How The Nielson Show (with Lieutenant Eric) on 95.7 Cruz FM Keeps Edmonton Sports Fans Connected

Edmonton’s relationship with its sports teams has always carried a certain intensity.

While many cities across North America make similar claims, there’s an unmistakable sense that local sports teams are more than entertainment to the people of Edmonton. They’re part of the civic identity. 

From the first days of training camp to the long stretch of a playoff run, the city’s mood often moves in step with the fortunes of its athletes. (Sometimes, a little too closely, depending on the score in the third period).

That devotion doesn’t waver when the schedules change or the standings fluctuate. It’s built into routine, into conversation, and into the way Edmontonians understand their place in the broader sports world.

Fans here follow the Oilers with equal measures of excitement and scrutiny, track the Elks through every stage of the season, and support a long list of local teams whose stories might not make national broadcasts but carry genuine significance within the community. 

In a city where sports are woven into daily life, it makes sense that the coverage of its sports teams should feel equally embedded.

That’s where The Nielson Show on 95.7 Cruz FM fits in: a morning program built specifically for a city that expects—and maybe even needs—more from its sports coverage.

The Coverage You Don’t Get Anywhere Else

National sports coverage is built to serve the broadest audience, which means it often skims past the details that matter most in Edmonton. 

The day-to-day developments that Edmonton fans eat, breathe, and sleep rarely receive sustained attention when the focus is spread across the country.

That perspective comes from voices rooted in the community, not from afar. 

The Nielson Show offers that grounding. It gives Edmonton fans the kind of thoughtful, locally attuned coverage they can’t find anywhere else.

Meet The Nielson Show on 95.7 Cruz FM

Every weekday morning, The Nielson Show provides a forum designed for fans who follow the details, appreciate thoughtful analysis, and enjoy the occasional detour (okay, maybe more than occasional) into the humor and unpredictability (always instigated and never regretted by Lieutenant Eric) that come with being so invested in Edmonton sports.

What distinguishes the show even further is its presence on the FM dial. 

As the flagship program for Edmonton Sports Talk, its addition to the 95.7 Cruz FM lineup gives fans an even more accessible way to start their day.

Sports talk is traditionally rooted in AM radio, a format that often emphasizes utility over experience. By contrast, 95.7 Cruz FM brings a sense of immediacy and clarity to the conversation that fits Edmonton’s energy. 

The broadcast feels more vibrant, more present, and more reflective of the pace at which fans here follow their teams. The decision to place a sports talk program in this environment might be considered unusual, but in Edmonton, it makes perfect sense. 

The city’s appetite for engaged, all-in sports coverage deserves a platform that matches its tone. And The Nielson Show delivers that combination of depth, accessibility, and personality in a way that feels unmistakably local.

Trusted Voices Who Live and Breathe Edmonton Sports

A significant part of the show’s appeal lies with its hosts, Dustin Nielson and Lieutenant Eric. Their dynamic has helped define Edmonton Sports Talk, shaping the tone and credibility of the platform.

Dustin Nielson

Nielson brings a long resume of broadcasting experience on TSN, along with a measured, informed approach to analysis. (Disclaimer: This description may not apply following an Oilers loss in which they go 0 for 6 on the power play.) His perspective is shaped not only by his history as a sports journalist, but by years spent observing the rhythms of Edmonton sports. 

Lieutenant Eric

Lieutenant Eric complements that with a dynamic presence shaped by a fan-first perspective on local teams. His instinct for the city’s mood—whether optimistic, frustrated, or somewhere in between—helps the show capture the range of emotions that define Edmonton sports culture.

Together, they create a space where local fans feel understood. 

Their connection to the city is evident not only in the way they talk about the teams, but in the way they frame moments as part of a larger story that Edmonton has been writing for decades.

Coverage That Brings Edmonton Sports Together

Each morning, The Nielson Show weaves Edmonton’s wide spectrum of sports interests into a clear, cohesive discussion. Oilers storylines naturally sit at the centre, but the show gives space to the Elks throughout the year, alongside other local teams that all define the city’s sports identity.

It also brings an Edmonton lens to national conversations—Blue Jays baseball, Canada at the World Cup, league-wide NHL news—filtering those stories through the priorities and expectations of fans here.

The approach is consistent: thoughtful, contextual, and grounded in the way Edmonton follows its teams. Everything that happens is connected to a larger moment. A minor injury becomes a meaningful question about roster depth. A standout performance hints at future roles. A questionable coaching decision opens a wider conversation about direction (admittedly, a kind, restrained way of describing what is, in practice, a full-scale emotional event).

And because the show airs live, listeners receive all of this in one place, without having to piece together updates from scattered sources.

Why Listening on Cruz FM Matters

While the show is available through podcasts, streaming platforms, and social channels, its live broadcast on 95.7 Cruz FM remains the most compelling way to experience it in a city built around long morning commutes.

Edmonton is a driving city. A lot of mornings are spent on the Henday, the Yellowhead, or making the long trip in from surrounding communities. 

Tuning to an FM station is straightforward. It’s one quick dial adjustment that gives you immediate access to the conversation without having to switch apps or search for the right stream.

The live FM signal also creates a sense of shared participation: You’re listening along with thousands of fans starting their day with the same debates, the same anticipation, and the same running commentary on the latest developments.

In a city that treats sports as a communal experience, that matters. Being able to easily access Edmonton Sports Talk reinforces the idea that Edmonton’s sports culture isn’t something you follow alone; it’s something you join. 

For many commuters, the live broadcast on 95.7 Cruz FM is the easy, reliable part of a morning routine that sets the tone for the day ahead.

Tune In Today

Sports have always been part of Edmonton’s identity, shaping not only the city’s reputation but its daily conversations. 

That identity deserves coverage that reflects the same level of commitment, curiosity, and pride.

The Nielson Show on 95.7 Cruz FM offers exactly that. It’s a thoughtful, lively, truly local approach to sports talk that matches the character of one of North America’s most passionate sports cities.

Tune in weekday mornings from 6–9 AM or catch up through your favourite podcast platform. However you listen, the conversation begins there.

Edmonton sports talk has a home. Every morning it takes shape on 95.7 Cruz FM. Listen now.