City of Champions: Edmonton in spotlight again as Oilers brace for glory

Edmonton is a complicated place, this city that hopes to end the Canadian championship drought and bring the Stanley Cup back home to Canada for the first time since 1993.

Like cities such as Winnipeg or Hamilton, Edmonton is a place you truly need to experience by living there to appreciate. I can attest to this, as I was born here and reside here today.

As my colleagues from around the National Hockey League spend some time here in June in “The Big E” – a departure from their usual brief visits between November and February – I`ve frequently heard the remark: “Hey, this city isn`t bad at all when it`s warm and green.”

Indeed, it`s quite a good city, especially when its sports scene is considered. The residents, or “Edminites” as boxing promoter Don King once amusingly called us, have been blessed with continuous success and generosity, perhaps a reward for the dedication of loyal Edmontonians who shovel snow and swat mosquitoes.

In December and January, darkness prevails on your morning commute. The silver lining? It`s equally dark when you drive home around 4:30 p.m.

In Edmonton, we embrace and endure a genuine Canadian winter, not the slushy, damp conditions found in Toronto or the chinook winds that spoil a good cold spell in Calgary. Here, the initial snowflake in November often remains until March, meaning the winter snow persists – but so do the outdoor hockey rinks.

“I believe springtime is the best,” smiled Darnell Nurse, emerging from Rogers Place after Game 1 on Wednesday into a June evening that was still light at 10 p.m., in a city that had no intention of winding down anytime soon.

“I`ve been here for ten and a half years, and I`m raising a family here,” Nurse stated. “The atmosphere, particularly during the playoffs, is absolutely incredible. Yes, the winters are a bit dark, but once you get through them, it`s a wonderful place to be.”

This spring, hockey has completely captivated Edmonton with no signs of letting go. Golf course tee times are wide open after about 2 p.m. on game days, while bars and restaurants are buzzing with activity on game nights (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and nearly empty on non-game nights (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) throughout the postseason.