Fans flock to NHL All-Star weekend in downtown Toronto
Thousands of hockey fans crammed along the red carpet Thursday afternoon, hoping to see their favourite NHL All-Star up close.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner and William Nylander were among the players walking the red carpet, stopping to take pictures with fans and sign autographs.
"It's really cool to meet the biggest stars in the world," said Mike La Rocco, who made the trip to Toronto from Glendale, Arizona. "We come to all the All-Star games to try and meet the players and get an autograph."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The red carpet event kicked off NHL All-Star weekend and the Fan Fair at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Some fans like Kayla Hild lined up hours before the doors opened, hoping to get a front-row seat along the red carpet. Hild has collected several autographs from members of the Maple Leafs, but she's hoping Leafs superstar and All-Star captain Auston Matthews will sign her jersey this weekend.
"I tried to get him last year at the outdoor practice, but he wasn't there - it would be special," she said.
The Fan Fair takes over 3,000 square feet at the convention centre. It includes skills challenges, NHL memorabilia, the league's 19 rewards on display, and an opportunity to get up close with the Stanley Cup and take a picture with the iconic trophy.
"Just the history about it (Stanley Cup) - so amazing up close," said one fan visiting from Montreal.
There are also meet and greets with NHL players and alumni.
Former Maple Leafs defenseman Al Iafrate was signing autographs on Thursday afternoon.
"I was born in the eighties so I remember him from my childhood and to meet him now is a pleasure," said Leafs fan Ben.
The NHL estimates more than 25,000 people will partake in the festivities, which it describes as four days of hockey heaven.
"It's fun, celebration, a love letter for the city of Toronto and for people who love the sport of hockey, there is something for everyone here," said Sophie Kotsopoulos, the NHL's vice president of partnership marketing.
The new Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is also being showcased. Some of the PWHL's best players hit the ice at Hockey Rink for All at Nathan Philip's Square Thursday morning.
"We didn't have the same accessibility to look up to our role models, so now seeing they can come out and support us on a nightly basis its pretty special," said Renata Fast with the PWHL Toronto team.
The PWHL stars will compete in a 3-on-3 showdown Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena. That will be followed by the return of player draft, which will see team captains choosing their squads for Saturday's All-Star Game.
This is the ninth All-Star Game Toronto is hosting and the first time since 2000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Israel sends tanks into Rafah on raids amid Gaza-wide offensive
Israeli tanks mounted raids across Rafah in defiance of the World Court for a second day on Wednesday, after Washington said the assault did not amount to a major ground operation in the southern Gazan city that U.S. officials have warned Israel to avoid.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.
'It was hell': Israeli mother held hostage with her children describes 51 days in captivity
Hagar Brodutch, her three children and four-year-old neighbour were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from their home in Kfar Aza, Israel on Oct. 7 and held for 51 days. They were released in November, but Brodutch says her thoughts are never far from those still being held in Gaza.
Jury in Trump's hush money case will begin deliberations after hearing instructions from the judge
Jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial are expected to begin deliberations Wednesday after receiving instructions from the judge on the law and the factors they may consider as they strive to reach a verdict in the first criminal case against a former American president.
The double-level airplane seat is back. This time, there's a first-class version
It’s the airplane seat design that launched a thousand memes and kickstarted a media storm. And now the double-level seat is back – only this time, with a twist.