It was a split-squad game. The first of eight pre-season obligations for the Edmonton Oilers. Non-televised. Sparsely attended. Devoid of any star power.

Just the minimum number of veterans required by the NHL, playing at 50 per cent intensity, and a bunch of rookies still trying to get a feel for their new surroundings.

On Sunday night, no less.

It was basically one of those games that, as a sportswriter, they have to pay you to watch. Such is life in the early stages of a training camp.

But there was one guy who had butterflies in his stomach all day thinking about half of the Oilers training camp roster taking on half the Calgary Flames training camp roster. Couldn’t sleep. Couldn’t shake the nerves.

“I thought I wouldn’t be (nervous), because I’ve seen quite a bit of hockey, inter

See Full Page