You probably don’t think of Kenya when you think of the sport of hockey. The country only has one hockey team – the Kenya Ice Lions. As the only team, they have never played a real game. Tim Hortons decided to change that and bring the players to Canada and give them an experience they’ll never forget.

The three-minute video below, which is well worth your time, shows the Kenyan players suiting up in brand new gear and competing in their first game against another team. Oh, and a couple NHL stars you might recognize showed up too.

This is what hockey is all about. The game connects so many cultures, even those very different from our own, in such a special and unique way. These Kenyan players were inspired to try hockey because of the speed they saw when watching games. Soon, they fell in love with the game. Watching them play their first game and meet Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon is so touching even if you’re not a hockey fan.

Ultimately, this is a marketing video for Tim Hortons. But, the experience and memories they made for these players is so special that you can’t help but have a smile on your face. It’s also pretty amazing that Tim Hortons donated to Kenya’s Youth Hockey League to ensure the future of the sport in Kenya.

Now, where can we get some Ice Lions t-shirts and jerseys?

About David Rogers

Editor for The Comeback and Contributing Editor for Awful Announcing. Lover of hockey, soccer and all things pop culture.