Flames coach Gulutzan: We think we could be a 100-point club
Source: Sportsnet
Date: 2017-08-19
The Calgary Flames seem to have a knack for Cinderella stories. First came the club’s unlikely 2015 playoff run, wherein the Flames snuck into the dance and tip-toed into the second round. Then there was last season’s debacle – a brutal start that saw the Flames win just five of their first 16 tilts, only to finish the season with a ticket to the post-season and a dominant string of 10 straight wins in the campaign’s final months. Now the oft-doubted squad faces a familiar situation: an approaching season of raised expectations and questions of whether their success was borne of luck or skill. According to head coach Glen Gulutzan, it might be a bit of both. “We weren’t a 5-10-1 team to start last year, and we weren’t a 16-5 team to end,” Gulutzan told
Continue ReadingNon-profit suing CBC for defamation over series of articles
Source: Calgary Herald
Date: 2017-08-19
A non-profit preventive medicine company founded by Calgary Flames co-owner Allan Markin is suing the CBC for what it claims is a series of defamatory articles. Pure North S’Energy Foundation is seeking $6 million in damages from the national broadcaster and two of its reporters, Charles Rusnell and Jennie Russell. In its statement of claim, filed in Calgary Court of Queen’s Bench, True North says it has repeatedly asked the CBC to remove from the Internet what it says are inaccurate articles. “Pure North’s reputation and work has been severely damaged as the result of an unrelenting broadcast campaign by the CBC and the reporters through various media which has had the result of damage to Pure North by spreading disinformation and mistruths about Pure North’s operation and practices,” it states “Pure North has repeatedly requested that the CBC change its reporting to publicize accurate facts, and Pure North has supported its request with m
Continue ReadingQ&A: Flames coach Glen Gulutzan excited by solid defence, maturing forwards
Source: Calgary Herald
Date: 2017-08-18
After some time to relax, re-energize and reel in fish at his cabin in Saskatchewan, Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan will be back in his office at the Saddledome next week. The Flames report for main camp in mid-September. Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson caught up with Gulutzan as he enjoyed the final few days of his summer vacation for a Q&A about the upcoming season … Wes Gilbertson: What’s this time of year like for a coach, knowing another season is just around the corner? Glen Gulutzan: “Your mind is starting to shift gears a little bit — to getting back to the office — and you’re starting to get excited. I know I am, and I’ve talked to a few of the players in the last couple of days and I know they are too. I think everybody is excited to get back and get going. But I
Continue ReadingQ&A with Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan
Source: The Calgary Sun
Date: 2017-08-18
After some time to relax, re-energize and reel in fish at his cabin in Saskatchewan, Calgary Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan will be back in his office at the Saddledome next week.
Continue ReadingFlames Top 25 Under 25: #11 - Andrew Mangiapane
Source: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Date: 2017-08-18
Mangiapane might be small, but his offence isn’t. #11: Andrew Mangiapane Position: F Age: 21 Team: Stockton Heat Drafted: 2015 #166 (Round 6) Last Year Rank: #12 Andrew Mangiapane comes in at #14 this year and with good reason. The young Ontario product comes chuck full of offensive talent and he appears to be trending upwards. In his first season with the Stockton Heat Mangiapane collected 41 points (20G 21A) in 66 games in the AHL. The Flames snagged the goal scoring forward in the sixth round, which isn’t bad seeing he was considered a 4th or 5th round pick at one point. Prior to his impressive AHL season, Mangiapane put up back to back 100+ point seasons with the Barre Colts, two more indicators of his potential scoring ability. Andrew Mangiapane is j
Continue ReadingFlames Top 25 Under 25 - #12 Spencer Foo
Source: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Date: 2017-08-17
Can Foo fight his way into the line up? #12 Spencer Foo Position: RW Age: 23 Team: Calgary Flames/Stockton Heat (Previously Union College, NCAA) Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent on July 1st, 2017 Spencer Foo was one of the most sought after NCAA free agents this year and after he reportedly narrowed down his choices to the Flames, Oilers, Red Wings and Golden Knights, he did the right thing and chose to sign with the Calgary Flames. The undrafted winger had an excellent final year in the NCAA, but can he find a way to jump right into the NHL? Foo has taken a longer path to the professional ranks than most other prospects. He played an extra season in the AJHL, before playing 3 seasons in the NCAA. He is now 23 and is just about to start his first pro season, so he canno
Continue ReadingIs Mike Smith the Answer?
Source: The Hockey Writers
Date: 2017-08-17
This offseason the Calgary Flames knew that they needed to find goaltending stability. It was their achilles heel last year and the reason behind their downfall. For the Flames to have playoff success, they need to be far better in that department. Heading into last season, the Flames had this exact problem. At the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, they thought they found their answer by acquiring Brian Elliott from the St. Louis Blues. Elliott was coming off a strong season where he had a respectable .930 save percentage.
Continue ReadingCalgary Flames Goalie Carousel
Source: The Hockey Writers
Date: 2017-08-16
Mikka Kiprusoff’s nine-year stint as the best goalie in Calgary Flames history ended on April 23, 2013, a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators. This prosaic bookend to his 12-year NHL career was his 14th loss of the 2012-2013 season; versus eight wins. He had posted his lowest save percentage (.822) since the 2002-2003 season – where he appeared in only 22 games for the San Jose Sharks – and the highest GAA (3.44) of his career. It was time to step down. King Kiprusoff Reigns Kiprusoff was worn out and run down by 2013; wasted like Rick Grimes in the late Walking Dead seasons. Calgarians knew it. It was evident on his drawn, stubbled face during post-game interviews. Hell, we saw it on the ice. He just didn’t look the same. He had played no fewer than 70 games between 2005 and 2012 – including a league-leading 76 games in 2008-2009. That’s
Continue ReadingFlames Top 25 Under 25: #13 - Juuso Valimaki
Source: Matchsticks and Gasoline
Date: 2017-08-16
The 2017 first round pick comes in at #13 #13: Juuso Valimaki Position: D Age: 18 Team: Tri-City Americans (WHL) Drafted: 2017 #16 (1st Round) Last Year Rank: N/A The Calgary Flames somewhat surprised their fans at this past draft by choosing to draft a defenceman despite having an already stellar prospect pool. However, Valimaki was definitely the best player available and it already looks like he has very high potential after seeing him play over the summer. Valimaki already has a wealth of international experience, suiting up for Finland at last year’s IIHF World Junior Championship, as well as captaining the Finnish U18 team to a Gold Medal at the U18 Worlds in 2016. Valimaki has already been named captain for Team Finland at the upcoming Worl
Continue ReadingRangers’ Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei join #DriveBySlapShotChallenge
Source: Sportsnet
Date: 2017-08-15
First there was #DriveByDunkChallenge. Now it’s the hockey’s turn with the the #DriveBySlapShotChallenge. Jaylen Brown and other NBA players spent part of the summer terrorizing neighbourhood rims. They would find an open hoop and throw down a huge dunk then drive away. NHL players decided they wanted in on the fun. They find a open hockey net and snipe on the goalie-less cage. Calgary Flames defenceman Dougie Hamilton started things off with with a few goals and now, New York Rangers defencemen
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