By Aaron Bell

Lucas Lessio couldn't wait to get back on the ice at the Air Canada Centre.

The Oshawa Generals’ rookie forward is one of 40 Canadian Hockey League players that participated in the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Toronto this week and said that one of the highlights for him will be skating at the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’m a Leafs’ season ticket holder and just playing in that arena where I watch all the time - it’s going to be a great experience,” Lessio said. “A lot of my family is coming. Friends from home, cousins. It’s really nice for it to be at the ACC.”

Lessio got his first chance to play at the ACC in the skills competition and three-on-three game on Tuesday and then laced up his skates again on Wednesday to play in the game that aird nationally on Rogers Sportsnet.

“The competition is incredible here,” Lessio said. “This is no all-star game. Everybody’s is going to be going 110% every shift, every practice, every off-ice session - whatever it is. It’s just really great to be here.”

This isn’t the first time that Lessio has played at the ACC. He played in the Bell Skills Challenge as an atom player almost 10 years ago.

Daniel Catenacci of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Ryan Murphy of the Kitchener Rangers also participated in that event.

“They’ve got a lot of fans there and it’s back home in Toronto where a lot of friends and family can come and watch,” Catenacci said. “I’m pretty excited about that.”

Catenacci looked forward to playing in the game against his peers to see how he stacks up with this year’s top draft prospects.

“It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to for a while now,” said Catenacci, who was the first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection in 2009. “I’m excited to play against the top players for the upcoming draft. It’s a big honour to be here.”

Ryan Strome of the Niagara IceDogs was rated 19th in the mid-term rankings and the Mississauga native is looking forward to playing the game so close to home.

“I always watch the top stars - Tavares, Gagner - I’ve seen all the great players go through here,” Strome said. “Being my time is kind of a bit surreal. It should be a very exciting time for me and my family. A lot of my friends will be watching.”