Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla coaches local hockey team, chats about new GM and arena

Calgary Flames icon and legend Jarome Iginla was in Calgary to coach a local hockey team’s practice after they won a good deeds competition.

Practice with a Pro was put on by Giuseppe Pizzeria and was awarded to an Alberta hockey team a coaching session from the hockey great.

“it’s hopefully pretty straightforward. I’ve been running practices, so I’ll go out there and have some fun with them and run a practice,” Iginla told CityNews.

The Bow Valley Flames got the award for sportsmanship and teamwork both off and on the ice, including gathering toys during Christmas, packing food bank boxes, and having a hot chocolate social with a local retirement home.

Hundreds of hockey fans gathered east of Calgary in Chestermere Saturday to watch the Bow Valley Flames U-15 practice, but all eyes were on the coach of the team, Iginla, with fans eager to meet their idol.

Jarome Iginla speaks in an interview at the Chestermere Recreational Centre in Chestermere on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Jillian Code, CityNews image)

“We’ll see when we get in there. I want to keep my composure calm, but I don’t know. When I see him, I’ll be like, ‘Oh my god, let’s go,'” said one fan to CityNews.

Another spoke about the positive impact he has had on Calgary and the surrounding communities.

“It just goes to show. Look at all the support, all of the people that are out right now,” the fan said.

Iginla’s presence in and around the Calgary area has led to some rumblings that he might be interested in the vacant general manager position with the Calgary Flames.

However, he says he’s just not the right guy for the job.

“No, not my name. I think they have a great, great candidate, and I think — in Craig Conroy,” Iginla said.

“He’s done a lot of things. He was captain in the NHL for 1000 games. Done the management side for 12 years. He’s been in Calgary for 20 [years].”

FILE–Calgary Flames center Craig Conroy (24) celebrates his goal with teammate Jarome Iginla (12) during the first period of an NHL hockey game l against the Detroit Red Wings, in Detroit, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Paul Sancya

Iginla also says he’s excited the city will be getting a new arena.

“I’m happy that a new rink’s coming. I think the city deserves it, needs it,” Iginla said.

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When asked if the design should honour the old look of the Saddledome with the previous look or to go in a different direction, like with bull horns, he laughed at the suggestion.

“That would be pretty cool if you could implement something like that. I’m gonna leave that to the designers, but I wouldn’t mind seeing something with a little flavour like that of the old Saddledome,” he said.