Calamity strikes and calamity is averted

The day started off pretty badly when Ottawacker decided he was unable to play because his elbow was causing him significant pain. It had started the previous evening, in fact, if truth be told, it had started the previous day but I’d chosen to ignore it. He had a flare up late evening, which Tylenol did little to relieve. We think it was due to a small fragment of bone getting stuck in the space where the ligament has detached, but of course we are just guessing. Anyway, it was a bit of a problem, not least because he is, as I have probably said several thousand times, the goalkeeper. Anyway, little point belabouring the fact, it was what it was.
 
Despite the early start, we managed to get up in time for breakfast at the Comfort Inn, which is, it has to be said, a surprisingly nice hotel with very helpful and accommodating staff. This meant we could get to the Collège Français in time to register and warm up for the first game in the tournament, against AS Montis. It’s weird going into games with no idea of who the opposition are – but apparently AS Montis was founded in 2019 following the merger of three neighboring clubs: Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Sainte-Julie. The early start didn’t seem to affect the Internationals, who won 6-0.
 
The schedule was a little bit weird, it has to be said. The group stage games were at 9, noon, and 3pm, with a fourth group stage game the next day at 10.15am. This then led directly to the final, which was to take place at 1.30pm. The weird thing was that one club had three teams in our group, which meant that the final three group stage matches were all against CS Longueuil. The second game was against Longueuil 3 – apparently the strongest of the three teams. It was a surprisingly chippy match, and Longueuil was leading 2-1 with a couple of minutes left when one of OISC’s strikers – Alborz – scored a stunning volley. For those who have memories related to football, think of David Platt’s winner against Belgium in the World Cup or Marco van Basten’s in the Euro’s. These sorts of volleys change momentum, and the Internationals pushed for the winner, hitting the bar twice, before finally snatching victory with the last kick of the game. 
 
After a cool down and mandatory rehydration in the designated area – the temperatures were touching 40°C/105°F – the boys got ready for the next game – against Longueuil 2. Really strange how momentum can carry teams forward; after a close game with one side, the Internationals turned on the style in the last game of the day, winning 9-0. Ottawacker Jr. had decided to play in this one, but not as a goalkeeper, rather as a central defender. He did well – but I think goalkeeper is his position.
 
Following the game, everyone headed back to the hotel for showers and general clean ups, before going out for a team dinner at “La Cage”, which is a sort of sports bar that doesn’t want to be a sports bar. The food was good, the boys were happy, and the parents were therefore also happy. Back to the hotel for a few drinks, while the boys had a kick around on the grass verge opposite. By 10.30, everyone was in bed.