It started as a typical night of playoff hockey in Edmonton. The energy was electric, the beer was flowing, and the Edmonton Oilers were clawing their way through a high-stakes series. Then, in a split second, a single moment in the stands eclipsed the action on the ice. A woman in an Oilers jersey stood up, lifted her top, and the internet basically melted.
If you were on social media in June 2024, you couldn't escape it. The clip of the Oilers fan flashes crowd incident spread faster than a Connor McDavid breakaway. It wasn't just a local Edmonton story; it became a global talking point, sparking debates about public decency, viral fame, and the sheer chaos of NHL playoff culture.
The Night Everything Went Viral
The incident went down during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars. While the game was actually in Dallas, thousands of fans had gathered at Rogers Place in Edmonton for a massive watch party. The Oilers were winning, the crowd was buzzing, and the "vibe" was clearly at an all-time high.
Suddenly, a fan—later identified only as "Kate" (or "Kait")—decided to celebrate a bit more enthusiastically than most. She lifted her jersey, bared her chest to the cameras and the thousands of people in attendance, and just like that, a legend (or a controversy, depending on who you ask) was born.
The video was everywhere within minutes. Honestly, it was a textbook example of how the modern internet works. One person records a five-second clip, uploads it to X (formerly Twitter), and by the next morning, it has 20 million views.
Who Was the Mystery Fan?
For a few days, nobody knew who she was. She was just the "Oilers girl." Rumors flew. People claimed she was a hired model or an adult film star looking for clout.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Eventually, she surfaced on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast to set the record right. She wasn't some calculated marketing genius. She was just a woman who works in the Canadian oil fields who had a few too many drinks.
In her own words, her "inspiration" was pretty simple: "The handful of Cheezies that I ate all day and the eight Trulys I drank in the first period."
It’s a very relatable, albeit chaotic, explanation. She didn't realize she was being filmed by a stranger, and she actually tried to get the original video taken down. She told the podcast hosts that she reported the clip, thinking it would just vanish.
It didn't. As she put it, it "came back with a vengeance."
The Playboy Deal and the Aftermath
What happens when you accidentally become the most famous hockey fan in the world for... well, for flashing? Apparently, you get job offers.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Adult sites like CamSoda reportedly offered her up to $100,000 to perform on their platforms. She initially went dark, deleting her social media accounts and trying to disappear into what she joked was a "witness relocation program."
But the spotlight is hard to outrun. By the time the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers, she had embraced the chaos. Playboy officially signed her as a "Playboy Bunny" and dubbed her the "Oilers' good luck charm."
The Realities of Viral Fame
- Privacy is gone: Even if you delete your Instagram, the internet keeps receipts.
- Legal nuances: In many parts of Canada (including Ontario and parts of Alberta), being topless in public isn't actually a criminal offense, though private venues like Rogers Place can still kick you out or ban you.
- Monetization: There is a very short window to turn "infamy" into "income." Kate managed to do it through the Playboy deal before the next news cycle took over.
Why This Moment Actually Mattered
Look, people flash at sports games all the time. Usually, it’s a blurry memory for the people in Section 104 and that’s it. But the Oilers fan flashes crowd moment was different because of the timing. The Oilers were on a historic run, trying to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada for the first time since 1993.
The fan became a sort of unofficial mascot. Fans were literally calling for her to show up to Game 7 in Florida to "save the season." It turned a moment of public indecency into a piece of sports folklore.
Was it classy? Probably not. Was it memorable? Absolutely. It highlighted the weird intersection of sports fandom and the "attention economy" where a single spontaneous choice can change someone’s entire life trajectory in under 24 hours.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
Navigating Public Moments in the Digital Age
If there’s any takeaway from the whole "Oilers Flasher" saga, it’s a reality check for the rest of us. We live in an era where everyone is a cameraman.
If you're heading to a high-energy event, keep these things in mind:
Assume you are always on camera. Whether it’s the official broadcast or the guy three rows back with an iPhone 15, someone is recording.
Viral fame has teeth. It might lead to a Playboy contract for some, but for others, it could mean losing a job or facing endless harassment.
Know the local laws. While "Kate" didn't face legal charges, public exposure laws vary wildly by state and province. What's a "celebration" in Edmonton might be a "misdemeanor" in Florida.
Ultimately, the Oilers didn't win the Cup that year, falling just short in Game 7. But in the history books of weird NHL moments, the girl with the Cheezies and the Trulys has secured her spot.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're following the Oilers this season, stick to the jerseys and the high-fives. If you happen to find yourself trending for the wrong reasons, your best bet is to do what Kate did: wait for the initial storm to pass, consult with someone who understands digital PR, and decide whether you want to hide or lean into the madness.