Pond hockey tournament coming to Port Huron

A handful of years ago, the idea for a pond hockey tournament became a reality in Lexington.

And now that idea is spreading to Port Huron.

Fred Minnie, Mike Dewey and Ron Hembroff are building two rinks at Port Huron's Palmer Park to host a three-on-three tournament in late-February.

The Port Huron men have covered about 9,000 square feet of property south of the recreation center at 2829 Armour St. with ice.

Minnie said an exact date for the tournament hasn't been selected, but it will likely be on a Sunday in late February.

The men got an early start on the rink so the public can use it for skating in the mean time. It is expected to be completed by this weekend.

The tournament will cost $10 a player, with proceeds used to help local youth hockey players in need with expenses, as well as covering the costs of the rinks.

The idea of the Port Huron tournament came from competing in the Lexington tournament.

The fourth annual Pond Hockey Tournament in Lexington will be Feb. 7.

"We had a great time, a great Sunday," Minnie said.

The Port Huron tournament is open to anyone — men, women, boys and girls.

"Anybody, any ages," Hembroff said Wednesday while spraying water on the rink.

Those interested in signing up can contact Minnie by calling (810) 984-1029.

The only requirements are the teams consist of six people. Minnie said he plans on getting downtown merchants involved as well as inviting hockey players from Sarnia and Mount Clemens.

"We think it would bring a lot of people into town to kind of help out the merchants," Minnie said.

Mark Edmonson, the Lexington tournament organizer, said he's glad his tournament is helping spur a new one in Port Huron.

"I think it's awesome," he said.

Last year, temperatures hovered at about zero, but hundreds of people still came out to watch the eight teams take to the ice in Lexington.

Nine teams are already signed up for this year, about the limit Edmondson can accept for the tournament with one rink at Tierney Park. But he said he may consider hosting more games during a later weekend if interest keeps growing.

He's also been talking to local coaches of Pee Wee teams about hosting a youth event Jan. 24, to run during the second week of Silver Stick.

The Lexington tournament includes a $10 donation per player, with half going to the village's parks and recreation department and the remainder going to the fire department.

Edmonson said later this year rinks will be added to Lexington's Lester Park, so next year's tournament can be host to more teams.

He said the draw to pond hockey is the focus on skill, and not just brute force.

"You don't have to be a big rough-housing guy. It's all about passing," Edmonson said, noting his tournament's players range in age from 12 to the 60s.

Contact Liz Shepard at (810) 989-6273 or lshepard@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter@lvshepard.

POND HOCKEY

•Lexington's fourth annual Pond Hockey Tournament starts at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at Tierney Park, adjacent to the Lexington Harbor. Cost is $10 per player. Those interested in the tournament can contact Mark Edmonson at (810) 359-7025.

•The Port Huron pond hockey tournament will be at the end of February at Palmer Park, 2829 Armour St. A date has not yet been selected. Cost is $10 per player. Those interested can contact Fred Minnie by calling (810) 984-1029.