I had to wait until 11:15 before the players started coming in through the bus entrance. In the first group was Christophe Lalancette and Garrett Ladd. A second group was Cam Maclise, Cody Fowlie, Justin Woods, and Tanner Jaillet, who, when I asked him his name, responded "Carey Price". He also, when asked about Bernin, said that he had good English. Maclise commented with "Ooh do we have cards today?". After that about 30 minutes passed and I see the head coach coming in with the rest of the team at the other entrance. Coach Jason Christie bragged about signing the card to the equipment managers. Assistant coach Max Markowitz then came over and signed his card. He commented that I only recognized him from the people saying his name. Mikhail Berdin was one of the first players I recognized. I called him over and he signed my six cards with no issue. He then seemed a little unhappy about inscribing the date and "1st USHL goal" inscription on my picture. He also signed 2 more pucks but I find it unlikely that he would have, had I not given him a copy of the picture. It quickly became apparent that no one on the team was skating. It was around this time that Garet Hunt came over and signed. He asked to see what cards I had for Kris Newbury to sign, and the assistant coaches commented on how Hunt only had 2 cards. Head equipment manager and former EBUG Nolan Bowker commented on how he had a card last year. I then noticed a player I had previously unidentified. He was short, bulky, and older. I figured it was probably Kris Newbury, but knew for sure when I saw the black tattoo reading Newbury going down his leg. I told him I had a lot of cards and he said he didn't mind and even flipped to the second page on his own. At this point the Wacey Rabbit cards were underneath and everyone started laughing at his cards. He quickly came over and signed them as well as a puck. At this point, the assistant equipment manager came over and looked through my book. It was at this point that I ID'd Jack Glover and had him sign his card. A few guys took pictures of my Blake Kessel card, who didn't make the trip. Garret Cocketill, who didn't seem thrilled about signing two, Jake Randolph, Kayle Doetzel, Cameron Chrichtlow, who commented on his Australia card, and Tyson Fawcett all signed all they were leaving. Everett Clark was the last player I got. I didn't ID him initially because he looked so young and small. I was told Denis Tsaruk didn't make the trip by a player. I was later told that Kessel, Chris Rygus, Eli Lichtenwald, and Kyle Shapiro didn't make the trip. Dajon Mingo, Maxime Fortier, Ken Appleby and Jacob Cederholm had left the team.
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