Calgary Flames History.
Calgary Flames,
professional ice hockey team and one of five teams in the Northwest
Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Originally based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Flames now play at the
Canadian Airlines Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and wear
uniforms of red, white, and gold. The team’s name was carried over from
when it was known as the Atlanta Flames, a name derived from the burning
of Atlanta by Union forces during the American Civil War (1861-1865).
The Flames have been one
of the NHL’s most consistent teams, qualifying for the league playoffs
almost every season from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s. Calgary
reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice during the late 1980s, winning the
league championship in 1989.
Atlanta-based businessman Ted Turner founded the Flames in 1972. The
club performed well during its eight-year stay in Atlanta, reaching the
playoffs six times. The club’s early stars included right wing Bob
MacMillan and centers Curt Bennett and Tom Lysiak. In 1980 Turner sold
the team to a group of businesspeople from Calgary, and the team moved.
In the 1980-81 season, the Flames’ first year in Calgary, center Kent
Nilsson collected a franchise-record 131 points, and the club won its
first postseason series. The Flames advanced to the Stanley Cup
semifinals before losing to the Minnesota North Stars.
In 1986, under head coach Bob Johnson, Calgary upset the
defending-champion Edmonton Oilers in the division finals, and the
Flames went on to make their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Facing the Montréal Canadiens, the Flames won the first game but lost
the next four. In 1989, under head coach Terry Crisp, Calgary returned
to the Stanley Cup Finals and defeated the Canadiens 4 games to 2. The
Flames’ lineup featured several NHL All-Star team members, including
wings Hakan Loob and Joe Mullen; defensemen Gary Suter, Al MacInnis, and
Brad McCrimmon; center Joe Nieuwendyk; and goalie Mike Vernon. That year
Vernon ranked first in the league in wins; MacInnis scored a league-high
31 playoff points and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s
most valuable player (MVP).
In the 1990s the Flames earned several division titles and reached the
playoffs numerous times, but they failed to advance far in the
postseason. In 1995 the team traded Vernon to the Detroit Red Wings.
Outstanding Calgary team members of the 1990s included right wing
Theoren Fleury, left wing Gary Roberts, and goaltender Trevor Kidd.
After missing the
postseason every year from 1997 to 2003, the team went all the way to
the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004. Despite leading the series 3 games to 2,
the Flames lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
|
Clark |
Chris
|
Right
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$825,000.00 |
|
Commodore |
Mike
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$515,000.00 |
|
Donovan |
Shean
|
Right
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$850,000.00 |
|
Eriksson |
Anders
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$600,000.00 |
|
Ference |
Andrew
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$625,000.00 |
|
Gelinas |
Martin
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,950,000.00 |
|
Iginla |
Jarome
|
Right
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
Unsigned
|
|
Kiprusoff |
Miikka
|
Goal |
Calgary
Flames |
$2,950,000.00 |
|
Langkow |
Daymond
|
Centre |
Calgary
Flames |
$2,950,000.00 |
|
Leopold |
Jordan
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$950,000.00 |
|
Lowry |
Dave
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
Unsigned
|
|
Loyns |
Lynn
|
Right
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$440,000.00 |
|
Lydman |
Toni
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$2,400,000.00 |
|
McAmmond |
Dean
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
Unsigned
|
|
Montador |
Steve
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$425,000.00 |
|
Nieminen |
Ville
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$600,000.00 |
|
Nilson |
Marcus
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,250,000.00 |
|
Regehr |
Robyn
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,750,000.00 |
|
Reinprecht |
Steven
|
Centre |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,900,000.00 |
|
Ritchie |
Byron
|
Centre |
Calgary
Flames |
$550,000.00 |
|
Simon |
Chris
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,900,000.00 |
|
Sonnenberg |
Martin
|
Left
Wing |
Calgary
Flames |
Unsigned
|
|
Turek |
Roman
|
Goal |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,000,000.00 |
|
Warrener |
Rhett
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
$2,200,000.00 |
|
Werenka |
Brad
|
Defence |
Calgary
Flames |
Unsigned
|
|
Wiemer |
Jason
|
Centre |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,250,000.00 |
|
Yelle |
Stephane
|
Centre |
Calgary
Flames |
$1,800,000.00 |
|
