Kinsmen pond hockey tournament was a success
By Jon Yaneff

Crabby Joe's 1 (top) consisted of Glenn Thomas, Crabby Joe's in Bolton owner Dan Eremita, Vince Pullicino, Dave Tytler and Jamie Nesbitt.The Mean Mother Puckers (bottom) included Dave, Scott and Paul Munns and Cliff Smethurst.

Playing hockey on the frozen tundra in the middle of nowhere is what gives Canadian winter its fierce chill.

Tying up your skates and shooting on dad is the priceless memory every kid remembers from winters past.

Such a picture could have been reminisced during the second annual Kinsmen Canadian Pond Hockey Championship tournament (hosted by Kinsmen Club of Bolton) at Albion Hills Conservation Area last weekend.

There were 21 teams making the trip from all over south western Ontario, as far away as from Sarnia.

Teams consisted of five players, with four-on-four hockey being played during two 15-minute periods, and no substitutions during games in progress.

The tournament started in spectacular fashion, with cold but bright, sunny weather, which was perfect for the event. Sunday's conditions weren't as favourable, with temperatures rising rapidly and rain starting to drizzle early in the morning.

Mike Harding and Tyler Ghrame of the Rage Monkeys fight for the puck in a game against Team Kazakhstan.

With the rain failing to subside by afternoon the teams and tournament organizers called a halt to it after the hockey squads only played four rounds of games.

Based on wins and goal differentials to that point, Crabby Joe's 1 with team captain Dan Eremita (owner of Crabby Joe's in Bolton) subsequently received gold medals, along with teammates Vince Pullicino, Glenn Thomas, Jamie Nesbitt and David Tytler. They were presented by Bolton Kinsmen President Richard Hatch and had their name engraved on the coveted tournament trophy, the Caddy Cup.

Tournament Chairman, Kinsmen Club Vice- President George denHaan, said he was disappointed with the weather change, but thankful for the many volunteers who helped put the event together.

"Getting natural ice outdoors is a tricky affair and requires a lot of work anywhere," he said. "We had critical help from the Ontario ATV Search and Rescue Federation, as well as some back breaking work cleaning and scrapping the ice by fellow Kinsmen members to prepare the ice."

Crabby Joe's 1's Dan Eremita (left) and Glenn Thomas go after Tim Dillon of the Helmet Heads.

Crabby Joe's, who had a beverage tent set up, supplied hot eats such as hotdogs, hamburgers and bacon to satisfy the needs of the freezing pond players, and were the tournament's sponsor, along with Molson and Summit Dodge. Crabby Joe's had a special players party Saturday night featuring The Molson Girls, prizes and food samplers.

Also Dominic Scrivo of Sierra Excavating supplied a Zamboni to dress the ice throughout Saturday.

Team Kazakhstan came in second and won silver medals, while The Sharks cradled the bronze when the tournament concluded.

With no goaltenders in the tournament and only a 10- inch high net, 1,839 total goals were recorded by all teams during the course of the two- days of play.

"The players are really good people who enjoyed themselves," said tournament treasurer Robert Ward. "They took in the spirit the way it was meant to and had fun in the process."

The pond hockey tournament is a charitable function that reflects the Bolton Kinsmen's motto of serving the community's greatest needs. The organization's primary charity is the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation, though they also contribute toward local sports teams and clothing donations.

"Hopefully in the future with Family Day on a Monday, we're hoping for a three-day family day activity event with aspects such as ice sculptures and public skating allowing it evolve into a winter carnival," said Ward. "Other changes could also include the teams playing during the night with lights being added to allow more teams to be involved with the tournament."

They expect to add 48 teams or more.

Anyone interested in volunteering or getting involved with the Bolton Kinsmen or pond hockey tournament in the future, contact the Web site (www.canadianpondhockey. com) or the Kinsmen Centre (located on Chapel Street in Bolton).