WORLD SPACE TEAM WINS “HOCKEY NIGHT IN STRASBOURG” TOURNAMENT!! - by: Ron Maclean
An unlikely team composed of 4 International Space University students and two random French locals who had never seen a hockey stick, much less knew what to do with one, eked out as Hockey Night in Strasbourg Tournament champions after a series of spectacular (and suprising) wins. Competing amongst 5 teams, the team accuractly named “World Space Team” faced its first challenge in attempting to enlighten the French locals as to what the heck this meant. The French settled for this name meaning some cool English phrase…
The ISU contigent was proudly represented by the following superstars and their special traits:
Ms. Christine Nam – Team Most Valuable Player (MVP). No joke here – Ms. Nam shocked everyone including her own teammates by her play. Seriously, who would have suspected this ridiculously cute little skater wearing a giant hockey jersey of being a thorn to every team. She did have the advantage using her hockey stick, which to the average hockey player on skates would come up just past the knees, making an excellent golf putter but a poor substitute for a hockey stick. Besides winning every faceoff (look this term up if you don’t understand), and making some clutch passes, Ms. Nam threw some fercious body checks – unintentionally of course, but fercious nonetheless, leaving her victims dazzled and annoyed. Clearly, Ms. Nam proved that size does not matter…
Mr. Richard Chim – The Scud Missile (or Out-of-Control Dion Phaneuf). You could not miss him even if you were blind because he would have knocked you down. Mr. Chim’s spectacular crashes had his opponents shaking their heads as it was impossible to get around him without wiping out everyone within a 2m radius. Besides the ”Strategic Hits” ,as we shall call it, Mr. Chim proved his Canadian background making some excellent passes, and clutch blocks, especially since the World Space Team’s goalie (played by one of the French Locals) had no idea what he was doing.
Mr. Henrik Karlsson – aka Mr. Nick Lidstrom ( smoothest skater in the National Hockey League). Mr. Karlsson, the sole representative of current Olympic Ice Hockey champions Sweden, showed why his country produces great hockey players with his solid offensive and defensive play, clutch goals especially when everyone else was exhausted, and more importantly, his off-ice performance chatting up all the ladies that were watching.
Mr. Harish Raisinghani – aka Mr. Spread Eagle. Mr. Raisinghani, despite scoring some key goals, also spent much of his time (especially during the later games) making love to the ice as he later remarked he was too tired to get up at times. Of course, his crazy stick prevented anyone from getting close to the net, and at the same time infuriating the other teams, especially the team with a bunch of Cocky Little Hotshot Kids (who were phenominal skaters, but with a hockey stick in their hand and forced to chase a puck, looked like heavy-lift rockets without guidance systems).
The team initally played two widely entertaining games, especially against those Damn Kids, and then later settled on soundly beating 3 other teams on route to victory – the later games essentially being stuggles of survival. It’s just too bad the World Space Team will be unable to defend its title as the next tournament is in mid-June.
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A big Thanks to the players who came out but also to our highly energetic cheerleading squad, led by Antonio, Violetta, Dave and Alma!
~H
Team pic attached (unfortunately a bit blurry)
