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

02.23.2010 - 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.

02.18.2010 - Day 8 - A day with Cory

Went down to breakfast at the hotel.
Meeting with group at 9.30 and crew review (we got our review from Jarmo last night right after the game).
Met up with Cory and walked to Canada Place and watched the men's USA vs. Norway game. We bought a jersey for Dwight and walked back to the hotel.
Ava is not feeling good she has a cough and had a fever last night, Dad went golfing and Mary Jo is recovering from her knee surgery, yesterday, that she waited 3 years on a list for surgery so they are staying at the house today.
Walked around a bit, shopped and got Cory some Sushi. Went back to the hotel to dump the stuff we purchased, including a duffel bag for me to send home with Cory loaded with stuff.

The small covered outdoor open skating rink in the square with the orca boni and the referee patrolling the skaters.
People gathering everywhere to see the Olympics on TV; this is in the middle of the mall...
Cory took off to the men's game Slovakia vs. Russia and I shopped on the way back to my meeting at the hotel with the girls crew. After our football meeting cut short we walked to the concert that Joy set up for us to get into; only it started at 8pm and the last act went on at 9:15 and according to the security guard the fireworks are even over! Then back to the hotel and into bed. We will be taking a 9am bus to Whistler tomorrow to see the sites.
We received our game assignments for the next few days; tomorrow off for all and I skate again on the 22nd Canada vs. Finland at 17.05 (Vancouver time) with Nicole (Germany) and Malena (Denmark).

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.

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...