Go Team USA!

Yesterday I read in the paper that the Women's Olympic Hockey team would be practicing right here at the Air Force Academy before they head off to China. So, Amelia, Gabriel and I thought it would be fun to go see them practice. As we were driving to the practice, Amelia kept talking about how she wanted to play hockey and Gabriel was doing the CC Tiger Hockey celebratory cry of "Do do do - Sieve!" They were both excited.

We enjoyed watching them play in their Team USA jerseys. After the practice, Amelia walked over to see them come off the ice. She was so impressed that they were "girls NOT boys" who were playing! One of the players, #9 Molly Engstrom, saw Amelia, leaned over the half wall and said, "Do you like hockey?" Amelia enthusiastically replied, "Yeah!" Molly asked, "Do you like this stick?" and held up her hockey stick. Once again, Amelia agreed that she did so Molly gave her the stick! Amelia asked them to "write on it" and she got autographs from: #9 Molly Engstrom, #26 Rachael Drazan, #25 Kelli Stack, and # 31 Jessie Vetter (goalie). We also met #4 Angela Ruggiero who told Amelia she'd have to cut that stick down pretty far to use it at 3 years old.

Amelia and #9 Molly Engstrom

The players were SOOO nice. Amelia and another girl were the only kids there so they really were kind, took their time and spoke with the kids. The other little girl was in Pee-Wee hockey and just starting the league with checking so Angela Ruggiero took quite a bit of time to talk with her about hockey and give her advice. It was really inspiring to see them mentor the younger generation of girls' hockey.

GO TEAM USA! Support them 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Championship from April 4-12, in Harbin, China!

http://www.usahockey.com/Template_Usahockey.aspx?NAV=TU_02_03&id=225390

Oh, and by the way. Amelia announced on the way home that she wants to play . . . basketball!?!?!