Calgary city council donned the orange and blue of the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday, honouring an NHL playoff bet made last month.
Some councillors made their way to council chambers Tuesday, in advance of the Combined Meeting of Council, with their heads hung low. Others muttered under their breath something that sounded like “sweep.”
Others itched because… well, because it’s an Oilers jersey.
Still, they were making good on a bet made prior to the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers second round NHL playoff series that ended last month.
The Oilers won in five games. Then, they were swept in four by the Colorado Avalanche Monday night.
Both city councils met Tuesday morning, with the Edmonton city council beamed in online.
Coun. Jasmine Mian opened with an early shot – one that would have likely skipped past Oilers goalie Mike Smith (if it was 130 feet away.)
“Should we start with a moment of silence for Edmonton’s early departure from the playoffs? Welcome to the losers’ club,” she said.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said that seeing Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek in the Oilers’ colours, with the painted face, took some of the sting out of the Oilers’ departure.
Mayor Gondek took it all in stride.
“I am so happy to be here. Thank you for the opportunity to embarrass myself in this way. I appreciate you taking a bet where I got very cocky and did not win,” Gondek said.
Brave Ben Stelter
Mayor Jyoti Gondek segued the conversation into the bravery of Ben Stelter. Stelter, 6, is battling brain cancer and is an Edmonton Oilers superfan. Part of the bet was for donations to be made to the Kids with Cancer Society in Edmonton or Kids Cancer Care in Calgary.
Mayor Sohi said the awareness spawned a landing page where all Albertans can make donations.
“For example, you can donate $9.70 or $97 for Connor McDavid or $29 for (Edmonton Oilers Leon) Draisaitl. I am matching Mayor Gondek’s donation of $500 and some of our council colleagues will be matching Calgary council’s donation of $100 as well,” Sohi said.
“The Edmonton Oilers may have won the Battle of Alberta, but which city will end up donating more to the worthy cause? That we have to wait and see.”
