Edmonton youth, police take to the ice for 15th McCauley Cup
Posted January 25, 2026 12:05 pm.
Youth and police officers faced off on the ice in Edmonton this weekend as part of the 15th annual McCauley Cup, an event aimed at building trust and relationships between inner-city youth and law enforcement.
The game took place Saturday at the McCauley Rink, where young players laced up against members of the Edmonton Police Service in a friendly but competitive hockey matchup.
“Sometimes it’s hard to go against them, but it’s really fun,” said Xavier Whiteman Crane, a hockey player.
While the atmosphere was lighthearted, some of the youth said the matchup was still a challenge.
“I was like defense and then it was pretty hard because the cops were going rough on you, and then yeah, but it was good,” said Dayton Dempsey, a hockey player.
The McCauley Cup was established in 2009 and has grown into a long-running community tradition. More than 100 police officers participated this year, using the event as an opportunity to connect with youth outside of traditional enforcement settings.
“You get to hear their stories, right? You know you’re on the bench, and you get to talk to the kids, get to relate to them differently. They get to relate to us, and then I guess they see that the cop is just a person, so it builds that trust,” said Chief Warren Driechel of the Edmonton Police Service.
Officers acknowledged that playing hockey — and keeping up with younger players — can be physically demanding, but say the effort is worth it.
“Yeah, it’s harder the older you get, just drink lots of water and get back out there … We’ve got to bring more players every year just so we can keep the legs going. So, it gives us a break,” said S/Sgt. Michael Keef of the Edmonton Police Service Downtown Branch.
Former Edmonton Oilers player George Laraque attended the event for the first time and said initiatives like the McCauley Cup can have lasting benefits for communities across Canada.
“There are many people who are poisoned by the noise that they hear on the outside, sometimes in their education, because the parent had a bad experience, and they’re going to automatically say that that’s the way that they are, right? So when you have an experience like this, you’re showing openness, the police officer has to have a great relationship with the inner youth,” said Laraque.
Organizers say the goal of the McCauley Cup remains simple: create positive interactions that help bridge gaps between youth and police — one shift at a time.
