News

Metula, Israel – The United States defeated Canada Wednesday evening to claim the championship of the World Jewish Ice Hockey Tournament – a novel event, staged for the second time in this northernmost of Israeli towns.

The final score was 6:0 as the Canadian team uncharacteristically collapsed in the second half of the second period.

At the halfway point of the game, the score remained 0:0 as both teams played a high-flying, hard-hitting brand of hockey. Both goaltenders – Dov Grumet-Morris, the tournament MVP, for the U.S., and Josh Tordjman, of the Phoenix Coyotes, for Canada – made several superb saves.

But when a goalmouth scramble led to Team U.S.A.’s first goal at 11:03 of the second period, the air seemed to escape from the Canadian squad’s balloon. Not long after, came a three-goal flurry within a minute and a half, and the game was all but done.

It was as if a different team played the second half of the game. Where, earlier there had been stout defense, led by captain Oriel McHugh of Oklahoma City in the CHL, sweeping away any rebounds from Mr. Tordjman’s saves, suddenly there was no one in the area to carry the puck away. And, whereas their game had previously been characterized by crisp, penetrating passing plays, the team seemed to play the second half in a fog.

Indeed, by the third period, there was a fog over the ice as the combination of Israel’s summer heat and the effects of more than 500 people filling the Canada Centre’s stands left a layer of cloud over the surface.

Earlier a team of Canadian juniors, coached by former NHL player Steve Thomas, defeated another Canadian entry coached by former NHLer Jeff Beukeboom 9:2 to claim the gold medal in the under-18 division.

Despite the lopsided wins in both final games, the 10-day tournament had been a great success with teams from five countries (Canada, the United States, Russia, France and Israel) taking part in both senior and junior divisions. There were several close games with two being decided by shoot-outs.

The event was the creation of Canadian Sydney Greenberg, head of Astral Media and, while homespun at times, it displayed tremendous professionalism. Like most of the players, officials were drawn from major junior hockey leagues in Canada and from the American Hockey League.

It brought together more than 200 Jewish players from around the world and many of their families who paid their own way to witness the event.

“I’m the only person here who paid $5,000 to NOT watch my son play,” said Carolyn Abugov, mother of Jordan Abugov, goalie for the winning Canadian junior team. “I covered my eyes; I couldn’t bear to watch.”

“It’s been the best,” said David Schwartz, father of three players in the tournament: Jesse and Noah on the winning junior squad, and Brendan on the losing senior team. “We’ve all had a wonderful experience.”

The event was not without controversy. When the tournament’s star player, Oren Eizenman, who lives in Toronto but plays for his native Israel, racked up two misconduct penalties midway through the tournament, he was informed that he was no longer eligible to play. Mr. Eizenman protested strongly but the organizers were firm.

“This event is sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation,” said Mr. Greenberg. “We play by international rules – no exceptions.”

Israel went on to win the senior bronze medal.

It was an odd place to find such a high level of hockey being played – the Middle East in July – but it made the occasion that much more special. As the parents, and many local Israelis found, it was a treat to watch.