The Edmonton Oilers will play their last game at Rexall Place Wednesday, and to mark the occasion the City of Edmonton held a free public farewell rally over the noon hour.
Mayor Don Iveson and the rest of city council were on hand for the event, which saw more than 150 Oilers alumni together in one place for perhaps the first time ever.
“I’m happy to have one of these hip, new Oilers jerseys. This is snappy isn’t it?” Iveson said with a laugh.
Iveson kicked things off by welcoming the alumni back to Edmonton. Then he shared a few of his memories of Rexall Place.
“We all remember, well most of us if we’re all old enough, will remember the five Stanley Cups. We’ll remember the other runs, we’ll remember the playoff games,” Iveson said. He went to his first Oilers game in 1988.
“Second row, in the corner, and there’s Wayne Gretzky skating past,” Iveson recalled.
“I tell ya, I get emotional thinking about it. It was a magical thing for a little boy to get to go to a hockey game.”
READ MORE: Farewell Rexall Place: Share your favourite memories
Ryan Smyth also took the podium Wednesday afternoon. As he walked up the crowd began to chant “Smytty, Smytty, Smytty.”
“It’s a bittersweet day or evening and we all know there’s a lot of memories, a lot of history in that building,” Smyth said. “Without you fans it wouldn’t be the same in that building.”
“The ’06 run, that’s for sure a big memory.”
Watch below: Fans, Oilers alumni prepare to say farewell to Rexall Place
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Edmonton Oilers alumni, fans gather for rally before saying farewell to Rexall Place -
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‘This is a huge night’: Former Oiler Charlie Huddy shares memories of Rexall Place -
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Edmonton Oilers fan goes to great lengths to see final game at Rexall Place -
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Former Oilers captain Shayne Corson back in Edmonton to say farewell to Rexall Place -
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Former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low shares his favourite Rexall Place memory -
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“I think it’s going to be emotional’: Ryan Smyth on saying farewell to Rexall Place
Mark Messier also made a short speech, comparing the scene to 1984 when the city held a rally to celebrate the team’s first Stanley Cup win.
“Building the Northlands Coliseum in 1974 put us on the map around the world as one of the most sophisticated buildings in North America,” Messier recalled.
“It’s amazing that a building can actually have a personality and become larger than live.”
Messier received a few laughs from the crowd after sharing one particular memory.
“I remember seeing Fleetwood Mac, my first concert as a young person, in Northlands Coliseum.”
Oilers superfan Blair Gladue was born in 1974, the same year Rexall Place opened its doors. He said he was born an Oilers fan and has been to too many games to count.
The most memorable game for him was Game 3 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Oilers and the San Jose Sharks.
“We were down two games to nothing,” he said. “It’s two-to-one. Third period, two minutes left, Raffi Torres comes flying in from the left wing and rips it top shelf. We go to one overtime, two overtimes, three overtimes. Third overtime period, Ryan Smyth comes around the front of the net, throws it in front, Horcoff puts it in.
“We win! And then we win four games straight!”
Gladue was sitting directly behind the net. He said he threw his popcorn in the air and just started hugging all the fans around him.
“When you’re an Oilers fan it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what colour you are. You’re loved.”
While hockey fans were excited to see all the former players, one notable Oiler not at the ceremony was Wayne Gretzky.
“My thinking is he didn’t come because he wanted all the other people to shine,” Cindy Farnel said with a laugh.
According to a Twitter post by Craft Beer Market downtown, the Great One stopped in for lunch at some point Wednesday.
Final farewell to Rexall Place
The farewell festivities will continue on into the evening Wednesday.
In order to fit in all of the post-game events, the game was bumped up to a 5 p.m. start. The game against the Vancouver Canucks was originally scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Doors at Rexall Place will open at 3:30 p.m.
More than 150 former and current Oilers players, staff and special guests will be part of the farewell celebrations, including Grant Fuhr, Georges Laraque, Mark Messier, Ryan Smyth and the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky.
“It will be a powerful moment for myself personally because of being from Edmonton and seeing the building built, and seeing Gordie Howe here when I was a kid and Bobby Hull and all the great players back in the WHA there,” Messier said.
“And then being able to fulfil a dream to play in the National Hockey League here in my hometown. Would never have thought that was a possibility when I was growing up.”
Watch below: Former Oilers head coach Ron Low says his favourite Rexall Place memory has to do with the Dallas Stars
READ MORE: Over 150 Oilers players, alumni, staff to say farewell to Rexall Place
The event will involve a video tribute to the Oilers’ history at the building now known as Rexall Place. The tribute will include memories from the franchise’s time in the WHA, the glory years of the Stanley Cup dynasty teams, the team’s 2006 cup run, the modern era and everything in between.
“There are so many memories, stories, and hallmark moments in life that have occurred in the building for our fans and players alike, so it is important to recognize our time there with a celebration of this magnitude,” Oilers Entertainment Group vice chair Kevin Lowe said.
The Oilers have been preparing to say goodbye to the arena all season, with mini “Once an Oiler, Always an Oiler” tributes. Oilers alumni and other prominent people associated with the organization have been showcased at each home game.
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