The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading back outdoors, and this time, they’re taking the show to Westway Outdoor Rink on January 26th for their annual outdoor practice - a fan-favorite tradition that’s become a staple of the team’s calendar.
This marks the second straight year the Leafs are stepping away from the usual downtown backdrop of Nathan Phillips Square. Last year, they brought the action to Prince of Wales Park, and before that, they’d made a habit of holding this special session once a year at a venue outside their regular home base at the Ford Performance Centre. The only exceptions came during the pandemic pause in 2021 and 2022.
For the Leafs, this isn’t just a change of scenery - it’s a celebration of the game’s roots and a chance to meet fans where they live. General Manager Brad Treliving summed it up perfectly in a statement: “We look forward to this event every year as a chance to connect with our passionate fans, and doing so in their communities makes it even more meaningful. This weekend is about giving the next generation the opportunity to experience the game outdoors - where many of us first fell in love with hockey.”
That outdoor connection runs deep in hockey culture, and the Leafs are leaning into it once again - but this year, they’re turning up the energy with a new twist. WWE Superstars are joining the festivities, bringing a little extra flair to the 3-on-3 tournament on January 26th. Maxxine Dupri, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Ivy Nile, The Creed Brothers, and WWE reporter Jackie Redmond will serve as guest coaches, adding some entertainment muscle to the mix.
The 2026 Outdoor Practice isn’t just a one-day affair - it’s a full weekend experience. Fans can look forward to open-ice skates, a Toronto Sceptres skills competition, a Leafs alumni game, and a watch party for the Leafs’ matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on January 25th.
If last year’s event is any indication, the energy should be off the charts. Head coach Craig Berube reflected on the 2025 edition, saying, “The turnout is fantastic, obviously.
You don’t see that too often, the turnout we had today. It was a great little event.
It’s great to do something like this, it’s a fun day obviously. The guys have fun with it.
The support you get here in Toronto is fantastic. It makes the event a lot more fun, a lot of people out here cheering.
It’s a good day for the guys. It’s something different, right, from the daily grind.”
That last point hits home. In the grind of an 82-game NHL season, moments like this - where the players can loosen up, the fans can get up close, and the game returns to its pond-hockey roots - offer something special.
It’s a reminder of why so many fell in love with hockey in the first place. And for the Maple Leafs, it’s another chance to strengthen the bond between the team and the city that lives and breathes the sport.