Ukraine team’s Hockey Can’t Stop Tour kicks off in Saskatoon – Saskatoon | 24CA News

The nationwide college ice hockey crew of Ukraine travelled to Saskatchewan to kick off their Hockey Can’t Stop Tour towards the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

“The Hockey Can’t Stop Tour is about our intention to show to the biggest hockey country in the world that Ukraine is still alive, that Ukraine is a free country, that we are independent, that we still have hockey alive,” stated Aleksandra Slatvytska, CEO of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine.

The tour is a technique the ice hockey federation of Ukraine hopes to maintain the game of hockey alive and properly in Ukraine regardless of the continuing battle towards Russia.

“This foundation wants to help kids to stay in hockey, we want to help kids who lost their parents in the war,” added Slatvytska.

She needs the tour to department out additional, to change into a long-standing hockey relationship between Ukraine and Canada.

“It’s going to be a start. Different kind of programs, experience, exchange programs where we will be able to send here kids hockey teams for some camps or invite Canadian specialists to come to Ukraine to share the experience and knowledges.”

For many gamers on the Ukraine crew it was the first-time visiting Canada.

Vadym Shakharaichuk, head coach, stated it means loads for the crew to have the ability to journey and play in Canada.

“For us it’s very important to participate as a game in Canada, Canada is number one in hockey for us,” stated Shakharaichuk.

Bohdan Stupak, ahead for Ukraine stated there’s one factor he observed instantly in coming to Canada.

“Cold. Back home its warmer. Here it’s cold but it’s nice, it’s a good feeling when you come here it’s cold and it feels like hockey,” stated Stupak.

Stupak stated this chance means loads not solely to him, however to all of the gamers after their house nation has gone by means of a lot.

“It’s hard because we have to play and practice under the missiles they sent, sometimes no electricity, but we fight through and we become better from it everyday,” Stupak added.

The tour is elevating funds for refugees, humanitarian targets, and the reconstruction of arenas destroyed within the battle.

In his private profession Mykhailo Simchuk performs for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. His household is house in Ukraine. Simchuk stated it’s laborious when his household continues to be within the warzone.

“Every morning they woke up because of the rockets and air dangers, that’s so hard,” stated Simchuk.

The crew was not capable of get the win because the Huskies took the sport by a rating of 2-0.

Now they may head west to Calgary and Edmonton earlier than coming again east to play in Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre.