Our friends at the Western Hockey League are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this season, which kicks off tonight in Moose Jaw. As part of the festivities, the league is producing a count-down of the league's 50 best players - to be unveiled in January.
The precursor to their top 50 countdown was unveiled on Tuesday, and consisted of the initial "long-list" of 125 luminaries compiled by a panel of media and historians.
And as you'd expect, there's a ton of former Calgary Flames representation on that list.
MAJOR FLAMES
- Jay Bouwmeester - 279 games with the Flames; 194 games in the WHL (Medicine Hat)
- Theoren Fleury - 791 games with the Flames; 274 games in the WHL (Moose Jaw)
- Jarome Iginla - 1219 games with the Flames; 183 games in the WHL (Kamloops)
- Daymond Langkow - 392 games with the Flames; 246 games in the WHL (Tri-City)
- Tom Lysiak - 445 games with the (Atlanta) Flames; 195 games in the WHL (Medicine Hat)
- Brad McCrimmon - 231 games with the Flames; 203 games in the WHL (Brandon)
- Lanny McDonald - 492 games with the Flames; 142 games in the WHL (Medicine Hat & Calgary Centennials)
- Dion Phaneuf - 378 games with the Flames; 255 games in the WHL (Red Deer)
- Mike Vernon - 526 games with the Flames; 151 games in the WHL (Calgary Wranglers)
- Mel Bridgman - 142 games with the Flames; 136 games in the WHL (Victoria Cougars)
- Nigel Dawes - 66 games with the Flames; 245 games in the WHL (Kootenay)
- Grant Fuhr - 23 games with the Flames; 102 games in the WHL (Victoria Cougars)
- Trevor Kidd - 178 games with the Flames; 139 games in the WHL (Brandon & Spokane)
- Marty Murray - 26 games with the Flames; 264 games in the WHL (Brandon)
- Kris Russell - 147 games with the Flames; 241 games in the WHL (Medicine Hat)
- Brad Stuart - 27 games with the Flames; 191 games in the WHL (Regina & Calgary)
The WHL will have fan voting on their website open next month.