Cal Nichols Cal Nichols spearheaded the group which would later become the Edmonton Investors Group which owns the National Hockey League ' s Edmonton Oilers . Business & Personal Bio . Born in Paradise Hill , Saskatchewan , Cal started his business career in 1962 as the Imperial Esso Agent in St . Walburg , Saskatchewan . In 1969 , Cal and his wife Edna moved to Edmonton . Over the next thirteen years Cal would pursue various business and career opportunities with Imperial Oil . He was the commission bulk agent for Esso in Edmonton from 1972 through 1981 , and served as Chairman of the Esso Agents Prairie Region Advisory Board . During his tenure , this became the largest Esso Agency in Canada . In 1983 , anticipating the de - regulation of the crude oil and natural gas markets , Cal and two associates founded Northridge Canada Inc . which became Canada ' s largest , privately - held , crude oil and natural gas trading company . Northridge was ultimately sold to TransCanada Pipelines . In 1985 , Cal created Gasland Oil , with its head office in Edmonton . Gasland grew to have over 50 branded petroleum outlets in Western Canada , many with convenience stores and other customer facilities . Cal sold substantially all of Gasland ' s petroleum marketing business in 1996 to Husky Energy , but retained Gasland Properties Ltd . , he has therefore shifted his focus to developing that company ' s various holdings . In May 2002 , Cal was inducted into the Alberta Business Hall of Fame . Edmonton Investors Group . Cal is best known locally for his desire to retain NHL hockey in Edmonton . In 1996 , Cal co - chaired the Friends of the Oilers ticket drive campaign . Starting with a meager 6 , 200 in season ticket sales Nichols orchestrated more than doubling that number to over 13 , 000 , thus averting the risk of the team moving . In 1997 , when the franchise was put up for sale , Nichols spearheaded the bid from a local ownership group by co - ordinating raising the $ 60 million in equity required to purchase the team . His motivation for this was to see Edmonton remain as a " Major League City . " Cal started his tenure as chairman of the Edmonton Investors Group board in 1998 . In the 2006 – 07 NHL season the Oilers sold out every home game for the first time , despite missing the playoffs by a substantial margin . The ownership group then reportedly received a C $ 145 million offer from local billionaire Daryl Katz for the franchise , although Nichols subsequently said the team was not for sale . Daryl Katz upped the offer to $ 150 million , but was turned down again . On August 7 , Daryl Katz made a 3rd offer for the team of $ 185 million . Cal Nichols , chairman of the board for the Edmonton Investors Group , said the attempts to buy the team have caused " collateral damage " and he hoped the outright refusal brings closure to a vocal debate that has divided the group and the wider community since Katz ' s first offer . Nichols was quoted as saying " This is not about dollars . This is about Edmonton . An ownership group is best - suited for Edmonton and the Oilers . " . On December 13 , 2007 Daryl Katz submitted a 4th formal offer to the Edmonton Investors Group to buy the franchise . The offer was $ 188 million to the EIG shareholders , plus another $ 100 million towards the building of a new arena in downtown Edmonton , as well as a new state of the art training facility located at the University of Alberta . Cal Nichols indicated that he would accept the offer for his share of the team , but that the EIG had to have the owners of 2 / 3 of the shares agree to the proposal . Cal Nichols resigned as chairman of the board of directors for the EIG on December 13 , 2007 . Assuming the position of chairman of the board was Bill Butler , a minority shareholder & real estate developer . The EIG will be meeting to decide on the bid in January , 21st 2008 .