Memories from Hockey Can't Stop tour's finale to last a lifetime

On top of the motivation that comes from representing his country, playing in front of 7,821 fans in a National Hockey League Arena, and preparing for the 2023 FISU Winter University Games, Ukraine forward Mykhailo Simchuk had another reason to be at his best on Monday night.
The night before the game, he reunited with his younger brother Havryil, and he was in the crowd watching as Simchuk scored twice in a 5-1 win over the University of Manitoba Bisons in the final stop on the Hockey Can't Stop tour.
"He slept with us in our room," Simchuk said, his eyes lighting up and pointing to his teammate on the road, goaltender Dmytro Kubrytskyi. "We didn't see him for two months after we came to Canada. We're really happy that he could come to us."

Simchuk has spent the last two months with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, with two goals and 12 points in 14 games. His brother - along with Kubrytskyi - had been a couple provinces to the east, skating and travelling with the Manitoba Junior Hockey League's Dauphin Kings.
About a month ago, Kubrytskyi left the Kings to join the U25 team, and eventually, the 16-year-old Havryil joined the U18 AAA Parkland Rangers.
Even though he knew his brother was going to be in Winnipeg, Havryil still needed help to get there. Plus, he and the Rangers had a game to play on Sunday afternoon in Swan River - about 170 kilometres northwest of Dauphin.
That's where Havryil's billets - Dave Height and Sherrie Volk - stepped in.
Havryil picked up an assist in a 6-2 Rangers loss to the Winnipeg Bruins that afternoon, and then the trip began.
They arrived in Winnipeg shortly before 11 pm CT and were reunited with Mikhailo, as well as Havryil's father - Kostiantyn Simchuk, the goaltending coach for the Ukraine U25 national team.

"I was very happy to see my brother and my dad," Havyril said before the game, saying they all talked about the three previous games Ukraine had played on the tour. "It's very good experience for the guys."
Capping off the experience with a win is something the players will remember forever. Hlib Kryvoshapkin, who notched a shorthanded goal 9:23 into the second period on a nifty backhand deke that squeezed its way through Bisons netminder Brett Murphy, had a message waiting for him from his dad when he got back to the locker room.
"He's happier for me than I am I think," he laughed. "It's really some kind of miracle for all of us. We had this kind of games only in our dreams before. We're really happy to play in an NHL arena, and especially win the game. Its unforgettable emotions, unforgettable feelings."
It was Ukraine's lone win on the four-game tour through Western Canada, which also had stops in Calgary, Edmonton, and Saskatoon. Their home rinks may have been thousands of kilometres away, but the fans inside Canada Life Centre - many of them Ukrainian refugee families - did all they could to make it feel like a home game.

Ukrainian flags were everywhere, chants were constant, and when Hoosli delivered another memorable rendition of the country's national anthem, it was impossible not to feel the emotion in the building.
"There are no words to express the feelings and describe what we felt during that game, and all the players," said Ukraine head coach Vadym Shakhraichuk. "I'm grateful to everyone. I want to say that for me, my players, my staff, everyone from our delegation, this is going to be a memory forever. It was an unbelievable experience, unbelievable support from the spectators."
It was unfortunate that one team had to end up on the losing end, but the Bisons - playing their third game in four nights after a weekend set against Regina - and head coach Mike Sirant were thankful to be part of the history making tour.
"This had extra special meaning to me because I am of Ukrainian heritage. We have several players on our team with Ukrainian heritage," said Sirant.
In fact, the Bisons lone goal scorer on the night - Devon Skoleski - is one of those players.
Sirant said the conversation in the Bisons room after the game was kept to a more big-picture theme.
"Tonight was more than just a hockey game," Sirant said. "So many people are going to benefit from this, not only the Ukraine team, but also people in Ukraine from the humanitarian aid that will be derived from this game."
The funds raised from the game will go to the Canada/Ukraine Foundation, which provides assistance to humanitarian groups in both Ukraine and Canada.
Along with raising funds, the tour was just as much about preparing for the Winter University games and showing Ukrainian refugees, and the world, that Ukraine isn't done fighting.
"It's to inspire," said Oleksandra Slatvytska, the CEO of Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine. "They're trying to re-start their lives, it's really challenging for them. Such kind of events, from what I've heard already from all our visitors and spectators, they're really inspired by that. That's why they wanted to welcome us."

Every single player felt that welcome, including Simchuk.
"Scoring goals in a full crowd, it's an unbelievable feeling," he said. "Our team and our staff really appreciate the people that came to our game and supported us."