Battle of Alberta: Canada Soccer players place bets as Calgary, Edmonton to face off in NHL playoffs

Canadian national team soccer players Sam Adekugbe and Alphonso Davies have made a friendly wager for round two of the NHL playoffs between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers, dubbed the "Battle of Alberta." (Courtesy Canada Soccer and Alphonso Davies)

Posted May 16, 2022 6:58 pm.

The Battle of Alberta is already heating up — but this time on the pitch as opposed to the ice.

The highly-anticipated match-up between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers has prompted many Albertans, including the mayors of the two cities, to place bets.

Canadian national team soccer players Sam Adekugbe and Alphonso Davies are also getting in on the fun.

Adekugbe, who moved to Calgary in his youth and has played for various teams in the city, prompted Davies on Twitter Monday, suggesting a friendly wager on the outcome of round 2 of the NHL playoffs.

Unsurprisingly, Adekugbe is backing the Flames.

@AlphonsoDavies what you wanna bet @NHLFlames beat the @EdmontonOilers !? #BattleofAlberta

— Sam Adekugbe (@SamAdekugbe) May 16, 2022

“That’s not gonna happen but let’s do it,” replied Davies, whose family moved to Edmonton in 2005.

Adekugbe was quick to respond, raising the stakes and setting the terms of the deal. There’s more than just a financial donation on the line.

“Loser has to donate $2,000 to the winning team’s charity foundation and take a photo in their jersey!” the defender wrote, with Davies agreeing to the terms.

I like the sound of that https://t.co/K7zyB9DIhx

— Alphonso Davies (@AlphonsoDavies) May 16, 2022

The Calgary Flames are set to face the Edmonton Oilers in a post-season edition of the Battle of Alberta for the first time since 1991.

The series was made possible after the Flames eliminated the Dallas Stars with a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 7 Sunday night. The Oilers advanced with their own Game 7 victory Saturday – 2-0 over the L.A. Kings at Rogers Place.

The second round begins Wednesday in Calgary.

The two teams split their regular-season meetings, 2-2.

Mayors Jyoti Gondek and Amarjeet Sohi shared their terms on Monday.

The losing mayor and city council members will have to show up to their next respective council meeting after the series ends with their faces painted in the colours of the opposing team and wearing their rival’s jersey.

-With files from Joey Chini

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