'Maybe it's a little overkill': Edmonton Oilers fan builds Oilers-themed basement
An Edmonton man has turned his basement into the ultimate Edmonton Oilers haven.
Ken Stevenson has been an Oilers fan since they were introduced into the NHL in 1979. Stevenson's dad bought season tickets and they would often go together to watch the Oilers in action.
Stevenson's blue and orange basement is filled with all sorts of Oilers memorabilia including banners, decor, an old Northlands Coliseum seat mounted to the wall and the one that started it all, an old magazine of Wayne Gretzky's retirement from hockey in 1999.
He started the passion project after suffering disabling injuries in a car wreck that left him quadriplegic nearly 15 years ago.
"I eventually got the opportunity to custom build a house – I had to because of my injury," Stevenson said. "I thought, 'Well, we're going to need a theatre room, but why not make it fun – make it an Oilers room.'"
Stevenson's attachment to the Oilers was shared by his late father. Now he gets to share his basement with his son with one of their game-day rituals – basking in the Oilers basement for good luck.
Some notable pieces featured in Stevenson's collection are a replica Stanley Cup autographed by former champions, signed pictures of various Oilers, and the centre-piece for the basement – a trio of signed jerseys and game-used sticks from Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid, with McDavid's game-used stick the only missing piece to complete the display.
"Connor – I'm missing a signed stick in the middle right above your shadowbox. Just to complete my wall, I'd sure like to get one," Stevenson added.
Stevenson still plans on expanding his man cave collection, hoping to get a replica player stall complete with an Oilers helmet, gloves, stick and jersey installed sometime in the future.
"Maybe it's a little overkill for a lot of people but it's how I'll be showing my pride for my Oilers," Stevenson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979415.1722030986!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Paris Olympics kicks off with ambitious but rainy opening ceremony on the Seine River
Celebrating its reputation as a cradle of revolution, Paris kicked off its first Summer Olympics in a century on Friday with a rain-soaked, rule-breaking opening ceremony studded with stars and fantasy along the Seine River.
BREAKING Celine Dion stages comeback with performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career during the opening ceremony at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before Jasper can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes "for several weeks."
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn $146,000 for water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six figure water bill.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Canada's Christine Sinclair: 'We were never shown drone footage'
Canada soccer great Christine Sinclair said on Friday national team players were never shown drone footage during the more than two decades she was on the team, following a spying scandal that cast a shadow over the Canadians at the Paris Games.
At least 4 buildings burned at Jasper Park Lodge, others damaged: Fairmont memo
The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge said Thursday afternoon most of its structures are 'standing and intact,' including its iconic main lodge.