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Southern Hockey History: Jim Craig wins debut with Atlanta Flames

Olympic hero stopped 24 shots in Flames win over Rockies on March 1, 1980

Less than a week after leading the United States to a stunning gold medal win in the 1980 Winter Olympics, Jim Craig found himself in the NHL, tending goal for the Atlanta Flames after signing a contract with the club that drafted in the fourth-round of the 1977 Entry Draft.

The night was March 1, 1980 and a capacity crowd of 15,156 filled The Omni in Atlanta as Craig stopped 24 shots to lead the playoff-bound Flames past the lowly Colorado Rockies by a 4-1 count.