The Good Old Hockey Game....

( above photo courtesy of Kevin Logan Photography)

On Wednesday Brent and I were lucky enough to get to go and see the Calgary Flames play the Washington Capitals right here in Washington D.C.   We have waited and waited to see the Flames here, they only come every 3 years.  When we got the schedule and found out when they were scheduled to play we snatched up tickets straight away.  We got our tickets off of "Stub Hub" a site where season ticket holders sell their tickets that they don't want.  Our tickets said that we would be right by the visitors tunnel, and we figured that we would be somewhat close, but we really were RIGHT by the tunnel.  I was Kicking myself for not bringing my camera, as Brent's I Phone has the slowest shutter speed on the planet!!!! I tried to take pics of them coming and going, but they were going too fast, and for some reason not one of them would pose for me.  

In the above  picture you can see how close we were to the ice!  That's the old "Kipper" in net there, see how there are only 3 rows in front of us!!!  OH my!  We were actually a little chilly because we were so close.  It was a good game, score was pretty even, but as always they lost.  Brent and I have been to a whole lotta Flames games and they are really a pretty good team, but I guess we are the "Goochers", cuz we've only seen them win once!!   Before the game, I tried to get Jerome Iginla to sign one of Brent's Jersey's, but he just said, "Sorry..."  And kept walking.  And after the game, they were all FAR too mad about loosing to be signing stuff.   Too bad!  I don't know that we will ever get that opportunity ever again.  

They kept their sticks right there beside us, every one of them had their names on them, it was fun to see what each player played with.  In the first period one of their players broke a stick... (see it on the left there)  I eyed that stick all game, wondering who I needed to be sweet to in order to make it mine.  At the end of the game one of the team guys gave it to me, along with a practice puck, but I couldn't bring it home because behind me sat a little 6 year old die hard Flames fan.  He had on his little Jersey, and his mom said that they are from PA, and their home is full of Flyers fans, but this little guy has proclaimed himself a Flames Fan, and has his whole room decorated in Flames Decor.  It will make a nice addition to his room, even though my husband has not forgiven me for giving it away.  :-) 

And as gross as it may be, one of my favorite parts of the night was during the 3rd period,  when Brent and I could actually SMELL their hockey gear.  For those that don't know, hockey gear has a very distinct smell, we actually used to own a hockey gear drying rack, back in the days when Brent still played, and his gear would get put out on the deck to dry.  You can't wash the pads, etc, so they just end up being pretty stinky.  It was so funny, to be sitting so close to them that we could smell them.  Now keep in mind that this picture was taken with Brent's I Phone so there is no Zoom going on... This is it.  This is just how close we were.  Oh, it was such fun.  A totally different experience that close up.  :-)   

Thank you thank you thank you to Christina once again for being the baby sitter that night, as it took place on a school night, so there were no sitters.  Brent was on a Hockey High for about 3 days after this one.  It was a blast!  Totally worth the $$ that is for sure!