BOU AVENUE
Calgary Flames Hockey Game
On the evening of 6 February 2025, Zosia Zgolak and I took her friends from Poland--Aleksandra (Ola) Przybył and Wojciech (Wojtek) Luchniak--to a National Hockey League (NHL) game between Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche at Calgary's Scotiabank Saddledome.  Wojtek had played some hockey in Poland and was keen to attend a NHL game during his first ever visit to Canada, and it had been many years since either Zosia and I went to the Saddledome to see the Calgary Flames in action.  Before the game, we made a quick stop to visit Calgary's infamous Peace Bridge before making our way to the Saddledome via the C-Train and on foot.

Inside the Saddledome, rock music was being pumped loudly throughout the concourse, and combined with the crowds and food/alcohol, the party-like atmosphere there was palpable.  The game itself almost felt secondary to the various activities, announcements and promotions that arise during every stoppage in play.  While the Flames started out great by scoring the first goal of the game, the more talented Avalanche ultimately prevailed with a 4-2 victory.

The massive exodus from the Saddledome after the game was almost an event unto itself, but the crowds eventually thinned out as we returned to the downtown core to pick up my car.  We made one more stop at Evamy Ridge in Mount Royal for a comprehensive view of Calgary's downtown before heading home.

A big thank you goes out to Raman Srivastava for loaning us some Calgary Flames jerseys to wear to the game.  Ola and Wojtek also generously purchased some overpriced popcorn and refreshments for all of us.  Dziękuję bardzo, Ola i Wojtek!
Welcome to Calgary, Ola and Wojtek! Ola, Wojtek and Zosia stand at the south end of Calgary's Peace Bridge which opened to the public on 24 March 2012.
Looking hot, ladies! Zosia and Ola warm up after arriving at Scotiabank Saddledome.

And the alcohol helps too!

The pre-game light show gets the fans excited.

 

Thank you, Wojtek and Ola, for buying all the food!

During the first intermission, Wojtek, Ola, Sonny and Zosia get some popcorn and refreshments.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

 

Eye of the Tiger! A fight breaks out during the second period.
Brrrrr...it's cold out here! Zosia brings Wojtek and Ola to Evamy Ridge Park for a view of downtown Calgary to wrap up the evening.