Edmonton Oilers Tickets

The Edmonton Oilers were formed in 1971 by Bill Hunter as the "Alberta Oilers", one of ten charter members of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers began play in the Western divison of the WHA under coach Ray Kinasewich. Bill Hunter took over the coaching reins half way through the season and the following year, the team changed its name to the Edmonton Oilers. Throughout the 1970s the Oilers would play a competitive brand of hockey, acquiring many former great players like Jacques Plante and Norm Ullman made their way through Edmonton. As the WHA struggled, six of the teams were offered entrance into the National Hockey League. With internal disagreements within the NHL, the WHA would continue to sputter along. In 1978 the Oilers dropped a bombshell on the hockey world by announcing a trade with the Indiannapolis Ice. With long time general manager and coach Glen Sather at the helm, they acquired the young star Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky signed an unheard of 21 year personal services contract with Peter Pocklington on his 18th birthday and began his career in Alberta. By 1979 the NHL allowed four WHA teams to enter the league, with Edmonton being one of them.