Gabriel Candido, a Brazilian man from Curitiba, has become the country’s biggest Edmonton Oilers fan despite living in a soccer-obsessed nation. His passion for hockey stems from an episode of Everybody Hates Chris, where a character receives a knock-off Gretzky jersey, sparking Candido’s interest in the sport. He later played an NHL video game and became enamored with the game, particularly the Oilers, due to their prominence in the show. This led him to research the team’s history and become a devoted fan.
Candido endured the Oilers’ struggles during the “decade of darkness” but continued to support them from Brazil as they began to rebuild with players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid. He actively engages with other Oilers fans through social media and a WhatsApp group for Brazilian supporters, and he loves discussing the team whenever possible. Despite the time difference, Candido stays up late to watch playoff games and hopes to one day make the trip to Edmonton to see the Oilers play in person.
Living three hours ahead of Edmonton, Candido sometimes stays up until the early hours of the morning to watch playoff games, but he hasn’t missed a match yet. He recalls memorable moments like Sam Gagner scoring eight points in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012. Candido also mentions that playoff games starting at a later time are more convenient for him, as it allows him to watch at a reasonable hour compared to the late-night start times of earlier rounds.
Candido’s love for hockey and the Oilers has grown over the years, and he remains dedicated to the team despite the distance. He hopes to experience the frigid Edmonton winters firsthand and see star players like McDavid and Draisaitl in action at Rogers Place. His enthusiasm for the sport and the team has connected him with fans from all over Brazil through social media, where he shares his passion for the Oilers and tries to recruit new hockey fans. Candido’s journey from watching a sitcom to becoming a die-hard Oilers fan showcases how the sport of hockey can bridge cultural divides and create unexpected connections.
Despite being in the minority as a hockey fan in Brazil, Candido’s dedication to the Oilers has only grown stronger over the years. He credits a TV show and a video game for sparking his interest in the sport and the team, leading him to research the Oilers’ history and become a devoted supporter. Candido’s story demonstrates how sports fandom can transcend geographical boundaries and bring people together through a shared love for a team, even in unlikely places like a soccer-dominated country. His dream of watching the Oilers play in Edmonton shows the power of sports to inspire and unite fans from around the world, regardless of where they call home.
