CREEDE— The 2019 Golden Pick Pond Hockey Tournament over Martin Luther King Weekend drew the biggest field since the tradition began a dozen years ago, including newcomers determined to be back next year and the return of a pioneer team from the inaugural competition.
The Butterholes from Denver stormed through the early rounds in A League competition, but they lost a player who reportedly lost two or three teeth during their semifinal victory. Arizona’s Ice Holes won the championship by a 7–2 margin, requiring late-game stitching for one of the victors.
Literally located above the other two ponds, the A League rink is a higher level of play on a bigger space. But the spirit that permeated the competition transcended winning and losing. Even during the championship, players dropped defensive duties to gently usher dogs off the ice, returning into position to block a shot. Seen in the big scheme: no harm, no foul.
Further defining what event co-originator Kip Nagy termed, “competitive chivalry,” event co-originator Brian Brittain said, “The B League makes this tournament because they always keep it fun.”
Nagy and Brittain quickly thanked their wives (Kerry Rice and Kara Brittain), and the concentric shout-outs continued through a variety of local businesses, movers and shakers.
Throughout the tournament, Kara buzzed about bracket dramatics to continually update results from games on three rinks and keep things on schedule. Unlike the other 363, according to Kara, “These are the only two days a year I get to boss people around.”
On-ice officials had to be sharp because goals quickly became counterattacks while pucks hitting the net might not meet the two-pass requirement to count. Play continued regardless— a three-pond circus of fluid movement. Announcers cracked jokes over the music, but the combined carving sound and player communication dominated sound.
In the B League Championship game, Shut Your 5-hole came from behind to beat Creede’s San Juan Sports, 7–6. San Juan Sports had to win the B League semifinal in OT, and they took the championship to the wire despite a dramatic comeback. Down 3–5, the youngsters from Thornton tied it up, but the locals fought for the equalizer through the final moments. Shut Your 5-hole will move to the highest pond next year.
Later on Saturday, long after fans and players headed into town, Nagy, Brittain and a crew of hard-cores hooked a huge hose to the hydrant and restored conditions for Sunday’s games. Nagy was quick to praise the Creede Fire Department for installing the hydrant at Silver Skate Park, quickly followed by shout-outs for Sheriff Fred Hosselkus.
From the very first tournament and every year since, Kolisch Lumber has donated at least two cords of wood to keep people warm, thanks to Dan Meade as well. MDS managed trash, and other angels donated the tent and effort to set it up for children to keep from freezing.
Before the championship games, Creede’s famous Zamboni slowly circled the ponds and smoothed the surface. Number 114 off the production line, Creede’s machine echoes its own history. Museum curators stand ready to cover the machine in dust, but crews tune it every year to keep Silver Skate Park running smooth.
Like group names at a big battle of the bands, team names screamed originality at the 2019 Golden Pick Tournament. Obvious names identified sponsors, but others included Dinks, Flew Shots, Loose Balloon Knots, Dreadwings, Windows 98, Check Republic and the Wapiti Warriors from Monte Vista.