The Edmonton Oilers bid adieu to the place they called home
for 42 years Wednesday night with a 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canuks.
After 1558 National Hockey League games and 221 World Hockey
Association games at Rexall Place, formerly known as Northlands Coliseum. The
Oilers dropped the puck at a 5:00 PM local time, so that they could hold the
festivities with all of the past and current players at the conclusion of the
game.
150 Oiler alumni were on hand to help close out the building
in style. Most of them arriving to Rexall Place by mid-morning on Wednesday. Many
of them took part in the morning reception, midday outdoor civic rally and a
tour of the lockkeroom.
The evening began with a rousing rendition, of the late Paul
Lorieau, singing “O Canada.” Lorieau, had sung the Canadian Anthem in the build
from 1981-2011. The fans even joined in, singing the anthem the anthem, along
with the pre-recorded rendition on the jumbotron.
Former Oiler legend, Mark Messier said, “You think about all of the different events that happened here, not
only the hockey games, but all of the other emotions and events that happened
here, it is going to be a powerful night for the city of Edmonton.”
Messier added, “For me,
seeing the building built, seeing Gordie Howe here when I was a kid, Bobby Hull
and all the greats in the WHA, being able to fulfil my dream in the National
Hockey League, here in my hometown, would have never thought that was a possibility
when I was growing up.”
He also said, “I was
here from the start, but for fans, for every one of the guys who put the
sweater on, for everyone who have worked for the organization, in one form or
another, it is going to be a powerful night. And it is incredible how a
building can take on a personality. It has taken on a personality because of the
great moments that have happened here.”
Messier’s number 11 hangs from the rafters of Rexall Place,
along with six other legends. Wayne Gretzkys number 99 was the second jersey
raised to the rafters, 19 years after Al Hamilton’s number three had been
raised to the roof.
Gretzky name pretty much is all over Rexall Place’s record
book, with 316 goals, 566 assists and 902 points in the building. Jari Kurri,
Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson also had their jerseys retired in
the old barn.
The first NHL goal scored in the building came off of the
stick of Oiler forward Blair MacDonald, in the first period of the game on
October 13, 1979. The final goal in the
history of the arena, was scored at the 18:03 mark of the final frame on April
6, 2016, by the Oilers Leon Draisaitl, on the powerplay.
For about a minute before the final horn sounded at 7:45 PM,
local time, the fans remained on their feet giving a rousing ovation. The
Oilers would salute the crowd with their sticks raised following the final
horn, as would all of the honored guests following the closing ceremonies
almost two and a half hours later.
The post-game ceremony, included blue carpet over the ice
and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at one end of the rink, with the whole ensemble
clad in tuxedos, except for the percussionist, who had an Oilers jersey on. The
parade of guests began at about 8:20 PM, Edmonton time.
2015 first round pick, Connor McDavid, who was born about 22
years after the old barn opened, made his way out on the ice to a loud ovation
from the crowd. The building became loud again a short time later, when Oilers
1990’s hero, Ryan Smyth made his way into the ceremony.
After Smyth, a galaxy of Oilers legends from throughout the
1980’s made their way out. Messier walked out to a loud chant of “Moooooose.”
Just before 9:00, Number 99, “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, made his way down
the carpet.
Following the parade of stars, the Oilers also honored all
of the Oilers stars and legends that have passed on with a video tribute,
accompanied by the organist playing, Procol Harum’s “A White Shade of Pale.”
Which was then followed by a few on-ice interviews with some of the former
Oilers’ that have called the old barn home, the past four decades.
To conclude the night, the “Farewell Banner” was lowered to
Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” For most of the blue-collar life
in Edmonton, Rexall Place had been a sense of the community that it served, and
its hockey team’s work ethic helped make it a pre-dominant force for many of
its early years.
Next fall the Oilers will open their new home, Rogers Place.
They hope that if they can duplicate what they did during the 1980’s, they will
turn out, just fine for many years to come.
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