Ukrainian pee-wee team lives out a dream at Quebec tournament

QUEBEC CITY --One only needed to look at the smiles on the faces of the young Ukrainians waving their country's flag proudly as they skated around the ice at Videotron Centre to realize that they hadn't simply just won their first game at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.

Sure, they had just defeated the Boston Junior Bruins 3-1 following a spectacular late-game comeback. But more importantly, they had just experienced one of the best moments of their lives, managing to forget -- at least for a few hours -- the atrocities which they had suffered for more than a year due to the Russian invasion of their home country.
"It's incredible for these kids," Team Ukraine Select coach Yevgeny Pysarenko said. "They're happy. They're smiling. They're feeling so many emotions and creating so many memories for themselves. They're going to remember this experience, and this match in particular, for the rest of their lives. It's a great day for hockey."
It was a great day that ended in much the same way that it had started: in unity and harmony. In a poignant moment following the game, players from each team stood at center ice, arm in arm, for each country's national anthem.
Then, in a completely improvised moment, some of the Ukrainian players picked up a flag that had been thrown onto the ice by fans and waved it around while thanking the crowd of more than 15,500. Despite their disappointment in their loss, the Bruins players joined the Ukrainians in their celebration.
"We felt so strong," said Denys Lupandin, who scored the game-winning goal and an empty-net goal late in the third period. "We felt like real NHL players."

Although at their age, they might not yet have the wherewithal to deal with the pressure that comes from playing in front of a packed house. Betraying some nerves, several of the players tripped during warmups. But ultimately, it was only a matter of time before things started falling into place.
"It was really scary at first," said Lupandin, who has immigrated to Saskatchewan. "I looked up and saw so many people looking at us, me and my team. The first period was really hard, but it became easier in the second and third. I want to thank everyone for their support."
This is the 63rd edition of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, which brings together the best U-12 hockey teams from around the globe to Quebec every February. A number of current and former NHL stars have participated in the tournament, including Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, and Hockey Hall of Fame members Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. For many youth hockey players, the tournament is their first opportunity to play in front of large crowds, and it is often the first time most European players get to visit North America.
Fans, mostly dressed in white, waved Ukrainian flags and chanted "Let's Go Ukraine!" at several points during the game. They continued supporting their adoptive team, even if they had to wait until five minutes remaining in the game to celebrate a goal.
The Ukrainians dominated at each end of the ice, but Bruins goalie James Boccuzzi made things difficult with several spectacular saves.
"The crowd was crazy," said Boccuzzi. "I couldn't even hear myself think. My dad had told me to imagine that the people were actually cheering me on. That motivated me even more. I really wanted this win. It's definitely a big moment in my life. I've never been through anything like that before."
Yehor Kosenko was the first Ukrainian to get the best of Boccuzzi, sending the arena into a frenzy and setting the table for a dream ending. Four minutes later, the Ukrainians were up by two and never looked back.
"It's part of this whole miracle," said Pysarenko. "We were waiting for a comeback, and it happened. Hopefully, we've got a few more miracles coming up in the rest of the tournament."
Pysarenko is not using the word "miracle" lightly. Simply assembling this team, comprised mostly of Ukrainian refugees scattered throughout Europe, was a true achievement in and of itself, not to mention all the steps needed to facilitate their arrival in Quebec.
Tournament organizers, including project manager Sean Berube, even went looking for four players still living in Ukraine at the borders of Romania and Moldova.
"You don't know their stories, but I can assure you that they've lived through some terrible times," said Pysarenko. "Heading to the border, the Ukrainian players saw missiles flying overhead on two separate occasions. As you can imagine, that's not the most pleasant experience."
"I'm never going to forget this game," Bruins assistant coach Mike Cashman said. "I can only imagine what these young players are going through in Ukraine. … I'm convinced that my players are better people now that they've left Boston to come here."
The day will be etched into the tournament's long history because of its unique nature. But the day can also be remembered as the one where a few young teens offered a lesson in humanity to a few particular policymakers.
"It was awesome to see that everyone can be friends," said Lupandin. "Everyone should be friends. Peace is all that matters."
Photo Credit: Jonathan Roy