Arts & Sports
HOCKEY NEWS
BREANNE PISANI
The 2006 playoff glory days are long gone and I must admit, the last few seasons for the Edmonton Oilers have been slightly painful. With the new season just around the corner, Oiler nation has high hopes for this year’s young team. While I still think we’re far off from winning anything spectacular, last place finishes in the past two consecutive years leave the team with only one direction - up. The regular season starts on October 9th when Sidney Crosby comes to town. Tickets for games aren’t exactly affordable for the average student, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. Head out to your favorite pub and watch the game on the big screen. Last season ended bittersweet, with the Oilers in last place. But that means that we did end up with the first overall draft pick. Here’s are some highlights on what happened during the Oiler’s offseason.
Ryan x 2
Oiler’s got first pick in the 2011 entry draft, selecting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. He’s at training camp with the team right now, but whether or not he’ll find himself a permanent spot in the Oiler’s line up is up in the air. Perhaps one of the more exciting trades that occurred in the last few years was the team’s deal for Ryan Smyth. For once, a player wasn’t requesting to leave the Oilers, but was actually requesting to come back! The Oilers traded with the L.A. Kings and brought back a little hope and some good memories to the Oiler’s lineup.
New Arena?
Apparently they’re still “talking”…
Jail Time
Finally, the last little bit of summer excitement, the Oiler’s goalie, who gets paid about 3.75 million a year, spent 15 days in Maricopa County jail, plus another 15 on house arrest in sunny Arizona. He was convicted of a DUI. He even admitted to the National Post that he signed a few autographs for his fellow prisoners.
9