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

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryan Pike

Aug 14, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 7, 2026, 01:28 EDT

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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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