Reminiscing with Flames first Captain...Brad Marsh

[transplant99]

Great work here by Scott Cruikshank in todays Athletic.

For not the first time, the middle-aged gentleman, big and bald and bespectacled, finds his way into the Stampede Corral.

Alone, he spends more than an hour walking the rink’s familiar concourse, basking in its idiosyncratic charm, appreciating its amazing range of one-of-a-kind photographs.

It’s something Brad Marsh likes to do every time he visits.

“Just looking at all the history on the walls there,” he said the other day. “It’s incredible what went on there. I’ve even told a few of the modern-day players, ‘Take your time. Walk through the old Corral.’

“It’s like going back — a snapshot — in time.”

“A lot of fond memories,” said the 62-year-old. “It’s really cool. I’m proud … because we really did establish the Flames in the city. They were just so thankful to have NHL hockey in the city. And to be captain of such a great franchise?”

“I must say, the move from Atlanta to Calgary was tremendous. It was so much fun. It was such a great feeling to be back in a hockey market. But, more specifically, back in a Canadian hockey market where we were the main dudes.”

On the beginning of the BOA

“We were saying, ‘What the hell is going on here?'” said Marsh. “But it didn’t take long to realize that this was going to be the team (to hate). Certainly, reading the papers leading up to the first game and then after the games, everything was Battle of Alberta. To be honest, I don’t even remember who won the first game.”

“We soon realized that that was the team to beat,” he said. “If you lost to NHL Franchise A, B or C? No problem. But don’t lose to the Edmonton Oilers.”

If Marsh still hadn’t been convinced of the bad blood, Pat Hughes helped to make the argument, cranking the defender at centre ice one night in Edmonton.

“He nailed me, man,” said Marsh. “I got up and I didn’t know where the heck I was or what was going on. You get to the bench and the concussion protocol back then was, Bearcat (Murray) asked what your name was and then he asked what your phone number was. If you could answer both questions, you were good to go. I passed. And I was back playing.”

https://theathletic.com/1752959/2020...rce=dailyemail

[btimbit]

“If you lost to NHL Franchise A, B or C? No problem. But don’t lose to the Edmonton Oilers.”

I miss this mentality. Treating big games like it's just another normal reg season game is so disappointing and always results in a let down

[dissentowner]

Didn't Brad Marsh play for like every team in the history of the NHL? Seems like it.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Didn't Brad Marsh play for like every team in the history of the NHL? Seems like it.

I had to look that up. He played for 6 teams. For me, I always think of him in either a Philly jersey or a Flames jersey. He played quite a few games in Toronto as well. Over 1000 games in the end. Very impressive career.

[Johnny Makarov]

His biggest achievement as a Flame was that we got Mel Bridgeman for him!

and not the crappy CP Mel Bridgeman!

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

His biggest achievement as a Flame was that we got Mel Bridgeman for him!

and not the crappy CP Mel Bridgeman!

Why did they trade Mel Bridgeman and Phil Russell for Steve Tambellini and Joel Quenneville?

Quenneville was traded in a minor deal two weeks later, so he wasn't the key to the trade. Tambellini was the coveted Devil the Flames traded for.

Tambellini had already played 4 seasons and averaged 42 points a season. Did they expect a big jump? He went on to average 27 points/season with the Flames for the next two seasons.

Mel Bridgeman was a leader. He was the captain of the powerful Flyers before winding up in Calgary. In Calgary, he had just finished two seasons of 75 and 50 points. He went on to have three 60+ point seasons for the Devils.

Phil Russell was a good defenseman whp played 190 more games in the NHL.

Why did the Flames make this trade? One of their poorer ones.

[JBR]

I clearly remember my dad getting tickets to see the Flames vs. Flyers in the Corral when I was a kid.

We saw the Flames lose a 9-8 (or maybe 8-7?.. it was a high scoring game) and Brad Marsh scored the winner.

We had good seats (what seats weren't good in the Corral?) and I can still see the joy in his face after scoring.

Going down to the cave to watch the game 7 vs. Philly in 1981. Marsh was a beast for the Flames.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by JBR

I clearly remember my dad getting tickets to see the Flames vs. Flyers in the Corral when I was a kid.

We saw the Flames lose a 9-8 (or maybe 8-7?.. it was a high scoring game) and Brad Marsh scored the winner.

We had good seats (what seats weren't good in the Corral?) and I can still see the joy in his face after scoring.

Going down to the cave to watch the game 7 vs. Philly in 1981. Marsh was a beast for the Flames.

Feb 27, 1982.

Flyers beat the Flames 9-8. 4 goal game for Kenta.

https://www.hockey-reference.com/box...202270CGY.html

[CaptainCrunch]

I loved Brad Marsh, he wasn't fast but he played like he gave a crap, he was the king of blocking shots with his face. He was all guts and heart.

[UnitedFlames]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I loved Brad Marsh, he wasn't fast but he played like he gave a crap, he was the king of blocking shots with his face. He was all guts and heart.

I remember the fans being quite hard on him. Even something simple, like... he had a habit of tapping his goalie's pads before the start of a period, and fans would scream down at him, "don't do it Brad!".

But yes, his whole heart was in it. When it was announced that the Flames were moving to Calgary, I believe the story goes that Marsh drove to Calgary with all his belongings in his car. He was the first player to arrive, and was a good sport to do a silly promo for the team at Market Mall.

[Reggie Dunlop]

The man they called "Mush." Because his skating was as if he played in it.

[Bingo]

loved the first year in Calgary when hockey cards came out without the logo ... guessing the "C" wasn't designed by print

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Bingo

loved the first year in Calgary when hockey cards came out without the logo ... guessing the "C" wasn't designed by print

I didn't know about the sans-logo hockey cards, but that summer Woolco sold jerseys with the Flaming C at an angle.