Few teams have been as successful as the mid-1980s Edmonton Oilers. But even though they won five Stanley Cups in seven years, the players didn’t prepare for games the same way today’s players do. To say the least. The day before Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Final, Oilers goaltender Grant Fuhr played a whopping 54 holes of golf, Wayne Gretzky recalls.
Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey – and Grant Fuhr in net. The Edmonton Oilers roster in the 1980s was so star-studded that it’s almost hard to believe today.
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Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cups
In the 1983–84 season, the Oilers finally ended the New York Islanders dynasty, during which they won four consecutive Stanley Cups, and started their own dynasty. The Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990. Goaltender Grant Fuhr was there for all of them. Wayne Gretzky, who stunned the hockey world with the numbers he put up during those years, won four Cups with the Oilers. Even though they were so good, they didn’t really prepare physically for games the way today’s players do.
1987 Stanley Cup final
In the 1987 Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers faced the Philadelphia Flyers for the second time in three seasons. The Oilers took a 3–1 lead in the series, but the Flyers fought back and forced a Game 7 in Edmonton. Before a season-deciding Game 7, most players would relax at home the day before to make sure they were well-rested. But not Grant Fuhr. Wayne Gretzky recalled what happened in the locker room before the game.
Grant Fuhr’s warmups
“I was sitting beside him in the locker room and the media had come in. A writer for the Edmonton Journal happened to say to Fuhresy, ‘What did you do yesterday?’ and Grant said, ‘I went golfing.’ And all the media was in shock that a guy would go golfing the day before a Game 7. One of the writers said to him, ‘How many holes did you play?’ Grant said, ‘54 holes.’ And I’ll never forget for as long as I live, the media guys were just in shock at this statement. Somebody said, ‘How come you played 54 holes?’ And Grant just quietly said, ‘Well, it got dark. I couldn’t play 72.’ Of course, we won 3–1 and he stood on his head,” Gretzky revealed.
You can watch the video below.
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