Legacy in tact, Giordano returns to the Saddledome

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Mark Giordano returns to the Calgary Flames with a legacy as one of the best to ever suit up in the franchise’s red and white.

On Saturday evening, the longtime captain - the undrafted blueliner who spent 15 seasons with the franchise (eight as captain), has played the second-most games in its jersey, and won its only Norris Trophy - comes back to the Saddledome to what surely will be a lengthy ovation from Flames faithful.

“I enjoyed my time here and have so many memories,” Giordano said.

“Tonight, it’ll be pretty special to play in front of the fans here again…I came in here pretty young, not knowing too much what the NHL was about. I felt like, every night I played I put as much as I can into the game and I think fans respect that and really showed me support throughout my career.”

General manager Brad Treliving often called Giordano the conscience of the organization. His ex-teammates agree.

“Since I came, he was kind of that guy that meshed well with the older guys and the young guys,” Matthew Tkachuk said, adding that it was a shame the Saddledome could only be half capacity on such a night for Flames fans. 

“I came in as an 18-year-old and he made me feel as at home as I could have felt. For that, I’ll forever thank him…Every practice, he was the first guy in line, the hardest-working guy and really drove our team and drove the bus for our team and for the Flames for the last however-many years.”

Defenceman Noah Hanifin came to the Flames via trade as a 21-year-old and immediately took cues from the captain.

“Mark was the first defenceman that I was really able to look up to and learn from,” he said.

“His work ethic on and off the ice, he’s the example for every young defenceman coming into the