The pucks officially dropped as nearly 400 players converged on Foys Lake for the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic this weekend near Kalispell. Playing through winter flurries and bursts of sunlight, 51 teams from across the U.S. and Canada enjoyed the rugged origins of hockey, atop natural ice. Organizers cleared off the snow in preparation and flooded water atop the thick ice covering Foys Lake. Sheets of ice were marked off and made into rinks with short sidewalls and miniature goalie nets.
Greg Lindstrom
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Players lace up their skates during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Adam Crandall, with the team Pond Scum from Alberta, protects the puck from Tim Cerimele, with the Channel Four News Team from San Diego, during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Jeremiah Buckles, with the team Turning Hat Tricks out of Spokane, watches action during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Spectators watch the action during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Matt Abram, from Calgary, cleans the ice after a game during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Spectators stay warm near a fire at the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Colin Patterson, left, celebrates after a goal by teammate Frank Eigenbrood during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Lanny McDonald, Hall of Fame NHL player and former captain of the Calgary Flames, chats with teammates after a game during the inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
The inaugural Montana Pond Hockey Classic at Foys Lake on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon