The IIHF World Championship
It's the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships! And even though I'm very sick right now... I-I wouldn't miss it for anything! And... the Latvian national team is great, so... they'll play their hardest! Our first game is against America... a-and even though we haven't beat him since 2001... I'm sure we can win!
4/25/09:
...We... didn't beat America's team, but... we played our hardest, and it was a good game. So that's alright... a-and we play Sweden next... My team has never beaten his before, but... I-I'm sure we'll be amazing!
4/27/09:
...
...
W-We... We've finally done it...! We've beaten Sweden! [a bit breathless with excitement]
Now... we just need to do our best, a-and... I know we can beat Austria on Wednesday... to get to the next round!
Maybe... even... we could take the whole thing!
[will never stop hoping, year after year]
4/29/09:
W-We did it! It was... an amazing game! But... tomorrow will be... S-Switzerland... [kind of scared of him...] ...W-We can still do it...!
4/30/09:
We... beat Switzerland... [a little stunned himself and shaking with suppressed pride] I-I... Masaļskis was amazing...!
France next... [very optimistic]
5/2/09:
7-1! We beat France 7-1! It was a great game! We have a good chance of making it to the quarterfinals, now~ Just as long as... w-well... we're playing... R-Russia next... [trembles] B-But we've beaten him before. So. So. W-We can do it again!
5/3/09:
... ... W-We... lost... R-Russia's team got three goals against us in, in th-three minutes at one point! [tries to keep from crying] But! At least... We got one point! We played our best, and... Russia is the top team anyway, so... [nods a little shakily] There will be other chances, especially... if we make it to the quarterfinals! ...At this point, we can only wait to see if America's team beats Switzerland's... i-if he does, we go, but if Switzerland wins... [tiny smile] We've already played... a wonderful tournament!
[...still breathlessly hoping America does beat Switzerland...]
5/4/09:
Um! Well! Switzerland... did beat America's team... But! [giant grin] It wasn't by enough... that the Latvian team wouldn't make it to the quarterfinals! ...W-We're going! [trembling trying to contain his excitement] And, and! Our first game is against, um, Canada, which is... a little... Canada is really good...
But! We're definitely... going to play our best!
5/7/09:
Ah, well... we didn't win, but... It was our best ever finish against Canada's team! S-So! That's the same as a victory, really! ...And... that means I'm not in the tournament anymore, but... I finished seventh! That's the best I've ever placed (even though I've gotten seventh before...)! I think... next year... definitely: we can get sixth! [despite the economic crisis, despite his aging players, despite how hard it is for his people to become great hockey players, despite other nations' powerhouse hockey programs... he knows that one day his team will beat them all]
4/25/09:
...We... didn't beat America's team, but... we played our hardest, and it was a good game. So that's alright... a-and we play Sweden next... My team has never beaten his before, but... I-I'm sure we'll be amazing!
4/27/09:
...
...
W-We... We've finally done it...! We've beaten Sweden! [a bit breathless with excitement]
Now... we just need to do our best, a-and... I know we can beat Austria on Wednesday... to get to the next round!
Maybe... even... we could take the whole thing!
[will never stop hoping, year after year]
4/29/09:
W-We did it! It was... an amazing game! But... tomorrow will be... S-Switzerland... [kind of scared of him...] ...W-We can still do it...!
4/30/09:
We... beat Switzerland... [a little stunned himself and shaking with suppressed pride] I-I... Masaļskis was amazing...!
France next... [very optimistic]
5/2/09:
7-1! We beat France 7-1! It was a great game! We have a good chance of making it to the quarterfinals, now~ Just as long as... w-well... we're playing... R-Russia next... [trembles] B-But we've beaten him before. So. So. W-We can do it again!
5/3/09:
... ... W-We... lost... R-Russia's team got three goals against us in, in th-three minutes at one point! [tries to keep from crying] But! At least... We got one point! We played our best, and... Russia is the top team anyway, so... [nods a little shakily] There will be other chances, especially... if we make it to the quarterfinals! ...At this point, we can only wait to see if America's team beats Switzerland's... i-if he does, we go, but if Switzerland wins... [tiny smile] We've already played... a wonderful tournament!
[...still breathlessly hoping America does beat Switzerland...]
5/4/09:
Um! Well! Switzerland... did beat America's team... But! [giant grin] It wasn't by enough... that the Latvian team wouldn't make it to the quarterfinals! ...W-We're going! [trembling trying to contain his excitement] And, and! Our first game is against, um, Canada, which is... a little... Canada is really good...
But! We're definitely... going to play our best!
5/7/09:
Ah, well... we didn't win, but... It was our best ever finish against Canada's team! S-So! That's the same as a victory, really! ...And... that means I'm not in the tournament anymore, but... I finished seventh! That's the best I've ever placed (even though I've gotten seventh before...)! I think... next year... definitely: we can get sixth! [despite the economic crisis, despite his aging players, despite how hard it is for his people to become great hockey players, despite other nations' powerhouse hockey programs... he knows that one day his team will beat them all]