Edmonton salutes Coffey

Ace defenceman has jersey retired ‘Always consider myself as an Oiler’

EDMONTON— Paul Coffey wiped away tears as his No. 7 jersey was elevated to Edmonton Oiler immortality yesterday in a ceremony marked by the sound of trumpets, the streaming of confetti, the flashing of lights in a darkened rink and the deafening roar of fans chanting his name.

“ All I can say is it’s great to be an Oiler,” said Coffey, standing at centre ice with his family as a banner bearing his sweater number was raised to the rafters prior to a game between the Oilers and the Phoenix Coyotes. He won three Stanley Cups with the Oilers.

“ I’ll always consider myself to be an Oiler and Edmonton to be my home.”

It was the first time Oiler great Wayne Gretzky had returned to Edmonton as a coach as the bench boss of the Coyotes. The Oilers have already retired Gretzky’s jersey along with those of Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Al Hamilton.

All were at centre ice with Coffey during the ceremony that began with the 44- year- old hall of fame defenceman taking a victory lap in a spotlight around the rink as fans delivered a standing ovation. Team general manager Kevin Lowe paid tribute to his former teammate and to his contribution to the Oiler dynasty teams of the 1980s.

“ When Paul Coffey played with these guys they were the most exciting team that ever played in this league,” he said. More than an hour before the game, fans were already lined up 10 deep outside Rexall Place for the sold- out game.