Fans, former NHLers headed to Windsor’s Long Pond this month
Hockey fans and celebrities will meet together in January on the famed Long Pond ice in Windsor to play Canada’s national sport in the place where it all began more than 200 years ago.
Long Pond is where local historians say the British game of hurley evolved into hurley-on-ice and became ice hockey. Records dating back to the early 1800s reveal accounts of this new game being played there by the boys of nearby King's College. In 2015, Sports Illustrated named Long Pond one of the seven "hockey wonders of the world" that all hockey fans need to visit.
The Long Pond Hockey Heritage Classic kicks off another fundraising tournament on Jan. 25 at Long Pond at the Dill Family Farm in Windsor.
Hockey celebrities and minor hockey players will be playing, along with two novice female teams, this year.
“Windsor Home Hardware is sponsoring the Long Pond female players, which will include the Avon View High School girl’s hockey team and another team made up of all females. We are hoping to soon confirm a couple of elite female players to play as well,” said Krista Lloy, co-chair of the 2020 Long Pond Hockey Heritage Classic.
As usual, celebrity hockey players will highlight the tournament.
“Marty McSorley and Bernie Nichols are two of our celebrities this year. We are excited to have both of them,” said Lloy.
“An interesting fact is that McSorley was part of the Gretzky trade to LA and Nichols was part of the Messier trade when Nichols went to Edmonton — probably two of the biggest trades in Edmonton history,” she continued.
“When we seek out players to invite to our Classic, we like to choose players that we think will be popular with our local fan base. These two are already stirring up excitement with the announcement of them attending.”
Another local celebrity and fan favourite who has attended in the past is Cole Harbour’s Joe DiPenta, who won the Stanley Cup in 2007 with the Anaheim Ducks.
“Joe will be bringing his daughter’s novice team to play our own Valley Wild novice team. It will be exciting,” said Lloy.
Money raised at the event goes to running the Hockey Heritage Museum and promoting Windsor as the Birthplace of Hockey.
“This is the major fundraiser for the year so ideally we would like to double the amount raised. The society has also started a bursary for a male and female student graduating from Avon View High School who has shown leadership both on and off the ice. Last year was our first year for it and it is our hope that we are able to make it an annual bursary,” said Lloy.
Fans of the Long Pond Heritage Classic have expressed worries about the fate of the tournament now that the Long Pond is up for sale. Lloy said the owners “have not received any offers yet” so the Classic will go ahead as scheduled, as it has since the event began in 2012.
“The Dill family have worked tirelessly with the society each year to make the Classic the success it has become. We are extremely grateful to them and for their passion and dedication,” said Lloy.
Lloy is hopeful the tournament will continue even after the site is sold.
“If and when the day comes and it does sell, then the society would naturally reach out to the new owner to continue using Long Pond, Dill property and the trademarked name,” said Lloy.
The event will be held on
Long Pond on Jan. 25 with games beginning at 9 am. Players can register as individuals and be “drafted” to a team or a group can register to play as a team. It is free to watch the games, but there is a fee to play.
There will be live music at the banquet, which follows the event. Music will be provided by the Beer Nuts. There will also be a live auction, with hot stove style interviews with the celebrities.