October 15, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2009 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championship was today named the recipient of SportTravel Magazine's 2009 SportsTravel Award for the best amateur single-sport event.
 Taking place on Dollar Lake in Eagle River, Wis., the 2009 Labatt Blue/USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championship featured 196 teams, 1,200 players (representing 25 states), 20 rinks and 3,500 pucks. 1980 Olympian Neal Broten and the Stanley Cup also made appearances at the event.
"We're extremely grateful to receive this award," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "Many people share in this honor, including our adult council and national office staff, the wonderful people of Eagle River and our friends at Labatt. The pond hockey championship has quickly evolved into one of our signature events."
In the event's first year in 2006, 40 teams participated. One year later, the number of teams doubled, and in 2008, 120 teams made the journey to Eagle River.
NOTES: Registration for the 2010 USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championship, set for Feb. 12-14, is currently open. Click here for the registration packet ... Event coverage can also be found on the USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championship's Facebook page ... The SportsTravel Awards were announced at the Travel, Events and Management in Sports 2009 Conference & Expo in New Orleans ... In order to be eligible for the award, events had to occur between July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009. Criteria for nomination included superior organization of and attendance at the event, a superior experience for the competitors and/or spectators at the events, and how the site or venue served to enhance the event ... In addition to the Pond Hockey Championship, the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men's U18 Championship in Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., was nominated for the best amateur sports event series or circuit award. |