Earlier in June, we asked for Flames fans from around the world to tell us about their experiences cheering for the team from outside of Calgary. We did not expect to receive so many amazing replies from great fans all around the world.
So far, we’ve heard from fans spanning 102 cities and towns, 23 countries, and six continents. We’ve covered eight provinces and territories in Canada, and 19 states in the United States. The Flames community truly does cover the entire planet, and we’re lucky and proud to be part of that community. If you missed our post on the overall results and a coverage map, check it out here!
Full Global Flames Fan Series: Australia, England, Scotland, Finland, Sweden, Germany, the Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Brazil, China, the United States, and Canada outside of Calgary.
Next up in our Global Flames Fan Series is a collection of experiences from our friends in the Canada outside of Calgary! We’ve compiled selected responses to questions from our questionnaire below from 26 different Flames fans, living all over our great nation. Enjoy!
How did you become a Flames fan?
Long time Flames fan, 30 year old son named Thereon Z Judge, bleed Flames red everyday. Family tradition grand child will have middle name of Hakan Lòob.
Vancouver & Salmon Arm, British Columbia
I grew up in Ontario with a family that had very little interest in hockey. I never got to play it but always loved watching it. Eventually in 2012 I moved to Banff, Alberta for work. During that time, the NHL lockout had produced a shortened season and many season ticket holders were selling tickets to games for discount prices. That season alone, i maxed out my credit card going to 12 games, always sitting in the same seats, Row 1 section 112. When Jiri Hudler and T.J. Brodie started to recognize me and would come by and either salute or say hi, that’s when I knew I had found my team for life.
Victoria, British Columbia
As soon as they moved from Atlanta – until then I was following the Leafs and Edmonton had just joined the league with their usual self adulation which was too much to take. I was already a Stamps fan so it was easy.
Edmonton, Alberta
Tell us about your experience following the Flames from outside of Calgary.
Toughest is thing is finding game coverage – particularly when there are regional blackouts. Next to that is the time zones, I am fan living in Ontario, game nights often mean a rough morning the next day.
Ontario
It isn’t easy being a Flames fan on the furthest east you can go in the country. Locally weekday games usually start at 10:30, and HNIC games start 11:30. So it is probably a good thing I have adapted to running on little to no sleep. Most seasons especially the last five years I’ve stayed up and watched the games start to finish. I hate the Pacific coast games when they start at midnight, yes they then usually wrap up at 3am. But love the east coast games and road trips. Growing up I was definitely an oddball in my hockey fandom, still am today here. Most people are either die hard Montreal or Toronto fans, besides that you have a few original six teams scattered in. So being a Flames fan in Newfoundland, I think I was 18 before I met a fellow fan outside the family.
St. John’s area, Newfoundland
It kinda sucks not going to home games but it’s fun going to a Flames game in Winnipeg wearing Flames gear.
St. Malo, Manitoba
Difficult to track down games in the NWT, but otherwise the streams are good.
Northwest Territories
Do you watch games? If so, where do you typically watch and with whom?
I used to go with my friends to a bar which recently closed called Dylan’s Sports Bar. More recently I’ve been going to the local Boston Pizza to catch the games as they are blacked out through my Shaw at home unfortunately.
Victoria, British Columbia
I try to watch all the games, this year I watched most of them with a Vancouver fan and a Minnesota fan all living in in Ontario.
Niagara, Ontario
Generally at home or with friends, Canucks fans 🙄
Vancouver, British Columbia
What is the most popular sport where you live, and which teams? What challenges do you face following the Flames?
I would say football is big. Saskatchewan Roughriders are the team but many people watch the NHL here too.
Bulyea, Saskatchewan
I would say baseball and hockey are the two biggest sports here in Victoria. We have the Victoria Harbour Cats baseball team and the Victoria Royals WHL team. The biggest challenge is the fact that the majority of hockey fans are die hard Canucks fans. You face a fair bit of ridicule when walking around wearing a Flames jersey.
Victoria, British Columbia
Hockey is pretty popular here besides that recreational soccer, softball, rugby and now curling are pretty popular. My only challenges are time zones and the worst “Regional Blackouts”. I cannot understand why the NHL would want to block out fans outside the teams home province and state. I really hope that changes when the next TV agreement happens.
St. John’s area, Newfoundland
What is the best experience you’ve had as a Flames fan from where you live?
Having the Flames farm club here in Abbotsford for five years.
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Watching the Flames beat the Canucks in the 2015 playoffs. Bonus points since Game 6 also coincided with finishing my last final of first year university.
Edmonton, Alberta
The 2004 playoff run – watched Game 7 against Tampa on the jumbotron at the ‘Dome.
Northern Alberta
Also was on the C-train one day and saw the Flames at the SAIT stop. Iginla waived at me. Made my year ❤️
As good as winning the cup was, the 2004 run just had more magic to it. Experiencing it in both the friendly and hostile environments was really cool.
Edmonton, Alberta
What is the worst experience you’ve had as a Flames fan from where you live?
Car egged for having Flames flag.
Ardrossan, Alberta
2004 it was in the Slaughter at the Colosseum. Front page: Van 11 Cal 0, 2:48 left on the score board.
Vancouver & Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Not being able to take my youngest son to his first game due to COVID-19.
Vernon, British Columbia
Who is your favourite player and why?
Lindholm! I love how versatile he is and he’s really consistent in compete and effort level.
Edmonton, Alberta
Regehr, stay at home tank. Loved him and Hemsky battles. Currently, Rasmus Andersson. Smart, savvy with the puck, way quicker than he looks.
Edmonton, Alberta
Mike Vernon because he’s a legendary short man, just like me.
Northwest Territories
If we are speaking about the current roster, I’d have to go with Mangiapane. A bit of an underdog, shows a lot of grit and character to go along with skill. I like his no-quit attitude.
Edmonton, Alberta
Any last thoughts you’d like to share?
Flames community involvement (current and alumni) is nice to see. Lanny, Stajan, and Regeher cone to mind as personable and kind, great advocates for the game. the Flames vs. Tigers games are always tugging at the heart strings. Hamonic and Backlund are always getting coverage for the right reasons and it’s nice to see sports stars giving back.
Edmonton, Alberta
My final thoughts are for the future, the Flames have a great group of young players, and there are some really talented prospects coming along in the cupboards. I really hope however management makes smart decisions in the next year and moving forward in player or asset management. I would hate to see the Flames lose out on great deals because they are afraid of the fallout of the fans. What I mean by that is, make good trades before it is and lets hope we never see again another Iginla trade scenario where we ended up with buttons and beach rocks for a thoroughbred.
And from the Rock, Go Flames Go!!!
St. John’s area, Newfoundland
Looking forward to the upcoming playoffs assuming they go, will be cheering hard. But this team needs to get past the Jets and at least a next round. We have been stuck in middle of the pack for far too many years and have the worst playoff record of anyone in the league so it’s time to see some real sustained movement forward. It’s tough enough out here so a little help please!
Edmonton, Alberta
Thanks to all our Canadian Flames fans for providing such great answers to our questionnaire. It’s great to see Flames fans in every province and territory in Canada, especially in cities with NHL teams of their own. It’s always fun to hear stories from fans in Edmonton and Vancouver, and see how those cities treat fans on the other side of the rivalry.
We unfortunately couldn’t feature all the answers we got, but if we missed something you’d like to share, please share them again in the comments or on social media.
Thank you so much for following along with our Global Flames Fan Series. We had a ton of fun interviewing fans from around the world, and we hope you enjoyed learning about fan experiences in different countries and regions.
