THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY -- The owner of an upscale Calgary restaurant is furious, claiming that Edmonton Oilers players refused to cover the full cost of a nearly $17,000 tab during a New Year's Eve night out for team members.

Players were eating at Osteria De Medici, an upscale restaurant in northwest Calgary after their game against the Flames Thursday.

Maurizio Terrigno, owner of the eatery where former U.S. president George W. Bush dined when he was in Calgary last year, says the team was partying with a group of 45 people and ran up a huge bill, which included a bar tab worth close to $8,000.

Terrigno says the players refused to pay the full price and tried to negotiate after a dispute arose about the way they were charged for shooters ordered by the group.

Terrigno says he threatened to call police and the players eventually paid a recalculated bill of approximately $12,000.