For Dan Spence, being in Calgary on the ice at the Pengrowth Saddledome feels like a second home.

After all, the 21-year-old goaltender spent parts of five seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen, who happen to share a home rink with the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

And now, Spence is hoping to re-kindle the success he so often displayed on that ice.

Spence anxiously waited all summer as his agent tracked down pro opportunities and then in late August, word came that the Flames had extended him an invite to their prospects camp.

“It was a really long summer waiting, not knowing what was going on,” he admitted, speaking to The Times following an on-ice training session at the Sportsplex, and prior to departing to the Flames’ rookie camp, which began last week.

“It got so late, I wasn’t sure if anything was going to happen.”

But then the Flames came calling and Spence could not be happier.

“I have home ice advantage, having played there for four years,” he said with a laugh.

From 2004-2008, Spence won 77 games in a Hitmen uniform, leaving the major junior hockey club as the franchise’s all-time winningest goaltender.

But unfortunately, he fell victim to the numbers game as a 20-year-old — major junior teams can only carry three over-agers — and soon found himself sitting at home in Langley after no team traded for him or claimed him on waivers.

The Sarnia Sting, of the Ontario Hockey League, eventually grabbed Spence, and he went 29-19-6 with a 2.78 goals against average and a .914 save percentage.

Spence’s save percentage was a combined .916 with Calgary and Sarnia in 2008-09, the highest of his junior career.

Now comes his first shot at the pro game.

“Hopefully there is some room in their system,” Spence said about the Flames, whose American Hockey League affiliate plays in Abbotsford.

Miika Kiprusoff is firmly entrenched as the Flames’ No. 1 goalie, with last year’s back-up, Curtis McElhinney, also under contract.

The other goalies at camp include Leland Irving, Matt Keetley and David Shantz.

The Heat open their portion of training camp in Abbotsford on Monday.

“The plan is to get in the system,” he said. “That is where my main focus is.”

Calgary does not have a specific ECHL affiliate, but what they will do is find teams in that league for their players to join.

Spence does have other options, having inked a pro deal with the Laredo Bucks.

The Bucks are in the 18-team Central Hockey League, which is made up of teams mainly in Texas, but also South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Mississippi and Louisiana.

While not exactly hockey hotbeds, it is still a chance to play, Spence figures.

“It is a place to play and develop my game for another year,” he said.

“He’s been successful everywhere he has played,” said Bucks head coach Terry Rushowski, in a press release announcing the signing.

“We feel that he can bring that to our team for sure. His numbers in junior are solid (and) he’s a proven winner.”

And should he begin his pro career in Laredo, Spence figures it a great opportunity to see a lot of ice. He has played 50-plus games in each of the past few seasons.

“I like playing a lot, so it comes down to another year of having to prove myself I am up for the task.”

As he prepared to embark on his pro career, Spence said he has been focused all summer long.

“All your friends are going to the beach, but you have to think about the big picture,” he explained. “You get a month off after the season to relax and see your friends, but once the training gets going, the schedule gets pretty tough.”

Spence spent much of the summer, doing on-ice workouts at the Sportsplex. He also worked with Don Banyard and Mike Smith, his goaltending coaches, and Clint Hazen and Derek Hansen, strength and conditioning coaches with SFU.