HELSINKI – The World Championship brings together many of the finest hockey players in the world. They play in a diverse group of leagues all around the northern hemisphere, from the NHL and KHL, from Sweden and Finland and throughout continental Europe. But club teammates become adversaries and adversaries become teammates in a way that is unique to international hockey. Russians, for instance, may compete against each other during a grueling 82-game NHL season – but they all play for the mother country at the Worlds. Canada’s Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry and American Bobby Ryan, teammates all year in Anaheim, become opponents in Group A in Helsinki. Swedes who play in a variety of leagues from every corner of the hockey world join in common goal for Tre Kronor. But this year surely the oddest situation happened Monday night when the Americans played Slovakia at Hartwall Arena. Pitting the undefeated USA (2-0) against the winless Slovaks (0-2), the game took on extra meaning because it also saw large Slovak defenceman and captain, Zdeno Chara, play against skilled American forward Max Pacioretty. Chara makes his living with the Boston Bruins while “MaxPac” plays for eternal adversaries Montreal Canadiens. These two form a particular bond, however, stemming from an incident on March 8, 2011 at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Pacioretty was skating full bore down the left wing when Chara pushed him hard just as the Montreal player reached the end of the players’ bench where the Plexiglas starts. There was little padding, and upon contact Pacioretty hit his head on the corner, fell, and appeared to lose consciousness. Doctors attended to him, and he was finally carried off the ice on a stretcher. It was an horrific injury, and Chara was given a five-minute major and game misconduct, but upon further review, the NHL decided Chara deserved no further punishment. Montreal fans were outraged, and the local police even investigated, considering charging Chara with assault. In the end, no charges were laid either. Pacioretty missed the rest of the year but returned at training camp in September 2011. Indeed, he set a career high with 33 goals and 65 points this past season, and Montreal and Boston played several times during the year. But one of the many aspects of international hockey that is appealing is the post-game handshake, something that happens in the NHL only at the end of each playoff series. Thus, the contact between the two players on Monday night in Helsinki was the first since the check 14 months ago. The verdict? Well, perhaps the best way to put it is that it seems there was both respect and distance. Slovakia won the game, 4-2, and fans witnessed a moment of personal history for two stars of the respective teams. ANDREW PODNIEKS