02.28.2010 - Day 19 - Closing Ceremonies

Got up early for breakfast in the hotel... last one:)
We met in the lobby at 9.15am to leave for the Gold medal game. The 1st USA vs. Canada game I was 1.5 hours early and had to wait on the 2nd floor to get into the Olympic Family 5th floor. When we got into the rink; they didn't open the doors till 10am we were lining up on the 3rd floor to get in. The bummer was that we were instructed that all officials were not to sit down until the puck dropped and if there were some left over seats for us then we could sit down. When we entered the booth we were told again by our host that we could not sit down; one of the other officials said that out IIHF was assigned to make sure that we did not have our butts in a seat until the puck dropped. After standing to reserve some room in the back of the sitting area and trying to figure out a good strategy for getting a seat in the packed house they changed their minds and lead us all to a sitting area; it worked out well in the end, but degrading while we were waiting.

Thor, Murph, Leah and I at the game (all USA!)

The first 2 periods were reserved and the 1st match up game had much more grit, but the 3rd period with the US scoring their goals and the last to tye it up in the last 24.4 seconds was great. It was a good hockey game just a bummer that the US lost; we will be hearing about this from out Canadian friends for the next 4 years.

Met the Canada Women's Curling Silver medalist at the game (yes, even the Michael Jordan of curling....)

Photo with President of the IIHF Rene Fasel

After the game we watched the medal ceremony and worked our way next door to BC Place. We ate and had beverages until the ceremony started and I was pretty emotional at this one as the dream is now complete. When they stated that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games are now officially closed, it hit me. Nickleback (why only one song??? might have something to do with family friendly lyrics?), Avril Lavingne (why 2 songs?) Alantis Morissette, Neil Young (aka: dead cat voice with great lyrics), William Shatner, Catherine O'Hara, Michael Buble and Michael J. Fox were the ones that stood out. http://www.mahalo.com/2010-olympics-closing-ceremony
We walked back to the hotel and hung out in the hotel restaurant; it was good fun to have the group together! It was a late night.

02.27.2010 - Day 18 - Out with USA Hockey

Breakfast at the hotel and off to the rink early to take photos on the ice, at Canada place, with the group of officials. Thanks to Brian Murphy for making sure the girls were included in this.

Thor and Pete

When we got back, the female officials gathered in the meeting room with our 1) Cameras 2) Computers and 3) Cords to exchange photos. I don't know how we ever functioned before digital? It was funny because this is where my IT side came out and I was helping a few officials with the uploading of the photos.

Bob and Jackie from Canada (IIHF supervisors)

I met Annika and Anna in the lobby around 13.00 and we went to Earl's for lunch; good stuff. We made a final trip to the official Olympic store; still no mittens people! Then I broke off and hit the store, by the crepe place on Robson with the deals and back to the hotel to do a base packing.

I met all the crew from USA Hockey in the lobby of the hotel at 17.00 and we walked to the Keg for dinner on USA Hockey; Thanks Mr. Matt! Harry Thompson from USA Hockey joined us for dinner and we watched the Bronze medal game in the background.

We walked back to the hotel on the way we met some of the other guys for a beverage and hung out in the hotel restaurant for a bit. It was a later night:)

02.26.2010 - Day 16 - Almost time to leave

Early breakfast at the hotel and off to curling with Anna to see the Bronze medal game.

We got lost but made our way there. We watched China pull out a win over the Swiss and took Anna over to the curling store to go shopping. At the curling store we ran into John's sponsor Erin (on the CA men's curling team) and an autographed jersey that we got to try on! Thanks Erin!

We also met the Silver Curling medalist from Nagano. I will have to look up his name later...

We ran over to Canada Place after and met Johnny and a friend to watch the USA play Finland in men's hockey. After the game we met Johnny at the hotel and I was off to Gibson. The ferry wasn't till 5pm so we went and had a pop at the local stop. I wish I would have had more time to visit longer and see the sights in the daytime. We went over on the ferry and I got to visit with Mary Jo, her Mom and Johnny for a bit before Johnny dropped me at the ferry to get home. Good people.

I took the ferry and jumped on a bus to get back to the hotel. It went pretty smooth and dropped me just a few blocks from the hotel.

Found out when I got back that our 10am meeting was changed to 8:30am for group photos at the rink. Early to bed.

02.25.2010 - Day 15 - GOLD!!!

Got up and had breakfast at the hotel.
The Bronze medal game, Sweden vs. Finland (Finland's first medal since 1998 in the Olympics) was at 12.00 so watched the last part on TV. Tried to take a short nap, but hard to do and ended up going having lunch in the lobby of the hotel.
Met in the lobby with the crew and the back-ups and went to the rink. We took some photos and warmed up on the ice. And sat around waiting for the game to start; it seemed like forever. When we heard the crowd erupt from the locker room I told my partners not to worry as I just left the TV on:) We got out on the ice and the place was packed. I will never forget this game. The house was rocking and we were a part of it! We worked the game and had a celebration in the locker room after. There was a Gold coke can waiting for each of us. Oh, and we left a message for the boys!After the game we went back to the hotel and had a pizza and beverage social with all the men's and women's officials. Thanks to Bill McCreary for getting this done. We were presented with a gold medal (not the real one) from the IIHF, with Vancouver 2010 engraved on the back. The STANLEY CUP showed up and we got to take photos with it; yes, I referred to it as a person. It was a super great night; the game I will never forget. I just worked the Stanley Cup Final of Women's hockey and survived!

Hello to "the Cod Fish" from Anna, Sly and OB!

TV Coverage of the Olympics

02.25.2010 at 15.35 (Vancouver time) / I am working the GOLD medal game! USA vs. Canada with Referee Aina (Norway) and Lines Heather (Canada).

Hockey Coverage Information:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv-listings/zone=CT/sport=IH/index.html

All Olympic Coverage Information:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv-listings/index.html

Star and Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/sports/olympics/85291147.html?page=1&c=y

U.S. vs. Canada: The facts
Last update: February 25, 2010 - 12:29 AM

U.S. VS. CANADA: THE FACTS
When: 5:30 p.m., MSNBC • Where: Canada Hockey Place, Vancouver
ABOUT THE GAME
Hayley Wickenheiser of Canada said it's the game that everyone in North America wanted to see. Teammate Haley Irwin promises an absolute battle, and Jennifer Botterill said an already white-hot rivalry has grown even more intense. Take the two titans of women's hockey, put them in an arena full of puck-obsessed Canadians, and watch the fun. "It's the Stanley Cup Final over and over again,'' Canada coach Melody Davidson said. "I think it's one of the best rivalries in sport.''
SCOUTING THE U.S.
Canada likes to play a physical game, but it will have to stay out of the box against the Americans, who lead the tournament with 13 power-play goals on 22 chances. This fast, skilled team has grown deeper in recent weeks as its young players have blossomed. Minnesotans Jenny Potter and Natalie Darwitz lead the scoring with 11 points each, and Monique Lamoureux is getting better every game. Jessie Vetter has surrendered one goal on 42 shots and is a tested big-game goalie.
SCOUTING CANADA
The Canadians match the U.S. in skill and offensive firepower. Meghan Agosta's nine goals are an Olympic record for most in a tournament, and Wickenheiser -- one of the greatest women's players ever -- is strong as ever with 11 points in her fourth Winter Games. Davidson has been coy about who will be in goal, but she's got two great ones: veteran Kim St.-Pierre and Olympic rookie Shannon Szabados, who shut out Finland in the semifinals and is 3-1 against the U.S. this season.
THE HISTORY
The U.S. won the first Olympic gold medal in women's hockey in 1998. Canada won the next two, but the U.S. has won the past two world championships. Canada is 7-3 against the U.S. this season.
THE HOME FACTOR
Canada Hockey Place holds 19,300, and the loud, loyal Canadians will make up most of the crowd. Several U.S. players said they are excited to play in that kind of atmosphere and don't expect to be rattled.
OFFICIATING
Kelli O'Brian-Rolstad of Blaine will be one of two linesmen working the gold medal game. Read her blog from Vancouver at www.kelliobrian.blogspot.com
RACHEL BLOUNT

02.24.2010 - Day 14 - laying low and getting ready

Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 10 with the group; it was nice to sleep in a little.
I went back up to the room and took my much needed nap from yesterday and tried to sort out the room a little. I have found living out of a hotel for the past two weeks that when things come up you run up to your room and throw things then try and get back out the door so I have many piles in my room.
I met Anna, Kerri, MA and T in the lobby at 3pm to grab the shuttle to the men's Canada Russia game. The place was packed and even wilder than the USA Canada game; they have been building this match up in the media up here for some time as many Canadians thought that this would be the Gold medal game.
I started talking to the guys that were sitting behind us and they happened to be the Canada men's curling team. Note: John was super fun to talk to and it was easy to relate as these guys have "real jobs" too!

John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Ben Herbet

After the game Anna, T and I went over to the Czech Finland game at UBC and we sat by the Alpine skier Marino Cardelli and his coaches from San Marino.
Went back to the hotel and am going to bed.
RACHEL I got some really good photos of Jagr for you! I heard him mention that he likes pink laces:)

02.23.2010 - Day 13 - Curling

Got up early and grabbed a little something downstairs from the hotel.
We met in the lobby at 7.30 am and left on our curling adventure. We took the shuttle (van) to the train station and rode about 4 stops, them got off and walked the 10-15 mins to the venue. We went through security and got inside and found out that we could get into the VIP / Olympic family area here too. This turned out to be a great thing as T, MA and I had bad seats all the way up in the back corner along the wall.

The Venue The USA Curling Team!

Bernard: MA calls her the Michael Jordan of curling

Sitting in the Family area I started asking the neighbors questions about the rules, as this is my first official curling match (I don't think when we played at the NCAA finals years back counts; especially when you play with the officials falling rules).

I met the president of the Canadian curling association and his wife then the US curling association president and his wife; they were from AK (Alaska) and super fun. I ended up sitting next to and asking many questions of Beau Welling from South Carolina who was the US curling president and also designs some big golf courses: http://www.worldgolf.com/news/pga/tiger-woods-design-beau-welling-pga-tour-cuts-5330.htm He was super nice and fielded my questions about the rules and explained the scoring and strategy of the game.

Most of the group went back to the hotel, but Joy and I jumped another train to try and hunt down some mittens at another Bay store. We searched the mall and came up empty so we headed back. Joy went back to the hotel and I stopped for a street dog and did a little more shopping, yes, more shopping.

I went back to the hotel, in the rain, yes the beautiful weather is now overcast and drizzly.

When I opened my door the game assignments had been pushed under the door. I was thinking that I would not be skating so I couldn't read it as first as I would not let my eyes focus on it, but then I saw ROLSTAD on the sheet and was overwhelmed with emotion and excitement. I then focused a little more and realized that the game I was assigned is the GOLD medal game! I called some family and friends and sent some emails to thank them for helping me get here and couldn't take the nap that I was planning on...

Cleaned up and got ready to meet the group at the hockey house tonight.

Met up at the Hockey House at 7:30 pm and finally got in. We ate dinner at a buffet, drank at an open bar and checked out the dessert table. The kicker was if you had to use the restroom you had to walk outside in the rain into a modified construction trailer toilet area set up; very entertaining. We then filtered into the Molson Fan Tent and didn't really stay long as the people were crazy and it was super loud. There was a group playing and I bought a "women's fit" hat at the store and also showed Michelle around and she was a ton of fun!

Anna (our IIHF host from Switzerland) and I at the hockey house

IIHF team photographer at the hockey house

The group took a shuttle back to the hotel and ended up walking a few blocks in the end as it stopped short. Went to bed.

02.22.2010 - Day 12 - Game Day!

Breakfast at the hotel and meeting with the group.

Ran over to UBC with Brenda, the driver, who was kind enough to wait for me to gather my equipment and bring me back to the hotel.

I went a took a nap!

Went to lunch at Joey's, again, with Melena, who I am linesing with today. We walked back to the hotel, picked up our stuff and were off to Canada Place for the Canada (5) vs. Finland (0) game.

Nicole (Germany), Melena (Denmark) and I worked the game and it was packed. I came around the net as the crowd exploded to the jumbo tron video and I looked up and realized that not only the bottom bowl was full, but the top and the boxes and even the tippy top of the seats were full. I went over and stood by the crease and waited for Nicole to check out the video goal judge communication and got teary eyed as the whole rink was full and this is what I came for and gave up all, well a lot in the past 13 years for, to experience this moment. The game was fun to work, but I'd still say the Canada vs. Sweden game was more fun, other than the attendance factor. Melena and I worked together for the first time, but it was great and like working with someone from home; it just flowed. "We rocked the house!"

Brownie: Please note the my zebra friend is with... if you can figure out how to get online and check this!

After the game we hung out in the officials lounge and watched the reminder of the Russia Swiss game that went into OT and shootout.

We shuttled back to the hotel and met up with most of the group and walked about two blocks to the "red" wings place (the sign that said WINGS was red) and had some food and beverages. We walked back to the hotel and talked a bit before bed.

Curling tomorrow!