SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The thermometer may read single digits, but that didn’t stop nearly 100 hockey players from lacing up their skates this weekend as Clinton Square transformed into a frozen battleground for the Syracuse Pond Hockey Classic.
Now in its sixth year, and third at its downtown home, the tournament returned Saturday morning with teams competing on outdoor ice while spectators warmed themselves with hot chocolate, beer, and a community energy that only a Syracuse winter can deliver.
“If you dress appropriately and embrace Syracuse, I think we can all come out and have a great time,” said Tim O’Donnell, tournament director, as crews worked Friday to put finishing touches on the ice.
The classic has come a long way since its debut at Hiawatha Lake in the city’s Strathmore neighborhood. O’Donnell says this year’s lineup included both familiar faces and newcomers.
“We’re excited to have a bunch of returning teams, which is a huge compliment to us, and have some new teams as well, so, really excited about it,” he said.
But the tournament has always been about more than just hockey. This year, organizers are shifting their charitable focus closer to home, supporting Syracuse organizations We Rise Above the Streets and Tillie’s Touch, two groups that serve the city’s most vulnerable populations.
“We’re hoping to help them the best we can, in the same way a lot of folks around here have helped our event,” O’Donnell said.
The format is simple: a round robin tournament consisting of teams of four, three on ice at a time, face-off in fast-paced games throughout the day, with no boards, no goalies, but lots of freezing fun. Spectators dropped by throughout to watch, with games running continuously from morning through afternoon.
And despite the forecasted temperatures, which would make most people retreat indoors, O’Donnell wasn’t worried about turnout.
“This is Syracuse,” he said. “Dress warm, and bring a flask.”