Former NHL star and Toronto Maple Leafs favourite Phil Kessel has signed up as an ambassador for the World Poker Tour (WPT).

“Excited to join WPT GLOBAL!” Kessel wrote on Instagram. “Poker & hockey have always been a passion of mine. I look forward to playing poker with everyone on @wptglobal and at WPT events. Good luck trying to stack me.”

On the ice, Kessel is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and holds the NHL record for the longest Ironman streak with 1,064 consecutive regular-season games. Off the ice, he is an avid poker player and a regular casino visitor in cities where he played in the NHL during his 17-season career.

Well-known and loved in Toronto after scoring 30+ goals in four of his six seasons as a Maple Leaf from 2009-15, Kessel will be the face of WPT Global’s new “Team Canada” engagement initiative for Canadian players. He will host a poker tournament and also conduct meet-and-greets and other VIP experiences.

“Phil has not only excelled as a world-class ice hockey player, but is also a huge poker enthusiast who embodies the values we hold dear,” said Alex Scott, WPT Global president. “He’s engaging, passionate, and always striving to improve — qualities that make him a perfect fit for the WPT Global poker community.

“His unique connection to both sports and poker gives him the ability to bridge those worlds, and we’re excited to deliver unforgettable experiences for our players, especially in Canada, both on and off the felt.”

His first engagement in the role is hosting a poker event with WPT during the WPT Playground Festival in Montreal from Oct. 14-30. He will also be part of the exclusive invite-only Ironman Tournament in late November. The first-place finisher will win a package including travel to Las Vegas, hotel accommodations, golf with Kessel and entry into the $10,400 WPT World Championship Main Event.