“I have come to an agreement with the Edmonton Oilers,” he told the Sun. “I am very ecstatic with the agreement.”

Allan Watt, a spokesman for the team, didn’t confirm or deny any agreement, but clearly wanted to move on from the entire ordeal.

“The Edmonton Oilers has nothing more to say about this issue,” he told the Sun just before the team’s game in San Jose, Calif., against the Sharks. “I have nothing more to say on this issue … we consider the incident done with we have nothing more to add.”

A Calgary restaurant owner is calling unsportsmanlike conduct on some Edmonton Oilers players he says skipped out on part of a huge New Year’s Eve bill, following the team’s 2-1 loss to the hometown Flames.

TSN.ca reports that Osteria De Medici owner Maurizio Terrigno says the players partied in a group that included 45 people, and the drinks were flowing to the tune of $8,200, and the total bill came to nearly $17,000.

The restaurant owner says the players demanded a discount when they got the bill, and eventually left $12,000 before leaving.

He’s decided to donate the the money he did get to an earthquake relief fund for people in L’Aquila, Italy.

Oilers spokesman Allan Watt told TSN.ca the restaurant was recommended by some Calgary friends of the players and they had a prearranged meal and menu.

“They received the bill which they felt was outrageous,” said Watt.

“They inquired about it and they were unhappy about it and were unhappy with some of the charges. The restaurant adjusted it by $7,000.”

Watt said the players paid the adjusted bill and added a $1,900 tip and left the restaurant.

The 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo, N.Y.

With excitement building for the NHL’s annual outdoor Winter Classic, guest blogger Perry Espardinez takes us on a little trip down an icy memory lane:

This New Year’s Day, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins will square off in the Winter Classic, an NHL annual event that brings ice hockey out of the arenas and into the cold of winter. This regular season match tries to bring the sport back to its roots, plus gives sports fans something to watch aside from the usual New Years hangover helpers of parades and college bowl games.

Now, the NHL is considering a Canadian outdoor game each season, which should make us wonder why the Winter Classic isn’t already played in Canada.

In fact, it was … on a technicality.

The Heritage Classic, as it was billed in 2003, was the NHLs first regular season game to be played outdoors.

Hosted by the Edmonton Oilers, it was held on a rink set up at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Montreal Canadians beat the home team 4-3 with 57,000 in attendance.

Keeping with tradition, the NHL plans to feature Canadian teams in an outdoor Canadian venue in the new annual outdoor game, which would start. All six Canadian NHL teams have expressed interest, but there’s been no announcement on when or where the game would be played.