Officials at Labatt Blue, the brewer with its U.S. headquarters located in downtown Buffalo, announced today that as a result of the balmy weather so far this winter, the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament scheduled for February 10-12 will instead be played as a street hockey tournament, in the parking lot of Erie Basin Marina.
Buffalo's lack of wintry weather has resulted in a lack of ice in the marina. While officials wishfully say 'never say never' to the possibility of a late cold snap that could put ice in the harbor, they conceded at a news conference today that the odds are against ice thick enough to be safe for the hockey tournament.
Brett Carlsen, associate brand manager of Labatt Blue, says the decision was made Friday to move the tournament off the ice and onto the asphalt.
"Mother nature certainly hasn't cooperated with us this year, but we didn't want to let that stop us from putting on a great hockey tournament," Carlsen said. "If by some miracle we get the ice we need, we'll do everything we can do to get the tournament on ice. More likely though, we will be enjoying some great, competitive street hockey games an icy cold Labatt Blue beer on February 10-12 at Erie Basin Marina."
The 144 teams that registered to play on ice will be refunded their $250 deposits. They are automatically entered, meanwhile, in the street hockey tournament, though Labatt officials have asked teams to state by January 23 if they wish to withdraw, so that teams on a waiting list can be invited next. At least 50 teams were on that list, according to officials.
The rules will remain the same on the pavement as they would on the ice: maximum rosters of seven players, no goaltenders, six-inch tall nets, mandatory helmets and encouragement to wear other protective equipment. A street hockey ball will be used instead of the traditional puck.
Carlsen said Labatt officials considered other options, including an alternate location, synthetic rinks, temporarily flooded and frozen fields and even cancelling the tournament entirely. They decided in the end that the tournament must go on, even if it's in a different form.
"We do have over a thousand players and 144 teams coming into Buffalo for this event," Carlsen said. "And changing the day did not guarantee any colder weather."
Carlsen ended the news conference on a humorous note, reading a poem to Mother Nature begging for one last chance to put this tournament on the ice, promising a lifetime supply of Labatt Blue if she delivered.
