When the decision was finally made to induce labour, he hopped a cab to the Vancouver airport and told the driver to step on it. Being present for the birth of a child is, obviously, a life-changing experience. Robyn Regehr is no different than any other first-time father -- he knows this kind of miracle, but when it happens to him, it seems like the first time -- ever.

View Large

While the Flames laboured in a 6-0 season-opening loss Thursday in Vancouver, Robyn Regehr was in Calgary to witness the birth of his first child. "Fortunately, he looks like his mother,'' said Regehr.

Photograph by : Getty Images Archive

ARTICLE TOOLS

• Printer friendly
• E-mail

Font:

• *
• *
• *
• *

"Fortunately,'' Regehr sighed, "he looks like his mother.

"It's an amazing, exciting moment for anyone. Particularly, I'd think, the first time. Hopefully, they'll be home (today) and watching the game on TV. I can't wait to spend some time with them. I can't wait for them to come to the rink the first time to see a game.''

When asked if he wasn't just a wee bit whipped what with the potent cocktail of anxiety, disbelief and joy churning inside him the past day or so, he smiled.

"Part of being a parent is sleep deprivation. I'm just getting in on the fun.''

A name for baby Regehr has been selected, but pop wasn't letting anyone in on the secret. He did reveal the little fella wasn't named for any past or current Flame.

"Not even,'' he was kidded, "for Oliwa?''

"Krzysztof?'' joked Regehr in rebuttal. "I don't think so.''

One thing's certain: The budding defenceman-to-be needs a bit of catching up to reach his dad's debilitating dimensions. He checked in to camp at seven pounds, two ounces.

"He's half your size already!'' Regehr exclaimed, needling a particularly gnarled, gnomish media munchkin.

Kristina and baby Regeher are both doing well. Allowing dad to turn his attention back to his hockey club, as it goes in search of atonement and a sense of closure for the spritzer-down-the-pants embarassment of Thursday on the West Coast.

"I know everything's fine,'' he said. "Kristina's parents are here'' -- his mom and dad are in Germany at the moment, visiting brother Richie, a former Flames' farmhand -- "and this is their first grandson. So that's nice.

"We're professionals. We're paid to go out and perform.

"I'll just be excited to be playing my first game.''

After that It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World comedy of errors, the Flames can't help but be equally excited to see him.

gjohnson@theherald.canwest.com

- - -

Get the Scoop Live Online

CalgaryHerald.com

Log on tonight to read Jean Lefebvre's live blog from the Flames-Canucks game.

Captain Jarome Iginla talks about how the Flames plan to bounce back tonight.