Yes it’s a game day, although not for current day players!
Today the Oilers alumni will square off against the Winnipeg Jets alumni as a part of Heritage Classic weekend at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg at 2PM Mountain.
Gretzky, Messier, Fuhr, Hawerchuck, Selanne, Smyth. Those names are iconic to pro hockey in both cities and this afternoon we’ll watch these legends lace up the skates once again, and it’s going to be fun even if everyone is going at half speed.
#TheGreatOne holding court this morning. #HeritageClassic pic.twitter.com/sD5VZP9aYH
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 22, 2016
“My kids keep telling me about these Snapchat filters, how do I get the crown of flowers or the dog ears around my head??” -Paul Coffey
Players to Watch
Edmonton:
Wayne Gretzky-So this guy is pretty good hey? The dude with more assists (1963) than anyone else in NHL history has points. You have to expect he will want to operate from behind the Jets net to make some magic happen. I bet he will at least make one or two passes where he puts the puck on the tape of Kurri while facing the other way and having a conversation with a fan in the stands at Investors Group.
Ryan Smyth-One of the greatest flows will be back in an NHL setting for the first time since he retired at the end of the 13-14 season. He’ll be in the face of both Jets goalies and judging from yesterday’s scrimmage he hasn’t lost a step at all!
You still got it @RealSmytty94 pic.twitter.com/42eyWL8JW5
— Craig Muni (@CraigMuni) October 21, 2016
Craig MacTavish-Helmets? Who needs helmets? The longtime face off man, Oiler captain, coach GM and now Sr Vice President of Operations will suit up for his first Heritage Classic alumni game today. He was preparing for this game by skating with the Bakersfield Condors to get back into game shape, so the former four time 20 goal man for the Oilers may have a few more left in him this afternoon.
Winnipeg:
Teemu Selanne and Dale Hawerchuck- I put these two on one point because for the first time in any setting, these legends of Winnipeg hockey will be teammates; nope, check that, linemates. If they could build 30 foot statue for both men in Winnipeg they’d probably do it. These two put up over 1000 goals, 2000 assists and over 10 All Star Game appearances. Not too shabby. It will be fun to see how they play with each other but we all know the scoring from the line will come from Kris King.
Eddie Olczyk- He may be better known today as an NHL coach and as the current colour voice for the Chicago Blackhawks, but Eddie O in the early 90s spent two and half season with the Jets and put up 66 goals playing in Manitoba. Judging from the practice lines from Friday he’s on the third line but don’t let that distract you from the fact that he’s a former 40 goal man.
Keys to The Game
Edmonton:
-Get shots early and often on Bob Essensa and Daniel Barthlemu, Winnipeg only has two goalies compared to the four on Edmonton!! (Which is a bit odd that one team has twice as many netminders)
Winnipeg
-Make sure that that Essensa doesn’t jump to Edmonton mid game as he did play for both clubs in his career.
-Have Dallas Eakins is in attendance to catch Teemu’s glove if he does the rifle celebration one more time.
Projected Edmonton Lines
Jari Kurri -Wayne Gretzky-Dave Semenko
Glenn Anderson-Mark Messier-Craig Simpson
Esa Tikkanen-Craig MacTavish-Kelly Buchberger
No specific D pairings or fouth lines were figured out for Edmonton:
Other Forwards
BJ McDonald, Ryan Smyth, Ken Linseman,
Defencemen
Charlie Huddy, Marty McSorley, Paul Coffey, Dr.Randy Gregg,
Grant Fuhr
Bill Ranford
Curtis Joseph
Dwayne Roloson
Projected Winnipeg Lines
Kris King-Dale Hawerchuck-Teemu Selanne
Doug Smail-Thomas Steen-Andrew McBain
Brian Mullen-Laurie Boschman-Eddie Olczyk
Morris Lukowich-Mike Eagles-Ron Wilson
Dave Babych-Moe Mantha
Tim Watters-Dave Ellett
Jim Kyte-Teppo Numminen
Mike Ford-Mario Marois
Bob Essensa
Daniel Berthiaume
Game Prediction:
This probably won’t be an incredibly fast game but that won’t mean we won’t have a lack of scoring. Give me Edmonton getting it done 7-5 on the strength of two goals from Mark Messier, one from #99, Craig MacTavish and Craig Simpson and two for Dave Semenko. The man with some of the hardest hands in the 80s will have some pretty soft ones today.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
