Croatian Adventure April 2009

So I arrived in Berlin to play my first year of pro hockey about 8 months ago and well that is about how far behind I am on my blog… Well, not that bad but pretty close.  J  Right now I am on a bus from Plitvice to Split, in Croatia.  I just spent the last 4 hours walking through Plitvice Javara National Park and it is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, seen and could have dreamed. To another’s eye it might have looked like a gloomy, rainy somewhat cold day, to me the moment I stepped into the park I couldn’t stop smiling.  I think the only time the smile came off my face was for about 15 seconds when I realized the battery in my camera had died.  After a full 15 seconds of sulking I put the camera away and realized this just allowed me to really enjoy the full beauty of the rest of the park, and that there was no way the images and georgeousness would be forgotten (plus the probably 400 pictures I had already taken helped ease the pain as well).  Something to note, about 3 weeks ago I was in Berlin touring around a bit with my brother Aiden and I put my stuff down as I had offered to take a photo for a German couple who were obviously going to go throughout most of their trip with one photo of him, and one photo of her, this might be my 3^rd favourite thing ever to do.  Anyhow, so after taking the pictures making sure they were happy with them I picked up my stuff to hear my camera hit the ground.  Not completely concerned as this might possibly not be the first time I have dropped my camera, maybe once in a disco… So the bad news here was that the screen had cracked on the inside, the even worse news was that there wasn’t any old school peep hole to see what you take your pictures of but the good news (there usually is good news if you just look for it) was that the camera could still take pictures, and the even better news is that I have been in training for the past 4 years taking nearly 1000 pictures a month so I know my camera pretty well and have a good idea of which buttons to press how many times on which settings in order to have the camera on the option I would like to use.

Alright, so quite the side note but it was a traumatic and memorable moment I wanted to share.  Aiden had to deal with me being in a pissy mood for about 18 minutes but I slowly came around after realizing there really wasn’t anything I could do at that point to change the situation, except for get back at taking too many pictures the way I lived my life 18 minutes ago. 

So, back to Plitvice and the 400 pictures I had already taken of this absolutely astonishing National Park and it didn’t matter for a second whether I could see what I was taking or not as the entirety of the park was breath taking.  Now I sit here wishing I hadn’t packed the camera adapter under the bus otherwise I would be going through the photos and seeing how they turned out.  But again, on the positive side I am catching up a bit on my blog. 

Prior to Plitvice I had been in Zagreb for one day, 2 nights.  I had my very first couchsurfing experience and it turned out great, stayed with 2 young guys from Zagreb and they were super helpful, Marin picked me up at the train station, offered to carry my stuff and we arrived back at his place to a Champions League Soc… I mean Football game (which I have somehow grown to really enjoy until I either get bored cuz there is no goals or til I throw something at the TV due to the frustrating and embarrassing dives the players take), so football game, pizza and beer.  Boy did they choose the right girl, not much more you could ask for, Beer, Pizza and sports.  So needless to say I knew this situation was going to work out just fine.  I crashed on their couch that night then had a decent sleep in and did 2 walking tours, one around the old town and one around the lower town I believe it is called.  From my 3 days of experience Croatians are incredibly nice and very helpful people.  I enjoyed touring myself around Zagreb with a book that gave me the route, a map and then information and history at each stop point.  Was a nice way to see a city, it was completely at my own pace and if I wanted to wander down some random street or into a different church I wasn’t holding anyone up and I could stop for food or to take others pictures anytime I liked.  **Side note to the side note, the breaking of my camera while helping others with a photo has not deterred me from continuing this passion of mine**.  After the tours I dropped by where Tomislav works “Cyber Funk Café” great place and one of the only juice bars in Zagreb right now, he told me when things happen in westernized countries they usually take a few years and make their way over to them.  So always smart to travel, see what’s cool and working and get a head start on everyone back in Croatia.  Jumping ahead to our evening, we decided to stay in watch TV, order some more Pizza and just hang out.  Was really nice and turned out to be a great decision as the weather turned to lightning and thunder storms. 

So Marin, Tomislav and his girlfriend Sandra (who I only got to meet for maybe 10 minutes but she is such a sweetheart) were great hosts and also got to meet some of their other friends too.  I highly suggest this form of travel to anyone and EVERYONE.  If you have heard of couchsurfing then skip this next paragraph, I am going to try and give a Coles notes version of what I understand of it so far cuz I think everyone should be involved even on a small scale if possible:

Couchsurfing.com a program started by someone either in Canada or the States (I told you I don’t know a lot yet) and it allows people all over the world to have a profile, share what they would like about themselves and get to know and experience other people from every walk of life imaginable.  So some of the ways you can be involved is to host people at your home, you say how many you can have, if you are currently available to host someone and what your home is like (ie: pets, non-smokers etc. etc.) and then people can check you out, see if you are a good match and then you do the same to see if the person requesting a couch is someone you would like in your home or not.  You can also be that person looking for a couch to sleep on, so you contact whom you’d like and share a bit about you and why you would like to stay with them (obvious shit reason.. cuz it’s free, really helps to take the time to read through profiles and what others have said about them and their experiences couchsurfing with them).  Or you can also just be available to meet for coffee and give some advice of what to do in your city.  Things like that, so super short version but likely noone got this far anyhow.

Hello everyone who either just woke up from my last paragraph or who skipped it entirely.  To complete my update of Croatia thur far, I am now headed to Split where a really nice PHD student has offered to take me into her home for a few days, she is supposed to be coming to BC (Sydney) to do some research for 6 months, not sure when though.  Anyhow, the drive has been beautiful and I am extremely happy that I chose to sit on the right side of the bus from Plitvice to wherever we are now as the cliffs and heights are not my favourite.  But if you love the view and are tougher then I am take the left side.  Helpful random tips for traveling in Croatia.  That wraps up this portion of my blog and I will working my way backwards to attempt to catch up on highlights.  Thanks for tuning in and back on home soil in less than 2 weeks!!  CRAZY!!!

Deutche Meistershaft... so close I can taste it

Well.... 1 game left.  Today is Thursday March 5th and on Saturday March 7th we could be named Deutche Meistershaft which means German Championship.  This is where it stands right now.  We are now tied with Planegg when it comes to games won.  As mentioned in a previous post, we beat them by two goals and they beat us by 2 goals and those were the only games lost the entire season for either team.  Now it comes down to goals for and against, currently we are up 3 goals on them.  Planegg plays Memmingen (a decently strong team when it comes to the rest of the league, and now with a new goalie and a new Canadian on their team), and we play Ottobrun who is in dead last in the entire league... so not so strong.  

My ideal weekend goes as such:  Planegg plays against Memmingen and Memmingen wins (this is a possibility), the puck drops for them 2 hours before it does for us, so for sure by the end of the 2nd period we will know how many goals we need to score or if they have lost.  I don't really want to know though until 2 minutes left in the game, and that might be possible if I just don't allow myself to understand the German... well ok, likely not possible cuz I'm sure the emotions will be pretty obvious.  Anyhow, will be great either way.  

Some phenomenal guest viewers this Saturday will be my brother Aiden, who flew in a couple of days ago.  My friend Kelsey Blair who is currently playing pro Basketball in Sweden and I think one of her friends, then some hopefuls are a few vballers from the SCC, a bunch of the staff from the Jr/and DEL Eisbear teams and then a bet has been made between me and the team I train (Eisbaren Jr's) that if they bring out 10 of their players I am to get in a fight.... I'm actually getting a lil nervous about this cuz as much as I don't think they will come I believe more that they hate to lose a bet... we will see what happens.  

Alright off to bed here as it's actually nearly 2am Friday morning and Aiden and I are off to visit a concentration camp tomorrow morning.  Will be quite the experience for sure.  This history amazes me absolutely every single day I am here.  Crazy.  So... check back for a huge announcement come Saturday night!!  Our website is:  www.eisladies.de  (you can also choose to see it in English once you get the the website)!

2 Weeks, 2 Games, 1 German Champion

So season is somehow closing out and I am at a lack of words to describe what I am feeling as well as to describe just how fast the time has flown by.  6 months.... already.  I wasn't sure when I first started this adventure whether I'd last 6 days but apparently moving across the world and getting to play the sport I love, travel Europe every free day I get and train National level athletes hasn't been all that bad. :-)  Clearly, I've loved every second of it and makes for an extremely difficult decision about next year, but that is a whole nother topic.  (Just realized that "nother" is not a word, won't really stop me from using it as I'm certain most of my blogs from here on out will be mixed with some German as well as a whole lot of poor English due to the learning of another language).  So... 

This is where the OSC Eisladies stand.  (Yes, for anyone first hearing our team name, laugh it up, I still think it's pretty funny).  Currently the Eisladies are in 1st place in the German league.  We have 2 games remaining against teams we have beat 7-1 (Grefrath) and Ottobrun 10-0.  This sounds like a pretty easy ride into the end of the season however, there is a little team called Planegg that is trying to get in our way to victory.  Planegg has 3 games remaining and are also in a pretty good position.  We have played Planegg twice, us beating them at home 4-2 and them beating us at their home 5-3 (with 1 second left, scored by a player who quit our team and joined their's just maybe a week earlier... but that is beside the point).  So each of those loses, one for them and one for us puts us at a dead tie.  Now comes the interesting part.  We have to basically score as many goals as humanly possible against these next two teams we play.  Which to be honest I really don't enjoy doing, it does not feel very nice to just destroy a team and truly be excited about the 14th goal scored when the other team has hardly touched the puck.  But I have been informed over and over by teammates that this is normal here in Germany and that it isn't a mean thing to do.  Still... anyhow it is the situation we are in and I believe that the other teams are also aware of it.  We are currently up 10 goals on Planegg and they have one game in hand on us.  It actually makes for a much more exciting season then had we beat Planegg that second game or had only lost by one goal, now every single game we plays matters and every shift and every goal so there is no time let off even for a second.  

I hope to have a post-game update this Saturday with extremely good news, so if anyone reads this before Saturdays game please think/dream about goals for us.  

March 21st and 22nd marks the end of the season over here for me.  We have our German Pokal (German Cup) and that is for a different title the the German Championship that is won at the end of the regular season.  However, we would like to take that title as well so the training continues.  

Injury Report:  #16 Kathrin Fring (My roommate) has partially torn one of the ligaments in her left foot and is out for ... 2 weeks.  Injury went down in her Uni track and field class during their final practical exam when she was demonstrating her perfect Javelin technique when on the last step CRACK :-(  So we are down a D, my D-partner (BOO)

#4 Haleigh Callison (Kathrin's roommate) has beautifully slightly thrown out her back.  Being the smart HKin Graduate, 6 year Twist employee decided to train a group of the Womens German National Hockey Team and not warm up herself before doing so.  Oddly enough, who knew?  When you don't warm up and start demoing exercises it's not a really smart thing to do.  Only missing 2 practices, she'll be back training tomorrow (friday) and more then ready to play saturday, expected to score a minimum of 2 goals. (also suffering from a cigarette burn to left upper to mid back/side from an unknown at Dante Saturday.  Ironic that the person that probably hates smoking the most, gets burned with a cigarette...awesome)

**Other then that only one player is prego, 2 are back from maternity leave and I believe the rest are good to go** (Only in Women's hockey does this happen)

More on non-eisladies hockey hopefully to come soon.  (Working on not waiting every 2 months to update blog).  

To Uncle Ivan

(This is the letter I wrote for my Uncle Ivan who recently passed away.  I miss you so much.)

I would like to play a song that to me, is for Uncle Ivan.  But first I have a letter I would like to try and read for you.

How does one write a letter to someone when you don't believe they won't get to read it or that they're no longer with us, physically.  It is hard.  So hard, but I want to write this letter first to Uncle Ivan.

Uncle Ivan, Thankyou.  Thankyou for always always making us all laugh, every dinner especially Thanksgiving, we would all make sure we could sit near you, make sure we were near enough to hear your jokes and hilarious comments.  So calm, so happy and so funny.  From teaching us how to say some names in French to informative lessons in relationships.  You had it all covered.  Generous and kind do not even come close to explaining or describing the person you always were.  There was always something I loved so much about you, you were always happy, you didn't need big material goods to do that.  It was a Lucky in one hand, surrounded by amily, making everyone laugh and absolutely having a blast on the dance floor at every gathering.  (The odd time a cigarette, but hey we almost had a deal right :-)).  It seemed to be an attitude of just "Happy to be here".  One that I try to live by.

I am honestly still in disbelief, I wrote this sitting on a bus somewhere in the middle of Germany after 2 games that were won for you.  Could only get you one goal but it was a little tough to keep my heart in the game when it was so so much with you back on the Island.  And with Suzanne and Jeremy.  You have raised two of the kindest and most loving individuals I have ever met, so much to be proud of.

I want to make sure you know how much you affected everyone's lives and just how much we all loved and still love you.  Getting to see you every year at Thanksgiving and when you came up to Smithers for my parents 25th.  I remember clearly when my mom saw you, she nearly dropped to the floor.  Family is everything for her.  I know this is part of why this is so tough, you guys all have taught our generation of kids to truly appreciate and love our siblings and the family we are so lucky to have in our lives.  Thankyou for that lesson and thankyou for helping me understand how to enjoy life and appreciate every second of it.  Enjoy every last prawn, every chicken curry, every smile and every moment with those we are surrounded by that we love so much. 

I remember saying good-bye to you, not knowing it would be the last time, it was this past Thanksgiving at Aunty Murial's house.  Justin set me up on Skype so I could feel like I was there with you all.  A little unsure of how this skype/video/phone thing worked you came and talked to me for a bit, when I close my eyes now I can still see you standing there... so clearly.  Also lately, through the tears I see you dancing with my mom at Sandra's wedding, every image that comes into my mind and heart is of you having a good time somewhere with a smile on your face, enjoying and appreciating the simple things in life. 

How do you end a letter you never wanted to write.  Please just know how much I love you and we will miss you so so much.  Lighting the candle this year at Thatnksgiving is going to be the hardest it has ever been.  I love you and I know you are with Uncle Dale and you get to see your Mom and Dad again.  Say hi for us please.  Good-bye for now, think of you often and love you forever.  

Song Lyrics for Mark Perry's "A Song for Joe"

You must be mistaken, I have not been taken,

I've just been set free, to wander wherever I please.

I'll be in the mountains, and I'll be in the trees,

I'll be on the path we used to walk, and out of the blue my name will appear when you talk.

I'll be out there on the wind, and the rain will wash me clean.

And the sun will heat my back and I'll breathe easy and deep.

You must be mistaken, I have not been taken.

I've just been set free, to wander wherever I please.

I've just been set free to wander wherever I please.  

Drei Monate in einem blog...

So I'm going to attempt a coles notes version and will work at elaborating when I have more time... more time??  That seems a little inaccurate as all I have over here is time... anyhow here goes:

TRAVEL UPDATE:

So... 10 countries in 3 months and a couple days:  Aug 30th Canada to Germany, played first 5 games in 5 different countries:  Czech Republic (Prague), Slovakia (Bratislava), Slovenia (Maribor), Austria (Vienna... aka Wein over here... that story to come) and back to Berlin, Germany.  A pretty fun way to start a hockey season.  Hit up Potsdam, Germany for an afternoon. Then went to London for a week at the beginning of October to visit my good friend Janelle and her boyfriend Adam, took off from London to Hamburg to watch Marcus Sommerfeld and Rich Mueller play (DEL hockey) then back to Berlin to get back in shape.  Games in Salzburg Austria in October, went to visit Daniel Imhof who is playing pro soccer in the 1st German League for Bochum (living in Castrop Rauxel).  Then took off to Holland for a week to visit Casey Bartzen, a fellow Twister and old T-Bird.  He's living in Sittard and playing for Geleen.  Also went on a roadie to watch them play in Groningen where Lance Morrison (also an old T-Bird) face off against each other.  Then spent a night/morning in Amsterdam before heading back to Berlin to get in back into shape and ready for the next games.  Got to watch the world cup of speed skating in Berlin and then my parents arrived on the 13th of November.  

While they were here we went to Stockholm, Sweden to visit/meet family.  They did some more traveling around between my games (to Munich, Vienna and Salzburg).  We visited old friends in Wolfsburg for a day.  And at the end of their trip we went to Paris for a day and a half.  Also my brother Justin was able to drop by on his way to India for work (unfortunate timing but all went fine and he is now safe and sound back in Vancouver :-).  So did some sightseeing and visiting while he was here as well as he got to watch one of the biggest games for us in the entire season, which we won!!!  (Against Planegg... more to come on the hockey front).  Well... now I'm back into the Berlin swing and am just deciding on where to go next weekend as we have another weekend off and I am very lucky to have some days left on my Eurorail pass.  So hoping to add Switzerland to this list and maybe head back to Wolfsburg or Vienna, or check out Munich... we will see.  I'm back in Smithers for Christmas from the 22nd of December to the 4th of January, when I fly to Vancouver and will be there til the 14th when I return to Berlin for the rest of the season!!  (Going by far too fast).

HOCKEY UPDATE:

www.eisladies.de

or English translated version:  http://translate.google.com/translate?u=www.eisladies.de&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=de&tl=en

(if that doesn't work just go to google and search translate websites and enter the top one in, it's pretty entertaining actually)

So in the European League we are currently tied for first but we have also played more games then any other team so... hopefully we can work to keep that.  We've played 11 games and have a total of 21 points, you get 3 for every win.  The tough teams are Prague and Planegg whom we have now beaten both but lost to each of them as well early in the season.

In the German League we are undefeated, we have played 6 games giving us 18 points but we are currently in 3rd as we have about 3 games in hand still.  HUGE game for us in two weeks, on the 20th, right before I come home.  We play Planegg for the 3rd time, but the 2nd time in the German League.  We beat them last week (German League) which means if and when we beat them on the 20th in their rink that pretty much guarantees us the German Championship so gotta get ready for that.  A new sponsor actually is paying for us to fly there (we'll bus back) but that makes a HUGE difference as bussing 10 or so hours to head straight into a game is not the best way to be well prepared.  I'll keep you posted on that update (think winning and scoring thoughts for us please)!!!  

WORK (SORT OF):

So quick update here, I've been training the mens farm team to the pro team here in Berlin.  They are all called the Eisbears but these guys are known as the Juniors and play in the Oberliga which is the 3rd league in Germany but is the farm team to the DEL Eisbaren.  Anyhow, I have taken over mostly their Speed, Agility, Stabi (Core and Balance), Reaction training on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Each of those days I have one group in the morning around 10 or 10:30 of about anywhere between 12 and 16 guys (Tuesdays more of a speed day and Thurs Stabi focus) and then in the afternoon any of the guys who are either in school, might be on ice with the pro's I have them at 4:30 and usually is between 6 and 8 players.  It has been an incredible experience to work with them, having 20+ athletes that are so very different in the way they move, their athletic background, their training background, their size, skill level, attitude, character, motivation.... etc.  Learning to watch the way them move and really try to work with them on their individual strengths and weaknesses and also with watching them on ice in practices and games has been a huge learning experience as well as a challenge but I'm loving it and seriously learn something new every day, every session.  I'm also working with my team as well doing their strength and conditioning, usually it has been once a week, sometimes twice but the numbers are dying off big time so I'm going to have to find a way to get people back and off their couches in the evenings.  I think the tough part is that our on ice practices are usually mon/thurs/fri evenings so for them to also come on tues/wed evening for training... people need some evenings for themselves.  Anyhow, also a great experience and so much fun to show and teach people different ways of  training and to find the fun and enjoyment in training.  As I recall Dean Shiels (my boss at Twist) saying many times, you have to LOVE to train, and it is true.  For some it is harder then others but I 100% believe it just takes looking at things from different angles and finding ways to keep it interesting. 

Alright, so that wasn't so much a coles notes version but once you eventually see the rest you will possibly agree a little more.  

That is Haleigh's life in Berlin thus far!  No complaints, have loved every bit of it!!!! :-)

What the NHL should learn from European Hockey

I would like to have a contest to see which city or team in Germany (or Europe) has the best fans.  If anyone has ever attended a hockey game in Europe (I know soccer is much bigger but for the purpose of this topic and my life, I'm sticking with hockey) they will know just how loud, how passionate and how supportive the fans are here.  A team could be losing 5-0 and they never stop cheering.  The only booing that ever happens is for the refs and sometimes the other team if a penalty was bad enough or if they are trying to throw them off on a power play.  (the booing here is actually whistling).  

The stadiums have entire ends and sections blocked off for standing room only, that is where the super fans are.  They have their drums, every single one of them has a jersey and maybe 3 to 10 team scarves on and they are LOUD.  

I was at a game tonight and to be honest the atmosphere in the rink I honestly 100% believe is better and more excited then in a Stanley Cup final game.  No joke.  At least once everyone in the stands are standing up in support of their team.  Everyone has some sort of noise maker that has been handed out or left on the seats.  It is absolutely incredible.  

I would like there to be a contest where they bring the best fans from one of the teams here (even just normal fans would far outshine us "fans" back home) and bring them to an NHL game, fill half the rink with European fans and let the other half experience what it truly means to support a team wholeheartedly and to stay til the dying seconds of every game regardless of the score.  It is something I think any and every sports fan must experience.  

So for anyone traveling Europe, please pay the money (which is also 1/4 the amount of a pro game in N.A.) and check it out.  Bring your camera!

Thoughts on a potentially good problem to have...

So... everyone always asks, What do you want to do when you grow up?  Where do you see yourself living?  etc. etc....

Here's my problem: 

Every single job I have had in my life I have loved.  Every city or place I have lived I have loved.  Basically for whatever reason I have been lucky to enjoy and be happy no matter where I am, no matter what I'm doing and no matter who I'm with.  

Ultimately, I do believe this to be a good thing, however, how am I supposed to ever know where I'm supposed to be, what I'm supposed to be doing and who I'm supposed to be doing these things with?  If I'm always enjoying the situation I am in and always make sure to be having fun no matter where I am at, this makes life tough to make decisions cuz as much as I don't like change (only because I am happy in the situation I am currently in) I know that the next situation I am also going to enjoy and be happy in.  

Anyhow, something I think about often.