On Jan 21st & 22nd, the MCHA had the privilege of participating in the annual "Golden Pick" Tommyknocker Pond Hockey Tournament for the 3rd year in a row. This tournament, sponsored by the local Tommyknocker Tavern and Kip's Grill, is held in Creede Colorado, a historic mining town in the Rio Grande National Forest. The 3-on-3 tournament is played on 2 ponds in a beautiful valley surrounded on 3 sides by immaculate high rock formations. The ponds sit at almost 9K ft above sea level, and this year the town received over 3 inches of snow the night of the tournament!

In 2010 the MCHA sent a team of 5 that won the lower division. In 2011, the MCHA sent 2 lower teams and 1 upper team. One of the lower teams, "KG and the Sunshine Band", won the tournament again. But more importantly, the 3 teams had the opportunity to do community service work at the local day care center, including dry-wall, insulation, and painting. This year, the MCHA sent a single upper team of 5, "The Sons of Thunder". The team again had the opportunity to volunteer, including transporting dry-wall at a habitat for humanity house and working at the local day care center. In addition to some more dry-wall and insulation work, we also got to sand and re-coat a wood floor in the main room. The focus of the trip was on serving and sharing the love of Jesus Christ, and we were honored to win the upper division for the first time!

Creede has gorgeous scenery and is truly in "God's Country" of Colorado. It's a blessing to see the work God is performing on a town of such receptive, fun, engaging people.

Check out the official tournament site for complete details, result, and pictures from the event.