The Edmonton Oilers transformed their Monday night hockey game into a poignant tribute to Canada's military heroes, delivering an emotional Remembrance Day ceremony that saw veterans receive the loudest cheers of the evening at Rogers Place.
Poppies Flood Rogers Place
As part of their pre-game festivities, the Oilers organization orchestrated a multi-media ceremony that filled the arena with symbolic poppies while honouring veterans of Canada's armed services. The atmosphere became particularly electric when the spotlight turned to the Oilers Warriors - former military members whose service spanned generations of Canadian military history.
World War II Hero Receives Rousing Ovation
Among those honoured was Marty Jones, who joined the reserves at just 14 years old and survived the treacherous D-Day crossing to Normandy as a teenage gunner. Serving aboard the destroyer LSI Prince Henry, Jones provided crucial coverage for Canadian soldiers in landing craft approaching the blood-soaked Juno beach before participating in rescue operations for the wounded.
Every time the jumbotron camera focused on Jones cheering for the Oilers, the entire arena erupted in thunderous applause that demonstrated the deep appreciation fans felt for his wartime sacrifices.
44-Year Military Career Recognized
The ceremony also highlighted Bob Jazwinski, a Cold Lake retiree whose remarkable 44-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces and civilian services spanned from 1973 to 2017. During a break in the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jazwinski was brought to ice level while wearing a specially made Oilers jersey bearing his name and number 25.
As a vehicle mechanic in the electrical mechanical engineers, Jazwinski maintained anything that drives on the ground - from tanks and generators to snowmobiles. His service took him to Bosnia in late 1995, where Canadians served as the transitional force between United Nations peacekeepers and the American-fortified international force that assumed control in January 1996.
With his son Mike assisting him with the jersey, Jazwinski expressed being deeply moved by the overwhelming recognition from thousands of fans who quieted down to hear the veterans' stories. I don't have the words to describe it. I'm very humbled by it, he told Postmedia, adding that he felt almost not deserving of such attention when looking at the packed arena.
The veteran, nominated for the honour by his wing chief warrant officer - also a former Old Timers' hockey teammate from his Cold Lake days - seemed perfectly at home in the hockey environment, having played minor, junior, and Old Timers' league hockey himself as a defenseman.
The emotional ceremony provided a powerful backdrop to an exciting game that saw Jake Walman score a last-minute equalizer before Jack Roslovic secured the overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets, though the true winners of the evening were clearly the veterans who captured the hearts of everyone in attendance.
