The atmosphere on the Red Mile and how all of Canada was cheering for us to win made it such a great 2 1/2 months. The celebrating that went on was far greater than 1989 and the city seemed more involved because we were that cinderella team on a magical run.
That magical run was the best thing that could have happened to a floundering franchise that was having troubling attracting fans. In the end it probably saved the franchise.
That's what made 2004 so special to me.
That's sort of what sucked about the run. It put an end to the cheap student game night that UofC offered. $20 for second level seats. Good (drunken) times.
Yep, was absolutely electric atmosphere in this city. I went to game 3 against Vancouver and the atmosphere was sensational -- it was the loudest I'd ever heard the Dome when the team came out for warm-ups. Then the actual game started...
Another good one was the awesome 'Cu-Jo!' chant the Dome after Nieminen tied game 4 against Detroit. Best collective goalie heckle I've ever seen. You didn't see it on TV because it was during a commercial timeout but people who were there, they know.
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Game 7 vs. the Canucks occurred while I was at a Pixies concert at Mac Hall (IIRC, on the live CD you can hear the drummer ask "how about those Flames"?). The concert let out near the end of the third period. We watched the end at The Den. The late goal to tie it made me so angry (the jacket on the ice, the slash by Naslund) that I was sure the Flames were cursed and would lose in O/T. I couldn't bear to watch that. There were plenty of mouthy Canuck fans in The Den. I got in my car to drive home. We heard cars honking and turned on the radio to hear Gelinas had scored. We quickly looked for another pub.
The late goal to tie it made me so angry (the jacket on the ice, the slash by Naslund) that I was sure the Flames were cursed and would lose in O/T.
As a Flames fan who endured the Krushelnyski OT goal in 1990, the Tikkanen OT goal in 1991, and of course the Bure OT goal in 1994, it was all but certain the Flames would somehow lose it in OT (after somehow letting Vancouver tie it with five seconds left in regulation). Of course, then Gelinas scores, and euphoria ensues. The next three rounds were just gravy for me.
So when do we start the "Twenty five years ago" thread
Last edited by tvp2003; 03-18-2014 at 12:00 PM.
Reason: formatting
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I have seen teams win, and seen teams lose, in every sport, on every level, but i have never seen lightning in a bottle like the 04' playoff run. Had we rumbled back in 06 and won, it would have been almost bitter sweet because all the magic was lost.
Its hard to describe but for me, 04 was the pinnacle of sport, it was so perfect in every way minus the tragic missed goal. Im not even sure if the next cup the Flames lift will ever be a sweet as those 4 rounds.
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My 2004 experience started with Game 1 of the season, when the Canucks beat the Flames at the Dome. There were a half dozen stupid Canucks fans in front of me and they were high-fiving each other and actually said, "We're going to the finals this year, we're going to the finals this year." In Game 1! Of course I laughed.
So when I think of 2004, I always remember that first. Ha. Ha.
Then I remember Denis Gauthier the night they clinched a playoff spot. He said everyone was so happy, but they didn't know what to do. Hug? Dogpile? Stand around in disbelief? And I knew that it bothered them as much as it had bothered fans for the years of futility.
I also remember Game 3 against the Canucks. My seats were at ice level then and everyone in the lower bowl was pounding their feet on the metal floor. It was so loud, I couldn't hear my neighbour. And I saw a video afterwards of Craig Conroy saying to Iggy, "Listen to that f....ing crowd! And they were grinning so much.
Best game ever during that time - Game 6 against the Red Wings. What an incredible game. Both goalies were awesome, the game was so tight. If you see a photo of the goal in OT, where they show Gelly and the empty net, I'm standing up already cheering. I knew he wouldn't miss from there. Probably the best game I've ever seen live.
And the puck was in. I was close enough to see the puck behind the line.
I have seen teams win, and seen teams lose, in every sport, on every level, but i have never seen lightning in a bottle like the 04' playoff run. Had we rumbled back in 06 and won, it would have been almost bitter sweet because all the magic was lost.
2006 felt completely different, agreed. In fact, had we not choked against Anaheim and ended up with a series against Edmonton, I was expecting bloodshed on either the Red Mile or Whyte Ave/Kopycat Kilometre. Actual, literal bloodshed. The vibe was all wrong in both cities.
One decade ago...the greatest song ever was created. I remember every morning on the way to school, VIBE played this... the bus was crazy, especially after the Wings series.
The 2004 run was not just a SC run. It was something that turned this franchise around. Not to mention what it did for the people of Calgary, it was all Flames all the time. So, no, we are NOT celebrating us losing because to the Flames, to the city, it meant so much more.
As for me personally, I became a Flames (and hockey fan in general) fan the previous year, BUT the 04 run was when I really stared to love the Flames. I mean, even now, 7 years after I went to my last Flames game, that love hasn't diminished.
PS. This song is kinda bittersweet considering there is no more Jarome to chill with. Also, surfing YT, watching a lot of clips from 04, man was Gelinas an awesome player. Yeah, you need stars, but you need character players as well. He did everything, score, fight, hit...just an awesome guy.
Last edited by nemanja2306; 03-18-2014 at 02:50 PM.
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Lucky enough I didn't get them back then! Saw the 89 team win when I was 11. I Remember going yo a few games. I was defeated in the game 6 overtime game of the finals. Just a brilliant time. I remember talking to my friend about the team and saying how they would be a scary team if they made it into the playoffs as they really did play a tough style that year.
The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little, and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Go Flames Go!
I remember every morning on the way to school, VIBE played this... the bus was crazy, especially after the Wings series. 
Also, surfing YT, watching a lot of clips from 04, man was Gelinas an awesome player. Yeah, you need stars, but you need character players as well. He did everything, score, fight, hit...just an awesome guy.
