I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been extremely remiss in my NHL Blogger.com contributions. Completely remiss might be more accurate.

But today, I hope to redeem myself. Mrs. That Dan Guy and I attended our first Flames home game last night – and thanks to CBC, it was one we won’t forget anytime soon. We had backstage access to the taping of Hockey Night In Canada!!

It was like being a kid in a candy store, but even better than candy – there was pro hockey!

We’ve been in The Saddledome before, but the atmosphere of a Flames home game is completely off the hook: flashing lights, rockin' music, and a real-live pyrotechnic display.

Of course, I am a bit on the slow side when it comes to subtle NHL hoopla. Prior to the game starting, and whenever The Flames scored a goal (once last night, sadly) these giant flames shoot up from beside the scoreboard. I needed it to happen a second time before I made the connection with the home team… Duh!!

At any rate, we started watching the game, and then our cordial tour guide stopped by, and took us out for the go-round. First stop, walking across the catwalk that leads up to the broadcast booths, over centre ice.

Now, I wouldn’t even begin to dream of embarrassing MTDG by recounting how her knees knocked even when crossing the fake foot bridge into Walt Disney World’s Tom Sawyer Island, but we’ve joked before about how she’d have a go of it trying to walk across this catwalk, yet she did a marvellous job. It only took three of us to pry her hands loose from the gate…

Once in the booths, we had an awesome view of the action, and the broadcasters calling the game (CBC – fine gentlemen – that’s cbc.ca, for all things CBC…) I got some incredible pictures – one in particular of Kipper guarding his crease. Très cool!! I'll try posting more photos later.

From the bird’s nest, we were then escorted past the most important part of an NHL arena game night staple – the catacombs where the massive distribution centre for beer is held behind a locked gate. It is a sight to behold…

We passed that on the way to the broadcast trailer, where the directors and associates switch all the action from the cameras, to what we see on the TV screen at home. For those of you that were stuck at home, and not in The Saddledome… That was about the neatest thing I’ve ever seen. At least a dozen different cameras, all jockeying for the best shot to broadcast. It was like being in the control room of the Murphy Brown set…

The only downside of our evening was that Calgary, playing the Stars, ended up losing. Oh, they knocked in a tying goal late in the game, but it was ruled “no-goal” after Turco kicked the net off its moorings, likely due to a Charlie horse, or pressure from the Flames offense. I can’t prove that, but from where we were sitting, I would’ve gone upstairs to view the video. Oh, wait a minute, we WERE upstairs!!

Special thanks to CBC Affiliate Relations for making this happen. What a way to see our first NHL game in Cowtown!!

Chow for now!!