Hitmen-Oil Kings WHL rivalry hits Twitter
CALGARY – The Calgary Hitmen are set to resume their feud with the Edmonton Oil Kings this weekend, and the timing couldn’t be better.
For one, it’s their rivals’ sixth annual Teddy Bear Toss on Friday at Rexall Place — a game which, traditionally, hasn’t been well-attended (especially in the team’s lean early years) and has only collected 15,764 bears for charity in the past five seasons.
By comparison, the Hitmen have donated more than 213,000 bears since 1999, which included last Sunday’s tally of 21,534 bears from 16,912 fans. So, there’s that. There’s also the fact that Calgary (19-6-1-2) and Edmonton (18-6-2-3) are in a dogfight for places atop the Central Division; the Eastern Conference, too, if the Prince Albert Raiders (20-9-0-2) lose Friday in Kootenay (both Edmonton and Calgary have 41 points while Prince Albert has 42).
Not to mention, Calgary has won all four meetings this season — 4-1 at Edmonton on Sept. 28, 6-5 in overtime at Calgary on Oct. 7, and 5-4 in a shootout at Edmonton on Oct. 12.
And if that wasn’t enough, players took their chirps to Twitter earlier this week after the Hitmen Holiday Surprise Christmas video — a good-natured team lip sync of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree — went viral. Of course, the Oil Kings produced something similar last Christmas, except with the song All I Want For Christmas Is You and took the opportunity to remind the Hitmen of the production via Twitter.
“In case the battle of Alberta wasn’t heated enough, I’m sure copying the @EdmOilKings Christmas video will spice things up!” tweeted Oil Kings winger Mitch Moroz (@MitchMoroz).
“Pretty bold statements being tossed around,” Hitmen forward Zane Jones (@ZaneZila_) tweeted a few moments later. Teammate Greg Chase (“some guys get cranky when they haven’t beat you all year.”)
Oh yes, the fur will be flying tonight.
“I guess that kind of shows what kind of rival teams we are,” said Hitmen captain Cody Sylvester. “Maybe some things shouldn’t have been said that were said. But they were. I guess both teams should be ready to go.”
Although the Twitter exchange wasn’t exactly offensive or offside, head coach Mike Williamson wasn’t amused and said he’d rather his players do their talking through their play, via “Facebook, Twitter, or the media.”
Chase — who, for the record, is also the son of Sherwood Park Crusaders president Kyle Chase, a former radio show host on Edmonton’s Team 1260 — understands both teams will be ready to back up their words where it matters tonight.