Like many kids who grew up playing hockey in Canada, Estevan's Cole Fonstad shared a dream with thousands of other minor hockey players who one day, pictured themselves wearing a Team Canada jersey, and scoring a golden goal like Sidney Crosby did during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

Fast forward through many early morning practices, road trips, hot chocolates and a lot of goals, the dream came true earlier this week for a kid who grew up playing in the Estevan Minor Hockey system.

"I was planning on staying in Prince Albert for a couple days and hanging out with the guys," said Cole Fonstad, who will represent Team Canada at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships in Russia later this month. "I got a call on Tuesday night when I was at my billets and found out I had to be in Toronto by Sunday, so I packed up all my stuff and came home for a few days and got ready to go."

After the 17-year-old was named to the Canadian Hockey League's Top Prospects game back in December, he noted making Team Canada as one of his goals for the season.

Goal achieved...

"It was really exciting when I found out, something I've wanted to do for a while is represent Canada. Now that I'm getting that opportunity, I'm just super excited and can't wait to get there and get things going. Not many kids get to do it," he said. "To have this chance is pretty exciting, I'm just really proud to do it, I can't wait to go there and hopefully have a good tournament and bring back a gold medal."

Fonstad hopes to leave a great impression on Hockey Canada, ensuring it won't be the last time he wears the red and white.

"It's hard to explain, it's something you dream of but usually it's not realistic when you think of it. To have it come true, it's just amazing and hopefully it's not the only time I get to wear the Canada jersey in my life."

Photo: Lucas Chudleigh/Apollo Multimedia

Matching up against the best players from across the world will also be something new for Fonstad, as he prepares for his first taste of international hockey.

"It's going to be pretty cool, I haven't played against lot's of the kids that are going to be there, but I have heard a lot about them. Obviously the talent around the world from every country is getting pretty crazy, so you can't take anyone lightly and it's going to be cool to see how we stack up."

Fonstad looked back on his time playing minor hockey in Estevan, and pointed to the simple times as key moments in his growth and development as a hockey player.

"It was huge, looking back on it, I wish I could go back and do it all over again it was so much fun. Going to the rink everyday with my buddy's and having fun, every time I went to the rink I was going there to have fun and play the sport I love. There wasn't any stress about it back then, every day you went to the rink with your friends to play the sport you love, and I think that was the best part that prepared me for the future."

Training camp gets underway in Toronto from April 8-10. The team will depart for Russia on the 10th where they will continue training camp, before taking on Slovakia and Finland in two pre-tournament games.