'Battle of Alberta' Memories: An intense rivalry is renewed
NHL Battle of Alberta fans were spoiled in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers met five times in the playoffs: 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1991.
The Oilers won every series, except for 1986, which was the year the Flames went on to the Stanley Cup final where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens.
For many fans, the playoff games between the QE II rivals were among the most intense, exciting games they have ever seen.
CTV Calgary's Darrel Janz remembers Game 6 in the 1984 series especially well.
Janz was the public address announcer at the Saddledome that night. When the Flames' Lanny McDonald scored the winning goal in overtime, to tie the series at 3-3 and force a Game 7, Janz could hardly be heard by the fans.
"It’s the loudest I’ve ever heard the Saddledome crowd," Janz says. "I finally gave up waiting for the crowd to calm down, so I just announced the goal. While the crowd couldn’t hear what I was saying, they knew what I was saying, so they got even louder."
Janz says 20 minutes after the goal, hundreds of people were still in their seats, cherishing what Janz says was, up until that point, the biggest Flames victory over Edmonton ever.
"It was the first time they showed they could compete with Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Coffey, Fuhr and company," Janz says.
In a post-game interview with CTV News that night, Lanny McDonald agreed it was a major breakthrough.
"The guys feel we deserved that seventh game and I think we worked hard enough and proved that we definitely belong, more than belong, in this series and we've got what we want," said McDonald.
CTV News Calgary has been showing some "Battle of Alberta Memories" from our archival tapes during the 2022 edition of the Flames-Oilers playoff series. Many fans of a certain age will recognize the game highlights, interviews and celebrations along Electric Avenue that followed Flames victories.
Keep watching this webpage, and CTV News at 6, for more Battle of Alberta Memories.
Flames-Oilers Postseason History
- 1983 division finals: Oilers win 4-1
- 1984 division finals: Oilers win 4-3
- 1986 division finals: Flames win 4-3
- 1988 division finals: Oilers win 4-0
- 1991 division semifinals: Oilers win 4-3
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.