Mild temperatures have presented challenges for the Pond Hockey Festival on the Rock in recent years.
Two years ago, warm weather cancelled the annual charity tournament on Sudbury’s Ramsey Lake and last year, organizers opted to switch to boot hockey on land after the weather threatened to not cooperate again.
Wednesday, organizers said conditions are finally ideal for this year’s event, with 16 inches of ice depth as opposed to the measly 6 inches they had last year.
"We couldn't put a truck or the sweeper or the big snow blower on, so we had to do everything by hand. We'd have a quad and walk behind snow blowers and walk behind brooms. So that challenge has been avoided this year, and it's a lot easier and a lot quicker." said Alfred Thibeault of the Pond Hockey Festival ice crew.
Barbara Nott is Chair of the Festival and encouraged by the weather this year.
"It's really exciting to have it back on the ice. Basically, we're the only group in Northern Ontario that does the pond hockey festival. We've had up to 95 teams. Last year, there were only about 35 because people didn't necessarily want to do boot hockey, they wanted to do the skating." said Nott.
Despite the better ice conditions this year, ice crew members are being cautiously optimistic, as there is rain in the short-term forecast.
"The ice has to be skateable, first of all, and no water on it. So the temperature has to be suitable to freeze. If we do get a mild spell before, you need a week of minus-20 at night to freeze over any water and slush that would come on the ice." said Thibeault.
As it stands, ice conditions are very hockey friendly, and with a few weeks until the event, organizers say they should be able to withstand any warm spells, as long as they don't occur too close to the start of competition.
