Again, In 2024, Hundreds Of Hockey Teams Will Descend On Minnesota To Play Hockey The Way It Was Meant To Be Played

Folks are serious about hockey in the Land of 10,000 Lakes - and that's why we play host to so many events that draw thousands of players and spectators, like the state high school hockey tournament and Hockey Day Minnesota (in Warroad, this year). But one of the most beloved events is the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, held every year on Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. This year, the tournament will take place between January 18 and January 28.

For most of the winter, the frozen surface of Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis is visited only by ice anglers, dog walkers, cross-country skiers, and the occasional skater.

But for 10 glorious days each January, Lake Nokomis is transformed into a complex of hockey rinks.

Over that time, thousands of players descend on Lake Nokomis to play hockey as nature - and the Viking ancestors who played hockey on this ice hundreds of years ago (per the tournament website) - intended it.

Teams compete in a variety of divisions for a chance at being crowned the best pond hockey players in the U.S.

There are even non-competitive divisions for those who just enjoy being out on the ice, waving a stick at a puck.

Players of most ages and abilities and all genders are welcome, and the teams that play come from all walks of life and offer their own stories.

What unites everyone, though, is a love for the game.

And fun. Fun is a big part of the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships.

Team names and uniforms are often meant to amuse.

And folks take all the time they can between periods and games to enjoy themselves.

But make no mistake - as fun as the tournament is, when the players are on the ice, they're serious about hockey.

And so are the hundreds of volunteers and organizers who work to make the tournament possible, while keeping it fun and safe.

Thanks to the fun atmosphere and the quality of the hockey, spectators flock to the lake by the thousands over the course of the tournament.

In fact ESPN has called the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships one of the sporting events you must attend before you die.

We think it's something you should attend, too - just be sure to bring everything you need to stay warm out on the ice! For more information, check out the tournament on the web or visit the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships on Facebook.

Have you attended this tournament before? Do you play pond hockey in Minnesota? Be sure to let us know in the comments!