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NORWAY -- It's how many of the world's best players learned the sport--on frozen lakes and ponds.  Now pond hockey has found its way to Norway.

A group of local players organized a one day tournament that is drawing in teams from across the U.P.

"We've all gone to different pond hockey tournaments in Eagle River, Wisconsin, there's been some other ones, and we thought we could put together something that would be just as much fun, and we could support the local community and help the economy," said organizer and player Jim Waisanen.

From getting insurance and sponsors, to creating a playing surface on Hanbury Lake, volunteers have worked tirelessly to make the tournament a reality.  They've been working on the ice for more than two weeks, flooding it four times already.  The ice will be flooded one more time before the tournament begins on Saturday.

The event will also be a first for some players, like Don Lofholm, who has played hockey for three years but never on the lake.

"Oh, I can't wait,” said Lofholm.  “My kids will come out and watch, and they'll get a good chance to chuckle at dad.  It will be some good memories; a good time with good friends."

But even for pond hockey veterans like Waisanen, that initial excitement never goes away.

"Well, the first thing when we hit the ice during Friday's practice, it felt like stepping on the ice as a kid when you're playing on the pond in the backyard rinks,” said Waisanen.  “It doesn't matter how old you are, when you hit the ice, you feel like you're 10 years old."

The group hopes the tournament will have twice as many teams next year.

It all begins Saturday at 10 a.m. central at Hanbury Lake in Norway.