A group of young hockey players in Winnipeg got a big surprise when they headed to their community rink in the city's River Heights neighbourhood.

Alex Burmistrov chases the puck in a game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., on Nov. 3. ((Kathy Willens/Associated Press))

Winnipeg Jets centreman Alex Burmistrov was there practicing his shots.

"I thought, 'Oh, it's just some random guy.' But one of our buddies who got here before us said, 'That's Alex Burmistrov,'" Tyler Vincent, 12, said in an interview about the chance meeting on Sunday.

"We said, 'How do you know?' He said, 'Because there's a $350 stick with his name engraved on it. Where do you find those?'"

The kids and the pro then played a little shinny together before Burmistrov signed autographs, answered questions and bid them a good evening.

Alex Burmistrov signed gloves and sticks for some kids he skated with at the River Heights Community Centre rink Sunday night. ((CBC))

Liam Tessier, 12, was still beaming on Monday about the meeting with the speedy 20-year-old Russian-born player.

"I asked him, 'Why are you at River Heights?' He said, 'Why not?'" Tessier recalled.

"He just came up to us and asked, 'Do you want to play hockey?' And we were just like, 'Yeah, sure!' We just started playing keep away and he was trying to keep the puck away from us."

Scott Brown, spokesman for True North Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Jets, confirmed Burmistrov was at the rink. Brown said Burmistrov's dad was helping the young star work on some skills.