Welcome back to another edition of Throwback Thursday!
This week in 1979 (Oct. 10), the Edmonton Oilers made their debut on the first-ever Hockey Night in Canada broadcast from Edmonton.
The Oilers played host to the Detroit Red Wings that night in a game that ended in a 3-3 tie. Blair MacDonald scored two goals while Mark Messier added a third.
On the broadcast that night were Gerry Pinder and Jim Robson.
The 1st ever NHL game in Edmonton, Oct 13 1979, was also the first HNIC broadcast from this city. A few glitches as the graphic reads "31 – Mio" but the image is Dryden. But there's Mio, his mask white as snow, for his 1st NHL start.
Gretzky's opening faceoff: (1/2) pic.twitter.com/WVE0HBaLSB
— 1980 Oilers Day by Day (@OilersDayByDay) July 6, 2020
The broadcast from Oct 13 introduced a neat advancement in CBC's bag of tricks; here they're able to isolate a pre-game Glen Sather in a circular graphic, while showing him live, on the bench. Unreal! Dave Dryden also appears to be motivating the boys, a sign of his future role. pic.twitter.com/2ySYh3psEU
— 1980 Oilers Day by Day (@OilersDayByDay) July 7, 2020
Only three days earlier, the Oilers made their NHL debut visiting Chicago, who defeated the Edmtonton 4-2 in thanks to two-point performances from John Marks, Bob Murray and Terry Ruskowski.
Kevin Lowe scored the first NHL goal for the Oilers at the 9:49 mark of a five-goal first frame and Dave Hunter scored about five minutes later.
On Twitter: @zjlaing
