Hockey (Field)

Beijing bound!

admin — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:47:00 +0000

The USA defeated Belgium, 3-1, in the final game of the Kazan Olympic Qualifiers!

Leave your messages for the team here!

Hello USA Hockey Fans

admin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:53:00 +0000

Here’s one from the team…

It’s 3:45 pm, Saturday afternoon, halftime of the Belgium vs Russia game. We are all packed into a room watching the game preparing for our opponent tomorrow. Everyone is shouting at each other trying to get their input for the blog. Rachel has come up with yet another joke, “What do you call a guy who talks really loud?”… Mike

Dana is laying on the floor reading, a few are chugging waters, Mel is sleeping, Kayla keeps turning the TV up louder and louder… like we will understand Russian any better, the rest of the group is sitting around waiting for the game to come back on. Halftime’s over… back to the game.

The game is over, 0-0 draw. Now it’s back to the rooms for some more relaxation and catching up with family and friends. As a team we’d like to thank everyone back home for the support and positive thoughts you’ve been sending. A special thanks to our 6 teammates who have continued to work hard and have been with us every step of the way.

We eagerly await the opportunity that lies ahead of us!

Go USA!!
Love you,
Your US Team

Hey all you Blogsters!

admin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Rach and Dingo here, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to create an interactive, exciting blog (we tried to broadcast our new talkshow, Tour Talk), we’ve resorted to good ‘ole typing. Today has been totally exciting, we are sitting in our room snacking on delicious goldfish, (what do you call a fish with no eyes . . . FSH!) talking to our Mom’s on skype (Your Mamma, wait we won’t go there) and watching the window washers (wouldn’t want that job).

No, really - today is an off day, we are refueling (luckily this gas isn’t four dollars a gallon) and refocusing for tomorrow’s match with Netherlands Antilles. Don’t worry, we’ve also exercised our minds - a few of us were lucky enough to go on a bus tour of Kazan ending at the Kremlin. We learned a lot about the city of Kazan.

The Kremlin is a historic site in the city of Kazan which was built on top of the ruins of Ivan the Terrible’s Castle (What does a Russian say when they win a game? IVAN!) Within the walls, there are several historic buildings. There is a mosque which we were able to enter, but you had to wear plastic slippers over your shoes and all the women have to cover their heads with scarfs. During the Soviet Period all the mosques and churches were closed in Kazan and used for other purposes, the one located in the Kremlin stored veggies in the basement and documents upstairs. (What type of rashes do vegetables get? Chives!)

Also, within the walls, there was a leaning tower called the Suembiki Tower, which was built in seven days in the 1500’s. Our guide told us that if you place one hand on the leaning tower and wish really hard, your wish can come true. Needless to say we had our hands all over the tower.

Thanks for all the support from home - GO USA!
Rach and Carrie

Hi family, friends and fans!

admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Hi family,friends and fans from Tiff and Caroline-

So today was game number three of the tournament. It started out like any other game day here in Russia. We headed out with the team to our pregame activity where we spike our heart rates. As Tiff is busy showering and then braiding her hair, I am on the phone with my Dad…just some of those quirky things we each do before games.

We took on France and won the decision 7-0. Afterwards, we hurried back to the hotel for a quick shower and then back to the buses we went so that we could catch the India/Belgium game. Of course we were all starving by the end of the day so we were excited to return to the hotel where pizzas were waiting. As we plopped ourselves down in the hallway to enjoy the special treat (Thanks Kate!); Powley, Jess, and Rach kept us entertained with water chugging and leg wrestling. We have many hidden talents!

We continue each day to stay focused on the task at hand. We couldn’t do it without all of the support and love you send us! All the best to everyone back home! GO USA!

Caroline and Tiff

Zdrastvuyte (HELLO) from Russia!

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:34:00 +0000

Zdrastvuyte (HELLO)from Russia!

Kayla and Keli here, reporting today on our whereabouts so far. It’s an absolutely gorgeous day here in Kazan, and I’m not being sarcastic. Partly cloudy and around 75 degrees. A complete turnaround compared to yesterday. We had breakfast and enjoyed an hour of down time before we left for training at 10 a.m., ran a few laps around the track and played a little soccer for warm up! It’s always a treat for our team to run around with no shame. We even got Jeff, Doc, Kate, Pam, Steve, and Lee to join in. It was the blue team victorious with the lone goal, slipping past the goalie for Steve to easily put it away on the far post.

We now have an hour before our team bowling competition. As we get ready, the rooms are bustling with noise and laughter. Our roommates as our partners and our task being “creative dress up”, it should be a good time. We’ll try to get some good photos for everyone to see. Time to do our hair and our makeup!

Dosvidaniya (Goodbye!)

Hello USA hockey fans!!!

admin — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:05:00 +0000

It’s Falgo and Dote here. As Tiki and Powley have already written, we won our first game yesterday vs. Belgium. We woke up early this morning and it’s raining and a little chilly outside. That seems to be the weather theme here in Russia. We have a team walk/stretch, followed by breakfast and then we’ll review some film of our opponents to get a good idea of what system they play. Breakfast seems to be our favorite meal of the day. The tv remains off in our room. We have turned it on maybe twice. They have CNN and Europe news and the rest of the stations are in Russian. Falgo has already finished a book and is onto number two. Dote is still struggling to finish her first.

The U18 men’s ice hockey championships are also going on here in Kazan. We were fortunate to attend a USA vs. Sweden game the second night we were here. The Americans unfortunately lost 5-4 but it was fun to get out and see a game. For any of you ice hockey fans, a legendary member of the Boston Bruins was in attendance to see his son play on the USA side. Ray Bourque sat in the stands among the other nervous parents cheering their kids on. Not many people in Russia knew who he was (neither did our team) but Dote did. She got a great picture with him that her older brother is still envious of.

Today is a very special day for the team because our captain, Ms. Kate Barber, plays in her 200th international game. Tiki has led this young team since back in 2005 and no one is more deserving of such an honor. She has exemplified what a true leader should be and we are very lucky to be a part of this milestone. On behalf of the two of us, we just want to say congratulations Tiki! Thanks for everything you have done for the team, and given up. We love you.

Falgo and Dote

Hi Everyone!

admin — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Kate Barber and Lauren Powley (room-dogs) here.

Well we are finally underway here in Kazan. We just got back from our first win against Belgium. It was a good game and great start for us. Carrie Lingo or “Dingo” got our first goal of the tournament with a great corner deflection off a smoking pass from Kelly Doton. Jesse Gey scored her first International Goal on a well executed reverse chip over the goalkeeper, her signature move! To finish off our scoring for the day, another signature move by the always poised Angie Loy who slipped it passed the GK to secure our win.

We just refueled our bodies at the restaurant in the hotel and are getting ready to head back to the field for Opening Ceremonies. Tonight we will meet to debrief today’s game, eat some dinner and rest up to get ready for our second game tomorrow against Russia. Thank you for all the emails and support you’ve shown.

Go USA!!! One step at a time!

Hello USA fans from Kazan, Russia!

admin — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Hellos USA fans from Kazan, Russia! This is Angie Loy and Dina Rizzo from the hotel.

We arrived here on Monday, April 14th at 5:30 am which is 9 am east coast time. So we were wide awake!!! Just kidding. We know when we saw the Russians in their big hats that it was time to get out our big warm puffy coats. Yup, it was 30 degrees F. Needless to say, we were freezing our butts off since we left 80 degree weather in sunny San Diego.

We layered up in all of our Under Armour gear for the first training run to get used to the different turf. The stadium is very nice and has many seats for fans and family. We have been training all week to complete our final preparation for the Olympic Qualifier tomorrow. Get by your computer screens cheering, “Go USA! Go USA!” Stay tuned for more from us!

Dina and Angie

Remeber When The Cavs Were Good?

admin — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:06:00 +0000

It seems like years since the Cavs looked like a legit contender to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Turns out it’s only been a year, and there’s video evidence in case you don’t believe me.

If you click here you can watch the entire Game 5 from last year’s ECF against the Pistons. This is LeBron’s 48-point game where he scored 29 of the Cavs’ last 30 points. It’s a nice trip down memory lane.

Opening Day Genesis

admin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:16:00 +0000

I am usually loath to so blatantly steal from another website, but in the spirit of opening day I cannot help but quote the following in its entirety. To do any less would be to violate the word of God, or at least one man who seems to be particularly well-connected to him (or her). The historical validity of the following might be questionable. But its message does not err. To quote, then, from Glenn Birkemeier, by way of McSweeney’s, Opening Day Genesis:

“In the big inning, God created Heaven on Earth. And it was without form, and void. God separated the dirt from the grass. He called the grass Outfield and the dirt He called Infield. God made the Infield a 90-foot square and the Outfield not less than 400 feet to center and 320 feet down the lines. He declared this Fair Territory. All other territory, God then declared, was Foul.

And God divided the players into two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager, to play The Game on His field. God called some of these players Pitchers and some of them Hitters. He placed a Pitcher precisely 60 feet 6 inches from a Hitter. Then God commanded that it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out at the ol’ Ballgame.

And God granted jurisdiction of The Game to lesser Gods, whom He called Umpires. God said the Umpires are infallible, blessed with Heavenly authority, whose judgment is not to be questioned under penalty of expulsion from The Game. And God looked at his creation and He was pleased. Then God created the Infield Fly Rule to confuse nonbelievers.

And God said, Let there be light beer, and there was. And, God said, let there be peanuts and hot dogs and overpriced souvenirs and let there be frosty chocolate malts with little wooden spoons that you can buy nowhere else except at this Heaven, which God called a Ballpark, and there was. God looked at His creation and it was good.

And the Lord God formed, from the dust, a collection of elite players in His own image. The Lord God then breathed the breath of life into His creation. God called this creation the National League.

And God said, It is not good for the National League to be alone. The Lord God shall make it a mate. And thus, while the National League slept, God took several of its top players and created the American League.

And God blessed The Game, saying, Be fruitful and multiply. Put teams in every city with deserving fans, God added, even if this occurs at the expense of starting-pitching depth.

From time to time, God understood, The Game would be corrupted by the Serpent. The Serpent was more cunning than any other beast and he would take many wicked forms: the Black Sox, segregation, the Designated Hitter, the Reserve Clause, dead balls, juiced balls, spit balls, corked bats, George Steinbrenner, AstroTurf, the 1981 strike, collusion, lockouts, Pete Rose, the 1994 strike, greenies, cocaine, HGH, Andro, steroids, $20 parking, corporate mallparks, Scott Boras, Donald Fehr, and Bud Selig.

But, God said, the goodness in The Game shall always prevail. As needed, the Lord shall bestow upon The Game a Savior. And the Savior, like the Serpent, can take many forms. The Savior shall remind Fans how blessed The Game truly is. The Savior shall be called by many names, including Cy, Matty, Honus, Big Train, the Babe, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Lou Gehrig, Branch Rickey, Jackie Robinson, Buck O’Neil, Hank Greenberg, Red Barber, Harry Carey, Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Satchel Paige, Bill Veeck, Roberto Clemente, Ernie Banks, Hammerin’ Hank, Cool Papa, Dizzy, Lefty, Whitey, Stan the Man, Big Klu, the Say Hey Kid, Campy, Duke, the Mick, the Splendid Splinter, the Gas House Gang, the Big Red Machine, the Damn Yankees, Pudge Fisk, Pudge Rodriguez, Yaz, Pops, the Wizard of Oz, Fernando, George Brett, Moonlight Graham, Roy Hobbs, Wild Thing Vaughn, Bingo Long, the Ryan Express, Donnie Baseball, Rickey, Eck, the Big Unit, the Cactus League, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Camden Yards, Rotisserie Drafts, Web Gems, Derek Jeter, Dontrelle Willis, Vlad Guerrero, and, from the Far East, Ichiro. And, God guaranteed, there are many more to come.

God looked upon His creation and He was very pleased. And God spoke, yelling, PLAY BALL!”