One Game Wonders: Randy Turnbull

In the history of the Flames franchise, 606 players have tugged a red sweater over their heads and suited up for a regular season game. Of those, 22 played just a single game for either the Calgary or Atlanta Flames. We call them One Game Wonders.

Let’s talk about another One Game Wonder, Randy Turnbull.

A kid from nearby Bentley, Alberta – just north of Red Deer – Turnbull played his junior hockey for the Portland Winterhawks and was a fifth round pick of the Flames in 1980. He was the first Alberta-born player drafted by the Flames after their move north from Atlanta.

Midway through the 1981-82 season, as a 19-year-old, Turnbull got a crack at playing in the NHL. With the Flames missing a few bodies, Turnbull was summoned from his Christmas break. He made his NHL debut on Dec. 28, 1981 at home against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was minus-1 in a 7-4 loss to the Flyers.

Turnbull was returned to the Dub and finished the season with Portland, helping the Winterhawks capture the league championship.

He went pro the following season as a 20-year-old and languished in the minors from then on out. He spent five seasons in the Flames’ minor league system, playing for Colorado, New Haven, Peoria and Salt Lake. His peak offensive season saw him put up 24 points in 81 IHL games. He retired in 1987-88 following a brief spell with the IHL’s Flint Spirits.