"They were all so welcoming - always there if I had any questions and were constantly building me up.
"It was definitely one of the coolest things I've been a part of."
From the time he was child, to the moment he signed his entry level contract with the Flames earlier this year, the 23-year-old always dreamed of suiting up with the big boys.
On Wednesday, that once faraway fantasy became reality. He looked to his left, his right, and directly across. Names such as Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Lindholm and Lucic decorated the scene.
Even in the preseason, the pinch-me moments are still commonplace for young players on the rise.
But Duehr couldn't let the emotions fester for long.
There's too much at stake.
"When I signed, they said the Flames were lacking in guys that play the way I do - guys with my stature, figure, and players that can skate and use their size to their advantage like I can," Duehr said. "Obviously, coming in here after I signed my contract, I didn't know if I would make it RIGHT away, but to be in the mix now, playing these games, all I can do is put my best foot forward."
Duehr has done that and then some early in the exhibition calendar.
The 6-foot-3, 211-lb. forward had a strong game against the Kraken. It was his play on a 2-on-1 - charging down the right side and ringing a shot off the post - that led to Michael Stone's game-tying marker midway through the second period.
He showed great awareness and defensive acumen at the defensive blueline, poking the puck off the stick of Kraken defenceman Haydn Fleury before scooting off on the attack.
It was a confident play on an established NHL defenceman that showed precisely how talented Duehr is.
"For a second, I thought it went in," Duehr laughed. "It disappeared behind the goalie and the crowd cheered, so I wasn't totally sure.
"It's good that Stoney was following up, because me and Fro (Byron Froese) kind of fanned on it.
"Either way, it was awesome. It was a big goal for us, too, so to hear all the fans get into it like they did, you want to experience that again."
Done.
Duehr has earned himself another look tonight when the Flames host the Vancouver Canucks in the fourth of eight preseason tilts. He'll skate on the fourth line with Froese up the middle and Justin Kirkland on the opposite flank.
