Sure, Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. But come winter, these lakes serve as the grounds for some serious pond hockey. And for the second consecutive year, Periscope teamed up with Red Bull to promote the mother of all pond hockey tournaments.
Dubbed Red Bull Open Ice, this year’s final tourney mixed teams from Finland and Slovenia versus the best players from across the U.S. — including several hometown favorites. However, when the ice cleared, it was Minnesota’s Team Wright Homes that rose from the field of 32 to take home the prestigious Golden Glove Trophy.
“The final tourney under the lights was awesome to see,” said Charlie Koch, a Digital Producer at Periscope. “Eight guys, beaten and bruised from their previous five games, gave everything they had left out there. That’s what pond hockey is all about.”
To help publicize the event — as well as the numerous qualifiers that preceded it — Periscope created a dedicated website and promotional posters with a nod to the international flavor of the games.
“Red Bull Open Ice is one of those rare projects that a designer loves to tackle due to its exciting challenges,” said Marie Bushbaum, a Digital Designer at Periscope. “While the Red Bull brand is extreme and fresh, the nature of pond hockey requires an authentic, down-to-earth approach, and marrying the two is a thoughtful balancing act.”
Last year’s Red Bull Open Ice events were strictly limited to Minnesota’s ponds. But after an incredible response fueled by Periscope’s promotions and strong word of mouth, Red Bull opened up the competition to a global audience.
“The stars truly did align this year. It took efforts from several groups to bring it all together in the end, and I am extremely proud of Periscope’s contributions from a promotion perspective,” said Koch. “Plus, Red Bull really knows how to put on an event. That paired with the talent here at Periscope made for quite the one-two punch.”
