Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament
The Rotary Club of Newcastle unveiled a new website, just in time for their third annual Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament February 2nd to 4th, 2007. Designed and hosted by Mighty Miramichi, the website can be viewed at www.MiramichiRotaryPondHockey.com. Chair for the tournament, Geri Mahoney, is pleased with the added exposure this will bring to the event, the club, and the Rotary name.
“We have appreciated being able to piggy-back on www.FrenchFortCove.com the past couple of years, but the magnitude of the event necessitated setting up our own home. We feel the web design team has produced something visually pleasing as well as highly functional for us. We applaud their efforts,” Mahoney says. Also new in the 2007 event will be an Over 50 division, as well as a few surprises for the viewing public.
The tournament has room for 100 teams across six divisions, which include Female, Over 35, Over 50, Non-Competitive, Family, and the popular Open Competitive division. A total of 84 teams registered for the event in February 2006, an increase of 38% over the inaugural year. With the entry deadline fast approaching, many of the openings for this year’s event have already been spoken for.
“The number of teams coming from outside the area will be up again this year,” Mahoney says. Entries last year came from as far as Alberta, Ontario, and Boston, with teams also coming from Maine and across the Maritimes. Inquiries this year have come from Houston, Ohio, and Montreal, as well as many closer to home. Participants from last year were enthusiastic in their praise of the event.
“Thanks for another great time this weekend.” – G. Cripps.
“It was one of our greatest road trips ever.” – N. Thomson.
“We had a team in your 2006 hockey tourney this year and they had a blast. When can I apply to put a second team in for your 2007 pond hockey tournament?” – P. Blais.
A large number of spectators are expected to take in the event, with viewing available at ice level, along the park boardwalk, or from other vantage points around the cove. Admission to the public continues to be free, but spectators are reminded it is at your own risk. Concessions will be available at ice level. Back by popular demand will be a sound stage with continuous music by Trinity Sounds throughout the weekend. The large number of teams will necessitate continuous play on 12-14 ice surfaces, as well as night games under the lights. The event will not be postponed due to inclement weather conditions. Play begins Friday afternoon and continues all day Saturday. The final games of the tournament will be played Sunday morning and early afternoon. Once again this year the public will be asked to wear hockey jerseys on the first day of the tournament (February 2) to celebrate the weekend – last year’s “Hockey Jersey Day” was an enormous success as schools, businesses, and spectators alike hosted a visit from CBC Hockeyville.
French Fort Cove has always been a picture-perfect location along King George Highway, the main traffic artery along the north side of the city. Development of the park started years ago and is actively managed by the French Fort Cove Commission. The long-awaited construction of the year-round Eco-Tourism Centre and Miramichi Curling Club is complete, with the grand opening and ribbon-cutting happening Saturday October 14th. The net proceeds from the Pond Hockey tournament will go toward this project.
Anyone thinking about participating should grab a spot soon, the deadline to enter the tournament is January 5, 2007. Registration packages in either language are available for download at www.MiramichiRotaryPondHockey.com. You can register online using PayPal, as well as the usual paper and cheque method. See you on the pond!
Giv’er Miramichi is about “What’s up, what’s new, what’s happening”. We are focused on building people up, supporting one another and celebrating our successes.