On September 1, three kids from McCauley had a dream come true. Josh Mercredi, Harley Kuipers-Glugosh, and Patrick Sopiarz, along with some children from the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association, got to join some of the Edmonton Oilers, including Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, to be the first to skate at the new Rogers Place Arena.

The children first met at the Edmonton Oilers’ head office where they bussed to the sparkling new arena. They were ushered to their own dressing room, and just before they went out to the ice, Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins came in, handed all of them Oilers jerseys, and talked to them.

Then, the children and the Oilers were escorted onto the ice. Connor McDavid was the first to take to the ice where he did a couple of laps before being followed by the group of big and small hockey players. There was a 30 minute free skate/shinny game, and after that, there was a group picture at centre ice. Players also had an opportunity, to get some much desired autographs with many of the Oilers. When finished, the kids were escorted back to the dressing room, and were bussed back to the Oilers’ office.

The three McCauley boys had one day they will never forget. A big thank-you to Tim Shipton, Vice President, Corporate Communications & Government Relations for the Edmonton Oilers, and Natalie Minckler, Executive Director, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, for including McCauley kids in this once-in-a-lifetime and historical opportunity.