Leafs look forward to small-town, small-arena games

TORONTO — Nothing seems to get Nazem Kadri more excited than talking about hockey.

He was thrilled that his Team Kennedy went 2-0 in scrimmages in training camp, and he seems just as keen to be on the team heading to Lucan, Ont., to face the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night in the pre-season kickoff — what the National Hockey League bills as Kraft

Hockeyville.

Of course, Kadri grew up in nearby London, finishing his Ontario Hockey League career as a Knight — with teammate John Tavares, who will also play. He even played a few minor-hockey games in the rink where the Leafs will hit the ice: the Lucan Community Memorial Centre.

“I grew up playing in Lucan in tournaments,” said Kadri. “I’m pretty familiar with the area. I’ll have friends and family there, to be sure. For a community like Lucan, I’m sure this is a huge deal for them. Special for the players and the fans.”

The township has received $250,000 in arena upgrades in anticipation of the game. Kadri said he wished opportunities like this — games and training camps in smaller Ontario towns — existed when he was growing up.

“I would have been in awe. I would have loved that — maybe try to get some signatures of players,” said Kadri. “That would have been a dream come true for me. You try to put it in that perspective. I couldn’t be more excited about it.”

In all, the Leafs are sending three former London Knights — Tavares, Kadri and Mitch

Marner — as well as Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey and Josh Leivo to play in the first of eight pre-season games.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Rielly. “Those games look really fun. I’ve always wanted to play in one. I talked to Dion (Phaneuf ), who played in one last year in P.E.I. He said it was a blast. Going into the pre-season, I was hoping to get a chance to get into (the game). Kadri is a hometown hero, so I’m sure he’ll get a big reception. We’re looking forward to going.”

Hyman will use the game to get used to playing with Tavares and Marner, a new-look combination.

“You don’t change the way you play. You just try to be the best version of yourself,” said Hyman. “(The game) will be fun — like a junior game in a small rink, close quarters. I’m sure there will be lots of fans, a sold-out arena.”

As much fun as it is connecting with fans in junior rinks in small towns, for some the game is more about impressing coach Mike Babcock and earning a role — or more minutes — while getting into game shape for the Oct. 3 season opener, when the Montreal Canadiens will visit. “Obviously, you’ve been off for a long time and you’re trying to get up to speed,” he said. “It’s about learning how to work again, it’s about details, it’s about getting your goaltenders going. You’ve got to be ready to go Oct. 3.”

Hyman said the camp has been the most competitive of the three he has attended. “From day one to day three, you’re trying to get yourself as ready for the preseason,” said Hyman. “We’re all building up to getting to Oct. 3 against Montreal. You try to push each other. I have a cut on my lip, because it’s training camp. Guys are being physical, guys are trying to make the team, guys are trying to make an impact.”

The Leafs took Monday off after three days of workouts and scrimmages in Niagara Falls.

“Lots of hard work, lots of skates,” said Rielly. “I think we all feel good physically, and it was a good opportunity to get used to the systems again.”