Montrealers Enjoy Friendship Circle Hockey Tournament

The seventh annual Montreal Friendship Circle Hockey Tournament took place on March 7th at the Bill Durnan Arena, and a crowd of more than 500 were treated to a thrilling hockey game.

The Friendship Circle is an organization that pairs teen volunteers with special children in a friendship that enriches both lives. Through a wide range of innovative programs and activities the children with special needs gain the confidence, develop friendships between each other and their volunteers and are integrated into society, having developed essential life skills.

Seven years ago, the Friendship Circle held their first annual hockey tournament which featured players from Montreal’s Jewish community who raised funds to participate in the game. The game’s purpose was to raise funds for Friendship Circle’s program and it was a huge success. Ever since, the hockey tournament has been a highlight as the community gathers in an area to support the children from the Friendship Circle and to cheer on their favourite players on the ice.

This year, over 500 people gathered at the Bill Durnan arena. Steven Abadi opened the event by singing Avinu Malkeinu. Dovid Russ, Sholom Diament, Howard and Robbie Zunenshine were honoured with the ceremonial puck drop and Ariel Mechaly led the crowd in the traditional pre-game Ani Maamin and the game was on between the Kings and the Knights.

The first period saw tight defence with several chances for both teams. Finally, Shlomo Suissa of the Knights was taken down on a breakaway and he scored a spectacular goal on the penalty shot to open the scoring. The game opened up as the period came to a close and at the end of the period, the Knights were up 2-1.

During the first intermission, visitors enjoyed entertainment from two Cirque du Soleil juggling clowns. Popcorn, cotton candy, drinks and pizza were also available for purchase.

In the second period the pace turned up and scoring increased with several beautiful individual efforts and a tic-tac-toe play that resulted in a goal. The period closed with the score 4-2 for the Kings.

The goalies stayed out during the second intermission as each child from the Friendship Circle went out onto the ice and took a shot. The crowd cheered the boys on as they scored goal after goal in a moment the children look forward to all year.

The Knights bounced back in the third period, outshooting and outhustling the Kings defence, going up 6-5. In the last two minutes of the game the Kings pulled their goalie and were all over the Knights trying to get the equalizer, but goaltender Avi Tansky came up with several acrobatic stops and didn’t let anything past him. The final score: 6-5 for the Knights and a night to remember for the children of the Friendship Circle.

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