For the first time in the New Year the team was getting back together and ready to try to take the next step toward bringing home gold in Vancouver in 2010. On January 8, we started our long trip to Nagano, Japan for the second annual Japan Challenge. We all had arrived in Chicago where I learned that my long time line mate Tim Jones was going to be unable to make the trip because of some traveling issues. This was not only a huge last second shock, but also a huge blow to our team. We would be playing without two of our top six forwards as Alexi Salamone was still unable to play because of injuries. But with these two players staying home it was going to be a chance for one of our younger players to step up and show everyone what they could do.

After spending the night in Chicago we boarded our flight to Japan and after twelve hours on the plane we finally landed.  We had about two hours to get through customs and load all of our bags on our bus before the two hour drive to our final destination. The next day we had our first practice and because of the lack of ice rinks in the area, we had to drive about two hours away to get to our practice rink. Though we only got an hour of ice time, it was desperately needed to shake off some of the jet lag. Practice went really smoothly and it was a chance for Adam Page and me to get used to our new line mate for the tournament - Greg Shaw.

Our first game was on Tuesday, Jan. 13, against our rival Canada and everyone was focused and ready to go.  That focus really showed in our pre-game skate.  After heading back to the hotel and having a light lunch followed by a short nap it was almost game time. We all met in the hotel lobby then headed for the bus.  There wasn't much talking going on as most of the team was listening to their iPods and getting focused for the game.  Before the game, we did a little chalk talk and went over a few last second things. The first period started exactly as we wanted it to, we limited Canada to only four shots and not one of them was in good scoring position. While on the power play our new team captain, Andy Yohe, followed a shot by Lonnie Hannah and knocked in the rebound to give us the early lead. We all knew scoring first against Canada was huge but we had to do something that we have had trouble with against them and that was keeping the lead.  In the second and third periods we tried to play a little more defensive and not give up any big scoring chances. While being out shot 12-1 in that time frame, our goalie Steve Cash came up with a few big-time saves and we held on for the shutout victory.

The win against the Canadians was huge and we all knew that put us in the driver's seat and we could seal a spot in the gold medal game only having to win one of our next two games. We didn't have much time to celebrate or relax because we had a huge game against Japan the next day. That night seemed to take forever to go by, we had dinner and all went back and hung out in a few rooms.  Guys were going on laptops one by one and video chatting with their families telling them the good news.  After about an hour, we decided to try and forget about the game so we watched Saturday Night Live - The Best of Chris Farley.

The next day our game against Japan came fast and although we had beaten them 9-0 our last game we knew they would be a greatly improved team having five of their top players back that they didn't have in our last match-up. The game was very defensive on both sides; the first big blow came 8:11 into the first period when Adam Page got a checking from behind penalty and a ten minute major. That hurt a lot but we managed to survive out shooting Japan 8-4 through a scoreless three periods of play. After a tight overtime and a few huge stops by both goalies we went into a shootout, which we won 1-0 with three big saves from Cash and a clutch shot by Chris Manns that locked up our spot in the gold medal game.

With the team looking a little tired the coaches canceled our practice the next morning before our game against Norway. This gave us a little time to go out and walk around Nagano to do a little sightseeing. Walking around town was more dangerous than the games we had played because every time we went to cross the street we had at least one guy forgot that cars drove on the opposite side of the road and thought the coast was clear. A few of the guys and their families walked over to look at an old temple and actually got blessed by a holy man while most of the other guys, including myself, checked out a few small outdoor shops.  After seeing the sights we got back to the hotel and got a little rest before our game.

That night against Norway our team's offense really seemed be clicking like it hadn't in the first two games as we out shot Norway 21-11 and won the game 7-1. We had two hat tricks, one by Taylor Chace and the other by my line mate Adam Page who got the player of the game award. Even though it was great to win the game and as easy as we had won it, we still had another huge test left. We had to face Canada again for the gold medal the following day and everyone knew the Canadians would be ready to play and have a chip on their shoulder after we had shut them out earlier in the tournament.

Three minutes into the gold medal game, we gave up a goal while on the penalty kill and things got even worse in the second period as we gave up three more goals.  In the third, we had several chances to put the puck in the net but couldn't finish as we fell to Canada, 5-0. While the medals were being presented I remembered one thing in particular.  It struck me that this was only the third time in my career that I had actually played for a gold medal and that our team had taken a few huge strides in getting to this point.  Not only were we the youngest team in the tournament, but we had also been playing without two of our top players.  Considering those things, the Japan Challenge was a huge success and a big step for our team.

Before we started our trip home, the team had set up a trip for us to Tokyo Disney. I was excited because, like a few other guys on the team, I had never been to any of the Disneyland parks. Before we went inside we took a team photo and then we split into small groups. We went on a few rides and checked out the sites, and I have to say Space Mountain was the best ride that I had ever been on!! All in all, the trip to Japan was a lot of fun and it was a great experience for us as a team.

After a long trip home I didn't have much time to relax as the following weekend the junior team that I help coach in Buffalo had a tournament in London, Ontario. With our kids being a lot younger and having a lot less playing experience than almost every other team in the tournament the kids all played great and we ended up coming in third place with a 2-1 shootout win for the bronze.  After all of the travel I have done the past few weeks it will be nice to take a few days off for a little R & R.