Okinawa - hockey in a tropical paradise?
Okinawa - Where men play a boys' game in a frozen building next to some of the most
beautiful beaches in the Pacific. When James Michener was writing "Tales of the South
Pacific", I wouldn't think he envisioned men playing hockey in a tropical setting.
I've watched hockey games in many locations, but .. this is a first for me!
.. and a 3-game day at that !!
We had a restful morning. Walked the beach, ate a late breakfast, went up to the skyview pool.
Drove 12km to the southern part of the island to Haebaru-cho and to Southern Hill Sports World:
This was looking out to the east side of the island from the ice rink :
This was the "RYUKYU ISLANDS TOURNAMENT", featuring teams from Thailand,
Korea, and (3) from Okinawa. Temperature outside was 90-deg, inside .. 45-deg.
Talked to and listened to many of the players from all of the teams during the day.
Country origins included .. Canada, US, Russia, Czech, Japanese(Okinawans), & Korea.
Interestingly, one of the gentlemen on the Okinawa 'all Japanese' team, played for the
Japanese hockey team in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, the "Miracle on Ice" event!
Old, but not slow and very cunning! Some very talented players on all of the teams.
They took photos after each game, with players of both sides together :
You can see Jon on one knee. Here's one of Jon & Salli & I :
Here's one of Jon getting ready for action, # 84 :
In every game he was one of the fastest skaters on the ice ! Had a fantastic three games !
His team name is the Korea Geckos. Jon's games today (Friday) :
Game 1, vs. the Bangkok Flying Farangs : 1-goal + 2-assists in 7-3 win.
Game 2, vs. the Okinawa Sniperz : 2-goals + 2-assists in 5-0 win.
Game 3, vs. the Okinawa Military : 1-shorthanded goal in 10-1 loss. (they were TIRED!)
His team has a game Saturday morning at 7:45am, and if they win .. another later in the day.
Whew! Today Salli and I watched 7-hours of hockey ! Yikes !
The brief times between games we would go outside to warm up .. alternating back and forth
between a freezer and a steam bath !
Definitely a bucket list item when it involves an experience like this with family.
beautiful beaches in the Pacific. When James Michener was writing "Tales of the South
Pacific", I wouldn't think he envisioned men playing hockey in a tropical setting.
I've watched hockey games in many locations, but .. this is a first for me!
.. and a 3-game day at that !!
We had a restful morning. Walked the beach, ate a late breakfast, went up to the skyview pool.
Drove 12km to the southern part of the island to Haebaru-cho and to Southern Hill Sports World:
Korea, and (3) from Okinawa. Temperature outside was 90-deg, inside .. 45-deg.
Talked to and listened to many of the players from all of the teams during the day.
Country origins included .. Canada, US, Russia, Czech, Japanese(Okinawans), & Korea.
Interestingly, one of the gentlemen on the Okinawa 'all Japanese' team, played for the
Japanese hockey team in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, the "Miracle on Ice" event!
Old, but not slow and very cunning! Some very talented players on all of the teams.
They took photos after each game, with players of both sides together :
His team name is the Korea Geckos. Jon's games today (Friday) :
Game 1, vs. the Bangkok Flying Farangs : 1-goal + 2-assists in 7-3 win.
Game 2, vs. the Okinawa Sniperz : 2-goals + 2-assists in 5-0 win.
Game 3, vs. the Okinawa Military : 1-shorthanded goal in 10-1 loss. (they were TIRED!)
His team has a game Saturday morning at 7:45am, and if they win .. another later in the day.
Whew! Today Salli and I watched 7-hours of hockey ! Yikes !
The brief times between games we would go outside to warm up .. alternating back and forth
between a freezer and a steam bath !
Definitely a bucket list item when it involves an experience like this with family.
Three games in one day, Jon must be tired! What fun!
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