In less than 24 hours the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers alumni will take to the ice at the the Investors Group Field to kick off the Heritage Classic.
All the stars from yesteryear are now here in the city as both teams held a short practice at MTS Centre Friday.
“A lot of things have changed, but still a lot hasn’t,” former Winnipeg Jet Teemu Selanne said.
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It’s a different rink but it was the same old Teemu Selanne back skating in a Jets uniform for the first time in ages.
“It’s one of those logos that every time when I see it, it feels like home. Just great memories from that jersey and always proud to put it on,” Selanne said.
The whole week is a stroll down memory lane for Selanne but he’s been keeping a close eye on the Jets and his fellow countryman Patrik Laine. He was watching when Laine scored his first hat trick.
“They come back and the whole building is rocking and that’s awesome. I even got for goose bumps for that.”
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Selanne’s rookie record of 76 goals in a season has stood the test of time but might get threatened this season by either Laine or Auston Matthews.
“Gretzky said onetime that all records should be broken. 76 is a lot though and the one thing is you got to stay healthy,” Selanne said. “I think he has all the tools to score 76 or whatever. A lot of goals it’s not going to be easy.”
Selanne’s rookie scoring mark is one record Wayne Gretzky doesn’t own. But number 99 did have a lot of success against the Jets back in the 80’s.
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“I was kind of public enemy number one back in the day but that’s the way it should be you know. I was on the other team and when I was in Winnipeg the people were tremendous to me, “Gretzky said Friday.
“They always treated me with respect but you have to cheer for your own team and I understand that.”
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The rivalry between the Oilers and Jets was one of the fiercest in the NHL, but the Oilers always seemed to get the upper hand, eliminating the Jets from the playoffs on six different occasions.
“John Fergusons put together a very good organization. Unfortunately for the Jets they had to go through the Oilers to get to the finals but we always had a great deal of respect for their team,” said Gretzky, a former Oiler.
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The alumni game starts at 3 p.m. Saturday but before the game both the Jets and the Oilers will practice to get a feel for the outdoor ice ahead of Sunday’s game.
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