NHL star Marc-Andr Fleury wows small-town P.E.I.

WhenNHL superstarMarc-AndrFleurywalked intoGateway Arena in Borden-Carleton Tuesday, the crowd was buzzing with excitement.

The SouthsideAtomMinor Hockey team won a chance to play with the Pittsburgh Penguin Goalie aftersubmitting a team photo to a McDonald's Canada contest. The restaurant chain supports local teams through its atoMc hockey program which helps pay for jerseys andsocks as well as giving somekids a chance to meet its designated ambassadors, like Fleury.

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"Marc is my favourite goalie, he is in the NHL, it's pretty cool," said11-year-old Ty Sherry.

It's fantastic for a small town to get such a big star coming to their hometown arena said the young player's motherand team managerTashaSherry.

"Our kids are beyond excited." she said.

Fleury offers encouragement

Fleury spoke with the team for a bit and then joined them for a game of ball hockey not as a goalie, but as a player.

Easily twice the size of his tinyteammates, Fleurybent over to chat with them as he played,offering words of encouragement or a quick pat on the back.

"It's just having fun with the kids and trying to share my thoughts on teamwork," said Fleury.

'Do your best'

The most important thing is to have fun,Fleurytold the young players, "Doyour best, keep working hard."

"Hopefully [I can]make them believe in their dream that they can make it to the NHL and win too," he said.

10-year-old Jackson Rogers, whogot a pass fromFleury,describeshimas"reallygood."

"Itried to handle it, but it was pretty fast," said Rogers with a big smile.

"It's pretty fun you know, after you get over him taking the puck all the time," he joked.

Once-in-a-lifetime chance

Bringing in big-namehockey players helps raise awareness about the game, saidMike McKenna of McDonalds Restaurants PEI.

"The kids are going to have a once-in-a-lifetime chance here," said McKenna.

After the game, Fleurywent out to lunch with the Southsideteam, bringinghis two Stanley Cup rings and gold medal from the 2010 Olympics to show young players.

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