Prince George, B.C. – Those hockey pros and their outdoors extravaganzas have nothing on the dedicated athletes who will gather at West Lake Provincial Park this weekend for the BC Northern Regional Pond Hockey Championships.

Organizer John Reed says 18 6-member teams are entered in two men’s divisions, one 19 and up recreational and the other 19 and up competitive. Four rinks have been set up on West Lake, three for the hockey tournament and the other for family skating. Reed says the ice was measured mid-week at 19 inches thick. He says the preparation for the weekend has been great and the ice condition is phenomenal. Given the deep freeze we’ve seen this week we asked Reed if there’s a cut-off point, a temperature at which the games would be called off due to possible danger. He says “if there were super extreme conditions we wouldn’t play. But he says all players have been advised to dress warmly, to layer their clothing and wear a balaclava under their helmet. A super-heated, covered changing area is provided and there will be plenty of burning barrels to huddle around.

The whole thing gets underway with the first games at 6 tonight and continues tomorrow and Sunday. B.C. Parks will have park rangers and supervisors on hand to provide snowshoe tours throughout the weekend.

Temperatures are to improve substantially as the event progresses.