|
We started at the Alpine at 9.30 and squeezed 21 people in to a couple of mini vans, we were surprised to find that yes, the bags did all fit in the trailers,
though not without the scraping of a few knuckles.
First stop was to pick up Nick at Rolliston, after that as we settled in to travelling mode, we became acquainted with the new faces on the trip: Craig and Aaron
not having played hockey for a while, Aaron for 9 years and Craig for several, those old hands namely Al and some supporters started with a few Bourbons to
keep the wheels of conversation well oiled.
It was great to see the support for this years trip with Andy travelling down form Nelson and Craig coming from Auckland especially for the Migration. With
multiple stops for the toilet, our first main stop was lunch at South of the Border in Timaru, after a stop from last years Southern Migration, South of the
Border has became one of our sponsors, we dropped off an Aardwolfs Club Photo and a Thank-You letter, we hope that 24 hungry Ice Hockey players helped their
budget for the day. It’s a small world with the S.O.T.B waitress, an ex ice hockey player who is moving to Christchurch in the near future, we hope to have a new
potential player for our B team.
After a fuel up at Palmerston (finding that the Ladies driving the Auto van used 20% more fuel!!), and a few more toilet stops we went straight to the rink at
Naseby, It was good to see Keith and Jeff his son there to say “Hello” as we hit the ice for a warm-up and to iron out the wrinkles from sitting in the vans for 4
hours.
After admiring Naseby’s new 2 million dollar Curling complex and viewing drawings for the planned Ice Luge, we arrived at the Ancient Brittan, rooms were
allocated and tea was had, most ended up playing drinking games or cards, but with the threat of an 8.30am start at the ice rink the next morning, it wasn’t a
late night. And for those that went South: video copies of Tara’s exploits are available at a cost.
Surprise, surprise, Sunday morning, everyone was up and at the rink on time, we split into two even teams, Blue and Red, and with a Naseby goal tender managed to
spend an hour rushing round the ice. Next we had the opportunity to thank Shona Donald for her help this year and last in organising people and ice time in
Naseby.
We loaded up the vans and with a fond goodbye to the Naseby rink we headed for the Poolburn pub, we stopped to have a quick look at the ice and the Ida-burn dam,
but alas there was not enough to skate on. The Poolburn Pub was good food and entertainment with the Chess board, pool table and virtual table tennis getting good
use.
We arrived at Alexandra Motor Courts and quickly turned the place into a Chinese laundry, as damp hockey gear was hung out to dry; once again sporting challenges
on the swing ball and badminton court had a steady stream of participants. Living next door to the supermarket is a great boon and supplies were bought for later.
With the 3rd day in a row of excellent daytime temperatures in Alex, we arrived and dressed for the first game at the Alex rink at 5.00 pm to find that
the ice was soft in one corner and side, and that the evening drop in temperatures was needed to be allowed to firm the ice up again, the start was put off to
6.00 pm. Goals from Andy and Joern were not enough to keep the Alex Juniors at bay scoring 4 times to beat the Aardwolfs B 4-2. The second game was all on with
Nick and Jon scoring a goal each to Alexandra’s 6 Thanks to the Reff’s for both games which were played in the true spirit of the trip. Thanks to Diane Elliot and
the Alex people for keeping the rink open for us. Alexandra providing food and beers for the after match function, its always good to sit down and talk hockey and
find out the different approaches from the different regions. An excellent time was had by all.
The Alexandra rink plant was turned off after our game and will open again next season.
The Circle of Death back at the motel didn’t last too long in to the wee small hours of the morning as players fell by the wayside and ended up with card school
running till about 2am.
A sleep in and loading up the vans, saw us leaving Alex at 10.00am travelling to Dunedin with a stop at Lawrence. After turning the Adrian Motel into another
travelling ice hockey shop with drying gear, we walked down to the New Ice rink for a free skate, our thanks to the staff for their time and efforts.
We found that Monday evening wasn’t the best time to find a restaurant open but Take-A-Ways filled the gap. The first game at Dunedin was Overkill in a big way as
Dunedin’s top Contact team the Penguins played the Aardwolfs A for the trip, in a non contact game, this well oiled team which would give the Canterbury
Super-League team a lesson, slacked off and took it very easy to beat the Aardwolfs A 15-2, while its not the Penguins fault they were put up against us, we hope
a more suitable strength team can be found for next years trip. The second game was by contrast very well matched and the game could have gone either way, the
Dunedin Bullfrogs coming out the eventual winners 7-3, an excellent game for the Aardwolfs especially by Pete in goal and Al for scoring from a great pass from
Nick. The game would possibly have stacked up very differently had we not had several Ales, early starts and late nights previously.
Once again Dunedin Ice Hockey were great hosts, providing food and a bar after the games. Dunedin has a fantastic complex that will get better as they finish
different aspects of the rink; we are already looking forward to returning next year, our votes of thanks to Joyce and Steve for organising our opposition in
Dunedin.
Leaving Dunedin the next morning saw the weather pack up and start raining, a good time to be headed for home, a wander through Timaru and several places
provided lunch, grass hockey was put on hold because of the weather. Our next stop was Ashburton which was to provide one of the highlights of the trip as Keith
(an Aardwolfs Lightning Player) and his wife Lynne opened their country estate home to the travelling Aardwolfs amongst ohh’s and ahhs they showed us round and
told us of the history of the beautiful country homestead, with some Aardwolfs settled in the games room with the pool table and chess board and others enjoying
the fire in the kitchen. We spent a very enjoyable couple of hours of great conversation and hospitality that included a supplied BBQ tea and refreshments.
After suggesting they check to see if their bathroom was still intact (several members were heard to be discussing taking it back to Christchurch with them!) it
was reluctantly and with many Thank-You’s to Keith and Lynne, that we left for the final part of the trip to Christchurch, unloading the trailers and vans for the
last time and all heading to our own homes for a well earned rest.
Roll on next years Southern Migration 2006.
Thanks all for a great Trip.
Aardwolfs Club Captain Clive.
|
