World Pond Hockey Championships

2011-02-21T14:00:00.004-04:00

Click 'here' to view the standings for the men's division for the 2011 tournament.

Click 'here' to view the standings for the women's division for the 2011 tournament.

2011-02-13T16:07:00.005-04:00

The New York Boars take the title of World Pond Hockey Champions for another year!!

Congrats to Steve Malley, Chris Dirkes, Brad Parsons, Steve Shirreffs, and Tyler Moyer.

Final Score: 7-6

2011-02-13T14:47:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to the Hilltop Bud Lights on becoming World Pond Hockey Women's Champions!

Catherine Boudreau, Amy Nelson, Melinda Kaye, Angie MacKinnon and Sarah Braam, well done ladies!

Final Score: 10-6

2011-02-13T14:01:00.004-04:00

In the Men's final we have:

Labatts #1 from Fredericton, NB

The defending champs The New York Boars from New York, NY

2011-02-13T13:11:00.002-04:00

For the Women's final game we have:

Air Force Girls from Greenwood, NS

Hilltop Bud Lights from Fredericton, NB

@ 1:45pm on the championship ice

A little info that was compiled a few years ago.

2011-02-13T11:56:00.004-04:00

2011-02-12T19:32:00.000-04:00

Ooops!! Men's round of 32 has been posted, sorry about the mix up!

2011-02-12T18:19:00.001-04:00

THE RESULTS ARE IN!!!!

See link to right of screen

2011-02-11T21:59:00.002-04:00

Fact - Approximately one month ago an emergency meeting was held to dicsuss the fact that there was only 8.5 inches of ice covering the lake and 2ish weeks ago there was only maybe a light dusting of snow on the ground.

Fact - Within the last month temperatures dropped and the ice thickness grew to a depth of 16 inches and within the last 2 weeks 4 feet of snow blanketed the ground and major prep of Roulston lake was underway.

The Hockey Gods have smiled upon us ones again!! Hockey mecca was reborn!

Thus far there have been 5277 goals scored in the 2011 World Pond Hockey Championships and 1400+ pucks are hiding in the 2 foot high snow banks that line the 22 cleared ice surfaces.

One of my favorite things about making the trek from Halifax, NS to the metropolis better known as Plaster Rock for this specific weekend is to see the many teams that also travel here each year from places farther than I. Marc Tanguay from the Montreal Maroons said to me last night, "This is our 8th year attending the games. Its so hard to believe, but it seems to keep getting better and better!"

Marc speaks the truth, the last 10 years have allowed the Plaster Rock community to perfect the tournament and to add improvements to show where the dollars that this weekend bring in, go to.

From a beautiful arena, to a wonderful welcome centre and, the icing on the cake, the pavillion, that rests on the bank of the Roulston lake, this weekend does not come and go with a good cause. Whether it be to support the village, improve the tournament, or attract people from the around the world, I believe this weekend is more valuable than it appears. Sense of community, sense of accomplishment and not to mention the feeling of reclaiming your youth that overwhelms each player that walk onto the lake is what this weekend is truly about. No dollar amount can be tied to that....its priceless.

2011-02-10T18:49:00.005-04:00

The 10th Anniversary World Pond Hockey Championships are underway!

"The World Pond Hockey Championships has come to stand for more than just hockey games being played outside. It now signifies village pride, cohesiveness of the local citizenry, and evidence of what can happen when a good idea is supported by good people." - Bob Zinck

2010-02-14T15:57:00.002-04:00

The New York Boars take the cup!!

Congrats to Steve Malley, Brad Parsons, Mike Sayre, Chris Corrinet, Chris Dirkes!

2010-02-14T14:28:00.004-04:00

The Has-Been Tommies from Fredericton, NB have earned the title the Women's World Pond Hockey Champions!

Congratulations to Catherine Boudreau, Rebekah Thompson, Amy MacLennan, Sarah Braam, and Kristina O'Brien.

Sorry for the misprint earlier.

2010-02-14T13:41:00.001-04:00

We have the New York Boars and the Boston Danglers for the final!!!

2010-02-11T18:30:00.001-04:00

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!

Check back for updates!

2010-02-08T20:48:00.001-04:00

Please note that there have been changes made to the schedules!!

2010-01-28T23:41:00.005-04:00

The Countdown is On!

With only 2 weeks left to go the tiny village of Plaster Rock has been a buzz with committee meetings, last minute tweaks and preparations of our beloved lake for the world to enjoy. With at least 12 inches of ice and newly fallen snow the pond is almost picture perfect. The Championships this year will be boasting a new "beer tent" named the Roulston Lake Pavillion. (See photo) The sides of the structure will be wrapped in a tarp-like material to ward off the elements that winter in New Brunswick can bring. So unfortunately there will be no water-on-ice diving, or ice dancing during the Friday night festivities!

This year we will be seeing teams from every Canadian province, 22 U.S. states, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden and Switzerland. We will also be welcoming teams that will form the Ladies Division which is a new addition to this year's Championships.

So prepare yourselves folks for yet another memorable 4 days!

2009-12-04T19:01:00.002-04:00

2009-02-22T15:41:00.001-04:00

Sadler's Wheat Kings from Fredericton, NB are the 2009 World Pond Hockey Champions!

2009-02-22T13:40:00.006-04:00

The New York Boars and the Sadler Wheat Kings go to battle at centre ice for the title of World Pond Hockey Championships!

2009-02-21T16:05:00.002-04:00

If you like to send out a message to your favorite team please go to the Google Group and post there. Messages will be displayed during the slide show presentation tonight at the WPHC Social.

Friday Night Lights

2009-02-20T21:18:00.003-04:00

With a temperature of -5 C (23 F), 27 inches of ice, and a soft flurry of snow to set the mood, 120 teams from all over the world set out on Roulston Lake to play what some would call the greatest game on earth. A total of 5317 goals so far have been scored and I'm sure a mighty dent has been put into the 240 flats of beer that were brought for the event. As I sit in the stats trailer I can hear the rantings of comedian Jimmy Flynn with the crowd roar of the occasional "Sociable", as well as the thumping base of a favorite maritime kitchen party song in the giant tent set up on the ice surface. The lure is too much for me to handle...I gotta go! haha

2009-02-19T20:30:00.001-04:00

The Lord Stanley Cup, Ron MacLean, Kelly Hrudey, and Bobby Hull make an appearance at the 2009 World Pond Hockey Championships!

2009-02-19T16:36:00.002-04:00

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
Stay tuned for updates...

2009-01-30T18:20:00.001-04:00

The village of Plaster Rock and the eighth annual World Pond Hockey Championship will provide the backdrop for CBC's annual Hockey Day In Canada broadcast Feb. 21.

Ron MacLean, the popular host of Hockey Night In Canada, has been named honourary chairman of the event and participate in opening ceremonies for the event, which begins on the Thursday night, Feb. 19 and wraps up Sunday, Feb. 22 with the presentation of the championship trophy, which has been christened the Goodwill Cup.

MacLean and former NHL goaltender turned CBC commentator Kelly Hrudey will be on hand on Thursday. CBC television will broadcast the NHL game between the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins from Pitsburgh that night and the World Pond Hockey Championship will be featured throughout the broadcast.

Campbellton will be the official host of Tim Horton's Hockey Day In Canada on the Saturday, with Plaster Rock as a satellite location. CBC Sports personalities will be on hand all weekend to present the community of Plaster Rock to the nation. Plaster Rock director of recreation Danny Braun says a technical crew of six to eight people, as well as on-air personnel, will be on hand all weekend, although MacLean will be back in Toronto Saturday for CBC Sports' tripleheader coverage, featuring Ottawa at Montreal, Vancouver in Toronto and Calgary in Edmonton.

Games and other Hockey Day events will be streamed at CBCSports.ca and will also be available on demand. Braun said the semifinals and final of the World Pond Hockey Championship may be streamed.

"It's the type of exposure for your event and your community that we couldn't buy," said Braun. "It's a pat in the back to our volunteer group over the years who have brought the event to the level it is and make it better every year."

CBC Sports visited Plaster Rock in June to look at the logistics of broadcasting from Roulston Lake, the site of the tournament, which began with 64 teams in 2002 and has grown to the point where participation had to be capped at a maximum 120 teams for the past four years. Eight hundred teams from all over the world applied for admission to the tournament. Membership was determined by lottery.

Twenty-four surfaces are sculpted on Roulston Lake, with 20 of them in use at a time.

Last year's championship team, the Sadler's Wheat Kings Fredericton and Quispamsis returns to defend their title. Former UNB hockey players Charlie Cameron, Jeff Peddigrew, Bob Brown and Dave Myles, now living in Quispamsis, will return.

"The only continent we haven't had represented is Antarctica," he said, noting that a woman from Australia will play this year. Teams are coming from every province and territory this year and 26 states.

"To take off the way it has geographically, it's gone better than we could have imagined," said Braun. Former NHLer Brian Skrudland -- who will be the guest speaker at the Fredericton Sports Investments Auction here Dec. 6 -- will return with his Calgary-based team this year.

Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery for the tournament. Braun estimates there are 20 similar events in Canada, "three or four at least" in the United States, and others in Switzerland and Finland. Braun expects the World Pond Hockey Championships to affiliate or partner with them, perhaps as soon as next year.