#30 Mike Vernon

The Calgary Flames honoured on of their best tonight as they retired Mike Vernon's number 30 to the rafters at the Saddledome. This is only the second time the Flames have retired a player's number. On 17 March 1990, the Flames retired Lanny McDonald's number 9.

I had to listen to the ceremony on the radio...actually, internet radio. I wish I was there or at least had a chance to see it televised as this is such a rare occasion. Not only is it rare for the Flames to retire a jersey, but Mike Vernon played most of his hockey in Calgary. He not only played his junior, minor, and pro career in the city of Calgary, his was also born in Calgary. Vernon holds multiple records for the Flames, including most games played and most games won in both the regular season and playoffs.

Another reason I wish I could have seen this, members of the 1989 Stanley Cup winning team were there for the ceremony. This includes Joe Nieuwendyk, Al MacInnis, Jamie Macoun, Joel Otto, Theo Fleury and of course Lanny McDonald. You can read my other post for Nieuwendyk, but Fleury...Theo Fleury was there! I could go on for days about Theo, but this is Mike Vernon's day.


Congratulations to Mike Vernon on a wonderful career, a true Calgarian.