Atlanta Flames

Atlanta Flames
Founded	1972
History	Atlanta Flames 1972 - 1980 Calgary Flames 1980 - present
Home Arena	Omni Coliseum
City	Atlanta, Georgia
Colors	Red, yellow and white

Omni Coliseum

Atlanta Flames Team history

The Flames history begins in 1968, when businessman Tom Cousins and former Georgia governor Carl Sanders brought the third major professional sports franchise to the city, buying the NBA's St. Louis Hawks and moving them to Atlanta.

The Hawks were in need of a venue suitable for professional sports. As a result one was built for them: the Omni Coliseum. This new facility, owned by Cousins and the rest of the Omni Sports Group consortium, was the crux of the expansion bid made to the National Hockey League for a new hockey franchise.

It was announced in November 1971, nine months to the day after the Omni's construction was complete, that hockey was headed to the South: the National Hockey League granted an expansion franchise to Cousins' group for the 1972-73 NHL season. The NHL had not initially proposed an expansion for 1972, but hastily elected to award a franchise to Long Island (the New York Islanders) to keep the upstart World Hockey Association out of the newly-built Nassau Coliseum. Needing another team to balance the schedule, the NHL awarded a team to Atlanta.

When it was first announced that Atlanta would have an NHL franchise many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move, especially since the talent pool had been diluted by repeated expansion and the upstart WHA. Nevertheless, the team quickly began front office operations, naming young Blues assistant general manager Cliff Fletcher as general manager. Soon after, Fletcher had found the team its first coach: former Canadiens star forward Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion.

The team was a pleasant surprise in its first season on the ice, its success built on new star goaltenders Dan Bouchard and Phil Myre, solid defencemen such as Randy Manery and Pat Quinn, and forwards Rey Comeau, (captain) Keith McCreary, Larry Romanchych and Bob Leiter. Despite its inexperience as a team, the Flames were quite successful in the beginning of their rookie season, posting a 20-19-8 record by January 19, 1973 off of the personal success of their young goaltending tandem. Unfortunately, they lost 19 of their last 31 games, finishing out of the playoffs. Part of the problem as that in defiance of all geographic reality, the Flames were placed in the West Division--saddling them with some of the longest road trips in the league. However, their 65 points were 35 better than the Islanders, who toiled at the bottom of the East Division.

On- and off-ice success continued into the Flames' second season, drafting forwards Tom Lysiak and Eric Vail, who quickly became the team's top forwards. Lysiak led the Flames in scoring in his rookie season, upon which the team improved to fourth in the West Division and their first playoff berth. In contrast, the Islanders had another wretched season. Unfortunately they were quickly dispatched in the first round, being swept in the best-of-seven series against the powerful Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flames' third season, 1974-75, was marked by disappointment as the team failed to qualify for the post-season. Unlike the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, in which Fletcher had picked immediate success from Lysiak, 1974's was notably unsuccessful (the only notable players being Guy Chouinard, the youngest draft pick ever taken, and prospect defenceman Pat Ribble). Injuries plagued the team's top veteran forwards, Leiter and Romanchych, and former first round pick Jacques Richard. Late in the season popular coach Geoffrion, runner-up in the previous year's coach-of-the-year voting, resigned, forcing Fletcher to replace him with the Flames' Central Hockey League affiliate's head coach, Fred Creighton. The season was not without bright spots, as Lysiak continued to lead the team in scoring, and Eric Vail scoring a franchise record 39 goals in his rookie season. Vail won the Calder Trophy as top rookie.

The on-ice play improved the following season under the demanding Creighton, as the Flames recorded their first winning season, and qualified for the playoffs once again. Lysiak continued to lead the team in scoring, while Cliff Fletcher added depth at all positions, acquiring tough veteran forward Bill Clement, WHA product Claude St. Sauveur, scoring forward Bill Flett and stalwart defenceman Larry Carriere. Vail's sophomore season was unfortunately cut short by injury. Again, the team bowed out of the post-season quickly, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Signs of trouble off the ice appeared for the first time as well. Average attendance at the Omni had dropped by 1,000.

1976-77 was marked by the addition noteworthy prospects from the minor league affiliate in Tulsa. Talented forward Guy Chouinard had finally matured into an NHL-caliber player, and tough defenceman Ken Houston and forward Willi Plett began terrorizing opponents with their physical play. The team's older faces (Pat Quinn, Kerry Ketter, Randy Manery, Larry Romanchych, and Bob Leiter among others) had been moved, making way for the young core of Lysiak, Vail, Plett, and Chouinard.

By 1977 outstanding young goaltender Dan Bouchard had publicly stated his desire to be the clear starting goaltender for the club, refusing to share duties with Myre. In 1978 Myre was traded to the Blues, Cliff Fletcher's former employer, along with high-scoring forward Curt Bennett and tough blueliner Barry Gibbs for scoring forward Bob MacMillan and defenceman Dick Redmond. Attendance continued to fall, another 1,500 a night. Post-season success continued to elude the young Flames, as they were easily dispatched once again in the preliminary round.

1978-79 began with an impressive 12-1-2 record, the product of a 10-game winning streak. While this pace did not continue throughout the rest of the season, the Flames finished 41-31-8, good for 90 points -- a new team record. While Lysiak contributed greatly to the early streak he became injured for the first time in his career, slowing his point production. He was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a seven-man trade which saw the Flames acquire talented Yugoslavian center Ivan Boldirev, quick forward Darcy Rota, and staunch defenceman Phil Russell. Chouinard finished the season with 50 goals, the first and only Atlanta Flame to reach the plateau, while MacMillan won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

1979-80 would prove to be the last season in Atlanta. The Flames' lack of success in the playoffs led to the end of Fred Creighton's reign as head coach, replaced by Al MacNeil. Fletcher added more talent, including outstanding Swede Kent Nilsson from the WHA, rookie defenceman Paul Reinhart, Finnish defenceman Pekka Rautakallio and veteran forward Don Lever. The team made the playoffs once again, and once again were ousted quickly.

Off-ice, the Omni Sports Group found it increasingly difficult to financially maintain the team, as ticket sales fell and operating costs rose. The team also lacked a major television deal. Also, while Omni Sports had hoped to attract an NHL team to the Omni early on, their calculations didn't include a second league in the picture. Under the circumstances, Cousins and the rest of his consortium were very receptive to an offer from a group of Calgary businessmen fronted by the eccentric Canadian entrepreneur Nelson Skalbania. Cousins sold the team for a then-NHL record $16 million, and the franchise was promptly moved to Calgary. Kent Nilsson was the last active Atlanta Flame in the NHL, retiring in 1995.

The Flames made the playoffs in six of their first eight seasons, a mark bettered only by the Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers in the entire history of the NHL, and the team would not post a losing record after the 1974 season. Unfortunately they never won a playoff series. The Atlanta Flames' success carried over to the Calgary Flames, where the team continued to compete well, reaching the Stanley Cup finals in 1986 and 2004 and winning the Cup in 1989.

Calgary's acknowledgement of the Atlanta Flames history

In 1996, the Calgary Flames acknowledged the 25th anniversary of the franchise by changing the "A" worn by the alternate captains to the Atlanta Flames logo. The logo was used again the following season, but did not return for 1998-99, as Calgary changed their jerseys, and the "A" style used on their black jersey (the third jersey from the previous season) was carried over to the new uniforms. Public opinion, however, favored the Atlanta "A", and it made its return the following season.

While yellow remains part of the Calgary Flames' color scheme, black has been incorporated into the Atlanta "A". On the 1996 home jersey and current road jersey (both white), the "A" is red with a black border; on the 1996 road jersey, the "A" was white with a black border; on the black alternate jersey (the road jersey from 1998-2003), the "A" is white with a red border; on the current red home jersey, the "A" is black with a white border, to match the black "Flaming C" logo.

1972/73 - 1979/80

Home

1973 - 1980	1972 - 1973

Away

1973 - 1980	1972 - 1973

Player		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	Seasons	#
Rick	Adduono	3	0	0	0	2	1979-80	1
Chuck	Arnason	33	7	6	13	13	1973-74	1
Serge	Beaudoin	3	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Yves	Belanger	22	0	1	1	0	1977-79	2
Curt	Bennett	405	126	140	266	190	1972-80	7
Dwight	Bialowas	48	3	9	12	22	1973-75	2
Ivan	Boldirev	65	22	32	54	26	1978-80	2
Cam	Botting	2	0	1	1	0	1975-76	1
Dan	Bouchard	384	0	12	12	140	1972-80	8
Rick	Bowness	33	0	4	4	29	1975-77	2
Arnie	Brown	63	3	6	9	46	1972-74	2
Jerry	Byers	14	1	1	2	9	1974-75	1
Gene	Carr	30	3	8	11	6	1978-79	1
Larry	Carriere	100	6	18	24	112	1975-77	2
Guy	Chouinard	318	126	168	294	56	1974-80	6
Bill	Clement	297	69	107	176	136	1975-80	5
Rey	Comeau	468	88	126	214	153	1972-78	6
Jim	Craig	4	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Butch	Deadmarsh	61	7	1	8	97	1972-74	2
Tim	Ecclestone	220	28	62	90	92	1974-78	4
Bill	Flett	102	27	21	48	36	1975-77	2
Greg	Fox	80	1	14	15	95	1977-79	2
Barry	Gibbs	208	13	55	68	218	1974-78	4
Dave	Gorman	3	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Bob	Gould	1	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
John	Gould	194	35	50	85	47	1976-79	3
Norm	Gratton	29	3	6	9	12	1972-73	1
Hilliard	Graves	172	37	54	91	63	1974-77	3
Ron	Harris	24	2	4	6	8	1972-73	1
Fred	Harvey	80	17	27	44	16	1974-76	2
Paul	Henderson	30	7	6	13	6	1979-80	1
Bryan	Hextall	114	20	20	40	117	1973-75	2
Ernie	Hicke	58	14	23	37	37	1972-73	1
Bill	Hogaboam	2	0	0	0	0	1972-73	1
Ken	Houston	350	91	108	199	332	1975-80	5
Earl	Ingarfield	1	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Ed	Kea	316	22	92	114	283	1973-79	6
Kerry	Ketter	41	0	2	2	58	1972-73	1
Dave	Kryskow	79	15	25	40	65	1975-76	1
Bobby	Lalonde	154	38	56	94	54	1977-80	3
Don	Laurence	59	14	20	34	6	1978-79	1
Bob	Leiter	234	64	81	145	41	1972-76	4
Reggie	Lemelin	21	0	0	0	4	1978-80	2
Jean	Lemieux	140	10	38	48	35	1973-76	3
Richard	Lemieux	1	0	1	1	0	1975-76	1
Don	Lever	28	14	16	30	4	1979-80	1
Tom	Lysiak	445	155	276	431	329	1973-79	6
Bill	MacMillan	78	10	15	25	52	1972-73	1
Bob	MacMillan	208	90	131	221	50	1977-80	3
Randy	Manery	377	30	142	172	242	1972-77	5
Brad	Marsh	160	2	28	30	220	1978-80	2
Don	Martineau	4	0	0	0	2	1973-74	1
Keith	McCreary	231	49	50	99	91	1972-75	3
Al	McDonough	35	10	9	19	15	1973-74	1
Gerry	Meehan	62	11	30	41	8	1974-76	2
Vic	Mercredi	2	0	0	0	0	1974-75	1
Doug	Mohns	28	0	3	3	10	1973-74	1
Lew	Morrison	129	7	13	20	19	1972-74	2
Richard	Mulhern	207	25	67	92	153	1975-79	4
Bob	Murdoch	115	10	27	37	72	1978-80	2
Bob	Murray	104	3	6	9	56	1973-75	2
Phil	Myre	211	0	5	5	23	1972-78	6
Kent	Nilsson	80	40	53	93	10	1979-80	1
Gerry	O'Flaherty	1	1	0	1	2	1978-79	1
Bob	Paradise	89	1	8	9	116	1972-74	2
Harold	Phillipoff	118	26	53	79	241	1977-79	2
Noel	Picard	41	0	10	10	43	1972-73	1
Bill	Plager	76	2	11	13	92	1972-73	1
Willi	Plett	296	91	83	174	738	1975-80	5
Noel	Price	199	5	40	45	160	1972-76	4
Jean	Pronovost	155	52	58	110	42	1978-80	2
Pat	Quinn	374	12	87	99	555	1972-77	5
Pekka	Rautakallio	79	5	25	30	18	1979-80	1
Dick	Redmond	42	7	11	18	16	1977-78	1
Paul	Reinhart	79	9	38	47	31	1979-80	1
Pat	Ribble	172	12	30	42	168	1975-79	4
Jacques	Richard	215	57	46	103	108	1972-75	3
Pat	Riggin	25	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Leon	Rochefort	110	19	30	49	23	1972-74	2
Larry	Romanchych	288	68	95	163	100	1972-77	5
Darcy	Rota	57	19	13	32	70	1978-80	2
Phil	Russell	93	6	37	43	143	1978-80	2
Rod	Seiling	36	0	4	4	12	1978-79	1
David	Shand	288	14	63	77	324	1976-80	4
Bobby	Simpson	127	23	18	41	94	1976-78	2
Brad	Smith	4	0	0	0	4	1979-80	1
Claude	St.Sauveur	79	24	24	48	23	1975-76	1
Morris	Stefaniw	13	1	1	2	2	1972-73	1
John	Stewart	142	35	32	67	71	1972-74	2
Dean	Talafous	18	1	4	5	13	1974-75	1
Garry	Unger	79	17	16	33	39	1979-80	1
Eric	Vail	469	174	209	383	223	1973-80	7
Gord	Wappel	2	0	0	0	0	1979-80	1
Miles	Zaharko	71	1	19	20	26	1977-78	1

Atlanta Flames Franchise Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoffs
1972-73	78	25	38	15	65	191	239	852	7th in West	Out of playoffs
1973-74	78	30	34	14	74	214	238	841	4th in West	Lost in quarter-finals (PHI)
1974-75	80	34	31	15	83	243	233	915	4th in Patrick	Out of playoffs
1975-76	80	35	33	12	82	262	237	928	3rd in Patrick	Lost in preliminary (LA)
1976-77	80	34	34	12	80	264	265	889	3rd in Patrick	Lost in preliminary (LA)
1977-78	80	34	27	19	87	274	252	984	3rd in Patrick	Lost in preliminary (DET)
1978-79	80	41	31	8	90	327	280	1158	4th in Patrick	Lost in preliminary (TOR)
1979-80	80	35	32	13	83	282	269	1048	4th in Patrick	Lost in preliminary (NYR)
Totals	636	268	260	108	644	2057	2013	7615

Most Goals in a season: Guy Chouinard, 50 (1978–79)
Most Assists in a season: Bob MacMillan, 71 (1978–79)
Most Points in a season: Bob MacMillan, 108 (1978–79)
Most Penalty Minutes in a season: Willi Plett, 231 (1979–80)
Most Points in a season, defenceman: Ken Houston, 54 (1979–80)
Most Points in a season, rookie: Tom Lysiak, 64 (1973–74)
Most Wins in a season: Dan Bouchard, 32 (1978–79)

Calder Trophy (Top Rookie)
1975 Eric Vail LW
1977 Willi Plett RW

 

Lady Byng (Gentlemanly Play)
1979 Bob MacMillan C