Elk River Lodge hosts Saskatchewan U11 hockey teams for ‘The Battle on the Pond’ | 24CA News

The pond behind the Elk Ridge Lodge, simply outdoors the gates of the Prince Albert National Park, was become a pond of goals for Hockey Day in Saskatchewan on Jan. 21.

Six U11 groups — two from Saskatoon,  the Renegade Rattlers and Flyer Phantoms — in addition to the Regina Monarchs, the Prince Albert Bulldogs, the Humboldt Broncos and the Battlefords Barons made up the match that was dubbed, ‘The Battle on the Pond’.

“It started with our team manager Christina and our head coach Darrin sitting down for our first meeting together, and what we wanted to do this year for tournaments,” stated Saskatoon Renegades Wranglers crew treasurer, Paula Weiss.

“Outdoor had come up, and I said, ‘Why don’t we do Elk Ridge? Give it a whirl,’ and she was on the phone the next day to the SMHA to make sure that we could do it and it was sanctioned. Then she was on the phone with Elk Ridge and they jumped right on board.”

This pond hockey match was the primary of its type — the primary to be sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Minor Hockey Association. In the tip, organizers needed an occasion like this to be one which the children would look again on fondly.

“Your blades don’t get all snowy, which is a little different, so you don’t throw snow at each other in the dressing room,” stated Ben Slugotski of the Saskatoon Flyers.

Tayla Olson of the Humboldt Broncos added, “I think we have a chance at winning it and yeah I think we will remember it when we are older.”

“It’s cold outside and the ice is a bit bumpy,” acknowledged Kaelan Deranger from the Prince Albert squad.

The mother and father and coaches felt this match can be one the children will at all times keep in mind.

“A once-in-a-lifetime experience and they were lucky enough to get in and they will be happy about this for the rest of their lives,” stated Aaron Friedman of the Battleford Barons.

“We were just praying that we got in, and once we heard our kids were just ecstatic,” added Chad Knaus, coach of the Humboldt Broncos U11 crew for the match.

Elk Ridge is an ideal instance of one among Saskatchewan’s many winter wonderlands, and including an official pond match to turn out to be an annual occasion for Saskatchewan Minor Hockey Week, appeared like an ideal match.

“People probably think this is a great idea to explore. And to be able to kind of set the tone, or set the bar is great. It’s a great place to do it. There is endless opportunity for not just hockey but to have a real special weekend away from the city.”

With the success of this pond hockey match, Saskatchewan can anticipate extra to be popping up at different winter locations throughout the province of Saskatchewan sooner or later.

2:05Hockey Day in Saskatchewan festivities underway in Martensville

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