The Welland Minor Hockey Association hosts touring teams from Sweden
The 2023 World Junior Championships wrapped up Thursday night in Halifax with host Canada playing the Czech Republic for the gold medal.
Games in the 11-team tournament were also played in Moncton, NB, but international hockey involving Canadian teams was not limited to Atlantic Canada.
Welland hosted a touring U20 team from Sweden during the holidays from school. Vanersborgs HC also played exhibition matches against St. Catharines Falcons, the West Niagara Flying Aces in Beamsville, as well as the Northumberland Nighthawks in Cobourg and the Quinte West Golden Hawks in Trenton.
Welland Tigers head coach Mike Bray, whose under-18 team rallied from a 3-0 deficit for a 7-4 win, said the Swedish team has made a point of touring Canada once every three years.
“I think it’s the ninth time they’ve done it. They were here three years ago before covid with their U18 team.”
The game against the Tigers took place Friday night at Welland Arena, where an unannounced crowd of 751 cheered on the hometown team.
“We came out at the beginning of the third and we got a goal pretty quick, and you could just feel the momentum,” Bray said. “The kids were just crazy, they had so much fun.
“The fans were so loud. That was definitely a big contributing factor.”
He suggested playing against a faster, older Vanersborgs team can only help the Tigers forward.
“It raised our level of play 100 percent. We learned that we can play at a higher tempo,” the coach said. “If we were to put this level of play into our regular season, we’re going to do very well.”
The Welland Minor Hockey Association made every effort to host the game with organizers including as many minor hockey players as possible. Under 9. -10, -11, -12 and -13 teams were represented as flag bearers for the opening ceremonies.
Commemorative pins and tuxes given to the Swedish team were provided by the City of Welland and the federal and provincial authorities, represented by Niagara Center MP Vance Badawey and Niagara Center MPP Jeff Burch, respectively.
Sponsors for the event included Tailgates Bar and Grill, Red Swan Pizza, HD Doctor, Niagara Clothing Company as well as the Alain Raby Memorial Trust Fund. Red Embers Productions filmed the pregame and game ceremonies.
“All I wanted, in the end, was to make this game a success for both hockey teams. It was more than just a hockey game, it was about a community coming together and showing our hospitality to Vanersborgs HC,” said Pierre Seguin, the team’s parent representative. “Welland really is a hockey town.”
Bray, 55, remembers watching a Swedish team play in the main arena when he was growing up in Welland
“There is definitely a history between Sweden and Canada.”
With next year’s world juniors scheduled to take place in Sweden, there is a possibility that a return visit will be added to that history.
“I’m not saying this is going to happen, but we’d love to make that trip. For half the guys on this list, this is their last year of organized minor hockey,” Bray said. “We always like to do something special for to send these guys away. A trip to Sweden would be pretty cool next year if we can make it.”
Welland scored three goals, the last in an empty net, in the final five minutes en route to a 7-4 victory. Swedes led 2-0 after one period of play, 3-1 after 40 minutes of play
The Tigers, outgained 34-29, were scored by Mitch Tomaino, with two; Jacob Gaspari, Chase Hubbel, Carter Kipp, Carter Lalonde and Luca Santostefano.
“When Welland scored, the stadium came alive,” Seguin said. “Players were amazed by the noise level and energy in the arena.
“They even said the building was shaking.”