Day Three

Saturday, February 14th

Rue St. John

Happy Valentines Day! Bonne Saint-Valentin!  Day Three started leisurely. It was a chance for everyone to sleep in.  The boys didn't play until 3:30 so it some of us took that time to explore the neighborhood. Took a walk in the opposite direction on Rue Saint-Jean.  It throws one back to a simpler time; quaint shops, cobblestone roads and turn f the century buildings.  With the snow, the narrow
road devoid of any automobiles, I can almost imagine it being a European village at the turn of the century.  Crazy as this sounds, I almost prefer this to a crowded summer day when there are more tourists.  After a brisk stroll on this street we headed up toward the Carnaval De Quebec.  It can only be described as a winter fair.  Snow and ice sculptures abound along with snow tubing, food, activities, music.  It's pretty amazing; only wish we had more time.
We had to head to our first tournament game at the Colisee Pepsi.  We arrived in time to see the the Jr. Remparts play.  They are youth team of the Quebec Remparts.  You have not experienced a PeeWee game until you saw the crowd and experienced the atmosphere of one of their games.  I gotta say that the locals are truly passionate

Shoot out at Jr. Remparts game

about their hockey.  The entire lower bowl of the arena was filled; no small feat.  This arena used to be home to the Quebec Nordiques. Since they left for Colorado, the residents adopted the Remparts, a junior team in the QMJHL.  Aside from the teams playing, the atmosphere was just like any junior or pro game.  Even our game probably had more spectators watching than a whole season back home.  The minute they arrived at the arena, they were treated like stars.  They had their bags waiting in the locker room when they arrived.  The locker room was swept and mopped out before the next team arrives.  There were tournament volunteers directing their every way.  As the boys were getting ready, they were filmed by a NBC affiliate. Talk about star treatment.  It truly was a perfect experience. A

win would have been the icing on the cake.  That honor went to the Brandon Wheat Kings today :(
After the game, the tournament provided the team with all types of swag and snacks.  However, what the boys were really waiting for were the bags of Jr.Sharks trading pins. Unfortunately, the serious trading needed to be put off temporarily; tonight is the dinner with the billet families at La Cage Aux Sports.
Dinner was traditional casual dining food, burgers, wraps and pasta.  However, the time spent with the billet families was great and to top off the evening, we had a belated birthday celebration for Coach Curtis.  The Hill brothers played Happy Birthday to him and the team got him a signed tournament coffee mug.  Pinger's going to have a hard time knocking over that cup...lol.