Former Edmonton Oilers owner Cal Nichols dead at 84

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeSportsHockeyNHLEdmonton Oilers Former Edmonton Oilers owner Cal Nichols dead at 84 The longtime businessman spearheaded the group of 38 investors that bought the club in the late 1990s. Author of the article: By Dave Breakenridge Published Sep 13, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 2 minute read Join the conversation Edmonton Oilers co-owner Cal Nichols speaks at 2007 media conference about selling the Edmonton Oilers Daryl Katz. PHOTO BY LARRY WONG /Postmedia file Article content One of the key figures behind the push that helped keep the Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton has died. Article content Cal Nichols, who spearheaded the Edmonton Investors Group that bought the hockey club in 1998, died Saturday, the Oilers announced Sunday afternoon. He was 84. Article content Article content In the late 1990s, there were fears the club would relocate. Nichols was involved in the Friends of the Oilers campaign, as co-chair, which pushed to increase season ticket sales. Article content Then, when the team was for sale in 1997, Nichols spearheaded the EIG, which saw 38 investors raise $110 million to buy the team. Nichols served as chairman and governor until the team was sold to current owner Daryl Katz in 2008. Article content In a 2008 interview with Journal columnist David Staples, Katz praised Nichols’ involvement in EIG. Article content “If it wasn’t for Cal, the Oilers wouldn’t be in Edmonton,” Katz said at the time. “Cal, more than anyone, deserved to continue to be involved.” Article content Article content Article content Nichols was born in 1942 in Saskatchewan, relocating to Edmonton in 1969, where he worked for Esso and Imperial Oil. He helped found Northridge “which later formed a part of TransCanada Pipelines, Canada’s first private crude oil and natural gas marketing company,” a statement on the Oilers website reads. Article content Oil Spills Essential Oilers news, insight, opinion and analysis. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “He then started Gasland Oil, which grew into one of Western Canada’s largest service station chains.” Article content His achievements also include membership in the Order of Canada, a place in the the Alberta Business Hall of Fame, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal from…