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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #15: Mace’o Phillips

Mike Gould — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:00:54 GMT

The Calgary Flames did a lot with relatively little at the 2025 NHL Draft.

Hamstrung from the start by the loss of their own first-round pick, which former GM Brad Treliving traded away three years in advance in a short-sighted deal to clear Sean Monahan’s contract off the books, the Flames — now led by Craig Conroy — successfully managed to pivot and ultimately made two selections in Round 1, followed by six picks on Day 2.

The Flames made more draft picks in 2024 and 2026, but their 2025 class still stacks up incredibly well against its competition. Five of Calgary’s 2025 picks cracked our Top 20, representing a larger contingent than from any other draft class under Conroy. And coming in at No. 15 on our list is towering defenceman Mace’o Phillips, who is set to step into a major role north of the border this coming season after spending most of his developmental time to date in the USNTDP and the USHL.

Mace’o Phillips

Defenceman; shoots left
Born Feb. 25, 2007 (age 19) in Wayzata, Minn.
6’6″, 234 pounds
Drafted in the third round (80th overall) by Calgary in the 2025 NHL Draft

Phillips is a funny player. One cursory glance at his HockeyDB page, or perhaps his Hockey Prospecting profile, will tell you that he produces almost no offence, which typically doesn’t bode well for any prospect — even a defensive defenceman — aiming to make the jump to the NHL someday. But if you watch Phillips, you usually come away wondering how he doesn’t score more points, given his seemingly unquenchable thirst to skate with the puck and go virtually anywhere on the ice.

Two things can be true at once: Most defencemen who don’t score at lower levels won’t go on to become NHLers, but the ones who manage to break through typically possess certain attributes that allow them to become more effective as the games become more structured, intense, and physically demanding. Phillips is a very good skater who plays with a ton of confidence, and, best of all, he’s absolutely huge — although he doesn’t look uncomfortable with his size like Keegan Kanzig and Hunter Smith often did. He much more closely resembles Nikita Zadorov, a player who is certainly not without his faults but has always been keenly aware of his strengths and limitations. Zadorov is on track to reach the 1,000-game mark without breaking a sweat.

Mace'o Phillips put on a show at the Flames development camp.

Presented By | @mcleodlawllp pic.twitter.com/ygZzWZcntl

— FlamesNation (@FlamesNation) July 10, 2026

A product of the ultra-competitive high school ranks in Minnesota, Phillips joined the USNTDP in 2023 and spent two seasons there before being drafted by the Flames with their 2025 third-round pick. In search of a bigger opportunity, Phillips moved to the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers for the 2025-26 season and collected 11 points, 187 penalty minutes, and multiple suspensions in 44 games, while also serving as an alternate captain. That was enough to put him on USA Hockey’s radar for the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase, where, in true “Big Buff” fashion, he alternated between defence and wing in scrimmages and practices.

Very few players are as physically mature as Phillips at this age, which gives him a lot of flexibility to grow in other areas over the coming seasons. He’ll be allowed to develop at his own pace; he’s only just now heading to the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers in his D+2 season, after which he’ll presumably follow through on his long-standing commitment to attend the University of Minnesota. If and when Phillips turns pro in the Flames organzation, it’ll probably be when he’s 21 or 22, at which point he’ll still likely be a couple of years away from the NHL. By then, Scotia Place probably won’t even feel new anymore!

Here’s the description McKeen’s Hockey contributor Linc Zdancewicz provided when asked about Phillips:

Size is a luxury on the backend, and Mace’o Phillips brings size, strength, and an aggression that will piss off anyone who comes near him. It is almost comical how much grit he brings to the backend, wanting to end the day of anyone who comes near him. Phillips also doubles as a very competent puck carrier when required as well, something that Green Bay needed in tight situations. His defensive consistency isn’t all the way there, but Phillips has been and will continue to be a project defenseman. He’s off to the WHL with Medicine Hat next season and then to Minnesota with the Golden Gophers the year after that. All in the effort to polish this mean and punishing defensive defenseman for the Calgary Flames.

Expectations for 2026-27

Medicine Hat head coach and general manager Willie Desjardins made the drive to Calgary to see Phillips play at the Flames’ 2026 prospects development camp, and you can bet he’ll feature prominently on the Tigers’ blue line this coming season, particularly with Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo both moving on to bigger and better things. Phillips has never really been deployed as anything but a pure shutdown defender in his young career, and it’ll be interesting to see whether Desjardins chooses to use him as more of a jack-of-all-trades. It certainly isn’t uncommon for defensive defenders to gain a bit more leeway in that area as they become more experienced; notably, even Kanzig scored 13 goals as an overager with the Calgary Hitmen back in 2015-16 after having managed a total of just six goals over the previous four seasons.

This year won’t make or break anything for Phillips, who will remain Flames property through the natural conclusion of his forthcoming NCAA tenure with Minnesota. But it’d be really nice to see him convert some of his obvious gifts with and without the puck into a few more goals and assists. Under Desjardins, Medicine Hat plays an up-tempo style that allows its top players to put up highly impressive numbers, as we saw with Pickford, Woo, Andrew Basha, and the Rucks last year. The Rucks will be back in 2026-27, and while Phillips will undoubtedly be tasked with looking after them, he’ll also probably get a few more points just by being on the ice at the same time as them.

The Flames appear to be set for the foreseeable future on defence, with Zayne Parekh, Simon Nemec, and Hunter Brzustewicz on the right and Carson Carels, Kevin Bahl, and Yan Kuznetsov on the left. But nothing is ever a guarantee in the NHL, and the Flames don’t have another prospect in their system who profiles quite like Phillips does. Not many folks expected Dustin Byfuglien to turn into the player he ultimately became; after all, he was an eighth-round pick who followed a highly unorthodox developmental pathway before becoming a Stanley Cup champion and Norris Trophy contender. If Phillips achieves even a quarter of what Byfuglien accomplished in his own career, the Flames will be very happy. But he still has a long way to go.

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Patrik Laine still hasn’t found his fresh start in free agency: Around the NHL

Mike Gould — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 12:00:15 GMT

In the wake of his third season as the Calgary Flames’ general manager, Craig Conroy has been quietly efficient.

In addition to adding Carson Carels and eight other players at the NHL Draft in late June, Conroy acquired Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov from the New Jersey Devils, traded Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta to the Minnesota Wild, and signed a small army of depth players in unrestricted free agency while also inking Nemec to a five-year contract extension.

It’s been relatively light work for Conroy, who had to navigate through far harsher waters in his first summer at the helm. He may still have a bit more work to do to clear the logjam on the blue line, but for the most part, the Flames’ 2026-27 roster looks pretty much set.

But even now, six weeks into the NHL’s 2026 unrestricted free agency period, there are still many notable players in search of jobs for the upcoming season. The Flames have more defencemen than they know what to do with, but their forward group is still quite thin, especially now that Coleman is out of the picture. Conroy has stressed the importance of keeping spots open for young players, but things can always change if the injury bug bites.

With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at one of the most intriguing UFAs still on the board this deep into August: Patrik Laine, a former 44-goal scorer coming off an injury-plagued season with the Montreal Canadiens.

Patrik Laine

Left wing, shoots right
Born Apr. 19, 1998 (age 28) in Tampere, Finland
6’4″, 208 pounds

It wasn’t very long ago that Laine was considered one of the most valuable young players in the NHL. After all, the Winnipeg Jets drafted him second overall in 2016, and he rewarded them by scoring 80 goals over his first two seasons with the club. And he didn’t just score in garbage time, either; Laine racked up five goals and 12 points in 17 games during the 2018 playoffs as the Jets embarked upon a run to the Western Conference Final. He genuinely looked like the heir apparent to Alex Ovechkin in the early stages of his time in Winnipeg.

Even with his other two teams, Laine has been a productive player. He followed up his tenure with the Jets by spending parts of four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, with whom he racked up 138 points in 174 games — a 67-point pace over an 84-game schedule. And after being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2024, Laine remained a lethal power-play threat, scoring a team-leading 15 goals on the man-advantage in 2024-25 despite missing 30 games due to injury.

So, why is he still unsigned? Well, for starters, Laine has always been below-average defensively, and his recent string of injuries certainly hasn’t done anything to change that. He hasn’t finished a season with a plus rating since 2019-20, and his underlying numbers tell a similar story. Laine’s shot attempt and expected goal rates have consistently fallen short of his teammates’ throughout his career, and while that isn’t necessarily uncommon for a pure finisher, it does mean that he needs to be deployed in very specific ways to be successful.

At this stage in his career, Laine is the type of player who should play as little as possible at 5-on-5, lest his team bleed chances at an alarming rate. Remember how he scored 15 power-play goals in 52 games in the 2024-25 season? Along the way, he managed just five goals at even-strength. The Habs managed a paltry 40.26 expected goals percentage during Laine’s shifts at 5-on-5, far below the team average of 47.03. Yikes!

Laine appeared in just five games with the Canadiens in the 2025-26 season before sustaining a core muscle injury that kept him sidelined for the rest of the year. By all accounts, Laine had been cleared to return by the time Montreal went on its run to the Eastern Conference Final, but he never came particularly close to re-entering the lineup in the post-season. The Canadiens also reportedly attempted to trade Laine ahead of the March 6 deadline, but to no avail.

Of course, it’s understandable why teams might have been skittish about taking a flier on Laine when he cost $8.7 million against the salary cap. But now, after missing nearly all of last season, Laine is one of a very select handful of players eligible to sign a deal that includes performance bonuses. Typically, players can only receive such incentives on entry-level deals or 35+ contracts, but Laine is also eligible because he spent more than 100 days on Montreal’s injured reserve list in 2025-26. As such, any interested team could sign Laine to a deal with a relatively modest up-front salary but the potential to pay significantly more if he performs.

But should the Flames be that team? They would certainly be able to offer Laine a spot on the power play. But it’s hard to imagine Laine returning much in a potential deadline deal, and the Flames probably wouldn’t be interested in any sort of longer-term commitment — maybe if he were 25 instead of 28.

Additionally, the Flames already have their fair share of reclamation projects, including Yegor Sharangovich, another pure shooter who is signed for three years beyond the 2026-27 season. Sharangovich had a terrific run on the top PP unit in the 2023-24 season but has seldom played there in the years since, with his production dropping significantly. Would it not make more sense for the Flames to give Sharangovich, or even Connor Zary, an extended turn in a prominent position before turning to an external candidate?

The Flames have invested a significant amount of capital into Sharangovich. He was the main piece they coveted when they traded Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils in 2023; he scored 31 goals in his first year in Calgary and then signed a five-year, $28.75-million extension with the club. If the Flames can help Sharangovich return to the 20-goal mark (or above) on a regular basis, he could net them value in a future trade. That same outcome likely doesn’t exist for Laine, who has a significant injury history and has now gone a full month and a half without signing with an NHL team.

Nevertheless, it’ll be fascinating to see where Laine ends up. Will he join a relatively under-powered team like the Chicago Blackhawks or Vancouver Canucks in the hope of playing a larger role? Could he try to latch on as a depth piece with a contending team, perhaps in a similar role to the one Vladimir Tarasenko played with the Florida Panthers in 2024? Or could a return to Winnipeg potentially be in the cards? The Flames likely won’t be serious suitors, but both the team and its fans will certainly continue to monitor the situation.

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Classic Saddledome Moments: The time Craig MacTavish ripped Harvey the Hound’s tongue out (January 20, 2003)

Ryan Pike — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 16:00:46 GMT

As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: the Battle of Alberta gets a bit crazy, but zero players are involved in the incident.

The rivalry between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers has featured a ton of wacky situations and crazy games. Heck, there was enough that Mark Spector wrote a book about the Battle of Alberta back in 2017 and he probably had enough left over to write a second one.

One of the wackiest moments in the rivalry’s history happened on Jan. 20, 2003. And players were not involved.

The 2002-03 season wasn’t a great one for either hockey club. The Oilers were wobbling around the final Western Conference playoff spot for much of the year, but their qualification for the Stanley Cup playoffs wasn’t guaranteed. Meanwhile, the Flames hadn’t made the playoffs since 1996 and were settling in with new head coach Darryl Sutter after giving Greg Gilbert the boot about a month earlier.

Even with the Flames well below Edmonton in the standings, a mid-January clash was important to them, as they were keen on (a) clawing back towards the playoff cut line and/or (b) taking enough points off Edmonton in their season series that their provincial rivals would miss the playoffs.

The Flames got out to a 4-0 lead in this meeting, with Craig Conroy and Dave Lowry scoring in the first period and Conroy and Chris Drury added more in the second period. By the early third period, the Flames were riding high, the crowd was rowdy, and Harvey the Hound wandered a little too close to the Oilers’ bench during a stoppage in play.

Here’s how the Canadian Press recapped the incident (via the CBC):

Harvey the Hound, the Calgary Flames’ mascot, was wounded in the Battle of Alberta.

The six-foot-six, 200-pound white dog lost his foot-long red tongue at the hands of Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish.

With his team trailing by four goals early in the third period, MacTavish became annoyed with the antics of Harvey, who was pestering the Oilers’ bench from behind the glass.

MacTavish reached up and grabbed mascot’s tongue, ripping it clean out of his mouth. He then heaved the tongue back into the crowd while security scrambled to reprimand the cagey canine.

The Oilers rallied back with goals from Brian Swanson, Marty Reasoner and Mike York, but lost 4-3.

In a funny coda to all of this, at the 2003 NHL All-Star Game a few weeks after the incident, Harvey was joined in solidarity by the league’s other mascots, who added oversized, dangling tongues to their usual get-ups.

Harvey the Hound, and his tongue, continues to be a fixture at Flames home games to this day.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #16: Alan Shaikhlislamov

Flash Stevens — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 14:00:43 GMT

Our annual countdown of the top Calgary Flames prospects continues. Next up, the Flames new second round winger out of Russia, Alan Shaikhlislamov, finds himself at number 16.

Alan Shaikhlislamov

Forward; Shoots: Left
Born Sept. 4, 2008 (age 17) in Izhevsk, Russia
6’0”, 190 pounds
Drafted in the second round (55th overall) by Calgary in the 2026 NHL Draft

The highly skilled young forward got his start in the Russian junior leagues and has many quality traits in his game that you expect of top players in those programs. Pair those skills with the size he has, with the willingness to use it, and you’ve got a young player with a ton of valuable tools at his disposal.

When he got himself into the MHL league in Russia he was ready to showcase his stuff.

Last year, at 16 years old, he was able to break in and score 20 goals in the aforementioned league, doing so in 46 games. This was where he spent the majority of his campaign. Scouting reports have noted that, even in 2025, Shaikhlislamov was starting to become more of a physical presence than some of his peers – and doing so in a positive fashion.

Next up comes his draft year, and Shaikhlislamov continues to score at a quality clip. He ends up putting 18 goals on the board in 31 games. It was enough to earn him a call up to play his first ever KHL game this last season. Even though injuries cut into his season, it was more than enough to have Craig Conroy and company go to bat for him with a second round pick.

Don’t take my word for it alone, here’s some thoughts from Dylan Griffing, of Elite Prospects, on Alan Shaikhlislamov and his play:

Shaikhlislamov is an extremely promising prospect. His motor, shot, and speed set him apart from the pack at the MHL level, making him one of the best scorers in his age group. He was given a look in the KHL before going down with an injury early in the year and should definitely be seeing more opportunities there next season. If healthy all year, I foresee him splitting time between all three tiers of the Salavat Yulaev system. I think he has the ability to score at the professional level with his off-puck scoring profile and he can impact the game away from the puck, but I think the developmental focus needs to be on evolving his ability to drive play forwards himself more reliably.

Expectations for 2026-27

Honestly with Shaikhlislamov it’s simply to keep finding ways to produce. There’s zero rush on getting him over to North America. Let him hone his game in Russia, get as skilled as he possibly can against what is going to be very decent competition for a 19-20 year old player. Then, when the time is right, bring him over here and give him a shot.

I would also love to hear more about the development and growth of this tenacity in his game. “High-motor” is a phrase I saw a lot around him, and it’s curious what that could look like. Another year of development to see where his physicality and speed end up will be crucial for future evaluation. He has all the tools to be like a Carter Verhaeghe, but only time will tell.

For now we hope the young man simply does his best, and enjoys a fun year of hockey ahead.

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Classic Saddledome Moments: The time a streaker had to be stretchered off the ice (October 17, 2002)

Ryan Pike — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:48 GMT

As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: one of the most infamous fan moments in franchise history.

For whatever reason, there was a trend in past decades when people tried to streak at sporting events.

For various reasons, streaking has become less prevalent – due to better security at sporting venues, the potential for criminal charges, or everybody having phones now lending the potential for maximum embarrassment – but the Saddledome had to deal with several streakers back in the day.

The most infamous incident happened on Oct. 17, 2002, as the Flames hosted the Boston Bruins. It was a pretty back-and-forth game, with the two clubs tied at 3-3 late in the third period. (The game ended as a tie.)

Here’s a snippet of the Canadian Press recap of the game, via the CBC:

Boston captain Joe Thornton had a great night on the scoresheet, but it was streaker who stole the show in the Bruins’ 3-3 tie against the Calgary Flames.

Wearing only a pair of red socks, he scaled the glass near the penalty box during a stoppage in play and just over five minutes to play in the game.

He apparently slipped when his feet touched the ice and landed hard on his back and head, knocking himself unconscious.

After a delay of six minutes, he was removed on a stretcher to a huge ovation from the Pengrowth Saddledome crowd.

Our pals over at Daily Hive caught up with the 2002 streaker, Tim Hurlbut, in June 2023. Hurlbut described his motivations for his antics as a 21-year-old college student, and also described the aftermath – medical, legal and otherwise.

Hurlbut ended up being fined $2,500 and had to perform 35 hours of community service while also taking a course on the evils of alcohol abuse. On top of that, he also had to pay for the ambulance costs and took a good old-fashioned tongue lashing from Judge Cheryl Daniel, who failed to see the humour in the situation, telling Hurlbut he had made a “pathetic spectacle of yourself splayed naked on the ice for six minutes until you were covered.”

Needless to say: uh… don’t do what Tim Hurlbut did, folks. It’s a very memorable piece of Saddledome history, but it’s also a pretty cringe part of building lore, too.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #17 Kirill Zarubin

Ryley Delaney — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:00:33 GMT

After a few seasons in Russia’s Junior Hockey League, Kirill Zarubin will come over to North America.

Earlier this off-season, the Calgary Flames signed the 2024 third-rounder to an entry-level contract, making him eligible to play for either the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush or the American Hockey League’s Calgary Wranglers.

It’s a big step forward for the 20-year-old netminder, who is one of the Flames’ best goaltending prospects, ranking as our 17th-best this off-season. I ranked Zarubin as my 17th-best prospect, but he was ranked anywhere from seventh to off the ballot by others.

That being said, let’s take a look at what the goaltending prospect has to offer.

Kirill Zarubin

Goaltender; catches left
Born Sept. 20, 2005 (age 20) in Penza, Russia
6’3”, 207 pounds
Drafted in the third round (84th overall) by Calgary in the 2024 NHL Draft

The Flames have targeted Russians in the draft over the course of general manager Craig Conroy’s tenure. In the first two drafts, 2023 and 2024, they selected a Russian netminder who was coming off a season in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL), Yegor Yegorov in 2023 and Zarubin in 2024.

Zarubin has consistently put up better numbers of the two. In 2022-23, he posted a .901 save percentage and 3.67 goals against average in 25 games with Tula Mikhailov Academy’s under-18 team. He split his time between the u18 and u20 team in 2023-24, posting a .944 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average with the u20, leading to the Flames picking the Penza product 84th overall in 2024.

While neither his 2024-25 nor 2025-24 were as good as his 2023-24, Zarubin still managed to post strong numbers. The 2024-25 season saw the 6’3” netminder finish the year with a .935 save percentage and 2.34 goals against average. His save dipped marginally in 2025-26, finishing the year with a .930, though his goals against average dropped to 2.17. However, he started the lion’s share of the games, appearing in 48 games.

Additionally, Zarubin made his professional debut in Russia, appearing in the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL). Over 65 minutes, Zarubin allowed just one goal on 41 shots for a .976 save percentage and 0.92 goals against average. Then in the post-season, Zarubin finished with a .950 save percentage and 1.63 goals against average in four games, a career-high in games played.

A step up in competition is sorely needed for the 20-year-old, and he’ll get that in the form of professional hockey in North America in 2026-27.

We reached out to Elite Prospects‘ Dylan Griffing about Zarubin’s 2025-26 campaign: “Zarubin played his final season in the MHL last year, establishing himself as one of the top goaltenders in the league, especially with his performances in the playoffs.” In terms of Zarubin coming to North America after signing his entry-level deal, he added these thoughts:

“In general, I don’t love the idea of signing a player out of the MHL, but getting in on goaltender prospects before they become professionals in Russia is becoming standard for NHL clubs. As good as it is to get him in the system early, it does pose problems of consistent playing time and the risk of that delay making a return home more enticing, but it allows for a more hands on approach to his development should the Flames feel he is a part of their future.”

Expectations for 2026-27

With Zarubin signing his entry-level contact and Yegorov joining Miami University (Ohio), the Flames now have three Russian goalies in North America. The other one, Arsenii Sergeev, made his National Hockey League debut in 2025-26 and figures to get most starts at the AHL level.

Sergeev signed his ELC after a terrific season at Penn State, and his 2025-26 season could be used as a template for Zarubin in 2026-26. While he started 29 games in the AHL, the most of any goalie to play for the Wranglers this past season, Sergeev also played 12 games for the Rush as well.

With Sergeev and Owen Say at the AHL level, it wouldn’t be surprising if most of Zarubin’s season is spent in Rapid City, South Dakota. If he performs well, he could get a look in the AHL and position himself to get regular playing time at the level in 2027-28.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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The hockey world remembers the late, great Peter Maher

Ryan Pike — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:50 GMT

The Calgary Flames announced the passing of the late, great Peter Maher on Thursday at the age of 79.

After a stint doing play-by-play for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maher moved west and joined the radio broadcast team for the relocated Calgary Flames prior to their inaugural 1980-81 season. After a year spent being the host and roving reporter, Maher switched spots with incumbent play-by-play commentator Bart Dailley for the second season, and the rest is history.

Maher called every single Flames game from the start of the 1981-82 season until his retirement following the 2013-14 campaign, spanning the QR 810, QR 770, 660 CFR and FAN 960 eras of Flames radio broadcasts. Johnny Gaudreau’s first NHL goal, scored in the final game of that season, was the final goal Maher called in his career. He was honoured by the Hockey Hall of Fame as the Foster Hewitt Award winner in 2006 and had the radio broadcast booth in the Saddledome named in his honour in 2014. Following his retirement, Calgary’s media contingent began giving out the Peter Maher Good Guy Award to the Flames player that best exemplified Maher’s values, with Maher personally presenting the award to each year’s winner.

As news of Maher’s passing circulated in the hockey world, countless friends, colleagues and luminaries shared their remembrances of a great ambassador for the sport and an exceptional human being.

Sad day in Calgary, as we report the legendary radio voice of the Flames, Peter Maher, has passed away.
A man of immense class, integrity and heart, Maher was a mentor to many and a comforting voice for Flames fans for 32 years.
It was impossible not to love the man.
There is a… pic.twitter.com/GRM5mY8sPE

— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) August 13, 2026

Francis wrote a tremendous column at Sportsnet honouring Maher’s memory.

Gutted by the news of Peter Maher's passing; it hits like a death in the family. We travelled together for 19 years, covering the Flames on the road. One of the great broadcasting voices of his generation; and wonderful human being. Rest in peace, old friend.

— Eric Duhatschek (@eduhatschek) August 13, 2026

In the history of the Calgary Flames, exactly three people have done radio play-by-play calls of their games: Dailley, Maher, and Derek Wills.

I am shocked and saddened by Peter’s passing.

I texted with Peter yesterday and told him how cool it was to hear some of his historic calls on @QRcalgary again. He was so happy to hear that @NHLFlames games would still be broadcast on the radio.

The biggest honour of my life… https://t.co/14zBv6hmGi

— Derek Wills (@dwillsnhl) August 13, 2026

Peter was an incredible broadcaster, the best at his craft, and the most prepared and hardworking person I’ve been around.

Pete was also just a great man. A rockstar who only carried himself like a teammate, friend, and mentor.

Rest easy, Pete. What an honour to know you. https://t.co/rqUgms9ahy

— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) August 13, 2026

Hard to find words today. You won’t find anyone who was more universally loved than Peter Maher. Everyone loved Pete.

Everyone.

He made it impossible not to.

Kind and respectful to all, Peter truly was a legend and one of the finest men I’ve ever known.

— Dean Molberg (@960boomer) August 13, 2026

Peter Maher was a hero of mine as a young play-by-play broadcaster. His call was iconic. He described the game with great detail, but always kept up with the pace of play. He treated each game with huge respect and importance. One of a kind.

— Ryan Pinder (@PinderReport) August 13, 2026

The Peter Maher Award says it all; sincerity, integrity dedication and respect. Peter was that along with a passionate high energy Hall of Fame call. Condolences to all who were impacted by Peter in the Calgary sports community. https://t.co/ai7gLoamYr

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) August 13, 2026

Peter Maher became a mainstay in Calgary, as the Voice of the Flames, in the 2nd year of the franchise. This followed a stint in Toronto, as The Maple Leafs’ radio voice.

Shocked to hear of his passing today. He was as much a part of the Flames, as any coach or any player.

A…

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) August 13, 2026

Very sad to hear the passing of Peter, the longtime voice of the Flames. I had the privilege of playing for the Flames so Peter was the familiar voice throughout some very special years including our 1989 S.C. championship with his unmistakable “ Yeah , baby ! “ Peter was a true… https://t.co/QVv7I2hVfp

— Al MacInnis (@AMacInnis2) August 13, 2026

Last, but not least, the mayor of Calgary, Jeromy Farkas, released a very lovely statement summing up a lot of how fans are feeling right now.

“You can put it in the win column!”

For more than three decades, when Peter Maher said those words, Calgary knew exactly what they meant. Today, our city has lost one of its great voices.

From his first Flames season in 1980, through the 1989 Stanley Cup and the unforgettable… pic.twitter.com/O8k2TbOSrj

— Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas (@JeromyYYC) August 13, 2026

We definitely encourage you to check out Barn Burner’s tribute show from Thursday night for more tributes from Maher from a ton of people that spent a lot of time with him.

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The future of hockey coverage is bigger than one team, one market, or one platform. By bringing our local hockey brands together under Daily Faceoff, we’re creating a more complete hockey experience — one that gives fans the best of local passion and league-wide expertise, all in one place. The community remains at the centre. The experience is simply expanding as part of the next evolution of how we cover the game.

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Legendary Flames radio broadcaster Peter Maher passes away

Mike Gould — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:22:13 GMT

On Thursday, the Calgary Flames announced the passing of Peter Maher, who broadcast their games on the radio from the team’s inception in 1980 until his retirement in 2014.

Maher was 79. He remains beloved among multiple generations of Flames fans, many of whom grew up listening to his play-by-play during the team’s runs to the Stanley Cup Final in 1986 and 2004, as well as their only championship win in 1989, and he retained his prominence in the Calgary hockey community throughout his retirement.

It is with deep regret and sadness that the Calgary Flames organization acknowledge the passing of Peter Maher, the legendary voice of the Flames.

🔗: https://t.co/4FdkcJ8LBp pic.twitter.com/JEdpAShUDT

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) August 13, 2026

Born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, Maher began his radio career in 1977 as the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs before moving to Calgary in 1980 to join the radio broadcast for the newly relocated Flames. In total, Maher called 2,954 games over 33 seasons of Flames hockey, working with numerous different colour commentators including Mike Rogers, Doug Barkley, and Peter Loubardias. He finished his radio career with a long stint at CFAC 960 AM, then branded Sportsnet 960 The FAN, which went off the air last month after more than a century of transmission.

Maher always called an entertaining game and frequently made use of two catchphrases: “You can put it in the win column,” after each win; and “Yeah baby!” after any particularly important moments, such as Martin Gelinas’ series-winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings in 2004. He was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and a decade later, he received the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.

The greatest of all time 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/vh6fBgbTSO

— Daily Faceoff Calgary (@dfocalgary) August 13, 2026

Outside of his obligations with the Flames, one of Maher’s most notable career achievements was serving as the national radio commentator for the entire slate of men’s hockey games at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, with thousands of Canadians tuning in to hear him broadcast Sidney Crosby’s “Golden Goal.”

After Derek Wills became the radio voice of the Flames in 2014, the team recognized Maher by renaming the radio broadcast booth at the Scotiabank Saddledome in his honour. Additionally, the Flames subsequently introduced the Peter Maher “Good Guy” Award, presented each year — with Maher in attendance — by the local media group “to the Flames player that best demonstrates the virtues of Peter: Sincerity, Integrity, Dedication and Respect.” (Blake Coleman won the award for the 2025-26 season).

On Thursday, the Flames shared a statement from Maher’s family, which said it is “heartbroken by his passing and grateful for the love, friendship and support he received throughout his life.”

We here at FlamesNation express our deepest condolences to the Maher family and join the rest of the Calgary hockey community in remembering Peter’s tremendous contributions to the game.

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Greatest Saddledome Games: The Flames score a baker’s dozen against the Sharks (February 10, 1993)

Ryan Pike — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:00:30 GMT

As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: the Flames’ most one-sided regular season victory ever, in a game that featured some record-breaking performances.

Friends, sometimes regular season games are just… there. The National Hockey League’s season features 80-plus games and often, if we’re being honest, games come and go with little consequence aside from adding a couple points in the standings.

But sometimes regular season games become something special, but usually it’s because they get a bit out of hand. With that in mind: let’s talk about the most one-sided home win in the history of the Saddledome, on Feb. 10, 1993, where the Flames got a measure of revenge for some prior setbacks.

The lead up

The Flames had missed the playoffs during the prior season, 1991-92, snapping a streak of making the post-season that had lasted since early in the Atlanta days. They bounced back in 1992-93 under new head coach Dave King, and were one of the better teams in the Pacific Division and Western Conference by mid-season.

The Sharks were in their second year… and they were bad. But despite being bad, they had beaten the Flames twice during the prior season, representing the franchise’s first win, first home win and first road win.

The box score

Suter Cgy (high-sticking) – 2:31, first period
San Jose (1-0) – Johan Garpenlov (11) (Kelly Kisio, Jeff Odgers) PP – 2:51, first period
Evason SJ (hooking) – 4:24, first period
Stern Cgy (high-sticking, fighting), Zmolek SJ (fighting) – 9:40, first period
Calgary (1-1) – Gary Suter (12) (Robert Reichel) – 12:26, first period
Calgary (2-1) – Robert Reichel (24) (Gary Suter, Jeff Reese) – 12:43, first period
Calgary (3-1) – Gary Roberts (32) (Theo Fleury, Gary Suter) – 16:07, first period
Calgary (4-1) – Ronnie Stern (6) (Joel Otto) – 18:41, first period
Odgers SJ (high-sticking) – 19:59, first period

Stern Cgy (roughing) – 3:27, second period
Reichel Cgy (unsportsmanlike conduct) – 10:22, second period
Calgary (5-1) – Gary Roberts (33) (Paul Ranheim, Jeff Reese) – 13:41, second period
Calgary (6-1) – Robert Reichel (25) (Craig Berube, Theo Fleury) – 14:13, second period
Yawney Cgy (holding the stick) – 14:37, second period
Wilkinson SJ (holding) – 17:31, second period
Calgary (7-1) – Theo Fleury (20) (Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts) – 19:32, second period

Calgary (8-1) – Gary Suter (13) (Theo Fleury, Robert Reichel) – 0:17, third period
Calgary (9-1) – Chris Lindberg (9) (Theo Fleury, Robert Reichel) – 0:40, third period
Calgary (10-1) – Ronnie Stern (7) (Frank Musil, Al MacInnis) – 0:53, third period
Calgary (11-1) – Robert Reichel (26) (Al MacInnis, Jeff Reese) – 9:41, third period
Calgary (12-1) – Ronnie Stern (3) (Gary Roberts, Frank Musil) – 14:00, third period
Calgary (13-1) – Brian Skrudland (6) (Theo Fleury, Frank Musil) – 16:00, third period
Berube Cgy, Zmolek SJ (roughing) – 16:38, third period

Final Score: Calgary 13, San Jose 1

W: Jeff Reese (1 goal against on 27 shots); L: Arturs Irbe (7 goals against on 21 shots), Jeff Hackett (6 goals against on 15 shots) [Irbe started the game but was replaced by Hackett to start the second period. Hackett, in turn, was pulled at 3:23 of the third, with Irbe going back in.]

The aftermath

The Calgary Herald‘s recap of the game included this excellent summary:

The Flames established one National Hockey League record, five franchise records and one unofficial team mark as they scratched San Jose Sharks 13-1 in a National Hockey League scoring parade before a crowd of 18,656.

The three goals scored to open the third period set an NHL record for the fastest three goals scored in one game. Jeff Reese’s three assists by a goalie set an unofficial NHL record – the league, at the time, didn’t have extensive goalie scoring records, because why would they? – that’s now fully recognized. Theo Fleury’s plus-9 was a franchise record and was one off the NHL record. 13 goals scored in a single game remains a Flames franchise record.

The Sharks went on to set an NHL record for losses in a single season. The Flames made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings.

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FN’s 2026 Flames summer prospect rankings – #18 (Tied): Eric Jamieson

Ryan Pike — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:00:01 GMT

The Calgary Flames have been stockpiling defenceman since Craig Conroy became general manager in 2023. In addition to adding a few strong young blueliners via trade, they’ve also accumulated a ton via the NHL Draft.

It’s easy to get excited about the razzle-dazzle of puck-movers like Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, or the all-around prowess of someone like Carson Carels, all fairly early draft selections as youngsters. But the Flames have found some later-round gems, too, like hometown product Eric Jamieson.

Fresh off an NCAA championship with the University of Denver in the spring, Jamieson checks in tied at 18th on our annual prospect countdown.

Eric Jamieson

Defenceman; shoots left
Born July 15, 2005 (age 21) in Calgary, Alberta
6’3″, 205 pounds
Drafted in the sixth round (177th overall) by Calgary in the 2024 NHL Draft

A local kid, Jamieson played his hockey with the Blackfoot minor hockey association. He moved onto high-level competition locally, playing with the Calgary Northstars and CNHA Canucks before moving onto the Edge School. His efforts there earned some attention from junior scouts, and he was drafted by the Everett Silvertips in the 2020 WHL Prospect Draft.

After making his debut as a call-up with the Silvertips in December 2021 and playing 12 games as a 16-year-old, he broke through in the WHL full-time the following season. A late-round pick in the Dub’s draft, taken in the ninth round, Jamieson’s done a great job building his game up over time. In 2022-23, he had 13 points in 65 games and wasn’t selected in the NHL Draft in his first season of eligibility. In 2023-24, in his 18-year-old season, he had 32 points in 66 games and ended up taken by the Flames in the sixth round in his second year of eligibility.

In 2024-25, his 19-year-old season, he found another level as he was (a) named captain of the Silvertips and (b) entrusted with being the primary defensive partner of exceptional status player Landon DuPont. He had 36 points in 66 games, and his steady play really helped DuPont adjust quickly to the Western League level while DuPont’s puck-moving abilities – once he got adjusted to the Dub – helped bring out a bit more dynamism in Jamieson’s game.

With the NCAA rules changing, though, Jamieson had some options after his 19-year-old year. He could go back to a very good Everett team for his overage year, serve as captain, and probably play another strong year alongside DuPont. Or he could go for Door #2 and head to college, where he would face unknown challenges. He chose Door #2, joining the University of Denver.

It’s hard to imagine how it could have gone much better for him. Jamieson was a fixture on the top two defensive pairings for the Pioneers, usually playing with one of Eric Pohlkamp or Garrett Brown. Heck, Jamieson was most a top pairing guy for the back half of Denver’s season alongside Pohlkamp, who was a Hobey Baker finalist. Jamieson posted 18 points in 43 games, helped Denver capture an NCAA national championship, and was one of the top academic performers in his conference. As a 20-year-old freshman. Not bad!

We reached out to Nick Allen, last season’s sports editor (and now editor-in-chief) at the Denver Clarion, the University of Denver’s student newspaper, for his insights on Jamieson’s freshman campaign:

Like the rest of the DU hockey team, Eric Jamieson finished the season with a lot of momentum. He was a key part of the mid-season turnaround that took Denver through to the national championship. Despite his inexperience, Jamieson did not look out of place alongside the likes of Hobey Baker finalist Eric Pohlkamp and captain Kent Anderson in Denver’s defense. Jamieson will have big shoes to fill next season, with many experienced defenders graduating, but with his freshman performances he seems to be the man for the job. There’s no telling how far he can take his game with a bigger role in Denver, but he is in a position to take a huge step up.

Expectations for 2026-27

The exciting thing about Jamieson is that he’s shown the ability to keep finding new levels to his game each season. He may not be the most flashy player on the ice, but the guy has chops, and he’s shown the ability to adapt really nicely to playing with some really good players. Case in point: his primary defensive partners the past two seasons have been DuPont, one of the most exciting defenders in the WHL in years, and Pohlkamp, who contended for the title of being the top college player in America. And Jamieson did a lot to help both of those guys succeed.

In his sophomore year, the idea is probably for Jamieson to do more of the season. We’re curious to see if he can take the step towards being a driver in his own right rather than a high-level complimentary defender. But if you look at the big names in the Flames system, primarily right-shot puck-movers, you could see how someone with adaptability and versatility like Jamieson could slot in. With a strong second year with the Pioneers, Jamieson could force a conversation with the Flames about putting pen to paper before too long.

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