Cal Nichols was 84 years old when he died on the weekend.
What and 84 years it was: of showing up, of gathering people. Of walking into rooms where powerful men said no and finding, in the quieter rooms behind those rooms, the ones filled with blue collar millionaires and stubborn believers, a different answer. He saved Edmonton from losing the Oilers.
Recommended Videos
But what Nichols really saved was the idea that a city — any city, even one that sometimes forgets where it came from — can still act like a small town when it matters most.
With the Edmonton Oilers staring down relocation to Houston, Nichols pulled off one of the greatest 11th-hour saves in Canadian sports.
In March 1998, Houston Rockets owner Les Alexander submitted a formal bid to purchase the financially strapped NHL franchise and move it south.
Under the team’s arena agreement, local buyers had an unforgiving window to match the offer.
The immediate hurdle was securing a crucial multi-million-dollar cash deposit, leaving Nichols just 48 frantic hours to lock down the commitments before the deadline expired.
Refusing to let the franchise slip away, Nichols hit the phones around the clock. He galvanized a coalition of local business leaders, oilmen, and entrepreneurs under what became the Edmonton Investors Group.
Yet, it was beyond daunting.
While Imperial Oil and other major oil companies declined to participate in naming of Northlands Coliseum, Nichols turned to the Edmonton community.
Against steep odds, Nichols crossed the finish line with hours to spare, delivering the funds to match the takeover and permanently keeping the team in Edmonton.
On Friday the 13th – this one, March of 1998 – Nichols began his press conference by saying: “This is a great day in Edmonton.”
Let’s stay with that for a minute
There’s excitement when people file into Rogers Place for an Oilers game, there’s excitement and anticipation …
So here’s my idea.
The entrance to Rogers Place off 104 Avenue.
I think it should be called The Cal Nichols Entrance.
And under his name, that famous quote “It’s a great day for Edmonton.’
So that fifty years from now a fan asks their parents.
And the answer is simple.
He’s the reason we’re here.