Hockey in between Hockey

Last week took Jens down to the state hockey tourney for the opening class AA games on Thursday and semi-final games on Friday. I haven't missed many tourneys since 1984, the first year my dad took me. That year it was in the St Paul Civic center with the clear glass boards all the way to the ice. Always great hockey and fun atmosphere. 

One session met up with Jon and nephews Grant, Garrett and Ripley. With 6 cousins playing at different levels for three different schools, will be interesting to see if one of  them makes it to the tourney one day with their team!!

I skied both mornings down there to keep the 30 days of skiing streak going. Hit up Lebanon Hills for the first time (skiing), and the Valleywood Golf Course the second day.

Pulling Grant and Garrett out of school. First time in Rosemount middle school.

First year we went to the expo. Tons of people, and tons of different booths with the latest and greatest in hockey.

Like all sports, everything has changed and advanced with training methods, opportunities and even the technical aspect going all out. TJ getting the run down from the Sylvan Advantage rep on the video analysis software.

Synthetic ice has become a bit more affordable and more common in families basements.

Goalie training tools. As a scout said to me the other week, you can have all the best training opportunities in the world but nothing teaches kids how to get a fire in their belly to take it to the next level!
 

 The Friday evening first game went in to OT which made for a late start for the second game. Stayed for one period than had to hit the road to get back to groom for Saturday morning and the last weekend of the season, Moosejaw old time music and dance weekend. Always fun ending the season with this weekend. They pretty much go all night with music, clogging and old time dance filling the halls and rooms




 Got home about 230 than up to groom at 6am in another morning of subzero temps but longer days and spring sun making it feel warmer. Couldn't help but think about the change from being surrounded by 19,000 hockey fans to 19,000 trees. All good.

Jake was home for the weekend. Able to log three different skis with him. Froze down hard enough for a crust cruise Monday morning, skiing on lakes and using bootleg snomo trails to link Sugarbush and Bullhead lakes. Some of the best skiing of the year.

Skate skiing Sunday morning.

Jake jibbing near the switchyard at Maplelag. Always good having Jake home and fun to mix up the skiing.

Friday we found out Jon was invited to play in the Section 8 hockey classic which had players from both AA and A. We trekked up to Warroad Monday afternoon, taking some back roads not traveled before to bypass TRF and Roseau making the drive short !?!?

Most of the Roseau and EGF players weren't there being state had just wrapped up but still some excellent hockey in a top notch arena.

Warroad Gardens has done a great job displaying the history of Warroad hockey with newspaper articles of hs state championships, the Olympic and Pro players and of course all the trophies. Good stuff. Jens checking out the puck collection. 

Jonell got tickets for the Wild game vs Edmonton back in the fall for my birthday before we knew our schedule this week so back down to the cities for a 7pm start on Tuesday. Jake met up with us and we brought our foreign worker from the year, Nairia, who as I mentioned before has become a big hockey fan. Nairia was also on the crazy schedule, having been asked to go to a Miley Cyrus concert, in the Xcel, the night before. Jon did homework all the way home, helping me stay awake until we got home at 230. Keep the wheels moving!