2012 Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey Tournament Ready To Go

The markers for the ice surfaces would have been planted today, ahead of the storm, using a sophisticated GPS system to set the coordinates. The plan calls for 16 ice surfaces - 14 to play our games on and 2 for the public to enjoy.

We will have winter fireworks again on Saturday night, starting at 8 PM, courtesy of Renaud's Countrywide and the Newcastle Rotary Club.

This year we will be ending the hockey Saturday night, with the final games immediately following the fireworks display. There will be no hockey Sunday. This is subject to Mother Nature's approval.

There are 84 teams registered. With the change to ending Saturday, and the need to get all the games in by a reasonable hour, this is just the right number.

The live Internet streaming video will be present again, located through a link off our website (www.MRPH.ca). This is a partnership between Bell-Aliant, District 16, and Miramichi Online. Please let friends and family, far and wide, know they can tune in to watch and maybe see familiar faces. District schools will also be doing video interviews and blogging for the internet community.

Molson-Coors and Miramichi Transit have teamed up to offer free rides to and from French Fort Cove. All that is needed is to get on any city bus anywhere in the city and say you are going to pond hockey, there will be no charge and they will drop you off there. Please take the opportunity to leave your vehicle at home as parking is limited. There will be additional bus availability Saturday night after the fireworks and final games, with the last one leaving the pond close to 10 PM. Look for the temporary bus shelter, which will have the schedule posted inside.

This year will see our first use of the "PondTron", a 10 foot by 7.5 foot video screen. Supplied by Trinity Sounds, it will act like a large Smartboard with constant information about team standings, scheduled games, etc.

Friday Feb.3 is "Jersey Day". Everyone is encouraged to put on their favourite hockey jersey, whether they are at school, work, or play. Please take the time to click a picture and forward it to rotarypondhockey@yahoo.ca. Our photographers will be floating around all weekend, "say cheese".

Dropping the ceremonial puck at the opening ceremonies will be Colonel Paul Rutherford, Base Commander of CFB Gagetown. The oldest player, Hal Raper, and the youngest player, Liam Richardson, will receive the puck drop. We will miss having Roy Matheson and his River Haven Campground team playing, as Roy had been the oldest player for 6 years running. CFB Gagetown has been extremely supportive of this event over the years.

Referees are still needed. Please contact Wally McLean at wally@mightymiramichi.com.

Volunteers are still needed to help to assist with setting up the site, all day Thursday and Friday, as well as helping to remove it on Sunday. Please contact Donnalu Derry at matchit@nb.aibn.com.

All net proceeds from pond hockey go to Rotary projects.

Thanks for your assistance with this community effort.

MIRAMICHI - The Rotary Club of Newcastle has announced that the Memorial Cup will be on loan for public display at the pond hockey tournament, courtesy of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and the Windsor Spitfires.

Originally donated in 1919 by the Ontario Hockey Association in memory of Canadian soldiers killed in World War I, this national hockey trophy for Major-Junior A ranked teams is awarded annually to the CHL champion. Sixty teams across three CHL member leagues are eligible to compete for this trophy, representing nine provinces and five American states. New Brunswickers will be most familiar with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Moncton Wildcats, and the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Some of Canada's best major-junior players from CHL teams recently represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon. While in Miramichi, the trophy will attend the pond hockey opening ceremonies as well as being at ice level on Saturday, before moving on to the TimberWolves home game Saturday evening.

The Memorial Cup is considered one of the hardest trophies in sports to win, due to the large number of teams competing and the age restrictions that allow a player only five years in which to win it. The current 2009 defending champions are the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The Cup is currently on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame and will be presented once again in May 2010 to the winner of the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup in Brandon, Manitoba.

Members of the Rotary Club of Newcastle eagerly look forward to this tournament every year, which has grown to be the largest winter event locally. 2009 will be remembered as the year Prime Minister Harper came to town, while NHL alumni rubbed shoulders with locals, and thousands across North America and the world watched it happen on the Internet. 2010 promises to be every bit as interesting, with more announcements due soon. "We always have something up our sleeve" says Co-Chair Patricia (Pat) Perry.

Returning again this year will be a military component from CFB Gagetown, with two teams in the competitive division as well as personnel to assist the organizers. "We are deeply appreciative of the support we get from our military" says co-chair Geri Mahoney. "They not only come to play, but assist in many other ways. Having extra helping hands is really important for us as the event grows." The Rotary Club of Newcastle reminds everyone volunteers are needed for various duties. Anyone wishing to volunteer should e-mail rotarypondhockey@yahoo.ca or speak to any rotarian.

The 6th annual Miramichi Rotary Pond Hockey tournament will be held at French Fort Cove on February 5th-7th, 2010, with the net proceeds going towards Rotary projects. Anyone thinking about participating in the pond hockey tournament should grab a spot soon - the deadline to enter the tournament is Friday January 22, 2010!  Six different divisions are available, with the youngest age possible being 10 years old - there is no upper limit.  Registration is available online at http://www.miramichirotarypondhockey.com/.  See you on the pond!

2009 Tourism Excellence and Innovation Awards presented (09/05/27)