A dozen downtown Edmonton police officers found themselves up against more than 30 neighbourhood kids at the McCauley community rink Tuesday.
Far from causing trouble, youth in the community gathered to face off against local police officers in a friendly game of hockey during the eighth annual McCauley Cup.
“We are the ones that work directly with those community members and so it’s really important for us in that regard, it gives us the chance to connect to them on a front-line level and build relationships and continue that positive relationship,” said Const. Andrew Melney, a downtown division police officer who organized this year’s hockey game.
Const. Stephen Garner takes part in the eighth annual McCauley Cup as downtown division police officers lace up their skates for a friendly game of hockey at the McCauley ice rink on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in Edmonton.
What started as a fun way for downtown police officers to get to know the youth in the community and build positive relationships has become an annual tradition young players such as Adam Glugosh, 15, look forward to every year.
“It just shows you that just because they are cops and enforcing the law, they are still nice people. It’s just fun to play with different kinds of people, because you don’t get that opportunity a lot,” said Glugosh, who has played in every McCauley Cup since it began eight years ago.
While it might provide an opportunity for neighbourhood hockey players to sharpen their skills against new opponents, it also allows local youth to get to know police officers as people first.
“Normally when the police show up, something bad has happened,” said Melney. “It’s important and nice for us to come to an event like this and engage with the kids and have them see us as something good and something positive and somebody they can turn to and, in this case, be a teammate of.”
This year, Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan made an appearance to offer a few pointers.
Const. Jason Ror takes part in the eighth annual McCauley Cup.
Officers watch the action at the McCauley ice rink.
Carter House, 5, takes part in the McCauley Cup.
Participants pose for a photo before the start of the eighth annual McCauley Cup on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in Edmonton.
