Despite engaging in some heated battles on the ice, opposing NHL players often forge enduring friendships away from the rink. We thought it might be interesting, then, to do some reconnaissance in the visitors' dressing room to get an occasional take on a Canadiens player from a friendly foe on another club. Today: Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner on his former Junior teammate, Victor Mete.

You've known Victor since childhood. When did you first meet?

MITCH MARNER: We were probably seven or eight when we first met, maybe even younger.

Did you play with or against each other often in minor hockey?

MM: A little bit of both. We've played with each other and against each other and then I played with him in London.

Was he already dazzling everyone with his skating abilities back then?

MM: For sure. At a young age, he had a lot of skills with the puck. His skating is just as good as it was back in the day. He brings a lot of things to the game, a lot of skill.

How happy were you a few years ago when you got reunited in London, after he got traded to the Knights?

MM: I was very happy. I kept hearing the news about how he wanted out of [Owen Sound] and I hoped he was going to get picked up by our team. Luckily, it went through. In that Memorial Cup run we had, he was a big part of it and a big part of that D corps to win it.

Seems he went under the radar in London, even though his stats would say otherwise. Agree or disagree?

MM: I don't know if I'd say that. A lot of London fans really loved him and a lot of people really started to know his talents and skills in his second year. That's when he really started breaking out and being the elite player he is. It's great seeing him doing what he's doing now.

How cool was it for you guys, who've known each other since you were kids, to win the Memorial Cup together?

MM: It's definitely really cool. We've known each other for a long time now and he keeps getting better and better every time I see him play. It was nice being on the ice with him and winning that trophy with him.

Are you still in touch nowadays?

MM: We still talk every once in awhile. I keep checking on him, asking him how he's doing. I know what he's going through, there's a lot of pressure, especially in the place he's playing right now. He's doing well there, it's great to see. He's just going to keep getting better.

Is it tough to have a friend on what is possibly your team's biggest rival?

MM: I think it's just teammates off the ice, and then on the ice it's just competitiveness. That's just how you have to think about it. We still keep in touch in the summertime, he's pretty close to where I live. It's nice to catch up with him once in awhile.

Who would win a race on the ice between you two?

MM: That's a good question, we've never really done that. Mete has some pretty quick feet on him, so it'd be a good race.

Could you tell us something about Victor that not a lot of people would know or that would surprise people?

MM: The goofiness about him, that's the thing. He just stays light, keeps the joking [going] pretty much all the time. It sounds like that's what a lot of people don't know about him.