A Canadian volunteer in Ukraine supports the Calgary Torch

It means staying up until 4:30 a.m., but Steve Rock is supporting the Calgary Flames from Ukraine.

Rock, 34, was touring Europe when Russia invaded Ukraine. She wanted to find a way to be helpful, so after some difficult conversations with family and friends, she decided to volunteer with organizations working in the war-torn country, including Calgary-based Helping Ukraine Grassroots Support (HUGS). help to the country.

Rock is now distributing essential food and medical supplies in Lviv, Bakhmut and Kyiv – all in a red-and-black Flames jersey. Originally from Ottawa, he says supporting Calgary's hockey team is “complicated.”

“We all know the Senators haven't been in it this year, and there's no way I'm rooting for the Leafs,” he said.

“The Battle of Alberta is a big event. It's a big thing for the people of Alberta,” he said, adding that if he wants to stay up late to listen to hockey games, he wants to wear the team's colors.

Calgary will face the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of their playoff series on Friday.

Watching the playoffs isn't normal for Rock — he wears ceramic plates for protection under his jersey and often wakes up to the sound of gunshots and attacks around him — he says tuning into the NHL playoffs and wearing the jersey gives him that. something that cheers him up and feels normal.

“With so much chaos and crazy stuff going on out there, in this day and age to at least be able to listen to the game and support the home team is a pretty special thing,” Rock said.

“The thing is, the shirt brings smiles because it lets people forget you're wearing armor underneath.”

Rock says it's important for Canadians to remember that the conflict is still ongoing.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, launching the biggest attack on a European country since World War II, forcing millions to flee their homes. Since then, some cities have been reduced to rubble and thousands of civilians have died.

“There's a lot of important things going on here, and there's a lot of need here. And if everyone can do what they can to support Ukraine — Ukrainians and all the work that's going on here — that's the best thing.”