Latest news with #Oiler
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Connor McDavid's cryptic comments spark panic as Oilers fans fear star could walk in free agency
As Connor McDavid's contract nears its end, uncertainty looms over his future with the Edmonton Oilers (Getty Images) As Connor McDavid's contract nears its end, his future with the Edmonton Oilers is uncertain. Despite concerns about his indecision after consecutive Stanley Cup losses, a veteran reporter implies McDavid's past comments indicate his commitment to staying, easing fan worries while the team respects his need for time to consider his next steps. Edmonton on edge as Connor McDavid won't guarantee return The air around Connor McDavid's continued presence with the Edmonton Oilers is thick with anticipation as his current contract approaches its conclusion. While some gnaw over the superstar's hesitation following two consecutive Stanley Cup final defeats, a familiar voice from the Edmonton sports scene is stepping forward to calm the waters. The Oilers' CEO of Hockey Operations, Jeff Jackson, has emphatically phrased, 'He's everything to this organization.' Yet, McDavid's personal reflection, articulated as, 'Ultimately, I still need to do what's best for me and my family,' has undeniably fueled a degree of apprehension among the fan base. However, Gene Principe, the seasoned Sportsnet reporter in Edmonton, offers a reassuring perspective. Recalling a past message from McDavid to the supporters, Principe conveyed the essence of it: 'Stick with us because for all of us, it's going to pay off.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo He embellished on McDavid's implied message, affirming, 'To me, that was, 'I'm saying to you and to everybody, stick with it. We got this. We're going to get this.'' This sentiment, coupled with McDavid's recent acknowledgment of 'unfinished business' with the Panthers as an Oiler, has led the organization to adopt a patient approach. Connor McDavid's loyalty questioned after hinting at possible Oilers departure The Oilers understand that the immediate aftermath of a deeply disappointing loss is not the time for critical contractual discussions. McDavid himself indicated his need for space, commenting, 'I'm going to take some time to regroup.' General Manager Stan Bowman confirmed this respectful stance, phrasing, 'We really haven't talked to him at all about his contract. It's really just been talking about our team, and you know how we can improve.' Bowman further emphasised, 'I think Connor's earned the right to choose when he wants to get into the details of it,' reinforcing the team's trust that McDavid will ultimately choose to remain with the Oilers. Also Read: Connor McDavid free agency sparks NHL frenzy as Oilers insider reveals he's likely staying in Edmonton Ultimately, the trust and patience shown by the Oilers, coupled with McDavid's implied commitment and "unfinished business" mentality, paint a hopeful vision for fans eagerly awaiting his long-term dedication to bringing a Stanley Cup to Edmonton. FAQS 1. What is Connor McDavid's net worth in 2025? Connor McDavid's net worth is $30 million in 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth. 2. Who is Connor McDavid married to? Connor McDavid is married to Lauren Kyle. 3. Will Connor McDavid leave the Edmonton Oilers? As Connor McDavid's contract nears its end, his future with the Edmonton Oilers is uncertain. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Province
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Province
Evander Kane one-on-one: On his last days an Oiler, race in hockey and why he chose the Canucks
The former Oiler sings the city's praises, and thanks the team for letting him control his destiny Evander Kane poses for a photo in Edmonton, Thursday July 10, 2025. The Edmonton Oilers recently traded Kane to the Vancouver Canucks. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia It wasn't long after the Edmonton Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row that Evander Kane found out he'd be moving on. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors On a salary cap-strapped team that needed to re-sign Evan Bouchard, and still needs to lock up Connor McDavid long-term, Kane's $5.1 million-a-year deal became too much too bear. But, the power forward's contract had a 16-team no trade list. Kane said he, his agent and the Oilers worked together to find the best landing spot for him. And that final destination was his home city of Vancouver, where he'll play close to old friends and family. The Oilers got a fourth-round pick in exchange, which they used to select Saskatoon Blades forward David Lewandowski. 'I would have loved to have stayed and finish my career here in Edmonton,' said Kane, a father of four. 'Me and my family, we have a lot of great memories here, on and off the ice. Obviously, I understand hockey is first and foremost a business and that people have to make business decisions, especially when there are salary-cap issues with teams. When you go to the finals back-to-back years, you probably have a pretty good team, and you have players making a lot of money. I think you saw that this summer with a ton of turnover. It's going to be happening for others next year, with a lot of guys moving on. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'For me personally, my agent made me aware of where Edmonton was, and obviously, I had some control in terms of where I went. And the Oilers did a nice job of working with me to get me to a place that made some sense for me and my family instead of just trading me to the highest bidder. I was appreciative.' Before the interview, Kane's agency made it clear that he wanted to clear the air over the Game 6 post-game controversy that erupted after he didn't join his Oilers' teammates for the customary post-series handshakes with the Florida Panthers. Kane received a misconduct penalty with just a little more than two minutes left in the third period of that 5-1 loss, and didn't re-emerge after the final horn sounded at the Amerant Bank Arena. It led to a firestorm of criticism and became a social media cause celebre. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kane said he doesn't understand why so many pundits don't see it for simply what it was, a player who was thrown out of a game and thought the best course of action was not to come back to the ice after 60 minutes. 'It's baffling to me, how anybody saw that in any other way than somebody getting kicked out of a game,' said Kane. 'I mean, I've been kicked out of games in the past. Other players have been kicked out of games of the past. I've never seen anybody come out and shake hands if they were kicked out of the game in an elimination game of the postseason. So, I didn't. Then I saw some criticism around it for me, I felt like they were just looking for something to talk about. 'Even if you look at, like, some of the chat about how I had been playing with a couple of minutes left to go. The season's over. I mean, who cares? You look at some of the media pundits, they talk about how you gotta go down swinging, and then once you go down swinging, it's all about discipline, has he lost his mind. I find it ridiculous. You know, these are people that have never been in real intense competition ever in their lives — a lot of them, at least. I find it funny to listen to to it sometimes.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Newly acquired Vancouver Canucks forward Evander Kane talks to media at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., June 26, 2025. Photo by Nick Procaylo / PNG Of course, it brought up the question: did Kane think the colour of his skin had a lot to do with how his actions, or lack of action, were perceived? More pointedly, would the criticism have been as strong had he been a white farm kid from Saskatchewan? The NHL is fully aware that it has a race issue. It's no accident that the league hired civil-rights leader Kim Davis to become its vice-president in charge of making the league more diverse and inclusive. It's the reason every team now makes league-mandated in-arena announcements that prejudicial behaviour won't be tolerated. Now that the does-hockey-have-a-race-problem debate is pretty well over, we are in the uncomfortable phase where we're finding out just how hard it is to change the status quo; from the NHL to Hockey Canada to USA Hockey, actions have been taken to try and address a problem they know exists in the game — that the whiteness of hockey is a big reason it is No. 4 when it comes to the so-called 'Big Four' of pro sports. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the case of Evander Kane, his critics will point to a laundry list of transgressions, both real and perceived. Kane was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife, but the courts sided with him, granting him parental custody of their daughter. A restraining order was placed against his ex-wife. He has since remarried. His contract was terminated by the San Jose Sharks before he signed with the Oilers in 2022. Kane fought it, and he and the Sharks later settled on a compensation package. In 2021, Kane filed for bankruptcy in California and showed $1.5 million in gambling debts. The NHL investigated to see if there was proof that Kane had bet on NHL games, and later cleared the player. The only charge that has stuck to Kane was a 21-game suspension for violating the NHL's COVID-19 policies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kane had a self-admitted gambling issue and sought help for it. Do you recall another NHLer who had a severe issue with gambling? In 2003, Jaromir Jagr accrued $450,000 in gambling debts and owed around $3 million in back taxes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Did that stigma stick with Jagr? Absolutely not. So, while Kane has won in the courts of law, he hasn't been as successful in the court of public opinion. And he said his willingness to be candid and the colour of his skin make for a mix that so-called hockey traditionalists don't like. Kane has a clothing brand, Defy, and his love of fashion is plain for all to see in his pre-game walks into the arena. He is the self-proclaimed best-dressed player in the NHL, and he said the new CBA's lack of dress code isn't going to change his ways. He's also launched a wine line, Dovetail, and hosted a posh launch for it at Edmonton's Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in August of 2024. But put together Blackness and flamboyance, and he feels it's an anathema to the hockey establishment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Media are always looking for something to talk about and, on both sides of the equation, they love pointing out certain things when it comes to me,' said Kane. 'Yeah, like they ask for and they love candidness, but it's only from particular people, at least it seems that way. They like emotion from certain players, and they call it emotion with certain players. And when another player shows that same kind of emotion, they call it something else. They call it a lack of maturity. They call it, 'Losing his mind. Losing control.' It's whatever they want, whatever terms they want to use — character flaw, whatever it may be. They throw these terms out very loosely. The same actions, they could have two different adjectives to describe two different players.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kane's sentiments are backed up by Irfan Chaudhry, the MacEwan University expert on race and inclusion, who was hired by Hockey Canada in 2023 to help the organization with its diversity efforts. During the COVID lockdowns, he hosted the virtual Grow the Game summit. As part of his work, Chaudhry highlighted the 'leniency effect.' Second chances and forgiveness are noble aims, but they tend to be granted to white athletes with greater frequency than to players of colour. For example, Dany Heatley's dangerous driving killed a teammate, and he was welcomed back to the NHL. During his session, Chaudhry showed pictures of Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, and asked the audience what adjectives came to mind. He then showed pictures of Kane and P.K. Subban and asked the same question. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chaudhry said that Black athletes are often portrayed in the media for their physical prowess, while white athletes are praised for their brains and determination. Think about it the next time you watch an NFL game. How do the commentators describe a Black quarterback vs. a white one? How many white quarterbacks are recycled and given second, third and fourth chances? 'That would be like Tom Brady, right?' said Kane. 'Yeah. What people say is 'what a warrior' and that he 'just wants the best of a great teammate.' But if a Black player was like that, he would selfish, he's trying to make it about himself. Absolutely. It's even higher in hockey because there's so few Black players. 'In hockey, they ask, does he bring physicality? I mean, I have over 300 goals in the National Hockey League. How many players in the league's history have that? Not many. Not as many as you might think. How many players have played in the league? Like, you know, I averaged almost 30 goals a year over my entire career. And the way media talks about certain players it's like they're always trying to under-represent and undersell certain players. And then I see comparisons, I see them talk about other players, and boy, is it an oversell and a half, and I'm thinking, why is that? And truly, why is that? You know, it's not a one off, it's not one year, I've been in the league for 16 NHL seasons, and I've seen a lot of different things. There's been a lot of examples of this type of coverage in media, in the game of hockey. It's not all, and I want to make that very clear. It's not all. But it's more than one or two. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'When a player looks a little different, they don't know how to handle it. They feel uncomfortable.' During the 2023-24 season, Kane caused a furor with the Hockey Night in Canada panel when, during an intermission interview, he noted that 'he didn't play much in the first period.' As if any players want reduced ice time — yet somehow an all-white panel came to the conclusion that it was an issue of character. It was ESPN's Kevin Weekes, a Black former NHL goalie, who finally pointed out, 'When a player wants more, I don't have a problem with that.' Evander Kane of the Edmonton Oilers talks with referee Francis Charron during the first period against the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 9, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. Photo by Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Looking back to the Cup finals Kane missed all of the regular season with injuries, and simply smiled and said 'that's a very interesting question' when asked if he was healthy enough to return before the playoffs. He returned for the Oilers' second game of the postseason. And, like many of his Oilers teammates, had to endure two heartbreaking finals losses to the Florida Panthers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's difficult,' he said. 'You look at the first year, obviously, I couldn't finish the series. I was hurt, you know, pretty much the entire regular season and really hurt in the playoffs. But to lose in seven games and not get it … I mean, any time you go down three games to none, you really put yourself behind the eight ball and we were able to come back and give ourselves one game to win a Stanley Cup. This year, we have home ice, we win Game 1 and it was big, going into overtime, winning in overtime.' Then Brad Marchand scored the overtime winner in Game 2, and the series changed. Kane's dad, Perry, and Marchand's dad, Kevin, played together on the junior Dartmouth Arrows team in Nova Scotia, but Kane said he only found out about it when asked about it during the Cup final. There was no deep relationship between the families. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The next game, it could have went either way as well,' said Kane. 'You know, we jump out to a bit of a lead and it's just one of those things that, if you get up two to nothing, maybe the series changes a little bit. I think really where the series turned was Game 5; we didn't play the type of Game 5 we needed to play. Coming back, tied 2-2, we could have ensured at least we have a Game 7 on home ice. I didn't think we had our best game, but in a big way. And then, Game 6 it just seemed that when they got opportunities, they scored. And then their goalie made a big save. 'I think the whole series, both Cup finals, you know, their goaltender (Sergei Bobrovsky) stole some games for them. He was elite, and you look at their team, they've got big, mobile defencemen, great goaltending and they've got a deep forward lineup with some top-end talent. You could have said the same thing about our team was as well, or be very close to that. That's why we were in the Cup final back-to-back years. So the margins in both series were so small. And I think the second time both teams were better. It was tough to lose, but we were right there.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Kane is thrilled his family will be able to attend all of his home games. His dad is still active in hockey, and runs Spot On Hockey, which works to give instruction and encouragement to players of colour. He's brought that program to Edmonton, as well. 'He donates ice and instructors and gives kids, basically, a free opportunity to learn the game of hockey and work on their skills and get better,' said Kane. 'And there's nobody more passionate about minorities and getting them involved in a game that he loves.' And will his dad see a lot of home wins? Kane believes this Canucks team is close to getting back to where it was two seasons ago, when it won the Pacific Division and was ousted in the second round of the playoffs by the Oilers after a wild, physical seven-game series. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We played Vancouver in the second round in the first year we went to the Cup final,' said Kane. 'And we had to take them to Game 7, and we squeaked it out. Vancouver, only two years ago, they could have been in the final. They were probably the toughest series, believe it or not, that whole playoff, including Florida. I mean, we got down three in Florida, but then we won three straight, right? Yeah. Canucks were probably our toughest series over that whole year. If you look back at that, obviously they had a bit of an off year last year, I think that it's more than realistic to be back in the playoffs and be contending. Read More Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post, and 13 other Canadian news sites. The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Junior Hockey News Vancouver Whitecaps
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lauren Kyle's emotional comment on Connor Brown's exit sparks fresh rumors about Connor McDavid's future with Oilers
Lauren Kyle's recent Instagram comment has ignited speculation regarding Connor McDavid's future (Getty Images) As Connor Brown prepares for a fresh start with the New Jersey Devils, it was an unexpected Instagram comment from Connor McDavid's wife, Lauren Kyle, that sent Edmonton Oilers fans into a frenzy. Brown, who signed a four-year, $12 million deal with the Devils, bid farewell to Edmonton on social media, expressing gratitude for two memorable years in a city that had become close to his heart. Lauren Kyle's comment fuels rumors of Connor McDavid's long-term commitment to Edmonton 'Thank you to the fans for two incredible years and unwavering support. Edmonton will always hold a very special place in our hearts,' Brown wrote in his post. 'Ready for a new chapter and excited to be a @njdevils' But it was Lauren Kyle's emotional response that caught the hockey world's attention. She commented, '😭💙🧡' followed by 'Oil for life.' Those three words—'Oil for life'—might seem like a heartfelt nod to Brown's contributions, but they've been interpreted by many as a subtle yet telling clue about Connor McDavid's future. With McDavid entering the final year of his current contract, speculation about whether he'll re-sign with Edmonton has been a topic of growing debate. Kyle's comment quickly garnered hundreds of likes and set social media abuzz. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz Superior Ginseng Undo While some fans interpreted Kyle's message as a simple tribute to Brown's time with the team, others saw a deeper meaning. Could this be her way of signaling that McDavid is planning to stay in Edmonton long-term? Brown was a key piece in the Oilers' back-to-back Stanley Cup Final runs, notching 13 goals and 30 points during the regular season and adding nine points in 20 playoff games. His departure leaves a gap, both on and off the ice, but Kyle's words seemed to underline a deeper emotional bond among the team and their families. Also Read: 'Just frustrating': Ryan Reaves slams toxic Leafs fans, says they drove Mitch Marner out of Toronto after years of loyalty While it's entirely possible Kyle was simply echoing a common sports sentiment—'once an Oiler, always an Oiler'—the timing and platform of her comment have added fuel to the ever-burning rumor mill surrounding McDavid's next contract decision. For now, Oilers fans can only hope that 'Oil for life' turns out to be more than just a sentimental goodbye. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans stirred by Lauren Kyle's post following Oilers farewell
Connor Brown's farewell to Edmonton after a pair of seasons with the Oilers has drawn plenty of attention. Despite that, it was a geniune message from Lauren Kyle, wife of Connor McDavid, that stole the spotlight. Brown, who is now a member of the New Jersey Devils, took to Instagram to thank the Oilers faithful and reflect on his time in Edmonton after signing a four-year, $12 million contract with his new team. Advertisement 'Thank you to the fans for two incredible years and unwavering support,' he wrote. 'Edmonton will always hold a very special place in our hearts. Ready for a new chapter and excited to be a @njdevils.' Among the several comments wishing him well, Kyle's response stood out. She first left a string of emojis, crying face, blue heart, and orange heart, before adding, 'Oil for life.' That quick message rapidly made waves across social media. It received hundreds of likes and sparked speculation among fans. Was this just an emotional tribute to Brown's time with the team, or a subtle nod to her husband's own future in Edmonton? Advertisement A Touching Goodbye or a Hidden Hint? Kyle's 'Oil for life' comment was heartfelt, but for many fans, it felt loaded with potential meaning. With McDavid entering the final year of his current contract, every move and message from the McDavid camp is being watched closely. Some fans viewed Kyle's words as a classic show of support for a teammate and friend, echoing the "once an Oiler, always an Oiler" sentiment. Others saw it differently, perhaps a sign that McDavid could be leaning toward extending his time in Edmonton. Whatever the intent, the comment kept the hockey world buzzing. McDavid's future has been a popular topic for months, and anything that hints at loyalty to the Oilers fuels hope that he'll commit to the franchise long-term. Advertisement Brown's Impact on Edmonton's Cup Runs While attention swirled around Kyle's post, fans also took time to celebrate Brown's contributions on the ice. He was a steady presence during Edmonton's back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. Over the past two seasons, he put up 13 goals and 30 points in the regular season and added nine more points in the playoffs, appearing in 20 postseason games. Brown wasn't just a role player; he was a valuable contributor to one of the most competitive Oilers teams in recent memory. His departure marks the end of a successful stint, and his farewell post made clear that he leaves with fond memories of the city and team. McDavid Watch Continues Connor McDavid hasn't made any public declarations about his contract plans yet. But with every comment, emoji, or subtle gesture, especially from those close to him, fans and media alike will keep speculating. Advertisement If Kyle's post is any indication, her connection to Edmonton runs deep. Whether that loyalty will translate into McDavid staying with the Oilers for the long haul remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: emotions are running high as the team prepares for another run, and fans are hanging on to every possible clue holding their breathe.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oilers faithful Superfan Magoo hits TV screens on The Amazing Race Canada
When Blair Gladue and his wife Skylene 'Nipîy' Gladue were asked to join this season's cast of The Amazing Race he had one big worry. 'I looked at the schedule and I was like, 'oh, no, you know what? If we do this, I'm going to miss the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs,'' says Gladue, known best in Oiler fandom and Edmonton at large as Superfan Magoo. 'Then, if we lost any of those first two rounds, it's going to be on me.' Thankfully the Oilers made it past those two playoff encounters for Gladue, who runs Magoo Crew Entertainment when he isn't leading chants and beating on a drum at Rogers Place games. Gladue and his five associates host youth workshops across the country, focusing on hoop and traditional dancing, rapping and break dancing as they dispense their message about suicide awareness and anti-bullying. Gladue's wife Skylene is also an entertainer; she's unavailable for the interview due to prior commitments as part of the touring cast of Bear Grease, which is currently enjoying an Off-Broadway run at the Theater at St. Luke's in Manhattan. With no way to check in on McDavid and crew from mid-April to mid-May, Gladue was forced to stay in the moment as he competed against 11 teams representing cities from across Canada. This year, five contestants were drawn from Alberta: Jesse Harink of Sherwood Park (teamed with Ontario's Jonathan Braun) plus Calgary brothers Osas and Esosa Igbinosun battling with the Gladues for provincial glory. Gladue, who says that he's watched a number of seasons in the past, admits that he wasn't quite prepared for what he and his wife went through. 'It was insane, amazing, and crazy,' says Gladue, 'Emotions were running wild, adrenaline was flowing. It's nothing like when you're watching it on TV. It's, in fact, 10 times harder than what you see on TV. This was a life-changing experience for sure.' The reality show, which features teams in competition with each other across the country, kicks off Tuesday (July 8) at 9 p.m. MT on CTV, and the CTV app, with streaming available the next day on Crave. Episodes after that run every Tuesday until the still-to-be-announced final entry. Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton was the starting point, but the competition sees the teams moving through Red Deer, Prince George, the Northwest Territories and beyond. The pace is hectic, the physical toll punishing. That being said, Gladue insists that if anyone gets the opportunity to do it, they should snap it up immediately. 'But make sure, before you do it, that you do a lot of running and a lot of walking,' he cautions. 'Work out and eat well, because you're going to need all of that; it's not easy. I'm a high-energy guy, always moving, and my wife is the one who works out every morning, goes to the gym. But after the show, I'm like, 'You know what? Man, I need this.' I need to work out more, so I stretch and work out every morning, seven days a week.' Gladue and his wife can't speak to anything that happened during their month-long competition, but Blair does speak fondly of the friends he made. We'll just have to keep up with episodes as they roll in to see who wins season 11, with its attendant prizes of two 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS, a trip around the world, and a $250,000 cash prize. If the Gladues win it all, they promise to use some of that cash money for good, just as they promised at the very beginning to represent Indigenous people and the youth. 'Except that on our clothing, it said 'fer the youth,' not 'for the youth,'' he explains. 'That's youth slang. We're getting the message out there, representing our people, our community, you know, but also representing our Oiler fans!' Whyte Avenue Art Walk celebrates 30 years: bigger, bolder than ever before New Edmonton hot spot Bar Trove provided chef too good an opportunity to pass up You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.
