Cherish those Stanley Cup chances, boys

Outstanding walk down memory lane via The Calgary Herald, looking back on the Flames 1989 Stanley Cup win.

The focus of the story is which memories are indelibly imprinted on the minds of the winners some 25 years later. Lanny McDonald shares some special thoughts and this sentiment from Gary Roberts, reflecting on this moment with Joe Nieuwendyk and McDonald, rings especially true as the playoffs roll on today.

“I remember Joe tearing up on the blueline line when they were handing the Stanley Cup to Lanny,” said Roberts, “and I’m saying to to him ‘Hey, that was easy. How many more of those are we going to win?’ Kinda like ‘(Bleep), we’re only 23, buddy. What are you getting so worked up about.’ I shouldn’t have said it. It must’ve cursed me. He went on to win two more. And I didn’t win another one.

“So that night, on the blueline, watching Jim (Peplinski) and Huntsy and Lanny go out there, seeing Joe tearing up on the blueline when Lanny lifted the Cup, is what I remember most. And me, like ‘Relax, guys we’re going to win more of these. A LOT more.’ ”

Roberts chuckles softly, shakes his head at the folly of youth.

“And now here we are, 25 years later. Just shows you what I know.”

Source: George Johnson, Calgary Herald