Let's Play Hockey - February 18th Edition

If you would like to see the photos and stories from the Olympics go to the right side and choose "2010 - February".

My friend Duncan from District 5, USA Hockey did an article on my Olympic/hockey experience.

Thanks Duncan!

www.letsplayhockey.com

www.letsplayhockey.com/1034heyref.html

Hey Ref – An Olympic experience

By Duncan Ryhorchuk

Kelli Rolstad has had the Olympic experience. Not as a player or competitor, but she was definitely an important participant. She was an on-ice official for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. With the 2010 Olympics being completed now for approximately one year, Kelli took time to reflect on her life leading up to and her time at the Olympics.

Q: How long have you been officiating, how did you get your start officiating and why did you start?
KR: I am completing my 14th year officiating. I didn’t play hockey until 10th grade, which was the first year it was a varsity sport in Minnesota at the girls’ high school level. Until then, I played basketball.
My good friend Rachel Launderville talked me into playing as she knew I loved to skate. The summer before my senior year I was approached by a Showcase hockey official, and he challenged me to go to a seminar and try officiating. I always told the officials what I thought of the calls, and I took quite a few penalties when I played, so looking back this is most likely why he confronted me. This would also be the part-time job that I needed to earn gas money and it would get me some extra ice time while playing my senior year.

Q: Explain the process of the Olympic selection?
KR: A year after I started officiating I applied for a USA Hockey Women’s Regional Camp. The camp was held in Lake Placid, N.Y. They boarded us at the Olympic Training Center and we skated on the 1980 and 1932 rinks. If you have never been out there to experience the town, it is an amazing place.
The camp was physically and mentally trying but I must have done “OK” as Matt Leaf (USA Hockey’s Officiating Director) called me back a few months later and asked if I wanted to attend the Women’s USA Hockey Elite Experience. Over the past 13 years, I have attended many camps and performed well.
The decision makers also evaluate your performance in the leagues you are working back home. A few years after going to camp, I was invited to my first international experience with the IIHF. Matt Leaf called and asked if I wanted to go to China to work the Women’s World Championship A pool. Unfortunately this tournament was cancelled due to SARS.
Over the years, I was privileged to work two tourneys in Canada, along with one in Germany and one in Sweden. I performed well at these tourneys and when the Olympic year came around, I knew I was in the running to be asked to work the Olympics. The U.S. was given the opportunity to invite three officials to work and I was lucky enough to be chosen as one.

Q: Did you train any differently when you knew you were being considered for the Olympics?
KR: I was training similar to an athlete for my leagues at the gym and working games, but the day I heard I was going to officiate in the Olympics, I called my friend Eric Scott at Etrain over in Bloomington. He put me to work skating on the treadmill two times a week during a long lunch break from work and once a week with plyometrics, usually at night.
I only skated one night of games during the week, as I was working a full-time “real job,” and would skate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Usually WCHA, NCHA women’s college, but I did travel and work some Junior games to keep on my toes. There were also many nights spent studying the rule book. With the league variation of rules, I had seven different rule books in my bag.

Q: How did you get notified you were selected? How many area officials were there with you (men side and women’s side)?
KR: Matt Leaf called and, I am not ashamed to say, I was crying like a baby. I was at work, in a meeting room and immediately called to tell my husband, Cory, my Mom and Dad.
There were three female officials from the U.S. – referee Leah Wrazidlo and linesman Megan Hishmeh (15 total female officials). There were five male officials from the U.S. – referees Dennis LaRue and Chris Rooney (both NHL guys) and linesmen Tim Nowak (NHL), Thor Nelson (NHL) and Peter Feola (28 male officials total).

Q: How long were you at the Olympics, and what was your schedule like?
KR: I was there a total of 19 days – Feb. 11 to March 1. I worked five games – Sweden vs. Switzerland, Switzerland vs. Canada, Sweden vs. Canada, Finland vs. Canada, and USA vs. Canada. It was a light game load for me as most officials in our area work three or more games in one night or we work 2-3 college games in a weekend.
The first few mornings we had a meeting with all the officials and supervisors to get the flow of things (transportation, credentials, etc.). With any free time, we shopped a ton and the people watching was fantastic. We stayed at the downtown Holiday Inn in Vancouver and with the hotel windows shut up tight I was awoken to people singing “Oh Canada” at 3 a.m., most nights.
My husband, parents, sister and niece came out for a week in the middle of my time, and I took them to a couple hockey games. One of the female officials had a connection and we rented a city bus that took us up to Whistler for the day to check out the other Olympic venues.
A few of us attended a medal ceremony and I went to two curling events. One night, we had access to the IIHF hockey house and the Molson Tent. We also had tickets to attend the opening and closing ceremonies. The coolest thing was that our credentials got us into any men’s or women’s hockey games and into the VIP section, including both USA vs. Canada men’s’ games.

Q: When did it hit you that you were on the world stage for officiating?
KR: It comes and goes in waves and still the whole experience feels like a dream. I was told early on by a good friend to enjoy the experience. That it is all about the people you meet and things you get to do along the way.
In one of the games, it hit me. I skated the first three games in the smaller rink at the University of British Columbia, with a capacity of 7,000. My fourth game was in the big rink, Canada place, which holds 18,860.
I remember skating behind the net, shortly after getting on the ice; they were showing a video before the events and then showing the “Inuksuk” (Vancouver Olympic symbol) on the screen when the crowd goes nuts. I skated to the referee crease and looked up at the screen and the packed house. I was overwhelmed and in awe as I thought this is why I have sacrificed so much over the past 13 years. (Over the years there was a ton of hard work and time that went into working leagues and driving. I have missed many birthday parties, funerals, weddings and family events due to working hockey games).
Another thing that stood out was the support that I received from friends and family. They blew up my Facebook page and sent me tons of emails. Technology is wonderful and I had a blog going so I could keep everyone updated (www.kelliobrian.blogspot.com).

Q: It has been one year since the Olympics, what is the one experience you will never forget?
KR: I will never forget calling my Mom at work and telling her that I got the gold medal assignment. I was crying and she thought something was wrong. I choked out that I got the gold medal game and she said, “No you didn’t; you can’t work it, the U.S. is playing.”
Before the assignment came out, I was sure that I would not be assigned that game as at that time, they didn’t want you working your own country’s team and I had officiated Canada three times already.
A question I get asked frequently by officials is how it is to work with other officials, from different countries, that do not speak English? The official language of the IIHF is English so most officials do speak some English.
Off the ice, you do tend to talk a lot with your hands to illustrate the conversation, but on the ice you cannot use your hands. Since you are all working the same system, you use your eye contact with your partner and awareness to communicate, and that crosses the language barrier. The best official knows what their partner is going to do and how they are going to react before they do it.

Q: What changes have you seen since you started officiating?
KR: Girls’ hockey has improved tremendously and it just keeps getting better. When I played my senior year in high school for Champlin Park, it was the year we split from Anoka, but we recruited and got 36 girls on the ice for captain’s practice. Most of the girls could not stop or turn and a few were having issues standing up on skates.
Today, as far as I’m concerned, girls varsity and JV games are all great hockey. In youth, they can skate well and have their heads up when they stickhandle. Every time I step out on the ice it is awesome to see how far the women’s game has come in such a short time.

Q: What advice would you give new officials?
KR: My mentor, Mike, started asking me, “Are you physically and mentally ready?” for whatever game and/or tourney I was working next. I made sure I was!
These are some other tricks that I use:
• Skate hard on ice and pretend you know where you’re going – you may just fool someone into thinking you know what you are doing.
• Face your toes to the puck and the puck will stop less in your feet.
• Work hard and the sky is the limit, but remember to enjoy the ride wherever it may take you.

Q: What leagues are you officiating in now? Are you striving to officiate at another international event? And, will we see you at the 2014 Olympics?
KR: Women’s WCHA and Women’s NCHA. High School Girls and Boys. Youth Girls and Boys. And Scott Brand still gives me a few junior games every year. I also instruct, teach, mentor and shadow new officials and work at camps.
I am still IIHF certified but do not foresee officiating at the 2014 Olympics. There are many talented officials coming up that have worked hard and will have the opportunity to earn the Olympic experience too.

USA Hockey and all the other leagues that Kelli officiates for are very fortunate to have an official that is willing to dedicate their time, effort and make personal and professional sacrifices. Kelli did this and received an Olympic experience of a lifetime.

CH Robinson Article II

http://chr222/chronicle/index.cfm

CHRW Employee Officiates USA-Canada

Gold Medal Hockey Game

IT business analyst Kelli (O'Brian) Rolstad had the opportunity of a lifetime at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver this past February. She was chosen to be a linesman for the USA-Canada women's hockey gold medal game, putting her on the ice and in the middle of all the action.
For pictures from Kelli's experience, click on the image gallery above. To read the full story of Kelli's journey to Olympic ice, click here (link to Coon Rapids paper article - below in blog).
Posted on 03/17/2010

on the nhl page...

http://www.nhlofficials.com/display_news.asp?articleID=461

2010 Vancouver Women's Olympic Officials

Baldwin, WI media

http://baldwinbulletin.blogspot.com/

March 18, 2010 post

and more photos from the games in Vancouver

more Olympic photos

After the Gold Medal Game! Ulla / Aina / Kelli / Heather / Zuzanna

USA Hockey at the Hockey House
Meg / Leah / Kelli

On the way to the Closing Ceremony

The Medal Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

USA Hockey officials!

ABC Paper Interview

http://abcnewspapers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11391&Itemid=26

Coon Rapids woman works Olympic hockey ice

My corrections of quotes below in orange... yes I sent an email after reading this to correct the facts:)

Thursday, 11 March 2010
by Sue Austreng

When the puck dropped for the U.S.A. versus Canada Olympic gold medal women’s hockey game in Vancouver, Kelli Rolstad was there. And she wasn’t just there watching the game from a seat in the stadium – she was on the ice.

Kelli Rolstad, a resident of Coon Rapids, shows off Olympic souvenirs gathered after she worked as linesman for the gold medal women’s hockey game in Vancouver.

The Coon Rapids resident, a licensed member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, officiated the game and helped write Olympic history.“I will never forget this game. The house was rocking and we were a part of it,” Rolstad said.While the gold medal game, played Feb. 25, was by far the highlight of her Olympic experience, Rolstad said the night she got word she’d be linesman for that game comes a close second.“

The assignment sheet came in (Feb. 23) and I almost didn’t even look at it,” Rolstad said. “I had already worked four (three) games and (Canada’s) semi-final game and being an American, I thought they’d never let me work the U.S. game,” Rolstad said.“When I finally let myself look at the assignment sheet and saw my name for the gold medal game, I was hopping around the hotel room, yelling, screaming, crying. I was so happy I couldn’t believe it.”

And yes, even with the U.S. women coming up short in that game, Rolstad considers it the high point of her Olympic hockey career.“You can’t be upset over it – it was a great hockey game. A great hockey game, no matter who wins it, is a great hockey game,” she said.

An Olympic experienceRolstad’s Olympic experience was punctuated by puck drops, goals scored and referees’ whistles.But on days she wasn’t officiating, Rolstad’s Olympic experience included sightseeing, shopping for souvenirs and rubbing elbows with Olympic athletes, past and present.

“I met Wayne Gretzky and his wife,” (never met Gretzky or his wife, only said they were sitting 50 rows away and in the same VIP area) she said. “They were just the nicest people, so friendly. I couldn’t believe I was talking to them.” (I said this about the athletes that I met)

She also met Canada’s gold medal-winning men’s and women’s curling teams, Rolstad said.

Rolstad, describing the Olympic games environment as being like “the world in a bubble,” said she also met CEOs and presidents of international businesses as well as a few world leaders.

“I met the prime minister of Canada, the king, queen and prince from Sweden, the president of Finland. (never met these people only mentioned that they were in the VIP area and close) Everyone was so friendly, so relaxed. It really was like the world in a bubble,” (I said this about the athletes) Rolstad said.

When not rubbing elbows with the world’s elite, Rolstad took in some Canadian living.“We did some shopping, – lots of shopping – took the ferry to Gibson to visit some family friends, watched some curling, went to the Canadian Hockey House and the Molson Hockey House, went to Whistler and rode the Peak-to-Peak,” she said.

Her husband and parents were able to spend one week in Vancouver for the Olympics, while she was in there for 18 days, from Feb. 11 through March 1, Rolstad said.“If I wasn’t working a game, we’d go to the rinks and watch the U.S. team or watch and support the officials,” she said. “We were able to attend all the hockey games.”

Her 2010 Vancouver Olympic games linesman experience was the “first and last” Olympic games she would work, according to Rolstad.“There are so many names in that pool, so many hoping to get to work the Olympics. I couldn’t take that opportunity away from someone else,” Rolstad said.

Six months of training

To prepare for the greatest hockey game of her life, Rolstad, already fit and strong, put in countless hours training after receiving word back in September that she had won a spot on the roster of officials for the 2010 Olympic hockey games.

Kelli Rolstad drops the puck during the U.S.A. vs. Canada women’s gold medal game at the 2010 Winter Olympics. For Rolstad, a resident of Coon Rapids, officiating the gold medal game was the highlight of her hockey career.

“I was already skating every weekend and a couple of times during the week, but I had to train so I took two-hour lunch hours a couple times a week and trained at the Bloomington Ice Garden,” Rolstad said.

At the ice garden, she worked with trainer Eric Scott, a veteran trainer who had worked with the 1998 Olympic hockey team and members of the Minnesota Wild in the past.

Skating on the ETrain treadmill, Rolstad increased her stamina and strength and got Olympic-fit.

“That (work out) really kicks your butt,” Rolstad said, describing the intensity of her training sessions.In addition to sessions on the treadmill, Rolstad did some light weight lifting, ran sprints and did plyometrics, a type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements.“

I wanted to be ready for these games, and Eric got me there. I worked hard, I worked four Olympic games plus the gold medal game and I survived,” she said.The four games Rolstad officiated before the gold medal game were the Sweden-Switzerland, Canada-Switzerland, and Canada-Sweden games and the Canada-Finland semi-final game.

The road to Olympic ice

Rolstad’s road to Olympic ice began back in high school when she played on the girls’ hockey team at Champlin Park High School (CPHS).

Hoping to make a little spending money, Rolstad began working as referee for local games.

In 1997, during her senior year at CPHS (was a year after), Rolstad went to national hockey referee camp at Lake Placid, N.Y., and skated into a full schedule working hockey games with a renewed passion.

Now in her 13th year officiating hockey games, Rolstad’s passion remains strong and her schedule is punctuated with dates fueling her obsession.

“I’ll work 40, 50 hours a week at my ‘real job’ (as business analyst for C.H. Robinson) then skate every weekend plus a couple of games during the week,” she said, naming youth, high school, college, WCHA, NCHA, as well as amateur men’s and women’s leagues among the games for which she officiates.Her work on the ice has taken her throughout the country and around the world, she said, counting games in Sweden, Canada and Germany on her international itinerary before taking on the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

“That gold medal game...that’s like the Stanley Cup of women’s hockey. It was a huge honor to work that game,” she said.

And Rolstad’s got the gold medal to prove she was part of that game.The International Ice Hockey Federation presented each of the gold medal game officials with a replica gold medal (not a replica and I showed this) – a fitting souvenir for their championship work.

sue.austreng@ecm-inc.com

03.01.2010 - Day 20 - Going Home

Up early and out to catch the bus to the airport at 6.10am, but the bus didn't show up till 6.45am. Got on with Mr. Matt and Sly then Jackie and Bob showed up too. My flight is not till 11.45am, but according to the packet we received on checking out we should be to the airport at least 4 hours prior to our flight. According to the officials that were in Salt Lake they were 4 hours early and just barley made their flight. We walked into the terminal and Mr. Matt looks at me and says "this is nothing OB".
I checked in and there were only 2 other people at the Delta check in. The attendant at the counter was super nice and found a way to waive the overweight baggage fee (17lbs over). Security was a little slower, but only took about an hour and I breezed through customs. I think that the airport set this scare up because all you had to do once you got inside was eat and shop; the goal is to spend the rest of the Canadian currency that you have so you don't have to pay the fee to change it over and they did have Olympic apparel at the shops. I also changed the Swiss Francs over; it's hard to do this in the US because the local banks make you mail in the currency and it takes a few weeks to post in your account. I ran into a few of the men's officials and their wives in the airport and finally got on my plane. I slept most of the way on the plane.
I was walking to gather my bags at MSP and people kept looking at me; then I realized that I had an Olympic sweatshirt on and not everyone in the Mpls airport was wearing the same, like in Vancouver.
I got my bags; I think that I had the biggest, heaviest bag on the flight and met Cory at the car. Thanks Cory for coming to pick me up!
On the way home we coordinated with Mom, Dad and Katie they were there at the house when I got back with Ava and Mom had made Zebra Flags and put them in the snow banks of the house. We ordered Chinese from the good place, 88 Wok, in Andover.
When the extended family left the kids came out and Cammy and Cat didn't leave my side. Didn't get much done last night. The photos are still in the memory card the souvenirs are still scattered and the dirty laundry is in a pile, but still dirty.
I can believe that my adventure is over that my Goal of working the Olympics is reached and that the Goal medal game is complete! It seems like yesterday that I was at my first USA Hockey camp, working my first WCHA and Junior game, and traveling to Salt Lake for my first international tourney (with overweight baggage on that trip too!)
Thank you to everyone who has put up with me missing things (birthdays / Christmas / Thanksgivings, anniversaries, weddings, funerals, just hanging out and more) and to all my friends and family that have helped me. You have made this 13 year ride the best ever!
I can't believe that I am going back to work tomorrow; most of my vacation time used up for the year, already taken by March, but well worth the use of the vacation time!
My new dilema is setting a new goal, but it's a great problem to have.


Kelli's 2010 Olympics Highlights:

• Getting the call to work the games from Mr. Matt.
• Having Cory, Mom, Dad, Katie and Ava out in Vancouver; even if they only did get to watch me skate on TV.
• During the Swiss vs. Sweden game looking over to movement and realizing that they were doing the wave during my game.
• Getting assigned to the Sweden vs. Canada game as they fought last time they played.
• Pre-game of the first game I skated at Canada place semi-final game Finland vs. Canada. I was rounding the next when the video was playing the crowd went nuts and I looked up and the place was packed; there were people there to see the game I am working, the bottom bowl was full the middle bowl, the boxes were full and all the little people up on top too! I stood over by the referee crease and took it all in; this was the moment that I sacrificed so much for (and my family too).
• When I walked in and saw the assignments for the Gold medal game; and my name was on it! Then calling my family and telling them. Mom said "I told eveyone you wouldn't get that game because US was playing. Now I'm going to have to call them all back!"
• The closing ceremonies; knowing I've reached my goal and the dilemma of figuring out what to do next with my free time and what the new goal will be to chase. Then asking myself what is free time and what do you do with it?
• Checking email, facebook and the blog and having messages of love and support coming in from everyone! Thanks guys!!!

2010 Olympics Highlights:

• The Olympics got off to a somber start when, on the opening day, luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a tragic accident during practice
• American skier Lindsey Vonn won a gold medal in the ladies Super-G and set a new record for U.S. women's World Cup wins record despite undergoing surgery just a few weeks prior to the games http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/skiing/news/story?id=392582975
• American snowboarder Shaun White pulled off a Double McTwist 1260 and scored 46.8 out of 50 to take gold and dominate the men's halfpipe competition
• Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic won a bronze medal in the cross country ladies sprint classic despite breaking four ribs during practice just hours before the race http://ca.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idCALDE61J0DS201002216
• Alex Bilodeau, the winner of the men's moguls, became the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal in his home country
• Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette skated for a personal best score in the short program and win a bronze medal despite the fact that her mother passed away unexpectedly just two days before the figure skating competition began
• After winning the Men's hockey tournament, the host country, Canada, broke the record for the most gold medal wins at a Winter Olympic games, with a total of 14 gold medals, but the USA still took home the most medals total!

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!