“I used that as motivation to do my best, especially in the final,” said Alamdaya Kaylay, 18.
The Canadian U-18 men's ball hockey team enjoyed an illustrious four-day trip back home from the ISBHF World Championships in Slovakia on Sunday, July 7.
Backed up by goalkeeper Alamdaya Kaylei, a Surrey native, the Canadian team defeated the Americans 5-1 in the final in sauna-like conditions at the arena in Zilina.
On Wednesday (July 10), several of the seven B.C.-based athletes celebrated with trophies in hand on the first day of another tournament, the Western Challenge Cup, held at the North Surrey Sports & Ice Complex.
In Slovakia, 18-year-old Kajlai shook off the xenophobic rhetoric, allowed just one goal in the final game and took home best goalkeeper honors in the six-team tournament.
“I was chosen to be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony and I felt very honored,” Kailey recalled.
“I waved the flag a little bit, and a kid from the U.S. U-16 hockey team was standing there and he said, in front of me, in front of the whole team, 'You're not even Canadian.'
Kailey said he initially ignored the comments.
“But when we played against the U.S., we used it as motivation to do our best, especially in the final round-robin match and the final.”
Manager John Silcocks, also from Surrey, said he was extremely proud of goalkeeper Alam, as he is known to his team-mates.
“I got pretty emotional at the opening ceremony when I heard that comment,” Silcox said. “As a coach, you always want to protect your players and it can feel really helpless in that moment. But I asked him if he was OK and he said that actions speak louder than words when it comes to games. He pulled himself together, carried the team on his shoulders and played great in the last game.”
“He just put it behind him and did his job,” the coach added. “He's everything you'd want in a player who represents the Canadian Ball Hockey Association and wears the uniform with pride. And not only him, but the other players, too.”
Team Canada's roster included 22 players, three coaches, a general manager and staff.
“I'm really happy to win, the players have prepared really well,” said Silcocks. “We lost the first game to the Czech Republic and we knew we were on life support from that point on for the rest of the tournament, so we worked really hard and paid attention to the little things.”
“When the final horn sounded and we won, 5-1, and the guys ran to the bench, I had tears in my eyes,” he added. “As a coach, more than anything you want your team to succeed, and it was so great to see them accomplish what they've worked for and also put on a Canada jersey, which is a lifelong goal for a lot of hockey players, and finally hoist the trophy and win a gold medal.”
Kayley, who plans to study at UBC next fall, said North Surry is his “home rink” for hockey.
“I've been playing goalie since I was about 5 years old. Ever since I could walk I would play street hockey with my brother and older cousins,” he says. “They forced me to play goalie. At first I hated it, but now I love it.”
Winning a gold medal with Team Canada is a huge thing, he added.
“When you play for your country, you feel like you're breaking through barriers, right? It was my first time playing at national level and actually my first time in Europe. It was awesome.”
In addition to Kailey, Canada's 22-player roster included Carter Arnold, Jack Bullington, Kainoa Brankovic, Jayden Bloomer, Mason Burke, James Zazula Campbell, Kyle Green, Max Hamelin, Will Hopcraft, Andy Knight, Jackson Lovett, Taylor McKee, Trey Marcus, Liam Noble (named tournament MVP), Brandon Osborne (tournament all-star), Austin Pasik, Dustin Putos, Jack Sierau, Ryan Scott, Griffin Tarling and Kyle Tucker.
In the final, five players scored goals – Knight, Brankovic, Lovett, Hamelin and Tucker – and Kayleigh won the gold medal with 20 saves.
