Cleaning up after Saturday's winter storm and readying the ice for playoff games, the Zamboni makes its way around the 15 pond hockey rinks in the early morning Sunday, February 22. The surveyed rinks on Moran Bay just off the St. Ignace shoreline soon will be filled with hockey teams vying for the top trophies in five divisions. The U.P. Pond Hockey Tournament brought a boost to the local economy last weekend, with most motel rooms sold out, restaurants kept busy, and crowds of about 3,000 were entertained as they competed and watched the sports action on the ice of Moran Bay in St. Ignace.

Matches were played just off the shore of the downtown district on ice that was between 30 and 36 inches thick. Players said the ice was in perfect condition and far superior to other pond tournaments.

The three-day hockey tournament that began at noon Friday, February 20, drew 120 snow bowlers and 600 hockey players from across the country and Canada, including Bill Ford, chairman of the board of directors of Ford Motor Company, and his Team Ford from Dearborn. The men took the top slot, winning gold in the 40-and-older division.

Members of team 7653 Bulldogs of St. Ignace get their "game faces" on before their match against the Northern Lights Friday, February 20. Posing for a picture are teammates Dean O'Brien (left) and Thomas Pavia. Team member Mike North (right, standing) watches as Lon Williams takes a photograph. "We had a really good time," said Mr. Ford Sunday morning. "Can't wait to come back."

Teammate Jim Kwilos agreed, adding, "The townsfolk could not have been more friendly and gracious."

About 100 residents and city crews volunteered their time to help make the weekend activities run smoothly. A winter storm reduced visibility and kept event volunteers busy Saturday clearing snow from rinks and the two alleys used for snow blowing. A snow and wind storm hit the Straits area, replacing Friday's nearly perfect weather conditions enjoyed at the start of the third annual Pond Hockey Tournament. Visibility was reduced just after 10 a.m. Saturday as the storm arrived and lasted all day.

Cheers from hockey players echoed across Moran Bay as bagpiper Gregor MacGregor played "Scotland the Brave" and "Cockney Jocks," during the opening ceremony of the third annual pond hockey tournament in St. Ignace, Friday, February 20. To center ice and back, where the ceremony was held, Chuck McCall of St. Ignace gives Mr. MacGregor a ride on the Zamboni ice resurfacer. The success of the hockey tournament will benefit other events planned for the city this summer, say St. Ignace Special Events Committee members. Proceeds from the weekend tournament will help fund the Fish Feast and Bridge Celebration, Music Festival, Bayside Live music, Art on the Boardwalk, and more.

"It's not about this tournament," said event coordinator Mark Sposito, "it's about what we can do for this town."

Mr. Sposito sits on the board of the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau and is a member of the Special Events Committee.

Next year, the committee is working to get hot water to the rinks to quickly freeze over any cracks that form in the ice. Exhibition matches in curling also are planned for next year, and possibly the return of the Red Wings alumni team. More snow bowling alleys also will be added and hockey play will be enlarged to 20 divisions.

High winds and snow added to the challenge of bowling on Lake Huron as a storm moved into St. Ignace shortly before 11 a.m. Saturday. Bowler Ashley Therrian, one of 120 bowlers on 24 teams, aims for a spare. "Our outlook for the future is very bright," said Mr. Sposito, who was interviewed by telephone after the tournament by the sports network ESPN.

The next goal for the event is to bring in 56 more hockey teams than this year, for a total of 160 teams. Only two of the 102 teams registered to play in St. Ignace this year had to back out at the last minute, said Mr. Sposito. Each team has six or more skaters.

"Our goal eventually is to be the biggest pond hockey tournament in North America," he said.

St. Ignace now is the second or third largest tournament. For now, the largest tournament is in Minnesota, with 240 teams competing.

At left: Team Ford played to victory over the weekend, taking the gold in the 40-and-older division in the championship game Sunday, February 22. The men say they appreciated the community's hospitality and are looking forward to returning. Team members include Bill Ford (front row, from left), Mark Graham, Bill McCall; (back) Ralph Booth, Gordie MacDougall, and Jim Kwilos. Those who volunteer their time to the St. Ignace pond hockey tournament make the event possible, said Mr. Sposito. City crews and volunteers helped prepare the 14 tournament rinks and one open skate site. Scott Winkelman supervised the games and the panel of referees, and food concessions were operated by the St. Ignace Hockey Association.

LaBatt's Blue beer company helps sponsor the event, along with the St. Ignace Special Events Committee.

Upper Peninsula Pond Hockey Championship

Results Friday, February 20, through

Sunday, February 22

Men's Divisions

Champions of the Women's Division, the Dangerous Divas of St. Ignace, beat team Storm of South Haven 34-13, Sunday, February 22. The ice was great, said team members who used to play as a team at Little Bear East. A few years ago as the Midget Girls Travel Hockey team, they brought home the state championship. Pictured (from left, front row) are Kristyn Libby, Wendy Bouschor, Jenna Roland; (back) Missy Rickley, Sheena Bouschor, and Robin Belonga. Missing from the photograph is Jodi Woiderski. 21-and-Older:

Platinum — Gustafson's Smoked Fish (St. Clair Shores) beat Bingo Bango Backdoor (Novi)

Gold — Fluffers (Cadillac) beat Buffalo Babies (Buffalo, New York)

Silver — Bear Cove Inn (St. Ignace) beat Warrior Hockey Sticks (Bay City)

Bronze — Munger Marauders (Berkley) beat Keg Flies (Bloomfield Hills)

Copper — U & I Lounge (Traverse City) beat Do It For Dunlop (Harbor Springs)

Tin — Peaches & Dreams (Warren) beat O'Tools (Novi)

30-and-Older: Gold — Liquidators (Bloomfield Hills) beat Make-Me- Lafs (Houghton)

Most of the members of the Driftwood Sports Bar hockey team have been playing together for about 10 years and Sunday, February 22, their teamwork paid off. The St. Ignace men took silver in the 40- and-older division during the U.P. Hockey Tournament and ended three days of play with a 4-0 record. "It was fun," said team member Tom Sposito. "All the teams we played, every one, was having fun. It was good sportsmanship." Pictured are team members Bob Sweeney (from left), Steve Becker, Tim Gulben, Tom Sposito, Ralph Colegrove, Artie Stevens, and Andy Brown. Silver — Smarts 30 + beat Boulevard Lounge (Midland)

Bronze — Cereal City Ice Dogs II (East Leroy) beat Mystery Men (Pleasant Ridge)

40-and-Older:

Gold — Team Ford (Dearborn) beat T.C. United (Traverse City)

Silver — Driftwood Sports Bar (St. Ignace) beat Burt Lake Hackers (Bloomfield Hills)

Women's Division

Dangerous Divas (St. Ignace) beat Storm (South Haven)

Novice Division

Colleen's Irish Pub (Holt) beat Macomb County Sewer Rats (Clinton Township)

Snow Bowling Results

Saturday, February 20

First Place — Radio Shack (St. Ignace) 384

Second Place — Mary Huskey's Team (St. Ignace) 376

Third Place (tie) — Jimmy's Kids (St. Ignace) 369 and Mackinac Polar Rollers (St. Ignace) 369