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March 16, 2012

Israeli hockey unites

Preparation for next year’s tournament begins.
KYLE BERGER

It was just over two years ago that, while watching the CBC’s special Hockey Day in Canada broadcast, I saw a feature on a small recreational hockey tournament in Israel. Two former NHL legends, Daryl Sittler and Paul Henderson, were on hand in Israel, talking about the tournament and their experience visiting the Holy Land.

As I watched with Jewish pride, I saw some of the tournament’s hockey being shown in the background. And that’s when it hit me: “That looks like us!” I yelled, referring to the group of Jewish recreational hockey players I play with on a weekly basis in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s Ice Hockey League.

Since that day, I have been determined to bring a squad to this tournament. Finally, this past Feb. 6-10, four other Vancouverites and I teamed up with a group from Winnipeg to form Team Western Canada (TWC) for the 2012 Israel Recreational Hockey Association Tournament. And we went to play ice hockey ... in Israel!

Now, it took TWC some time to really hit our groove in the tournament, saving our dominant play until the end (cough, cough), but the experience was unique and memorable. The four-day tournament was jam-packed with games (usually two a day), social action projects, a ton of social time and a visit to Hamat Gader Hot Spring Spa to soothe our aching muscles.

TWC also spent a day touring the Galilee Panhandle region, including a jeep tour along the Lebanese border, thanks to a special P2G (Partnership 2gether) grant via the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the JCCGV. We also spent some time with Paul Hunt, the Canadian ambassador to Israel, who attended the closing ceremonies.

Without a doubt, the highlight of the trip was the rare chance to combine two passions: hockey and Israel. The chance to step on the ice with Jews from all over the world in one of the most beautiful parts of Israel and participate in the most beautiful game in the world was invaluable. It didn’t matter where you were from or for which team you were playing. Everyone there had a bond. Until the puck dropped, of course.

Appropriately, the location of the tournament was Canada Centre, funded and supported by communities across Canada. This was celebrated weekly by the many former Canadians now living in Israel that we met – they drive from all over Israel to the centre each week to get their hockey fix.

While TWC didn’t come home with the gold medal we were hoping for, we are already recruiting for Team Vancouver to compete for the gold in next year’s tournament. The dates have been set for Feb. 4-8, 2013. While the majority of the participants were adults, a limited number of younger participants are eligible to play as well. If you are interested in participating in the hockey experience of a lifetime, contact me at the JCCGV at [email protected].

Kyle Berger is the sports coordinator at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.

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