Thursday's Plans Have Changed

If you've been listening to The Hockey Show for the last few weeks, you likely heard me promote the first annual Ducky Pond Hockey Classic that was taking place at Camp Manitou in Headingley, Manitoba from Feburary 9-12. There were a ton of things that were included in the promotion - food trucks, a Jets watch party, visits from Jets and Moose players, a DJ playing music - and it sounds like it's going to be a good time. Heck, Jason and I were going to take the show there and broadcast live from the event. The only problem? The first annual Ducky Pond Hockey Classic isn't happening this year as I found out in checking out the Ducky Pond Hockey website.

I find it strange that we were given no notice considering that we seem to be the only media outlet that was promoting it, but perhaps that's why we were the only outlet promoting it - the others were notified. As it stands, there was no specific reason for the cancellation; rather, there was a vague message on the website.

Given the lack of specificity in the message, I would wager a guess that there may have been low registration numbers heading into February which prompted the cancellation of the event, but the accuracy of this guess would be about as accurate as me holding a bow and arrow.

Having been to the US Pond Hockey Championship in Minneapolis, I know how much these events can be. If registration costs aren't exorbitant, players usually invest the money into uniforms. We saw lots of great uniforms worn at the US event - a squad wearing Team USA's 1932 jerseys, a team that wore Iowa Stars jerseys, an NYPD team, and lots more - but most were creative, hockey-related, and funny for the teams who knew they weren't competing at the top level of the event. Some wore wigs, others added funny leggings, but all teams who showed up knew that having a great look was just as important as how one played on the ice!

With the Ducky Pond Hockey Classic being cancelled, Jason and I will be back in the UMFM studio this week as we go over some of the hockey news, information, and action seen across the hockey universe. We're still looking for road trip options for this year, so if you know of a hockey event taking place on Thursday night that can use a little promotion, get in touch with us and we'll see what we can do to help get some people out to that event!

For now, we'll wait one more year to see what happens with the Ducky Pond Hockey Classic as I do hope that True North Sports and Entertainment can get it off the ground. If it's remotely as fun as the US Pond Hockey Championship in Minneapolis, it will be talked about for years to come by all who attend!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!