Impact - Alberta

The Edmonton Oilers have been a source of provincial pride since their humble beginnings in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972.

The Oilers were one of four WHA clubs to enter the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979-80. Edmonton had already won its first Stanley Cup by 1984, its first of five in a remarkable seven-year run. With the Cups came fame, fortune and recognition.

Having an NHL franchise distinguished Edmonton as a major-league sports city. However, Edmonton was more than just a team in the NHL.

The Oilers had hockey’s best player in Wayne Gretzky, who created a colossal awareness for the City of Champions and the province of Alberta.

"Before Gretzky the National Hockey League was a million miles away to an Albertan," wrote Terry Jones in Alberta On Ice. "The Stanley Cup was something you saw on TV."

Promoting the Province

During the Oilers’ heyday of the 1980s, Gretzky graced the covers of Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Time. The Great One was also the main story in the Saturday Evening Post and was interviewed by Playboy. Alberta was out in the open.

While the Oilers brought outside attention to Edmonton, they also bolstered their provincial fan base with Alberta-born players and personnel. Mark Messier, who was born in Edmonton and played junior hockey in St. Albert a

nd Spruce Grove, was an integral figure in the Oilers’ dynasty, as was goaltender Grant Fuhr, a native of Spruce Grove.

Edmonton native and University of Alberta alumnus Randy Gregg helped the Oilers win all five of their Stanley Cups. High River native Glen Sather, who served 24 years in the organization as a head coach and executive, was the WHA Oilers’ captain in 1976-77.

Having an Alberta imprint on the team is a tradition that continues today. The value of that tradition was evident when the Oilers signed Banff native Ryan Smyth to a two-year contract in August 2003.

"I am an Edmontonian through and through, and I’ve been an Oiler fan since I was a kid," Smyth told the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson. "I couldn’t think of playing for any other team."

Edmonton native Fernando Pisani, who made his Oilers debut in 2002-03, inked a three-year deal in August 2003.

"It’s the team I watched growing up and the team I idolized growing up, so to actually play for them is just an unbelievable feeling," says Pisani. "It’s tough to explain to people when they ask about it."

Other Albertans currently with the Oilers include Edmonton natives Mike Comrie, Jason Chimera and Brad Isbister, along with Calgary native Jason Smith.