Prince Edward (centre), B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn talk with an young sledgehockey player from Langley, B.C. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

His mother is still considering her Olympic invitation, but Prince Edward says he's hoping to attend to the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver.

Edward, 45, the Queen's third son and seventh in line for the British throne, met with Canadian sledgehockey players Thursday at an arena that has been completely rebuilt for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Queen hasn't said whether she will accept an invitation from Ottawa to open the 2010 Winter Games, but members of Canada's sledgehockey extended their own invitation to her son.

"We did," said Todd Nicholson, who's been competing for two decades, when asked whether he invited the prince back to Vancouver for 2010.

"They're hoping to come back actually for the Paralympics to watch some of the sledgehockey and stuff. He was hoping to be able to make an appearance."

The Vancouver Olympic organizing committee asked the Canadian government to invite the Queen, who opened the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal.

If she declines, that job will likely fall to Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean. In 1988, governor general Jeanne Sauvé opened the Calgary Winter Olympics.

Tours UBC arena

On Thursday, Prince Edward toured the University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Arena with B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Olympic organizing committee, and Gary Lunn, federal minister of state for sport.

The prince walked on to the ice and watched the Canadian sledge hockey team and other younger players practise before waving them over to chat.

The players gave the prince, who is the Earl of Wessex, three jerseys — one for him and each of his two children. The red-and-white jerseys had the word "Wessex" emblazoned on the back.

Kurtis Williams, 13, a sledgehockey player from Surrey, B.C., said he was nervous to meet a member of the Royal Family, but not for long.

"It was cool to meet somebody that's really famous," Williams said. "He was a nice guy."

Gives out awards

Before visiting the arena, Edward handed out the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards at a downtown Vancouver hotel.

The awards were started in the 1950s by Edward's father, Prince Philip, and Edward often visits Canada to hand them out.

Recipients pass through bronze, silver and gold levels by completing public service, personal and physical achievements and going on expeditions.

Edward spent nearly an hour chatting with more than 100 recipients and their families.

One of those award winners, Brandon Lewis, 21, said the visit brought the royal family closer to home.

"We don't get to see the Royal Family in Canada," he said after the ceremony. "So to have him come over and present it, it's quite the honour."

On Friday, Edward was scheduled to hand out more awards at the provincial legislature in Victoria before attending a naval mast dedication ceremony in Vancouver's Stanley Park to launch celebrations to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this country's navy.

The prince was scheduled to be in Edmonton on the weekend.