In the bus, before they crossed the door of the restaurant, the Ukrainian players had been made aware that the name of the dish they were going to taste there had no connection with the Russian president. That he existed even before he was born.
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Because if the young Ukrainians had so far participated in several activities in their host city, and attended a Canadian game this week in Montreal, many of them had not yet tasted poutine, probably the more symbolic of Quebec dishes.
“It’s very, very, very delicious!” launched, once his bowl was over, goalkeeper Matvii Kulish.
Players and coaches were invited Wednesday by the new owners of Ashton in their restaurant on rue du Marais, in Quebec. They arrived there following their morning training at the PEPS, at the end of the morning.
Was it the appetite engendered by this burst of energy or, simply, their love for this new dish? Still, most Ukrainians devoured their little poutine in a few bites.
Already on his list
Maksym Shtepa had already eaten poutine “three or four times” since his arrival in Quebec two weeks ago. So much so that he is now able to draw up his own list, in which the Ashton’s poutine is at the top… “on a par with that of the Bell Centre.”
His teammate Kulish would not hesitate to eat one as a pre-game meal. But it probably won’t be Thursday morning, since Ukraine, which still has four games to win to take the honors in the AA category of the Pee-Wee Tournament, will be on the ice at the Videotron Center at 8:00 a.m. to dispute the victory with the Vermont Flames Academy.
Their player cards
However, there was not only poutine on the menu, Wednesday noon. François Robert, who hosts two of the team’s players, had a nice surprise in store for all the players: their player cards.
The squad had passed the Tournament deadline for ordering cards and Mr. Robert decided to have them made himself, which brought wide smiles to the faces of the young athletes.
This team loves the tournament so much they’re in it without playing
Photo by Jessica Lapinski
The players of the San Jose Sharks junior faced the As de Québec at the Marc-Simoneau arena on Wednesday.
The San Jose Sharks did not qualify for the Peewee Tournament this year. But no matter: the team still decided to leave California and travel thousands of kilometers to come and spend a week in Quebec City, where it organized “its own tournament”.
“We wanted to come and live the experience. The team had been in the tournament for a few years. Even if we are not ranked this year, it’s great that the parents came with us to experience it, ”rejoiced Jacqueline Louie, one of the Sharks color bearers.
Of course, the young Sharks were disappointed not to be able to take part in the big event. Their coach, Brandon Hirschel, was there last year and he had praised the merits of the Tournament, but also, of all the experience that surrounds it.
Mr. Hirschel explains that he began the process of coming to Quebec as soon as he learned that his team was not qualified. With the hope, all the same, of coming back through the front door next year.
“My goal as a coach is not just to develop good hockey players,” he pointed out. It’s to make them good humans. This experience, in a new culture, it contributes to that. »
lots of hockey
Photo by Jessica Lapinski
(L to R) Jacqueline Louie, Sharks coach Brandon Hirschel, Jackson Bailey and Matthias Baniqued following their game
Like all “official” teams, the Sharks made the trip big. All the parents accompanied their youngsters and took part in the traditional activities surrounding the competition: the Village Vacances Valcartier, the toboggan, learning a few words in French, poutine, pin exchanges…
And of course, they played hockey. A lot, even ! When they leave Quebec City at the end of the week, the players will have played at least seven games, thanks to the help of Dave Dufour, who has looked following the team for the past few years.
And without whom, according to Mr. Hirschel, “none of this would have been possible”.
On Wednesday morning, the Sharks were in action at Aréna Marc-Simoneau, where they faced the As de Québec. In the stands were still a few dozen spectators, especially family members of the two teams.
It may not have been the atmosphere of the Videotron Center, but that didn’t seem to bother Jacqueline. “The important thing is not so much the tournament as playing hockey,” she said.
“At the start, the parents weren’t sure they wanted to come if we weren’t part of the Tournament. But as soon as they saw how many matches we were going to be able to play, they were convinced,” added his coach.
A “10/10” experience
Moreover, these meetings once morest good clubs were formative for the young troop of Brandon Hirschel, who managed to win a few victories.
“I’m really proud of them,” he said. They’ve been a much stronger team since we’ve been here. »
“This experience is a 10/10,” he said, before asking his players if they would like to experience it once more next year.
” Absolutely ! launched Jacqueline. An assertion supported by his teammates Jackson Bailey and Matthias Baniqued
CALENDAR OF THE DAY
- 8 h Team Select Ukraine c. Flames Academy du Vermont
AA - 9 h 15 Korea’s Zenith Ice v. South Shore Express 2
AA - 10 h Islanders Middlesex c. Winter Club de Burnaby
AAA - 10 h 30 Outaouais Intrepid c. Selects Swiss Eastern
AA-Elite - 11 h 15 Montreal Canadiens v. Pittsburgh Penguins Elite
AAA - 11 h 45 Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Northern Selects
AA-Elite - 12 h 30 Mauricie Stars 55 vs. Laval-Montreal Amazons
Feminine - 13 h Devils du New Jersey c. Panthers de Sun County
AAA - 14 h 15 New England Prospects v. Buffalo Jr Sabers
AAA - 15 h 30 Knights of Czechia v. Philadelphia Flyers
AAA - 16 h 45 Rangers du Connecticut Jr. c. Lightning de West Durham
Feminine - 18 h Kazakhstan c. Express 2 Rive-Sud
BB - 19 h 15 England v. Lords of Northeast Quebec
BB
WEDNESDAY
- Bedford blues 1
Northern Selects 6
AA-Elite - Express 2 Rive-Sud 4
Northwest Pioneers 1
AA - Blizzard Saint-François Seminary 1
Blue Jackets de Columbus 2
AA-Elite - Outaouais Intrepid 7
Islanders de New York 1
AA-Elite - South Shore Express 2 3
South Shore Express 3 2
BB - England 5
Delémont Ghosts 4
BB - Chiefs MHA 3
Pologne AHW 4
AA - Comets d’Utica Jr. 2
Selects Atlantic 1
AA - Carolina Hurricanes Jr. 2
Commanders of the Collège de Lévis 6
AA-Elite
