MONTREAL — Ukraine Team Select, a hockey team made up of 11- and 12-year-old refugees displaced by war in their home country, met the hockey kings on Tuesday when they faced the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens.
For the Habs, it was an opportunity to personally welcome a team that has become the toast of the province as they continue to win at the Quebec International Peewee Hockey Tournament.
The Ukraine Selects defeated Team Romania Wolves 2-0 on Monday, putting them just three wins away from securing a place in the AA-class championship on Sunday.
Shortly after the win, the players learned they were traveling to Montreal to be special guests at the Canadiens’ game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Bell Center on Tuesday night.
Ukrainian players and coaches were also able to spend Tuesday morning watching the Canadians train.
After skating in the morning, Montreal coach Martin St. Louis told reporters that his father “missed the Canadians’ game to see the Ukraine Selects in last Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Boston Junior Bruins.” . St. Louis also had a chance to chat with Ukraine Selects coaches, who shared their experiences and progress in the tournament.
“We cannot imagine what they are going through as a country at the moment. And for kids to take the time to have a normal kid experience in a sport, there’s no better place to do it than the Quebec Peewee Tournament,” St. Louis said.
“I know that not only Quebec City, but all hockey fans in Quebec will welcome them. It’s a great human gesture that we can do for them. I’m really happy to have met them today and to give them a moment to forget the difficult circumstances they went through in their country.”
After practice, the Ukrainian selects were able to meet Canadian players and St. Louis for photos and autographs. They were also presented with their own Canadiens jerseys.
“We can sleep peacefully and over there you don’t know if a bomb is falling nearby, so it’s hard to walk in their shoes,” said Habs striker Alex Belzile. “We were happy to see her. The boys waved at them, threw them a few pucks, all to make them smile. Also, they’re kids, so I think it’s good for them to clear their minds and put smiles on their faces.”
“I always wonder if that really makes a difference to them and I think the answer is yes,” added defenseman Mike Matheson. “If you can just take two, three minutes of their lives and maybe help them think about something else, I hope that can be something that helps them. Just to talk to them.”
Ukraine will continue their trek to the Class AA Championship on Friday at 8 p.m. ET against the Vermont Flames Academy.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 14, 2023.
Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press
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