Team Updates

Lots has happened in the past couple weeks: Eden Prairie Pee Wee B2 tournament, women's games and practices, and scheduling my flight to Israel!

We entered the Eden Prairie tournament late in the game because they were short a team. We played our first game against the Eden Prairie Pee Wee's. We had beaten them 6-3 in a scrimmage earlier in the season, and I think the boys considered this game a cake-walk. Well, it was nothing of the sort! We lost 5-0, and the boys got a hard lesson in what happens when you're overconfident. EP kept a player up high, and he had numerous break-a-ways, some which resulted in a goal. We weren't able to put the puck in the net, and you could tell that EP's goalie was on his game (it turns out I had coached his brother a few years ago). Following the EP game, we thought we had lost our chances for the championship game (was a round robin tournament, 4 of 12 teams made it to championship day). We played Elk River and beat them 6-1, which was an unbelievable game for our boys. Only a few hours after that we took it to Stillwater and won 3-1. For us to make it to the championship day, Edina would have to beat Lakeville by 5 or more goals. Well, in our favor Edina won 6-1! Game #1 of championship play we played Edina (the team we had beat 3-1 earlier in the season). In an impressive showing by the team, we won 3-1 again and went to the championship game. Our boys were exhausted, and you could tell by their play against Highland. We lost 4-1, but had an unbelievable tournament overall.

The women are really stepping it up and playing like we want them to. They still don't have "W" under their belts, but we think it is soon to come. They have had one practice since my last post, and worked on defensive zone coverage, blocking shots, and had a little taste of "conditioning". I know how much they want a win, but I hope that they see how much they are improving and the scoreboard will soon reflect this.

I have scheduled my flight to Israel! I leave December 29 and come back on January 10. Spending New Year's Eve in Tel Aviv, and off to Jerusalem to see the old gang. I have heard some new places opened in Jerusalem that I am excited to check out. It will be great seeing old friends, having a shwarma, and drinking a Diet Coke on Joseph's balcony. What a blast!