Three local recreational hockey players will get a taste of the big time when they head east for an All-Star game in Toronto.
Players in the Adult Safe Hockey League (ASHL) have been eligible this fall to take part in the draw.
After an early winnowing down to 20 players, a final draw on Nov. 24 will determine which players will win the trip. Three players will be heading east to see the NHL Centennial Classic.
The Classic will see a New Year’s Eve game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings, bringing to life one of the original six rivalries within the NHL.
On New Year’s Day, the local players will put on their gear and play in the East vs. West All-Star Game on the same ice.
“It’s a chance for all of these players to get together,” said Jeff Bandura, an ASHL league manager out of Langley’s Twin Rinks.
Bandura, a former pro hockey player, went as a league manager to a previous classic event in Washington State.
He expects that there will be a chance for some scrimmaging, and possibly some coaching tips from NHL coaches.
“This is their NHL,” Bandura said of the big event.