EDMONTON, AB - The memory of Joey Moss will live forever because legends never die.
In the Oilers dressing room, Joey's second home since the 1980s, his legacy and spirit reside in a beautifully sculpted statue that breathes his passion for life, the city of Edmonton and of course, the Orange & Blue.
Crafted by visual artist Ryan Kurylo, who specializes in portraiture and figurative sculpture, the Joey statue is mounted near the entrance of the room to wish the team good luck with a warm smile and high-five before they take to the ice.
"We really tried our best to make a really honourable tribute to him and I think we created a great talisman for the locker room that is going to bring great energy and continue his legacy," Kurylo, explaining the inspiration for the statue, said.
No detail was overlooked in the work of art. The piece sees the long-time Oilers Locker Room Attendant posing happily with his hand raised - Joey in his natural form. The scale is true to Joey's size and his sculpted hand features the tracing of his actual palm print. "The expression on his face says, 'I believe in you. You can do it,'" Kurylo said. "And when you high-five him, it's actually Joey."
BLOG: Moss immortalized in Oilers locker room
A statue of Joey Moss was mounted in the Oilers dressing room to honour the much-loved Edmonton icon