Watch above: Wednesday afternoon, fans joined the Edmonton Oil Kings to celebrate their Memorial Cup win, while Mayor Iveson declared May 28 ‘Edmonton Oil Kings Day’. Laurel Gregory was there.
EDMONTON – A ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon outside City Hall for the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup Champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
The event starts at 11:45 a.m. with a small parade of players down 99 St. between 103 A Ave. and 102 Ave.
A formal program will begin at noon at Sir Winston Churchill Square.
After acknowledging that the team won the longest game in Memorial Cup history, Mayor Don Iveson proclaimed May 28 ‘Edmonton Oil Kings Day.’
Members of the Oil Kings team and staff joined Iveson and Premier Dave Hancock in the festivities.
“On behalf of all the guys that are here, we just want to say, we wouldn’t be here without you guys,” said Captain Griffin Reinhart. We truly do have the best fans in the league… We really appreciate all the support.”
“Wow,” added Assistant Captain Curtis Lazar. “What a season. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. We started out on this journey in late August and we’ve been through our ups and downs, and every step of the way you guys were here with us.”
The Oil Kings beat the Guelph Storm 6-3 in the Memorial Cup final Sunday to capture the organization’s first championship since 1966.
Read More: Edmonton Oil Kings win Memorial Cup with 6-3 victory over Guelph Storm
Edmonton’s run to the Cup was a marathon in many ways. Two weeks before winning the trophy Sunday, they blew a three-goal lead at home in Game 6 of their WHL championship series.
The Oil Kings had to travel to Portland, Ore., the following day to win Game 7 less than 24 hours later.
Their triple overtime semifinal win over the Val-d’Or Foreurs on Friday was the longest game in tournament history at 102 minutes 42 seconds.
Read More: Oil Kings headed to Memorial Cup final after marathon game against Foreurs
Add in a double overtime loss to the Foreurs in the preliminary round and the Oil Kings had played the equivalent of two more games in the tournament than Guelph heading into Sunday’s game.
The Memorial Cup has been given to Canada’s junior hockey champions since 1919 in memory of those who died in the First World War.
Files from The Canadian Press
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