Black Knights ice a championship
By Ray Glier
In college they were grinders, who sacrificed their bodies in collisions for the Army hockey team at West Point. The Black Knights played a rude style of hockey, because the Division I teams on the schedule had skill, finesse and future NHL players. Now, the roles have been reversed. The military guys, who maintained their conditioning as officers, have their legs under them when the third period starts in nonchecking, 40-and-over tournaments. They are the ones showcasing skill and finesse, pressuring the puck, and playing a faster pace. . . . keep reading...>>
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Pick-up artists
By Brion O'Connor
They are the original "Lions of Winter," aging warriors who tape up old sticks, old equipment and old joints for another spin around the ice. And another … and another. "I do it because I can. I pride myself in not acting 62 and not looking 62. Part of it has to do with the sheer love of athletics, and the object of my affection always has been hockey," says Craig Walker of Beverly, Mass., fresh off a Saturday workout with the North Shore Skating Association outside Boston. "It's just something between people who play the game. It's really a passion. I think the sport feeds both the body and the soul. I'm not very religious, but if I have a religion, it's hockey. To me, it's my fountain of youth. It's my place to escape." That, in a nutshell, is what draws people to hockey -- good-natured but keen competition, a good sweat and afterwards a cold beer. . . . keep reading...>>
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Secret Aged Men win pond hockey championships
Nothing says hockey like a frozen lake and some ice-cold Canadian brews. For the third consecutive year, USA Hockey and Labatt Blue teamed up in Eagle River, Wis., for the USAdult Hockey Pond Hockey Championships. The tournament started on a sunny but frigid Friday. "Because of the cold, we had about 30 inches of ice over the lake that actually made for perfect conditions," said USA Hockey's director of adult hockey, Ashley Bevan. In spite of typical Northwoods temperatures and snow, participation continued its increasing trend. This year the number of teams jumped to 142 from 80 last year. A women's division with six teams also was added. "It was by far the best tournament we've been to," said Jena Palermo of Flash, the women's division champion. . . . keep reading...>>
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Pond Hockey Championships set for Feb. 15-17
By Sean Callahan
USA Hockey introduced its Pond Hockey Championships in 2006, and the event, which is held on Dollar Lake near Eagle River, Wis., was an instant hit. That year 40 teams played in four divisions. The tournament, which is sponsored by Labatt, doubled in size last year and had seven divisions. The 2008 event, which takes place Feb. 15-17, has been sold out since November, according to Ashley Bevan, director of adult hockey for USA Hockey. . . . keep reading...>>
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UnCoachables were unbeatable
By Ray Glier
The UnCoachables won the Labatt Blue USAdult Hockey Classic in Wake Forest, one of dozens of similar events held around the country for Masters hockey players. . . . keep reading...>>
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Ford tough
By Michael Eder
At USA Hockey's pond hockey championships, auto executive Bill Ford's team defended its title in the over-40 bracket. . . . keep reading...>>
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Of ice and pavement
By Brion O'Connor
Danny Santanello always played hockey. When his now teen-aged and healthy daughter was diagnosed with leukemia a decade ago, he began raising money for cancer research. Here's how he stays in shape to continue doing both. . . . keep reading...>>
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Pond Hockey: Winning was Job 1
Dollar Lake in Eagle River, Wis., was the site of the first annual Labatt Blue USAdult Pond Hockey Championships in February. Despite a low temperature of 28 degrees below zero, the tournament, which was run by USA Hockey, attracted 41 teams. “It was beyond cold,” said Jim Kwilos, 50, who played on the 40-and-over bracket champion, Team Ford from Dearborn, Mich. . . . keep reading...>>
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