With rare northern exposure, Canada ices the US

Canada dominated the ice, while the fans were divided between those waving the maple leaf, the star-spangled banner and Israel’s blue-and-white flag.

The fact that the Maccabiah ice hockey tournament was played at the Canada Center in Metulla, a sports complex donated by the Jewish federations of Canada to the northern residents of Israel, may have given Canada’s players a psychological edge. They certainly played like it was their home: Canada’s junior team came from behind to beat the US 3-2, while its men’s open squad dominated the ice, handing the US a whopping 7-1 defeat to secure another gold.

The finals of both categories were “the best ice hockey games I’ve seen here,” Yoel Cohen, an Israeli spectator, told The Times of Israel shortly after the matches ended Friday. Cohen, who made aliya from the US almost a decade ago and lives in the north, said he’s seen almost a dozen games played at Israel’s only full-sized hockey rink, “but these players are one level above anyone I’ve seen skating on this ice.”

Israel’s junior team members enjoyed a level of competition they don’t usually face. “It was fun competing at such a high level,” 17-year-old Shai Maaravi said as he watched his Canadian and American counterparts facing off in the first period of the finals. He said he and his friends were disappointed, but “not really surprised,” that they failed to make it to the finals of the three-team junior tournament.

“We practice on weekends and holidays. They skate much more than we do, and spend more time on the ice playing,” Maaravi said, smiling. “It was fun meeting [people] my age from other countries and playing in front of so many people at home.”

For the families of the visiting athletes, Rachel Mischarf said, the tournament was “a great opportunity to be a tourist in Israel.” Mischarf, the mother of 17-year-old Benjamin from team USA, was pleased her son made the team and brought the family along for a visit. “My husband is from Tel Aviv,” she said, speaking while her son’s team was in the locker room between periods. “Usually when we visit we’re in that area. Being here lets us do things we haven’t done in years” — like visit the Golan Heights.

Closer to the rink, Zach Rosen was re-taping a wilting “Go Canada” sign to the banister of the bleachers. “It’s not mine, but you’ve got to fix it, out of respect,” said the 20-year-old from Toronto, who was here rooting for his younger brother, Avery.

“It’s our first time in Israel,” Rosen said, “and it’s really nice.” Though the family spent most of its time in the north, they also visited the beaches of Tel Aviv and the streets of Jerusalem. “We were at the Western Wall. You don’t know how to feel, you’re overcome by emotion, standing next to one of the holiest places to our religion,” he said.

Five minutes before the second period ended in the junior final, Keaton Baum put the US up 1-0. Then, in the third period, the goals just kept coming. Four minutes in, Maxwell Balinson scored the equalizer, and nine minutes later teammate Joshua Walt gave Canada a 2-1 lead. However, that lead only lasted for 14 seconds, as Benjamin Key-Comis capitalized on the US’s first attempt after the face-off to even the game at two goals apiece. Finally, two minutes before the siren, with the names on the jerseys underlining this was a Jewish tournament — Feldman, Cohen, Rosenberg and Boroditsky were all on the ice at the same time — Balinson scored his second, Canada’s winning goal.

“It was a good tournament, I’m happy for the kids,” Canada’s coach Mario Cicchillo said as his team members celebrated on the ice with their families. “We’ve been here for 14 days, and still have almost a week left to enjoy,” the first-time visitor said with a smile. “Next time I’ll bring my wife.”

While there were only three teams in the juniors category, the Ukraine sent a team to the men’s open tournament — and handed Israel a last-minute loss in the battle for bronze. Members of both teams were in attendance to watch the finals, and enjoyed a show from the Canadians en-route to their victory over the US.

Led by Zachary Hyman, who was drafted by the NHL’s Florida Panthers and played for the University of Michigan, Canada ended the first period with a 2-0 lead over the US and never looked back on its way to the gold.

Leaving the Canada Center was difficult — and not only because of the upbeat atmosphere. Hundreds of cars were parked bumper to bumper in the parking lot and streets of the small northern town. Final proof that the games were a big draw.