Castanga's mom fights back tears in heartwarming Calgary Flames moment
Thursday’s Calgary Flames game was one Jonathan Castagna and his family won’t soon forget.
The 21-year-old centre, who has been nicknamed “George,” hit the ice for his first NHL game. The rookie picked up his first NHL point, collecting an assist on Adam Klapka’s highlight-reel goal late in the first period.
Castagna’s mom, dad, and girlfriend were in attendance at the Saddledome, wearing matching No. 38 jerseys. The cameras caught their reaction as Castagna hit the ice for warm-ups, which made for a heartwarming moment when his mom burst into tears of joy.
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“It’s awesome. It’s cool seeing this for the first time,” Castagna said while watching a video of his family’s reaction during an interview with Sportsnet’s Brendan Parker after the first period. “I’m a little lost for words right now.”
The Toronto native had more to say post-game.
“It was definitely hard to see. I apologize for the lack of words there,” Castagna told reporters. “I’m really grateful that they could make it out. It means a lot to me. To share this moment with them, I’ll never forget it.”
Castagna was acquired by the Flames in March, as part of the MacKenzie Weegar trade with the Utah Mammoth. A third-round pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, he led Cornell University in scoring last season, with 34 points (15-19-34) in 34 games.
He began this season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, but was quickly called up after scoring two goals in his first two pro games.
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