The Cardinal

Team Name: Calgary Flames
Founded: The franchise was originally founded in 1972 as the Atlanta Flames.
City: Started in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, before relocating to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1980.

Biggest Achievement:

• The Flames won their only Stanley Cup championship in 1989.
  
  
• They have made several deep playoff runs, including reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004.

Team Name: Belleville Senators
Founded: The team began playing in 2017.
City: Based in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.

Background:

• The Belleville Senators are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
  
  
• The team relocated from Binghamton, New York, where they were known as the Binghamton Senators before moving to Belleville.

Biggest Achievement:

• Since their move to Belleville, the Senators are still building their legacy and have not yet won a Calder Cup.
  
  
• However, as the Binghamton Senators, the franchise won the Calder Cup Championship in 2011.

Type: Deciduous tree (Prunus species, such as Prunus avium or Prunus cerasus).

Needles: None – has simple, oval, serrated leaves.

Lifespan: Typically 20–30 years for cultivated trees; some wild species live longer.

Habitat: Grows in temperate regions worldwide; prefers well-drained, fertile soils with full sunlight.

Uses: Fresh fruit, jams, pies, juices, wines, and ornamental planting for spring blossoms.

Adaptations: Blossoms early in spring to maximize fruit development in summer; deep roots help in nutrient and water uptake.

Ecological Role: Provides nectar for pollinators, fruit for birds and mammals, and habitat for insects.

Fun fact: Cherry trees can produce over 7,000 cherries in a single good season from one mature tree!

Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree.

Needles: None – has simple, serrated, oval leaves.

Lifespan: Around 20–40 years.

Habitat: Found in open woodlands, prairies, and along streams across central and eastern North America.

Uses: Eaten fresh, or used for jams, jellies, wines, and sauces; historically used in Indigenous medicine.

Adaptations: Spreads by root suckers to form dense thickets; can tolerate drought and poor soils.

Ecological Role: Provides food for birds, deer, raccoons, and pollinators; thickets offer shelter for small animals.

Fun fact: A single wild plum thicket can produce hundreds of pounds of fruit in one summer!

• A Power Play occurs when one team has more players on the ice due to an opponent’s penalty, giving them a scoring advantage.
• A Cardinal’s Call is a strategic signal or command used by a team to initiate a specific play or formation, often during key moments.
• A Forced Retreat happens when pressure from the opposing team forces players to skate back toward their own zone to regroup and regain control of the puck.

• Hockey is a Religion is a saying that highlights the deep passion, loyalty, and cultural importance fans and players have for the sport.
• Cardinal’s Blessing refers to a motivational or symbolic approval—like a coach’s or leader’s endorsement—before taking action in a game.
• The Cardinal is Furious describes a moment of intense frustration or anger from a key figure, such as a coach or team leader, often after a mistake or poor performance.