He shoots, he scores! The Calgary Flames vintage mug

Not to be outdone by that b-ballin’ hipster Nick, I thought I’d share one of my favorite mugs today.

I’m the type who tends to attach needless sentimental value to inanimate objects, typically out of a certain sense of nostalgia. Of that collection, the vintage Calgary Flames mug is perhaps one of my most cherished items.

The year was 1989. I, barely past my third birthday, had little understanding of the concept of hockey. But on that crisp Spring day, seeing the adulation that filled my father’s spirits as he watched his red-and-gold-jerseyed heroes lift the Stanley Cup, I knew there must have been something special about these guys.

I’m uncertain as to the exact origins of the mug, short of the fact that it’s likely one of the many pieces of Flames paraphernalia that dad loaded up on to celebrate their win. It came into my possession in recent years, however, much like a father would pass on a prized pair of cufflinks to his son on his wedding day. Actually, I think I just found it in a box of extra stuff my mom didn’t need any more when I moved out. No matter.

The mug itself, much like Doug Gilmour’s series-winning goal, shoots to score, and does so without hesitation. It’s got an impressive, solid weight to it, with enough heft to plant itself firmly on your desk without being so offensively large as to become a burden. Twenty years of wear have slightly tarnished its once-pristine polished surface, but it still maintains a decent sheen and cleanliness that prevents any nasty porcelain deposits in your beverage of choice.

The real hat trick, though, comes in the handle. As I had alluded to in my previous review, the ring is a perfectly snug fit for three fingers, leaving my pinky available to do as it pleases. This offers optimal balance and tilt control, as I can use the free digit to support the base of the mug from below, grip the sides with pinky and thumb to provide extra support, or waggle it about to boldly display my free-spirited nature to fellow mug enthusiasts.

Simply put, there’s nothing bad that I can say about this mug. It’s granted decades of proud service to my family’s name, and hasn’t let up on its winning ways, unlike the team whose banner it flies. In these dark times, it provides promise that perhaps some day, I’ll get to experience the same rush of joy that so many southern Albertans felt in 1989, and until then, it’s a perfect receptable for my hopes, dreams, and sludge-black coffee.

5/5