[ShopVac]

Been holding off on saying anything for a little while now...but proud dad moment none the less.

My son made Team USA Hockey for inline, which the world championship starts the end of this week in Nanjing, competing against several other qualifying countries. Pretty cool event - Nike & Team USA hooked him up with all kind of Team USA swag for the trip (hockey bag, travel jumpsuits, workout outfits, shirts etc) - several other sponsors kicked in for equipment. Even posted his profile on the Team USA page with other USA greats like Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, TJ Oshie and Jonathan Quick!

Team practiced in California a while back - and participated in a men's AA tournament under an incognito name (didn't want to list that the kids were from Team USA). For the most part, they had my son on the 1st PP and PK lines on D...hopefully something that will hold for the games. Also looks like our games will be televised on the new Olympic channel (these are listed as Jr Olympics). We'll be over there for a couple weeks...

Anyway - that's all. Hope to post some cool pictures when I return.

[jgoens]

Congratulations...have fun!

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Congratulations...have fun!

Thanks jgoens! Nice summer fill in until the NHL picks back up.

[Memaxndapickel]

Safe travels and congrats man! My sons six and I just signed up to coach his football team. NOTHING greater then being a parent.

[ImolaMoop]

Sounds really cool. Have you been to china before? If not I recommend doing some research and planning.

[ShopVac]

Well...made it to Nanjing in 29 hours. Flight to JFK got delayed, then canceled, so they rerouted us through Paris, France. So...8 hour flight to Paris. 11.5 hour fright from there to Guangzhou. Got to sit on the tarmac for an hour...and the 2 hour flight to Nanjing

Of course.. luggage never made it. Including my kids hockey bag, sticks, and jerseys for 1/2 the team

Crackin' start to this one.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

Well...made it to Nanjing in 29 hours. Flight to JFK got delayed, then canceled, so they rerouted us through Paris, France. So...8 hour flight to Paris. 11.5 hour fright from there to Guangzhou. Got to sit on the tarmac for an hour...and the 2 hour flight to Nanjing

Of course.. luggage never made it. Including my kids hockey bag, sticks, and jerseys for 1/2 the team

Crackin' start to this one.

Have fun mate, nothing better than travelling the world watching your Son perform/play.

My Son is in a marching band and my wife and I have travelled all over Canada and then Europe on a second trip, great fun and the odd misty eye!

I once had a suitcase get left on the tarmac at Paris airport, get them to check there

[The Choosey begger]

Congrats, Good luck!

[Hawkeye]

USA! USA! Congrats! That is an amazing accomplishment you don't make without tons of hard work!

[ImolaMoop]

Wow flying to china through Europe sounds awful, sorry they routed you that way.

[ShopVac]

Looks like we're going to scrimmage Canada. At least they'll understand my son when he's trash talking them

Delta found our luggage. They said it's here in Nanjing and should be at our hotel soon...hope it's all there.

Needless, that's for all the comments guys. Definitely a cool experience!

[ShopVac]

Trip as a whole was a awesome experience...especially for my kid. Nanjing is an incredible city - clean, safe, and ironically, with 8.5 million people, never seemed too crowded.

Posting some pictures from the city and games. Overall, didn't do too bad. USA made it out of the pool groups, but lost in the quarter finals. Ended up in 7th place out of 18 teams (Canada didn't make it out of the pool )

[ShopVac]

Area was build specifically for the games...this was the first event held here. Arena holds about 20,000 and will be used for the world basketball championships next year.

[ShopVac]

Was also able to get able to get to Bejing on a free day to see the great wall. Can't say as many good things about this city...so smog ridden you can't even see a 100 story skyscraper that's only 1/2 mile away.

Here are some great wall pics. Also sported our love for the Penguins back to back championship.