The season of giving never ends for the Edmonton Oilers but it took a big step in the holiday direction thanks to three rookies. Drake Caggiula, Dillon Simpson and Matt Benning spent their time and the entire teams money to buy gifts for the less fortunate. A tradition brought over from Boston by Andrew Ference. While the former captain hasn't been visible to us, his gift-giving legacy continues. Helping it continue to happen, in part, because of the backup provided by the current leadership group which includes another former Bruin in Milan Lucic.
That's just one of the things Edmonton's hockey team did for the kids. Here's a sample of what some of the Oilers traditions were around the holidays when they were kids...
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
"I always used to look forward to Christmas. I liked the fact we got a break from school but I really liked spending time with family. A few gifts that really stick out were an air hockey table my brother and I got from our grandpa. I also remember getting a one piece Sidney Crosby stick. I'm actually going home for Christmas this year. It's the first time since my rookie season."
Milan Lucic
"Getting home for Christmas has been difficult because of all those years I spent playing in Boston. With only a two-day break at one time I would spend a day flying to Vancouver and another flying back. Instead, a bunch of us would just have Christmas together. This year I am going home. It's the first time in 10 years. We actually don't celebrate Christmas because we are Serbian Orthodox. January 7th is our time to celebrate. However, my grandma still used to make a turkey dinner on the 25th. We rarely had a Christmas tree but somewhere there are photos of me on Santa's lap."
Eric Gryba
"In Saskatoon, we would always drive out to spend Christmas with my grandma and grandpa. Once we were there we spent a lot of time, of course, eating and drinking but being outdoors. We would spend all our time with family. I used to play for the Sasktoon Contacts hockey club. Some years we would go from Christmas with my grandparents hop in a car and drive eight hours to Calgary for the Mac's tournament. Those are some great memories."
Brandon Davidson
"Being from a divorced family, we really split up our time between my mom's side and my dad's side. It worked out fine but Christmas Eve was spent on my dad's side and my grandma would always make dinner. When she passed, my step mom started making Christmas Eve dinner. Then Christmas day, my brothers and I (he has two of them) would be off to my mom's side of the family. Then Boxing Day, my friends and I would have a big pond hockey game."
Matt Hendricks
"Christmas Eve was just my immediate family. My sister, mom and dad and I would stay home. We would eat different things including one year we had fondu. Then we would sit around and watch Christmas movies and play games. The night would also include going to Midnight Mass. The next day we went anywhere and everywhere visiting both sides of the family. I was pretty much at home for every Christmas until I was about 24 and started playing pro hockey."
However and wherever you celebrate be safe, be smart. Eat, drink(don't drive) and be merry. From my family to yours.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle:But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
