Calgary Flames season leaves Calgary residents feeling proud
A ‘Cinderella Story’ season has ignited flames fans with excitement for the future and left them ready to see what kind of magic the flames will provide next season
Kari Pedersen
Publishing Editor
Calgary Flames fans celebrate on the Red Mile after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Photo courtesy: flickr / Segei Scurfield
Much to the dismay of Calgary Flames fans everywhere, on May 10 the little team that could was knocked out of the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games against the Anaheim Ducks. Nothing Calgary fans are ashamed of, with the sense of pride in their team taking over as they look back on a remarkable season.
Don Verran, avid flames and hockey fan is only looking at this season as the beginning of exciting times for his team.
“I know that they can only get better, this is a young team who is sure to improve as time goes on, plus they were plagued by some pretty significant injuries, and still beat the Canucks.”
Verran is right in his sentiment, with an average age on the team being 26. The youngest player, and quite possibly the shining star of the playoffs, Sam Bennet, is only 18. There is nothing but growth ahead for this team. Of course the injury Verran refers to is that of the flames captain Mark Giordano, a defensive force to be reckoned with who was out of the flames line-up since March with a torn biceps.
Perhaps the biggest asset to the team that never quits is behind the bench found in coach Bob Hartley, a nominee for the Jack Adams coach of the year award. Hartley has brought his team a long way over the past couple of seasons, never allowing them to be defeated
While fans gathered with unwavering support in the Saddledome and on the Red Mile there was no shortage of flames support around the city.
“It was so great seeing the city’s atmosphere and how all the fans came together. Whether it was going to the games or going to the red mile the atmosphere was ignited,” says flames fan Manat Natt.
The only negative that comes from this experience is that our loyal sports supporter, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, will have to don an Anaheim Ducks jersey and sing his own version of ‘let it go’ from the Frozen soundtrack at an upcoming council meeting – the result of a bet between mayors gone wrong.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs continue as the Anaheim Ducks take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference finals.
