With an early start time in mind, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ team management elected to dedicate this date to the team’s younger fans in what has been dubbed the “Next Gen Game.” It’s a great chance for young fans to join in on the camaraderie of Leafs Nation without staying up past their bedtime to catch a game in its entirety.
Earlier puck drops provide an opportunity to foster the same love and passion for the game within a younger audience, integrating them into a spectacle synonymous with many Torontonians. One that is typically shared later in the evening.