Calgary Flames: The Decade Long Curse of the Honda Center
By Ramina Shlah
The Calgary Flames and the Anaheim Ducks meet for the first time this season at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Will the Flames finally be able to break a curse that’s over a decade long?
The Calgary Flames (5-7-1) and Anaheim Ducks (5-5-2) play for the first time this season at the Honda Center. Now, this is important. And why it’s important is because the Flames haven’t been able to win a regular season game in this arena for almost thirteen years. The last regular season win they had here was on January 19, 2004, where they won 5-1.
Can you believe that? I wasn’t even ten years old yet the last time they won in Anaheim. And look at me now. I may be 22 years old, but I still act like I’m ten. So not much has changed for me since then.
Actually, Flame For Thought wrote about this two years ago with the hopes they would win that time (I’m crying). Here’s a link if you would like, it mentions the top song at the time and what movie was just released.
Related Story: January 19, 2004 - Calgary Flames Look to Repeat History
There were actually no same players currently on this team now that played with them in 2004. I mean, except Gelinas, but that’s different. But let’s look at what both teams consisted of the last time the Calgary Flames won at the Honda Center, and what some players/coaches are up to now:
Calgary Flames
- Jarome Iginla: Scratched with a right ankle sprain that night in 04. Still hasn’t won a cup (I’m sobbing thanks for asking)
- Martin Gelinas: Is still in Calgary
- Jordan Leopold: Had that adorable letter to the NHL from his daughter last year
- Darryl Sutter: Works for the enemy now
- Robyn Regehr: Signed a one-day contract with the Flames to retire with them last season because he just loves them so much
- Craig Conroy: Left the Flames for the enemy, but came back and is still here because who can stay away from Calgary?
Anaheim Ducks
- Mike Babcock: I gotta tell you, I completely forgot he coached the Ducks at this time
- Joffrey Lupul: Didn’t realize he was this old
- Chris Kunitz: Has won three Stanley Cups since then (but Iginla doesn’t even have one; the league is rigged)
- Sergei Fedorov: Oh right that guy
- Me: Knows nothing about the Ducks, apparently
Lets look at what some guys on each team now were doing then, because why not:
Calgary Flames
- Matthew Tkachuk: Was six years old
- Dennis Wideman: Was playing for the same OHL team that Tkachuk played for (London Knights)
- TJ Brodie: Was only 14, but probably still able to grow a beard
- Glen Gulutzan: Was a head coach in the ECHL
- Johnny Gaudreau: Has maybe grown two inches since then
- Flames: Should have won the cup in 04 but the league is rigged (Okay I know I sound biased but LOOK)
Anaheim Ducks
- Ryan Getzlaf: Wasn’t bald yet (Side note: Do you think Ryan Getzlaffed at for being bald? Sorry, bad joke. Moving on)
- Ryan Kesler: Was probably still pissing people off
- Kevin Bieksa: Didn’t know who Ferklund was yet
- Rickard Rakell: Still had a cool name
- Ducks: Were mighty
Now, let’s look at some things that are currently happening now that weren’t around in 2004.
- Vine: Became a thing and un-became a thing
- Harambe: Was still alive and well in 04. Now he watches over us
- The Jonas Brothers: Are now split up, but one of the best bands of all time
- Phil Kessel: Is a Stanley Cup champion (But Iginla still isn’t; the league is rigged)
- My friend Amelia: Knows calculus and long division
Something else that’s interesting about today’s game specifically is that right now, the Flames have lost 23 consecutive games at the Honda Center. Currently, they’re tied for an NHL record for most consecutive losses in one building. So, if they lose tonight, they will officially have the NHL record for most consecutive losses in one building. Hah, and who says the Flames aren’t the best team ever?
Next: Five Things That Are Working for the Flames
But maybe, some curses are meant to be broken. I mean, just this year Leonardo DiCaprio finally won an Oscar and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. And the Calgary Flames will win against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.