THE CALL

Back on September 26, packing his gear to head off to Stockton, Calif., Spencer Foo vowed not to be gone long.
"It's a big learning curve, college to pro," acknowledged the much-sought-after free-agent signing out of Union College at the time.
"It's disappointing, sure.
"But I've got to take this the right way.

"I've just gotta get used to some little things, improve on some aspects … the speed and the sticks and just the brains of the game.
"It's different. Everybody's better.
"You can't just snap your fingers and adapt to the pro game.
"Obviously I want to be here.
"And I'll be back. Soon."
Maybe not as soon as he'd have liked, ideally, but Thursday Foo finally received the coveted summons from above.
"It's a big relief,'' he admitted, lugging his gear back into the Scotiabank Saddledome six months after exiting and 45 minutes before puck-drop of Friday's Calgary Flames-Columbus Blue Jackets tilt.
Foo's flight out of San Francisco was late departing. No big deal.
He's made it to where he's always longed to be.
"It's been an up-and-down season," he said. "Some good nights and some learning nights. But I've started to find my game. Coming in you're just uncomfortable with your surroundings.
"All the expectations … they're always in the back of your head, a little bit. That's something I never had to deal with before, either. Being a guy who went from Tier II Junior A to college.
"I came in, tried to push that aside, leave the distractions out of it, but at the end of the day, it's always been about me coming back a more complete player.
"And I think I am.
"So now, being here, it's just awesome.
"That dream-come-true moment you always hear about."
And, as luck would have it, he's slated to draw in Saturday night, the second end of the Hockey Night in Canadadoubleheader, against none other than his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers, at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Fitting foe for a fella's NHL baptism, wouldn't you say?
"Couldn't have worked out better," he agreed.
The 23-year-old former Hobey Baker finalist has settled nicely into the pro game, hitting the 20-goal mark for the AHL Heat in his rookie campaign.
"All the hype around him …. I can't imagine it's easy having that many teams wanting to sign you, you choose the Calgary Flames and then all the media, all the fans, expect you to step right into the first line,'' said defenceman Rasmus Andersson, currently making the most of his call-up from Stockton.
"It takes time for everyone (to adjust to the pro ranks in the AHL). It's hard. So you're a little tight at first. I know I was.
"Once you get the first 10-15 games out of the way, you start to get into it, to feel comfortable. After Christmas, he's been one of, if not our best forward the second half of the season, unless Mangie (Andrew Mangiapane) and those guys were down.
"This is great. I'm happy for him."
Ardently wooed by a number of NHL organizations, including the Oilers, Foo - warming to the size and speed of the AHL game - has connected for nearly 65% of his points since the calendar turned into 2018.
"The thing people don't realize about him,''explained Andersson, "is how hard he works. He's on pucks all the time. He's hard to play against. He's battles. He practices hard.
"And if he gets a chance, he'll usually score.
"I think he's going to become a good powerplay guy, a net-presence/high slot guy.
Foo ranks third in Heat scoring at 37 points and leads the way in shots on goal, with 154.
"Here's a guy who we went after hard as a free-agent, went to the minors and was slow out of the gate,'' said Flames' coach Glen Gulutzan. "If you look at the second half, if you look at his progression - not unlike a lot of guys - he's really come on.
"This is a guy who deserves to come up here. A guy we want to see play."
First peek, Saturday night.
"Like I said, a lot of eyes were on him but handled the situation really, really well,'' says Andersson.
"He came down to Stockton with the right mindset, good attitude. And it's paid off.
"He waited for his chance. And now it's here. I think he's going to do really well."
The Foo family will, naturally, be making the three-hour trek south and be out in force for the momentous occasion.
The focus of everyone's attention had yet to receive a ticket-allotment total, but dad John and mom Diane, brothers Braden and Parker wouldn't miss this for the world.
"My parents sacrificed so much, just for me to go to college or play junior hockey," said Foo. "It's been a pretty crazy ride for all of us, them included.
"They're every bit as excited as me. And I'm pretty excited, believe me.
"A special night, for sure."