Connor McDavid and teammates test new ice at Rogers Place

Some of the players who represent the future of the Edmonton Oilers got acquainted with their new home ice advantageon Thursday.

ConnorMcDavidwas the first to step on the ice at Rogers Place. He was followed by teammatesRyanNugent-Hopkins, MarkLetestu,AndrejSekera, JonasGustavssonandIiroPakarinen.

The players took a few spins around the ice, and got alook at the hugescoreboard, theVIP box seats and the brand new stands.

A group of minor hockey players who could potentially be future Oilers joined them as well. The kids got the chance to skate, take someshots on goal and some even gota few tips from McDavid.

Bob Nicholson, CEO of the Oilers Entertainment Group, saidthe children were randomly selected by the Edmonton Minor Hockey Association.

"We wanted to make sure the young kids have a dream," said Nicholson. "They have a dream of putting on the Oilers' jersey. Our work with minor hockey is important."

EliasAbdilmisih, 8, was one of the first youngsters to step on the ice. He even experienced his first media scrum when he faced question from reporters, withMcDavid at his side.

He seemed quite taken by the NHL'sbiggestscoreboard, whichhangs above centre ice. Itmeasures 46 feet wide, 46 feet deep, and 36 feet high.

"It's a lot bigger than the one at Rexall," he said.

The highlight of the morning, Elias said, wasscoring a goal on an empty net.

The Oilers' first home game will be a preseason game against their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames, on Sept. 26.