Ukrainian hockey team. Image credit: Facebook page
The young Ukrainian hockey team of 11 and 12-year-old Ukrainian refugees, which was invited to play in Quebec City’s famous peewee hockey tournament reportedly won their first game on Saturday, scoring 3-1 against the Boston Junior Bruins,
The team received a warm welcome from the 18,000 fans who packed the Videotron Centre.
On Friday, Quebec Premier François Legault invited Quebecers to support the Ukrainian team.
“Congratulations on your great victory! You show us all your courage in such difficult circumstances. We are with you with all our heart,” he wrote on Twitter after the match.
Dressed in white, a symbol of peace, there were thousands of spectators, some waving Ukrainian and Canadian flags during the national anthems, as players from both teams stood arm in arm at centre ice.
With two quick goals in the last two minutes of play, the young Ukrainians emerged victorious.
The Ukrainian team will play at least one more game during the tournament, which runs until Feb. 19.
# Ukrainianhockeyteam; #QuebecCity
