EDMONTON - A number of hockey fans may have been disappointed with the turnout to Thursday's Game 1 in the series, but things turned around on Friday. 10,720 fans came out to cheer on the Oil Kings during Game 2, setting a new playoff attendance record.
While the team unfortunately lost Friday's game, they've made it further than their NHL counterparts have in quite a while. And fans like Shaelyn Kisser and her fiance Trevor, who've been to the past 9 home playoff games think the team deserves a bit more attention.
"They're doing so well, I don't see why we, as Edmontonians, can't get out and support them," she says. When the Oilers are losing games the stadium's full. Why can't the Oil Kings have the stadium full when they're winning?"
Daryn Duliba is one of those who has been supporting the team. He and his family have been waiting for a playoff series like this for years. He explains there's something special about playoff games.
"During the regular season you don't see as big of crowds but when you get 9, 10,000 people, it's just an awesome atmosphere. Junior hockey is just awesome when you have that many people at the games," Duliba says.
Edmonton hasn't had to host many weeknight games. a challenge faced Thursday when around 7,500 seats were sold.
Even with a slight dip in numbers the support is what officials projected at the beginning of the playoff run.
"We've seen a steady increase from the second half of the regular season," says Jordi Weidman, Director of Business Operations for the Oil Kings. "I mean, no other WHL or CHL teams were seeing numbers like we were for the first couple of rounds. We're really excited about what's to come."
There's only one more guaranteed home game - Game 5 next Thursday. The oil king's announced a special ticket offer for that game - and if necessary, Game 7. 10,000 tickets will be sold for just $20 each starting on Monday at 10 a.m. For more information go to www.oilkings.ca
With files from Quinn Ohler, Global News
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