‘It’s a rejuvenated team, a rejuvenated downtown’
Excitement palpable as Oilers fans create sea of orange at Rogers Place
Oilers fans shook the rafters of their new barn Wednesday as they sang O Canada before the first puck drop that broke Edmonton’s 11year playoff drought.
For fans, the game brought back memories of the last cup run in 2006.
Standing outside Rogers Place smoking a cigarette, restaurant manager Anthony MacPhee was decked out in an Oilers blazer and a bright orange bowler hat.
He attended nearly every game during the 2006 run, with the exception of the series against San Jose.
“It really resonates in my memory,” he said. Now, he’s feeling the same energy.
“It’s a rejuvenated team, a rejuvenated downtown,” he said. “I’m happy to be a fan again. It’s been a tough decade.”
An early first-period goal against the San Jose Sharks gave fans something to cheer about.
In the unending sea of orange circled the ice inside Rogers Place, at least three Sharks fans made their way into the midst of the Oilers mania.
Forrest Cole and two friends spent two days in the car on a marathon trip from their homes in Wyoming. They crossed the border at Sweet Grass, Mont., Wednesday morning.
As the walked towards the arena before the game, they had been in Edmonton for all of 45 minutes. It was Cole’s first time in Canada, and his first Sharks game.
“We just hustled on up,” he said. “It’s a really cool city, I really like it.”
The group’s Sharks jerseys were an anomaly in the streets that thronged with orange in the hours before the game.
West of the Wayne Gretzky statue outside Rogers Place, Jon Ens and Dallas Davis wore blue face paint and an undersized Grant Fuhr goalie mask.
“We’ve been Oilers fans since we were born and after 11 years, it’s time,” Davis said. “We’re getting to the first playoff game in case we don’t make it to another one, which is not the case, but we’re getting in the building.”
As the puck drop neared, fans were greeted by the Logan Alexis Singers in the main hall at Rogers Place.
The six men, of Cree and Lakota background, banged their drums and sang a song urging the team on. Among them were brothers Eugene and Robin Alexis.
“We want to support, we want to help. We like the vibe, we like the energy,” said Eugene. “When we hit the drums, we bring that kind of energy. It’s all about bringing the good energy.”
Giddy fans sipped pints in downtown bars and speculated about their team’s chances Wednesday — and maybe even to go all the way.
Kelly’s Pub on 104 Street was packed with fans fuelling up before the first whistle.
Longtime fan Ray Pisani predicted an Oilers win fuelled by the team’s fierce fan base.
“They’re going to win because they have incredible fan support,” Pisani said.
As game time approached and ticket holders began to wander over to the arena, others settled in to watch the game from the bar.
Standing outside The Pint on 109 Street, Hayley Saunders and Robyn Kelly, both 19, were eager for their first opportunity to get in on playoff mania.
Like many Oilers fans, this is the first time they’ve been old enough to hoist a beer to watch the Oilers play in the post-season.
“It’s so exciting to have Edmonton all come together,” Saunders said.