As the Sunshine State celebrates a Stanley Cup victory, Edmonton fans are left in the gloom following the Oilers’ Game 7 loss.
“I feel horrible right now, I don’t know what to do. I’m lost, I have no purpose,” one Edmontonian told CityNews.
Another fan expressed, “Honestly, I thought this was going to be our year for the Oilers. I thought this was going to be it and I’m disappointed, to say the least.” The sentiment echoed throughout the city, with fans experiencing a mix of pride and deep disappointment.
Despite the heartbreaking end to Edmonton’s playoff run, Boston Pizza is sticking to its promise of giving away 30,000 free pizzas to support the grieving hockey fans.
The company had initially pledged the free pizzas if the Oilers broke Canada’s 30-year Stanley Cup drought but decided to honor the commitment regardless of the outcome.
“Since the playoffs began, we’ve encouraged Canadians to team up for the win, and with the Game 7 win on the line, we decided to bet it all on Edmonton with the promise of 30,000 small pizzas,” said Niels van Oyen, director of marketing for Boston Pizza International.
“We’re amending that promise today. We’re going to give 30,000 pizzas to grieving hockey fans instead. While we can’t make it rain hot pizza on parade day, grieving fans in Edmonton and other parts of the country can be on the lookout for these coupons.”
To deliver on this promise, a Boston Pizza delivery truck will distribute consolation coupons redeemable for a small pizza throughout Edmonton on Wednesday. Additionally, Edmontonians can visit Boston Pizza in the ice district tomorrow afternoon between 2-4 PM to collect their free small pizza coupon.
Van Oyen emphasized that the gesture extends beyond Edmonton. “We have Boston Pizza restaurants from coast to coast, and we saw fans fill our sports bars for over a month. We want to make sure that beyond Edmonton, we’re surprising some lucky guests with these free small pizza coupons as well. The best way to get your coupon is to visit Boston Pizza and enjoy your meal, and you might just receive a special coupon surprise at the end of your visit,” he added.
The appreciation from Boston Pizza towards its patrons is profound. “We are so lucky to have such great guests and such passionate fans. Over the course of the playoffs, we have seen our sports bars filled with fans cheering for their favorite teams. As the playoffs went on, they continued cheering for the remaining Canadian teams. We are so appreciative of all of our guests and fans for choosing to watch the game at Boston Pizza and supporting our local franchise, so we wanted to give back to these loyal fans. We think that free small pizzas as a small consolation prize is the perfect way to do that.”
Despite the disappointing loss, Oilers fans remain optimistic and loyal. “Our boys are going to bounce back from this loss, they’re going to regroup and we’re going to come back stronger next year,” said one fan. Another added, “I think next year is our year. If Nuge and McDavid stay with us, we will get the cup next year.”
Boston Pizza’s gesture is a comforting reminder of community support and resilience, as Edmonton fans look forward to a brighter season ahead.