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rv good faith - those stats are not updated midseason, and are clearly stated that they are not. Loo much confusion
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Off the ice, the Flames own a [[Western Hockey League]] franchise, the [[Calgary Hitmen]], and in 2007 opened a sports bar and entertainment centre called ''Flames Central'' on [[Stephen Avenue]] in Downtown Calgary. Through the ''Flames Foundation'', the team has donated over [[Canadian dollar|$]]29 million to charity throughout southern Alberta since the franchise arrived.
Off the ice, the Flames own a [[Western Hockey League]] franchise, the [[Calgary Hitmen]], and in 2007 opened a sports bar and entertainment centre called ''Flames Central'' on [[Stephen Avenue]] in Downtown Calgary. Through the ''Flames Foundation'', the team has donated over [[Canadian dollar|$]]29 million to charity throughout southern Alberta since the franchise arrived.


they rock
==Franchise history==
===Atlanta===
{{main|Atlanta Flames}}

The Flames were the result of the NHL's first pre-emptive strike against the upstart [[World Hockey Association]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Boer |first=Peter |title=The Calgary Flames |year=2006 |pages=12 |publisher=Overtime Books |isbn=1-897277-07-5 }}</ref> In December 1971, the NHL hastily granted a team to [[Long Island]]—the [[New York Islanders]]—to keep the WHA's [[New York Raiders]] out of the brand new [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]]. Needing another team to balance the schedule, the NHL awarded a team to an [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]-based group that owned the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Atlanta Hawks]], headed by prominent local real estate developer [[Tom Cousins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/nyi/nylsanders.html|title=History of the New York Islanders|work=Sports E-Cyclopedia|publisher=Tank Productions|accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref> Cousins named the team the "Flames" after the [[fire]] resulting from the [[Sherman's March to the Sea|March to the Sea]] in the [[American Civil War]] by [[General William Tecumseh Sherman]], in which Atlanta was nearly destroyed. They played home games in the [[Omni Coliseum]] in downtown Atlanta.<ref name="atlflames">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/atlflames/aflames.html|title=History of the Atlanta Flames|work=Sports E-Cyclopedia|publisher=Tank Productions|accessdate=2006-11-27}}</ref>

[[Image:Atlantaflamesgoalhug.jpg|thumb|175px|left|[[Tom Lysiak]] celebrates with teammates after a goal against the [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] in 1978]]
The Flames were relatively successful early on. Under head coaches [[Bernie Geoffrion|Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion]], [[Fred Creighton]] and [[Al MacNeil]], the Flames made the playoffs in six of eight seasons in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=235|title=Atlanta Flames seasons|work=The Internet Hockey Database|accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref> In marked contrast, their expansion cousins, the Islanders, won only 31 games during their first two years in the league combined.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=52|title=New York Islanders seasons|work=The Internet Hockey Database|accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref> This relative success didn't carry over to the playoffs, however, as the Flames won only two post-season games during their time in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |pages=g. 219 |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean}}
</ref>

Despite the on-ice success, the Atlanta ownership was never on sound financial footing. Longtime general manager [[Cliff Fletcher]] said years later that Cousins' initial financial projections for an NHL team did not account for the WHA entering the picture.<ref name="fletcher">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/halloffame/fletcher110304.html |title=Building a franchise is Flether's forte |accessdate=2006-11-28 |last=McGourty |first=John |date=2004-11-03 |publisher=nhl.com}}</ref><ref name="HockeyChron">{{cite book |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric et al. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hockey Chronicles |year=2001 |publisher=Checkmark Books |location=New York City |isbn=0816046972}}</ref> The Flames were also a poor draw, and never signed a major television contract.<ref name="atlflames"/>

In 1980, Cousins was in considerable financial difficulty and was forced to sell the Flames to stave off bankruptcy. With few serious offers from local groups, he was very receptive to an offer from a group of Calgary businessmen fronted by Canadian entrepreneur (and former Oilers owner) [[Nelson Skalbania]].<ref name="atlflames"/> A last-ditch effort to keep the team in Atlanta fell short, and Cousins sold the team to Skalbania for [[United States dollar|US]]$16 million, a record sale price for an NHL team at the time.<ref name="HockeyChron"/> On May 21, 1980, Skalbania announced that the team would move to Calgary.<ref name="FlamesHistory">{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean |pages=g. 4}}</ref> He chose to retain the Flames name, feeling it would be a good fit for an oil town like Calgary, while the flaming "A" logo was replaced by a flaming "C".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Name Game: Football, Baseball, Hockey & Basketball How Your Favorite Sports Teams Were Named |last=Donovan |first=Michael Leo |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1997 |publisher=Warwick Publishing |location=[[Toronto]] |isbn=1895629748 |pages= }}</ref> Skalbania sold his interest in 1981, and the Flames have been locally owned since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/legacy/contributions_owners_nelsonskalbania2.html|title=Nelson Skalbania|work=Edmonton Oilers Heritage|accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref>

===1980–1985===
[[Image:PengrowthSaddledomeNight.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The Flames moved into the [[Pengrowth Saddledome|Olympic Saddledome]] in 1983.]]

Unlike the WHA's [[Calgary Cowboys]], who folded three years earlier, the Flames were immediately embraced by the city of Calgary. While the Cowboys could manage to sell only 2,000 season tickets in their final campaign of [[1976–77 WHA season|1976–77]], the Flames sold 10,000 full- and half-season ticket packages in the 7,000 seat [[Stampede Corral]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Zeman |first=Gary |title=Alberta on Ice |year=1986 |publisher=Heritage House |pages=94 |isbn=0969232004}}
</ref>

Led by [[Kent Nilsson]]'s 49-goal, 131-point season, the Flames qualified for the playoffs in their first season in Calgary with a 39–27–4 record, good for third in the [[Patrick Division]].<ref name="regularseason">{{cite book |title=2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |pages=g. 105 |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean}}</ref> The team found much greater playoff success in Calgary than it did in Atlanta, winning their first two playoff series over the [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] and [[Philadelphia Flyers]] before bowing out to the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |pages=g. 131 |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean}}</ref> This early success was not soon repeated. After a losing record in [[1981-82 NHL season|1981–82]], Fletcher jettisoned several holdovers from the Atlanta days who couldn't adjust to the higher-pressure hockey environment and rebuilt the roster.<ref>{{cite book |last=Boer |first=Peter |title=The Calgary Flames |year=2006 |pages=51 |publisher=Overtime Books |isbn=1-897277-07-5 }}</ref><ref name="HockeyChron"/> Over the next three seasons, he put together a core of players that would remain together through the early 1990s.

Fletcher's efforts to match the Oilers led him to draw talent from areas previously neglected by the NHL. The Flames were among the earliest teams to sign large numbers of U.S. college players, including [[Joel Otto]], [[Gary Suter]] and [[Colin Patterson (ice hockey)|Colin Patterson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://couchpotatohockey.com/Teams/Team%20Biographies/Calgary.asp|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070622175124/http://www.couchpotatohockey.com/Teams/Team+Biographies/Calgary.asp|archivedate=2007-06-22|title=Calgary Flames Team Biography|publisher=Couchpotatohockey |accessdate=2007-12-07}}</ref> Fletcher also stepped up the search for European hockey talent, acquiring [[Håkan Loob|Hakan Loob]] and other key players. He was among the first to [[NHL Entry Draft|draft]] players from the [[Soviet Union]], including [[HC CSKA Moscow]] star [[Sergei Makarov]] in [[1983 NHL Entry Draft|1983]], but Soviet players were not released to Western teams until 1989.<ref name="soviet">{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/27/soviet_legacy/ |title=Sweeping changes |author=Dolezar, John A. |date=2002-09-27 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> Still, the team was sufficiently improved to challenge the Oilers, who required the maximum seven games to defeat the Flames en route to their [[1983-84 NHL season|1984]] [[Stanley Cup]] Championship.<ref name="playoffresults">{{cite book |title=2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |pages=g. 232 |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean}}</ref>

In 1983, the Flames moved into their new home, the Olympic Saddledome (now known as the [[Pengrowth Saddledome]]). Located on the grounds of the [[Calgary Exhibition and Stampede]], the Saddledome was built as a venue for the [[1988 Winter Olympics]]. In three seasons in the Corral, the Flames lost only 32 home games.<ref name="FlamesHistory" /> The Saddledome hosted the 37th [[NHL All-Star Game]] in 1985, a 6–4 victory by the [[Wales Conference]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.detroithockey.net/nhl/allstar.php |title=NHL All-Star Games |accessdate=2008-01-03 |publisher=detroithockey.net}}</ref>

===1985–1990===
[[Image:Harvey the Hound.PNG|thumb|left|125px|Introduced in 1983, [[Harvey the Hound]] was the NHL's first mascot.]]
The players acquired by Fletcher matured into one of the strongest teams in the league during the mid-1980s and early 1990s. From [[1984–85 NHL season|1984–85]] to [[1990–91 NHL season|1990–91]], the Flames tallied 90 points in every season but one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=43 |title=Calgary Flames seasons |accessdate=2008-01-03 |publisher=The Internet Hockey Database}}</ref> However, they were usually unable to transform that success into a deep playoff run, largely because they could not get the better of their provincial rivals, the powerhouse Oilers. The NHL's playoff structure of the time made it very likely that the Flames would meet the Oilers in either the first or second round, rather than in Campbell Conference finals.<ref name="HockeyChron"/> That same structure made it very likely that the other two playoff qualifiers in the Smythe Division would have to get past the Flames or Oilers (or both) in order to make it to the conference finals.<ref>[http://www.nhl.com/cup/formats.html NHL Playoff Formats] at NHL.com. From 1981 to 1993, the first-place team in each division played the fourth-place team in the first round, while the division runner-up played the third-place team. The two series winners then faced off in the division final for the right to go to the conference final</ref> From 1983 until 1990, either the Oilers or the Flames represented the Campbell Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=johnson_george&id=2191048 |title=Bile back in Battle of Alberta |accessdate=2008-01-03 |date=2005-10-17 |publisher=ESPN |author=Johnson, George}}</ref>

By [[1985–86 NHL season|1986]] the Flames had landed forwards [[Doug Risebrough]], [[Lanny McDonald]], and [[Dan Quinn]], defenceman [[Al MacInnis]], and goaltender [[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]]. Finishing second in the Smythe with a 40–31–6 record (the only season from 1984 to 1991 in which they did not finish with 90 or more points),<ref name="regularseason" /> the Flames swept the [[Winnipeg Jets]] in the first round of the playoffs,<ref name="playoffresults" /> setting up a showdown with the Oilers. Edmonton finished 30 points ahead of Calgary during the season, and was heavily favoured to win a third Cup in a row. However, the Flames upset the Oilers in seven games, with the series-winning goal coming at the hands of Oilers' rookie [[James Stephen Smith|Steve Smith]] as he accidentally shot the puck off of goaltender [[Grant Fuhr]]'s leg and into his own net.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/dynasty_players_stevesmith.html |title=Dynasty Players: Steve Smith |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=Edmonton Oilers Heritage}}</ref> The goal remains one of the most legendary blunders in hockey history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/features/si_stanley_cup/1986/ |title=SI Flashback: Stanley Cup 1986 |author=Swift, E.M.|accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stanleycup2006/content/features/topgame7.html |title=Top 10: Game 7's |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=CBC Sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/chokes/hockey.html |title=Biggest Stanley Cup playoff chokes |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

From there, the Flames went on to the Campbell Conference Finals, where they defeated the [[St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]] in another seven-game series. This time, Calgary had to survive a scare of its own, shaking off the [[The Monday Night Miracle (ice hockey)|Monday Night Miracle]] at the [[St. Louis Arena]]. Trailing by a score of 5–2 with 10 minutes to play in the third period of Game 6, the Blues mounted a furious comeback to send the contest into overtime, where [[Doug Wickenheiser]] scored to force a deciding seventh game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/pd125.nsf/0/8562839B99EBB29186256E0700728192?OpenDocument |title=Birth of the Blues |author=Goold, Derrick |date=2004-01-20 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch}}</ref> Calgary would win Game 7 at home, 2–1, advancing into the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time.<ref name="playoffresults" /> The Flames proved to be no match for the [[Montreal Canadiens]], losing the championship series in five games. Montreal [[rookie]] goaltender [[Patrick Roy]] was nearly unbeatable in the last two games, allowing only four goals en route to winning the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]].

The Flames followed up their run to the Finals with their best regular season to that point. Calgary's 46–31–3 record in [[1986–87 NHL season|1986–87]] was good for third overall in the NHL, behind the Oilers and [[Philadelphia Flyers]].<ref>{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean |pages=g. 125}}</ref> However, the Flames were unable to duplicate their playoff success of a year prior, losing their first round match-up with the [[Winnipeg Jets]] in six games. The season was also difficult off the ice, as [[1986 NHL Entry Draft|1986]] first round draft pick [[George Pelawa]] was killed in a car accident prior to the season's start.<ref>{{cite news |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |title=Death of top draft choice shocks Flames |date=1986-08-31 |work=Calgary Herald |page=A1}}</ref>

The Flames recorded their first 100-point season in [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]], earning the [[Presidents' Trophy]] for having the league's best record and ending the Oilers' six-year reign atop the Smythe Division in the process.<ref name="1987-88">{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean |pages=g. 124}}</ref> However, they were swept by the Oilers in the second round of the playoffs.<ref name="playoffresults" /> [[Joe Nieuwendyk]] became the second rookie in league history to score 50+ goals, earning the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] as rookie of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net:8080/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11194 |title=Joe Nieuwendyk player profile |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=legendsofhockey.net |work=Hockey Hall of Fame}}</ref> Looking to bolster the line-up for a playoff run, the Flames dealt young sniper [[Brett Hull]], along with [[Steve Bozek]], to the Blues for [[Rob Ramage]] and [[Rick Wamsley]] on March 7 1988.<ref name="gilmourtrade">{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/08/08/sayitaintso_flames/ |title=Say it aint so: Calgary Flames |publisher=Sports Illustrated |author=Dolezar, John A |date=2001-08-08 |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> Their playoff frustrations continued, however, when after defeating the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in five games, Calgary was swept out of the playoffs in four straight by the Oilers.<ref name="playoffresults" />

[[Image:FlamesBanners.JPG|right|thumb|200px|Calgary's [[1988-89 Calgary Flames season|1988–89 Championship]] banner hangs alongside [[Lanny McDonald]]'s retired jersey.]]
In [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]], the Flames continued to improve. They captured their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy with a franchise record 117 points, finishing 26 points better than the second-place Kings in the Smythe Division.<ref>{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean |pages=g. 123}}</ref> Fletcher continued to tinker with the roster, acquiring [[Doug Gilmour]] as part of a six player deal at the trade deadline. In the playoffs, the Flames were stretched to seven games in the first round by the Canucks. They relied on several saves by goaltender [[Mike Vernon (ice hockey)|Mike Vernon]], including a famous glove save off a [[Stan Smyl]] breakaway in overtime. The save remains a defining moment in Flames history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam040416/nhl_calvan8-sun.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050118061240/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam040416/nhl_calvan8-sun.html |archivedate=2005-01-18 |title=Smyl doesn't lose sleep over big save |author=Sportak, Randy |date=2004-04-16 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=Calgary Sun}}</ref> [[Joel Otto]] would score the winning goal.

The Flames then made short work of the Kings, defeating them in four straight, before eliminating the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] in five games to set up a rematch of the [[1986 Stanley Cup Finals]] against Montreal. This time, the Flames won in six games, the last being a 4–2 victory in Montreal on May 25 1989.<ref name="playoffresults" /> The clinching win was especially significant in that it marked the only time that an opposing team defeated the Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup on [[Montreal Forum]] ice.<ref name="lanny">{{cite web |last=McGourty |first=John |url=http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/cup/mcdonald052301.html |title=Lanny, Stanley into the sunset |date=2001-05-23 |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=2007-12-07}}</ref> Al MacInnis captured the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] as playoffs most valuable player,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/ind07MacInnis.htm |title=Al MacInnis |publisher=legendsofhockey.net |work=Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2000-01-04}}</ref> while long-time captain Lanny McDonald announced his retirement.<ref name="lanny" /> The 1989 Stanley Cup win gave Flames co-owner, [[Sonia Scurfield]], the distinction of being the first (and only) Canadian woman to have her name engraved on the [[Stanley Cup]].

In 1989, thanks in part to [[Cliff Fletcher]]'s diplomatic efforts, the Soviets gave permission for a select group of Soviet hockey players to sign with NHL teams. The first of these players was [[Sergei Pryakhin]]. Although Pryakhin never became an NHL regular, his arrival blazed a trail for the large number of Russian players who entered the NHL beginning in [[1989–90 NHL season|1989–90]].<ref name="soviet" /> Sergei Makarov joined the Flames that season and, though already in his thirties, became the fifth Flame to win the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] as the league's Rookie of the Year. The selection would prove controversial, prompting the league to amend the rules to exclude any player over the age of 26 from future consideration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DA103EF933A15755C0A966958260 |title=New Rules for Rookies |date=1990-06-20 |publisher=New York Times |accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref>

===1991–2003===
[[Image:Calgary Flames horse head logo.png|right|thumb|125px|Calgary's alternate logo, 1999–2007]]
In 1991, Fletcher left the Flames to become the general manager of the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]. He had been the team's general manager since its inception in 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/spot_oneononeb200401.htm |title=One on One with Cliff Fletcher |publisher=legendsofhockey.net |work=Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> He was succeeded in Calgary by Doug Risebrough, and the two quickly completed a ten player mega-trade that saw disgruntled forward [[Doug Gilmour]] dealt to Toronto with four other players for former 50 goal scorer [[Gary Leeman]] and four others.<ref name="gilmourtrade" /> The trade transformed both clubs. The formerly inept Leafs turned into a contender almost immediately, while Leeman scored only eleven goals in a Flames uniform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2003/03/13/leafs_flames030313.html |title=Gilmour begins again with Leafs in Calgary |publisher=CBC Sports |date=2003-04-13 |accessdate=2007-05-14}}</ref> Despite the blossoming of [[Theoren Fleury]] into an NHL star, the Flames missed the playoffs entirely in [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], only a year after finishing with their third 100-point season in franchise history. It was the first time the Flames had missed the playoffs since [[1974–75 NHL season|1975]], when they were still in Atlanta. It was also only the third time out of the playoffs in the franchise's 20-year history.<ref name="playoffresults" />

[[Image:JaromeIginla.jpg|left|thumb|150px|The performance of [[Jarome Iginla]] was one of the team's few bright spots during its seven year playoff drought.]]
Calgary rebounded to make the playoffs for the next four seasons, including two consecutive division titles. However, they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs each time. The [[1993–94 NHL season|1994]] and [[1994–95 NHL season|1995]] Division titles led to Game 7 home defeats in the opening round to the Canucks and [[San Jose Sharks]] respectively. In the [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96 season]], Nieuwendyk was traded to the [[Dallas Stars]] in a deal that acquired [[Jarome Iginla]]. Iginla would make his Flames debut in the 1996 postseason during which the Flames again lost in the first round, a four game sweep by the Blackhawks. In [[1996–97 NHL season|1997]], only two years after winning their second consecutive division title, the Flames missed the playoffs and would not return for seven years.<ref name="playoffresults" /> The low point came in the [[1997-98 NHL season|1997-98 season]], in which the Flames finished with only 67 points, the second-lowest point total in franchise history.<ref name="SportsEnc">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/calgary/calflames.html|title=History of the Calgary Flames|work=Sports E-Cyclopedia|publisher=Tank Productions|accessdate=2008-01-26}}</ref>

During this time, the Flames found it increasingly difficult to retain their best players as salaries escalated while the [[Canadian dollar]] lost value against the [[United States dollar|American dollar]].<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/cup/2004-05-25-flames-cover_x.htm |title=Flames: Bright spot for Canada |publisher=USA Today |author=Gardiner, Andy |date=2004-05-25 |accessdate=2007-12-07}}</ref> Calgary has always been one of the smallest markets in the league (it is currently second-smallest, behind only Edmonton) and the NHL's small-market Canadian teams found it increasingly difficult to compete in the new environment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=cox_damien&id=3098820 |title=What is Ottawa's success worth to Canadians, NHL? A lot |publisher=EPSN |author=Cox, Damien |date=2007-11-07 |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref> In [[1998–99 NHL season|1999]], for example, the Flames traded Fleury to the [[Colorado Avalanche]] midway through the season.<ref name="gilmourtrade" /> The trade came shortly after Fleury became the franchise's all-time leading scorer. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeynut.com/9899/fleury0299.html |title=Colorado gets Fleury |publisher=Hockeynut.com |date= |accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref> Fleury was due to become an unrestricted [[free agent]] at the end of the season, and the Flames didn't want to risk losing him without getting anything in return.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/HockeyFleuryTrade/feb28_fla.html |title=Emotional Fleury finds new home with Avalanche |publisher=Canoe.ca |date= |accessdate=2008-09-16}}</ref>

As the Flames sank in the standings, their attendance also sagged. For most of their first 16 years in Calgary, Flames tickets were among the toughest in the NHL. However, by 1999, attendance had fallen off so severely that the owners issued an ultimatum: buy more season tickets or the team would join its departed counterparts in Winnipeg and [[Quebec Nordiques|Quebec City]] in leaving for the United States. The fans responded by buying enough season tickets to keep the Flames in Calgary for the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]].<ref name="HockeyChron"/> The Flames issued another appeal for more season tickets in the summer of 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/05/18/flames00518.html |title=Flames aim to save team by end of June |publisher=CBC Sports |date=2000-05-18 |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref> The campaign, aimed at increasing season ticket sales from a franchise low of 8,700 to 14,000, proved successful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/06/29/flames000629.html |title=Flames reach season ticket goal |publisher=CBC Sports |date=2000-11-10 |accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref> The increased sales did not halt the Flames' financial losses, however, as the team estimated it lost $14.5 million between 2001 and 2003.<ref name="usatoday" />

One of the few bright spots in this stretch was Iginla, who captured the [[Rocket Richard Trophy|Rocket Richard]] and [[Art Ross Trophy|Art Ross]] Trophies in [[2001–02 Calgary Flames season|2001–02]] as NHL goal- and point-scoring champion after scoring 52 goals and 96 points. Iginla again won the Rocket Richard Trophy, tied with [[Rick Nash]] and [[Ilya Kovalchuk]], with 41 goals in [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=14470 |title=Jarome Iginla |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=hockeydb.com}}</ref> Another bright spot for the team during this time was defenceman [[Robyn Regehr]] who became the youngest nominee ever for the [[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]], which recognizes perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Regehr had suffered two broken legs in a car accident the summer of 1999, but recovered in time to play 57 games at the age of 19.<ref>{{cite book |title=2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |editor=Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean |pages=g. 61}}</ref>

During the [[2002–03 Calgary Flames season|2002–03 season]], the Flames hired [[Darryl Sutter]] as the team's head coach, replacing [[Greg Gilbert]], who was fired as the Flames languished in last place in the Western Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web02.nm.cbc.ca/sports/story/2002/12/28/flames021228.html |title=Flames hire coach Darryl Sutter |date=2002-12-28 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=CBC Sports}}</ref> Sutter also became the team's general manager following the season, and is credited with revitalizing the franchise.<ref>{{cite web |author=Johnson, George |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=johnson_george&id=2291711 |title=In Sutter, Flames (and fans) trust |date=2006-01-23 |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Among Sutter's first moves was to acquire goaltender [[Miikka Kiprusoff]], whom he had previously coached in San Jose, early in the 2003-04 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?hubname=nhl-flames&id=292 |title=Miikka Kiprusoff profile |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=tsn.ca}}</ref> Kiprusoff responded by setting a modern NHL record for lowest [[goals against average]] at 1.69.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=2873 |title=Miikka Kiprusoff profile |accessdate=2008-01-04 |publisher=nhlpa.com}}</ref>

===2004–present===
[[Image:MiikkaKiprusoff.jpg|thumb|right|Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender in 2005-06.]]
After seven consecutive seasons of not making the playoffs, the Flames finally returned to the post-season in 2004. The Flames became the first team in NHL history to defeat three division champions<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/columns/kreiser/flames050704.html |title=Flames scorch foes,
and odds |accessdate=2008-01-05 |date=2004-05-07 |last=Kreiser |first=John |publisher=nhl.com}}</ref> en route to becoming the first Canadian team to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals since the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in [[1994 Stanley Cup Finals|1994]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/19/sharks_flames040519.html |title=Flames reach Stanley Cup finals |accessdate=2006-11-28 |date=2004-05-20 |publisher=CBC Sports}}</ref> The
Flames' first victim was the Northwest Division champion Vancouver Canucks, whom they defeated in seven games. It was the Flames' first playoff series win since they won the 1989 final.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2004041922 |title=Recap: Calgary 3, Vancouver 2, OT |accessdate=2006-11-28 |date=2004-04-20 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports}}</ref>

The Flames then upset the Presidents' Trophy winning [[Detroit Red Wings]] in six games. After eliminating the Pacific Division champion Sharks, also in six games, in the Western Conference Final, the Flames earned a trip to the [[2004 Stanley Cup Finals]] to face the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. The Canadian Embassy in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington DC]], flew the Flames flag beside the [[Flag of Canada|Maple Leaf]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_hwang/20040528.html |title=Cheering for the home team |accessdate=2006-11-28 |date=2004-05-28 |last=Hwang |first=Rosa |publisher=CBC Sports}}</ref> while [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Paul Martin]] dubbed the Flames "Canada's team".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://calgary-flames-news.newslib.com/story/981-245220/ |title=Martin dubs Calgary Flames 'Canada's Team' |accessdate=2006-12-23 |date=2004-05-30 |publisher=CTV Sports}}</ref>

The final series went to seven games, with the Flames suffering a controversial non-goal in game six at home. Replays showed that [[Martin Gélinas|Martin Gelinas]] came close to scoring what would have been the go-ahead goal late in the third period; however, the referees never signaled a goal, and later replays were ruled inconclusive. The Lightning would go on to win the game in [[overtime (hockey)|double overtime]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Damian |last=Cristodero |title= One last shot |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/06/Lightning/One_last_shot.shtml |publisher=St. Petersburg Times |date=2004-06-06 |accessdate=2006-11-28}}</ref> before winning game seven at home to capture the Stanley Cup. Despite the loss, 30,000 fans packed into [[Olympic Plaza (Calgary)|Olympic Plaza]] to celebrate the Flames run.<ref>{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Bergman |title=The Flames nearly brought the Stanley Cup home, and grateful Calgary gave thanks |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0012618 |format=Reprint |publisher=The Canadian Encyclopedia |work=Maclean's Magazine |date=2004-06-21 |accessdate=2006-11-28}}</ref> Interestingly, Gelinas was with the Canucks when they couldn't complete their [[Cinderella (sports)|Cinderella]] run in 1994, losing to the [[New York Rangers]] in Game 7 of [[1994 Stanley Cup Finals|that year's finals]].

The Flames would not raise their Western Conference championship banner for nearly 15 months, as the [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]] was wiped out by a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|labour dispute]]. During the lockout, team owner and [[Chair (official)|Chairman of the Board]], [[Harley Hotchkiss]], attempted to save the season by engaging in discussions with [[National Hockey League Players Association]] president [[Trevor Linden]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Ira |last=Podel |title=Linden, Hotchkiss to meet again |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2005-01-19-lockout-meeting_x.htm |publisher=USA Today |date=2005-01-19 |accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref> While their discussions failed to save the season, Hotchkiss was credited with easing tensions that allowed for a successful negotiation of a new [[collective bargaining agreement]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Morris |last=Dalla Costa |title=Hotchkiss happy where NHL is now |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2007/09/21/4514738-sun.html |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=2007-09-21 |accessdate=2008-01-04}}</ref>

[[Image:Corey Sarich.PNG|left|thumb|[[Cory Sarich]] wearing the Flames [[NHL uniform|Rbk EDGE]] uniform introduced in 2007.]]
The Flames played their 25th season in Calgary in [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]], finishing with 103 points. It was their best total since the 1989 Cup winning season, and good enough to capture their first division title in 12 years. However, the Flames lost to the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] in seven games during the first round of the playoffs. [[Miikka Kiprusoff]] captured both the [[William M. Jennings Trophy]] and the [[Vezina Trophy]] as the NHL's top goaltender, while defenceman [[Dion Phaneuf]] set a franchise record for goals by a rookie blue-liner with 20.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/05/271296.html |title=NHL announces 2005–06 trophy finalists |accessdate=2007-12-23 |date=2006-06-24 |publisher=NHL.com}}</ref>

The 2006 off-season began with a trade for [[Alex Tanguay]], formerly of the [[Colorado Avalanche]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/draft2006/news/story?id=2499645 |title=Avs send Tanguay to Flames for Leopold, picks |accessdate=2006-11-28 |date=2006-05-04 |publisher=nhl.com}}</ref> and with Sutter relinquishing his head coaching position to assistant [[Jim Playfair]] so he could focus on his duties as general manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171090&hubname=nhl |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070929162911/http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=171090&hubname=nhl |archivedate=2007-09-29 |title=Sutter steps down as Flames coach |accessdate=2006-11-28 |publisher=TSN}}</ref> Despite a marked improvement in team offence and a solid 96-point season, the Flames were pushed into eighth place in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, Calgary fell in six games to the top seeded Red Wings in the first round. During the series, the Flames were fined by the NHL for several stick-related penalties in the fifth game. Notably, backup goaltender [[Jamie McLennan]] was suspended five games for slashing Red Wings forward [[Johan Franzén]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070422.wmclennan0422/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home |title=Five-game suspension for McLennan |author=Duhatschek, Eric |date=2007-04-22 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> Franzén would score the series clinching goal in the Game 6 defeat in Double Overtime.

Prior to the start of the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], the Flames demoted Playfair to associate coach, bringing in [[Mike Keenan]] as the team's third head coach in three years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210816&hubname= |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071009230016/http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=210816&hubname= |archivedate=2007-10-09 |title=Flames name Keenan new head coach |date=2007-06-14 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |publisher=TSN}}</ref> During the season, Jarome Iginla became the Flames' all-time leader in games played, passing Al MacInnis' mark of 803. Iginla also passed [[Theoren Fleury]]'s mark of 364 goals to become the Flames all-time goal scoring leader on March 10, 2008. Despite a 94-point season and seventh place seed in the western conference, they fell in the quarterfinals to the Pacific Division champion Sharks in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gLlgpm1thLzwuB4tBHEllmlPsUqQD8VB2FKG0 |title=Iginla Tops Flames' Goal Record in Win |date=2008-03-10 |accessdate=2008-03-18 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=September 2008}}


==Community impact==
==Community impact==

Revision as of 18:47, 14 January 2009

Calgary Flames
ConferenceWestern
DivisionNorthwest
Founded1972
HistoryAtlanta Flames
1972–1980
Calgary Flames
1980–present
Home arenaPengrowth Saddledome
CityCalgary, Alberta
Team coloursRed, Black, Gold, White        
MediaRogers Sportsnet West
Fan 960 (960 AM)
Owner(s)Murray Edwards (chairman), Harley Hotchkiss (governor), Alvin G. Libin, Allan P. Markin, Jeff McCaig, Clayton H. Riddell, Byron J. Seaman
General managerCanada Darryl Sutter
Head coachCanada Mike Keenan
CaptainCanada Jarome Iginla
Minor league affiliatesQuad City Flames (AHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL)
Stanley Cups1988–89
Conference championships1985–86, 1988–89, 2003–04
Division championships1985–86, 1988–89, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2005–06

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the Calgary Tigers (1921–27) and Calgary Cowboys (1975–77). The Flames are one of two NHL franchises in Alberta, the other being the Edmonton Oilers. The cities' proximity has led to a famous rivalry, known as the Battle of Alberta. Games between the teams are often heated events.[1][2]

The team was founded in 1972 in Atlanta, Georgia as the Atlanta Flames, and moved to Calgary in 1980. The Flames played their first three seasons in Calgary at the Stampede Corral before moving into their current home arena, the Pengrowth Saddledome (originally known as the Olympic Saddledome), in 1983. In 1986, the Flames became the first Calgary team since the 1924 Tigers to compete for the Stanley Cup. In 1989, the Flames captured the Cup for the first time. The Flames' unexpected run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals captured the imagination of Canadians, leading Prime Minister Paul Martin to dub them "Canada's team", while the Red Mile celebrations by fans became nationally famous.

Off the ice, the Flames own a Western Hockey League franchise, the Calgary Hitmen, and in 2007 opened a sports bar and entertainment centre called Flames Central on Stephen Avenue in Downtown Calgary. Through the Flames Foundation, the team has donated over $29 million to charity throughout southern Alberta since the franchise arrived.

they rock

Community impact

Flames Central is a downtown restaurant and bar owned by the Flames.

In 1994, the Flames approached the Saddledome Foundation with a proposal to renovate the Olympic Saddledome, rename it the Canadian Airlines Saddledome and take over management of the facility. The board agreed to this proposal, and was bought out by the Flames for $20 million as the team signed a 20-year agreement to manage the building.[3]

Looking to fill extra dates in the Saddledome, the Flames agreed to a lease deal with the expansion Calgary Hitmen of the junior Western Hockey League who began play in 1995 and were partly owned by Theoren Fleury.[4] Two years later, in 1997, the Flames bought the team for $1.5 million.[5] During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Flames heavily marketed the Hitmen, and as a result, the team led all professional or junior teams in North America in attendance, averaging over 10,000 fans per game.[6]

In April 2006, the Flames announced that they would be opening a hybrid restaurant, bar and entertainment facility in downtown Calgary on Stephen Avenue. In announcing the venture, Flames' President and CEO Ken King stated: "While hockey remains our core competency, we are constantly seeking new opportunities in which to grow the Flames brand and allow our fans greater opportunities to enjoy hockey. We believe establishing a location outside of the Pengrowth Saddledome to share food, fun and hockey will bring our fans even closer to the team."[7] One year later, in April 2007, Flames Central opened to the public.[8]

Flames Foundation

The Flames have maintained an active presence in the community since their arrival in Calgary. Through the team's non-profit charity, the Flames Foundation, the team has donated over $29 million to causes throughout southern Alberta.[9] Along with the Rotary Club, the Flames are helping to fund the first children's hospice in Alberta, and one of only six in North America.[10]

The Flames are also close partners with the Alberta Children's Hospital. Among the many activities the Flames participate in, the Wheelchair Hockey Challenge with the Townsend Tigers has remained a highly popular tradition for both the players and the children involved. Gordon Townsend School is located at the Alberta Children's Hospital. In 2008, the Tigers defeated the Flames 11–6, to move to a perfect 27–0 record since the challenge was first instituted in 1981.[11]

Red Mile

Main article: Red Mile

During the Flames' run to the Stanley Cup Finals of 2004, the city of Calgary essentially became the host of a "non-stop party". The 17th Avenue SW entertainment district, which runs west from the Pengrowth Saddledome, saw as many as 35,000 fans pack the streets during the first three rounds of the playoffs,[12] and over 60,000 in the finals.[13] The Red Mile party received widespread coverage in newspapers across North America,[14] as the parties remained peaceful and incidents were minimal despite the large number of people in a small area.[15][dead link]

The C of Red

In April 2006, the Calgary Police Service announced that Red Mile gatherings would not be encouraged, and that measures would be taken to discourage them, including traffic diversions, a zero-tolerance policy on noise and rowdy behaviour, and the presence of plain-clothed officers among the crowd to ticket offenders.[16] After meeting with the Chief of Police, Mayor Dave Bronconnier convinced the Calgary Police Service to relax their ban on the "Red Mile" and encouraged people to make their way to 17th Ave, however the police retained their zero-tolerance policy on public nudity and drunkenness.[15]

The "C of Red"

During the Flames' run to the Stanley Cup Finals of 2004, most of the Flames fans attending the hockey games at the Saddledome wore a red jersey with Calgary's flaming C on it.[12] Sales of the Flames red home jersey, introduced at the start of the 2003–04 campaign, were so strong during the playoffs that the team set a league record for sales of a new uniform design.[17][dead link] The tradition of the C of Red dates back to the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Oilers. Oiler fans were donning hats promoting "Hat Trick Fever" in their quest for three straight Stanley Cups. Flames fans countered by wearing red. In the 1987 playoffs against Winnipeg, the Jets responded to the C of Red by encouraging fans to wear white, creating the Winnipeg White Out.[18]

Team colours and mascot

Original jerseys, used 1980–1994

The Flames primary logo is the "Flaming C" design, introduced when the team came to Calgary in 1980. The design of the logo has remained constant since it was created, though the Flames use a different coloured logo for the home and away jerseys. From 1980 until 2000, the home logo was red on a white background, while the road logo was white on a red background. In 2003, the NHL switched to using coloured jerseys for the home team. The home logo became black, with the road logo red on a white background. The original "Flaming A" logo of the Atlanta Flames has been restored for use as a patch denoting the team's alternate captains. The flaming horse logo was retired in 2007 with the introduction of the new Rbk Edge jerseys.[19]

Jerseys

Second design, used 1994–2000

The Flames' original jerseys used red and orange striping. In 1994, the Flames added black to the team's colour scheme, while also adding a diagonal stripe from the base of the jersey to below the logo. In 1998, to celebrate the "Year of the Cowboy", the Flames introduced their third jersey design, the "flaming horse" logo on a black background.[20] Two years later, the jersey became the Flames road jersey, while the home jersey was updated to incorporate the same V-style striping on the arms and waist of the jersey. This jersey was once again relegated to third jersey status in 2003 when the NHL adopted the coloured jerseys for the home team.[21] In 2007, with the introduction of the Rbk Edge jersey, the Flames updated their look once again, replacing the horizontal striping with vertical striping down the sides. To honour the team's heritage, the Flames added the flags of Alberta and Canada as shoulder patches.[19]

Mascot

Main article: Harvey the Hound

Harvey the Hound is the Flames' mascot. He was created in 1983 to serve both with the Flames and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.[22] Harvey was the first mascot in the NHL.[22] Harvey is famous for an incident in January 2003 where he had his tongue ripped out by Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish as he was harassing their bench.[23] The incident made headlines throughout North America and led to much humour, including having many other NHL team mascots arrive at the 2003 All-Star Game with their tongues hanging out.[24][dead link]

Season-by-season record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Flames. For the full season-by-season history, see Calgary Flames seasons

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season GP W L T1 OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2003–04 82 42 30 7 3 94 200 176 1428 third in Northwest Lost in Finals, 3–4 (Lightning)
2004–05 Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 82 46 25 — 11 103 218 200 1464 first in Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Mighty Ducks)
2006–07 82 43 29 — 10 96 258 226 1182 third in Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Red Wings)
2007–08 82 42 30 — 10 94 229 227 1328 third in Northwest Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Sharks)
1 As of the 2005–06 NHL season, all games will have a winner; the OTL column includes shootout losses.

Players

Current roster

Updated September 5, 2024[25][26]

No. Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
4 Sweden Rasmus Andersson (A) D R 27 2015 Malmö, Sweden
11 Sweden Mikael Backlund (C) C L 35 2007 Västerås, Sweden
7 Canada Kevin Bahl D L 24 2024 New Westminster, British Columbia
24 Canada Jake Bean D L 26 2024 Calgary, Alberta
20 United States Blake Coleman (A) C L 32 2021 Plano, Texas
1 United States Devin Cooley G L 27 2024 Los Gatos, California
71 United States Walker Duehr RW R 26 2021 Sioux Falls, South Dakota
44 Canada Joel Hanley D L 33 2024 Keswick, Ontario
10 Canada Jonathan Huberdeau (A) C/LW L 31 2022 Saint-Jérôme, Quebec
15 Canada Dryden Hunt LW L 28 2023 Cranbrook, British Columbia
91 Canada Nazem Kadri (A) C L 33 2022 London, Ontario
96 Russia Andrei Kuzmenko LW R 28 2024 Yakutsk, Russia
70 Canada Ryan Lomberg LW L 29 2024 Richmond Hill, Ontario
39 Canada Anthony Mantha RW L 30 2024 Longueuil, Quebec
62 Russia Daniil Miromanov D R 27 2024 Moscow, Russia
94 Canada Brayden Pachal D R 25 2024 Estevan, Saskatchewan
76 Slovakia Martin Pospisil C L 24 2018 Zvolen, Slovakia
21 United States Kevin Rooney C L 31 2022 Canton, Massachusetts
17 Belarus Yegor Sharangovich C/LW L 26 2023 Minsk, Belarus
80 Czech Republic Daniel Vladar Injured Reserve G L 27 2021 Prague, Czech Republic
52 Canada MacKenzie Weegar (A) D R 30 2022 Nepean, Ontario
32 United States Dustin Wolf G L 23 2019 Gilroy, California
47 Canada Connor Zary C L 22 2020 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan


Honoured members

See also: List of Calgary Flames award winners

Several members of the Flames organization have been honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame during the team's history in Calgary. Lanny McDonald was the first Flame player inducted, gaining election in 1992. McDonald recorded 215 goals in 492 games for the Flames, including a team record 66 goals in 1982–83. He was joined in 2000 by a fellow member of the 1989 Stanley Cup championship team, Joe Mullen. Mullen spent five seasons with the Flames, recording 388 points and capturing two Lady Byng Trophies. Grant Fuhr, elected in 2003, became the third former Flames player to enter the Hall. Fuhr played only one season in Calgary; however, he recorded his 400th career win in a Flames uniform, a victory over the Florida Panthers on October 22, 1999.[27] In 2007, Al MacInnis became the fourth former Flame inducted into the Hall, and the third to earn his Hall of Fame credentials primarily as a Flame. MacInnis was a member of the Flames from 1981 until 1994. He is best remembered for his booming slapshot, as well as for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1989 as playoff MVP.[28]

Former head coach "Badger" Bob Johnson joined McDonald in the class of 1992, gaining election as a builder. Johnson coached five seasons with the Flames from 1982–87, and his 193 wins remain a team record. Cliff Fletcher was the Flames general manager from the organization's inception in 1972 until 1991, a span of 19 years. During that time, the Flames qualified for the playoffs sixteen consecutive times between 1976 and 1991. Fletcher was inducted in 2004. In 2006, Harley Hotchkiss became the third Flames builder to gain election. Hotchkiss is the team's current governor, and is an original member of the ownership group that purchased and brought the Flames to Calgary in 1980. He has served many years as the chairman of the NHL Board of Directors, during which he played a significant role in the resolution of the 2004–05 lockout.[27]

Flames radio broadcaster Peter Maher was named the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2006 for his years of service as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames. Maher has been the radio voice of the Flames since 1981, the team's second season in Calgary. He has called six All-Star Games and four Stanley Cup Finals.[27]

The Calgary Flames have retired two numbers, and a third was retired league-wide. The Flames retired #9 in honour of Lanny McDonald who played right wing for the Flames from 1981 to 1989, winning the Stanley Cup as the Flames captain in his final year. Mike Vernon's #30 is also retired; he was a goaltender with the Flames for fourteen years, from 1982-94 and 2000-02.[29] Wayne Gretzky's #99 was retired league-wide in 2000.

Franchise scoring leaders

Further information: Calgary Flames records

These are the top-ten point-scorers in the history of the Flames (both Atlanta and Calgary).[30] Statistics are complete to the end of the 2007–08 NHL season.

Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, P/G = Points Per Game, * = Active Player

Player POS GP G A Pts P/G
Theoren Fleury RW 791 364 466 830 1.05
Al MacInnis D 803 213 609 822 1.02
Jarome Iginla* RW 860 374 388 762 .89
Joe Nieuwendyk C 577 314 302 616 1.07
Gary Suter D 617 128 437 565 .92
Kent Nilsson C 425 229 333 562 1.32
Guy Chouinard C 514 193 336 529 1.03
Gary Roberts LW 585 257 248 505 .86
Eric Vail LW 539 206 246 452 .84
Paul Reinhart D 517 109 336 445 .86

See also

References

  • Boer, Peter (2006). The Calgary Flames. Overtime Books. ISBN 1-897277-07-5.
  • Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean, ed. (2007). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  • Sandor, Steven (2005). The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry. Heritage House. ISBN 1-894974-01-8.
  • Zeman, Gary (1985). Alberta on Ice. GMS Ventures. ISBN 0969232004.
  • "Calgary Flames season statistics". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 2008-01-03.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Francis, Eric (2003-09-17). "The uncivil war...Edmonton...April 23, 1988...Oilers 4 Flames 2". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  2. ^ Francis, Eric (2003-09-21). "The uncivil war...Calgary...January 20, 2003...Flames 3 Oilers 2". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2006-11-28.
  3. ^ "The Saddledome Foundation–An Historical Perspective" (DOC). City of Calgary. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  4. ^ Tucker, Larry (1994-06-24). "Method to this madness". Calgary Sun. p. 62.
  5. ^ Miller, Mark (1997-06-14). "Hitmen finally go up in Flames". Calgary Sun. p. S5.
  6. ^ Francis, Eric (2005-03-19). "Kisio on the hot seat". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  7. ^ "The Calgary Flames and Concorde Entertainment Group announce venture to introduce hybrid restaurant, bar and entertainment facility to open in August 2006". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. 2006-04-20. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  8. ^ "Flames Central and Wildfire Grill open to public". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
  9. ^ "Community". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  10. ^ "Alberta to get first children's hospice". CBC. 2007-05-09. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  11. ^ "Tigers paw Flames". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. 2008-11-17. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference usatoday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Police brace for another big night on the Red Mile". CTV Sports. 2004-06-04. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  14. ^ James, Brant (2004-05-20). "Flames reach Stanley Cup final". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  15. ^ a b Rodriguez, Jose (2006-04-14). "Red Mile reality check". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  16. ^ Seskus, Tony (2006-04-11). "The party's over for the Red Mile". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2007-12-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ Fisher, Scott (2004-05-21). "Red-hot jersey breaks record". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  18. ^ Boyer, Lauren (2007-05-09). "NHL wants trademark 'White Out' faded out". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  19. ^ a b "Flames unveil new look Rbk Edge uniform". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference FlamesHistory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Karol, Kristofer. "NHL 'quacked' up with hockey jersey switch". statenews.com. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  22. ^ a b "Mascot Madness". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2007-02-24. {{cite web}}: Text "date" ignored (help)
  23. ^ Pyette, Ryan (2003-01-23). "MacTavish leaves Harvey the Hound speechless". London Free Press. Archived from the original on 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  24. ^ Francis, Eric (2003-09-21). "The uncivil war". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  25. ^ "Calgary Flames Roster". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  26. ^ "Calgary Flames Hockey Transactions". The Sports Network. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean (ed.). 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. pp. gs. 20–21.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  28. ^ Burnside, Scott (2007-11-09). "2007 Hockey Hall of Fame—Al MacInnis bio". ESPN. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
  29. ^ "Calgary Flames history". CBS Sportsline. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  30. ^ Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean (ed.). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. pp. g. 201.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Calgary Flames.

Further reading

  • Boer, Peter (2006). The Calgary Flames. Overtime Books. ISBN 1-897277-07-5.
  • Duhatschek, Eric and Simmons, Steve (1986). On Fire: The Dramatic Rise of the Calgary Flames. Polestar Book Publishers. ISBN 0-919591-15-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Hanlon, Peter and Kelso, Sean, ed. (2007). 2007–08 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
  • Mummery, Bob (1989). Countdown to the Stanley Cup: An Illustrated History of the Calgary Flames. Polestar Book Publishers. ISBN 0-919591-48-5.
  • Sandor, Steven (2005). The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry. Heritage House. ISBN 1-894974-01-8.
  • Zeman, Gary (1985). Alberta on Ice. GMS Ventures. ISBN 0969232004.
  • Zurowski, Monica (2006). The Fire Inside: Celebrating 25 Years of Calgary Flames Spirit and Hockey History. CanWest Books. ISBN 1897229011.

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