At first glance, it appeared Takhini Arena was preparing for a regular day, as players lugged their gear toward their dressing room.

Once dressed, they took their warm-up skate in preparation for the game. Then some recognizable faces joined them on the ice. NHL alumni John Chabot, Arron Asham, Scott Daniels, Cody McCormick, Denny Lambert, Blair Atcheynum, Ric Nattress and JS Aubin were on the opposite side, ready to play an exhibition game.

The former pros were in town for the 2020 Indigenous Alumni Tour presented by the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

It is a whirlwind trip for the alumni; they began their tour in Whitehorse and will be on the road today. CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston said the tour is used to inspire youth.

"This is the third tour, third year in the row," said Johnston. "By the end of this week, we'll have gone to all the communities except for Beaver Creek and Faro – not that we didn't want to go there.

"For us, we are going to Burwash on this trip, along with Mayo and also Carmacks. We went to Kwanlin Dun today, did a little thing at Elijah Smith School. It's really youth-focused."

Johnston said this time around, he wanted to give a little bit more back to Whitehorse and give the older hockey players in town the chance to play with the pros.

"We had the younger old-timers come out and battle them," said Johnston. "It was a pretty good game, minus the score."

Johnston said it is important to give the Yukon's older hockey players the chance to compete against NHLers they used to watch.

"It is buddy," said Johnston. "It's like Rolling Stones or Black Sabbath. These older legends are still really apparent and still very good. Just the camaraderie amongst the bench with us has been awesome, let alone with the kids and the youth."

The tour has three new faces compared to last year's visit - McCormick, Daniels and Lambert.

Johnston said he remembers watching McCormick, while on the Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres, battle his favourite team, the Montreal Canadiens.

"I watched him battle my Canadiens," said Johnston. "Just to see him in person, how big he is, how strong, he's just an awesome guy altogether."

Johnston said it's good to have new faces on the tour to speak to the kids.

"We mixed it up a bit," said Johnston. "Just for the general public to see different faces, Cody McCormick retired in 2015 and Arron Asham hasn't been retired that long. They are guys people can reflect to. It's important."

McCormick has been on a few tours, but this trip was his first visit to the Yukon.

"From what I've seen, it's amazing," said McCormick. "Everything looks like a postcard when you look around the city. It's really neat."

Along with the Sabres and Avalanche, McCormick also played for the Minnesota Wild before spending one more year in Buffalo before his retirement in 2015.

Since leaving the pros, McCormick said, he has enjoyed working with young hockey players.

"Since I've retired, I've reserved some time to visit the communities and talk and run hockey clinics," said McCormick. "It feels good to see the new communities and the different cultures and how they operate. I look forward to that every time I travel."

McCormick said when the tour brings him to the Yukon's communities, he plans to speak to the kids about belief.

"Just belief," said McCormick. "The guys in this room are products of the same place these kids come from. We came from small communities. We didn't have all the resources. We had to persevere through some things that other kids didn't have to.

"It's an example it can happen. All the guys in here are examples of that."

He also said he is excited to get on the ice and see the talent of the kids.

"There are always a couple of kids that blow your mind," said McCormick. "They have the mechanics of great hockey players with the right head on their shoulders. It's kind of our job and our vision to show them a path that it can happen."

John Chabot, who played for the Canadiens, Pittsburg Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, was on the tour last year. He said he always enjoys coming back to the territory.

"I've been here 20 times over the last number of years," said Chabot. "It's one of my favourite places to go."

Chabot said it's always interesting to see the kids again.

"It's interesting to see the progression of the kids," said Chabot. "You get on the ice with them and have had the chance to see the kids get better.

"That's not because of us, it's the coaches they have in the communities and the attention they give to the kids. It's something nice to see. When you fly up north, you find in many communities that's what's missing - the ability to progress the players. Here, they have structured practices, which is nice to see.

"They (the kids) have respect and have a good steady positive influence for the kids."

Chabot said the work on and off the ice is to help the kids to succeed in any capacity they choose.

"Like any successful person, in anything that you do, it's about believing in yourself and taking a chance on yourself," said Chabot. "You can't listen to what people say and do what is best for you. Inherently, you know. Making a good decision is important.

"You can't control circumstances but you can control how hard you work."

J.S. Aubin, who spent time playing for the Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings, was also on the tour last year.

"It's always good to be back," said Aubin. "This place is like a little Paradise here."

Aubin had praise for the coaching in the Yukon.

"I think the coaching here is pretty good," said Aubin. "Going into the communities, maybe, they are limited on coaches over there. To have these guys come in and do drills with them is beneficial."

Aubin said he doesn't do too much of the speaking but said they tell the kids about their backgrounds and how they did it. When he does speak to the kids, he stresses the importance of education.

"It's a very simple thing," said Aubin. "The time they are in school is the easiest and the most fun time there is. Enjoy your time in school and learn as much as you can and make a life for yourself."

Today, the tour will be working with the First Nation of Nä-cho Nyäk Dun, then the Kluane First Nation on Wednesday. Their last stop is working with the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation.