SAD NEWS: During the climate crisis, playing pond hockey on thin ice in Finland.

The global and Finnish outdoor ice hockey pastimes are under threat from climate change. of the greatest places on earth to play pick-up ice hockey.

There are outdoor ice rinks all around the nation, whether they are built on frozen lakes, football fields, or any other surface a puck can slide across.

Though it’s a common occurrence for Finns, players from all over the world come to Helsinki for the annual pond hockey tournament, eager to try the outdoor sport.

“It’s always enjoyable, and everyone is very kind and friendly. “That’s the reason I return every year,” London-based tournament participant Tom Currie said.

He went on to say that while playing against Finns who started skating as soon as they could walk was a humble experience, there is nothing like playing outside hockey.

The organization Save Pond Hockey wants to utilize hockey to advocate for climate change. It has been holding outdoor ice hockey competitions to raise money and awareness for climate action in Finland and elsewhere since 2015.

The sport itself is a tangible illustration of how daily living is being impacted by climate change.

Helsinki’s average winter temperature climbed by more than three degrees Celsius between 1860 and 2006, according to data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).

Additionally, during the same period, there were 48 ice days instead of 78, or days when the temperature stayed below freezing. According to the FMI, Helsinki’s average winter temperature increased to -1.2 degrees Celsius by 2023.