Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the Edmonton Oilers on the ice Thursday as the NHL team prepared for a game against the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets.
Carney took the ice wearing No. 24. He was sworn in as the 24th Prime Minister of Canada on March 14 after winning the Liberal leadership race to replace outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The 60-year-old Carney grew up in Edmonton during the Oilers’ glory days in the 1980s.
He said during the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup final last year that he remains a big fan of the team. Several photos on social media show him wearing Oilers gear, from team jerseys to a Connor McDavid “McJesus” shirt.
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Carney also played hockey at the varsity level. He was a third-string goaltender at Harvard and was co-captain of the Oxford University Blues hockey team.
While at Harvard, he was a teammate of former Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli. He made one relief appearance in a playoff game, stopping five shots in a 10-2 Harvard victory over
Carney was elected as Liberal leader to succeed Trudeau on March 9 and was sworn in as prime minister along with his new cabinet on March 14.
Carney is in Edmonton to meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
He is expected to launch a federal election campaign on Sunday and send Canadians to the polls as soon as April 28, according to the Canadian Press.
While sources would not confirm the date of the vote, federal campaigns must run at least 37 days.
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament in January and it is supposed to return on March 24.
But Carney is expected to ask Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament the day before, on March 23.
