Cheer for Your Favorite Pond Hockey Team

Get some fresh air at the Labatt Blue U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, Jan. 26-29, at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. Founded in 2006, the popular event is free and open to the public. ESPN has named it one of the “101 things sports fans must experience before they die.”

Pond hockey is played much like traditional hockey, except it is less formal, has fewer players and is played on a natural frozen body of water. The tournament’s website calls it “Hockey. The way nature intended.” Meant to recall young people’s pick-up games, pond hockey has no goalies. The net is only six inches tall.

The 2017 event kicks off with opening ceremonies on Friday, Jan. 27, at 8:30 a.m., followed by the official puck drop at 8:50 a.m. The tournament will host hundreds of teams and more than 2,000 players in five divisions. AARP in the Twin Cities is sponsoring the 40+ Open Division for men and women 40 and older. The 40+ championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29, at 1:50 p.m.

Besides watching the games, spectators can enjoy free family ice skating, a warming house, beer garden, food and skate sharpening by Dick’s Sporting Goods.

For a full schedule and details, visit uspondhockey.com. For information on other winter events sponsored by AARP in Minneapolis/St. Paul, visit aarp.org/twincities. —Mary Van Beusekom