Saturday night’s game between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers is the 226th regular season instalment of the Battle of Alberta. It’s also the third and final regular season meeting between the clubs in the 2024-25 regular season.

The rivalry is one of the most bitter ones in the NHL’s history, something reinforced by the teams meeting the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in three decades.

Someone very familiar with the Battle of Alberta – having grown up in the province and played for both teams in the rivalry – is Edmonton Oilers blueliner Brett Kulak. Kulak was originally drafted by the Flames in 2012 and played parts of four seasons with that team. He eventually ended up with the Oilers midway through the 2021-22 campaign, and has played the past four seasons in Edmonton.

All-told, Kulak has played in 15 Battles of Alberta: five representing the Flames and 10 representing the Oilers.

Speaking to FlamesNation prior to Saturday’s game, we asked Kulak how many Battles of Alberta would be the ideal number in a season if he controlled the NHL’s schedule.

“I’d probably prefer at least four, but I think maybe five would be my perfect number,” said Kulak. “One, I always like playing against the Flames. It’s awesome just having the in-province rivalry, and the travel’s great too for both teams, right? So it makes a big difference.”

The past two seasons, the Flames and Oilers have only played each other three times (a product of the divisional opponent rotation in each NHL division). In addition to more games, Kulak also had a particular request: more outdoor clashes like the 2023 Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium.

“I think I’d like to see an outdoor game between both teams too every year,” said Kulak. “We had the one last year. It was awesome. I know it’s unlikely, but I think it would be pretty cool if we had one outdoor game every season against each other. Just obviously rotate back and forth which city it was hosted in.”

What makes the Battle of Alberta such a fun rivalry? For him, it’s his personal connections.

“Well, I think for me personally, it’s just the fact being from Alberta and having lived and spent lots of times in and around both cities, that’s definitely what takes it over the top for me,” said Kulak. “I’ve got lots of friends in both cities, and lots of people I know are fans of both teams, so it’s always an exciting day when we get to play the Flames.”

Saturday night’s game between the two clubs will be the first Battle of Alberta for Flames players Dustin Wolf, Joel Hanley, Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. (It’s also Frost’s 300th NHL appearance.) Frost has some familiarity for the rivalry as a spectator.

“I’ve grown up watching it all the time so I kind of see that sense,” said Frost. “I guess there wasn’t too much animosity earlier in the season from what I heard but yeah, it’s an exciting, just that term, the Battle of Alberta. I’ve heard that so much growing up so I’m excited to play.”