Defense and goaltending unlikely reasons why Oilers have moved on to Western Conference final
Los Lobos played the Edmonton Oilers win song 'La Bamba' in Edmonton on Wednesday after the team clinched its series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
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Global News
32 minutes ago
- Global News
Oilers fans from Down Under overjoyed to be in Edmonton for Stanley Cup final
With just hours to go until the puck drops at Rogers Place for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final rematch between the Oilers and the Panthers, a scene involving blue-and-orange-clad hockey fans arriving in Alberta's capital played out, with some making the trip from as far away as Australia to experience the NHL playoff excitement. 'I'm so excited,' Steve Patching exclaimed, detailing his epic journey from Brisbane to Edmonton and how he drank several cups of coffee in the morning so he would be awake for the opening game of the championship series on Wednesday. 'Can you imagine what it's going to be like if Game 7 is here? 'I'm amped.' Like many other die-hard Oilers fans from around the world, Patching said it was during the team's heyday — led by Wayne Gretzky — in the 1980s that drew him to a part of a community of supporters that fans have dubbed 'Oil Country.' Story continues below advertisement 'I saw Gretzky once,' Patching said, noting that the connection to the team also exists because he has family in Edmonton. '(The Oilers) had a pretty lean period … (but) now they've got the greatest in history with (Connor) McDavid.' Patching said he booked his flight soon after the Oilers knocked the Dallas Stars out of the playoffs by winning the Western Conference final in five games. 1:57 Edmonton Oilers advance to Stanley Cup Finals Richard Fairhead also arrived in Alberta's capital on Wednesday and also hails from Brisbane. He said he was on a business trip in New Zealand when the Oilers beat the Stars and he did what he had to do to be in Edmonton for the Stanley Cup final. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'I changed it all up to come,.. (I'm a) die-hard fan,' he explained, adding that he has been on six flights in the past 72 hours, seeing him use four different airlines and passing through three different countries. '(I) came last year and loved every moment of it. Story continues below advertisement 'I got permission from the wife so it's all good.' View image in full screen Richard Fairhead arrived in Edmonton from Brisbane, Australia so he could be in Alberta to cheer on the Oilers for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. Global News Aside from fans arriving from Down Under, Oilers supporters are coming from all over as well, putting pressure on Edmonton's supply of hotel rooms this week. 'It's basically impossible to get a room (downtown) right now,' said Chris Yeung, the executive director of the non-profit organization Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels Ltd. Yeung added that demand is also 'bleeding into' other areas. 'This year we have home-ice advantage for the Oilers,' he explained. 'When you have that, you have media availability day, you have all the broadcasters flying in ahead of time, … and they're not small groups. 'Some of the broadcast groups have 50 or 60 people coming in at the same time.' Story continues below advertisement Yeung described what hotel operators are facing as 'huge demand.' Patching will likely be staying with his daughter as he said he plans to watch Game 1 from her apartment's balcony which overlooks a plaza in outside the Oilers arena that fans refer to as 'the Moss Pit.' He said even if he does not have a seat inside Rogers Place for the game, the feeling in downtown Edmonton will be electric. 'Last year I went to a watch party inside,' Patching said. 'It was one of the ones they lost which really sucked, but the atmosphere was still incredible.' Fairhead said after his Oilers lost the Stanley Cup championship to the Panthers in heartbreaking fashion last year with a Game 7 defeat, he is hopeful there will be a different result this year. Story continues below advertisement 'Different team, different feeling,' he said, adding that even though he was 'a little scared' with how the Oilers struggled at times during their opening-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, the players 'pulled their socks up and they've been playing fantastic ever since.' '(I'm) feeling great,' Fairhead said. 'The crowd will be amazing once again. I can't wait again to be deafened by (the cheers), … lose my voice again. The Oilers last won a Stanley Cup in 1990. No Canadian team has won the trophy since the Montreal Canadiens did it in 1993. –with files from Global News' Jaclyn Kucey
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Cape Breton's '60's Squad supports teammate in cancer battle on global running day
A group of Cape Breton women in their 60s and 70s got out for a few kilometers together on Wednesday's Global Running Day and one of them has been hitting the pavement lately despite adversity. 'I was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 17, and started my chemotherapy treatments on April 14,' said Trish Walsh, who lives in the Sydney area. Walsh got the diagnosis while training to try and qualify for her first Boston Marathon. Now, she says has new motivations to keep lacing up her sneakers with her friends. 'I do what I can,' the 68-year-old said. 'I'm certainly not at the level I was before this all happened, but I decided... when I got the diagnosis, I was halfway through marathon training and I had to stop that, and I don't want cancer to take anything else from me.' The running group - who call themselves 'The '60s Squad,' meets every Wednesday morning for a workout and often a coffee afterward. The members say it's more than just sport - it's a social life. 'Only I knew that it was Global Running Day, so I made sure that I let the ladies know,' team member Anne Doyle said. 'I think it's wonderful that we meet people of all ages. We've run with kids as young as twelve, and we've watched them grow.' Running as a lifestyle Jarvis Googoo of Dartmouth, originally from We'kok'maq First Nation in Cape Breton, has completed marathons all over the world and enjoys a healthy lifestyle. The latest highlight for the 44-year-old was finishing just two seconds behind Canadian Olympian Julie-Anne Staehli in the final leg of last month's Cabot Trail Relay Race. 'How has running changed my life? So many ways,' Googoo said. No matter where he races around the globe, he said he feels he is representing his Mi'kmaq people back home. 'I like to think of myself as running not just on behalf of Canada, or Nova Scotia, but running on behalf of the Mi'kmaq Nation. Mi'kmaki, 13,000 years old, it's a very old nation to be representing.' Walsh said she hopes she cab represent the '60s after finishing chemotherapy and other treatments she might be able to run cancer-free. 'I'm kind of comparing my cancer journey with a marathon, because you put a lot of hard work into marathon training and you cross the finish line', Walsh said. 'And I'm putting a lot of hard work into this journey, and I hope I cross the finish line.' One thing is for sure: the rest of the '60s Squad will be beside her every step of the way. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
41 minutes ago
- CTV News
Oilers' Hyman speaks for first time since injury: ‘You're heartbroken'
As CTV Edmonton's Nicole Lampa reports, the Oilers say they are more prepared than last year to take on the Panthers for the Stanley Cup.
