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The Taylor Cup Pond Hockey Championship: Great Pond Hockey Fun for A Great Cause

Just a 45-minute drive Northeast from Barrie you’ll find the beautiful small community of Severn Bridge, Ontario. Located on the southern edge of the District of Muskoka, Severn Bridge is a scenic town with many activities to offer visitors. The city is on the banks of the Severn River, making for stunning panoramic vistas no matter where you choose to explore the area. Enjoy this friendly and laid back town through their shops, restaurants, and local attractions. There is a little something for everyone here from the opera house and theater to the wildlife center and historical sites. This region is also known for its festivals and celebrations. During every season, regardless of weather, locals and visitors alike flock to various locations and events for memorable experiences. Just outside of town on the picturesque Sparrow Lake, The Bayview Wildwood Resort holds one of these great events, the Taylor Cup Pond Hockey Championship.

 

Hundreds of participants and many more spectators make their way to the comfortable confines of Bayview Wildwood Resort for the event. Teams of four will pit their pond hockey skills against each other to find out who's the top team in the land. The event is not just about pond hockey, it’s really about raising money for a great cause. This event raises funds for Sarcoma Cancer Research. Each team must donate at least $1,000 and top fundraisers will receive an award along with the top placing teams from the tournament. Participants will get to enjoy an awards dinner, that will celebrate the tournament and the teams who have been there from the beginning. Spectators will love watching the games, enjoying the local scenery and all the activities that the area has to offer. For a unique and beautiful vacation destination, make your way to Severn Bridge for the Taylor Cup. It's an experience that you won't soon forget! ResortsandLodges.com interviewed Paige Cunningham, the Coordinator of The Taylor Cup Pond Hockey Championship, to find out more about this unique event.

 

RAL: Tell me about the event.

PC: 2016 marks the 11th year of The Taylor Cup! The Taylor Cup Pond Hockey Championship is a two-day, round robin 4-on-4 tournament that takes us back to the basics on a frozen lake, all for a good cause! Every team is required to raise a minimum of $1000 that will directly benefit Sarcoma Research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

 

RAL: How many participants do you draw and who are they demographically?

PC: Each year we have roughly 200 registered participants, but the number continues to grow with team “managers”, spectators, family, and friends. Approximately 97% of our participants are male, but we have some great female players creating a few co-ed teams. The majority of our participants range between the ages of 19 to 49 years old. We do have a good number of families that attend to cheer on their family members in the tournament!

 

RAL: What makes the event unique?

PC: It’s an exciting time to take a weekend off, get out of town with some buddies, and play some good old fashioned pond hockey. This is a full weekend event where men and women from around the region come together for one common goal and have a lot of fun doing it! Each year, we have the same core group of teams and participants and it has really become a family. The new teams come in and fit right in. Even when I am there working, I feel like I’m away at a weekend summer camp!

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event.

PC: On Friday evening, all participants arrive at Bayview Wildwood Resort, check in to their rooms, and register their teams with our event staff. They get right into a few games that evening under the lights. Each team generally has their own room or cottage at the resort and all of them have a great time staying together. On Saturday morning, teams are up early, ready for their next couple of games! Lunch is served, followed by a silent auction, and raffle or 50/50 tickets are sold. There is a bon fire going all night and day, and many participants hang out by the fire and have a few drinks to celebrate what we’re all there for. Playoffs happen and the finals will be played under the lights on Saturday evening. After the champions have been crowned, an awards ceremony and dinner take place in the main dining room where top fundraisers are announced and celebrated! After dinner, participants stick around to enjoy a great DJ and a fun after-party!

 

RAL: What can attendees expect to find for local lodging?

PC: Bayview Wildwood Resort puts almost all of their rooms on hold for Taylor Cup participants which is great for us and those that make last minute reservations. The resort has cottages around the lake and on their property that they rent out to participants. These tend to go right away as they are large enough to accommodate a full team.

 

RAL: Does the event support any special causes in the community?

PC: This event supports Sarcoma Research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Even though The Princess Margaret isn’t located in this community, research and advancements in cancer and care that take place at The Princess Margaret benefit hospitals in the area and around the world. Many community members that receive a cancer diagnosis may be sent to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for treatment.

 

RAL: Why should people come?

PC: This would be a great event for a reunion with some friends as an annual weekend away. It’s so much fun to enjoy this experience with your small group, and also with 200+ other people, all while raising money for an amazing cause. We also have many families that attend and have a special rink cleaned off and reserved for family skating. There are plenty of other activities to take part in at the resort as well! All are welcome!


For more information about The Taylor Cup Pond Hockey Tournament please visit their website.