The Italian team from Aosta, present at the International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Quebec, made a noble gesture by hosting nine refugees from the war in Ukraine, including five young people who practice hockey to find a bit of normality in their disrupted daily life.
The players who left Kyiv and the surrounding area two months ago are not of pee-wee age and have not accompanied the club, which is on its third visit to the tournament.
Nevertheless, a beautiful esprit de corps quickly formed between young Italians and Ukrainians around hockey, far from the dramatic climate that strikes the country.
Recently, the Ukrainian Hockey Federation appealed to various European associations to provide accommodation for families in need.
Luca Giovinazzo, coach of the Gladiators of Aosta, a region in northwestern Italy bordering France, immediately raised his hand.
“We do this to help a little. For two weeks they have been going to school and they jumped on the ice from the first days after their arrival to continue training and practicing their sport with us. In English, young people communicate well, ”he told the Journal.
Wanted houses
For the moment, the Ukrainians are accommodated in a school, but Mr. Giovinazzo and his acolytes are actively working to find them homes.
“Since I have been here, I have made calls to the municipality to settle this file. For some, it is still very difficult. They were living in pretty good economic conditions and overnight they have nothing,” he said.
“In hockey, they can no longer play with their friends. I try not to tell them about the war because we are there to make them forget. They just want to get back to normal life,” the coach continued.
Even if the Ukrainians are now safe on Italian soil, all is not yet rosy in their new life.
"The dads couldn't follow in Italy because they are involved in the fight. I've seen the videos the moms showed me about their town and it could take years to rebuild everything. It's sad," sighed Luca Giovinazzo.
A nice exchange
Despite the heartbreaking context, the Ukrainians landed in Aosta are enjoying their new environment. As for the young Italian pee-wee, who enjoyed a 5-4 victory in overtime against the Sags 2 of Saguenay. It's a great realization.
“There is one of the young Ukrainians we host who participated in the tournament here with the Ukraine team three years ago. He spoke to the young people on our team to tell them what a great tournament it was. He told them to have fun, ”said the pilot.
I send images and videos of our time here to Ukrainians at home to do them good. For our young people, it is a great experience to rub shoulders with them, because it allows them to realize that they are privileged,” noted Mr. Giovinazzo.
In their second match of the pee-wee tournament, the little Remparts really did not have the easy task like in their debut, but they took up the challenge brilliantly by winning 4 to 3 in overtime to continue their journey in class. AAA.
Tuesday, they beat their rivals by a score of 9 to 0. Friday night, it was almost as hot in the Videotron Center as it was outside, against the Ontario Lakers of Huron Perth.
It was Maloric Gosselin who played the heroes in overtime, when the opposing goalkeeper could not control his throw. There were only 23 seconds left and the young man caused hysteria.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ludovic Therriault protected the fortress masterfully by being intractable.
Needless to say, the little Remparts are only small in name. As proof, the team they eliminated boasted an immaculate record of 25-0 this season... and a goal differential of 144!
“It was the big team in Canada. We knew it was a very big challenge. The little guys gave their 100%. We had some who were tired and sick, but they found a way to win the game in overtime, ”said assistant coach and former NHLer Simon Gagné.
A welcome double
The Lakers had only taken 2 min 27 s to register, but the number 10 of the Remparts, Matys St-Gelais, had other intentions. It was not a cup of coffee that he served to the opposing defense, but a full coffee maker, when he outwitted everyone to go on a breakaway and level the score. An anthology goal!
He then completed his double in the third period, while the other Remparts goal came earlier from Jordan Drolet.
“We played as a team, we all worked hard. I really liked it, the atmosphere was sick! Said St-Gelais. When you count goals, it's insane! »
The Remparts will be in action again on Saturday evening (7:15 p.m.).
The women's team also wins
Another crowd favorite, Équipe Québec Étoiles Féminin (BB), also saw its tournament continue, thanks to a 6-1 victory against the Lithuanian team of Hockey Punks Academy.
Six different scorers hit the target, including Kelly-Ann Auclair, sole representative of Quebec City on the team, who will play again Saturday night (6 p.m.).
8 a.m. SCHOOL
Grail Claretian College c. College of Lévis Commanders
9:15 a.m. SCHOOL
Pointe-Lévy Corsairs c. Cardinal-Roy Royal
10:30 a.m. SCHOOL
Saint-Louis Arsenal Academy c. Lucille Teasdale Diabolos
11 h 45 AAA
New Jersey Devils c. Los Angeles Jr. Kings
13 h BB
Aosta Gladiators c. Cree Nation Bears
14 h 15 AAA
Sun County Panthers c. Philadelphia Flyers
15 h 30 BB
Iles-de-la-Madeleine Squad c. Gatineau Ambassadors
4:45 p.m. SCHOOL
Winner of the 8 a.m. game c. 9:15 a.m. game winner
18 h BB
Team Quebec Star Women vs. Winner of the 1 p.m. game
19 h 15 AAA
Quebec Remparts v. Winners of the 11:45 a.m. game
20 h 30 AAA
Winner of the 2:15 p.m. match vs. Czech Knights
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