Young N.B. hockey player shares ice with Team Canada during 4 Nations final

Ryan Evans of Oromocto, N.B., says he knows how lucky he is.

The 12-year-old Evans never imagined he would get to share the ice with Team Canada for Thursday's 4 Nations Face-off final against the U.S. in Boston.

He plays hockey three times a week. He has some hockey cards, medals and a poster of Connor McDavid in his collection. But he didn't expect to fist-bump McDavid in person.

His parents broke the news by giving him a hoodie with the tournament logo on it. They also handed him a ticket to the final.

The opportunity came through a program that aims to help military families stay active in sports. Ryan's father, Donnie Evans, is a member of the Canadian military.

On Thursday, Ryan stood next to Team Canada defenceman Cale Makar during the national anthem, and the two even chatted a bit. Ryan's father was on the ice holding the Canadian flag.

Ryan said he was a bit nervous hearing the arena erupt as the game went back and forth. Canada won 3-2 in overtime on McDavid's goal.

"I was hoping Canada would win and they did pull it out," Ryan said.

While attending the morning practice, he said he tried to make a trade with several players, including Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

"I asked them to trade a hockey stick for, like, a mini-stick." he said.

But soon after the morning practice Ryan got lucky. "I did get a stick from Devon Toews," he said.

He said he celebrated Canada's win by cheering and clapping with his friend Bastien Houle, who was also lucky to be there.

Donnie Evans described the experience to be "humbling and gratifying."

He said he was in awe as he watched Ryan meet some of the best hockey players in the game in a jam-packed arena.

"[Ryan] looks up [to] and idolizes a lot of these players and mimics his own hockey game to some of theirs. It was … an extremely proud moment for me as a father."

Evans said hockey runs in his family and they are probably at the rink if they aren't home.

He said the opportunity to attend the final came through the United Heroes League, an American non-profit organization.

"Even with whatever's happening in the world right now, they support us Canadian soldiers just as much as the American ones," he said. "They fully accepted and embraced us."

He said his job in the military requires him to be away from home a lot. He said the experience at the final was very personal to him.

"I couldn't ask for a better experience in my life," he said.