The early 2000s Oilers were, in a word, scrappy. This was the post-dynasty, pre-McDavid wilderness, where the team constantly hovered around the playoff bubble—dangerous enough to beat anyone, inconsistent enough to drive fans crazy. It was a roster full of grinders and workhorses, and right in the middle of it, a teenage Ales Hemsky showed up, dangling through defenders like he was playing a completely different sport.

Hemsky never quite got the recognition he deserved league-wide, but Oilers fans knew. He had the hands, the speed, the flair, and the stubborn tendency to hold onto the puck just a second too long (sometimes brilliance, sometimes disaster). From 2005–2009, he led the team in scoring four straight seasons, quietly putting together 477 career points in Edmonton—eighth in franchise history. And of course, there’s that goal. The one that started with Patrik Štefan’s infamous empty-net miss in 2007 and ended with Hemsky burying the tying goal. It’s the kind of hockey moment that would be dismissed as too ridiculous if you tried to script it.

This jersey takes us back to Hemsky’s rookie season, 2002-03. It’s a first set away jersey, the classic dark navy CCM model with the shoulder gear crest. More than just fabric, it carries history: Hemsky recorded his very first NHL point in this set—an assist against Nashville on October 12, 2002.

But there’s another layer of meaning stitched into the sleeves. On the left arm sits a black twill wraparound armband, worn in memory of Oilers founder Bill Hunter, “Wild Bill.” Hunter wasn’t just a team builder; he was one of the key dreamers behind the WHA itself. Without him, there’s a good chance Edmonton never would have had an NHL team. The Oilers added the armband late in 2002 after Hunter’s passing, but here’s the catch—they didn’t get league approval. As a result, the team only wore it for three games: December 19 vs. Colorado, December 21 vs. Vancouver, and December 30 vs. Phoenix. A small act of rebellion, but a fitting one for a franchise that was always fighting uphill.

As for wear, this jersey shows honest early-season use, the kind of thing you’d expect from a rookie who was still finding his footing in the league. Nothing too dramatic, but the context—first point, memorial armband, a teenage Hemsky carving out his place—makes it one of those jerseys that resonates beyond the threads and fabric. For Oilers fans, it’s more than a gamer. It’s a snapshot of what it felt like to watch a young star emerge on a very average team, giving us flashes of brilliance to hang onto.

I picked this one up through Meigray, from a consigner. Honestly, I couldn’t believe the price. Not only is Hemsky my favorite player from this era, but I knew these black armband jerseys existed and never thought I’d actually get the chance to own one. Yet here it is—one of those pieces you just don’t expect to fall into place.