The sixth annual McCauley Cup was held on December 23. The rink was full of kids, families, and police either to play a fun game of shinny hockey or to stop by for a hotdog and watch the game. The event gives youth a chance to play a fun game of shinny hockey against the Downtown Division beat police. The weather was great and the event was a huge success.

A big thank you to all the officers who attended from the Downtown Division, the Edmonton Police Foundation, and Const. Terrance Jakubowski for all his hard work in coordinating the event. Many thanks to Sports Central, United Cycle, ATB Financial, Elite Sportswear & Awards, Challenge Insurance Group, Italian Bakery, Rexall Myros Pharmacy, KIDS, Al Hamilton, Lyle Kulchisky, McCauley Community League, Edmonton Oilers Foundation, Edmonton Oilers Alumni, Hockey Canada, E4C, University of Alberta cheer leading team, and to everyone else who came out and lent a hand.

Also on the same day of the McCauley Cup, the Edmonton Oilers Foundation and Hockey Canada presented E4C with a cheque for $61,213.49. The money will be used for the following much needed rink renovations: installing two player boxes and one penalty box; cladding all rink boards with plastic; installing access gates; adding netting on the south side of the rink (so pucks don’t end up on 107 Avenue); and pouring cement from the access gate to the green storage shack. This project is a working partnership with E4C, the City of Edmonton, Kids Inner City Development Society (KIDS), and the McCauley Community League.

In order for our community league to receive this generous gift, we needed a non-profit organization to apply for the grant, which is when E4C stepped up, and is acting as the “Fiscal Agent’ and has graciously waived all associated administration costs. KIDS will manage the project and the McCauley Community League will work alongside E4C and KIDS in overseeing the project. This project could not have happened without a good working partnership with E4C and KIDS and we thank them. I can’t forget to mention two wonderful people who put in a lot of work in getting the proposal together: David Prodan (E4C) and Joan Kirillo (KIDS) – thank you so much. And finally, a HUGE thanks goes out to the Edmonton Oilers Foundation and Hockey Canada Foundation for the wonderful gift. The money will help make our facility better for all families, adults, and kids who come out and have fun at the rink. Renovations will begin in the spring.

For the first time, the McCauley Community League held a New Year’s Eve Skating Party. Over 70 people of all ages came out to skate, and enjoyed hot dogs, hot chocolate, and marshmallows by the fire. Thank you to Rexall Myros Pharmacy for the hot dogs and marshmallows. Thanks to volunteers Grace Kuipers, from the McCauley Community League, and Bill Tran who was there whenever we needed him.

We are now gearing up for our big Family Day skating party which will be held on February 16 from 2 – 5 p.m. There will be wagon horse rides, hot dogs, hot chocolate, and lots of fun. Come out and join us. Helmets and skates are available free of charge any time when the rink is open.