Former Oiler reflects on 35th anniversary of last Stanley Cup win

Saturday marked the 35th anniversary of the last time the Edmonton Oilers won the Stanley Cup.

It was May 24th, 1990, Game 5 against the Boston Bruins, when the Oilers brought home the trophy.

Kelly Buchberger was a member of that Oilers team 35 years ago.

“It seems like yesterday, the way we celebrated, and you know, when you’re celebrating a Stanley Cup, everybody comes in to play. The fans, the city, the management group, the ownership, it’s such a great time and you really have to enjoy the ride because it doesn’t come around very often,” said Buchberger.

Buchberger played 12 seasons with the Oilers, from 1987 to 1999,  winning two Stanley Cups with the Oilers – one in 1987, and the other, the Oilers most recent, in 1990. In fact, he made his NHL debut during the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals.

“I think there’s certain areas the game has changed, but it’s changed for the better. It’s faster, it’s more enjoyable to watch. Obviously, with the fan base we have here in Edmonton, it’s just an electric place to be,” he explained.

It’s the fans, Buchberger says, that make the NHL playoffs timeless. Remembering the enthusiasm 35 years ago from Oilers fans that he says hasn’t changed.

“The fans, they don’t change. They’re so loyal here in Edmonton. Even all over Alberta, Saskatchewan, even B.C., upper northern B.C., you’ve got so many Edmonton fans, and people that are rooting for the Oilers.”

As for the current Edmonton Oilers, Buchberger says he thinks they can go all the way, with what could be a repeat of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, with the Florida Panthers currently up 3-0 in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Last year we were one game away, and this year, when you have the two best players in the world, you probably have a good opportunity to win.”