The Rural We: Alex Regen
It may surprise you (it did us) that Berkshire County is a hotbed of hockey enthusiasts. Monterey, in particular, is a huge hockey town, says Alex Regen, who now lives “between Monterey and Brooklyn.” Regen learned how to skate on Lake Buel near his parents’ cabin. He went on to play high school, college and league hockey. When he found there was a community of hockey fans and players in the area, he had the idea of creating The Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic. Pray for cold weather on Jan. 28, because the tournament seems to have hit a nerve: the support has been resounding, he says.
I grew up in New Jersey but I’ve been coming to the Berkshires my entire life. I learned to ski at Butternut and when I was six, my dad walked us out to Lake Buel, cleared a space, and taught us to skate. I learned to play hockey at the Chelsea Piers, and played for about 25 years — travel leagues in high school, at Syracuse University and after college, various men’s leagues in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. I do brand partnerships and ad sales for a media company, but the game has stayed with me.
Monterey is small but a huge hockey town. Every year, behind the fire house, a group of volunteers puts up boards and floods the interior to make a hockey rink. Not long ago I met a new neighbor out by the frozen Lake Buel. I mentioned hockey, and it turns out this neighbor had been a semi professional hockey player and played for the American Hockey League. We agreed it would be cool to create a tournament, and that got me thinking about organizing one.
Once I started contacting people, things just snowballed. I contacted Tom Mensi at the Monterey Town Hall, who was a former dentist for the Hartford Whalers, a professional hockey team. He and I met to talk at the Great Barrington Bagel Company, and the owner, Bob Climo, signed on as a sponsor (he’ll be bringing bagels for all the participants). Jim Thomas, who now lives in Amherst, was one of the guys who built the pavilion boards 30 years ago and ran a Monterey Cup. He came on and has been instrumental in creating the bones of this tournament. When I’d talk to people, they’d say “I can form a team.” Other sponsors signed on.
The Berkshire Pond Hockey Classic on Jan. 28 is for everyone. It will be held at Benedict Pond (the ice conditions aren't safe on Lake Buel right now) and it’s free. We have 16 teams and 96 co-ed skaters. Our presenting sponsor is The Pass; ExtraSpecial Teas will be offering free tea for the skaters. Roberto’s Pizza will be bringing their wood-fired pizza oven for a pop-up under a tent courtesy of Classical Tents.
My dad passed away five years ago. He loved Monterey and hockey. I see this as a way for me to honor him in a small way. The wind has been at my back, and I feel like my dad has something to do with it. If there’s a heaven, he’s smiling ear to ear.
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