Canada's National Junior Hockey Team hit the ice on Friday at the WC O'Neill Arena in St. Andrews as part of a fundraiser for the local minor hockey league. Hockey fans paid $5 for their chance to skate with Team Canada.The Canadian Junior Hockey Team was in town staying at the Algonquin while training for five days at the Garcelon Civic Centre St. Stephen leading up to the World Junior Hockey Championship taking place in Moncton and Halifax, which kicks off on Boxing Day. After skating with fans for an hour, Team Canada spent another hour signing autographs and taking photos with fans upstairs in the arena.  

Team Canada's Mental Performance Coach Lucas Madill, who notably has roots in Charlotte County with his father Herb Madill hailing from St. Andrews, says taking the time to meet fans, particularly in smaller communities, is important to the players.

"A lot of these guys come from towns like this. When they see the kids out there, it reminds them of their childhood. They also see the value in being good role models," said Madill.

It's fair to say that players for Team Canada aren't just tomorrow's hockey stars. Despite all being under age 20, three members of Canada's Junior Team already play for teams in the NHL.  

"Brandt Clarke plays for the LA Kings, Dylan Guenther plays for the Arizona Coyotes, and Shane Wright plays for the Seattle Kraken," said Madill.

Team Canada also took time out to meet their fans in St. Stephen as well. At an event on Wednesday organized by the Town of St. Stephen and St. Croix MLA Kathy Bockus, Team Canada signed autographs and took photos with over 200 fans who lined the walking track of the Garcelon Civic Centre for their chance to meet the players. Some fans didn't just come for the autograph sessions, they came out to watch the team's practices last week at the Garcelon as well.

Team Canada is hopeful that spending a week in Charlotte County has given them the practice time and the morale boost that they need to take home gold at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship. 

"I don't know if I've practiced in front of this many people in my life. It's awesome," said Team Canada player Nolan Allan. "We feel it, and we definitely feed off the energy."