Exactly The Same, But Different

Jarrett and me. I don't know why I look so pained. Maybe it's that breakfast burrito in Atlanta.

So, before I was so rudely interrupted by the gate agent calling us to board the flight, where was I? Oh yes, the teams. My team has some new names on it this go round. We picked up Jarrett from one of the other Greensboro teams that we've played against for years. He also plays with us in Winston. Chip Burch was an add from the current roster of the Ice Holes, having added him in the fall of 2014.

Now that I have the teams straight, let me set the stage for you regarding this year's tournament. It's pretty much the same game plan as last year, only different. We'll be on the ice for the first part of the trip, then the group that is staying to ski will head over the mountain from Silverthorne, CO to Winter Park, CO for the downhill portion. My parents have once again graciously allowed us to use their house near Winter Park for lodging. Our primary concern, as we jet out way out to Denver, is the weather. Not the brutal cold that we have experienced at times in some of our past trips, but, rather, the opposite. Silverthorne, and the whole area, for that matter, have had some unusually high temps lately, and that is threatening the integrity of the playing surface for pond hockey. The thickness of the ice isn't a problem, but if the surface is too warm, the ice gets soft enough to be rapdily turned into snow under the sharp blades of the hockey skates. Snow is counter-productive to sliding pucks and players across.

To compensate for the high temps during the day (projected 50 degrees on Saturday afternoon), the tournament directors have moved all of the games to the morning and evening hours, to try to stay in the cooler parts of the day. In all likelihood, the morning games won't be too bad, but the evening games might not be so good. There is a real chance we might be playing games in boots with tennis balls. That doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but who knows - it might level the playing field somewhat. We might not suck at pond tennis.

In any case, it will be an adventure, as it usually is, with the potential for some hilarious results. I will do my best to keep you posted often.

So far, the travel this time has been by the book, which is a welcome change compared to last year's fiasco following the Blizzard of '14. We're once again on two different flights, but this was by design this year, rather than necessity. John, Jack, Jim, Chip, and Chris should be arriving in Denver about an hour and a half before us, and Mac should be waiting for them. He flew out early, on Wednesday, non-rev with his USAir flight privileges. The rest of us are now hurtling along in a metal tube, high above the ground and should arrive just before 11am. With a little luck, all our bags will come through and we'll be on our way to the mountains by noon.