Calgary Flames History
The Flames originated in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972. After eight years, they relocated to Calgary in 1980, where they were greeted by a far more hockey-friendly fanbase. Thus began the Battle of Alberta, which refers to the ongoing rivalry between the Flames and the Edmonton Oilers to the north.
The Flames were vanguards in terms of bringing in foreign players, as Håkan Loob became one of the league's first European stars. Loob, Doug Gilmour, Joe Nieuwendyk, Mike Vernon, Lanny McDonald, and Al MacInnis were the stars behind the Flames' only Stanley Cup Championship in 1989, gaining a measure of payback against the Montreal Canadiens in six games. Montreal had defeated the Flames in the Stanley Cup Final three years earlier.
Despite a block on players from the USSR, the Flames had the foresight to draft Russian star Sergei Makarov in 1983. Makarov was among the first Russians to play in the NHL when he joined the Flames in 1989-1990.
Despite financial issues, the diminutive Theo Fleury and Jarome Iginla led the Flames throughout the '90s, bouncing in and out of the postseason with little long-term success until 2004, when the Flames made another run at the Cup, only to lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. The Flames have made it to the Playoffs 25 times and have two Presidents' Trophies to their credit, along with seven division championships.
Calgary Flames Team Info
Conference: Western
Division: Pacific
Year Founded: 1972
Team Colors: Red, Yellow, Black
Team Rivals: Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks
Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome
Home to the Calgary Flames, the idea for the Scotiabank Saddledome was seeded when it became clear that two major events would be in need of a world-class arena -- the bid for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games and the arrival of an NHL franchise. The Saddledome opened its doors on October 15, 1983. The arena became a star attraction during the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, hosting both the figure skating and hockey competitions. In the fall of 1994, the arena underwent renovations and one year later the new Scotiabank Saddledome was unveiled. The Calgary Flames celebrated their first season at the arena during their home opener for the 1995-1996 season. The arena can seat more than 19,000 guests and hosts 150 events per year.
