Some were recognized at the grocery store and others had trouble getting to their seats at the Videotron Center as they were constantly stopped by fans wishing them good luck or wanting to take pictures with them. : the Ukrainians have been living a dream since they landed in Quebec.
• Read also: Quebec pee-wee tournament: the biggest day in history
“These young people are currently living their NHL. It’s a dream for them,” coach Yevgeny Pysarenko said Thursday morning after Team Ukraine Select’s last practice before its highly anticipated debut Saturday morning at 11:45 a.m. against the Boston Bruins Junior.
“At the beginning, all we wanted was to succeed in putting a team on the ice to allow them to come and experience hockey in Canada. We didn’t expect there to be so much media attention. It’s bigger than we expected. »
The enthusiasm for this training was felt all over the city.
“We went to the Videotron Center yesterday [mercredi] and they were the stars. Getting to our seats was really long. Everyone stopped them and wanted to take pictures,” laughed François Robert, who hosts two young Ukrainians in addition to taking care of the organization of off-ice activities during their stay.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
The young Quebec As defender Léon Lepage had the chance to train with the Ukrainians on Thursday. After practice, he was given a team jersey.
Balm on a wound
All this attention is nothing negative, however, according to Pysarenko. For these young people, living a star life for a few weeks is only a balm for what they are going through at home.
“They are happy, they are smiling and they are enjoying it. They live the hockey life in Canada because hockey is everywhere here: on TV, on outdoor rinks. They are living a dream and forgetting the bad things that are happening at home. »
The example of young Mykyta Staskevich, captain and talented striker of the team, perfectly illustrates this point.
“His dad is at the front and things are stirring. The first time I saw him in Romania, he barely smiled. Eventually, he became a leader in the team and was named captain. Just for him, it was super positive,” says Quebecer Sean Bérubé.
This star life will reach its climax on Saturday when the Videotron Center is expected to be packed for the Ukraine game.
“There have never been so many people during our matches so we will have to stay focused on playing and not look in the stands. At the end, we can watch, ”says the young Zahar Kovalenko.
“It will be difficult as a player to play in an arena as big as this, but I hope for a victory. It won’t be an easy match, but we want to win,” added captain Staskevich.
Different Hockey
Already, those who have seen them play are whispering that they will have a very exciting formation to watch and who practice a different style from what we are used to here.
A simple visit to their training on Thursday morning made it possible to understand some of it. For a little over an hour, the young Ukrainians multiplied the exercises focused on skating techniques. At some point, all the players began to pirouette on the ice, after a whistle from the coach.
“I thought that was weird! It was the first time I had seen a team pirouette on the ice and I didn’t really understand. I thought it was stretching. I didn’t really understand, so I didn’t! »
The author of this quote is Léon Lepage. The defender of the As de Québec M13 AAA Élites trained with Team Ukraine Select on Thursday at the invitation of Sean Bérubé.
Beyond the pirouettes, the young hockey player was impressed by what he saw.
“They’re quick and they pass the puck well. I think they will go far at the peewee tournament. »
CALENDAR OF THE DAY
8 a.m.
Mexico Eagles v. | Greenwich Wings | Skating club | BB
9:15 a.m.
Comets Jr. of Utica v. | Romania Wolves | AA
10:30 a.m.
Vasas Budapest c. | South Shore Express 3 | BB
11:45 a.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. | French College of Longueil | AA-Elite
1 p.m.
Owls of French-speaking Switzerland c. | Durham West Lightning | Feminine
2:15 p.m.
Val-d’Or Drillers c. | Beauce-Etchemin group | BB
3:30 p.m.
Zurich Lions v. | Carolina Hurricanes Jr. | AA-Elite
4:45 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens v. | Los Angeles Kings Jr | AAA
6 p.m.
Champlain of Northeast Quebec v. | Wolf of Grenoble burners | BB
7:15 p.m.
San Diego Oilers v. | Chiefs MHA | AA
8:30 p.m.
North Shore Winter Club v. | New England Prospects | AAA
THURSDAY
Halifax Mooseheads Jr. 4
Edmonton Oilers 5
AA
Shawinigan Cataracts 10
Moncton Wildcats 1
AA-Elite
Rams of French-speaking Switzerland 3
Bedford Blues 4
AA-Elite
Fury SEFHA 1
Mauricie Stars 55 0
Feminine
Montreal West National 2
Korea Zenith Ice 7
AA
Washington Little Capitals 0
Outaouais Intrepid 4
AA-Elite
Barons of Mauricie-Nord 2
Stars of Austria 1
AA
South Shore Express 2 5
Laval East Rangers 3
BB
Blizzard Saint-François Seminary
Select from Japan
AA-Elite
Knights of Czechia
Lions of Lac St-Louis
AAA
Northwest Pioneers
Rams of French-speaking Switzerland
AA