Kaidan Mcdonald to appear on APTN's 'Hit the Ice'

Sixteen-year-old Kaidan Mcdonald of Inuvik, N.W.T., is in Montreal filming a hockey reality TV show called "Hit the Ice." The show, now in its third season, is broadcast nationally in English and Cree on the Aboriginal People's Television Network.

"It's been an awesome experience so far," he said. "We just had two NHL players come in today and they worked with us on the ice." 

Mcdonald, who is Inuvialuit, says he's the first player from Inuvik to make the show, which follows aboriginal players from across Canada as they go through a rigorous training program. 

The NHL hopeful says the exposure is a big boost.

"They have a whole bunch of Junior A team scouts watching us," he said. "I think it's really good for the aboriginal hockey players to get exposed and get out there."

Mcdonald was scouted for the show after playing in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Last season, he played with the Midget AAA team of the St. Albert Raiders in Alberta. 

He hopes when it's over he'll get scouted and will be able to play for a Junior A team.

The show's third season premieres on APTN in January.