I was on Youtube this evening and I happened upon a compilation of NHL trolling moments. No such thing is worth its salt if it doesn't contain this unforgettable moment in Flames/Canucks history.
Seeing this reminded me that I was, in fact, at this game. To this date, it remains the best hockey game I have ever attended live.
November 5, 2005 was a Saturday. Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey is better on Saturday nights. It just is. Disagree if you want, but you're wrong. It was early November, but it was December cold. My dad and I came right from my own hockey game, and the only reason I remember this is because I showered after the game. I hated arena showers as a kid. But there simply wasn't time to go home. Since I wasn't about to walk into *16-year old reverence* the Saddledome smelling like a hockey bag, I was left with no choice but to be a man.
In the first period, Byron Ritchie fought Jarko Ruutu. Some might remember Ruutu catching Ritchie with his head down in pre-season; I was also at that game, on the same day I was fired from the FanAttic. Story for a different time. Anyway, you might remember that hit. Byron doesn't. Iggy was heroic - went right after Ruutu, took of his helmet and everything. Before the game, somebody showed him a clip.
and 6:52 into the game, Byron Ritchie threw hands with Jarko Ruutu.
Tonight was to be a party of special magnificence.
Midway through the first, Marcus Nilson scored his 2nd of the year. Craig MacDonald, captain of your Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, assisted along with Andrew Ference. I have no idea what this goal looked like. I could look it up, but it's a Marcus Nilson goal from Craig MacDonald and Andrew Ference in 2005. You know what it looked like.
Immediately after the goal, however, Darren McCarty and his chin pubes fought Wade Brookbank.
Funny enough, the Nilson goal is at the beginning of this highlight. It's aiight. It's better than I thought it would be, but don't wake your mom up in Sweden for it.
This might actually be the game of Marcus Nilson's life. Who are we kidding, Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the game of Marcus Nilson's life.
Regardless, Nilson wasn't about to spend the rest of his evening signing tits. Five minutes later, he fought Trevor Linden.
Then the first period ended. This used to be called hockey.
In the middle frame, traditionally the worst part of any hockey game, Lee Goren (Who?) boarded Jason Wiemer. I remember thinking it looked like it hurt, and that I was glad it had not happened to me.
After Goren emerged from the penalty box, Jason Wiemer hit him in the face a bunch.
Old time hockey. Eddie Shore.
Now, some of you may know that I despise Todd Bertuzzi. I have never been as disgusted by an acquisition as I was when the Flames signed him that summer. Seeing that man in my team's colors was nauseating. I know I'm in the minority, but I have never understood why we let this man back into the game when Steve Moore was done for good. Side note: I hold two people responsible for the Olympic debacle in 2006 - Wayne Gretzky is one, Todd Bertuzzi is the other. Should never have worn our sweater again.
Justice miscarries in the emergency room. I can't do anything about that. But what I could do is cheer louder than at any time during Game 4 of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals (went to that - shout out to the Calgary Co-Op ticket lottery, and more important, my mom for going to the grocery store before she went to work on the off chance she could get tickets) when this happened.
Look at that. That is a work of art. Bert's helmet pops off and everything. And afterward, all he can do is pray the linesman doesn't let Rhett hurt him anymore.
Seriously. #### that guy.
Nothing much happens in the 3rd except for the Phaneuf clip that started this whole post off. On that topic, I can watch Ruutu trip Phaneuf for twenty minutes and laugh every single time. It's a Hall of Fame trolljob up there with Perry stealing Semin's stick. Plus, it's Dion. It's hilarious.
I haven't talked at all about Kiprusoff. Truth be told, he didn't have much to do. These were the peak-Sutter days - Calgary held Vancouver to 23 shots. But I will say this, it was a special thing to watch #34 at the height of his powers. I'm sure he made some difficult stops that night but nothing stands out. That's sort of the year Kiprusoff had in 05/06, though. He was Neo at the end of The Matrix, plucking bullets out of the air. Vancouver never had a chance.
And that's the story of the best game I ever saw.
Last edited by GreenLantern2814; 07-27-2018 at 12:39 AM.
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Awesome write up! Love seeing the clips in there too, as I had not thought of this game in a while. The 05-06 team ranks up in the same vein as the 90, 91, 93, and 94 teams as a big old 'what if'. We had Iggy and Kipper at their primes and majority of the team from the 04 run back with the 04 swagger still in place. Still cannot believe we lost to the Duck that year. That is one of those series where you were just left scratching your head and wondering how the hell did we lose that one?
Also, I had totally forgotten that Jason Weimer played for us for a 2nd stint (only 33 games that year before being traded to NJD for a 4th which turned out to be Hugo Carpentier, ugh).
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Jason Weimer was the only player that I knew that would get in a totally clean break away with nobody around him for 30 feet and find a way to get called for a bad penalty
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look at that. That is a work of art. Bert's helmet pops off and everything.
Bert's helmet came off because the chin strap was so loose. He wore it so loose that his helmet was a hat with a hard shell to fulfill a rule. When his helmet went flying the stands exploded. It was awesome.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. The Iginla/Kipper/Sutter era Flames were so clutch in those big western Canada rivalry games. Great style of hockey too. That ‘06 team deserved a better fate. The start of my Duck hatred.
The 05-06 team ranks up in the same vein as the 90, 91, 93, and 94 teams as a big old 'what if'. We had Iggy and Kipper at their primes and majority of the team from the 04 run back with the 04 swagger still in place. Still cannot believe we lost to the Duck that year. That is one of those series where you were just left scratching your head and wondering how the hell did we lose that one?
Enjoyable and really good flashbacks there. The end result was positive as the Flames won 1-0 in reg time. Nilson scored the only goal in the 1st period, Auld loses again to the Flames, andKipper with the SHUTOUT! https://www.hockey-reference.com/box...511050CGY.html
I was on Youtube this evening and I happened upon a compilation of NHL trolling moments. No such thing is worth its salt if it doesn't contain this unforgettable moment in Flames/Canucks history.
November 5, 2005 was a Saturday. Hockey Night in Canada. Hockey is better on Saturday nights. It just is. Disagree if you want, but you're wrong. It was early November, but it was December cold. My dad and I came right from my own hockey game, and the only reason I remember this is because I showered after the game. I hated arena showers as a kid. But there simply wasn't time to go home. Since I wasn't about to walk into *16-year old reverence* the Saddledome smelling like a hockey bag, I was left with no choice but to be a man.
Damn right about Saturday nights! I recall that game and the hype as it was the 1st Flames-Canucks game since game 7 of the 2004 playoffs. I am glad it was a good game because I looked back and now realize that HNIC's 1st game of the doubleheader was only the Lightning-Leafs. The stupid CBC didn't bother showing the Sabres-Habs and Isles-Sens games. It was disgusting to hear all week that the Leafs were playing the defending champs, the bleeping Bolts, on CBC commercials and sports radio.
I'm no Phaneuf fan, but Yarko Ruutu can kiss the fattest hairiest part of my behind. That guy epitomizes what Vancouver Canucks hockey was and still is. He's a complete piece of garbage. And how the hell is Greg Millan still working in hockey brodcasting?
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November 5, 2005. HNIC - Calgary vs Vancouver
I recall that game and the hype as it was the 1st Flames-Canucks game since game 7 of the 2004 playoffs. I am glad it was a good game because I looked back and now realize that HNIC's 1st game of the doubleheader was only the Lightning-Leafs. The stupid CBC didn't bother showing the Sabres-Habs and Isles-Sens games. It was disgusting to hear all week that the Leafs were playing the defending champs, the bleeping Bolts, on CBC commercials and sports radio.
