Music: {allcanada} 1,000 reasons to smile for Flames' Conroy

The dressing room's peace is suddenly shattered.

Tim Jackman (notes), ready for some post-practice rock Wednesday, had ambled over to the stereo in the corner and cranked up a load of Tom Petty.

Turning back to the dressing room, Jackman is met with the stares of a dozen media members, who are frozen in formation around Craig Conroy (notes).

"Hey, I've got to be able to talk, Jacks," cracks Conroy, the afternoon before his 1,000th game in the National Hockey League. "This could be the last day they'll ever want to talk to me."

Music is muted.

But the ensuing silence doesn't stand a chance.

Not with Conroy on the premises. Thankfully.

Even well-worn touchstones - his confrontation with Patrick Roy; his one-sided fight with Jarome Iginla (notes) ("He jumped me. One of these days … ."); his trade to Calgary; his trade back to Calgary - stay fresh with Conroy's unfailingly enthusiastic retelling.

"I always said that I was going to appreciate every day and have fun with it," he says. "We're having fun and playing a game."

Yes, Conroy is one of a kind - and tonight he becomes one of 253, the elite membership of 1,000-game gang.

If the man exudes appreciation, there's a reason - he's been around long enough to know how these things can shake out. Conroy and Stephane Yelle (notes) finished last season with 991 games each - the former gets a contract, the latter is still waiting.

"I'm excited," says Conroy. "Over the summer, I didn't know if it would ever happen … now to be one game away. I didn't know if I was going to play in one, five, 10, so to play in 1,000? It's going to be nice. I'm going to enjoy it.

"And to able to get it at home … ."

His connection to this city is undeniable.

And somewhat inexplicable.

"It's weird," says Conroy. "The fans, I don't know what it is with me and them. They've always treated me so well. I try to treat them the same - with respect. Even last year, it took me 36 games to score … and the ovation they gave me when I finally did score was pretty special."

Conroy tells young teammates to always make time for boosters. Which has long been his approach.

Calgarians, in turn, are at ease with him.

"It's funny," he says. "Mostly they just call me by my nickname, so it feels like we all just know each other. I remember I was just sitting at this stop sign, my window was down, and someone (pulls up), 'Hey, Connie! How's it going?' That's just the way it is in this city with me and the fans."

It wasn't love at first sight.

Dealing Cory Stillman (notes) to St. Louis on March 13, 2001, the Flames had landed a largely unknown forward called Craig Michael Conroy.

Crickets chirped. The citizens were not amused.

"I knew it probably wasn't the most popular trade in team history," he says now. "Nobody, especially you guys, was happy with it. That's when I learned not to read the papers - right then. Or watch T.V."

Tonight against the Colorado Avalanche, his 498th appearance on behalf of the Flames, he's not sure what to expect, but he wants any pre-game stuff to go quickly. All the better for game-eager teammates.

"Hopefully, it'll be short and sweet."

Which does not describe his pro journey.

Conroy's point of NHL entry had been the 1990 draft.

One pick after the Edmonton Oilers selected Keijo Sailynoja - and two picks before the Flames lapped up Chris Tschupp - the Montreal Canadiens snagged the skinny prep-school boy with the 123rd selection.

Twelve of the 21 first-rounders that year hit 1,000 games - none of the sixth-rounders.

Till tonight.

"I was hoping for 400, to get the pension," says Conroy. "Anything more would be a bonus - 1,000 is going to be a big bonus. It's amazing. I've been fortunate with not a tonne of injuries."

Only once, in fact, has he even been under the knife.

(When he says that, Brett Sutter (notes), he of the 18 career games, knocks on wood three times. Conroy quickly follows suit.)

Of course, his first game, Feb. 15, 1995 at Hartford, remains fresh.

"Brian Bellows and Vinnie Damphousse were my linemates," says Conroy. "I only got to play with those guys for one game, then I was with Donald Brashear (notes) and Ed Ronan after that."

That season, which included only six dates with the Habs, Conroy raked in $27,500 (Cdn!) in Fredericton.

For the effervescent gent, though, that's just another chuckle-worthy tidbit. (Like, in his first-ever playoff game, he forgot to doff his helmet for the national anthem. Like, after being told by the Los Angeles Kings he'd been traded, he figured he was bound for Edmonton.)

"There's always something," says Conroy, grinning. "A lot of stories I can't tell. A lot of good times. You play 1,000 games, you play with a lot of great people, too. Your teammates are the ones that make it so much fun, and I've played with some great teammates."

Conroy became particularly tight with Iginla. That bond runs deep.

When Iginla hit 50 goals for the first time - April 7, 2002, at Chicago - it was Conroy who did the passing.

When Iginla assumed the Flames captaincy - Oct. 7, 2003 - it was Conroy who did the passing.

And late last season, when Conroy got sick of reporters badgering Iginla for post-game explanations, he didn't go snivel in the showers. Or breeze by with an under-the-breath put-down - a common mode of communication with the press.

Not Conroy, though.

He confronted the offending parties and, to their faces, gave them a wee blast.

Generally, Conroy's presence is a sunny one.

Although Iginla takes delight in offering his own exception to the rule - Conroy's annual tantrums.

"He enjoys life, but, man, when he snaps? It's unbelievable," says Iginla, chortling. "And it won't be in the middle of the dressing room - in the back bathroom, he'll be yelling and screaming … by himself. Something just sets him off and, literally, you have to get out of there. And the next day, he always feels so bad."

Laughter all around. (Conroy: "Once a year, I do have a moment. I go crazy.")

Players traditionally chip in for milestone gifts.

And while tonight's present remains top secret - "I can't tell you first," Iginla says to reporters - respect for 1,000-game men is evident.

Conroy, by his own count, has watched eight teammates get silver-sticked.

"You appreciate how hard it is," says Conroy. "Especially when you're a young guy, 'A thousand games? I'm never getting there. Here I am at 100.' To be at 1,000? I never thought I would be."