Editor’s note: SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross is the people’s champion when it comes to all things hockey, as illustrated by his “#BucciOvertimeChallenges” among other things. He and many of his nearly 200,000 Twitter followers @Buccigross love pond hockey, and here he picks a few of his favorites and explains what stood out to him.
1. What always impressed me is how this scene will be boats, bikinis and water in seven months. It’s impressive how the Earth continually rehabilitates itself.
@Buccigross Cleared off the marina on the river for a little pond hockey. #saucy #shinny #stateofhockey pic.twitter.com/cO36k6xaco
— Samuel Preiner (@spreiner10) January 6, 2014
2. I love the yearning this photo exemplifies. Looking down from a bland, florescent office and onto a canvas of fresh air and natural light.
Some lunchtime pond hockey at the office. #Minnesota @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/Gzbrra5Hlc
— Sean (@smt79) December 27, 2013
3. Ode to American Anthem. Sun’s out, guns out. No matter the temperature #VitaminD.
Hey @Buccigross whatya think of this pond hockey style? #merica @nadaworry pic.twitter.com/b657k0Xq4K
— Cole Meyer (@cmeyer09) December 31, 2013
4. This picture is simply the everything.
@Buccigross Park City, UT pic.twitter.com/S9M9V193wj
— Hurricane Isaac (@isaacfarr) January 2, 2014
5. Hockey and skating are exhilarating because they take work. There are obstacles before you can fly and that makes the reward of skating sweeter.
@Buccigross clearing off the ice for the last skate of the day in Green Lake, WI pic.twitter.com/NtHMFnkLkF
— Jeb Brault (@youzeb) January 2, 2014
6. Skating on cranberry bogs is assuring because if you fall through, you only get wet to your knees.
Cape Cod, MA @Buccigross long day on the bog pic.twitter.com/IHQBea3odF
— Taylor Nickerson (@tnick3) January 2, 2014
7. An ESPN sign makes every backyard rink a palace. #dadada #dadada
@Buccigross Morning SleighRide! Backyard hockey with the elves. #espn #bobbyorrthrowback #mchockey pic.twitter.com/YQX6WpqUDR
— 05IslandersHC (@05IslandersHC) December 25, 2013
8. End of day skates are so earnest and alive. One treasures every second of light. Especially in Alaska.
@Buccigross Perfect day on the ice in Anchorage, AK #pondhockey pic.twitter.com/fk9HcBa877
— Jon Ellis (@jellis14_) January 7, 2014
9. Two things here. Skating at night has a mystical, magical quality. And the proximity of a backyard rink is delicious and empowering.
Night hawkey in Bedford, MA. Not complete without homemade nets and scoreboard @Buccigross pic.twitter.com/UEiOBGkzWG
— Tyler Pierce (@laxbrotp) January 8, 2014
10. Winter scenes photograph so well because of extraordinary lighting.
-26 wind chill in Vermont @Buccigross but we still having a great time on the pond! pic.twitter.com/y7IGLbLyPC
— Danny Fisher (@D4threeee) January 8, 2014
11. My guess he is shooting high blocker. Upper 90 where mama hides the thin mints.
@Buccigross Brought Mario out to play out on the pond pic.twitter.com/xWQP7J0FiV
— Joe Grasso (@Lets_Joe) January 9, 2014
12. Alabama Slamma. #unfrozencavemanlawyer
@Buccigross pawnd hawkey, Awlabama pic.twitter.com/Lb5tHxU2Mr
— Pete Potenzini (@PetePotenzini) January 10, 2014