Pond hockey players to get answers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Hopeful pond hockey players will be getting some answers Friday, on the popular winter pond hockey tournament in downtown Buffalo.

Even though temperatures have been very cold over the last few weeks, it still wasn’t enough to freeze the lake.  The Labatt Blue Pond Hockey Tournament will likely return to the pavement once again.

Last year, the tournament had to be shifted on the pavement due to lack of ice at the Erie Basin Maine. Despite the freezing temperatures to start the new year, it hasn’t froze enough on Lake Erie for the tournament to be played on it.

Friday, the company is announcing their plan b, which is exactly what happened last year.

Labatt Blue Associate Brand Manager Brett Carlsen said, “We have not turned this into a street hockey tournament before. We've canceled it before quite frankly because weather didn't accommodate and we've had to cut the tournament short. We feel this is our best option of giving our players that same three day experience.”

Last month, News 4 spoke with Buffalo Public Works Commissioner Steve Stepniak about the possibility of the tournament once again.

News 4 asked, “What do you think the chances are of having it strong enough for that tournament?"

Stepniak said, "You know, I'm not gonna speculate on that, I just know that we need at least a foot of ice and if it keeps on progressing and temperatures stay cool for this, I know people won't say cooperative, but we'll monitor and see what happens."

Parks and Recreation Deputy Commissioner Andrew Rabb said, “It's not just a requirement for twelve inches of ice the day of the tournament, we need that ice several weeks established before the tournament just so that our crews can get out on that ice.”

This year’s plan b is expected to be announced at 10 a.m. Friday.