[News Roundup] The 2015/2016 season begins

[sureLoss]

Johnson: Minor league trial by fire forged Flames GM Treliving into big-time talent

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ig-time-talent

Life in the old Western Professional Hockey League sure did have its moments.

“You weren’t just selling the game,’’ recalls Brad Treliving, with the soft, wistful smile of someone who has stepped willingly through the front door into madness and emerged stronger out the back, “you were selling sizzle.

“Some of the promotions …

“Here’s one for you: New Year’s Eve. Lake Charles, La. At that time a really successful team. The promoter, a real inventive guy, gets the tie-in idea for Happy New REAR’s Eve Night.’’ Pause. “He was giving out lypo-suction.

“And I’m like ‘You have got to be kidding me. Are we even allowed to do this?’

“Then there was Hairiest Back Night. All these guys really eager to display … well, I’m sure I don’t have to draw you a picture. That was in Lake Charles, too.’’

One unforgettable opener in Waco, Texas, with the temperature and humidity both hovering at 90 (“when we’d get up every morning and turn on the TV, all we’d pay attention to was the weather channel”), Treliving, one of the league’s co-founders, walked into the barnlike Heart of Texas Stadium to see the home-team mascot, “the big Wizard”, passed out from the heat and hooked up to an IV halfway through the first period.

Or that time the league was forced to assume control of an orphaned franchise.

“So we have to pay the players. They’re paid weekly. Usually $300, or something like that. I’m 20-whatever. Paying’s numerical. So, on the list, No. 2 gets his money first. What I didn’t reckon was that when you cashed the cheques, you got a bunch of change back. Well, I get to No. 30, the goalie, and he’s making $400, I think. I’ve run out of bills, so he gets his money in quarters.

“Lot of quarters.

“I go to the trainer and he gives me a hockey sock. I put the $400 in quarters in there and tell the goalie ‘Sorry. But you’ve gotta trust me. There is 400 bucks in there.’

Brad Treliving, it goes without saying, has risen a few floors in the hockey elevator since those daffy days.

Flames newcomers Kulak, Hamilton, Frolik anticipating Dome debut
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ing-dome-debut

Brett Kulak can only assume that, for his mom Laura, Wednesday will be much like the other day when she saw the Calgary Flames defenceman on her TV.

“I was in the news the other day doing an interview,” chuckled the 21-year-old. “She said she teared up watching me. She gets nervous. She’ll probably cry (on Wednesday).”

Kulak’s parents — Laura and Gil — are soon going to be accustomed to the Queen Elizabeth 2 Highway, much like they did when he was playing with the Vancouver Giants and they’d watch him in Western Hockey League action against the Calgary Hitmen.

Of course, they saw him play his first pre-season game against the Edmonton Oilers in split squad action.

They also took a break from farming their canola and barley grain fields just west of Stony Plain and were also on hand for the Flames final pre-season tilt against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday — shortly before Kulak was unofficially named the team’s sixth defenceman.

But Wednesday is for real.

“My dad did have a shift he was supposed to work at the power-plant, too … but he said he called in and was going to take it off,” said Kulak with a chuckle. “There will be a lot of emotions in the building — I’m sure for my parents, as well. It’ll be exciting. Last year, my first game was the last of the regular season. But this year, I’m sure the atmosphere will be a lot different.

“I’m excited about it.”

He’s not the only newcomer that’s anticipating his home rink debut.

For Dougie Hamilton and Michael Frolik — the other two newcomers to the squad, besides Sam Bennett — they are pumped to make a good first impression.

Quotes from Hamilton and Frolik as well



Johnson: These Flames are no one-hit wonders
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ne-hit-wonders

One-hit wonders. The world’s positively choking on ’em.

Who can possibly forget the song (or remember the name of the group or singer) of such one-off trivia classics as ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ by Baha Men or Los del Rio doing the ‘Macarena.’ ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ and Carl Douglas or ‘Turning Japanese’ by the Vapors.

Hockey’s equivalent being one-season wonders.

Here today, gone tomorrow.

Only months ago, Bob Hartley and his blue-collar boy band came out of nowhere, rocketing into the top 16 on the NHL’s Billboard charts, morphing into something of a feel-good ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy’ phenomenon in the process.

So do the Calgary Flames now go the way of, say, Bobby McFerrin and fade from relevance? Or do they stake out new territory, capitalize on their surprise success and keep churning out hit seasons?

There’s no disputing the playoff outsiders from the Western Conference have bulked up considerably in places such as Dallas and, yes, even Edmonton. After a tumultuous off-season, the L.A. Kings aren’t so far removed from glory to be considered fish-wrap; yesterday’s news.

Up in the higher-rent district, the Hawks are still loaded, the Predators still have Pekka Rinne and the Wild are looking to build off a 100-point season. Expect the Jets to be in the mix, again, and the Ken Hitchcock-driven Blues have likely reached their final chance to make good on as-yet unfulfilled promise.

Then there’s Canucks, Sharks and Avs to consider.

And there’s certainly no arguing that so much went so right for the unfancied Flames during their year of resurrection.

Flames having clear, honest discussions with players about substance abuse
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ubstance-abuse

Brad Treliving was asked about the topic and his responsibility as a general manager.

“Regardless of the comments or stories, you’re always worried and talking and communicating with your team,” said the Calgary Flames GM. “We have a responsibility to the players but No. 1, the people. We had clear, honest discussions with our players.

“Sometimes people think out there that the player, the team — just because they are players means that they are immune to the problems of society. But the best way you deal with them is being upfront, honest, and face-to-face. We’ve done that.”

Treliving said they’ve discussed the issue — and others including off-ice incidents and leaguewide issues/trends — with their players on Tuesday and throughout training camp.

“You can’t turn a blind eye to it,” he said. “You need to know that this issue is out there. How do we deal with it? We talk about it and that’s how we try to address it with our players.”

Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley said teams must be on-guard for any type of substance abuse issues.

“The proof of this is two years ago, we challenged Micheal Ferland on his alcohol abuse,” Hartley said. “We’re looking at this because if there’s a problem, we want to fix it. At the same time, we’re responsible, we’re working for the National Hockey League. But we’re not in other teams dressing rooms, we can only take care of our dressing room … personally, I’ve never seen it.”

Iain MacIntyre: Can’t bask in afterglow of success

Higher expectations: After surprise playoff showing, Calgary mindset is to work harder, be better

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/i...#ixzz3ntDgHOgB

Micheal Ferland says his mom told him it’s OK now to hit the Sedins. So the Calgary Flames’ wrecking ball could be even more destructive than he was in the playoffs last April, when he famously revealed his mother had asked him not to touch Vancouver Canucks’ stars Daniel and Henrik.

Ferland’s ferocious hitting impacted not only that playoff series, won in six games by the more physical Flames, but also the mindset of Canucks general manager Jim Benning, who was further convinced that his team needed to be bigger, younger and tougher.

Benning packaged Nick Bonino to acquire Brandon Sutter. Unreliable Zack Kassian was traded for dependable Brandon Prust. Robust journeyman centre Adam Cracknell knocked little Linden Vey off the team during the pre-season, and power forward Jake Virtanen and two-way centre Jared McCann made the Canucks as 19-year-olds.

Are the Canucks gritty enough? Ask us in 82 games. They’re different.

The Flames added top-four defenceman Dougie Hamilton and top-six winger Michael Frolik, but will play largely the same way: in your face. Or, rather, in the Canucks’ faces tonight in the teams’ National Hockey League opener.

Although Ferland said he can’t play a full season the way he did in the playoffs, the Sedins are now fair game.

See, he had a talk with his mom.

“She loves the Sedins,” Ferland, 23, said. “I told her it’s part of my job. She laughed. She just likes watching them and doesn’t want to see them get hurt. They’re really good players.”

Ferland turned out to be better than anyone, especially former Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa, expected. So did last season’s Flames.



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/i...#ixzz3ntEIxMlc

Sean Monahan perfect man to help lead Calgary Flames
http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/10/06...calgary-flames

First, Calgary Flames captain Mark Giordano handed Sean Monahan a jersey with the alternate captain’s ‘A’ on the front.

Then, one of the greatest leaders in Flames lore handed Monahan an accolade that lumps the 20-year-old centre in with today’s top captain in the NHL.

“I’m not ever going to put pressure on him by comparing him with (Chicago Blackhawks captain) Jonathan Toews — but that’s kind of where he can head,” said Lanny McDonald, who co-captained the Flames for six seasons, including the year they won the Stanley Cup.

“He’s got it all. It’s exciting to see a player with all that. When you watch him play and you look at Gaudreau and Hudler, those guys feed off your centre-ice man. Their success had a lot to do with how well he played. How all of those young guys carry themselves is so important not only to the city but to their careers.

“My favourite player now is Sean Monahan — the sky is the limit with this guy.”

Still one week away from his 21st birthday, Monahan accepted the sweater letter and the high praise as he does everything thrown his way on and off the ice …
In stride.

“Obviously, Lanny is a special player and a respected person and a big icon in this city, so for him to say that is pretty cool,” said a smiling Monahan, showing a rare hint of emotion.

“Hopefully, I can get the job done for him saying that.”

Few in town doubt one day he’ll captain the Flames.

[gilligans_off]

I can't wait to read on ice stories lol is it 8pm yet?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Those Treliving stories are amazing. The sock full of quarters had me laughing quite a bit.

[FBI]

Well that killed 30 minutes.

[Flame12]

Working until 6:30 then eat then Game. What a perfect day today!!

[troutman]

Flames 19th in TSN Power Rankings (unsustainable)? Top two teams from the East?

http://www.tsn.ca/lightning-start-on...kings-1.372405

[mdubz]

Does Monahan ever answer a question without saying "Obviously" first?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

Flames 19th in TSN Power Rankings (unsustainable)? Top two teams from the East?

http://www.tsn.ca/lightning-start-on...kings-1.372405

I see they hopped on the Penguins bandwagon. Can't say I blame them as winning follows Kessel around.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by mdubz

Does Monahan ever answer a question without saying "Obviously" first?

Obviously not

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by troutman

Flames 19th in TSN Power Rankings (unsustainable)? Top two teams from the East?

http://www.tsn.ca/lightning-start-on...kings-1.372405

Just read the score app power rankings and the Flames were 21 "regression is never fun"

I am of the belief this team just gets better. The talent is catching up to the work ethic and that is a combination for a contender

[Locke]

Yes Ferland. Hit the Sedins. Hit them well.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I see they hopped on the Penguins bandwagon. Can't say I blame them as winning follows Kessel around.

I lol'd irl