2007-08 Calgary Flames
In a surprising move by the Flames, they announced on June 14th that “Iron” Mike Keenan would be replacing coach Jim Playfair, who took on the role as assistant coach to Keenan. And they don’t call him “Iron” for Nothing – Mike Keenan is 6th all time in the NHL in wins. He was also awarded NHL coach of the year in ’85 for his work with the Philadelphia Flyers. It is apparent that the Flames remain in extremely capable hands for ’07-08.
Previous Seasons
The beloved Calgary Flames are celebrating 25 years in Calgary during this 2005-06 season. Since they migrated north from Atlanta in 1980, the Flames have become as much of a part of Calgary as hockey itself. No season had seen as much fan attention as their 2004 run to the finals. Calgary Flames hockey tickets were hard to find and fans were insanely excited due to their run for the Stanley Cup. Their popularity, not only in Canada, but across the United States, soared that year, resulted in the most media coverage the team had ever seen. Up until the 2003-2004 season, the pinnacle for Flames fans was in 1989 when they defeated the Montreal Canadians to win the Stanley Cup. While watching heroes such as Bob MacMillan, Curt Bennet and Tom Lysiak triumph in the late 70s-early 80s, fans still hungered to see their team enter the finals. And in 1989 they got their wish. Boasting a lineup of NHL all-stars, the Flames went on to take the Stanley Cup from the Montreal Canadians.
In the history-making 2004 season, the Flames returned to the Stanley Cup finals for the third time and led to the team being one win away from their second League championship. This astonishing accomplishment included triumphing over three Western Division champions (Vancouver, Detriot and San Jose) in order to enter the finals to face the Tampa Bay Lightening.
The accolades of their franchise include three season and two Smythe Division playoff championships, two Pacific Division titles two Presidents Trophies, and three Clarence Campbell Conference titles.
Over the years the Flames have become one of the NHL's most consistent teams, constantly qualifying for league playoffs with unnerving focus and determination from the mid-70s to present day. Still, no season was as impressive as the Flames 2003-04 race to the playoffs. The team began the season making history by naming Jarome Iginla as captain making him the first African-American captain in NHL history. As Miikka Kiprusoff joined the Flames from the San Jose Sharks, he teamed up with Iginla to begin stringing wins together. For the first time in nine years the Flames placed 3rd in the Northwest Division, matching them up with the Vancouver Canucks. Kipursoff proved to be magic as he sent away a staggering 44 shots on goal before leading the Flames to win 1-0 against Vancouver.
After cementing their status in the finals, the Flames began readying to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The race for the cup ignited fans all over the U.S. and Canada, sending Flames merchandise into the number one selling spot throughout the two countries. Fans packed the Saddledome in record numbers, screaming throughout every home game, no matter what the outcome. Calgary fans even took the loss hard enough to riot throughout the city, a first in the history of the city.
With such an impressive show as the 2003-04 season's Stanley Cup Finals, NHL hockey fans are pouring into arenas in search of Flames tickets to see the team work their magic once again.
