Sudburians are buzzing about a remarkable show of compassion and good sportsmanship at a recent minor hockey league game in the city.

The goalie from one team skated across the ice and gave his trophy to the goalie on the other side.

After a game that saw Joel Coloumbe’s team, Valley East King Sportswear, shut out Walden MTI by a score of 8-0, the youngster decided to make sharing a goal of his own.

"I know how it feels getting hammered by shots and everything, so I just decided to share it with him," the 10-year-old said.

Joel’s act was “emotional for everyone involved,” said Guy Myre, who convened the Nickel Centre Winter Blast Tournament in Sudbury Jan. 25-27. “It was very special.”

A total of 46 teams and about 670 participants took part in the event.

Joel’s father, Serge Coulombe, said he was bursting with pride when his son crossed the ice and gave his trophy to the goalie on the other team.

"I yelled, ‘thumbs-up, good job,’” he said. “I had a tear or two in my eyes."

Joel Coulombe, 10, is happy he was able to share his trophy during a recent hockey tournament in Sudbury and hopes to see more of it in the game. (Amy Dodge/CBC)

A tale of two trophies

This was the second shut-out trophy Joel won during the tournament.

“I had two and I don't know what I would have done with two,” he said, adding that he’d like to see more sharing in the game of hockey.

"Just to give … more sportsmanship, more kindness."

It’s a message that hockey tournament organizers hope will catch on.

“We’ve been trying to make more of an effort in this area and give out more trophies in general,” Guy Myre said.

However, no trophy has the same impact that a sincere and spontaneous act of kindness can have, Myre said, adding that, during the exhilarating thrill of a win, very few players act on the urge to be benevolent.

For Joel’s part, he said never thought his gesture would get so much attention. After all … “he played very well,” he said of the other goalie's efforts.