Following Otto-matic's one decade ago thread. I was a little kid but I do remember what a great time it was. It lifted the city from the crushing defeat 3 years earlier against those Habs.
My parents always love talking about how I was dancing non stop and messing the carpet from shaking pop bottles like it was champagne. What a contrast from 3 years earlier when I was crying in bed with mom and dad consoling me.
The greatest hockey season I ever saw, I still look back at those times and smile. If I could only see the Flames wear those retro whites, best jersey ever.
Gary Roberts
“Joe (Nieuwendyk) and I were fortunate to come to a group of guys like we did. Guys like Lanny. How much influence they had on our careers. A lot of how you conduct yourself comes from your parents, but those guys taught us how to be pros. And a wonderful management group with Cliff, Harley, the Seaman brothers. We were so close, and I think that’s a big reason why we won.”
Back in that era. The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers were the 1-2 teams in the NHL. Only reason why the Flames only got a few chances to play in Conference Finals or Stanley Cup Finals was they have to play Edmonton Oilers on the Smythe Division Finals. Man those are good times especially after the Flames hired our coaching genius Bob Johnson from University of Wisconsin Badgers. He figured out how to beat the Mighty Oilers. Too bad he wasn't the one coaching the team when they won the Stanley Cup. The rivalry between the two Alberta teams was awesome and very intense. You'll be a fool to walk around Edmonton with the Flames jersey on.
It wasn't quite the 25th anniversary but it's 28 years ago on April 30 that Steve Smith scored on his own net which was the GWG for the Flames in game 7. The Flames beat the Oilers 3-2 and went on to the finals!
I remember that. I remember being at the bus-stop the next morning when I saw a kid about my age walking along the street. He'd made a Stanley Cup out of tinfoil and things from around the house, a bucket, some round tupperware containers, a cereal bowl at the top. He was carrying it over his head in both hands, like he'd won it.
I remember being at the parade in the grey drizzling rain when they came back into town. Sitting on the curb with my younger brother (who was a little too young and kinda miserable) waiting for the cup to come by, the whole team up in the wagons, wearing my Vernon away jersey.
I remember being at the game where Lanny scored his 500th goal. Against the New York Islanders. They were some of the best seats I've ever had, about eight rows up, directly behind the net. Alas, he scored his goal at the other end of the ice, a wraparound, if I remember correctly.
I feel for those younger fans who weren't around for us winning. I was just a kid, but man-oh-man ... winning is the best feeling in sports.
Silver Anniversary.
must show all Flames games nationally when they play on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays !!!
