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By Derek Craddock

POND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT

Young hockey players bring the Original Six to Elk Ridge this weekend

Jan 20, 2023 | 5:03 PM

Six teams from across the province are coming to Elk Ridge this weekend for a unique, spectacular pond hockey tournament.

The first-ever Original Six Classic Pond Hockey Tournament takes over the resort village on Saturday and Sunday for U11 teams.

Those teams are the Saskatoon Renegade Rattles, the Prince Albert Bulldogs, the Humboldt U11 broncos, the Regina Monarchs, the Battleford Purple Barons, and the Saskatoon Flying Phantoms.

Christina LaPointe is the Manager of the Renegade Rattlers and helped come up with the idea for the tournament at the start of the hockey season.

“I had found a tournament in Jasper that was a pond tournament in the middle of the mountains,” she said. “They (SMHA) loved the idea but it was a little tough.” She mentioned how a tournament of that scale would have been expensive, plus there was uncertainty over where the event would be held.

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The Minor Hockey Association then approached LaPointe about asking Elk Ridge Resort to host a tournament.

“I called Elk Ridge and presented the idea to them and they loved it and away we went,” she said. “It’s outdoor, it’s a pond and it’s Hockey Day in Canada.”

All six teams will wear jerseys representing the Original Six of the NHL, as the name reflects.

Elk Ridge has been working hard to get the tournament ready by painting lines on the ice, providing lights and making teams, families and fans enjoy themselves.

“Our on-site management teams have worked tremendously hard to ensure that this will be a truly special and unforgettable event for everyone involved,” said Managing Partner with Elk Ridge Ryan Danberg.

So how excited are the players to take part in this tournament?

“Our little team, the Renegade Rattlers, our boys just think that it’s the coolest thing because they’re the first ones to do it,” said LaPointe. “They think they’re going into the Guinness Book of Records.”

The first games face off at 10 a.m. Saturday with the playoffs running on Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Fireworks will also be on display Saturday night at 9:30.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock