Hockey Gives Back: Hockey Elves Giving Back This Christmas Eve!

KC Columbians U13AA

The KC Columbians U13AA team collected toys for Toy Mountain, supporting the Boys and Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters Edmonton and Area. Each player brought toys to practice, contributing to a growing mountain of donations.

Olds Grizzlys U15AA

The Olds Grizzlys U15AA team set out to “fill the hockey bag to fill the food bank” this holiday season as a way to give back to the community that supports their minor hockey association. The team collected approximately 850lbs of food, valued at around $3,000. The Olds Grizzlies U15AA team wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season.

Whitecourt Wolverines U11 Team 1 & U11 Team 2

The Whitecourt Wolverines U11 Team 1 and U11 Team 2 recently joined forces for a heartwarming community effort. The teams teamed up to collect pajamas for the Whitecourt Wellspring Family Resource & Crisis Centre, and their friendly competition brought out the best in everyone involved.

Thanks to the hard work and generosity of the players, parents, coaches, and staff, the two teams collectively gathered just under 100 pairs of pajamas for those in need. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the assist off the ice is just as important as the one on the ice.

Northwest Hockey Club U13AA + Lloydminster Blazers U13AA

During December, several hockey teams came together to make a meaningful impact in their communities. The Northwest Hockey Club U13AA team took part in a toy drive during their road trip to Lloydminster, with players excited to contribute and spread holiday cheer. Meanwhile, the Lloydminster Blazers U13AA team spent Friday, December 6, ringing bells and manning kettles for the Salvation Army at local stores including Walmart, Superstore, Sobeys, and Canadian Tire.

The spirit of giving continued into Saturday, December 7, during the Blazers’ home game against the Northwest Hockey Club. Both teams and their fans participated in the 44th Annual Gift of Christmas by donating unused toys for those in need.

Together, these efforts showed that the real assists aren’t just on the ice, but also in the community. A huge thank you to the players, coaches, and fans who made these contributions possible!

Fort St. John ‘A’ Flyers U13

The Fort St. John ‘A’ Flyers U13AA recently held a successful food drive during their home games against the Strathcona Warriors on December 7th and 8th. The team’s efforts helped support the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Centre, with the Flyers collecting a truck box full of food and multiple bags of warm winter gear.

CAC United Sport and Cycle U16 AA

On December 8th, the CAC United Sport and Cycle U16 AA team spent several hours working together to sort donations for the Edmonton Food Bank. The entire group had a great time giving back, building team spirit, and making the holiday season a little brighter for families in need across Edmonton.

Leduc Roughnecks U15AA

The Leduc U15AA Roughnecks arranged a day to visit the grocery store and picked up items for the Leduc & District Food Bank. Later that evening, they partnered with the St. Albert Saints during a league game, bringing in even more donations.

Thanks to the efforts of both teams and their supporters, they were able to collect 440 lbs of donations, equating to approximately $1,545 worth of goods. This generous contribution will make a significant difference for those in need in their community.

KC Colts U18AA

On Friday, December 6th, the KC Colts teamed up with SSAC U18AA for a food drive benefiting the Edmonton Food Bank. The teams collected donations before the game, and after the final whistle, the Colts delivered the food to a local firehall.

Westlock Minor Hockey U18

The Westlock Warriors U18 team led the “Shut Out Hunger” campaign during the Annual U18 Gord Smith Memorial Tournament. Through the generosity of players, coaches, and fans, the team collected an incredible 1,724 lbs of food for the Westlock Food Bank to support those in need.

The Westlock Warriors want to give a huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing cause. Your support truly makes a difference in the community!

Lloydminster Lancers U13 AAA

The U13 AAA Lloydminster Lancers have been busy on and off the ice this holiday season. They kicked things off by participating in a toy and coin drive while playing the KC Lancers in Edmonton. While playing at home they went “Bad Caroling” raising $420 for the Salvation Army and then held Gloves for Goals while hosting Grande Prairie for a double header. They collected over 50 pairs of gloves to donate to the local men’s shelter.

Hockey Alberta is proud to present eight more stories of teams who performed good deeds around the province, recognized through Hockey Gives Back.

PAC Rental Bus Lines Saints U15AA

The PAC Rental Bus Lines Saints U15AA team has shown a strong commitment to giving back this season through their support of various community initiatives. The players dedicated two Saturdays in November to gathering donations through poppy sales for the Spruce Grove Legion. More recently, the team volunteered their time at the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle, collecting donations for those in need.

U13AA CAC Nakatsui DermaSurgery

The U13AA CAC Nakatsui DermaSurgery team is supporting the Mustard Seed by collecting items to assemble Breakfast Bags for their local Edmonton shelter. These bags will be distributed to those in need the following morning. On December 18th, the players will receive a presentation at the CAC arena classroom about the issue of homelessness, followed by the assembly of the Breakfast Bags.

The team plans to continue this initiative throughout the season, but feels it is especially important during the Christmas season, when the need in the community is most evident. Providing a meal to start the day—particularly in the cold Edmonton winter—has a significant impact. Great job to the team for giving back to the community.

Beaumont Athletic Club U13AA

The Beaumont Athletic Club U13AA team was pleased to donate $500 from a recent fundraiser to the Beaumont-Nisku Christmas Elves. Thanks to a matching donation from the Government of Alberta, this contribution will be doubled, resulting in a total donation of $1,000. This generous support will help families in need during the holiday season.

In addition to their fundraising efforts, the team recently partnered with The RR Empowering Society of Alberta for a unique paint-your-partner day at Place Beausejour Independent Living in Beaumont. Kids and seniors teamed up to paint each other, resulting in an event that was equal parts fun, heartwarming, and absolutely hilarious. It was an unforgettable day of creativity and connection, proving once again that when two generations come together, magic happens.

Fort McMurray U16AA Junior Oil Barons

The Fort McMurray U16AA Junior Oil Barons have been actively involved in giving back to their community. The team collected food at their home games to support the local food bank. Additionally, in December, the players attended a seniors’ event, where they set up tables, served food, and helped with cleanup. Their efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting both local families and the senior community.

SPKAC U18AA Oilers

The SPKAC U18AA Oilers volunteered at the Strathcona Christmas Bureau, where they spent their time wrapping and sorting gifts for the community this holiday season. Their efforts helped ensure that families in need could enjoy a brighter Christmas, showcasing the team’s dedication to supporting the local community during the holidays.

SSAC U16 AA Cameron Homes Mustangs

The SSAC U16 AA Cameron Homes Mustangs volunteered their time to assist the Edmonton Food Bank by collecting and then sorting food donations. With the Edmonton Food Bank always in need of donations, the Mustangs’ efforts played a crucial role in making a difference.

MLAC U15AA Alumni

The MLAC U15AA Alumni team spread some holiday cheer by giving back to the community. During one of their home games, the team collected toys for Santa’s Anonymous, helping brighten the holidays for children in need.

In addition, the players had the special opportunity to decorate the Christmas tree at Thrive Elementary School. Thrive is a public charter school in central west Edmonton that provides an accessible and challenging K-6 program for children from low-income families.

These acts of kindness reflect the team’s commitment to giving back and making a positive impact on the community during the holiday season.

Camrose Vikings U15AA

The Camrose U15AA Vikings took part in a heartwarming Christmas initiative, “Spread a Little Love This Christmas 2024,” hosted by the Wildrose Co-op Group. This initiative ensures that local seniors are remembered and cared for during the holiday season.

Each player was given an ornament with the name and wish list of a local senior. As a team, the Vikings headed to Walmart, where they played the role of Santa, shopping for the gifts on their assigned lists.

Once all the gifts were gathered, they were dropped off with the Co-op, where they will be distributed to seniors in time for Christmas, ensuring that the spirit of giving shines bright this season.

Hockey Alberta is proud to present five stories of teams who performed good deeds around the province, recognized through Hockey Gives Back.

PAC U16AA Energy Crane Saints

The PAC U16AA Energy Crane Saints recently visited the Copper Sky Seniors Community, where they spent time with the residents, handing out snacks and drinks, and singing along to live music. It was a wonderful opportunity to spread some holiday cheer.

In addition, on December 15th, the team hosted a Teddy Bear Toss and Toy Drive during their game against Fort McMurray. Thanks to the generous contributions from fans, they collected five bags of teddy bears, a bin of toys, and a collection of money and gift cards. These were all presented to the Spruce Grove Kinettes Club to support their holiday efforts.

Camrose Vikings U16AA

The second annual “Take a Shot and Give Back Challenge,” organized by Bekkah Burnstad and Lori Christenson from the Camrose Vikings U16AA team, kicked off at the end of November. This initiative, aimed at giving back to the community, challenged all Camrose Minor Hockey teams to come together and collect food and winter clothing to be donated to FCSS. The U16AA team, a strong advocate for Hockey Gives Back, led the effort by encouraging fellow teams to participate in the drive, helping to ensure that local families had the resources they needed for the winter months.

In addition to the food and clothing drive, the Camrose Vikings U16AA team set up an Angel Tree at a local business. The tree allowed community members to pick a card with a child’s name and wish list, providing the opportunity to wrap and donate a gift for someone in need. This effort not only supported local families but also fostered a spirit of community involvement and generosity during the holiday season.

Fort McMurray Bouchier Junior Oil Barons U13 AA

The Bouchier Junior Oil Barons U13 AA team organized a cereal drive to benefit the local food bank, aiming to support those in need within the community. In addition to this, the team took their giving efforts a step further by renting the boardroom at the arena to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

The players filled a total of 26 shoeboxes with gifts for children overseas, ensuring that those who may not receive much at Christmas could experience the joy of receiving a gift. Each player also created personalized Christmas cards to include in the boxes, adding a heartfelt touch to the donations. This meaningful initiative not only made a difference for children across the world but also deeply resonated with the team members, leaving a lasting impact as they reflected on the importance of giving back during the holiday season.

KC Voyageurs U15AA

The KC Voyageurs U15AA team, in collaboration with the KC Shamrocks, organized a successful food bank drive to support the Edmonton Food Bank. The initiative showcased teamwork and community spirit as the players worked together to collect donations. Through their efforts, they gathered an impressive 132kg of food, which was donated to help those in need in the Edmonton area.

PAC Saints U18AA

The PAC Saints U18AA team gathered donations at a local grocery store to support the Spruce Grove Kinette Hampers. On Sunday, November 24th, the players worked together to collect items for families in need, helping to ensure that more local families would have a brighter holiday season.

Hockey Alberta is proud to present five stories of teams who performed good deeds around the province, recognized through Hockey Gives Back.

Drumheller Dragons AJHL + U15 Raptors

This year, the Drumheller Dragons AJHL team has had the opportunity of giving back to the community through several meaningful initiatives with the Salvation Army. They teamed up with the U15 Raptors and volunteered their time to support the Red Bag Food Drive, helping to provide essential food to families in need. The team also took part in the Kettle Bell Fundraiser, contributing to the holiday efforts that support individuals and families in their community.

As well as their work with the Salvation Army, the Dragons spent the day on November 20th at Tim Horton’s decorating Smile Cookies and helping to work the counter, with all proceeds going to support the Drumheller Legion.

Additionally, the Dragons donated the bears collected during their Teddy Bear Toss Night, spreading joy and warmth to children who needed it most. These initiatives reflect the team’s commitment to giving back and making a positive impact beyond the rink.

St. Albert Slash U18 AAA Female

The St. Albert Slash hosted their November Shut Out Hunger Food Drive and collected 260 lbs of donations for the St. Albert Food Bank! The team is incredibly grateful for the support from their community, other teams, and the friends and families who helped make the drive a success.

In addition, the Slash had the pleasure of hosting the U7 Ice Queens at one of their practices. The U7 Ice Queens sent a big thank you: "A huge shoutout and thanks to the @st.albertslash for having our U7 Ice Queens join them for their practice. You could see all the smiles on the girls through their helmets!

Whitecourt Wolverines U11 Team 2

Starting in November the Whitecourt Wolverines started giving back when the team volunteered at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #44, assisting with the setup for the Remembrance Day Luncheon by arranging tables and chairs.

In December, the team continued their community involvement by volunteering for the Pumpjack Players - Whitecourt Drama Society. The players helped set up for their dinner show, arranging tables, chairs, and other essentials for the event. These acts of service demonstrate the team’s commitment to supporting local organizations and giving back to the community that supports them.

Red Deer Predator Drilling Chiefs U11B + Red Deer Steel Kings U15 AA

The Red Deer Predator Drilling Chiefs U11B team recently partnered with the U15 AA Red Deer Steel Kings to purchase gifts for grandparents in their community. The players appreciated the chance to work together and were glad to make a positive contribution to the lives of local seniors. This initiative helped strengthen the connection between the two teams while supporting a meaningful cause.

GPAC Centurion Canada Storm U17 AAA

The U17 AAA GPAC Centurion Canada Storm recently collected toys to support the Helping Hands of Grande Prairie Little Elves Shop. This initiative allows parents to select gifts for their children at no cost, ensuring that every child has a present to open at Christmas. The team’s contribution helped make the holiday season brighter for local families in need.