My Intro Blog and My Flames Back Ground.
I thought I would introduce myself and let you know of my Flames back ground.
MY FLAMES HERITAGE
FLAMES FIRST YEAR
When the Flames came into the League in 1980, I was nearly finished high school. I remember when Nelson Skalbania bought the team; he was being painted as a hero for bringing the Flames to Calgary. I could hardly wait to see the hockey stars come to town – Darryl Sittler, Bill Derlago, Jean Ratelle, Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier. You have to understand, I have watched hockey for nearly 13 years, and never had a chance to see these players up close. It was my biggest dream come true, next to dating the cheerleaders, which was not going to happen for me. 
I remember the first time I tried to go see a game with my brother and some of our friends. We were playing in the old Stampede Corral. We missed out on seeing the game by 6 tickets. The Corral capacity was, I think, only 6,600. So it was next to impossible to get a seat. The city got the franchise on the guarantee that we would build a new arena. That came into being in 1983 in the form of the Olympic Saddledome, which is now known has the Pengrowth Saddledome.
. My favorite forwards were Ken Houston, Kent Neilson, Guy Chouinard, and Willie Plett. My favorite defensemen were Brad Marsh, Paul Reinhart, and Phil Russel. In net, Pat Riggin was the number one man; Daniel Bouchard and Reggie Lemlin were the back-ups.
I remember 1980 quite well because the Magic Man, Kent Nelson led the team with 131 points. I remember Willie Plett as one of the best enforcers in the league scoring 30 goals and 38 assist. You see, in those days you had to have more than one skill to stay. The next best player offensively was Guy Gouinard; but he had an off year by his standards – he had only 31 goals and 52 assists, for 83 points. Ken Houston was a great role player, who got in people faces and took a lot of players off their game. His stats were not that great, but I remember getting excited every time he came on the ice smacking other players around.
I remember this year as a wonderful year in the playoffs. The first round was a best of 5, and we eliminated the Blackhawks 3 games to zip. In the second round, the Flames eliminated the Flyers in seven. We went on to beat Philly in the Spectrum on the road in game 7, which was pretty impressive. The year ended in the division finals, losing 4 games to 2 to the Minnesota North Stars, who later moved to Dallas. I was very proud of the team and looking forward to them staying in Calgary.
MEMORIES OF THE CALGARY FLAMES
I remember when Hakan Loob scored 50 goals. He scored his 50th goal on his last game of the year in 87-88. Hakan was my favorite Flame. He left at an early age to go back to Sweden so he could play hockey close to home. That same year, the Flames had Rookie of the Year Joe Nieuwendyk, who scored 51 goals, giving Calgary two 50-goal scorers.
I remember yelling and screaming the year the Flames won the Cup. I remember going out into the street and hearing the horns honking and the people generally having a good time. I remember the goal that Lanny Macdonald scored – the second goal in the second period on a pass by Nieuwendyk, on a three on two giving the Flames a 2-1 lead. I remember when I saw Lanny holding the Cup up and skating down the ice with it. I was so happy for him, especially when he said in an interview that he scored his first goal and maybe his last goal in the Montreal forum. What a way to go out.
Speaking of Lanny; I remember Ed Whalen call his 500th goals and 1000th points. Ed Whalen was one of the best, I will always remember the way he opened his telecast: “Hello hockey fans”.
MEMORIES WITH MY SON
I thought I would close this blog with the memories I have made with my son. I remember Douglas getting his picture with Jarome Iginla in the Calgary Herald. The next day I picked up the Herald and Jerome signed his picture. I remember his hockey jersey getting signed by all the players, including the prospects of the Flames. I remember Douglas getting a picture of Kipper from another fan and Kipper signing it. I remember the Flames giving my son a helmet at the prospects camp and having him get his favorite prospects sign the helmet. I remember Douglas having one-on-one talk with Rhet Warner. I remember my son yelling at Darren McCarty, telling to come over to sign his jersey, and I remember Daren laughing and coming over to sign it. I remember my son and me sitting down and watching the Flames together, and building our own memories as Flames fans.
Until Next Time
Randy
