Sisters teen playing hockey in Norway

Danny Baldwin's hard work on the ice has paid off. The Sisters teen is now in Norway on a select team representing his country in competition with Norway's best young ice hockey players.

Baldwin and his teammates will play six games including one in the Olympic Ice Cavern Arena in Gjovik which was the site of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics ice hockey games in 1994. As a goalie, it takes Baldwin about 15 minutes to dress in all the protective gear required to fend off speeding hockey pucks.

"You can't play half-speed in that position at all," said Baldwin.

Baldwin's trip overseas this week had an extra element of excitement when he and his father had to pack earlier than expected to evacuate their home in Crossroads due to the Black Crater Fire.

His grandparents, Frank and Jan Baldwin of Sisters, are escorting him on the trip. His father John Baldwin is an American Airlines pilot who hopes to find time in his schedule to fly to Norway to see a few games.

Danny, who started skating at age eight, was inspired by his dad who played and coached the sport. Two years ago, he perfected his skills at International Hockey Schools at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Then last February, Danny found a surprise in his mailbox. The school remembered him and asked him to try out for their national team.

The only problem was the 13-year-old hadn't had much time on the ice. But his family made sure he got the practice he needed. His grandparents took him to the ice rink in Sunriver and he visited his mom in California who lives near a rink. Soon he was ready to return to Minnesota for the try-outs. Danny made the team, becoming one of 21 team members chosen from across America.

"I was totally surprised," said Danny of being chosen for the team.

"He was delirious," said his grandfather Frank Baldwin.

The trip is as much a cultural exchange as it is a sporting event. Baldwin will stay with a host family in Lillehammer. Team members will be treated to a Norwegian smorgasbord and tour Olympic sites including the bob sled run and ski jump. The two teams will play against each other for a few games then mix team members for a couple of "friendship games." Baldwin prepared for the trip by staying in shape and learning how to say "thank you" in Norwegian.

Baldwin said he is looking forward to "being able to play with the guys and seeing a new country."

Baldwin said he is not sure where his success in hockey will take him but he wants to continue to play.

"I've liked hockey pretty much my entire life," said Baldwin.

After summer, Baldwin enters Sisters High School as a freshman.