New England native Scott Crowder adds USPHC to pond hockey pedigree

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

There’s a new pond hockey chief in town and his name is Scott Crowder.

Crowder, a native of New England, who has run pond hockey tournaments in New Hampshire since 2010, purchased the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships this past summer.

The USPHC celebrated their 20^th year last season.

“Minnesota has always been the heart of pond hockey in America,” said Crowder. “The U.S. Pond Hockey Championships is a bucket list event for so many players. When the opportunity came up to acquire the tournament, it felt like a natural fit.”

Crowder grew up in New England and has been around hockey his entire life, playing college puck at UMass-Amherst. After graduation he wanted to find a way to stay connected to the game, not just as a player, but by helping build community around it. That led to him creating The Pond Hockey Classic which has become one of the largest outdoor hockey platforms in North America.

“What started as a grassroots idea to bring people together around a shared love for the game quickly grew into a multi-event platform with tournaments in New Hamsphire and Vermont, and now in Minnesota,” Crowder said. “Fifteen years later we have hosted thousands of players and teams from across the U.S. and Canada.”

The USPHC has been a staple in Minnesota. Held on Lake Nokomis in late January, the event has attracted players from all over North America who brave the Minnesota weather to enjoy hockey ‘the way nature intended,’ which is the USPHC’s tagline. The teams, separated into brackets based on age and ability, compete for the coveted “Golden Shovel,” awarded to each winning team.

Crowder said the tournament will have a Thursday night check-in and welcome party, Friday and Saturday pool play, and Sunday playoffs.

“The goal isn’t to reinvent the wheel,” said Crowder. “It’s to make sure the USPHC runs at the level the hockey community expects.”

Crowder said he sees the USPHC as the cornerstone of the national pond hockey circuit.

“We are incredibly grateful for the warm welcome from the Minnesota hockey community,” said Crowder. “We know what the USPHC means to players here and we are committed to honoring that legacy while bringing in new energy and professionalism. We can’t wait to get back on the ice in January and, as always, will be praying for cold weather and perfect ice conditions.”

Teams can register for the tournament by visiting: https://www.uspondhockey.com.