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Joey Moss

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Joey Moss
Moss in 2008
Born
Joseph Neil Moss

(1963-09-25)September 25, 1963
Edmonton,Alberta,Canada
DiedOctober 26, 2020(2020-10-26)(aged 57)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Years active1985–2020
Known forDressing room attendant for theEdmonton Oilersand theEdmonton Eskimos

Joseph Neil Moss(September 25, 1963 – October 26, 2020) was a Canadiandressing roomattendant for theEdmonton Oilersof theNational Hockey Leagueand theEdmonton Eskimosof theCanadian Football League.[1]Born withDown syndrome,he struck up a friendship withWayne Gretzkyin the mid-1980s, when the latter was playing for the Oilers and dating Moss's sister. Gretzky advised the team to give Moss a tryout as locker room attendant. He ultimately held that position for over three decades, until his death in 2020.

Early life

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Moss was born inEdmonton,Alberta,[2]on September 25, 1963.[3]He was the twelfth of thirteen children of Lloyd Orval Moss and Sophie Frances Moss (née Murias).[4][5]He was born withDown syndromeand grew up in a humble household. In spite of his condition, Moss's parents ensured that he received the same treatment as his other siblings. He played a small guitar in the family band (called "The Alaska Highway Birth-Quakes" ).[2]

After Moss's father died in 1977, his mother proceeded to raise the children as asingle parent.[2]Moss was employed at a bottle depot when he first metWayne Gretzkyat the age of 17.[5]

Career

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Moss caught the eye of Oilers centre Wayne Gretzky in 1980. Gretzky was dating Moss's sisterVikkiat the time.[5]Impressed with the dedication Moss brought to his job at the bottle depot, Gretzky suggested to team general managerGlen Satherthat the young man be given a tryout.[6]As the summer of 1986 came around, Gretzky was worried that Moss would lose everything he had learned with the Oilers, so Gretzky called up the equipment manager of theEdmonton Eskimos,Dwayne Mandrusiak,and asked him if Moss could work with them during training camp in the summer months.[4]

Moss' career with the Oilers ultimately long outlasted Gretzky's. His determination and passion for hockey made him a nationwide celebrity and a major symbol of continuity within the franchise.[7][8]During an Oilers surprising playoff run in2006,Moss delayed elective surgery for aherniain order to see theStanley Cup playoffsthrough to the finish. His main duties with the team included cleaning, handling towels and water, and running errands for former equipment manager Lyle "Sparky" Kulchisky.[9]

Awards and recognition

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Moss received the NHL Alumni Association's "Seventh Man Award" in 2003, in recognition of outstanding behind-the-scenes service to the league.[10]The Joey Moss Cup, a trophy contended for by Oilers players in an annual split-squad game near the end of training camp, is named after him.[11]

Moss' dedication to the Edmonton Eskimos and the Oilers was recognized when a mural was unveiled on October 20, 2008, on99 Streetin Edmonton.[12]He was conferred theQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medalon November 14, 2012.[13]Moss was inducted into theAlberta Sports Hall of Famethree years later on May 29, 2015.[6]

Later life and death

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Moss's younger brother, Stephen, served as hislegal guardianuntil the latter's death in June 2019 fromglioblastoma.[5][14]

Moss died on October 26, 2020, at a hospital in Edmonton. He was 57, and had been living withAlzheimer's diseasein the time leading up to his death.[15]He also had surgery to repair abroken hiphe sustained earlier in July of that same year.[16]

Legacy

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On January 13, 2021, the Edmonton Oilers opened the2020–21 seasonwith a video tribute and by wearing Moss's name on the back of their jerseys during the warmup.[17]In advance of the2021–22 season,the Oilers announced that they would playRitchie Valens' "La Bamba",Moss's favourite song, after every home team victory at Rogers Place.[18]

In June 2021,Edmonton Public Schoolsannounced that it would be naming a new school in theKeswickneighbourhood of southwest Edmonton after Moss.[19][20]The Joey Moss School opened in September 2022 for students in Kindergarten to Grade 7, with Grades 8 and 9 to be added as students advance in the next two years.[21][22]

Citations

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  1. ^Griwkowsky, Catherine (September 25, 2013)."Happy 50th Birthday: Joey Moss' impact on Winnifred Stewart's Empties for Winn program".Edmonton Sun.RetrievedSeptember 26,2018.
  2. ^abcGustafson, Kelli."In Depth – Joey".Edmonton Oilers. Archived fromthe originalon October 10, 2020.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  3. ^Ramsay, Caley (September 25, 2013)."Edmonton legend Joey Moss turns 50".Global News.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  4. ^abIreland, Joanne; Smyth, Ryan (October 1, 2017).100 Things Oilers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.Triumph Books.ISBN9781633199026– via Google Books.
  5. ^abcdKlinkenberg, Marty (October 26, 2020)."Joey Moss, long-time fixture in Edmonton Oilers dressing room, dies at 57".The Globe and Mail.Toronto.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  6. ^abJones, Terry(October 27, 2020)."Edmonton Oilers dressing room icon Joey Moss dies".The Edmonton Journal.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  7. ^Ramsay, Caley (October 27, 2020)."Condolences, fond memories pour in for Edmonton sports legend Joey Moss".Global News.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  8. ^Feschuk, Dave (October 27, 2020)."'What a great life': Joey Moss gave Oilers nation and the city of Edmonton an eternal gift ".Toronto Star.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  9. ^Goyette, Linda; Roemmich, Carolina Jakeway (April 18, 2005).Edmonton in Our Own Words.University of Alberta.ISBN9780888644497– via Google Books.
  10. ^"Beloved Edmonton sports figure Joey Moss dies at age 57".CBC News. October 26, 2020.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  11. ^Goss, Andrea (September 17, 2010)."Joey Moss Cup this Tuesday at Rexall Place".Edmonton Oilers.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  12. ^Sharpe, Jen (October 20, 2008)."Mural celebrates Joey Moss".Edmonton Oilers. Archived fromthe originalon October 28, 2020.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  13. ^"Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal honours".Government of Alberta.Archived fromthe originalon September 25, 2013.RetrievedDecember 1,2012.
  14. ^"Oilers condolences on the passing of Stephen Moss".Edmonton Oilers. June 19, 2019.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  15. ^Klinkenberg, Marty (October 27, 2020)."Remembering Joey Moss, an unlikely sports legend".The Globe and Mail.Toronto.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  16. ^Jones, Terry (October 27, 2020)."Edmonton Oilers dressing room icon Joey Moss dies".Edmonton Sun.RetrievedOctober 27,2020.
  17. ^"Oilers start 2021 season with tributes to Joey Moss and John Muckler".CTV News Edmonton. January 13, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 13,2021.
  18. ^"La Bamba to play at Rogers Place after Oilers wins in memory of Joey Moss".CTV News Edmonton. October 14, 2021.RetrievedMay 15,2022.
  19. ^"New Edmonton school to be named for Joey Moss".CTV News.June 22, 2021.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  20. ^Joannou, Ashley (June 22, 2021)."New Edmonton public school to be named after Joey Moss".Edmonton Journal.RetrievedJune 22,2021.
  21. ^"Joey Moss School celebrates first annual Joey Moss Day".Edmonton.September 23, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023.
  22. ^"Joey Moss School opens in Arbours of Keswick on Sept. 1".edmontonjournal.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023.

General bibliography

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