The world was different, #LastTimeOilersMadePlayoffs
Kyle Muzyka | CBC News | Posted: March 30, 2017 1:04 AM | Last Updated: March 30, 2017
2006 really was a long, long time ago
For the first time in 11 years, the Edmonton Oilers are making a trip back to the postseason.
They clinched a playoff spot against the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday night, spurring the hashtag #LastTimeOilersMadePlayoffs, which was the top trending hashtag in Canada.
Needless to say, it's been a while since Edmonton's professional hockey team played in mid-April.
These tweets really make you feel like it was forever ago since the Copper and Blue played meaningful hockey (unless you count losing to improve their chance of drafting a superstar).
Here are a few other events that happened in 2006:
Stephen Harper first elected as prime minister
Stephen Harper was a fresh-faced prime minister of Canada, sworn in just a couple of months before the Oilers' playoff run.
It was the beginning of a nine-year run for the Conservative leader, who has since left politics.
Stevie Y was still in the NHL
Doesn't it feel like Steve Yzerman, the former Detroit Red Wings star and currently the general manager of Tampa Bay Lightning, retired a long time ago? That's because he did — it's been 11 years.
But 2006 was his last season — and Stevie Y actually played his last game against the Oilers, who knocked the Red Wings out in six games at Rexall Place.
He had his jersey retired by the Red Wings the following year.
Steve Irwin was still wrangling crocodiles
Everybody's favourite crocodile hunter was on top of the world (and likely more than few crocodiles) when the Oilers were in the midst of their run.
He died in September 2006 after being stung by a stingray.
But his legacy still lives on, just as the 1980s Oilers' legacy sustained us for so long.
Twitter was a month old
The very social media platform that inspired this post was in its infancy when the Oilers were last in the playoffs.
Twitter was one month old in April 2006, and since then the platform has grown exponentially to more than 300 million users. You can bet Oilers Twitter will be tweeting a storm during the games.
How much did oil cost?
Oil was at almost $73 US per barrel in late April 2006, close to the highest point in the year. As of late March 2017, oil is sitting at just $49 US per barrel.
We all had a Bad Day
The last time Edmonton graced the NHL playoffs, Canadian-born singer and certified one-hit wonder Daniel Powter's song Bad Day was at the top of the Billboard charts.
The song's popularity was waning, but may have skyrocketed in Edmonton after the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Oilers in seven games.
It's been a decade since the Oilers were last in the playoffs — and with little expectation, here's to hoping the team goes on a bit of a run.