Edmonton Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe issued an apology to fans of the hockey team after his temper ran high during Monday’s press conference to introduce Craig MacTavish as the new Oilers general manager and Scott Howson as the club’s senior vice president of hockey operations (MacTavish’s old role).
“Yesterday was a day full of excitement and passion and emotion, and I must admit my emotion ran a little high,” Lowe says on a video recorded Tuesday evening and released via the Oilers website Wednesday morning. “We appreciate and are grateful for every one of our fans who cheer for us, through good times and bad.”
When pushed by reporters on the Oilers woeful record Monday, Lowe said they answer to the fans, adding that there were two types of fans and that they listen to those who buy the tickets.
He seemed to be implying the Oilers listen to those fans because they’re handy to talk to because they’re in the building, but it didn’t come off that way.
In Wednesday’s 80-second video clip, Lowe stresses that the Oilers brass appreciate the fans who both attend games and those who only catch the games on television.
“I did not make that clear yesterday,” Lowe says. “And if I offended anyone, I apologize.”
MacTavish, Howson and Lowe have been with the Oilers in management and coaching capacities to varying degrees throughout the team’s seven-year playoff drought.
Lowe got heated Monday when one reporter pointed that out to him.
“How are fans are going to be reassured that the group that left the mess that Tambellini couldn’t quite clean up is now going to be cleaned up by the guys who left the mess to begin with?” the reporter asked.
“In terms of the group that messed things up, you’re talking about the group that had a team one period away from winning the Stanley Cup?” Lowe shot back.
“Seven years ago,” said the reporter.
Lowe pressed on. He said after coming close to the Stanley Cup in 2006 Oilers management decided to try to keep the core group together. When that failed three years ago, they overhauled the roster and started from scratch.
“Are you saying to me you’re getting impatient after three years?” challenged Lowe.
“There’s one other guy I believe in hockey today that is still working in the game that has won more Stanley Cups than me. So I think I know a little bit about winning.”
(with files from CP)