Showing posts with label IIHF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IIHF. Show all posts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
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!)
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
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 FaselAfter 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.
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.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
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
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
Sunday, February 21, 2010
02.21.2010 - Day 11 - 2nd Day off!
The buzz today is the men's USA vs. Canada game to be played at 14.30...
Went to breakfast down in the hotel; no meeting today.
Went with MA down to the ticket booth on Howe Street, but there wasn't much of anything available. While we were in line we talked to a guy who said at the curling venue there were many tickets for sale, so we headed over there. We took the Subway and walked about 15 mins after getting off through some beautiful houses. We were told by the guy who grooms the curling ice that the scalper tickets are sometimes cancelled when you get up to the ticket door so we checked with the booth outside the venue and scored tickets to the 9-12 session on the 23rd.
We headed back into town did some laundry in the tub and caught a ride to Canada Place. I was 1.5 hours early for the USA vs. Canada game and had to wait in line on the 2nd floor to get into the 4th floor VIP area that didn't open till an hour before the game. This was the line outside...
I hung out in line with Sebastien from Rona and we stood in the back (as the stools were gone) and I joined forces with some Americans from Coke; Matt and Scott who told me I was the Lindsey Vohn of hockey officials, but they didn't have pins:)
The game was a nail biter, but the US pulled it off and won 5-3.
Walked back to the hotel with Anika and into bed; game day tomorrow.
Went to breakfast down in the hotel; no meeting today.
Went with MA down to the ticket booth on Howe Street, but there wasn't much of anything available. While we were in line we talked to a guy who said at the curling venue there were many tickets for sale, so we headed over there. We took the Subway and walked about 15 mins after getting off through some beautiful houses. We were told by the guy who grooms the curling ice that the scalper tickets are sometimes cancelled when you get up to the ticket door so we checked with the booth outside the venue and scored tickets to the 9-12 session on the 23rd.
We headed back into town did some laundry in the tub and caught a ride to Canada Place. I was 1.5 hours early for the USA vs. Canada game and had to wait in line on the 2nd floor to get into the 4th floor VIP area that didn't open till an hour before the game. This was the line outside...
I hung out in line with Sebastien from Rona and we stood in the back (as the stools were gone) and I joined forces with some Americans from Coke; Matt and Scott who told me I was the Lindsey Vohn of hockey officials, but they didn't have pins:)
The game was a nail biter, but the US pulled it off and won 5-3.
Photo with Jarmo
I ran into Anika and we went downstairs to the officials lounge, she showed me where the officials room is for tomorrow and we hit the store at the rink, again. We went back up and secured our spot for the Sweden (3) Finland (0) game. While we were there we talked to Bengt Walden (USA Luge), Nate Holland (USA Snowboard Cross -4th place), and Marco Sullivan (USA Alpine Skiing). The Swedish King, Queen and Prince were there; Anika pointed them out as well as the Finish president.
Walked back to the hotel with Anika and into bed; game day tomorrow.
02.20.2010 - Day 10 - Family goes home (Seattle)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting in group and reviews in crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory stop by the hotel on the way back to Seattle, but there are extra game tickets to the 2:30pm game, so they delay their departure. Note: they are picking up a duffel bag that I purchased full of stuff; extra set of equipment and souvenir things.
I do some things around the hotel, run for a quick shopping trip with Anna and meet the family at the China vs. Swiss game. Ava is cheering for the team China because they are red and her new favorite color (in addition to the pink and purple) is red. After the game Anna and I walk them back to their mini van and see them off. Ava told me she wanted me to come home with her. Anna was a super trooper taking a ton of photos of us, in hopes of a good Christmas card photo, she was a ton of fun to hand out with!
Meeting in group and reviews in crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory stop by the hotel on the way back to Seattle, but there are extra game tickets to the 2:30pm game, so they delay their departure. Note: they are picking up a duffel bag that I purchased full of stuff; extra set of equipment and souvenir things.
I do some things around the hotel, run for a quick shopping trip with Anna and meet the family at the China vs. Swiss game. Ava is cheering for the team China because they are red and her new favorite color (in addition to the pink and purple) is red. After the game Anna and I walk them back to their mini van and see them off. Ava told me she wanted me to come home with her. Anna was a super trooper taking a ton of photos of us, in hopes of a good Christmas card photo, she was a ton of fun to hand out with!
... so you will most likely see one of the following on your Christmas card this coming year:)
Anna and I caught the shuttle back to the hotel and catch a group leaving for the medal ceremonies at BC Place so we tag with. We get into the VIP section and have free food and beverages plus media area, box seating. The main reason the trip was made was to see the Great Britain female skeleton athlete receive her gold medal; one of the officials, Joy, is from GB. We only saw the medals being given out on the screen as all of them were presented in Whistler today; we will have to get back for another with live presentation. This ceremony was followed by a concert: Stereo Phoenix (not the name of the surround system) from Whales. 
We ran into some of the male officials at BC Place, who had come from the Hockey House and were told it was easy to get in and get passes so we headed over there. We got past the main gatekeeper, but were stopped as you need a pass to get into each room and were denied. 
We walked back and Anna and I broke from the group and hit the official Olympic store; still no mittens. There is a coke pin you can buy off the wall of pins, you get your photo taken with the torch and then they put the sticker photo of you on the pin. 
We then walked back to the hotel and I ran into Mr. Matt and Anika in the lobby. A large group of us walked to Moxie's to eat and some of us went home after the food and I am heading to bed.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
02.17.2010 - Day 7 - Game Day
Breakfast in the morning at the hotel.
Meeting at 9.30 with the team and game supervisions with the crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory went to the men's game Finland vs. Belarus at the Canada Hockey Place.
I leave for my game Canada (13) vs. Sweden (1) at UBC for a 14.35 start time. We (Referee Leah from MN / Lines Anna from Finland) got a pep talk from Jarmo as these two teams fought last time they were on the ice in Canada in Sept. We had some back and forth, banter (things I can't put in print were said) and slashing on changes in the 1st period, but Leah did a nice job keeping them in check and Anna and I were between everything right away. It certainly didn't feel like a 13 to 1 game except the small stretch in the 3rd when there were back to back to back goals and we waited for the review to happen and the light to go off so we could drop the puck.
Meeting at 9.30 with the team and game supervisions with the crews.
Mom, Dad, Katie, Ava and Cory went to the men's game Finland vs. Belarus at the Canada Hockey Place.
I leave for my game Canada (13) vs. Sweden (1) at UBC for a 14.35 start time. We (Referee Leah from MN / Lines Anna from Finland) got a pep talk from Jarmo as these two teams fought last time they were on the ice in Canada in Sept. We had some back and forth, banter (things I can't put in print were said) and slashing on changes in the 1st period, but Leah did a nice job keeping them in check and Anna and I were between everything right away. It certainly didn't feel like a 13 to 1 game except the small stretch in the 3rd when there were back to back to back goals and we waited for the review to happen and the light to go off so we could drop the puck.
MA (Canada) giving us a pre game pep talk! 
Self proclaimed "Puck Bunnies"; yes, they had a sign too!
Went back to the hotel and met up with Cory then Anna Cory and I went out to dinner at Joey's which was very good. Then back to the hotel and to bed early; I fell asleep with the men's late game on the TV.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
02.16.2010 - Day 6 - More Hockey!
Got up and went to breakfast at the hotel with the other officials. (This is going to happen most days...)
9.30 meeting to go over games as a group and then in small groups (crew the worked the game, back-up referee and goal judges; only for Canada games).
Ran, lifted arms and did abs.
Walked to Canada Place, the big rink, where the men played today. By the time I walked there, about 15 blocks and figured out that I was outside BC Place, which is where the opening ceremonies and medal ceremonies are held, but not hockey. So I walked another 5 blocks around the gates and over the bridge (check the security set up below), just next door, to Canada Place and caught the 3rd period of the USA vs. Swiss game then walked back and shopped on the way.
I 
I dropped my stuff at the room and took a van back with the two men's NHL supervisors and watched the 1st two periods of the Canada vs. Norway game. Walked back to the hotel again with Meg and Leah and took the shuttle with Meg to UBC to watch the first two periods of the women's China vs. Finland game. Back to the hotel with a quick stop at Tim Horton's for milk and into be early.
Somewhere in there I got a photo taken with Tim, Rooney and the torch...
Lots of good hockey!
9.30 meeting to go over games as a group and then in small groups (crew the worked the game, back-up referee and goal judges; only for Canada games).
Ran, lifted arms and did abs.
Walked to Canada Place, the big rink, where the men played today. By the time I walked there, about 15 blocks and figured out that I was outside BC Place, which is where the opening ceremonies and medal ceremonies are held, but not hockey. So I walked another 5 blocks around the gates and over the bridge (check the security set up below), just next door, to Canada Place and caught the 3rd period of the USA vs. Swiss game then walked back and shopped on the way.
I I dropped my stuff at the room and took a van back with the two men's NHL supervisors and watched the 1st two periods of the Canada vs. Norway game. Walked back to the hotel again with Meg and Leah and took the shuttle with Meg to UBC to watch the first two periods of the women's China vs. Finland game. Back to the hotel with a quick stop at Tim Horton's for milk and into be early.Somewhere in there I got a photo taken with Tim, Rooney and the torch...Lots of good hockey!
Monday, February 15, 2010
02.15.2010 - Day 5 - Game Day
Breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting at 9.30 with group and review of games with supervisors.
Off to the rink skating the Canada (10) Swiss (1) game with Nicole (Referee from Germany) and Anna (Lines from Finland). The rink was super loud and the crazy. They did the wave during our game; we usually don't have enough people in the building at home to accomplish this. My family could not get tickets as all the Canada games are sold out but they watched me on TV and many people at home!
Somewhere in between Ken, one of our hosts took us to meet his daughter Sara, who is one of the mascots! 
Went back to the hotel and changed after the game then back to the rink to watch the late game.
Eric; please note that I am smiling when I am skating hard on the ice, not just on your treadmill!
Meeting at 9.30 with group and review of games with supervisors.
Off to the rink skating the Canada (10) Swiss (1) game with Nicole (Referee from Germany) and Anna (Lines from Finland). The rink was super loud and the crazy. They did the wave during our game; we usually don't have enough people in the building at home to accomplish this. My family could not get tickets as all the Canada games are sold out but they watched me on TV and many people at home!
Somewhere in between Ken, one of our hosts took us to meet his daughter Sara, who is one of the mascots! Went back to the hotel and changed after the game then back to the rink to watch the late game.Eric; please note that I am smiling when I am skating hard on the ice, not just on your treadmill!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
02.14.2010 - Day 4 - Family is here!
Met down for breakfast at the hotel with the crew and picked up game tickets for the USA (12) vs. China (1) game; the deal is the crew working gets first dibs on the tickets and we can use the left overs if needed. The good news is the family got to watch a hockey game the bad news is that I work the home country, Canada, tomorrow there are no comp tickets available and the people outside the rink wanted $300 a ticket! (Ben; I don't think that I will have much luck with the men's gold medal tickets... sorry...) Finland (5) played Russia (1) in the late game today.
Back in the hotel early and to bed so I can be fresh for the morning meeting and game.
Met Mom, Katie, Ava and Cory out front and had a harder time, but finally found Dad and we watched the game together. Ava loved chanting USA and dancing to Beyonce's single ladies and later telling everyone that she watched her auntie on the ice, but auntie did not skate today at the game. Joe Biden, US Vice-President was at the game and got booed when on the jumbo-tron. As you can see Cory brought the super duper lens, we rented, so that we can look like we were really close to the Vice-Pres. 
We went and saw some of the things going on downtown, visited the Olympic Store and had a nice dinner at the Keg. Yes Adam, I said the Keg:)
Back in the hotel early and to bed so I can be fresh for the morning meeting and game.The hotel internet connection is super slow and choppy so uploading pictures is not always working...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
02.13.2010 - Day 3 - Game Day!
Woke up and ate breakfast at the hotel.
Made some calls to touch base with Cory and Mom and Dad as they are all flying out to Seattle today and making the drive up to Mary Jo and Johnny's house to stay for the week, just outside of Vancouver.
We took off from the hotel around 9.45 and got to the rink the security wasn't too bad they waived Miyuki, Mary Anne, Jackie and Theresa (our host) through the metal detectors, but snagged Matt and Leah. We got past many volunteer guarded check points and finally to our room where we settled in.
13 Feb 12.00 Women's Preliminary Round at UBC Thunderbird arena
Sweden (3) vs. Switzerland (0) a good, fast, close game with a "capacity crowd" of 5,222.
Leah (Duluth) is the referee and Miuki (Japan) and I will be on the lines.
http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/article/sweden-opens-olympics-with-win.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=3471&cHash=0af0344657
After the game we showered at the rink, headed back to the hotel and changed into street clothes and headed to the other game. Canada (18) played Slovakia (0) game at the Canada Hockey Place.
Joy (referee - UK), Meg (lines - US) and Zuzana (lines - CZE) worked the game in the packed rink. While making our way up to the VIP area we ran into some players from the men's Slovakia team. http://www.ancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html 
I should mention that the security on the way into the rink was a ton of fun; we asked them if we could take some photos with them and before we knew it they wanted their picture taken with all of us! 
We hit the "official" Olympic store on the walk back from the rink. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html Cory, Mom, Dad, Katie and Ava all made it in safe and are in duty free shop on the border.
There are 2 games tomorrow, but I am not skating again yet. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html
Made some calls to touch base with Cory and Mom and Dad as they are all flying out to Seattle today and making the drive up to Mary Jo and Johnny's house to stay for the week, just outside of Vancouver.
We took off from the hotel around 9.45 and got to the rink the security wasn't too bad they waived Miyuki, Mary Anne, Jackie and Theresa (our host) through the metal detectors, but snagged Matt and Leah. We got past many volunteer guarded check points and finally to our room where we settled in.
13 Feb 12.00 Women's Preliminary Round at UBC Thunderbird arena
Sweden (3) vs. Switzerland (0) a good, fast, close game with a "capacity crowd" of 5,222.
Leah (Duluth) is the referee and Miuki (Japan) and I will be on the lines.
http://www.iihf.com/channels10/olympics-2010/news/news-singleview-world-championship-2009/article/sweden-opens-olympics-with-win.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=3471&cHash=0af0344657After the game we showered at the rink, headed back to the hotel and changed into street clothes and headed to the other game. Canada (18) played Slovakia (0) game at the Canada Hockey Place.
Joy (referee - UK), Meg (lines - US) and Zuzana (lines - CZE) worked the game in the packed rink. While making our way up to the VIP area we ran into some players from the men's Slovakia team. http://www.ancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html I should mention that the security on the way into the rink was a ton of fun; we asked them if we could take some photos with them and before we knew it they wanted their picture taken with all of us! We hit the "official" Olympic store on the walk back from the rink. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html Cory, Mom, Dad, Katie and Ava all made it in safe and are in duty free shop on the border. There are 2 games tomorrow, but I am not skating again yet. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-hockey/schedule-and-results/womens-preliminary-round---group-a-game-1_ihw400a01Sa.html
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