The Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Championship in St. Ignace

The Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Championship in St. Ignace, Michigan has been an event we’ve wanted to document for the past few years. With the weather cooperating this year, the tournament was able to take place in its traditional location at Moran Bay along the shoreline of downtown St. Ignace. 

This has to be one of the most unique places a pond hockey tournament could take place anywhere in the world. A hockey tournament on a natural ice surface on the Great Lakes. The event typically takes place during the second weekend of February, with games happening Friday through Sunday and teams coming from all over North America.

This year started off with heavy snowfall, which created a very cool setting, especially with the backdrop of Mackinac Island ferries, lighthouses, and downtown St. Ignace. It made for some really fun photo opportunities. Here are a few of our favorites.

To go along with the games happening on the bay, there was a tent with live music, food, and beverages to keep players and fans fueled up and to provide a place to warm up.

As a bonus during pond hockey weekend, the iconic Clyde’s Drive-In opens just for this event during its typical seasonal closure. While we always say Clyde’s is a must visit while in the area, it was extra special this time because it was our first time ever having Clyde’s during the winter.

A few takeaways from our first time at this event. First is the effort from the team and volunteers who help make it happen, including the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, which is in charge of organizing everything. Second is the amount of fun the participants and fans are having. Many of the teams we talked with have played year after year, while others were experiencing it for the first time. Third is just how incredible the location is. Just a few short months after pond hockey weekend, this area will once again be filled with boats, kayaks, and people enjoying the water in a totally different way.

On this weekend, it was all about hockey in its purest form, outside on a naturally frozen pond, also known as the Great Lakes.

Check out our full video from the Labatt Blue U.P. Pond Hockey Championship below.