After hearing about its great, icy joy, I finally attended my first U.S. Pond Hockey Tournament at Lake Nokomis. Appropriately, the temperature hovered in the single-digits. Spectators bundled in winter boots and snow pants, clutching cups of coffee and hot chocolate.

While one visit was more than enough, I’m happy to cross off one of the “12 must-see sporting events in 2009” per ESPN.com.