The Edmonton Oilers will play their last game at Rexall Place on Wednesday, April 6.
It will mark the end of an era.
Rexall Place was known as Northlands Coliseum from 1974 to 1995 and home to the Oilers when they were in the old World Hockey Association (until 1979). The team started playing there in 1974. The arena was also called the Edmonton Coliseum from 1995 to 1998 and Skyreach Centre from 1998 to 2003.
READ MORE: Final Edmonton Oilers game at Rexall Place bumped up several hours
The Oilers Entertainment Group is planning a whole evening of special events to mark the occasion. Every player who has ever put on an Oilers jersey and played a game at Rexall Place has been invited back to take part in the farewell event.
READ MORE: Calling all Oilers: Team announces plans to say final farewell to Rexall Place
From the Oilers’ first Stanley Cup win to The Great One’s incredible 50-goal streak, there were many memories made at the arena now known as Rexall Place.
We’re hoping you’ll share your favourite memory at the arena with us.
What was the best game you attended at Rexall Place?
What was your favourite goal there? Your favourite overtime win? Do you have a Rexall Place memory involving your favourite player? Is there a special moment featuring a goalie there? A captain? A defensive play that blew you away? What was your favourite “coach” memory? Do you have a favourite memory involving a Stanley Cup win? Is there a big, heartbreaking moment that you won’t forget?
Do you have an unbelievable, wacky Rexall Place experience that takes the cake?
Please share your favourite Rexall Place experiences in the comments section below this article. We’ll be sharing some of your memories on the Early News and the News Hour leading up to the final game.
Watch below: Some of your favourite memories of Rexall Place
We also hope you’ll vote on your favourite moment in our poll.
George Waselenchuk was a zamboni driver in 1997 and remembers some of those top moments well.
“The Dallas Stars were playing the Oilers. They were down 3-0 with four minutes left in the game and the Oilers came back. People were leaving because they thought the game was over at 3-0,” Waselenchuk recalled. “To see people running back into the stands after that second goal… They’d gone out of the building to the parking lot, started to run back in when they got to their cars.
“They won that game. It was unbelievable how loud the building got in those last four minutes.”
Waselenchuk now works as building operations manager at Northlands. Another memory that stands out to him is the 2006 Stanley Cup.
“It was, it was, your ears rang. It was just like leaving a concert, that’s how loud the fans were cheering. It was absolutely amazing, especially those last three games. I drove two of those last three games and it was unbelievable, just atmosphere,” Waselenchuk said. “The building was buzzing. People were standing the whole time. It was crazy.”
PA announcer Mark Lewis won’t forget those three games in 2006 either.
“Remembering back to what happened during the ’06 Stanley Cup final at Rexall Place, that was the loudest I’d ever heard. And when I heard it I said, ‘I can’t believe this. We’ve won five Stanley Cups yet this was louder.’ You couldn’t hear yourself. You couldn’t talk to the person beside you.”
Northlands is holding two free, public skates at Rexall Place for fans to enjoy the ice one last time as the Oilers say goodbye to the arena. The second Northlands Legacy Skate Kick Off was scheduled due to overwhelming demand.
The public skates are scheduled to take place Monday, April 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday, April 11 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
While the skate is free, people who are interested have to pre-register for a time slot.
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