Joey Moss Wasn’t a Star on the Ice, But He Became the Heart and Soul of the Edmonton Oilers Forever

Joey Moss never played a single shift for the Edmonton Oilers, never scored a goal, never blocked a shot. But in a city built on ice, sweat, and loyalty, he became something even rarer—a symbol of the heart and soul of a franchise. Born with Down syndrome in 1963, Joey Moss defied every expectation society might have placed on him. He didn’t do it by becoming an athlete or a coach. He did it simply by being himself: joyful, dedicated, reliable, and endlessly kind.

His path to Oilers legend status started with a stroke of fate—and one very famous hockey player. In the early 1980s, Wayne Gretzky, then the face of the NHL and a rising global icon, was dating Joey’s sister, Vikki. Through their relationship, Gretzky met Joey and quickly noticed his unrelenting work ethic and enthusiasm. Joey, who was working at a bottle depot at the time, impressed Gretzky with his attitude and attention to detail. Gretzky saw something special in him and brought the idea of hiring Joey to Glen Sather, the Oilers’ head coach and general manager.

It didn’t take much convincing. Sather gave Joey a chance as a locker room attendant during the 1984-85 season. What started as a trial run became a lifelong partnership. Joey’s duties included laundry, equipment organization, water bottles, and whatever else needed doing behind the scenes—but he did them all with a pride and intensity that soon made him irreplaceable.

He was more than a member of the staff—he became part of the Oilers family. Teammates embraced him instantly. Joey brought levity during tense moments and joy during long slogs of the season. He was there during the glory years of the Oilers’ dynasty, celebrating five Stanley Cups between 1984 and 1990. As much a fixture in the locker room as Gretzky’s skates or Grant Fuhr’s pads, Joey became a unifying presence. Players came and went. Coaches changed. But Joey stayed.

He had a unique way of holding everyone accountable. He would tease players when they lost. He’d belt out the Canadian national anthem with full gusto, voice cracking and eyes shining. When players were too slow in the weight room, Joey let them know it. His influence wasn’t limited to hockey. In 1986, he joined the Edmonton Football Team (now Edmonton Elks) during their training camps and eventually became a mainstay there too, serving as their locker room attendant for more than 30 years.

To understand Joey’s role is to understand the intangibles that bind a team together—things like camaraderie, laughter, purpose, and loyalty. Joey didn’t just show up. He inspired. Every day. Players, staff, and media alike talk about the days when they felt tired, unmotivated, or stuck—and then they’d see Joey, smiling, working hard, giving everything he had. It reminded them of what a privilege it is to be part of something bigger.

Through decades of Oilers hockey—from the dynasty years, to the heartbreak of Gretzky’s trade, to the dark seasons of the early 2000s, and to the revival of hope led by Connor McDavid—Joey remained the constant. The city loved him for it. And he loved the city back. He became a community icon, speaking at schools and events, reminding people through his presence that everyone, no matter their challenges, has the right to belong, to contribute, and to be respected.

His personality was magnetic. He could turn a bad day around with a single wisecrack. He had a sharp sense of humor and often chirped the players with the same gusto they gave him. Stories abound of Joey outdueling players in push-up contests or catching them skipping their workouts. He was the Oilers’ ultimate culture keeper.

In 2003, his contributions were officially recognized when he was awarded the NHL Alumni Association’s “Seventh Man Award.” The honor, meant for those who contribute behind the scenes in significant ways, couldn’t have been more appropriate. But for Edmonton, he didn’t need trophies or awards. He was already a legend.

As Joey grew older, his health became more fragile. Yet he continued showing up, until his final years, still fulfilling his duties with pride. He passed away on October 26, 2020, at the age of 57. The outpouring of grief across Edmonton—and the entire NHL—was overwhelming. Tributes flooded in from Gretzky, McDavid, and other icons of the game. A moment of silence was held at arenas around the league. Flags flew at half-mast. The Oilers and Elks wore decals bearing his initials.

More than anything, the fans responded. For days, messages covered the gates of Rogers Place. Flowers, jerseys, and drawings piled up in spontaneous memorials. Murals were painted. Streets were named after him. His name echoed not just through hockey circles, but across all walks of life in Edmonton.

To this day, the legacy of Joey Moss endures. The Oilers organization established the Joey Moss Memorial Fund to support individuals with developmental disabilities. The team’s annual training camp award for top-performing rookies was renamed the Joey Moss Award. In arenas across Canada, his story is told as an example of inclusion, humanity, and team spirit.

And every so often, if you find yourself at Rogers Place and the anthem plays, you might still hear someone in the stands belt out the words with Joey’s passion and unfiltered joy.

Joey Moss may not have worn a jersey, but his fingerprints are all over the soul of the Edmonton Oilers. He showed the world that greatness isn’t always measured in stats, medals, or contracts. Sometimes it’s measured in how deeply you touch the people around you, how much love you give, and how hard you work when nobody is watching.

For Edmonton, he was more than a man. He was a reminder of what it truly means to be a team.