The Methow Rink’s annual Apple Puck event, returning for its third iteration, has the look of a real tournament this year as four college club hockey teams will be in the valley to hit the ice on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 22-23).
Here for a round-robin of games are teams from the University of Washington, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Western Washington University.
In a sense, the Huskies will be defending their title. Two years ago, in the first Apple Puck, UW easily defeated WSU. Last year, the Huskies had a harder time of it against the EWU Eagles, but still prevailed.
All four teams are members of the Northern Division of the Pacific 8 Intercollegiate Hockey Conference (which, thanks to expansion, now actually has 12 teams). The conference is part of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, which encompasses some pretty good college-level hockey at schools around the country.
The Apple Puck, this year presented by a major sponsor, Sun Mountain Lodge, is the biggest annual fundraiser for the rink, which is owned by the Town of Winthrop and operated by a separate nonprofit organization.
Each game will include raffles and games such as Chuck-a-Puck and Blue Line Shoot-out promotions. Prizes include signed team jerseys, custom team/university gift baskets, one-night stays at Sun Mountain Lodge, and more. Rink concessions and merchandise sales will be on-site. Outside vendors include Old Schoolhouse Brewery and Bart Northcott’s BS BBQ. For more information, visit http://winthroprink.org/applepuck2019, or call 996-4199.
The schedule:
Friday
• 2:15 p.m., doors open
• 3-6 p.m., game 1 — UW vs. EWU (preliminary game)
•6-9 p.m., game 2 — WSU vs. WWU (preliminary game)
$10 adults, $5 youth 6-17, 5 and under free
Saturday morning
• 7:15 a.m., doors open
• 8-11 a.m., game 3 — WSU vs. EWU (preliminary game)
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m., game 4 — WWU vs. UW (preliminary game)
$5 all ages, under 5 free
Saturday afternoon/evening
• 5:15 p.m., doors open
• 6-9 p.m., game 5 — championship game
$15 adults, $10 youth 6-17, 5 and under free
A weekend pass (all five games) is $25 for adults; $15 for youth 6-17; 5 and under free.
