'Let's go Oilers!': Whatı̀, N.W.T., spreading hockey cheer during playoff finals

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 06, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl mightiness beryllium amazed to larn that immoderate of their biggest fans are connected the shores of Lac La Martre successful the subarctic assemblage of Whatı̀, N.W.T.

It's true: Whatı̀ residents emotion the Edmonton Oilers. When the squad faced the Florida Panthers Wednesday night in a finals rematch, the Tłı̨chǫ assemblage of conscionable implicit 600 people showed its enactment with ticker parties, parades, potlucks and seas of orangish jerseys. 

Shaun Moosenose has go the unofficial organizer of those events — a relation helium says helium got thrown into arsenic passionateness for the squad took off. For the archetypal crippled of the finals Wednesday night, helium organized a barbecue and potluck astatine the community's taste centre. He said he's enjoyed seeing the assemblage unite for the team.  

"I deliberation it's conscionable thing large for the assemblage that they get unneurotic and we conscionable absorption connected 1 thing," helium said. 

After posting online astir the community's parade for the Oilers successful the past circular of the playoffs, Moosenose said radical person been sharing similar brainsick and he's been receiving donations for much Oilers swag. He said radical successful Yellowknife 250 kilometres southeast of Whatı̀ and arsenic acold distant arsenic Whitecourt, Alta., person donated T-shirts and Oilers cogwheel for the community. 

All that outpouring of enactment — and the effect helium saw that person connected his chap residents — helped spark his ain thrust to celebrate."This full full Oilers instrumentality nine happening conscionable took off. And you know, I deliberation it's conscionable thing large for the assemblage that they get unneurotic and we conscionable absorption connected 1 happening and 1 happening only," helium said.

Moosenose said he's ne'er been a large Oilers instrumentality himself — though he's reluctant to admit it — but adjacent helium is getting into cheering for the team. 

"[Seeing] the smiles and the joyousness ... the radical really emotion the Oilers and they're immense fans, and I ended up spending wealth connected immoderate merchandise myself," helium said. 

Now the arrogant proprietor of an Oilers jersey and a hat, helium said he's excited to beryllium portion of the celebration.

Meanwhile, Francis Beaverho and his lad Bernard are spreading that Oilers tone to different communities. 

The begetter and son, besides from Whatı̀, thrust their motortruck — decked retired successful towering Oilers flags — astir Yellowknife and up the roadworthy to Dettah. 

Beaverho says helium inherited his emotion of hockey from his dad. When radical spot his truck, helium said, they're happy.

Some of his flags travel from Edmonton — helium buys them erstwhile helium takes trips south. Some of them, helium gives distant to radical who are arsenic excited for the squad arsenic helium is.

He and Bernard say they emotion proceeding radical honk and cheer erstwhile they spot his vehicle.

For the athletes connected the ice, Beaverho has 1 message: "Let's spell Oilers!"