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~~ Spring 1990
Cardigan players on the ice in Finland.
After running roughshod over nearly every junior high team m New England, the Cardigan varsity hockey squad headed east during spring break for some tougher competition. Very far east, as a matter of fact. The Cougars enjoyed a fast-paced, fun-f'illed international vacation m Fm.land and Germany; they also played a little hockey along the way. The fun began right off the bat with a games m Frankfurt and Bad Neuheim during the first two days after the players arrived in Europe. Despite .:¢t lag, the team was able to pull off a 1-1 record m Germany. The highlight of the trip, however, was the stay m Fm.land. Cardigan has ti.es with the Vehkoja School m Hyvmkaa that go back more than 20 years. Every other year, CMS has sent its varsity hockey _ team to Fm.land. In addition the School has enjoyed having an exchange student from Vehkoja School almost every year. During the _
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CHRONICLE
Cardigan Skaters in Finland
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CARDIGAN The Newsletter of Cardigan Mountain School
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1989 spring break, the Finnish team, with many members of the:ir fam:ilies, came to Cardigan from Vehkoja to compete; they hope to arrange a return visit m the near future. Coach Burnett was very pleased with the team members' efforts both as players and as ambassadors from the United States. "The lasting impres.si.on I had was of how hard the kids tried on both sides and how well they got along," Mr. Burnett said. "They were really on the:ir toes and were aware they were representing both the School and the:ir country."
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As for the actual hockey games, the Cougars lost to two tough 16-year old teams at the start of the:ir stay m Fm.land, but rebounded to win the Vehkoja toumamertt with one win and one tie. The Finns, as usual, were very gr-acious hosts. In charge of the hosting arrangements m Hyvmkaa was past CMS parent Jouko Jokmen. Each Cardigan student stayed with the family of one of the Vehkoja players, and several developed strong friendships. Throughout the tr.ip, team members had the chance to do some first-class sightseeing, mcluding excursions to Heidelberg and the medieval town of R othenburg in Germany, and visits to the Finnish cities of Mikkeli and Helsinki. Brett Kurtz met next year's exchange student while he stayed with that family m Hyvmkaa. During his stay, Brett discovered a few peculiarities about life ·m Europe. For example, he found that in Germany one has to be 18 to enter video game arcades.
From the bus: Sightseeing in Heidelberg, Germany.