Scotty Gomez Foundation hosting annual pond hockey tourney

BIG LAKE — When 600 hockey players descend on Big Lake this weekend for the 2019 Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic, the ice will be safe, but the goals will be in trouble. The three-day celebration of hockey in its natural form will help support the Scotty Gomez Foundation, which helps to ensure that every child gets the opportunity to play hockey.

Scotty Gomez was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 draft, after he was born and raised in Anchorage. Gomez went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2003, and even starred for the Alaska Aces during the lockout shortened 2004 NHL season. The Scotty Gomez Foundation assisted in funding the renovation of the neighborhood hockey rinks at the Sullivan Arena. The Foundation also took over the girls hockey program when the Anchorage School District closed the program. The foundation raises funds to provide hockey opportunities for youth in Anchorage who may not otherwise be able to experience the game and its values and discipline. The most popular fundraiser put on by the Scotty Gomez Foundation is the Last Frontier Pond Hockey Classic, now in its fifth year.

The tournament struggled for it’s first two years in Anchorage, but found a home on Big Lake big enough to accommodate more than 100 teams that play for a good cause to send the hockey season off with a win. In the tent at the Burkshore Marina will be a karaoke and dance party on Friday night following the youth tournament on the ice. Saturday will bring the majority of the 108 teams down to the ice for games in the 49ers, elite, open, women’s, co-ed and novice divisions. Sled dog rides will run around Big Lake and to cap off a weekend of hockey, I Like Robots will play a free concert in the tent followed by a fireworks show.

“We want to make it almost like a festival,” Scott’s father Carlos Gomez, who sits on the board of directors, said. “Everybody’s giving back everything we do out there.”

All of the vendors are sponsors, which is what Gomez loves so much about the tournament. As the tournament has come to flourish and continued to grow in Big Lake, Gomez has been pleased with the response of the hockey community to come out and support the foundation for the end-of-season tournament. 49th State Brewing will be providing food and beer was donated by Matt Tomter at Matanuska Brewing Company. With the influx of 108 six-man teams, the impact on the Big Lake community is why Gomez continued to push for the tournament to be held in the Valley, even after it’s initial struggles.

“I believe in it so much, I’ve stuck with it. It stands on its own merit,” Gomez said. “The positive thing is it actually generates income to the community which I’m really happy about for the Mat-Su Valley.”

As The Last Frontier Pond Hockey Tournament has grown, it’s attracted attention from players outside of Alaska who travel to Big Lake for the annual celebration. The 13 rinks will be in action Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the help of volunteers.

Contact Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.