When Jeremy Bracco showed up at the Scotiabank Arena last week for his one-day callup to the Toronto Maple Leafs, he got stopped by security.

“They’re like, ‘Who are you?’ and I’m like, ‘Well I don’t have a pass, I was just called up.’”

He talked his way through, of course.

“He’s like, ‘Good luck, man’ and I’m like, “Thanks. I’ll see you after the warmup.’”

Walking into an NHL rink, meeting people, skating in the morning skate or pregame warmup — these are things new Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe thinks are important touchstones for young players.

It’s so important that the Leafs have done it regularly now with Keefe in charge. In addition to Bracco, Adam Brooks has been called up twice, Timothy Liljegren once.

While the Marlies played in the Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, losing 3-2 to Belleville, the Leafs completed their three-day Christmas break.

The Leafs are back in action Friday night in New Jersey, putting their five-game winning streak on the line. But before the Leafs took their break Keefe spoke about the importance of making minor leaguers feel welcome in a big-league setting.

Keefe said he wanted those callups to use their “time here to get comfortable, and get closer to being a full-time player (because) when the opportunity comes to play, you just feel more comfortable.

“The ability of the players that are in the minors really isn’t as big a gap as many would think, especially for the top players down there. But it’s how quickly those guys can get comfortable just feeling like they can just play and be themselves. I think every day that you have in the NHL helps you move towards that.”

Calling up top prospects for day-of-the-game experiences is another example of how Keefe does things differently.

Like playing Auston Matthews with John Tavares and Mitch Marner, or pairing Morgan Rielly with Tyson Barrie, or giving Justin Holl the green light to lead a rush, or playing the backup on the first night of a back-to-back.

“Sheldon’s got a lot of philosophies that go against the grain of what has been done in the past in hockey,” said veteran winger Rich Clune, a Marlie since 2015-16. “But it absolutely makes complete sense to have a young guy come up and get the lay of the land.

“I bet your old-school purists would say that it’s premature, that they they need to really earn it, but it makes complete sense to have a guy put him in the best position to play well and contribute when he gets there, to ease the nerves.”

Clune said it’d be easy, common even, for a young player to be star-struck walking into an NHL room. He admits he was in his first game in Los Angeles in the 2009-10 season.

“Walking into the L.A. Kings’ dressing room and seeing Ryan Smyth and, I remember I was on the line with Freddie Modin and I had been a huge Leafs fan in the 1990s and Freddie was a Leaf so it was kind of fun, but yeah, of course there’s nerves.”

Bracco, Brooks and Liljegren were each flattered and happy to get the call to get the lay of the land.

“They’ve got a plan for you,” said Liljegren. “That’s going to make things a little bit easier once you take that step up. You know how the locker-room works and get to know the guys more.”

Brooks has skated in two NHL rinks: Scotiabank Arena and Madison Square Garden.

“I feel like it’s working,” said Brooks. “I was more comfortable even that second time going up. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous when I took warmups when I was skating at Madison Square Garden.”

For each of them, they hope to get the call one day for real, and actually get into a game. And even with their game-day experiences they still expect to feel nervous.

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“I don’t know if it will feel normal. I was getting nervous passing in the warmups,” said Bracco.

“The nerves are always going to be there whenever you’re up there, so I’m looking forward to it,” said Brooks.

Added Liljegren: “I just think you’re gonna feel a little bit more comfortable around the guys and you’ll know some guys from before who played with the Marlies. I think you’re going to feel confident with the boys but have some nerves, for sure.”