Good-for-you QSR The Chopped Leaf has signed on as sponsor of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and, as part of the deal, is also teaming up with assistant captain Darnell Nurse.

This marks The Chopped Leaf’s first sponsorship of a major pro sports league and gives the brand an opportunity to work with Nurse, who will be helping inspire Canadians to choose better nutrition options in marketing assets developed for the sponsorship.

The sponsorship agreement also gives the brand marketing and advertising opportunities to connect the brand to the Edmonton Oilers and NHL fans through events held at Rogers Place. The partnership is effective immediately and branding will be prominent across various platforms including in-arena, in-store and social media promotions, digital advertising, as well as TV and radio spots.

The Kelowna-based fresh-food QSR brand – known for its selection of salads, wraps, sandwiches and soups – has locations across Canada and will soon be opening its 100th restaurant. It was founded by Edmonton native Blair Stevens, a self-proclaimed “huge” Oilers fan.

Rogers Place has a capacity of 18,247 for hockey games, though it is currently operating at 50% fan capacity due to pandemic health restrictions in Alberta. Despite the Oilers’ lackluster performance on the ice this season – sitting near the bottom of the standings in its division – the team is still a draw with TV audiences, with games regularly ranking in the top five weekly broadcasts in Edmonton, according to Numeris.

The Chopped Leaf worked with August Icon Marketing to arrange the sponsorship and Media Profile for the social, digital and PR work.