Canmore ready to drop the puck on 25th annual Hockey Day in Canada

Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada is taking over a beloved Alberta mountain town this weekend.

Festivities have already begun in Canmore, where the 25th iteration of the event is being hosted. However, it will officially kick off at 11 a.m. Jan. 18, with a broadcast hosted by Sportsnet’s Ron MacLean.

He told Sportsnet960’s The Big Show those taking in the spectacle might notice some familiar sights on scene, like the engine bridge.

“We went and scoped out our spot at the bridge, and four hours later we go back to the shoot. When we go back there, there’s like 300 film crews on site for a Melissa McCarthy movie — she’s filming at the same bridge.

Co-chair of Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, Andrew Milne, says excitement has been brewing for a number of weeks.

“It’s just such a great opportunity to celebrate the game we all love,” he said. “It’s been big for our community, we’ve got such a great community with incredible support from volunteers and sponsors.”

Milne is also the long-time coach of the Canmore Eagles, the heart of hockey in the community.

“The Canmore Eagles, they’re the top team in the AJHL [Alberta Junior Hockey League],” MacLean said. “Andrew Milne is there coach and he’s been there since 2007 and that’s very rare to have a guy come in and helm a Jr. A team.”

The Canmore Recreation Centre will host a matchup between Calgary Flames and NHL alumni, and local celebrities.

The Stanley Cup has also been making the rounds around town.

Milne says the whole community has been preparing for this day for some time.

“All hands on deck, it’s been exciting for us to get host and showcase — not just the great views that you see in Canmore — but the great people that are in Canmore,” he adds.

Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa are all set to hit the ice Saturday, with only the Senators facing an American opponent, as they take on the Boston Bruins at 1 p.m. MST.

The Canadiens host the Maple Leafs and the Jets host the Flames, both at 5 p.m., while the 8 p.m. finale features the Oilers visiting the Canucks.

There will be plenty more hockey to watch ahead of the NHL matchups.

On tap is a U Sports women’s game featuring Edmonton’s MacEwan University and Calgary’s Mount Royal University. The MacEwan Griffins sit in last place in the Canda West conference and will be looking to score an upset over the Cougars, who are near the top of the standings. Puck drop is scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Canmore Recreation Centre.

The Sportsnet broadcast will also include an Alberta Elite Hockey League U-18 AAA boys’ game, with the Airdrie CFR Bisons facing off against the Calgary NW Flames. At 7:30 p.m., the AJHL’s Drumheller Dragons will play the home team Canmore Eagles.

Saturday will mark the third Hockey Day in Canada hosted in Alberta; the festival stopped in Red Deer in 2001 and Lloydminster in 2014.

-With files from Kristina Rutherford, Sportsnet