Oilers and Flames in Battle of Alberta: Bedlam on the Ice, Torn Loyalties Off It

“That building was quite, quite loud tonight,” Oilers Coach Jay Woodcroft said after Game 3. Game 4 on Tuesday is expected to bring more of the same.

The shimmering Rogers Place, home of the most northern major sports team in the Americas, lies 186 miles north of the outdated Saddledome in Calgary, with Red Deer about 90 miles from each. But from every corner of Alberta, a stunning province of glacial lakes and the Rocky Mountains known for oil production, rolling prairies and cattle ranches, loyalties are torn, sometimes even within families.

For Game 1, Riaz Hamir wore a crisp, blue-and-orange Oilers jersey to the Saddledome, as did his 12-year-old daughter, Laila. But his wife, Shafali, and their 15-year-old son, Junyard, both wore Calgary red. A house divided.

“There is lots of good trash-talking at breakfast,” said Shafali Hamir, who danced and pointed at her husband in their seats behind the glass when Calgary scored a key goal in its wild 9-6 Game 1 victory.

Before both games in Calgary, thousands of fans in Flames jerseys marched along the so-called Red Mile of 17th Ave., turning the boulevard into its usual game-day sea of red. But with the Oilers in town, a good number of blue jerseys stood out, and many groups included fans of both teams, chatting amiably on their way to the Saddledome.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/24/sports/hockey/oilers-flames-battle-alberta.html