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2002 USJDP European Selects Tour Recap
EV Zug International Challenge Cup
Zug, Switzerland
After a rough first visit to Zug, the 2002 Selects re-grouped and returned
with a full, healthy squad to make amends for the previous year. This
time, sporting a full team that featured current NAHL Jr. A and NCAA
D1 players, and competing against similar birth year players for the
first time, the Selects went undefeated with one tie to take top billing
in the event. The 2002 Selects team was comprised of 7 players from Colorado,
4 from Florida, and 3 from California and individuals represented local
minor hockey AA and AAA programs from Indiana, New Mexico, Minnesota,
as well as a couple of the most renowned prep schools in the country
at Culver Military Academy and Avon Old Farms.
The Selects arrived in Zug on August 10 after a long flight only to get
on the ice immediately and have a skate to get accustomed tot eh larger
ice surfaces. The coaches also knew that if the boys were allowed to
go right to the hotel they would instantly go to bed and be awake again
in the middle of the night. Through there past experience coaching in
Europe, they knew that of they could keep the boys awake until 9:30-10:00
pm, they would sleep all night and be all set for the rest of the tour.
The tour started off on the right foot with a 5-1 game against the Zurich
Lions in Baretswil where the team came out fast jumping to a quick 4-0
lead, but slowed a little later in the game, probably due to a little
bit of jet lag. After a good am skate the next day, the Selects jumped
on the ice against the local club from EV Zug, the team that beat them
badly in 2001. After cashing in for 2 goals on the first shift the local
team keep coming only to be closed out 5-4 late in the game. A huge win
for the Selects to recover from the drubbing they took the year before
when they were severely shorthanded due to extensive injuries prior to
the departure of the tour. After the game both teams took part in a fun
social event by going to the Alpamare water park together.
The next test came in Sursee vs. EHC Olten which turned out to be the
lone blemish on the 2002 tour, a 3-3 tie. After the game the team traveled
to Lausanne for a game the next day and a game of sightseeing, including
a beautiful night dinner cruise on Lake Geneva, graciously sponsored
by the Murphy family. In a game the next day against the reigning Swiss
National Champions from Lausanne, the Selects put on perhaps the best
performance of the tour in a convincing 9-1 victory.
Following the big Lausanne victory, the Selects had one last test against
the local team in Sierre, a decided underdog considering the momentum
the Selects were carrying off the convincing victory over Lausanne. In
an emotionally charged building packed with locals, most cheering against
the good old US of A, the locals jumped out to a early 3-0 lead. However,
thanks to an exceptional coaching job by Selects Coach Alec Hines, who
was filling in for the departed Head Coach Derek Eisler who had to depart
early for his Jr. A teams' try-out, did a great job rallying the team
to get the late victory to preserve the perfect record.
