Flames Chalk Talk

[CaptainYooh]

Tonight, I was fortunate to be invited and attend a one-hour "Chalk Talk" Zoom call with Jamie Macoun and Curtis Glenncross hosted by the Calgary Flames for some of the corporate sponsors. A few highlights of the chat that stood out for me:

Macoun: Money has changed things a lot in the NHL. Like A LOT. Even the average players can play 5-6 years in the NHL and retire with 5-6M in the bank before the age of 30. In the 80's, most players played for the love of the game.

Macoun: on the effect of Kiprusoff: he was so amazing that the players suddenly stopped worrying and began playing better. That was a "Kipper-phenomenon". A great goalie makes everyone on the team play better and that's just pure luck. But it always must start with the top players. Top players make big bucks. They must play like the top players and lead the team.

Glencross: In Darryl's world, everything is black and white for the players. There is no guessing. Either you play to the top of your abilities and to what he tasks you with, or you don't play at all.

Macoun: talking about the Gilmour trade and how it had benefited him personally overall while being universally hated by the Flames fans. He finally got some TV exposure and recognition playing for Toronto, where nobody really knew or cared about Calgary much at all those days.

Glencross: talking about the anxiety of the trade deadlines for everyone. He was doing a morning practice when Hartley got the call and sent him to the dressing room. Kris Russell, his best friend, had to ask Hartley to let the team off the ice to say their good-byes.

Macoun: on fighting Dave Semenko and feeling that he's doing ok; then noticing that Semenko was fighting Peplinski at the same time using his right hand. For the rest of the season, other players were afraid to fight him because they saw game stats showing concurrent fighting majors for him and Semenko.

Macoun on the BoA: in the 80's the BoA was a real thing and a real battle. Edmonton had a few untouchables like Gretzky and Messier and the refs were really intimidated by them. Calling very little penalties against them and calling too many penalties on others who did touch them, even accidentally. That felt unfair and resulted in a lot of fighting. Every game was a war - with real blood, bad blood, injuries. After playing the last game of the season against each other, it was a relief for all players.

Glencross on the BoA: didn't experience it much when he played. Flames' arch-enemy at that time was Vancouver for some reason. Edmonton was not much of a problem then.

Macoun: favourite coach he has ever played for was "Badger" Bob Johnson. He felt that his prime goal was teaching. He saw players as kids who needed to be taught and he loved doing that. Never punished anyone. Never sent anyone to the press box. Never held grudges against players. Just patiently explained what he needed players to do and how to do it better.

Glencross: He thought that the most prepared coach he has ever played for was Trotz. He has never seen any coach better prepared for the game and for the opponent. His favourite coach was Brent Sutter, because he likes his straightforward and hardworking style of coaching.

There was also a lot said about the Flames Alumni Association, of which Macoun is the current President, their charity work with handicapped children and other individual charity work both of these guys do in the community. Overall, a great event. I thought it would be good to share.

[drewtastic]

So true about the ‘80s BOA. There was (and will never again be) anything else like it.

As a kid, I particularly remember:
-hating Wayne Gretzky ( ! )
-loathing Glenn Anderson, Mark Messier, Dave Semenko, Marty McSorely, Jari Kurri and, eventually, Esa Tikkanen
-Risebrough shredding McSorely’s jersey
-1986

Being young, I was also heavily into WWF at the time, and, like most kids, loved Hulk Hogan, the ultimate “good guy”. This further reinforced my Flames fandom because:
-good guys wear red and yellow
-good guys have awesome moustaches

But beyond my subjective memories, I honestly don’t think we will ever see the degree of hatred that defined the 80s BOA ever again. It really was bloodsport, as Macoun said...

[DoubleK]

I don't know why, but I read the thread title as "Flames Pillow Talk"