TORONTO, Ont. — Before the NHL stars took the ice at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey™, 30 ASHL players from around the GTA lived out their dreams at the Air Canada Centre.
And when we say dream, we mean it.
Loosely organized into two regional-based teams, the West GTA (Burlington, Etobicoke, Oakville) took down the East GTA (Oshawa, Scarborough) in tightly contested 7-5 affair. As a result of their geographic standing as being in the middle of the region, the York-based participants were split up between the two teams to even things out.
Link: Event Photos (Facebook)
In addition to playing at the Air Canada Centre – which let’s face it, is amazing itself – players were treated to a fully decked out dressing room with personal stalls and Team Canada jerseys that will likely be worn rather frequently.
Behind the benches, the ASHL players were in for another surprise, as NHL legends Darryl Sitler and Marcel Dionne stood behind the benches to let them know that while they aren’t going to ever get a sniff at playing in the NHL, this was pretty darn cool.
Capping off the event, both teams were treated to post-game Molson Canadian® beverages and a Canadian-style poutine dinner as they said “cheers” to an experience they won’t soon be forgetting.