The story of this game was we had jump early, got tired and they took mementum. Like in other games, Ryno made some key saves and we held on as the Hawks grabbed the momentum.
This was a fast paced game as the Hawks showed that they are the only team who can skate with us.
See you all in a few hours!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Sunday, January 21, 2007
And the game ends with the Hawks buzzing all around the Lightning net in the 3rd period as they held on for a 5-5 tie.
The tie gives them sole possession of first place, one point ahead of both Wilmington and Hampton Roads. All teams have 3 to play. We own our own destiny.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
The tie gives them sole possession of first place, one point ahead of both Wilmington and Hampton Roads. All teams have 3 to play. We own our own destiny.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
The boys are on the ice warming up.
Columbia really gave us a shot in the arm by beating Hampton Roads. As we sit, we're tied with Hampton with a game in hand (this one against Wilmington) and we're a point in front of Wilmington. We now control our own destiny.
Go Lightning go!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Columbia really gave us a shot in the arm by beating Hampton Roads. As we sit, we're tied with Hampton with a game in hand (this one against Wilmington) and we're a point in front of Wilmington. We now control our own destiny.
Go Lightning go!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
The Lightning move into a first place tie after a 6-2 win over the Admirals.
The tale of this game was much the same as yesterdays. Sean held us in there when it was tight and the boys woke up and put it away in the 2nd and 3rd.
Next blogcast will be at 12:25 when we play Wilmington.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
The tale of this game was much the same as yesterdays. Sean held us in there when it was tight and the boys woke up and put it away in the 2nd and 3rd.
Next blogcast will be at 12:25 when we play Wilmington.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Good morning! We're at the rink. Last night Wilmington and Hampton Roads skated to a tie, so we're now 2 points behind Hampton Roads in the standings with the opportunity to make it up today.
We play Hampton Roads at 7:55 and Wilmington at 12:25.
The boys are getting ready.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
We play Hampton Roads at 7:55 and Wilmington at 12:25.
The boys are getting ready.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Re:
And Bond comes out of the box, grabs the puck behind the D at center and the Lightning take a 2-1 lead from Baldy.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Re:
Now we're down 2 again as bond takes on followed by Miracle.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Re:
Miracle hits the post on a breakaway. 1-1.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Re:
And after the Lightning takes a penalty, the Cyclones tie it up at 1.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Re:
Okay, the boys are on the rink and the warmups are over.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Friday, January 5, 2007
Canes Game
We're on our way to the Canes game. We saw both the Pens and Canes practice today. There were no autograph sessions though. Instead the boys will be in with the Canes after the game tonight.
We will be seeing you all soon!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
We will be seeing you all soon!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
We're on our way
Well, after watching Crosby beat the Canes, the boys are on the bus and Don is doing his final head count before we hit the road.
What a great trip this was for the boys. We are now on the road and anticipate that the trip will be 8-10 hours long. We hope to be at the Reczone by 5pm.
See you then!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
What a great trip this was for the boys. We are now on the road and anticipate that the trip will be 8-10 hours long. We hope to be at the Reczone by 5pm.
See you then!
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
At 6pm, the players loaded the buses for Mellon Arena. The line of people waiting to get in wrapped completely around the building. They don't open the gates until 6:30 for a 7:30 start. Don got the tickets and by the time they were distributed to the players, parents, and English sheep dogs, er chaperons, the flock was herded into the arena.
The seats were in the corner on the 2nd level on the Zamboni end of the rink. The seats had a great view of the rink, but the Jumbotron/Scoreboard was hidden by the 3rd level ledge. The arena has extra score boards all around so people in those seats can track the score along with TV monitors of whats on the Jumbotron.
For the most part, Pittsburgh people are fairly nice, unless they are beered up too much. However, the workers at Mellon Arena were 100% certified a**es. From the bus traffic director to security chasing us out of the building while we were trying to get to the Canes locker room, the experience with the Mellon Arena staff was far from pleasant. Needless to say, the only players the teams met this trip was the Junior A's in Detroit.
The plan is to be rolling at 8am tomorrow which should put the teams into Raleigh around 6pm with an expected stop somewhere in West Virginia for lunch.
This will probably be the last update from the road.
While the players didn't get every thing that was planned, there was very little time for them to be board and they still had a great time. Expect some very tired but happly players when they exit the bus tomorrow.
The seats were in the corner on the 2nd level on the Zamboni end of the rink. The seats had a great view of the rink, but the Jumbotron/Scoreboard was hidden by the 3rd level ledge. The arena has extra score boards all around so people in those seats can track the score along with TV monitors of whats on the Jumbotron.
For the most part, Pittsburgh people are fairly nice, unless they are beered up too much. However, the workers at Mellon Arena were 100% certified a**es. From the bus traffic director to security chasing us out of the building while we were trying to get to the Canes locker room, the experience with the Mellon Arena staff was far from pleasant. Needless to say, the only players the teams met this trip was the Junior A's in Detroit.
The plan is to be rolling at 8am tomorrow which should put the teams into Raleigh around 6pm with an expected stop somewhere in West Virginia for lunch.
This will probably be the last update from the road.
While the players didn't get every thing that was planned, there was very little time for them to be board and they still had a great time. Expect some very tired but happly players when they exit the bus tomorrow.
"Even the Bridges are Yellow"
Pittsburgh has a unique distinction in the professional sports world. There are three professional teams here, the NFL Steelers, the NL Pirates and of course the NHL Penguins. All are Black and Gold. While the modern Pen's gold is more mauve than yellow-orange, its a tribute to this city that its black and gold. Mary Jane Kudrick summed it up best "Even the Bridges are Yellow".Bridges are of course an important part of this city as the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join in downtown Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River. But this trip isn't about running water, its about frozen water, so the teams boarded their buses and headed about 20 minutes into downtown Pittsburgh for a stop at Mellon Arena, further known as "The Igloo".
The Igloo's name comes from its large igloo like dome. Much like
"The Joe", the Igloo holds a lot of hockey history. But of course naming rights make the building owners a lot of money, in this case, not the Penguins which is why they are fighting for a new arena, so they can get out from their current contract at Mellon.The teams disembarked the buses and made their way through the players entrance/loading dock area and proceeded up to the top of the lower level. Igloo officials directed the team to a corner section away from any player entrance, and the team and parents were confined to the area. The team was rushed into the arena because another charter bus had to unload its hockey team. This team however got to park in the loading dock!
The Penguins were already on the ice doing their pre-game skate. Several of the younger players worked to get players attention, perhaps none as hard as PeeWee goalie Kaitlin Cain. Her hero, Pen's goalie Marc-Andre Fluery wears the same bright yellow/orange pads that Kaitlin does. She had hoped to get him to autograph her blocker. But alas no autographs today. One PeeWee did score a broken stick from one of the Penguins. The Midgets basically sat and watched, calling out to a few players.
Ed. Note: Sydney Crosby "IS" that good! His shot release is so quick the staff photographer for the Lightning covering the event was complaining about not being able to get good shots.
The Hurricanes took the ice next to a loud cheer from the 80+ people in attendance. Again, it would not be possible to score any autographs from the session, so the players sat and watched the players do their thing. The teams were eventually escorted out of the building and back to the buses.
In an interesting chance meeting, Craig Adams, winger for the Hurricanes sporting
one nasty black eye, stopped PeeWee Coach Ted Cook and asked him what was up. Adams seemed to take a bit of an interest in what we were doing and probably talked with Coach Cook, and a few others about the kids for several minutes before he boarded his charter bus.The next stop was the Spaghetti Warehouse, very similar to the same place the team ate at in Toronto. After leaving lunch, the buses took the Duquesne Incline. The Incline is similar to a cable car, but on rails that moves people up the side of a mountain. This location provides one of the greatest views of the Pittsburgh skyline.
After the incline, a decision was made to skip the Sports Museum and head back to the hotel which had pre-checked us in. Everyone pretty much took the time to regroup and recharge their batteries before heading back to the Igloo tonight.
Update for Tonite's Hurricanes Game
I just got an email response back from Chuck Kaiton.
He saw the teams at the Hurricanes morning skate and will be mentioning
them during his radio broadcast.
Everyone be sure to listen.
Sherry Miracle
Tonite's Hurricanes Game
Hey Gang,
I just emailed Tripp Tracy, John Forslund & Chuck Kaiton to see if they could mention the teams during their broadcasts. Would anyone who didn't make the trip be able to record the television and/or radio broadcasts?
My resident techno-geek will be enjoyng the game live with 50 very smelly hockey players and several hopefully not-so-smelly chaperones and parents in the upper arena tonite. And I have no idea how to work the homemade TiVo that he built himself.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sherry Miracle
We're on our way
The guys are on the bus and we're headed to see the Canes and Pens pregame skates. The guys seem more excited about seeing Crosby and Malkin than the Canes.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Monday, January 1, 2007
The Day Don Shaap Ran out of Adrenaline
Editors Note: Its a sign as to how tired we all are, I can't make up a cleaver headline for today. Oh, wait, I just came up with one!!!! Forget about me writing this as a news article, I'm going into Editorial/Columnist mode.
It happened. We now know just how much energy Don can expend. This scientific constant has been eluding scientists for some time now as he seems to go and go more than the Energizer Bunny. But today, Day 7 of this trip between the PeeWee and Midget game he ran out of gas and had coasted down the hill. But he found a last little bit of energy to get us into the hotel with out too much hassle. I've not seen him in several hours, I hope he is recharging his energizers.
This trip has been kept smooth only by Don's non-stop attention to detail and a whole lot of flexibility on everyone's part. From canceled games to last minute restaurant changes to sick players, substitute players, inflexible bus rules, and so on; to most people this trip has so far remained a success. I don't want to see Don's cell phone bill. At the end of the day, everyone on this team, players and parents need to express their thanks to Don for pulling off this feat.
I know I can't even begin to thank him for this experience.
Anyway, on to Day 7's fun joy ride.
Bus Rule, the buses have to stay off for a minimum of 8 hours each day. Something about not wanting sleepy drivers behind the wheel. The trip was planned about the no more than 10 hours on the road per day rule and everything was working out fine, until that rule popped up. From the time we stopped in Buffalo to the time we had to leave to make Pittsburgh on time, we had to leave Niagara Falls about an hour early and be thankful we didn't spend more times in Customs that we did. Still, the planned 8am departure, meant buses off at Midnight. Well Auld Lang Sign was sang on the interstate before we got to the Ramada Inn. So another change in plans: leave at 9am. Well, that really means rolling by 9:15-9:30ish. It was 220 miles to the rink, given at least one fuel stop for the bus, puts us arriving in Pittsburgh about
30 minutes into the first game, which was the Bantam game.
Missed wakeup calls, failed alarm clocks only began to touch on the disaster known as the Ramada Inn. Stained carpets, bad beds, flat pillows, dirty this and that only begin to list the complaints about the hotel. In fairness to the Ramada Inn Chain, they are older and have not updated their facilities in a long time. The did have those uber-cool shower curtain rods that curve out from the tub and some fancy shower head, but thats about where it ended.
The buses raced (legally of course) to the North Pittsburgh community of Cranberry. Only one stop along the way. (Ed. note: I remember the stop and people deboarding, but I slept through it, so I can't tell you much more than it was a gas stop for the buses). Don was working the phones to make sure we were going to get the games in. The Midgets and PeeWee's both had an extra game while the Bantams ended up short a game in Columbus and one game was shortened due to curfew and now we were going to be late for their game.
But fortune favored us. The rink opened for the games and there was no curfews. The buses pulled in about 1:10 and the Bantams set a speed record for getting dressed. We also were handed a set of rules when got there. Nothing evil, just that there would be a 5 minute sudden death overtime in case of a tie, followed by a 3 player shoot out.
The bantams played their best game yet, but couldn't shake the North Pittsburgh Wildcats, an A Minor Bantam team and game ended 5-5. So right away, the rules were to be tested. After 5 more minutes, it was shoot out time, with the Bantam's winning the shoot out 2-1 to claim their first win of the tournament. It was fitting that they got the extra play time. The PeeWee's came out and crushed their opponent, 4-1. Then it was the midgets turn to shine.
They shined about as much as the sun at the North Pole in the winter. Playing like a slow, tired, banged up team that had played six games in seven games, the boys took a hard one today losing to the Wildcat's Midget AA team 5-1. Chris Miracle netted a goal from Matt Krugler early in the third, but it was way too little to cause any momentum.
The teams left the rink and went to the Fairfield Inn for some major wind down time. The Fairfield Inn was a much nicer place to be.
It happened. We now know just how much energy Don can expend. This scientific constant has been eluding scientists for some time now as he seems to go and go more than the Energizer Bunny. But today, Day 7 of this trip between the PeeWee and Midget game he ran out of gas and had coasted down the hill. But he found a last little bit of energy to get us into the hotel with out too much hassle. I've not seen him in several hours, I hope he is recharging his energizers.
This trip has been kept smooth only by Don's non-stop attention to detail and a whole lot of flexibility on everyone's part. From canceled games to last minute restaurant changes to sick players, substitute players, inflexible bus rules, and so on; to most people this trip has so far remained a success. I don't want to see Don's cell phone bill. At the end of the day, everyone on this team, players and parents need to express their thanks to Don for pulling off this feat.
I know I can't even begin to thank him for this experience.
Anyway, on to Day 7's fun joy ride.
Bus Rule, the buses have to stay off for a minimum of 8 hours each day. Something about not wanting sleepy drivers behind the wheel. The trip was planned about the no more than 10 hours on the road per day rule and everything was working out fine, until that rule popped up. From the time we stopped in Buffalo to the time we had to leave to make Pittsburgh on time, we had to leave Niagara Falls about an hour early and be thankful we didn't spend more times in Customs that we did. Still, the planned 8am departure, meant buses off at Midnight. Well Auld Lang Sign was sang on the interstate before we got to the Ramada Inn. So another change in plans: leave at 9am. Well, that really means rolling by 9:15-9:30ish. It was 220 miles to the rink, given at least one fuel stop for the bus, puts us arriving in Pittsburgh about
30 minutes into the first game, which was the Bantam game.
Missed wakeup calls, failed alarm clocks only began to touch on the disaster known as the Ramada Inn. Stained carpets, bad beds, flat pillows, dirty this and that only begin to list the complaints about the hotel. In fairness to the Ramada Inn Chain, they are older and have not updated their facilities in a long time. The did have those uber-cool shower curtain rods that curve out from the tub and some fancy shower head, but thats about where it ended.
The buses raced (legally of course) to the North Pittsburgh community of Cranberry. Only one stop along the way. (Ed. note: I remember the stop and people deboarding, but I slept through it, so I can't tell you much more than it was a gas stop for the buses). Don was working the phones to make sure we were going to get the games in. The Midgets and PeeWee's both had an extra game while the Bantams ended up short a game in Columbus and one game was shortened due to curfew and now we were going to be late for their game.
But fortune favored us. The rink opened for the games and there was no curfews. The buses pulled in about 1:10 and the Bantams set a speed record for getting dressed. We also were handed a set of rules when got there. Nothing evil, just that there would be a 5 minute sudden death overtime in case of a tie, followed by a 3 player shoot out.
The bantams played their best game yet, but couldn't shake the North Pittsburgh Wildcats, an A Minor Bantam team and game ended 5-5. So right away, the rules were to be tested. After 5 more minutes, it was shoot out time, with the Bantam's winning the shoot out 2-1 to claim their first win of the tournament. It was fitting that they got the extra play time. The PeeWee's came out and crushed their opponent, 4-1. Then it was the midgets turn to shine.
They shined about as much as the sun at the North Pole in the winter. Playing like a slow, tired, banged up team that had played six games in seven games, the boys took a hard one today losing to the Wildcat's Midget AA team 5-1. Chris Miracle netted a goal from Matt Krugler early in the third, but it was way too little to cause any momentum.
The teams left the rink and went to the Fairfield Inn for some major wind down time. The Fairfield Inn was a much nicer place to be.
Re: Game Update
And the last game of the trip ends in a 5-1 loss. The boys were just tired after a New Years Eve night and a 3 hour bus ride.
For the trip, the boys ended up 2-3-1.
We look forward to a restful night followed by the Canes and Penguins pregame skate and game.
We will see you in 2 days!
--------------------
At 4:05 we go on the powerplay.
--------------------
And they let a guy walk out front from behind and he roofs one to make it 5-1. The boys aren't skating today.
--------------------
And finally wuth 9:12 left the Lightning break through to make it 4-1.
--------------------
And on a rush off of the faceoff, the Wildcats walk in and get one that just trickles in off of Ryno. Its 3-0.
--------------------
At the end of 2 periods, the score remains 2-0. Late in the period the Lightning had a couple golden opportunities but they couldn't finish. Yet they'll start the 3rd down a man for 1:26.
We're back on another 5 on 3. The boy aren't playing smart.
--------------------
And on a breakdown in front Ry saves a pair in desperation before they tap one in. 2-0 Wildcats.
--------------------
We're at even strength.
--------------------
5 on 3 killed. Now 4 on 4.
--------------------
The first period ends with the Lightning down 1-0 and shorthanded. They have 37 seconds of a 5-3 to kill. The boys have taken some lazy penalties. Ryno stopped 7 of 8.
--------------------
3:31 left in the 1st and the Wildcats score on the powerplay. 1-0.
--------------------
The Midgets are on the ice. No score 2 mins into the game.
Ryno is in goal.
For the trip, the boys ended up 2-3-1.
We look forward to a restful night followed by the Canes and Penguins pregame skate and game.
We will see you in 2 days!
--------------------
At 4:05 we go on the powerplay.
--------------------
And they let a guy walk out front from behind and he roofs one to make it 5-1. The boys aren't skating today.
--------------------
And finally wuth 9:12 left the Lightning break through to make it 4-1.
--------------------
And on a rush off of the faceoff, the Wildcats walk in and get one that just trickles in off of Ryno. Its 3-0.
--------------------
At the end of 2 periods, the score remains 2-0. Late in the period the Lightning had a couple golden opportunities but they couldn't finish. Yet they'll start the 3rd down a man for 1:26.
We're back on another 5 on 3. The boy aren't playing smart.
--------------------
And on a breakdown in front Ry saves a pair in desperation before they tap one in. 2-0 Wildcats.
--------------------
We're at even strength.
--------------------
5 on 3 killed. Now 4 on 4.
--------------------
The first period ends with the Lightning down 1-0 and shorthanded. They have 37 seconds of a 5-3 to kill. The boys have taken some lazy penalties. Ryno stopped 7 of 8.
--------------------
3:31 left in the 1st and the Wildcats score on the powerplay. 1-0.
--------------------
The Midgets are on the ice. No score 2 mins into the game.
Ryno is in goal.
Bantam update
The Bantams win in a shootout.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Update
We're at the rink in Pittsburgh and the Bantam's are on the ice right now. They look good by the way, up 2-0 in the first.
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Cheers,
Roger
--------------------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device
Goodbye Canada!
Since Day 5 of the trip ended around 2am on Day 6 for the midgets after a trip to Ernie's, most of the players slept in. However, the plan was to check out at noon, but the hotel notified us that we had to be out of the room by 11:00am. So some players were awakened a bit earlier than planned.
The buses were packed and the players loaded up for their Toronto tour. The weather was cold and a bitter breeze was blowing as the players walked several blocks to the Hockey Hall of Fame's entrance from the BCE Place, a downtown shopping mall. For two hours, the players marveled at their heroes, learned hockey history, played interactive games and shopped for souvenirs.
It was then off to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Gretzky's didn't work out since they wanted the team in too early. Four players on the three teams shared a 12/31 birthday and was treated to ice-cream adorned with sparklers. After finishing there, the buses transported the team to the CN Tower since it had began to rain. At 44 degrees, this was more miserable weather than fun.... At 1,400+ feet high, the players and families, along with the Cambridge families who joined us for the trip, enjoyed an evening look at Toronto from the tallest building in the world. The weather worsened as the tour continued. Even those afraid of highs braved the tour.
Then it was off to Niagara Falls where the plans started changing. With the bad weather and several kids under the weather, bus driving regulations and an early game start in Pittsburgh, that visiting the falls to seem them was the wise thing to do rather than trying to stay past midnight. Given how hard the players have played, they won't miss the big party.
Traffic around the Falls was horrid. The buses parked about a mile from the Canadian horseshoe of the falls, but was in position to make a quick exit onto the Bridge to the US. The team was given about an hour to make the trip in, which was basically enough to get to the falls, say “Yea! I've seen the Falls” and return. Soaked, the team returned to the bus and headed back to the United States where a very irritated and gumpy US Customs agent awaited our buses.
Putting on his best John Wayne attitude, he wanted to visually ID everyone on the bus with their Passport and ID. This meant handing the passports back out to the kids temporarily. The “Duke” left the bus to give us time to get the passports in each players hand, and low and behold a different agent came aboard who was much more reasonable and after a quick scan of the passports we were underway.
The stroke of Midnight on 2007 fell in route to Buffalo. About 10 minutes later, the buses pulled into the Ramada Inn. The teams were given their room assignments and told to be ready to go at 8am.
The buses were packed and the players loaded up for their Toronto tour. The weather was cold and a bitter breeze was blowing as the players walked several blocks to the Hockey Hall of Fame's entrance from the BCE Place, a downtown shopping mall. For two hours, the players marveled at their heroes, learned hockey history, played interactive games and shopped for souvenirs.
It was then off to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner. Gretzky's didn't work out since they wanted the team in too early. Four players on the three teams shared a 12/31 birthday and was treated to ice-cream adorned with sparklers. After finishing there, the buses transported the team to the CN Tower since it had began to rain. At 44 degrees, this was more miserable weather than fun.... At 1,400+ feet high, the players and families, along with the Cambridge families who joined us for the trip, enjoyed an evening look at Toronto from the tallest building in the world. The weather worsened as the tour continued. Even those afraid of highs braved the tour.
Then it was off to Niagara Falls where the plans started changing. With the bad weather and several kids under the weather, bus driving regulations and an early game start in Pittsburgh, that visiting the falls to seem them was the wise thing to do rather than trying to stay past midnight. Given how hard the players have played, they won't miss the big party.
Traffic around the Falls was horrid. The buses parked about a mile from the Canadian horseshoe of the falls, but was in position to make a quick exit onto the Bridge to the US. The team was given about an hour to make the trip in, which was basically enough to get to the falls, say “Yea! I've seen the Falls” and return. Soaked, the team returned to the bus and headed back to the United States where a very irritated and gumpy US Customs agent awaited our buses.
Putting on his best John Wayne attitude, he wanted to visually ID everyone on the bus with their Passport and ID. This meant handing the passports back out to the kids temporarily. The “Duke” left the bus to give us time to get the passports in each players hand, and low and behold a different agent came aboard who was much more reasonable and after a quick scan of the passports we were underway.
The stroke of Midnight on 2007 fell in route to Buffalo. About 10 minutes later, the buses pulled into the Ramada Inn. The teams were given their room assignments and told to be ready to go at 8am.
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