With a view of St. Ignace's harbor in the background, event coordinator Mark Sposito and fellow volunteers Jim West and David Swope plow through snow on the ice on Moran Bay Monday, January 19, to prepare for the third annual U.P. Pond Hockey Championship. The tournament is expected to draw 104 teams to compete Friday, February 20, through Sunday, February 22. Fourteen rinks will be made on the ice in the coming weeks and a heated tent will be erected, where food, beverages, and musical entertainment will be provided. A total of 104 teams, more than 400 players, and 13 divisions are expected to fill the slate for the 2009 U.P. Pond Hockey Championship on the ice of Moran Bay in St. Ignace Friday, February 20, through Sunday, February 22.

Event coordinator Mark Sposito and local volunteers Jim West and David Swope began plowing snow off the ice between the Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry dock and Kiwanis Park last week in preparation of the event, which has grown quickly in only its third year.

Fourteen rinks will be created on the bay, including a free skate rink for warm-ups and public use. As of last week, the ice's thickness was between eight and 12 inches.

The tournament's popularity has developed quickly in a short period.

In 2007, 26 teams participated, with 55 teams playing last year. The hockey tournament pits fouron four teams with no goalies.

More and more teams are finding out about the tournament just by word-of-mouth, said Mr. Sposito. He is also advertising through LaBatt's Blue's national marketing and running a regional radio advertisement for Pond Hockey, which has helped draw teams from not only throughout Michigan, but from across the country, including Seattle, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario. Mr. Sposito said he is hoping a women's team from Apple Valley, California, will make the across-country trip and participate in this year's tournament, as well.

Most of the divisions are made up of men's teams, however, the tournament will include an open (all ages) women's division and and a newly added novice division.

In the men's tournament, divisions will be ages 21 and older, 30 and older, and 40 and older.

This year, the event will include a match-up between an alumni team from the Detroit Red Wings playing against a combined team of last year's 21-and-older Gold Division championship game, between LaBatt's Blue of Ontario and a St. Clair Shores team. That team was formerly called Rock Bottom Tavern, after its local sponsor, and is now sponsored by Gustafson's Smoked Fish.

The two teams battled in the championship game last year in overtime, with the St. Clair Shores team edging out a win, 18-17.

The Wings alumni game will be at Little Bear East ice arena at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 20. Tickets to watch the game are still available

at St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. Which former Red Wings players

will show up is yet to be known, said Mr. Sposito, as the National Hockey Association organization has up to 30 players who participate in charity games, and scheduling depends on the players' availability at that time, he was told.

Some Red Wings players will make guest appearances in the heated tent on the ice during the weekend, where food, beverages, and musical entertainment will be provided. There is no admission fee.

Tent times are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The weekend will also include a snow bowling competition Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. Registration deadline for five-person snow bowling teams is Friday, February 20. Register with the St. Ignace Recreation Department at 643-8676.