Oilers Alumni comes up short outdoors in Bakersfield
Kings Alumni defeated Oilers Alumni 9-8 outdoors in Bakersfield on Friday in a tune-up prior to Saturday's outdoor game
by Marc Ciampa / EdmontonOilers.com
Video: ALUMNI POSTGAME | Wayne Gretzky
BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Oilers Alumni came up just short in Friday's Alumni/Celebrity game outdoors in Bakersfield, dropping a 9-8 decision to the Los Angeles Kings Alumni.
The game was a precursor to Saturday when the Oilers AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors will take on the Kings' AHL affiliate Ontario Reign.
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Wayne Gretzky, who coached the Oilers Alumni, was asked about the event.
"Nobody ever thought we'd play an outdoor game in Bakersfield in January 40 years ago so this (Alumni Game) is a bonus. The people in this city have really rallied around minor-league hockey here and the Kings, Luc Robitaille, the Ducks, Bob Murray and their organization have done a nice job really pushing and promoting the sport.
"Tomorrow night the kids who are going to get to play in the real game will be so excited and I'm sure the people of Bakersfield will have a fun night."
Gretzky's son Ty played and donned the number 99 in place of Wayne, who couldn't play after tweaking his groin in the St. Louis alumni game.
"I have three boys and two have never skated. One who really loves the game and plays a little bit and skates. To be here today and be with him, it was a nice day," Gretzky stated.
The Kings Alumni raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first half of a game that was split by two 25-minute halves. Kyle Calder scored a pair and added an assist to lead the way for the Kings. Shots after the first half were 18-16 for the Kings.
In the second half, the Oilers Alumni awoke from their slumber. Within the first nine minutes of the period, the game was tied 4-4 highlighted by a pair of goals from Kelly Buchberger.
A minute after Buchberger tied it, the Kings struck for two quick goals, including one by Calder and one by Fox Sports Reporter Jenny Taft.
The Oilers Alumni tied it once again at 6-6 when Dave Semenko and J-F Houle scored not long after the Kings goals.
Goals by Derek Armstrong, Steve Heinze and Bernie Nicholls three minutes apart staked the Kings to a 9-6 lead but the Oilers Alumni wouldn't quit.
Buchberger scored on a penalty shot and then with 1:09 to play, Mike Comrie scored to make it 9-8.
It looked like the Oilers Alumni were going to come all the way back, but Buchberger was denied on a penalty shot with 46.3 seconds to play.
Final shot count in the game was 37-31 for Edmonton.
Oilers Alumni
Coaches - Wayne Gretzky, Kevin Lowe
#2 Rocky Lynch - From the band R5
#5 Ryland Lynch - R5
#7 David Pelletier - Olympic Gold Medalist and Oilers Skating Coach
#9 Glenn Anderson
#11 Michael Rosenbaum - Actor from Smallville
#14 Craig MacTavish
#15 J-F Houle - Condors Assistant Coach
#16 Kelly Buchberger
#18 Danny Gare
#21 Patrick O'Brien Dempsey - Actor from the movie Miracle
#26 Tony Borgford - Condors Assistant Coach
#28 Gerry Fleming - Condors Head Coach
#30 Ken Baker - E! News
#89 Mike Comrie
#91 Riker Lynch - R5
#95 Ross Lynch - R5
#99 Ty Gretzky
Kings Alumni
Coach - Luc Robitaille
#1 Jamie Storr
#4 Rob Blake
#6 Sean O'Donnell
#7 Nelson Emerson
#9 Bernie Nicholls
#15 Daryl Evans
#16 Michael Landes - Actor from Final Destination 2
#17 Tomas Sandstrom
#19 Kyle Calder
#24 David Boreanas - Actor from Bones
#39 Hubie McDonough
#44 Jaroslav Modry
#53 Jay Harrington - Actor from American Reunion
#57 Steve Heinze
#70 Tom Bernard - Sony Pictures Classics
#77 Derek Armstrong
#87 Nat Faxon - Actor from The Descendants
#97 Jenny Taft - Fox Sports
BOX SCORE
FIRST HALF
Five minutes in -- LA: Jaroslav Modry (Kyle Calder) - 1-0 Kings
Six minutes in -- LA: Kyle Calder (Michael Landes) - 2-0 Kings
Penalty Shot - EDM: Michael Rosenbaum (saved by Jamie Storr)
17 minutes in -- LA: Nat Faxon (Hubie McDonough) - 3-0 Kings
18 minutes in -- LA: Kyle Calder (Bernie Nicholls) - 4-0 Kings
Penalty Shot - EDM: Mike Comrie (saved by Jamie Storr)
Shots 18-16 for LA
SECOND HALF
Two minutes -- EDM: Ross Lynch (Mike Comrie, Rocky Lynch) - 4-1 Kings
Seven minutes -- EDM: Kelly Buchberger (Anderson, Borgford) - 4-2 Kings
Penalty Shot - EDM: Kelly Buchberger Goal - 4-3 Kings
Nine minutes -- EDM: Riker Lynch (Ryland Lynch) - Tied 4-4
10 minutes -- LA: Jenny Taft (Kyle Calder, Bernie Nicholls) - 5-4 Kings
11 minutes -- LA: Kyle Calder (Jenny Taft, Bernie Nicholls) - 6-4 Kings
12 minutes -- EDM: Dave Semenko (Ty Gretzky, J-F Houle) - 6-5 Kings
13 minutes -- EDM: J-F Houle (Glenn Anderson, Michael Rosenbaum) - Tied 6-6
15 minutes -- LA: Derek Armstrong (Nelson Emerson, Rob Blake) - 7-6 Kings
17 minutes -- LA: Steve Heinze (Daryl Evans, Jenny Taft) - 8-6 Kings
18 minutes -- LA: Bernie Nicholls (Nelson Emerson, Kyle Calder) - 9-6 Kings
Penalty Shot - Buchberger Goal - 9-7 Kings
With 1:09 left - Mike Comrie (Glenn Anderson, Tony Borgford) - 9-8 Kings
Penalty Shot (46.3 seconds left) - Buchberger (poke-checked away)
Shots 37-31 for EDM