Calgary Flames (Battle of Alberta)
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'.
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'.
Quick Facts
- Memorable moment
- 1989 playoff series Game 1 triple-overtime
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.
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 originally the Atlanta Flames, named after the fire started by General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops in the American Civil War.
- The Flames defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the 1989 Stanley Cup Final to win their first Stanley Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Canucks-Flames rivalry (Battle of Alberta)?
It is a fierce, long-running Pacific Division feud between Vancouver and Calgary that has shaped much of the Canucks' modern identity. The hostility traces back to the Flames' 1980 relocation from Atlanta and has been stoked by brutal playoff clashes, dirty hits, and a deep mutual contempt between the two fanbases.
When did the Canucks and Flames first play each other?
The two clubs first crossed paths in the 1980-81 NHL season, immediately after the Flames finished their move from Atlanta to Calgary. That opening encounter set the competitive tone for decades of heated Pacific Division battles.
Which playoff series between Vancouver and Calgary are the most memorable?
The 1994, 2004, and 2015 postseason matchups are widely regarded as the rivalry's defining moments. The 1994 series is especially iconic for its Game 7 overtime finish, a game that still echoes through Canucks lore.
Who are the key players most associated with this rivalry?
Trevor Linden on the Canucks side and Theo Fleury on the Flames side are the two names most tightly linked to the feud. Their physical, high-stakes on-ice confrontations made the rivalry feel intensely personal to fans on both sides of the province.
Why does the Canucks-Flames rivalry matter if the Flames-Oilers 'Battle of Alberta' gets more attention?
Although the Flames-Oilers matchup dominates headlines, the Canucks-Flames feud carried its own weight as a Pacific Division supremacy battle that peaked through the 1990s and early 2000s. For Vancouver fans it represents a deeply personal, high-intensity rivalry defined by frequent fights and scrums that helped define the club's most competitive era.
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