"Niklas Hagman looked over at his grizzled neighbour in the Calgary Flames locker-room and shook his head. "No way you're 39," Hagman told Craig Conroy. "It's like playing with my dad." The wisecracks were more than welcome. Anything to lighten the mood with Conroy enduring one of the more anxious days of an National Hockey League career that has spanned 13 years . . . And counting. "Hags doesn't believe the age thing," Conroy said with a chuckle. Believe it. Conroy, the Flames' resident chatterbox, turned 39 back on Sept. 4. He's actually old enough to be the father of Edmonton Oilers prospects Taylor Hall an Jordan Eberle. The Flames open the regular season tonight against the Oilers at Rexall Place. Conroy, the one-time captain, is on the roster, but he's not entirely sure if he'll dress or climb the millions of stairs to the press box. So far no taps on the shoulder for a private chat with head coach Brent Sutter or assistant coach Dave Lowry. "Haven't heard anything," Conroy said. "That's probably better news. If you get called in, then it's bad news." Brett Sutter received such a tap Tuesday morning. The 23-year-old cleared waivers Wednesday morning and skated by himself before the rest of the team practised at the Saddledome. He is likely destined for assignment to the Abbotsford Heat, of the American Hockey League. Conroy is on a two-way contract, so he could face a similar fate. But for now, he's on the big team and set to march towards the 1,000-game milestone. One of the most popular Flames of all-time, Conroy needs just nine games to receive that coveted silver stick." http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports...onroy cracks Flames lineup/3634638/story.html
