Rogers Place Ice Recreated with Hometown Rinks of Oilers Players for Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final

With excitement building ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, Rogers Communications Inc. has launched a unique campaign designed to unite hockey fans across Canada. The initiative, titled This is Our Ice, aims to symbolize the connection between communities nationwide and their hockey heroes by blending ice collected from local rinks with the playing surface for the championship opener at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

The campaign draws inspiration from the six hometowns of current Oilers players, with ice gathered from rinks that played crucial roles in their development as athletes. These include the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex in Newmarket, Ontario, home to team captain Connor McDavid; the Harry Howell Twin-Pad Arena in Hamilton, Ontario, Darnell Nurse's old stomping grounds; Burnaby Winter Club in British Columbia where Ryan Nugent-Hopkins spent his youth; Confederation Arena in Edmonton for goaltender Stuart Skinner; The Rink in Winnipeg associated with Calvin Pickard; and the North Shore Winter Club in Vancouver.

Through a carefully orchestrated effort, staff at each rink scraped up ice and packed it into thermos-style containers—ensuring it remained frozen on its journey. The ice was then transported in coolers and delivered directly to Rogers Place, where it was ceremoniously poured into the ice-making equipment by the Oilers’ Engineering and Ice Operations team. This process turned the Stanley Cup Final's opening game surface into a literal composite of Canadian hockey heritage, representing communities coast-to-coast.

Organizers see the campaign as an extension of the playoff spirit fostered by the company's ongoing This is Our Game effort, aiming to inject a sense of national pride and unity during one of hockey’s most anticipated events. “We wanted Canadians everywhere to feel like they’re a part of this moment, whether they’re cheering from their living rooms or from the very rinks where these players learned to skate,” said a campaign spokesperson. The symbolic gesture has drawn attention among fans and community leaders alike, resonating particularly in the participating hometowns, where local pride has reached new heights.

As the puck drops in Edmonton, the ice beneath the players' skates will serve as a physical reminder of the journey from small-town rinks to the sport's biggest stage. For many Canadians, the This is Our Ice campaign underscores not just the shared love for hockey, but the collective dreams and efforts that make moments like the Stanley Cup Final possible.