A crew of Lac La Biche Kinsmen club members and other community volunteers spend the chilly day on the Lac La Biche ice creating the hockey village that will host 19 novice and pre-novice minor hockey teams from around the province on Saturday.
The Rob McCormick Memorial Kinsmen On the Pond Hockey tournament will heat up the outdoor rinks of the frozen lake surface starting Saturday morning at 8:30 pm. Teams from across northern and central Alberta will spend the day on the open ice rinks in a fun tournament that has been organized by the local Kinsmen club for a decade and a half.
Admission to the pond hockey event is free, but donations are always welcome, say Kinsmen officials. All proceeds from the annual event go back to assist community programs.
Organizers have spent the last several weeks clearing off eight outdoor rinks and carving out areas for team changing rooms, concessions and parking to prepare for upwards of 500 visitors to the community and hundreds more local spectators.
Dress for the weather
According to Environment Canada, the weather for Saturday is expected to turn chilly with winds and the chance of snow. Temperatures are expected to be around the mid minus teens for most of the day. Organizers hope fans of the game and community supporters will dress up warm to visit the unique community fundraiser.
The event is named in honour of Lac La Biche Kinsmen club Life Member Rob McCormick who brought the initial idea of the hockey event to the club's membership. McCormick organized the event from its inception until his passing in December of 2016.