Day 6

Monday, March 14

Kaunus, Lithuania - 16:00

This is a day that will never be forgotten. Without the shadow of a doubt, the sport of hockey brings people together to form a community like no other.

Vilnius-bound, Josey and I head south. Attempts to get in touch with Lithuanian hockey players in Vilnius prove to be tough going. However, Egle at the Canadian embassy has managed to get us a contact in Kaunus. Little do we know what we are in for!

Upon arrival at the arena, after this monumental leg of our trip, some of the kindest hockey players and fans known to this world welcome us like long-lost family members who have the key to unlock a century-old family tree mystery. As luck would have it, the national championship game for the under-18s is in progress. Our gracious hosts, Raimundus and Linus give Josey and I team jerseys, pendants and every other form of Kaunus hockey memorabilia in existence, and set up the evening's dinner and accommodation for us.

After sharing a beer or three, the topic of the evening's practice comes up and with the snap of their fingers, equipment materializes and we're on our way to the arena! They write books about this kind of story - impossible that it was happening to us.