We could've had 90 teams this year if we were prepared for it," said Mr. Sposito. "The spots were taken up so fast and the tournament is catching fire so quickly that we already have teams signed up for next year."

Word of mouth has been the tournament's best marketing tool, said Mr. Sposito.

"We created a Web site, LaBatt's Blue beer company has posted it through all its accounts in each state, and we've had a radio advertisement for the last month, but really, it is word of mouth that has helped us the most," he said. "The success of last year's tournament has shown this year, and it's getting bigger and better quickly."

Below: The Hanson Brothers, stars from the 1979 hockey movie "Slapshot," were the celebrities of the weekend, posing for photographs and signing autographs Saturday. Pictured with Sandy Snyder and her son, Landon, both of St. Ignace, are (from left) brothers Jeff and Steve Carlson, and Dave Hanson. Scott Winkelman supervised the games and the panel of referees, and helped run the food concessions for the St. Ignace Hockey Association in the tent constructed on the ice near Shepler's dock. The hockey association raised $7,100 with concession sales.

"The whole weekend was fantastic," said Mr. Winkelman, the hockey association president. "Sportsmanship was great and everyone seemed to have a really good time. This event could be as big as any event in the area soon, the way it's growing."

The tournament, coinciding with the St. Ignace Special Events Committee's winter festival, benefits the whole community, said Mr. Sposito.

Some of the 56 teams in the second annual Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championship on Moran Bay in St. Ignace expressed their team spirit in unique fashion, such as "Buffalo's Best Looking," one of two teams from Buffalo, New York, who donned horns on their helmets Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24. Pictured are (in front) Scott Gliosca; (second row, from left) Brett Gliosca, Justin Wekenmann, Ryan Coyne, Kyle Gliosca; and (back) Garrett Smith. "The Special Events Committee and the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau are trying to attract people to fill motel rooms here," said Mr. Sposito. "We had 300 rooms booked, both Friday and Saturday night. What this event brings in, it trickles down to all the businesses in the community, so the whole community benefits from this."

With plans to expand the tournament next year, plans may be made to either purchase or rent an ice-surfacing machine to resurface the rinks, cutting down a lot of preparation time, Mr. Sposito said.

Local firefighters spent hours after dark throughout the past week flooding the rinks to prepare for the weekend tournament.

"The volunteers who helped create and maintain the rinks were a huge asset; we couldn't have done this without them," said Mr. Sposito. "Last weekend's rain kind of put us back, but those guys did a wonderful job."

Many of the players were happy with the rink and the tournament, overall.

"This is awesome," said Justin Wekenmann, of Buffalo, New York, playing for "Buffalo's Best Looking." "The rinks were great, the atmosphere is great. We're having a fun time. We definitely want to come back next year."

Angie Bernath's team, the "Detroit Stix," winners of the women's division, played last year and said this year's tournament was better.

"It's only going to get better," Miss Bernath said. "With new events, there's always room for improvement, but this is a great event. I love playing outside."

The women's division championship was a rematch of last year's title game, pitting Miss Bernath's team against the "Hanson Sistas" of Traverse City. The Stix played with only three players last year but managed to bring a full team, six players, this year, which made the difference, said Miss Bernath.

The pond hockey tournament ended with perhaps one of the best games of the weekend, an 18-17 sudden death overtime win for the Rock Bottom Tavern of St. Clair Shores in the 21-and-older Gold Division, defeating LaBatt's Blue from Sault Ste. Marie.

Activities like snow bowling will be included in next year's festival and pond hockey tournament. It was a popular draw Saturday, as 12 teams competed. Two bowling lanes were built on the ice out of wood, including two ball return racks.

The local "Pros" team of Sid Hawkins, Ron Colegrove, Eddie Andrews, Taryn Smith, and Leslie Werkheiser won the snow bowling tournament with a score of 436.

The local "Hiser" team of Michelle Hiser, Ann Fulgenzi, Martin Fulgenzi, Aggie O'Brien, and Dan O'Brien placed second with a score of 418.

In third place was "Hot Off The Press," with a score of 412. That team consisted of The St. Ignace News staffers Ryan Schlehuber, Sherry Cece, Diane Blair, Tammy Matson, and David Movalson.

Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championship Results

Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24

Women's: Detroit Stix (Southgate) 22, Hanson Sistas (Traverse City) 10

Men's

21-and-older Gold: Rock Bottom Tavern (St. Clair Shores) 18, LaBatt's Blue (Sault Ste. Marie) 17

21-and-older Silver: Driftwood Sports Bar Rusty Blades (Petoskey) 32, Kreager Towing (Bay City/ Saginaw) 21

21-and-older Bronze: Fletcher Street Brewery (Alpena) 20, Super Dudes (Tecumseh) 14

30-and-older Gold: Hard Chargers (Midland) 15, Team Cape Cod (North Falmouth, Massachusetts) 13

30-and-older Silver: Make-Me-Lafs (Houghton) 12, Crystal Bar Hockey (Holt) 20

40-and-older: R. Prime (Midland) 20, Burt Lake Hackers (Bloomfield Hills) 9