Who is Edmonton Oilers Mascot Hunter?

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team that competes in the National Hockey League as a part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The team is based in Edmonton, playing their home games at Rogers Place which was inaugurated in 2016. Kris Knoblauch is currently (Nov 2024) serving as the head coach for the Oilers, after being appointed on November 12, 2023.

The Oilers were founded in 1971 by W. D. "Wild Bill" Hunter and Dr. Chuck Allard (as per Wikipedia). They started competing in 1972 as the 12th original team in the World Hockey Association. They changed their name to the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 and the same year they joined the NHL as one of the fourth teams introduced via the NHL and WHA merger. Stan Bowman is currently (Nov 2024) serving as the general manager, appointed in July 2024. As one of two NHL franchises in Alberta, alongside the Calgary Flames, the Oilers share a fierce rivalry known as the "Battle of Alberta" with the Flames. The Edmonton Oilers have a mascot (Hunter the Lynx) who cherishes the team and entertains the fans at Rogers Place.

The story of Edmonton Oilers Mascot Hunter

Hunter, the beloved mascot of the Edmonton Oilers, made his debut in 2016. He is named after "Wild" Bill Hunter, the original owner of the Oilers from back in 1972. As per a report from Sporting News, Hunter's favorite players are Grant Fuhr and Wayne Gretzky. His jersey number 72 is a reference to the year they started competing in the Wold Hockey Association.

The NHL official website has a story of Hunter, narrated by the Lynx himself, where he talks about how he got associated with the Oilers, his love for the team and the work he does for the organization. He also has his own Instagram page (@hunteroilers), where he has a following of 37.7k (as of November 2024).