Prime Minister Stephen Harper dropped the puck at the World Pond Hockey Championships Saturday, but said little about the top issues on the political radar.

"Obviously just here to see the hockey tournament here," Harper told reporters on Saturday in Plaster Rock, N.B.

"All the brainchild of a fellow named Danny Brawn. It's a great tournament, attracts people from all over the world."

Harper attended on third day of the sixth annual edition of the tournament.

The unique event attracts 120 teams from around the world, who come out to play on one of 20 rinks on Roulston Lake.

Harper shook hands and chatted with fans for about an hour. However, he told reporters he wasn't there to discuss issues such as a possible election or the government's plan for addressing the so-called fiscal imbalance with the provinces.

But Harper, a hockey enthusiast who is writing a book on the history of the game, took time out from photo opportunities to meet with New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham.

He is concerned that his province will be at the losing end of a new equalization formula, but told reporters, "on the equalization issue, the prime minister has committed that no province will be adversely impacted. And that's the position that New Brunswick has been forwarding.

"We want to see a 10-province standard with full resource revenue."

Details of the equalization changes are expected to be announced in the next federal budget in late March.

Tournament background

The goals of the tournament, according to the event website, include promoting the Plaster Rock area as a tourist destination, raising money for local charities, and to "help maintain pond hockey as part of our proud Canadian heritage."

The event began in 2002 as a way to raise money for a new arena facility for the people of the Tobique River Valley.

The first annual event, which featured 40 mostly-Canadian teams, has blossomed into a tournament that now hosts 10 countries and 120 teams.

The rules are simple:

• 4 on 4 competition
• no goaltenders or substitutions
• two 15 minute halves
• a guaranteed minimum of five round-robin games goalie nets and the rink are smaller

In the four years since the tournament started, organizers have managed to raise over $200,000 for the indoor arena. They've also managed to catch the attention of international media with coverage in Sports Illustrated, Time Magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Around 6,000 to 7,000 spectators are expected for the event this year. The whole community also gets involved with more than 200 volunteers helping to clean ice, chase pucks or serve coffee.

The tournament runs from Feb. 8 to 11.

Locals say Harper's visit is a first by a Canadian prime minister to the tournament.

With a report from CTV Atlantic's Monica Verma and files from The Canadian Press