Pond Hockey on the Rock returns to Sudbury
The orange balls were out and the sticks were kept on the ice as Pond Hockey on the Rock returned to Sudbury.
All of this cold weather couldn't slow down hockey enthusiasts who came out for a weekend of fun.
"Our goalie played wonderfully, our team played beautifully and we'll just get pucks deep in the third," said Julia Williams, captain of the Pure Country 91.7 team.
"You know, we're going to every game with a clear mind set and in the end, just having some fun. That's what it's all about," said Josh Corbett, their morning show co-host.
Some of the teams participating are playing for fun, some are taking it seriously; all though left with smiles.
Thirty teams in total laced up their skates to take part in this year's fundraiser for Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) and Camp Quality Northern Ontario.
"So far so great,” said Dan Denoble, one of the festival’s organizers.
"We got games going on at three rinks right now so we have simultaneously at Robinson, Delki Dozzi and Northern Hockey Academy so thanks for them for hosting us and all the teams and volunteers. It's a great start so far."
It had been a couple of years since organizers were able to hold the festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Things gradually got warmer on Saturday.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"We help people in need and we help people in Greater Sudbury and beyond … it's just a great way to give back," said Corbett.
"You know a lot of people don't realize that children get cancer too and the children in our region - really do need the support," said Andrea Fortin of NOFCC.
Participants told CTV News that the key to success appeared to be having fun and staying warm.
"Oh so far so good - it's decent weather. It's snowin' a little bit but at least it's not too chilly today and it was a big game for D-5 so we're pretty happy to be taking that one home," said Jonah Lynott, a member of the D-5 team.
Tournament play continues until Sunday.
For more information on the festival, visit their Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How the 2023 federal budget impacts you
The federal government unveiled its spring budget Tuesday, with a clean economy as the centrepiece, and detailing targeted measures to help Canadians deal with still-high inflation.

Walmart and Costco in Canada not making food inflation worse, experts say
Experts say the Canadian presence of American retail giants such as Walmart and Costco isn't likely to blame for rising grocery prices. That's despite Canadian grocery chain executives having pushed for MPs to question those retailers as part of their study on food inflation.
These Canadian housing markets have home prices below the national average
Home prices have fallen below the national average in 14-out-of-20 regional housing markets, according to a report by Zoocasa. Saint John, N.B., took the top place for the most affordable region, with an average home price of $268,400.
Nashville shooting highlights security at private schools
Around the U.S., private schools generally do not face as many requirements as public schools for developing security plans. The Nashville shooting that killed three children and three school employees is highlighting that issue.
Meet the Ontario stats prof who claims he can’t stop beating Roll Up To Win
A statistics professor at the University of Waterloo discusses how he continues to beat the Roll Up To Win contest at Tim Hortons.
Hamilton family raising awareness about Strep A after sudden death of toddler
A Hamilton, Ont., family is hoping to raise awareness about Strep A after the tragic death of their two-year-old.
King Charles III makes world debut as tour starts in Germany
King Charles III arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for his first foreign trip as Britain's monarch, hoping to improve the U.K.'s relations with the European Union and to show that he can win hearts and minds abroad, just as his mother did for seven decades.
Gwyneth Paltrow's ski collision trial continues with defence
Gwyneth Paltrow's attorneys are expected to continue relying mostly on experts to mount their defense on Wednesday, the seventh day of the trial over her 2016 ski collision with a 76-year-old retired optometrist.
Budget 2023 prioritizes pocketbook help and clean economy, deficit projected at $40.1B
In the 2023 federal budget, the government is unveiling continued deficit spending targeted at Canadians' pocketbooks, public health care and the clean economy.