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New York, USA - December 27, 2007
Our first two days in NY have been pretty smooth. A few players lost their luggage on the trip here, but it all arrived right before we got on the ice Wednesday. When we walked into the locker room at the Albany rink (Sienna College's home ice) it was clear how much effort is being put into this team. Every player had a locker, and all of our gloves, helmets, warm ups, jerseys, and bags were meticulously arranged. Our head trainer and equipment manager had tools and tape tables set up, and there was a fridge stocked with water and juice.
While we tinkered with our new gear, our three coaches introduced themselves. They congratulated all of us again on being selected, and reminded us what we are representing. Head coach Paul Lowden told us to look at the colors on our jerseys and gear, and explained that those colors (red, white, and blue) speak for themselves. Assistant coach Paul Fioroni also mentioned that any time a team from the U.S. or Canada plays a European team, it is us against them. This is because of the difference in styles of hockey that we have both grown up playing. While European hockey is wide open, on a big ice surface, with lots of speed and puck handling, North American hockey is more aggressive and physical.
Munich, Germany - December 28, 2007
The trip to Europe was a long one. After our 4 hour bus ride from Albany to JFK, we were in the terminal for another 2 hours. After a 30 minute delay, we finally got on our way at 10 PM for a 6 hour flight to Frankfurt. After a short layover, we jumped on another flight to Munich. After we finally arrived and got our luggage, it was onto another bus for 4 hours, last stop Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Grand total for the travel time was upwards of 22 hours straight, plus the 9 hour time change from Pacific time. We didn't know night from day after all that, but immediately after we dropped our bags in the hotel, we headed to the rink for a 10 PM practice, our third total as a team before our first game.
An overview of Zürich
Game 1 vs. ECH Frauenfeld began that evening. We were all very nervous and took the ice in front of some of our U.S. fans, and plenty of Swiss fans, including a few who beat drums near our bench the entire game. The first few minutes were very cautious as both teams felt each other out. They played the way we expected, with a lot of finesse. We stuck to our comfortable style and came out very physical. They did not expect to be hit, and it really affected the way the team played. We scored the first goal, and went back and fourth until late in the third when we finished the game by capping our final goal to end with a 6-4 win. We were very pleased with how we played.
After the game, we had a celebration dinner with the other team, and got a chance to converse and mix with the other players. We found out about their backgrounds, what it's like growing up in Switzerland and playing pro hockey. Their team feeds players to the top Swiss professional league, so they all have secondary jobs to supplement their income. Many were 19-22 years old, with the older players being around 27. Some spoke English (a few better than others) so we could ask each other questions about life in each country. We have all been blown away by how many people speak several languages over here, and at dinner I asked about it. They get a choice for a language concentration in grade school, and almost everyone chooses to study English, because as one player put it, English is a language that can be used all over the world.
Our team after our first win.
We also won our second game, 2-1, against SC Weinfelden in Switzerland. The game was very similar, and the team was about the same level as our first opponent. They are known for being the most physical squad in the Swiss league, so the style was a little more like we are used to back in the United States. We scored the first goal once again, and held the lead for over a period. Eventually Weinfelden scored to tie the game at 1. The 3rd period ended with our team killing off a penalty, and we headed to a 5-minute overtime. One of our forwards drew a penalty about 2 minutes into overtime. And then Jordan Stover from Colorado State ripped a shot from the point which Mike Barnes from Kentucky tipped for the game winner. We left Switzerland with two wins and three games remaining.
Munich, Germany - December 31, 2007
Today is a day off from hockey, so we got up and had a two hour walking tour around the city. Munich is the 3rd largest city in Germany, with roughly 1.3 million people. It is also the famous site of Oktoberfest, which is a celebration of food and beer, two things of which Germans are very proud. The city has six major breweries, and these are the only beers served at the celebration. They are also not available outside of Germany. Tonight, we will have a New Years Eve dinner in the cellar of one of those breweries, Augustinerkeller.
In both games so far, our host has done a ceremony after warm-ups, our team holds American and Canadian flags, and our opponents hold a Swiss flag. Both teams come together at center ice for pictures and we exchange gifts (pins, team crests, banners). Because of the long drive back to Munich after our second game, we didn't get a chance to converse with our opponents like we did in the first game. Tomorrow, however, we will do another dinner celebration which I am looking forward to because we really get a chance to learn a lot about our opponents and their culture.
Before our team dinner on New Years Eve.
After dinner, the team took the subway to another area, where we walked around the crowded streets and into a few nightclubs. There were all kinds of fireworks being let off in the street, and after all the commotion we made our way back to the hotel.
New Years Eve, the Augustiner Keller,
me with Tom Montes and Mike Barnes.
Bregenzerwald, Austria - January 1, 2008
New Years Day, we headed for Austria at about noon, another 4 hour drive. Our opponent was EHC Bregenzerwald, they play in the second highest Austrian National League. The highlight of this game was the outdoor stadium in which they play. It was probably the coolest hockey experience I have ever had. Our bus climbed up about 4,000 feet into the Alps. Nestled in the side of a mountain in a small village, we finally found the rink.
The outdoor arena in Bregenzerwald, Austria.
Our host really put on a show for the game. Each player was introduced one at a time, alternating between the teams. This produced one US player next to one Austrian player in a line that stretched across the length of the ice. They had special lighting and a fog machine that we passed as we entered the ice. After we were all introduced, they cut the lights and lit "ECB–USA" in the snow. Team officials had placed containers of gasoline in an arrangement on the snow so that the flames spelled out the team abbreviations.
"ECB-USA" fire letters in the snow.
We took the lead 3-0 before they got on the board. We had some close calls in the third period, and they managed to net a big goal with 2 minutes left to make it 4-3. Luckily our team tightened up and came out with the victory. After the game they let off a firework display as we left the ice. We stood with the other team and watched as the fireworks burst over the side of the mountain.
Our team loaded the bus and departed for Munich again, getting in at about 2 AM last night. Today we are leaving for Weiden, Germany, to play an afternoon game. We have a celebration afterwards, and then we head for Prague. In the morning we will have a tour that my friends are going to be joining us for, and then we will play our final game against HC Kobra in the heart of the city.
Weiden, Germany - January 2, 2008
Our game in Weiden, Germany was a blowout; we won 15-0. The team we played was not their top squad, for reasons we could not control. They are about to start their playoffs this week, and they did not want to risk injuring their 'A' players. We played the Blue Devils 'B' team, and they also dressed one line from their 'A' team. The huge offensive assault was also due to our forwards really finally gelling together and moving the puck well. We watched the 'A' team practice afterwards, and it was clear that team would have been the strongest we would have faced over there had we got the chance to play them.
After the game we got on the bus after a 4-hour ride, we checked into our hotel in Prague. It was about midnight, so the team unpacked and went to sleep to prepare for our 5th and final game the next day.
Prague, Czech Republic - January 3, 2008
The morning of the 3rd, we got up early and traveled into Prague. Our first stop was the Hradcany Castle, which overlooks the city. The architecture and detail on the outside was amazing, and it had a great view of Old Town. Then we traveled into the city on foot by crossing the Charles Bridge. We got some free time for shopping and lunch, and I met up with friends.
Our final game was also a bit of an unknown. We played HC Kobra, and they were similar to the Wieden team - reluctant to throw their top players on the ice. The game began with a 50% mix between their first and second team. We lit up their goalie in the first, with a score of 5-2 after 1 period. The next period they dressed their 'A' goalie and a few more 'A' players, and the period was held scoreless. In the 3rd period, they dressed even more from the top team, and we fought hard to end with a score of 6-3. I put a goal in late that would have made it 7, but it was called back for a crease violation. I ended the tour with 2 assists and 6 penalty minutes.
My official ACHA uniform.
Back in the USA - Additional Comments
After about 30 hours of traveling, I am back home safe and sound. Our final two games in Europe were successful, so the first ever ACHA D2 Select Team returns with a perfect 5-0 record.
It was really impressive how our team was able to come together on and off the ice after only 3 practices. We had some great personalities, and everyone added to the team in one way or another. During the first meeting in Albany, our coaches cautioned that we may have to fill different roles on this team. We had 26 guys, all among the top players on their own teams, coming together. Part of our success was due to the fact that everyone checked their egos at the door, and individual attitudes never came into play on the ice or in the locker room. We dressed everyone in every game, and almost everyone played an equal amount. The defense rolled through 4 pairs regularly, and the forwards played all 5 lines almost equally. Our goal tending was outstanding; Andy Pate from Eastern Washington and Justin Sand from Michigan State both played 2 games, while Kyle Finnarty from Wagner got the chance to play the high-profile outdoor game.
With the strength and depth of our team, we were able to compete without being affected by outside influences. First of all, the altitude was a big factor, as we were playing much higher up than most of us were used to. Fatigue was also an obvious road block, as we spent about 5 hours a day average on the bus, and with our tours, we only got 5-6 hours of sleep some nights. We also faced challenges like the large ice surface, and missing glass in areas that we are used to being able to utilize in the defensive zone. In the outdoor game, there was tight netting instead of glass, so if the defense cleared the puck high, it would bounce 90 degrees out and stay in the zone. We were able to overcome all of these by taking short shifts, communicating on the ice, and moving the puck well. There was even a time where Coach Mclean yelled at our forwards to be more selfish. "Someone has to score... why not you?" This is a bit unexpected one, a team with numerous All-Americans, and really shows the cohesive nature we had on the ice.
All in all, we represented the strength of the ACHA. We got a chance to see European culture, and we came back with the experience of a lifetime.