Calgarians conflicted as puck drops on Oilers’ Western Conference Final

The Oilers are the last Canadian team in the NHL playoffs, and Wednesday night they start the western conference finals, leaving Flames fans with a dilemma.

The Edmonton Oilers are the final Canadian team remaining in the 2025 NHL Playoffs, leaving some fans in Calgary with a bit of a dilemma.

The Western Conference Final series kicks off on Wednesday night, with the Oilers taking on the Dallas Stars.

The manager of The Pig and Duke wants the Beltline bar to be the home for Oilers fans in Calgary, even though it’s not his usual team of choice.

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“Diehard Flames fan! I went to the very first Flames game ever in Calgary in the Stampede Corral. 5-5 tie with Quebec Nordiques, I was 10 years old,” said Trevor Smith, manager of Pig and Duke.

“All my friends are going to give me a hard time about being in an Oilers jersey, but being the only Canadian team that’s left in the playoffs, we’re pretty excited about it.”

The constant fire stoked by the Battle of Alberta is some consolation for Flames fans.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way; without Edmonton, we wouldn’t have rivalry. Edmonton fans are just as passionate as Calgary fans,” said Smith.

Some Calgarians embrace Edmonton.

“They’re from Alberta and it’s been a long time since the cup has been here. My husband, my son, even our dog has an Oilers jersey,” Tarah, a Calgarian who spoke with CTV News, said.

But others can’t jump on the bandwagon.

“I cannot cheer for Edmonton, I just can’t do it. I’ll be in my living room cheering against them,” Rob Fogolin said with a laugh.

It’s easier for those originally from Edmonton, including Peter Rowlands and Susan Adamson.

“Of course we cheer for the Oilers. We would cheer for any Canadian team,” said Rowlands.

But the couple is less certain under different circumstances.

“I think if it were Calgary (versus) Edmonton, we’d have to cheer for Calgary because we live here, but it would be tough,” said Adamson, as her husband inched away laughing.

A recent spike in Canadian patriotism may sway some stubborn fans. Compared to Dallas, Edmonton has double the players born in Canada (20) and Alberta (four).

“For now, I support Oilers. I think they have the best chance at winning the cup,” said Calgarian Abdur Yousuf.

The Oilers lost two of the first three games of the Western Final last year before rallying to win the series 4-2. They eventually lost to the Florida Panthers 4-3 in the Stanley Cup Final.

With hopes high for a Canadian team to hoist the cup, there is also hope for some nail-biters.

“I’m sure Oilers fans would like it to end in four, but as a business proprietor, we would like it to go to seven games. And it makes it interesting and fun,” said Trevor Smith.

Puck drop for Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT on Wednesday.

Game 2 is on Friday in Dallas. The Oilers are back at home in Edmonton’s Rogers Place for Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday.