A day in Prerov

This morning we had an early start and finished up our testing.  In previous years, we have done what is known as the "Big 8" test - basically you skate 5 full figure 8's from one end zone face off circle to the other.  This year however, they did not have us do the Big 8 test.  Instead, we had to do what is affectionately called the GPS test.  Why is it called the GPS test?  Because you need a GPS to get through the thing - it involves skating forwards and backwards around a ton of cones following a very specific path.  For most of us, it was the first time we ever had to do the GPS test so as you can imagine, we had a number of people get very lost, skating forwards when they were supposed be backwards, pivoting the wrong way, stopping short of the goal line cones, etc.  We eventually all got though it but it was pretty funny watching us all try to navigate this thing, especially that early in the morning.  

After testing and breakfast, we had our daily meeting and reviewed the games from the previous day.  Following the meeting, I took a little nap to get ready for my long day in Prerov.  I was the standby lineman for the first game and the goal judge for the second game.  Around 1:00 the crew for Russia vs Switzerland, along with Dina and I, headed to the rink.  Dina, Kyle (Dina's husband) and I walked around and took a bunch of pictures to keep ourselves entertained while waiting for warm-ups to start.  Once warm ups started, we were told to inspect the Russian goaltender's leg pads, apparently the Swiss had been complaining that she had an illegal piece up by her thigh.  This brought back memories of my game during last year's worlds where we had the goaltender issue so I was happy they were legal and it didn't have to be dealt with once the game started.  This was game 2 of the 3 game series between these two teams for the right to stay in the A pool tournament next year.  Switzerland won the first game so Russia needed to win today to force a 3rd game on Saturday.  The game was very back and forth but the Russians were playing with a little more desperation than the Swiss and ended up winning, 5-3.  Thankfully, the crew on this game finished in one piece so I didn't have to enter the game like I did the last time I was in Prerov!  Following the first game, Dina and I grabbed a quick dinner at the rink.  After dinner, we sat down with Kyle and started to make our travel plans for after the tournament.  We successfully booked a hotel in Budapest so we are set for at least one night!  We were all laughing, who would have ever thought we would be researching and booking hotels from an ice rink in the Czech Republic!  

The rink started to fill up very quickly for the second game of the night, the 5th/6th place game between Czech Republic and Finland.  The arena in Prerov holds about 3000 people and it was definitely completely packed!  The crowd was loud and rowdy - they were chanting, blowing horns and beating drums the entire game.  It was an awesome atmosphere - and very cool that this many people showed up for a women's hockey game!  It was another very competitive, back and forth game.  The score was 4-3 Finland with about 2 minutes left to go when Mary Anne called a tripping penalty on the Czechs.  The crowd wasn't a fan of her call and people started to throw bottles and other items on the ice!  Luckily nobody got hit with anything but it was still kind of crazy, I never expected anything like that to happen in a women's game.  Finland ended up scoring on the power play and won the game, 5-3.  Over in Zlin, the US beat Germany 7-1 and Canada beat Sweden 7-0 in the semifinal games.

We headed back to the hotel after the games where we all anxiously waited for the assignments to be posted for tomorrow.  Dina, Stephanie (the Canadian linesman), and myself will be working the final game of the relegation series between Switzerland and Russia.  Because both the USA and Canada are in the gold medal game none of us were eligible to work it because this tournament has a rule that you cannot work your own country.  The relegation game is really the next best game because it means more than the bronze medal game - it decides who stays in the top division for next year.  I'd be lying if I said we all weren't a little disappointed we wouldn't be working the USA/Canada game,  however we are all pretty happy that we are working the best game available for us.  Our game is in Prerov tomorrow at 5:00.  The gold medal game starts at 7:00 so hopefully we will be able to catch the second half of the game.  

Off to bed, I've got a big game to prepare for tomorrow - my last one of the tournament.  I can't believe it is almost over already, I feel like it just started.  Goodnight!