Calgary Flames

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. The Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup title in 1989. 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 path from regular-season dominance to playoff elimination was paved with specific, high-stakes moments. On April 21, the Flames sealed their fate as Pacific Division champions with a decisive 4–2 win over Dallas Stars. This victory capped a season where they had already secured their spot in the postseason on April 16, triggered by the Edmonton Oilers defeating the Vegas Golden Knights. The playoffs opened with a fierce battle against the same Dallas team they had bested in the regular season, requiring seven games to advance. The momentum carried into the second round, where the atmosphere shifted dramatically as Canadian neighbors clashed. The series against the Edmonton Oilers became a focal point of hockey history, breaking a long drought for Canadian-on-Canadian second-round matchups. Despite the historical significance and the conventional alignment context, the Flames' run ended after five games.

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 named after the fire started by General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops in the American Civil War.
• The Flames' first Stanley Cup win came in 1989 against the Montreal Canadiens.
• Sergei Makarov won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 1989–90, prompting the NHL to exclude players over age 26 from future consideration.