Since 2006, it’s sometimes been embarrassing to be seen in an Oilers jersey in arenas across the NHL (and even some nights in Rexall Place). On Heritage Classic Weekend in Winnipeg, this couldn’t have been farther from the truth. The Heritage Classic, first played in Edmonton in 2003, has become something of a staple in the NHL schedule. This year’s game in Winnipeg, featured two of the best young players in the game, along with Connor McDavid.
Hordes of Oilers fans descended on Winnipeg for the weekend festivities, including Oilers Rig reader and longtime Oiler fan Jamie. He was gracious enough to talk to me about his trip and the experience of being an Oilers fan in enemy territory.
When I asked what prompted the trip to Winnipeg, the easy answer was “a boys’ trip to see the Oilers”, but the chance to see the Oilers play outside of Edmonton in what has become a marquee event was too good to pass up. Considering that Edmonton hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006, the Heritage Classic wasn’t something to be missed.
While the spirit of the weekend was felt at Investors Group Field, there were also pockets of Oilers fans frequenting bars throughout the city. A group of Oiler fans made their home at the Pint Winnipeg, where strangers and friends stayed long into the night celebrating their team and the camaraderie that developed between and among fans.
Winnipeg isn’t necessarily a travel destination for many people (the Goodyear “Going to Winnipeg” commercial comes to mind), but by all accounts, the city was welcoming to its visitors and Winnipeggers were more than happy to have hockey fans in their hometown.
Alumni Saturday
The Alumni game day started with a tailgate outside IGF, where Oilers and Jets fans alike waited for the puck drip with excitement. Having a gathering place outside the stadium added to the festive atmosphere of the weekend that could really only be surpassed by the game itself. After lengthy player introductions, during which it felt like there was no shortage of accomplishments to list, the puck finally dropped on the alumni game. Seeing skaters like Teemu Selanne on the ice alongside greats like Wayne Gretzky and Dale Hawerchuk is something few people will have the chance to see again; though the game wasn’t intense to start, there was a lot of excitement for seeing some of the best players to ever play the game on the ice together again.
The atmosphere on Alumni Saturday was obviously electric, and fans of both teams seemed to embrace the ‘rivalry’ for what it used to be. Oilers fans don’t seem to think there
was much between the two teams since the Jets always came out on the losing side of those playoff battles. It was all in good fun, and the Jets alumni eventually came away with the win on a goal by Teemu Selanne in the 3rd period. Oiler fans couldn’t be disappointed with the result, though, as they got the chance to see modern legends like Ryan Smyth skate with Wayne Gretzky.
Game Day
The actual game, while important as an NHL game, wasn’t the best part of the weekend. Sure, the Oilers won, but the game was delayed two hours because of the sun, the ice was choppy at best, and the conditions outdoors aren’t generally conducive to good hockey. Instead, the opportunity to meet Oilers fans from both Edmonton and away became the memorable part of the day. Since there was a large cadre of Oiler fans in Winnipeg, it almost felt like a home game and a person couldn’t throw a beer can without hitting someone in Oiler colours.
After losing (and regaining) an NHL franchise, it was nice to see that Winnipeg has truly turned into a hockey town. The fans were very welcoming and appreciative that people travelled to Winnipeg to see a hockey game; Jamie isn’t convinced that the reception would be the same in Calgary, or Vancouver, or even Edmonton. During the nearly 2-hour delay before puck drop, fans of both sides spent the time talking hockey (mostly McDavid), but it didn’t feel like there was jealousy among Jets fans, just genuine appreciation for McDavid’s talent.
All told, the 2016 Heritage Classic was a memorable weekend for everyone in att
endance. The genuine appreciation for the Oilers and Jets oldtimers was palpable, and seeing Wayne Gretzky and Glenn Anderson skating with kids on the ice beside the rink was something no one will forget. The Oilers hadn’t played in an outdoor game since 2003, when they hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium, so it was good to see them back in the spotlight. It didn’t hurt that they went into the game with a winning record, and maybe getting a taste of the league’s attention isn’t going to be a bad thing for the Oilers.
The Takeaway
The legacy of the Boys on the Bus is almost lost on an entire generation of Oilers fans. Being just old enough to really reme
mber the 1990 Stanley Cup, Jamie commented that the involvement of the 1980s Oilers in the organization itself isn’t relieving the pressure on the current players, and the oldtimers involved in events like the Heritage Classic aren’t the players that fans under a certain age even remember. Perhaps winning a Stanley Cup in the Connor McDavid era will change all that, but it would be really great to see Oilers alumni like Doug Weight, Bill Guerin, Todd Marchant, and even Shayne Corson lace up their skates for an oldtimers’ game one of these days.
Would Jamie make this trip again? Absolutely. The spectacle of the weekend, along with a conveniently placed beer tub, provided fodder for many stories and memories for years to come. Most fans at the game were there cheering for either the Oilers or the Jets, but a few lost Flames fans probably managed to have a good time as well.
Asked about anything he would do differently next time, Jamie responded “I probably wouldn’t stay at the Marlborough Hotel again.”
Up Next
Next week, we’ll feature some stories from longtime Oiler fan Andy Babic.
As always, if you’re interested in getting your story out there, let me know on Twitter @mig14, or via email at [email protected]
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