The social media site Twitter can be a tremendous resource for anybody seeking to get information in a hurry, and it’s definitely true when it comes to fans of the 30 National Hockey League clubs. For fans of the Calgary Flames, there’s a large number of pundits, blogs and journalists to choose from.
Here’s a quick list of the Calgary Flames Twitter essentials.
The Official Calgary Flames Account: @NHLFlames
Want to know who’s starting in net or line combinations? Who scored? Who’s injured? The Flames official feed has a great mix of inside information, play-by-play and occasional behind-the-scenes tidbits.
The #Flames have recalled Max Reinhart from the #AHLHeat ~ http://t.co/6EPWYSzbHY
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 6, 2013
The Flames’ Digital Media Team: @ToriePeterson, @Kristin_Hallett and @AAVickers
They’re around the team basically every day, they often travel with the team, and these three provide some really cool insights into what’s happening with the club. Peterson provides most of the written content for the website (ranging from analysis of the Flames to their prospects), Hallett hosts the Flames TV video segments and Vickers also writes about the team for NHL.com and runs Future Considerations (so he has lots of NHL prospect tidbits, too).
#Flames Monahan went head-to-head with #Ducks Getzlaf for :50 in the first, 2:00 in the second. He’s played 12:07 total through 40 minutes.
— Aaron Vickers (@AAVickers) October 17, 2013
Sportsnet TV host Roger Millions: @RogMillions
Millions hosts all Flames telecasts on Sportsnet and is one of the most connected (and interactive) Flames-related journalists on Twitter.
Craig Conroy watching over Abby has become an important man for #Flames with the bevy of injuries. His analysis is real important.
— Roger Millions (@RogMillions) November 6, 2013
Sportsnet Radio host Pat Steinberg: @Fan960Steinberg
Another person who’s incredibly interactive is Steinberg, who co-hosts the afternoon show on Sportsnet 960 The Fan, as well as most Flames radio broadcasts and the post-game call-in show, Overtime.
On the Sven front, he was gradually phased out on Sunday as Backlund saw time on the Monahan-Hudler line in latter half of game. #Flames — Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) November 5, 2013
The TV voice of the Flames on Sportsnet, Rob Kerr: @SNRobKerr
Around the team all the time, Kerr calls every Flames game on Sportsnet and used to host the afternoon show on Sportsnet 960 radio. Outside of maybe Hall of Famer Peter Maher (who calls every Flames game on the radio), Kerr’s likely with the team the most.
Tonight’s @Sportsnet broadcast location right next to #Blimp launching pad. I’m sure nothing can go wrong. pic.twitter.com/hkJx7BZFpN — Rob Kerr (@SNRobKerr) October 24, 2013
The Sources in Abbotsford, Mike Cadarette and Dan Kinvig: @MCaddd and @DanKinvig
Cadarette covers the team for the Flames website, while Kinvig is the sports editor at the Abbotsford News. Both know the Abbotsford Heat inside and out.
Via Troy Ward and @DanKinvig , Sieloff will not make the trip to OKC/TEX. He’s in Calgary with the #Flames team doctors right now. #AHLHeat — Mike Cadarette (@MCaddd) October 15, 2013
The Calgary Herald Flames Reporters: @CruickshankCH, @KristenOdlandCH and @GeorgeJohnsonCH
Publishing six days a week, the Calgary Herald is the oldest paper in town and its only broadsheet paper. Scott Cruickshank, Kristen Odland and George Johnson cover every game and at least one of them travels with the team. These guys are a great resource for fans, especially during road trips, where getting scoops is tough for out-of-towners.
Reto Berra stretching and getting ready to leave ice first. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s starting goalie for Flames vs. Wild. — Kristen Odland (@KristenOdlandCH) November 5, 2013
The Calgary Sun Flames Reporters: @SUNRandySportak, @SUNGilbertson and @EricFrancis
Technically Calgary’s only daily paper, the Sun is the only tabloid-format paper in town and is popular for its sports pull-out sections. At least one of these three writers (Randy Sportak, Wes Gilbertson and Eric Francis) travels with the team at a time. Francis is a media fixture throughout Canada, notably from his time with Hockey Night in Canada.
Coincidence? Or a curse? #Flames leadership group has been repeatedly bitten by injury bug. My story: http://t.co/iYEVahVP9P
— Wes Gilbertson (@SUNGilbertson) November 6, 2013
Canadian Press reporter Darren Haynes: @DarrenHaynes_CP
A fixture with the Canadian Press for many years, Haynes has one of the more entertaining media blogs – discussing his thoughts on the team, plugging stories and blog posts and mixing in a great dose of humour and interesting facts from throughout his NHL writing career.
In the last 15 years, it’s been automatic. Whenever the Flames win in Anaheim, it means they’ll reach the Stanley Cup final. #ExtremeTrends — Darren Haynes (@DarrenHaynes_CP) October 16, 2013
FlamesNation overlord Kent Wilson: @Kent_Wilson
Editor of the Flames-centric news and analysis site FlamesNation.ca (disclosure: I also write there), Wilson is one of the leading proponents of advanced stats and often shares his thoughts on the Flames and the NHL, usually with a statistical bent.
Shane O’Brien facing some of the easiest competition in the league, still getting killed most nights. — Kent Wilson (@Kent_Wilson) November 4, 2013
Flames prospect Johnny Gaudreau: @johngaudreau03
Calgary’s top prospect is currently playing for the Boston College Eagles and often tweets about school and hockey.
Been extremely fortunate to play on some great teams with some great players these pass few years pic.twitter.com/xab5wh185T — John Gaudreau (@johngaudreau03) October 1, 2013
Flames forward Mikael Backlund: @mikaelbacklund11
Centerman Mikael Backlund is involved with a lot of charitable things in the Calgary-area and tweets about them. He also occasionally beaks his teammates on his feed.
Finally, #Movember is almost here! I will donate 150 dollars for every point I score and for every win the team gets in #Movember!
— Mikael Backlund (@mbacklund11) October 31, 2013
Flames forward Sean Monahan: @seanmonahan20
Calgary’s star rookie tweets a lot, though most of it is fairly vanilla (albeit still interesting).
Thank you to all the fans that came out to fanfest yesterday. @TheButler44 and I had a blast signing autographs for you guys
— Sean Monahan (@Monahan20) October 28, 2013
Tremendously funny parody account “Boring” Sean Monahan: @boringmonahan
The rookie Monahan has a reputation for not being the most colourful character in TV interviews. Someone had the idea of taking his dry nature, turn it up to 11, and make a Twitter feed. It’s pretty funny.
One of my headphones keeps falling out of my right ear. I bet it has a little L on it. If it does I’ll just switch them.
— Boring Sean Monahan (@boringmonahan) November 4, 2013
The Hockey Writers senior Flames writer Ryan Pike: @RyanNPike
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t shamelessly plug my own Twitter.
This is only the second time in 15 games that #flames haven’t been competitive in the third. Other game was Dallas.
— Ryan Pike (@RyanNPike) November 6, 2013