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• Al

 

 

 

 

 

Flames Win Calder Cup!

The Saint John Flames' storybook season has ended with the pinnacle of minor league success - the Calder Cup. Darrel Scoville scored the game's only goal on the power play as the Flames skated to a 1-0 victory over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Martin Brochu made 18 saves, while Rich Parent was phenomenal at the other end of the ice, stopping 38 Saint John shots.

Two months ago, the Flames' were on the verge of being sold, but managed to sell enough season tickets in the last days of the campaign to save the team. Today, Saint Johners are recovering from an evening (and perhaps a morning!) of celebration after their team captured the AHL's Calder Cup at home.

The game itself was indeed a good one. The Penguins opened strong in the first minute, but the Flames played extremely tough in the first period, allowing just one shot in the final 19 minutes of the frame. Rich Parent was the busiest player on the ice, turning aside 12 shots. The second period was almost a replica of the first. Both teams played strong, but neither could get a puck past the opposition's goaltender.

The only goal of the game came with five seconds left in the period. Sergei Varlamov controlled the puck from behind the net and waited patiently for Darrel Scoville to pinch in from the point. The Ukrainian winger fed a perfect pass to the 3^rd year defenseman, who snapped it past Parent to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.

And while most fans figured to see a strong push by the Penguins in the 3^rd period, it never really materialized. The Flames were able to control to puck for most of the period, and did not allow a Penguin shot in the final minute when Parent left in favor of an extra attacker. The Flames didn't seem concerned with scoring an empty-net goal, but were rather content on chipping the puck out of the zone and relieving the pressure. When the horn sounded on the Flames' 99^th game of the season, the team was the newest AHL champions.

• The Flames were 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Pens were 0-for-4.
• Game six featured a franchise and arena record of 6620 fans. Harbour Station only has 6137 seats.
• Steve Begin was named playoff MVP, much to the delight of his teammates and the Harbour Station crowd.
• The Flames taxi squad (scratched players) of St. Croix, Russell, Mitchell, Ling, Corupe, Elomo, and Sabourin ran on to the ice in their jerseys seconds after the Flames won the cup. All were in full hockey equipment with the exception of Elomo and Ling.

1. Scoville (Varlamov, Roche) PP.

3. Martin Brochu

2. Rich Parent

1. Darrel Scoville

Murray – Clark – Botterill

Tkaczuk – Varlamov -- Begin

Betts – Roche – Fata

Morgan – Doull -- Royer

Walser – Martin

Montador – Scoville

Mrozik – Dupont

Scratches: Chris St. Croix (healthy), Bobby Russell (healthy), Jeff Mitchell (healthy), Jamie Ling (healthy), Miika Elomo (out), Kenny Corupe (out), Dany Sabourin (healthy).