The Edmonton Oilers began as the
Alberta Oilers in the World Hockey Association. The Oilers played in
the WHA from 1972-73 until 1978-79. Edmonton was one of four WHA
teams to merge into the NHL for the 1979-80 season as the WHA came to
an end.
In all, the Oilers have retired seven
numbers. Test and expand your knowledge of Edmonton Oilers retired
jersey numbers with these trivia questions.
Q. Number 3 is retired by the Edmonton
Oilers for which original Oiler?
A. Al Hamilton was with the Oilers for
each of their seasons in the WHA and served as the team’s first
captain. Hamilton played in the NHL from 1965-66 to 1971-72 with the
New York
Rangers and Buffalo Sabres then played one more season in 1979-80
with the Oilers before retiring.
Although a native of the hockey rich
Flin Flon, Manitoba, Hamilton played much of his junior career with
the Edmonton Oil Kings. He competed in three consecutive Memorial Cup
finals, winning with the Oil Kings in 1965-66, his final year of
junior.
Al served as team captain of the Oilers
from their inception in 1972-73 until 1975-76. He also played three
games for Team Canada in the WHA version of the Summit Series in
1974.
Hamilton is the only one of the seven
to have their numbers retired by Edmonton to not have a place in the
Hockey Hall of Fame. He is also the only one of the seven to not have
won a Stanley Cup with the Oilers.
Q. The Oilers retired number 7 in
honour of what player?
A. Paul Coffey played with Edmonton
from 1980-81 to 1986-87. Coffey’s NHL career lasted until 2000-01
and he played for Edmonton, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles
Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers,
Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins. Paul was
inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
Q. Which Oiler is the number 17 retired
in honour of?
A. Jari Kurri played for the Oilers
from 1980-81 to 1989-90. His NHL career concluded after the 1997-98
season after also playing for the Los Angeles Kings, New York
Rangers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche. Kurri had
seasons of 71 and 68 goals with the Oilers and his final regular
season NHL total was 601. Jari was inducted into the Hockey Hall of
Fame in 2001.
Kurri came to the NHL already a
seasoned pro. He played three years with Jokerit in Finland's
SM-Liiga before joining the Oilers in 1980-81. Before the European
invasion, Kurri was a lowly fourth round pick by Edmonton at he 1980
NHL Entry Draft, 69th overall. He is now the general
manager of Jokerit with the team now playing in the KHL.
On the international stage, Jari has
played at two Olympic Games for Finland. His first was in 1980,
before he reached the NHL. His last was in 1998, during his final
year in the NHL. Because Kurri always found himself on successful
teams in North America, he was only able to play at the IIHF World
Championships on four occasions.
Q. What goaltender has his number 31
retired by the Edmonton Oilers?
A. Grant Fuhr played between the pipes
in an Oilers uniform from 1981-82 to 1990-91. He played until the end
of the 1999-00 season with Edmonton, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo
Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames. Fuhr
has his name on the Stanley Cup five times and entered the Hockey
Hall of Fame in 2003.
A true goalie from the 1980's and
1990's, Fuhr got into the HHOF with a career NHL goals against
average of 3.38 and a save percentage of .887. Those numbers would
get a goalie dropped to the ECHL in today's game.
Like Al Hamilton, Grant reached the
Memorial Cup as a junior. With the Victoria Cougars in 1980-81, Fuhr
helped the team to the tournament but it was the Cornwall
Royals of the QMJHL beating out the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL
in the final game.
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