The World Pond Hockey Championship

The World Pond Hockey Championship was first held in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick in 2002. It was the first event of its kind to be held anywhere.

From humble beginnings during that first ever event in 2002 that saw 40 teams compete, most of which were from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine, the event has grown to feature 120 teams from around the world.

Aside from the hundreds of hockey enthusiasts that travel to Plaster Rock each February to compete, the event attracts thousands of spectators and media from around the globe as well.

The 2010 event is scheduled for February 11-14, 2010.

The early days of plowing the lake and river with a couple of pick-up trucks and establishing rinks with a measuring tape have evolved as well - many more trucks, skid steer loaders, snow blowers and a host of other equipment to help prepare Roulston Lake. A G.P.S system now locates the rinks in their exact location year after year.

Sponsors go out of their way to make every possibility become reality.

Participation in the World Pond Hockey event is not a "win at all costs" environment.

The beauty of the format is that it seems to meet the needs of players at a variety of competitive levels.

It is more about camaraderie, trading stories and hockey jerseys. The evening games under the lights with a light snowfall rekindle childhood memories and allow participants to recapture their youth if even for only a few short moments.

The entire weekend fulfills the hopes and expectations of the hockey purist - Thursday through Saturday you hear almost as much laughing as you do the sounds of skates, sticks and pucks.

Sunday is the elimination round for the "title" and brings with a more competitive feel to the day - and so it should. The hockey is fast, skilled and well executed. Outdoor "pond hockey" at it’s finest.

Interest for future events will grow the event geographically even more. This phenomenal growth is a tribute to the persistence and dedication of a community and its legion of volunteers who have embraced the challenge of bringing the world to this small rural village.

Over 200 passionate individuals are critical to the success of the event and they take tremendous pride in the contributions they make. They are the true champions of pond hockey!