2.

Ace Lightning, a Russian player born in Chicago, has had the wonderful pleasure of playing in Toronto for the past five seasons. Even though he was born in Chicago, his family was very Russian and did only Russian things so being outside of that mindset has been quite a wake up call.

Toronto has this store called “The Bay”, which has fine products from local artisans in many different categories. He personally loves their little scarves and gloves painted in “The Bay” colours for those cold Ontario nights. He even sent some back home to his mother in Chicago and grandmother in mother Russia. Sometimes he goes to a coffee shop with his good friend and backup goalie George Walsh called “Tim Hortons”. He hates the coffee but loves the turkey bacon club sandwich. Walsh also taught him how to “jaywalk”, which is where you cross the road no matter where you are on the street. In Russia (and Chicago) you would be arrested for such a walk.