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If Ryan’s four-legged friend was able to go undetected, she might have tried to tip-toe onto Tuesday’s late-night flight back to Calgary.

The Flames return to action Thursday, hosting the Minnesota Wild at the Saddledome (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“(Mia) basically does backflips when she sees Ryan,” Trevor said. “Wherever he sits, she’ll go sit right next to him or lay on top of him.”

Lori chimes in: “I think it was the other night in Chicago, I said, ‘Ryan is coming soon.’ And she stood by the hotel-room door and waited. It was funny. She just loves to see him.”

They all do.

Even if Trevor and Lori realize there is always a chance their sparkplug son — more smash than sizzle, more dung-disturber than dipsy-doodler — will be suddenly sparring with the toughest hombre in the opposing sweater.

Originally signed to a minor-league deal as an undrafted free agent, this is Ryan’s fourth winter in the Flames organization.

He has totalled 159 appearances in the AHL, 55 in the ECHL and so far has nine nights of NHL experience, two of ’em this season. His career counter at the highest level shows one assist, six shots on net, 19 hits and three fights — all as the underdog.

“I’m sure my mom would like me to play a more skilled game, but the reality of it is that’s not what got me here,” Ryan said. “Maybe it helped me get here, but it’s not what is going to keep me here.”

Mom is accustomed to it by now.

“Since he was a little kid, he’s always been that one to stick up for everybody on his team,” Lori said. “But I love that he has such a big heart. I think anywhere he has gone, all of the different teams he has been on, he always talks about his team. And when other parents talk to us about him, they’ll say, ‘Oh, my kid loves your kid.’ It’s nice to know that he’s that guy that will stick up for somebody. Yeah, some days I wish he had a little more height and a little more common sense sometimes … ”