Olivier Hinse and Team Canada defeated the Czech Republic 4-3 to win the bronze medal in the men’s hockey competition at the World University Winter Games at the Halyk Arena in Almaty, Kazakhstan today.
Hinse, the captain of the Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team, took on the same role with Canada’s entry in the prestigious international competition. He has been in Kazakhstan, along with Canada’s top university players, since Jan. 29.
Canada went undefeated in the round robin posting a perfect 3-0 win-loss record. In the quarter-finals Canada defeated Latvia 5-2, but could not get past the Russians, falling 4-1 in the semifinals. Russian went on to battle Kazakhstan for the gold medal, while the Canadians were relegated to the bronze medal game.
Hinse was proud of the way Canada responded after a disappointing loss in the semifinals.
“We worked so hard to get that (bronze) medal,” said Hinse, a native of Sherbrooke, Que. “It was a great game. We played within our system, we played the Canadian way. Hats off to all of our guys. We all stick together, we’re a brotherhood and that’s why we got the bronze medal today.”
Hinse and his Canadian teammates will arrive home Friday. He will rejoin the Stingers for the opening round of the playoffs next week.
Jan. 30 - Canada 6, USA 0
Feb. 1 - Canada 14, Great Britain 0
Feb. 3 - Canada 5, Slovakia 3
Feb. 4 - Canada 5, Latvia 2 (quarter-final)
Feb. 7 - Russia 4, Canada 1 (semifinal)
Feb. 8 - Canada 4, Czech Republic 3 (bronze)
