The Current - Edmonton Oilers in 5? These superfans sure hope so

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

The Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers will go head to head for the Stanley Cup starting tonight – a rematch of last year’s final matchup that saw the Oilers defeated. Will they pull off the win this time? Two superfans say they sure hope so — and they don’t mind welcoming hockey fans of other Canadian teams onto the bandwagon

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Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is the current podcast. This game's sixth of last year's Stanley Cup finals, the Edmonton Oilers, Canada's last hope to bring home the Cup, had clawed their way back to earn a Game 7. Alas, things did not end as fans had hoped. But now, tonight, a chance at redemption. The Edmonton Oilers once again face off against the reigning champs, the Florida Panthers. But this year, the stakes are even higher if that is possible. The trade war and talk of a 51st state of Canadians from coast to coast to coast claiming the Oilers as their own. We will hear from fans in a moment, but first, Mark Conley is the host of CBC Radio's

Edmonton AM. Mark, good morning. Good morning, Matt. How are you feeling? I'm a little trepidation, I'd say. Tell me about the nerves and where they come from. This is a very good team, so why would you be nervous? It is.

Well, it's been kind of a strange year, you know? The Oilers back and forth. They weren't dominant as many people thought, well, okay, they're going to come back with a vengeance. And they were in and out, they made a lot of changes. They really didn't come together until, well, two games into the playoffs, so they lost their first two games against Los Angeles. And then now they come together, looked very good.

And I think that people feel like, yes, this is the year, like last year there was a lot of hope, this year there's a lot of certainty. That makes it much more, like if they don't win, it's going to be a huge, it's going to be a huge blow. A friend in the city had said that last year it felt like people were delighted, you know, and happy that the team got to the finals, but this year they expect them to win. Yes, I think that's the case. Last year there was a lot of hope and dreams and sort of, oh my goodness, what a ride, and then they go down three-zip and you're like, oh, okay, this is crushing. And then the comeback and yes, we're going to game seven and then

they lose game seven and, you know, big disappointment, right? Now this year they feel like, wow, this team is so good, they're like, wow, this team is so good, they're going to win this thing. And I think that's, that is the feeling in the city. People think, yeah, they're going to win. And, but there's still that little seed of, it might not happen. So, describe the energy in your town. It's really wonderful, really. It's great. People are just so psyched about the team. I mean, everywhere you go, everybody's dressed in Euler gear. I mean, game day, it's nonstop. Everybody is, our offices are located downtown. Our studios look out onto Churchill Square.

And we see people walking by in the morning, you know, at seven in the morning with their Euler's jerseys on, on their way way to work and everybody's wearing them, right, whether they're going to the game or not. And then you've got, you know, upwards of 15 to 20,000 people outside the arena, right? Like you've got 18,000 plus in the arena. It's sold out every night. And then another 15 to 20,000 outside gathered together. And then thousands of others gathered in other parts of the city watching outdoors in parking lots of bars and whatnot. It's just wonderful, actually. Pete Slauson What do you make? Is there room on the bandwagon for the rest of the country? What do you make of people who might, you know, they saw their team flame out early in the playoffs or not make the playoffs at all and they're like, you know what, I've always liked

Edmonton. Pete Slauson Well, you know, flame out is a good way of putting it. Pete Slauson Ouch! Pete Slauson The Flames are the only ones that I wouldn't support in the Stanley Cup final. It's funny because, you know, we have that rivalry, but you know, you're welcome. Matt, come on board. Come on board and feel the love. I mean, I think that, you're right, this is a special time, or kind of a strange time really, what's going on in the world and Canadians are pulling together. So, I think, I feel that, you know, people want to be on board and they want to support the Canadian team. And I think McDavid is a big part of that, right? People claim McDavid,

especially since that, you know, the Four Nations last year. He wins. He is the best player in the world. He is Canadian. We expect him to be at the Olympics next year and be leading the Canadian team. And he led that Canadian team to victory. So I think people are claiming that a little bit, and that makes it easier for them. I'm sorry about your leafs, Matt, but anyway, the – Not my leafs, but continue. No? Okay, there you go. Well, all the people from, you know, from Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, even Calgary, are welcome to come on board. And I think people across the country, as we've heard, we talked to people in Halifax the other day about it. So it's, I mean, I think it's

great to see. I think it's fun. Even Calgary. You mentioned the four nations. I mean, this was this Canada US final, McDavid was such a star, Connor McTavish was such a star in this. And in this moment where people are trying to figure out who we are as a nation and who we are as a nation compared to the United States. I mean, do you see a comparison there between this final and that tournament? Pete Well, the fact that it's in Florida too, right? The home of Donald Trump, at least where he lives, is a big part of it. Florida is a big part of that whole MAGA thing. So, I think there's a little bit of that. I don't think it's too overt, honestly, but I think that Canadians want to support a Canadian team and this team has a lot of Canadians on it, there's no

doubt about it. But it's got people from all over the world as well. And hey, the leader of the Florida team is Matthew Kachuk, whose father was Canadian, but he was, of course, born in the US. Pete Slauson Played for the Flames for years. Played for the Flames for years. So yeah, people in Edmonton are not a big fan of his. Florida Panthers, I mean, they're kind of the perfect villain in some ways, right? Yeah. Well, it's really so strange, right, that Florida has been so good, so has Tampa, a

place like the state of Florida. Why are these teams winning, you teams winning what we consider our game? This is Canada's game. I know. And you couldn't get further away, right, from Canada than in southern Florida, so it's, at least in the US, so it's a strange, strange thing. And let's hope it ends, Matt. Let's hope it ends this week. Connor McDavid, as you said, is the best player in the world, and yet has not won a Stanley Cup. He has the, you know, the hopes of, of, of the city, maybe the country

resting on his shoulders, but what, what does this mean for him? I think this is all about the, he is, this is about his destiny and also about his legacy, right? I think that this is what he's always dreamed of. He does, I don't think he cares about all the other accolades. He doesn't care about the scoring race, all the individual trophies. If he doesn't win a Stanley Cup, that is going to be a huge hole in his life, I think. I think he's been pointed toward this since he was a child.

I mean, he's been destined since probably he was 12 years old to be the best of the best. And you know, it feels a little different, I think. I've seen just his reaction to what he's been doing this year. It's much more business-like. What do you mean? Last year, well, there was this delight, right, that the city felt, and I think same for McDavid. Like last year, they felt so good getting in the finals, so good about themselves, how wonderful it was, and this is exciting. This year, I don't want to say he's not excited,

and even use the word, he says, I don't want to say it's boring, you just did, but you know, like they just expected to get here, and they have a very business-like approach, and it's, and I think that gives a lot of fans confidence that, okay, yeah, he's here to win. It's not, it's not about just showing up and experiencing this thing. He is here to win, and I think it's so important to him. Absolutely. Somebody said the Oilers are meaner this year. Does that matter? Well, I think it does in a hockey sense.

I think you have to have that edge. You have to have that ability to get in your opponent's face because I certainly think Florida has. Florida is one of those teams. They have villains, right? They are. Like, through and through. Exactly, you've got these guys like Kachuk, of course,

who's number one, and Bennett as well. These are true. Exactly. You've got these guys like Kachuk, of course, is number one. And Bennett as well. These are good hockey players, but they also have that edge where they go a little bit over the line sometimes. Now the orders have a Vander Kane. They had Hyman who had the most hits in the playoffs until he got injured, playing a role that he wasn't used to because he's such a good goal scorer. But they've got other guys who can back it up, who can physically impose themselves on the other team. That's why it could

be a really rough series from that point of view. And I'd love to see it. And of course, they've got tons of skill too, with Tri-Cytle and McDavid at the top. I mean, probably two of the best. I mean, McDavid acknowledges number one, Tri-Cytle at least number three, might even be the second best player in the world. So they they've got everything they need in this game, now they just got to go out and win it. Hockey's filled with cliches, and one of them is that goaltending wins championships. You need a goalie who is going to keep the puck,

it's obvious, out of the net. And Stuart Skinner, I mean, he either shuts teams out or he lets a lot of goals in. Yeah, I think he's turned the corner. I think he had a very difficult year. I think he's talked about it. He's talked about how the mental struggles of being that number one goalie, remember, he grew up here in Edmonton. He's a hometown kid. And I think there's a lot of pressure from friends and whatnot just because everybody knows him. You know, he walks the

streets here and everybody, hey, hey, Stu, you know, they chant his name everywhere. Pete Slauson Can you imagine that? In this moment, being that guy? It is a very tough place to be, but I think that he's turned it around in his mind. And he's, he said that, he said that, like a really rough start, right? The backup goalie, Pickard comes in and wins six straight, he bails them out, he gets their playoffs back on track. And then when Skinner had to go back in because Pickard got injured, people were worried. People were like, okay, we're in trouble now. And he was, he's just been brilliant since then. Now he's led in, as you said, he led in five goals in the game, then he starts shutting them out. And it's been incredible since

then. And of course, this is the biggest test. This is where he has to show up. And he'll be a hero forever if they win this series, forever, Ayn Edmondson. Go back to the nerves. Do you have some ritual that you do on game day? I mean, do you wear the same things? You sit in the same seat, you eat the same meal? What do you do? Well, because I'm both a fan, but I'm covering the team, I'm in the press box, I can't cheer. So, yeah, unless I'm at home with my dog, then the dog is staring at me already. He stares at me while I'm watching the game because he's so worried. The tension is high in the basement and my wife always says, you're causing the dog too

much stress. I said, well, take him outside. But anyway, that's one part of it, the dog staring at me if I'm home. But for the rest of the way, I'll be in the press box here, so I can't really cheer except inside, Matt. I mean, you'll know I'm cheering, but I have to keep it inside. Do people in Edmonton believe? They do. They do. People are sure they're going to win. And I think we have all the confidence in the world on our team, which sets us up for failure, of course. And do you, I mean, as a- Huge disappointment. You're a fan as a journalist,

but you're also a fan. Do you believe? I think, I do believe I think they're going to win. I think they actually might win a lot faster than many people would predict. I think this might not go seven games. I think it might go a lot faster than that. They might turn this right around to what, uh,

Florida, how they started out last year. I hope for your, uh, anxiety and ulcers that that happens sooner rather than later. And for the dog too, Matt. And for the dog already, yes. Mark, enjoy. Thank you very much. All right, Matt, thanks.

Mark Connelly is the host of CBC Radio's Edmonton AM. Dale Stile and Trevor Wheel are two. Is drinking raw milk safe like RFK Junior suggests? Can you reduce a glucose spike if you eat your food in quote-unquote the right order? I'm registered dietitian Abbey Sharp. I host a nutrition myth-busting podcast called Bite Back with Abbey Sharp. And those are just some of the questions I tackle with qualified experts on my show. On Bite Back, my goal is to help listeners create a pleasurable relationship with food,

their body, and themselves, which in my opinion is the fundamental secret to good health. Listen to Bite Back wherever you get your podcasts. Huge Oilers fans, and they're with me now. You might think, why are we talking to these two guys? Well, Oilers fans would know them, of course, as Banjo Guy and McMullet. Gentlemen, welcome to The Current. Good morning. What's up, Trevor? How's it going, Dale? Thanks for having us. Really good, buddy. Dale, how are you feeling? Pretty good. A little early, but it's game day, so it's about time to

get Rise and Shine for sure up here. What is Banjo Guy for the initiated? time to get rise and shine for sure up here. What is banjo guy for the initiated? Yeah. So banjo guy, um, uh, basically my face is painted. I kind of wear some, uh, pretty custom tricked out overalls, a bunch of lapel pins and patches on them. Uh, custom cowboy boots and like my big glowy hat. So, um, I'm sure you've seen banjo guy on TV or

something for sure. Where, and where did this, I mean, and the banjo's part of this as well. Where did this all come from? Uh, yeah. So Banjo Guy kind of grew, um, from the 2020 world juniors, um, selected to be a fan at home kind of experience, um, during the COVID there, once the world juniors got canceled. So every time Canada would score, they'd kind of kick it to me at home cheering or whatever.

And, uh, one of the times I was sitting in my overalls on my couch with my banjo and Gord Miller and Ray for our like go left chicken in our friend the banjo guy So that's kind of that's kind of how the stick was born. And yeah, it's just been growing from there from Yeah, like basic coveralls to like no pins to now they weigh about 35 pounds lugging them around. So Trevor tell us about the hair. Yeah, the hair is a mullet with a Mohawk on top. So it's a little bit of party in the front and party in the back.

And your kids were the ones who got you into this hairstyle. Is that right? Yeah, it was actually funny, you know, kind of coming out of COVID. During COVID, nobody could go for haircuts. I let my hair grow, so I had actually a big afro. Coming out of COVID, my kids were like, wow, it's time for a haircut. Why don't you go get a mullet? And, you know, I can't just do things a little bit. I have to go full out with them. It's full out for sure. Dale, what does it mean now to be an Edmonton Oilers fan

in this moment? Yeah, there's a lot of hype in the city. Just try it like Mark Connelly was saying there. It is, there's definitely a buzz up in the air for sure. Just between the flags around the neighborhood to car flags to there's oil derricks in the back of every second every every second pickup truck you see driving down the road like the city is definitely invested for sure like there's definitely a bigger buzz this year for sure

trevor you'll be there tonight and i say that with confidence because this will be what is it your 168th straight home game? That is correct. That's a streak and it's not like you live next door to the rink. You drive three and a half hours for every game? Yeah, three and a half hours one way. I live down in Strathmore, just east of Calgary. So, it's definitely a commitment to make it up there for all these games.

Dumb question, why would somebody do that? That's a long haul. Um, you know what? It, uh, it all started after I had a year of sobriety and my wife said, it's time to do something for yourself. Why don't you get those season tickets that you've always talked about? So that's kind of how this whole thing started.

You've been sober for five years now, is that right? It'll be. So that's kind of how this whole thing started. You've been sober for five years now, is that right? It'll be five years the end of August. Congratulations. Thank you. You have not missed a game. I mean, there has to be sacrifices. Things have to happen in life that you have to put to the side so that you can get to game 154. Do you know what I mean?

Oh, absolutely. There's been a lot of sacrifices. There's, uh, you know, there's, there's been times where I don't get very much sleep before work the next day because I need to make sure I'm at those games. Dale, this is a moment, I mean, you talked about what's happening in your city and, and the trucks with the oil rigs in the back, but I mean, this is a moment for Canada as well, as we were saying to

Mark, the country is rallying around the flag in a different way. There are no other Canadian teams in the big dance. And so you have Canadians who might otherwise be cheering for other teams who are giving the Oilers a second look. How you feel about that? Yeah, it's actually pretty cool.

So, um, little story came out yesterday that, um, actually Roger's place kind of gathered up a bunch of ice from, um, all the Canadians local rinks kind of melted it down and it's all kind of in Roger's place is ice now. Oh wow. So the ice is kind of built Canada wide, right? So like from Markham, Ontario to BC, there's water from their each home rink. So it's kind of a little cool story for Canada that you can kind of buy in and get a little

more people involved, especially with how many Canadian teams started within the playoffs too, right? Like it was kind of sad to see them go, like even Winnipeg and Edmonton would have been a crazy West final, right? But just the way she goes sometimes, right? So yeah, like you said too, there's lots of room on the bandwagon for those that want to jump on and then represent Canada for sure. Trevor, everybody welcome on the bandwagon. Even that want to jump on and then represent Canada for sure. Trevor, everybody welcome on the bandwagon,

even, even bless them fans in Calgary. Well, funny enough, being that I'm, I'm close to Calgary, there are a lot of Calgary fans who, uh, they're on the Panthers bandwagon, just like they were last year. And, uh, I don't mind the rest of Canada jumping on board, but, uh, you know what? Those flames fans, they can, they can have their turtle boy Kachuk, we don't need

them on our bag bag. No bitterness there. What do you think it would mean Trevor, if, we say if, when the Oilers win, what will it mean for, not just for your city, but for this country? Oh, it'll be huge for this country. You know, to, to finally have a Canadian team,

bring that cup back home to Canada and, you know, to have, to have McDavid be able to do it. You know, everybody talks, he's, he's a generational player, but, but he's not going to get that distinction until he wins that big trophy. I think it's just, it's going to be huge for the city of Amerton, huge for Canada and, and huge for guys like myself and Dale who have been, been on

board for as long as we have. What would it mean for you, Trevor? Um. Like have you thought about how you would react to this? You know what? I'm not going to lie though. There'll probably be some tears shed when it happens.

It's a, It's a long time coming. I've been a fan of this team for as long as I can remember. So to be able to watch them hoist that cup again, I can't even imagine what it's going to be like, to be honest with you. Yeah. What about for you? What would this mean for you? Yeah. Like what Trevor, it is a huge time commitment, right? I know it's not like, pour me or nothing, but man, the amount of hours that I don't mean Trevor probably just put into this cheering for this team alone. We actually, cool story, we both got season tickets the same year, 2022. So we kind of started our journeys kind of on different paths, right?

But it kind of cool how they kind of ended up down the same kind of road. But yeah, just like kind of an emotional experience for sure. Like I know just the devastating loss of last year kind of set everyone back a little bit too, right? And then definitely moving into this year, I think we definitely have a little bit more confidence. And now that we belong there, I think, right. Is we kind of earn that staple. Part of being a fan is having your heartbroken. I mean, how, how hard was last year, Dale?

Yeah, it was sucked. Cause like last year I went to, um, yeah, every road series I kind of traveled for all my days off. And like, yeah, I went, I was traveling around North America there for about two months. So when it all kind of came to an abrupt end, you're just like, oh, well, that was kind of for nothing a little bit. Right.

So, so revenge will taste sweet when you win. Definitely. Like last week there, I was just down in Dallas there for game five and yeah, just a pretty awesome experience. Right. So that was one trophy. We want the big one. Trevor, are you at all worried?

Florida Panthers they're a good team but they're also as we were saying to Mark they love to play the villain right? Yeah I mean they are a very good team I of course there's always a little bit of worry there's you know it's never guaranteed but I kind of I kind of look at it like kind of like Dale said like redemption you, you know, last year, I went to Florida for games one and two, Dale did as well. And you know, Florida had redemption on their towels that they were waving. So I kind of feel like this is, this is the Oilers year, this is the Oilers time for redemption. And it just, it feels like they're, they're not going to be stopped the way this team has started playing.

I don't want to jinx you. So don't answer if you don't want to, but Trevor, what's going to happen? Honestly, I kind of like Mark said earlier, I think this series is going to surprise some people cause everybody expects it to go long. Um, but I think Oilers are going to win it all at home in five games. Five games. Yeah. Dale.

I'm well, I don't want to jinx anything, but to be the best, you got to beat the best rate and yeah, like our journey so far has actually led us to kind of down that path, right? But I would, I would agree with Trevor statement as oilers in five. So it starts with the home ice. Like we need, we need to start out rolling tonight. Like making a statement game early, like last year that eight one win,

kind of getting Bob's head a little bit. And then just let them know that we're there too, right? The fans with the noise. You'll both be there. Trevor, when do you start working on the mullet? I mean, at what point in time do you need to start getting that in shape? Actually, you know, I went for, I went for a

haircut yesterday to make sure that it's all sharp and good and ready to go. Um, so I'm probably, probably be leaving home around 11 o'clock this morning. So probably around 10 o'clock, everything will start happening. You guys are going to have a great night. I really appreciate you talking to us.

Good luck. Go Oilers. Thank you. Thanks for having us. Thank you. You've been listening to The Current Podcast. My name is you talking to us. Good luck. Go Oilers. Thank you. Thanks for having us. Thank you. You've been listening to The Current Podcast. My name is Matt Galloway. Thanks for listening. I'll talk to you soon. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.