Playing ice hockey outside under the sky is simply beautiful. It's terrific, memorable...choose your own words. It's a unique celebration of the fastest game on earth. Let's take a look at the most amazing natural ice hockey rinks around the world.
Did you know that there are hockey championships on frozen ponds as well? Rezztek® is paert of those too. Without further ado, here are some of the most spectacular places on Earth where you can play some hockey come winter season.
Lake Weissensee in Weissensee, Austria
The Weissensee Ice Hockey Tournament in Weissensee, Austria, has been held annually since 1989 on the frozen surface of Lake Weissensee. It is one of Europe's most iconic outdoor ice hockey events, featuring a mix of amateur and semi-professional teams from around the world. The tournament is played on natural ice, offering a unique and picturesque setting with snow-capped mountains in the background. First held in 1989, it's known for its natural ice and scenic mountain backdrop. Teams from various countries (including Austria, Germany, Canada, Finland) participate, often with a mix of former professionals and amateurs. The tournament has grown in popularity and is considered one of the most challenging and charming amateur hockey events in the world.
Lake Mälaren in Stockholm, Sweden
Lake Mälaren, located in Stockholm, has played a historical role in Swedish ice hockey, particularly during the early years of the sport in Sweden. While it’s not as famous for ice hockey tournaments as Weissensee, it’s historically significant due to its role in outdoor hockey and the growth of the sport in the region. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Lake Mälaren was one of the places where ice hockey was first played in Sweden.
Outdoor rinks and frozen lakes, including those around Stockholm, were central to the sport's development before indoor arenas became common. Today, Lake Mälaren is primarily a scenic body of water known for recreational activities, but during colder winters, the ice is sometimes used for casual outdoor hockey games and skating. Mälaren, alongside Stockholm’s urban areas, was part of the early ice hockey culture in Sweden, a country that has since become a global ice hockey powerhouse.
Nymphenburg Palace Canal in Munich, Germany
The Nymphenburg Palace Canal (or Schlosskanal), located near the famous Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, has a notable historical connection to outdoor ice hockey, particularly in the early 20th century. The canal, along with other frozen waterways in Munich, served as a popular location for outdoor hockey games before the advent of indoor arenas. In the early 1900s, the frozen waters of the Nymphenburg Palace Canal were used for outdoor ice hockey games and skating.
It was a central spot for the local community to enjoy winter sports, including ice hockey, before the development of more modern facilities. The canal, along with Munich’s other frozen lakes and rivers, played a role in the spread of ice hockey in the region. In those early years, outdoor rinks and canals were often used by amateur players and the first organized hockey clubs in Munich.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise, located in the stunning Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, is a world-renowned destination for outdoor winter activities, including ice skating and ice hockey. The lake's natural setting has also contributed to some historic moments in outdoor hockey, although it's more famous for its recreational and scenic appeal.
Lake Louise is well-known for its outdoor skating rinks, where people can enjoy casual ice hockey and skating on its frozen surface in the winter months. The lake, with its dramatic mountain backdrop, is often used by locals and visitors for pick-up games, though it’s not typically a site for large-scale competitive tournaments.
The lake’s famous emerald green water and snow-capped mountains create one of the most picturesque settings for playing ice hockey outdoors. It’s a popular destination for tourists who want to experience the magic of Canadian outdoor hockey in an iconic location.
Canyon Ferry Lake in Helena, Montana
Canyon Ferry Lake, located just outside Helena, Montana, is a scenic body of water that’s best known for its outdoor recreational activities like boating, fishing, and winter sports. While it’s not a major hub for ice hockey in the same way as some other locations, it does play a role in the local winter sports culture, including informal outdoor hockey games.
Like many lakes in colder regions of the U.S., Canyon Ferry Lake provides a venue for informal outdoor ice hockey during the winter months. When the lake freezes over, locals often use the frozen surface for casual games of hockey and ice skating, a common practice in many small towns across Montana. Canyon Ferry Lake is not known for large-scale, organized ice hockey events, it is an important location for local, informal outdoor hockey.
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Lac de Joux in the Jura Mountains, Switzerland
Lac de Joux, located in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, is a picturesque lake that’s particularly popular for outdoor winter sports, including ice skating and ice hockey. While it isn’t known for large-scale professional tournaments, Lac de Joux has a strong connection to outdoor ice hockey and is an important location for local winter recreation.
Lac de Joux is a popular spot for outdoor ice hockey when the lake freezes in the winter months. The region's cold winters create the ideal conditions for natural ice, allowing local residents and visitors to enjoy pick-up hockey games on the frozen surface, a tradition that is part of the broader Swiss love for outdoor winter sports.
Switzerland has a rich ice hockey culture, with strong national and local leagues. The Jura region is home to several amateur hockey teams. The combination of natural beauty and winter sports makes it a beloved spot for hockey enthusiasts in the region.
Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, New York
Mirror Lake, located in the village of Lake Placid in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, is a well-known spot for winter sports, including ice skating and outdoor ice hockey. The lake is closely associated with Lake Placid's rich history in the winter Olympics and its role as a hub for winter sports.
Lake Placid has hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1932 and 1980), and Mirror Lake is part of the town's Olympic legacy. Though the lake itself isn't the main site for major Olympic events, it has long been a popular location for outdoor hockey during the winter months.
Mirror Lake in Lake Placid is part of the rich winter sports heritage of the area, offering a scenic location for outdoor hockey and skating during the colder months, continuing the tradition of ice sports that the village is known for.
World Pond Hockey Championships
The World Pond Hockey Championships are an annual international competition that features pond hockey, a variation of ice hockey, played outside on a body of frozen water. The event is held on Roulston Lake in the tiny, rural Canadian community of Tobique Valley.
The 2023 world championships for pond hockey has been won by a Slovak team. In the final of the 20th World Pond Hockey Championship (4 on 4 format), which took place in Plaster Rock, Canada, from February 16 to 19, the Bratislava-based amateur team Frosty Shots defeated the Czech club Captains Namest 6:5.
The Slovak team consisted of former hockey players Branislav Fábry, Ján Mucha, Lukáš Mucha, Dávid Diškanec and Miroslav Merschitz. But the Frosty Shots were not the only team from Slovakia, as team "Trenčania" also represented Slovakia (and all of them played with Rezztek® instead of hockey tape on their sticks).
PHOTO & DATA SOURCES: NBC Sports, GI, X, Forbes, NHL, FB, lakeplacid.com, travelandleisure.com, Tomáš Falkai
Jakub Vaverka
I create content for social media for a living and I live hockey. Going to NHL games and writing blogs about my most favorite game is a dream come true.
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