The Edmonton Oilers may not be on home ice when they try to clinch the Stanley Cup against the Florida Panthers on Monday night, but screams of support will resound across Canada from rinkside watch parties, bars, seniors homes and ordinary living rooms.
含羞草研究社淲e cheer them on every single game of the season,含羞草研究社� said Derrick DeMone, an Oilers fan in Sydney, N.S., who will be watching at home with his sons, aged 24, 14 and 12.
含羞草研究社淚 haven含羞草研究社檛 felt like this since I was a young boy, I含羞草研究社檒l tell you that.含羞草研究社�
DeMone含羞草研究社檚 home is something of a shrine to his favourite team, with Oilers jerseys, blankets and pillows decorating the inside and several Oilers flags flying outside.
In a city where he含羞草研究社檚 usually outnumbered by Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins fans, DeMone said locals have come to associate him with the team he backs.
含羞草研究社淚f I含羞草研究社檓 not wearing an article of Oilers, whether it含羞草研究社檚 a hat or a hoodie, then I含羞草研究社檓 not out in the public,含羞草研究社� he said with a laugh.
In Edmonton, thousands of fans have been packing Rogers Place for both home and away games during the playoffs, while thousands more watch giant screens outside the arena.
One of those outdoor parties is where Mama Stanley, whose real name is Mary Loewen, will be dressed as the Stanley Cup, cheering on the team while also posing for photos with fellow fans.
含羞草研究社淧eople are saying, 含羞草研究社楲et含羞草研究社檚 fly to Florida.含羞草研究社� No. I want to be with the people in my kingdom,含羞草研究社� Loewen said Saturday when speaking about her plans for the final game.
Just northwest of Edmonton where residents of a seniors home have been posting Oilers fan videos to TikTok, another release is planned for Monday afternoon.
Some of the videos, which feature residents of Everitt Gardens in St. Albert dancing and wearing jerseys and face paint, have garnered tens of thousands of views.
含羞草研究社淥ur residents love the Oilers, they含羞草研究社檙e all in the spirit. They like to get dressed up. Some watch it in their suites, some watch it together on their screen,含羞草研究社� said Lori Kary, the home含羞草研究社檚 recreation therapist.
含羞草研究社淥ne of our residents like to watch it in his suite 含羞草研究社� but whenever the games end and the Oilers do win, he actually opens his door and yells, 含羞草研究社榃oot! Woot!含羞草研究社� down the hall.含羞草研究社�
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch含羞草研究社檚 hometown of Imperial, Sask., will be hosting a watch party at the local rink on Monday night with a special treat 含羞草研究社� leftover brisket from Rockin含羞草研究社� The Rink, a party held on Saturday night to celebrate the anniversary of the facility getting a new concrete floor.
The town含羞草研究社檚 chief administrator Joslin Freeman, who is Knoblauch含羞草研究社檚 cousin, said they含羞草研究社檙e expecting a good crowd in the town of 372 for the deciding game of the series.
含羞草研究社淚 texted Kris the other night,含羞草研究社� she said Sunday. 含羞草研究社淚 said, 含羞草研究社業含羞草研究社檓 glad you couldn含羞草研究社檛 be here for Rockin含羞草研究社� The Rink, but I含羞草研究社檒l throw you one hell of a party when you bring the Stanley Cup home.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
The Stanley Cup final has been a nerve-wracking affair for both sides, with the Oilers losing the first three games of the best-of-seven series before rebounding with three wins of their own. The turnarround began when they trounced the Panthers 8-1 in Game 4. Another win on Monday would make the Oilers just the fifth team in NHL history to win a best-of-seven playoff series after trailing 3-0.
If they win the Cup on Monday night, Demone said he含羞草研究社檚 already told his sons he含羞草研究社檚 planning a victory drive around Sydney after the game.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l maybe message some of my friends that like the Oilers and see if we can get a little mini-parade on the go,含羞草研究社� he said.
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