Edmonton Oilers Close Out Rexall Place After 42 Years

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.    

Montreal Canadiens Give All Star MVP John Scott One More Game

The 2016 Honda National Hockey League All Star Game Most Valuable Player, John Scott, will be getting at least another game in the NHL before the close of the 2015-2016 season. 

Scott, who had received the most votes during the fan voting for the All-Star Game before being traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens, along with defenseman Victor Bartley for Jarred Tinordi and Stephen Fournier.

 He was immediately assigned to the Candiens’ American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. All of this while his wife Danielle, was pregnant with twin daughters. Even though he was still in the minors, he received the chance to go to Nashville to play in the All Star Game. 

Not only did he receive the most votes from the fans in Arizona and around the league to be the captain of the Pacific Division, he also was named the MVP of the game. After leaving Nashville, he returned to Traverse City, Michigan with Danielle where she gave birth to the twin girls. 

After the All Star Break, Scott returned to St. John’s where he has been getting regular visits with reporters requesting interviews detailing his compelling story and ride through 2015-2016. The most recent with this past Sunday with the New York Times.

With the Canadiens being out of the playoffs for a few weeks now, coach Michael Therrien felt they wanted to repay Scott for the professionalism he has shown since they acquired him. Therrien made it clear that Scott would play one game for the leagues oldest franchise. 

Scott said, “I think it is more of a one game thing, kind of a do me a favor and experience what it is like to be a Canadien. So it is a one game thing. Unless I go out and score a hat trick.”

 

Terrien told nhl.com how impressed the Canadiens have been with Scott since he reported to the IceCaps, helping work with the organization’s young players and not once complaining about his situation. 

The coach added, “First he is a great guy to be around, I did not know him much. But when I saw what happened at the All Star Game, that was quite a story. All the players really respect him around the league. The idea is we want to show our respect because he has been a real pro since he joined us, and we want to give him an opportunity to play a game with the Montreal Candiens.”

 

The fact that the Canadiens have been evaluating the future and younger players that have been filling in for some of the injured stars, has made the transition in the room easier for Scott. He said, “I have not met most of the guys, well actually half of the team I have met in St. John’s.”

Scott will get his chance to lace them up for the Canadiens, Tuesday night at the Bell Centre when they host the Atlantic Division leading Florida Panthers. The game will mark the 286^th game and seventh team for the 33 year-old forward. 

The unrestricted free agent remains confident that he will find work in the NHL next season, and is more than happy to play the end of a memorable, made for movie season in St. John’s. He added, “I have had fun down there, it has been a good experience, it is good to be back in the NHL. But I will be happy to go down to St. Johns too.”

 

Tampa Bay Lightning Lose Steven Stamkos for 1 to 3 Months with Blood Clot

The Tampa Bay Lightning on the verge a clinching the postseason received some discouraging news Saturday when they learned captain Steven Stamkos will miss one to three months due to a blood clot near his collarbone. 

Stamkos said in a statement released by the organization, “Obviously this situation is extremely disappointing because I wanted to help my team clinch a playoff spot and prepare for the start of postseason. During my recovery, I will do all I can to help my teammates and I hope to rejoin them soon in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”  

Lightning general manager, Steve Yzerman classified the condition as a vascular thoracic syndrome called thrombosis. This is the same injury that backup goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy had during the summer which cause him to miss the early part of this season.

Yzerman said, “After Thursday’s game Stamkos went to see the doctor; he had discomfort in his arm, some swelling and tingling in his fingers.” Stamkos was a scratch from the Lightning’s 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. 

Yzerman added, “Friday we had him assessed by doctors locally. He will have a procedure done on Monday to alleviate the problem and will remain on medicine to aid in the breaking down of the blood clot. We expect Steven to make a full recovery from this.”

With the Stanley Cup Playoffs scheduled to begin on April 13, Stamkos will miss at least the beginning of the Lightning’s chance to repeat as Eastern Conference Champions. He currently leads the Lightning with 36 goals and 64 points this season. 

Yzerman mentioned that he does not expect the surgery to have any long term effects on Stamkos’s career, but would not confirm whether the recovery time would be closer to one month or three. He did say they should have a better time table within the next few weeks. 

Stamkos is at the end of a five year 37 and a half million-dollar contract and can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Yzerman remains determined to work out a new deal that would allow him to reamin in Tampa. 

Yzerman said, “Our number one hope is that he comes back to play this year. We want him to remain with the Lightning and we are hoping at the right time we can make that happen.” 

Yzerman mentioned that he was not ready to make a roster move yet, but recalling Jonathan Drouin was something that they were considering. Drouin the number three pick in the 2013 entry draft has been playing for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League since returning from a Lightning suspension on March 7. 

Drouin has nine goals in 10 games with the Crunch and was scratched from one for missing a team meeting. Yzerman said, “Drouin has worked extremely hard, you will see the stat sheet and goals and all that, but overall his attitude, his work ethic, we are very pleased with him right now. His effort has been outstanding.”

 

The Lightning will also be without defenseman Anton Stahlman, who is recovering from a non-displaced fracture in his left fibula, sustained on March 25. Lightning coach Jon Cooper said, “Guys are going to have to step up, especially in the absence of Strahlman and now Stamkos.” He added, “Those are two very big pieces to the puzzle. Those guys are irreplaceable.”

The Lightning who have not officially clinched the playoffs yet, currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division two points behind the Florida Panthers with four games left in the regular season. 

The Lightning close out the regular season with three a game swing through the New York metropolitan area, before traveling up to Montreal on April for their final regular season game.  

Yzerman added, “Every team is dealing with something, and that is part of what makes it difficult to win championships. For us it is an opportunity for other players and something for us to rally around and do our best to survive. First to make the playoffs and then to survive until we start getting guys back.”