Global teams vie for pond hockey glory
WebPosted Feb 18 2005 05:06 PM AST
CBC News

FREDERICTON 젛? Ninety-six pond hockey teams from all over North America and beyond are in Plaster Rock this weekend, competing in the fourth annual World Pond Hockey Championships.

• RELATED LINK: World pond hockey championships

Ron Harding, who grew up in Plaster Rock, flew in from B.C. just to take part in the event.

Getting ready for the games

He says playing pond hockey puts you back in touch with what hockey is all about.

"This is the ultimate for anyone born and raised playing hockey," Harding says.

"To get out on a pond in the middle of the day or even in the evening to play hockey ?everything comes out. It's grassroots hockey is what it is."

Organizer Danny Brawn gets calls from around the world

For hockey fans like himself, Harding says pond hockey is a welcome relief from all the troubles in the NHL.

In fact, he says there's been some talk at this year's event about how a few hours out on a pond might bring a new perspective to professional team owners and players.

"Some people were saying maybe they need to play a little hockey in the outdoors. Maybe that would bring realism to the game again for these guys."

Harding and his friends will be facing off against teams from as far away as England and the Cayman Islands.

The players talk about the joy of playing outdoors, especially those who come from countries where there's no real winter.

But even in the world of pond hockey, things aren't quite as rustic as they used to be.

For one thing, they're not playing on all-natural ice ?or on a pond either.

The games are played on a small lake, specially groomed with Zamboni-like machines.

The result is an ice surface that's almost as good as you'd find at your local indoor arena.

But true to form, there are no boards around the ice surface and no painted lines.

Danny Brawn, one of the organizers, has been with the event since it started four years ago.

He says they had a feeling right from the start that it was going to be a success, but nothing like what it's become.

"I don't think we ever envisioned it spreading geographically the way it has ?all the media interest and teams coming from around the world. Now we're receiving calls from places as far away as China."

Brawn says there is a bit of an irony in this year's event.

He says the organizers are raising money to build a new arena so the local kids can play hockey ? indoors.