And so the count down begins...3 days until the San Jose Jr. Shark PW99 AAA team departs for Quebec for the Quebec International PeeWee Hockey tournament.
What is this tournament? Why the hype...
As it states on the home page of the Quebec PW tournament - it is the most important minor hockey tournament in the world, where about 2300 11-12 year old hockey players from approximately 16 countries come together in Quebec to play hockey. This is the 53rd year of this tournament, which takes place from Feb. 9-19th.
But to get ready to depart, some preparation needs to take place. So here are some of the Q&A's which might help...
Question: Should we send money with the kids?
Answer: You will probably want to send some money with the kids (suggested amount has been about $200 or so...Megan has offered to hold onto and hand out money if you are worried that your player will lose it). Remember, they will be fed breakfast & dinner by the host family and they will be fed lunch as set up by Robert Savoie & tournament. However, they might want extra spending money to purchase other food items when out with team/host family...or souvenirs to bring back home.
Question: Should we send Canadian or American money?
Answer: If you get a chance to convert the money prior to the child leaving the US, that might be the best thing to do. Check with your bank, as some banks do carry foreign currency. Other opportunities might be at SFO or in Toronto where they will be changing planes.
Question: Will the host family do our child's laundry
Answer: They will - some of the families might ask the child; other families will wait for the child to ask. According to the '96 group, the majority of the kids just came home with dirty smelly clothing. Kind of like when they go to summer camp or outdoor ed. Their comment..."hygiene will probably not be your child's first priority."
Question: What is a "typical" day?
Answer: The boys will sleep at the host family's house, they will be fed breakfast...in the morning they will be dropped off at the Colisee. In the Colisee, Robert Savoie will designate a meeting place where all the boys will meet. If there is a game, they will then get picked up by the tournament vans and be taken to the rink where the game will take place. If other activies are planned for the day, Savoie has a team van which will take the player to the location of the activity. Non-hockey activities could include a trip to the snow park, a trip to the shopping mall, a trip to a hockey store, a trip to the hotel for a study hall, etc. At night, the players are picked up at the Colisee, go back to the host family's house - eat dinner, do activities with the family and go to bed. If one of the family members do not work, the boys might have the opportunity to hang out at the house if there isn't a game unless some other team activity is planned. If both members of the family work and there is no game, then the plays will get dropped off at a pre-arranged place and a team activity will take place.
Question: If we come to Quebec, can we see our child?
Answer: Aside from seeing him everyday when you watch him play, there might be some opportunities depending on how much you want to be around your child & their host family. Aside from playing hockey in Canada, one of the major experiences the players will be having is staying with another teammate - away from mom & dad - with another family. However, arrangements can be made if you communicate with the host family and your child - there will be times when there will not be hockey games. The year that the '96s when, there were a few parents who did make dinner arrangements with their player & their player's host family.
Question: Will the host family speak any English?
Answer: Some host families will have one parent who speaks English better than the other - or both of them might be able to speak English. And sometimes it is their children who speak better English than the parents.
Question: Concerned about the host family?
Answer: The majority of the families who host players have done it before. There is one family who was on our '96's billet list who have hosted for 25 years. This is a very important tournament to Quebec City - many families take vacation time around this event to host players and/or to actually go and watch pw hockey games. They love the sport and have missed professional hockey since the Nordiques left - so this is a time is a celebration time for them.
Question: What kind of food will the host families have to serve my child?
Answer: According to the '96 players, their host family asked them what kind of food they enjoyed and made sure that "comfort" food was there. They said that there were times they enjoyed their chicken nuggets, but also were around when the host family had fondue one evening. I was told that there are McDonalds and grocery stores in Quebec :)
Question: What activities will the kids do with the host family?
Answer: While with the host family, many times the boys will go out and play pond hockey after dinner, sometime during the evening or during the day if there is not game and they are staying at the host family. Sometimes, the entire Team's group of host families will all get together. There is usually a planned Team/Host family dinners and get togethers during the tournament.
Question: Do the boys need anything special for pond hockey - or how do they get their equipment?
Answer: While there are equiptment porters who will hand the players bags - storing them in between games and transporting them to the rinks, it has been suggested that the boys bring a small duffle in their hockey bag. They can use this small duffle to transport their skates, gloves & helmet..don't forget stick...from the rink to the host house so that they will have the equipment needed to go out and play pond hockey. Several of the 96s packed a small duffel bag in their hockey bag. This duffel was used to transport underarmour, skates, gloves and helmet to/from host house.
Question: Will the hockey gear get aired out after the game...when it is in possession of the equiptment porters?
Answer: No, after the player is done playing a hockey game - they change out of their hockey gear, put it in their hockey bag & zip it up. The gear is then removed by the porters assigned to our team and stored until it is needed for the next game. Therefore, it is a good idea to take skates, glove and helmet for pond hockey activities as well as allowing them to air our. But remind your child that the rest of the gear should stay back at the rink.
Question: Can we send gifts for the host family?
Answer: Yes, that is a great idea. As per suggested before, California wines are a great gift - but do not send it with your child - either send it directly to the host family or up to the hotel for one of the coaches, team manager to present it to the family with the player. Nice note paper, send a fruit basket, send sourdough bread, send Ghiradelli chocolates. Also, several families purchased gift certificates to nice restaurants they found while in Quebec.
Question: Need a packing list...
Answer: Here are some suggestions (remember the boys might speak up and asked to have their clothes washed and they might not...they might change their socks & underware, and they might not):
Answer: You will probably want to send some money with the kids (suggested amount has been about $200 or so...Megan has offered to hold onto and hand out money if you are worried that your player will lose it). Remember, they will be fed breakfast & dinner by the host family and they will be fed lunch as set up by Robert Savoie & tournament. However, they might want extra spending money to purchase other food items when out with team/host family...or souvenirs to bring back home.
Question: Should we send Canadian or American money?
Answer: If you get a chance to convert the money prior to the child leaving the US, that might be the best thing to do. Check with your bank, as some banks do carry foreign currency. Other opportunities might be at SFO or in Toronto where they will be changing planes.
Question: Will the host family do our child's laundry
Answer: They will - some of the families might ask the child; other families will wait for the child to ask. According to the '96 group, the majority of the kids just came home with dirty smelly clothing. Kind of like when they go to summer camp or outdoor ed. Their comment..."hygiene will probably not be your child's first priority."
Question: What is a "typical" day?
Answer: The boys will sleep at the host family's house, they will be fed breakfast...in the morning they will be dropped off at the Colisee. In the Colisee, Robert Savoie will designate a meeting place where all the boys will meet. If there is a game, they will then get picked up by the tournament vans and be taken to the rink where the game will take place. If other activies are planned for the day, Savoie has a team van which will take the player to the location of the activity. Non-hockey activities could include a trip to the snow park, a trip to the shopping mall, a trip to a hockey store, a trip to the hotel for a study hall, etc. At night, the players are picked up at the Colisee, go back to the host family's house - eat dinner, do activities with the family and go to bed. If one of the family members do not work, the boys might have the opportunity to hang out at the house if there isn't a game unless some other team activity is planned. If both members of the family work and there is no game, then the plays will get dropped off at a pre-arranged place and a team activity will take place.
Question: If we come to Quebec, can we see our child?
Answer: Aside from seeing him everyday when you watch him play, there might be some opportunities depending on how much you want to be around your child & their host family. Aside from playing hockey in Canada, one of the major experiences the players will be having is staying with another teammate - away from mom & dad - with another family. However, arrangements can be made if you communicate with the host family and your child - there will be times when there will not be hockey games. The year that the '96s when, there were a few parents who did make dinner arrangements with their player & their player's host family.
Question: Will the host family speak any English?
Answer: Some host families will have one parent who speaks English better than the other - or both of them might be able to speak English. And sometimes it is their children who speak better English than the parents.
Question: Concerned about the host family?
Answer: The majority of the families who host players have done it before. There is one family who was on our '96's billet list who have hosted for 25 years. This is a very important tournament to Quebec City - many families take vacation time around this event to host players and/or to actually go and watch pw hockey games. They love the sport and have missed professional hockey since the Nordiques left - so this is a time is a celebration time for them.
Question: What kind of food will the host families have to serve my child?
Answer: According to the '96 players, their host family asked them what kind of food they enjoyed and made sure that "comfort" food was there. They said that there were times they enjoyed their chicken nuggets, but also were around when the host family had fondue one evening. I was told that there are McDonalds and grocery stores in Quebec :)
Question: What activities will the kids do with the host family?
Answer: While with the host family, many times the boys will go out and play pond hockey after dinner, sometime during the evening or during the day if there is not game and they are staying at the host family. Sometimes, the entire Team's group of host families will all get together. There is usually a planned Team/Host family dinners and get togethers during the tournament.
Question: Do the boys need anything special for pond hockey - or how do they get their equipment?
Answer: While there are equiptment porters who will hand the players bags - storing them in between games and transporting them to the rinks, it has been suggested that the boys bring a small duffle in their hockey bag. They can use this small duffle to transport their skates, gloves & helmet..don't forget stick...from the rink to the host house so that they will have the equipment needed to go out and play pond hockey. Several of the 96s packed a small duffel bag in their hockey bag. This duffel was used to transport underarmour, skates, gloves and helmet to/from host house.
Question: Will the hockey gear get aired out after the game...when it is in possession of the equiptment porters?
Answer: No, after the player is done playing a hockey game - they change out of their hockey gear, put it in their hockey bag & zip it up. The gear is then removed by the porters assigned to our team and stored until it is needed for the next game. Therefore, it is a good idea to take skates, glove and helmet for pond hockey activities as well as allowing them to air our. But remind your child that the rest of the gear should stay back at the rink.
Question: Can we send gifts for the host family?
Answer: Yes, that is a great idea. As per suggested before, California wines are a great gift - but do not send it with your child - either send it directly to the host family or up to the hotel for one of the coaches, team manager to present it to the family with the player. Nice note paper, send a fruit basket, send sourdough bread, send Ghiradelli chocolates. Also, several families purchased gift certificates to nice restaurants they found while in Quebec.
Question: Need a packing list...
Answer: Here are some suggestions (remember the boys might speak up and asked to have their clothes washed and they might not...they might change their socks & underware, and they might not):
- Jeans, sweat pants, warm up pants (long pants)
- Long sleeve shirts
- Sweat shirts
- Socks (pack "lots", you can never have enough! According to several of the 96's...they went through 3 pairs of socks a day depending how many times they went outside to play pond hockey)
- Underware (regular and long/thermal)
- Mittens
- Hat
- Ski mask (suggested as the winter winds might pick up)
- Scarf
- Snow pants
- Boots (they will live in their boots)
- Tennis Shoes
- Hockey bag (hockey gear - skates, pads, helmet, gloves, pants/breezers, mouth guard)
- Hockey sticks
- Underamour, jocs, cup
- Teal and White Jersey
- Teal and White hockey socks (if you have more than one pair of each, the better)
- Water bottle, if your player has a certain kind they use
- Extra small duffle bag to put in their hockey bag (to transport skates, gloves, helmet & stick to and from rink - nice to have at host family to go out and play pond hockey after dinner)
- Tolietries...tooth brush, tooth paste, deordarant...(make sure that they are packed in suitcase or a clear plastic bag if being carried on airplane)
- Cell phone (please make sure you check your child's cell phone policy - make sure that they can make & receive calls outside of US and check the rates)
- Backpack with homework & books & writing utensils
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