My vote is for White Bear Lake. Not only do they host a good weekend, complete with team hot dog eating contest and full video production of the games (available on DVD for only 10 bucks), but everyone knows they have the best trophy in the metro - The Bear.
If you don't have one, we all know you secretly cry at night because you don't. Long live the Moose Goheen Tournament series!
Additionally, they have this guy......
who is right out of the movie "Slapshot" (except he's a good player). My kids have played against his teams for many years and I have yet to see him playing the game without a big ol' "I love hockey" grin on his face. Any association who can imprint the perm-a-grin like that knows how to do hockey.
Close runners up include Anoka with the Tornado Trophy - pretty darn cool, the Brooklyn Park with the Pirate (sorry mates, even the Pirate can't out do the Bear).
The challenge - if you are in an association that has some lame, off-the-shelf plastic POS trophy, get on the ball. Take the bull by the horns! Lobby the coordinators to get some serious booty for awards. Get your association to buy trophies that teams talk about and travel days to contend for. Start a hot dog eating contest. Make it as fun as the game.
Keep shooting the puck as long as you can breathe....
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,
Patchy
