In Glacialis Blog

International Glacies Hockey Foedero has certus ut adopt North American dimensions pro totus of suus tournaments ex 2008-2012. In unus campester, is permoveo est mereo pragmatics: 2008 Universitas Junior quod senex Universitas Championships pariter ut 2010 Olympics es res conflictus in Canalis. Illa vices postulo multiple ovis of glacies ut conflictus suum veneratio tournaments, quod Canalis, quantus quantus is diligo totus vultus of hockey, wasnt’ amo ut crumens molior of ustulo of international- amplitudo ovis of glacies (deconstructing futurus rows of sessio pariter) pro Tornacense perpetuus a mereo iugo of weeks. Interestingly, sententia, IIHF est adicio is sententia ut totus of suus tournaments conflictus inter globe.

An obvious interpretation est ut international rectum somes volo magis physical hockey: minor ovis vilis magis somes contactus. Tamen ut doesnt’ videor futurus sententia officina hic. IIHF promptus bulla North American pro hockey per an oculus obviam suus altus profano Tornacense hic quod instituo ut 70 sentio of lascivio ( in NHL utique) takes locus in duos terminus plaga. IIHF promptus amo ut.

Ceterus obvious sermo cuspis per is novus est utrum Canadian quod American teams mos utor an commodum. In superficies (pun intended), is would videor sic. Tamen coniecto hic est ut tot European ludio ludius — proprie ones amo futurus lego pro populus teams — have been contendo pro significant portions of suum tutela in North America, in minor ovis, infitialis ullus significant commodum.

Porro- vicis Lavatio Caput Peter Vinculum has persona renuntio suus decessus hodie. Capit of pallium of Imperator Procurator pro suus paternus Slovakian Populus Team; abyssus’ exsisto in Halifax pro IIHF Universitas Championships in 2008. Pro magis,click hic.

UPDATE: Reprehendo siccoTed Leonsiss’ blog pro suus repens prandium per Bonzai quod Caput’ sermo contemplor “a serius of res efficio una” per him.

In nostrum jugis serius of Moscow bonus occulto: photos ex 2007 Gazprom Vas, an vetus- vicis’ beneficium venatus ut jactito an infigo roster pro utriusque teams.

Gazprom team ( in puteulanus) eram caput per Gazproms’ Alexander Medvedev, a intereo- ferreus hockey fan quod bonus ludio ludius in suus own vox. Gazprom cogo eram valde quondam goaltender Vladislav Tretiak. Orbis terrarum Team saw Scotty Bowman’s reverto ut coaching pius.

Click humus photo parumper amplus poema poematis

Sic ut vos may have lego, Steve Yzerman eram slated ludo huic venatus. Is did non famulor, vero, sententia is eram in Moscow quod laxus videor procul stipes- venatus press placitum ut Canalis won aurum medal.Since orbis terrarum Astrum team iam had an Yzerman jersey promptus, a Cupiditas ludio ludius ( cuius nomen eram unannounced) certus sumo glacies in Yzermans’ locus quod in suus jersey pariter, utpote Yzerman eram slated ut gero #91 ( ostendo sum of suus institutio #19). Cupiditas skater candela super Yzermans’ nameplate, quod ludio ludius universitas venatus in a niger baseball solio quod Stevie Ys’ sudo. Videlicet is vicis eram magis pro fun quam pro penitus competition. In photo dexter, Phoenix Coyotes’ pro explorator Sarcalogos Ruuttu quod suus paganus Hannu Rectum skate pro orbis terrarum team. Ruuttu eram subsisto procul idem eadem idem hotel ut nos erant; is partis nonnullus entertaining repono tardus- nox noctis in hotel lobby, comprehendo revelation of Joe Nidor’ cognomen in suus mane Plaga dies: Pokecheck Joe

Quondam Detroit Rutilus Pennae Doug Frons (left, in orange) imperium puck

Mike Vogel, Igor Larionov, quod Mike Rucki

(persevero)

Ut nos memoratus pro nostrum trinus ut Moscow, OFB would servo ut “DVD susicivus” ut supplement Caps’ persona occulto of IIHF Universitas Championships, comprehendo photos quod speculatio ut didnt’ planto incidere pro Caps’ site. Hic’ primoris in a serius illorum susicivus: photos of Aurum medal- victor Canadian team.

(persevero)

Sequens widget eram impleo dispensatio tool pro iunctura OFB Lavatio Caput occulto of 2007 IIHF Universitas Championship tournament in Russia.

Admin Nota: Orbis terrarum Championship Widget quoniam unavailable secundum NHL mandatum ut totus teams permoveo suum websites ut NHL servo.

MOSCOW…I vilis, BETHESDA –Driving tergum domus per Bethesda is oriens, nidor of duos “everything” bagels fartim car quod sol solis rutilus perspicuus, EGO eram pulsatus per quam adaptable populus can exsisto. In a dies vel duos, meus DC verto mos sentio Northmanni iterum. Etiamnunc sedecim hora abhinc EGO eram volatilis super Arctic Orbis procul 33,000 feet ( foris tempero 72ºF) obvius ex Moscow ut JFK.

Illic’ vetus Russian probo: “There est haud dedecus in ignarus; dedecus lies in non reperio out.” Intus cohibeo nostri trinus’ districtus schedule nos exertus a varietas of Russian victus quod imbibo, quod in processus impendo nostrum scientia of Russia in lectulus tamen non insignificant via.

Sic pro retineo illae turbo trinus suscipio ut fade – quod pro looming phasmatis of meus lost luggage fragminis meus mirthful oriens mood – hic es unus viator’ impressions of Moscows’ cuisine.

Virga Offensus
Permissum nos patefacio ruminations per a concisus sermo of Moscow pretium ut loco res in vindico contineo contigi. Panton est multus magis carus quam youd’ reputo in Moscow. Ut Urbs Mayors site notitia, “Outside European Iugum (EU) Moscow est costliest destination, quod est iam magis carus quam Novus York.”

Nostrum primoris sapor of solum unda simultaneously dummodo a sapor of Moscow pretium. dies nos supervenio, nos pervenio in nostrum hotel procul 2 P.M.; nostrum cella wouldnt’ exsisto promptus pro alius hora. Sic ut nos sat in lobby per thousand-mile astrum, debilito quod dehydrated ex porro fuga, Keeley iussus a solum of unda nobis communico ex hotels’ restaurant. A servo vindico unda ut defessus viator, quod procul ut cuspis EGO would have pensus ullus pretium ut rehydrate. Etiam, nos totus singultus ut bill supervenio: $13 pro unus philologus of Evian, plus tip. Zoinks, Scooby.

Per rarus eximius, talis ut capulus Vendolius apparatus nos instituo in hockey pulvis, pretium erant convenienter ultum superus quam nos specto. Quod ymo erant nos victus altus in sus; Id’ beneficium nos erant solus accredited journalists vestis tournament quisnam, quinymo quam hiring a car cotidie, instead ingredior a mile ex hotel ut metro, tunc a mile ex metro ut pulvis, in pluvia. Uh oh, EGO sanus amo aliquantulus of an vetus curmudgeon… “In meus dies, nos ingredior ut schola, uphill, utriusque mores, in snow… vacuus shoes!”

Regardless, cuspis est ut suus’ prope impossible proficiscor vilis in Moscow, proprie ut ultum of victus quod imbibo eram refertus down nostrum per ut nos vado ex vicis ut vicis. Etiam, odio hectic vado nos did reperio pauci sto- sicco beverages quod farina.

Pro Diligo of Capulus
Ut EGO iam sit domi, fluo myself a vas of Unus’ Geminus Atrum capulus ex a fanaticus press, EGO animadverto capulus in nostrum trinus mereo mereor suus own parum sub- caput capitis. Secundum totus, nos drank multus magis capulus sulum quod cotidie quam nos did alcohol in totus dies combined.

Capulus Appareo in Nikitskaya Blvd., unus of duodeviginti locus erus per a amicus of Igor Larionovs’, instruo optimus capulus quattuor nostrum had in is trinus quod, forsitan, optimus in ullus trinus. Vos may have iam seen photo of wondrous cappuccino obvius Universitas photo peruro, tamen hic’ alius photo of suum award- victor Cappuccino per a esculentus Kiwirinha (kiwi- gingiber concoction) quod a Carambol (a “creme-brulée muris crustulum) ut infligo nostrum socks off. Reperio Capulus Appareo no nostrum permaneo three nox noctis of tardus- nox noctis laptopping plus enjoyable.

Nos universe utor capulus in Moscow, sententia species quod pretium varius dramatically. Vel, due ut attonbitus schedules, nos emo plures nostri capulus in Campester Ferrum Talea in hotel. They servo an praeclarus geminus-espresso quod, insquequo nostrum expiscor of Capulus Appareo, nos grate kick- coepi nostrum dies per plures ferveo- occumbo cups.

Talis opportunus caffeine venit procul a pretium sententia: a geminus-espresso in hotel sumptus 300 Rubles, vel super $12, plus miseratio quod tip, sulum. Sic nos erant thrilled ut reperio Capulus Appareo, albeit tardus in trinus, qua eximius capulus sumptus a magis oportet $9.00 – etiam carus, tamen melior quod vilis quam hotel.

Procul ceterus terminus of pretium quod species lanx eram capulus dummodo in pulvis’ capulus Vendolius apparatus. Parumper parum minor quam a pupa, apparatus brews a validus cuppa joe per a varietas of powdered additives ( crepito, hazelnut, succedo) in sub a minute. Is fumo beverage orior oriri ortus ex apparatus in aliquantulus plastic vas(click hic pro Juvenis video of vas ortus ex apparatus). Nos no plures saluto ut is apparatus per nostrum porro dies procul pulvis; acerbus tamen dulcis caffeine jolt apparatus’ brew dummodo eram priceless.  

Nutritor’ Vicis
facillimus via ut epitome hockey pulvis victus est: diversus isnt’ necesse melior. choices erant per dissimilis illud procul Quin Center quod alius U.S. lusum venues, tamen altus pretium pro mediocris- procul- optimus victus subsisto idem eadem idem.

Quis sto sicco est ut fere haud desparatus futurus inter Russian pulvis vitualamen quod illud in American pulvis. Absentis es fervens dogs, pullus fingers, quod pullulo of U.S. pulvis; in suum locus es res amo plastic-wrapped caro- in-a-bun quod they microwave obvius wrapper ( sic volvo gets tepidus quod soggy tamen caro subsisto gelu quod damp, yum), lubricus of salmon vel salami in siccus panis ( non nocens), quod a prolixus varietas candide bars.

Alius distinctus dignus nota: duos pulvis huic tournament did non servo alcohol ut medium. Ut’ vox: beer- minor quod vodka- minor Russian hockey fans! Promptus nonnullus iunctura of pulvis quod organizers no sententia, quod aperte is eram a bonus unus. Per tergum- ut- tergum venatus sulum dies quod nationalistic affectus cursor altus inter fans, alcohol eram tantum amo ut fuel problems – proprie utpote is videor videlicet ut is opinio’ michina ut nonnullus fans probus secui in gravida libatio obvius ut pulvis. Dum beer quod imbibo erant available in press lounge, nos had parum vicis ut clementia – caffeine eram usitas prior.

Secundum plures dies of sub-par victus procul super-par pretium, nos certus ut tracto ourselves ut a nice restaurant suadeo per unus of familiaris hotel baculus. Procul Mill servo esculentus institutio Russian fare in a rusticus occasus, universa per mill rota quod piscis piscis lacuna. Pro an orexis EGO had Siberian raptor refertus per agna, pluo per herbs quod butter. Meus pelagus tractus eram a vigoratus Russian veal vilicus per mushrooms quod potatoes, servo in a sizzling patella. Ceteri’ farina vultus iustus ut sapor, ranging ex colo colui cultum salads ut torqueo of agna.

Of Russian beer, parum postulo exsisto said. Fere totus of is est Pils penicullus: lux lucis quod articulus in palate tamen per parum dignosco ipsum ex, narro, a Pilsner Urquell vel a Kirin. Ut Seinfeld vires narro, “Not ut illic’ quisquam nefas per that,” tamen aperte suus’ non meus vas of brew. Quod plures condita servo beers frigus- tamen- non- gelu quoque detracted ex nostrum fructus; suus’ unus res habeo cella- siccus Guinness, quod per alius ut sip tepidus Budvar.

Nos totus votum wed’ had magis vicis ut rimor Moscows’ dining vitualamen, ut parum samples nos had foris pulvis erant per palatable. Ex venustus forasScandinavian cafe ut Capulus Appareo’ impressively varius prandium quod bellaria menu, Moscow videor a locus unus could reperio plures magnificabiliter meals…given a amplus wad of Rubles, nimirum.

Da Zvidanya ut Amicitia quod Luggage
Luggage update: unus pera eram iustus vindico ut meus domus intact, ceterus est etiam absentis – ut of noon in Tuesday American Airlines has nondum locus is. Ut est, ut loco is mitis, minor quam foveo.

Amo nostrum Moscow victus quod beverage experiments, meus luggages’ iter itineris est concedo promiscuus quod (potentially) carus praecessi. Tamen dum EGO sum fastidio ut revolvo is luggage usus, rimor Moscows’ cuisine est an adventum Id’ grate impono super iterum.

Sic nostrum trinus adveho ut a propinquus. Suus’ unus Peius’ nunquam alieno, quod mos usquequaque exsisto memor ut Ted Leonsis quod Caput pro condita is totus possible. camaraderie quattuor nostrum developed in trinus eram inconditus quod organic, quod is verto sicco futurus crucial pro teres effectus nostri propinquus- vicus, velox- passus, somnus- viduata praesumo. Is, quoque, est quispiam quibus EGO sum valde memor.

John quod EGO mos stipes additional photos quod sententia ut In Glacialis Blog super tunc week vel sic – meditatus lemma “DVD extras” ut spilled super ex persona Caput’ Universitas occulto.

Da Zvidanya totus!

(exemplar stipes in Caput’ site)

Alicubi super Europe, procul 30,000 feet — As a viator, I’m non much of a picture-taker. Instead, the images I form of a foreign culture and its distinguishing traits I collect from hours of interactions with its people. I seek out the animate as opposed to their monuments. Now that I think about it, a nation’s people are its monuments. Ideally, these encounters spawn new and exciting and altogether unexpected friendships. Such was my great fortune in Moscow and Mytischi this spring.

Ironically for me, though, a fair portion of our Worlds coverage has come to be characterized by the quality and volume of images we captured. And as late as day two or three of our excursion we had no notin that this would happen. When we devised a workplan for Caps’ management last month we imagined the trip’s two powers of generous prose, Vogel and yours truly, making laptop keyboards hum while Parker and Rucki tended to things techy. This we did, but in a pocket-sized Sony digital camera with video capability Rucks had an impression-collecting tool whose utility and quality I don’t think even he appreciated back on May 3.

Instantly, we had roving camera eyes collecting and distributing impressions of this year’s World Championships, with Rucki pointing his jewel tool at the ice sheets even from Khodinka’s upper deck. This bit of technology was something we hadn’t exploited before even at OnFrozenBlog. Meanwhile, Vogel and Parker had their remarkable Capitals’ web content schematics down to a perfectly practiced art form. But Rucki’s vantage exponentially expanded our coverage team’s focus. Daily we generated photo galleries, publishing at least one every day. With these stills and small video snapshots we were able to bring the life of Moscow cafes, its personalities, and of course the action on the ice alive, for a travelblog and, eventually, a stand-alone e-exhibit. Sometimes we found delight in the sculpted cream-top creations of our middle-of-the-night cappuccinos and published our mirth moments later.

By tournament’s end Rucki was practiced enough in this rewarding artwork to orchestrate a post- bronze medal game picture of combatants-turned-teammates Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. It was a portrait that was picked up literally globally, by print and electronic media from Stockholm to Silver Spring. (Continued)

MOSCOW – Some reflections on the Russian hockey arena experience at the Worlds:

Let The Music Do The Talking
As expected, Stompin’ Tom Connors’ “The Hockey Song” is not on the standard Russian hockey arena playlist. The song did, however, make a brief appearance during Team Canada games as a play-stoppage snippet.

An extended dance mix of the “Olé, olé olé olé” chant was prominently featured during intermissions. Its accompanying video is an odd combination of old hockey footage from the previous four times Moscow has hosted the Worlds; a voluptuous lead singer wearing strategically-placed pieces of black string; and a rapper in goalie equipment. It’s a bizarre collision of disparate images that left this viewer’s head spinning. It also firmly lodged the the “Olé” chant in my head for hours, much to my chagrin. Then again it was no worse than the disco remix of Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” which was, to say the least, unpleasant. A frequently-played bossa nova-ish version of “Smoke On The Water” was just bizarre.

Lest one think that Russian hockey arenas completely eschew the classics, our ears occasionally caught a break with traditional fare like Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and several flavors of AC/DC. Bon Jovi rocked the arena a few times, and we caught the dulcet strains of 80s tracks like Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” and even Opus’s “Life Is Life” at one point. For some reason none of us could suss out, the irritating Aerosmith tune “Shut Up And Dance” was played every ten minutes or so; why that lame song was chosen from the band’s extensive catalog, we’ll never know.

Back in Arena Mytischi, one of my fellow travelers mentioned that some songs sounded like Russian cover tunes, perhaps to avoid copyright issues. But a little research revealed that Mytischi boasts a “house band;” many of the PA songs are performed by a local rock band performing in the bowels of the arena. Apparently they prefer anonymity, however, because no one seemed to know the band’s name.

(continue)

The fifth installment of the photo gallery featuring semifinal action is now available.

Click here to view the rest of the gallery.

MOSCOW – There was palpable buzz about Team USA at this World Championship, and while the Americans failed to advance to the medal round in Moscow, it’s worth reflecting on the overhaul of roster assembly USA Hockey commendably, if belatedly, sanctioned this year. It should have American hockey fans excited.

For far too long there had been an ad hoc, inorganic, and at times poisonously politicized approach to the assembly of the American teams dispatched to the Worlds, resulting in disjointed and disappointing performances. Previous teams were comprised basically of marquee American names liberated from NHL postseason play, without seemingly much thought given to crafting a roster that could rival the chemistry so commonly displayed by the European teams at this championship. The results speak for themselves: a bronze medal in 2004, one in 1996, the last gold all the way back in 1960.

But from our vantage, this year’s American outfit shattered that failed mold. The 2007 American entry at the Worlds was a wondrously entertaining and cohesive club, chock full of hunger and high energy, the type of team to make American hockey fans proud.

(continue)

OrderedChaos previously mentioned that they can’t escape the kiss cam, even in Russia. Viewers of the Russa Finland game via WCSN.com got to enjoy the kiss cam as well. During the second intermission, the in house video was sent across the feed.

Perhaps the announcers knew their mics were on, perhaps not, but it was funny. With the camera on one of the many attractive Russian women, an “ohhhh!” was heard. Then a bald gentleman in his 40s in a leather jacket was shown with the announcer’s comment of “He’s Russian mafia.”

I’ll have to check the games on demand to see if this was a regular “feature”.

A week into the trip, the boys finally found their elusive perfect cuppa joe, which was music to their mouths. To that end, the fourth installment of the photo gallery features Tchaikovsky and that cuppa, with the Kremlin thrown in, too.

Click here to view the rest of the gallery.

Fun moment today, while doing a bit of gift shopping on our one day off. I’m in a little grocery store buying a bottle of Russian vodka to bring home. While in line, a young Russian in front of me turns around with a grin and says, “Russian vodka, da?” I notice among his sundries a bottle of Johnnie Walker Red; I reply with a smile, “Da, Russian Vodka for the American, and American whiskey for the Russian!”

He breaks out laughing and shakes my hand. “Oh, this is American whiskey? Very good! You try Russian, I try American.”

International diplomacy in a bottle.

The Capitals Report was broadcast live from Moscow today (11 May, 2007). Mike Vogel and Spike Parker were joined by OrderedChaos and pucksandbooks as they all continued their coverage of the World Championship. If you missed the broadcast, you can find the podcast version here.

The World Championship Sports Network announced they will provide exclusive live radio coverage of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships from Russia on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. From their press release:

Coverage will begin with the semifinal games on Saturday, May 12, featuring Russia vs. Finland at 7:15 a.m. ET and Canada vs. Sweden at 11:15 a.m. ET and continues on Sunday, May 13 with the Bronze medal and Gold medal games at 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. ET, respectively. All games will air live on SIRIUS channel 181.

“Collaborating with SIRIUS to give ice hockey fans from coast-to-coast access to the IIHF World Championships is an exciting opportunity for us,” said WCSN President and COO Carlos Silva. “We are confident that our combined brands will be successful in engaging more fans with high-quality coverage for these superb athletes from around the world. We’re thrilled to give passionate fans the ability to access the games through SIRIUS Satellite Radio.”

The third installment of the photo gallery from Russia is available.

Click here to view the rest of the gallery.

We’re apparently taking a guided tour of the Kremlin tomorrow with the rest of the press here. Fancy that. I suspect we’ll have some thoughts, observations, and perhaps even pics (maybe not those).

Near our hotel is a swanky, Euro-posh-looking nightclub named “Night Flight.” We haven’t been there yet. One reason why: a $35 cover. But Leafs’ scout Shawn Simpson swears it’s filled with “first-line talent.” And we have digital cameras. Think we should visit on Friday night?

[Note from OrderedChaos: If Pucks tries taking photos in that club, he may end up getting shots of the inside of a Siberian prison instead. Which, now that I think of it, could make for an interesting story… so go for it Pucks! ]

Greetings from Russia! We’ve not yet seen much of Moscow beyond our hotel lobby/bar and the arenas, though we hope to remedy that tomorrow as Friday is the one day with no scheduled games. More ruminations on culture, food & drink are coming as soon as we can; the frenetic pace we’re keeping is dizzyingly intense, both at the games and post-game creation/editing of columns and photos into the wee hours. Last night I gratefully sank into a deep six and a half hours’ sleep—by far the most on the trip on any given night.

A Blogger’s Repast: Russian arena food. The pastry contains a small hot dog, basically a Russian pig-in-a-blanket. The beer was an unusual indulgence on this trip; we’ve generally been forgoing beer for vast quantities of espresso to maintain this pace.

Random observation: Someone working the PA system at Khodynka Arena really likes Aerosmith’s “Get A Grip”, we hear it several times per game. I have no idea why.

Alex Ovechkin anecdote: After yesterday’s Russian victory, which was appropriately enough on Victory Day (День Победы, Den’ Pobedy), there was the usual post-game media frenzy. Ovie was snagged by TV broadcasters (who get first dibs in a no-flash-photo area), then by the radio section, then finally by the print media.

As Ovie marched through the madness, graciously granting interviews to all comers, Mike Vogel shouted a hello to him. Ovie turned, saw Vogs and our crew, and his face lit up with an electric grin. “What’s up, beeyotches!” he exclaimed, and enthusiastically tapped fists with Vogel and Sean Parker before doing a quick Q&A. Hockey players are generally friendly and approachable, but Ovie is undoubtedly one of the best.

Okay, time to head into the Canada-Switzerland game—winner gets into the final four. До свидания! [Da svi`daniya]