<P> The Oilers were founded on November 1, 1971, with the team playing its first season in 1972, as one of the twelve founding franchises of the major professional World Hockey Association (WHA). They were originally intended to be one of two WHA teams in Alberta (the other one being the Calgary Broncos). However, when the Broncos relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, before the WHA's first season began, the Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers . They returned to using the Edmonton Oilers name for the following year, and have been called that ever since . The Oilers subsequently joined the NHL in 1979 as one of four franchises introduced through the NHL merger with the WHA . </P> <P> After joining the NHL, the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup on five occasions: 1983--84, 1984--85, 1986--87, 1987--88 and 1989--90 . Along with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Oilers are tied for the most championships won by any team since the NHL - WHA merger and also the most won by any team that joined the league in or after 1967 . Among all NHL teams, only the Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more times since the League's 1967 expansion . For their success in the 1980s, the Oilers team of this era has been honoured with dynasty status by the Hockey Hall of Fame . </P> <P> On November 1, 1971, the Edmonton Oilers became one of the 12 founding WHA franchises . The original team owner was Bill Hunter . Hunter owned the Edmonton Oil Kings, a junior hockey franchise . He also founded the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (now known as the Western Hockey League (WHL)). Hunter's efforts to bring major professional hockey to Edmonton via an expansion NHL franchise had been rebuffed by the NHL . So, he looked to the upstart WHA instead . It was Hunter who chose the "Oilers" name for the new WHA franchise . This was a name that had previously been used as a nickname for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 1950s and 1960s . </P> <P> After the newly founded Calgary Broncos folded prior to commencement of the inaugural WHA season, the Oilers were renamed the Alberta Oilers as it was planned to split their home games between Edmonton and Calgary . Possibly for financial reasons or to allow for a less complicated return of the WHA to Calgary, though, the team ultimately played all of its home games in the Edmonton Gardens and subsequently changed its name back to the Edmonton Oilers the following year . They won the first game in WHA history 7--4 over the Ottawa Nationals . </P>

Where did the edmonton oilers get their name