Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban lays on the ice after making a save as Team USA's Nathan MacKinnon (L) skates by during the first period of their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's Ryan Strome celebrates his goal against Team USA during the first period of their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban (30) guards the net with teammates Xavier Ouellet (16) and Mark McNeill (24) as Team USA's Sean Kuraly (7) and Riley Barber (16) go for the puck during the second period of their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's Ryan Murphy collides with Team USA's Blake Pietila (R) during the first period of their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's players celebrate defeating Team USA during their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban celebrates with teammate Phillip Danault (R) after they defeated Team USA in their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins celebrates his goal with Xavier Ouellet (16) against Team USA during the first period of their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban makes a against Team USA during the third period of their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's players celebrate defeating Team USA during their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban falls on the ice in play against Team USA during the third period of their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's Ryan Strome (L) celebrates his goal against Team USA's goalie John Gibson during the first period of their preliminary round game at the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
Canada's goalie Malcolm Subban stretches before his team plays Team USA in their preliminary round game during the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, December 30, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch
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Kathy MacKinnon couldn't believe her eyes the other day.
The mother of Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon stood and watched in amazement as a bus pulled up to her hotel and unloaded another group of hockey fans from Canada.
"I was in pure shock," MacKinnon said. "It was overwhelming to see that many Canadians coming to this event, and they don't have a son playing. Incredible. Proud to be a Canadian. You introduce yourself and you want to connect with these people because you have the love of hockey in common."
Approximately 200 Canadians have trekked to this city of 1,000,000 that's 1,100 kilometres east of Moscow.
John and Rita Carroll run Destiny Tours out of Guelph, Ont., and this is the company's 10th trip to the world junior. No less than 106 fans travelled to the tournament with Destiny for packages starting at $5,300 and ranging to $7,200, depending on their city of departure. Thanks to geography, travel time from Canada was a minimum 22 hours.
Simon Mason-Wood, 68, is at the world junior from Dawson City, Yukon. He was wearing a black replica Dawson City Nuggets sweater as he sat in the stands and watched Canada beat the United States 2-1 Sunday.
In the concourse before the game, Russians stopped by to have their pictures taken with the Canadians, every one of whom was dressed in red and white.
"It has been a great experience," Mason-Wood. "The Russian people have been great. We have met some wonderful people. I like hockey, but I came along for the Russian experience as well."
Nearby was 65-year-old Alec Wallace of Toronto. He figured this is the 15th time he has followed Canada to an international hockey event. His first was the 1972 Summit Series.
"It's a lot of fun," Wallace said. "We're treated like royalty here and kids come up and want our autograph. I've been booked on this trip for two years.
"I just enjoy watching good hockey, especially this year when we don't have (NHL) hockey. My Leafs tickets are collecting dust."
Andy Rielly, the father of Leafs prospect and Canada defenceman Morgan Rielly, was as impressed as Kathy MacKinnon. Seven Canadian players have family members at the tournament.
"The people who have come here are cheering for Canada as much as we are, even though they are our sons," Rielly said. "Everyone is having fun, everyone is looking after each other. It really feels good."
And you can be sure the players have taken note. Those family members who are in attendance will have a party with the team after the New Year's Eve game versus Russia.
"With the fans in the crowd, we don't need any motivation," defenceman Ryan Murphy said. "Anyone who travels that far, it's amazing."
terry.koshan@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/koshtorontosun
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