The Battle of Alberta is one of the most intense rivalries in all of sports. The two teams, the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames, have a long history of animosity towards each other. The fans are just as passionate as the players, and the games are always filled with excitement. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top five players in this historic rivalry.
Jarome Iginla
The first player on our list is Jarome Iginla. He played for the Flames for 16 seasons and was one of the most iconic players in their history. He was a fierce competitor, and always gave his best effort against the Oilers. He scored 625 goals during his career, as reported by the NHL itself, and had countless memorable moments against Edmonton.
Wayne Gretzky
Next on our list is Wayne Gretzky. The "Great One" spent nine seasons with the Oilers and was by far their biggest superstar. As reported by Betway Insider, he is still the all-time leading points scorer in this rivalry with a huge 133 points and went on to set all sorts of records while playing in Edmonton and became a legend in hockey circles. His rivalry with Iginla was always intense and produced some of the most exciting games ever seen.
Mark Messier
After Gretzky comes Mark Messier. He was also an Oilers superstar and is considered one of the best players in team history. He won six Stanley Cups during his career, according to the Hockey Hall of Fame, three with Edmonton and three with the New York Rangers. Messier always played with a lot of intensity against Calgary, and always seemed to rise to the occasion when the stakes were high.
Doug Gilmour
Next on our list is Doug Gilmour. He had a very successful NHL career, playing for seven different teams. His time in Calgary was especially memorable, as he led the Flames to their only Stanley Cup victory in 1989. Gilmour was known for his tenacious style of play, and always gave 110% against the Oilers. Thanks to his dedication and effort shown in every game, Gilmour finds himself in fourth place on our list of the top players of the Battle of Alberta.
Connor McDavid
Connor McDavid is also a star that we could not overlook when creating this list, and he easily makes the top six. He is already one of the best players in NHL history, and has a bright future ahead of him, despite being one of the youngest players in the league. McDavid always plays with a lot of passion when facing the Flames, and always looks to make an impact in every game.
Miika Kiprusoff
Last but not least is Miikka Kiprusoff. He was the Flames' starting goaltender for most of his tenure in Calgary, and played a key role in their success. He had an impressive career, stats-wise, and was one of the top goaltenders in the league for many years. Kiprusoff always rose to the challenge when playing against Edmonton, and often stole games for the Flames.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the great players who have starred in The Battle of Alberta. The rivalry is sure to continue for many years to come, with both teams looking to add another championship banner to their collection. With so many great players on both sides of the rivalry, there is no chance this battle will be ending any time soon. Alberta hockey fans will be eagerly waiting to see how the next star of the battle might be!
