The 2018/19 journey for Lord Stanley’s cup begins in only a few hours for the Edmonton Oilers and I think there’s no better time to remember past season openers than now!
I have an atrocious memory for these sort of things and so I crowdsourced this one. I asked some people who I know have followed the Oilers a helluva lot closer than I have since they came into the league in the 1979/80 season for their favorite Oilers season opener memories and the following is what they so graciously provided me.
THE FIRST ONE
The first goal against Edmonton came from John Marks, a tally Oilers goalie Dave Dryden said shouldn’t have counted because Marks “kicked my pad over the line” thus beginning a 40-year love-hate relationship between Edmonton fans and NHL referees. Kevin Lowe scored the first goal in franchise history, scoring after a pass from Brett Callighen (via Wayne Gretzky) on the power play about 10 minutes into the team’s first NHL period. – Lowetide
This snippet is from LT’s latest post from The Athletic. It’s behind a pay-wall and I encourage all of you to subscribe as they’ve always got a deal going on to make it cheaper for everyone. You can subscribe here and full disclosure, if you do, The Athletic will let me have a $10 Amazon credit for helping them out.
THE FIRST GOAL AND A KO YOU’LL NEVER FORGET
2010 – Following the worst season in Oilers history at that time, Oilers fans felt that change was on the horizon. It was the debut of prized pick Taylor Hall, however, it was World Juniors hero Jordan Eberle who stole the show. I was sitting at Chili’s in Calgary Airport surrounded by Flames fans waiting for my flight home to Saskatoon from university for Thanksgiving break. Then, it happened. Eberle scored one of the most beautiful first goals in NHL history, which sent Rexall Place into a frenzy! Edmonton crushed the Flames 4-0 and Steve MacIntyre knocked a guy out in the third period, but it’s Eberle’s goal that we all remember. – Eric Friesen
CAN YOU REMEMBER A BETTER OPENING NIGHT HATTY?
2017 – The dominant performance in game 1 last year against the flames. Expectations were sky high and they proceed to shut the flames out. Talbot was fantastic and McDavid with a hattie including that crazy speed and power goal down the right side with a roof job. – Original Pouzar
A SIGN OF GREAT THINGS TO COME
2005 – It had been 17 or 18 months since I had seen the Oilers play (due to the lockout) and it was the first time in my life the Oilers had ADDED some star power to their team (Pronger and Peca). The team didn’t disappoint either as Horcoff scored a goal late in the third to give them a 4-3 victory over the Avs. Little did I know, it was a sign of great things to come that season. – Ryan Robinson
NOT A SEASON OPENER BUT A MESS OF A HOME OPENER
1979 – For Mark Messier, his first career goal and point was an unexpected moment in the spotlight, but he took to it rather well. By the time his career wound down a quarter century later, he had passed the greatest Red Wing of them all, “Mister Hockey” Gordie Howe, to rank second all-time on the NHL career scoring list, where he remains the only player to be within 1000 points of the incomparable Wayne Gretzky. Turns out the two youngest players on that Oiler team — and indeed, in the entire NHL — were both bound for what Peter Gzowski called “the pantheon” of greatness. For this hockey-starved young fan and thousands of others in the Coliseum that night, it was the start of a wild and unforgettable ride. – Bruce McCurdy
Watch the game in its entirety below! Also, Bruce wrote an entire article on this evening. You can check that our here.
A big thank you to LT, Bruce, Eric, OP, and Ryan for helping out! Be sure to follow them this season!
What are your favorite memories of Oilers season openers? Let us know in the comments below!
