Students in Carson Soucy’s Alberta hometown split on Oilers, Canucks

Article content

Irma (pop: 521) is Soucy’s hometown. It’s about a two-hour drive southeast from Edmonton. Irma School runs from kindergarten through Grade 12, and Soucy’s aunt Diane Schubada is a kindergarten teacher. Soucy, who’s in his first season as a Canucks defenceman, has been known to visit classes from time to time when he’s able.

Article content

The school celebrated the opening of the best-of-seven second round series between the Canucks and Oilers on Wednesday, before Game 1 at Rogers Arena. A Canucks flag and an Oilers flag flew side by side at the front of the building. Staff and students were invited to wear Canucks or Oilers gear, and it was well divided, going off the photos put on Irma School’s Facebook page.

“There were a few more Oilers jerseys than I’d like to see,” Soucy joked during media availability on Thursday. “I understand it’s hard for lifetime Oilers fans to root for the Canucks this post-season, but I’ll be taking notes on who’s wearing the Vancouver jerseys. 

Article content

“I understand that the Oilers still mean a lot to that part of Alberta. I can see why there were a lot of Edmonton jerseys.” 

Vancouver will be looking to take a 2-0 series lead Friday at Rogers Arena, coming off a 5-4 win Wednesday that saw them rally from a 4-1 deficit.

Soucy, 29, admitted Thursday that the “adrenalin was going for hours after the game last night.

“That was the loudest building that I’ve ever been a part of after the fourth and fifth goals,” added Soucy, a five-year NHL veteran who signed with Vancouver in the off-season as a free agent after playing the past two seasons with the Seattle Kraken. “Even on the bench, you couldn’t hear a thing. Next whistle, couldn’t hear a thing still.

“I think we did a good job of harnessing that, just enjoying it. The crowd, being down 4-1, didn’t give up. We didn’t give up. It was awesome.

Article content

“It’s nice to have the day today to come in, get treatment, refresh a little bit, because it’s tough to fall asleep. Even my wife said she had a hard time falling asleep.” 

[email protected]

Read more of our Canucks vs Oilers Round 2 playoff coverage:

• Vancouver vs. Edmonton: Here are 8 things each city is ‘winning’
• Canucks vs. Oilers: Arturs Silovs or Casey DeSmith, who’s your goalie for Game 2?
• Canucks vs. Oilers: Kindergarten class in Carson Soucy’s Alberta hometown is divided on series
• Canucks viewing parties: Here’s where to watch the Canucks vs. Oilers Round 2 playoffs
• 5 crucial questions facing the Canucks in Round 2
• Could Thatcher Demko really play vs. the Oilers?
• Canucks vs. Oilers: All a bloodless rivalry needs is a playoff series
• ESPN seems to hate Vancouver
• Canucks this week, playoff edition: Underdogs against the Oilers — just the way we like it
• Pearl Jam leaves Vancouver with special Canucks message
• Like Rocky Balboa, Arturs Silovs wants to go distance against Stuart Skinner
• After half a century on the back burner, might Oilers-Canucks rivalry finally be heating up?
• How Pius Suter makes the Miller line go from good to dominant
• ‘I can’t stand’ it: Canucks coach Rick Tocchet tired of embellishment in playoffs
• Underdogs? Quinn Hughes ‘prepared to play my best hockey’
• J.T. Miller on matching up against Connor McDavid: ‘He’s different than anybody’
• Unplugging Edmonton’s potent playoff power play is top priority

ROUND 2! SIGN UP TO GET YOUR FREE CANUCKS PLAYOFF POSTERS: We are proud to partner with the Vancouver Canucks to bring you this year’s edition of the longtime Province tradition, the Canucks Playoff Poster series. CLICK HERE to get a new player poster emailed to you every game day, plus all the posters from Round 1!

Share this article in your social network