From Hamilton to Edmonton: Ice from NHL players’ hometowns used to resurface rink for Stanley Cup final [Video]

When Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers takes to the ice in Rogers Arena Wednesday, a little part of his hometown of Hamilton will be underfoot.

Rogers picked six Canadians on the team — including captain Connor McDavid and forward Evander Kane — and collected ice from rinks where they grew up. Then they transported the ice to Edmonton and used it to resurface the NHL ice ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final.

It’s the first time the company has done it — and a neat way to give “home-ice advantage” to the Oilers, says Ryan Kinsella, rep director for the league that plays at the Hamilton arena where Nurse’s piece of ice comes from. 

On Saturday in Hamilton’s Flamborough region, Rogers scraped the ice at Harry Howell Twin-Pad Arena to honour Nurse.

The 30-year-old defender started playing at Bill Friday Lawfield Arena on the Hamilton Mountain …