Fight at Practice Suggests Calgary Flames Finding Their Edge

Sometimes the most revealing moments don’t happen under the bright lights of a game, but on the practice ice, where scrimmages get a little real. That was the scene in Calgary recently, when Adam Klapka and Kevin Bahl — good friends off the ice — squared off in a spirited scuffle. Flames coach Ryan Huska didn’t blink. In fact, he smiled. He called it “exactly the kind of edge we’ve been missing.”

Two Teammates Punching It Out Makes the Team Notice

Think about that. Two teammates punched it out just enough to make the rest of the room notice, and the coach loves it. Why? Because it signals fire. It signals that players care, want the lineup, and are willing to push each other — and the group — to play with intensity. Huska pointed out that when one player brings that edge, it tends to spread. It drags others along, sharpens practices, and builds a culture of accountability.

Klapka and Bahl are friends, but even the closest of teammates can’t hide competitiveness. The moment is small, yes — not a game, not a fight on the ice during a match — but it’s telling. It suggests that the Flames have some players who are ready to push, to demand more of themselves and each other. And sometimes that friction is exactly what a group needs. Practice scuffles aren’t about bad blood; they’re about raising the ante, about letting everyone know the bar has been nudged up.