Experience Hockey
in its truest form
FCPHA
A brief history
FCPHL (Fort Collins Pond Hockey League) started in 1992 on a local pond in Fort Collins, CO. A few friends that worked at a business across from the Prospect Ponds found themselves admiring the ice when it froze over in the winter. Even though most of them hadn't ever played hockey before (let alone ice skated before), the beckoning black ice, some encouragement from their boss and a pile of old hockey sticks provided the the opportunity for them to try. Over time, the group that came to play on the ice grew larger every winter through word of mouth. Regular games would take place on the weekends and sometimes on lunch breaks. The culture they established for the ice boiled down to obeying just one rule: If you skate on the pond than help shovel the pond. To date, hundreds of players young and old alike have used the pond for enjoyment. Then, 15 years ago, an idea formed: why not go big and host a pond hockey tournament? The rest is history.
In the beginning. . .
there was a pond. Then the water on that pond froze. And the kids came to play hockey. And, boy, was it good.
No parents, no coaches. You just went out and did your own thing. No refs. You called your own penalties and the honor system worked just fine. No fans in the stands with cowbells. Just the roar of excitement between your own ears. No stats needed. As far as you knew, you were just as good as Wayne Gretzky. Friends jeered and cheered each other on and then dropped in a snowbank for a quick rest between games. Only thing stopping you was sunset.
​
Playing on the pond. .
allows us to connect with the roots of this great sport. We can return to the pure enjoyment of this simplified version of the game.
Playing on the pond is as much about the experience and the camaraderie as it is about the game itself. We play a good game of hockey, then we join together to clear the ice for the next game. Pond hockey is unique in that community is not only built within a single team but amongst all those who are lucky enough to share the same ice.