Pond hockey tournament this Sunday in CB South

All abilities welcome

By Than Acuff 

While the skiing has been firm up at the resort recently and may not be the preferred surface, it has been good for edge control and that most certainly will come in handy at the (sort of) annual Crested Butte South Frozen Toes Classic Pond Hockey tournament on Sunday, January 7 starting at 9 a.m.

Touted as “the most popular CB South event of the winter season,” the Frozen Toes Classic is making a triumphant comeback after COVID quashed the tournament back in 2020.

In its heyday, the tournament drew between 60 and 75 players and Sean Hartigan, who is part of the Frozen Toes tournament committee, hopes for the same numbers, if not more, this year.

“We had 15 teams before so we’re hoping for those numbers,” says Hartigan. “We have roughly 10 teams already signed up.”

Registration is $80 per team and teams should have four to five players. Don’t have a team? No problem. You can register as an individual for $25 and they will put you on a team. Cost to play goes up if you decide to wait until the day of the tournament to sign up and cash only whether you sign up early or the day of the tournament. If you do wait until the day of the tournament, show up at 8 a.m. to get signed up.

To register, visit cbsouth.net or email [email protected] to get the paperwork and drop it off with payment at 61 Teocalli Road in CB South.

All ages and abilities are welcome and there will be two divisions, a comp division and a rec division. Hartigan, his two sons Brendan and Luke and friend Joel Aslanian are the rec division defending champions.

Hartigan would like to remind everyone of a couple crucial rules. First, a helmet is required, shin pads suggested. Second, no crying allowed. Prizes will be awarded to the winning team in each division compliments of King Systems.

There will be three rinks going at the same time with teams playing on the pond surface and the rink divided into two additional pond hockey rinks with partitions provided by Andy Eflin at Jorgensen Ice Arena.

The committee has rallied businesses in CB South to provide food and drinks with Camp 4 coffee, burritos from the Wooden Spoon and slices of pizza from Tully’s. Volunteers are needed and will get free food and drinks for their effort.

While the forecast is calling for some snow toward the end of the week, snow or shine, the tournament is happening. Proceeds from the tournament will go to purchase a new edger for the CB South Zamboni.

“Bring a shovel and a smile,” says Hartigan. “It should be a good time. It’s a fun tourney, not serious.”