The Calgary Flames may not be headed into a big season on the ice, but their goaltending duo is already turning heads before training camp even gets going.
Dustin Wolf and Devin Cooley were both on the ice Friday in fresh gear for the upcoming year, and the two sets couldn’t have been more different. Cooley’s setup is the one that jumps out immediately, with a fiery look that gives his pads a loud, unmistakable personality. He had already shown the gear off earlier in the offseason, but seeing it in action only makes the design pop more.
That kind of bold choice fits Cooley, who has become a fan favourite with Flames supporters thanks to the quirky off-ice personality that has helped make him stand out.
Wolf’s look is more of a tune-up than a full redesign. His gear keeps much of the same shape from last season, but there are a few noticeable changes. The biggest one is the new mask, which brings back the fierce wolf perched on top of the cage.
The “WOLF” text on the chin has also been switched from yellow to red. It’s still unclear what else the mask will include, and whether it will generate the same buzz as his Johnny Gaudreau tribute did in 2024.
On the pads, Wolf stuck with the same overall design outline, though several colour details have been adjusted. The result is a cleaner, more blocky look than what he wore last season.
The Flames are in a rebuilding year and are preparing for their final season in the Saddledome after another tough campaign that saw the club move on from most of its veteran pieces and lean into youth. Even so, Wolf and Cooley give Calgary a serviceable tandem between the pipes after both posted respectable numbers behind a bad team last season.
If the Flames are going to surprise, their goaltending will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting. At the very least, it’s going to look good doing it.
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That approach fits a broader emphasis on giving younger players a real opportunity to show they belong, rather than crowding the camp with extra names looking for a last-minute lane into the roster picture. Conroys stance also leaves the door open for the Flames prospects to make their case on merit, which is exactly the kind of camp dynamic teams usually prefer when they are trying to find out who is ready to take a step. [Read more 🡒]