The Merrimack Sponsors the 12th Annual Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship

Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) is backing Concord’s place in hockey history as a sponsor of the city’s annual 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship. The $8,000 sponsorship helps the association put on the highly anticipated event, while giving back to the Concord community.

This year’s Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship was postponed to the weekend of March 17th through March 19th, and will be held indoors at the Everett Arena in Concord. Normally, the tournament is held outdoors at White Park in Concord and transformed into eight rinks that host 80 teams over three days.

“Due to unseasonably warm temperatures, we had to postpone Black Ice to St. Patrick’s Day weekend and move it indoors to Everett Arena,” said Chris Brown, longtime Board Member of the Black Pond Ice Hockey Tournament. “Thanks to support from sponsors, like The Merrimack, we’re still holding the event in typical Black Ice fashion with entertainment for all, family fun, and fireworks.”

“It’s more than just a hockey tournament, it’s a Concord tradition,” said Linda Lorden, President of The Merrimack. “The event not only brings the community together, but people from all across New Hampshire.”

The 1883 Black Ice Hockey Association is a non-profit organization chartered in New Hampshire in 2010 to promote and support pond hockey, ice skating opportunities, recreational activities, and other worthy causes in the Concord community while honoring the city’s rich hockey heritage. Over the years, the Association has donated more than $600,000 to the Concord community for projects and causes that align with the organization’s mission.