A look at the Calgary Flames' inaugural game, season and surprising playoff run in 1980 | CBC Sports

On October 9th, 1980, the Flames took on the Quebec Nordiques in their first game as the Calgary Flames. The team relocated from Atlanta and were excellent that first year, not only making the playoffs, but winning a few series as well.
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[@peterlee4682]

So good to see the classic Flames players: Dan Bouchard, Willi Plett, Eric Vail along with GM Cliff Fletcher. Yea, those boards in that old rink were very high!

[@waynejohanson1083]

Remember all this like it was yesterday. And they got to the semi-finals in the first season in Calgary.

[@nz1229]

That was a miracle season with playoff run but the next couple of seasons were dismal until Smith put the puck in his own net.

[@trevorlambert4226]

Fun fact regarding Bobby Lalonde, who Vail and Plett mentioned in relation to the height of the boards in the Corral. Lalonde played exactly one game as a Calgary Flame, in 1981/82. 🤣

[@user-ie7vh9no7c]

Flames would have gotten destroyed by the Islanders as well.

[@roofpizza1250]

No one was bright enough to come up with a new, original nickname when they moved. A name like the Dodgers meant something but Flames? Lame.

[@RRaquello]

The name Flames comes from the Civil War when General Sherman burnt down the city of Atlanta. Not something you'd think they'd want to celebrate with a team name. I don't know if Calgary has ever been burnt down.

[@NicholasMoreau]

@@RRaquello Owner Nelson Skalbania justified keeping the name, changing the reference to the oil industry.

[@RRaquello]

@@NicholasMoreau And why not? It's as good a name as any. What else were they gonna call them?

[@ckendall67]

What's wrong with 'Flames'? It's perfect.

[@kenryu364]

Calgary wranglers, cowboys, bulls, Albertans, barons, ranchmans, outlaws, sheriffs, ugh all terrible. Flames I can live with.