oday, representatives of two Canadian Army regiments, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and the Royal 22^e Régiment (R22^eR), participated in a commemorative hockey game in the City of Paju in the Republic of Korea. The Imjin Classic 2018 was held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and pay homage to the competitive spirit of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

 

The Imjin Classic 2018 was played at the Yulgok Wetland Park, near the original site of the original hockey games. It was organized by the Embassy of Korea in Canada and Paju City in partnership with the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

 

“I am honoured to represent Canada at this event in the Republic of Korea, this is more than just a game; it commemorates the strong relationship between the two nations. My teammates and I are proud to carry on the legacy of our predecessors who played hockey here more than 60 years ago on the frozen Imjin River” said Major Bryan L. Ouellet, Royal 22e Régiment.

 

The game coincided with the passage of the XXIII Olympic Winter Games torch relay in Paju City. This leg of the relay featured Canada’s Ambassador to Korea, Eric Walsh, and Canadian Korean War veteran, Colonel (Retired) Charland as torch bearers.

 

 

“Team Canada” scores on “Team Corea” at the 2018 Imjin Classic hockey game in City of Paju, Korea on 19 January 2018.

 

Members of the PPCLI and R22^eR were joined by Canadians living in the Republic of Korea and played as “Team Canada” in a friendly game against “Team Corea”, made up of players from Yonsei University and Korea University. Outdoors, in front of a lively crowd, “Team Canada” won the Imjin Cup.

 

“The timing and location of this game could not be better. 2018 marks the 65th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and we are set to celebrate the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Holding this event in the Republic of Korea, near the site of the actual historic games, is a great way to remember those who served Canada so well in the Korean conflict,” said Eric Walsh, Canadian Ambassador to Korea.

 

About the Imjin Classic 

• The Imjin Classic hockey game, an annual tradition in Canada since 2013, is inspired by the games played on the frozen Imjin River in 1952 and 1953 between the PPCLI and R22^eR during the Korean War. In attendance as special guests were Canadian Korean War veterans Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John Bishop, Colonel (Retired) Claude Charland and Sergeant (Retired) Dennis Moore. Both Colonel (Retired) Charland (Vandoos) and Sergeant (Retired) Moore (PPCLI) played in the original inter-regiment series on the Imjin River.

 

• This event was held to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Canada joined the United Nations (UN) in its military response to the North Korean invasion of South Korea on June 25, 1950. More than 26 000 Canadians served in the war and 516 service members were killed in action, including during the major engagement of the Battle of Kapyong. On July 27, 1953, the UN and North Korea signed a ceasefire, putting an end to the fighting.

• After 2013 was designated as the Year of the Korean War Veteran, the first annual Imjin Classic hockey game was held on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa that same year to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.

• In 1998, a group of Canadians living and working in the Republic of Korea established the Imjin River Memorial Tournament, an annual hockey tournament commemorating the games played by the PPCLI and R22eR during the Korean War.

• In more than 100 years of service, the PPCLI and R22eR have served Canadians at home and abroad, often side by side, and today they carried on the legacy of their predecessors on the ice at the Imjin Hockey Classic.

• The score of the game was 7 – 1 in favor of “Team Canada”.

 

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