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.

02.26.2010 - 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!

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

02.21.2010 - 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.

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.