Hockey, Training Camp, Flames and Memories.

Ever since the lockout ended I've been wanting to blog about hockey, not just because #hockeyisback, because it seems to strike to the very core of life for so many of us.

It's about rivalry, competition, gamesmanship, loyalty - and hope and faith. Seems to be such especially here in Calgary. During the lockout only 100 people gave up their season ticket rights. And season tickets aren't cheap and there is a long waiting list for them. Word is that about half of those took back their rights when the lockout ended. Word also has it that this is one of the best retention rates in the league. Or so I hear.

Yes there is a lot of complaining and grumbling about the lockout, directed at both sides, and yet, in the last week or so, it seems to me that despite the noise and the vehemence of some comments, Calgarians are still loyal to their team. Yes there has been complaining about what is perceived as an unnecessary and overlong lockout, and yes there have been threats of boycotts, and yet, as game day approaches, tickets sales are up, and people are eagerly waiting for that first Puck Drop.

People will be there cheering on their home team. It's already hard to get good tickets for the opening game on Sunday.

Training camp has been running all week at the Saddledome, with the Flames organisation trying to make up to fans with free concessions, public access to training sessions and half price merchandise, among other things. And it's working. Attendance at training camp has been high, especially the last two or three days. Today at 9.49 am there was a line 50 long, by 10.00 when the doors opened there were 100 people there. And more kept on coming, until the open section of the lower bowl was filled and people spilled into ever higher levels. All to watch "our" team practice drills. There's loyalty.

There was a tweet tonight "Only in Canada, do kids get pulled out of school for an NHL practice. Couple of dads get parent of the year today for sure."

Actually, it was a couple of hundred school age kids, and yes their dads do. Some were there with dad, some with mum, some with both parents. My son was there with me, with his dad's blessing, and he had a blast. He's 6, it was his first time in the Saddledome, his first time watching the Flames, and he was three rows behind the players bench. He had his jacket, jersey and hat and he rocked it.

He also got 6 more signatures on his hat, including Kipper and Baertschi - who seems to be making a name for himself for signing kids! He's going to be an asset to the Flames, on and off ice, IMO. He had the chance at a day that, while maybe not once in a lifetime, certainly isn't going to come his way often, and we took it. He's never going to wish he had spent an extra half day in school, yet he is going to remember today for a very long time to come. So he missed half a day of school. He made a memory that may well last him a lifetime. And that is something you can never put a price on. I'll never regret taking him there today, I know I'd regret it if I hadn't done so.

Also willing to bet that applies to every kid there today. Nothing say memory making to a kid like having what could be a unique experience. They may well see the Flames again, maybe even in training camp, but every one of them will remember the day they got to play hookey, with permission, and watch the Calgary Flames.

So now we await puck drop - in less than 24 hrs - 48 for Calgary fans. Hockey is back. And at least from what I've seen that's a good thing. A long overdue thing perhaps, still a good thing. Even if we do have long odds on the Flames lifting the Stanley Cup - who says bookies are always right? Faith in and loyalty to OUR team, right? And it seems to me that, grumbling and venting aside, 99% of us are still backing our team.

Do we love our team more than other cities? No idea. Maybe lol
Do we care less about the lockout? No, we care. A lot.

What matters most though is that now, it's over. Now, we can get back to the business of supporting our team, cheering their victories, drowning our sorrows at their losses, and supporting them with everything we have in the belief that they will lift the cup this year. We can go back to the business of raising the next generation of Flames fans, because if we don't raise them to have the same love, loyalty and faithful determination as we have, where would the Calgary Flames be in the future?

Hockey. Is. Back.

Time to don my jersey, set the TV channel, grab a last minute game ticket, and watch that puck drop!

Go! Flames! Go!