A special night of hockey is headed to Rogers Place in commemoration of Black History Month.
The Edmonton Oilers Celebrating Black Excellence game is taking place on Friday as the team has a chance to earn a three-game winning streak against the Colorado Avalanche.
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This year’s matchup will feature local singer and actor Karella Cummings singing the national anthem as the team honours Black community leaders' contributions throughout the evening.
“The Black community has played such a positive role in the Oilers organization and across Oil Country,” said OEG executive vice-president Tim Shipton in a Thursday news release.
“We are looking forward to recognizing and celebrating players, artists, performers and other community leaders to help inspire the next generation of Black youth in Oil Country – while continuing to reinforce that hockey is for everyone,” he said.
A hand stitched Oilers Black Excellence tapestry, measuring eight by 10 feet, will be on display at the main gates of Ford Hall for fans to enjoy.
The tapestry was created by local artist AJA Louden, who presented his work to Grant Fuhr, the first Black hockey player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup – with a total of five during the Oilers Dynasty – and be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“The tapestry I crafted for the Oilers Black Excellence Celebration is a tribute to the ongoing story of Black players breaking ground in hockey,” said Louden. “Representation helps empower communities. Both sport and art can bring us closer together.”
Merchandise featuring the Oilers Black Excellence logo is available at the Oilers Team Store in Ice District or online, with part of the proceeds supporting the Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots, a local non-profit organization chosen by Louden.
The team previously hosted the Oilers Lunar New Year game last week, and will put on its last cultural celebration game, the Oilers South Asian Celebration game, on March 4.
Tickets for Friday’s game are available here. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
