Thanks for the Memories – A Decade in Review (II)

Now that the decade of the “naughts” has reached its zenith, I thought it would be a compelling chore to recap the last ten years in the history of the Calgary Flames franchise with some thought-provoking, memory-stirring lists. Today, we’ll look back at the Top Ten moments from 1999-2000 to 2009-10.

10) Tongue-Tied – Harvey the Hound gets silenced – January 20, 2003
“Once we got the tongue out of his mouth, we started to turn things around a little bit. If we scored that last goal to tie it, I was going looking for Harvey the Hound.” – Craig MacTavish

A fan favorite and a rascal with a mischievous glint in his eye, Harvey the Hound has been a fixture at Calgary Flame home games since February 16, 1984. Although he’s mostly a mute mutt, his wagging tongue made him an internationally known critter during a game against inter-provincial rival the Edmonton Oilers. With the Flames enjoying a 4-0 advantage, Harvey’s antics raised the ire of Oiler bench boss Craig MacTavish, who reached up and tugged and tore Harvey’s crimson-colored appendage from the mascot’s mouth and tossed it into the crowd.

9) Return of the Native – Theo Fleury attempts comeback at age 41 – September 17, 2009
“I said in the beginning that no matter what the outcome, this would be a success story. I intend to take the next few days to review this experience and make decisions with my family regarding next steps in my life.” – Theo Fleury

Many scoffed, some laughed and most shook their heads when Theo Fleury announced he was attempting a NHL comeback with the Flames at the age 41. The former face of the Flames, Fleury was bounced from the game in 2003 for a series of on and off the ice indiscretions that challenged his both his ability to survive and play professional hockey. Six years later, sober but not subdued, he suited up for Calgary in three exhibition games and proved that although the legs were loose, the heart was strong. He scored a shootout winner and recorded three points in his brief comeback before hanging up the blades for good.

At Home in the Hall – Al MacInnis Elected to Hockey Hall of Fame – November 9, 2007
“How do you react to the highest honor a league can award you? Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder, ‘jeez, are they sure they’re making the right decision?’” – Al MacInnis

Al MacInnis translated his booming slapshot and ability to clear the slot of crease-crashing creeps into a legendary career that made the Inverness, Nova Scotia native the first home grown member of the Calgary Flames to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Although he completed his career as a member of the St. Louis Blues, MacInnis established himself as an All-Star defenseman patrolling the blueline wearing the Flaming “C”.

7) Gone but not Forgotten – Doc Seaman passes away – January 11, 2009
“People should know that the Flames were Doc’s initiative and Doc’s idea. There would have been no Flames in Calgary were it not for Doc. Those who care about our team and the game owe him a debt of gratitude.” – Fellow Flames owner Harley Hotchkiss

Many Calgary Flames fans may not even have recognized the name, but Daryl Kenneth “Doc” Seaman was well known and deeply loved within the Calgary community. A philanthropist, oilman, rancher and passionate hockey fan, Seaman was one of the original group of six Calgary businessmen who bought and moved the NHL’s Atlanta Flames hockey team to Calgary in 1980. At the time of his death, he was one of only three remaining members of that original group.

6) Bolstering the Blueline – Flames trade for Jay Bouwmeester – June 27, 2009
“It just got to the point where I was totally comfortable with things here. I liked the situation. I can’t really explain it. It’s just one of those things. You just kind of know.” – Jay Bouwmeester

Up until the moment it was announced, it had been a fairly pedestrian draft. There were no major moves being made, the players were being selected as predicted and the phones were silent. Darryl Sutter, a stoic individual who won’t use two words when one will suffice, shook the proceedings to life when he announced he had acquired the rights to Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester for Jordan Leopold and a 3rd round draft pick. It was a brash and bold move by Sutter. Bouwmeester was expected to be the plum of the free agent pudding and Sutter had only a few hours to reel in the big fish. The Flames GM pulled it off and signed the hulking rearguard to a five-year, $33 million deal.

5) Face of the Franchise – Jarome Iginla signs contract extension – July 5, 2007
“The organization is first class, and the owners treat us so well and they’re committed to winning. The grass isn’t always greener.” – Jarome Iginla

The captain’s captain and the face of the Flames franchise, Jarome Iginla was rewarded for eleven years of tenacity, leadership, commitment and community service when he signed a five-year, #35 million contract extension, virtually assuring that he would end his career wearing the Flaming “C”. A two-time winner of the Richard Trophy and the only Flame to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer, Iginla’s signing insured fans that the club was committed to winning.

4) All in the Family – Darryl Sutter named Flames general manger – April 11, 2003
“Reputation is fine. But what I think is important is that they understand the groundwork that you want to accomplish.” – Darryl Sutter

Only four months after being named as the 14th coach in Flames history, Darryl Sutter added the general managers portfolio to his resume, succeeding Craig Button, who had held the title since the 2000-01 season. Sutter made an immediate impact as the team’s coach and gm, drafting Dion Phaneuf in the first round of the annual entry draft and then leading the club into the Stanley Cup finals for the third time in franchise history. The second Sutter to serve as bench boss – Brian Sutter served as coach from 1997-98 to 1999-2000, Sutter later hired brother Brent as coach following the 2008-09 season.

3) A Fine Finnish – Flames trade for Miikka Kiprusoff – November 16, 2003
“We made a list of seven or eight guys and I didn’t like five or six of them, so I made my own list and there were two. One was making about eight times more than (Kiprusoff), so that narrowed it down to one. That’s the truth.” – Flames GM Darryl Sutter

At the time, it was a relatively low key, small grade trade that barely dented the sports sections in newspapers around the NHL circuit. On November 16, 2003, the Flames traded their second round pick in the 2003 NHL draft to San Jose – the Sharks selected Matthew Carle – for a backup goaltender from Finland named Miikka Kiprusoff, who had managed to win only five games in 22 starts for the Sharks in 2002-03. Kiprusoff was a definitely a diamond in the rough who shone brightly in the Calgary crease and helped guide the club into the Stanley Cup finals in 2003-04 and has averaged over 40 wins a season since arriving in Calgary.

2) Painting a “C” of Red – Flames reach Stanley Cup Finals – May 19, 2004
“Hopefully there’s one more division champ we can beat. That would be the ultimate.” – Chris Clark

After seven years of sitting on the sidelines in the Spring, the Flames mounted an unlikely and highly spirited march through the NHL playoffs in 2004, defeating Vancouver, Detroit and San Jose to reach the Stanley Cup finals for the third time in franchise history. Calgary became the first Canadian-based franchise to reach the championship final when they dispatched the San Jose Sharks in six games, thanks to the third series-winning goal of the post-season by Martin Gelinas. Unfortunately, there wasn’t another magic moment in store as the Flames fell to the upstart Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.

1) The Cream Rises to the Top – Jarome Iginla becomes Flames franchise leader – March 1, 2009
“I remember when Theo got (the record) — we were very excited for him. Things go by fast. I wasn’t thinking, ‘maybe one day ‘. It just kind of happened.” – Jarome Iginla

It’s a testament to the character and class of the Flames captain that on the evening he became the all-time leading scorer in franchise history, he wasn’t concerned about records or milestones. He was, however, concerned about what went wrong in the Flames 7-5 loss to Tampa Bay, a lesser opponent who shouldn’t have been able to construct such a victory. Though he would later enjoy the moment, at the time Iginla’s five-point night, 400th goal and 831st career point paled in comparison to a late season loss.

Many thanks to Peter for the Brett Sutter correction in Decade I