Stanley Cup Finals: Longtime Oilers fan from Europe travels between Edmonton, Florida for games

Christian Huegl has been loyal to the Edmonton Oilers ever since the hockey fan born in Germany picked up a copy of NHL 98 and fell in love with how the team was portrayed in the video game.
“When I put on my jersey, I felt so much pride," Huegl said.
Huegl has been to Edmonton twice to see the Oilers play - the first time was the last game the team played at Rexall Place. Then two years ago, he went to a few home games during the playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings. But he always wanted to see his team make it to the Stanley Cup Final.
“I decided back in ’06 when they lost to Carolina (Hurricanes), if I have the chance to make it when they advance the next time to the final, I will do it,” he said.
He now lives in Switzerland and flew 11 hours to Miami to see Game 5, in which the Oilers defeated the Florida Panthers to extend the series. Huegl will travel to Edmonton for Game 6.
“You cannot plan to have success, so who knows if they make it next year?" he said.
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‪@edmontonoilers‬

[@claytononcars]

What a beauty. Hopefully he gets treated like he just became a part of an Edmonton family when he travels to Alberta. Great story!

[@Ryan-yi5ro]

Hopefully somebody hooks him up at the EDM game.

[@tudormiller887]

Amazing! What's the furthest a Florida fan has to travel to watch a game ? 🤔🏒🏆

[@nsar2638]

I can’t wait till he goes to Edmonton and hears the fans sing the Canadian national anthem. He will get goosebumps

[@chrisullrich5740]

It’s my dream to go to Edmonton for a game.

[@KamilRozkopal]

I get goosebumps just by watching it in TV

[@nopenada2271]

Was there for the 2 last regular season games, drove from BC. Hadn't seen a hame in 25 years and the anthem almost had me weeping

[@MoreSaladDressing]

Which version? 😅😅😅😅

[@kode-man23]

He’s a real one since 06!!! That’s some enduring to go through and not give up.

[@l.c.3150]

Since 1998

[@kode-man23]

@@l.c.3150 Yeah but those were some fun teams around that time. Beat the Stars in 97, beat the Avs in 1998. Then they were usually always at least a plucky underdog team that made the playoffs more often than not. I guess that I should have been more clear that if you were a fan of this team between 06 and 2015, you’re a real fan of the team haha.

[@chobitASHL3Y]

that's crazy. i immediately just assumed he was a fan of drai(lol) but he's been a fan since '98? gah damn. win or lose, the oilers are lucky to have fans like this. i hope they win it just for this guy lol

[@tudormiller887]

That's true commitment & dedication. Are Florida fans that dedicated to their franchise ? 🤔🏒

[@davidandersgage-pd3kr]

Ryan Smyth is an Icon in E-town as you know !! He gave Everything To Our Team !!! Roger’s Place will Blow You Away !! EnJoyyyyyy !!!

[@user-zv8yl3lk8x]

This man must protected at all costs

[@BramStoked-uq4hp]

Talking earnestly about his pride in putting on the Oilers jersey - the pure essence of fandom. The NHL should make an ad about team loyalty with this man.

[@nicherman6759]

I hope bro gets the best hospitality of our fans here in edmonton but i know he will cause he’s wearing the right colours in the right city. Youre going to have a blast lets hope our boys keep playing strong

[@barryjgillis]

Welcome back to Edmonton. We are happy to have you back again... Go Oilers Go...

[@eddyf4426]

This guy's a beaut! You will never be alone watching Oilers games ever again. Get this man a Canadian Passport!

[@999one]

He does or he wouldn’t have been able to go to Edmonton lol.

[@wadekevin2074]

Awesome. Oilers fan's all over the world. Go oilers

[@tudormiller887]

Yeah! How many Florida fans (non north American) are there globally ? 🤔

[@BrettWB]

Oilers fans travel so damn well!!! Incredibly happy for this man!

[@Simple_101]

An Oilers fan from Switzerland. I hope the Oilers bring down the house on Friday for game 6, if nothing else, just for this man’s dedication to the team. What an awesome story!

[@tudormiller887]

🇨🇭 ? 👍 I'm from 🇬🇧 ❤🇨🇦🏒

[@paulg6274]

What a beauty! Welcome to party in Edmonton any time!

[@tudormiller887]

A party not a riot, unlike in Vancouver. 👍

[@fkturdo]

We love you sir, thank you for visiting, if there is anything you need say the word here.

[@armswar]

Global needs to find this guy before and after the game Friday here in Edmonton lol. Would make for great content!

[@chrisullrich5740]

Oh man! This guys a beauty. True fan

[@Squishysforbreakfast]

Wow, what a great fan. Oil country will greet him with smiles and arms wide open.

[@lenaforsgren]

Wow, I can only imagine the magic he must have felt during game 5 and 6!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@videosbydrake]

Must’ve been priceless!! 🤯🤩

[@lenaforsgren]

@@videosbydrake Yes! I hope he’ll get a ticket for game 7, although it seems to be fun watching the game on a big screen as well. Hopefully the game will be awesome whichever team wins!

[@t1nzl744]

💙🧡 true fan! Welcome to Edmonton

[@cobra_1964]

I love this guy

[@ratboy717]

OMG i remember that scene of Jason Arnott from the nhl 98 intro! I love that it inspired him to cheer for the Oil.. Edmontonian here, this is just so cool. Hope you have the time of your life man, LETS GO OILERS

[@jockejocke1]

Me too, I played NHL 94, 97, 98 and 99 a lot. 99 became my favorite and I played it for many years.

[@robbryce4884]

Oiler Nation, reach out to this man and take care of him!

[@TrevorSchulz666]

He does not wash that jersey. I support that move

[@Mark-kr5go]

Damn, can't unsee that lol

[@alfyer5]

Superstition. Haven’t you seen Mcdavid’s socks? 😂

[@747Cone]

What a beauty. Since Arnott

[@TrentZambiDawg]

Awesomeness you bring great luck buddy thank you!

[@truthserum969]

This warms my soul.

[@Oilerfan1982]

I love watching things like this..way to go buddy! LETS GO OILERS!!!!!

[@tudormiller887]

No matter the result, Oilers fans are so committed to the team & the franchise. If only Gary Bettman would watch this video. This is what many of those NHL expansion teams lack. 🇩🇪🏒🇨🇦

[@wayneblanchard4635]

Love this guy,enjoy our victory tomorrow night.

[@leelantern805]

Respect for this fan, he is a true blue and orange die hard

[@gojakeog]

what a beauty. hope you get a amazing game 6 in edmonton. go walking through the river valley when your there

[@Asher8328]

Superfan, lol. This guy is awesome.

[@ViktorDavare157]

Super Cool video and interview I hope he has the best time there in Edmonton

[@davidandersgage-pd3kr]

How great Welcome back to Oil Country Soon !!! Hardcore Fan, knows a lot you can tell !! Third time to Edmonton !!

[@richardcardinal9420]

That's awesome

[@Swimding]

Solid! Welcome to YEG.

[@patplayswell6950]

I hope they show him at the game.

[@markgaudreau8053]

good story, hope they win!!!!

[@BritnyCharron]

Come on Edmonton make him proud don’t let us down for Monday he must be so happy 😁 proud 😊so excited happy 😊

[@markgaudreau8053]

RIP Hans

[@jamesfranchuk4396]

Awesome fan. Love you already buddy

[@curmudgeonaf]

Need a follow up from that guy during Game 6

[@BrianBaileyedtech]

This is a phenomenal story - and so is mine! Growing up back in Ontario in the 70's and 80's I was aware of Wayne Gretzky and remember when he scored the ridiculous number of goals in Pee Wee - 378 in ONE season. Then I saw him play in my hometown of Kingston when he was playing for the Sault Grey Hounds in the OHL. After that I saw his season in the WHA's Indianapolis followed by, well of course, the Oilers Dynasty. At the time I was a diehard Montreal Canadiens fan but EVERYONE was in awe of the Great One, regardless of what team you were supporting in the NHL - you were just proud he was Canadian, playing in Canada - the GOAT! Then the treasonous transfer to LA and our hearts were broken. I stopped watching hockey for several years. Then in 06, I was living in Vancouver and had some business in Edmonton. It coincided with an Oilers Anaheim playoff game so I went - they won - it was electric in Edmonton. That night Edmonton was the most fun city on the planet - horns blaring, high-fiving strangers, friendly Canadians having a city-wide party! I'll never forget it. This year - I am a Canucks fan, have been for years since I moved there in 96 (yes I know, I cheered for Edmonton in 06 but Van City was out and I ALWAYS support Canadian teams - F Gary Bettman you know?!). I thought the Canucks could go all the way but they didn't in spite of a valiant effort - Edmonton stopped them. At first I was pissed but then I said - OK Edmonton, if you beat my team then you had better go all the way to make it sting less. And look at you now - this could be the greatest Stanley Cup comeback in hockey history - indeed the greatest comeback in ANY sport (never even happened ONCE in basketball for example) - because in 42 when the Leafs became the ONLY team to ever come back and win the SC from 0-3 - it was WW2 and the talent was sparse. Doing it now, in the era of virtual talent equity in the NHL - is an almost superhuman feat. Not done yet but even coming back to 3-3 is one for the history books. However it is the WAY they came back that is truly historic - they shellacked Florida for 18 goals in those three games while only allowing 5. Can't wait for G7!!!!!!!!!!!! And those fans in Edmonton, and that city that I came to love over two decades ago - F'in Eh!!!!! Get 'er DONE!!!!

[@randysingh9334]

That's really cool I had a copy of NHL 98 when I was 12. It was my first PC hockey game.

[@dmullz100]

Mine was 99 on PC, also had 06

[@markgaudreau8053]

Women in Florida take note: this man is committed!!!!!!!

[@firewatermoonsun]

Great story!

[@dangielfrauk8484]

This guy is rad.

[@davidandersgage-pd3kr]

How Greattttttt Oillllll Babyyyyy All On Board !!! Wait until You Experience Oil Countryyyyyy

[@linodinardo4798]

If you are gonna win it for one person..this is the guy!

[@awildcolinappears]

heck yes brother

[@BrokTheLoneWolf]

What a beauty

[@Chris-qo4rt]

Please Oilers win for this guy!

[@Lowgarr]

That jersey has seen some things lol.

[@cyclesofevolution]

💙🧡💙🧡 WE WANT THE CUP !!

[@BritnyCharron]

Yes come on let’s go Edmonton oilers 🧡💙🫶🧡💙🤍🧡💙🤍🙏🙏👏👏🏆🏆🙏🙏🤞🤞🥂🥳🥳🎖️🎖️yes bring the cup back home 🏡 finally

[@cm7742]

Let's go Oilers 🧡💙🧡💙💪🏆

[@alxk78]

If he liked them in 98" then he would be losing mind in 85/86.

[@Tribuneoftheplebs]

My most prized possesion is an oilers game puck signed by Ryan Smyth so I know how he feels

[@armandoalves4770]

Welcome to Edmonton Strap yourself in for the ride in game 6

[@cromdaleblvd4677]

....its just hockey brother.....RELAX

[@dbriley18]

awesome

[@pattaccone5347]

Glad you got to see game 6 ! Are you going to game 7 ? 😂

[@severinruedi51]

🇨🇭🏒🔥👍🏻 great fan! but I'm a panthers fan🇨🇭

[@cap6741]

What's legend

[@davidedwards3838]

Would love to see his reaction to gane 6.

[@TheKisj]

I wish i had the money to do what this man does

[@samuelc1817]

Most people were thinking that while they watched it. Your not alone sir

[@kovuroo]

That's awesome haha

[@ColdHardToronto]

🥰🥰🥰

[@onelove1968]

This dude just walked 20 feet backwards throughout the entire interview. He probably didn't wanna catch COVID from that mic.

[@johnsean8491]

Christian, du bist zu geil, du bist zu geil. du bist zu geil fur diese welt!!!!

[@xxmega__chronicxx3768]

Well,I guess we will see him on Friday then lmao. GO OILERS GO !

[@cromdaleblvd4677]

damn he must be rich......

[@Georgethediver]

Switzerland ?? I thought he is from Germany

[@Fricky27]

The description says he was born in Germany, but now seems to life in Switzerland. I was also confused in the beginning.

[@venturi934]

5:29 Drag them back to Edmonton

[@atrealdino6667]

☯️✌️📺

[@TBA-zv9qt]

He must a rich man or living off his credit card like most Canadians and Americans 😂😂😂

[@tman6663]

That’s a jersey that needs a serious washing, with a lil more love

[@Tater_Poutine]

HOCKEY!! That's enough..

[@StevenCudnoch-oo9gp]

Barkov's dad is a traitor!

[@mercywilliams2698]

This is an awesome real life story! He began following hockey in 1998.. I had to retire from hockey work due to health issues end of 1998. My job came from Gretzky being traded to Kings in 1988. I have been rooting for Oilers to win Cup. They last won in 1990.. my first season of working LA hockey. It was bittersweet for Edmonton as Gretzky no longer there. This guy’s story just confirms why I love this game. It’s a world of community and intersecting moments. 🥅🏒🏆🌟🌟🌟

[@Pepe46873]

Must be nice to have 30k to spend watching millionaires skate around

[@jacob1351]

Shush dude

[@paulg6274]

You don't need 30k man. More like 5-6k including flights ect

[@nello1591]

I mean if he planned on it since 2006 he may have saved money for when the time arrived.

[@thecheesecakeman]

@@nello1591 he also has Euros so that's easy for him.

[@ColdHardToronto]

You must be fun at parties

[@esotericveritas]

The rudest, most conceited and delusional fanbase there is...... sad.

[@wademacphee3924]

Good stuff Ole boy