The Calgary Flames & other sports related stuff

[JustKelli]

The NHL just suspended all operations until further notice. the MLB and NBA have also been suspended.

[JustKelli]

This is the new reality... it's my fault, I had to open my big mouth and say me and my guy weren't spending enough time together.

[JustKelli]

What would the Stanley Cup playoffs look like if they started today?
WRITTEN BY
SAM JARDEN

On Thursday, the NHL "paused" the 2019-20 season indefinitely amid growing concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The pause in the season comes agonizingly close to the NHL Playoffs, which were scheduled to start on April 8. It's unclear whether the season will eventually resume but league commissioner Gary Bettman seemed optimistic.


"Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup," he said. "Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy.”

While NHL teams still have between 11-14 games remaining in the regular season, it's unclear how the league would handle the schedule if it were to resume. One potential option would be to forego the remaining games and skip straight to the playoffs based on current standings, which would certainly set up some juicy first-round matchups.

With that in mind, here's how the Stanley Cup playoffs would look if they started today:

Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Bruins, who looked poised to lift the Presidents Trophy for the league's best regular-season record, would host the Columbus Blue Jackets in round one. The Blue Jackets are currently clinging on to the final wild-card spot just one point ahead of the Islanders, but they've also played two more games than their closest pursuers. Regardless of who sneaks into the final wild-card spot, the Bruins will clearly be heavy favorites given their dominance all year.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
The end of the season can't come soon enough for the Maple Leafs, who have been limping towards the finish line while holding on to third place in the Atlantic Division. The Florida Panthers just won't go away, and a late-season slump could ruin Toronto's postseason hopes. The Lightning has once again been one of the league's best teams throughout the regular season, but an injury to Steven Stamkos has coincided with a dip in form. The team is also trying to erase the embarrassment of a first-round exit last year. For what it's worth, these two teams played each other in their last game before the pause and Toronto won 2-1.

Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
This would be a rematch of last year's first-round series in which the Hurricanes bounced the defending Stanley Cup champs in seven games. The Capitals have had another successful year thanks in no small part to their captain Alex Ovechkin challenging for the Rocket Richard Trophy, but the Philadelphia Flyers are breathing down their necks for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes have been fighting for their playoff lives much like they did last year before shocking everyone with a run to the Eastern Conference finals. This is a matchup that will more than likely look different if and when the Playoffs start.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
An all-Pennsylvania series would certainly be fun to watch. The Flyers have been the hottest team in hockey for the past few weeks, winning nine games in a row before falling to the Bruins in their last game before the suspension. The Penguins, on the other hand, have lost eight of their last 11. You never know in the playoffs, though, and the Penguins have enough offensive firepower to compete with anyone in the league.

Western Conference
St. Louis Blues vs. Nashville Predators
There's been no Stanley Cup hangover in St. Louis, with the Blues looking poised to make another deep postseason run. They strung off eight wins in a row just a few weeks ago to establish themselves in first place in the Central Division, but the Colorado Avalanche remain just two points behind. Nashville has a precarious grip on the final wild-card spot in the West, with a slump from Vancouver dropping the Canucks one point behind the Predators. The Minnesota Wild are also still lurking in case anyone slips up.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
This would be another must-watch series. Nathan MacKinnon has helped give the Avalanche the offensive boost they needed to turn back into a contender this season. He did fall victim to a lower-body injury just days before the league was paused, but the timeline was short enough that he'll almost certainly be back when play resumes. The Dallas Stars have turned their season around after a dreadful start and have the look of a playoff dark horse about them. Interestingly, Dallas has won all four of the matchups between these two Central Division rivals this season.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets
The Golden Knights have taken advantage of a weak division to seize first place in the Pacific, currently holding a two-point lead over the surging Edmonton Oilers. Some oddsmakers have even installed them as favorites to win the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, against all odds, the Winnipeg Jets still find themselves in a playoff position despite battling defensive woes all year. Paul Maurice has done a commendable job, but it's still likely that the Jets slip out of the playoff spots before the end of the season. Nashville, Vancouver or Minnesota could all find themselves facing off against Vegas if and when the postseason begins.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
Wouldn't this be fun? The Battle of Alberta roared into life once again this season with some feisty matchups featuring a goalie fight and plenty of other extracurricular activities. There will certainly be no love lost between Edmonton's Zack Kassian and Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk after the two feuded on and off the ice throughout the season. Edmonton was hot in the weeks before the season paused, with superstar duo Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl providing an explosion of offense. The Flames have been inconsistent and sit just one point above Vancouver for the third spot in the Pacific Division, but they did win three out of their four games against the Oilers during the regular season.

[JustKelli]

Use your voice, you can make a difference. That includes here and the unfairness in GD



The Calgary Flames Have Decided To Offer Financial Support To Part-Time Staff After All

Britanny Burr1 hour ago

Updated on*March 16 @ 11:47 AM

Ronniechua | Dreamstime

The Calgary Flames have changed plans and decided to offer an "income bridge support program," after all. Before their announcement on Sunday, March 15, players and fans had been stepping up in efforts to help all of the out-of-work arena staff. The announcement explained that employees who are applying for Employment Insurance will also receive a "top-up" from the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) which will get the*Calgary Flames employees*up to about 95% of their wages.*

The NHL declared its suspension on Thursday, March 12. Following this, it was announced that the players would still be making their wages during the temporary shutdown.

Though, the Flames also announced that their 1,500 hourly and events staff members wouldn’t be paid.

A*GoFundMe program was started*by a fan and several players including*Mark Giordano, Milan Lucic, Sam Benette, Sean Monahan, and Zac Rinaldo made generous donations.

Now, after receiving much criticism, The Calgary Flames have seemingly had a change of heart.

On Sunday, March 15 the CSEC*released an announcement*that explained that they will be "adopting an income bridge support program."

The letter was addressed to all of their*part-time employees*and began with the reassurance that though they may not always get it right, they will continue to "work hard to do what is right" for everyone.

The Flames explained in their release that they have received a ton of information since they announced that they wouldn’t be offering their employees financial support. They also said they have been communicating directly with many of their part-time staff.

As a result, they’ve launched their employee support program.

The program will help top-up the Employment Insurance (EI) that employees are receiving. The top-up should get employees up to about 95% of their wages during the suspension.

According to the release, this is the “maximum allowable by Service Canada.” This financial assistance will last until the Flame’s regular reason ends.

For individuals who don’t qualify for EI, the organization will be helping them out, as well.

“If you are not eligible to receive EI benefits due to not working sufficient hours you will receive the equivalent CSEC top up portion,” they wrote.

Things are rapidly changing for Albertans. For some, the province will be offering immediate EI. For others, especially hourly and part-time workers, the pressure is on the organizations.*

[JustKelli]

The plan is for the NHL season to resume in August and he playoffs in September with a very short break and then go straight into the 20-21 season. The Stanley cup had only once not been awarded in modern history due to a lockout back in 2005

Ironically the other time was in 1919 due to the Spanish flu.

The first player to test positive is an Ottawa Senator but the name is being withheld as he is in isolation.

The "Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth", the Calgary Stampede laid off 80 percent of its staff this morning and for the first time in history the Stampede is in danger of being cancelled this July...

[Lonewolf]

Sorry, Kel... not a big hockey fan here, though was somewhat of a fan of the NY Rangers at one time. (Baseball fan at the moment, but things being what they are...) Props though for your persistence... preach, sista, preach!

[JustKelli]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

Sorry, Kel... not a big hockey fan here, though was somewhat of a fan of the NY Rangers at one time. (Baseball fan at the moment, but things being what they are...) Props though for your persistence... preach, sista, preach!

I've also been known to post the odd image of myself here where the mods aren't so uptight as in GD lol. One day that will be your kingdom to rule as a great leader lol.

[JustKelli]

Interesting!!! 5 mods in a section that sees 10 posts a week yet only 1/2 a mod in GD. Well played.

NHL owners have scheduled a conference call for Monday to discuss mounting losses said to be as much as 1 billion

IIHF Tournament Officially Cancelled

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IIHF*officially announced today*that they have cancelled the upcoming Men’s World Hockey Championship slated to take place in Switzerland in May. IIHF President Rene Fasel released the following statement:

This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept.* The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread. The IIHF must do all it can to support this fight. We have to set sport aside for now and support both the government bodies and the ice hockey family.

The annual tournament featured numerous NHL players whose teams were eliminated from the playoffs early as well as a mixture of the some of the top international talents around the world that haven’t made it to the NHL yet.*

[wildwest08]

When the Stanley Cup Final Was Canceled Because of a Pandemic

In 1919, a second wave of cases of the previous year’s flu lead to the sudden death of the hockey championship

http://smithsonianmag.com/histo...=pocket-newtab

.

[JustKelli]

^^^^^ The Spanish Flu was a real problem back then. We've come full circle...

NHL*CALGARY FLAMES

Mar 21, 2020

Flames launch support program for COVID-19

The Calgary Flames Foundation will donate $1.15 million to Calgary organizations in the city and southern Alberta who are in need of financial aid due to the COVID-19 pandemic

TSN.ca Staff

The Calgary Flames Foundation will donate $1.15 million to Calgary organizations in the city*and southern Alberta*who are*in need of financial aid due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“During this unprecedented time in our community and under extraordinary circumstances, it is the important work being done through these charities, health care professionals and critical service groups that make all the difference,” said Jeff McCaig, Chairman of the Calgary Flames Foundation. “We thank these individuals that are working on the front line and keeping us safe.”

The funding will be delivered to many organizations next week including the United Way, Calgary Drop-In Centres, Calgary Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids, Kids Help Phone, Calgary Counselling Centre, YW Calgary, Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and others.

We have 259 cases in Alberta as of yesterday. Double that of last Thursday.

Reports say a cure is 18 months away