Growing up in the West Kootenays in BC, at a time when Vancouver was going through their "King Brodeur" stage (and gawd awful jerseys... wait, they still have gawd awful jerseys) and Edmonton was on the way to ending the Islanders reign, almost everyone in my hometown was either a Vancouver fan, or an Greaser fan.
I hated both.
Still do... obviously.
Loved the tenacity as they built their team with a direct focus on the ability to be able to beat the Greasers.
Moved to Calgary in '86 and was THRILLED at that series. Every game was war, and not just the playoffs.
Steve Smith, with the original "Edmonton is no good" moment was epic.
That reminds me. Anyone thinking of throwing an Oylaz jersey on the ice this season could have it lettered with "Shoooooot" and the number 86.... just for old times sake.
Love the Flames in the 80s. NCAA players should be thankful to the Flames because they started signing college players when others just ignored them. With Bob Johnson former HC for Univ of Wisconsin Badgers as a head coach from 82-87. Flames signed college players like Joel Otto(Bemidji State-1984), Neil Sheehy(Harvard-1983), Colin Patterson(Clarkson University-1982), drafted Perry Berezan(North Dakota-1983), Eddie Beers(Univ of Denver-1982), Gino Cavallini(Bowling Green-1984), drafted Joe Nieuwendyk(Clarkson University-1985). Even Brett Hull went to Univ of Minn-Duluth after the Flames drafted him in 84.
With the Flames success in signing college players, others follow through after and Adam Oates become the most sought after college free agent back then. Most of the college players Flames are instrumental to their success in the 80s. HC Bob Johnson was the major reason the Flames started beating the mighty Oilers. Unthinkable like using a defenseman Neil Sheehy(plays as a forward) to shadow Wayne Gretzky every game and just iritate him and even hit him. Back then there was a rule that you cannot touch Gretzky at all; otherwise a ref will call a penalty or you have to answer to Dave Semenko. A former Harvard boxing champion Sheehy is not scared of Semenko. When the Flames beat the Oilers in 86, other team changed the way they played against the Oilers.
I remembered this Game 7 especially when Steve Smith scored on his own goal. It was one of the most awesome feeling for a Flames fan.
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Thanks for posting the video. That Gretzky kid looks like a young Johnny Gaudreau...
... Only slower.
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
He was all used up by the time he got to Calgary but I still loved Nicky Fotiu.
As well if you just looked at Hunter wrong he would start to bleed from the bridge of that massive nose.
I don't think I've ever seen McSorley give a guy as much respect as he did with Fotio there. Two times he could have started throwing and he didnt. As soon as he got paired with Hunter, we started throwing.
I've looked online for fights of Fotio in a Flames uniform and couldn't find them. Could he not find any dance partners?
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
I was at game 6... My dad got tickets from a business partner in Calgary so we drove up from Lethbridge for the game. The chance to finally vanquish the big, bad Oilers. Flames went up 2-0 and the place went absolutely nuts. Gretzky took over after that... and soon after, the "we want Nick" chants started. Disappointed at the end if the night. Redemption a few days later.. And the day after that, getting kicked out of Chem 30 for not taking off my Flames jersey. Teacher was a big greaserhead.
Fotiu, as best I can recall, was in the middle of a lot of scuffles in a Flames uniform, dropped the gloves, but had no real blockbuster fights. A lot of bear-hugging. I always thought he was a disappointing enforcer but he had other valuable qualities--team guy, fan friendly. I think his best days as a fighter were over by the time he came to the Flames, or maybe his reputation was such that few wanted to really duke it out with him. Does anyone else recall?
Fotiu, as best I can recall, was in the middle of a lot of scuffles in a Flames uniform, dropped the gloves, but had no real blockbuster fights. A lot of bear-hugging. I always thought he was a disappointing enforcer but he had other valuable qualities--team guy, fan friendly. I think his best days as a fighter were over by the time he came to the Flames, or maybe his reputation was such that few wanted to really duke it out with him. Does anyone else recall?
He fought Craig Coxe. And had the dance with McSorley I think. Nothing great.
Fotiu's scrap with Craig Coxe was a beating. Watch how Fotiu fought with both hands while at a distance. More of a boxer approach as opposed to hang on with one and fire with the other.
I recently read Dave Schultz' book and he goes through his career. Schultz was the league tough guy and main goon of the broad street bullies. But in the book he talks about how he knew he wasn't there for long and how he was scared of this Fotiu guy.
However, I agree that I wish Fotiu had really pounded on some oilers though.
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"OOOOOOHHHHHHH those Russians" - Boney M
Last edited by killer_carlson; 08-04-2014 at 02:05 PM.
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Fotiu's scrap with Craig Coxe was a beating. Watch how Fotiu fought with both hands while at a distance. More of a boxer approach as opposed to hang on with one and fire with the other.
I recently read Dave Schultz' book and he goes through his career. Schultz was the league tough guy and main goon of the broad street bullies. But in the book he talks about how he knew he wasn't there for long and how he was scared of this Fotiu guy.
However, I agree that I wish Fotiu had really pounded on some oilers though.
Yeah, it wasn't that Fotiu was over the hill. Just that nobody would fight him. Chris Simon syndrome.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
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Originally Posted by calgaryred
Agreed game 3# and the Gretzky meltdown after Sheehy gets under his skin is priceless. Still remember Gretzky screaming from the Oilers bench and Sheehy blowing him kisses.
Neil Sheehy being interviewed between periods of game 4 of the 1986 Smythe final. Talks about Gretz and how to slow him down and make him frustrated. Playing in front of Vernon and how to beat Fuhr.
People were scared of Fotiu. He was a nasty fighter who could throw with both fists in rapid succession. He could also take a lot of shots and not be affected. People also thought he had a couple screws loose and that if he went off he couldn't be stopped. It was best just to leave Nick alone and not get him started, because once he started it was likely someone was going to get hurt. Fotiu was a great guy and well respected, but he was also just flat out feared, even by the monsters in the game like Semenko.
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can you imagine what this rivalry would have been had social media been around then?
CalgaryPuck would have gone crazy. The series thread would have easily hit 100,000 posts averaging 12,000 posts for the first six games and then go through the roof for game 7.
It's amazing how much better the team got between then and '89... It's such a shame they weren't able to start the 90s with a little mini-dynasty.
Thank goodness they got better in 1989. The 1st round loss to Jets in 87 was a shock and then getting swept in the 2nd round by the bleeping Oilers in 88 was brutal. Beating Gretzky's Kings in 89 made it all better again.
