20 years.
It sure doesn't feel that long.
I was living in LA at the time, hence the handle - LA Flames Fan (I'm not French) working as an actor. Leading up to the playoffs there was no chance to watch the games, but I'd read USA Today sitting at the Starbucks next to Bob's Big Boy in Burbank/Toluca Lake to check the scores or plug in the old DSL modem at home to see if I could hear Peter Maher's sweet voice call the game. When they booked their ticket to the playoffs it seemed like I was the only person who cared about it, but I wore my jersey everywhere and couldn't stop talking about it.
I found Calgarypuck shortly before those playoffs and I was hooked. In the first round against the Canucks I watched the games at home on ESPN, to the dismay of my girlfriend, who wasn't a hockey person at all and couldn't understand why I'd spend hours on Calgarypuck (sometimes spending hours making avatars) before, during, and after the games.
It was during round two against Detroit that I found a bar in Burbank called "Champs" which according to my Google search is still there and still open! They had satellite TV and would show the CBC feed of the Flames games which for some reason filled me with that feeling of warmth and got me a little closer to home. It also meant beer. Lots of beer. Too much beer. But it didn't matter.
During round two I met two guys from Montreal at Champs, Michel and another guy whose name I can't remember. They would get there before me to watch Montreal, but they'd stay after and watch the Flames. We became great friends, seeing each other every couple days over beers and hockey.
The worst part of being in LA was the FOMO. After every game when the Red Mile was in full swing, I'd call my buddy Diego and he'd be down on 17th right in the middle of the action. I could hear the cheers, the screams, the tarps coming up...the buzz of it all. It made me miss home so much. Sometimes he'd just keep his phone on and I'd just listen...not even talking to him. It felt like I was there.
My Mom sent me a car flag and I proudly put it on my car. That's when all the Flames fans came out of the Holly-woodwork. Stuck in traffic on the 405 I'd get people rolling their windows down and yelling "I'm from Calgary! Go Flames!" You could feel the electricity starting to rise there.
They knew my by name at Champs now...and I secretly started smoking again but only at Champs. I don't know if my girlfriend ever found out, but the relationship was sinking as the Flames kept winning. Flames first...sorry girl.
Then, game 7 against TB. I watched that one at home for some reason, maybe that's why they lost...I messed up my superstition. I'll never forget that feeling and I definitely cried and spent the next who-knows-how-many hours on Calgarypuck consoling each other, remembering the amazing run, all the things. I can't imagine what that playoff run would have been like without Calgarypuck.
I come to Calgarypuck everyday 20 years later...and look forward to the next run where maybe I'll be here this time to celebrate with you all. In person.
