MONTREAL — A team of young Ukrainian hockey players had a moment of triumph in Quebec City today as they beat the Boston Junior Bruins 3-1 at the 63rd Quebec International Peewee Hockey Tournament.
Team Ukraine Select, made up of 11-and-12-year-old Ukrainian refugees who had been scattered across Europe by war, received a thunderous welcome from 18,000 plus fans at the Centre Vidéotron in the provincial capital.
The team retained the support of the crowd, who cheered loudly every time Ukrainian players had possession of the puck.
Thousands of spectators wore white — a symbol of peace — to support Ukraine and waved Canadian and Ukrainian flags as both teams came together and linked arms during their respective national anthems.
The match stayed scoreless into the third period when Boston managed to get on the board, but team Ukraine promptly answered with two goals in quick succession in the final two minutes.
The win comes after months of effort from team coach Evgheniy Pysarenko and a Quebec City businessman, who had to sort out visas and arrange travel for players.
The renowned hockey tournament includes over 2,200 players from 15 countries spanning three continents and has been attended in the past by all-time greats such as Wayne Gretzky and Guy Lafleur.
On Friday, Quebec Premier François Legault encouraged Quebecers to show support for the Ukrainian team and called it a "unique moment" for the young players.
Team Ukraine will play at least another match in the Quebec peewee tournament that runs until Feb. 19.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2023.
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
The Canadian Press
