The photo above was taken during the anthem of Game 4. Before the comeback. Before 8-1. Before “Drag ’em back to Alberta”. Before Hyman lifted the lid off the barn last Saturday night.

Ask anybody in Edmonton that was there that night and they will tell you there really was something in the air, you could feel it.

It was there in the rink amongst the 18,000 faithful and on the home team’s bench. And I’m sure it was there in bars and on patios throughout the provincial capital, and in crowded garages and living rooms from Fort Mac to Fort St. John.

“Nothing to lose.”
“One shift at a time.”
“One game at a time.”

Belief.

I’ve been a fan of this team since I was 8 years old. I have memories of 1990, being down 3-1 to the Jets in the first round, Klima’s triple OT winner, Billy Ranford kick saves and the raising of the Cup. Those early memories are fuzzy but they are there.

But I vividly remember Cujo and The Save. Marchant’s shorty.   Dallas. (*spits*).  Mike Grier’s shoulder. The Comrie Saga. Gator. Chopper. Rexall beers. The thrill and heartbreak of 06.  Pronger’s trade request. The Decade of Darkness. Smytty’s tears. The 8 point night. Toby Peterson on the power play. The Belanger Triangle. Talking draft prospects in January. Taylor or Tyler. Yak City. The Swarm. All of Nuge’s coaches. The one lottery ball that mattered. One for One and the Chiarelli years.

Lost in the wilderness but back again.

And win or lose tonight, come next October we will be here again. Selling out Rogers. Buying jerseys. Singing the anthem. Talking about D pairings and lines at lunch tables. Listening to Bob or Lowetide. Reading Oilersnation. Watching the great flickering game in dark basements all across Northern Alberta on cold winter nights.  

It’s what we do, part of who we are. 

We believe.
We believe in someday.
We believe that someday, just might start any day.
Turns out that someday, might just be today.

LETS GO OILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!