Moss, who was born with Down syndrome, worked in the locker room of both the NHL’s Oilers and CFL’s Edmonton Football Team since the mid-1980s. He was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Wayne Gretzky, who introduced Moss to the Oilers in the 1984-85 season, confirmed Moss’ death on Facebook.
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Moss, whose stint with the Oilers long outlasted Gretzky’s, became a mainstay among Oilers faithful not only for his hard work, but also for his spirited rendition of “O Canada.” In 2003, he received the NHL Alumni Association’s “Seventh Man Award,” awarded in recognition of outstanding behind-the-scenes service to the league.
Joey was not only the spirit of our team, but of our community too. We will miss you Joey and you will always live on through all the memories you have given so many people. Our thoughts are with all of Joey’s loved ones.
Joey, once an Oiler, always an Oiler — you will always be one."
Moss also had a mural dedicated to him by the Edmonton Football team — then the Eskimos — in 2008.
His death created an outpouring of effusive remembrance on social media:
