Aly Munro
The McDonald’s Fan Zone opens in Toronto today in Maple Leaf Square. While hockey fans anticipate Monday’s gold medal game at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship, they can take in the booths, win prizes and meet with special guests.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Team Canada alumni Wendel Clark and Darcy Tucker get things rolling on Friday. Former Leafs captain Clark and fan favourite Tucker both won gold medals as members of Canada’s National Junior Team: Clark in 1985; Tucker a decade later.
They won’t be the only World Juniors gold medallists making an appearance in the Fan Zone – on Saturday, Jan. 3, alumni from both the 1993 and 1994 teams will be in the square for multiple Q&A and autograph sessions.
Elliott Kerr, the Toronto chair of the special events committee for the 2015 World Juniors and president of the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads, says fans will feel that famous Maple Leaf Square vibe.
“(The McDonald’s) Fan Zone is the ultimate hockey fan experience: the interactive displays, hockey greats mingling in the crowd, the best of Team Canada merchandise available, Hockey Canada's 100th anniversary exhibits, a unique hockey-themed beer garden and much more,” he says. “At the same time it captures the energy, emotion and excitement of all the action inside the Air Canada Centre.”
In addition to grabbing a free McCafé, fans will be able to score prizes, watch games with their fellow fans and try their hands at various interactive displays, thanks to sponsors Canadian Tire, Chevrolet, Hankook Tire, Molson Canadian, RBC and TELUS. (For a full rundown of all the activations, CLICK HERE.)
Finally, the Hockey Canada Century Tour will also be on site at Maple Leaf Square. The 20,000-square-foot caravan, designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hockey Canada, has artifacts to see and interactive activities for the whole family.
The McDonald’s Fan Zone will be open until Jan. 5, with more special guests and events daily. Be sure to follow @HockeyCanada, @HC_WJC and #WJC2015 for updates on the schedule, Q&A sessions and more.