February 2008 - Congratulations to Connor Wood (pictured below, far right) of the Duluth Pee Wee "AA" Junior Thrashers team for making it to the Championship game and finishing in 2nd place at the 2008 Canadian Pond Hockey Challenge Tournament in North Bay, Ontario.
The Atlanta Thrashers sponsored 3 local players to represent Atlanta hockey during this unique outdoor 3 on 3 pond hockey tournament the weekend of February 15th.
The 1st annual Canadian Pond Hockey Face-Off was a huge success last year. The event involved 23 teams with players aged 5 to 55 taking part. The event takes place on the Education Centre Pond behind Canadore College.
The weather cooperated (despite record snowfall in February) and we had an exciting weekend of hockey for all ages and the best part about it was that it was all for fun and it got us all playing hockey the way the incredible game first began and some even experienced skating on natural ice for the first time.
The Canadian Pond Hockey Face-Off also created an outreach program for five Gulf Coast teens who lost their homes after Hurricane Katrina crippled their region in August of 2005. With great assistance from local sponsors the kids had an all-expense paid trip to play pond hockey. The teens said afterwards that it was a trip of a lifetime and the Gulf Coast is expected to be represented by a pair of teams in the 2007 event.
That story helped the tournament receive national and international media recognition (CTV National, CTV Newsnet, Weather Network, The Hockey News and ABC News New Orleans).
Overall, thanks to the support from local sponsors and teams who participated last year, our committee was able to raise $4,000.00 that has gone into a City Outdoor Rink Development fund that will assist in upgrading and maintenance for neighbourhood rinks in our community.
