World Wide Flames Fans!

[Pointman]

Born in Moscow and have been living there for 33 years now. It was a pure random, that I.became a Flames fan, as I just randomly chose a team to play for in the early 90s GameStar Faceoff PC hockey game. It did not even have real players, only real teams. No real jetseys either, just green team against red team. Still was a helluva game. Then I moved to Brett Hull Hockey 1995 game, it had real players and real jerseys and I really loved our jersey and logo. I got internet at 1999 and then I listened to Peter Maher's broadcasts live at night on fan960. I also downloaded any Flames videos I could get and back then it means I had a handful of highlights from the whole season. I also joined Flames fans mailing list, I still remember Marc Ciampa from there. Later I
also remember reading Calgarypuck back at addr.com with pre-season previews by Rick Charlton, Bingo, Ciampa and fourth guy whose name I forgot.

The first Flames game I actually saw was our 4-2 win over Flyers with MacAmmond-Conroy-Iginla line, Gilbert was the coach, and Turek played the goal.

From about 2010 I am able to watch every game here in Russia, but I rarely do since I am way older and I am way more casual fan than I used to be. Although with our run I am watching every highlights and watched most of our latest games.

Also Flames 2004 Tribute video with Hero of the day, Shot down in Flames and Times like this is my main motivation video in my life.

[Textcritic]

Born and raised in Calgary.

Moved to the Vancouver area when I was 21.

Have been living in Kristiansand, Norway for the past three years.

[CroFlames]

I wanna move to Europe now

[UK flame]

I'm from UK (hence the name) but lived in Calgary for a year about 10 years ago, and have been hooked on the flames since then.

I was lucky enough to go to the dome and see iggy and kipper play, I know a lot of fans spread across the world would love to get there but can't.

[J79]

Lelystad, The Netherlands

Born in Amsterdam. No strings to Canada, Calgary or hockey.
Became a Flames fan in May of 1994.
Some friends where playing NHL 94 on the Sega. The only team I really knew where the New York Rangers. As that team was taken already I chose the Philadelphia Flyers as my team. My first game was against the Flames (Because I knew Calgary from the 1988 Olympics) and I lost 5-1 or something. Joe Nieuwendyk scored some goals for the Flames.
Because his name sounded Dutch, and he had the same initial as me I eventually chose the Flames to be my team.

Mid 90’s there was almost no way I could follow the team.
We had CNN who showed 40 second highlights of the NHL. Every day I was hoping to see something of ‘my’ Flames.
Through CNN teletext (don’t know if that’s a term used in English?) I could keep up with the Flames.
I remember I had to cry when I read Fleury was traded to the Avs

In the early ‘00’s I got internet. It got easier to follow the team. I also managed to buy my first Flames jersey.
Still, I had not seen a complete Flames game by then.
I started listening to Flames games in the middle of the night more often.
Peter Maher was a wizard. He made me feel like I was part of the Saddledome crowd.
Listened to every game of the 2004 playoff run.
It’s hard to be a fan of something that is so far away. No one to share your passion with. No one that understands your passion.
I remember running and jumping around with a chair above my head when the final seconds of game 6 against San Jose ticked away (it goes down the ice... just to the empty net... they score! You can put it in the win column! the Flames are Western Conference champions! Yeahhhh Babyyyy!)

The Flames where (and still are) a part of my daily life. In 2005 I had the flaming C tattooed on my wrist. Since then I had to explain what the flaming C meant. I don’t mind. I tell my story with pride.
The last 6 years I have a colleague at work who shares my passion. He’s a NBA LA Clippers fan for over 20 years. He went through the same hard times as I did. We understand each other and we enjoy every moment we talk about our passion and no one understands why.

In 2006 my wife gave birth to our first son. We named him Dean Miikka (named after Kiprusoff ofcourse) and just recently we had our second son. Mason Brodie. Not named after Mason Raymond and a bit named after TJ
We wanted to visit Calgary in 2012. I knew the end of the Iginla/Kiprusoff era was nearing and I really wanted to see those guys play. Unfotunately the lockout ended that dream.
Eventually we went in October of 2013. We got to see the games vs. Washington (win) Toronto (loss) and Detroit (loss)
A real bonus for us was to be part of the first Flames fest. It was cool to meet the players.
Both my wife and son also enjoyed the trip. Canadians/Calgarians are very friendly and helpful people. We will definitely visit Calgary again (Maybe if there’s a new arena?)
Maybe sooner… If we go to the Stanley Cup finals again, I’m on the first plane to Calgary!


Coincidence made me make one of the best choices of my life... I wouldn't trade the last 21 years for a millions Euro's.

Go Flames Go!

[socalwingfan]

Born and lived in Calgary for 30 years, moved to SoCal in 1999. Me and my buddy went to the airport to greet the Flames after the Steve Smith goal and in '89 we went to Malarkey's every night after work on game days to watch the Flames (it was superstition - not the greatest bar for watching a game) . Went to Electric Ave after the '89 victory and partied until I went to work the next day at 7AM.

As for my handle on this site, Steve Yzerman was and always will be my favourite player. Since moving from Calgary, I found myself more and more proud and loyal to my hometown and regret the user name. Oh well, c'est la vie. My neighbor is a Kings fan, and we take in most Flames/Kings games - so if you see a dude rockin' a '89 Lanny McDonald jersey in LA - that is probably me.

Oh yeah, my grandfather who lived in Medicine Hat used to get Xmas cards from Lanny when he was on the Leafs

[RyZ]

CalgaryPuck member Iveman (living in Toronto) is spreading Flames fever in Los Algodones, Mexico today. He sent me this picture before he left his hotel.

[Barnet Flame]

Born in Newry N. Ireland. Moved to Calgary when I was 5. When I was 15, my Mom moved us back to Ireland because my grandfather fell ill. I still consider Calgary to be home, because it's where I grew up and I loved it there. I go back every year now and the only passport I've ever owned is a Canadian one.

Anyway, I was a Habs fan like nearly everyone else in my class until the Flames moved from Atlanta when I was 11. I couldn't believe the NHL was coming to Calgary,, but thought I'd still follow the Habs. The 5-5 game against the Nordiques on CFAC changed all that forever.

I was weeks away from moving back to Calgary but ended up meeting a girl in Yorkshire during my last year at Uni. Worth it though because we're now married.

I've got three people following the Flames results at work, so I am spreading the word.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by J79

Lelystad, The Netherlands

Born in Amsterdam. No strings to Canada, Calgary or hockey.
Became a Flames fan in May of 1994.
Some friends where playing NHL 94 on the Sega. The only team I really knew where the New York Rangers. As that team was taken already I chose the Philadelphia Flyers as my team. My first game was against the Flames (Because I knew Calgary from the 1988 Olympics) and I lost 5-1 or something. Joe Nieuwendyk scored some goals for the Flames.
Because his name sounded Dutch, and he had the same initial as me I eventually chose the Flames to be my team.

Mid 90’s there was almost no way I could follow the team.
We had CNN who showed 40 second highlights of the NHL. Every day I was hoping to see something of ‘my’ Flames.
Through CNN teletext (don’t know if that’s a term used in English?) I could keep up with the Flames.
I remember I had to cry when I read Fleury was traded to the Avs

In the early ‘00’s I got internet. It got easier to follow the team. I also managed to buy my first Flames jersey.
Still, I had not seen a complete Flames game by then.
I started listening to Flames games in the middle of the night more often.
Peter Maher was a wizard. He made me feel like I was part of the Saddledome crowd.
Listened to every game of the 2004 playoff run.
It’s hard to be a fan of something that is so far away. No one to share your passion with. No one that understands your passion.
I remember running and jumping around with a chair above my head when the final seconds of game 6 against San Jose ticked away (it goes down the ice... just to the empty net... they score! You can put it in the win column! the Flames are Western Conference champions! Yeahhhh Babyyyy!)

The Flames where (and still are) a part of my daily life. In 2005 I had the flaming C tattooed on my wrist. Since then I had to explain what the flaming C meant. I don’t mind. I tell my story with pride.
The last 6 years I have a colleague at work who shares my passion. He’s a NBA LA Clippers fan for over 20 years. He went through the same hard times as I did. We understand each other and we enjoy every moment we talk about our passion and no one understands why.

In 2006 my wife gave birth to our first son. We named him Dean Miikka (named after Kiprusoff ofcourse) and just recently we had our second son. Mason Brodie. Not named after Mason Raymond and a bit named after TJ
We wanted to visit Calgary in 2012. I knew the end of the Iginla/Kiprusoff era was nearing and I really wanted to see those guys play. Unfotunately the lockout ended that dream.
Eventually we went in October of 2013. We got to see the games vs. Washington (win) Toronto (loss) and Detroit (loss)
A real bonus for us was to be part of the first Flames fest. It was cool to meet the players.
Both my wife and son also enjoyed the trip. Canadians/Calgarians are very friendly and helpful people. We will definitely visit Calgary again (Maybe if there’s a new arena?)
Maybe sooner… If we go to the Stanley Cup finals again, I’m on the first plane to Calgary!


Coincidence made me make one of the best choices of my life... I wouldn't trade the last 21 years for a millions Euro's.

Go Flames Go!

Such an awesome post and I can relate so much. Not directly to your experiences, but the cultural aspects. I'm a Dutch citizen with a sofinummer, but I've never been there for more than 3 weeks at a time.

Teletext never really existed here. For the non European readers, Teletext was an Internet page like service attached to TV Channels. For example from your remote you could go to CNN and push a button on your remote and some interactive text would come up that you could scroll through. Kinda hard to explain.

Like most young Dutch parents and many of my cousins, you give your kids English names which I find really interesting.

[SportsJunky]

I've lived a few places in my life in NA but I've always cheered for the Flames. Great stories everyone. Keep them coming.

[Freddy]

I was lucky to see a few games around '89 with my grandparents who had a share in season tickets, and after experiencing the loss to Montreal followed by the Cup in '89 my Flames fandom was cemented.

I'm currently living outside Guelph, Ontario, and if anyone else lives nearby and wants to meet at a pub tonight to watch the game I'd be stoked to not be the only guy wearing Flames red. PM if interested.

[N-E-B]

Pretty cool to see how many fans were influenced by video games. Something I never really would have thought about. Some cool stories in here.

I was born in Lethbridge, moved to Calgary when I was 2.

Held a soft spot for Lethbridge until I went back to school there and have since developed a deep hatred for that place. The lack of Flames fans and hatred for Calgary there sickens me.

That's about as exotic as my story gets. Been a Flames fan my whole life, although I went through a brief Mighty Ducks phase as a 5 year old, but what kid my age didn't? Those movies and jersey's were really cool.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by RyZ

CalgaryPuck member Iveman (living in Toronto) is spreading Flames fever in Los Algodones, Mexico today. He sent me this picture before he left his hotel.

I have one of those Ponchos, it's freakin awesome.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I have one of those Ponchos, it's freakin awesome.

I need one of those Ponchos, it's freakin awesome.

[jeep991]

I was born in HK and moved to Calgary when I was 5. Living at home with chinese parents and grandparents I was never really exposed to hockey until 1982 when I caught Lanny McDonald fever. Lanny was on his 66 goal season and all my friends at school plus all the coverage on channels 2 and 7 got me totally into the Flames and Lanny.
I met Lanny in 2011 while working at Baker Hughes. It was end of the day and I was standing in the elevator. The door started to close when someone stuck their hand into the opening. I pressed the button to open the door and who is standing there but Lanny freakin' McDonald. I was too nervous to say anything but he was very nice and thanked me for opening the elevator door for him. All I could do was stand there and nod like a mute idiot.

[Galakanokis]

Born in the NWT but arrived in Calgary just in time to see the Flames show up. Of course a young impressionable kid is going to become a fan. 86 was awesome, wore that Lanny stache almost everyday during that run. Sadly I move to Nfld just before the playoffs in 89 but it was great staying up late to watch the games. I've been stuck in Vancouver for ever now, never been able to make it "home" but I also never stop trying.

To see/read about all the far flung Flames fans is awesome. Such a great community and site.

[ASMEH]

Born in Egypt, immigrated to Canada and lived in Calgary for a decade, including the great 2004 run.

Lives for few years now in the Arabian
Gulf region, and never missed the game highlights for a regular season game, or this first playoffs since I left.

[Yrebmi]

watching a game with my dad in '85.
I asked him which team was Canadian - both
which team was Albertan - both
Well which is closer to Rocky? Edmonton 217 km, Calgary 214 km
Phew! dodged a bullet there eh.

[N26]

Born in NE France.

Moved to Switzerland at 3.

Moved to Noranda, Quebec at 7.

Moved to Calgary at 12, Was at the first Flames game in 1981 a few months later. A tie between my old favourite team and my new one. Became a intense fan during the glorious 80's. Once in Edmonton I ended behind Mark Messier in a buffet line. Had a steak knife in my hands but my mom talked me out of it.

Went to University in Chicago

Moved to Munich, Germany at 21 (wore my Lemelin jersey there all the time)

Bilbao, Spain at 23

Prague Czech Republic at 25

Goteburg, Sweden at 26 (still have a Frolunda t-shirt)

Leipzig, Germany at 28

St Petersburg Russia at 33 (I have a Makarov CCCP jersey from then)

Gatineau, Quebec at 36 (went to several Cgy-Mtl games at the Bell Centre in an Iggy jersey where my knowledge of Quebecois swear words was greatly expanded each time)

London, England at 40

Moved to a boat off Paradise Island, Bahamas at 41 where I remain 6 years later.

I was at a yoga class at the Yoga Ashram on the island the other week where I ran into someone also wearing a Flames hat. We bonded over some Kevin Bieksa jokes.

There is a Buddhist monk who is originally from Burnaby currently staying at the Ashram. You have not truly trashed-talked someone until you've done it with a monk in saffron robes. Apparently Buddhists don't like Michael Ferland much either

My brother moved his family to Calgary less than a year ago and I am looking forward to going for a visit soon. Haven't been to YYC in almost 10 years and I think my boat needs an adapted car flag.

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Born in Ontario before there was a Calgary Flames team in the 70s. Dad was a Leafs fan, and my fave player was Lanny. Moved to Calgary during the first oil boom, Lanny became a Flame and so there went my fan loyalty. Was on Electric Avenue after the cup win in 89.

Moved to Japan for a couple of years in the nineties, came back to Calgary in 97 and was a STH right up until I moved back in 2004 (of course this is the year of the run...FML). Work in Tokyo, live in Yokohama, and rely on Gamecentre for my fix.