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SIDNEY — Those who grew up playing pond hockey know there are few experiences that compare to skating outside. The wide open ice, crisp fresh air, unpredictable surface and gentleman’s rules are all part of what makes pond hockey a special experience. 
Over the past few years, the Maine Pond Hockey Classic has brought hundreds of players from around the northeast and beyond, to experience hockey in its purest form — on a pond. The Maine Pond Hockey Classic began in 2013 with 14 teams on China Lake and has quickly grown into one of Maine’s biggest winter events.
Now, in its fourth year and second at Snow Pond Center for the Arts in Sidney, organizers are expecting more than 60 teams to play from Feb. 10 to 12. “This year we expect to nearly double in size,” tournament Director Patrick Guerette said. “We really have our past players to thank for that. They go home and tell their friends about it, and the next year we get more teams coming from further and further away.”
The tournament has already secured more than 20 teams from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and, of course, Maine. “We didn’t have 20 teams registered until January last year, and its only November!” said Kim Fleming, who serves as the volunteer entertainment director. “We are really excited about the growth and direction of this tournament.”
And the popularity has not gone unnoticed, as the tournament recently partnered with Camden National Bank as its new MVP Sponsor. “At Camden National Bank, we know the value of a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Renee Smyth, Camden’s chief marketing officer. “Outdoor recreation, such as pond hockey, is a great way to stay active in the wintertime. We are honored to be able to partner with the Alfond Youth Center to support the Maine Pond Hockey Classic, which draws teams of all ages and abilities across the great state of Maine, and beyond, to the Waterville area.”
The tournament offers six divisions for players of different ages and abilities; including, Open A, Open B, Women’s, Recreational, 40+ and Just for Fun. Each division winner receives a prize pack including complimentary entry to the following year’s tournament, championship sweatshirts and a trophy featuring the state of Maine cut from old hockey sticks. “We like having a trophy that you won’t see anywhere else. Besides, it really wouldn’t be a great representation of Maine if we didn’t take something old and discarded and turn it into something awesome,” Guerette said.
The Maine Pond Hockey Classic provides a festival-like atmosphere for players and spectators alike. The tournament site will contain at least eight rinks, community skating area, beer garden, firepits, music, tournament store, food vendors, a polar bear dip on Saturday morning, and more. Tournament organizers have experienced what a great location Snow Pond Center for the Arts is for the tournament.
“When you are hosting players from far away, you want to make sure you think of the entire player experience,” said Bert Languet, volunteer director of event operations. “This location provides a lot of amenities. We have ample parking, drive on access to the ice and heated indoor space for between games. The players really appreciate these conveniences.”
The Maine Pond Hockey Classic is an annual fundraising tournament supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA of Greater Waterville. Registration opened on Oct. 1; interested teams must register prior to Jan. 10. Teams registering before Dec. 1 can save $50. Each team plays three pool play games for seeding followed by a single elimination tournament. Pond hockey is played four on four without goalies or on ice officials, and each team is allowed to have up to seven players on their roster.
More information can be found on the tournament website at www.mainepondhockey.org, at www.facebook.com/mainepondhockey or on twitter @mainepondhockey.
For those looking to get involved with the MPHC, there are several volunteer opportunities available. If interested, please contact Patrick Guerette via email at mepondhockeyclassic@gmail.com.
