Organizers of a pond hockey tournament on Lake Minnetonka say it will go ahead as scheduled — with or without the pond hockey.
The North American Pond Hockey Championship is set for Jan. 21-24. If the mild winter means there’s not enough ice for hockey, the event still will offer music and other winter games.
The organizers plan to decide about hockey by Jan. 14. J. Lindsay, a tournament organizer, said a cold snap expected next week could help.
If the ice isn’t safe, the volunteer-led event will go ahead with a tent party and concert next to Maynards Restaurant in Excelsior to benefit the Hendrickson Foundation, which supports hockey players with disabilities, and ALS. Proceeds from the event’s Flurry Scurry 5K fun run will go to the DinoMights hockey program.
“Teams and fans are invited to come out, ice or no ice, and join the party to help raise money for these charitable organizations,” organizers said. Registered pond hockey teams will be allowed to use their registration fees for next year’s tournament or donate 50 percent of their fees, with the other half refunded.
Another pond hockey tourney, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, was pushed back two weeks because of the warm weather. It’s now scheduled for Jan. 28-31.
Beatrice Dupuy
