RANGELEY — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday unanimously approved a permit application for the annual Pond Hockey Tournament on Feb. 3-5 on Haley Pond.

Event coordinator Linda Sikes gave a rundown of the event. She said they are planning on 11 or 12 rinks this year for four divisions. The site will open at 9 a.m. on Friday with an opening ceremony at 10 a.m.

Sunday will host the championship playoffs. Sikes thanked the board for the town’s support, supplying the tournament with picnic tables, parking cones and a sound system.

“We need at least 14 inches of ice before we can take trucks and equipment out,” Sikes said, “and we don’t have it yet, but I think we’ll get it.”

Sikes also pointed out how the tournament benefits the town. The event closes from noon to 2 p.m. to encourage the players, who come from all over New England, to go out into the town for lunch. Last year the tournament was able to donate $500 to the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club.

Another event concerned with ice thickness is the annual fly-in on Rangeley Lake, also scheduled for Feb. 3-5. Steve Philbrick, event spokesperson, said that if the ice is not thick enough for ski plane landings, the fly-in will be moved to the airport.

Philbrick also updated the board on plans for the annual moose lottery, to be held in Oquossoc on June 22-24. The event is scheduling many activities, such as trap shooting and moose calling, all family-oriented. He said this year’s lottery will be the largest it has been in terms of activities, booths and displays, and will probably attract 500 to 600 people.

“People come from all over the world to hunt our trophy moose,” Philbrick said.

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