"The Pond is where we grew up, learned to play and
made friends. The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is an inspirational tribute to
this legacy and the authentic spirit of a game so many of us enjoy," said Mike
Eruzione, captain of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey Team. As the action heats up
on the ice and teams compete one thing is certain; the community wins from the
percentage of proceeds which will benefit the Herb Brooks Foundation and
DinoMights Inner City Youth Hockey.
Spectators gathered to catch six-player teams go
head to head on four-on-four games split into two 17.5-minute halves with a
two-minute intermissions. Rinks are cleared in true pond fashion - shoveled off
prior to games by the two teams on deck. Saturday featured round-robin
tournament play, with each team guaranteed three games. Teams were whittled
down to the top contenders on Sunday when "The Golden Shovel" was award. The
Golden Shovel is to the USPHC what the Stanley Cup is to the NHL, and will be
awarded to tournament winners each year. They will be inscribed on the shovel
as U.S. Pond Hockey Championship champions.
"We
hope the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships will provide the community with a
weekend to pay tribute to a true Minnesota tradition, while bringing
nationwide attention to the purity that still exists in sport." This is
certain to become one of the most anticipated events of the winter for hockey
fans.
