Welcome to The Win Column’s Flames Fit Check, your monthly destination for Calgary Flames pregame fashion. Now, not by any means am I really qualified to give any opinions on fashion, but that’s the best part about the internet—I don’t have to be qualified. That being said, throughout the season you’ll be seeing my top five pregame fits and an unfashionable mention that turned some heads for the wrong reasons.
March was an eventful month for the Flames with the heavily discussed trade deadline coming and going on March 8. Craig Conroy tied a bow on his first trade deadline by moving all the big-name pending unrestricted free agents by the deadline, despite trying desperately to stay competitive. Conroy even made a last-ditched effort to resign Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev before sending them off to the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars respectively.
Since the deadline, the Flames have struggled to string together wins with a refreshed lineup and injury woes. In the month of March, the team holds a record of 5–9–0 with eight games remaining in the season.
With all the fresh faces added to the roster this month, keep your eye out for some new Flames making their 2023–24 fit-check debut.
Without further ado, let’s kick off 2024’s third edition of the Flames Fit Check.
5. Kevin Rooney
March 3 was a night to remember as Flames legend Miikka Kiprusoff was honoured and his #34 was sent to the rafters of the Saddledome. All members of the team donned a Kipper jersey headed into the rink that night and Kevin Rooney’s especially caught my eye.
With having to undergo shoulder surgery right after training camp back in September, we’ve only seen Rooney back in the lineup for a little over a month. The fourth liner has taken back his spot as the 4C in the lineup with some strong play as of late.
Rooney opted for the Kipper’s 2010 Finnish Olympic jersey. Miikka backed up Tuukka Rask at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, bringing home the bronze medal. A unique jersey choice from Rooney, and I absolutely love it. The rarer the jersey, the cooler it is in my opinion.
4. Martin Pospisil
Martin Pospisil has quickly found his way into Flames fan’s hearts with his aggressive and physical play. Pospisil is building a reputation around the league as a grade-A thorn in the side of his competition.
Posipisil’s fit a couple of weeks ago reflected that play style. Tinted thick-rim glasses, a Louis Vuitton belt, and a fat gold watch make you wonder whether the tall Slovak is here to play hockey or headed straight for the private rooms in the casino.
The rookie has done more than enough to capture attention around the league. If his consistency continues to improve and some of the “rougher” plays he’s made resulting in suspension are minimized, the Flames could be sitting on a gold mine middle-six forward.
The emerging anti-hero of Martin Pospisil is exactly what Craig Conroy was looking for when he hoped to give young players more opportunities coming into this season. Hopefully, he can continue to make a name for himself next season.
3. Daniil Miromanov
Our first fresh face to the roster on this month’s edition of Fit Check is Daniil Miromanov. Miromanov was acquired in the Noah Hanifin trade with the Vegas Golden Knights shortly before the trade deadline.
The 6’4” undrafted Russian defenceman bounced back and forth from the VHL and KHL before signing with the Golden Knights in 2021. His offensive skill set has been on display since acquiring him, and so has his unique taste in suits.
Miromanov rocked this brown-coloured three-piece suit multiple times since being welcomed to Calgary. I like the green tie combination and pocket square. A very unique colour but it’s grown on me for sure. Don’t love the toque, especially considering this was on a +17°C day in between Calgary’s second and third winter. However, a chinook in Calgary during March isn’t exactly the desert of Las Vegas Nevada. I guess I can let the toque slide for now.
2. Dustin Wolf
The Calgary Flames’ crease has been a prominent topic of discussion this season with Jacob Markstrom trade rumours swirling since the new year and now Dan Vladar on the injured reserve to finish the season.
Wolf is finally getting an extended stay in the Flames locker room predominantly in a backup role. Although it’s been an up-and-down season for Wolf, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a full-time NHLer next season.
Like many other goalies, Dustin has some unique superstitions and you can tell he cares about his routine. From jumping on skates to christening his crease, Wolf is a creature of habit. Those routines evidently don’t begin at the rink as Wolf is quickly becoming our new Fit Check front-runner for the season alongside Blake Coleman.
Wolf showcases a beautiful baby blue suit, tie, and watch here paired with a classic brown belt and a fine blue paisley patterned shirt. Another top-notch fit from the young goaltender. Wolf wraps it up with a complementary pocket square, a colour-coordinated phone case and his bottle of “Dustin’s secret stuff.”
1. Blake Coleman
Sheesh. Can you get more urban cowboy than this? Calgary might as well just give this guy a key to the city. I know Nikita Zadorov had some crazy pre-game fits but nobody embodies Calgary like our Alberta-Texan Blake Coleman.
Pickles went cream suit and hat paired with a unique asymmetrically striped shirt, square-toe brown boots, and aviators in this mid-March matchup at home. The GMC in the background really drives home the city living cowboy aesthetic.
Coleman has been a fan favourite since coming to Calgary and is evidently a strong part of the leadership group pre- and post-trade deadline. Can’t complain much about a 32-year-old team guy playing the best hockey of his career for a team he seemingly wants to be a part of going forward.
Keep doing you, Coleman.
Fashionable Mention – Flames support the Special Olympics
Calgary was the host city for the 2024 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Some of the Flames players headed out to the floor hockey venue at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex.
A collection of Flames players enjoyed a warmup game with team Newfoundland before interacting with fans and athletes.
The Flames have been active supporters of the Special Olympics for a long time and it was a special opportunity for the city to host the national winter games. Winter competition included Alpine skiing, Snowshoeing, Floor hockey, 5-pin bowling, speed skating, cross-country skiing, curling, and figure skating.
Although professional sports are held to a high standard of competition and business, it’s nice to be reminded by the Special Olympics that sports and exercise provide much more to people than just a team to cheer for and a way to stay healthy. Sport has the power to foster relationships, grow physical literacy, connect communities and most importantly, put a smile on your face.
The games concluded on March 2 with Ontario winning the games in total medal count. I’d highly encourage everyone to look into how you can take part in the Special Olympics community right here in Calgary. As someone who was a part of the events for the first time in 2024 as a volunteer, I can truly say it was one of the best sporting experiences of my life.
Follow Calgary – @SpecialOCalgary on Twitter or find out more at the the Special Olympics Calgary website.
All photos courtesy of @NHLFlames.
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