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.
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