Editor’s Note: Due to ice rink conditions and weather, the event has now been postponed to Saturday, February 14. Original article below:
Monterey — The fourth annual Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Benedict Pond in Beartown State Forest.
In case of inclement weather, the backup date for the event is Saturday, February 14.
The event will include 16 teams competing in a four-on-four co-ed tournament.
Event organizer Alex Regen told The Berkshire Edge that the event has been a popular draw since it started. “Hockey is very big in our region, and I think that people are always looking for fun things to do outdoors during the wintertime,” Regen said. “The real star of the show is Beartown State Forest with the Benedict Pond. It’s a protected forest with the Appalachian Trail wrapped all around it. It makes it a very beautiful location to play hockey.”
According to Regen, 14 teams from last year are slated to return this year. “We have some very great skaters who will be playing,” he said. “For a team to be good, they have to be good with their hands in order to get the puck with their stick. Each rink is 100 by 50 feet, and it is smaller than an NHL rink. It really mitigates speed players, so in order to win, a player must know how to move the puck well with your other teammates.”
Regen added that the tournament welcomes all spectators who enjoy watching hockey. “It’s a free event to watch, and it’s a great thing to do in the middle of winter,” he said. “We have some very good local competition in this community.”
For more information, visit the event’s website.
