MIRAMICHI - When pond hockey tournament organizer Greg MacDiarmid contacted one of the players from last year he was told the man wouldn't make it this year.
The player was a soldier from CFB Gagetown's team and is stationed in Afghanistan, far from the Miramichi's frozen French Fort Cove.
When he heard the soldier was overseas, MacDiarmid decided he wanted him to still be able to enjoy the tournament.
"I wonder if we can link something so we could let them watch," he said.
From there MacDiarmid said he spoke with Aliant and District 16 about the possibility of broadcasting a few games to the troops.
"The original focus was to engage the people in Afghanistan and let them watch."
But the broadcasts went far beyond their original goal with almost 13,000 people around the world tuning in to watch the tournament on Aliant's website.
MacDiarmid said when he saw the numbers it blew him away.
"There's a lot more people know about pond hockey around the world."
Although the majority of the viewers were from Nova Scotia, people from 19 countries watched, including in much warmer places like the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.
Although he hadn't confirmed it with the military, MacDiarmid said he heard about 65-70 people watched the tournament online in Afghanistan.
"I think it was a huge success."
Broadcast journalism students from District 16 handled the cameras while Aliant provided the rest of the technology behind the streaming video, all at no cost to the tournament.
Aliant area manager for the Miramichi Paula Septon said the students did a great job with their camera work.
"It was surprisingly clear and I thought a very professional job on their part."
While Aliant has broadcast events in other parts of the province, Septon said they haven't in this area before.
"It's a first for the Miramichi."
MacDiarmid said the students had a good experience broadcasting the tournament games.
"They seemed to have enjoyed themselves."
District 16 technology mentor Joey Savoy said when MacDiarmid approached him about the idea to broadcast the tournament to the troops, he was interested.
"We thought it was a great opportunity to get the students involved."
Tournament organizers contacted them on short notice and although only two students were able to work the tournament they still wanted to take part, he said.
"It was something, again, we didn't want to pass up the opportunity."
Savoy said the students were happy to do the broadcast for the troops and people who wanted to watch the tournament at home.
"It was great working with the folks from Aliant."
Septon said she expected most of the viewers to be soldiers in Afghanistan or locals who couldn't make it to the games and they didn't know what to expect for numbers.
"We weren't really sure because it was the first time we tried and Greg wanted to try it for the troops."
As for next year's tournament, MacDiarmid said he didn't know if they will try broadcasting it again.
"It's one of those things that can't be answered this minute."
Septon also wasn't sure if they would stream next year's tournament and said a year is a long time away.
"We'll be open to conversations with them again next year for sure."
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