U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships are an annual pond hockey
event on Lake Nokomis
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
. Though an amateur tournament, the competition draws hockey enthusiasts from all over North America, many of whom have pro and college hockey experience.
ESPN.com listed the tournament as part of their "101 Things Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die."
The teams compete for a trophy called the Golden Shovel. Each year, the winners of each division get to engrave their names into the Golden Shovel in a tradition reminiscent of the NHL's Stanley Cup
.
Wright Homes almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dave Shute,
Randy Gallatin
2007:
Whiskey Bandits:
Jamison Steinert,
Matt Elsen,
Jess Johnson,
Tim Olson,
Nick Hanrahan,
Dan Ibrahim
2008:
Wright Home's Almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dave Shute,
Randy Gallatin
2009:
Concord USA:
Sam Cornelius,
Peter Fitzgerald,
Billy Hengen,
Justin Kapsen,
Geoff Kragness,
Jeff Yurecko
2010:
Wright Homes/Almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dan Donnette,
Randy Gallatin
2011:
Whiskey Bandits:
Matt Elsen,
Tim Olsen,
Nicholas Hanrahan,
Joey Dustin,
Jesse Johnson,
Jamison Steinert
during the winter of 2006-2007, tournament sponsors had to move the tournament from Lake Calhoun
to Lake Nokomis
. Notable players in the 2007 tournament include:
Pond hockey
Pond hockey is a form of ice hockey very similar in its object and appearance to traditional ice hockey, but far simpler and designed to be played on part of a natural frozen body of water...
event on Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis is one of several lakes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The lake was originally named Lake Amelia in honor of Captain George Gooding’s daughter, Amelia, in 1819. Its current name was adopted in 1910 to honor Nokomis, grandmother of Hiawatha...
in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Though an amateur tournament, the competition draws hockey enthusiasts from all over North America, many of whom have pro and college hockey experience.
ESPN.com listed the tournament as part of their "101 Things Sports Fans Must Experience Before They Die."
Format
The tournament includes competition in six divisions:- The Open Division (anyone can play)
- 40+ Division
- 50+ Division
- Rink Rats (amateurs who would rather not face the near-pro talent that is common in the Open Division)
- Women's
- Seniors
The teams compete for a trophy called the Golden Shovel. Each year, the winners of each division get to engrave their names into the Golden Shovel in a tradition reminiscent of the NHL's Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
.
Past Winners (Open Division)
2006:Wright Homes almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dave Shute,
Randy Gallatin
2007:
Whiskey Bandits:
Jamison Steinert,
Matt Elsen,
Jess Johnson,
Tim Olson,
Nick Hanrahan,
Dan Ibrahim
2008:
Wright Home's Almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dave Shute,
Randy Gallatin
2009:
Concord USA:
Sam Cornelius,
Peter Fitzgerald,
Billy Hengen,
Justin Kapsen,
Geoff Kragness,
Jeff Yurecko
2010:
Wright Homes/Almost 40:
Curt Wright,
Justin Brown,
Dan Goff,
Dave Bakken,
Dan Donnette,
Randy Gallatin
2011:
Whiskey Bandits:
Matt Elsen,
Tim Olsen,
Nicholas Hanrahan,
Joey Dustin,
Jesse Johnson,
Jamison Steinert
2011 Tournament
The 6th annual 2011 U.S. Pond Hockey Championships will be held January 21–23, 2011 on Lake Nokomis. Registration for the tournament will begin on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 10:00 am (CST).2007 Tournament
Due to the unusually warm weather in MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
during the winter of 2006-2007, tournament sponsors had to move the tournament from Lake Calhoun
Lake Calhoun
Lake Calhoun is the biggest lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and part of the city's Chain of Lakes. Surrounded by city park land and circled by bike and walking trails, it is popular for many outdoor activities...
to Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis is one of several lakes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The lake was originally named Lake Amelia in honor of Captain George Gooding’s daughter, Amelia, in 1819. Its current name was adopted in 1910 to honor Nokomis, grandmother of Hiawatha...
. Notable players in the 2007 tournament include:
- Phil HousleyPhil HousleyPhillip Francis Housley is a former American ice hockey player who played for the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and Toronto Maple Leafs...
- Brad BombardirBrad BombardirLuke Bradley Bombardir is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators in the NHL...
- Guy KawasakiGuy KawasakiGuy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, bestselling author, and Apple Fellow. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing the Macintosh in 1984. He is currently a Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, and has been involved in the rumor reporting...