The Erewhon Cup ice hockey tournament was held in Naseby over Matariki weekend with approximately 100 players getting their skates on for games from July 13-16. 

The Erewhon Cup is one of the the oldest sports trophies in New Zealand, dating back to 1938. 

It was the first time the tournament has run two levels of competition.

The A grade was won by Wakatipu Goldrush and the B grade won by the Maniototo Hawks.

Organiser and Dunedin Penguins player Drew McMillan said the Naseby rink “really turned it up” and with “amazing ice”, “no wet patches” and a wonderful welcome to visitors and fans.

His team went down 0-2 to Queenstown in the A final despite beating them earlier on in the tournament 8-2. The home team defeated the Dunedin Ducks 5-0 in the B final. 

Maniototo put on a strong showing, remaining unbeaten in their grade. 

The Maniototo team with the B grade trophy.

Drew said the social aspects of the tournament were a huge drawcard for the teams.

“When you’re not at the rink, you’re at the pub… everyone goes to the same place for a meal, it’s social and relaxed… Naseby, the town, is a great host.” 

It’s the second time Drew has run the Erewhon Cup, “pretty much on his own” and along with the successful introduction of the B grade, he was thrilled to report no injuries to any players after the weekend’s play.  

Nine teams from around the South Island visited Naseby to participate. The A grade was contested by the Alexandra Flames, Christchurch Wild, Dunedin Penguins, and the Queenstown Goldrush.

Five teams made up the B grade: the Dunedin Ducks, Dunedin Chargers, Maniototo Hawks, Gore Grizzlies, and Tekapo Bull Tahrs. 

The Alexandra Flames in action against the Dunedin Penguins.

The Erewhon Cup is one of the the oldest sports trophies in New Zealand dating back to 1938. 

Each game ran for three 15 minute long periods and checking is only allowed in the neutral zone in preliminary rounds, with full-ice contact allowed in the semifinals and finals. 

Games started on Thursday evening (July 13) and were played each morning and afternoon or evening through to Sunday morning, when the final was played.

The Erewhon Cup was first contested in 1937 in Opawa, South Canterbury. The tournament predates the formation of the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation in 1986 at Lake Tekapo.

In 2022 it was held in Alexandra and the Ophir Nuggets (with players from Wellington, Queenstown and Dunedin) took home the trophy. 

Action in an early Erewhon Cup game, one of our oldest sporting trophies. PHOTO: NZIHF

Ice hockey has been played in Aotearoa for more than 80 years and started in the South Island high country where farmers and workers played on frozen ponds and lakes.

Along with ice hockey the rink in Naseby hosted the New Zealand Luge Championships and Naseby Cup 2 Luge races over the weekend. 

The junior men’s winners in the New Zealand Luge Championships were (from left) second Nathan Paterson, first Liam Pettigrew and third James Bennett. PHOTO: Facebook