RANGELEY — The Fourth Annual New England Pond Hockey Tournament returns for three days of fun competition and camaraderie Feb. 5 to 7. The tournament is a celebration of playing hockey the old-fashioned way —outdoors on frozen ponds while raising funds for Rangeley area charities.

The tournament has grown in size and popularity through word of mouth in the hockey community. This year’s event is expected to draw at least 34 teams, from throughout the northeastern United States, to the tournament’s 10 rinks on Rangeley’s Haley’s Pond (directly behind the Rangeley Inn).

The pond hockey games are played by four-person teams (two alternates) on 150- by 75-foot rinks (threequarters the size of a standard hockey rink) with no checking, goalies or referees. The games (30 minutes in length —two 15-minute halves) are run simultaneously on the 10 Haley Pond rinks with each team assured at least three games in the round-robin competition. There are three tournament divisions including the “Open Division” (men 35 years-old and over), a “Women’s Division” (no age limit) and the “Masters” Division (ages 50 plus).

The tournament commences Friday (Feb. 5) evening with team registration at the Rangeley Inn at 5 p.m. followed by a “Welcoming Reception Happy Hour” (sponsored by Shipyard Ale and open to the public), also at the Rangeley Inn.

Pond hockey tournament play begins Saturday (Feb. 6), following Opening Ceremonies, at 9 a.m. Team players have an opportunity to “kick back” Saturday evening, at the tournament’s party (held at the Rangeley Inn).

Sunday (Feb. 7) features the tournament’s consolation games, the Championship game and the closing ceremonies.

Some of the 2010 New England Pond Hockey Tournament new features include an expanded women’s division (five teams to compete —up from one in 2009), two more tents (20’ by 40’ each), a “modified” Zamboni (which will stay on Haley Pond to be used for future public skating use) and a new non-profit organization running the tournament’s Food Court —The Friends of Mountain Aviation of the Civil Air Patrol’s 37th Composite (Sundowner) Squadron based in Rumford.

“We have 22 volunteers preparing for the tournament,” said event organizer Linda Sikes of Rangeley. “This tournament is all about giving the players a great experience on and off the ice.”

“What we often hear from spectators and players alike is the impressive quality of play this tournament attracts,” Sikes added,” many of those here have played their entire life as well as on organized high school and college teams.”

For more information on the New England Pond Hockey Tournament, call 491-6566.