For Immediate Release

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The 11th Annual Maine Pond Hockey Classic Rescheduled to February 10-12 Due to This Weekend’s Expected Temperatures Well Below Zero

Maine Pond Hockey Classic hopes to raise more than $40,000 to support the

Boys & Girls Club and YMCA of Greater Waterville at the Alfond Youth & Community Center

 

Waterville, Maine – January 31, 2023 – The Maine Pond Hockey Classic, returning for its 11th year, has been rescheduled from February 3-5 to February 10-12, due to weather forecasting temperatures well below zero this upcoming weekend. The tournament, to be held for the 8th year in a row at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, is expected to include 600 players across 75 teams, to be staffed by 100 volunteers and will be cheered on by up to 1,000 spectators. All proceeds from the event go to support youth scholarships and programming at the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA of Greater Waterville at the Alfond Youth & Community Center.

 

“We’ve been closely monitoring the weather in preparation for the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, as the safety of our athletes, volunteers and staff is our highest priority,” said Patrick Guerette, tournament director for the Maine Pond Hockey Classic. “The weekend’s forecast calls for temperatures that are as low as -40 degrees with the windchill, which would be unsafe for tournament participants, so we have postponed the tournament for a week to give time for the expected cold snap to subside.”
 

The Maine Pond Hockey Classic began in 2013 with 14 teams. This year, the tournament offers six divisions for players of different ages and abilities, including Open ‘A,’ Open ‘B,’ Open ‘C,’ Recreational ‘D,’ Women’s Open, Women’s Recreation, 30+, 40+ 50+ and ‘Just for Fun’. Each player on the winning teams in the competitive division receives a credit to spend on tournament merchandise in the NLC Ice Skate Shop, and the winning team receives a unique trophy featuring the State of Maine cut from old hockey sticks.

 

Teams may register for the tournament here until Friday, February 3, 2023.

 

The Maine Hockey Classic provides a festival-like atmosphere for players and spectators alike, including 10 pond hockey rinks, a community skating area, beer garden, fire pits, music, tournament store, food vendors, youth skating clinic and more.

 

 

WHO/WHAT:     Maine Pond Hockey Classic

 

WHEN:                 February 10-12, 2023

 

Friday, February 10

• Team/spectator check-in: 5:30pm-11pm

• Captains meeting: 6:30pm

• Pool play games: 7pm-11pm

• United Rentals ‘Welcome Skate & Party Under the Lights’: 7pm-11pm

Saturday, February 11

• Team/spectator check-in: 7:30am-5pm

• Captains meeting: 8:30am

• Pool play games: 9am-6:30pm

 

Sunday, February 12

• Team/spectator check-in: 8:30am-2:30pm

• Tournament play: 9am-2pm

• Maine State Credit Union Youth Skate & Hockey Clinic: 2pm-3:30pm

• Unified Athlete Boot Hockey & Broomball: 2pm-3pm

 

WHERE:               Snow Pond Center for the Arts

                              8 Goldenrod

                             Sidney, Maine 04330

 

For those looking to get involved with the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, there are still volunteer opportunities available. If interested, you may register here, or contact Patrick Guerette, tournament director, via email at mepondhockeyclassic@gmail.com.

 

Members of the media interested in attending the tournament or in an interview about it, may contact Mary Alice Johnson at mjohnson@clubaycc.org.

 

About the Maine Pond Hockey Classic

 

The Maine Pond Hockey Classic was established in 2013 with the goal of becoming the biggest and best pond hockey style tournament in the State of Maine. Located in Central Maine; originally on China Lake, now hosted on Snow Pond in Sidney, the Maine Pond Hockey Classic is perfectly positioned to attract teams from all over Maine and beyond. We aim to provide an exceptional experience for everyone involved with the tournament and make the Maine Pond Hockey Classic a tournament that represents everything that is great about winter in the Northeast. For more information, visit www.mainepondhockey.org or follow the tournament on Facebook or Instagram at @mainepondhockey.

 

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Media Contact

Mary Alice Johnson

Marketing & Communications Director

(C): 703-606-2413

(O): 207-873-0684, ext. 250

mjohnson@clubaycc.org