1985-86 Presidents' Trophy
The Calgary Flames: A proud franchise with a Stanley Cup victory in 1989 and a storied rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers.
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. They are the city's third major professional ice hockey team, after the Calgary Tigers (1921–1927) and the Calgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames are one of two NHL franchises based in Alberta, the other being the Edmonton Oilers; the cities' proximity has led to a rivalry known as the 'Battle of Alberta'.
- Franchise
- Calgary Flames
- Season
- 1985-86
- Award
- NHL Presidents' Trophy (best regular-season record in the league)
- Conference / Division
- Campbell Conference / Smythe Division
- Key Players
- Lanny McDonald, Ulf Samuelsson, Al MacInnis, Brian Skrudland, Peter Stastny, Brad Smith
- Franchise Stanley Cups
- 1989, 2001, 2004
Lore & Background
The team was founded in 1972 in Atlanta as the Atlanta Flames. In 1980, they moved to Calgary, where they played their first three seasons at the Stampede Corral, then moved in 1983 to the Scotiabank Saddledome (originally the Olympic Saddledome). In 1985–86, the Flames became the first team from Calgary since the 1923–24 Tigers to compete for the Stanley Cup. In 1989, the Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup title. The Flames' unexpected run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final gave rise to the Red Mile, and in 2011, the team hosted and won the second Heritage Classic outdoor game.
In Their Own Story
The arena was deafening. The 1985-86 regular season was winding down, and the Flames had one more game to seal the best record in the NHL. The ice was scarred from a hundred previous battles, the boards dented, the glass fogged with the breath of twenty thousand fans who had packed into the building since the first shift. Lanny McDonald laced his skates in the tunnel, the familiar leather creaking, and glanced at the roster taped to the wall—Samuelsson, MacInnis, Skrudland, Smith. A quiet nod. No speeches needed. They had already won the season; this was just the last lap. The puck dropped, the crowd roared, and for one more night the ice belonged to Calgary.
Reader's Guide
The Flames have won two Presidents' Trophies for posting the NHL's top regular-season record and have claimed eight division championships. The franchise leader in games played, goals, and points is Jarome Iginla, a two-time winner of the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal scorer. Miikka Kiprusoff has the most wins by a goaltender in a Calgary Flames uniform. 17 people associated with the Flames have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
- The Flames were founded in 1972 in Atlanta as the Atlanta Flames.
- The Flames won their only Stanley Cup in 1989.
- The Flames' 1985–86 regular season record was 40 wins, 31 losses, and 9 ties.
- The Flames' goaltenders in 1985–86 were Mike Vernon and Réjean Lemelin.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in the Calgary Flames universe
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