"He knew from the start that it was a big step to take,'' says John. "He understood he had to go and learn the pro game. He was good with that.
"Beginning of the season, he was going through the process, taking things in and learning. There's still a lot of learning to do, obviously.
"But as his confidence grew in Stockton, he kind of came to the realization: 'Okay, it's Go Time now. Time to bring it.'
"He talked to (Luke) Gadzic and (Rod) Pelley, all the veterans on the Stockton team, the guys who've been in the pro game a long time, in the NHL, and they've been so good in mentoring him."
For Foo, this opportunity represents both the realization of a lifelong quest, and a beginning. A fella, after all, never gets a second chance to make a boffo first impression.
"There's so many good players here. You see superstars everywhere. But if you're out there, just tiptoeing around those guys, you're not going to get anywhere.
"I want to make an impact.
"I grew up watching the Battle of Alberta. It's going to be special to be a part of it."
And the feeling of being able to share the debut with his nearest and dearest?
"Just happiness. My parents have been on this ride with me. It's been a long time coming."
That time, the moment an entire family has long envisioned - and Spencer Foo never doubted would arrive - is at hand.
"It hard not to be teary about it for me, for sure,'' confesses Diane. "I've been teary about it the last few days, to be honest.
"You think of your own kid and that this will be a dream realized for them. How much they've gone through, how hard they've worked, the ups and the downs, the sacrifices - moving away from home at a young age, giving up family and friends and girlfriends, other opportunities - that they make because of the passion they have for the game.
"The dream doesn't come true for other kids that work every bit as hard as our son has.
"For us, to see that dream realized, we couldn't be more proud."