'Really neat and what it's all about': Phaneuf visits P.E.I.'s 'Hockeyville'

An event for the Potato Blossom Festival in O'Leary, P.E.I., Saturdaymight just have generated more excitement than the crowning of Miss Potato Blossom.

• Kraft Hockeyville game to be played in Summerside

• O'Leary, P.E.I. named Kraft Hockeyville champions

NHLer Dion Phaneuf from the Ottawa Senators and his wife, movieactorElisha Cuthbert, visited the tiny town of fewer than 1,000 residents for a couple of hours.

Phaneuf is a Kraft Hockeyville ambassador, and O'Leary won the title of Kraft Hockeyville for 2017.

"Dion cooked hamburgers and hotdogs and served the kids and signed autographs," said O'Leary Kraft Hockeyville organizer Della Sweet.

Phaneuf then joined some kids and volunteers from the local fire department, riding a fire truck and honkingthe horn.

After than, he and Cuthbert walked about half a kilometre to Main Street, where about 75 local kids aged sixto 12 were playing three games of street hockey.

Phaneuf joined in all three games, delighting the kids by playing goalie and playing "out,"Sweet said.

'Really good with the kids'

"He was really good with the kids," Sweet enthused.

Phaneuf also gathered the young people to tape some television promos for Kraft Hockeyville.

"This is really neat and what it's all about," Sweet said. "To see their faces when they saw him, they were so excited."

Finally, Phaneuf went to the rink and met privately with some local children with disabilities, includingtwo in wheelchairs and one undergoing cancer treatment, Sweet said.

"It made their day and it was so special," she said. "It'll make good memories for them."

More fun on the way this fall

Phaneuf's visit was part of the annual festival's Hockeyville-themed day, including Saturday's parade and a Don Cherry look-alike contest.

It's all leading up to the main Hockeyville celebration Sept.24 in O'Leary, followed by a visit from the Stanley Cup and an NHL pre-season game Sept. 25 in Summerside.

O'Leary also won $100,000 in upgrades to its rink as part of the prize.

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