43 years old. Fan since day one.
Watched the Flames first game in the Corral vs Le Nordiques. My brothers and I watched from the standing room only area that year at the Corral because we were "trespassers".
Since I was the youngest, and fearing the beating I'd get if I didn't, they would make me sneak in through the cattle gates where they took tickets. In those days it wasn't just one person at a time entering. They would let in groups of people and one person would give the usher the tickets. No one ever counted. I just hooked on to a big group and walk right in. Never got caught. Anyways I'd go to a different gate and tell them I forgot something in the car and they would give me a "pass" saying I could come back in.
The pass, of course, I would hand off to my brother. Then I'd do it all over again and get another pass for my other brother. Then I'd have to sneak in a third time to get myself in. It was pretty nerve wracking! It was still better than getting harassed by your brothers though.
Anyways we watched the entire season including playoffs. Thankfully our parents were clueless as to what we were up to. I remember Pat Riggin smashing a Flintstone's Dino stuffed dog that someone had on a noose and was hanging over the glass. It was supposed to represent Dino Cicarelli. His goalie stick broke while doing it if i remember correctly.
Also i posted this story once before.
"Never posted before but this is a pretty cool thread and I have an old story to tell.
Back when the Flames used to practice and play at the Corral(I was 10 or 11 at the time), my brothers and I would wait in the parking lot for autographs.
I went up to Brad Marsh's car, which at the time had Marsh, Phil Russell, and Paul Reinhart in it, and asked for some autographs. I started with Russell. My standard line as a 10 year old was to ask every player
"Hey, are you gonna score tonight Mr. ______?"
Reinhart and Marsh started howling when I asked Phil this and my older brother smacked me in the head and tells me to stop being a smart ass. Turns out that the Flames had lost a crucial game the night before.
Why? Because Phil had scored. On his own net.
Still got the autographs though! Great guys. they even let me sit in the car with them."
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