Edmonton Oilers Hire a Figure Skating Champion as a Coach

TSN – The Edmonton Oilers have added former Olympic figure skating champion David Pelletier as a skating coach. Pelletier is best known for winning the Olympic gold in pairs figure skating along with partner Jamie Sale at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. The Canadians were awarded gold medals along with a Russian pair after a judging scandal. It was Canada’s first Olympic gold in pairs figure skating in 42 years. Pelletier, a 39-year-old from Sayabec, Que., also paired with Sale to win three Canadian champions, a World champions, and a Grand-Prix Final title. He has been inducted into the Skate Canada Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Sorry, Bruins fans, but it looks like the dream of another banner is pretty much over.  The Oilers just put the Stanley Cup in a headlock for the foreseeable future.  This is the beginning of a second dynasty for them and I think it’s fair to say David Pelletier will be the most important figure in the history of the franchise.  Any man that was able to carry Jamie Sale over his head with one hand during their legendary “Orchid” short program (to Rachmaninoff’s “Adagio Sostenuno”) or land perfect side-by-side Triple Lutz /Double Toe Loop combinations like they did during their flawless “Love Story” long program in Salt Lake, can teach the Oilers to skate circles around the Zdeno Charas of the world.  With all due respect to Cam & Claude, they’re living in the past.  Still coaching hockey like it’s the 1930s and their on some pond in Ontario.  Whereas in Edmonton, they’re showing the kind of forward thinking that’s going to leave dinosaurs like the Bruins on the ash heap of history if they don’t get with the times.  The future of hockey is all about Artist Impression.  Salchows.  Sit-spins.  Triple Axels.  Pelletier is about to revolutionize the game, take it vertical and make the biggest change any sport has experienced since football legalized the forward pass.  When it comes to old school, traditional hockey coaching, to steal a phrase from Herb Brooks, their time is over.  This is figure skating’s time!  @JerryThornton1