99 Forever Podcast – Ep 53 with Gabriel Candido and Diego Pontes
September 5, 2022Murray Signing Signals Trouble For Koekkoek
September 10, 2022September 7, 2022 by Eric Friesen
The OEG officially established the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
For years, Oilers fans have wanted to see the organization introduce a ring of excellence to honour great Oilers’ players of the past that don’t merit their number retired by the club. Now, those players will have their night to be recognized by the team at the Rogers Place.
“Created to honour outstanding contributions or service to the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club by past members of the organization, the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame may include players, coaches, trainers, staff, executives or any other person whose role or service in the organization since its founding in 1972 is recognized as extraordinary,” per a press release on the team’s official site on Monday.
The inaugural Class of the Oilers Hall of Fame will include players Al Hamilton, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson and Kevin Lowe as well as coach Glen Sather and broadcaster Rod Phillips. They all received an automatic induction as Oilers legends with banners at Rogers Place.
A selection committee comprised of Gretzky, Ron Low, Louie DeBrusk, Chris Joseph, Bruce MacGregor, Jim Matheson, Terry Jones, Bob Stauffer, Jason Gregor, Chief Wilton Littlechild and Shannon Szabados will chose an additional two names to join the 2022 Class on September 20.
Oilers fans will also have the opportunity nominate former members of the organization who are deserving of this honour next year. The inaugural induction ceremony will take place in a prior to the Oilers game against the New Jersey Devils on November 3.
Historically, the Oilers have had some of the best jersey retirement ceremonies across the NHL, and fans should expect as much pageantry for the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame.