Oilers reveal custom WWE-like player of the game belt
The Edmonton Oilers are taking inspiration from professional wrestling in a new post-game tradition this season.
Last year, fans were delighted to see the team award a paintbrush and a plunger to the top offensive and defensive player respectfully. This time around, it appears the team is going a more traditional route than we see from a few other teams around the league.
We already knew that they had a custom hard hat to award to, presumably, the hardest-working player in a game, but they’ve also added a glitzy WWE-style belt to bestow upon the team’s player of the game.
The Oilers social media crew revealed the belt on social media following last night’s 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
Did you notice the new player of the game belt?! 💪 #LetsGoOilers https://t.co/234h9kxDa7 pic.twitter.com/LVA4Yao37t
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 20, 2024
The belt includes the Oilers logo in a striking black and gold colour palette with the slogan “This is Oil Country” encircling it. It also features an old shoulder patch of the team that has an oil rig worker wielding a hockey stick, the same logo the team also used as the basis for a “Day of the Dead” logo earlier this season.
The Oilers did reveal another belt at the beginning of the season, but this one looks much cooler in comparison.
Evan Bouchard was the recipient of the new belt last night after scoring perhaps the prettiest Oilers goal of the season to open the scoring and adding two more assists in a winning effort.
It was certainly a goal worth awarding the belt for.
OH MY EVAN BOUCHARD! WHAT A GOAL pic.twitter.com/11bHqouiYu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 20, 2024
The inspiration behind the belt’s concept has not been revealed, though it does resemble a WWE championship belt. Perhaps it’s also a nod to the late Joey Moss, a former locker room attendant who was fascinated with professional wrestling. It wouldn’t be the first time the team had incorporated Moss’ memory into a post-game celebration.
As the season wears on, Oilers fans will be hoping to see plenty more of the new belt, as that would mean that the team is winning more than they are losing. Perhaps we could even get a crossover with the Stanley Cup when it’s all said and done.