In recent weeks, in the most famous hockey competition in the world, it has often happened that the Ukrainian anthem was played before the match. But there have always been cases where teams from Canada have competed against each other.
On Wednesday, however, Edmonton of Canada and Washington, USA, faced each other, and NHL regulations allow only two anthems before the match. And so the organizers of the match solved it untraditionally.
It is estimated that there are about 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent in Canada, more than any other country after Ukraine and Russia. The highest concentrations are in the Edmonton and Winnipeg areas. The province of Alberta, which has a population of about 4.5 million and is the capital of Edmonton, is home to approximately 345,000 people with Ukrainian roots.
The Ukrainian flag behind the Washington substitute, on which the Russian Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin is sitting.Photo: AMBER BRACKENCTK / AP
That is why the Oilers insisted that the match against Washington, for which, in addition to Ovechkin, his compatriots Samsonov, Orlov and Kuznetsov, also had a Ukrainian track record.
Therefore, the Ukrainian flag was visible in the auditorium, one of them directly behind the Capitals. Rogers Arena turned blue and yellow before the match. The unique feature, however, was the Canadian anthem played by the Ukrainian choir Vítr in English and Ukrainian.
Ukrainian flags in the auditorium of Rogers Place, Edmonton.Photo: Perry NelsonReuters
And while the choir received applause from more than 16,000 fans present, Ovechkin, who has not yet condemned Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, received a roar from the audience, especially at the beginning of the match.
