The 8th Annual New England Pond Hockey Tournament gets underway today, Friday, February 3rd, on the big ice (Lake Winnipesaukee) in Meredith Bay, just minutes from our Meredith Bay community. The popular event will see 270 teams—more than 2000 players in seven divisions—lace ‘em up for some hardfought competition on 24 rinks beginning at 8:00am sharp on Friday and continuing through the playoffs on Sunday.  Each game will be comprised of two 15-minute halves, and standard pond-hockey rules will pertain, i.e. no offsides, no checking, no slapshots, no goalie gear—and no whistles. It’s nonstop action that’s as fun to watch as it is to play. In addition to the on-ice activities, there will be live music, a raffle to benefit local youth hockey programs (winner gets a VIP bob-house!), a used equipment drive, concessions provided by Common Man, and more. One promise: the beer in the Labatt’s Blue Zone will be served cold!

Which team will you be rooting for? Meredith’s own Winnipesaukee Whalers? Hands Like Feet or The Red Hot Chili Puckers from Boston? Shut Your 5-Holes from Woburn? The Stickadelics from Hingham? Or maybe an out-of-the-area team like the Angry Yetis from Washington, D.C., Ingalls Pictures from Grand Rapids, Mich., or the Beaver Beaters from Cherry Hill, N.J. Whichever squad you back, you’re assured of a great time in the great outdoors when you take in the nation’s largest pond hockey event here in the Lakes Region.

For more information on the tournament schedule, parking and other details, click here.