Pond hockey teams to face off at Feb. 5 tournament

The Maine Pond Hockey Classic is scheduled to return for the 11th year Friday through Sunday, Feb. 3-5.

The tournament, to be held at the Snow Pond Center for the Arts at 8 Goldenrod Lane in Sidney, is expected to include 600 players across 75 teams. It will be staffed by 100 volunteers and cheered on by up to 1,000 spectators, according to a news release from the Alfond Youth & Community Center in Waterville.

All proceeds go to support youth scholarships and programming at the Boys & Girls Club and YMCA of Greater Waterville at the community center.

The Maine Pond Hockey Classic began in 2013 with 14 teams. This year, the tournament offers six divisions for players of different ages and abilities, including Open A, Open B, Open C, Recreational D, Women’s Open, Women’s Recreation, 30-plus, 40-plus, 50-plus and Just for Fun.

Each player on the winning teams in the competitive division receives a credit to spend on tournament merchandise in the NLC Ice Skate Shop, and the winning team receives a unique trophy featuring the state of Maine cut from old hockey sticks.

The Maine Hockey Classic’s offerings include 10 pond hockey rinks, a community skating area, beer garden, fire pits, music, tournament store, food vendors and a youth skating clinic.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, Feb. 3

• Team/spectator check-in: 5:30-11 p.m.
• Captains meeting: 6:30 p.m.
• Pool play games: 7-11 p.m.
• United Rentals “Welcome Skate & Party Under the Lights”: 7-11 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4

• Team/spectator check-in: 7:30a.m.-5 p.m.
• Captains meeting: 8:30 a.m.
• Pool play games: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 5

• Team/spectator check-in: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Tournament play: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Spectrum Orthopedics Community Youth Skate & Hockey Clinic: 1:30-3 p.m.
• Unified Athlete Boot Hockey & Broomball: 1:30-3 p.m.

For more information, email Patrick Guerette, tournament director, at mepondhockeyclassic@gmail.com.