Ukrainian peewee hockey team attends Montreal Canadiens practice at Bell Centre
Posted February 14, 2023 2:22 pm.
Last Updated February 14, 2023 5:16 pm.
A boy’s hockey team made up of Ukrainian refugees got the chance to take in an NHL practice Tuesday.
The Ukrainian Selects, who are competing in the International Peewee Tournament in Quebec City, attended the Montreal Canadiens’ morning skate.
The 11- and 12-year-olds sat in the Bell Centre stands Tuesday morning wearing their Team Ukraine sweaters.
They also seemed to have some Canadiens gear, according to a video posted to the Habs’ Twitter page.
L'équipe ukrainienne du Tournoi de hockey pee-wee de Québec assiste à l'entraînement matinal! ????????
Team Ukraine Select from the @tournoipeewee is watching the morning skate!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/mo1Qlbkizv
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 14, 2023
The team will be the special guests of the Canadiens for their game against Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
One of the team’s dreams was having a chance to attend an NHL game during what’s now growing into a three-week stay in Canada.
RELATED: Ukrainian Peewees hockey team playing through reminders of war, at Quebec City tournament
Following morning skate, Montreal coach Martin St. Louis told reporters that his father “missed the Canadiens game to go see the Ukraine Selects” in their 3-1 win over the Boston Junior Bruins last Saturday. St. Louis also had the opportunity to chat with Ukraine Selects coaches who shared their experience and progress in the tournament.
“We can’t imagine what they’re going through as a country at the moment. And for the kids to take the time to have normal kid experiences in a sport, there’s no better place for this than the Quebec Peewee Tournament,” St. Louis said.
“I know they’re being welcomed by not only Quebec City, but by all hockey fans in Quebec. It’s a great human gesture that we’re able to do for them. I’m really glad to have met them today and to give them a moment where they can forget about the difficult circumstances that they’ve lived through in their country.”
The Ukrainian Selects were able to meet Canadiens players and St. Louis following practice to take photos and grab autographs. They were also presented with their own Canadiens jerseys.
“We’re able to sleep without worry and over there you don’t know if a bomb will fall close by so it’s tough to walk in their shoes,” said Habs forward Alex Belzile. “We were happy to see them. The guys waved at them, threw them a few pucks, everything to make them smile. Plus, they’re kids so I think it’s good for them to clear their heads and put smiles on their faces.”
“I always ask myself if that will really make a difference for them and I think that the answer is yes,” added defenceman Mike Matheson. “If you can just take two, three minutes of their lives and maybe help them to think about something else, I hope that can be something that helps them. Just to talk to them.”
The Selects extended their stay by beating Romania in an elimination game at the tournament. They advanced to play the Vermont Flames Academy on Friday.
The Ukrainians are three wins from clinching a spot in the tournament Class AA championship on Sunday.
—With files from John Wawrow, The Associated Press, and Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press
