Every winter, Pete Kibble and the guys he plays social hockey with in Massachusetts make the trek up to New Hampshire to play in an outdoor tournament many believe embodies the sport in its purest form.
Elsewhere, at New York's Saranac Lake, a palace constructed from thousands of blocks of ice was closed during the winter carnival Saturday due to safety concerns as it melted away. The same day in Maine, an 88-year-old man died when the all-terrain vehicle he was on plunged through the ice after a fishing trip, the latest in a series of such accidents.Sign up for NECN newsletters.Hockey players assemble for a game in Meredith, N.H., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
Last year was the warmest ever recorded on Earth, and a natural El Nino weather pattern has made winter even milder in some places. One team arrived decked out in furry coats, another set up a barbecue and most started socializing the moment their games were over. Pond Hockey Classic founder Scott Crowder said there's nothing better than playing outdoors in a beautiful setting.
“But there is one variable we can't control,” Crowder said, referring to the weather. “And it's a big one.”