Travel Blog

Flames 4 vs Blue Jackets 1

masson223 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:12:01 +0000

I really need to go to more games; maybe that’s the secret to getting the Flames to win more. The Flames are officially undefeated with one Adam Masson in attendance, and Jarome Iginla has 5 points in that span. He’s only 2 points away from tying Theo Fleury for franchise points leader (3 from breaking the record). I really wish I could go to the Tampa Bay game on Sunday, but alas.

We got to the game really early again tonight, and it was a good thing. Madison had suggested to me earlier today that instead of trying to get to the FanAttic before the game, we should go tomorrow before we left for Edmonton so that we wouldn’t be rushed. Well, that was a great plan, until we got to the game and discovered that the FanAttic that’s open during games was just a few feet away from the entrance to the section we were sitting in. We walked through the door, saw the FanAttic sign, and I was lost in there until almost game-time. I ended up with a Flames toque, Flames scarf, a Flames mouse and mousepad, and a Flames flag!! I have been looking for one of those forever, so I was ecstatic to finally find one.

The player entrances are just as spine-tingling in real life as they look on TV. It was crazy to look around the rink and see other people in Flames jerseys, hats, hoodies (I think I was the only one there with Flaming C pajama pants though — thanks Mom!).

I was nearly beside myself by the time the game started. I didn’t have to wait long to put my new flag to use, either; Iginla scored just 45 seconds in! The place went expectedly nuts, and was dampened a little when the Blue Jackets answered a few minutes later. But really, through the whole game, there wasn’t much doubt as to who was going to win. There was a completely different atmosphere to the game compared to the one in Edmonton, but that’s to be expected.

When I think about it, the two games I went to were certainly entertaining and wonderful experiences, but they weren’t quite what I had imagined. Whether that’s a good thing or not is irrelevant (and not immediately possible to tell); it just is. There’s just a certain expectation you have of an NHL game when you’re watching one on TV.

We’re leaving tomorrow after we checkout. I have to make a return to the FanAttic (one of those impulse-buys, you know?), and then we’ll be on the road back to Edmonton. Then the next thing you know, I’ll be back on my way home to good ol’ New Brunswick. One of my friends on Facebook today told me:

“Seems like you may never come back to this side of the country ever again.”

As tempting as it is to stay out here forever, I’m starting to miss the ocean already! It’s nuts to think that the nearest ocean right now is the Pacific, and it’s a province away. You know what they say: “you can take the Maritimer out of the Maritimes…”

Flames 3 @ Oilers 2 (SO)

masson223 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:00:29 +0000

Woooo!!! What a game. My first ever NHL/Flames game was a thriller right to the end!

The ride to the game was awesome. Madison and I took the LRT from close to her house to Rexall Place, and I was pretty much the only Flames fan on the entire train. We kept zooming past people in Oilers jerseys, when we stopped to let a few people on. I think about 5-10 of them were Flames fans; such a strange sight seeing people who actually cheer for the same team as me! A mother and her daughter (about mine and Madison’s age) sat across from us and we talked about the game for a bit, then we got off at Rexall Place and walked into the arena and found our seats. We made sure to get there early so I’d have enough time to get my first game freak-out out of the way (that way I’d have more time to enjoy the actual game).

By the time the game started, the crowd was easily split 50/5o between Flames and Oilers fans. The best part about our seats, besides the fact that they were actually fairly decent seats, was that we were in the section with the most Flames fans in the entire building.

The Oilers scored first right after a powerplay. The place went absolutely crazy, with all of us Flames fans sitting and seething. The Flames would get it back at the end of the second, followed by both teams exchanging goals in the third period.

After lurking on Calgarypuck for a few years, I always thought that Flames fans weren’t being fair to Oilers fans by saying that they thought Roloson was one of the best goalies in the league; surely they could see that he had to be one of the least talented goalies in the league? Well, after the Flames won the game in a shootout, all I heard about for two days after was how amazing “Rollie” was. Amazing? Not really. Hard-working? Probably. But he was also very lucky.

I didn’t really get a chance to hang around and savour the win in Rexall Place, as we had to head right out to get ahead of the crazy traffic heading to the LRT. It’s definitely something I will never forget though; much like the rest of the trip.

I Made It!!

masson223 — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:42:19 +0000

Finally! After two days of waiting and roughly 8 hours of flying, I arrived in Edmonton, AB around 11:40am MT yesterday. The flight from Fredericton was enjoyable, and we actually made up time, so we got to Montreal a bit early. I wandered around the domestic flights terminal for a little bit before I found the AirCanada Maple Leaf Lounge, where I went and had a free breakfast and surfed around for a bit.

The flight from Montreal was long, but it didn’t really seem so at times. It tooke me forever to find the power outlet so I could plug my laptop in, but once I found that I was golden. I ended up sitting beside some French guy who reeked of beer the minute he sat down. And that’s all he drank for the entire 5-hour flight.

When I landed in Edmonton, I could feel people staring and glaring at me the minute I came out of the “Arrivals” tunnel (what with me wearing my Flames jersey). I met Madison at the baggage and got mine, then we headed for home. We kinda went shopping a little once we were home and had some lunch, then I had a nap after we came back to recover a little from the jetlag. Then after that, it was off to the game, which I’ll talk about a little later.

Flames 2 @ Kings 0

masson223 — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:30:58 +0000

Not much to say today, as I only caught the first period or so of the game. From what I did see, though, Kipper had another awesome game (funny how that works when he gets a shutout…) and Cammalleri had a beauty powerplay goal from Bertuzzi. Now there’s a guy I honestly never thought I’d cheer for, but I have to admit he’s added quite a bit to the Flames this season, and I think he’ll turn out to be worth the $2M or so he’s making. If only Iginla and Langkow could get going, the team would really be firing.

Next up for the Flames is the Coyotes in Phoenix on Saturday night. I don’t know about you, but I know what I’m doing for Valentine’s now…

Flames 2 @ Ducks 3 (OT)

masson223 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:35:01 +0000

I really hate losing to the Ducks. Ever since that 2006 playoff series, Anahiem has pretty much had their way with the Flames, with last night not being much different. Anahiem is one of those teams, a lot like Nashville was a few years ago, that you just always expect to inch out a win, no matter what the score is at the time. Look at last night: Flames are up 2-1 at the end of two and really taking it hard to them, then all of a sudden it’s 2-2 and the Flames are on their heels for the rest of the third period.

One good thing for the Flames last night was Kipper; what a game! Definitely haven’t seen that sort of performance out of him in quite a while. I have to chuckle at the Anahiem announcers, though, for complaining that he’s always outside his crease when he makes a save, and then praising him after making a number of saves while challenging really hard. And a not so good thing for the boys in red: Iginla has been practically invisible. I don’t really know what it is, but even though he’s still scoring points, there just seems to be something off in his game.

So yeah, overall it was a disappointing loss, but considering the way the Flames have played on the road this season, on top of how they usually play against Anahiem, I’m relatively pleased they at least came out with a point. Now it’s on to LA tonight to smack the Kings around as per usual.

Trip Planning

masson223 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:27:51 +0000

So, the details are starting to get worked out about my trip to Alberta in 7 days (and two hours). I still honestly can’t believe I’m going to be seeing two Flames games while I’m out there. And, from what Madison and I have discussed, it looks like I might actually be heading to Calgary on the day of my birthday. If that isn’t fitting, I don’t know what is!

This blog is going to be a place where I can document my trip so that my friends and family back at home will be able to keep up with what I’ve done/seen/experienced. Because there are 5 games between now and the time I’ll actually arrive in Alberta, I’ll also most likely be using this as a place to post my thoughts on the games and the Flames in general.

I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel with this, and depending how often I use it while I’m away, and whether I feel I can keep up with it, I might keep it as my permanent personal blog. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.