The trip almost didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A massive storm hit the Twin Cities, cancelling flight after flight over the weekend, but Jordan Leopold wasn\u2019t going to miss out on an opportunity to come back to Alberta.<\/p>\n
So Leopold and his family piled into his father\u2019s RV and revved up the motor, detouring through Manitoba on account of that nasty storm.<\/p>\n
For the former Flames\u00a0defenceman – and member of that 2004 Western Conference championship squad – it\u2019s a bit of a homecoming. Leopold took his first NHL strides here, started his family here, and for the Minnesotan, just walking back into the Scotiabank Saddledome for the first time in over a decade took him back to those days as a Flame.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust when I walk through the back door, where we used to park as players. Got set up to park back there, (I) walked through and went, holy cow,\u201d Leopold recalled. \u201cI mean, it brings back absolute memories. It doesn’t look any different, the bowels are still almost the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leopold, his wife Jamie and their kids made it a priority to come back this winter. Even if it meant logging a lot more kilometres on the Trans-Canada than they originally anticipated.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the Saddledome\u2019s gonna be disappearing here after next year, and wanted to bring the kids up to reminisce and see one game,\u201d he explained. \u201cMy two oldest daughters are now 21 and 19, spent some time here with me when I played.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo they’ve always wanted to come back and go to Banff, go to Lake Louise, come to Calgary, see what it’s like. Man, has the town changed a lot, and it’s growing quite a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n
But what hasn\u2019t changed, is Leopold\u2019s affinity for the old \u2018Dome. Not to mention his relationship with those teammates with whom he experienced that unbelievable run in \u201904, during which he led all NHL blueliners in playoff assists.<\/p>\n
And while Leopold is still connected to the game by coaching his son\u2019s team at Andover High, he doesn\u2019t spend a ton\u00a0of time around the NHL game any longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went out and had a couple Daddy pops with Robyn Regehr last night, and we were talking about how hockey has shaped us and how there’s more more to life than hockey,\u201d Leopold said. “For Robyn and I, I mean, we played together here, we were partners, we played together in Buffalo as well. Anytime we were outside the rink, we weren’t talking about hockey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just love playing, you know, and our bodies can’t do it anymore. But to be able to come back and watch, like, pre-game skate, for instance, watching this with my 17 year old son, I’m like, \u2018Watch how many times they stick handle.\u2019 They don’t ever stick handle (without purpose). Just little things, ’cause I tell these high school kids that are anywhere from 15 to 17 back at home in Minnesota. \u2018You know, this is what I’m trying to get you guys to. I know you may not make it there, but just watch how detailed it is.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it’s completely different than even what it was when I was a player. It’s just fascinating to see how much skill these guys have.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a total coincidence that Leopold and his family will take in a contest between two of his former clubs. The now 45-year-old played 775 NHL regular season and playoff games with eight clubs, spending two stints in Calgary at the start of his career before parts of three seasons with the Blues between 2012-13 and 2014-15.<\/p>\n