The Visitors' Book, October: Detroit's Bench Remembers the Saddledome
The Saddledome's last season, from the other bench. Calgary-born William Nylander, Blake Coleman's ovation and two ex-Flames on Detroit's staff, on what the building meant.
The Saddledome's last season, from the other bench. Calgary-born William Nylander, Blake Coleman's ovation and two ex-Flames on Detroit's staff, on what the building meant.
Four Calgary first-round picks play each other in Texas on Halloween. A Flames fan's guide to North Dakota vs Michigan State: who they are, why it matters, how to watch.
"Nothing matters. Nobody cares. We're all going to die." Four starts, 127 saves, a pet rabbit named Tito and the goalie theory that made it all the way to the world's largest podcaster, Joe Rogan.
Nelson Skalbania bought the Flames without, by his own count, a dollar of his own in the deal, then bet $2,000 on their first game against Edmonton and lost it. The first Battle of Alberta, October 22, 1980.
Calgary handed green hard hats to the first 2,004 fans, put the 2004 jerseys back on, let Chris Sutter drop the puck, and beat the team the '04 Flames knocked out in round two.
Anthony Dillett of the Dakota Student on what the C looks like at North Dakota now that Cole Reschny wears it in games that count.
In 1994, Bob Probert needed a head butt to stop a 21-year-old rookie. It took him 16 years and a memoir to name who had the hardest punch.
On October 15, 1983 the Saddledome opened, months late and $16.5 million over, with a name a maintenance worker and his son came up with in front of a hockey game. The first page of The Saddledome's Last Yee-Haw.
Ryan Huska is in the NHL's hot-seat conversation after the worst start in franchise history, and Elliotte Friedman says Calgary is the team everyone's watching. We separate the firing talk from the numbers, and ask whether a rebuild coach is running out of time.
Brian Williams drives 190 miles round trip for North Dakota hockey, and he has the ink to prove it. From "Unleash the Wiebe" to watching Reschny and Carels on opening night, this is the ultimate view from the Ralph.
Four days after the Flames waived him, Connor Zary played his first AHL game since 2023-24, scored off a Dryden Hunt pass and was named first star.
Dustin Wolf's seven-year, $52.5 million deal starts this season. Last season is why the first month matters, and why it isn't all on him.
Philadelphia moved a centre it had stopped waiting on. Calgary played him down the middle, watched him win faceoffs, and then signed him themselves.
On the night the Flames fell to 0-2 in Vancouver, their farm team finished a weekend sweep at the Saddledome, and a rookie defenceman did a bit of everything.
The Flames brought a "rat" into the province on purpose, then scratched Brennan Othmann for the Saddledome's farewell opener, a 6-1 loss to Seattle.
Flames prospects Carson Carels and Cole Reschny at North Dakota media day: draft night on the farm, captain at 19, and coach Dane Jackson on both.
UND holds its media day today, and the season it opens has a date already circled: North Dakota against Michigan State in Texas on Oct. 31, with four Calgary first-round picks on the ice.
A day after the Flames sent him back to junior, Chase Harrington was named the Spokane Chiefs' 39th captain. Then he scored, set up the winner and dropped the gloves: the first Gordie Howe hat trick of his WHL career.
In August the side of Scotia Place that Calgary watches from was still a green box. Five weeks later it is white panel and gold, and the Saddledome spent Saturday night hosting a farewell tour of its own.
The Flames put their second-round pick in the NHL group at training camp, and two goalies noticed his shot. Here's the notebook on Chase Harrington, from the Spokane Chiefs to Mikael Backlund's wing and back.
The Flames dressed 18 skaters against Seattle on Sunday and almost none of them were the Flames. That was the plan. Here is what the night said about each of them, sorted by what it means for the cut.
Sick of being a hero in Canada, the man who scored the goal of the century took a two-way deal with the Atlanta Flames on a trainer's salary and with a two-hour commute, just to keep his kids in an Alabama high school.
North Dakota's players voted a sophomore their captain on Wednesday. Cole Reschny, the Flames' 2025 first-rounder, is the first underclassman to wear the C at UND since Dave Hakstol in 1990-91, and the youngest ever.
Nine years ago this week, Mayor Nenshi tried to make a deal: three doors to a new arena, each with $185 million behind it, supposedly. Ken King peeked behind all three, called every one a Zonk the team and its fans would end up paying for, and walked. The fight that built Scotia Place starts here.
© 2026 Flames Scout Wire. Independent Calgary Flames coverage & commentary. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Calgary Flames, the NHL, or any team mentioned. All trademarks belong to their respective owners. 19+. Please play responsibly — ConnexOntario / AHS. · Newsletter · Privacy
We use analytics cookies to see which stories get read. Privacy policy