Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118148
Jacks. I spot tournament organizer Mike Jensen of the Saskatchewan Hockey Association by the coffee machine and ask him how the ice is holding up so far. "You're not going to fall through," quips the green-clad 24-year-old, ice forming in his chin goatee. "When we flooded the lake, we used about 60,000 gallons of water in total." But not before plow trucks, loaders and brooms cleared snow off the lake, which is about 200 by 250 metres. In fact, the rinks took two and a half weeks to make, with a pair of three-quarter-tonne, 4x4 trucks hauling around two 4,000-litre, trailer-mounted tanks with drop bars behind them to create the large ice surface. Three days before the tournament, the rink walls went up, bearing blue logos commemorating Wascana Centre's 50th anniversary. (The urban park also hosts the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, Conexus Arts Centre and three museums.) The popularity of pond hockey tournaments goes beyond Saskatchewan (shown here), with players lacing 'em up to compete in Lake Louise, Alberta; Prince George, B.C.; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. 16 W E S T W O R L D p14-19_Getaways.indd 16 >> WINTER 2012 12-10-19 9:45 AM