Volunteers set up the warming tent Monday, February 15, on the ice of Moran Bay between Star Line and Shepler's ferry docks, in preparation for the U.P. Pond Hockey Tournament February 19 through February 21 in St. Ignace. Behind the volunteers setting up the tent, 24 rinks cover the ice of the bay, and the hills of central St. Ignace can be seen in the background. Since the ice of Moran Bay has been thick enough to drive on, volunteers have been preparing the bay for the 132 teams and thousands more spectators who will venture onto the ice for the third annual U.P. Pond Hockey Tournament in St. Ignace Friday, February 19, through Sunday, February 21.

With 24 rinks and 132 teams already signed up, this year's tournament is the biggest. The annual competition started in 2007.

Organizer Mark Sposito said everything is shaping up very well for the event, which entertains thousands of area residents and visitors every year in St. Ignace. The weather has been favorable, he said, something organizers were more than a little nervous about in January when Moran Bay had no ice.

"The weather has cooperated," Mr. Sposito said Monday, February 15. "We have good ice, good snow; we are almost ahead of the game right now."

Volunteers said the ice was at least 16 inches thick near shore where the warming tent and tournament headquarters sit for the event, and about one foot thick at the outermost rinks, plenty thick enough for the tournament. By game time Friday, they said, the ice would likely be even thicker.

"The volunteer effort has been great this year," Mr. Sposito said. About 100 area residents give their time to prepare the rinks, set up the tents, haul hay bales, smooth the ice, score the games, and do anything else needed by event organizers.

The smoothness of the ice, Mr. Sposito said, was a benefit this year. Skaters had no trouble gliding across the surface even before the Zamboni made its first trip onto the rinks.

One hundred teams took part in the tournament in 2009, which meant about 600 people laced up their skates and took to the ice. This year's 132 teams means about 800 players are expected to play in the four-on-four tournament games.

Games will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, February 19, on the bay surrounded by the buildings of downtown St. Ignace, and will run until 5 p.m. Play will begin again at 9 a.m. Saturday, February 20, and continue until 5 p.m. Championship games will run from 11 a.m. to about 1 p.m. Sunday, February 21, and the award presentation will take place in the warming tent when the championship game concludes.

A special exhibition game featuring the Red Wings Alumni team and 2009 Pond Hockey Tournament players will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 19, at Little Bear East arena in St. Ignace. Tickets are still available for $10 and can be purchased through Little Bear East (643-8676), the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau (643-6950), or the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce (643-8717).

Former Red Wings Joey Kocur and Curtis Joseph will both be on hand at the tournament warming tent Saturday morning, February 20, to meet fans and sign autographs.

Ice bowling will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 20, on the ice of Moran Bay, alongside the hockey games. Registration for ice bowling, which mimics traditional bowling with a real ball and pins with the twist of playing on slick ice, begins at 9 a.m. and the entry fee is $25 for a four-person team. Proceeds from ice bowling benefit the St. Ignace Recreation Department.

Live entertainment by Mackinac Island band Tricky Dicky and the Spoonman will be offered from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 20, in the warming tent.

Concessions will be available all three days during tournament hours in the warming tent, and proceeds from the food and beverages sold will benefit the St. Ignace Hockey Association, their biggest fundraiser of the year.

On both Friday and Saturday, a bus will be provided for all hockey players registered in the tournament for a pub crawl around St. Ignace from noon to 2:30 a.m.