(Quebec) The young Ukrainian team invited to the famous Quebec pee-wee hockey tournament may have had a moment of glory on Saturday in their first game, which they won 3-1 against the Boston Bruins junior, but c It is rather the symbolic aspect of this meeting that will go down in history.
As soon as they entered the ice, the 11- and 12-year-old Ukrainian refugees living throughout Europe due to the Russian invasion were warmly applauded by the 18,000 spectators who filled the Videotron Center for the occasion.
Thousands of spectators were dressed in white — a symbol of peace — and cheered on the Ukrainians every time one of them touched the puck. Two quick goals in the last two minutes of play gave the Ukrainians the win.
After the game, the Ukrainians took a lap of honor to greet the fans, along with their opponents from the Junior Bruins.
“It’s a gesture that shows that everyone can be friends, live in peace and respect each other, no matter where they come from,” said young Ukrainian striker Denys Lupandin, who spoke alongside his coach. Evgheniy Pysarenko.
PHOTO CAROLINE GRÉGOIRE, THE SUN
This first part of the Ukrainians in Quebec was the culmination of hard work on the part of Mr. Pysarenko and Quebec businessman Sean Bérubé, who had to work for several months to fine-tune all the details of this trip. .
What happened Saturday afternoon at the Videotron Center exceeded even Mr. Bérubé’s wildest expectations.
“What a day for hockey! What a day for sport,” he exclaimed.
Intimidating
Although it had already been announced that the stands would be full for this match, the Ukrainian players were still intimidated by the crowd – it’s not every day that peewee matches are played in front of thousands of people.
“At the beginning, it was still scary: I looked in the stands and there were really a lot of people watching us, my team and me. In the first period, it was not easy, ”admitted the young Denys Lupandin, who scored two goals during the meeting, including the victory.
“But in the second and third, I found it easier,” he added, before thanking the supporters who came.
Friday, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault had invited Quebecers to support the Ukrainian team.
“Congratulations on your great victory! You show us all your courage in such difficult circumstances. We are wholeheartedly with you, ”he wrote on Twitter after the meeting on Saturday.
Outcome
The atmosphere that reigned at the Videotron Center on Saturday was very different from that to which young Ukrainians have been accustomed over the past year.
Many of them resettled with their families as refugees in countries neighboring Ukraine, but at least five of them still live in Ukraine, where sirens in the middle of the night are the norm.
“It is an honor to participate in this event and to see everyone supporting our country,” said Mr. Pysarenko. Everyone wants peace. These children also want peace. You probably don’t know it, but I can tell you that they had terrible times. »
The Ukrainian team will play at least one other game during the tournament on Monday evening at the Videotron Center. The event runs until February 19.
With information from The Associated Press