Kuraly has been a familiar face around Columbus this summer

After growing up in the Columbus area, Sean Kuraly has seen firsthand how much the city has grown in such a short amount of time, and the Blue Jackets center is enjoying what it has to offer this summer.

At the top of the list? The Capital City Summer Elite League.

Kuraly is working on his game this offseason by playing in the new league that features some of the best talent in the area. In week one, Kuraly was joined by CBJ players Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic and Carson Meyer, and Patrik Laine is expected to join them on the ice this afternoon when the games take place at OhioHealth Chiller North.

These high-scoring, fast-paced, 3-on-3 games are highly competitive and also just fun to watch. The players are enjoying being back on the ice and the fans can feel the energy in the rink.

"It's fun, obviously getting the hockey contingency from the city back together and doing fun things like this playing 3-on-3 games," Kuraly said. "Also letting people come out and see it and interacting with the kids that are here to watch us. It is something that will continue to grow, but it is just a really cool thing to be a part of."

The fact the league exists is a nod to how far Columbus has come as a hockey city, as the establishment of the Blue Jackets and the growth of amateur hockey has led to enough talent for four teams to play in the league's inaugural season.

But that's not all Kuraly has been able to do this offseason as his hometown has grown on and off the ice. The Dublin native has been a familiar face at Central Ohio events this year, including speaking at The Memorial Tournament, meeting fans at the annual CBJ draft party and attending a Columbus Crew game earlier this month.

After being gone from the city for a couple of years when he began his NHL career in Boston, Kuraly has enjoyed getting to stay close to home since signing a contract with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2021.

"It's been fun to kind of immerse myself a little bit more in Columbus and spend most of my time here, as opposed to being in and out of Boston or something and spending less time in the area," Kuraly said. "But I have spent a lot of time here this offseason and have got to do some cool things, like getting to enjoy a Crew game, going to a couple of concerts and going to different places in the Short North."

Columbus has changed a lot in the past few years, and with that change there have been new opportunities for things to do downtown.

With these opportunities, Kuraly has enjoyed getting to see what is new and how things have changed since he grew up in the area.

"Things have grown in the past 20 years here, and it is fun to come back and see what we have in the city," he said. "These places are like home to me here."

(Photo courtesy Dani Smith/Cap City Summer Elite League)