About Us
The Michigan Pond Hockey Sports Charities (MPHSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. The Michigan Pond Hockey Classic annual adult pond hockey tournament is the primary fundraising event for the charity. All proceeds from the tournament go directly to a fund that is disbursed to local school districts and youth athletic organizations.
Our Mission
Michigan Pond Hockey Sports Charities (MPHSC) provides funding to youth athletic organizations and families in need of financial assistance to make youth athletic programs accessible to children in our community, who otherwise couldn't afford to participate.
Our Vision
Many school districts are forced to adopt a "pay to participate" model for school athletic programs. Families that cannot afford to pay this fee can work directly with the athletic directors of local area school districts, who are in contact with the MPHSC Board of Directors. The support from the MPHSC will encourage and promote the health and well-being of children through youth athletics.
Eligibility
History of the MPHC
There's something about Pond Hockey that touches us all; memories of our youth, a chance to get outside and celebrate the cold winter, and another way to play the greatest game we know. With events such as the NHL Winter Classic helping grow popularity for hockey and celebration for the game in its purest form. We are fortunate to have our own opportunity to bring this enthusiasm to Michigan, in the form of the Michigan Pond Hockey Classic.
The event was the brainchild of a couple of Whitmore Lake residents, Pete Read and Sam Iaquinto. These men share passions for both the greatest game on earth, and the love of winter activities. Read's passion for the game helped channel a vision of an old time hockey tournament held in Whitmore Lake; essentially, a tournament boasting "hockey the way it was meant to be played."
Read got together with Iaquinto, and the first annual Michigan Pond Hockey Classic was born in 2008. As we head into the eleventh year, the tournament has grown both in size and maturity. We learn from the past, and improve each year to provide our participants a well-run tournament while growing the level of participation in a manageable way. The bottom line is, and has been since inception, to provide an unforgettable experience for all participants. To be able to grow the sport in Michigan and support local charities is simply an added reward to the efforts of all those involved.
We are all fortunate to have had a hand in creating this special weekend on an annual basis, and are even more privileged to be able to promote our beloved sport of hockey.
Questions
If you have questions about the charity or the event, please contact:
Mandy Grabowski
VICE PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN POND HOCKEY SPORTS CHARITIES
mandy@mipondhockey.com
Sam Iaquinto
PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN POND HOCKEY SPORTS CHARITIES
sam@mipondhockey.com