Four-day tournament will host 90 international teams in Plaster Rock
Hockey enthusiasts from around the globe will lace up their skates in Plaster Rock starting Feb. 19 when this northwestern New Brunswick community hosts the annual World Pond Hockey Championships.
A frosty New Brunswick winter has made for near-perfect natural ice conditions at scenic Roulston Lake this year. Organizer Danny Braun said volunteers have been busy checking and clearing the ice for the tourney, and everything is looking up for a great weekend of pond hockey fun.
“These crisp winter nights and consistent below-freezing temperatures have produced lots of ice at the lake. The ice surface has been as good as we have ever seen it. Volunteers will be busy this weekend putting the final touches on the rinks so everything will be ready for Thursday’s opening,” Braun said.
Braun said 80 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams will compete in the 2026 event. The 90 squads include players from across Canada and the United States, with teams from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates travelling to play outdoors on natural ice.
The fun kicks off Thursday with official opening ceremonies starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Phil Sharkey Memorial Centre. The teams, escorted by minor hockey players carrying flags of the countries, provinces, and states participating in the event, will march to the nearby lake for fireworks and play three rounds of games under the lights.
“We expect some great hockey during the tourney. The 16 rinks on the lake means as many as 32 teams will be playing throughout the day and under the lights in the evening,” Braun said. “It’s a great venue for families and hockey spectators to catch some great action, pond hockey style.”
A local ice sculpting team led by Tom Gamblin has been hard at work creating a new lakeside ice sculpture to be unveiled at the tournament. The ice sculpture has been a traditional backdrop for spectator and team portraits over the years.
Tournament play runs from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, followed by musical entertainment at the Lakeside Pavilion. The games continue throughout the day on Saturday, with musical entertainment scheduled for Saturday afternoon and evening.
Braun said the marathon final starts Sunday at 10 a.m. with the top 32 men’s teams and top 8 women’s teams vying for the championship. Contestants will play up to four games on Sunday before the women’s and open division championship games start at 2 and 2:45 p.m. When the ice chips settle on Sunday afternoon, more than 250 games of pond hockey will be in the record books.
“It’s a great family weekend. There’s no charge for spectators, food and beverage are available at the pavilion. Everyone in our small community pitches in to make sure players and spectators have a great time on and off the ice,” Braun said.
World Pond Hockey volunteers expect thousands of visitors during the four-day event. Accommodations in Plaster Rock and neighbouring communities like Perth-Andover and Grand Falls are booked, and many Plaster Rock-area residents have opened their homes to accommodate visiting teams.
The tourney, created in 2002 to help raise money for a new arena and recreational facility in Plaster Rock, has raised almost $1 million toward that goal. The Phil Sharkey Memorial Centre opened in 2007.
