EDMONTON – This is the kind of type of event that would have made Vince Lombardi and NFL Films voice John Facenda proud.
“This is what every Canadian kid dreams of, but don’t forget the kids in the U.S. who grow up playing shinny on ponds,” Glen Sather was saying. “You know what it’s like? It’s like football in Green Bay.”
Welcome then to the frozen tundra, blanketed with the remains of a snowstorm that struck this town on Wednesday. Welcome to the Heritage Classic, where this afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium, some 57,000 fans will watch a game between Oilers’ and Canadiens’ alumni at 3 p.m. before the varsities play two hours later. It is, of course, the prelim that is drawing all of the attention.
With the promise of clear skies, the alumni game consisting of two, 15-minute stop-time periods, will be played regardless of the temperature – expected to hit a high of zero degrees Fahrenheit – and wind conditions. And while it is almost certain that the first official outdoor game in the NHL history will go on as scheduled – today marks the 87th anniversary of the league’s birth – Gary Bettman, Colin Campbell and GM’s Kevin Lowe and Bob Gainey will meet this morning to confirm that the mission is a go.
The four squads skated for approximately 45 minutes apiece yesterday morning, the old-timers – sorry, the official designation is MegaStars – seeming to have the times of their lives, most wearing toques and towels to shield themselves from the elements. There was The Great Gretzky on with Mark Messier (how odd it seemed for the Moose to be in the Edmonton colors he last wore over 11 years ago), Jarri Kurri, Paul Coffey, Esa Tikkanen and a gaggle of other championship Oilers. There was Guy Lafleur on with Larry Robinson, Steve Shutt, Kirk Muller, Stephane Richer, Claude Lemieux, Guy Lapointe and a consortium of great Habs.
“Our legs are not quite the same, but it’s truly enjoyable to be back on the ice,” Gretzky said. “It’s a pretty special feeling.”
“It was just like picking up where we left off,” said Messier.
This is not only the city in which these Oilers made history, winning five Cups in the seven-year span between 1984 and 1990, but also the burgh from which so many sought exit to gain greater riches. Most, in fact, did so in New York. Fact is, of the 21 Oilers scheduled to participate in the gala, eight played afterward for the Rangers. And the Blueshirts were originally scheduled to participate in this event as the Oilers’ opponents.
“We were called and asked if we’d play,” Sather said. “Of course I said yes. It would have been a great thing for us and for the league to have New York represented.
“But then Hockey Night in Canada became involved and put some pressure on to make this a Canadian celebration by getting Montreal involved. So we were bumped.”
Amazing, isn’t it; a network that understands the soul of the game? Back in the States, ESPN is not televising either match on any of its outlets. Interesting, though, that the network will present the league game on ESPN Classic next Saturday. If the people running the network honestly believe the event is an instant classic, wouldn’t they have cleared some time for it today?
But this is about hockey, old-time hockey (even if the Oilers stand to make a $2 million profit off the whole shebang). It’s about, well, it’s about the game’s heritage.
“We all feel privileged to be here,” The Great One said. “It’s a phenomenal situation, one we’ll remember for a long, long time.”