METULLA, Israel — When the second World Jewish Hockey Tournament had come to an impressive end, players from three countries stood arm in arm on the ice, snapping pictures, exchanging hugs and jerseys, trying to make the experience last just a minute longer.

METULLA, Israel —When the second World Jewish Hockey Tournament had come to an impressive end, players from three countries stood arm in arm on the ice, snapping pictures, exchanging hugs and jerseys, trying to make the experience last just a minute longer.

It was that kind of 10 days at the Canada Centre – emotional, passionate, a sporting and cultural adventure of a lifetime, with nine teams and five countries of hockey players a kick-save away from the border of Lebanon.

As expected, the American and Canadian teams dominated the event, with each country coming away with gold medal victories. Team USA won the senior (over-18) division and Team Canada White, coached by former Maple Leafs’ star Steve Thomas, running the table in the junior (17-and-under) division.

But on their way to two rather one-sided finals, there were remarkable moments – overtime wins, shootout upset victories, brilliant individual performances.

“Who knew there was this many great Jewish hockey players?” asked Canadian general manager Sherry Bassin.

“I’m so proud to have been involved with this,” said Thomas, who scored 421 National Hockey League goals in a 20-year career. “It was an experience I will never forget. The hockey was important, and we made it important, but the rest of the trip – the touring, watching the kids grow closer together – I’m not Jewish and I could feel all of it.”

The junior division produced the most spectacular – and shocking – result. Team USA came into the tournament with perhaps the deepest and certainly the oldest roster. If they weren’t expected to win, they were certainly expected to play for gold. But Team Canada Red, coached by former NHL defenceman Jeff Beukeboom, had other ideas. In what was likely the game of the tournament, the Canadian Red team, with fantastic goaltending from Max Benitah of Toronto, upset the Americans, leading to an all-Canadian battle for junior gold.

The Canada Red-USA game was tied after 60 minutes, tied after a five-minute overtime period, and still tied after five players had participated in the shootout. The sixth shooters decided the event when Beau Blanaru of Nanaimo, B.C., an earlier overtime hero for Canada Red, scored a goal. Benitah then stopped American Jared Lowell and the celebration was on.

“I won’t compare this to the four Stanley Cups I’ve won as a player, but it was one of the most exciting games I’ve ever been involved with,” said Beukeboom. “The way Max played, the way the kids battled back. I may not have had the best team in the tournament, but I think I had the best kids.”

Thomas may disagree. For the gold, Team Canada White blasted Team Canada Red 9-2, scoring early and often and leaving little to chance. Jacky Benaim of Thornhill, Ont., and the inspired return of previously injured captain Noah Schwartz of Toronto led Thomas’ team to gold. Matt Silcoff of Thornhill, Ont., led the Canadian team in scoring throughout the tourney.

The senior division gold medal game proved to be terribly disappointing for the Canadians. After playing very well in four round-robin games and their semifinal win over Team Israel, Canada played an excellent first period before collapsing and being trounced 6-0 by Team USA.

Once the Americans scored the first goal, it almost appeared the Canadians ran out of steam. In what was expected to be a battle of professional goaltenders, Team USA’s Dov Grumet-Morris, the former Nashville farmhand and current free agent, played terrific, especially early in the game. His counterpart, Josh Tordjman, the only player in the tournament with NHL experience after playing two games for Phoenix Coyotes, was not as sharp.

The Canadian stalwarts in the tournament included captain Oriel McHugh of Montreal, defenceman Casey Fazekas of Montreal, and forwards Shawn Frank and Kevin Willer, both from the Toronto area. The depth of the Canadian team was also a strength.

“It was disappointing to come this far and have it end like that,” said Bassin. “But you can’t always win. I got to know 20 great young men who I will have a bond with for the rest of my life. And for Jews to be playing hockey in Israel, I get emotional just talking about it.”

“This was an amazing two weeks,” said tournament chair Sidney Greenberg. “I couldn’t be more proud of how this event turned out.”

Steve Simmons, sports columnist for the Toronto Sun, was involved in the World Jewish Hockey Tournament as both an administrator and coach.

SENIOR MEDALS Gold – Team USA Silver – Team Canada Bronze – Team Israel

JUNIOR MEDALS Gold – Team Canada White Silver – Team Canada Red Bronze – Team USA
Award Winners at World Jewish Hockey Tournament JUNIOR MVP – Jacky Benaim, Team Canada White Best Forward – Brett Lubanski, Team USA, Best Defenceman – Matt Solomon, Team Canada White Best Goalie – Adam Stein, Team Israel

SENIOR MVP – Dov Grumet-Morris, Team USA Best Forward – Alec Kirschner, Team USA Best Defenceman – Oriel McHugh, Team Canada Best Goalie – Dov Grumet-Morris – Team USA