A Cougar in Russia
Over the past week, Ryan Vendramin, the captain of our Cougars men's hockey team participated in the Student Hockey Challenge held in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. There, Ryan competed in a week long tournament where he represented the American Collegiate Hockey Association on the ACHA D3 Selects team. The event was held on Olympic sized ice in a spectacular venue, the tournament was comprised of eight teams including three from Russia, one each from Solvakia and Czech Republic, and two from the USA. Ryan said that the competition was tough as the other team's played on the Olympic sized ice all year long which lead them to play a different style of game, compared to what he was used to. Eventually the US team became accustomed to the larger ice and were able to play more of their game. 
The tournament was held as a round robin style group play to seed the teams into a playoff bracket. The team went 0-1-0-2 in their round robin play. In their overtime win against Derzhava, a Russian representative, Ryan played a pivotal role in the game. With an assist on a first period goal, Ryan went on to score the 4th and final shot of the shootout. After the game Ryan was interviewed by Russian media. "Scoring the shootout winner against Russia's team was definitely a highlight for me." Ryan said.
After his shootout winner Ryan turned it up and scored 2 goals in their first playoff match against the FGCU (the other USA representing team), but in the end the ACHA efforts weren't enough falling 5-7. In their final game of the tournament Ryan played well, earning an assist in the second period and a goal in the third, but again fell just short losing 4-6 to Derzhava.
Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his time in Russia, stating that it was a once in a lifetime experience and that he tried to take everything in, even the scenery. "I had a great time, with a great group of people, and made a lot of friends." Ryan is already looking ahead to this weekend October 13th and 14th where the Sault College Cougars travel to Adrian, Michigan to take on the Adrian College Bulldogs, in ACHA action. The Cougars look to continue their impressive season.