NHL stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl outscored in beer league game

In July 2025, renowned NHL players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl surprised local players by joining a beer league game at the Magna Centre in Newmarket, Ontario, a place familiar to McDavid as it is close to his hometown. The pickup game featured both NHL stars, who donned Oilers practice jerseys, although they played at a reduced intensity compared to their usual NHL performances. Fans were thrilled to see their favorite players taking the ice for an informal game, and many recorded the event, which soon became a sensation on social media. However, contrary to expectations, McDavid and Draisaitl did not score a goal during the match. Instead, their amateur opponents surprised everyone by quickly establishing a lead, scoring four unanswered goals in the first period. Neither McDavid nor Draisaitl managed to find the back of the net, ultimately leading to their team's loss with a final score of 6-2. Reports indicated that local on-ice officials were informed prior to the game about the participation of the Oilers stars, and there was a sense of excitement in the atmosphere. Notably, this was not McDavid's first foray into such summer league hockey; he had similar experiences in the past during which he once participated in the championship game of the league, further emphasizing his connection to local hockey culture. The event served as a light-hearted distraction for the players after the Oilers' loss to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, with fans eager for McDavid's upcoming contract decision as his free agency approaches.