CALGARY - Hope and belief.
The Calgary Flames deserve plenty of credit — they’ve managed to give their supporters hope and belief in the early stages of the 2013-14 CPHL season.
The hope is the Flames won’t be as bad as the CPHL pundits predicted or at least if they finish lower in the standings, they’ll make it worth tuning into the clashes.
The belief is the organization, which has taken more body-shots than Rocky Balboa ever withstood while going up against Apollo Creed, is on the right path to building a franchise of becoming a Stanley Cup competitor within a few years.
On top of the successful start to to the season, the Flames have provided an extra bonus to their fans by leading the league after the first 13 games!
Face it, before the season started, most of the CPHL world said the odds of the Flames working through their first five games without crapping in their Depends would have been longer than pretty much that of any other team in the league.
Most expectations were that the "experienced" Flames would be lucky to win three times in the first month or more. However, by coming out of the gates with a 10-2-1 record, including victories in each of their last three games, they’ve become an early-season feel-good story in the CPHL heading into Sunday’s clash at Phoenix (8 p.m., TSN, Sportsnet FAN960).
Instead of being mocked from all corners of the league, a price paid for taking MJKs constant needling and the desire to have their own Jason Spezza, the Flames are being credited for overcoming their lack of proven high-end talent with old-fashioned grit and determination.
Moreover, they’re earning well-deserved kudos for being as exciting of a team to watch as any around the league.
Now comes the next step for the club.
Let’s face it, as well as the Flames performed in their first 13 games, they’re facing a much tougher schedule during the road swing, which begins Sunday against the Yotes and their howling fanatics. No more Dallas Stars to lunch on!
Starting with their clash against a Phoenix team that’s obliterated its last five opponents, the Flames are stepping up against a Murderer’s Row of squads.
They’re among the first teams to see whether a California clash will be a dream or a nightmare, with tilts against the scarier-than-feathers Anaheim Ducks and then the Chicago Blackhawks —two teams with all kinds of big players who use their size.
“I wish that we could tumble them in the dryer for 30 minutes and get them to shrink, but that won’t happen,” Flames head coach Jacques Martin said after Tuesday’s practice at the Saddledome. “We need to play the game the way it is. We got bigger, too. We’re seeing some positive results out of this. They are great teams, there’s some franchise players on those teams, and that’s the reason why they’re successful.
“We’re making strides that way, and we’re going to keep working them. Our main focus is on our players, on our team right now.”
That group of players includes veteran Danny Briere, a basic throwaway a few months ago, whose hot start — 7 goals and 23 points, leads the CPHL — makes the debate as to whether he was valuable any longer, a hotly contested one on every team except Calgary.
If Briere keeps playing like he has he will surely be at the top of the scoring leaderboard at seasons end, injuries aside.
“I’m not even thinking about it,” Briere said of the fast start. “I haven’t been thinking about that at all since the season started. I’m just trying to work hard, and lead Calgary to a Stanley Cup, like an everyday pro.”
The coming games will certainly provide a very stiff test for the veteran center.
“I’m excited and looking forward to playing against these teams and top players,” Briere added, " "no team showed a willingness to bring me in except Calgary and I plan on paying them back!".
Flames fans are looking forward to it, too — with hope and belief.
Hot Start for Flames brings hope to fans!
