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
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
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.
Five things to know about the NHL playoffs
The Florida Panthers got close but fell short of going up 2-0 in their series on Friday, something the Edmonton Oilers look to do Saturday night.
Prescriptions for weight loss, diabetes drugs for young people leaped 600% since 2020, study says
The number of young people in the U.S. who are prescribed GLP-1 agonist drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic for weight loss and diabetes soared 594.4 per cent in just three years, according to new research.
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.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of a 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
How to keep insects out of your house, according to an entomologist and other experts
Now that temperatures have warmed up even more this spring, you may be anxious at the thought of bugs invading your home or you may already be battling the pests. Here are expert tips on how to keep them away.
Ford thanks Ottawa as minister cites 'deep concerns' over Toronto's decriminalization
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is thanking the federal government for rejecting Toronto's long-stalled pitch to decriminalize the possession of illegal drugs.
After toddler's near drowning in backyard pool, Quebec mom has warning for parents
A Quebec mother who saved her child from the bottom of a backyard pool last weekend has a message for other families.