Flames mourn death of ‘kind-hearted soul’
BEIJING He loved his team.
But above all else, he loved his town.
The Calgary Flames are mourning the death of part-owner Clay Riddell, who passed away over the weekend after a brief illness.
A philanthropist, family man, business leader and sports fan, Riddell was 81.
“He loved his Flames. He loved the guys. He cared deeply about the team,” said Flames general manager Brad Treliving in Beijing. “But more than that, he cared deeply about the city. You hear the stories about when he came in (as an owner), and obviously, that was long before my time, but it certainly wasn’t the best business proposition back in the day.
“But as you got to know him, you understood why. He just felt it was the right thing to do for the city. He cared deeply about supporting causes, and he just cared about people. We are certainly going to miss him.”
The Flames skated with heavy hearts during Monday’s practice in Beijing, the second stop of the 2018 O.R.G. China Games.
Riddell purchased a slice of the team in 2003-04.
“He was a great man,” said centre Mikael Backlund, the Flames’ longest-tenured forward. “He was always very respectful, always polite. He was always excited and happy. No matter what the score was or where we were in the standings, he was always nice to me every time I talked to him and always super positive.”
Flames captain Mark Giordano chuckled as he recalled a conversation — a history lesson of sorts — with Riddell at one instalment of the Flames’ annual holiday gettogether.
“I think we were on a winning streak at Christmas for a second consecutive year,” Giordano said. “And at the Christmas party, he reminded me that the year before, we were on the same sort of winning streak, and then we tanked it pretty good after Christmas. He reminded me about that.
“He was a really good person and such a big figure in the community of Calgary … So it’s a sad day for our organization.”
Riddell’s impact on the local sports scene wasn’t limited to his stake in the Flames.
He was instrumental in bringing the Shaw Charity Classic to one of his favourite hangouts, Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club.
With Riddell as chairman of the patron group, the PGA Tour Champions shootout raised a staggering $22 million for children-based charities over its first five years. The total figures for the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic have yet to be announced, but you can expect another record-setting donation.
The success of that tournament was one of just many subjects covered when Treliving and Riddell teed it up together last summer.
“You were richer for that experience,” Treliving said. “I know that sounds a bit corny, but it was one of those days that it flew by. The four-and-a-half hours flew by. I’d shank a shot, but then you’re just looking forward to jumping back in the cart and talking to Clay.”
Many Flames skaters and staff in Beijing were remembering a man with a big heart, an unassuming nature and beaming pride in the city he called home.
“It takes your breath away,” Treliving said. “He was such a good man. So smart, and such a gentleman. We were talking (Monday) about some stories, and he just had the ability to get right to the root, to cut through all the other stuff and find a solution on a problem. And his compassion is something we can all learn a little bit from.
“He was just a such a kind-hearted soul. He cared about everybody. And there were no airs about him. He was, as we all know, very successful, but he was just a very down-home guy. I can’t say enough about him. It’s a sad, sad day.”