Athabasca showed its true colors last weekend, and they are blue and orange.
With the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers bringing their annual hockey camp to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex, the community rolled out the welcome mat and proved that this is, in fact, ‘Oil Country’.
The weekend’s festivities got off to a raucous start on Friday night with an event for the entire community. A free barbeque and public skate was held at the Multiplex, along with all sorts of activities for Oilers fans young and old. There was street hockey for the kids, rides on the ‘Funboni’, face painting, video games and more, and the Multiplex was alive with a truly festive atmosphere.
The Oilers expected no less from all they had heard about Athabasca.
“The response has been awesome. We appreciate the support from the local area. Everyone has jumped behind (the camp),” said Trevor Murphy, manager of community and consumer partnerships for the Oilers.
“We want everyone to come out, have a great time and enjoy their Oilers experience.”
That much was accomplished on Friday night alone, with Oilers jerseys as far as the eye could see.
When the 90-plus lucky, randomly-selected camp participants hit the ice on Saturday and Sunday, they learned from some of the best, with representatives from Oilers Grassroots Hockey and Hockey Alberta leading the camp.
The focus was on skill development and, of course, having fun.
“To keep enjoying the game and to keep progressing, they’ve got to work on their skills,” said Murphy. “(But) they’ve got to have fun playing the game.”
The kids even got to learn from a pair of players that have worn the Oilers colors themselves; former player and current broadcaster Louie DeBrusk, and current Oiler Steve MacIntyre.
For his part, DeBrusk was eager to get on the ice with the kids and share the knowledge he accumulated during his own life in the game.
“I love coming out and helping the kids, seeing the smiles on their faces and the funny questions they ask,” he said.
“We want them to get the best hockey education they can.”
With a three-day Oilers experience of their own, the young athletes — many of them local — had nothing if not a good time.
“It’s awesome,” said Noah Opmeer.
Another Athabasca player, Jackson Roth, picked a different word.
“It’s fantastic.”
