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PAST TOURS - MANILA 1999
Beijing International Ice Hockey

Manila 1999 – The end of the millenium was a great time to start a new tournament in Asia. The Eutech Cup organized by Arun Abraham was a complete success. Beijing sent an international squad which was said to be the most talented team in the tournament, though the final tail of the tape left a little to be desired. Beijing is a big team with big men and women, used to the wide open play of NHL size arenas, and each foray into the tiny Asian arenas and 4x4 hockey of Hong Kong, Manila and Taiyuan, takes a bit of getting used to.

Highlights of the tournament:

The first line was stacked with a “bit” of offense. Roman Lebedev woke from his Russian hibernation to lead the tournament in scoring, while the defensive pairing of captain Ray Plummer and Andrew Hjelemend, proved the importance of big shots from the point with both of them finishing in the top-6 in scoring for the tournament.

Helen Froelich, on her first tour with Beijing International, centered the first line, winning crucial draws digging along the boards, and all will remember her hit on “Bob” in the game against the Hong Kong Selects, leveling the #2 big man of the tournament and stealing the puck. The ref couldn’t giver her a penalty for doing the impossible.

Though line-2 did not have the explosive offense of the first line, they held their own. Tomi Niskakoski quarterbacked from the blue-line, clearing the puck from our end with crisp passes. His defense partner, Chris Jaren, also on his first tour, was an anchor for Tomi’s rushes. Jaren’s stay at home style saved many a break-away on goaltender Greg MacIsaac. George Zarifi played wing, crashing the boards, the net, and any opposition player in his way. The 4^th player on the line was for the first game, a rotation from first line, usually Roman, but through a lend/lease/borrow agreement with Singapore, we gained their top scorer in exchange for the use of our goalie.

Every player has a moment in his life that he can look back to as “The Game” or “The Tour.” Manila was all about Greg MacIsaac. He plays hockey for the love of hockey. Two years ago when Beijing had no goalie, he went to Canada and returned with a complete set of kit and became our goalie. In the two days of the Manila tournament, Greg played 9 games!!! Beijing had a 2-2 record ,and with Singapore, a 3-2 record.. Come closing banquet, Greg collapsed from exhaustion and slept through the speeches (the rest were jealous).

Beijing International’s mission statement must be something like… “Let’s Party!” Upon landing safely in Manila through the thunder heads of Typhoon Maggie (really…), we sweltered and watched even our hockey sticks “sweat.” We stayed at The Olympia Executive Residences (7912 Makati Ave., Makati City, Philippines, Tel: 818-8224, Fax: 818-8254), where we each got a single apartment with kitchenette for the weekend.

For dinner, we feasted at the Bavarian restaurant in the hotel, and on MC Hummer’s advice, caught cabs to The Hobbit House (1801A Mabini St., Malate, Manila, Tel: 521-7604) where all the waiters, waitresses, bartenders, owners… everyone is a “little person.” The ideal place for a bunch of hulking hockey players. It’s a great experience to see food trays hovering around the room at 3½ feet high, and when it’s slid onto your table, there are hands, eyes, and even a person underneath.

After The Hobbit House, Manila Ice lead us to Hollywood, a bar which makes Patpong and UB blush. Within seconds of entering, Beijing International had found its fan club. Beijing International managed to have more fans than any other team at the tournament. The best of many banners and signs was: “HOLLYWOOD WELCOMES BEIJING HUCKY” We think Tomi taught them to spell.

With 3 days of paying/partying, Beijing’s nocturnal activities may have influenced their final standing in the tournament, with members returning to the hotel at 5, 6, and 7am, but we were true to ourselves, and enjoyed Manila more than any other team. Hockey, touring, bars, dancing, vodka, rum, cigars, etc… etc…. We’ll be back in 2000.