First ice practice

This morning we got our first chance to test out the ice with a little skate ... and unsurprisingly the ice was perfect!  It was like a sheet of glass and I can imagine we are in for some very fast games as a result.

On the ice at Shayba Arena

As it was our first venture onto the ice we were given the opportunity to skate in the Shayba Arena rather than the practice rink.  We were asked to get there 15 minutes before our practice began so we could have an official team photograph taken on the ice.  This is something that happens at every tournament and is a really nice way of remembering the experiences and the people that you shared them with.  Obviously everyone knows the teams have a photo done but usually they don’t realise that the officials have a team photo done too.  In reality we are the 9^th team of the tournament and in some situations maybe the forgotten team ... but not in Sochi.  Here we are seen and treated as a professional team in the same way as the players. 

With the Olympic rings in the ice

As is customary every year, we need to skate out onto the ice without skating through the logo in the ice and make sure not to cut the ice too much so that the picture looks perfect.  I had always imagined that they photo-shopped the ice to look perfect in team photos when in reality it involves some very careful gliding and manoeuvring to ensure the ice looks good.  It always make me laugh as to anyone watching we must look very funny trying to skate without cutting the ice.

The ice practice gave us a chance to feel our legs and get used to the feel of the ice.  It is also a good opportunity for us to orientate ourselves in the rink so we know where the benches are and any nuances we may need to be aware of.

Me with Therese from Sweden and Denise from Canada

At the Olympics there are often a lot of cameras and we observed at the end of each rink there is a camera above the glass focussed on the net.  This is obviously helpful from a video goal judge perspective but something for us to be aware of in terms of the puck going over the glass and hitting.  Noticing our surroundings during the ice practice is important because when we get on the ice for the game our attention will be focussed on the players and the game.  The small details are important and help us to ensure we are well prepared.

Me with Therese and Denise at centre ice

At the end of the practice we were given a few minutes to take a few photographs for ourselves.  It is a pretty unique opportunity to find yourself in an Olympic ice rink and so we took advantage of this and took as many shots as we could before the zamboni came on to cut the ice for the next session.  I think if some of us could have stayed out there all day taking photographs we would have done! 

Me in the mixed zone

When we got off the ice a few of us walked back to the practice rink through the mixed zone.  It is given this name because it is the area where the media are allowed to ‘mix’ with the athletes/players.  This is the corridor where after the game and in-between periods players walk through and the media are able to interview them.  When you see interviews with players this is where it is done and remarkable really that the players perform so well in-front of the cameras.  In reality they have very little time to get their heads straight after they get off the ice and they have to come across as calm and composed to answer the questions even if they are stressed or struggling with a hard game out on the ice.  As referees we don’t go through the mixed zone during the games and so it was nice to walk through it and again take the opportunity to have a few photographs against the bright backdrops and in the media spotlights which had already been set up.

Finding the Olympic rings

Me with the rings

After the ice practice a few of us walked back through the Olympic Park and we found the huge Olympic rings.  The symbol of the Olympics is pretty magical and means so much to anyone who is passionate about sport.  Whether you are an athlete, official or spectator the Olympic rings never fail to stir emotion and for a moment you feel like a small child again – excited by what they may bring.  The Olympics for me is about having the will to dream and the faith to believe you can really be the best in the world.  For a moment we all stood and looked at the rings and, I can’t speak for the others but I know I felt honoured to be here and full of excited and nervous energy.  After a split second and before emotion took us over we got the cameras out and again could have probably stayed there taking pictures all day as we took it in turns to run back and forth to the rings for a chance to be photographed with them.

Me and Erin from USA sitting in the rings

The Olympic park is reasonably quiet at the moment with only athletes, media and people with accreditation are walking around.  It gives us a nice opportunity to walk around and take a few photographs before the gates open tonight for the opening ceremony.  I expect after tonight the park will be much like it was in London, bustling at all hours and full of people who want to be a part of the Olympics.

Me with the girls at the rings

Luckily for our bank accounts the official Olympic shop does not open until after the opening ceremony tonight!  I expect we will all do some serious damage on our credit cards as soon as it does but for now we were able to soak up the park in all its glory.  We noticed that to get into the park for spectators there are five bridge style walk-ways – each one painted in the colour of one of the rings.  The attention to detail in the design and layout of the park is second to none and everything seems to get us excited – from the rings to the Sochi banners and even the coloured tarmac.  We are part of something really special.

Game assignments

It is against the IIHF social media policy for me to post anything on any social media sites about the games and this includes when my first game will be or what games I will be refereeing throughout the tournament. 

I know what game I am going to be working in the next few days and will be focussing on being ready for that.  For those of you interested to find out the game I will be refereeing and any future games that I will be assigned you can do so on the IIHF website statistics section for the Sochi Olympics.

Let the games begin

Tonight is the opening ceremony and the signal for the games to get underway.  A few other sports have already started but for us the ceremony marks the beginning of our tournaments with our games starting tomorrow.  We are all planning to wrap up warm for the ceremony later.  Although it is not that cold here we will be standing outside for a few hours so it is a good idea for us to ensure we stay warm.

The Olympic Park is magnificent and it looks like no expense has been spared on making this a magical and memorable games.  We are all excited and waiting with anticipation to see the ceremony tonight!