One decade ago

[Backlund11]

was only in 3rd grade, but damn this strikes a cord...

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Backlund11

was only in 3rd grade, but damn this strikes a cord...

Ok, now I know what you 89'ers feel...ugh.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I'm awesome. Know what I don't do? Keep talking about a great party that ended 10 years ago.

Yet here you are, talking about it.

[dying4acup]

I was living in Vancouver, but working onboard cruise ships at the time. The ship I was working on (largest ship in the world at that time) hap over 1000crew, and 90+ Canadians working onboard (mostly from Vancouver).

My boss and one of my best friends were Canuck fans and had bets to were flames jerseys in the ships parade if the flames beat the Canucks. VICTORY! After game one, the Canucks fans were sooooo cocky (sound familiar). But I said "if kipper let in 5goals in game 1, I'm quite sure he will destroy u for it"!

During game 7 we were out at sea, and my Canuck fan friend worked in the IT department hooked up an illegal radio stream, so we could listen to the overtime (almost) live. I remember seeing the score flash on espn, just before the audio of gelinas scoring, then "YEEAAAAH BAAABBBBYYYY"!!!! Then a lot of coronas!

Game 6 vs Detroit was in Freeport Bahamas. It was a Chilean coworker from Montreal s birthday. He was so mad that I had abandoned everyone at the bar because the Bahamas gets CBC and the bar was showing the game! He asked when the game was over, and I said "when someone scores". He asked when was the last time somebody scored, and I said "2days ago!"
I remember when Gelinas scored! I kissed every girl in the bar that night. Crown royal was one hell of a drug!

Game 6 vs Sharks was at espn zone in Times Square! Until after the 2nd period when the bar closed! Total BS btw.

Found another bar for the third period(can't remember the name) then hit a strip bar called LACE and blew hundreds till 6am when I had to get back on the ship for work! Had the beg the doorman to let me in wearing a flames jersey. He feared it was gang related !

[dying4acup]

Double post.

[Loyal and True]

My memories of Game 1 vs Vancouver:

I lived by Melrose and frequently watched road games there on tv, so definitely wanted to watch game one there. It was a weeknight but no seats in the lounge. Standing room only, but it wasn't a lineup to get in or anything.

All these grown men standing around and we're all giddy for playoff hockey with our home team involved for first time in forever. I didn't know anybody there that day, but by puckdrop about six of us guys had bonded like brothers. "All we need to do is steal 1 game on the road, boys" or "Kipper could steal a game and Canucks will be doubting themselves". We were all talking how we loved this guy (Donovan) or that guy (Simon) and that anything could happen with Kipper and Iggy on our side...

I think we lost game one 5-3, but we were still so pumped. Every Flames goal we were smiling, jumping and hugging each other. "Doesn't matter if its game 1 or 2, just steal one game on the road..."

Anyways, it was obvious that all the testosterone was having some crazy effect on the girls, even in game one loss on a weeknight. They were curling up to us like kittens. I meet cute little blondie, an elementary school teacher, maybe 25 and one of her best girlfriends is our server. "No kidding?!"

After the game, she tells me she lives a few minutes away, she has to teach tomorrow morning and asks me to walk her home. I swear to God, I was honestly torn about leaving my new drinking buddies because we were just getting started raving about how much we love our hockey team. On our way out, I half joked about coming back to see them, and they're like "no way man, you're done."

We get to her place and pretty soon I'm thinking about two things:

1. I don't really like these lower back tattoos that girls wear these days, and
2. As soon as we're done here, I wanna get back to the bar and talk hockey with the boys

Maybe 90 minutes later (nasty) I am back at Melrose and the boys are d-runk. I walk up and sit down and it was like their brother came back from the war. We almost had tears in our eyes! The girlfriend who was the server gave me disgusted looks the rest of the night. I thinked she called her friend who was not impressed that I went back there. I could only shrug and smile. "I couldn't leave my new brothers behind, we're down 1-0 in the series!!"

Sorry to bore you with past memories, but apparently some of you young guys were in elementary/jr high, and you should know that some of your teachers were wild!

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Loyal and True

My memories of Game 1 vs Vancouver:

I lived by Melrose and frequently watched road games there on tv, so definitely wanted to watch game one there. It was a weeknight but no seats in the lounge. Standing room only, but it wasn't a lineup to get in or anything.

All these grown men standing around and we're all giddy for playoff hockey with our home team involved for first time in forever. I didn't know anybody there that day, but by puckdrop about six of us guys had bonded like brothers. "All we need to do is steal 1 game on the road, boys" or "Kipper could steal a game and Canucks will be doubting themselves". We were all talking how we loved this guy (Donovan) or that guy (Simon) and that anything could happen with Kipper and Iggy on our side...

I think we lost game one 5-3, but we were still so pumped. Every Flames goal we were smiling, jumping and hugging each other. "Doesn't matter if its game 1 or 2, just steal one game on the road..."

Anyways, it was obvious that all the testosterone was having some crazy effect on the girls, even in game one loss on a weeknight. They were curling up to us like kittens. I meet cute little blondie, an elementary school teacher, maybe 25 and one of her best girlfriends is our server. "No kidding?!"

After the game, she tells me she lives a few minutes away, she has to teach tomorrow morning and asks me to walk her home. I swear to God, I was honestly torn about leaving my new drinking buddies because we were just getting started raving about how much we love our hockey team. On our way out, I half joked about coming back to see them, and they're like "no way man, you're done."

We get to her place and pretty soon I'm thinking about two things:

1. I don't really like these lower back tattoos that girls wear these days, and
2. As soon as we're done here, I wanna get back to the bar and talk hockey with the boys

Maybe 90 minutes later (nasty) I am back at Melrose and the boys are d-runk. I walk up and sit down and it was like their brother came back from the war. We almost had tears in our eyes! The girlfriend who was the server gave me disgusted looks the rest of the night. I thinked she called her friend who was not impressed that I went back there. I could only shrug and smile. "I couldn't leave my new brothers behind, we're down 1-0 in the series!!"

Sorry to bore you with past memories, but apparently some of you young guys were in elementary/jr high, and you should know that some of your teachers were wild!

By any chance, was her name Mel?

[Loyal and True]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

By any chance, was her name Mel?

If that is your wife, oh man I'm sorry.

No I don't remember the name from 10 years ago. Funny how many other details you can remember while forgetting everyone's names.

EDIT- I am a bad person

[puckluck2]

I don't know...weren't we making fun of the Canucks for honoring their run? As long as it's only on fan forums I guess that's fine but I never want to see the flames throw a ceremony like the Canucks did. That was sad.

[Loyal and True]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I don't know...weren't we making fun of the Canucks for honoring their run? As long as it's only on fan forums I guess that's fine but I never want to see the flames throw a ceremony like the Canucks did. That was sad.

I was 19 years old studying in Vancouver in 94 during their run and the city was nothing compared to Calgary in 2004.

The Red Mile was insane and should be remembered fondly.

Besides Peter Maher will tell you that the puck was in and the Flames should have won Game 6 that Saturday night.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I opened this thread expecting to read something about the '89 team, then I realize that 2004 is actually a decade ago. Now I feel sad

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Loyal and True

If that is your wife, oh man I'm sorry.

No I don't remember the name from 10 years ago. Funny how many other details you can remember while forgetting everyone's names.

EDIT- I am a bad person

Naw man. Just a school teacher in Calgary I know. Lol, it's all good!

[renny]

That year was something really special for me. I will never forget what happened, earlier on in the year I had lost my best friend to an unfortunate accident and I didn't know how to deal with it being a teen. The Flames run was something magical and it gave me an outlet. It gave me a place to yell and scream at the top of my lungs whenever they scored. Most importantly it gave me a sense of belonging, that I was a part of something amazing. I never forgot about my best friend, but I always imagined that he was there cheering alongside me. I was able to find a little bit of peace and it helped me in my healing process.

Despite not winning it all, I am forever grateful for what the Flames did that year.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by browna

I recall distinctly clinching vs Phoenix in late March (Leopold with the winner) and Bingo, loooob and I and a few others had gone to the game in our various seats, but we all met up at a pub after the game to celebrate. Debate started as to who we wanted the Flames to play in round 1,as there was still a couple Flames games and games for teams at the top to still sorting themselves out for positioning.

I was there too! I honestly believe that night was the night the Red Mile started. Everyone was in a jubilant mood and unlike most game nights many people decided to go for a drink along 17th after the game instead of straight home. Naturally there was a lot of rejoicing and cars passing by would honk and wave their flags. That spirit persisted for the rest of the regular season each time the Flames won and 17th just became the place to go after the game. By the time the playoffs started 17th was already becoming the place to be after a win.

Those were such great times, I didn't know it at the time but they would be some of last months I spent living permanently in Calgary having been born and raised there for 23 years. In the fall I would be off to law school and as fate would have it I've never lived in Calgary since (or been a Flames ticket holder) save for a couple of months. But that Cup run was the best time I've ever had in my hometown and I'm glad I ended my youth there with such a bang.

Originally Posted by dying4acup

By any chance, was her name Mel?

Mel Rose, perhaps?

[metroneck]

That was the year I moved to Vancouver. As awesome as it was to stand alone in my Flames jersey in a room full of smug Canucks fans at the end of rnd 1 gm 7, it sucked missing out on the Red Mile and the Braddledome.

I did make it to game 3 vs SJ though. When the Flames came on the ice, that was the most amazing thing ever. I've been to stadiums/ concerts all over North America, and nothing even cme close to the noise.

I think I was most proud of my hometown's showing on the Red Mile. Nowhere have so many people partied in public for so long, without it going full dirtbag.

[DiracSpike]

Anyone else too young to make it to 17th that year? I completely missed out on Red Mile boobs. Besides Martin ****ing St Louis scoring that game 6 winner that's what irks me the most to this day.

[manwiches]

Game 6 Detroit. Best game I've ever watched as a Flames fan. I was at Bottlescrew Bills, and I remember the dead silence when Gelinas was in front of the wide open net with the puck, it going in, and I swear you could hear a pin drop in that half a second when it went in. Everybody was in complete disbelief, and then the announcer screams and so does the whole damned bar. I think I cried that night in joy and was jumping on the bar benches, and hugging anyone that walked past. That was also my first experience with the Red Mile after too, and that was pandemonium.

That, and the Montador overtime goal. His sheer elation and excitement at scoring was epic.

What a great run

[Resolute 14]

So many cool memories from that run.

I'm not sure there will ever be a crowd as purely amped as we were for game 3 against Vancouver. The god-damned zamboni driver got a huge cheer when he came out to resurface the ice before warmup. Deafening when the team came out, especially for the game.

And hilariously, the Flames weren't sure that they should fix up and reopen the east 300s because they weren't sure of demand. It had been that long. The other funny (in retrospect) mistake was with the new LED ribbon that was just installed prior to those playoffs. After Vancouver's first goal, a Coke add came up with banner text along the lines of McDonald's "I'm loving it" slogan. They fixed that right away.

I remain convinced that Chris Clark's goal to tie the sixth game at 4 was the single loudest moment in the Dome. Kind of a shame we couldn't finish it off, but Iggy's game 7 and Jovomonkey's depressed look in the penalty box at the end was worth it. Canuck fans weren't half the a-holes then that they are now either.

Niemenen being a tool in the Detroit series as as memorable as his goal linked above in the vid. Hitler's befuddled look behind the Detroit bench. Hatcher's cheapshot that ruined Lombardi's career. To this day, I think the only reason the league even suspended him was because we eliminated Detroit. They would have let him play game 7. Lynn Loins' storied NHL career. Game 6 was the best game I've ever seen. Amazing outpouring of emotion when Gelinas finally scored. Scott Oake trying to interview Gelinas afterward, and Marty giving random answers because he couldn't hear the guy standing literally one foot away.

Mike Commodore's hair. Steve Montador scoring the GWG in game 1 vs. the Sharks - and literally running on his skates to embrace Iggy. The idiots in San Jose with the monkey Iginla sign. Darryl Sutter's road tie in game 6. Ricci;s Ugly. Korolyuk hot dogging on an empty net goal, and every Flame on the ice going after him for it. As much as I hate touch icing, watching the Flames beat out two icing plays late in the third period of that deciding game. Karma biting Korolyuk in the ass as he sent the puck all the way down from behind our net into his own. It was the biggest goal of Robyn Regehr's life.

Kicking ass in game 1 of the finals. The Fight. Many people are still mad about the lack of a video review in game six, but it was the 1-0 loss in game 4 that I remain choked about. Kerry Fraser chose to make himself a star and gave Calgary the only penalty in a one-on-one scrum that created a two minute 5-on-3. That was the same game that Niemenen boarded Lecavalier, and the Lighting player faked his death to draw the major. (Right call anyway, but Vinny played it up). Showering the referees with garbage after. I have never seen such a level of hatred and anger in the eyes of fans as I did leaving the dome that day. It was not without good reason that it wasn't until sometime in 2006 before the league assigned Fraser to do another game in Calgary. They pulled him from his game six assignment too. Watching game 5 at the dome on all the screens. The Shift. Oleg Saprykin's greatest moment. High-fiving cops on the Red Mile.

[Resolute 14]

Before the playoffs started, I made an offhand joke to a buddy of mine in Florida about going to Tampa for a game if both our teams reached the final. That joke cost me $1600. And for as much as people slag the attendance in Tampa, I was on ticketmaster literally ten minutes after the Lightning eliminated Philly. Games one and two were gone. I bought game seven tix, not expecting to need them. Oops again. The trip to Florida is largely a blur. Our plane was supposed to go Phoenix then Tampa, but had mechanical problems. America West Airlines knew they had a real problem with 100 anxious Flames fans. They put us on any flight they could get. I ended up with a group that took a redeye to Toronto, then flew to Orlando. Landing in Toronto was fun. We were all decked out in our jerseys. Half the people in YYZ were cheering and chanting 'Go Flames Go'. The other half just shook their heads in disbelief that we made it before their Leafs did.

Waiting for our flight out of Calgary was fun too. It was near midnight, and we happened to be sitting near some elderly ladies who were returning to the American south from a meeting of the female equivalent of the Freemasons. They were bewildered by our red uniforms. We tried to explain to them what we were doing, but they couldn't wrap their minds around the idea of fans flying across the continent to watch a hockey game. I think they decided we were the players because it made more sense to them.

AWA also offered to pay for a rental car for each passenger to drive from Orlando to Tampa. Eight of us convinced AWA to let us rent a limo. We all had those car flags that had just become popular and decked it out like it was a presidential vehicle. People on the interstate were bloody confused, and I am quite sure that more than one was wondering what country our flag represented. One guy though, his car decked out in Lightning paraphanalia, knew and followed us for a while, shaking his head. There was a bar beside the SPTF called Newks. Flames fans completely overran it. The owner took some heat from the locals for allowing that to happen, and unfortunately, it closed because of the lockout.

I barely remember game seven. Both because we lost, and because I had been up nearly 48-hours straight at that point (I can't sleep on planes). I do remember telling my buddy that if it wasn't game 7 of the finals, it would have been a terrible game. Both teams were exhausted. The end of the game was surreal.There were 23,000 people in that building. 21,000 in white Lightning jersey or t-shirts (giveaways), and a couple thousand of us dotting the place in our red jerseys. We were all frozen like statues as the Tampa fans around us went wild. Easily the worst single moment I've experienced as a sports fan. Had a ton of Tampa fans come up, shake hands and talk about how amazing we were as fans though. Losing sucked, but I've always found it hard to be bitter towards the Lightning. I am still pissed at myself for not getting a couple copies of the St. Pete Times the next morning, but I was too tired to think straight for about a day. They accidentally printed their "Lightning gave good effort, but Flames won the Cup" story.

Ended up going to their Stanley Cup parade. IIRC, about 30,000 people on the route and another 20k in the arena. Small, but still a decent showing of support. Funny aside to that game 7: When I went to get a pop, they wouldn't give me a lid for my cup. When I asked why, I was told in complete seriousness: "Because a terrorist could use it to slit your throat." This was three years after 9/11, and Americans were still that scared. Went to a Devil Rays game as well, and likewise didn't get a lid. I did get to heckle and boo Barry Bonds though.

[timbit]

Was also at game seven with my daughter.

Tough result but great run.