Street Hockey Is Backup Plan For Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tourney

Labatt Blue announced today that if weather does not permit a pond hockey tournament, the players will take to the streets instead. Unseasonable warm temperatures and rain have kept the Erie Basin Marina ice free.

Even if it does get colder over the next weeks, ice must be at least 12 inches thick to safely play. But all hope is not lost, at this morning's press conference Labatt Blue Brand Manager Brett Carlson shared a little poem:

Mother Nature, you are great

But we really, really want to skate

Twelve inches of ice is all we need

To get this done, I am willing to plead

If this favor for me you do

I will owe you a lifetime supply of Labatt Blue

With over 1,000 players on 144 teams, many traveling from outside of Western New York, this is not something that the city of Buffalo can lose out on. Who would have thought, too warm in Buffalo for ice hockey in the winter!

If the tournament is played on the streets instead of the ice, all teams will be refunded their $250 registration fee and will automatically be entered into the street hockey tournament for no charge. Tournament dates will remain the same for the weekend of February 10-12th at the Erie Basin Marina.

All rules and the tournament format will remain the same, no matter where the games are played. All of the details can be found in this press release from Labatt Blue.

Anyone who is already signed up to play and has questions regarding the tournament, or if you would like to join the waiting list, you can contact Tournament Director Ed Ellis at ed@labattbluepondhockey.com.

For more information, you can visit www.labattbluepondhockey.com or check out their Facebook page