New Canadians embrace first hockey experience at ‘Manitoba Made’ game

More than a thousand newcomers embrace the Canadian experience joining Manitoba Moose fans at the Manitoba Made Game. Temi Olatunde reports

By Temi Olatunde

More than a thousand new Canadians gathered at the Canada Life Centre this weekend to take in a very Canadian experience.

The newcomers watched the Manitoba Moose hit the ice for their second annual “Manitoba Made” game.

The Moose defeated the Milwaukee Admirals 3-2.

“We want to be that first stepping stone for someone to fall in love with the sport and the game of hockey,” said Raquel Payne, the Moose’s marketing manager.

Fans take in Manitoba Moose hockey game on Dec. 3, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Temi Olatunde)

Many of the new Canadians were sponsored by local businesses and organizations.

“We just were hoping to give them a fun experience to take something in and being able to sit with their friends that they’ve met since they’ve arrived,” said Monica Sim, the youth coordinator with the Plast Ukrainian Association.

One of the groups invited 30 Ukrainian families to the match. Vasyl Marushchak was among them.

“He says it’s his first time at a hockey game and he is very interested in taking in the experience as he gets to watch with his family,” said Sim, translating for Marushchak.

“He loves it all. The atmosphere is great and as a musician from back home, he’s able to even to continue his passion within our community as well and the opportunities to even find people from his hometown and just to make those connections so far away from home. It feels like home.”

Manitoba Moose game at Canada Life Centre on Dec. 3, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Temi Olatunde)

Payne says it’s great to work with local organizations that help the team create strong connections with people in the community.

“We’ve gotten great feedback from them and we’re really excited to grow that relationship with them, have them back, make them those dedicated Moose fans that we know and love,” she said.

“And we’re really excited to introduce their heritage to the game as well, where you love hearing the different languages spoken around the concourse, seeing the different groups come out and it’s all about that shared experience for us.”

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