Soldier On's team includes players from Edmonton in the West to Payne's hometown, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, in the East. Soldier On and the USA Warriors will receive a tour of the Naval Academy in Annapolis on Saturday before attending the Stadium Series game.
Getting to see the Capitals and Maple Leafs up close will be one of the highlights of the weekend for Payne.
"The area of Canada that I'm in, it's a good 12-15 hour drive up to Montreal or the same down to Boston," Payne said. "Those are the two closest places to watch an NHL game, so this is phenomenal."
Payne, a retired Master Seaman with the Royal Canadian Navy, had his left leg amputated above the knee after he was injured in a motorcycle accident in April 2005. He also was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2015.
The 51-year-old grew up playing hockey and played throughout his 23-year military career, but thought his playing days were probably over after his accident.
"Then they put me back out on the ice, and I had a puck and I had a stick and I thought, 'Maybe I can do some things,'" he said. "So I got myself a sled, but I was the only one here that had one."
That changed after Charlottetown hosted the World Sledge Hockey Challenge (sled hockey or para ice hockey is known a sledge hockey in Canada), a tournament featuring the national teams from Canada, the United States, Norway and Japan, in 2008 and 2009. Funds raised while hosting the two tournaments were used to purchase sleds and other equipment and to promote the sport throughout Prince Edward Island.
From that, Payne helped found the Prince Edward Island Ice Breakers Sledge Hockey Program in 2009. This season, the Ice Breakers have 17 players, male and female, ranging in age from 15 to 55.
For his efforts in promoting the sport, Payne was named Hockey Canada Ambassador in December.
"It's done incredible things for me," Payne said of sled hockey. "One, I get to play a sport and continue to play a sport that I've played all my life. Two, I get to experience with other people returning to the game when they also thought they wouldn't play again. It's also the ability to give it to somebody who hasn't had the opportunity to be able to play the sport growing up, which is a dynamic of those who grew up with disabilities versus those who became disabled."