Edmonton school holds Oilers Pride Day, recognize alumnus ahead of playoffs

Louis St. Laurent held their annual Oilers Pride Day Thursday morning, showing support for the Oilers leading into the playoffs.

The hockey academy has close ties to the current team with former graduate and current Edmonton Oilers starting netminder Stuart Skinner attending the school back in High School.

The cheers out of the Confederation Arena in south Edmonton were so loud Thursday morning, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Oilers were able to hear them at Rogers Place. Skinner isn’t the only hockey alumni from the academy who has dawned an Oilers sweater.

“I never thought people would like to take my photo so much for my autograph, but yeah, so it’s pretty special to come back to a school. That means a lot to me. I think it’s awesome. Like this is a lot of fun. We learned a lot about him as well here and congrats to him. He’s going to it’s probably a big experience. I want to be there, maybe play against him one day,” said Matt Berlin, goaltender for the University of Alberta.

Berlin and Edmonton’s own superfan Magoo appeared to pump up the crowd with true Oilers spirit.

“You know, you could just feel the emotions. You can feel the love you can feel that like everything, man, this is this is years of build-up,” said Blair Gladue, “Superfan Magoo”.

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Hundreds of students filled the arena to watch the hockey academy compete in a friendly game. And while there were more students in the stands then on the ice, many felt a similar pride that an Edmonton Oiler used to be a Louis St. Laurent Baron.

“I think it’s awesome. Like this is a lot of fun. We learned a lot about him as well here and congrats to him. He’s going to it’s probably a big experience. I want to be there, maybe play against him one day,” said Tafari Chingwaru, a grade 9 academy player.

Thursday night also marks Stuart Skinner’s chance to break a franchise record for the most wins by a rookie in franchise history.

“I’ll just be very proud. I’ll be kind of probably a little bit nervous for him. I know it’s going to be very nerve-wracking to go out there for your first game, but I’ll be cheering as loud as I can on either at the arena or behind my TV,” said Jaret Peel, athletic director and hockey academy coach of Louis St. Laurent.

Playoff fever is here with the playoffs beginning next week in Edmonton.