The battle of Alberta : the historic rivalry between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames

An up-close look at the rivalry between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, told from the perspective of those that were there. Sports writer and on-air personality Mark Spector pays tribute to the province's hockey heyday with a unique blend of humour and homage. "I hated every single guy on the Oilers, 'cause they all hated me." --Tim Hunter, the Calgary Flames In the 1980s, the province of Alberta was home to the two best hockey teams in the NHL. Aptly dubbed "Death Valley" due to the sheer talent and ability of its players, the province not only begat rivalry with other NHL teams, but also sparked fierce competition within its own borders. Thus began The Battle of Alberta, the historic struggle between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames. In The Battle of Alberta, veteran sports journalist Mark Spector presents homage to Albertan hockey, and the two teams that inspired one of the most bitter competitions in NHL history. Through exclusive interviews with coaches, trainers, and players, Spector provides an unbiased, often hilarious look at the brawls, the clashes, and the schemes. A chronicle of an unforgettable time in hockey history (filled with never-before-seen photographs), The Battle of Alberta is guaranteed to entertain fans and educate newcomers alike. "When it comes to sports rivalries, few in history equal the intensity, passion, finesse, and often brutal competitiveness of "The Battle of Alberta", the fierce crusade waged between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames in the 1980s. One of the two teams was the Campbell Conference representative in the Stanley Cup each year from 1983 to 1990. During those seven years, the Oilers and the Flames won every Stanley Cup except for 1986, when Calgary succumbed to Montreal. At the end of almost every game they played each other, the trainer's room looked like an army field hospital on a bad day. Based on first-hand interviews with many of the key players and coaches, and accompanied by never-before-seen colour photos, the Battle of Alberta weaves together the unique story of the Oilers-Flames rivalry in a no-hold-barred manner that puts the reader right in the action, whether it's on the ice or in the locker room."--Publisher