Let the games begin

Just before my first game of the u19 world championships with my partner for the game Merja Laakso.

Well, it is Tuesday, and the Games are about to begin. Although it has been a very good week leading up to this point, it has also been quite tiring. I am a little nervous about going out for the first game, as I hope I am up to it, I am pretty sure that I was chosen to come here for a reason, and I have the abilities, however there is still a certain amount of doubt.

We got into the hotel at 10:30 last night, and had our officials team meeting at 7:45 this morning. This is where we found out about one additional rule difference between Canadian rules and the IRF, if a player gets tied up along the boards, and there is only one stick in the ring, we still turn it over. No more quick whistles to avoid penalties, and giving it back to the team in control I guess. This will take some effort to remember as well. I guess I will figure it out as I am standby for the first game of the day (Finland White vs. Canada East) and then have my first game between Finland Blue and Canada West.

I went out for the first game with Merja Laakso from Finland (picture above of us going out before the game). Once I got out on the ice, most of my concerns went away, I have done this a thousand times before, I just need to go out and skate my game, and everything will work out. So that is what I did. It was a fairly close game, although the teams seemed to be playing down to each other. I didn't realize until the end of the 2nd period (we are playing 4 - 12 minute periods) when the Canada West coach made a comment that we didn't like them, because we had called 10 penalties against his team, and 1 against Finland. I had no idea we had called that number, but what I told him, and is very true, I don't keep count. If I see it, I call it. What 10 penalties to 1 means, is that his team is committing more infractions. The game ended fairly close (3 - 1 I believe) and I felt pretty good out there. I will see how this afternoons game goes. I have the short turn around between games today, (3 hours) so hopefully the legs will hold out.

During my 3 hour break we also had opening ceremonies, during which they needed to have one official say the English officials oath, one say the Finnish, and one say the French. As Merja is the rookie out of the Finish crew she was voluntold to do the Finnish oath. The Canadian refs got to do the English and the French. The problem being neither of us speak any French. Well Karen claimed seniority on me, and took the English, which left me with the French. This should be interesting, grade 12 french from 14 years ago don't fail me now. My goal was not to have the entire crowd laughing at me, ala someone from nationals 3 years ago. I stumbled my way through, and there was no laughter that I could hear, although in speaking with Julie from the Canada East bench afterwards she said she was chuckling. I was told it was a good effort for someone who doesn't speak french though. Even with it all written out for me, it was still very difficult.

So now we are on to game 2. This game was Canada East and Finland Blue. This was a different experience, Finland Blue plays a slower controlled game especially coming out of the zone, where as Canada East is very high flying. So depending on what direction we were going in, we either had to be patient on our break out, or as soon as they got the ring, you had better be in full stride or you will be left behind. This game ended 12 - 6 for Canada East, although it likely could have been higher scoring for Canada East, they let up for the 2nd half. I felt really good again for this game even with the short break. Maybe I will make it through the week after all.