Front-row seats and a Jets win to remember
Calgary Flames mascot Harvey poses with Winnipeg Jets fans after Rasmus Andersson’s second-period goal during the Oct. 20 Flames vs Jets game at Scotiabank Saddledome. Photo: Calgary Flames on X.
Andersson stare and a flying puck at Flames game
On the night of October 20, 2025 at the Scotiabank Saddledome I found myself in the middle of a hockey story I didn’t quite expect. My partner Gayle and I were settled into our seats, iced tea in the cup-holders, ready for the Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Flames game. The first period came and went with no score and the second was more than half over when the first major moment arrived.
At 13:22 of the second period, Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson scored to give Calgary a 1-0 lead. Immediately after the goal he locked eyes with the row directly in front of him, and yes, with us. Andersson has made the so-called “Razzy death stare” part of his goal celebration.
When his gaze landed on us, I knew what was coming: Flames staff approached shortly thereafter, climbed behind us and handed us a T-shirt in the scheme of “Rasmus Andersson stared at me.”
Later that night Gayle discovered the photo of us with the team mascot on the Flames social-media feed (and the Jets account had shared it too). It was a surreal moment of fan interaction at a NHL game.
Then the third period made sure no one would forget the night. At 2:41 of the third the Jets’ veteran Jonathan Toews scored his first goal in more than two years, tying the game 1-1 on the power play. Later at 15:06 Mark Scheifele drove the net, redirected a pass from Kyle Connor and gave Winnipeg a 2-1 lead that held.
And then there was the iced tea incident. A puck came off the ice late in the third, climbed the glass, and launched into our cup-holder. Tea exploded, splashing Gayle, splattering me, soaking my pants and the shirt we had just received. Two rink-staffers appeared within a few moments and asked if we were okay. The cup was destroyed, the drink mostly vanished, but we were fine.
It felt absurd and unforgettable at once with the roar of a crowd more excited about the Jays game, the glare of a defenceman, the spray of iced tea and the wonderful reality of live sport. We didn’t just watch a game. We experienced one up close.
A friendly reminder that if you find yourself in the stands at a hockey game, consider the trajectory of stray pucks! That’s hockey in full resolution, in person, and I’ll be thinking of it for a long time.