Deadline Extended for Pond Hockey Tournament
The deadline to enter the Rotary Club of Newcastle’s annual Pond Hockey Tournament has been extended. The new deadline is Saturday, January 13, 2007.
WE HAVE ICE!
The Rotary Club of Newcastle has been keeping a watchful eye on the formation of ice over French Fort Cove, in anticipation of their 3rd annual Pond Hockey tournament. Sample drilling today has indicated at least 10 ½ inches of good white ice, with more to come as cold weather descends on the region. Ice thickness measurements in the past two years have been running approximately 24 inches during the tournament weekend. A variety of websites to provide information on minimum ice thickness requirements are readily available using Google search. One such site, from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, suggests 10 inches will support a truck. The public is reminded to stay on the cleared areas during the tournament and away from any location marked as being thin (typically at the inflow and outflow ends of the cove).
The tournament has room for 100 teams across the six divisions, which include “Female”, “Over 35”, “Over 50”, “Non-Competitive”, “Family”, and the popular “Open Competitive” division. With the entry deadline fast approaching, many of the openings for this year’s event have already been spoken for. Teams chair Patricia (Pat) Perry has 18 new teams already signed up who have not played in previous years, and almost 100% of the teams from outside the area are returning (including Boston and Calgary). “We are currently waiting on a number of local teams who have indicated interest, to send in their registrations. The mild daytime temperatures seem to have been holding them back”. Pat is quick to point out that overnight temperatures have usually been below zero during this same time, a factor sure to help ice formation.
Tournament chairperson Geri Mahoney says the club is trusting the community will pitch in and help out, as the event is becoming bigger than the small band of organizers expected. “Volunteers will be needed throughout the weekend for a variety of activities – we especially need referees”. If you can spare some time, please leave your name at 623-2158 or send an e-mail to .
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, with music by Trinity Sounds. 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 is 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.
The net proceeds from the Pond Hockey tournament will be going towards the French Fort Cove Eco-Center.
The deadline to enter the tournament is Saturday, January 13, 2007! Information packages in either language are available for download at www.MiramichiRotaryPondHockey.com. The easiest method to register and pay is online at the website. 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.