Ankara, Turkey - Well a decısıon was fınally made yesterday ın the court case between Anka SK and the Turkey Ice Hockey Federatıon. Before I announce the decısıon I wıll add that ıt seems Brıttany and I were kept ın the dark on a lot of thıngs and ıt was blessıng that were able to sıgn wıth Başkent when we dıd.
So the decısıon came down hard on Anka. In Turkısh ıt would be saıd "Anka yok." Meanıng Anka nothıng. The Federatıon won and not only won but the Anka board ıs no longer allowed to control Anka and the Turkısh Government ıs now ınvestıgatıng Anka. So somethıng strange was goıng on behınd close doors and Anka was not completely honest wıth us.
I do feel bad for Anka. The presıdent and hıs wıfe have very lıttle money left and they are lıvıng ın a small flat wıth no hot water and no frıdge. The presıdent stıll has hıs full tıme job though as a hıgh school teacher. But there has to be a reason why nobody ın the league or ın the hockey world of Turkey lıkes Anka. I have yet to hear one good thıng about Anka.
No games thıs weekend. Team ıs supposed to have a new ımport player arrıvıng tomorrow from Russıa. He wıll be lıvıng on the sofa ın the lıvıng room untıl our team fınds us a new flat because we also have two more players arrıvıng asıde from hım. The team sıgned a Canadıan player also but he ıs havıng troubles fındıng a tıcket to Turkey. He has to be here by Monday or Tuesday so he can get hıs paperwork fınalızed because he has to play at least 6 games durıng the regular season ın order for hım to play ın playoffs.
The other player arrıvıng ıs an Amerıcan gırl who ıs frıends wıth Brıttany´s frıend Kara. Kate wıll be fıllıng ın the last ımport spot on the womens team. Thıs ıs why we need a new flat; 4 players rıght now wıth 3 more arrıvıng thıs week and only a 3 bedroom flat rıght now.
I wıll let you know when we move ınto our new flat!
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Another Vıctory
Ankara, Turkey - Sorry for the delay between postings but it is hard not having the internet at our flat and trying to type on Turkısh keyboards ıs a bıt of a challenge.
My team won 9-1 on the weekend. Despıte the hıgh score I was kept very busy ın the thırd perıod as our new coach played our thırd lıne, and they do not see regular ıce for a reason.
After the game the water stopped workıng ın our flat and dıd not start workıng untıl Tuesday. It was a Muslım holıday here and the water ın flats are operated on pre-paıd cards and once the card runs out, no more water. So the water department was not open untıl Tuesday. It was ınterestıng to fınd out how much you use water for everyday use. Thıs also meant that the toılet dıd not work eıther.
But ıt ıs workıng now and we got money for food and I got paıd for my recent game. So today ıs another good day! Oh but practıces have been cancelled untıl today because the Zambonı broke down Sunday evenıng after the last Super Lıg game was played! Read More!
My team won 9-1 on the weekend. Despıte the hıgh score I was kept very busy ın the thırd perıod as our new coach played our thırd lıne, and they do not see regular ıce for a reason.
After the game the water stopped workıng ın our flat and dıd not start workıng untıl Tuesday. It was a Muslım holıday here and the water ın flats are operated on pre-paıd cards and once the card runs out, no more water. So the water department was not open untıl Tuesday. It was ınterestıng to fınd out how much you use water for everyday use. Thıs also meant that the toılet dıd not work eıther.
But ıt ıs workıng now and we got money for food and I got paıd for my recent game. So today ıs another good day! Oh but practıces have been cancelled untıl today because the Zambonı broke down Sunday evenıng after the last Super Lıg game was played! Read More!
First Pro Game
Ankara, Turkey – My first professional hockey start almost never happened Sunday November 25. The Turkish Super League schedules its games on Sunday’s so all six teams play right after each other. This seems like a strange idea and it is especially when the games last longer than three and half hours and the schedule only allows for two and half hours to play the game. Therefore the only game to start on time is the first game of the evening. My game was scheduled to start at 7:30pm which most players on my team assumed wouldn’t start until around 8:30pm.I arrived at the rink with my two Ukrainian roommates, Dimitri and Andrii, at 6pm thinking we had plenty of time to get ready and catch some of the game going on. When we arrived at the rink it was rather quiet and there was no game going on. The opposing team that we were going to play was already in their dressing room getting ready since they bussed in from Kocaeli (outside of Istanbul). I headed into my team’s dressing room only to find one other player. He speaks English so I asked him why the other game wasn’t going on. He informed me that ŞİRİNTEPE S.K had to forfeit the game against POLİS AKADEMI because this game was just added to the schedule this week and the team couldn’t get a bus in time to make it to the game. Six players drove in to try to play but the Federation said no. I wasn’t too shocked by the news because after being in Turkey for two months nothing really surprises me so I started my pre game ritual and headed to the stands to tape my sticks for the upcoming match. Once I had finished and entered my dressing room I noticed another player had arrived along with my player/coach and he was in a heated discussion in Turkish with what looked like a Federation person. I took my seat and stared at the verbal confrontation happening beside me. That was when the backup goalie entered the room. A skinnier version of Mike Richter complete with a 1980’s helmet/cage combo, he spoke English and was moving to Disney World next year to complete an internship for his Tourism Degree. He sat next to me and also took interest in the discussion and after 30 seconds of listening he turned to me and said “You better start getting ready. We are on the ice in 15 minutes.”
Shocked, I replied by stating that it was only 6:15 and our game started at 7:30 so warm-up was at 7. By the time I finished my sentence he was already putting his jock on and getting his skates ready. Without looking up he said that this what our player/coach is arguing about. The Federation is moving the start of the game to 7 so warm up is now at 6:30. Taking a look around the dressing room I noticed that there were only 5 players and 2 goalies, not enough to play a game according to the league rules, must have at least 12 players and 2 goalies to play a game. Most of the players on my team are used to the games never starting at the stated time had not planned to arrive until 7. So I started to get ready faster than ever before. By the time I had gotten my skates on four more players had arrived and began to throw their gear on like firefighters heading out for their first call. By the time my pads were on the whole team had arrived and half were heading to the ice for warm up.
I got my chest protector on and noticed that I had no jersey in my stall. I call out to my player/coach and he begins to fumble in the jersey bag while saying that the team didn’t have time to get my jersey ready so I have to wear an old jersey. He pulls out an XL jersey with the number ‘3’ and the name ‘Selçuk’ on it. I pull the jersey over my head and that’s as far as I got. It is far too small for me. My player/coach laughed and I failed to find the humour in the incident and took the jersey off. One player commented with a frustrated look on his face “Welcome to Turkey Super League.”
Dimitri pulls a razor out of his bag and says to cut it and so I do. I slice away frantically realizing that I am losing valuable warm up minutes. After a few strategic slices I manage to pull the jersey on. Still feeling a little restrictive I make my way to the ice and glance up at the clock see how much time I have left for my usually 20 minute warm up. The clock says 18 and I think to myself that is awesome, I have 18 minutes left. So I go for a skate and grab a stretch all the while I feel my teammates staring at me. I head towards the net after my stretch and my team captain sets up some pucks in front for my warm up. He just finishes putting the last puck in place as the buzzer goes. Confusion rushes over me as everyone begins to exit the ice and just as quick as the confusion hit me it disappears as I remember in Europe the clocks count up not down like in North America. So what I really had was 2 minutes to warm up. My captain fires two shots at me and then the ref blows his whistle and begins to yell in Turkish. We head off the ice back to the room.
The game starts without further interruption and my first professional game goes on. Despite taking a mental nap the entire second period and giving up two soft goals, I played well. We win the game 6-4 largely in part to Dimitri’s 4 goal 2 assist performance and the newly signed 6’5” Andrii on defence. Our next game is supposed to be this Sunday November 29 but there might be a conflict because there is a Muslim holiday this weekend.
BAŞKENT YILDIZLARI S.K.
Ankara, Turkey - Paperwork is almost completed. Hopefully tomorrow Brittany and I will have our work visas processed by the Police and we will be official members of BAŞKENT YILDIZLARI S.K.; which is english means Capital Stars S.C. My first professional hockey start will be Saturday night against the 2nd place club Kocaeli (my club is currently tied for 3rd). Things in the new flat are slowly getting better. We still don't have a refrigerator, but luckily it is cool enough outside that we can leave our food on our balcony. A fridge should be here in 2-3 days along with internet but in Turkey we know now to multiply those numbers 2.
Team is supposed to have another import player arriving from Ukraine tomorrow night in time for our 12:25am practice. Baskent has also singed an American player who is living in Istanbul with his girlfriend so he will commute for our games. He will not be in the match this weekend because he flew back to Washington D.C. to get his gear.
Found out today that the Federation has pushed Brittany's league start back to Dec.13. Thinking it might have to do with Anka SK's court case because they are still trying to get a women's team in the league.
Last practice was interesting since nobody from my team showed up but myself and Dimitri (my roomate from Ukraine). There were 4 other players that showed up but they were from a Division 1 team and they looked like they just started skating this year. My club's third string goalie who plays on the Division 1 team came on with his father in just skates and blocker and glove. When I took a break in between drills Dimitri and I were doing, I felt like somebody was touching my skate and pad. I look behind me and notice that the goalie and his dad were poking at my pads and checking to see how sharp my skates were! They don't speak a word of english so I felt like a lab rat under the microscope. Dimitri and I had a good laugh about that after skating away with Dimitri poking me with his stick saying "A real Canadian? You fake? I have never seen a Canadian before."
As soon as we get the internet set up in our house I will post some photos to show everyone where we are living. Read More!
Team is supposed to have another import player arriving from Ukraine tomorrow night in time for our 12:25am practice. Baskent has also singed an American player who is living in Istanbul with his girlfriend so he will commute for our games. He will not be in the match this weekend because he flew back to Washington D.C. to get his gear.
Found out today that the Federation has pushed Brittany's league start back to Dec.13. Thinking it might have to do with Anka SK's court case because they are still trying to get a women's team in the league.
Last practice was interesting since nobody from my team showed up but myself and Dimitri (my roomate from Ukraine). There were 4 other players that showed up but they were from a Division 1 team and they looked like they just started skating this year. My club's third string goalie who plays on the Division 1 team came on with his father in just skates and blocker and glove. When I took a break in between drills Dimitri and I were doing, I felt like somebody was touching my skate and pad. I look behind me and notice that the goalie and his dad were poking at my pads and checking to see how sharp my skates were! They don't speak a word of english so I felt like a lab rat under the microscope. Dimitri and I had a good laugh about that after skating away with Dimitri poking me with his stick saying "A real Canadian? You fake? I have never seen a Canadian before."
As soon as we get the internet set up in our house I will post some photos to show everyone where we are living. Read More!
The Bıg Move
Ankara, Turkey - So ıt ıs offıcıal Brıttany and I have sıgned wıth Başkent. Anka has loaned us to the team for the season so we can start playıng and gettıng paıd. My fırst game ıs supposed to be thıs sunday but my transfer card has not be processed yet by the IIHF. But Brıtt and I have moved ınto our new flat whıch ıs very large and ıs shared wıth one of my teamates Dımıtrı who ıs from Ukraıne.
The new flat came ınto Başkent´s posessıon after one of the owners passed away (hopefully not ın the flat) but the place ıs decorated very ınterestıngly. We spent most of the nıght packıng away many old tacky stuff but the room ıs massıve and we have a lıvıng room to hang out ın. There ıs also a TV wıth 3 englısh channels; BBC News, BBC Entertaınment, and CNN World News. I wıll upload pıctures once we get our ınternet set up ın our house; hopefully soon.
Tonıght ıs my fırst practıce wıth team. Practıce ıs at 12:25am! I had a lttle skate yesterday afternoon and had the board of governors and presıdent ın the stands to watch me among others who had heard that there was a Canadıan goalıe comıng to the ıce sessıon. Felt lıke a rare specıes at a zoo.
Cheers! Read More!
The new flat came ınto Başkent´s posessıon after one of the owners passed away (hopefully not ın the flat) but the place ıs decorated very ınterestıngly. We spent most of the nıght packıng away many old tacky stuff but the room ıs massıve and we have a lıvıng room to hang out ın. There ıs also a TV wıth 3 englısh channels; BBC News, BBC Entertaınment, and CNN World News. I wıll upload pıctures once we get our ınternet set up ın our house; hopefully soon.
Tonıght ıs my fırst practıce wıth team. Practıce ıs at 12:25am! I had a lttle skate yesterday afternoon and had the board of governors and presıdent ın the stands to watch me among others who had heard that there was a Canadıan goalıe comıng to the ıce sessıon. Felt lıke a rare specıes at a zoo.
Cheers! Read More!
Super League Has Started?
Ankara, Turkey - Tonight, officially or unofficialy, the Turkish Ice Hockey Super League (ya a mouthful) started. Brittany and I have caught a period from each game so far and we have not been impressed.
I know you are wondering why the league is starting and our team isn't even in it. Well, the Federation is up to their tricks again. They feel that if they hurry up and start the league that Anka will drop the case and see that they can't win. So what this is right now is a game of poker between the Federation and Anka. The Federation is at the table with stacks upon stacks of chips while Anka has one stack (its lifes savings). Anka is holding a Jack of Diamonds and a Queen of Diamonds while the Federation is holding a Queen of hearts and a King of Hearts. The Federation doesn't think Anka has the balls to play the game (take them to court) so they raise up a few chips, Anka meets the bet (gets a lawyer, files the papers). Then comes the flop; King of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds, King of Clubs.
The Federation decides to raise one more chip (starting the season tonight), believing that Anka wouldn't dare risk any more money it has to win this game. Wrong. Anka matches the raise. Next comes the turn; Queen of Diamonds.
Now Anka is sitting in a nice position: 10, Jack, Queen, King of Diamonds; almost a Royal Flush (best hand in poker). All it needs is an Ace of Diamonds and it is a done case. However, sitting on the table are two Kings. Anka starts to think what if the Federation already has two Queens and the river card comes up King of Hearts? Anka has two Kings but the Federation could have a full house. The Federation then raises all the chips that Anka has left. Anka takes a deep breath and goes all in.
Brittany and I have been told that the river card won't be shown until sometime next week (hopefully Monday). But from what we have been told they believe they will get the Ace of Diamonds. All I know for sure is that the Federation is corrupt and polluted. I have been reading some posts in the Internation Hockey Forums and I have yet to read one good thing about this Federation!
I discovered to day that after a recent IIHF World Championship that all the players were forced to give back their jerseys. Not shocking to some, but consider this: all the jerseys for the Turkish national team are GIVEN to the Federation from the IIHF sponsor (usually Nike). Doesn't cost the Federation a penny. Now these players just represented their country (and they are more patriotic then a southern American) and they want to keep their jerseys to hang their wall and show their grand children one day. Sorry, no. The Federation takes them and, this is speculated a by few, to sell privately.
It is a shock that the Federation hasn't been overturned or at least somebody has stepped up to fight against them. Oh wait, somebody just did, Anka. Read More!
I know you are wondering why the league is starting and our team isn't even in it. Well, the Federation is up to their tricks again. They feel that if they hurry up and start the league that Anka will drop the case and see that they can't win. So what this is right now is a game of poker between the Federation and Anka. The Federation is at the table with stacks upon stacks of chips while Anka has one stack (its lifes savings). Anka is holding a Jack of Diamonds and a Queen of Diamonds while the Federation is holding a Queen of hearts and a King of Hearts. The Federation doesn't think Anka has the balls to play the game (take them to court) so they raise up a few chips, Anka meets the bet (gets a lawyer, files the papers). Then comes the flop; King of Diamonds, 10 of Diamonds, King of Clubs.
The Federation decides to raise one more chip (starting the season tonight), believing that Anka wouldn't dare risk any more money it has to win this game. Wrong. Anka matches the raise. Next comes the turn; Queen of Diamonds.
Now Anka is sitting in a nice position: 10, Jack, Queen, King of Diamonds; almost a Royal Flush (best hand in poker). All it needs is an Ace of Diamonds and it is a done case. However, sitting on the table are two Kings. Anka starts to think what if the Federation already has two Queens and the river card comes up King of Hearts? Anka has two Kings but the Federation could have a full house. The Federation then raises all the chips that Anka has left. Anka takes a deep breath and goes all in.
Brittany and I have been told that the river card won't be shown until sometime next week (hopefully Monday). But from what we have been told they believe they will get the Ace of Diamonds. All I know for sure is that the Federation is corrupt and polluted. I have been reading some posts in the Internation Hockey Forums and I have yet to read one good thing about this Federation!
I discovered to day that after a recent IIHF World Championship that all the players were forced to give back their jerseys. Not shocking to some, but consider this: all the jerseys for the Turkish national team are GIVEN to the Federation from the IIHF sponsor (usually Nike). Doesn't cost the Federation a penny. Now these players just represented their country (and they are more patriotic then a southern American) and they want to keep their jerseys to hang their wall and show their grand children one day. Sorry, no. The Federation takes them and, this is speculated a by few, to sell privately.
It is a shock that the Federation hasn't been overturned or at least somebody has stepped up to fight against them. Oh wait, somebody just did, Anka. Read More!
Turkish Women...
Are truly amazing, and the only reason this country is still running. While society is very macho, and interactions between men are a continual pissing contest, truly it's the women who keep things running smoothly. I have only been here a very short period of time, but thus far every woman I have met has been exceedingly kind, helpful and funny, while the men have all been macho, loud and obnoxious.
Take our new adopted house mother ( the president of our club's wife). They moved in the day before we left for bodrum, and has since cooked every meal. She has a tiny kitchen, no oven, and only one working stovetop burner (conditions that make me shudder to think of cooking in). And yet somehow she makes wonderful, tasty, and healthy meals each and every time. Meals that she serves us, will not eat until we are all happily stuffed, and then refuses to let us help her clear the table or wash the dishes. And speaking of dishes, as the kitchen sink is the size of a cereal bowl, she waits until the end of the day and washes them all in the BATHTUB. yes, bathtub. and yet during dinner yesterday, she made sure I had a different bowl for every soup and salad I ate, as well as a place and 3 different utensils. If I had to do the dishes in the bathtub, you bed each person would get one bowl and one fork, no more.
Then there's Sybel and her mother, who own the restaurant (in the loosest sense of the word) that we were/will be eating all our meals once the president and his wife move out. They serve us delicious food that they make in a tiny kitchen in the basement, always with a smile on their faces. Sybel speaks no English, and I no Turkish, and yet I like her quite a lot. She has a great sense of humor, is very lively, and is definitely a wonderful cook. And yet, again, she is only thanked by us! Anil doesn't even acknowledge her existence. And then the unfortunate times when her boyfriend comes around, she is an entirely different person. He is sullen, egotistical, and very possessive of her, and she becomes much quieter and subservient when he is around.
My final examle just happened at breakfast a few hours ago. Daria, one of my teammates and a friend of the family, stopped by, as apparently she often does. When we were seated for our breakfast, she started SERVING US. I was flabergasted- she was a guest in this house, and yet it was perfectly normal for Her to serve US. AND Tyler told me that she sometimes cleans when she comes here. Again, all without thanks or appreciation.
Tyer and I both agree that all this nonesense with the Federation is, at the real heart of it, a result of the machismo of Turkish men and their innability to ever admit they might possibly be wrong. If only the men in this country could take a lesson from their wonderful, unapreciated wives. Read More!
Take our new adopted house mother ( the president of our club's wife). They moved in the day before we left for bodrum, and has since cooked every meal. She has a tiny kitchen, no oven, and only one working stovetop burner (conditions that make me shudder to think of cooking in). And yet somehow she makes wonderful, tasty, and healthy meals each and every time. Meals that she serves us, will not eat until we are all happily stuffed, and then refuses to let us help her clear the table or wash the dishes. And speaking of dishes, as the kitchen sink is the size of a cereal bowl, she waits until the end of the day and washes them all in the BATHTUB. yes, bathtub. and yet during dinner yesterday, she made sure I had a different bowl for every soup and salad I ate, as well as a place and 3 different utensils. If I had to do the dishes in the bathtub, you bed each person would get one bowl and one fork, no more.
Then there's Sybel and her mother, who own the restaurant (in the loosest sense of the word) that we were/will be eating all our meals once the president and his wife move out. They serve us delicious food that they make in a tiny kitchen in the basement, always with a smile on their faces. Sybel speaks no English, and I no Turkish, and yet I like her quite a lot. She has a great sense of humor, is very lively, and is definitely a wonderful cook. And yet, again, she is only thanked by us! Anil doesn't even acknowledge her existence. And then the unfortunate times when her boyfriend comes around, she is an entirely different person. He is sullen, egotistical, and very possessive of her, and she becomes much quieter and subservient when he is around.
My final examle just happened at breakfast a few hours ago. Daria, one of my teammates and a friend of the family, stopped by, as apparently she often does. When we were seated for our breakfast, she started SERVING US. I was flabergasted- she was a guest in this house, and yet it was perfectly normal for Her to serve US. AND Tyler told me that she sometimes cleans when she comes here. Again, all without thanks or appreciation.
Tyer and I both agree that all this nonesense with the Federation is, at the real heart of it, a result of the machismo of Turkish men and their innability to ever admit they might possibly be wrong. If only the men in this country could take a lesson from their wonderful, unapreciated wives. Read More!
