Edmonton Oilers to host Lunar New Year game with special jerseys

Edmonton artist Emily Chu has designed a Year of the Snake logo for the Edmonton Oilers.

The Edmonton Oilers will celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

The game will feature multiple cultural performances, including a Dragon Dance by the Chiu Lau Kung Fu College, and community kiosks located throughout the concourse to ring in the Lunar New Year.

Special Year of the Snake jerseys designed by local artist Emily Chu will be sold at the Oilers Team Store and online. The design will be featured throughout Rogers Place and on limited-edition merchandise.

A portion of the proceeds of the limited-edition merchandise will go toward Re:Vita, an Edmonton Chinatown vibrancy group.

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“As someone born in the Year of the Snake, I am thrilled to create this Lunar New Year logo for the Oilers,” said Chu, calling the snake “wise, intuitive, and thoughtful.”

The award-winning visual artist said the logo was inspired by Chinese knots and loops, which often symbolizes good luck and protection, with mahjong tile designs making up the outer circle representing the snake’s playful and mysterious character.

“It’s really neat to be able to implement that artwork into a logo such as this, and also to bring a little bit more of the showcasing of Chinatown, and just local arts in general … it means a lot,” Chu told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday.

The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and local Chinese community groups will host the first all-Chinese Oilers First Shift cohort at the Downtown Community Arena in Ice District during the intermission.

“Programs like the First Shift program and the Lunar New Year event hosted by the Oilers hold immense significance for the Chinese community,” said Gloria Gao, the president of Immigration Community Alberta Network Association.

“These initiatives not only foster inclusivity, but also create opportunities for Chinese players to feel welcomed and excited to participate in hockey and cultural celebrations,” she added.

The Oilers will host more cultural celebration games in the coming weeks, such as the Oilers Celebrating Black Excellence game on Feb. 7 and the Oilers South Asian Celebration night on March 4.

Tickets to the Oilers Lunar New Year game can be purchased online. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.