First off, I'd like to thank the Calgary Flames organization. The day that they gave a team from Black Diamond and a team from High River was an event that will stick in their minds forever. It was first-class the entire way, and I can't thank them enough for what they did for the friends and family that got to experience it.
It all started yesterday. The parents knew it was coming but the kids had no idea... With about 3 minutes left in a the game between the two teams comprised of players aged 4 to 7, a cameraman entered the building and began filming. Then the excitement built as the mascots from the two main Calgary hockey teams stormed into the building and caused an uproar that began a 36 hour dream that we will NEVER forget.
The game ended with a narrow victory by the Black Diamond squad. The home team was victorious, the home fans were electric, but it wasn't the win the parents and family members were excited about. No, it was what they knew to be coming that had them on the edge of their seats.
Representing the Calgary Flames, Harvey the hound charged onto the ice to celebrate with the Black Diamond team, and representing the Hitmen, Farley the Fox did the same with the High river club. It was amazing to see the elation on the kids faces as they were able to interact with the mascots many had only seen on TV, but little did they know, the fun was just beginning...
As the kids left the ice to undress and get on with their Saturdays, parents weren't allowed into the rooms. Instead, the kids were about to hear what was in store for them on the following day as they were informed of their opportunity to participate in what the Flames appropriately dubbed the "Big League Experience"!
They were told about how they would have the chance to live a day like a REAL NHL player. To find out what it was like to play one game in the league that we all dream about and love, and be treated like stars and have a true understanding of what it's like to play in the best league in the world.
How would it work? Well, the kids would be bussed to the Saddledome the next day and get to their room, where they would be treated like "pros" and get announced as they took the ice. After that, they would enjoy a team meal compliments of the Flames to satiate their hunger after their game.
They could have done in simply. They could have sent yellow school buses and announced the kids as they steeped onto the ice and played a regular initiation game and the kids would have LOVED IT because it's the arena where their heroes play.
But they didn't. It started as soon as we arrived to the designated departure point. It wasn't just a "bus" that would be taking the kids (and 1 parent) to the Dome. It was a full-on coach. the kind that the pros ride in on road trips from the hotels to get to games. And since it wasn't a short trip (a little over an hour in total, they not only had a movie playing, but also had juice-boxes, beef jerky, granola bars, and chips for the kids (and adults too) I donèt know if anyone picked a granola bar. LOL
When we arrived at the Dome, it was a frenzy. The mascots hooked up with their teams, and the kids were led to their assigned dressing rooms... Note that at this point we were informed that we wouldn't need to grab the kids equipment... After all, this was the Big League Experience, and they don't carry their own equipment to their dressing rooms.
What happened next was magical. I have no other way to describe it. It was such a surprise to all of us that we were dumbfounded by what lay before us. As we were led to the dressing room, the kids walked in... There was a name-bar for each player in their own stall that contained a brand new crested jersey with name-bar and matching socks, as well as a Calgary Flames skate-rug and a water-bottle taped like the pros with their number and name. To say it was overwhelming would be to understate it. It was truly incredible to see the attention to detail that the organization had gone to to make this experience as great as it could be for the kids. They would be donning brand-new Flames jerseys for this big game!
The kids got dressed. Understandably they were very excited about getting brand new jerseys and were super pumped to play on the same sheet of ice that their idols perform on. As the laces were tightened and the jerseys were lifted over their heads they were informed that they would be having special visitors who wanted to with them luck in their game.
And that's when Sean Monahan and Mark Giordano came in.
They gave each player a signed hat, and words of encouragement to help motivate them in their game. It was something that the kids likely don't fully grasp the weight of, and honestly, something the players and organization didn't have to do since the experience was already incredible, but it was done regardless.
To the ice...
Both teams were announced like it was an all-star game. Starting goalie first, then the rest of the team in ascending order. It was incredible. And not only were they announced, they also had the pyrotechnics and fanfare that is standard at pro games, but certainly non-existent in almost anything else.
After the line-ups were announced, the national anthem was sung. It was just like an NHL game. The crowd stood up, the hats were removed, and Oh Canada was belted out as the kids all stood on their respective blue-lines... It was surreal. It was incredible, and it was exactly the way a real NHL game starts, and the kids loved it... The crowd was going wild!
And about the crowd. This was a big event... sure, it wasn't an important game to anyone else in the hockey world, but to these kids and their families and friends, this was huge! they had planned for two sections, in the lower bowl. The fans took up almost three, and they were pumped. Withe the enmax energy board going, and the rink announcer, and the pyrotechnics going off, it was as BIG LEAGUE as it could have been.
My son was lucky. There were a lot of people that came to the game to support him. His sisters made posters, and so did his relatives, who wanted to make this event as special as possible. I don't think in my wildest imaginings I could have set up anything that would have made this event as special as it was for him. For everyone who showed up, I can only express gratitude and thanks.
For us, you couldn't have written a better script. My son had a quick chance, a breakway that resulted from the opening face-off, only to be stopped by a great save by the goalie... But he wasn't to be denied as he was able to earn another break-away just seconds later and finished it like his dad never could and tallied the first goal of the game... And then the horn sounded, and the fireworks went off... Just like every NHL game we've all been to. It was authentic, and incredible, and as the teams lined up for the ensuing face-ff, the goal was announced over the PA as if it was an NHL goal scored by a player we all watch on TV every night. It was incredible!
And the best part was: They treated EVERY goal like that! Every score got the full NHL treatment, the Flames would erupt from the rafters and the announcement would come. Every player would get to feel, if only for a moment, like they had just scored the most important goal their team could ever get, and as fans were were suitably awed by the incredible authenticity of the event.
But that wasn't enough to make it seem like a true "authentic" event for our hosts.
The thing is, in every NHL game, there's events surrounding the game that teams do to promote the game and enhance the fun. There's the mascots giving out t-shirts, and the intermission games...
And they had that.
We had a tricycle race in the first intermission, the mascots giving out t-shirts to the loudest fans, and even period highlights on the jumbotron as the fans waited for the next period to start. in short. It was AUTHENTIC.
Bob Hartley and Martin Gelinas even made guest appearances as coaches to give the kids some support and help the teams. It was spectacular. In fact, I don't know that there's an adjective that could be used that could accurately describe the spectacle that it was. It was simply that good.
The game ended in an 11-11 tie. It was a barn-burner that the kids, parents, fans, and dare I say, even the Flames staff will remember for years to come. The euphoria that was felt, not just by the players, but in everyone in attendance truly can't be overstated. It was simply perfect. It was exactly what one would imagine, if one could experience what it was like to be a pro on game day.
But they still weren't done.
After the game, the players and their accompanying parents were treated to a team meal. Just like the pros would get. In the Ed Whelan media room, a buffet was set up for the kids to enjoy after they had removed their equipment and left it behind in the room to be loaded onto the bus by the Flames staff, once again, just like the pros do.
It was an incredible experience. I honestly don't even know if the kids appreciated it as much as the parents and families did. Not that they didn't LOVE it, but I don't think they can fathom the amount of work and effort it takes to stage an event like this at their age, and that's truly what made it awesome.
It was authentic down to every detail. It was so incredible that it exceeded anything you could have hoped for in even your best-case scenario if you dreamed as big as could, and it was all done for kids who will remember this day for the rest of their lives...
And so will everyone else who attended. It was above first-class. It was executive class. And it was a day that all the players who participated will remember for years as the Best Day Ever!
The Calgary Flames may be rebuilding, but today they guaranteed that a bunch of kids from Black Diamond and High River will be fans for life.
Have a great day!
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