News Archive
Prep hockey trip
Remembering a journey to Scandinavia
Disembarking off of a lengthy plane ride, we arrived in Frankfurt, Germany; the first of four countries visited along the way. Together, we struggled through the various hoops that were necessary for boarding the next flight, and within an hour, we left on a plane to Stockholm. Once arrived, we rested for a day, and then prepared for our game that night.
Although it was not the most successful game that the team has played, it was a definite learning experience for us. European style hockey is drastically different from North American style: Instead of playing a “dump and chase” game, the Swedes preferred to constantly possess the puck, and utilize the slick passing to pursue scoring opportunities. Overall, it was a huge stepping-stone for the team. Rising early the next morning, parents and players travelled together on a tour of the city. We explored various landmarks, such as the city hall and the suburbs, but by far the most exhilarating experience was visiting the Vasa Museum. The Vasa was an enormous war ship crafted by the Swedes' finest woodworkers in 1628. Many resources went into building it, yet it only sailed for 10 minutes before sinking. Certainly not proud of the sinking, the Swedes still presented the beautiful boat to their many tourists like it wasn’t embarrassing. The next day, the team played another tough team, and then departed on an overnight ferry to Helsinki, Finland.
Less like a ferry and more like a cruise ship, everyone had a good time. For the majority of the evening, our not-exactly musically inclined team dominated the Karaoke machine, which was an endless supply of entertainment. After a long night of singing, we all slept well. New Year's Day was the next day, and so was our first time watching the World Junior Championships. Canada played against Sweden that night, and unfortunately, their fate in the game followed the same as ours against the powerful European team. Regardless, the game was amazing, and absolutely everyone loved watching our country’s finest do battle. I’m sure that some of us even picked up a few tips. Then, that night, we celebrated the coming of the New Year in a small square overlooked by the massive Helsinki Cathedral. There were around 30,000 people, from all around the world, packed into a square together like sardines. It was an experience we will never forget. Fireworks blasted into the air when the year changed to 2016, and undoubtedly everyone there was in awe.
On the first day of 2016, we watched around four hours of world junior hockey. Everyone was focused that night before going to bed because we had a tough task ahead of us. We were playing the best team in all of Finland, the Espoo Blues, the next day. Adrenaline pumped through our veins the next morning as we entered the rink. We all knew what we were in for. The game was a battle. They were some of the best opponents we have every played against, and we stepped up to the challenge. They may have dominated us for the first period, but we were relentless, and kept the score down to 2-0. The skilled Finnish team prevailed throughout the game, but their skill inspired us to improve, especially in the defensive end. They certainly prepared us for the games we have further down the road.
Our final days in Finland were spent, like the rest of the days on the trip, completely immersed in hockey. We battled against another Finnish team, which had been good enough to beat Espoo earlier in the season. Implementing our new defensive strategies, we once again competed with the Finnish skill. Even if the scoreboard didn’t show it, it was a relatively even match. We pushed back against a giant of a team, but just couldn’t find a way to capitalize on the chances we had. It was a loss. After our finishing our last game, we all came to the conclusion that there was work to be done. On the last night, we watched the final of the World Junior Championships. It was an epic between Russia and Finland. Tying the game up with seven seconds left in the third period, the Russians sent the game to overtime. It didn’t take long for the Finnish team to retaliate and score the 'golden goal' that crowned them the best team of the tournament. When Finland scored, the arena exploded with joy. Men cried a row in front of me. Witnessing such camaraderie within a community infected all of us with happiness. There could have been no better way to spend our last night in Helsinki.
Although we played some of the best teams in Finland, we have even greater challenges ahead of us. Soon, we play in one of the best tournaments in Canada. The adversities we faced brought us closer. The fun we had on our tour brought us closer. Having a tight group will help us excel. I am certain that after this trip, we all feel ready for what lies ahead.
The team thanks all of the coaches, parents and contributors that made this trip possible.
– Cael H
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
