Helen Blackwell Beijing Under 14 Ice Hockey

Img 7051
Img 6989
Img 6990
Img 6987
Img 7038
Img 6994
Img 7047
Img E7048
Img 7052
Img 6988
Img 7048
Img 6986
Img 7040
Img 7037
Img 7042
Img 6970 1
Img 7150
Img 7153
Img 7053
Img 7154 1
Img 7152 1
Img 7151
Img 7050
Img 7039
Img 7114 1
Img 7041
Img 7049
Img 6992
Img 6991
Img 6993
Img 7155
Img 7046
Img 7044
Img 7156
Img 7157 1

Helen Blackwell talks about her Beijing Under 14 Ice Hockey time with 7 matches.

So just after getting back from UK no time for rest we went to Beijing where I was playing for Rimau a Malaysian Ice Hockey team in under 14 category. I was looking forward to seeing old friends since I played for them in Singapore in February in the under 16 group.

I was excited because ill be sharing a room with my friend Claire who is 14. We fly down to Bangkok and stayed at Novotel airport Hotel. I love that hotel since its got a fab swimming pool and its just a few minutes away. We had to get up at 5am to catch our first flight to Hong Kong where we will be meeting the Rimau team. At Hong Kong it was not long before I saw Claire and we caught next flight to Beijing.

We fly Cathay whi9ch was OK but food was not very good. At Bejing our coach lost his bag and we had to wait for next flight to arrive so he could get it. Our coach is called Alan and is a Canadian. The Hotel like last year was free for players being paid for by Chinese Ice Hockey association. Where and wifi was terrible so I could not play my favorite computer games.

During the com-petition we had 7 matches one each day. Our first match against a Canadian team we did really badly and but our coach told us to forget that and concentrate on next days match. Next day we played a Chinese team and after 2-2 score won by a kick off. It was obvious the referees were totally biased and sent our players off for slightest reason or worse where they claimed a foul when even other teams coach agreed there was none. I was sent off for 2 minutes penalty for no reason at all.

Our coach was really angry. Our third match was against Taiwan typhoons who I played for in last years tournament in under 12 group where we won the gold medal. They are one of strongest teams in Asia if not the strongest. It was a great game and although they won we did really well against them. The other matches were against another Canadian team which we lost badly and against 2 Chinese teams where our team played really well but again referees were totally against us. Everyone agreed even coaches from other side who were not Chinese it was unfair.

For first time in over 20 tournaments I saw a real fight since some of our team were so angry about referees. Rimau is quite a weak team but I love playing for them since they have such a good team spirit and also with them I am one of strongest team members so am pout in to play a lot. After last match we all went to great Wall. I went last year but this year instead of taking cable car I walked up with some of our team and at top also walked 4 sections. I was really tired but it was fun. Next day we caught flight back to Bangkok stayed at airport hotel for a night and then back home.