Calgary Flames facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Calgary Flames
Conference	Western
Division	Pacific
Founded	1972
History	Atlanta Flames 1972–1980 Calgary Flames 1980–present
Home arena	Scotiabank Saddledome
City	Calgary, Alberta
Colours	Red, yellow, white
Media	Sportsnet West CFAC (Sportsnet 960 The Fan)
Owner(s)	Calgary Sports and Entertainment (N. Murray Edwards, chairman)
General manager	Craig Conroy
Head coach	Ryan Huska
Captain	Mikael Backlund
Minor league affiliates	Calgary Wranglers (AHL) Rapid City Rush (ECHL)
Stanley Cups	1 (1988–89)
Conference championships	3 (1985–86, 1988–89, 2003–04)
Presidents' Trophies	2 (1987–88, 1988–89)
Division championships	8 (1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2005–06, 2018–19, 2021–22)

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team from Calgary, Alberta. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flames are part of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference.

Before the Flames, Calgary had two other major hockey teams: the Calgary Tigers (1921–1927) and the Calgary Cowboys (1975–1977). The Flames are one of two NHL teams in Alberta, the other being the Edmonton Oilers. Their close location has created a fun rivalry called the "Battle of Alberta".

The team started in Atlanta in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames. They moved to Calgary in 1980. For their first three seasons in Calgary, they played at the Stampede Corral. In 1983, they moved to the Scotiabank Saddledome.

In 1985–86, the Flames played for the Stanley Cup for the first time. They won their only Stanley Cup title in 1988–89. The team also made an exciting run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. In 2011, Calgary hosted and won the 2011 Heritage Classic, an outdoor hockey game.

The Flames have won the Presidents' Trophy twice for having the best regular season record in the NHL. They have also won eight division championships. Jarome Iginla is a team legend, holding records for most games, goals, and points. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy twice for scoring the most goals in the NHL. Miikka Kiprusoff has the most wins as a Flames goaltender. Eleven people connected to the Flames are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Off the ice, the Flames are owned by Calgary Sports and Entertainment. This group also owns other sports teams in Calgary. These include the Calgary Hitmen (hockey), Calgary Roughnecks (lacrosse), Calgary Stampeders (football), and Calgary Wranglers (hockey). The Flames Foundation, the team's charity, has given over $32 million to good causes in southern Alberta.

Team History

Atlanta Flames: The Beginning (1972–1980)

Tom Lysiak celebrates a goal with teammates. The Flames started in Atlanta in 1972.

The Flames were created in 1972 to compete with a new league called the World Hockey Association (WHA). The NHL quickly added teams, including one in Atlanta. The team was named "Flames" by owner Tom Cousins. This name honored the fire that destroyed Atlanta during the American Civil War. They played their games in the Omni Coliseum in downtown Atlanta.

The Atlanta Flames were quite good early on. They made the playoffs in six of their eight seasons. However, they only won two playoff games during this time.

Despite their on-ice success, the team had money problems. They didn't sell many tickets and never got a big TV deal. In 1980, Tom Cousins had to sell the team. A group of businessmen from Calgary, Canada, bought the team for $16 million. On May 21, 1980, it was announced the team would move to Calgary. They kept the "Flames" name because it fit Calgary, an oil city. The flaming "A" logo changed to a flaming "C".

Early Years in Calgary (1980–1985)

When the Flames moved to Calgary, the city welcomed them. They sold 10,000 season tickets, even though their arena, the Stampede Corral, only held 7,000 fans.

Brad Marsh playing for the Flames in their first season in Calgary. The team made the playoffs for 11 straight years after moving.

In their first season in Calgary, the Flames made the playoffs. They won their first two playoff series before losing in the semi-finals. This was a much better playoff record than they had in Atlanta. After a tough season in 1981–82, the team's general manager, Cliff Fletcher, rebuilt the roster. He brought in new players who would become key parts of the team for many years.

Fletcher looked for players in new places. The Flames were one of the first teams to sign many U.S. college players. They also looked for talent in Europe, like Hakan Loob. Fletcher even drafted players from the Soviet Union, like Sergei Makarov, though Soviet players couldn't join NHL teams until 1989. These new players helped the Flames become strong enough to challenge the Edmonton Oilers.

In 1983, the Flames moved into their new home, the Scotiabank Saddledome. This arena was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. The Saddledome hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1985.

Winning the Stanley Cup (1985–1990)

The Flames became one of the best teams in the NHL in the mid-1980s. From 1984–85 to 1990–91, they had strong regular seasons. However, they often struggled in the playoffs because they kept running into their rivals, the powerful Edmonton Oilers. For many years, either the Oilers or the Flames played in the Stanley Cup Final.

By 1986, the Flames had stars like Doug Risebrough, Lanny McDonald, Al MacInnis, and Mike Vernon. In the 1986 playoffs, they faced the Oilers, who were expected to win easily. But the Flames pulled off a big upset, winning in seven games. This was the only time the Flames beat the Oilers in a playoff series during that decade.

After beating the Oilers, the Flames defeated the St. Louis Blues in another seven-game series. This sent them to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time. They lost to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.

In 1987–88, the Flames had their best regular season yet, earning the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the NHL. Joe Nieuwendyk scored 50 goals as a rookie. However, the Flames were swept by the Oilers in the playoffs.

The Flames continued to improve in 1988–89. They won their second straight Presidents' Trophy with a team record of 117 points. General Manager Fletcher added Doug Gilmour to the team. In the playoffs, the Flames had a tough first round against the Vancouver Canucks, winning in seven games thanks to amazing saves by goalie Mike Vernon.

They then easily beat the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks. This set up a rematch with the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final. This time, the Flames won in six games, clinching the Cup in Montreal on May 25, 1989. Al MacInnis was named the most valuable player of the playoffs. Long-time captain Lanny McDonald retired after the win.

In 1989, Sergei Makarov joined the Flames from the Soviet Union. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year, even though he was in his 30s. This led the NHL to change the rules for the award. The Flames won their third straight division title but lost in the playoffs to the Kings. They would not win another playoff series until 2004.

Playoff Struggles (1991–2003)

In 1991, Cliff Fletcher, the general manager since 1972, left the Flames. The team then made a big trade, sending star player Doug Gilmour to Toronto. After this, the Flames missed the playoffs in 1992. This was the first time they missed the playoffs since 1975.

The Flames made the playoffs for the next four seasons, winning two division titles. But they lost in the first round each time. In 1995–96, Joe Nieuwendyk was traded for Jarome Iginla. Iginla played his first game in the 1996 playoffs, where the Flames lost again in the first round. From 1997 until 2004, the Flames did not make the playoffs.

Jarome Iginla was a bright spot for the Flames during their playoff drought.

During this time, it was hard for the Flames to keep their best players. Player salaries were rising, and the Canadian dollar was losing value. Calgary is one of the smallest NHL markets, making it tough to compete. For example, in 1999, the Flames traded star player Theoren Fleury because he was about to become a free agent.

Attendance at games also dropped. Fans were asked to buy more season tickets to keep the team in Calgary. They responded, and the team stayed. However, the Flames still lost money.

One of the few bright spots was Jarome Iginla. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2001–02 for leading the league in goals and points. He won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy again in 2003–04. Another key player was defenseman Robyn Regehr, who recovered from a serious car accident to play at age 19.

In 2002–03, Darryl Sutter became the team's head coach and later general manager. He helped turn the team around. One of his first moves was to get goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. Kiprusoff then set an NHL record for the lowest goals against average (GAA) at 1.69.

Jarome Iginla Era and Western Conference Champions (2004–2010)

After seven years, the Flames finally returned to the playoffs in 2004. They made an amazing run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. They were the first team to beat three division champions on their way to the Final. They beat the Vancouver Canucks, then upset the top-ranked Detroit Red Wings, and finally defeated the San Jose Sharks. Martin Gelinas scored the winning goal in all three series.

Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender in 2005–06.

In the Stanley Cup Final, the Flames played the Tampa Bay Lightning. The series went to seven games. In Game 6, a controversial non-goal by Martin Gelinas could have won the game for Calgary. The Lightning won that game in double overtime and then won Game 7 to take the Cup. Despite the loss, thousands of fans celebrated the Flames' incredible playoff run.

The 2004–05 season was cancelled due to a player lockout. When play resumed in 2005–06, the Flames had 103 points, their best total since winning the Cup in 1989. They won their division but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Miikka Kiprusoff won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goalie.

In 2007, Mike Keenan became the new head coach. Jarome Iginla continued to set franchise records, becoming the Flames' all-time leader in games played and goals scored. The team made the playoffs in 2007–08 and 2008–09 but lost in the first round both times. In 2009, Brent Sutter became the head coach, but the Flames missed the playoffs in 2009–10.

End of the Iginla Era (2010–2013)

The Flames struggled in 2010–11. General Manager Darryl Sutter stepped down, and Jay Feaster took over. The team improved but still missed the playoffs.

The Flames and Montreal Canadiens at the 2011 Heritage Classic outdoor game.

Calgary hosted the 2011 Heritage Classic outdoor game at McMahon Stadium. The Flames beat the Montreal Canadiens 4–0. Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff was the first to get a shutout in an NHL outdoor game. Jarome Iginla reached 1,000 career points and scored his 500th career goal during this time.

On March 27, 2013, Jarome Iginla, the long-time captain, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This left the team without a captain for the first time in a while. The Flames missed the playoffs again in 2012–13.

Giordano, Monahan, Gaudreau Era (2013–2022)

Mark Giordano became captain after Jarome Iginla was traded.

Before the 2013–14 season, Mark Giordano was named the new captain. The team had a tough season, but a bright spot was the debut of Johnny Gaudreau. He scored his first NHL goal in his first game.

In 2014–15, led by Giordano, Sean Monahan, Gaudreau, and Jiri Hudler, the Flames made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. They beat the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, their first playoff series win since 2004. They then lost to the Anaheim Ducks. Coach Bob Hartley won the Jack Adams Trophy as coach of the year.

The Flames missed the playoffs in 2015–16, and Coach Hartley was replaced by Glen Gulutzan. The team drafted Matthew Tkachuk with the sixth pick.

Sean Monahan was drafted by the Flames in 2013.

In 2016, the Flames signed Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau to new contracts. With the strong play of the "3M Line" (Tkachuk, Mikael Backlund, and Michael Frolik), the Flames returned to the playoffs in 2016–17. However, they were swept by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.

The Flames missed the playoffs again in 2017–18. Bill Peters was hired as head coach. Before the 2018–19, the Flames made big trades, getting Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. They also signed James Neal. On March 2, 2019, the Flames retired Jarome Iginla's No. 12 jersey. They won their division title for the first time since 2006, finishing with 50 wins and 107 points. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Colorado Avalanche. Captain Mark Giordano won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's best defenseman.

Matthew Tkachuk was drafted by the Flames in 2016.

For the 2019–20, the Flames changed goalies, signing Cam Talbot. They also traded James Neal for Milan Lucic. Matthew Tkachuk signed a new contract, becoming the highest-paid player on the team. After accusations against head coach Bill Peters, he resigned, and Geoff Ward became the interim coach. The season ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Flames made the playoffs and beat the Winnipeg Jets but lost to the Dallas Stars.

In March 2021, Ward was fired, and Darryl Sutter returned as head coach. The team missed the playoffs.

Mark Giordano was chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, ending his time as captain. The team didn't name a captain for the 2021–22. They had a great season with 50 wins and 111 points, winning their division. They beat the Dallas Stars in the first round of the playoffs. This was their first time reaching the second round since 2015. Their season ended when they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the "Battle of Alberta" playoffs.

High-Profile Changes (2022–Present)

The 2022 off-season saw many big changes. Both Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk became free agents. Gaudreau chose to sign with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tkachuk said he didn't want to sign a long-term deal in Calgary. The Flames then traded Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers. In return, they received Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, and other assets. Tkachuk signed a big contract with the Flames before the trade was completed.

Then, the Flames traded Sean Monahan to the Montreal Canadiens to free up salary space. This allowed them to sign star forward Nazem Kadri from the Colorado Avalanche. Kadri had a career-best season before joining the Flames. They also re-signed Andrew Mangiapane.

Despite losing two top players, many thought the Flames would be even stronger. However, they missed the playoffs in 2022–23. General Manager Brad Treliving left his position. Craig Conroy was named the new general manager in May 2023. Ryan Huska became the new head coach in June. Conroy's first trade was sending leading goal-scorer Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils.

Mikael Backlund, the longest-serving Flame, was named captain on September 27, 2023. He also signed a new contract. The 2023–24 season was expected to be a rebuilding year. Conroy traded away several key players, including Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. Lindholm was set to become a free agent. Other players traded included Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin. The Flames finished fifth in their division and missed the playoffs.

Community Impact

The Flames have always been active in the Calgary community. In 1994, the Flames took over managing the Scotiabank Saddledome. They also bought the Calgary Hitmen, a junior hockey team, in 1997. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Hitmen became very popular, leading all junior hockey teams in attendance.

In 2007, the Flames opened "Flames Central," a restaurant and entertainment spot downtown. It later returned to its original name, The Palace Theatre.

Flames Foundation

The Flames have a charity called the Flames Foundation. It has given over $32 million to various causes in southern Alberta. The Flames work with the Rotary Club to help fund Alberta's first children's hospice.

They also have a close partnership with the Alberta Children's Hospital. The Flames often play a "Wheelchair Hockey Challenge" against the Townsend Tigers, a team from the hospital. This has been a fun tradition since 1981.

"C of Red"

The C of Red during the 2009 playoffs.

During the Flames' run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final, most fans at the Saddledome wore red jerseys. Sales of the red jerseys were so high that the company making them stopped producing other team jerseys to keep up. This tradition, called the "C of Red," started in the 1986 playoffs against the Oilers. Flames fans wore red to counter the Oilers' "Hat Trick Fever" hats. When the national anthem is sung, fans shout "see" and "red" to celebrate the "C of Red."

Red Mile

During the 2004 Stanley Cup Final run, 17th Avenue SW in Calgary became a huge party zone. This area, known as the "Red Mile," saw tens of thousands of fans celebrating. The parties were peaceful, even with so many people.

In 2006, the Calgary Police Service initially tried to discourage the Red Mile gatherings. However, after talking with the Mayor, they relaxed the rules. They still kept a close eye on public behavior.

Team Information

In-Game Personalities

Since 2014, Canadian country singer George Canyon usually sings "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" at home games. He is joined by organist Warren Tse. If George Canyon isn't available, Michela Sheedy often fills in. The public-address announcer is Alan Beesley.

Jerseys

Original jerseys used from 1980–1994. This design returned in 2020.

Second jersey design used from 1995–2000.

The Flames' first jerseys were similar to those worn in Atlanta. They were white with red shoulders and red and yellow stripes, or solid red with yellow and white stripes. In 1994, black was added to the team's colors. New stripes were added, and the shoulder panels changed.

In 1998, the Flames introduced a black third jersey with a "flaming horse" logo. This jersey later became their main road jersey. In 2003, the NHL changed rules, making colored jerseys the home uniform.

In 2007, new jerseys were introduced with vertical stripes. To honor their history, the Flames added the flags of Alberta and Canada as shoulder patches. For their 30th season in Calgary (2009–10), the Flames wore their original jersey design for some games.

For the 2011 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore special uniforms inspired by the Calgary Tigers, Calgary's first professional hockey team. These jerseys used darker shades of red and yellow.

In 2013, a new Western-inspired third jersey was introduced, with "Calgary" written across the front. This was used until 2015–16, when the older throwback jerseys returned.

The Flames kept their current look when Adidas became the uniform provider in 2017. For the 2019 Heritage Classic, they wore their original white uniform design.

In 2020, the throwback red and white jerseys became the main uniforms. A black-trimmed red jersey became an alternate. The Flames also released a "Reverse Retro" jersey, similar to a 1998–2006 alternate. In 2022, the "Blasty" black uniform returned as an alternate. Another "Reverse Retro" uniform was released in 2022, using the 1994–2000 design but in black.

For the 2023 Heritage Classic, the Flames wore cream-colored uniforms inspired by the Calgary Stampeders hockey teams from the 1950s and 1960s.

Logos

Calgary's alternate logo, known as the Blasty, was used from 1998 to 2007, and returned in 2020.

The Flames' main logo is the "Flaming C." It was created when the team moved to Calgary in 1980 by Patricia Redditt. The design has stayed the same, but the colors change for home and away jerseys.

From 1980 to 2000, the home logo was red on white, and the road logo was white on red. Black was added in 1994. In 2003, when colored jerseys became home uniforms, the home logo became black, and the road logo was red on white. The original "Flaming A" logo from the Atlanta Flames was used as a patch for alternate captains from 1996 to 2021. The flaming horse logo, nicknamed "Blasty," was retired in 2007 but returned in 2020.

Mascot

Harvey the Hound is the Flames' mascot. He was created in 1983 and was the first mascot in the NHL. Harvey is famous for an event in 2003 when the Edmonton Oilers coach, Craig MacTavish, playfully pulled his tongue out. This incident made headlines and led to other NHL mascots showing their tongues at the 2003 All-Star Game.

Season-by-Season Record

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Flames. For the full history, see List of Calgary Flames seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Players and Personnel

Team Captains

Lanny McDonald presents Jarome Iginla with a gold stick. Both are former captains and team legends.

• Lanny McDonald and Doug Risebrough were co-captains in 1983–1984.
• McDonald, Jim Peplinski, and Risebrough were tri-captains from 1984–1987.
• McDonald and Peplinski were co-captains from 1987–1989.
• Bob Boughner and Craig Conroy were co-captains for part of 2001–02.

Honored Members

Retired Numbers

Lanny McDonald, Mike Vernon, Jarome Iginla, and Miika Kiprusoff have their numbers retired. Al MacInnis and Joe Nieuwendyk are honored as "Forever a Flame."

The Calgary Flames have retired four numbers. The NHL also retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams.

• No. 9 was retired for Lanny McDonald, a right wing who played from 1981 to 1989 and won the Stanley Cup.
• No. 12 was retired for Jarome Iginla, a right wing who played from 1996 to 2013 and was captain for many years.
• No. 30 was retired for Mike Vernon, a goalie who played for the Flames for 14 years.
• No. 34 was retired for Miikka Kiprusoff, a goalie who played for the Flames for 11 years.

The Flames also have a "Forever a Flame" program to honor important players without retiring their numbers. Al MacInnis (No. 2) and Joe Nieuwendyk (No. 25) are honored this way.

Hockey Hall of Fame Members

Many people from the Flames organization have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

• Players: Twelve former Flames players are in the Hall of Fame. Six of them are mainly known for their time with Calgary: Lanny McDonald, Joe Mullen, Al MacInnis, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, and Jarome Iginla. Other Hall of Famers who played for the Flames include Grant Fuhr, Brett Hull, Phil Housley, Sergei Makarov, Martin St. Louis, and Mike Vernon.
• Builders: Several people who helped build the Flames organization are also in the Hall of Fame. These include former coach "Badger" Bob Johnson, long-time general manager Cliff Fletcher, and original owners Harley Hotchkiss and Doc Seaman. Former president and CEO Bill Hay is also a Hall of Famer.
• Broadcasters and Trainers: Peter Maher, the Flames' radio announcer for many years, received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. Trainer Bearcat Murray was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Scoring Leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in Flames history (including their time in Atlanta). Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

•  *  – current Flames player

See also

In Spanish: Calgary Flames para niños