I was over the moon to be asked to write about my favorite Calgary Flames player as I am a born-and-raised Calgarian and a voracious Flames fan. It was tough to pick just one, as we have so manyincredible alumni and current players that I respect and admire, but if it must be one … it must be No. 9, Lanny McDonald!
I went to my first Flames game in Grade 2 and watched Lanny play. It was against the Chicago Blackhawks and it ended in a 2-2 tie. I still remember it. My dad bought me a Flames t-shirt that I was so proud to wear to school the next day – and every day after that!
When I was in Grade 6 in 1986, the Flames made it to the Stanley Cup final. My birthday is May 21, which was on a Wednesday that year. Wanting to have my party on the weekend, it ended up on Saturday, May 24, which was Game 6 of the Cup final against the Montreal Canadians. Instead of a birthday cake my mom bought ‘Lanny Burgers.’ They were ice-cream cookies with huge red frosting moustaches on each one. Sadly, we did not win the series, but I did not lose hope.
In 1989, my Flames made it back to the Stanley Cup final. I was glued to every game and was watching with bated breath as the Flames took on the Canadians on May 25 to potentially win the series. McDonald scored the go-ahead goal in Game 6 and the Flames won their first Stanley Cup. I will never forget Lanny skating around the ice with the Cup held high above his head. I was not 18 yet but several of my friends drove. We hopped in the car immediately and drove down to the then downtown hot spot of Electric Avenue. Horns were honking, people cheering – it was sheer joy!
