So here ends the 2006 NHL Hockey Season. The first after a long year break. Rules, teams, players all changing to bring us one of the best years of Hockey ever seen. And today marks the last day of a spectacular year. The Stanley Cup has been won.
But alas it is not for our Edmonton Oilers. Hard fought, tough battles, great run, but just not enough. So do we lay down our flags, lower our cheers, drop our heads in defeat? Do we let go of our pride, our hopes, our dreams?
I say no! No we hold fast, cheer loud, and raise our flags and chins high. For our Edmonton Oilers almost pulled off one of the greatest accomplishments in NHL history. They did what most said was impossible. They proved that it takes more than money, more than large market capital, to make an NHL team strive to be the best. They are one of the finest teams Edmonton has produced in years, and should be praised for their efforts.
So be proud this day to be an Edmonton Oilers fan. Be proud to be a Canadian, a nation of Hockey fans. Be proud of the boys in blue.
I say raise your glasses gents and gals to being Canadian, to our beloved Edmonton Oilers, and to the 7th player on the ice, the Fans.
Your Edmonton Oilers:
2 Matt Greene
6 Jaroslav Spacek
10 Shawn Horcoff
12 Sergei Samsonov
13 Todd Harvey
14 Raffi Torres
15 Kyle Brodziak
16 Jarret Stoll
18 Ethan Moreau
20 Radek Dvorak
21 Jason Smith
22 Rem Murray
23 Dick Tarnstrom
24 Steve Staios
26 Brad Winchester
27 Georges Laraque
28 Danny Syvret
29 Ty Conklin
30 Jussi Markkanen
33 Rob Schremp
34 Fernando Pisani
35 Dwayne Roloson
37 Michael Peca
38 Mathieu Roy
39 Jeff Deslauriers
41 Jean-Francois Jacques
44 Chris Pronger
45 Toby Petersen
47 Marc-Andre Bergeron
55 Igor Ulanov
83 Ales Hemsky
94 Ryan Smyth
May our loss this year be our greatest gain in experience and teamwork for next year.
Edmonton Oilers for Stanley Cup Champions in 2007!
(http://misc.righteouswrath.com/funnies/Images/oilers_wc_champions.jpg)(http://misc.righteouswrath.com/funnies/Images/edmontonoilers.gif)
Hear hear! What a journey it was! The Oilers fought hard and earned respect as well as respected the other teams. They all took some incredible hits (I could swear on one hit Smyth flew six feet sideways!) and dished out the hits as well. They held out all the way to game 7 of the finals - a place most players can only dream of! Rexall (and Millennium Place where they go to practice) are probably going to be still ringing with the cheers of fans until the next time the battle for Sir Stanley's Cup begins.
You don't have to win to rule!
*stands up and respectfully applauds*
Imagine next year: no "flu", no "Rolie Owie", and no "eighth seed"... ;D
-Darren Dirt, not a hockey fan, sometimes a "playoffs only" fan, but this year an actual OIL fan :o ;)
Funny, how similar the story for both of these Alberta teams...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_Flames#2004_Playoffs
That link led to another interesting article on Wikipedia, where the police response in 2004 and 2006 is compared: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Mile#Police_Presence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Mile#Police_Presence). Especially of interest in the 2004 celebrations is this line:
QuoteDespite the dominating police presence, there have been very few incidents involving police.
That's the same as what Bryan Boulanger was trying to accomplish before he was replaced. Interestingly, in 2006:
QuoteComplaints about the noise and traffic tie-ups by some area businesses and residents led to the Calgary Police proposing to severely limit or shut down the Red Mile entirely for the 2006 playoffs. Police announced a zero-tolerance policy on jaywalking, public drunkenness and public nudity.
The policy was first enforced during a regular season game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as dozens of officers patrolled the area between the Saddledome and 17th Avenue S.W. handing out nearly 500 tickets during their crackdown. Police justified the crackdown arguing that while there was a notable lack of violence in 2004, the potential remains high in such situations. The time and cost to police during was also a concern. As many as 300 officers patrolled the Red Mile, including the police helicopter, at a cost of over $1 million.
Gee, sounds exactly like when Chris Caughell, leader of the EPS riot squad, took over.
And cops wonder why the kids show them no respect. I wonder when they'll figure out they actually have to *earn* respect, they don't just get it because they're wearing a uniform.
Kudos to the St. Albert RCMP detachment for not yet having fallen in this trap!