Day Two - First View of Colisee & Checking in

Today was the first full day in Quebec, which was a day to get over the jet lag the 3 hour time difference - a day to get credentials/passes - and a day to get "our legs back". For some, the day started early. Some of the host families worked, so the kids needed to get up and eat breakfast before they were dropped off at the Colisee. (Left: Kevin, Max, Morgan & Calvin...looking a little tired at 8am). At 9am, Jake, Hiroki, Tyler and Brian arrived. We hung around the Colisee for a while and watch the tournament people get ready for the tournament. Due to a Celion Dion concert there the night before, the set up of all the check-in desks, souvenier stands, etc were just being set up this morning. After visiting with the boys, I found out that they enjoyed their host families. Several families had xboxes and playstations and game rooms equipt with airhocky tables and places for knee hockey. Some had to share beds and some had separate bed.

The remaining boys weren't scheduled to be there until noon, so to pass the time, we loaded up the van with the 8 boys, 2 coaches and myself and headed to a mall - Gallerie de la Capitol. This mall had a rink (this was no Vallco - it was a beautiful hockey rink)...and an amusement area above the rink with a roller coaster and other rides. The boys enjoyed walking around the mall, looking in some of the stores which were opened and delicious smoothies and other morning snacks. We all met up around 11am in order to start back to the Colisee. However, we made a quick stop at the neatest hockey store for pucks (a necessity for the upcoming practice). This hockey store was unbelieveable! And we were treated like royalty. When the pucks were purchased, we were given special touques (hats) w/the stores name on the front and the Quebec International tournament logo on the back...one hat for each kid of the team. In addition to the hats, we were also given a NHL Hockey Sticker Album (again 1 for each kid on the team).

Back at the Colisee, we met up with the remaining boys (Robert, David, Carson, Chris, Nick, Kyle and Victor). Before heading up stairs to get credentialed, the boys saw inside the colisee and absorbed the atmosphere as 2 teams from Quebec were getting ready to take the ice.

However, just as were were ready to go upstairs to check in and get our passes, a representative from a Canadian news station started interviewing me, the coaches and a few of the boys. They were interested to hear about the San Jose Jr. Sharks - asking about how the team was put together, if it was an all-star team, how long they have been playing together and so on.

Finally, we all walked upstairs to check in and to getting our official credientals for the tournament. Each player, coach and team manager received their VIP pass, which was attached to their Qubec jacket zipper. This pass gets them into the Colisee, as well as the other rink which will host the consolation game. (right: Robert getting his VIP pass to his Quebec jacket)

Now that we were all "officially" checked in - we first grabbed a bit to eat at the Colisee before loading up the 2 vans and heading to another rink for the first practice in Canada.

First Practice in Quebec

At 1pm, all of the hockey bags and sticks were in the truck and the boys were loaded up into 2 vans - and all drove to the Arena de Val Belair for the first practice in Quebec. It was about a 20 minute drive from the Colisee. The rink had two sheets of ice - our practice was on Glace (ice) B. All of the "hurry up and wait" that was happening was making them a little restless, so it felt good to get the hockey & stick bags out of the truck, lace up the skates and get on the ice. The boys had a good practice; some did look a little tired. It was a good thing for them to have had this day - to get use to the time change and just get situated before playing the first official game. It was a good practice and they did have a good time out there.

Practice went on from 2-3:30 pm. After all the boys changed out of their hockey gear and got dressed, they packed their little duffle bags with their hockey skates, gloves and helmut...and picked out their back up stick - all of which they set aside to take back to the house of their host family "just incase" they got an opportunity to play Pond Hockey tonight after dinner. Their remaining gear, got packed in their hockey bags and loaded back on the equiptment truck, which took the gear back to the Colisee to be stored until the next time they would need it. Now, ready to head out...we had to wait for the vans to return which - unfortunately - were late picking us up. So, having a little time on our hands, the boys found a great way to pass time...finding a huge hill of snow outside the rink, they enjoyed sliding down it.

The vans did finally come and all were loaded up to head back to the Colisee in order to meet up with the host families. Tired and hungry boys were greeted by the fathers and/or mothers of their host families. It was a good first day...maybe not as exciting as some of them had hoped it would be...but there is a lot more hockey and other events coming up.

The plan for tomorrow is a morning exhibition game at 10:10am at the rink which is located in the mall we were in this morning - followed by an ice slot at 2 in the afternoon, which could be another exhibition game or could just be a practice.

Just some other things to let you know about...

When the boys are dropped off in the morning and picked up in the evening, the meeting spot (most of the time) will be at the Colisee in section 20. Also, as part of the tournament package, arranged by Robert S, some meals will be eaten at a restaurant near the Colisee. There was a lunch/dinner package that he purchased. So, tomorrow evening after the 2pm practice (or exhibition game), we will probably eat dinner at this place prior to meeting up with the host families.

While riding in the van with the boys, I talked with them about their experience with their host families. Most of the families speak some English - so it didn't sound like any of them were having any problems communicating. All sounded very comfortable and happy with their host family arrangements, as well as the teammate(s) which they were paired up with.

So...the first full day in Quebec has come to an end. One can hope that the boys get a good meal and a good nights rest tonight.