it likely wont end….not yet anyways.

most all of my blogs of late have related to hockey in some way, shape or form and I’m here to report that this wont end until after World Champs, at the earliest………

I leave one week from today and its my hope and intention to blog daily about the experience.  Its the easiest way to share the experience with all my friends and family, especially those closest to me and those that have “put up” with me while I’ve gone through the exhausting exercise of preparing for this years tournament.

I don’t know how much everyone knows but this is my 15th year as a member of the South African Women’s National Ice Hockey Team.  I have travelled to Czech Republic 1997, Hungary 1999, Hungary 2000, Romania 2001, Slovenia 2003, then I had to miss a couple years due to work related commitments, Romania 2008.  This will be my 7th World Championship tournament and my first visit to Iceland, well if we don’t count that one layover I had there in 2003 on the way to London.  In the years 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 there were no women’s IIHF tournaments as those were Olympic years and during those years the remaining divisions tournaments are not held.   This year our team has 8 rookies on it, I am extremely excited about this as not only do we get to give them a hard time hehe……but it also means the sport is not dying in SA.  The youngest member of the team was just 3 when I first represented SA in the Czech Republic.  I don’t look at this as “I’m old” but more so that I’m experienced/gets better with age…….whatever works right 🙂

Below is a slide show of some pretty sweet pictures my g/friend took with Nan’s camera (and yes if you’re on my FB you’ve seen them already, but I like them!).  I too will be posting slideshow posts from Iceland, as I got the “photo whore” disease from my mom and oldest brother and as of today there is no known cure.

On a closing note……..I’m glad I have not been eating fast foods as I have prepared for this tournament as Iceland has the most expensive Big Mac Meal in the world at a staggering $13, crap for that much I almost expect a steak!!!!!!