COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Pucks are flying as Vermont’s Lake Champlain Pond Hockey Classic returns this year after a cancellation back in 2024.
“This is beautiful, the whole lake is frozen. Have some fun, and play some hockey,” said Jessica Phillips of New York.
Phillips has never participated in the classic before and being one of the only girls team in the mix, she says she came to win.
“I mean most of us play on a beer league with men. So this is fun, we get all the girls together. We have had some pretty good competition. We are here for a championship game, hopefully, if we win this one,” said Phillips.
The tournament returned for it’s 12th year with twelve hundred players and one hundred thirty eight teams.
Last year the competition was cancelled due to lack of ice on the lake. Officials say the last couple winters have been choppy so they were glad to welcome everyone back.
“There was just some heavy rain leading into the weekend, the temperatures weren’t quite where they needed to be. it just did not seem safe to run the event. This year we had some freezing tempatures over the last few weeks. That were able to freeze the bay to the thickness that we need,” said organizer Jordan Woodill.
And first timers watching the games are excited for the next one.
“I have always driven by here. I have always said that looks like such a blast, finally I am here with my friends. Watching some pond hockey, it’s been great,” said Catie Hodges of Essex Junction.