International hockey tournament will attract thousands of players and fans to New Brunswick in February
Eastern Canada’s bone-chilling deep freeze around the Christmas holidays has provided the 2026 World Pond Hockey Championship planned for Feb. 19-22 in Plaster Rock, N.B., with a solid footing – lots of natural ice at scenic Roulston Lake.
“We were on the ice and in most places, there is nine to 10 inches of solid ice beneath the snow. If we continue to have a normal winter it shouldn’t be a problem for ice thickness,” said Danny Braun, World Pond Hockey organizer. “With the tournament more than a month away, we should be ready for a great championship.”
Eighty men’s teams and 10 women’s teams are registered to compete in this year’s championship, an increase of four women’s teams from last year. 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 registered to attend.
“We have returning teams and a healthy mix of new blood. It’s great to see our tournament recognized as the place to play pond hockey,” Braun said. “Our volunteers work hard to put on a world-class tournament.”
Each team will play at least five games. The single-elimination playoff marathon on Sunday, Feb. 22, will see the top 32 men’s teams and top four ladies’ teams play off to see who will hoist the Goodwill Cup.
Braun said the organizing committee meets weekly to finalize tournament details, and a legion of volunteers is ready to ensure the hundreds of players and thousands of spectators have a world-class event.
Roulston Lake’s natural ice surface features at least 20 rinks, meaning up to 200 players are facing off in 30-minute games. Players and spectators can visit the pond hockey pavilion, a massive log structure located at the lake, to warm up between matches.
“It’s a great venue for families and hockey spectators to catch some great action, pond hockey style,” Braun said.
Pond hockey fun kicks off Thursday, Feb. 19, at 5:00 PM with an opening ceremony at the Phil Sharkey Memorial Centre. Players will lace up their skates for three rounds of games under the
lights Thursday night, with games continuing throughout the weekend. There is no admission charge for tournament spectators.
Braun said accommodations in Plaster Rock and neighbouring communities like Perth-Andover and Grand Falls are filling up, and many Plaster Rock-area residents have opened their homes to accommodate visiting teams.
“We will have food and beverages on site, along with entertainment and social times at the pavilion every evening and on Saturday afternoon,” Braun said. “Hockey is just part of the fun. There’s food and beverages to enjoy, lots of different people from around the globe to meet. We are hoping for some ideal pond hockey weather, cool crisp nights, sunny February days and big crowds to help us welcome the world coming to play in our backyard.”
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation has joined the list of pond hockey sponsors, including presenting sponsors Budweiser, the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation and Battlefield Cat Equipment Rentals and others, for this year’s event.
The tourney, created in 2002 to help raise money for a new arena and recreational facility in Plaster Rock, has generated more than $900,000 toward that goal, as well as funds for many other community projects. The Phil Sharkey Memorial Centre opened in 2007.
