USA Hockey Nationals Anaheim, CA

USA Hockey Nationals Anaheim, CA
Stinger U12

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day two update


The girls woke up, had a quick breakfast and went right to the rink for the game vs. the New England Falcons. The Falcons had a full roster of very assertive girls, but the teams were well matched. Our girls hung in and hung in but for the second game in a row a third period goal zapped the mighty 9's energy. The girls had a few chances late in the game but came up just short. They have surrendered nearly the fewest goals in the event, but two losses will make advancing unlikely.

Their small roster and high energy has the girls "the talk of the rinks" every coach has commented that he/she cannot believe how awesome our girls are. Today at the beach a parent from Massachusetts commented, "Oh...you're
that team, we heard about you...nice job."

The rest of the (90 degree and sunny) day was spent at the beach and poolside at the hotel. It is hard to imagine a group of girls could have more fun than this awesome bunch of hockey nuts.
Tomorrow the girls play the Lady Ducks, some plan to attend a Dodgers game while others are undecided about plans.

Poetry from day one

We Shine So Bright
Poetry inspired by a day one at the Nationals in California

Written collaboratively by the Essex U12 Sting

We make the sun jealous because we shine so bright
Saltwater in my mouth
Won the game but not on the scoreboard
Freezing water and huge waves
Saltwater in my mouth
A penguin with my old pink gloves
Freezing water and huge waves
Interestingly weird
A penguin with my old pink gloves
People pee in the sea!?
Interestingly weird
Ice, ocean and pizza all in one day!
People pee in the sea!?
Ice, ocean and pizza all in one day!
Can anything be better than California?
People in cars next to us just love us!
Can anything be better than California?
Won the game but not on the scoreboard
People in cars next to us just love us!
We make the sun jealous because we shine so bright

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Hockey Report: Game 1

The girls were all over the ice today working hard and getting far more chances than Pittsburgh Penguins did. It was a bad bounce breakaway that resulted in a late goal for the Lady Pens and our girls were disappointed -- but the know they can compete with the best teams in the USA!

The girls are off to Huntington Beach for the afternoon and have a team dinner planned at a local Pizza Palace! Tomorrow they play The Falcons and head to Disney for teh afternoon!

Thank you to all supporters back in VT.

Check our blog for journal entries and updates and the www.essexyouthhockey.org for live game blogging.

Battle Flag Champions: Poetry inspired by a New England Championship


Battle Flag Champions
Poetry inspired by a New England championship

Written collaboratively by the Essex U12 Sting





Screaming, cheering and lots of fun
A really cool colorful hotel
So happy we won
Paid coaches with stylish boots
A really cool colorful hotel
Painting our nails
Paid coaches with stylish boots
Got a shut out in the championship game
Painting our nails
Sooo happy when we beat St. Albans
Got a shut out in the championship game
It was so surreal, It was so amazing
Sooo happy when we beat St. Albans
It was so surreal, It was so amazing
I forgot my hockey pants!
Waving the battle flag
I forgot my hockey pants!
So happy we won
Waving the battle flag
Screaming, cheering and lots of fun

Invincible Girls: Inspired by a State Championship

“Invincible Girls”
Poetry inspired by a state championship

Written collaboratively by the Essex U12 Sting

I’m flying, I’m in my zone, I’m invincible!
Listening to “We are the Champions”
Lots of screaming and dancing
Decking a girl into the boards
Listening to “We are the Champions”
Going out and trying our best
Decking a girl into the boards
FOUR OVERTIMES!!!
Going out and trying our best
Sad I could not play
FOUR OVERTIMES!!!
We’ve come this far…we can go farther
Sad I could not play
We’ve come this far…we can go farther
Tired at school, but too happy to notice
Butterflies in my stomach
Tired at school, but too happy to notice
Lots if screaming and dancing
Butterflies in my stomach
I’m flying, I’m in my zone, I’m invincible!

Poetry

The Sting girls are also amazing students...and poets! The are using an African poetry technique to write collaborative poems about their experience getting to Nationals and will post poems daily. Each girl has written a line of these poems...they are best read aloud "SLAM style"

PB