More than 700 die-hard hockey buffs will gear up, sticks and pucks in hand, for the games which begin Friday, February 11 through Sunday, February 13, 2011. New this year, registration for the 2011 Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament will not begin until Saturday, January 1 at noon to give teams more time to plan for the first-come, first-serve event.
According to Labatt Blue Associate Brand Manager Brett Carlsen, several factors play into the process of choosing tournament dates, including:

· Lake temperatures which help Labatt predict timing around the lake freezing

· Prolonged freezing weather that produces between 10 and 12 inches of ice on Lake Erie

. Typically the Lake begins to freeze in January and in February ice accumulates

· Weather patterns that keep the temperature low enough for good ice surface on game day

Labatt Blue and tournament organizers use historical data to identify the best possible dates for the games, and each year, those weather patterns and factors vary. “The tournament is always going to be at Mother Nature’s mercy, but we hope that by scheduling it in mid-February when temperatures are historically the coldest and the ice is at its thickest, we’ll have better luck this year,” said Carlsen.

The tournament has implemented a new weather policy for the 2011 games: in the event of inclement weather or unplayable ice, the tournament will be cancelled and players will receive a full refund. The tournament games will not be rescheduled.

Labatt Blue’s Carlsen also talked about expanding to a three-day tournament. “The Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament has quickly grown over the past four years, with players from all over the country seeking to participate. In 2011, our goal is to put on the best possible tournament for all of the teams,” said Carlsen. “This year we weren’t looking to add a hundred teams; instead it was more about creating a tournament that provides an authentic, competitive and fun real hockey experience for all players that brings them back to their roots.”

Players will skate on 10 man-made rinks, each 150’ long x 75’ deep, constructed using water, shovels, small plows and hay barrels. Players help maintain the ice with shovels and buckets of water, much like pick-up games on a neighborhood pond. Teams from all over the region will compete in 16 divisions. About eight smaller Labatt Blue-sponsored regional tournaments will send their top teams to play in the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament.

From players to fans, the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament has grown to one of Buffalo’s most anticipated outdoor winter events. “There’s just something special about experiencing real outdoor hockey on Lake Erie and enjoying an ice cold Labatt Blue beer,” said Carlsen. “This year, we’re gearing up for large crowds of fans and more than 700 players down at the Erie Basin Marina. Live music, more food and beer options and other extras are planned.”

Ed Ellis has been named tournament director and will oversee team registration and referee recruitment, game scheduling and tournament day events. Teams will be comprised of four to six players, 21 years of age and older, who play a four-on-four format, absent a goalie. Nets are six inches high and six feet wide like the goals used in the Labatt Blue US Adult Pond Hockey Championships held in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Teams will compete in a round robin format in one of 16 divisions. The winner of each bracket will go on to play a championship game.

“The Labatt Blue Pond Hockey tournament has become a great annual Buffalo winter tradition, which has grown in popularity, both for players and spectators, since it was first launched on the city’s waterfront at the Erie Basin Marina in 2008,” said Mayor Byron W. Brown. “I look forward again to this year’s tournament, which showcases great hockey, but more importantly, demonstrates how much fun can be had outside, during the winter in Buffalo.”

How to Enter a Team
Beginning January 1 at 12 p.m., teams can register for the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament on a first-come, first-serve basis at: www.labattbluepondhockey.com. The registration fee is $250 and players must present proof of age. Teams are encouraged to register early because an early sellout is anticipated. For questions, team captains can contact Ed Ellis at ed@labattbluepondhockey.com.

Become a fan of the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament at: http://tinyurl.com/labattfacebook. Fans receive updates and information on rink construction, schedules, weather conditions and more.

*The Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament is subject to weather conditions.

Offical Tournament Packet – http://www.performaxhockey.com/pondhockey/pdf/2010RegistrationPacket.pdf

Rink Layout – http://www.performaxhockey.com/pondhockey/pdf/RinkLayout.pdf