Day Six - The Outdoor Scrimmage

Sunday, February 15 - it was a cool day (maybe about 15-20 degrees...but the wind would kick up every so often making it feel colder!), partly sunny...a perfect day for an outdoor hockey game. Before the boys even begun to show up, their gear was brought over to the rink, unloaded out of the truck and placed in the warming house (aka locker room). They started to show up between 9:30 and 10am. Many of the billet families lived right near the rink, so they let the boys sleep in and gave them a nice breakfast.

The ice was pretty smooths, just a few bumps - but it was a very nice rink! The team which we were to scrimmage were from Cleveland, Ohio - the Cleveland Barons.

As mentioned, the game was just a scrimmage. No penalties and no keeping score - but we did have the pleasure of having a referee, who was the older son of Robert & David's billet family named Sam. There were no benches for the players to sit or stand near, they just lined up on the sides and hopped over the gates for line changes. Many of the boys wore their winter touques (hats) under their helmuts to keep their heads and ears warm. I think that the only people around who got very cold were all the spectators standing around watching. The boys did have a lot of fun playing out there. The game lasted about an hour or so. Soon another team showed up to get the opportunity to play on outdoor ice. To accomodate them, those from the Jr. Sharks and the Barons, who still wanted to created a team to play against the other team.

After a little while longer, the boys made it back down to the locker room and changed out of their gear and then loaded their hockey equipment on the truck. Two by two the boys started to head back with their billet families. Some boys, whose parent were here in Quebec, spent some time together.

So, I had the day off...no "responsibilities" regarding the boys...caught up on some R & R in preparation for the week ahead. Whats on the agenda for tomorrow...well, we are scheduled to pick up the boys at the Colisee between 8 & 8:30 - with the first priority of skate sharpening! Then we are planning to take them all back to the hotel, where they will be divided up between all the parents staying in for some studying (if you plan to talk to your child or text them...you might want to remind them to bring books)! Around 12 noon or so, we plan to take them to the Cafe de Hockee for lunch and then head to the rink where we will be playing the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies at the
Arpidrome (Consolation bracket game). The game is at 4:15pm Quebec time (1:15pm California).

Below are some other sights from this mornings outdoor scrimmage. Enjoy! I know the boys are all having a good time! Until tomorrow...I am signing off from the great white north!