There is a special connection between Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch and newly minted Edmonton Elks coach Mark Kilam.
The CFL team introduced Kilam as the new coach of the Elks last week and he was at Rogers Place this morning to meet with members of the Oilers organization. Of course, a meeting between Knoblauch and Kilam was front and centre after a morning skate.
Knoblauch welcomed Kilam up to the podium at Rogers Place and exchanged Oilers and Elks jerseys. They also held up a pair of University of Alberta Golden Bears jerseys, which the two are both alumni of.
“Welcome, Mark, to the coaching fraternity in Edmonton,” Knoblauch said this morning. “I know you’re familiar with Edmonton and it’s good to have you back.”
Golden Bears to the Pros 🤝 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/eOSkq9RLOX
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 5, 2024
Not only did the two coaches play sports for the University of Alberta, but they also played at roughly the same time. Knoblauch was a hockey player at the university from 1999 to 2004, while Kilam was on the Golden Bears football team from 1997 to 2001.
To have two former Golden Bears heading the benches of both of Edmonton’s premier sports teams is quite a unique position.
“I am very proud of my time at the U of A, I think very highly of the school,” Knoblauch told reporters. “I think very highly of the students that have gone there, especially the student-athletes, and you see somebody like Mark who has worked very hard for his opportunity, it’s special.
“It’s nice to see those guys get those opportunities, and I’m sure he’s going to do a wonderful job.”
“There’s some rust that he hasn’t played in a couple weeks, but they’re three really good hockey players.”
Coach Knoblauch on Hyman returning to the #Oilers lineup alongside McDavid & Nugent-Hopkins.@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/09T1Jv8uGD
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 5, 2024
Kilam will be hard-pressed to have as memorable a first season coaching in Edmonton as Knoblauch did with the Oilers last year. The rookie head coach led the Oilers to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final after being hired in November 2023.
Meanwhile, Kilam will be taking over an Elks team that is in a bit of a transitional period after missing the CFL playoffs for the fourth straight season.
We’ll see if that U of A magic can spread over to Commonwealth Stadium.