Quinn's Cup, U.S. Pond Hockey Championships make history in MN

(KMSP) - While the Super Bowl preparations dominate headlines, this weekend was also a special time for pond hockey.

In Edina, Quinn's Cup celebrated its fifth year of raising money for a great cause - over $100,000 for the Myocarditis Foundation.

Quinn died in January 2013 at age 8 of what his family later learned was Viral Myocarditis. Since then, his family has partnered with the Myocarditis Foundation to help educate and fund research in Quinn’s name.

Five years later, as popularity grows, so do donations.

“After five years, we’ll be well over $100,000; this was our biggest year yet,” said Kelly Kirsch, Quinn’s mother.

And it almost didn’t happen this year.

Due to the warmer weather, Quinn’s Cup could no longer be held at Centennial Lakes Park. 

However, thanks to a huge community effort in Edina, the site was moved to Cornelia School Park.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships at Lake Nokomis celebrated its second day of competition.

With representation from 46 states, players come from as near as North Dakota and as far as California.

When the puck drops, the competitive juices flow. But, most players say it’s the shared love of pond hockey that brings them back.

“The camaraderie, the hockey community…this is what we grew up playing,” said Erica McKenzie with team Lululemon.

The event has been held annually since 2006, but this was the first time sled hockey joined in.

“Each one of us has a story of how we got injured, or maybe they were born that way, but we are all out her as amazing people and want to have fun,” said Aaron Johnson of North Dakota.