The 1st US Save Pond Hockey tournament is coming to Central Park!
We are extremely excited to announce that this Saturday, March 16, 2024, the very first Save Pond Hockey tournament in the US will take place at Wollman Rink in Central Park! Hard Pass NYC has come on board as a Partner Tournament, and we couldn’t be more honoured. This announcement follows the launch of Save Pond Hockey USA earlier this winter.
“Pond hockey” means friends and family getting together to play on outdoor rinks – the essence of hockey. Save Pond Hockey, founded in Finland in 2015, is devoted to uniting the hockey community while raising awareness and funds for climate action. It’s a great way to bring everyone together, and it’s something we need to preserve for future generations!
Hard Pass NYC is New York City’s first and only hockey social club. Their goal is to maintain a safe, fun, and social environment for all adults with an interest in the game, and to build community on and off the ice. They welcome players from all kinds of backgrounds and skill levels, from players holding a stick for the very first time to former high-level players.
Save Pond Hockey Partner Tournaments are existing outdoor hockey tournaments that have joined the Save Pond Hockey movement by agreeing to donate at least 1% of tournament profits to climate action.
The beneficiary of the 2024 Hard Pass NYC Pond Hockey Tournament will be Prospect Park Alliance – a natural choice, since Prospect Park is a mainstay for the locals and is the location of Hard Pass NYC’s home rink. The tournament at Wollman Rink in Central Park will involve 12 teams, playing 3-versus-3. As always at Hard Pass NYC, players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate as long as they can safely skate and stop.
Partnering with Hard Pass NYC is a great fit for Save Pond Hockey, as warmer winters due to climate change threaten the existence of outdoor hockey across the world. Protecting our planet is an urgent concern. We understand the NHL also takes this seriously, whose US office is just down the street from where the tournament will be played on Saturday.
“We couldn’t be happier to join forces with Hard Pass NYC on the first Save Pond Hockey Tournament in the US, right in the heart of the Big Apple!” says Steve Baynes, Canadian co-founder and executive director of Save Pond Hockey. “Like all pond hockey players, we share a deep passion for this beautiful game and want to do whatever it takes to help preserve it for future generations.”
By the way, if you’re in New York, be sure to join the Hard Pass NYC team on March 24 in Prospect Park for a trash clean-up session!
Sincerely,
Save Pond Hockey