Oilers link up with stars of past as they launch era of new downtown arena
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers launched the new era of their shiny, silver curvilinear rink Wednesday by linking it to their glittering past.
Past greats Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier — from the team’s 1980s Stanley Cup dynasty years — went for a skate to the deafening roar of 18,550 fans prior to the Oilers’ NHL regular season opening game at downtown Rogers Place.
Gretzky and Messier, dressed in white Oiler jerseys, skated a lap in opposite directions to cheers, lifting their sticks high in appreciation.
There was a light show and First Nations drummers.