SURREY - People lined up far past the food court of Central City Shopping Centre on Thursday as hundreds of smiling, giddy faces waited for a chance to meet a Vancouver Canuck.

Behind a small fold-out table in front of Pastime Sports & Games sat Alex Burrows, one of the most recognizable faces in a city that loves its hockey franchise.

Burrows was at the store signing select items to raise money for Hollyburn Hockey Heroes, a program that puts at-risk youth on the ice to play hockey. The program gives youth who have never had a chance to play hockey, because of financial or social barriers, a chance to play the game.

"We donated a jersey that they [Hollyburn Hockey Heroes] raffled off," said Ken Richardson owner of Pastime Sports & Games. "Also a percentage of all the prints sold goes to them as well."

The event put a smile on Nicholas McCain's face.

"He asked me who my favourite wrestler is," said Nicholas, an obvious reference to his World Wrestling Entertainment T-shirt.

"I said all of them."

Burrows seemed in high spirits after leaving the event to present Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts with an autographed Canucks jersey at a formal event also being held in Central City.

"We don't really get a chance to spend time with the fans and they're the reason - they're always behind us, especially in Vancouver," said Burrows, "So it's nice to meet them and see what they got to say."

Pastime Sports & Games will be hosting another signing on March 4 at the Langley location, this time with Aaron Rome and Andrew Alberts to raise money for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.