American Hockey League (1988-1996)
Tombstone
Born: 1988 – The Nova Scotia Oilers relocate to Sydney, NS
Moved: May 8, 1996 (Hamilton Bulldogs)
First Game: October 7, 1988 (W 6-4 vs. Newmarket Saints)
Last Game: April 16, 1996 (L 6-5 vs. Saint John Flames)
Calder Cup Champions: 1993
Arena
Centre 200 (4,763)11992-93 American Hockey League Guide & Record Book
Opened: 1987
Marketing
Team Colors: Orange, White & Blue21992-93 American Hockey League Guide & Record Book
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Edmonton Oilers (Peter Pocklington)
NHL Affiliation: Edmonton Oilers
Background
The Edmonton Oilers kept their top farm team in Atlantic Canada from 1984 to 1996. From the 1984 to 1988 the American Hockey League club was known as the Nova Scotia Oilers and played out of the Halifax Metro Centre. In 1988 to the team moved 195 miles east to the community of Sydney on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island. Sydney opened a 5,000-seater arena, Centre 200, a year prior to the Oilers’ arrival. With the move, the team changed its name to the Cape Breton Oilers.
1993 Calder Cup
In twelve seasons of play in Halifax and Sydney, the Baby Oilers won only four playoff series. Fortunately they won them all in the same season, ripping off a spectacular 14-2 record en route to the 1993 Calder Cup championship. Center Bill McDougall went on an insane streak during the playoff run, racking up 26 goals and 26 assists in just 16 games.
The Oilers dispatched the Rochester Red Wings in the Calder Cup finals in five games. Cape Breton clinched the series with a 7-2 victory on home ice before 4,886 fans on May 30th, 1993. David Haas notched a hat trick for the Baby Oilers in the decisive contest.
Move To Hamilton
In August 1995 a satellite location of Halifax’s Casino Nova Scotia opened up adjacent to the Baby Oilers home ice at Centre 200. Attendance dropped from 4,235 per game in 1994-95 to 3,700 after the casino opened.
“The casino has hurt them, the economy has hurt them and to some extent the performance of the team may have hurt them,” AHL President Dave Andrews told Mark Spector of The Edmonton Journal (4.20.1996).
Meanwhile, Hamilton, Ontario campaign a campaign to bring AHL hockey back to the city’s 17,000-seat Copps Coliseum. In late April 1996, media reports began to circulate that the Cape Breton Oilers were the club in Hamilton’s cross hairs. The AHL Board of Governors approved the Oilers’ move to Hamilton at their annual meetings on May 8th, 1996.
Centre 200 has hosted junior hockey since the Oilers departure in 1996. The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League are now in the 22nd season of play.
Trivia
Shaun Van Allen (Cape Breton ’88-’93) was the club’s all-time leading scorer with 432 points.
Dan Currie (Cape Breton ’88-’93) was the top goal scorer with 219 tallies over 5 seasons.
Downloads
November 17, 1991 Oilers vs. Rochester Americans Game Notes
11-17-1991 Cape Breton Oilers vs. Rochester Americans Game Notes
Links
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