Sponsors and organizers of the Montana Pond Hockey Classic say the weekend event was a success despite a last-minute change of venue and absence of alcohol for the event.

“The teams were fine as long as they got to play,” said Diane Medler, director of the Kalispell Convention and Visitor Bureau. “They wouldn’t really rate one venue over the other. They were just disappointed in not being able to have a controlled beer garden.”

The Kalispell City Council voted down the alcohol request on Feb. 17, just three days before the tournament started. At the time, Medler had just moved the event to Woodland Park after ice conditions at Foy’s Lake were deemed inadequate.

Medler said she heard some grumbles among participants about the lack of on-site beer. And while having the tournament in Kalispell might have been convenient for some, she said that the spectator gallery was a bit thin this year. Spectators and participants didn’t stick around between games as much as they did at Foy’s Lake a year ago.

Last year’s inaugural event at Foy’s Lake included a beer garden from Tamarack Brewing out of Lakeside. A main sponsor of the event, Tamarack was set to provide drinks this year but the council’s vote precluded that.

Tamarack fielded two teams for the tournament and had a lot of fun, according to brewery co-owner Josh Townsley. He said the alternative site at Woodland worked well except for the lack of local brews.

“The venue was actually a good venue, but we certainly won’t advocate to have a repeat, having to deal with the City Council,” Townsley said. “It’s unfortunate that they didn’t make that exception.”

That sent many away from Woodland in search of a drink. As a result, nearby establishments saw a good deal of traffic over the weekend.

Just across the street from Woodland Park, the Scoreboard Pub and Casino received some of the crowd. Co-owner Peggy Schenck said that the hockey patrons were a “great bunch.”

“We were glad to accommodate them during the day,” she said. “And at night, they spread out all over the valley. I think everybody scored because of that.”

All things considered, Medler was happy with this year’s Pond Hockey Classic.

One team canceled from the original field of 61 and the weather allowed for good ice. Over the next few weeks, Medler will send out surveys to those involved for input. She said that organizers will use that to help craft next year’s event.

With all the scrambling in the final week to move everything to Woodland, Medler said that the city was helpful in taking and accepting the initial event permit, even if booze wasn’t an option. The rinks may have been a bit smaller than last year, but the games went on as planned.

“It was a great alternative site,” Medler said. “It worked out really well. I really appreciate the cooperation from the city of Kalispell staff and parks staff as well.”

Champions were crowned in four divisions at the Montana Pond Hockey Classic:

Sportsman & Ski Haus won the Open Division, The Cascadians won the Shinny 35+ Division, The Donnybrooks won the Shinny U35 Division and Apes won the Twig Division.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.