6th annual Michigan Pond Hockey Classic tournament kicks off

Tournament lasts through weekend at Mac's Marina in Whitmore Lake

WHITMORE LAKE, Mich. – The 6th annual Michigan Pond Hockey Classic officially kicked on Friday and will feature a weekend of nonstop 4-on-4 hockey action.

Taking place in Whitmore Lake at Mac's Marina, the games, taking place on manicured 75' by 150' rinks, will be 30 minutes long, with no off-sides, no icing calls and no goalies. The tournament consists of six divisions for all skill levels.

According to event coordinators, this tournament is the largest 4-on-4 pond hockey tournament in Lower Michigan and continues to grow.

Thousands of players and spectators are expected to attend the games and the festival-like atmosphere. The competition began Friday night with the semi-finals and finals Sunday afternoon.

The weekend will feature fireworks, heated entertainment tents, a live band, concessions, raffles, family activities and a skills competition on Saturday.

New to the tournament this year, the MPHC said it has forged a partnership with Red Bull to host the only U.S. qualifier for the Red Bull Open Ice International World Pond Hockey tournament.

MPHC says the winner of the Red Bull division will receive a trip to Helsinki, Finland, courtesy of Red Bull, to compete against the European champion for the title.

Additionally, MPHC is the primary fundraising event for the Michigan Pond Hockey Sports Charities, a non-profit organization that supports families in need of financial assistance for their children to participate in youth athletic programs.

Click here to learn more about the event.