Re: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 11:55 pm
A tremendous atmosphere in the packed arena as the Ukrainian kids (they are only 11-12 years old) played their first game in the storied Quebec City International Pee-Wee hockey tournament...
Before the start of the game, the Ukrainian kids and Boston kids stood together in a circle, arm in arm, for the Ukrainian and U.S. national anthems...
The Quebec crowd - 18,000 of them, which is the same as in several NHL (pro) arenas - treated the Ukrainian team as the home team, getting excited at every scoring chance, and erupting in unison at every Ukrainian goal scored.
The Ukrainian kids dominated the game over their Boston opposition, and the score was only close because of the great work of the Boston goalie.
In the end, the Ukrainian kids won 3-1, as they rode the searing energy of the crowd to score 3 straight goals in the 3rd period after going behind 1-0.
For these Ukrainian kids, playing in this huge professional sized arena, in front of a huge crowd that cheered their every move and made them feel at home, this was a unique experience. They normally play only in small arenas in front of only their parents. They have been displaced from the Ukraine into various European countries because of the Russian invasion, often leaving at least one parent behind - sometimes both - as their fathers are fighting in the invasion. The kids are in Quebec City without their parents.
It's great to have them at this tournament, and the atmosphere in the building today could not have been more wonderful. The Quebec crowd loves these kids - and it's truly heartwarming to see.
The crowd welcoming the Ukrainian kids at the start of the game...
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The Ukrainian kids and Boston kids circling the ice together, thanking the crowd, after the game - 2 Ukrainian kids leading the way carrying the Ukrainian flag...
Before the start of the game, the Ukrainian kids and Boston kids stood together in a circle, arm in arm, for the Ukrainian and U.S. national anthems...
The Quebec crowd - 18,000 of them, which is the same as in several NHL (pro) arenas - treated the Ukrainian team as the home team, getting excited at every scoring chance, and erupting in unison at every Ukrainian goal scored.
The Ukrainian kids dominated the game over their Boston opposition, and the score was only close because of the great work of the Boston goalie.
In the end, the Ukrainian kids won 3-1, as they rode the searing energy of the crowd to score 3 straight goals in the 3rd period after going behind 1-0.
For these Ukrainian kids, playing in this huge professional sized arena, in front of a huge crowd that cheered their every move and made them feel at home, this was a unique experience. They normally play only in small arenas in front of only their parents. They have been displaced from the Ukraine into various European countries because of the Russian invasion, often leaving at least one parent behind - sometimes both - as their fathers are fighting in the invasion. The kids are in Quebec City without their parents.
It's great to have them at this tournament, and the atmosphere in the building today could not have been more wonderful. The Quebec crowd loves these kids - and it's truly heartwarming to see.
The crowd welcoming the Ukrainian kids at the start of the game...
--------------
The Ukrainian kids and Boston kids circling the ice together, thanking the crowd, after the game - 2 Ukrainian kids leading the way carrying the Ukrainian flag...
