While Iggy ducks spotlight, Versteeg bows to childhood idol

As a youngster growing up in Lethbridge, Kris Versteeg idolized Jarome Iginla.

It was a family thing.

So, just try to imagine the emotions that came with Versteeg being called up from the AHL in 2008 to play his very first game in the NHL against, of all teams, Iginla’s Flames.

In Calgary.

However, it was a moment made somewhat awkward when his large contingent of family and friends arrived for his monumental breakthrough showing their true colours.

“I remember my uncle came to that first NHL game of mine and he showed up in his Iginla jersey to watch me,” chuckled Versteeg. “I was with Chicago. I’m like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ It just shows you, Jarome meant a lot to this city and to a…