Captains Blog: Derek Klassen

Nanooks captain Derek Klassen sat down and was able to write down some thoughts about the first few days of the trip from Fairbanks to Boston for the 2010 NCAA Regional in Massachusetts:



Well to start off the team is currently in Worcester Massachusetts. In order to get where we are today, we had to fly approximately 4500 miles from Fairbanks to Boston.


Our trip started earlier yesterday which was Tuesday afternoon. After skating at 9:30 at the patty center followed by workouts the team then went home to pack for the trip. The team then met back at the patty center at 2:15 to load team gear and personal bags and headed to the airport for a 4:40 p.m. flight to Seattle.


After a 3 hour flight the team deplaned and had to collect our gear and check in on jet Blue Airlines. The team was excited to fly on a new airline, especially one that has more leg room than we are use to, plus there are televisions in the back of every seat. (Something that everyone enjoyed) This flight was direct from Seattle to Boston which lasted approximately 5 hours. It was a red eye flight so Im sure everyone got at least a couple hours of needed rest


We arrived in Boston are 7:30 a.m. or 3:30 a.m. Fairbanks time. The team felling somewhat tired and hungry was happy to be safely on the ground on the other side of the content. Ironically it is the furthest the team has travelled all year but was by far the teams shortest travel day.

After collecting hockey gear and personal items that team headed to a local diner where we devoured a much needed breakfast. From there we travelled about an hour bus ride to Worcester and checked into the hotel. With some downtime before practice most of the players and staff I’m sure took a pre practice nap.


Practiced started at 3:30 p.m. and the team is always a little tentative to get on the ice with the time change and the all night flight but today the team was ready to go. There is only 16 teams in the country left playing and we are excited to be one of them. After a good hour skate the team felt better than it did before stepping on the ice.


After practice we headed out for supper at a restaurant called 99. Pumped to get a big meal in us we again devoured yet another meal. I nice treat to the supper was Alumni and former CCHA player of the Year Chad Johnson was able to join us and share some stories from his year spent in Hartford and in New York with the Rangers organization.


Now I am here in my hotel room writing this blog. Tomorrow we will continue to get ready for Boston College and a chance at a National Championship. Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.