Gretzky on hand, Oilers close out Rexall Place

Under the same roof that Wayne Gretzky once played, the Edmonton Oilers looked a lot closer to the team from the days of the Great One than the last-place team they’ve been in more recent years. For one night, at least. As a result, Rexall Place — the Oilers’ home for the last 36 years — got the sendoff it deserved.

Edmonton absolutely throttled the Vancouver Canucks 6-2 to make sure the building formerly known as the Northlands Coliseum went out in style. The team will be moving to the brand new Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton next season, hoping to turn the page on an era that has been filled with a lot more pain than glory.

However, Wednesday night was a chance to reflect on the past, with a little help from the Oilers of the present to make sure there was mostly joy on a bittersweet night.

From even before the faceoff, the final game looked to be a special one. The team called back to one of the great traditions of the building by playing a video of the team’s legendary anthem singer Paul Lorieau letting the crowd take over for “O Canada.” The fans in the building Wednesday night joined in for one of their loudest anthems yet.

Take it away, @EdmontonOilers fans. #FarewellRexallPlacehttps://t.co/nQc0f61k1N

— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2016

For the first time in a long time, Rexall Place buzzed with palpable excitement. That set the stage for what ended up being a huge win for the home team.

Connor McDavid, the current torch bearer of the franchise, had three points with the legends of years past in the building. His goal wasn’t the prettiest in his young career, but it made sure he got on the score sheet.

.@cmcdavid97 wants in on the action at Rexall Place. #VANvsEDMhttps://t.co/vZBa3naBIY

— NHL (@NHL) April 7, 2016

Gretzky, Mark Messier and a host of other Oilers greats were in the house for one last farewell. The two most famous Oilers posed with McDavid, who could one day join them as one of the most important players in franchise history.

The players from the bygone era of Oilers hockey weren’t the only legends in the building, though. The last night at Rexall got a pretty special soundtrack, too, as legendary Canadian broadcaster Bob Cole was there to lend a familiar voice. He was able to close the game broadcast with flawless accompaniment to the final seconds as they ticked down into a loud, long ovation from the Edmonton faithful.

The legendary Bob Cole counts down the final seconds in Edmonton. #FarewellRexallPlace #RGCL https://t.co/Eh1OxABWsG

— Rogers NHL GCL (@RogersNHLGCL) April 7, 2016

It was the kind of moment that makes you forget how things have been more recently, if only for a little bit. Maybe McDavid and company will be able to help the franchise move on into a new era in a new building. There’s probably at least a little more pain ahead, but with the new centerpiece in place, the foundation is starting to get a little stronger.

No matter what happens next, Wednesday night was a good reminder that Edmonton remains a proud hockey city with great passion for their team and a hope for new memories to match those shinier ones from the 1980s.

The Edmonton Oilers just played their last game in their longtime home. (USATSI)

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