Local hockey team to face off against Kazakhstan in pre-tournament World Junior game [Video]

Playing in the World Junior Hockey Championship has always been a dream for Rémi Gagné, the captain of the Hawkesbury Hawks — and soon, that dream will partly come true. 

While he may not be representing Canada, Gagné’s junior A team has been chosen to face off against Team Kazakhstan in a pre-tournament game on Saturday. 

“I was surprised. It was nice, like you dream to be a part of [the] World Juniors,” Gagné said. 

Before the monumental tournament kicks off in Ottawa on Boxing Day, each of the 10 competitors plays in two pre-tournament games. 

However, teams can request a third game if they want — which is what Kazakhstan did, but had no opponent to play. 

So Hockey Canada asked junior teams …