The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF), the charitable arm of the NHL hockey club, is a dedicated annual supporter of Right To Play’s Indigenous Programs, traditionally offering financial grants. In 2021, with the unprecedented world of COVID-19 and professional hockey games without fans, EOCF offered a creative way to give back to Right To Play, by engaging fans to help raise funds with its 50/50 raffle during the annual ‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ specialty night on March 29, 2021.

“Edmonton's Hockey Is For Everyone night promotes and shares the accessibility of hockey across the entire Oilers community,” EOCF stated. “Net proceeds from the online 50/50 raffle will benefit Right To Play and Spirit North, two charitable organizations that are dedicated to using the power of sport and play to help improve the overall health and well-being of underrepresented youth.”

‘Hockey Is For Everyone’ is an NHL-wide initiative that focuses on the importance of inclusion and diversity. EOCF took it one step further by selecting beneficiaries of the 50/50 raffle that invested in Indigenous youth + sports programs in Alberta. Working with the team and its broadcast partner, Rogers Sportsnet, The Edmonton Oilers pushed out social messaging and advertisements to encourage fans to get involved by purchasing 50/50 tickets during this special game.

“On behalf of Right To Play and the communities and youth that we are proud to partner with, we are humbled to be selected as a charity of choice for the Edmonton Oilers 50/50 raffle for this special game celebrating Hockey for everyone”, said Rachel Mishenene, Executive Director of Right To Play Canada Programs. “We are also honoured to partner with Indigenous communities across the country to provide capacity building programs using the transformative power of play.”

The match-up between the Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs was a nail-biter that ended in a 3-3 tie after three periods. Heading into overtime, it was Right To Play Ambassador, Darnell Nurse who scored the game-winning goal for the Oilers. There were two other big winners that night with online 50/50 raffle raised a whopping $540,000 – the lucky ticket winner and Right To Play. This generous donation will be directed towards gender-equity youth hockey programs within the five Indigenous communities with Right To Play programming in Alberta. Through this initiative and by harnessing the transformative power of play, girls will have access and opportunity to participate in hockey, while building confidence and self-esteem.

Mishenene added, “The support from the Edmonton Oilers team to the fans, will go a long way to ensure that Right To Play can continue working alongside our community partners to support Hockey For Development with Indigenous youth in Alberta.

Miigwetch and Go Oilers!”