The Edmonton Oilers’ 1984 Cup Run is one of the most memorable moments in NHL history. The team, led by Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Jari Kurri, dominated the playoffs and won their first Stanley Cup championship. However, the Cup Run also brought together two people who would eventually fall in love and get married.
In the spring of 1984, the Oilers were playing the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals. The series was tied at two games apiece, and Game 5 was scheduled to take place in Edmonton. That’s where Karen and Rob met for the first time.
Karen was a die-hard Oilers fan who had been following the team all season. She had tickets to Game 5 and was excited to see her favorite players in action. Rob was a New Yorker who had flown to Edmonton to watch his beloved Islanders play. He had never been to Canada before and was looking forward to experiencing a new city.
Karen and Rob happened to be sitting next to each other at the game. They struck up a conversation during the intermission and quickly realized they had a lot in common. They both loved hockey, had a similar sense of humor, and enjoyed each other’s company.
The Oilers ended up winning Game 5, and Karen and Rob exchanged phone numbers before parting ways. They kept in touch over the next few months, talking on the phone and sending letters back and forth. They even made plans to meet up again when the Islanders came back to Edmonton for Game 7 of the Finals.
Unfortunately for Rob, the Islanders lost Game 6 and the series was over. He never got the chance to see Karen again during that playoff run. However, they continued to stay in touch and eventually started dating long-distance. They would fly back and forth between New York and Edmonton to see each other whenever they could.
In 1987, Karen moved to New York to be with Rob. They got married a year later and have been happily married ever since. They still love hockey and follow the Oilers and Islanders closely. They even went to Game 7 of the 2019 playoffs between the two teams, which the Islanders won in overtime.
The Oilers’ 1984 Cup Run will always hold a special place in Karen and Rob’s hearts. It brought them together and started a love story that has lasted over three decades. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected moments can lead to the greatest joys in life.
