The Village of Caroline is celebrating Kris Russell Day in honour of the star Calgary Flames defenceman.

Kris Russell grew up in the central Alberta town and his parents still live there.

​Students have decorated the town with posters and signs and everyone is invited to the Caroline High School gym this evening to watch the Flames take on the Ducks in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Calgary Flames' Kris Russell (right) with Joe Colborne (centre) and Mikael Backlund (left). (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)

"To have the support of them is pretty special," said Russell after hearing about the party.

"You know small-town people, [are] great people."

But not everyone in Caroline is a die-hard Flames fan.

"We are a divided community, in fact even in our own household, my husband is an Oilers' fan. Boooo! I am a huge Flames fan," said Kirsten Collison, who is organizing Kris Russell Day.

That said, she suspects that most residents will be wearing red to the celebration.

Famous skaters from Caroline

The central Alberta village was not included in the 2014 municipal census but according to the 2011 Canada census, only 501 people live in Caroline.

And yet, many talented skaters hail from there: