The Edmonton Oilers are playing their first game of the season at home this year, and will be holding a ceremony to commemorate their run to the Final last year.
According to reporters inside the Rogers Place before opening to the public, the Oilers have hung a Western Conference Champions Banner and will hold a ceremony before the game.
Of course, some hockey fans will roll their eyes at a banner for anything other than a championship, but teams across the league will hang these banners. In addition for the season opener, fans in attendance will get special edition rally towels. Fans are certainly glad to see these more traditional towels over the rally strings from the playoffs.
The Oilers deserve to be celebrated for their incredible postseason run last year, and rightfully for being champions of the Western Conference. But don't tell Connor McDavid and the players that. Even though they had their best playoffs yet, they came short of the ultimate goal, and there is no second place prize.
Yesterday after practice, McDavid was asked if the Oilers will take any lessons from the devastating loss, and the Captain shut the question from Mark Spector entirely. The Oilers are turning the page entirely on last year, focusing on this season.
Nevertheless, the Oilers will have to be on the ice to watch the ceremony before playing their first game of the season against the Winnipeg Jets. The returning players will be more motivated than ever to get back to playing hockey in June, and the new players joining are anticipating a run at the Stanley Cup too. It should be a fantastic year for Oilers hockey!
