On Frozen Childhood memories spur rise of outdoor tourneys, backyard rinks and simply getting outside and playing Ponds

Photo/Michael Moore/The Keene Sentinel

8 New EnglanD JOURNAL January 2011 By Brion O’Connor

t is the iconic image of the game. Low clouds hovering over a windswept, tree-lined lake, winter’s dim light turning colors into shades of gray. It is, I imagine, what the immortal Hobey Baker saw in the late afternoons on the Lower School Pond at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., in the early 1900s. It is what I remember of my own youth, growing up in the 1960s in northern , or skating on Dorr’s Pond near my grandpar- Ients home in Manchester, N.H. Continued *

January 2011 www.hockeyjournal.com 9 COVER STORY Popularity of

Continued from previous page the long drive north to visit Grand- mucking around on the ice. learly, I’m not alone in my ma and Grandpa. The pond, beside Later, after our family moved to affection for pond hockey. Obviously, stepping back more Livingston Park, was just a short New Hampshire, my brothers and Talk to any enthusiast, than three decades years can tint walk from our grandparents’ house. I would still frequent Dorr’s Pond, and eventually they’ll hit memories, but fortunately for me, all My siblings and I would bundle up, or other frozen bodies. One day on the essential attraction the recollections are good. Growing grab our skates and sticks and a few in particular stands out, when my of the outdoor game. up outside City, neces- coins for a hot brother Chris C“In a rink, it’s usually a structured sity dictated that if we were going to chocolate, and Lower School Pond and I and two environment,” says 48-year-old Don play hockey, we’d be playing mostly shuffle down at St. Paul’s School friends found Garrison, a native now on the streets. But in wintertime, I’d to the pond. some black ice living in Hampton, N.H. “You’re told salivate over the prospects of getting There, the up by Lake what to do when you’re out there, on the ice. I remember peering out city had a Massabesic and you do it. Or you’re public skat- our kitchen window at night, eyeing warming hut that I swear ing. Out there on the pond, you can the thermometer, praying the mer- dividing the was smoother skate morning to night, and you can cury would dip below the magical 32 pond and an than glass. If do whatever you want.” degrees Fahrenheit. actual rink we missed a Garrison has tapped into that ideal, There were a couple of ponds (with boards pass, the puck as co-owner of Home Rinks (see side- scattered around town, and I recall and lights). would slide bar). But the real impetus for Home playing games without any The rink was forever. And, Rinks, Garrison says, was his own fancy gear or jerseys. Crystal Lake, the domain of naturally, childhood, skating on ponds in Con- down off Grand Avenue, even had a the older kids we’d debate necticut, and wanting his children to big bonfire. Nothing felt, or smelled, and young Photos courtesy of St. Paul’s School (above and Baker) about who have the same experience. better than inching up to the flames, men, but we were able to sneak on was responsible for skating after it, It’s understandable. The outdoor letting that natural furnace drive the every now and then, typically play- the passer or the passee. We’d argue, game is spontaneous, unpredictable. It’s cold from my bones. ing a smaller, cross-ice game. I don’t and laugh. raw, and it’s fun. There’s no pressure. It’s But the pinnacle of pond hockey think anything made Grandpa, a I’m sure we had little appreciation a game, not a “competition,” or a rigid perfection was going to Dorr’s Pond. native of Quebec, happier than see- for just how magical, and how fleet- practice full of expectations. It is just This was one of the great rewards for ing his small army of grandchildren ing, those days were. “play,” pure and simple. It’s shinny.

Make Your Own Ice Rink with

• NiceRink® Bracket sideboard support system • Ultra strong NiceRink® liners • NiceRink® plastic boards A pristine sheet of ice • Outdoor rink resurfacers that’s all yours… Everything you need to make your own!

NiceRink® plastic boards & brackets

888-NiceRink (642-3746) Any size – details online at www.NiceRink.com/neh

10 New EnglanD HOCKEY JOURNAL January 2011 Think about it. Have you ever heard anyone call the indoor game “shinny” hockey? That’s because time playing hockey indoors is almost always organized, with practice plans or games with blue lines and red lines and refs and whistles and rules. “More and more people are com- ing back to enjoying being outside,” says Bill Matthews, the rector at St. Paul’s school and the school’s hockey historian. “There’s just the pure plea- sure of being out there on a beautiful day, skating in a game, where you can just lace them up and skate forever. It’s not about skating your one-min- ute shift and coming off and sitting for five minutes. “The outdoor game is sort of free-flowing, creative,” he says. “You don’t worry about systems.” Matthews has the ideal perspec- tive about the outdoor game, given that his office at St. Paul’s looks out over the Lower School Pond. It was here, many historians agree, that hockey was first played in the United The New England Pond Hockey Classic on Lake Winnipesaukee States, in 1883. in Meredith, N.H., drew a stunning 77 teams in its first year. Photo/ Stephen A Roe from Intrepid Ariel Photography and Video St. Paul’s built its first artificial rink in the 1930s, but Matthews (Class ‘More and more people are coming back to enjoying being outside. of ‘61) and other students contin- There’s just the pure pleasure of being out there on a beautiful day, ued playing on skating in a game, where you can just lace them up and skate forever.’ Hobey Baker, the Lower School star at St. Paul’s Pond whenever — Bill Matthews, St. Paul’s School rector and hockey historian the “black ice” set in. Matthews even recalls the school celebrating “black ice holidays,” Upcoming when classes would be canceled in favor of a good sheet of ice. pond hockey Despite the realities of “global warming” and the fact that ponds tournaments freeze later and thaw earlier, there are Can/Am Pond Hockey Championships still similar pockets found throughout New England. Jan. 27-30, Mirror Lake, Lake Placid, N.Y. “I like being able to walk down the www.canamhockey.com street with my skates and stick over Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship my shoulder for a game of hockey, Jan. 28-30, Concord, N.H. like some overgrown kid,” says www.blackicepondhockey.com 60-year-old Michael Dee of New Jer- sey, who often finds a pick-up skate Vermont Pond Hockey Championships with friends near his family home in Jan. 29-30, Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, Vt. Stockbridge, Mass. www.vermontpondhockey.com “I even like walking into the New England Pond Hockey Classic woods to retrieve an errant puck,” he says. “I like investing in the skate by Feb. 4-6, Meredith, N.H. walking down to the pond the morn- www.pondhockeyclassic.com ing before a game to help clean the ice New England Pond Hockey Festival and fill in the gouges and cracks that Feb. 4-6, Rangeley, Maine mark yesterday’s heroics. www.newenglandpondhockey.com “Of course, there is nothing better than playing outside on a crisp New England Monarchs Pond Hockey Classic afternoon and skating until the sun is too Feb. 12, Manchester, N.H. The Vermont Pond low in the sky to follow the puck.” www.pondhockeyclassic.com Hockey Championships Along the coast of Maine, the Pond Hockey Classic phones start ringing with local skat- will be held at Lake Morey

Resort in Fairlee, Vt. Photo/Kelly Smith/ImaginitPhotos Feb. 18-20, Burlington, Vt. Continued on Page 13 www.pondhockeyclassic.com

January 2011 www.hockeyjournal.com 11 COVER STORY Pond hockey

Continued from Page 11 Bruins hosting the in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park, ers checking on ice conditions once and Crowder launching the inaugural the temps dip below freezing. New England Pond Hockey Classic in “We have a core of male partici- Meredith, N.H., on the frozen waters pants, ranging from 40 to 70,” says of Lake Winnipesaukee. Easy access Ken Fellows of Kittery Point, one of to the Boston and New York markets the group’s elder statesmen. “How- was a major draw, but even Crowder ever, there is an unwritten rule, and was stunned by the response. long-standing tradition, that whoever “I never thought we’d have 77 shows up is invited to play.” teams and 40 on the wait list in the Early season games are usually first year,” he says, adding that this at Fort McClary Park alongside the year’s tournament is already sold Atlantic, on a “very shallow pond, out, with 150 teams. “But my phone with a lot of trees around it, so it buzzes every day with people trying freezes quick and the sun never gets to put a team into the tournament. We in there,” Fellows says. “Then we have a huge wait list.” migrate to a pond that’s back in the The success of the Meredith tour- woods, and much bigger, but that ney encouraged Crowder to create a takes longer to freeze.” similar event in Burlington, Vt., called “On a day, when the temperature is the Lake Champlain Pond Hockey 25-30, the ice is hard and smooth, the Classic. Crowder also was hired to sun is brilliant and the sky cerulean put on the inaugural Monarchs Pond blue, and I’m having the most fun I Hockey Classic, a single-day event could possibly have with some of my sponsored by the AHL Manches- best friends, there is no other place ter Monarchs at my old stomping on earth I would want to be,” he says. grounds, Dorr’s Pond. The growth in “It’s absolute heaven.” pond hockey tournaments through- out New England, and next door in t was that sense of nirvana New York, is testament to the outdoor that the game’s revived popularity, and to the between the Ca- pull of nostalgia. nadiens and Oilers “It’s just fun,” Crowder says. captured so beautifully. The “Most of the guys come up with just , never shy one thing in their head: win, win, Ito leverage a marketing opportunity, win. But, at the end of the day, it’s borrowed the about having a concept and couple of beers, created the smiling and annual New having a good Year’s “Winter time with your Classic.” Those buddies.” events drew A couple attention to the of post-skate World Pond beverages led Hockey Cham- to the birth of pionships in another new Plaster Rock, event, the 1883 New Bruns- Black Ice Pond wick — now Photo/Stephen Alfano Portrait efx Hockey Cham- in its ninth pionships at year — and other similar tourna- White Park in Concord, N.H., says ments stateside, such as the U.S. Pond co-founder Chris Brown, president Hockey Championships on Lake of New Hampshire Distributors. The Nokomis in . tournament is not only a celebration Scott Crowder, a former UMass of the city’s rich hockey history, but Minutemen player and son of former also is designed to help restore skat- UMass-Lowell and Northeastern ing opportunities through the capital. coach Bruce Crowder, took notice. “When I was growing up in Con- “I saw guys were flying all across cord, there used to be areas flooded in the country to play in these things, most of the parks,” says the 40-year-old and thought, ‘Why not have a big Brown, who played at Concord High. pond hockey tournament in our back- “Then, over the years, those just slowly yard,’” said the 25-year-old Crowder. went away, whether it was lack of inter- The New England Pond Hockey est, or the city not having the funds to Festival in Rangeley, Maine, is the do it. It’s our mission to revitalize that granddaddy of New England tour- (hockey culture) over the years.” naments, celebrating its fifth year According to David Gill, the city’s in February. But the trend really hit critical mass last year, with the Boston Continued on Page 14

January 2011 www.hockeyjournal.com 13 COVER STORY Popularity of pond hockey

Backyard rinks are way of life “The question of why to build a rink has less to do with a career in hockey than with the pure joy of skating and playing. Or, as my daughter Tracey, then eight years old, said one morn- ing when Barbara asked her if she wanted to sign up for figure

Photo/Kelly Smith/ImaginitPhotos skating lessons at the town rink: ‘No. I want to have my own fun. Continued from Page 13 weather cooperates,” York says. Not somebody else’s fun.’” “We’ve done it nine of the 15 years — Jack Falla, recreation director, the tournament, I’ve been here, at some point during Total Hockey, 1998 through its partnerships with local the Christmas vacation, just to bring businesses, already has raised enough back the joy of playing hockey.” Every year, my sister MaryEllen money to fund a skating area at Rol- “I think we get that when we go to swears she won’t build the family lins Park at the south end of the city. these outdoor rinks. It brings back a outdoor rink. And, like clockwork, “We haven’t had skating there in two tremendous amount of enthusiasm to every Christmas when my clan decades,” he says. your young guys who are so accus- rolls into Manchester, N.H., to cel- “I was surprised about how hard- tomed to big venues and big rinks. ebrate the holidays, the rink is up, core the hockey players are about But all of a sudden, you’re outside, and more than likely my nephews getting back to their roots of playing playing where the game originated.” are skating on it. on ponds,” says Gill, who admits That’s exactly what the pond My sister doesn’t know who he wasn’t a hockey player growing hockey tournaments offer partici- the late Jack Falla — New up. “I follow hockey. Everything’s in pants, and why they’re proving to be England’s patron saint of the climate-controlled indoor facilities, such a success. backyard rink and author of the everybody’s comfortable. “When you have a tournament like bible “Home Ice” — is, but she “But it started on the ponds in this, it can have a competitive flair to is a kindred spirit. She and other New England, and it’s kind of cool it, but it’s really going back to the roots backyard rink builders under- stand innately the allure of a

to see that that’s where people really Photo/Stephen Alfano Portrait efx of your childhood and the roots of want to play. And the scary thing is, the game,” Brown says. “It’s going to frozen sheet. they’re willing to pay to play.” be self-police by the players, and it’s “It’s work, but it’s worth it,” the coolest things is seeing the adults about camaraderie among the players. Don Garrison says. ne intriguing aspect of who did do that, and then went When you had a game Garrison knows. He and the tournament phenom- inside where they played for 20-25 in front of your house or you went out partner Jim Wolford incorporated enon is that it spotlights years, and now have the opportunity to the local pond, you didn’t have a Home Rinks (www.homerinks. a generational divide to come back outside.” referee there. You figured it out.” com) last year, and they now in outdoor enthusiasts. Which, according to Brown, gives sell the Do-It-Yourself kits in 21 Most aren’t young. some of the old-timers an advantage oday, pond hockey stills states, , an even northern OCrowder saw it firsthand growing come tourney time. “People who are calls to me, though not as Italy. Companies such as Home up in southern New Hampshire. 40, 45 and older grew up playing often, due to the scarcity of Rinks and Jim Stoller’s Nice Rink “I was always grabbing four, five hockey outside,” he says. “People good ice. And I’m a bit more (www.nicerink.com) in Wisconsin guys and trying to find a pond that who are 18 to 30 years old, they don’t leery of its siren’s song. are filling a growing demand for had some ice for us,” he says. “I ab- know what playing hockey outside is. Those pressure cracks in the ice fresh ice, close to home. solutely loved the , and that’s as They look at pictures, and say, ‘That Twere once just a minor inconvenience “I’m a big hockey fanatic,” Gar- raw as the sport can get.” looks neat, I’d like to try that.’ because they interrupted the smooth rison says. “I originally did it to “But my buddies would say, ‘What “But they’re the first ones freezing path of the puck, making it jump un- help my son, just so he could go are you doing? Why aren’t we skating their butts off, saying ‘This isn’t any predictably. Now, those fractures look out there, tool around, practice his inside? Let’s get five or six more guys, fun.’ And everyone in the 35-plus and like a bad injury waiting to happen. shot. What I’ve found is that it’s and let’s buy an hour at the rink or 50-plus divisions just deals with it. I can just envision my blades getting become a winter way of life for us.” something,’” he says. “And I’d say, That’s how it was. You just dressed caught, and one of my knees coming The Garrison’s 60-foot-by- ‘Guys, we’re playing outside.’” for it, and that’s it.” apart like overcooked spaghetti. 30-foot rink is now a center Crowder and Brown have noticed Even Boston coaching legends So I err on the side of caution, slipping of activity, ranging from family it with their tournaments, as the ma- Jack Parker of Boston University and on some elbow and knee pads, “just in gatherings to neighborhood jority of players tend to fall into the Jerry York of Boston College, who met case.” Because when my daughters say shinny games. Last winter, the 35-plus and older categories. Though last year in the Hockey East “Frozen they want to skate, I can’t say, “No.” Garrison’s rink provided 83 days strictly anecdotal, the evidence sug- Fenway” game, will get into the pond Maybe I’ll even try to coax my of frigid fun, he says. gests that between the unpredictable hockey act. Parker’s been known to 50-something brothers to join me “My wife can never get my nature of Old Man Winter and the drop in unannounced during shinny for the upcoming Monarchs Pond son to come inside,” Garrison availability of indoor ice, fewer kids games near his Gloucester home, Hockey Classic on Dorr’s Pond. For says, laughing. “There can be are heading to the ponds. while York occasionally brings his old time’s sake. worse things in life, right?” “There’s definitely that gap, where Eagles to the outdoor rink at Lars Absolutely. more and more kids don’t skate out- Anderson Park in Brookline. Brion O’Connor can be reached — BRION O’CONNOR side,” Crowder says. “I think one of “We always try to do that, if the at [email protected] 14 New EnglanD HOCKEY JOURNAL January 2011