It was a lesson in sportsmanship and camaraderie for a group of 13- and 14-year-old hockey players in Montreal’s south shore: losing their last game 11-0 after a dismal season.
In all fairness, the last-place Bulldogs du Roussillon were playing top team, les Grands Ducs du Richelieu.
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After two periods, the Grands Ducs were up 11-0 and both the referee and the coaches agreed to end the match there.
But, with the ice free for another hour, the young Bantam BB players had another idea.
“We asked our coach if we can go on, so we did and then the other team hopped on with us,” Bulldogs forward Dante Trogi told Global News.
“I thought it was cool.”
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Trogi said they started daring teammate, Jacob, to throw his stick in the middle of the ice — a way to propose a friendly match.
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“They put all the sticks in the middle to choose teams the good old street hockey way,” said Mijanou Mia Rios, Trogi’s mother.
“Some exchanged jerseys with the other team and they simply played for fun. Let me repeat — they played for fun and with respect.”
“It was by far the most beautiful and proudest moment I have witnessed as a hockey/sports mum.”
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Despite only winning two games this 28-game season, the minor hockey players with Ligue Élite Richelieu say they haven’t lost their love of the game.
“It felt awesome because we got to play with the best team in the league and we didn’t have to prove anything — and I scored two goals… beauties,” Trogi told Global News.
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Trogi says all leagues should encourage players to organize friendly matches, where they mix up the teams.
“Hockey is all about the love for the game and who you play it with. Even though we had a terrible year, it brought all of us closer as friends and as teammates,” he told Global News.
“It’s an experience I’ll always remember.”
The experience has given the boys a new outlook on life.
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“He wants to go and play outside now. As a 14-year-old, what do they want to do now? Fortnite, of course. I think this has turned things around and put things in perspective for him,” she told Global News.
“There is good that comes out of never giving up. Of course, he still wants to make the NHL.”
Trogi’s short-term goal? “To get at least more than two wins” next season.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau
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