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Ron Hainsey (March 18, 2009) - Prepping For Finland

Hello hockey fans, I’m writing to you from Bern Switzerland tonight on the eve of a big quarterfinal matchup in the World Hockey Championships between Finland and the team I am here representing, team USA. 

 ...I know that for most of you the NHL playoffs are dominating the majority of the headlines, especially with that huge Capitals-Pens series going on; but I thought I would try to give an inside look into how things have been going for myself and team USA here so far. 

...We started our trip here on April the 19th and we got right into action with an exhibition game against the Swiss on the 21st -- that was a real eye opener for us. 

...Even though we knew we would be sluggish coming off the long plane ride and time change, I don’t think any of us expected to be defeated 5-2 by a Swiss team that boasts just 2 NHL players in Mark Streit and Martin Gerber, while our team, which is on the younger side, is made up of all NHL players with the exception of Colin Wilson who was recently a member of the B.U. National Championship team, and recently signed with the Nashville Predators. Read the rest of this entry

Well here we are the morning after a huge 3-2 victory for team USA over Finland and now that the excitement has worn off we are faced with the reality that now, if we want to accomplish what we set out to do here which was win the gold medal, we are going to have to take out the defending champion Russian team, who is powered by none other than my all star teammate, Ilya Kovalchuk who has carried over his strong finish in the NHL regular season right into this tournament without missing a beat.

We now have two chances to win a medal, but if we win tomorrow we guarantee ourselves the silver - at worst and that would be a great feeling heading into the weekend, but to do it is going to be a big challenge.  Read the rest of this entry