Changes In Latitudes...

Call it fate, or a desire for new adventures, or maybe just pure laziness in the fact that we procrastinated too long to get registered for the 2011 USA Hockey Pond Hockey Championship (which apparently filled up in record time this year), but the Ice Holes did not make a third trip to the frozen northwoods of Wisconsin this year.  I must admit, that I had some sad moments of reflection on the weekend of February 11-13.  I kinda hoped that maybe they would have a blizzard this year, and I could point to that and say, "See - I'm GLAD we're not there!"  But no such luck.  From the pictures I saw on the USA Hockey website, they, once again, had splendid weather.

When it was learned that a return trip to Eagle River wasn't in the cards, we began looking at alternatives.  Briefly, we contemplated making a trip to another pond hockey tournament, but, failing to find one both suitable for our high level of play and within a reasonable budget, we opted to head to warmer climes.  Subsequently, the Ice Holes are headed to Florida for Spring Break.  Now some would say that, given Mac's propensity for donning Speedos, that heading to an environment where that attire might be more justified is crazy.  But hey, we're all about living on the edge.  Besides, it would be wrong to limit Mac's exposure to the people of Wisconsin.  Everyone deserves the right to have that image burned into their retinas.

So come the weekend of March 18-20, the Holes will find themselves in Coral Springs to compete in the USA Hockey Adult Classic.  Obviously with this being a more traditional tournament, we have a larger crowd going.  While the roster has fluctuated a bit recently, it looks like we'll have a full complement of 13 skaters and a goalie.  Most of us will be making the trip overland, which looks to be a 12 hour drive.  Mac will be riding with us, so I'm sure I'll have some prime pictures and story fodder to add to the blog along the way.

So buckle up, our devoted fans!  The Holes are headed to Florida!