Rexall Place was packed to the limit last night as Oilers fans, and Oilers greats came together to honour and retire the jersey of #9, Glenn Anderson.

 

 

On hand to salute "Andy" were all six prior retirees, Al Hamilton, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier...

 

 

...and of course, Phoenix Coyotes coach, and the greatest to play the game, Wayne Gretzky.

 

 

At first, the ceremony was reminiscent of the Messier retirement, where suddenly the sillouhette of Glenn was in a well-lit entry to the ice.  However, this time, just before he was called out, the man with "Anderson" on his back walked back into the darkness, and the spotlights shot across the ice to the Oilers bench, where among a sea of Oilers in #9, one man hopped over the boards - and it was the real #9!

 

 

Glenn was greeted by his little girl, Autumn.

 

 

A lap around the ice to thank the fans.

 

 

Future Oiler greats with one of the greatest of all time.

 

 

Cal Nichols and Patrick LaForge unveil the commemorative banner for Glenn to take home.  I hope he brought some bungee cables to strap it to the roof of his car...

 

 

Once an Oiler, always an Oiler... unless you're Mike Comrie...

 

 

While this is a very special moment, I couldn't help but think how funny it would have been if they had spelled his name wrong.

 

 

The Anderson family watches their name held high in one of hockey's last remaining original barns...

 

 

7th Heaven for #9 - forever in history.

 

 

Glenn gives some words of thanks to the Oilers, the league, and of course, the fans.  At this point, he made a special point to thank his close friend, Mark Messier.

 

 

The legendary Rod Phillips had one request, and that would be that Messier give the assist to Anderson for one last goal!

 

 

HE SCORES!!!  Complete with post-goal acrobatics, and "Rock and Roll P.2" blaring through the speakers, the call was 9 from 11.  Very cool.

 

 

One of my best friends in the world Jen and I with our "you can't buy these" pennants.  I bought 3 of the ones you could ; )

 

 

The Oilers took to the ice after a short warm-up, and it only got better from there!

 

 

Mark Scholz chats it up with Mess, including a very funny and VERY AWKWARD video blast from the past involving Messier and a hot tub.  You had to be there ; )

 

 

I really don't like this Carcillo kid on the Coyotes.  Last time he was here, he actually got booted from the game for lippin' off at the refs after losing a fight, and he got caught again, this time by Smid.  No game misconduct this time, but it would have been a better night if he was riding the pine.

 

 

Give it a few years, if that, and it won't be long before Bill Ranford gets his name up in the rafters.  It was great to see Ranford again, even if he did get a few jeers for saying that he was goaltending coach for the LA Kings now.  As he put it though, a guy's gotta work for a living!

 

 

In one of the best games for the Oilers I've seen in a while, they cemented a solid 6-3 victory!

 

 

Hmm... 6+3 = 9... Interesting...

 

 

Afterwards at the Starlite Lounge, Jen and I were getting our wristbands, when she pokes me in the arm.  "Look who it is!"  I turn, and there he was!  I felt a little guilty asking him for a picture, but not guilty enough not to do it lol!

 

 

Glenn hosted the party that night, and he brought up some good friends of his...

 

 

 

One of the most underrated bands in Canadian Rock history, THE ODDS!  These guys are some of the best of the best!  For a lot of folks in CISN Country, they're one of those bands who if you heard them, you'd know them instantly.  All I can say is that it was a very cool way to wrap up the night as I had never seen them perform live until this night!

 

 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!  Have a memory you'd like to share?  Please comment below!

 

- Mike