That is the aim of Hockey Helps Kids (HHK), as it brings together schools from across Edmonton with local charities and the Edmonton Oilers.
The Rogers Place bowl was nearly bursting at the seams as 2,400 excited students arrived, ready to help launch the third annual HHK Charity Cup Challenge on Wednesday.
"Who's excited to be here today?" Asked Oilers Tim Shipton, Senior Vice President of Communications for Oilers Entertainment Group, as he welcomed all five schools.
A huge roar erupted from the crowd of Junior High students who were eager to kick off the afternoon celebrations.
Edmonton Oilers anthem singer, Robert Clark, made a special guest appearance to help open the ceremonial proceedings as he crooned the Canadian anthem, with help from the seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders in attendance.
"There is nothing like this across the entire NHL, you guys are trailblazers with what you are doing," said Shipton.
Co-founded by Chloe and Harrison Katz, children of Oilers Chairman Daryl Katz and his wife Renee, the Hockey Helps Kids initiative provides students in Grades 7 to 9 the opportunity to learn about the importance of being active members in their community.
This year, the contest expanded to include five local schools and charities that teamed up with five Oilers players acting as HHK team captains: Connor McDavid (Westmount Junior High), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Mary Butterworth), Milan Lucic (Dan Knott), Pat Maroon (Dr. Donald Massey) and Leon Draisaitl (D.S. MacKenzie).
The team with the most votes at the end of the Charity Cup Challenge will win $25,000 for their designated charity while the four runners-up will also receive $10,000 for their local charities.