Oilers and Flames play the last Battle of Alberta on Rexall Place ice
CBC News | Posted: April 3, 2016 4:41 AM | Last Updated: April 3, 2016
On Saturday night, the last ever battle of Alberta took place on Rexall Place ice
While the war will rage on, the battleground will change.
On Saturday night, the last ever battle of Alberta took place on Rexall Place ice.
Over the years, the battle saw many great warriors — Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Lanny McDonald, Theo Fleury, Paul Coffey and Jarome Iginla to name a few — tie up their skates and go head to head for Alberta hockey supremacy.
In recent years, the rivalry has tapered off a bit, but it's still a thrill to see the likes of Johnny Gaudreau and Connor McDavid battle it out.
Many have left blood, sweat, and tears on the ice in an attempt to leave the north Edmonton arena with two points and send their cross provincial rivals home with none.
Many have left blood, sweat, and tears on the ice in an attempt to leave the north Edmonton arena with two points and send their cross provincial rivals home with none.
Steve Peddle has held season tickets for 13 years and has attended Battle of Alberta games for much longer.
"This is like my second home here, Rexall place," said Peddle. "I've seen so many hockey games.
"It's kind of an emotional night, the last battle of Alberta against our hated flames."
The Oilers, like every Canadian team, will miss the playoffs this year. On Wednesday they will play their final game at the Coliseum against the Vancouver Canucks.
Over the years, the building has had many names, the Northlands Coliseum, the Edmonton Coliseum, Skyreach Centre, and finally Rexall Place.
While the name wasn't always constant you could always count on the Flames making the two-hour trip north. Since 1980 the teams faced each other a total of 129 times on that ice and the memorable moments are plentiful.
From Steve Smith banking the puck off Grant Fuhr to send the Flames to the Stanley Cup finals to the Oilers finishing a clean sweep en route to their own Stanley Cup the following year.
From Jordan Eberle deciding to put up arguably the prettiest debut goal of all time to Theo Fleury sliding across the ice on his knees in celebration.
They all had three constants.
Rexall Place ice, the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames.