As part of Third Assist's "Ultimate Pond Hockey Resource" we've reached out to the best pond hockey tournaments taking place this winter in the United States. We want to know where they're at, what makes them unique, and why we should visit this upcoming winter. Safe to say we're sold on the following tournaments.
The Labatt Lineup — USA Hockey Pond Hockey Nationals, New England Pond Hockey Classic, and The Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic
Location of Tournament:
Eagle River, Wisconsin
Meredith, New Hampshire
Colchester, Vermont
Time of Year:
February 8-10, 2019
February 1-3, 2019
February 8-10, 2019
Ages Welcomed to Play:
Adults 21+. Sponsored by Labatt Blue- makes sense!
Size of the Tournament:
Eagle River, WI is over 2000 players.
Meredith, NH is over 2000 players.
Colchester, VT is over 1200 players.
Special Entertainment:
We're going to venture a guess you'll find a nicely stocked beer tent here among other awesome food, drink, hockey vendors at all three locales.
What Sets This Tournament Apart:
These are the large-scale, well-run, well-established tournaments in the pond hockey world. They frequently sell out well before the holidays, as they did this year. You can expect lots of teams, lots of food and drinks, and lots of entertainment. This may sound like a mass-produced tournament, but each one is a reflection of the area where it's being played. One size does not fit all, and that's what makes this tournament line-up so cool.
Third Assist's Take:
These tournaments have been going on for over a decade now and have got it figured out. When you sign up to one of these events you have a good idea of what you're getting into, and it does not disappoint. These represent the upper tier of national tournaments and if you're looking to get on the big stage of pond hockey, these are the tournaments for you.
Where to Learn More About This Tournament:
www.usahockey.com/pondhockey
www.pondhockeyclassic.com/newengland
www.pondhockeyclassic.com/lakechamplain
*All photos used by permission from tournament.