The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko presented the Certificate of Honour of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to Gordon Matthew Miller, a leading reporter for the Bell Media TSN (Canada) sports cable network, for his personal significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian hockey, strengthening the international authority of Ukraine, and active work to ensure the provision of effective assistance to Ukraine in the context of russian armed aggression.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to Canada for its support, in particular, for organisational and volunteer assistance. Oleksandr Korniienko also stressed that today Ukrainian hockey players are defending Ukraine in the East of the country.
“We are grateful that in these difficult days we have true friends, including the global hockey community, who are helping our country. Although russia has disrupted our plans to build ice arenas, we believe that in a victorious Ukraine there will be a place for hockey and its development,” said the First Vice Speaker, noting that thanks to the active participation of Gordon Matthew Miller, the Ukrainian Hockey Dream Foundation has been successful and a charity tour of the Ukrainian national student ice hockey team called Hockey Can`t Stop has taken place.
“I see a strong, independent and free country. I am sure I will be able to stay in a free and independent country,” said Gordon Matthew Miller, thanking for the invitation to come to Ukraine. He also said that during the charity tour, the participants spread awareness of the situation in Ukraine and raised funds.
For her part, the Charge d'Affaires of Canada to Ukraine Natalie Cmoc noted that hockey is a very important sport in Canada: “It raises a generation of children, boys and girls, who learn from an early age to follow the rules and work together.
