The Calgary Flames, established in 1972, are a professional ice hockey team that are current members of the Western Conference, Northwest Division of the NHL. Now located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where Scotiabank Saddledome is their home ice, the Flames originally got their start in the U.S. based out of Atlanta. In 1980 the Flames moved to Calgary and, upon arrival, were automatically embraced by their new fan base. While their local Calgary Cowboys rival were struggling to sell season tickets, Calgary Flames tickets sold at a pace of 10,000 full- and half-season packages combined in a 7,000 seat arena. In their initial season at their new home, the Flames qualified for the playoffs with a 39–27–14 record.
The Calgary Flames played hard, and the on-ice action during their regular seasons was consistently top-notch. Regardless, the hockey team had a hard go at taking that success into the playoffs and often fell to their provincial rivals the Edmonton Oilers. Then in 1989, after laying waste to the Los Angeles Kings in four straight defeats, the Flames earned the Stanley Cup Finals win. Over the next decade and into the 2000s, the Flames continued their high level of seasonal play, though they had playoff droughts lasting up to seven years at times. As the team entrenched itself their rivalries with divisional foes the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild deepened. Since the commencement of their NHL career the Flames have won a several conference and several division championships as well as Presidents' Trophies. |
