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Crosby and Kenyan hockey player reunite before Leafs game

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby reconnects with Benard ahead of the Penguins game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. (NHL.com)
Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby reconnects with Benard ahead of the Penguins game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. (NHL.com)

Within the last week or so, the touching story for Kenya’s lone ice hockey team has blown up online and been talked about in many social circles.

Tim Hortons was the brand behind it all as they flew the team known as the Ice Lions from Nairobi to Canada. They gave them proper equipment, jerseys and, for the first time in their careers, an opponent. On top of that, the brand’s NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon suited up alongside them.

“I’ve never had so much fun, like, in my entire life,” said one of the Kenyan players about the experience.

It was one of those heart-warming moments that reminds us that the world really isn’t all that bad and we have double-doubles to thank for that. The interesting thing about this situation though is that fact that both Tim’s and Crosby didn’t want this relationship to end once the game’s final horn sounded.

Tim Hortons has decided to help the Ice Lions grow the sport back in Kenya by funding the country’s youth league. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar met up Benard Azegere, the team’s captain, ahead of Thursday’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Getting the chance to see Crosby and Auston Matthews go at it in the first NHL game that you attend? Not a bad deal.

I’m not a betting man; however, if I was, I would put a lot of money down that Ben will be cheering for the Pens on Thursday night.

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