It may be a good excuse to get together and have some banter, but the competition’s still ice-cold when it comes to the annual Battle for the Queenstown Cup.

The fourth edition of the ice hockey comp is underway at the Queenstown Ice Arena, with 14 teams playing across two different divisions this year.

SkyCity Stampede player/Wakatipu Wild coach and tournament founder Colin McIntosh says about 160 players from around New Zealand will be lacing up the skates over the weekend.

PHOTO: RHYVA VAN ONSELEN

He describes the four-day tourney as ‘‘summer hockey at its finest’’.

There’ll be about 30 prizes, thanks to local businesses, but it’ll be all on when it comes to trying to win the bragging rights.

‘‘Everyone says they’re just having fun, but the second they put the jersey on, it’s game time.’’

PHOTO: RHYVA VAN ONSELEN

Puck drop for the first of the 35 games was 5.45pm Thursday, while the championship final’s being played from 12.50pm Sunday — all games are free to watch.

Silverware: Battle for the Queenstown Cup mastermind Colin McIntosh with the winnners’ spoils. PICTURE: ROB CRAWFORD JR

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