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 The Frozen-In-Time of Toronto will join more than two-thousand
recreational pond hockey players and some former NHLers in a pilgrimage
to Huntsville, Ontario for the world’s largest outdoor hockey competition,
the Source for Sports Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships.
Led by Captain Bradley Hadfield, the Frozen-In-Time will compete
in the Men’s Recreational division of this massive pond hockey event
which features 600 games over back-to-back weekends beginning Friday,
January 23rd at 1:15 p.m. Frozen In Time has a 0-13 record in previous
Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships but will brave the elements
with 53 Toronto teams that have entered across the various divisions.
Win or lose, the players can count on being a part of one of the
most amazing hockey experiences in Canada.
For player contact information for your local teams or to arrange
your attendance, please call Gary Holloway at 905.638.4226, or email
gary@canadapondhockey.ca
For game schedules visit:
www.allprosoftware.net/CanadianNationalPondHockeyChamps/ or
www.allprosoftware.net/CanadianMastersPondHockeyChamps/
Upon arrival, please report to the player registration desk on
the main floor at Deerhurst Resort. A volunteer will give you a
media kit and contact media relations on the 2-way to arrange a
meeting spot. Once the opening horn blows at 1:15 p.m Friday, and
about 1-hour ahead of that, I'll be on the pond, so we'll likely
meet up near rink C. If you call me ahead to discuss your specific
needs over the phone, no need to register on arrival.
Got heavy equipment? Don't cart it down the hill - instead make
arrangements to park your TV truck pond side. But call me ahead,
so I can alert security.
Back to the event, the Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships
personifies the spirit of hockey in Canada. Held at Deerhurst Resort
on the 6-acre Sunset Bay, it has quickly grown into the world’s
largest pond hockey tourney. The wide-appeal of playing outdoors
in the picture-postcard setting at Deerhurst has led to expansion
to 6 different divisions to accommodate male and female players
in different age groups and at various competitive levels.
Across both weekends, over 290 men's and women's teams will compete,
some driven solely by fun, others by the competition - but common
to each entry is the desire to be a part of a rich hockey experience
like none other. The massive pond hockey event will feature 600
games over back-to-back weekends. Opening weekend features the Men’s
and Women’s Championships, and the men's recreational for players
25+. There are hundreds of colorful stories behind the teams, including
the continuing rivalry between the Barrie Theta TTS Bruins (winners
in 2007 and 2008) led by Kevin Culhane, and the Rink Rake Grey Beards
(winners in 2006) led by Joe Van Volsen of Brooklin, Ontario.
The second weekend of action, Friday, January
30-February 1 is highlighted by the reunion of long-time NHL team
mates Scott Thornton and Vinny Damphousse who will play on team
Scandinave Crew in the masters' division for men ages 35+. Thornton
and Damphousse played for the same NHL teams nine seasons, beginning
with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1990, and then on to the Edmonton Oilers in 1991 (as part of the blockbuster trade for Grant Fuhr).
They would play together again as Montreal Canadiens from '96 to
'99, and as San Jose Sharks from 2000 to 2004.
Also on the 2nd weekend, the NHL Alumni is also getting in the Canadian
National Pond Hockey action with two exhibition games Sunday afternoon
featuring Mark Napier, Gary Leeman, Dennis Maruk, Jack Valiquette
and Danny Daoust - against pond hockey teams.
Spectator admission is free and encouraged for all the events. For
team profiles and visitor information visit
www.canadapondhockey.ca.
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