The McDavid Lottery: Where were you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqRYwjlkEJA

My Reaction: Connor McDavid Lottery

April 18th 2015 was the draft lottery for the biggest and most hyped prospect since Sidney Crosby in Connor McDavid.

This is a kid I started hearing about in 2012 where he was deemed for exceptional status in the OHL joining the likes of John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad. Except that McDavid had even more hype to him. Meanwhile, the 2014-15 season was a disaster of a season where the Oilers finished 28th in the league. I remember I stopped watching games for awhile because of Dallas Eakins. It was embarrassing.

This was one of those “where were you when it happened” moments in hockey history.

I remember where I was. I was at Matt Stoltz’s house with his wife and our friend Bobby. It was a nice sunny day and we figured hey, the draft lottery is on at 5:30 so we might as well watch it. Of course, the actual process took about 10 minutes but there was 20 minutes of build up and hype.

Not one of us figured Edmonton would win the lottery. I had the pick going to Arizona or Toronto because Arizona was being saved by the NHL and Toronto because they were the Centre of the Universe and every Ontario boy wants to play there.

Then we got to the top five. Carolina remained at five. After some build up from Bill Daly and the Sportsnet crew, the Maple Leafs remained at four. It was at number three a funny thought entered my head

“Wouldn’t it be funny if the Oilers won?”

Bill Daly had the slightest smirk. “And we have a winner” We screamed in unison

“WHAT?!?”

“The First Overall Pick of the 2015 NHL Draft belongs to the Edmonton Oilers”.

We all jumped up and screamed. It was pure joy. The first thing I did was I called my dad: all I told him was We won McDavid. He couldn’t believe it. “No ****ing way”. Shortly there was my brother and other friends who had to be told. When I arrived home, I immediately ordered a blue Connor McDavid jersey.

Connor McDavid was going to be an Edmonton Oiler.

The Oilers Rig Reactions

Joey Degner

OJ’s in Sherwood Park

Dave Gordon

Beautiful day here in Alberta, we were sitting in the driveway having a few Cervezas with the neighbors while the kids were running around causing trouble. A few minutes before the draft started I excused myself and headed inside to watch Daly reveal the winners, and losers (Suck it Toronto). Anyhow, I didn’t expect the Oilers to win, but the prize was McDavid, so I watched the cards pulled from the envelope one by one. I didn’t actually know how the lottery was going to work, so when the 3rd to last card was being drawn I was hoping to see the Buffalo’s logo pulled. I saw the smirk on Daly’s face I knew right away that the Oilers had won, what I didn’t expect was to see that glorious golden ticket!!! I was elated. Now is where this story gets fun; I screamed bloody murder while jumping up and down, alone, in my living room. Knowing I had to celebrate this huge win with others and remembering that all the other adults in the neighbourhood were sitting in the front yard I knew I had to tell them the news. I ran, literally, out my front door as fast as I could temporarily forgetting that my front porch is raised and there are for steps down to street level. I was screaming “We got McDavid, We got McDavid” and leaped from the deck down to the front lawn. Well my momentum carried me forward and I barely avoided a collision with my very tall and sturdy tree, losing my balance, arms flailing, I just managed to stay on my feet and avoid serious injury all while still chanting McDavids name. I’m happy I didn’t fall on my face, but even if I did, nothing including a trip go the hospital for X-rays could have ruined my day. TRUE STORY.

Jon McLeod

In my living room.

Megan Fowler

I was at home, watching the game by myself. I didn’t think I cared about the draft lottery because I hadn’t really entertained the possibility of the Oilers actually winning it. When they started calling teams, I kept telling myself I didn’t care as long as Toronto didn’t win (which I believe was mostly the truth). I’d like to say I saw Bill Daly’s smirk when he opened the Oilers envelope, but all I really remember is laughing uncontrollably. My Twitter feed exploded, and I called my dad and was unable to speak. I laughed so hard I cried, and then immediately amended my 2026-27 Stanley Cup prediction to 2019-20.

Alex Thomas

I was actually sitting in a dorm room with my roommate and two of our friends, one of which is a MASSIVE Sabres fan. Throughout the year we had joked about what would happen if they lost McDavid to the Oilers, because we know Edmonton’s loto luck and Sabre fans had been talking McDavid up for two years. I’ll never forget the completely different emotions in that room for the ten minutes in which it happened, I still get chills. It was actually the first time I wore my old gear jersey since the 2006 Cup run. Yes, I’ll be wearing it again on April 30th.

From Twitter

@OilerKris I was sleeping. -_-

— The Tortoise- P.J.C (@DadBodPJC) April 17, 2016

@OilerKris sitting on my couch, was just holding my breath hoping TO wouldn't get it, and when they didn't, expected Arizona or Buffalo…

— McNeekers (@neekers_92) April 17, 2016

@OilerKris Mine is super boring but was on the couch watching waiting for the Pens game after. Spilled my chips and beer when we won though

— Amber L (@2sweets) April 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/DatBawse/status/721749627574165504

@OilerKris @PrimeBane chillin' on my bed with @jjermswife. Shouted and laughed my head off when it happened!

— JJerms (@maskjerms) April 17, 2016

@OilerKris at home, on my couch

Screamed like a lunatic when that golden ticket came up 😁

— PrimeBane™ (@PrimeBane) April 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/Liam_Bevan/status/721745938029670400

https://twitter.com/The__GR8__N8/status/721746721714229249

https://twitter.com/JimRoepckeOilrs/status/721747449799290881

Zach Laing also asked the question a month ago and there were some great answers!

@Loweded At home, screaming at the top of my lungs… Wife was outside, came inside cause she thought the house was on fire! Hahaha

— John Bender (@Mi780M) March 12, 2016

@Loweded on my couch, holding a sleeping baby, I whisper-screamed "OH MY GOD!" I was shaking hahaha

— Jenny (she/her) (@ginny_jenny) March 12, 2016

https://twitter.com/MoirJason/status/708438493974761472