TORONTO – Toronto is hardly the easiest NHL city to play in. But for many a hockey player, suiting up in the blue and white is a dream born in childhood and chased with fervour.

That’s what Mitch Marner did. And on Saturday night, the 19-year-old winger will make his regular-season debut for the Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.

“I think just watching every [Maple Leafs] game, it inspired me to want to be a hockey player,” Marner said after Saturday’s morning skate. “Watching Dougie Gilmour, Mats Sundin, guys like that come into this city and they’re a lead role model to kids. Now it’s my time to try and be a role model for younger kids and just try and make sure their goal is to play in the NHL one day.”

Marner performed well in his first NHL contest in Ottawa on Wednesday night, tying Auston Matthews with six shots on goal for the team lead. But despite numerous chances, he failed to generate a goal. If he manages that milestone Saturday night it will happen in front of a contingent of friends and family so large, he doesn’t even know the number.

“Wherever you are, you always want to get your first, but it would be pretty special to get it at home,” Marner said. “For me personally [hearing his name introduced is] going to be kind of breathtaking. I figure for my friends and parents in the crowd, it’s going to be pretty crazy for them too. It’s going to be a night that’s going to be remembered for a long time.”

Over the summer, there was debate about whether the occasion would come at all for Marner this season, or if the Maple Leafs would send him back to the Ontario Hockey League for another campaign with the London Knights. He turned out to be one of their best players in training camp, working his way onto the second line with Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk. It’s been an ideal combination so far, with Marner showing off all facets of his 200-foot game, even if he hasn't put a puck in the back of the net.

“It’s fine to look back now and see what you could have done, but in the heat of the moment you’re just trying to get pucks to the net and hope it gets a bounce or two to go in,” Marner said. “But it’s a new night, playing a new team. It’s going to be exciting.”

Despite the hoopla surrounding Saturday’s game, Marner was adamant about trying to treat it like any other night. That’s what he did in Ottawa, and felt the lack of nerves benefited his performance.

He’ll stick with his usual pre-game meal of spaghetti, and take time at the rink to get his mind in the right space. Just like every game night — even though this one has been a lifetime in the making.

“[I remember] just watching [the team], seeing how fans reacted to people coming out on the ice, and wanting to be part of that one day,” he said. “Luckily, now is the time. It’s going to be fun to get out there on the ice and just feel the building erupt.”