Are you missing hockey? The City of Lacombe is offering an underwater alternative.
With the Stanley Cup playoffs over, hockey fans may be feeling the blues, but the City of Lacombe is offering a cool alternative to help fill the gap: underwater hockey.
From June 30 to July 4 (excluding Canada Day on July 1), the city will have a five-day underwater hockey program at the local swimming pool.
Sessions will run daily from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the full program costs $50 per person.
The sport, also known as Octopush, is played at the bottom of a pool by two teams of six.
Players use a short stick called a “pusher” to maneuver a weighted puck into the opposing team’s goal all while holding their breath and swimming with snorkel gear.
The fast-paced game combines speed, strategy, and underwater finesse.
Despite its intensity, underwater hockey is a non-contact sport, meaning no pushing or grabbing is allowed.
No prior experience is necessary, and coaching will be provided by national-level players, making this a rare opportunity for beginners to learn from the best.
Participants must be comfortable underwater and capable of swimming one width of the pool.
Registration is now open, and spots are available to anyone interested in trying this one-of-a-kind sport.
So, if you’re missing hockey season and looking for a new challenge, consider trading your skates for fins and try scoring goals underwater.
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