Every winter, peat kibal and they play social hockey with people, make trek up to New Hampshire to play in an outdoor tournament in Massachusetts, many believe that the game incarnate the game in their pure form.
They are among 2,200 players, who land on the Meredith in each February, which is surrounded by rolling, snow -capped hills to compete on a frozen lake for three days. This is an event that will not miss anything for many social experiences. Kibble’s team name- NOG- Even his post-game tradition of sharing Engnog with opponents comes from.
But like many winter traditions on lakes all over America, the pond is in danger of hockey classic climate change. This year, the tournament was shifted from the lake of Vinnipace, where the snow was not quite thick, Chhoti Lake to Wukewan. As the temperature rose, a sister tournament was canceled at Champlane Lake in Vermont.
In other places, in the Lake of New York, a palace built with thousands of snow blocks on Saturday was closed due to security concerns during the winter carnival as it was melted. On the same day in the main, an 88 -year -old man died when he drowned through ice after a fishing trip, the latest in a series of such accidents.
Hockey players gather for a game in Meredith, NH, Friday, February 2, 2024. Like many winter traditions on lakes across the US, the pond is in danger of hockey climate change.
In midwests, there has been a decrease in both the limit and duration of ice cover on the Great Lex, while some small lakes have lost an annual snow cover of about 20 days in the last century, said Ted Ozersky, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota.
He said that rapid changes can also affect wildlife and ecosystem. “We really don’t know what this winter disadvantage means for our lakes,” said Ozersky.
Last year was the hottest ever on Earth, and a natural L Nino season pattern has also increased winter in some places.
In Meredith, the players traveled from across the country for the tournament, which started from 2 February. The rules were four sides per target, and the players had a capacity from beginners to former professionals.
Among all, 275 teams competed in 26 rinks surrounded by small, portable obstacles and bowed by skaters carrying ice shovels. There was no referee, and the players had to target Pak on one of the two small goals. Some hardy audiences saw the whole day, including a family who wore a cramp for traction.
One team came out in the cute coat, the other established a barbecue and most of them started socializing the moment when their games were over.
“This is the funniest weekend of the year,” Kelly Kitredrad said, a former college player, whose “Boston Beauts” team finished second in the women’s open division. “This year, a few hot days, but the best of it.”
As the climbing temperature dropped the snow on the first day of the competition, some players swap their skates for shoes. Cooler temperature on the next days for rapid action on ice.
Pond hockey classic founder Scott Crower said that there is nothing better than playing out in a beautiful setting.
“For the older generation, it is indifferent. It’s how they grew up. They go down to local parks and ponds, and lease their skates and play all afternoon,” Crowdor said. “I think anyone who ever takes a pair of skates, has the opportunity to skate out, just draws heartbeat.”
Crowdor stated that, on average, the ice of the lake was about eight or nine inches thick this year, the minimum they needed to safely host the tournament. He said that he could not predict the future of the event, with a lot of hunger than the audience and players, local businesses and the township of Meredith.
“But there is a variable that we cannot control,” the Crower said, referring to the weather. “And it’s a big.” Elizabeth Burkski, a research assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire at Durham said that data suggests that New England is an American hotspot when it comes to winter warming.
He said, “I grew up in New Hampshire, and so driving to lakes in Northern New Hampshire, Lake Vinnipaski, you usually hope till January that things are completely above,” he said. “There is snowomobeler out there, there is ice fishing going on. And in recent years, it is not what I have experienced.”
For one, Kibal traveled from Milton every year as the tournament started 15 years ago and there is no plan to stop now. His team these days competes in the age group over the 50s, and he jokingly refers to his shirt on his shirt, “eggs”, his body shape as his team’s egg tradition. He says that all this is about the cameradari.
He said, “Just being out, skating, playing hockey as we were children when we were children,” he said.
Associated press writer Melina Waling contributed to this report in Chicago.