This past weekend, NHL All-Star Weekend brought together hockey fans and some big-name celebrities in Toronto. One standout star was none other than Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber. Known for his love of the game, Bieber not only performed at a party he hosted earlier in the week, but also laced up his skates and took to the ice prior to the highly anticipated 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday.
Bieber joined three other celebrity captains, fellow Canadians Michael Bublé, Will Arnett, and Tate McRae, to add some star power to the event. During warmups, cameras captured Bieber's excitement as he soaked in the experience. 'It's been a minute — it's so fun, though,' he exclaimed while gliding across the ice. 'This is a dream.'
While Bieber was clearly thrilled to be on the ice, he made it clear that he was only participating in warmups for safety reasons. When asked by Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky if he was playing, Bieber responded with a laugh, 'No, just for warmups. Otherwise, I'll get hurt.' It seems the singer knew his limits and didn't want to risk any injuries while mingling with the NHL stars.
One player who thoroughly enjoyed having Bieber on the ice was Auston Matthews, who was later named the All-Star 3-on-3 MVP. 'Everybody enjoyed it — he obviously really enjoyed it,' Matthews said. 'It was a cool moment for him to get on the ice and snap it around with a couple of the fellas. I think everybody really got a kick out of that, honestly.'
Not only did Bieber get to skate with the players, but he also had some memorable interactions. He took a photo with reigning MVP and skills competition champion Connor McDavid, chatted with Elias Pettersson, and even had players jokingly offering him a spot in the lineup. Bieber wore a Super Mario Brothers-inspired mushroom coat behind the bench during the game, a playful nod to Bublé, who had jokingly claimed he was on mushrooms during the player draft.
The presence of Justin Bieber at NHL All-Star Weekend was met with enthusiasm from the players and fans alike. Besides his on-ice antics, Bieber's vibrant mushroom coat made him easily identifiable, even from high up in the stands. He brought a vibrant energy to the event and added an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling weekend of hockey celebrations.
While Bieber's time on the ice was short-lived, his appearance at NHL All-Star Weekend will surely be remembered as a unique and entertaining moment. As the event came to a close, fans returned home with memories of a pop star skating alongside their favorite hockey players, further blurring the lines between the worlds of music and sports.
