'This hit so hard': Hockey world erupts in praise for tear-jerker ...

This in from the Edmonton Oilers on the day of the first game of 2024 Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, the single best home team hype video of the year.

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I’m not weeping. You are weeping.

The video went viral at once and brought on an immediate wave of praise from across the hockey world:

Daily Faceoff columnist Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli Any hockey family knows the sacrifices required to play this game. That’s why this hits you in the feels. Well done. ????

Columbus Blue Jackets video producer Joel Goodling @JoelGoodling Love ‘big ideas’ & outside the box stuff like this. What a hype video. Well done. ????

CTV anhor Nahreman Issa @NahremanIssaCTV When I tell you I cried… THE FAMILY MESSAGES. I can’t ???? I think about my dad and wish he were here to see this ????

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith @ABDanielleSmith If this doesn’t get you a little weepy eyed I don’t know what will. Come on boys – we are all with you in spirit tonight and can’t wait to see you back here on Thursday!

Hockey Night in Canada host David Amber @DavidAmber This is tremendous.

Edmonton businessman Chris LaBossiere @ChrisLaBossiere How amazing. Such a class move that can’t help but inspire our boys.

Oilers fan Kristin Raworth @KristinRaworth This made me SOB

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TV announcer Lynda Steele ????️ @steeletalk Goosebumps. ????. A beautiful video that reminds us all that the players are people – young men with hopes & dreams and people who love & support them. Go Oilers!! ????????????

Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer @OilersNow ⚠️WARNING: If you have goosebumps lasting longer than four hours, call your doctor.

Mark Spector???????????????? @SportsnetSpec This is very well done.

Oilers fan Mark Holmes @MarkHolmes1326 Years ago the NHL did the “No Words” commercial for playoffs. I’ve always considered it made. This just might top it.

NHL writer Chris Johnston @reporterchris This is incredibly well done.

Hockey scout Dan Tencer @dantencer Tough to beat this.

Connor Halley @ConnorHalley, producer of the Jason Gregor Show In case you weren’t fired up enough. What a well done video!

Hockey and gambling analyst Rachel Doerrie @racheldoerrie This hits so hard. Incredible job by everyone involved here. A brilliant idea with quality execution.

The Oilers Report @OilersReport History is being written. Today we witness the start of a series that will be talked about for decades. It has been a long season of despair waiting for this…

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Edmonton M.P Mike Lake @MikeLakeMP This is so wonderful! ????❤️

Oilers fan Sonny Sekhon @SonzieMaaaan For you to fulfil your childhood dreams. For each other. For your families. For Joey. For Caver. For Ben. For an entire city that Bleeds copper and blue. Show them what Edmonton’s Got!!!

Oilers fan Dyl @dhockey13 Yeah this is amazing truly amazing. No one loves the Oilers like Gagner does. I truly hope he retires as an Oiler and he gets at least one game these finals he deserves it. He would bleed for this organization. Please go win it all for Joey and Ben ???? ????

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1. Have the Oilers created the most viral video of the playoffs? If so, they did it the best way, with a touch of class, straight to the heart.

2. I don’t know about you but when the Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, the thought that hit me hardest was around McDavid’s big goal in Game 6 when he deked Sam Steel, then Miro Heiskanen, then goalie Jake Oettinger. I

Some called this McDavid going into “God mode” or of him being a “human cheat code,” a playerin  possession of magical talent.

That’s not how I saw it. I could only think of McDavid at home all those years, coming from school and going to work on the rollerblades stickhandling around the home-made obstacle course in the family garage.

All the hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice and hard work came together in that magnificent goal. It was a product of the McDavid’s dedication and work ethic, no doubt instilled in him by his parents.

That’s what this video reminded me of again, the hard work of all the Oilers players, their own dedication and that of their families.

Who says family values are dead? Not I.

P.S. The best 30 minutes of radio you’ll hear all week, Staples and Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now talk McDavid in the Finals, Draisaitl’s praise of Katz and Edmonton’s unique ability to break the fearsome Florida press

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