I know about this war more than you ever would, as I read (and speak) both languages on both sides of the conflict. I also follow the news about the war daily in the native languages spoken on both sides.

This is political. The fact that the kids are refugees from the war doesn’t change the fact that this is a AAA team playing two divisions down to win the AA division (there is AAA, AA Elite, and AA) and make the news so that the Canadians would feel better about helping Ukraine.

This is unfair to the three dozen teams playing in the AA division. Those are ALSO kids with feelings. The adults think they can boost their egos and promote themselves at the expense of 12-year-old kids. I was at the game yesterday, as my son plays on a team in the AA division of this tournament. I know the difference between AA and AAA. Ukrainians should be playing in the AAA division, and if they won it, that would be a good story to tell: winning honestly and not by cheating. This team is a national select team of the best Ukrainian 12-year-old hockey players representing a nation of 45 million people (larger in population than Canada) playing against club teams that are two levels below them in skill.

Want to help Ukraine? Donate money to the Ukrainian armed forces so that they win the war against Russia instead of bringing a AAA team to Canada to play two levels down to make sensational news that a team of refugees wins Pee Wee Quebec 2023. They are already calling this a “Miracle on Ice”. Ridiculous shenanigans by the unscrupulous adults to make the news and promote themselves at the expense of innocent kids.

Incidentally, I can’t find any news in Ukrainian media about the Pee Wee Quebec Tournament or the Ukrainian team winning a game in a packed NHL-size arena. Guess what? They have much more serious news to cover.