Labatt Blue Buffalo Street Hockey Names Tournament Champions

Players overcame freezing temperatures, grueling winds and snow to win

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Feb 14, 2012, 11:59 ET

BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Three days of ice cold temperatures, grueling winds and hard fought street hockey games ended Sunday with eight divisional winners. Officials at the Labatt Blue Buffalo Street Hockey Tournament named the following champions for the 2012 event:

Tier I: Old Macks
Tier II: Dentally Handicapped
Tier III: Tony Twisters
Tier IV: Top Gear
Tier V: Ice Breakers
Over 30 Intermediate: LODA
Over 30 Novice: Shenannigans
Over 40: Superior Sharks

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120214/NY53273)

"There is nothing predictable about Tournament weekend. First, the temps weren't nearly cold enough to get ice on Lake Erie, then tournament weekend comes, and we're in a deep, snowy freeze. This is what real hockey is all about," said Brett Carlsen, associate brand manager, Labatt Blue. "Congratulations to all our division champs and everyone who fought off the cold and played hard in the tournament. We're hoping to get back on the ice for the 2013 Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament next year. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!"

Freezing Temperatures Didn't Slow Competition

According to Carlsen, the goal of the tournament is to take people back to their hockey roots. "Every year, the players face a different challenge. In addition to switching to the street, this year we had freezing cold temperatures, grueling winds and snow," Carlsen said. "But now that we're in our fifth year, people are used to the fact that it's part of the tournament experience. It's what makes the Labatt Blue Buffalo Hockey Tournament unique."

Approximately 60 teams and more than 400 players competed on eight man-made rinks on the pavement of the Erie Basin Marina, Feb. 10-12, 2012. Labatt Blue worked with the City of Buffalo to create the "rinks" using over 1,000 hay bales as barricades.

"The City of Buffalo has been a great tournament partner for five years. They're out there in the elements around-the-clock, maintaining the rink surfaces, plowing and shoveling to keep surfaces clear for hockey play. Their dedication to this tournament is unmatched and we can't thank them enough," said Carlsen.

About the Tournament
Teams, representing novice, intermediate and advanced level players, are comprised of four to seven players, 21 years of age and older. Nets are six inches high and six feet wide like the goals used in USA Pond Hockey. Each year, the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament is held in February in downtown Buffalo's Erie Basin Marina. Labatt Blue shifted its plans from pond hockey to a street hockey tournament last month, when it became clear that Mother Nature wasn't going to cooperate by providing cold enough temperatures for Lake Erie to freeze. For more information, visit www.labattbluepondhockey.com or www.facebook.com/labattbluepondhockey.

About Labatt USA
Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Labatt USA imports Labatt Blue and Labatt Blue Light daily from Canada. Labatt Blue is America's top-selling Canadian beer. First brewed in 1951, Labatt Blue offers a clean, refreshing taste, light color, slight hop aroma, good balance, fruity character and a slightly sweet taste. Labatt Blue Light, a Canadian pilsner, is the No. 2 Canadian import behind Labatt Blue and the fastest growing light import beer in the US.

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SOURCE Labatt USA