Players and coaches have a chat on the ice despite frigid temperatures at Lac Cardinal. (Photo courtesy of Trans-Atlantic Photography).

A freezing -34 temperature night wasn’t enough to deter residents of Grimshaw, Alberta from celebrating the sport of hockey.

Over 75 young hockey players, along with parents, friends and other supporters of the Grimshaw Minor Hockey Association, braved the cold and dark in true Canadian hockey fashion on Thursday night to take part in a minor hockey clinic on the frozen pond of Lac Cardinal.

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Hosted by the Oilers Community Partnership and Grassroots Hockey Staff, the hockey clinic helped kick off the busy weekend that lies ahead at the Alberta Pond Hockey Championships in Peace River, Alberta’s largest outdoor hockey festival.

“It was tremendous to see so many people come out and support the sport of hockey at such a traditional and grassroots level,” said Trevor Murphy, Oilers Manager of Community Partnerships. “The Oilers have always been a proud supporter of hockey’s heritage, and we are very excited to be involved with this event for the third consecutive year.”

Although the clinic involved skill development, the main focuses were on making sure that everyone has fun and will remember the special experience.

"It’s great that the Oilers are on site and providing these clinics to the kids,” said the parent of one of the clinic attendees. “It is a wonderful opportunity."

Earlier in the day staff from the Oilers Community Partnership and Grassroots Hockey Staff visited Kennedy Elementary School in Grimshaw and E.E. Oliver Elementary School in Fairview to interact with kids and teachers by reading stories and answering questions.

The mayors of the municipalities involved met on Friday morning to discuss the event, and were grateful for the Oilers participation and how the organization’s contributions helped to inspire the communities to get involved.

The Oilers will continue to be active throughout the weekend. They will be hosting more hockey clinics, with two clinicsfor the Peace River Minor Hockey Association on Friday night and another for the Manning Minor Hockey Association on Saturday afternoon, as well as making other community visits and assisting in the event festivities. Saturday will also feature an Oilers Alumni game featuring special guests Dave Lumley, Norm Lacombe, Chris Joseph and Rob Brown.