"Loyal to the Oil’: Discovering Faith During the Stanley Cup Finals"

 "Loyal to the Oil’: Discovering Faith During the Stanley Cup Finals"

Hockey’s ultimate prize is the Stanley Cup, and for the first time in nearly two decades, the Edmonton Oilers are in the running. With hopes of staging a comeback against the Florida Panthers, the Oilers are just two wins away from becoming National Hockey League champions.

The finals are drawing renewed attention to Edmonton, the former team of the legendary Wayne Gretzky, and highlighting two of Canada’s most iconic exports: hockey and oil.

Novelist Leslie McFarlane once noted that for Canadians, “hockey is more than a game; it is almost a religion.” Now, with the Oilers poised to potentially bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time in nearly 30 years, fans are resorting to prayers and superstitions, from wearing special clothing to averting their eyes during penalty shots.

The Oilers also represent another aspect of Canadian society with near-religious significance: resource extraction. In North American culture, oil has long been intertwined with religion, seen by some as a national blessing from God and a path to the “good life” for those who work hard to obtain it.

As scholars of religion who study sports and the societal impact of oil, or petro-cultures, we observe that the Edmonton Oilers embody a worldview where triumph, luck, and hard work are rewarded—whether on the ice or in the oil fields. The Stanley Cup Finals provide a unique window into how the oil industry has shaped the fervent devotion surrounding Canada’s beloved sport.

**Boomtown**

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is a province renowned for its vast oil, gas, and oil sands reserves. With five refineries producing an average of 3.8 million barrels a day, oil and gas is Alberta’s largest industry and a fundamental way of life.

This is particularly evident in Edmonton, dubbed the “Oil Capital of Canada.” Here, oil not only drives the local economy but also influences identities, architecture, and daily experiences.

For instance, at the West Edmonton Mall, you'll find a statue of three oil workers drilling, a reminder to shoppers that petroleum underpins their commerce. The Canadian Energy Museum offers insights into how oil and gas have transformed the region since the late 1940s, featuring items such as engraved hard hats and the “Oil Patch Kid,” a twist on the iconic “Cabbage Patch Kids” toys. Touring the greater Edmonton area reveals pump jacks dotting the landscape. Oil is omnipresent, shaping futures, fortunes, and possibilities.

Set against this backdrop, the Oilers' name is fitting. It's common for sports teams to be named after local industries. For example, football's Pittsburgh Steelers honor the steel mills that once employed much of the team's fan base. The Tennessee Oilers, originally the Houston Oilers, inspired other Texas teams like the XFL's Roughnecks. Similarly, the Detroit Pistons' name nods to car manufacturing.

Teams with industry-inspired names serve a dual purpose, honoring both a place and its primary trade. Fans cheer not only for their home team but also for their own industry and labor.

In a recent TikTok video, a man overjoyed by the Oilers' victory over the Dallas Stars claps and hops around his living room. The caption reads, “My first-generation immigrant oil rig working Filipino father who has never played a second of hockey in his life…happily cheering for the Oilers advancing in the playoffs. Better bring that cup home for him oily boys.” This man’s enthusiasm is rooted not just in hockey but in his connection to the oil industry.

The Oilers are indeed an oil-centric team. Their Oilfield Network "exclusively promotes companies in the Oil and Gas industry," connecting leaders "through the power of Oilers hockey."

The Oilers’ logos further highlight this connection. The current logo features a simple drop of oil, while past designs included machinery gears and an oil worker with a lever-shaped hockey stick.

**Liquid Gold**

Hockey and oil have a long-standing association, deeply entwined with Canadian identity.

Following the British North America Act of 1867, Canada sought a distinctive identity through sports and culture. Hockey, evolving from the Gaelic game of “shinty” and the First Nations' game of lacrosse, soon became integral to the Canadian identity.

Media, politicians, sports groups, and major industries have since promoted hockey as essential to Canada’s rugged, frontiersman character.

In 1936, Imperial Oil, one of Canada's largest petroleum companies, began sponsoring Hockey Night in Canada, a national radio show that reached millions each week. Imperial Oil later helped bring the show to television and sponsored youth hockey programs nationwide. In 2019, Imperial became the National Hockey League’s “official retail fuel” in Canada.

**Striking It Rich**

The connection between hockey and Alberta's oil industry goes beyond sponsorships. Central to both cultures is the concept of luck—essential in fossil fuel extraction. "Striking it rich" in the oil fields is often seen as a sign of divine providence, particularly among Christian laborers.

Philosopher Terra Schwerin Rowe has discussed North America’s “petro-theology,” describing how many view oil as a God-given resource meant to be extracted.

Oil symbolizes fortune, an idea that resonates with sports fans. The thrill of sports lies in the unpredictability where talent, team chemistry, and home-field advantage sometimes give way to luck. Oil culture combines divine favor with rugged endurance, akin to hockey.

Currently, fans worldwide are joining Edmonton locals in rooting for the Oilers. They’ll express despair if captain Connor McDavid enters the “sin bin” (penalty box) or dance in celebration to the Oilers’ theme, “La Bamba.” In their cheers, they are also celebrating oil.