FLAMES PACK FOR CHINA
Equipment staff deals with logistics
Over the last few days, the Calgary Flames equipment staff has loaded nearly 7,000 pounds of luggage onto a plane bound for Shenzhen, China.
Sticks. Skate sharpening equipment. Running shoes. Natural peanut butter. Gatorade. Pucks. Hair gel. A pile of O.R.G. China Games-specific apparel that needs to be visible on players, coaches and staff. Adapters to fit in Chinese power outlets.
It’s enough to cause more than a few sleepless nights for head equipment manager Mark DePasquale who, despite a resume that includes World Championships in Denmark, Russia and Belarus, has never prepared for a road trip quite like this one.
“The last two nights, I’ve woken up at 4 a.m., anxious and wondering what’s missing,” he said. “We’ve had some issues with stuff that’s out of our control, stuff that’s stuck at customs. (We sent) everything early — our goalie gear is with the league. Our shoes got stuck at customs for almost 10 days.
“It’s little stuff you shouldn’t have to worry about but it all adds up.”
This, of course, has been tacked onto an already busy NHL rookie training camp at the Scotiabank Saddledome, plus aiding the veteran players that have been in town for the last few weeks along with a number of incoming players on professional tryout offers.
Then the Smashing Pumpkins were in town on Saturday, giving the equipment staff limited access to their secondary dressing rooms. Oh yeah, the Flames rookies also hosted the Edmonton Oilers rookies at the Saddledome on Sunday.
“I tell Ozzy (Flames assistant equipment manager Corey Osmak) and Benny (dressing room attendant Ben Dumaine), ‘Handle it,’” DePasquale said. “That’s our word.”
Over 100 pieces of Flames luggage are expected to be on the plane by Tuesday afternoon, meaning more than 100 baggage tags were required. The luggage has been weighed and measured, nearly 2,000 more pounds than they’d normally require for a road trip.
The Calgary Police Service dogs have already checked everything out and, for the most part, they’re prepared for liftoff for what will be a 14-hour flight.
“We’re ready, but then you nev- er know what’s going to happen on the other side,” DePasquale said. “Even if you read something, you can’t assume they know any English so everything is colour coded. They’re in containers which you can’t control. We’re at the mercy of (airport security). It could take 45 minutes. It could take four hours. It’s kind of an unknown.
“It’s been a lot.” DePasquale, Osmak and Dumaine are desperately trying to keep everything as seamless and flawless as possible so the Flames can concentrate on implementing their systems with new head coach Bill Peters and the veteran-laden group of 26 players. It’s a nine-day excursion featuring two games against the Boston Bruins and four practices. The venues — the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Center and the Cadillac Arena in Beijing — have been scouted already.
In theory, a six-game road trip through the East coast is logistically more difficult, having to pack and unpack their gear for six games plus practices.
But keep in mind, that’s in North America.
“I got a note from the women’s team (CWHL Shenzhen KRS Vanke Rays) and they were like, ‘Hey, our video coach is from Calgary and we love Johnny (Gaudreau),’” DePasquale said. “I said, ‘What do you have that we can use?’ All they really said was to bring rain jackets because it’s been raining for two weeks.
“Their team is basically our colours so we should look pretty good in their locker-room.”
Preparations have been ongoing since the idea was floated around in January, and things were made easier because the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings went through a similar experience going to China last year.
DePasquale has also been on the phone with Keith Robinson, the Boston Bruins’ equipment manager, sharing tips, swapping ideas and figuring out solutions.
The excitement at the Saddledome has been palpable over the weekend.
Even their departure plan has already been well-laid out.
“Benny is going to go to the airport halfway through the game (on Sept. 15) to start loading all the extra stuff — that’s a trick you learn from the other teams,” DePasquale said. “Because we could be sitting on the plane for four hours before we go to Beijing. It’s hard enough as it is so why make it harder?
“It should be relatively smooth but you never know. I just tell my guys, ‘We’re going to have a little bit of patience.’”
Thelasttwo nights, I’ve woken up at 4 a.m., anxious and wondering what’s missing.