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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2574920" data-attributes="member: 2012">Flames start quest for return to finalsCanadian Press9/13/2005 6:49:43 PMCALGARY (CP) - Jarome Iginla is ready for the greater expectations that come from being a Western Conference champion.The Calgary Flames captain had a glint of steel in his eye Tuesday as the NHL team's training camp began, the first skate since its unlikely run through the playoffs that only stopped at Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final."It awakens something you never even knew you had when you're that close  - so we'll have to work at finding that chemistry again," said Iginla, who led the Flames with 41 goals and 73 points in the regular season and 26 points in the 2003-04 playoffs.After years of starting camp with the modest hope of making the playoffs, the Flames veterans were on the ice with a little swagger and a lot more resolve."There's no question they came hungry and that's just what a coach wants to see," said Flames assistant Rich Preston. "The (lockout) year doesn't wash away the disappointment of how we ended that year two (seasons) ago."The players know what's at stake and what they can accomplish now so they're cranked up and ready to go."And what they want is a return crack at taking home Lord Stanley's mug.If anything, this year's Flames might be a little tougher than the gritty squad that Darryl Sutter put together in 2003-2004.Included in the new Flames are Darren McCarty and rookie Dion Phaneuf, a member of last year's gold medal world junior squad whose punishing style made him a fan favourite."There's going to be a little more pressure that comes with going to the final," said the tough-as-nails McCarty, who was among the Detroit Red Wings stunned by the over-achieving Flames. "I know everybody in town is psyched up."I know everyone in the hockey world is talking about the moves that Darryl's made and the team he's put together, but we expect that."They've also added finesse and scoring ability with Roman Hamrlik, Tony Amonte and Daymond Langkow - the latter two on Iginla's line during Tuesday's skate."It's awesome out there," said veteran winger Shean Donovan. "We added a lot of depth, a lot of leadership - a guy like Darren McCarty has won three Stanley Cups so you have that intangible, he knows how to win."Calgary's defence has been bolstered with the addition of Phaneuf, who was paired with Robyn Regher on Tuesday.About 300 fans packed a community arena in northeast Calgary on Tuesday for the first skate of training camp, many wearing the flaming red jerseys that were virtually a uniform during the pre-lockout playoff run. Many waited for hours after their hockey heroes were off the ice to get autographs.The Battle of Alberta begins quickly with the Flames' first pre-season game Friday in Edmonton against the Oilers. But although the rivalry will be key - eight regular-season games and four in the pre-season - no one should forget the Flames other divisional opponents who all improved in the restructured NHL."It's going to be a battle," said Donovan. "Everyone in our conference got better, so we've got to get better just to get into the playoffs."Regher also cautioned that the picture is much more important beyond Edmonton."It's really important that we don't get ahead of ourselves here and we keep setting goals that are realistic that we can achieve," he said. "First we have to make the playoffs."Some habits die hard.</blockquote>

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