There's no better way to celebrate 25 years of ice than to have it carved up by ice hockey players.
Eight teams from the southern region took to the Maniototo Ice Rink in Naseby at the weekend for the Erewhon Cup.
The two-day tournament was hosted by the Queenstown Ice Hockey Club, but was played at Naseby's outdoor rink to celebrate its 25th year.
Some teams are mixed-gender and the sport is generally non-contact.
The Wakatipu Goldrush showed finesse and accuracy to win the final yesterday 6-0 over the Dunedin Penguins.
Queenstown Ice Hockey Club secretary Linda Harrison said the cup had a long history.
"It's probably one of the older sporting trophies in New Zealand.''
The tournament was first played in 1937 on naturally frozen lakes and ponds.
To keep its history alive, it is played on naturally frozen ice if possible, but usually on outdoor man-made rinks.
Naseby had "good, hard ice'' at the weekend, she said.
"It's always cold in Naseby, which is good, and they had a few frosts while we were there.''
Maniototo Ice Rink chairman Jock Scott said the tournament, along with the New Zealand Curling Championships at the rink next door, saw Naseby's population swell at the weekend.
"It's marvellous for the town.''
The ice spread evenly over the rink for the weekend, he said.
"It's nice and smooth. We've had some problems with the base in the past, but we seem to be past that.''
Mr Smith was a hockey fan and would have played in the Maniototo team if he were not so busy, he said.
