At just 19 years old, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid has already become a role model for much of the city’s youth.

On Monday, just two days after the Oilers played their final game of the NHL season in Vancouver, McDavid stood in front of dozens of wide-eyed Knights of Columbus (KC) minor hockey players, who peppered the hockey phenom with questions at a surprise “kids’ only” news conference.

“I enjoy it so much,” said McDavid, at the West Edmonton Mall Sport Chek. “Anytime you get out here and you see the kids smiling and having a good time … It’s always a lot of fun. It’s a good opportunity to give back to the great community of Edmonton.”

But of all the questions asked, McDavid recalls at least one that sticks out.

“This little girl asked me if I was married and I thought that was a really funny, and cute, question,” said McDavid.

However, the light-hearted nature of Monday’s news conference didn’t spare him from being asked tough questions.

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Young players took turns trying to stump McDavid with a handful of probing queries, including his thoughts on fighting, how he retaliates to on-ice physicality — a question prompted by a young boy sporting a cast on his broken right arm after he was slashed during a game — and just how much practice it takes to get to the NHL.

Admittedly, some of them took McDavid by surprise, but in a good way.

“It means that they’re actually thinking about serious questions and they’re wanting to learn and genuinely want to listen to what I have to say. I was definitely that kid always asking questions — it’s a great way to learn,” said McDavid, who even fielded a couple of questions from the coaches, as well.

“That was a little bit different, I’ve never been on that side of it before,” chuckled McDavid.

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A forward with the KC Renegades, eight-year-old Donalda Keck, said she loves to score goals just like her favourite player, Connor McDavid.

“He’s so fast. I love watching him score,” said Keck.

But getting to be fast enough for the NHL takes practice, something McDavid stressed to the audience.

During the summer months, one thing he loved to do was strap on a pair of roller blades and cruise around town. It served not only as a way to practice and work on his skating skills away from the rink, but also to have some fun.

“As a kid, all I wanted to do was play hockey, but unfortunately in Ontario there’s not a lot of options for rinks … so you can’t always be on the ice,” said McDavid.

“For me, I had fun on my roller blades, but I was working hard at it, too. If you can combine both — having fun with working hard — you can get a good mix and maybe make something special happen.”

trobb@postmedia.com

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