Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames: 1989 Stanley Cup champions, Battle of Alberta rivals.
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team from Calgary, Alberta, that plays in the National Hockey League’s Pacific Division within the Western Conference. They are the third major pro hockey team in the city, following the Calgary Tigers (1921–1927) and the Calgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames and the Edmonton Oilers, the other NHL team in Alberta, have a rivalry called the "Battle of Alberta" due to the cities’ closeness. The franchise began in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames, then relocated to Calgary in 1980. For their first three seasons, they played at the Stampede Corral before moving to the Scotiabank Saddledome (originally the Olympic Saddledome) in 1983. In 1985–86, they became Calgary’s first team since the 1923–24 Tigers to compete for the Stanley Cup, and they won their sole championship in 1989. Their surprise run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final sparked the Red Mile, and in 2011 they hosted and won the second Heritage Classic outdoor game. The Flames have earned two Presidents’ Trophies for the NHL’s best regular-season record and eight division titles. Jarome Iginla, a two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner as the league’s top goal scorer, leads the franchise in games, goals, and points. Miikka Kiprusoff holds the team record for most wins by a goaltender. Seventeen people linked to the Flames have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The NHL granted expansion teams to Atlanta and Long Island in December 1971 to counter the upstart World Hockey Association. Atlanta owner Tom Cousins named the club the "Flames" after the fire set by General William Tecumseh Sherman’s troops during the American Civil War, which nearly destroyed the city. Under coaches Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Fred Creighton, and Al MacNeil, the Flames reached the playoffs in six of their eight Atlanta seasons but won only two postseason games. In 1980, Cousins sold the team to Canadian entrepreneur Nelson Skalbania to avoid bankruptcy, as few local groups made serious offers. Skalbania kept the Flames name, thinking it suited an oil town like Calgary, and replaced the flaming "A" logo with a flaming "C". He sold his stake in 1981, and the Flames have been locally owned since—first by the Calgary Flames Limited Partnership, then by Calgary Sports and Entertainment in 2012.
- Founded
- 1972 (as Atlanta Flames)
- Moved to calgary
- 1980
- Stanley cup titles
- 1 (1989)
- Presidents' trophies
- 2
- Division championships
- 8
- Franchise leader in games, goals, and po
- Jarome Iginla
- Goaltender with most wins
- Miikka Kiprusoff
Lore & Background
The Flames originated in Atlanta in 1972, named after the fire set by General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops during the American Civil War. The team made the playoffs in six of eight seasons in Atlanta but won only two postseason games. In 1980, owner Tom Cousins sold the franchise to Nelson Skalbania to avoid bankruptcy; Skalbania kept the Flames name, feeling it suited an oil town like Calgary, and replaced the flaming 'A' logo with a flaming 'C'. The team was immediately embraced by Calgary, selling 10,000 ticket packages in the 7,000-seat Stampede Corral. They played their first three seasons there before moving to the Olympic Saddledome (later Scotiabank Saddledome) in 1983.
Under general manager Cliff Fletcher, the Flames rebuilt the roster and became a consistent contender. In 1985–86, they became the first Calgary team since the 1923–24 Tigers to compete for the Stanley Cup, losing to the Montreal Canadiens in five games. The Flames won back-to-back Presidents' Trophies in 1987–88 and 1988–89, the latter with a franchise-record 117 points. In 1989, they defeated the Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup, with Al MacInnis winning the Conn Smythe Trophy. The team's unexpected run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final gave rise to the 'Red Mile' phenomenon. In 2011, the Flames hosted and won the second Heritage Classic outdoor game.
Reader's Guide
The Calgary Flames hold a significant place in NHL history as the first team from Calgary to win the Stanley Cup, achieving that milestone in 1989. Their relocation from Atlanta in 1980 marked a successful transition, with the team quickly becoming a central part of the city's identity. The Flames' rivalry with the Edmonton Oilers, known as the 'Battle of Alberta', is one of the most intense in professional sports, fueled by the proximity of the two Alberta cities. The franchise has produced notable Hall of Fame inductees, including 17 individuals associated with the team. Jarome Iginla, the franchise leader in games, goals, and points, and a two-time Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy winner, is among the most iconic players in team history. Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff holds the record for most wins in a Flames uniform. The team's 2004 playoff run, culminating in a Stanley Cup Final appearance, captivated the city and created the 'Red Mile' tradition. The Flames have also won two Presidents' Trophies and eight division championships, reflecting consistent regular-season success. Their legacy includes pioneering the drafting of Soviet players, such as Sergei Makarov, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1989–90, leading to an NHL rule change excluding players over age 26 from rookie consideration.
Did You Know?
- The Flames were originally founded in Atlanta in 1972 and moved to Calgary in 1980.
- The team's name comes from the fire set by General Sherman's troops during the American Civil War.
- The Flames won the 2011 Heritage Classic outdoor game.
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