Hey everyone! It’s me, Miller, and I am here to share the journey of our 2024 Stanley Cup final games 3 & 4 in Edmonton, Alberta.

I know, it’s a month late and everyone has moved on to other summer sports or simply enjoying the summer without sports. But, since I may not get to see another Canadian team in the Stanley Cup finals, I am sharing our journey.

How did a trip to Edmonton, Alberta come to be?

Cover your ears Mom and Dad, I’m about to share a little about you two.

Our Mom and Dad were at Roland’s pub in Whistler, British Columbia watching game 2 of the finals between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. That’s when they decided that a bucket list item would be to see a Canadian team live in a Stanley Cup final. And, I’ll add, they have little hope for their home team the Toronto Maple Leaf’s, so why not?

Game 2 ended with a loss and a 2 nothing lead for Florida, but with a little encouragement from the patrons and pub pleasantries, they bit the bullet and bought tickets to games 3 & 4 at Rogers Place arena in Edmonton.

1,278km and 13 hours by car, but hey, it’s the finals!

What happened next?

They woke up.

Have you ever been in the situation where you wake up and you realize a bucket list item is about to happen, even a once in a lifetime opportunity?

Only to simultaneously realize that you have:

• nowhere to stay,
• no way to get there,
• two dogs too big to fit in a security approved size bag, and
• three days before the puck drops.

Now what?

We need a plan. And fast.

Dad pulls out Google maps, Mom is searching the internet for “dog boarding in Whistler” accommodations for us, and we are staying clear of the pathway between Dad on the couch and Mom at the table.

It turns out that the time between Roland’s pub and the next morning, every hotel in Edmonton was sold out. And don’t get me started on the options that were dog friendly. Even I was hoping for a dog boarding option to be available in Whistler.

No luck on finding appropriate last-minute boarding in Whistler, no private inter-Canada flights available, and no accommodation in Edmonton. Clearly this is going well.

What next?

Mom and Dad agree that the only option was:

• to take us with them,
• pack up the SUV,
• gas up,
• determine a halfway point,
• rent a house in Edmonton, and
• cheer on the Oiler’s at Rogers Place arena.

And that’s what we did.

Welcome to Alberta! 3/4 of the way there, and the best option for a night’s rest.

Nice picture, Dad. How fast was Mom driving?

Much better picture.

Jasper National Park, Alberta.

We stayed at Chateau Jasper, a quaint hotel that was equipped with a microwave, 2 queen beds, and kitchenette. Perfect for mom to make our meals the way we like and for her to have enough room to clean up the way she likes.

Mom and Dad went to check out Jasper for a couple of hours, leaving us to digest and get settled into the bed of our choosing. Shhh…little secret…we always pick the bed closest to the door to protect our Mom & Dad.

Jasper is a quiet, touristy, one main street town with a young, hip crowd. Lots of restaurants, tourist souvenir shops and cafes. A perfect spot to get-out-of-it all and be-in-it all at the same time.

It was unbelievably light out until the wee hours of the morning. Mom and dad couldn’t get over the people enjoying dinner and a night cap so late. But it was too light to go to sleep and reading by moonlight just didn’t fit the trip.

Up and out, we hit the Timmy’s (be prepared to go around and around to secure one of the 4 parking spots in an alley not big enough to turn an SUV around), and then we were on the road again with only 4 hours left and a perfect highway to drive. Very light traffic and beautiful scenic roads through the Rocky’s. It felt like we were driving the dream view of an artist.

The Unknown of Renting a House

It can be unnerving to rent someone else’s home in a city of unknowns. You are given a code to unlock the front door, a do’s and don’ts touch list, a few necessities, and a hope it will be as advertised.

We have been through this scenario during COVID when we road tripped it to Ontario and back through the provinces to British Columbia. Mostly known hotels, but a couple of unknowns that once bitten twice shy can make the next experiences “hopeful”. A story for another time.

We lucked out and the house was as advertised and even came with a large floor to ceiling panel window for Modela to hunt ginormous rabbits. Have you ever seen large jack rabbits wandering the main road of a downtown city? Go to Edmonton. I don’t think they were in town just for the hockey games.

Hockey nights in Canada

Game 3 – ugh. It’s in the past and you already know the outcome, so I won’t give you the gory. Although I will say, no matter the outcome, the fans are the best in the world.

Check this highlight out. The entertainment didn’t disappoint. And Dad caught a t-shirt.

On to game 4.

Unless you were there, it is very difficult to describe what my Mom & Dad called “the most energy ever felt in a stadium before”.

It was loud, enthusiastic, electric, and very, very orange, and blue. Fans were singing, cheering, grasping at their mouths in fear, standing at their feet with excitement, and genuinely having the time of their lives.

From the fans to the foes, entertainment, media, and pubs across North America, it was a memory that will be forever tough to beat. And we won. That game anyway.

Heading home

Repeat of the drive to Jasper for the night. Mostly uneventful, calm traffic, good vibes, and only 4 hours to arrival.

We decided to stay in the same hotel. Friendly and familiar. But what we didn’t expect was a power outage. We arrived on another “hope” that in three hours the power would resume. Now what? You’ve heard, I’m not very good in public as the protector of my family and, well, Modela is nuts. Three hours to kill. The look in my Mom’s eyes.

We managed to find a pet-friendly patio and only a couple of outbursts from us. What can I say, little dogs freak me out.

Back at the hotel not a minute later than they suggested only to find it still in darkness. Not happening. Fairmont, here we come.

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is beautiful, surrounding the Lac Beauvert and 700 acres of wilderness. A cabin to ourselves. Check. Room service. Check. Quiet. Check.

But, as beautiful as the outside was it was a far cry from beautiful inside. Clean and comfy for sure. No kitchenette, no problem. But when you must stand on the toilet to close the bathroom door, it gets a room built for one used by four a little less comfy. A night of 700 acres of nature and one very expensive cabin.

Last leg of the road trip back to Whistler.

A what? Snowstorm? It’s June!

Here we find ourselves navigating a June snowstorm in our SUV built to drive in Arizona, 2 Mexican dogs, and 2 humans that have been South side for 8 years.

But we did it. We always do.

Best bucket list experience so far.

Thanks Mom and Dad for taking us on this journey with you.

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Love, Miller & Modela

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