It’s been a two full years since me and the boys have taken in that sweet Upper Peninsula air. Two years since we’ve sucked down Canadian pilsners with ice chips in them. TWO WHOLE YEARS since we’ve sat at the Kewadin Hotel & Casino in St. Ignace, Michigan in matching hockey jerseys.

COVID has taken a lot from thousands across the country since 2020. For me personally it took away half of the company I worked for and it decimated my wedding plans. But of all the things Ignace has taken from me, from us as Americans- I think we can all agree this god damn pond hockey tournament stung the most. We snuck in Ignace 2020 right before the world fell apart. It was the year 2021 which was unfortunately cancelled due to continuing COVID concerns.

But today I’m happy to write that we’re back. This would be our 11th year headed up to the promised land, but due to the lost year it’s year 10. We’ve been going up since I turned 21.

2012 Ignace at 21 years old

2020 St. Ignace at 29 years old

If you’re new here I’ve written the complete history of our time at the tournament which can be found here: SparkNotes Ignace History or here Long Form Ignace History

Here’s a video I submitted to Barstool. At the halfway mark I give a small taste of what Ignasty is like.

Follow @champagneathletics on Instagram for updates leading up to and during the big event.

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