Big Lake home of 2017 Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic

WASILLA — The Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic has a new home, and for the next three days, Big Lake will be the center of Alaska’s hockey universe.

Seventy-six teams in eight different divisions will skate the Big Lake ice at the Burkshore Marina on 13 different groomed rinks during the three-day event sponsored by the Scotty Gomez Foundation. The foundation — started by Scott Gomez, a former East Anchorage standout who would go on to star in the NHL, and his father, Carlos — hosted the event in Anchorage in prior years. But thanks to the event’s rapid growth, the foundation moved the pond hockey classic to Big Lake.

This weekend, the Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic will include the 76 teams spanning eight divisions — open, 49ers, elite, women, co-ed, U18 high school, U14 youth and U10 youth. There will also be a family rink, a 60-foot by 140-foot warming tent, food, drinks, fireworks and a concert, in addition to the three days of hockey.

The Hawaiian reggae band H3 will play a free concert Saturday at 7 p.m. The Big Lake Lions Club is hosting the fireworks show following the concert.

The events are open to all ages until Saturday at 9 p.m. After Saturday at 9 p.m., there is a 21 and over H3 show.

Hockey begins Friday at 11 a.m. with the youth divisions. For a complete schedule, see akpond.com.

Admission is free, but there is a charge for parking. Single-day parking for a car or truck is $5 and $10 for recreational vehicles. The weekend rate for a car or truck is $10 and $15 for RVs. All proceeds from the parking directly benefit the Mat-Su Amateur Hockey Association.

All other proceeds from the event go directly to the Scotty Gomez Foundation, a staunch supporter of youth hockey in Alaska. The foundation is named for Gomez, who retired after a long NHL career just prior to the 2016-17 season. Gomez played in more than 1,000 NHL games scoring 181 goals and 575 points. He was first-round selection of New Jersey, and was awarded the Calder Trophy, the league’s rookie of the year, after his first season with the Devils in 1999-2000. Gomez helped New Jersey win the NHL’s Stanley Cup twice, first in 2000 and again in 2003.