One decade ago

[Bindair Dundat]

I moved to Calgary in Feb. 88; one week into the Olympics.
Had been a "greaser" prior to re-locating south, but when I moved I knew it was for the long term...my "hockey loyalty" changed locations when I moved to Calgary.
In '89 I was 25, and I partied my ass off on Electric Ave.
As others have said, this was a different time and a different team. We had a very competitive team and getting into the playoffs was not really in question...still? The ultimate outcome was. This is what makes this a special memory for me. Anything can happen once you get to the "dance" after all.
For the next few years I was a rabid "TV" fan, catching every game I could and following the gradual decline. As things started to hit "bottom" (and affordability became more realistic to me), I bought two in the 300's, and found decent seats in the lower bowl each year...never really had any issues. If they happened to sell (rare) "my" seats, we just relocated up, down or sideways and it was all cool.
Did this for six years of futility...
I re-upped my STH in 2003, but changing circumstances (work) saw me once again relocating back north to "Greaserville".
This time, my hockey loyalty stayed in Calgary...and guess what happened?
2004. Ugh!
Sat in a bar in Edmonton (Jox on 97St at 156 Ave) as the (initially) "village idiot", decked out in my "colors" on hostile turf. As the magic evolved, the number of people at "my" table grew each night. Even in Edmonton, most buried the hatchet and got on the bandwagon. It was an amazing transformation in opinion/attitude and really? You would have to be there, to actually understand how profound the experience was for me...
By the end of it, my new "friends" were cursing Fraser and screaming at the injustice... and how "we" should have won.
In 2006, the "Greasers" pulled their own "Cinderella Story" off and yes...
I have to admit, I got on their "bandwagon" for the run.
Fair is fair.
I'm (first and foremost) a fan of the game.

I've been to a few up here with "my" team as the "opposition" but truth be told? They are very hot day of game tickets. I'll be damned if I'm wasting money on a STH in this neck of the woods...TRUTH.
Soilers are a basket-case.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

You & me, both.

Still have mine, still wear it, too.

[AC]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

You're right. It was game one on the forehand. weird how a decade has completely distorted my memory.

Either way, it was a beautiful goal. Wraps around the net and roofs it crossbar and in.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by greentree

Magical run is right. For me it beat 89 just for being there and cause it was so unexpected.
And the Red Mile...great mammaries I mean memories.

Yes, the Flames were underdogs the entire way through the 2004 run. The Flames 1989 team was 1st overall in the standings. The 1986 team wasn't a favourite but wasn't a huge underdog except against those Oilers although it was a surprise to see them make it to the finals.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Dion

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.

The rest of Canada got behind the Flames after round 2. The Habs and Leafs lost in the 2nd round, then the Flames became Canada's team.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Igster

Game 6 was worse for me. Just one goal...that's it. I knew in the back of my head that when they lost game 6 it was over. They wouldn't win game 7.

And for anyone feeling old reliving 2004...I was 22 during the 89 Cup run.

So that means you were 19 during the 86 cup run, that must have been a blast!

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Yeah. A decade.

Time to get over it. Next thing we know we're going to be looking back at this in 30 years and realize that suddenly we've become our worst fear - living in the past just like Oiler fans.

Does any other NHL fanbase celebrate losing in a Stanley Cup final more than we do? Good lord this is starting to get embarrassing.

Originally Posted by Reaper

How about the Canucks who celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1994 team that was beat by the Rangers?

Good one Reaper. The Canucks have even celebrated their 1982 team and they didn't even win a game in those finals. The stupid Leafs even celebrate their teams or players (Tie Domi) who haven't even made it to the finals.

[Tsawwassen]

The 1st round rocked of course with the Canucks. It was so nice to beat them in a game 7 again and take the lead in that stat 2-1. Round 2 was thrilling to see our Flames beat Detroit because Cujo was on that team, the ex Oiler. For me, round 3 was the best. It got rid of my heartbreak from 9 years earlier when the Sharks beat the Flames in OT of game 7. I hated hearing Ray Whitney's name over those years. That was 2 years in a row the Flames lost game 7 at home in OT. Everyday during the 2004 run was a great day for hockey.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

So that means you were 19 during the 86 cup run, that must have been a blast!

Yup...until they lost

I still hate Patrick Roy to this day.

[t-bag22]

onions!!!

[FlatLandFlamesFan]

old enough to remember '86 , '89
'04 always holds a special place , a rebirth of sorts for the flames
Scrappy,mean,kinda weird , so much heart on that team
and "The SHIFT"

[sun]

What's the story behind those shirts anyways?

Some idiot donated one to Value Village and I picked it up years ago. Never saw another till I found CP. Wear it from time to time still.

[TjRhythmic]

Originally Posted by sun

What's the story behind those shirts anyways?

Some idiot donated one to Value Village and I picked it up years ago. Never saw another till I found CP. Wear it from time to time still.

Can't remember what radio station it was, I think Vibe 98.5, but they did a song with a local hip hop artist and it put it in rotation.

The hook was something like. "You can find me in the dome/ Chillin with Jarome...."

[TjRhythmic]

Here you go

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

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.

End of the clip.

[Gaskal]

Nieminen looks awesome in that shirt.

[EVERLAST]

Ricci's UGLY ...CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

[sun]

Originally Posted by TjRhythmic

Can't remember what radio station it was, I think Vibe 98.5, but they did a song with a local hip hop artist and it put it in rotation.

The hook was something like. "You can find me in the dome/ Chillin with Jarome...."

Oh I know about the song. Just not sure who was selling the shirts.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by sun

Oh I know about the song. Just not sure who was selling the shirts.

Looks like a few hundred were printed in 2004; KidSport sold them to the public in 2009 for $25 each...

http://www.canada.com/story_print.ht...7b91b5&sponsor=

[MissTeeks]

Ten years ago today: