The hockey portion of the foreign tour proved absolutely idyllic. Each of the three games were played in unique settings that each gave the Pipers a dynamic international experience.
Game One, played the very same day the team arrived in Italy, was played in Ascona, against "HC Ascona Selection." Nestled against the foothills of the Alps outside Lugano, the home team's rink, "Siberia," was a gorgeous, old-school outdoor venue. Four foot high boards wrapped around the smallish ice surface, which was impeccably maintained and painted with both ice hockey and curling markings. Only the ends of the rink to the goal lines sported glass; the rink side boards were bare. Overhead lights were suspended from wires stretched lengthwise above the ice. Along one side, fans enjoyed the game from covered wooden bleachers. The players dressed in locker rooms under the bleachers, but the team benches were simple, uncovered wooden benches outside the boards. A Swiss Chalet coffee shop was build on the opposite side of the rink overlooking the home end blue line. A light snow began to fall during the game, played in 5 degree Celsius temperatures as the night turned from purple to black. It was pond hockey turned Norman Rockwell in the Swiss Alps. "How awesome is this rink?" asked the smiling players after warm ups.
Along the uncovered side of the rink, a group of young Ascona fans chanted, clapped and sang throughout the entire game, soccer-style. While the Pipers easily prevailed in a lopsided game, the home fans never stopped singing and cheering. After the teams exchanged post-game handshakes and took on-ice photos together, the band of fans began to clap and chant "Min-ne - so-ta" in a Swiss accent, and the Piper players skated over to the fans to bump fists.
HS Ascona was a wonderful host for the friendly game - they brought the Pipers hot orange sweet tea to drink on the bench during play, and between periods they brought buttercream scones to the locker room for the Pipers to munch on. After the game, Ascona hosted a post-game party for the Hamline players and coaches, featuring nutty Swiss cheese melted on homemade bread, grilled sausages, and homemade finger foods.
Game Two, played the next day outside Milan, matched the Pipers against the Rapperswill-Jona Lakers, a Swiss Jr. A Elite Under-20 club. Played in a pro-style arena, the game was the fastest, best-played game of the trip. Hamline earned a 6-3 win over the hosts; after the game, the players exchanged jerseys (so did one of the referees!), and took a two-team group photo at center ice, with referees and zamboni driver included.
Game Three was played high in the Alps outside Torino in the stunning ski villiage of Morzine, against the Morzine-Avoriaz French Elite Strasbourg Club. Responding to posters all around town advertising "Hockey Sur Glace," 700 fans paid 10 Euros each to watch the visiting "Hamline Universite Americaine" team in a friendly game. The big crowd cheered wildly and sounded air horns whenever the home team scored, but they "ooohed" and "aaahed" with appreciation whenever a Piper worked his stickhandling magic or blasted a hard slapper.
The games were truly played international style - friendly but competitive. The Hamline Pipers played well and hard, but more importantly they represented themselves well on and off the ice, dazzling the European spectators and opponents but making international friends and memories as well.
More tomorrow, as the team enjoys New Year's Eve in Torino, and moves on to Rome.
