Reiskahöntsyt - playing iceball with slippers

Tournament of slippershoe-iceball.

This is The Koulukatu outdoor artificial icerink, which is The Legendary Place in Tampere. It has been first time iced regulary by the Hockeyteam Ilves since 1934 during winters, so that all the Tampere's hockeyteam players could have their rehearsals there.

In first this was only tenniscourts in summer, freezed naturally and iced in winter, but 1645 the auditorium and the proper icerinks were built - as also matches of Finnish hockey league were played here. At that time there was three hockeyteams in Tampere; Ilves, Tappara and Koovee.

Since 1956 Koulukatu ice rinks have had artificial ice from november to march/ april. The Pyynikki-brewery besides the icerinks offered the cooling power to the machinery of Koulukatu ice rinks - and Tampere city and the local hockeyteams did a lot effort to keep rinks in good shape. The artificial ice rinks were The Big Thing for the icehockey playing in Finland, as at that time there was no indoor rinks at all, and here in Koulukatu the players could play till the late spring...

As in 1965 the Hakametsä indoor ice rink was build, the lower leagues and today juniors are playing on Koulukatu artificial ice rink. There is also public turns in Koulukatu artificial icerink, ao everyone who wants can now skate or play there.

Today in Koulukatu there was a happening, a tournament ;)
The World championship tournament of Reino and Aino -slipperyshoes
The photo is from women's match: Ainottaret vs. RadioNRJ. One of my firends was playing in Ainottaret -team, but they lost the game (some 1-49 or something.. ;)).

The tournament info in the link is only in finnish, what a pity, so here is some info, shortly and maybe badly translated in english:

This is two-days charity tournament and in mens's series there will be last years 8 best teams, in women's series there is two new teams and the last years two best teams. The After these sport events in saturday evening (tonight) there is charity galaparty with live music, dining and dancing. All the incoming money from this sports event (also our sausage- and pancakemoney) and from the galahappening will be donated to the Shelter-home of Tampere. I can not translate the name poperly, but that is the safe public home, a place where anyone can firsto go / escape if having - of fearing - violence in his/her home.

Anyway - Very nice sunny spring day, some -3c in shadows and Ilves-hockeyteam sold some hot sausages and Reino-shoeshop was making some hot pancakes.


Thank you for your kind comments again yesterday for the ant-ambassador!
Have an nice weekend you all!