The Calgary Flames are a National Hockey League team based in Calgary, Alberta.
- Founded: 1972
- Formerly Known As: Atlanta Flames 1972-1980
- Arena: Pengrowth Saddledome
- Uniform colours: Home: Red with Black, White and Yellow trim; Road: White with Red, Yellow and Black trim; Alternate: Black with Red, Yellow and White trim
- Logo design: Home: A black "C" with white flames; Road: A red "C" with yellow flames; Alternate: A "horse head" with flaming nostrils; Assistant captains' "A" on jersey is a miniature Atlanta Flames logo
- Stanley Cups won: 1989
- Clarence S. Campbell Bowls won: 1986, 1989, 2004
- Presidents Trophies won: 1988, 1989
- Division Championships won: 1988, 1989, 1990 (Smythe), 1994,1995 (Pacific)
Franchise history
When it was first announced that Atlanta, Georgia would have an NHL franchise starting in 1972, many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move. And they were right - to a point. They finished near the bottom of the league in attendance each year, and never won a playoff series during their eight seasons in Georgia.
In 1980, a soft economy in Atlanta caused the team to be sold to interests in Calgary, and the Atlanta Flames became the Calgary Flames. In their first year in Alberta, led by Kent Nilsson 's 49 goals, the Flames won their first two playoff series (a sweep over the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round and a seven-game victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round) before bowing out to the Minnesota North Stars in the semi-finals.
By 1986 the Flames had landed Doug Riseborough , Lanny McDonald, Dan Quinn and goalie Mike Vernon. They beat the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, beat the Edmonton Oilers in the second round on Steve Smith's fluke goal into his own net in the seventh game, and also won in seven games over the St. Louis Blues. They were no match for the Montreal Canadiens in the finals, losing in five games. However in 1989, they won the Stanley Cup against the Canadiens allowing veteran captain Lanny McDonald to end his career with a Stanley Cup celebration. This victory was especially significant in that it marked the only time that an opposing team won the Stanley Cup on the Canadiens' home ice.
After seven consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, the Flames returned to glory in 2004, surprising the hockey world by defeating all three Western Conference division champions to become the first Canadian team in a decade to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Flames' first victim was the Northwest Division winners, the Vancouver Canucks, in seven games. Then, they shocked the Central Division champions and President's Trophy winners for the best regular-season record, the Detroit Red Wings, in six games. After eliminating the Pacific Division champs, the San Jose Sharks, in six games in the Western Conference finals, the Flames earned a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals to face the Tampa Bay Lightning. By this time, practically all of Canada had thrown immense support behind the Cinderella-story Flames, who had now become a hockey-mad country's first chance to win the Stanley Cup since 1993. The Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. flew the Flames flag aside the Maple Leaf, as did San Jose's city hall (after the Sharks lost the series, the Mayor of San Jose declared his city hall the world headquarters of Flames fans.) Calgary especially exploded in a non-stop fit of partying unprecedented in the normally conservative city. The final series went to 7 games, with the Flames suffering a controversial non goal in game six at home. After winning game 6 in double overtime, Tampa Bay Lightning went on to hold the Flames to only 7 shots in the first two periods in game 7. The Flames went on to a late surge, but it was too little too late as they lost game 7 on June 7, 2004 by a score of 2-1.
The Red Mile
During the Flames magical run to the finals of 2004, the city of Calgary became a non-stop party as the 1,000,000+ residents jumped on the Flames bandwagon. The 17th Ave SW entertainment district, which runs west from the Saddledome, flooded with as many as 60,000 red-clad fans after games. The street became known as "The Red Mile". It also gained notoriety quickly as women would frequently celebrate a win by baring their breasts for the crowd atop shoulders or cars. The Red Mile party became world-famous and received coverage in newspapers around the world. While other sports-celebrating crowds frequently turn violent, such as soccer riots, the Red Mile was notable in that incidents were minimal, the crowds were positive, and no arrests were made.
Year-By-Year Record
Atlanta Flames (1972-1980)
| Year | GP | W | L | T | OL | GF | GA | PTS | Finish | Playoffs
|
| 1972-73 | 78 | 25 | 38 | 15 | - | 191 | 239 | 65 | 7th West | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1973-74 | 78 | 30 | 34 | 14 | - | 214 | 238 | 74 | 4th West | Lost Quarterfinal (PHI)
|
| 1974-75 | 80 | 34 | 31 | 15 | - | 243 | 233 | 83 | 4th Patrick | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1975-76 | 80 | 35 | 33 | 12 | - | 262 | 237 | 82 | 3rd Patrick | Lost Preliminary (LA)
|
| 1976-77 | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | - | 264 | 265 | 80 | 3rd Patrick | Lost Preliminary (LA)
|
| 1977-78 | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | - | 274 | 252 | 87 | 3rd Patrick | Lost Preliminary (DET)
|
| 1978-79 | 80 | 41 | 31 | 8 | - | 327 | 280 | 90 | 4th Patrick | Lost Preliminary (TOR)
|
| 1979-80 | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | - | 282 | 269 | 83 | 4th Patrick | Lost Preliminary (NYR)
|
Calgary Flames (1981-present)
| Year | GP | W | L | T | OL | GF | GA | PTS | Finish | Playoffs
|
| 1980-81 | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | - | 329 | 298 | 92 | 5th Patrick | Lost Semifinal (MIN)
|
| 1981-82 | 80 | 29 | 34 | 17 | - | 334 | 345 | 75 | 5th Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (VAN)
|
| 1982-83 | 80 | 32 | 34 | 14 | - | 321 | 317 | 78 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Division Final (EDM)
|
| 1983-84 | 80 | 34 | 32 | 14 | - | 311 | 314 | 82 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Division Final (EDM)
|
| 1984-85 | 80 | 41 | 27 | 12 | - | 363 | 302 | 94 | 3rd Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (WPG)
|
| 1985-86 | 80 | 10 | 31 | 9 | - | 354 | 315 | 89 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Stanley Cup Final (MTL)
|
| 1986-87 | 80 | 46 | 31 | 3 | - | 318 | 289 | 94 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (WPG)
|
| 1987-88 | 80 | 48 | 23 | 9 | - | 397 | 305 | 105 | 1st Smythe | Lost Division Final (EDM)
|
| 1988-89 | 80 | 54 | 17 | 9 | - | 354 | 226 | 117 | 1st Smythe | Won Stanley Cup
|
| 1989-90 | 80 | 42 | 23 | 15 | - | 348 | 265 | 99 | 1st Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (LA)
|
| 1990-91 | 80 | 46 | 26 | 8 | - | 344 | 263 | 100 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (EDM)
|
| 1991-92 | 80 | 31 | 37 | 12 | - | 296 | 305 | 74 | 5th Smythe | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1992-93 | 84 | 43 | 30 | 11 | - | 322 | 282 | 97 | 2nd Smythe | Lost Division Semifinal (LA)
|
| 1993-94 | 84 | 42 | 29 | 13 | - | 302 | 256 | 97 | 1st Pacific | Lost Conference Quarterfinal (VAN)
|
| 1994-95 | 48 | 24 | 17 | 7 | - | 163 | 135 | 55 | 1st Pacific | Lost Conference Quarterfinal (SJ)
|
| 1995-96 | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | - | 241 | 240 | 79 | 2nd Pacific | Lost Conference Quarterfinal (CHI)
|
| 1996-97 | 82 | 32 | 41 | 9 | - | 214 | 239 | 73 | 5th Pacific | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1997-98 | 82 | 26 | 41 | 15 | - | 217 | 252 | 67 | 5th Pacific | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1998-99 | 82 | 30 | 40 | 12 | - | 211 | 234 | 72 | 3rd Pacific | Out of Playoffs
|
| 1999-2000 | 82 | 31 | 36 | 10 | 5 | 211 | 256 | 77 | 4th Northwest | Out of Playoffs
|
| 2000-01 | 82 | 27 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 197 | 236 | 73 | 4th Northwest | Out of Playoffs
|
| 2001-02 | 82 | 32 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 201 | 220 | 79 | 4th Northwest | Out of Playoffs
|
| 2002-03 | 82 | 29 | 36 | 13 | 4 | 186 | 228 | 75 | 5th Northwest | Out of Playoffs
|
| 2003-04 | 82 | 42 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 200 | 176 | 94 | 3rd Northwest | Lost Stanley Cup Final (TB)
|
Players
Current Squad
As of 27 March 2005
Goaltenders:
Defensemen:
- 2 - Mike Commodore
- 4 - Jordan Leopold
- 5 - Steve Montador
- 21 - Andrew Ference
- 28 - Robyn Regehr
- 32 - Toni Lydman
- 44 - Rhett Warrener
Forwards:
Current stars
Not to be forgotten
Prospects
- Kris Chucko
- Brent Krahn
- Eric Nystrom
- Dion Phaneuf
- Tim Ramholt
- Dustin Boyd
Retired Numbers
External link