Play continues today at the 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship in Concord. Teams will play in the semi-finals and finals at White Park this morning from 8:00 until noon.
The tournament is only in its fourth year, but the area’s pond hockey tradition goes back much further. Organizers say St. Paul’s School in Concord hosted the nation’s first “organized” game back in 1883. Mary Sullivan of Bow says the sport’s long history in the area is part of what draws crowds to the tournament.
“It brings back that wholesomeness of growing up and the outdoors and the good old days of playing pond hockey in the backyard or on the local pond,” she says.
Tournament winners take home the so-called “HobeyStick,” named after St. Paul’s alum and early hockey star Hobey Baker.
And beginning Friday, Meredith will host its New England Pond Hockey Classic.