MOMS TRIP A BIG HIT WITH THE FLAMES

LAS VEGAS - After taking in the Michael Jackson ONE Cirque du Soleil show on Tuesday evening, Garnet Hathaway felt like he had stepped into his parents' shoes.
Over 25 mothers have joined the team for the franchise's first-ever moms trip and after the show, the moms left their sons to go out and see the sights in the Las Vegas while the players headed back to the hotel to prepare for Wednesday's tilt against the Golden Knights.
"It was like, 'Text me when you're home,'" Hathaway told CalgaryFlames.com. "It was like a complete role reversal, you know. I'm in my room thinking, 'Yeah, they're having fun, you know, I can go to bed and rest easy.'
"I'm glad they all got to hang out together and obviously it's a fun city that they get to experience. I don't think my mom's ever really been here so to sight-see with the other moms, I think it is great."

In addition to getting in some tourist time in both Las Vegas and Scottsdale, the Flames have ensured the moms will get the full road experience and have included them in all aspects of the trip.
On Wednesday morning, they joined their sons for breakfast and then went over to morning skate early to sit in on the normally team-only pre-game meeting at T-Mobile Arena. They then took in the full morning skate before heading back to the hotel with their sons.
"I think it's really neat. She's having a blast," Hathaway continued. "It's nice to have them see what we do every day, you know, as much as you can explain it over the phone or you're Skyping home, you can't really explain what the plane's like or what the hotel's like or what the logistics are I guess, how you feel every day and what you go through.
"But to be able to do it with the rest of the moms and how much they've sacrificed, I think they can all understand what they've been through and I know it's a lot of fun for all of them this week."

With many of the moms living outside of Calgary, the trip also offers a chance for a very unique bonding experience - even if it has altered pre-game schedules a bit.
"She kept me up until 1:00 AM," Glen Gulutzan said of his mom, Mavis. "Threw me right off my routine. We had the players and their moms in different rooms but my mom talked to me 'til about 1:00 … now I'm going to have to have a nap this afternoon but that might be alright for me."
Given the distance, not many of the players are able to have their moms at their games very often. Being able to host them this week adds another layer of motivation for two big divisional match-ups.
"You always want to play well in front of your mom," captain Mark Giordano said. "It's great to have them and let some see behind-the-scenes. It's pretty cool.
"There's always that extra little jump when you know your mom is in the stands. It's going to be fun.
"It's going to be a fun time for them but we're excited to play in front of them too."