Some former NHL tough guys have made it over to Afghanistan where they will play ball hockey with some tough army guys and gals.
While they won't be playing for it, the Stanley Cup, hockey's ultimate prize, was also on display Wednesday.
Chris Nilan and Bob Probert were two of the ex-NHLers on the morale-boosting visit. Fellow former NHLer Mike Gartner told Canada AM that so far, they've been signing autographs, telling stories and making sure the troops know that people appreciate the job they are doing.
"It's all fun. We just go out and have fun," Probert, once one of the most feared fighters in the NHL, told reporters at Kandahar Air Field.
The games will be played Thursday. "I hope they don't beat us too bad," Gartner said.
This is Probert's second visit to Afghanistan. Asked if he thought the troops would be more impressed to see the Stanley Cup or Defence Minister Peter MacKay, Probert said, "Oh, I'd have to say the Cup."
MacKay -- also in Afghanistan with along with Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff -- didn't disagree. "I pale in comparison (to the Cup)," he said.
Other visitors to Canada's 2,500 troops included Blue Rodeo, Canada's venerable country-rock group, Newfoundland-born singer Lori Anna Reid and Montreal rocker Jonas Tomalty.
"It's just an opportunity to play with NHL stars, to listen to Canadian music -- it's just a piece of home," MacKay said.
Earlier this week, MacKay toured a forward operating base and a road-building project in Zhari district that is employing 500 Afghan workers.
"As with very visit, I see we're making incremental steps forward," the minister told reporters.
Some NGOs claim that security in Kandahar province has deteriorated in the past year. The UN reported that 8,000 people died from insurgency-related violence in 2007, the worst year since the Taliban were pushed from power in late 2001.
"What I've seen here suggests we're making incremental progress on security," MacKay said.
The minister, who left for Canada on Wednesday, also held out the possibility of longer rotations for Canadian troops.
"I rely very heavily on the military assessment of that. We're not ruling anything out, but of course these are operational assessments that I will take up with the chief of defence staff," MacKay said.
Having a mission end date of December 2001 helps with planning, he said.
The visit came as the latest Canadian fatality was sent home in a ramp ceremony Tuesday witnessed by 2,000 fellow soldiers.
Sgt. Jason Boyes, 32, was killed Sunday when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in the troubled Panjwaii district of Kandahar province. He was the 81st Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002. He was on his third tour in Afghanistan.
Boyes' body arrived at eastern Ontario's CFB Trenton Wednesday afternoon.
Gartner said despite the death, the morale of the soldiers he's spoken with remains very good and they are determined to carry on with their mission.
"Obviously, when you have a situation where we lose one of our best, it's obviously very difficult," he said. "It's something everyone knows is a danger here as they're serving their country."
