Blog #5

Blog #5 by Brendan and Mark The day started off a little restlessly... Mike was snoring along with the whole other side of the room creating a cascade of noise coming over to the quiet side of the room. After a scrumputous breakfast of crossiants (which we have had every morning and get better everytime according to Nathan.) Around 10 we headed off to the pool not knowing what to expect. The pool was fantastic; probably the best idea of the trip. For the first time in 5 days we actually felt chilled by the ice cold water of the pool. The tempurature reached a mild 38 degrees today so the water felt awesome. After everyone jumps into the pool, we noticed that Rhett was absent. When he came out, he nervously eyes the water and slowly walk to the other side where we were. After some friendly peer pressure, we got him to cannon ball in, after which we observed he was freaking out! We learned that Rhett wasn't a great swimmer. So after some coaxing from Mac and Mike, we gave Rhett some swimming lessons, much to our entertainment. To add to the great time we had pool, Sara also tagged along. Needless to say Sheldon was infatuated to a degree that Sheldon was totally fixated. Sara sensed Sheldon's pressence and procided to push him into the water to break his trance. Turns out he was intensely staring a couple inches south of her face ... we have never seen Sheldon more focussed all trip. After the pool we went out for a lunch of donairs and pizza. Came back to the room afterwards to get out of the heat and enjoyed some time with the boizz. Our first game of the day was against a similiar skilled Greek team. We came out with a good-fought win that was a great reward for a hard game. Our next game went better than expected played against a guy that Mike called "a big guerrilla". I'm pretty sure he had a super-powered laser (even more powerful than the Canadian Gaser). The score ended up being 20-13 which was a great accomplishment against a team that played a close game with the Argentian national team. After the game we came back to the room and then went for supper and then to watch Mark play in the all-star game. The game was awesome playing, playing with the best players from different countries and against the Spainish select team. Mike says I got MVP for getting 2 fast break goals and a yellow card for giving a guy the bussiness. I also "traded" for a ball and a nice Hummel jersey afterwards making it a good night. Signing off with the last blog from the tournament in Spain, Brendan and Mark.

Blog 4 with da boyz

Whats up world, its your boy Parker, with Travis aka the King. First of all, Shoutout to Batman, the team cant wait for you and your journal to get over here, we need you to give the biz to the local kids. Today was an eventful day, we woke up at 8, had breakfast, and headed to our game at 10:20, which we lost 15-13, but was winnable. The second game, we played on the main court which was an unbelieveable arena and great atmosphere, and we lost 17-13, but we played very well today and were enjoying everything about grannollers and the tourney immensley. The teams are sick here, but were playing a lot better, and they've had more games under their belts. After the games, we went shopping down one of the main strips and almost all of us got shoes or other handball stuff, there was some stellar stuff... we then got gelato and chilled at the gelato establishment and Rhett met some nice icelandic senorita's! And on the way back, some ball rolled on the street and some senor on a scooter ran over it! the timing was unreal, the guy ran over both wheels and the ball stopped, it was hilarious yo! We have almost completed our mission to get Sara to ditch the girls and become one of da boyz, and were nearly succesfull, but shes got one more mission... Details are not to be disclosed. Soon our mission will be done. After wanderin back to the school, we went to dinner which was decent, except they give really chintzy servings, and the buns are always stale. Were just watchin some football, Park is currently winning against the world (out of sherwood park), which i wanna play, so Parker is out of here, taking Travis with him.... S/O to all of the boys back across the ocean, you guys know who you are.... Ps Peggy is doing very well, and misses Janet and all the other ladies who love her so much.

Billigual Blog #3 / Blog Trois

Salut et hello from L`Espagne in blog number 3 by Mark and Matt. The day got kicked off with the first game of the tournament against Epic Casino. The game was winnable but jittery nerves got the best of boizz. The score ended up being 16-12. Following the game we went for a relaxing lunch and siesta. The next game up was against the Arginitian U-18 national team. It was a learning experience against a pretty slick team. With our day finished, we watched a couple games and saw some pretty sick teams, including a girls team from Korea and a crazy guy from Slovenia that would even you, Tyrell, jealuous of his vert. After our supper, we came back to the room for a game of football ( Mike captained the winning team, of course). And now off to bust a move at the first dance. We are thinking of wearing the tournament hats and bandizzeees. But we are having trouble deciding whether to wear them on the head or on the arms... Tomorrow has in store for us 2 more games against good competion and probably another football game with Mike tossing some hail mary's. Goodnight and bonne nuit from Matt and Mark.

Good day fellow Earthlings, Day two marked another exiting day of adventures in the land of the Spanish for ATHF. This morning Nathan, Myself (Darryl) and our teammates were woken up by the infamous duck. Shortly after we came across a sort of bathroom fiasco, the culprit is still unknown... Lets just say the Spanish toilet engineering does not cooperate as well as our throwns do in the homeland. Nevertheless we pushed forward and enjoyed a delicious croisant breafast and made our way into Barcelona for a day of shopping and walking the La Rumba strip wit da bois + Sara. The strip was incredible and very busy but also extremnely interesting and nothing like anything we have ever seen before. We enjoyed wandering through the various sport stores and eateries, as well as strutting our stuff alone the harbour. Most of us have decided to wait till next week when we revisit Barcelona to do our shopping, except Mackenzie and Kraig who spent the afternoon in Guess and Coach looking for accessories for their special others (I think they will be quite satisfied!).Unlike our smooth entrance into Barcelona via the train, our exit was much more eventful. We boarded the first train that passed our track. But 45 minutes at 140 kmh got us well on our way to a small village in France. Fprtunately we assessed the issue before the customs lady arrived at our seats. We expertly evacuated the train and boparded a much slower return train that took us back into Granollers. After a little bit of rest the next big event of the day was the Opening Ceremnonies.The ceremonies included a healthy mixtuyre of standing around, walking, a human tower, ball throwing and drums. Because it was our lucky day, ATHF was awarded with the honour to folloow the queit, polite Quebec teams. The day was then rounded out with a late complementry dinner while watching the Korean U15 team run double ally-oops on the Spanish U15 national team. The team is certainkly enjoying the atmosphere of Granoller and have been soaking up plenty of sun rays. To sum things up it has been a long, hot day but also very exciting and eventful. We start matchplay tomorrow in the A.M and are very thrilled to be abl to reporesent Alberta and Canada in the best way possible. This is Nathan and Darryl signing off from Spain P.S if y`all wish for a Nathan and Darryl encore, feel free to bombard Mike with plenty of emails,tweets, and facebook messages.

First of all the groups for Italy came out, groups are as follows; U-23 Women: 1 – ALBERTA TEAM (Canada) 2 – VSH 2002 (Danimarca) 3 – CHACIORRO (Honduras) 4 – AIR FORCE TEAM (India) 5 – SPE STROVOLOU (Cipro) 6 – UZBEKISTAN U-18 Women: 1 – JERSIE HK (Danimarca) 2 – HRK KATARINA MOSTAR (Bosnia) 3 – ALBERTA TEAM (Canada) 4 – HC DRITA GIJAN (Kosovo) 5 – OLOBUTYO SEC SCHOOL (Kenya) 6 – SOSNIA GLIWICE (Polonia) U-18 Men: 1 – ALBERTA TEAM (Canada) 2 – JERSIE HK (Danimarca) 3 – TUS NIEDER ESCHBACH (Germania) 4 – CRBM MILA (Algeria) 5 – VSH 2002 (Danimarca) 6 – AO KOZANIS (Grecia) 7 – TEKNOELETTRONICA TERAMO (Italia) Blog #1 From Spain Yo this is Kid Kaptain (Kraig) and Mac Daddy (Mackenzie). First of all our trip started off with some fines thanks to foster and rhett, for being late at the airport. There kind donations will go towards team dinner later in the week. Our plane from edmonton to toronto was on time and like any other flight. Quick stop for some food in toronto and we were back in the air for 8 more long hours. Unfortunately, our plane from toronto to barcelona had NO TV'S!!! It was so boring we had to talk about golf. We arrived in barcelona to a cold 31 degrees. Very hot. When we arrived at the school, we started setting up our air mattresses and realized we had forgoteen Max :( Kraig's air mattress was the first one to pop, lasting only 20 minutes. Peggy on the other hand, had a spectacular flight. She had of course her own seat in first class sponsored by addidas and da boyz (youth guys). She would like to give a shout out to Batman, she wishes you were here. The school we are staying at is nice and cozy. We have our own School to ourselves, and a nice courtyard which has a basketball court and a handball court. After we set up our mattresses we walked to main court as a team. We had lunch at a local restaurant, which was entertaining and delicious. Then, we walked around Granollers for the next 3 hours. Practice was at 5 o'clock, which went well considering our jet lag. Nathan "Gramps" Zilinski came away with the special honor of peggy. She is excited to spend the night with him. Funny story, during our 3 hours of walking around, tired travis decided to take a journey into his brain, as he fell into a deep sleep. We had come to the conclusion as a team that we would see if putting a sleeping persons hand in warm water would cause them to urinate. It did not in fact work. He did however feel as though he had urinated in his pants. Tomorrow, we are planning on waking up early and heading in to barcelona for the day. We plan on siteseeing and touring the city. Everyone is looking forward to getting handball gear. Shout outs to Max, Tyrell, Matt ruf, and special thanks to Surroosh for making this all possible. talk to everybody later, Mack Daddy and Kid Kapt'n.

Youth Girls are ready to go,

Time to start packing and getting ready. Girls leave July 2nd to Teramo,Italy, where they want to reach their goal of a top 3 finish. Janel Rogiani said: That the hard work has been put in and now its time to show the world what Alberta can do on the world stage. After Italy the girls will head into Paris so a nice well deserved 4 days vacation. Keep up to date with the girls as they try to reach there goal. We also want to make note that Laura Sephton who was a huge part of the team blew her ACL 2 weeks ago and wont be able to come, Laura please know that the team will miss you so much and you are alway apart of the team. Schedule has not been released yet. Roster Janel Rogiani-Wing Cassie Breton-Wing Kristen Klimczak-Pivot Lindsay Piper-Pivot Megan Johnson-Pivot Taylor Sterling-Wing and Back Brenna Sanderson-Back Jessica King-Back Lydia Roseman-Back Teo Bosendra-Goalie

Youth boys are ready to go

Teams have finished practicing and ready for the trip. The Youth Boys leave on June 25th to the grannolers cup in Spain. then they will head to Teramo, Italy for a tournament. The team goals are top 6 in Spain and to Win Teramo. Keep up to date on this blog for pictures and Blogs from the players. it will be updated as many times as we can which depends on internet access. Schedule as Follows 28/06/2012 11:00 05 - TUB EPIC CASINO (Spain) ALBERTA FED-CANADA 28/06/2012 17:00 06 - PARQUET ALBERTA FED-CANADA SEL.ARGENTINA 29/06/2012 10:20 02 - ANNEX ALBERTA FED-CANADA H.SANT CUGAT (Spain) 29/06/2012 14:20 01 - PALAU ESPORT ALBERTA FED-CANADA BM.ARAGÓN (Spain) 30/06/2012 16:20 04 - TUB ALBERTA FED-CANADA ORDIZIA ESKUBALOIA 30/06/2012 19:40 05 - TUB ALBERTA FED-CANADA DUKLA de PRAGA Teramo Schedule has not been Released. Roster Sheldon Rhein-Wing Rhett Strensrud-Wing Mackenzie Gleave-Wing Mark Gordulic-Wing Travis King- Pivot Parker Love-Pivot Kraig Fischer-Back Nathan Zilinski-Back Brendon Foster-Back Darryl Lakusta-Back Tyler Southall-Goalie Maxx Wagg-Goalie