A playoff run for the ages

Calgary Flames 2004

Life at thirty seems like a lifetime ago.  I owned a nice home in Calgary, had a successful business and many good friends.  Each summer I would jump on my motorcycle and ride to BC.  It is interesting to look back on those times and reflect on the person I was and who I would become.  A blur is how it feels.  I had season tickets to the Calgary Stampeders and then bought Flames tickets when they did a Save our Flames campaign, it is hard to believe that they did not sell out their building every night back in the early 2000’s.

Then came the spring of my greatest thrill ride and one of my biggest disappointments.  It’s funny how life can revolve around sports.  The Calgary Flames were not supposed to go very far in the playoffs that spring.  When I bought the playoff tickets I thought I would be pretty happy if I got to see three home games.  I didn’t know I would be in for a ride that would sweep the city and the country along with it.  I will never forget the excitement and energy in Melrose café on 17 ave the night of game seven against the Canucks.  The bar was packed with red wearing rowdies and the whole avenue seemed alive with the possibility we could advance past round one of the Stanley cup playoffs.  The game itself is a flash; yet overtime inched along. With a roar, the bar, the street, the city erupted as Martin Gelinas scored to win the game.  The unbridled celebration on 17 ave that night was a joy to behold.

Round two swept up the city in Flames fever as we took on the number one team in the NHL that year; the Detroit Red-wings.  A stunning upset in six games; the Flames would go on to win again, the overtime winning goal scored once more by Martin Gelinas.  Round three was against the San Jose Sharks and the Flames were underdogs again.   The tide of excitement was sweeping through the city and the nation as the possibility of a Canadian team in the finals was bringing the country together .

From my perch, high above the ice in the second tier, round three vs San Jose was a thrill not to be repeated.  The adrenaline, the excitement in the arena was off the charts and the huge crowds on 17 ave were like the largest love-in anywhere.   Even reliving it now I get a chill in my spine.  Game six was at home and we had a chance to clinch the series and go on to the Stanley Cup Finals.  There are some moments in my life I can see in my mind clearly, I can feel the emotions and draw upon them.  The last minute of game six vs San Jose is one such moment for me.  As the clock ticked down I can still hear the kid in the row in front of me; “ we’re gonna win!” The Saddledome erupted like never before; 10, 9, 8, 7…

Calgary Flames were going to the Stanley Cup.  Nothing would stop the Flames from the ultimate goal. Except Kerry Fraser.  After the celebrations and positive energy of round three the red mile was an amazing place to be.  Fans high-fiving cops, strangers hugging and women dancing on the shoulders of men, revealing more than I am sure their mothers would have wanted.  It was heady days, the city was alive and I was at my peak.  How could we not win the Stanley cup after 25 years of disappointments?

The officiating in much of the playoffs was suspect and our coach Daryl Sutter made no secret of his frustration and suspicion that the league did not want a Canadian champion, especially Calgary. After Game four our coach called out Kerry Fraser for some truly bad officiating and some possible bias.  Game six was at home and we had the series lead, the speed of the game was intoxicating and we were along for the ride of our lives.  Rum was flowing and I barely remember much of the game, in the second intermission I spoke to a friend in Detroit on the phone.  “It was in” he said, the suspect goal by Martin Gelinas was across the line and they were talking about it on the American TV. Not much was being said in the rink or on the Canadian feed.  I think if we knew then that the goal was in the fans may have rioted.  Overtime again and the rink was ready to erupt, we were on the edge of our seats and the anticipation of Calgary winning the Stanley cup was bursting at the seams.  I can only imagine the party that would have happened if the Flames had scored the winner in OT that night.  Unfortunately, all I can do is imagine.

Game 7 in Tampa Bay.  I knew people that were buying last minute flights to Tampa to go see the Flames win the cup.  I am still happy I never spent the money only to fly home in what would have been a funeral like setting.  Jerome Iginla was the leader of the Flames that year and he dragged that team with him all the way to the final seconds of Game seven.  In the end Kerry Fraser and Tampa Bay would not let the happy ending occur.  Looking back it was an amazing run and Jerome Iginla was incredible that playoff.  My disappointment only a shadow compared to what Jerome and the rest of the team must have felt.

The hang-over from that playoff run lasted weeks and it was time to move on and get back to reality.  There was never to be a repeat of that wondrous spring with the NHL locking out the players and some key pieces saying goodbye. The Flames of 2004 will always wonder what if… Looking back now the memories and excitement outweigh the agony and loss felt at the end and I wouldn’t trade the spring of 2004 for anything; almost…

Now with sports shut down, no concerts and the world in lock down the memories of Flames and the Stampeders are what will get me by.   The Stampeders’ 1992 Grey Cup Victory was an amazing time, as was 1998, 2001 and 2008. I love the Stamps and celebrated along with them but the Flames run in 2004 will never be repeated.  For two months the city of Calgary connected and joined together in excitement and joy only to have it end in disappointment.  Despite the loss we celebrated the team with thirty thousand of our closest friends in Olympic Plaza.  Thirty thousand… I hope we can gather again.