We set our gear down on the upper deck and stretch before we're allowed to enter the pool through the locker room. As we stretch, the Canadians walk by in single file and check us out. They settle right next to us and I tell the boys "don't look, keep working".
We certainly look like a odd mix. Three six footers, a couple of 5 foot threers, and everything in between. Four Asians, two Hispanics, five Caucasians. It reflects America and I'm proud of it.
At the allotted time, the Canadians start down the stairs first. We follow. Into the locker room for a quick mandatory shower down to keep sweat from clouding the water. The Canadians leave for the pool first. We follow. Here we go....
Buzzer sounds, the Canadians are out for blood. They beat us to the puck and ram through. Play is furious, nine one-minute penalties and three two-minutes. Tristan gets tossed for gloving. John gets tossed for encroachment. For one minute, we have only four players against six. But we hold. The boys give their all. They're down forever protecting the goal. Quantum, Tristan and Peter cycle like clockwork. The Canadians don't quit. They keep coming and and make breakaway moves off the wall, but after getting burned so many times, we're in position to intercept and close it down.
With three minutes left in the half, John Meisenheimer scores for USA. It's halftime and every player is panting and spent. I tell them "fifteen more minutes, give it your all" "They're tired too".
I call out a play for the start of the second half. "ogre!" Raymond and Samuel know they have to beat Conrad, our center, to the puck and escort him down the middle as he picks up the puck. The backs are right behind, and this wedge drives almost to the goal but the Canucks beat it off to the left. Furious play, more fouls, more penalties. We hang on and Conrad Dale rams another goal in. Final score: USA 2, Canada 0.
ZamaritWe cheer, shake hands and clear the deck. At the side of the pool, I hug every player and thank them for this win. I tell them this is the first win, in history, for a USA U19 team at Worlds. On the upper deck, I hug Tom Brown, team manager Samuel Mariani, his wife Zamarit, Doc Lucky, his wife Jacquie, the moms, and anyone else that's nearby.
This win is dedicated to Gustavo Pesce and Agnes Debrunner who trusted me to take this team to the Worlds.
We certainly look like a odd mix. Three six footers, a couple of 5 foot threers, and everything in between. Four Asians, two Hispanics, five Caucasians. It reflects America and I'm proud of it.
At the allotted time, the Canadians start down the stairs first. We follow. Into the locker room for a quick mandatory shower down to keep sweat from clouding the water. The Canadians leave for the pool first. We follow. Here we go....
Buzzer sounds, the Canadians are out for blood. They beat us to the puck and ram through. Play is furious, nine one-minute penalties and three two-minutes. Tristan gets tossed for gloving. John gets tossed for encroachment. For one minute, we have only four players against six. But we hold. The boys give their all. They're down forever protecting the goal. Quantum, Tristan and Peter cycle like clockwork. The Canadians don't quit. They keep coming and and make breakaway moves off the wall, but after getting burned so many times, we're in position to intercept and close it down.
With three minutes left in the half, John Meisenheimer scores for USA. It's halftime and every player is panting and spent. I tell them "fifteen more minutes, give it your all" "They're tired too".
I call out a play for the start of the second half. "ogre!" Raymond and Samuel know they have to beat Conrad, our center, to the puck and escort him down the middle as he picks up the puck. The backs are right behind, and this wedge drives almost to the goal but the Canucks beat it off to the left. Furious play, more fouls, more penalties. We hang on and Conrad Dale rams another goal in. Final score: USA 2, Canada 0.
ZamaritWe cheer, shake hands and clear the deck. At the side of the pool, I hug every player and thank them for this win. I tell them this is the first win, in history, for a USA U19 team at Worlds. On the upper deck, I hug Tom Brown, team manager Samuel Mariani, his wife Zamarit, Doc Lucky, his wife Jacquie, the moms, and anyone else that's nearby.
This win is dedicated to Gustavo Pesce and Agnes Debrunner who trusted me to take this team to the Worlds.