Recreation

Fort McKay Arena

Programs & ServicesRecreation

Fort McKay Arena
Opening Monday,
September 14, 2020

Attention Fort McKay Community Members:

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Fort McKay Arena on Monday, September 14, 2020.

We will be starting with the Maskwak Power Edge Pro Hockey Academy in the first week. The Learn to Skate Program will start Thursday, September 24, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the Athletic Edge Power Skating program will also start Thursday, September 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A new Speedskating Program will be starting in October. More info to follow.

We are hosting the Arctic Winter Games 2022 Speedskating event in Fort McKay (March).

The following rules will be in place when entering and exiting the Fort McKay Arena to attend programs:

  1. Upon entering you must wear a mask and sanitize your hands.
  2. Temperature Check and Logbook sign in by Arena Staff
  3. You will enter Arena through the right side of the front doors. You will exit on the right side when exiting from inside the building. There are marked arrows on the floor for traffic entering and exiting.
  4. Youth must come fully dressed in hockey equipment. They can only put skates and helmet on in the dressing room.
  5. Only 8 people at one time in the dressing rooms for seating. There will be a Maskwak Bear sticker on the dressing room benches identifying where a person can sit (6 feet apart). We will also have Maskwak Bear stickers on the player’s benches (6 feet apart)
  6. Maximum of 16 on-ice at one time plus two coaches/instructors.
  7. Youth do not need to wear a mask when skating.
  8. After youth are done their session, we ask that they keep their equipment on as we need to sanitize the room in between user groups. So, the youth just take their skates and helmet off and please logout your time when leaving. We have allowed 15 minutes between each group to quickly spray dressing room seating and door handles down.
  9. No showers can be used.
  10. Spectator Seating – we will have stickers on spectator seating identifying seating areas allowed. Family member cohorts can stay together. Otherwise, the stickers are spread 6 feet apart.
  11. Spectators still always need to wear a mask.
  12. We appreciate your cooperation in these challenging times, and we want to make sure we create a safe environment for all users!

Fort McKay Arena

The Arena is located on Fort McKay Road next to the new Youth Centre. The arena has been the location for some special events including:

  • Jordin Tootoo Event (May 2014) and Charity game with EX – NHL Aboriginal Players Sandy McCarthy, Chris Simon, Brantt Myhres and Stefan Matteau.
  • 3Nolans First Nation Hockey Camp and Coaching Symposium with NHL coach Ted Nolan and his son ex NHL player Brandon Nolan 2018 and 2019.
  • Greater Strides First Nation Hockey Camp 2012 and 2013.
  • Mark Messier International Hockey School summer of 2019. The Messier Camp has been brought to the region thanks to Fort McKay First Nation and Bouchier Group. The camp is going into its third year.
  • Hosted the Alberta Winter Games Speed Skating Competition February 15 to 18 2018.
  • Will be the future host of the Arctic Winter Games Speed Skating Competition in 2022.

For more information please contact Simon Adams at (780) 881 9096 or by email at sadams@fortmckay.com.

Fort McKay Arena is the home of the following programs:

  • Power Edge Pro (Hockey Academy). Power Edge Pro is the training program Connor McDavid trained on growing up and Community Member BJ Fitzpatrick has the rights to the Wood Buffalo Region to facilitate the Program. PEP (Power Edge Pro has been operating since 2014). PEP runs every Tuesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ages 6 to 17.
  • Learn to Skate Program has been operating since 2013 with lead instructor Casey Howlett volunteering her time in helping our young youth succeed! Learn to Skate runs every Wednesday from 4:30.p.m. to 5:30 p.m. from October to March.
  • Power Skating with Athletic Edge runs every Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Ages 5 to 17.
  • Adult Shinny Hockey 7 days a week starting at 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
  • User groups from outside of Fort McKay are welcomed to rent our ice during the Months of September to April.
  • We will host birthday parties, family skates, and public skates.

Fort McKay Hockey Society’s Academy Registration

Forms can be emailed to lladouceur@fortmckay.com or dropped off at the Fort McKay First Nation front desk.
Children must be registered to participate in Academy activities.

Forms can be accessed here: Academy Registration form 2020 and 2021