Labatte Blue UP Pond Hockey Tournament 2020

2020 SCHEDULE

(preliminary; details will be added as they become available)

• Thursday, February 13, 2020 – Meet-N-Greet, 6-9 pm at the Mackinac Grille Restaurant; teams do not have to reserve their spot.
• February, February 14, 2020 – Games begin at 11:00 am with last game possibly beginning around 5:00 pm
• Saturday, February 15, 2020 – Games begin at 9:00 am, with last game possibly beginning around 5:00 pm
• Sunday, February 16, 2020 – Championship games begin at 11am

Pond Hockey is one of our favorite events and we look forward to it all year long. That said, it takes a lot of hard work and long hours with dozens of volunteers to pull it together every year. It also is the biggest weekend of winter for almost every business owner in St. Ignace; for some, Pond Hockey weekend is the main reason they are able to stay open all winter long. We know that for most of you, this is not new information, but we want to make sure that you understand that this is a St. Ignace event, put on by the cooperation and long work hours of St. Ignace residents and business owners. We ask that you please make every effort to support these businesses while you are here, particularly the hotels.

We understand that hotels in other communities may be reaching out to you with discounted rates for that weekend. We want to make sure you know the benefits of staying here in St. Ignace instead. Our rates are competitive and you get the added value of being right in the middle of everything. With free shuttle service all weekend long, you don’t have to worry about driving anywhere. Just check in and start having fun. Additionally, if our hotels continue to see declining numbers for  this weekend, we will have to make changes, possibly by charging more for those who stay in non-St. Ignace hotels, which we don’t want to do!

ROSTER ACCOUNT ACCESS

SANCTION NO: MIT2060542083

As of January 29, 2020, our pond hockey tournament is full.  So any team that registers in any division after it closes will be on a wait list in case a registered team cancels.

• 21 & Over – Closed
• 30 & Over – Closed
• 40 & Over – Closed
• 45 & Over – Closed
• 50 & Over – Closed
• Novice – Closed
• Women’s – Closed

KEITH GAVE, AUTHOR OF ‘THE RUSSIAN FIVE’

A book about the first five Russians to play hockey together in the NHL, will be our guest for this year’s pond hockey tournament.  In the late 80s the Detroit Red Wings hatched a plan to draft the best Soviet players from behind the Iron Curtain and help them defect to Detroit.  Keith’s book details how this came to happen.  Keith will be at the Thursday night meet-n-greet for a book signing and to visit with players, and in the concessions tent on Friday afternoon and Saturday during the day for the same.