The Grey Line Goalies

Today you can “meet” the goalies. They wear the grey practice jerseys. As anyone in hockey knows, with poor goaltending, there is little that can be done for any team. There are three goaltenders with the team in Harbin. The first two we took to Finland with us. My first impression was that goaltending would be a big issue for us, and to some extent it is, mostly because they all lack game experience. Before this season, none of the three had any international game experience. However, the top two goalies performed well in the games and gave us chances to win. I have high hopes for their progress.

Goalie, #88, Jia Dan Dan (Jzah Dan Dan) She is one of the older players at 23 years old and she smallest goalie at 5’4”. She has been on the team for a while, but until this season has always been the backup goalie. She is very quick and has good form, but her size means she is either hot or cold. As a typical goalie, she marches to her own drum and is an interesting kid.


Goalie, #30, Shi Yao (Shree Yow). She is 18 and quite big at 5’8”. She has only been on the team a short time, and is very young mentally. Her size and skills give her great potential. She played some great games early on, but recently has not been as strong. She too is quite an interesting character, shy at first and intensely competitive. She works very hard to improve and as she gets more experience and confidence will be very good.


Goalie, Liu Bo Lu (Lee-oh Bo Roo). She is 17 and also 5’8” tall. She is young and very new to the team. She did not make the trip to Finland with the team. She is still a development goalie but has some good potential. She has improved a lot in the two months I have seen her. She took Tim and I out shopping the other day and was quite a guide. She is a very fun loving kid, and probably saved us a lot of money shopping.


I am finishing this blog from Rhode Island, as I completed my 24 hour journey home and I am at the end of December 22nd, which was a 37 hour day for me with the traveling time change. I will be traveling aorund New England a lot visiting family and friends so my next blog will probably be in 2006!

I will return back to China after the New Year to endure the tough Harbin winter months of January and February. We saw the beginnings of the Harbin ice sculptures being built on the side of the highway on the way to the airport as our driver cruised along at a smooth 160 kph. January is the time for the “Festival of Ice and Snow” in Harbin, which is the biggest tourist attraction for the city and has recently become an international tourist event.

Signing off in the U.S.A…. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year to you all!