IL Indoor

What a great day in Prague. It was the kind of experience I had been waiting for since I arrived on Saturday. With no games on the schedule, Team USA embarked on a 30-minute drive to practice at Radotin, which is an outdoor box facility.

In 80-degree heat the team worked on systems and ended the session with a shootout that was divided into teams based on where they attended college. The North beat the South as defenseman Chris Schiller went 5-for-5 on breakaways. I also had a chance to interview one of team’s unsung heroes, Ryan Hotaling. Hotaling played his college ball at Nazareth and is a past Empire 8 Player of the Year. He also is a former Knighthawks draft pick and a two-year NLL veteran. Check out his interview after the jump.

After practice, the team adjourned to the Crown Plaza to get ready for a boat tour of the city. Nearly 50 of use packed a two-story boat to sail down the Vltava River. Players, staff and family members were treated to a buffet and impersonations by Buffalo native Joe Smith. I caught up with goalie Erik Miller during the trip. Did you know he will be leaving Prague for Baltimore Sunday morning to join Salisbury in the Division III, where he is an assistant coach? The Seagulls are in the Division III Finals against Tufts. The group went back to the hotel, while some of us toured the city on foot. Sausage, pizza and gelato hit the spot for some of us as we sat near St. Nicholas’ Cathedral.

I was planning on sending this out Wednesday night, but I had a long night of preparing release and for the webcast of the US-Australia game. Today was team photo day before the quarterfinal game. That game the US dominated 28-2 with Drew Westervelt collecting eight points, while Brendan Mundorf (3+4) and Paul Rabil (6+1) struck for seven. One of the highlights was Joe Smith’s first ever goal. That’s right. First ever!

Today is a classic meeting between Canada and the US. Mundorf said it is a game that “everyone has to elevate their game.” Fans back home can watch the game on www.wilcprague2011.com at 10:00 a.m.

Also, make sure to catch Ryan Hotaling and some of his teammates on “Shooting got Gold.” The radio show will air tonight on WHTK 1280-AM and 107.3 FM, and www.whtk.com from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m.

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