Today is the start of the Canadian Nationals. Tyler plays for U19 Team Canada and Kyle is playing U17. Tyler has 2 games and & Kyle 1 game today. So we will be running from arena to arena starting at 1:30. The organizers have arranged busses to all the games for the players and the parents. Theresa and I take the car as we don't want to be after hanging around the arenas longer than we have to. 

Kyle woke up some crooked (grouchy). So I asked "What wrong fer ya b'y?" ("What's the matter with you?"). He just grunted. I don't want to tell on (give away a secret) but I think that bodes well as I think they play better when they're cranky.

Outside it was spitting frost (very frosty). Theresa has been on Kyles case to wear long pants and sweaters instead of shorts and t-shirts but he's as tough as a gad (able to withstand cold weather) and refuses to wear "winter" clothes. 
 
First up was Tyler playing the host Newfoundland team. We handily won that game (4-0) with Ty getting the team MVP award and a shut out! Way to go Ty!  

Then off off to another arena to watch Kyle's team have at 'er (go for it) and tie up the game (1-1) with 2 seconds left. 

Kyle was, I suppose, sick of hanging out with Theresa and I so he just went back to the hotel to eat leftovers and some rice that Theresa made for him and hibernate in his bedroom. Theresa and I had dinner and the then went back to the arena to watch Ty play his second game. His team did not seem to have it together for this game. Despite getting the first goal the other team managed to tie up the game in the second period. Ty's team seemed to give out (tire) and looked hickledy-pickledy (out of sorts, confused) but Ty held it together despite fending off dozens of power play shots for most of the second period. And I'm not full of s*** and up a quart (exaggerating/ BSing) just because he's my nephew! If you think I am, then good morrow to you (you are mistaken). They came out with a 1-1 tie. Coming back to the hotel after the game was a challenge. It was like pea soup (foggy) and very difficult to see beyond a few feet. But we made it in time for Cush Cush (bedtime).

 I'm sorry to say some of my pictures are a bit blurry. I'm not sure if that's my iPad or me. 

Some of you may be unfamiliar with ball hockey. Ball hockey is similar to ice hockey but has some key differences:

• The pace of the game is more controlled.
• There are offsides but the difference is that in ball hockey there is a floating blue line. That means once a player gets over the blue line the red line (centre "ice") becomes the blue line. I think this game was invented in Newfoundland! (This is said with much affection for my Newloundland friends). 
• It is played on a concrete floor or another type of playing surface (not ice). 
• Icing is called flooring.
• There are only 2 periods.
• It's much more tiring than ice hockey (running is more taxing).
• A hard plastic ball is used instead of a puck.
• Equipment consists of only light shin/knee pads, helmet and gloves.
• Slashing & high sticking are automatic 4 minute penalites.