They didn’t win any games here, but Team Kazakhstan, the underdogs of the 2019 World Junior Hockey championship, became a local favourite for Victoria hockey fans.

The team and its fans thanked the city for its hospitality and support in a heartwarming video posted to YouTube on Friday.

Kazakhstan previously participated in the international tournament in 2009. They played four games at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria this time, finishing fifth at 0-4 behind Slovakia in Group B of the tournament’s round robin, before beating Denmark two games to none in the relegation round in Vancouver.

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Victoria News