Even though we’re nearly 450 kilometers away from Edmonton, many of us in Fort McMurray are die-hard Oilers fans. And recently, it seems like the Oilers are becoming big fans of us too!

Just yesterday, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation announced a generous donation of $45,000 to five local charities in Fort McMurray. The focus? Growing the “Every Kid Deserves a Shot” initiative, which aims to empower kids to play hockey. But that’s not all! They’ve also pledged to match any new investments up to $100,000 to double down on their efforts, with the goal of getting 100,000 kids into the game.

It’s a fantastic initiative and a wonderful way to show appreciation for a community that’s always supported them. Now, if they’re looking to throw a bit more cash around, I’d be more than happy to lace up the skates and give their defense a little help. After all, with a 1-3 start to the season, it seems like they could use all the help they can get!