Oilers Octane

The Oilers Octane was the cheerleading team for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was the first cheer squad for a Canadian NHL franchise.[2] The debut of the cheerleaders had a mixed reaction from the Edmontonian community, some signing petitions to keep cheerleading out of the sport of hockey in Canada and many protested that it was a sexist act while others supported the team.[3]

Oilers Octane
Oilers Octane in 2012
TypeCheerleading team
HeadquartersEdmonton, Alberta
Location
Membership
16-36 a year
Director & Head Coach
Mailie Harris[1]
WebsiteOfficial website

The Octane performed for the first time on 14 December 2010 in a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3] The first team had 19 cheerleaders, women aged 18 to 29, dressed in uniforms that resembled the original Edmonton Oilers jerseys, albeit with skirts and knee-high boots.[4]

In August 2016 the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which owns the Oilers, announced it was discontinuing the Octane, saying the franchise was "looking for a new direction related to the fan experience" as the team prepared to move from Rexall Place to Rogers Place for the 2016–17 season.[1] The Group also announced auditions for a newly formed, co-ed group of "brand ambassadors" named the Oilers Orange and Blue Ice Crew for the upcoming season.[5]

References
  1. "Edmonton Oilers disband Octane cheerleading team". CBC News. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  2. "Oilers debut new cheer team". CBC News. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  3. Ian Harrison (November 24, 2011). "Top cheerleaders: Raise a cheer! Oilers Octane". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  4. "Edmonton Oilers introduce cheerleaders". Toronto Star. December 15, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  5. Woollven, Mark (9 August 2016). "Say 'goodbye' to the Oilers Octane cheer team". iNews880. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
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