Ukrainian teen finds joy playing hockey in B.C.

It’s been almost a year since Ukrainian junior hockey player Dany Bereza moved to Canada.

“I would say I already adapted to life in Canada, and I’m doing pretty well,” he said.

“It was so fast. Like it didn’t feel there was almost a year, actually. It, it was so fast.”

CityNews first told Bereza’s story in March of 2022. He had just moved in with family friends in South Surrey after being sent to B.C. for his safety, by his mother, following Russia’s invasion. A year later, the 16-year-old says he’s made friends, is doing well in school, and is playing his favourite sport, with the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Delta Ice Hawks.

“I was actually really happy that I finally got a team and started playing because I haven’t played for a while because of the war. And I had like, an injury, and I was recovering for a long time. So yeah, I was really happy that I finally got my transfer pool from Ukraine. So, I was eligible to play in Canada and I would say that’s my highlight of the year,” he explained.

Bereza says he’s received support from everyone around him while he’s transitioned into his new life.

“Even like the guys from my team, they always – because I have no car right now and kind of hard to get to practice – they always give me ride, they can always pick me up. So, actually I can I can feel the support and from my teammates, from my coaches, and from our owner, he’s also Ukrainian ,and he really helps me right now and he always ready to support me if I need this,” he said.

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He admits at times, especially during special occasions, it’s difficult being away from his mom and grandma, who he hasn’t seen since moving to Canada. Although, he does keep in touch, speaking to them multiple times a day.

His mother, Anastasiia Bereza continues to work as a journalist in Kyiv, where air raid sirens can sometimes be heard. She says it’s hard to explain what it’s like living in Ukraine right now, but believes people are tired, and are taking things one day at a time.

“You know, I dream when the war [is] over… I think maybe we, with Dany, will have a long, long car trip from Vancouver to California for example,” she said. “But honestly, I don’t know when I think it can be real.”

She adds she misses her only child, but his safety is more important. She says she’s happy he’s adjusted to life in Canada, and proud he’s representing Ukraine at the ice rink.

Anastasiia Bereza recently listened to a broadcast of one of her son’s Delta Ice Hawks game, and heard a call she won’t soon forget.

“What a goal there for Danyla Bereza, the product of Ukraine,” Delta’s play-by-play commentator said.

“Oh it was so nice for all of us. And I, I listen to it again and again and cry and, you know, product of Ukraine,” she said. “It’s very, very nice.”

She says she is in the process of getting a Canadian visa, in case something happens and she needs to be with Dany. But the two are hoping to see each other in April, that’s when Ukraine competes in the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) U18 World Championships in France.

If he makes the team, Dany says he’s really looking forward to representing Ukraine, and seeing his mom in Europe.

“She might actually go to Europe because it’s much easier than to go to Canada, it’s much closer. So, she might actually go there and yeah, we might see each other.”

Meanwhile, his mother says it could be strange seeing Dany after so long, as he’s grown quite a bit since their last encounter.

“Now when I see him in internet, and zoom or other, I see young, young, young man, young adult,” she said.