Isles to retire fomer Flames John Tonelli's #27 jersey
“I was wondering why I was getting a call from Lou Lamoriello, saying, ‘Oh, no, what’s going on?’” Tonelli said.
The team also announced that current captain Anders Lee, with Tonelli’s blessing, will be able to continue wearing No. 27 for the rest of his career with the Islanders.
“John was phenomenal with it,” Lee said. “I was extremely thankful and grateful for him giving me the blessing. It’s a huge honor for me to wear his number. He’s the real two-seven. I’ll just try to carry on what he did before.”
Tonelli believes 27 is now “our number.”
“I would welcome and cherish and be proud if he continues to wear No. 27,” Tonelli said. “I borrowed it. I wore it. You couldn’t have a better person than Anders wearing it now. We’re on the same page. It’s our number. We’re in it together.”
Although Tonelli wasn't with the Flames for very long, he certainly was a fan favourite in his brief tenure here in Calgary. Congrats to John!
Location: F*** me. We're so f***ing good, you check the f***ing standings? Lets f***ing go! F***ing practice!
Exp:
This is so cool.
John Tonelli was my hero when I was a kid.
Came here at the end of the 86-87 season and was devastated to be traded from the Islanders where he was a big part of that dynasty, winning 4 Cups. Murmurs of him being a "cancer" in the dressing room. Messy parting. Glen Sather accused the Islanders of conspiracy by trading JT to the Flames because they were trying to help the Flames beat the Oilers in the playoffs.
John Tonelli put everything behind him fast after putting on a Flames jersey. In the final 9 games of the season he scored 3 goals and had 7 points. He wore the #27 which is my birthday number. He quickly became my favorite.
That's when I learned what a clutch playoff performer was. He simply turned it on. The 86 Cup run saw him score 7 goals and 16 points in 22 games. He also put up 49 penalty minutes. Relentless, tough as nails, all heart, built for 80's playoff hockey. I was in awe.
The following season I was so obsessed I started a scrapbook. I was 13 years old. Cut out every picture I could find of John Tonelli. Articles, hockey cards, a game summaries where he put up a hat trick vs the hated Oilers. Anything I could find.
I was a lucky 13 year old and had access to seasons tickets. After one game a 2&7 camera man asked my friend and I if we wanted to meet the Flames. He told us to pick up ticket stubs that littered the Dome stands so we had something for the players to sign.
We met and got autographs from the team. Four Flames stood out above and beyond to me that awesome night of meeting them all.
Joel Otto, Gary Roberts, Tim Hunter and John Tonelli. Each of those guys gave us extra time, answering all of our questions, just being awesome to a couple of kids.
I asked John Tonelli if I came back another time with my scrapbook if he would be ok with signing it for me. He laughed, asked me my name and said bring it, I'd love to see it.
It was about 3 weeks later that I got the tickets to the game. Brought my scrapbook. Flames starting coming out of the dressing room and I had bought a Flames magazine to get players to sign it. Kept looking for Tonelli, he was nowhere to be seen. Guys coming out signing my magazine. Asked Al MacInnis if Tonelli was still in the dressing room. He said, I think Johns gone already. I was crushed.
Then I heard someone calling my name. I turned and it was John Freaking Tonelli calling me by MY name and waiving me over. He was with a tall blond who he introduced as his wife Karen. He asked if he could check out my book. He and his wife flipped through it, laughing with me. He asked where I wanted him to sign it. I said everywhere. So he literally did, every page, talking to me the entire time. I had 16 John Tonelli signatures in that beloved scrapbook. Sadly, years later it was lost in a basement flood. But I still remember every page.
I met him a couple more times after games and he always remembered my name, always gave me his time, was pure class. It does not surprise me at all that he is in full support of Anders Lee wearing his #27 even though its being retired. That's the Mr. Tonelli I know.
I blame him for my undying love of hockey and the Calgary Flames. Haven't heard much about him for a long time, so its really cool to hear this news.
Way to go John, you are my hero.
__________________ Backlund for Selke 2017 2018
Oilers suck.
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After the Flames beat the Oilers in game 5 during the 1986 series, I went to the airport with a few friends to greet them. It was a mob scene. Players had to walk through the crowd to get to their cars in the parking garage. I remember high giving Macinnis and rubbing Lannys head.
As we were walking to our cars in the garage, a town car pulled by. In the back were Tonelli and Nick Fotiu. One of the girls we were with asked Tonelli for a kiss and he very politely said yes, stuck his head out the window and have her a light kiss on the lips.
Just kind of of a weird memory from a fun experience. When the Flames won game 7, we watched from a TV and of course the setup changed and fans were behind a fence at a different part of the airport.
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Isles to retire fomer Flames John Tonelli's #27 jersey
@CsInMyBlood - that’s one of the best stories I’ve ever read!
I can’t even come close to matching it, but I will say that he was also one of my favourites when I was a kid.
I once made my sister play hockey in the basement with me and we had to choose players to be: she chose MacInnis (because he was a fan fave and pretty much all she knew). I chose Tonelli, because he had recently scored a goal with a slapshot that had gone THROUGH the netting (anybody else remember that?!?). To me, this made him GREATER than MacInnis—did Al ever send a shot THROUGH the net?!? No. But Tonelli did!
He’s one of the big reasons why NYI are my second favourite team. More than worthy of this honour.
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@CsInMyBlood - that’s one of the best stories I’ve ever read!
I can’t even come close to matching it, but I will say that he was also one of my favourites when I was a kid.
I once made my sister play hockey in the basement with me and we had to choose players to be: she chose MacInnis (because he was a fan fave all pretty much all she knew). I chose Tonelli, because he had recently scored a goal with a slapshot that had gone THROUGH the netting (anybody else remember that?!?). To me, this made him GREATER than MacInnis—did Al ever send a shot THROUGH the net?!? No. But Tonelli did!
He’s one of the big reasons why NYI are my second favourite team. More than worthy of this honour.
I think Macinnis actually did put one through the net. I believe I remember that play though. Didn’t go through the side netting on the far aside from a sharp angle shot that squeaked though?
I think Macinnis actually did put one through the net. I believe I remember that play though. Didn’t go through the side netting on the far aside from a sharp angle shot that squeaked though?
Tonelli’s actually went through the net...IIRC, the linesmen had to check the netting to prove it. Hit the end boards. Was a slapshot BLAST!
Joel Otto, Gary Roberts, Tim Hunter and John Tonelli. Each of those guys gave us extra time, answering all of our questions, just being awesome to a couple of kids.
I've met both Otto and Hunter in recent years and they are still this same way, even with an overgrown early 40s kids like me.
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c's, it's the best when your hockey idols live up to their names. I met Lafleur as a teenager and had a great experience as well. Thx for the terrific story.
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I wish that Tonelli could have been on that 89 Cup team. I remember that he didn't get along with Terry Crisp but he could still play. 30+ goals in 88-89 and 89-90, too (with the Kings).
Isles to retire fomer Flames John Tonelli's #27 jersey
Save the Corral!!
