A distinctly Canadian pastime will be celebrated in Chestermere Dec. 27 to 29, when the city plays host to the first-ever Western Canada Pond Hockey Championships. Taking place on the northeast corner of Chestermere Lake, the inaugural tournament will see 50 to 60 teams playing ice hockey the way nature intended. Teams will compete against similarly-aged opponents, with players ranging from four years old all the way to mid-60s. “There’s been a lot of work going into it, and now, we’re getting close to it and hoping we get a lot of people out and enjoying themselves,” said Rhett Warrener, who is helping organize and promote the event. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather, but we’re Canadian, so we’ll suck it up and play through it, no matter what.” The games will be a four-vs.-four format with no designated goalies, and games will be played on an 80-foot-long, 50-foot-wide surface with no boards. More than 40 rinks will be set up on Lake Chestermere for the tournament, according to organizer Alex Halat. Each game will be 40 minutes, Halat added, and players will be responsible for shovelling snow off the rink afterwards, using shovels supplied on site. A golf cart converted into a mini-Zamboni will also be used to flood the rinks intermittently, he added. Tim Hortons is sponsoring the tournament, according to Halat, and proceeds collected through registration fees will go to both the Veterans’ Food Bank of Calgary and the Children’s Cottage Society. He said the City of Chestermere, as well as Calgary-based companies such as Glenmore Audi and GM, are also contributing. Playing hockey on frozen ponds, lakes and rivers was an important part of Warrener’s childhood. Growing up in Saskatchewan, he said, he and his friends would spend countless hours honing their skills at a local pond. “There were no boards, no lights – you just went out there,” Warrener said. “As soon as it froze, you’d get the shovels out, push the snow aside and [play] some shinny. “I think that’s what Canada is – and for people my age, that’s where hockey started.” For Halat, a former university-level hockey player who grew up in northeast Calgary, the local pond was where he first became acquainted with Canada’s national sport. There is a sense of community that comes with the tradition, according to Halat. “Where else can you go and not know anybody, but throw on some skates and say, ‘Hey, can I join?’ and then you’re thrown on a team?” he said. “And an hour later, you’ve got new buddies.” Warrener said if the tournament is successful, organizers will look to continue it in the future. “From what we’ve talked about, we’re hoping to keep it in Chestermere on a regular basis,” he said. According to Halat, the rinks used for the tournament will not be taken down after the games are over, but will remain open for public use for the duration of the winter.
