'Still can't believe it': 1st period proposal makes Game 4 victory that much sweeter for Oilers fan
Even though they cheer for opposite teams, a proposal by a Flames fan at Game 4 of the Battle of Alberta received a resounding "yes" from the Oilers-loving bride to be.
Tessa Monias and Payden Partaker were at Rogers Place Tuesday night, for their respective teams when Partaker said he was approached by a cameraman.
"He says, 'Hey buddy, I see your girlfriend is an Edmonton fan, when the Oilers score I'm going to point the camera at you and they're going to haze you," he said.
Partaker said at that point he whispered in the cameraman's ear, "when the Oilers score I'm going to propose to my girlfriend."
With a shocked nod from the cameraman, the plan was in place. Little did Partaker know, he didn't have to wait long. Just 21 seconds into the first period, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins opened up the scoring, causing Partaker to drop to one knee much earlier than expected.
"She was so busy watching and cheering for her team," he said. "She didn't even notice me go onto my knee."
"I was like, in shock and I couldn't believe it, it was just amazing," said Monias. "I still can't believe it."
Partaker expected a heckler here and there, but there were no naysayers in the vicinity.
"I was expecting to get hazed at least by one Edmonton Oiler fan saying, 'Don't do it, he's a Calgary Flames fan,' but the fans around us actually just felt like family," said Partaker. "They were congratulating us and they were happy for us."
The team rivalry between the couple is deep seeded, each cheering for their dad's favourite team. Calgary for Partaker, Edmonton for Monias.
"It made us strong, because we had to hear hazing from both sides," laughed Partaker.
Partaker said his plan if the Oilers didn't score was to propose in the dying seconds of the third period.
"It was going to happen no matter what," said Partaker.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Carlyle Fiset
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Anti-Taliban law could be tweaked to get more humanitarian aid to Afghans: minister
A law outlawing any dealings with the Taliban, which charities complain is impeding their ability to help needy Afghans, could be adjusted by the federal government to give more flexibility to aid agencies.

Russian forces press assault on eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk
Russian forces are pounding the city of Lysychansk and its surroundings in an all-out attempt to seize the last stronghold of resistance in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, the governor said Saturday.
Home sales could fall by one-quarter on average this year: TD report
A new report from TD says Canadian home sales could fall by nearly one-quarter on average this year and remain low into 2023.
Biden intends to nominate a conservative, anti-abortion lawyer to federal judgeship, Kentucky Democrats say
U.S. President Joe Biden intends to nominate an anti-abortion Republican lawyer to a federal judgeship, two Kentucky Democrats informed of the decision say.
Celebrations, protests take place on Canada Day in Ottawa
Thousands of people wearing red and white and waiving Canadian flags packed downtown Ottawa to celebrate Canada's 155th birthday on Friday, while groups of protesters popped up around Parliament Hill to protest COVID-19 vaccines and federal restrictions.
'You do not want this' virus: California man with monkeypox urges others to get vaccinated
A California man has posted a widely-shared video in an attempt to educate people about the monkeypox virus outbreak, to encourage people to get vaccinated if they're eligible and to make it very clear: 'You do not want this.'
Quebec could see increase in unhoused people as leases expire across province: housing group
A prominent housing advocacy group fears Quebec could see an increase in households left without a permanent place to live as leases expire across the province on July 1.
Infection with HIV can accelerate aging within the first two to three years of infection, study says
Living with HIV may have an immediate effect on how your body ages, according to new research which showed that cellular aging was sped up within two to three years of infection.
With hospitalizations up, France weighs return to masks
Tourism is booming again in France -- and so is COVID-19. French officials have 'invited' or 'recommended' people to go back to using face masks but stopped short of renewing restrictions that would scare visitors away or revive antigovernment protests.