Team Captain Alev Kelter and alternate captain Madison Packer bring you the inside scoop on everything that's going on with Team USA as they defend their 2008 gold medal. The most recent posts are at the top of the page, scroll down for more.
Day 3- Day of the First Game
It’s been another exciting day in Bavaria! We kicked off the day with a giant breakfast that included cereals, eggs, rolls, varieties of yogurts, fruits, cheeses and EVERY kind of meat. Soon after breakfast we had our practice for half an hour. It was a quick pre-game skate that just let us focus and get a feel for the ice surface one last time before our game. A lot of us went back to town after practice to try and find out where our parents were staying. This entailed a group of five or six walking into random hotels throughout Fussen asking if certain last names had checked in, yet another creative way to interact with the German culture J. We had pre-game snack at the hotel at 4:30 p.m. and from there we left for the rink. We were so pumped up to put on our USA jerseys and came out with a fast-paced warm-up. Team USA defeated the Russians, playing with heart, hustle and intensity while moving the puck with precision. We got back to the hotel around 11:30 p.m. for a late dinner. Tomorrow we play Team Germany at 8:00 p.m. and are looking for another big win. GO USA!
Day 2-First Day of Practice
We had breakfast and went to scope out the town, but unfortunately everything is closed on Sunday, so we truly did some serious window-shopping! A majority of the team stopped at a nearby church to enjoy the architecture and the amazing scenery of the Alps. The town was quiet but beautiful. We had practice that covered passing, flow drills and line rushes. The team definitely looked a lot better than yesterday because our legs were starting to come back. After practice we cooled down with foam rollers and bands - this can be a killer when the legs are really tired! We then came back and had dinner at the hotel. Dinner was shared with Switzerland, Canada, Sweden and Russia. Many of us were interacting with the different teams and wishing that we spoke different languages like they do. The team wrapped up the night with an important team meeting. We discussed what we need to do tomorrow and how to mentally prepare for the games ahead. The captains read a letter from Sergeant First Class Michel Mills of the United States Army. His letter was filled with sincerity and inspiring words that opened our eyes to see why we are here and what it truly means to represent the United States of America. We are all so excited for tomorrow and can’t wait for the tournament to start! Good night! J
Day 1- Travel Day
It’s been a long day for the whole team, coaching staff included. We arrived in Fussen, Germany, at 10:30 a.m. on the Jan. 3, after departing from Blaine, Minn., at 3 p.m. on the previous day. The U18 team woke up at 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 2 to adjust to the time change in Germany. Germany is seven hours ahead of Blaine, so essentially we woke up at 9:30 a.m. and traveled for over 24 hours, arriving at 10:30 a.m. the next day. Many of us slept on the plane, however the nerves and excitement took over some of us, resulting in little to no sleep on the flight. We arrived in Munich and took a two-hour bus ride to the hotel in Fussen, and we weren’t allowed to nap at all along the way so we would be able to sleep during the night. Many of us rode with our legs vertically up on the windows due to the “canckles” we acquired on the flight. We settled into the hotel and then headed to practice at the rink, which is about a ten-minute walk. We had a short practice to get our legs under us, and then headed back to the hotel for lunch. The food was different from what many were accustomed to, but nonetheless we widened our horizons and tried new things! We are now heading to bed for some much needed sleep! GO USA!
Tag(s): 2009
