BATTLE OF ALBERTA
Cammalleri on a new side
It’s the type of trivia question sure to stump Flames and Oilers fans alike.
How many players in NHL history have been on both sides of the Battle of Alberta?
Even the most casual of observers could spot you a Steve Smith, Martin Gelinas, Kent Nilsson, Curtis Glencross, Kris Russell or an Andrew Ference.
Surely, a few on the list of rather renowned goaltenders pop into one’s mind, like Curtis Joseph, Grant Fuhr, Dwayne Roloson or Fred Brathwaite.
Granted, it might be a tad harder to recall German Titov, Jeff Brubaker, Roman Hamrlik, Bryan Marchment, Igor Kravchuk or Michel Petit.
Turns out 41 men have experienced life on both sides of the former bloodbath, a number that expanded when Mike Cammalleri was traded to the Edmonton Oilers two weeks ago.
“That is a bigger number than I would have thought,” said Cammalleri, echoing the response of many local hockey fans.
“Then again, how long have both teams been in the league?”
Thirty-seven years and just 41 men to wear both uniforms — a list Cammalleri never fathomed he’d be on during either tour of duty with Calgary between 2008 and 2014.
“You don’t think those ways,” said the 35-year-old Toronto native.
“It was great to be part of the Battle of Alberta as a Calgarian and it’s a pretty unique experience to do it from both ends. I didn’t think many guys had done it. I just remember Stevie Staois and a couple other guys. It’s cool to get to experience both.
“I never really thought about playing against Calgary in the blue and orange. It’s all part of the journey.”
That 16-year excursion of his has the 300-goal man returning to Calgary on Saturday night with an Oilers team seven points back of the Flames and reeling from a late loss to Toronto Thursday. It was a setback that didn’t include Cammalleri as he was a healthy scratch following seven games with the Oilers in which he had two assists while playing with everyone from Connor MacDavid to the fourth line.
A hand injury a few years back interrupted a solid season in New Jersey and the next year he never got back on track. It led to a buyout last summer and subsequent signing with another former club, Los Angeles, where his wife and three young kids remain, for now.
“It’s been hectic,” sighed Cammalleri whose 2012 trade from Montreal to Calgary was famously consummated and announced in the middle of a Habs game, which he had to leave early.
“I’ve got to be objective and see where I’m at and I feel great physically and can’t see why I can’t be the player I’ve always been. I think this stuff all builds layers on you, if you’re strong enough you’ll persevere and it makes you stronger. I’m optimistic still.”
Will Saturday’s return to Calgary be emotional in any way?
“There’s always something special to the dynamic but undoubtedly you become a little numb to it — 16 years in it is a work trip,” said Cammalleri, who scored a career-high 39 goals with the Flames in 2008-09.
“One thing that doesn’t change is the excitement of playing against friends like Gio (captain Mark Giordano). I always feel when I play against a guy like Gio, who is so good and so strong, it just brings out the best in my oneon-one compete against him.”
Giordano, quite frankly, isn’t feeling similar love.
“We were in L.A. earlier this year and he didn’t throw out the invite for dinner, so I gave it to him a little bit about that,” smiled Giordano, who had Cammalleri and his family to his house last summer.
“I might hold that against him.” In vintage Cammalleri form, he didn’t hesitate to fire back, adding another dimension to Saturday’s battle.
“The only reason I didn’t invite him to dinner in L.A. is, what’s the statute of limitations? How many times can you go out to dinner with a guy and he never pulls out his wallet? I think he’s probably 0-for-10 or 20 now. Maybe I’ll invite (Matt) Stajan and so at least I know somebody else will chip in.”
Game on. Let the battle begin once again.
That is a bigger number (of Battle of Alberta participants) than I would have thought. Then again, how long have both teams been in the league?