CALGARY — Not many guys experience their pinch-me moment in the parking lot.
That evening last April, Calgary Flames goaltending callup David Rittich had stopped nine pucks in his National Hockey League debut, a 20-minute relief appearance in the regular-season finale against the Sharks in San Jose.
The Czech chatted with reporters, showered, donned his suit and then said his goodbyes.
The Flames hustled to catch a late-night charter back to Calgary, a playoff push next on their itinerary.
Rittich wasn’t on the flight.
He and defenceman Rasmus Andersson were staying put in California, crashing in a hotel in San Jose and re-joining the Flames’ nearby farm team — the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat — the following day.