[calgARI]

Kind of because Nieuwendyk but mostly because when I was 5 years old I had a hockey card of Joel Otto and thought the uniform looked cool...since around then I have been a Calgary Flames fan.

The first Flames game I ever saw on television was Game 7 in 1994 against Vancouver. In those days, I would check the newspaper two days after games so I could see the result. (Where I lived, games would start too late for scores to come in time for next day printing.)

Through the 90's, I only got to see one Flames game a season - when they'd play the New York Rangers.

In 1996, nhl.com added online radio so I was able to listen to Peter Maher. Somewhere around that time I searched Calgary Flames on the Internet and found Fire On Ice forum.

In 1999, my family got directTV so I could watch Flames game on a regular basis for the first time. After that season, I bought season tickets.

In 2004, you all know what happened with the Flames. Game 6 of the first round was my first ever trip to Calgary. I thought it was my destiny to be present for the first playoff series win in 15 years. Didn't quite work out that way. But fortunately, I was able to return to Calgary for my second trip just a few weeks later for the entire Stanley Cup Finals.

11 years later, I will return to Calgary for the third time this Saturday for Game 6 of their series against Vancouver.

Leaving Philadelphia (where I live now) at 6 am Saturday morning. Departing Calgary 6 am Sunday morning.

My hopes for my first trip from 11 years ago become reality Saturday night.