High Praise

Good Freezing Morning, Before I tell you about today's first game, a huge shout-out to Daniel Journeaux, the second on Team Illinois. This "kid" was hit by a car a month ago and has rehabed himself to be able to make it here and to curl with his team. By today, his knee was really hurting and he had to sit out after the second end. He fought through a lot of pain and misery to help his team. If there is some award for bravery and guts and determination, he should win it hands down!

Unfortunately for Team Illinois it was not a close game. The score was 14-1 after 7 ends in Washington's favor. It was helped by a 5-ender and a 6-ender. Rough for anyone to take.

It was a good win for Washington and I think it washed out their heebee-geebees. They made some great shots and started to feel the mojo again. Feeling confident again is important, the two hardest games are next. They face both Minnesota teams. Both teams are beatable, it's just which team shows up for the game... like always. I think Brady Clark is even beatable {if we hog-tie him and put him in a blindfold}

Have I mentioned that it's cold here? Today's high is a wopping 2 degrees above 0. That's in farenheit! The low... does it really matter?

The lads are off to visit a school this afternoon. They have a classroom that has "adopted" them. They visit and show their equipment and talk about curling and where they come from... the boys really enjoy this part. And the school kids treat them like rock stars, they ask for autographs and for the team to play with them at recess. It's a great diversion from the intensity of the competition.

The game starts at 4 central, 2 pacific. Keep those thoughts, prayers, sacrifices to whatever god you choose, incense, bells... whatever coming. Words of encouragement are especially prized. The lads often check their email account to see who has written and what the say.

Take It For Granite,
Scott