La Fin

La Fin - A "Suite" Ending

The team has been back for a  little over a week now and I have been putting off writing the final entry of this adventure.  It's been a somewhat hectic period since arriving back home.   It's probably safe to say most if not all the players suffered from some sort of withdrawal as they trying to get back into the flow of a normal life again.  This means adjusting back to a school schedule; living at home with siblings and parents; and there's homework....  However, the Sharks still had one surprise in store for the team.  On Saturday, February 28th, the players were the guests of the San Jose Sharks.  They were individually introduced on the big screen, invited to watch the game from the Sharks' suite and enjoyed a catered meal.  What a sweet way to end this journey.  The players can still be heard sharing their adventures in Quebec in the locker room.  The same can be said for the adults who went to Quebec.  It's been a trip that provided a lifetime of memories.  It ceases to amaze me that in the past players did not attend the tournament due to school and others did not enjoy the trip because it didn't meet up to expectations.  Here are my two bit humble thoughts on that.  I truly believe a good education is the gateway to a world of possibilities.  However, education does not necessarily take place in a standard classroom.  A trip such as this one opened the eyes and minds of these players more than any textbook, video or lecture could ever provide.  They lived and experienced social studies, history and culture all in one scoop. As far as I know, all the players also had schoolwork to do during the trip or are in the process of making it up now that they are back.
This also teaches them about time management, setting priorities and making sacrifices. Who actually believes that this trip would damage their opportunity to get into a prestigious college or university down the road? In fact, they probably helped the cause since this can be listed as an extracurricular activity on their university application.  As for those who believe that the trip did not meet up to their expectations; did that really come from the child or may from the parent.  I know, this year, our players went there with an open mind and had the time of their lives.  There were no expectations and I truly believe every parent let their child enjoy making their own adventures.  That's the way it was designed and that's the way it should be.  

My final thoughts are to share some pointers for next year's group.

• If your child makes the 12AAA, without any hesitation, allow your child to go on to this tournament.  It's not any tournament, it's THE tournament. 
• Yes, it's a long tournament and this means missing school days but if you prepare your child to do his/her part and be diligent, most schools will have no issue with it.
• Your child will learn to be independent, in a good way.  Allow them the room to grow.  This means they need to learn how to pack their equipment and bags from the beginning.  They need to check on the condition of their equipment.  They need to remember to pack their own uniforms, when and where practices and games are.  They will need to know this when they are in Quebec.
• Along the same lines, they will need to learn to try different things and I would venture to bet they will adapt.  It's amazing how parents say their child will not eat something; only to see the player eating it without a second thought.
• Make sure you have your player's passport or visa in order well in advance of the trip.
• Do not over pack their luggage.  They need probably three sets of changes.  They probably only need one pair of jeans.  The players will be living in snow pants, snow boots, gloves, a tuque and a jacket. An extra couple pair of socks and thermals are good.  The billet families will usually do the boys laundry every couple of days.
• Invest in a good pair of snow boots and snow pants.  They will be wearing this every day.  It gets very cold.  Although they brought running shoes, it stayed with the equipment since that is the only time they wear them (dryland).  I did not see jeans on any of the boys in Quebec.
• Most importantly, let the coaches and managers do their jobs with the players.  It works out so much better that way.
• I encourage the parents to go on this trip; the caveat is make this a trip about you and not the kid.  Trust me both of you will enjoy it that much more.  Consider it a second honeymoon or a fantastic respite from work.  Come watch the games and just leave...
• I hope you will have an equally fantastic adventure awaiting you...

S'amuser...

 

Day Ten

Saturday, February 21st

Today is definitely warmer; it's 14 degrees with a light snowfall.  There are no games to report today except for the pond hockey pickups that are occurring at the different billet locations.  The boys get to spend the whole day with their billet families and do whatever they have planned.  I guess this is

Ceremonial handshake and pin exchange at the outdoor game

considered the official end of the Quebec adventure.  I also suppose this could also be considered a rite of passage as the boys' next step will be Bantam hockey.  Somehow, personally, I think this is a major step to the next level of youth hockey.  With checking now permitted, this is where some teammates may go their different ways.  Whichever path each of these boys take, this particular moment of their lives will always live on in their memories.
For the past eleven days, the players were taken out of their comfort zone of their own homes and community and immersed into a different culture and lifestyle with a local family.  They learned or were exposed to new foods, new family dynamics and of course, new climate.  I can say that each one of them took it in stride and absorbed it all.  That, in itself, is a major accomplishment. I think the adults would

Enjoying a local meal

probably have a harder time adjusting to such changes.
Tonight the San Jose Sharks take on the Los Angeles Kings in the first ever Stadium Series game in Northern California.  There will be a number of youth players representing all the different clubs throughout the region during the pregame ceremonies.  It certainly would have been nice for our players to be part of it.  However, they lived as, played as and represented the Jr. Sharks throughout the eleven days, culminating in a true epic outdoor game of their own, last night.  Each of these player from Northern California was transformed into a local youth, if only temporarily.  They learned it takes a bit more to get ready for a practice or to head to a game.  Shorts and t shirts are no longer recommended.  Many of them went back after a day of hockey only to jump on at the local pond or park and played pickup with the local youths.  How many youth players from California can claim that experience?  From the beginning, this trip has always been about the whole experience.  The opportunity to play at the Colisee Pepsi was truly a special moment in their hockey lives but the time spent outside the walls of the arena were equally special if not more.  Those moments are one of a kind; impossible to rehearse or relive and unique to each player.  These individuals have been talking and sharing about their memories daily and will probably continue to do so on the plane ride home and for days, if not, years to come, in California.  

One of the pond hockey crew

Day Nine

Friday, February 20th

Kick off game for the Winter Classic International Classic

Winter Classic International Kick Off Game

The snow is continuing to fall today and for the team, it's going to be a late start for them.  They have the morning free and depart for Ste-Catherine de la Jacques Cartier, a community, 45 minutes outside of Quebec City.  The San Jose Jr. Sharks will have their own Popsicle Series Outdoor game tonight at the Parc De Glisse Du Grand-Heron. They will be taking on

A couple of  brave parents

Academie St-Louis Arsenal from Quebec City.  This game is being advertised as a pre-game to the Winter Classic International Tourney that will be held this weekend. Since the team won't be able to make the Stadium Series game in California; why not play in their own????  These players are playing in -20 degrees weather in the cold of night, deep in the

Quebec province; not a balmy 70 degrees in the heart of Silicon Valley in California.  On this day, I believe the true hockey players are the twelve year olds.  Some of billet families along with the diehard California families braved the subzero temperatures and snow to cheer on the players .  Go Families Go!
Due to the extremely cold weather, it was decided that the game would be played as two twenty

Old School Scoreboard

minute periods instead of three fifteen minute periods. They also decided to penalty shots instead of sending the poor player into the sin bin to freeze like a popsicle.  Let the teeth start to chatter.  These two teams were evenly matched up.  The Jr.Sharks struck first but Arsenal came right back.  Both teams traded goals throughout the game.  Sure hope that the Stadium Series game will be equally as exciting.  Like two champion heavyweights, the teams battled down to the final buzzer.  Regulation ends in a 4-4 tie.  This was going into a shootout.  In the end, the Team Teal comes out ahead, 3 goals to 2.  Way to go Jr. Sharks!  Afterwards, one of the parents from Team Arsenal provided pizza for the players of both teams.  That's what I call a perfect way to end the evening.  Tomorrow, the players will be spending their final day in Quebec with their billet families.  I can't believe this adventure is coming to an end.

Enjoying a slice of post game pizza

Day Eight

Thursday, February 19th

Snow Day

Entertainment for all ages

It's snowing today.  The irony is, because it is snowing, it's actually warmer, 7 degrees.  We have been pretty fortunate this year because aside from being very cold, the weather has been cooperating; meaning traveling to the different locations has not been hampered by snow.  I am told, by the locals, this cold front is unusually long.  The snowfall did not really affect traveling about today.  The local law requires all vehicles to have snow tires and it helps when you have drivers who are used to driving in such conditions ( a nod to Coaches Curtis and Robert). 
Our team has a designated meeting place (section 120) at the Colisee Pepsi for players, billet families and team personnel to meet for pick up and drop off.  Each day players meet there in the morning and usually watch the game playing at that time.  This morning's game happened to be Russia vs. Czech Republic.  Besides our guys, there usually are locals and school kids watching the games.  This is definitely not something you would see in California.  It should also be noted that there is an admission fee to watch these games.  Imagine paying to watch PeeWee games or going on a field trip to watch one...wow.  Hockey is definitely a way of life for many of the locals who live here. 
For our boys, pin trading has become a way of life for them.  Whenever there is a free moment, you are sure to find the boys looking to build their collection.  The team had a game this morning vs. SSF-Quebec Cyclones.  This is a school where kids learn and play hockey in the morning and go to classes in the

Game vs. Sackville Flyers

afternoon.  I'm sure our kids would go for that arrangement back in California!  After getting some lunch, they played their second game against the Sackville Flyers, a team from Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Some of the players may recognize some of the opponents.  Many of our guys spent almost two weeks in Halifax at a hockey/digital camp and played local teams up there.  It turned out to be a pretty good day for the Jr. Sharks as they won both games.  Upon returning to the Colisee Pepsi, the players waited for their billet families to pick them up; using the opportunity to do some more trading.  There should be a t shirt design for our team, "Sleep, Eat, Play And Trade".  Just watching them makes me wish I was twelve.  There is no denying that life is good for them.

Pin Trading

More Pin Trading

Aspirations to be a goalie?

Day Seven

Wednesday, February 18th

With a handful of days left, the boys readied themselves for a critical elimination game against Baie-Comeau Drakkar, a team from the suburbs of Quebec.  This was a well fought battle against two evenly matched teams.  The scoring went back and forth until the final seconds.  Unfortunately, for our beloved Jr. Los Tiberones...er.... Les Requins, they came out on the short end with the final being 4-3 for Baie-Comeau Drakkar.  Officially eliminated from the tournament, the boys should not hang their heads.  They fought like sharks and a bounce or two against them, tipped the scales in the opposition's favor...  This is definitely not the end of their hockey adventure, there are plenty more games planned against new teams in new venues.  There is also the pin trading.  Speaking of pin trading, I want to pass some valuable advice on to future Jr. Sharks PeeWee teams coming to this tournament.  Make an effort to design or collaborate with the official pin supplier of the tournament, Concept 2001 and get a special commemorative pin for your team.  The teams and traders were wary of our stock pins for several years and did not want to trade for them.  However, once our commemorative pins surfaced, it was like gold.  Talk to me if you want more info but I believe your players will have more fun and better success.  The cost of the custom pins are actually cheaper than our stock pins.

After the game, Coach Curtis brought some of the boys to visit L'Entrepot du Hockey, a hockey megastore.  I was told that this helped to take some of the sting out of the earlier loss.  I visited one in Calgary last year and it was crazy big with every possible piece of equipment by every manufacturer.  I was told all the boys had smiles on their faces as evidenced by the pictures below.

Proudly displaying the banner signed by the San Jose Sharks

Getting ready to visit L'Entrepot Du Hockey Megastore

Smiles abound

Day Six

Tuesday, February 17th

Today, some of us are departing Quebec with five days of fond memories watching our boys play and interact with players from other parts of the country and world.  The boys play two games today; one

Game vs. Roy-Cardinal High School

against Roy-Cardinal High School, our billet captain's (Dave) alma mater; the other is against the New York Jr. Islanders at the famous Hersey Park Mall.  Through real time updates, I was updated on the outcomes of the games.  The boys won both their games today. Congratulations Jr. Sharks!  Although not present to see it, I'm sure smiles abound in the locker room; nothing like getting that monkey off their backs.  The afternoon game, I assume was a challenge as well with the roller coasters and sounds of the amusement part all round them.  They stayed focus and won that game as well.

The boys didn't really get a chance to enjoy the mall/park afterwards.  They had to grab a quick dinner at the player's cafeteria and then head off to the Remparts game that evening.  Pretty sure that was exciting and fun to watch as well.  With the schnide officially over, the boys can now get down to business.  Aller Les Requins!
On a side note, we met Jason Demers' mom at the airport.  She worked behind the airline counter and saw the Jr. Sharks logo on our apparel.  She told us about her experiences as a hockey mom and that Jason also participated in the PeeWee Tournament.  She also mentioned that Jason misses San Jose. We miss you too, Jason.

Sharks score!

Let's Go Sharks!

The traditional greeting and pin exchange.

Game at Hershey Park

Day Five

Monday, February 16th

Although it may be a holiday back in the US today, here in Canada, it is just another work day. Appropriate enough since after all the fun yesterday, it is back to work for the team today.  With our loss against the Wheat Kings, we are now playing our games outside of the actual arena at other locations, to forever toil in anonymity; well... at least to the end of this tournament or until we claw our way back into the championship.  Yes, there is still the possibility that we shall make it to the Colisee Pepsi once again.  The team needs to right itself and play to it's potential.  Although not the most talented team, it does possess grit and has fought back against all odds.  They need to find that and turn it on again.   After a loss in the morning against a much bigger and faster team, the coaches opted to have a practice this afternoon at a rink located next door to the Colisee.  A new facility, utilized by a local college for games, the coaches will set about to help the team refocus.  Prior to the practice, the team had it's first meal at the tournament teams cafeteria.  This is where the tournament teams can opt to have their meals.  The food is nothing to write home about, namely you; however, it is a great opportunity to see and interact with other teams primarily from other countries.  We didn't see too many North American teams but a great deal of teams from Europe and other areas.

Eating and socializing with players from other parts of the world

Coach Savoie states that he brings the Jr. Sharks here not for the food but for the opportunity to interact with teams from other parts of the world. The players are not only fed physically but socially as well.  The magic of pin trading breaks any and all language and cultural barriers.  I personally witnessed my own son approaching a player from Japan and communicated with him, his interest to trade pins. Without a word exchanged, a deal was consummated and finalized with a smile.  That broke the barrier and soon others from the same teams exchanged pins.  I think adults can certainly learn from these twelve year olds.
After lunch, the team got ready for an afternoon of practice to reacquaint themselves with what brought them success not that long ago. It was definitely a spirited practice.  With all the new and unfamiliar elements the players have experienced since arriving a few days ago, it was good to practice as a team together without any

Team Practice

outside distractions.  After an hour plus practice, the team members were either picked up by their billet families or were transported to the Colisee to meet up with them. For some of us, this will be the last day to see our player until we are united back home in California.  Most of the CA families will be heading home in the next day or so.  I, for one, am heading home tomorrow.  I am attempting to continue to do this blog through the eyes of other parents who will provide me with observations.  Let's see how it works...
Before I close out today's entry, I thought I'd mention the fact that this year will be the last the PeeWee tournament will be held at the Colisee Pepsi, formerly where the Quebec Nordiques played;

Quebecor Arena

where Owen Nolan started his career and where Mike Ricci made himself at home in front of the
opposition's crease.  The 57th Tournoi International De Hockey PeeWee will be played next door at the new 18,500 seat Quebecor Arena, still under construction.  I should also note that the locals pride themselves on many things local, among them a humble dish, known as poutine, the national food of Canada.  Yes, it's Canadian and yes, its available from British Columbia to Newfoundland and even in San Jose but tell a local that you tried it elsewhere?  "Oh no, you have not tried poutine unless it's in Quebec."  This potato concoction made from french fries, brown gravy and squeaky cheese curds (must be squeaky) has many debating what makes it great and does the best really come from this province?  Does it put other poutine wannabes to shame?  You have to decide that for yourself when you visit Quebec, a region rich in culture, history and stories.

Poutine from Chez Ashton