“Constructing a Champion: The Personification of
Edmonton as the City of Champions in Relation to the
Figure of Wayne Gretzky”
By
Chelsea Newton
An Essay submitted to meet the requirements of HIST 470
in the Department of History & Classics
University of Alberta
(Fall 2003)
2
Edmonton earned the title City of Champions largely through the repeated success of the
Edmonton Oilers and the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1980s through their celebrated five Stanley
Cups and five Grey Cup victories respectively. Though the City of Edmonton has never
officially sanctioned this slogan, it is a title that holds true in Edmontonians' hearts and
welcomes visitors as they drive into the city limits. More specifically, this term was coined as a
result of the international fame the city received through the talent of Wayne Gretzky and the
four Stanley Cups the Oilers earned in his era. Gretzky created a legacy through The Game,
giving the city and its citizens a shared consciousness and collective identity within the Canadian
ritual of hockey.1 Ultimately the city's identity as the City of Champions was manifested in
November 2003 during the Megastar game of the Heritage Classic, occurring in the heartland of
hockey. Despite Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 and his present connection
with the Phoenix Coyotes, Edmontonians continue to hold Gretzky close to their hearts, and to
their identity. He provides a connection to the great years of the city's past, to years of glory and
fame. The identity of Edmonton as the City of Champions is a plural collective understanding;
however, the Great One, being the singular man of Wayne Gretzky, transcends and draws these
plural identities together, and thus he is a symbol of, and for, Edmonton as a unified whole
through sports.
Canada defines itself as a nation that not only dominates in hockey at a professional level,
but also created the roots of the sport outdoors on rinks across the country. Consequently, the
collective ritual of hockey shapes the Canadian national identity. As a Canadian city, Edmonton
strove to prove itself as significant in the Canadian arena by proving dominance in The Game,
1
In The Making of the Edmonton Oilers Champions, Kevin Lowe and Stan Fischler refer to the game of hockey as
The Game in order to emphasize the importance of hockey in Canada and in Edmonton. I have adopted this naming
tactic for the same purposes of emphasizing importance and significance especially in terms of the 1980s and the
Edmonton Oilers 5 streak Stanley Cup wins. Lowe, Kevin, Stan and Shirley Fischler. The Making of the Edmonton
Oilers Champions. (Scarborough: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc. 1998).
3
thus creating national value through the medium of sport. Ultimately, it was the decade of the
1980s that showed all Canadians and the United States that Edmonton was important, as The
City of Champions became champions on and off the ice rink and the football field. Through
Gretzky, the municipal values of success were embodied. Through Gretzky's celebrity, stability
was created for Edmonton's image through his personification of the hero.
Historically, the use of the slogan City of Champions dates back to 1984 when Councilor
Terry Cavanagh and Leo Leclerc coined it as a form of boosterism for the city. Boosterism is a
means of promoting a city to gain tourism, investment, and most significantly, importance on
regional, national, and international levels. A report by the Edmonton city council on March 11,
2003 found that the term was again popularized by Mayor Lawrence Decore, not in relation to
sports but in regard to the city's response to the tornado in 1987. However, the term gained real
popularity in the same year when it was applied to the Edmonton Eskimos and Oilers mutual
championship wins, as stated by Edmonton Sun columnist Terry Jones.2 Though the title of City
of Champions does not solely reflect the successes of hockey in Edmonton, as the Eskimos also
won five titles in the 1980s, it is an important aspect and a case study within the cultural realm of
Edmonton that consists of sports and artistic endeavors. Wayne Gretzky acts as a symbolic hero
and a catalyzing vehicle for this identity of Champions.
The heartland of hockey has recently been used to describe Edmonton for the historical
events of the Heritage Classic; however, Canada as a whole is truly the home of hockey as she as
a country has dominated the sport since its beginnings as a form of competition. On the world
scene, Canada was historically supreme in hockey as seen in the gold medals in the Olympic
Games. However, with the Russian win over Canada in the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina,
2
Schneider, D. "Edmonton City COuncil Report March 11, 2003". Edmonton City Council
http://www.edmonton.ca/OcctopusDocs/Public/Complete/Reports/EX/Elected-1995/2003-04-09/2003COC009.doc.
November 18, 2003.
4
Italy, Canada became the underdog in what is considered to be a Canadian sport.3 The loss,
especially to the 'enemy' Russians in this Cold War era, created a national call to increase
Olympic medal wins as a national statement of what is Canadian, as the Canadian identity is
explicitly tied to hockey. A parallel can be drawn between Canada nationally and Edmonton
municipally as the need to prove dominance creates an identity and a shared cultural heritage
represented through hockey – The Game of Canada. The 'us' versus 'them' dichotomy is
employed in identity creation in postcolonial, Commonwealth, and non-world dominating
countries. The limited identity of what is Canadian was previously defined in relation to Europe,
especially with Great Britain, but through the twentieth century it shifted to comparisons and
contrasts to the United States. This Canadian definition states difference, and the pure spirit of
Canadians are exemplified by victories in The Game. As the importance of hockey increased in
Canada and the NHL moved west to encompass the whole country, Edmonton was the underdog
in the Canadian game of hockey. The city aimed to prove importance; thus, Edmonton strove to
prove itself worthy on the ice – an arena that all Canadians understand.
Hockey has never solely been a form of entertainment, as from its roots it has helped
shape the identity of Edmonton as a western city with a hockey team. Edmonton began its
hockey history in the Pacific Coast League and then later in the World Hockey Association, thus
initiating the hockey legacy which was largely unfulfilled until the 1980s. Hockey created a way
of forming and uniting the community. Through looking at Edmonton specifically, it is clear that
one of the ways the group mentality of community is created is through identity formation within
sports. It thus reflects the importance of sports in transcending limited identities. Hockey is a
nationalistic manifestation. Edmonton, as the City of Champions, is based largely upon the
winning streak of the Oilers due to the economic benefits which resulted for the city, and also for
3
Canada also lost the Olympic gold in hockey in 1936.
5
putting Edmonton on the international map, especially due to the celebrity of Wayne Gretzky.
Gretzky is explicably and intrinsically linked with the Edmonton mentality as Champions, as
seen through the statue of The Great One built on August 27, 1989, which remains standing
today, even after Gretzky left the city to pursue a career in the United States. The plaque on the
statue reflects Edmonton's adoption of Gretzky as an Edmontonian as it reads:
A true champion and gentleman of dedication and character whose talents brought world
recognition to the City of Edmonton.... Erected in sincere appreciation by the citizen of
Edmonton.4
The plaque exemplifies Gretzky as the manifestation of Edmonton and the catalyst that brought
the city to the world arena. Edmontonians continued to identify with The Great One after his
move to the United States, as they cried when he retired in 1999 and named a street after him in
October of the same year. The Game and Gretzky together created a legacy, a shared
consciousness, and an identity in the heartland of hockey.
To fully understand the successes, defeats and identity of Edmonton in relation to
hockey, the social, historical, and cultural importances of The Game must be historically
examined. They created the framework for the Oilers' successes in the 1980s and the identity of
Edmonton constructed through hockey. The 1980s were a decade ripe for a hero, as Edmonton
and Alberta held a new sense of power and optimism when it attempted to find a place on the
international stage. The 1970s marked an era, which held the biggest growth for Edmonton due
to big oil industry devlopment from the oil crisis in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries, OPEC, Crisis. After the 1973 oil crisis, oil prices all over the world spiked and
Alberta financially benefited. Edmonton used Alberta's success in the 1970s as an opportunity to
4
Wayne Gretzky Statue plaque outside of Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta.
6
showcase its talents in producing winning teams, as the region was gaining international
recognition. Sports teams allowed Edmonton to show its international competitors its new sense
of optimism and power. Boosterism has long held a place in Edmonton politics and economics
even as the 1980s brought about an era of recession. The identity of success in Edmonton had
already taken hold through the 1970s economic gains and resulting optimism; however, it is
ultimately through Gretzky that the identity of Edmonton as a Champion was secured
internationally.5
The overarching historical discourse occurs within a Canadian frame, not an American or
even North American perspective. At the turn of the twentieth century, during the 1920s,
Edmonton's first golden era:
The loss between the Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Eskimos hardly dimmed
enthusiasm for hockey in Edmonton. Hockey had become the game in the city.6
Through the depression of the 1930s, the NHL expanded to the United States while the Canadian
West continued its aims of winning in the Western Canada Hockey League with the goal of
national recognition still firmly at hand. The worth of The Game is truly seen during the Great
Depression as, though money was limited, "there were promoters who were willing to test the
pro hockey waters in the midst of these dismal days."7 Hockey continued to grow and change
through World War II and into the post-war era as Edmonton saw the demise of semiprofessional hockey, the Edmonton Flyers, but the rise of junior games with the Edmonton Oil
Kings, signifying new players and talent, as "many a starry-eyed skater got his first big break
5
Mills, David. History 470. University of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta. Lecture December 1, 2003.
Lowe, Kevin, Stan and Shirley Fischler. The Making of the Edmonton Oilers Champions. (Scarborough: PrenticeHall Canada Inc. 1998), 21.
7
Ibid, 29.
6
7
with an Edmonton junior club."8
Edmonton has always been a city of hockey talent from the Colvilles to Grant Fuhr and
Mark Messier. Ex-NHL Player and employee, Max McNab stated, regarding the Colvilles and
Shibicky NHL line, that "a lot of people have forgotten that two-thirds of one of the NHL's
finest-ever lines . . . had its roots in Edmonton."9 Edmonton produced great hockey players
through the twentieth century and had earlier hockey heroes than Gretzky; however, it failed to
be recognized as a hockey centre in North American until Gretzky as seen in the statement by
Kevin Lowe and sports writers Stan and Shirley Fischler:
As far as the National Hockey League was concerned—and the United States Media,
which helped influence NHL policy—Edmonton was a distant spot on the North
American map . . . . It was nice to know that it existed, but any change of its acceptance
into the real world of big-league hockey could only be found in comic books.10
The National Hockey League later regretted such anti-Edmonton sentiment as they were forced
to allow Edmonton entrance to the NHL ultimately due to some of Bill Hunter's influence in the
1972 establishment of the World Hockey Association, the WHA. It challenged the established
league and made a place for Edmonton in professional hockey.
Alberta has always prided itself as producing phenomenal hockey talent and the joy of a
homegrown player has historically been widely published and prided, as seen through John
Bucyk, Grant Fuhr, and Mark Messier. The idea of the celebrity in hockey was not a new
concept in the 1980s. In 1946, Big Bud MacPherson, a native Edmontonian and superb
defenseman, helped bring the Edmonton Flyers' the Allan Cup victory. As a result, MacPherson
8
Ibid, 50.
Ibid, 53.
10
Ibid, 54.
9
8
personified hockey success in Edmonton in the 1940s with his success for the city, within the
national identity constructed through hockey. MacPherson is the earlier personification of the
Edmonton limited identity, in terms of success within hockey; however, it is truly in Gretzky that
this idea is manifested. This trend of embodiment of success continued between MacPherson and
Gretzky through the years of 1950 post-World War II, in the second golden era of hockey, with
important men, such as Larry Zeidel, Guyle Fielder, and also John Bucyk, named an "earlier
Gretzky," all of whom symbolized homegrown success in the eyes and hearts of Edmonton fans.
This description of Bucyk as an "early Gretzky" is meaningful, as Gretzky's presence is so
important in Edmonton, that even history is defined in relation to The Great One of the 1980s.
Homegrown success as celebrated in the 1980s with Spruce Grove's Grant Fuhr and St. Albert's
Mark Messier was not a new phenomenon. Since the 1950s these young Edmonton boys had
pursued careers and success in hockey. The goal for any young Edmontonian was to "climb the
local hockey ladder to the professional ranks," as seen by Bucyk's ambitions to play for the
Edmonton Flyers. They were his "hometown team and he[ didn't even think about making it to
Detroit."11 In these post-war days, Zeidel states that "some of the best hockey was being played
in Edmonton," and players wanted to play in the hockey-crazed city, even though it had yet to be
included in the NHL.12
Gretzky was a young player looking for a home in which to play professional hockey and
Edmonton was looking for a hockey hero—the two found each other and history was created.
Edmonton and its WHA team, the Oilers, created a place for the young seventeen-year-old
Gretzky to play, after his initial start with the Indianapolis Racers, when the NHL wouldn't allow
such a junior player to play. The WHA was struggling for survival when Gretzky signed his
11
12
Ibid, Lowe, 43-44.
Ibid, 44.
9
typical starting million-dollar contract with Edmonton's Peter Pocklington. The WHA "exploited
Gretzky for all he was worth" to help bring about a rapprochement.13 The NHL was worried that
"the best young player in the world was skating for its arch-enemy," as Gretzky not only made
the WHA legitimate but he "scared the NHL," and thus contributed to the WHA succeeding in its
goals, as merger talks intensified.14 The merger talks had all of the NHL teams maneuvering to
see if:
They could get the No. 1 pick and have a shot at him. If Peter could sign Wayne to a
long-term deal, he'd be telling the NHL that the merger would have to be accomplished
without stripping the WHA teams of their under-age talent.15
As the NHL approached Edmonton to enter the league in the summer of 1979, the role of the
WHA was very important. Such an invitation would not have occurred without the World
Hockey Association, as it "turned Edmonton into a major league city and did what the NHL
refused to do—give Wayne Gretzky a place to play the professional game."16 Ultimately, the
WHA created a setting for professional hockey to take form in a city aspiring to be a North
American hockey centre, and it was truly the signing of Gretzky and his successes in his first
professional years which brought the NHL's attention to Edmonton, as a place for The Game,
thus marking the beginnings of the City of Champions.
Edmonton sees itself as the city that brought Gretzky, who played with a passion and
pride that every Canadian recognized and cheered, to the forefront, as a Canadian symbol of
13
Ibid, 97.
In the summer of 1979, an agreement was reached whereby four WHA teams could join the NHL, but all underaged players were put back into the draft. However, each of these four teams could protect two players and two
goaltenders while all other players were available to NHL teams in an Expansion Draft. The Oilers chose to protect
players Wayne Gretzky and Bengt Gustafsson and goaltenders Dave Dryden and Eddie Mio. Podnieks, Andrew. The
Great One: The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky. (Toronto: Doubleday Canada. 1999), 21.
15
Gretzky, Walter and Jim Taylor. Gretzky. (Toronto: Avon Books, 1984), 139.
16
Lowe, Kevin, Stan and Shirley Fischler. The Making of the Edmonton Oilers Champions. (Scarborough: PrenticeHall Canada Inc. 1998), 105.
14
10
pride and domination in hockey. Sports writer Andrew Podnieks states that Gretzky "played with
a pride and dignity that every hockey player should aspire to when he puts on his national
sweater . . . and [he] represented Canada with passion, and yes, success."17 Gretzky was
importantly not only a Canadian, but was adopted as an Edmontonian when he put the city on the
North American map as a player in The Game. He also brought about the 1980s success story of
the Oilers, with the management help of Peter Pocklington and the coaching of Glen Sather.
Edmonton's first season in the NHL was not miraculous, but the makings of the great team to
come began, as Sather selected Kevin Lowe and Glenn Anderson in the 1979 Draft Entry as well
as Mark Messier who had previously played in the WHA. Gretzky was now recognized as an
important asset for a hockey team and Pocklington was offered two million for his contract;
however, Pocklington acknowledged that Gretzky no longer was solely his as he stated that,
"they'd have my head [in Edmonton] if I sold him."18 Both Pocklington and Sather realized that
their job was to build and define the team around Gretzky, and by doing so they would create a
team that no other could beat, and cement Edmonton's place in the world of hockey.
In the 1980s, the two major Alberta cities, Calgary and Edmonton, competed for national
and international fame, as they both were optimistic because of the oil boom of the 1970s. The
historical rivalry between the cities increased through the Canadian collective game of hockey.
Though 1979 led Edmonton into the NHL, Calgary soon followed in 1980, as they gained an
established NHL team from Atlanta.19 The biggest loss of the Edmonton Oilers occurred in the
1986 playoffs when Edmonton lost in the playoffs to Calgary, as Edmonton Oiler Steve Smith
scored on his own net. The fact that the winning point was scored by an Oiler was highly
17
Podnieks, Andrew. The Great One: The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky.(Toronto: Doubleday Canada. 1999), 2.
Gretzky can be labeled as being owned and managed as a hockey player by Peter Pocklington because of the 21year contract (retroactive to the start of the season) he signed on January 26, 1979 at centre ice of Northlands
Coliseum which made him a personal employee of Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington. Ibid, 21-22.
19
LaBlanc, Michael L and Mary K. Ruby Ed. Hockey: Professional Sports Teams Histories. (Detroit: Gale Research
Inc., 1994), 322.
18
11
publicized, as Edmonton truly believed that Calgary could not win through their own abilities in
the Edmonton-Calgary rivalry, and that Edmonton had historically won. Edmonton fought to
dominate Calgary in hockey, a world class city who had to earn first place in the province of
Alberta. Gretzky became linked with boosterism in Edmonton and the city was soon widely
acclaimed for being the home of The Great One.20
Sather and his assistant John Muckler created a team in the Oilers that played a game like
no other, especially unlike Calgary, as such other teams played wear-them-down hockey. Sather
had the "courage to let the game Gretzky orchestrated become the game of the Edmonton
Oilers," a game where they performed at "full-throttle, like kids on a pond with the wind at their
backs."21 Gretzky, a great hero on the ice, was always "yards ahead of everyone else in technique
and intellect," and unlike many of his opponents did not chase the puck, but went to where the
puck would be, thereby creating space in which to perform.22 Though he quickly became the
greatest asset to the franchise, he was a great team player as he "made all around him better
because he attracted opponents' attention to himself, then was completely unselfish as a
passer."23 Gretzky was the Edmonton Oilers captain from 1983-88 providing leadership to the
team both on and off the ice, and his "C" recognized his outstanding contribution to the team and
the community. Notable in Gretzky's contribution to Edmonton and its citizens is his friendship
with Joey Moss, the brother of Gretzky's ex-girlfriend. Moss, who has Down Syndrome, was
brought into the Oilers' organization working in the dressing room due to his friendship with
Gretzky. Through his very public relationship with Joey, Gretzky helped bring attention to
children with Down Syndrome and many other philanthropic causes. Moss was the recipient of
20
Mills, David. History 470. University of Alberta. Edmonton, Alberta. Lecture December 1, 2003.
Ibid, 386.
22
Ibid, 384.
23
Ibid, 385.
21
12
the "7th Man" award, an honour that recognizes a member of the NHL family whose efforts
behind-the-scenes make a difference in the lives of others. It is ultimately Gretzky's efforts which
should be commended for the growth of Moss within the Oilers organization.24
Gretzky, along with his amazingly talented teammates, quickly became heroes and
legends, not only in their community but also throughout the world. The creation of heroes dates
back to mythology and legend, such as those found in the great epics of Homer's The Iliad and
The Odyssey, where men, often of divine ancestry, were endowed with great courage and
strength. The communities of the past celebrated their heroes due to the men's bold exploits and
heroic feats. The heroes of Edmonton, though without divine ancestry, also performed noble
feats in their accomplishments on the ice. Gretzky, especially, is noted for his achievements in
the hockey arena as he broke previous records with ease, and then in the years to come,
continued to improve upon his own successes. Gretzky reflected upon his dedication in breaking
his own records as he stated: "The hardest thing for me has always been that I've been compared
to myself."25 Gretzky became the youngest player to win the NHL's Most Valuable Player Award
in the 1980-81 season at the mere age of nineteen, after only two years of playing professional
hockey. He also set a new record when he earned his fiftieth goal in game 39 in the 1981-82
season, breaking the famous record of fifty goals in fifty games by Rocket Richard and Mike
Bossy.26 Gretzky continued to rewrite the NHL record book throughout his career, and by his
retirement he held over 60 records. Record breaking came from talent but also from hard work
and dedication; early in his career he learned the power and need for leadership both on and off
the ice. He understood the importance and necessity of gaining wisdom from veteran players in
24
"Wayne Gretzky" Sports Scribe. http://www.nhlalumni.com/NHLAlumniNews03/0228.html. December 1, 2003.
Lomon, Chris. "NHL Alumni News NHL.http://www.sportscribe.com/qtes4.html. November 25, 2003.
26
Aaseng, Nathan. Hockey's Super Scorers. (Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 1984), 73, 77.
25
13
order to increase his playing ability. When Garry Unger scored a goal right off a face-off in the
1981-82 season, the next day he taught Gretzky the necessary technique and as Gretzky stated:
A week after in St. Louis I scored two goals right from the face-off in the same way. . . .
I'll listen to those older guys 'til the day I finish playing.27
Gretzky took this knowledge of learning by example to heart and he strove to provide guidance
to his fellow teammates when he was awarded the coveted "C". Gretzky "tried to lead by
example: practice harder than anybody else, play harder" in order to embody success and
dedication as a role model for the team he captained.28
The Stanley Cup-winning Edmonton Oilers played upon Gretzky's unique abilities, and
the talents of his teammates. Players like Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Lee Fogolin, Grant Fuhr,
Randy Gregg, Charlie Huddy, Jari Kurri, Ken Linseman, Kevin Lowe, Mark Messier, and Dave
Semenko to name a few of the great players who wore Oilers jerseys, joined Gretzky on the ice,
and pushed the abilities of the Oilers further and further. Glen Sather, who was previously
considered to be the top General Manager in the league and held the best winning percentage in
the league, as a coach, stated that his team was unlike any other and they were headed towards
great things:
Wayne Gretzky is in a league by himself. . . . Paul Coffey has been named the NHL's
outstanding defenseman two years running. Jari Kurri is the top goal scoring European
ever to play in the league. Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson continue to amaze
everyone with their high speed talent. Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog are considered the best
goaltending tandem in the world. And the supporting cast is second to none. Although
27
Hanson, George. Positive Power: The Story of the Edmonton Oilers. (Edmonton: Executive Sport Publications,
1982), 54.
28
Gretzky, Wayne and Rick Reilly. Gretzky: An Autobiography. (Toronto: Harper Collins, 1990), 72.
14
there are never any guarantees of success in professional sport, the Edmonton Oilers have
all the ingredients to make it.29
The team, with its award-winning and record-breaking talent, was like no other during the 198384 season as they brought the Stanley Cup to Edmonton for the first time, beating the New York
Islanders. Gretzky recognized the uniqueness of the Oilers winning the Cup as they proved that
"an offensive team could win the cup and . . . [they] changed the NHL doing it."30
The Edmonton Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup four times in the next five years
proving their dominance in hockey and cementing the team and the city of Edmonton in the
history books. The Oilers lost to the Calgary Flames in the 1985-86 season but secured the Cup
first in 1983-84, again in 1984-85, in 1986-87, and in 1987-88. The 1986-87 season was not only
a victory through the attainment of the Stanley Cup, but several Oilers reached career milestones
reflecting that the team itself was made of phenomenal talent whose sums reached dizzying
heights. Messier played his 500th game in Edmonton on Octobre 21, 1986, Kurri collected his
700th career point and his 350th career goal, and Anderson scored his 300th career goal in
March against Toronto.31 The 1987-88 season was not a typical Gretzky year as he lost the Hart
Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy, to Mario Lemieux, but the Oilers came out on top with an
exciting win against the Boston Bruins. Gretzky saw it as the year where he had the most fun in
hockey "from our Canadian Cup win over the Russians . . . to the Oilers being underdogs to
Calgary in the playoffs . . . to winning it all again." 32 That season marked the beginning of the
end of the great team during Gretzky's era with the Coffey trade to Pittsburgh in November.
Gretzky's trade on August 9, 1988 to Los Angeles shocked the hockey establishment, Canada,
29
LaBlanc, Michael L and MaryK. Ruby Ed. Hockey: Professional Sports Team Histories. (Detroit: Gale Research
Inc., 1994), 392.
30
Gretzky, Wayne and Rick Reilly. Gretzky: An Autobiography. (Toronto: Harper Collins, 1990), 80.
31
Ibid.
32
Ibid, 393.
15
and Edmonton. Though the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1989-90 without Gretzky, it was the
last year of hockey glory for Edmonton and this demise is tied to Gretzky and his fellow player's
trades to other teams. The 1989-90 Cup is very important in the collective identity of Edmonton
as that year, Edmonton had something to prove and thus the victory was "all the sweeter."33
Edmontonians continue to believe that the Oilers can rally from behind and achieve a win as
Edmonton's hockey history holds such great wins as exemplified by the 1989-90 Cup.
Gretzky's trade not only changed the league but it transformed Edmonton forever as the
home of The Great One and the City of Champions. When Gretzky first announced his
engagement in February of 1988, the marriage was dubbed Canada's royal wedding and his wife
was 'forgiven' for being an American as they announced plans to live in Edmonton. However,
within five days of the wedding, Bruce McNall, of the Los Angeles Kings, called Gretzky,
telling him "that he had talked to Mr. Pocklington, that he had permission, and they had been
trying to get [him] for two years."34 Thus, his marriage took on a new spin in the public eye as
with the subsequent trade within the month, Gretzky was questioned as having betrayed
Edmonton. It had given him his professional start, the place which he had called home, and the
place that recognized him as "mayor, mode, and hero rolled into one."35 Gretzky stated that "it's
hard to leave a place where you've been happy for ten years" and Edmonton mourned his
departure, as seen in the newspapers and newscasts of the time.36 Podnieks states that the deal
"inspired controversy, charges and countercharges, public debate, and, ultimately rage."37
Gretzky was traded in his prime, leaving Edmontonians with only an image of greatness. He was
33
Ibid, 395.
Podnieks, Andrew. The Great One: The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky. (Toronto: Doubleday Canada,
1999),94.
35
LaBlanc, Michael L and Mary K. Ruby Ed. Hockey: Professional Sports Team Histories. (Detroit: Gale Research
Inc., 1994), 414.
36
Ibid.
37
Podnieks, Andrew. The Great One: The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky. (Toronto: Doubleday Canada. 1999),
94.
34
16
made heroic even though the trade was at the height of his skill. He was betrayed by his owner
and thus Pocklington was blamed for destroying the sporting heart of hockey in Edmonton. As
Gretzky personally shared the blame for his trade the city continued to see his actions as heroic
and fans were apprehensive to critique their hero.
Importantly, Gretzky's legacy continued despite his trade. Edmonton never forgave
Pocklington for trading Gretzky, especially because of the fifteen million he received in cash
from the trade. Gretzky's trade was a "reminder that hockey, like most professional sports, had
become big business and that a franchise belonged to owners rather than a particular city."38 Paul
Coffey voiced the betrayal and disgust felt by Edmontonians toward Pocklington as they felt he
had treated Gretzky like a "piece of meat." Fans-turned-critics called for his head, just as he
feared they would do in the early 1980s if he were to trade The Great One.39 Gretzky had come
to embody and personify Canadians due to his teamwork, leadership, and good sportsmanship, as
well as his records. Gretzky, "Canada's ambassador with no political agenda, her most gracious
competitor was, like so much else economic, creative, and intellectual under the imminent Free
Trade Agreement," was leaving Canada for the United States. Sports writer Podnieks states that
it was clear that the trade evoked a sense of national and cultural conflict, as Edmonton's and
Canada's most famous athlete was heading south to the United States.40
Soon after the Coffey and Gretzky trades, many other famous Oilers followed suit in
signing contracts in Europe and the United States. Jari Kurri signed a two-year contract with the
Milan Devils of Italy before the 1990-91 season. In the 1991-92 season Mark Messier was traded
to the New York Rangers, and while Grant Fuhr remained in Canada, he left the Oilers for the
38
Finkie, Alvin and Conrad, Margaret. History of the Canadian Peoples 1867 to the Present. 3rd ed. (Toronto:
Addison Wesley Longman, 2001), 483.
39
Ibid, 95.
40
Podnieks, Andrew. The Great One: The Life and Times of Wayne Gretzky. (Toronto: Doubleday Canada. 1999),
96.
17
Toronto Maple Leafs. Veterans Joe Murphy, Esa Tikkanen, and Kevin Lowe also left the
franchise and Pocklington was publicly blamed and held accountable for "not coming up with
the cash to sign and keep star players."41 Edmonton feared that Pocklington would move the
team to Hamilton, Ontario and the city cried out for its days of glory, as Edmonton remained
entrenched in its' identity as the City of Champions, even though the ensuing decade brought
about few victories for the Oilers.
Gretzky's personification of Edmonton's limited identity as a City of Champions
remained long after his trade to the United States. The year 1999 brought about an end to
Gretzky's career as he retired from professional hockey and Edmonton used this occasion to
acknowledge its hero. October 1, 1999 marks the day in which the City of Champions
commemorated Gretzky through the renaming of Capilano Drive to Wayne Gretzky Drive, and
then in the evening during the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers Pre-Game Ceremony,
his jersey, #99, was retired. The event marked a reunion for many of the great names that played
with Gretzky and the evening began with a speech from Glen Sather. His past teammates, Jari
Kurri, Mark Messier, and Dave Semenko, joined him in unveiling a painting of Gretzky called
"Once an Oiler, Always an Oiler." The painting and its title visibly exemplify the personification
of Edmonton through Gretzky, as the city continues to manifest its identity through the successes
of its hero, The Great One.
The Heritage Classic, with the Megastars game, on November 22, 2003 in Edmonton was
a first in the NHL and thus created a milestone in Edmonton's history. It brought the great
players of the past to an outdoor rink in a competition between two rich hockey traditions—the
winning Edmonton Oilers (2) and the defeated Montreal Canadiens (0). This game, in the
41
LaBlanc, Michael L and Mary K. Ruby Ed. Hockey: Professional Sports Team Histories. (Detroit: Gale Research
Inc., 1994), 395.
18
heartland of hockey, remembered teams never forgotten in a city proud of their traditions. At the
forefront of the celebration was the city's greatest idol, Wayne Gretzky, who encouraged many of
his teammates from the past, such as Mark Messier, still active in the NHL at 42, to reunite.
Together, they brought hockey back to its roots, an outdoor rink, and returned the great Oilers
home, to Edmonton.
It was a reunion for the players, coaches, and most importantly the loyal fans, as their
idols from the past set the stage for the players of the present in the Heritage Classic game which
followed the Megstar game. The Megastars game "turned back the clock—if only for an hour—
and allowed players and fans alike to rekindle the warmest of memories."42 Over 57000 fans
braved the cold weather, up to -27 degrees Celsius with the wind chill, to cheer their heroes from
the past. Mark Messier justified Edmonton's identity as unique and special in hockey as seen in
this statement:
It's not only the 57000 who came to see the game, it's the 57000 who came with
enthusiasm. That's what's incredible about it . . . . I guess that's what makes Edmonton
special."43
Though other NHL organizations are looking into hosting similar outdoor events, Edmonton
marks the first and again earns a place in hockey history. Though the great forward line of
Gretzky, Messier and Kurri did not earn places on the score sheet, they were out on the ice
working hard to recreate the magic they performed and held in the hearts of fans throughout the
1980s.
Wayne Gretzky was explicably linked to this Megastar event as his coming back seemed
42
Matheson, Jim. "Fuhr, Ranford turn back the clock." Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, C3. Sunday, November 23,
2003.
43
Mark Messier quoted by MacKinnon, John, "Heritage Classic takes its place among the greatest hockey moments
of all time." Edmonton Journal C3. Sunday November 23, 2003.
19
like a homecoming to a city that still remains rooted in hockey successes paramount in Gretzky's
era. Gretzky's important role in the sport was most visibly seen in the stands by the #99 jersey's
in the crowd and on the ice, as all of the Montreal Canadien players tapped their sticks when
Gretzky was announced, giving a traditional salute to the greatest player. Many, like Gretzky,
say that no other event will match this Edmonton first, as he doesn't know "if you can ever
duplicate it."44 The players brought their old skills to the ice in ways that no other organizations
can mimic. The rich heritage of hockey in Alberta was celebrated with the first goal by #13
Kenny Linseman using a stick from the early 1980s at 1:39 in the first half, and also by Bill
Ranford's use of a straight stick while goalies today all use curved sticks. These men proved their
dominance and talent on the ice years after their NHL days, excluding Messier who still plays
pro-hockey, and showed that together, as a team, they were and are unbeatable. Sports writer
John MacKinnon states that:
This was as deeply Canadian a spectacle as anyone could conjure . . . . It was the allCanadian neighborhood rink writ large and beamed coast to coast, truly the game of our
lives shared with the whole country. It was the two best hockey franchises in our history,
their legacies of excellence interwoven, remembering that hockey is a game above all and
that the rink is a community's winter gathering place.45
The event was broadcast all across Canada and reporters and fans traveled from all over Canada,
the United States and Europe to see the historical event of November 22, 2003, even coming as
far as Japan and Finland. Ultimately, the event was a great spectacle and the day allowed
commemoration of both the heritage of game itself and of Edmonton. It again brought
44
Wayne Gretzky quoted by MacKinnon, John, "Heritage Classic takes its place among the greatest hockey
moments of all time." Edmonton Journal. C1. Sunday November 23, 2003.
45
MacKinnon, John, "Heritage Classic takes its place among the greatest hockey moments of all time." Edmonton
Journal. C1. Sunday November 23, 2003.
20
international media attention to a city, which has largely been forgotten, but remains rooted in its
identification as hockey city from Gretzky's years.
The Megastar Game and the Heritage Classic, taking place at Commonwealth Stadium,
created a link between the old traditions and the present. Current Oilers captain Jason Smith and
Canadien captain Saku Koivu dropped the pucks for the Hall of Fame captains Wayne Gretzky
and Guy Lafleur, as the two legends faced off in this celebration of the game. These great heroes
later dropped the puck for the regular season Heritage Classic NHL game between the Oilers and
the Candiens, thus linking the great hockey traditions personified by Gretzky and Lafleur to the
present teams. The players may change and the teams may win and lose, but the tradition behind
the teams remains rooted in history and tradition, as both the Oilers and the Candiens are
champion-rich organizations. The importance of goaltenders has never been so obvious as in this
game that took place on ice so cold it chipped as players and the puck moved across it attempting
to secure the two NHL points up for grabs. Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford kept the old-timer
Canadiens at bay earning the old Oilers a shutout to a sold-out crowd in a 2-0 win for the Oilers.
The Candiens spoiled the celebration in Edmonton as they overtook the Oilers with a 4-3 win;
however, the city remains tied to the legitimate champions of the 1980s thus securing
Edmonton's title as the City of Champions.
Edmonton celebrates in its heritage as the home of The Great One and the 1980s
successes of the Oilers as culminated by their victory in the Megastar game on November 22,
2003. The city remains rooted in its years where the title of City of Champions rang true due to
the five successes of both the Edmonton Eskimos and importantly the Edmonton Oilers. Though
hockey is the Canadian national game, it shapes municipal values and therefore creates
community. Gretzky became and remains the symbol of Edmonton's identity that is linked to
21
hockey, for he transcends the identities of hockey and manifests Edmonton's sporting and
community successes. The embodiment of success through Gretzky remains true today, as the
city continues to support its hockey team and its tradition of great hockey. Edmonton is the city
where The Great One began and it aspires to remain true to his game, and bring a winning team
to a city full of hockey hearts, dreams, and tradition against the big business of hockey across
North America.
22
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