After more than 40 years with the Edmonton Oilers and the Oilers Entertainment Group, Kevin Lowe is hanging up his skates.
The Oilers announced Tuesday that Lowe is retiring from his role of vice chair and alternate governor.
“I’m 63 years old now. There comes a time in everyone’s life when you want to slow down,” Lowe told Global News. “I wanted to spend a little more time with Karen and travel a little bit.
“Over the last couple years, you have this tug of war in your own mind when you’re trying to pull off something like this. When’s the right time? There’s no template, nothing you can look at that tells you when to do things. Age was probably the number one thing. We wanted to travel a little bit, we’ve got grandkids now and want to spend more time with them.”
Lowe said they’ll still live in Edmonton and he’ll be at games and working to give back to charities and the community.
“I think most of our alumni still feel a part of the organization,” he added. “Once an Oiler, always an Oiler.”
Lowe began his Oilers career in 1979 as the team’s first-ever draft pick. He was part of all five Stanley Cup wins, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020 and received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.
Lowe served as the team’s head coach, general manager, and later, as vice chair and alternate governor. He was also a board member on the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
The team said he’ll continue on as an Oilers ambassador, supporting “initiatives of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and Oilers Alumni” and fans and partners.
“Kevin Lowe has been an integral part of the Edmonton Oilers for over 40 years and will continue to be connected to the organization as Oilers ambassador,” said Edmonton Oilers chairman Bob Nicholson.
“Very few have had the impact that Kevin has had, both on and off the ice.
“He exemplifies leadership and has done so much to help connect the organization with our fans, while supporting so many worthwhile causes in our community,” Nicholson said in a news release.
“He is a teammate, leader and friend to so many in the organization and we congratulate him on an amazing career and are excited for this next chapter of his career.”
Tim Shipton, executive vice president for the OEG, said Tuesday’s announcement is bittersweet.
“Kevin Lowe has been synonymous with the Edmonton Oilers right from the franchise’s inception into the National Hockey League.
“Kevin was the very first draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers, scored the first goal and went on to have a storied career as a player, coach and executive.”
The new role keeps Lowe connected to the Oilers family, but allows him more flexibility to spend with his immediate family, Shipton added.
“He gets to spend a bit more time with Karen, his kids and now grandkids and also stays connected with the organization.”
As an Oilers ambassador, Lowe will work with Oilers alumni, the Oilers Community Foundation, fans, sponsors and partners.