HAT’S OFF TO THE CAPTAIN
Edmonton’s Connor McDavid tries to score on Calgary goalie Mike Smith as the Oilers blanked the Flames 3-0 in their season opener Wednesday at Rogers Place. McDavid earned a hat trick.
The Edmonton Oilers 2017-18 season opened at home Wednesday in a battle of Alberta against the Calgary Flames with high hopes following a playoff run in the inaugural season at Rogers Place.
The puck dropped at 8 p.m. following opening ceremonies featuring a “we stand united” message flashed around the bowl during an introduction by Const. Mike Chernyk, the police officer who was attacked by a man with a knife outside the Edmonton Eskimos game at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night.
Red Deer residents Andrew Enns and Josh Wilson had a pregame meal together, but breaking bread together didn’t mean a ceasefire of the trash talk.
Wilson, wearing an Oilers 30th anniversary Ales Hemsky jersey, said he was excited and hopeful to see another season like last year.
In a Jarome Iginla jersey and a Calgary Flames ball cap, Enns said he hoped to see both teams in a playoff matchup.
“I think it’s going to be a good rivalry coming back, especially with the young talent on these teams,” Enns said.
The two exchanged barbs over supper.
“I guess after all of those firstround draft picks, you’re bound to get a generational player,” Enns quipped.
“It’s OK, the Oilers are going to stay in Edmonton, unlike Calgary,” Wilson said.
Wes Davis and Judy Davis are from Rocky Mountain House, but Judy roots for the Flames, while her husband Wes and her son James Davis from Edmonton cheer for the Oilers.
“I went to school in Calgary and I stayed true,” she said.
Each fan found on their seat an Oilers scarf and a wristband that lit up, among other surprises to mark the home opener. But plenty of fans had splurged on new Oilers jerseys from Adidas.