What’s an Edmonton Oilers fan to do on a lonely Saturday night? That’s the question for many die-hards as, for the second Saturday in a row, their beloved team won’t be playing. These are the only times so far this season the team hasn’t played on a Saturday night, save for the Winter Olympics break. Saturday night hockey is a decades-long tradition born out of Hockey Night in Canada. So Edmonton Sports Talk host Tom Gazzola is well-accustomed to working on Saturday – before, during and after an Oilers game. He emphasized that the lack of a match is “very strange.” “We’re usually getting ready for a pre- and post-game show. We’re at the rink. People are downtown. It’s buzzing, the energy’s there, especially this time of year with playoffs in the air and stress drive,” he said in an interview Friday. “I don’t know what I’m going to do Saturday night … I’m lost. I’m really lost right now.” Some, like Denise Yehia, will be taking advantage of the quiet night to watch Netflix with family. Others, like Jeremy Haluschak, may go make their own fun. “We’re starting to get into spring here, might as well go out and maybe just enjoy the evening somewhere,” he told CTV News Edmonton on Friday. For those in dire need of some hockey, though, one group is making the most of an empty net. The Heavy Hockey Showdown hits the Downtown Community Arena on 105 Avenue Saturday. Team Heavy Hockey takes on Team Edmonton Sports Talk, suiting up for awareness and funds for survivors of sexual violence. Admission to the game and popcorn will be free, but the showdown features both a pre-party and silent auction where all proceeds go to the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton. “Every year, we typically wait until (the Oilers) schedule comes out and plan it this weekend … I mean, we didn’t want to take away from their game, right?” said founder Michael Hebert. Oilers anthem singer Rob Clark and mascot Hunter the Lynx will be present at the charity game. After all, they have no place else to be. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matt Woodman
