EDMONTON, Alberta — Having traveled all the way from Afghanistan, a Canadian flag, covered in signatures from the Canadian soldiers, was handed over to the Edmonton Oilers on 12 June. The flag demonstrates just how much the troops overseas support the national hockey team.
"It's wonderful, it still even has some dust on it from the desert which is kind of emotional, it traveled all that way," said Alan Watt, Vice President of Broadcast and Communications for the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. "I think this flag has deep meaning."
The flag has traveled to all the places in Afghanistan where Canadian soldiers are stationed, which was a difficult task to accomplish.
"We got Majors to sign it, we got Privates to sign it, we even got injured soldiers in the hospital to sign it," said Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Mitzy Bryson, one of the soldiers who brought the flag back.
"We wanted them [the players] to understand that they're just as important in their roles to us, as we are to them."
The idea originated from the soldiers in Afghanistan, who wanted to send the team a token of their appreciation. The games are a big morale booster for the troops overseas; the soldiers wake up at 04:00 to watch them.
"You should see the Oiler mania over there, it's insane," said PO2 Bryson, "It's incredible for morale."
The flag is mounted in the Oilers' dressing room where all the players can read it.
Article and photographs by MaryEllen Lamb
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