Brett Kissel curse? Radio host starts petition to stop singer from performing anthem at Oilers playoff games
An Edmonton radio host created a petition to stop country music singer Brett Kissel from performing the anthem at Oilers playoff games – and Kissel signed it.
Virgin Radio's Jenna Winterburn started the petition because she says the Oilers have lost most of the playoffs games where Kissel has performed the United States anthem.
"Simply because our track record when he does it isn't so good," she told CTV News Edmonton Friday morning.
"It's a handful, it's quite a bit, and like I said, the track record just isn't great."
Winterburn said the petition is a light-hearted joke and a superstitious attempt to help her favourite hockey team win playoff games.
The country music singer took the joke in stride. On X, he wrote: "Signed. And no hard feelings taken. It’s my fault Kopitar scored in OT. 100% on me. My fault the Oilers lost in '06 to Carolina too. I sang the anthem at home in my house back in June of 2006. #KisselCurse"
Oilers fan David Murray told CTV News Edmonton at Ice District he's aware of the "curse" but is not sure if he'll sign the petition.
"We've only won one playoff game when he has sung the national anthem," he lamented.
Another fan, Lauren Provencal, added, "If the stats are there to prove it, why wouldn't I [believe it]?"
CTV News Edmonton reached out to Oilers Entertainment Group to confirm how many times Kissel has performed before games, and whether the Oilers did lose each of those playoff games.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Matt Woodman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
Community mourns victims of fatal boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
The three people killed in last weekend's tragic collision between a speedboat and a fishing boat north of Kingston are being remembered Friday.
A woman took her dog to a shelter to be euthanized. A year later, the dog is up for adoption again
Exhausted and short on options after consulting two veterinary clinics, Kristie Pereira made the gut-wrenching decision last year to take her desperately ill puppy to a Maryland shelter to be euthanized.
Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
'A really bad car crash': Why health experts are raising concerns over surging syphilis cases
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that was once thought to be a thing of the past is now a public health priority for North American doctors.
Purolator truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. save man walking in Hwy. 407 lanes
A pair of Purolator transport truck drivers from Guelph, Ont. are being hailed as heroes for their efforts in helping a person in crisis.
Trudeau responds to American senators calling on Canada to increase defence spending
Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.
Toddler dies after being struck by recycling truck in Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood
A toddler has died after being struck by a recycling truck in a Barrie, Ont. neighbourhood on Thursday afternoon.
Milk sold in Canadian grocery stores tested for avian influenza; results released
As avian flu spreads south of the border, Canadian officials are now testing samples of milk sold in grocery stores across the country.