The 6th annual Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament is about a week away - and although it's freezing now, after the unseasonably warm temperatures this week, organizers had to come up with a plan B that they say will still allow hockey to be played the way it should be. YNN's Kaitlyn Lionti has the details.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Despite the crazy weather, the Labatt Blue Buffalo Pond Hockey Tournament next Saturday will be played on ice - thanks to nine man-made rinks that crews started putting together Friday morning.

Labatt Blue officials say with reports of only about two inches of ice on the marina today, it's very unlikely they'll get the 12 inches needed before the tournament.

So they've teamed up with Pace Rinks to build what they call the next best thing. The rinks will be 40 by 80 feet and each will be secured in the marina parking lot.

"This is an awesome alternative, cause we're going to be able to get the players on the ice. We're confident that this solution will be a way for us to really have hockey played the way that we wanted it and so, yeah, we're pretty pleased that this was an option for this year," said Lisa Texido, associated brand manager for Labatt Blue.

The president of Pace Rinks says the cold temperatures expected throughout the next week will be ideal for forming the rinks and freezing the ice.

Crews will be out doing maintenance and checks from now until the tournament to make sure things are ready for the 96 teams participating on February 9th.