Lake Placid 2022 - On The Road To Victory

Lake Placid 2022: Finally, the day we leave for Lake Placid had come. There was work to be done, school to be attended, and people to meet at the right time and place. We hit the road in the afternoon, our family, and another player on the team with his Mom. We enjoyed a beautiful ride to NY on a gorgeous day. We were finally on the road to Lake Placid, on the road to victory.

Wednesday, November 2 and Thursday, November 3, 2022 – On the road to victory:

First things first, we had to get to Lake Placid. We drove up to, and then across Vermont. We did not shy away from winding mountain roads or pit stops at small country stores. We had a very pleasant ride with plenty of laughter to go around.

Yes, they are hockey players, but they are boys first. Climbing trees somewhere near Middlebury, VT on the road to victory. (Photo: Amari-Sass Creative Thinking)

As we turned left onto Main Street and started up the hill, I recalled the memories of players remarking how the arena in Lake Placid kind of just draws you up the hill. Even in the dark, it was impressive to climb Main Street and see the Olympic Center looming there, but somehow fitting so perfectly. Like a kid on Christmas Eve, I couldn’t wait to get up the following morning and explore this place, all of it.

We checked in to the awesome Crowne Plaza Lake Placid on the hill above the rink, and hit Main Street on foot in search of dinner. It didn’t take too long, after negotiating steps, concrete slabs, and ramps to get down to Main St. level from the hotel.

We ate dinner at Generations Tap & Grill and it was just what we needed after a long drive to Lake Placid. It was pretty cool to walk in to the restaurant on Main Street in Lake Placid, NY and see friends and families from our Flames teams’ past and present. Dinner was excellent and of course it included an extra large portion of laughter and smiles.

I think I will just eat an appetizer instead of a full meal because I am not super hungry. The beautiful Jackie is a bit overwhelmed by the size of her single pretzel from the “starters” area of the menu. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

After dinner and a vigorous walk back up the hill, we spent some hockey family time at the outdoor fire pit at the hotel. Note for future events, don’t bring one, M. McGee, to a hotel fire pit unless you want the flames extinguished. Once the fire stopped burning, our group moved inside. There in the halls of the hotel you could feel the collective weight of rigorous everyday, fast paced life melt away in the warmth found in laughs, stories, smiles, and hockey family camaraderie molded into pure enjoyment.

Thursday morning brought more sunshine and beautiful weather with wonderful views in all directions. We went and hit the shops along Main Street. We met friends coming and going throughout the village. We sat to enjoy the sun, take a breather and have a look at the peaceful Mirror Lake.

: Teddy gets down to Mirror Lake for a closer look. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Looking south, down Main Street. The Olympic Center is on the right. We had to take this street on the road to victory. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: The first of several pictures I took from the Olympic Center. This view overlooks the speed skating oval, and you can see the ski jump complex in the hills to the south. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Just a few hours later and the sun is going down, causing all kinds of colors to appear and shadows to grow long. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: I am not huge fan of pictures of me. My wife, yes, I like pictures of her. But what does it take to get a picture of just her and I in Lake Placid? © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: I mean, come on! Every single time! We were having fun with it actually. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Finally! I just used the crop option on the photo. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Teddy joined us for one picture as well. We had so much fun in Lake Placid! © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

At the USA Hockey Store I found myself surrounded by hockey and history fans of all shapes and sizes. Despite an incredible amount of merchandise that I would like to add to my collection of things that my wife thinks I don’t need, I saw a little TV in the corner. I noticed that the USA vs. CCCP* footage from their game on Feb. 22, 1980 was playing. I walked over to check it out and there were about two minutes remaining in the game broadcast. Naturally, I stood still as a statue and watched the remainder of the game. It still brings tears to my eyes. Everything in the store disappeared for those two minutes.

*CCCP – translated is Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

After wiping my eyes and smiling a USA smile, I turned to check out the cool stuff in the store with my family. As we finished at the store, we walked down Main St. back toward the arena. We ate sandwiches outside across from the 1932 Rink entrance. It was a glorious day in a town that I had only pictured in my dreams and in the stories recalled from others.

A little later in the afternoon we all had a chance to take a ‘public skate’ on the 1980 Rink where the USA beat Russia and won the Gold against Finland. The arena has been renamed in honor of the late, the legendary visionary, USA Head Coach, Herb Brooks. The sign above the ice says, officially, 1980 Rink – Herb Brooks Arena. What a special moment inside those same hallowed walls.

Skating with my son on the Olympic Ice from the 1980 Winter Olympics. Well, that’s a good story all by itself. Wow! What a great time being out there for a few laps. I should get a medal for not running into anyone. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

As if skating on the 1980 ice wasn’t enough, we finished the skate so that everyone could get ready for opening ceremonies. The ice was cleared and some allowed for everyone to get to their seats, and players to join their teams. It was pretty cool actually.

I took a walk while I was waiting for the Opening Ceremonies to start and I stumbled upon this scene outside. The teams were getting together so that they could march into the arena. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

I believe there were 42 teams represented in the Opening Ceremonies. The Canadian Flag, the United States Flag, and the CAN/AM Flag were all marched in to the arena along with the banners that each team carried on their march. The torch was relayed across the ice from end to end. Even though the big torch on the ice didn’t ignite, the National Anthems were sung, and the scene was awesome. I know that I wished I was a youth hockey player standing down on that ice in my uniform along side my team, on the 1980 ice. Pretty sweet ceremony.

: In a flashing slide show of team logos that were playing in Lake Placid over the weekend, I barely caught the Flames logo. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Through the tunnel and onto the ice, carrying the banner. Walking in their red jerseys over white shirts and red ties. Our 2010 Flames. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: With the ice surface nearly full the Flames didn’t have to walk too far to find their spot in the ceremony. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: There they are! Looking fantastic! © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Two Flames teams in separate 12U divisions. Who knew then that both teams would earn medals? © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Old Glory is carried in. A lead bearer raises the excitement on the ice with high fives and fist pumps. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: A look at the scoreboard and you wouldn’t guess this was just a youth hockey tournament. It looks like something from a world tournament. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: Raising the flags. Both the Canadian and US National anthems were performed. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

: I took this picture from my seat at the top of my section, across the ice to the far boards where the players were lined up. I think they look awesome!!! © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

After all of the pomp and circumstance (impressive formal activities or ceremonies) there was a little bit of time before the 2010 Flames had to play their opening game of the tournament. They had somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes to get ready to play. Most of the team just stayed at the Olympic Center and got snacks and drinks in them before reporting to the locker room to gear up and play. By the time the puck had dropped on the opening face-off, most of the players had been at the facility for almost four hours, or more.

Not every road to victory is the same. In most tournaments, you get your bracket/schedule and show up at the appointed rink at the time your coach told you to be there. You get dressed and you play. This was something entirely different. This was full of anticipation. This was full of emotions. This was awesome. The pre-game had a real chance of overshadowing the game itself.

The dusting crew comes in next week. USA Rink – Lake Placid 2022. Not the nicest rink in the building but my son would play here everyday if he could. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

So, as the team participated in events through the afternoon and on into the evening, the families finally gathered into the USA Rink and awaited the teams on the ice. The USA Rink is a practice rink and it’s plenty nice, but there’s an awful lot of work still being done in there. The paint fumes smell was quite strong and the flags hanging under the scoreboard were caked with dust. Barriers and barricades kept fans in a very small area. This wasn’t as much crowd control as it was to keep people from building their own set of bleachers with the materials stacked around the hockey boards.

The game started on one of the three rinks in the Olympic Center. We were all in, with our team in the practice rink, or the equivalent of the room that always has the door closed when company comes over. We all had been on the road the day before or even earlier that day. All hoping we were on the road to victory.

Thursday, November 3, 2022. USA Rink – Lake Placid. 6:40 PM.

2010 Manchester Flames – 00 – 04 – 03 = 07

Sara Placid Lakers – 00 – 01 – 00 = 01

Once the 2010 Flames got their legs going their offense kicked into gear. The defense allowed little and the goaltenders allowed even less. This was a solid win to open the tournament. © 1inawesomewonder 2022.

2010 Flames goals in order:

The first goal came seconds after Travis Ingalls shut down a clean 2-on-0 breakaway all by himself.

1) Caleb Powers from Ian Kaveney and Andrew Soucy sweet team play.

2) Sean McGee from Gavin Petrie and Jacob St. Pierre another nice hockey play.

3) Logan McCain shorthanded goal, unassisted. Just a freight train running free.

4) Chase Giampa from McCain.

5) Powers power play goal from McGee.

6) McGee power play goal from impossible angle, unassisted.

7) Powers for the hat trick, the chain, and King for a day, from Jordan Hawkes.

Will Rosenbeck allowed one goal in the game, but it came while he was being spun around in the crease by an opposing player. Apparently no official on the ice saw this. Actually, maybe I didn’t see it either, I mean the fumes in there were pretty strong.

Flames 7 – Lakers 1 – Opening game Lake Placid 2022

: Opening face-off of the 2022 Lake Placid Tournament for the Flames. USA Rink.

: I lost track of what happened here. It was either a hog line violation in curling, or a cut to the middle in hockey.

: Gavin takes a shot while trying to maintain perfect form for a hockey card photo.

: Unfortunately for Teddy and Soucy, the goalie and defenders got in the way of their plans for a beautiful goal.

: I looked this up in the visual dictionary on how to play the puck. This is playing the body by the defender. The judge, er uh, official in the background was reached after the game for a comment. All he kept saying was, “I see nothing! I know nothing!”

: After the previous picture, Jacob took his time, looked both ways, and checked the breeze before shooting the puck, safely.

: The two Lakers behind Lucas were joking, “There’s no way that kid is reaching the puck! It’s headed outside the 12-foot ring. Haha!” They don’t know the Lucas reach.

: Caleb had his game face on for the tournament opener. That might be his all-time face but it sounded pretty good in that last sentence.

: Jaden circles the net with the puck for the Flames. He has been a nice addition to this year’s roster. I hear that he’s pretty fast too.

: I have heard from some folks in other countries that when you are surrounded on the ice that a simple chassé works well. Ya, I didn’t believe them either.

: After a sweet feed through the crease from Jacob, Gavin can’t remember where he left his stick. He knows everyone is watching, well except for that one official, and he can’t kick the puck in. So many thoughts, so little time.

: There’s a little known rule of thumb that reads something like this. If you are within reach of a common framing stud, then you are covered by Logan.

: Travis shut this 2-on-0 break down by himself. When he covered the puck he noticed a note from his team taped to the puck. It read, “Dear Travis, Good luck. We’re on our break. See you soon. Love, your ‘mates”.

: Caleb leans into a shot against the Lakers. My mind wonders if I could fit that white plastic in the van on the ride home so I could use it on our backyard rink.

: The puck rises and the Lakers simultaneously break into a catchy tune and dance number, singing, “Pucks up! Throw your sticks in the air like you just don’t care!”

: The puck was eventually effected by gravity and found it’s way into the net. Flames score!

: I love the hands in the air on the ice and in the foreground. We’re all in this together.

: McGee from Petrie and St. Pierre! The Flames lead 2-0!

: Right on time with a 7-second delay, the ref calls it, “Good Goal!”

: Jordan meets his teammates to remind them that this game is on national TV. “Let’s saunter over to the bench like we score like this all the time.”

: Will makes the save and then skates over to the official to make sure everything was okay. It took a couple of minutes to get the ref completely upright once again, but it all worked out.

: Logan as he rumbles down the ice with the puck, “We’re shorthanded? Shorthanded my @ss! 3-0 Flames.

: Soucy, the engine that keeps running. Here he tests himself above and beyond by telling his teammates to wait outside the blue line so he make a run through the Laker obstacle course.

: Ian has a great mind. Here he predicts what Sean’s goal will look like later, only in a mirror.

: In a modern math / hockey terminology class that I hope to create, this play would be described like this: “The scoring bid by 22 was 86’d by 30, but not because all of the numbers in front add up to the 86 in the back.” I don’t know. You figure it out.

: The Flames execute a nice triangle around the front of the net, but somehow they can’t get the little circle thing to cooperate with their plans.

: Ian shows us a ‘proper backhand’. This also reminded of a 1980 backhand shot by Helmuts Balderis on a stand up goalie by the name of Jim Craig.

: Remember Ian’s premonition of Sean’s goal. Here it is, on the power play. 6-1.

: You show up to these big travel tournaments, just hoping that the kids can have fun and compete. Then they pull off the opening game win and all seems balanced for the moment. Gavin, counts down, “Okay boys, Three! Two! One! Let’s go shake hands.”

: At approximately 7:38pm, before a packed house on the USA Rink, the 2010 Flames shake hands with the Lakers after opening the tournament with a solid 7-1 win. Go Flames!

You can catch up, and follow along on all things 2010 Flames in the following places.

You can find more 2010 Flames material in these types of articles, right here.

Then there is the team web page 2010 Manchester Flames.

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly.

Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.

“We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we’re too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.” ~ the late Herb Brooks.