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The good old hockey game

Practice makes perfectAfter yesterday's extremely close Olympic Game which saw the men's Olympic Team Canada beat Team USA 3-2 for the gold medal, it seems fitting to write about hockey and how Resorts of Ontario fits into the popular Canadian sport. For well over a century Canadians have been playing ice hockey on frozen ponds and lakes and then indoors at arenas and now even on home-made backyard rinks. Boys and girls, men and women, Canadians all seem to take personal pride in picking up their sticks and heading out on the ice. People play for fun, practicing passing and stick handling, while others take it more seriously by playing in competitions.   Bayview Wildwood Resort located on shores of Sparrow Lake south Muskoka plays host to the Taylor Cup pond hockey championship every year.  With the tournament being played on frozen Sparrow Lake, this is certainly an experience to behold. Benefits of the tournament go the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation and this year the tournament raised over $140,000.On the lit up rink For a truly unique hockey experience look to Haliburton for Sandy Lane Resort which boasts pond hockey under the stars played on the lit up natural rink. With skates, sticks and pucks available for rent, Sandy Lane makes a great place to visit whether you have been playing your whole life or just trying it for the first time. Afterwards, warm up with a dip in the outdoor hot tub, an experience all is own. In 2007 Nottawasaga Inn Resort , located just north of Toronto, opened its doors on its fully completed twin pad arena named "The Center Ice Sportsplex." As they say on their website this area is "An ideal location for hockey tournaments, skills development, training camps, hockey schools, figure skating, team building and recreational skating." Nottawasaga is the only resort in Ontario to offer a twin pad arena and it is free for guests staying at the resort.  Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, played host to the 2010 Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships. With 24 rinks built on Sunset Bay this was definitely a tournament to see. Guests of the resort benefit from the tournaments long after the event has finished as the ice remains available for pick up hockey or an open skate and with rental equipment available in stock there is no reason to not get out on the ice. Whether you have been playing hockey your whole life or just received inspiration to start now, there is no better place to try this game then at a resort on their natural or man-made rink. Come on up to our place and let's play that good old hockey game.