Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Calgary Flames Legend Mike Vernon (FULL INTERVIEW PART 2) | FN Barn Burner

Episode Date: August 3, 2023

Pinder & Rhett sit down with Calgary Flames Legend Mike Vernon!PART 2/2Shoutout to this episode’s sponsors:The Hearing Loss Clinic: https://hearingloss.caMcleod Law: https://www.mcleod-law.comBK Bowfort LiquorOutdoor Dental: https://www.outdoor.dentalBon Ton Meat Market: https://bonton.caTower Chrysler: https://www.towerchrysler.comBetway: https://betway.com/en-ca/ Mad Rose Pub: https://www.madrose.pubVillage Honda: https://www.villagehonda.com/enVena Nova: https://venanova.com________________________________________________Visit  www.nationgear.ca for merch and more.Follow us on Instagram @flamesnationdotca Follow us on Twitter @flamesnation @barnburnerfnFollow us on Facebook @FlamesNationReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time for part two of Mike Vernon, our full-length sit-down with the recently Anointed Hall of Fame are part of that 2023 class. You can find him now, his mug on the wall at the Hall of Fame in Toronto, reminding you, all our broadcasts do come to you live from the Tower Studios here in Mardaloup, Tower Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, it's Calgary's favorite Chrysler dealer. You can find them at 10901 McLeod Trail South. Let's get started with part two with Mike Vernon. How did your time come to an end?

Because you sort of alluded to it. The early 90s, they were still very good teams, but you had some disappointing first round exits as a group. And then star players started, okay, there goes. You know, there's McKinness, Newndike, Roberts. It was all sort of different time, but suddenly all those pieces of that championship team were gone in the mid-90s. I knew my days were numbered when Doug Ricebro came in

because I was on a contract. My contract was up. And so we're, and anybody's contract was up. He got rid of previously. So I knew, I kind of knew the writing was on the wall. But I,

he always said, well, I can't trade you your numbers. I think by Christmas, I had 20 wins or something like that. I was playing really well. And we were just huge contract dispute. like big gap well he called a meeting with my agent at six in the morning at the western hotel

my agents at one in doug riseboe's at the other and i'm in the middle and they're going out of each other and i just go larry stop i look over to my right dug rise bro and says listen you don't want me here i don't want to be here anymore trade me and I got up and I walked out. That was, he chased me down the hall. Izer. And I just said, no. And that was the result of the negotiation probably.

Yeah, I said there was a lot of F words going back and forth. And then I left. My agent calls me up after me. That was awesome. Yeah, really awesome. That was great. Yeah. You got in your car, you're like, shit.

What did I do now? What did I just do? So it was interesting. So then I go to the rink. And it's like, I'm dragging my butt because I've been up. I played the night before. I'm dragging my butt. And the boys are like, Frennie, what the heck's going on?

Because I'm pretty juvent the next day. And you're up at 5.30 this meeting. I'm not a roller coaster. I'm pretty even keeled. And boys are like, what's going on? What's up? He goes, oh, you guys, you won't believe what just happened. I had the biggest F-U fight with a general manager ever.

And they go, no. I said, yes. And they're like, oh, my God. So it got to Dave King. And Dave King was the coach at the time. He calls me in. He goes, what's going on? And I said, well, I'm in a contract dispute.

And he goes, you go home and get your rest. And, you know, because I was playing. And he liked me. I was his guy right now. And Dave King went up there. says you can't talk to him anymore and everything else. And oh, yeah, the contract dispute, it was, it was something. And then I get a phone call from Doc Seaman in Hawaii.

Don't worry, your contract's going to be done. Okay, thanks, Doc. End of story. Progress, did all of that, played the rest of the year. And then I got hurt at the end of the year and playing. playoffs and then my ankle I couldn't play and we lost out to L.A. or something like that. And then this summer, Doug Grisbro said he wasn't going to trade me. I got married that year. And four days before my wedding, well, Doug Gris announced the trade after the draft with the Red Wings.

Scotty Bowman phones me up and goes, oh, I just traded for you. And he said it was the weirdest trade I've ever been part of. I go, what are you talking about? He said, I traded for you two weeks ago, but he didn't want me to announce it. It was really strange. And I'm like, why would he do that?

Like, it doesn't matter. It's the summer. It's just right for your wedding. That's what you wanted to do. Yeah, just whatever. So at my wedding, you know, I just like, it was, well, then the wedding happened. and then I was traded.

So that morning, my buddy goes out and gets me Red Wing hats. And I got half the flame organization at my wedding. And I walk out with this, okay? It's just, oh, my God. It's so anyway, it was, yeah, crazy times. Nervracking to get traded, but awkward, seeing as you're a Calgary boy played almost all your life in Calgary. Yeah, but you know what?

It was time. I played nine years here and it was just, you know, they say you're supposed to change your job every seven. That's the real world. But anyway, I welcomed it. I just, I was under a microscope here. And I just got married.

I think that would have been, it was the best thing for our marriage just to get away from Calgary. And it was just her and I and my dog. And we went to Detroit. We enjoyed it thoroughly. like three years there and it was great, great team and great ownership and lived in a nice little area of Birmingham and it was awesome. I loved it. Scotty Bowman's stories? Oh, I got lots of them. I got lots. So, okay, you're right 94, 95. Where do you want to start?

Start at the beginning. So you get there, how much you know about Scotty and where are the wings at? And from there, well, you hear a lot about Scotty Bowman because of the Montreal, the history and Larry Robertson and they probably could have won two more if it wasn't for Scotty Bowman. I heard that saying. And then I knew that Scotty was in Pittsburgh when Bob Johnson was there. And Scottie came in to relieve Badger, but Badger was still alive. They talked a lot. And everything was in play in Pittsburgh.

And then they went on and win and things like that. And I think Scotty looked at that and he started to change his mentality a bit. and how he looked at the game. And he was, he highly regarded Badger Bob. Yeah. Because when I went to Detroit, we'd talk about Badger a lot. And he really looked up to Badger. And that, that was something for Scotty Bowman.

And I remember after one of the exhibition games, I said, Scotty, I said, you don't need a goalie. You need a system. And Steve, I. I said, Scotty looks at Steve. He goes, what do you think? He's just, I think he's right. Because they just won the president's trophy the year before.

They lost to San Jose in that eight spot. They had a power host team. They have a good team, right? Sergey Federoff, Cicerelli, Keith, Primo, Ray, Shepard, Steve, Eisenberg, Kozlov, Lidstrom, like, it's quite a list. A lot of Hallfamers there. It's unbelievable. So we started to implement a bit of a system.

and things like that. And we just had good years. And yeah, the first year we got, went to Stanley Cup playoffs and got knocked out 4th Street by Jersey, who's a very disciplined, good hockey club in the finals. Yes, in the finals. The next year comes, Oz Good was playing the playoffs and stuff like that.

We lost, I think it was Colorado we lost two. You would have lost Colorado because they beat us in the final. Yeah. And so the third year. But that, sorry, I have to stop you because that second year that you were in Detroit, didn't they set a record for wins that year? Yeah, something like that. It was crazy.

One of the teams of all time. 60, like. And you and a young goalie, Osgood at that point. And nice tandem. But Ozzy was playing most of the games in the first half. I'd get thrown in the odd time. And then it was. And I just work hard, be supportive.

of. And then it was the new year in February. You know, he's, Scotty comes up. He says, yeah, you're going to start playing a lot more. Just get yourself ready. And then it was towards the end of February, May. He says, you know, you're my guy. What do you mean? No, I'm going with you.

You're my guy. So I said, oh, okay. So I'm his guy in front. playoffs and I'm like oh my god I can't I got a okay do this we lose the first game to st. Louis two one I've gone oh I'm done he's not going to put me back in the net and he put me back into the net and then we can we won and it went whatever we won the Stanley Cup 16 and four I think that the one point seven six goals against a nine 27 save percentage that was 1997 consmite trophy you weren't a young man

but those are the best numbers you put up in any playoff. Yeah. It was pretty bizarre. I was talk about being in his own. We played Anaheim. And Salani between Salani and Paul Carrillo, I think the two of them had, like, we went into overtime with those guys, like two and three extra periods. It was like we played seven games. Yeah.

If you had up all the, and these guys would have 10 shots each. It was crazy. And they were good. They were so good. But it was, we had a good team and it was, like you said, in the zone. And I was zoned in and I had lots of energy, well rested. It was awesome. It was one of my prouder moments, I guess, as a player. Every day on Barn Burner, the Pinder Report is brought to you by Village Honda. Village Honda has new Honda's arriving daily and has a huge pre-owned inventory.

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Con Smyth, what did that mean or was it, screw it, you got over the hump of this team? You know, that was nice. I always wanted that. nice the con smite nice like but the cup's sitting there and you're like this thank you well i don't want to disrespect the fact that this is the con smite but well it's it's funny but it's uh that's that's that's a bit of the selfish trophy i call it but it was for me it was i could still do it yeah i could still play in the n hl i can still achieve there So that was kind of that for me.

And it was, it was nice. But in saying all those trophies, I think I'm more well known for the fight with Patrick Waugh. Yeah, for sure. Because people bring that up all the time. Do you know that I won two cups? What? No, dad, him?

No. So that Patrick Waugh fight. Where was that right? robbery when you showed up in Detroit. And I believe it was the day you got your 300th win was when you scrapped them. Like what a yeah, that was incredible night. I didn't even realize that until later. Okay. And I'm going to tell you that was one of my worst games I played. Really? Well, I let in like five goals in two two periods. And I was awful. And the boys in the third period after the fight and everything else,

I was fatigued because fighting for 20 seconds, I was so done. I don't know. I don't know how these guys do it for a living because it was it's ridiculous right all that gear he can't compare it to anything yeah it's so anyway that was done and then i uh i get i'm in the dressing room my mom my stool i'm taking my stuff off as he comes in and goes you got to go back on the ice i said i i left the crease i got in a fight i have to be thrown out of the game no you're not he goes they you're on the ice so i get back out there and step on the ice and the crowd goes crazy. They're going crazy. And it's like, what, what's going on here? So I get into the net. I don't even think they had another shot on that. Really? And the guys just took it over and they

won the game for me. It was unreal. And then that was after I found out it was the 300 victory and the fight with Patrick. So that is a very memorable game now for me. Well, so there's a lot of stuff that comes full circle. You get to the final in 86. It's Patrick, the rookie in my Montreal at that point. And then it's that incredible rivalry when you're in Detroit and he's in Colorado. And Trevor Kidd chased you from two different jobs as well. If you can walk us through that as well, which is like almost a decade apart, I want to say. Yeah, that's right. Well, the one in Florida, he was hurt and they brought me in. Okay. And I don't know if he ever really came back after that injury. And it was drafted here. Yeah, he was drafted here. And he was very highly touted

and everything like that. And they just handed them. Here you go, kid, here's the job. Well, you know, I was just kind of shocked, but it's whatever. Where the game goes. I was happy to go to Detroit. Move on. Not to dwell on sad stories, but you win that cup.

Is that not the accident is afterwards? Yeah, it's, you know, you're at such a high. And we're at a golf. just the group of us, only the players. And we do the right thing in taking limos and go do this and enjoy the day. And a couple of the Russian players, Fetisov and Manazana Khan off the masseuse and Connie. And it's, they don't like golf. Right.

So they said, can we go? Yeah, we'll see at dinner tonight. Take a limo and leave. And then we finished the rest of the nine. holes and we're just about to get into the limo we're leaving the restaurant and stevie gets a call and sits us all down and tells us and it just everything ended killed it all yeah so it just and all our and all we could think about was the boys so it was uh it was it was a tough thing i i i saw connie this uh november at our uh twenty

fifth anniversary and he's doing well he's doing he knows who i am and uh he's he's actually doing quite well his daughter was there and things and it was just great um the red wings have taken care of him he is uh he's so loved in uh hockey town it's unreal so he's doing quite well loved and loved and respected all around the game i mean he's one of those guys that you're just were cringing to have to play against. He was only 170 pounds, 80 pounds. And he used to run Lindros like there was no tomorrow. Anybody.

He was, he was fearless. And he never said a word. He was very quiet. Just, hey, Vernie. He just did his job and everything was just, he was, he was unbelievable player. And so I'm trying to use my memory to do this. but the next year you win as well so then i get traded in the because again my contract guy wins a cons might they ship my town so i said to kinney hall and i says well you guys said if i

delivered you would pay me we're not willing to pay you mike you're not willing to pay me all right well let me shop myself around okay you can so my agent and i uh shop this around. Did you tell Kenny to F off too or just one? No, no. Kenny, you know what? Kenny and I are good friends, but it's, it comes from a higher. Yeah.

Eschalon, you know that and I know that. So I wasn't going to crucify him over it. But, uh, and that was fine. Had to be somewhat surprising, though. Huh. You had Osgood. Was there a writing on the wall? They had Oz good since day one.

And they thought I was going to take Ozzie's number 30 because I was 30. I go, no, Chris, that's your numbers. I'll take 29. I'm fine with that. And Chris and I have a very good rapport, even to this day. So, no, I was, I'm happy they were given the reins to him. He deserved it, too. He did his time in the minors. He's played a few years in the National Hockey League and things like that. And obviously, you know, salaries, they had big payrolls. They had big players they wanted to keep. And I wasn't big. So they get rid of. of the little guy. So I got to negotiate deal with San Jose.

Why did you choose there or did it come out of nowhere? Did you have it? No, it just at the end of the year. Organically found it. That's what. And my agent was working the phone. And surprisingly, we beat Philly 4th Street. And with all the goalie trouble they had there, they weren't even interrupted.

And I was shocked. That is actually an interesting take on it because, yes, they're a great team, but they couldn't get a goaltending. And yeah. So then I go back in history when I back in 80, early 85 was it when Pelly Pellie Lindner passed Philly phone Cliff. We want Vernon. Cliff wouldn't trade me. It was just, you know, and then I just kind of reflect back on this. You were interested once, no more. And I just beat you for straight. But anyway, it, it worked out well. I went to San Francisco.

Jose. I loved it there and went on. Who's running things there? Who's coaching? I'm trying to remember. Was Darrell coaching? Big Dee. Big Dee. He was coaching by then. Darrell was coaching then. I think he drank probably five or six pots of coffee every day. It was just vibrating. It was. It was something. But no, it was good. We had good teams there. And we built good teams there. And it was, and Dean Lombardi was the general manager. and no i was it was i was disappointed to get traded out of there um that came about because

darrell very similar three years later comes up to me and goes your steve shields was the other goal and he was playing a lot and good but the second part of the year darrell's like you're going to start playing more and you're my guy and i'm like okay good i feel good same feeling i had with the red wings i'm like liking this and I'm in St. Louis. We're in St. Louis, and I'm supposed to play. And I get traded. And I know I'm getting traded because they called and asked and all that stuff now.

So Darrell comes and knocks on the door, my hotel room, and goes, I guess, you know why I'm here. I says, I have an idea. He says, can I come in? I says, sure. Sets down. He goes, I can't believe he's trading you. we're going into playoffs with a rookie goal tender that's not good anyway i just said and they're shields he yeah shields and then he played that year and never played again so i said

i said to i said to darrell i said you know what i'm surprised too i was hoping to stay i was hoping that this wasn't going to happen because i had a really good feeling like i did with the red wings And we had a good team. We had a great team. And then also Dean traded Ragnoson to Philly. And he was a solid defenseman too. Really solid defenseman. And years after, run into Dean Lombardi when he was in L.A. with Daryl, I ran into him in Phoenix at a hotel bar that they were staying.

And I was there. And so we were talking. and Dean Lombardi said, my biggest regret was trading you two guys that year. I shouldn't have done that because we had a good team. And yeah, it's, it's funny how this game. Do you even know what the return was?

Oh, it was, who was that guy? It was the guy from the Rangers. There was a three-way trade. Guy from the Rangers came over. He went to Florida. He was like a third-line player. It's time to discover or rediscover, the legendary St. Eugene

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Find them at 28 crowfoot circle northwest. or go to bontanmeetmarket.com. You went to Florida. What was it like there? And you guys must have just missed. He went to the year. I got the year after I got traded either. Oh,

they had a good team. Borei. Oh, yeah. And yeah, that's in Terry Murray was the coach. I remember. Radic Dvorak.

There it is. Sorry. Okay, guys, we got to play this way. Pav's going to play that way. Oh, we're going to play this way. We're like,

what? And I remember who was it? Oh, it was like Len Berry. Pap, if you just come inside the red line, I think we might have a chance of winning this game. Oh, okay, Pat, maybe the blue line. Come inside our blue line. Oh, it's funny. We have pretty good team.

Pete Warrall, Paul Laos was there. Oh, yeah, we had a tough team. Yeah. Loza. Oh, yeah. He talks to Laos all the time. It's one of those names. Or if you've listened to the show, you'd know him.

But if you listen to the same show at a difference that you wouldn't just because you had so much respect for him. Oh, he was one tough. boy and solid just love to fight yeah and so did pete yeah big beat still down there my kids we did the n-h-l alumni versus the panthers alumni and we happened to be there i haven't played all-star week yeah i haven't played a hockey game in eight years so anyway where i go down there decide to suit up was tinkler around when you're yeah tink had this all set up my kids had seen Pete chased me around when I was playing in Buffalo and they saw Pete at the game. Holy dad is he big.

Like, yeah. That's why I was trying to hide. Yeah. And we lost to Jersey at first round. One of the few, like we went to the playoffs in Florida, 95, 96, 96, 97. And then you guys went in 2000. And then it was like lights out forever. Yeah.

Yeah, it was tough. they, I think Brian Murray left and they were starting the changes. The ownership, James. So it was Radick Dvorak. No, there was a third player. So who was the guy from the Rangers? No, I really got to. Dvorak went to the Rangers.

Yeah. Third round pick as well. But it was another guy that there was three of us that we just did the rotation. Little guy. Not a big guy. Sean O'Connor, third round or it's bark. Okay. Anyway.

Yeah. And then you end up back here. I was going to say that there's the full circle. Well, again, my contract. And we're negotiating with Brian Murray and everything's, I'm assuming going really well. And then the next thing I know, you get traded to Minnesota. I go, what? I phone my agent.

I get traded to Minnesota. Doug Ricebrow's in. Minnesota. There is no way in how long playing there. Zero chance. Like this, there's something up. I go, Larry, find out what's going on. And the next thing, you know, I get traded to Calgary. Oh. And Craig Button was here. So, anyway, I come back to Calgary full circle, two years. And then I pack it in. And it was time, time to pack it in. The body knew, the mind knew. Everything. It was not a confusing. It was just like, no. No, I knew it was. Uh, It was time to, uh, it was tough coming back here and playing.

Uh, the team was in shambles still a bit. Forrest saves the franchise. Don Hay was the new coach and, uh, rookie general manager and nothing against those guys, but it was, it was a tough scenario. And, uh, yeah, and then it was my mother still here when you came back. No, he was gone. I feel like it was 98-ish, you would have been gone. You would have seen.

Everybody was gone. Jerome. Jerome was here. Jerome's 51 or 52 goal season you would have seen. Yes. In Detroit, I think he scored that one. I was here with Jerome. Yeah.

Can you talk about it? Because that happened at a time that wasn't supposed to happen. I think the next high-scoring guy was like 37 goals or 41. Like he he lapped the field that year in goals. And it was not a deep team. This was not playing with stars. Jerome was in beast mode. Yeah.

It's, we didn't have a, a great team, but we, we still weren't bad, but, you know, we had a pretty decent power play. And Jerome got a lot of his points on the power play. But he, you know, he's a good solid player like he always was. Savard, Val Barre. And Savvy always set him up. Like, savvy was a good sentiment. Like, he talented.

To get nothing for him. The great savvy story, when I get traded here, he's at the other end of the dressing. you know i'm in the far corner he goes mike looking at your stats you've led in 2000 goals that's a lot of goals i'm like oh god savvy shut up and to be fair that was 21 years after you got drafted when you when you called a quiz that's incredible i just laughed when i just like oh for the love of god you know he's a funny kid too. Doing well as a coach right now.

Yeah. Another thing I wanted to ask you, but it's kind of topical only because they're talking about another new rink. You go from the corral. Oh. Into the saddle dome.

Was it like, oh, like. Oh, that was heaven. Yeah. It was like one of the nicest rinks in the league. Yeah. Right? At that time. 21,000 back in the hour.

Yeah. And we'd fill it. And it was awesome. Right. And then it just wore itself out. Right? It's just. I guess it doesn't happen when you, it doesn't help when you have a flood in there's water to about the 13th or 14th floor.

You know, 13 roses seats were underwater for that flood in 2013. To be fair, I think we were all looked a lot better 40 years ago. Like the saddle looms just like us, right? Well, they quietly tore down the corral. And I think it was over COVID because I would do, me and a couple of buddies would do these long walks. And it was walking and they were tearing the thing down. and I was kind of sad because I had a lot of memories in that building too. So the Hitman went in and played a series of games in there that last year the crowd was

open and they wore all the old jerseys, the Wranglers jerseys, the Cowboys, amongst others. And so it got a bit of a send-off. But I mean, it was a very unique building. Like what would it hold? Six, seven thousand for NHL and the boards, like both benches on opposite sides of the ice. There were some weird stuff at that ring. Well, the boards were high and they were in concrete.

And the glass was low. Like it was ridiculous. Concrete was up to here on the boards. Like it's high as the... Oh, yeah. And guys would separate shoulders all the time. Like, it was crazy. Yeah.

And the opposition team didn't like going into the corners too often. That's fair. Some of those teams, I get it. I get it. New GM of the Calgary Flames also got traded to the organization that year. Do you remember Craig Conroy coming in? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. That's pertinent. Connie. Oh, yeah. Like, they were. you know they still a good team freddie bratherweight was the other goalie he was hilarious yeah people love freddie oh freddie was a good i had a lot of insight to that team because my good friend clark wilm was there jason weamer so i was always being kept abreast of what you idiots were up to yeah

it was quite funny yeah there was there is a funny story of freddy brothwaite and i and i after a game we lost i played and i wasn't too excited but We go down to, I don't know, it was Rodney's now, but it was, I don't know what it was called, some bar there on 10th. The drink or something like that. So we just went there and had a couple of drinks. I wasn't early in the mood, so I just took off and went home. And some of the boys proceeded to go out and I get a phone call the next morning.

Yeah, come on in. We want to talk to you, the general manager, assistant general manager. I think it was at the time. Anyway, so I go in and go to the office. What's going on? he says, oh, I heard you were, you were seen at the Hells Angels house. I go, pardon? Yeah, cops have reported.

They phoned us and told us they saw you there. I'm like, really? I said, well, I wasn't there. I went to the drink and I went home. But anyway, if that's what you think I did, then I guess I did that. But I know I didn't do that. So if this shit's going to start again up, because that's what I left kind of in the other time, things like that were happening.

So I just got up and I just walked out. And then I sat down in my stall and Freddie's stall is right next to me. And he comes to say, hey, Bernie, how are you doing? I'm like, what's wrong, Vernie? I says, I don't know. I don't know, Freddie. I said, I just got called up into the management office, and they're accusing me of being at the Hells Angels hangout last night. Because I didn't see you there.

And I go, what? The other wrong goal. They mistaken. Me and you, what? You need better detectives. I go, oh, my God. These checks. They better get their eyes checked.

Oh, we howled over that. That was a good one. He loved to laugh too. Freddie loved that fun. He was great. Outdoor dental. Dentistry with no needles, no drills, and no stress. Dr. J. Patel decided a few years ago that it was time to change the dental experience for his patients.

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Dot pub is the website. 15 Royal Vista Place is the address. It's Madrose Pub. So you're really involved with the alumni now. You mentioned 11 guys from that cup team. got a bunch of the 04 crew that rats a part of and some other guys sprinkled in guys from other teams. What does that mean to be involved with the alumni and maybe just highlight what it's like that camaraderie when you're done playing? One, I'm not a big part of it.

Okay. Because there's other guys that do a lot of work in it. Like Dana Merzen over the years, Colin Patterson, Otto, Lanny, all these guys have, we've passed the torch on to Rhett Warner. or not red we passed it on to Robert Reggear and Mike Commodore now and they've done a great job but it's just a great tournament it's like family out there you know all the

groups pretty much and the same groups keep coming back and it's I'm getting a sense that there's more people wanting to show up to this now so I'm going to have to pound the pavement more and get a few more guys out there but it's a great tournament great causes. You tee off at 9, you're at home by 6. 5 or 6.

So it's good. People want to go now because we've broken the weather contract. Because for a few years there, it was relentlessly snowing and raining and cold and miserable. And I remember the one year, I think we hit a tee shot and went right back to the clubhouse. Thank you very much. So it's at Prentice and Johnny Wilson does a great job out there. And it's a great golf course. It's a great afternoon and great sponsors, great people.

What's keeping you busy? A lot of different things. Yeah, kids are starting to get older. National neon. Sign company, I work there. So anybody that needs signage, phone me out. Anyway, I do that. And I do a few other little projects.

I have my development out in Painted Ridge.com.ca. out in the Cootneys or out in the East Cootanies on Columbia Lake. Kind of by Canal Flats, is that right? We've got some lots for sale. And if you guys liked that area and come on out, it's quite lovely. And I ran into you a couple weekends ago and you were like kid free, you and your wife. You looked at each other and you're like, we have no kids with us. We were getting a kick out of you.

You and your brother-in-law and they got. Six kids over there. They're playing baseball. And that's just my wife and I looked over. Remember those days? Yeah, do we miss them? Yeah, you do. Because it was fun.

Our kids, we had a riot. But it was just, we just kicked back and had a glass of wine and laughed at you guys. Has it been an adjustment? You do. You go through the ring or you're playing hockey. You're raising kids. And all of a sudden, they're starting to move on. And you're looking, like I know my brother's kids are both going to be out of the house,

come fall and there's going to be an empty nest and it's like what do we do now wait what well my wife has a design company uh she does a lot of building and things like that she started it a bunch of years ago and she seems to be very busy with it and i'm a little busy and it's golf season so it's it works well i got the three boys home for the summer right now uh which is good and hopefully we'll get out and play a little golf, but they're working. And it's, you know, it's tough to drag them and come on, let's go up to the cabin, but we'll get up there for a few weekends and things like that. Do you, do you, do you wreck, I don't know what's the word I'm looking for, recognize and relish

knowing that those times might be coming less and less spent together. Do you know what I mean? Well, none of my kids are in a hurry to get married. There's still contentment. Going to be coming soon. There's, that's for sure, much to my wife's chagrin. but it's it's just a circle of life right now we're enjoying the time and our kids are moving on I had one just graduated from Colorado College this year a goalie no less the goalie yeah and

we're hoping to get him in the pro rank somewhere playing hockey next year he wanted it'd love to go play and give it a couple we'll call rise brow it'll what's that call rise brow see if you can get yeah he's got to work somewhere Thank goodness he's no longer in the game. And then we'll just see what happens from there. And then the other two boys are at Dalhousie and going to school. So it's all good. And my daughter's in Toronto.

She's been launched for about three or four years and doing well. And so it's all good. We're looking forward to Stampede Week. Because we got a big group coming. My daughter comes in with a bunch of her friends and Matt and his girlfriend. and oh yeah, we got a big crew coming in for this. Just do the circus tent. I'm a very big promoter around North America about the stampede.

I tell people all the time and my kids' friends, you've got to experience this just once. It's the funnest time you'll ever have. Last one for me, just looking back, we talked about a lot. It's been a lot of hometown, a lot of other major markets, two cups. What do you look back in relish or you're really proud of or something you're like? If people want to remember one thing, I'd love to remember that. Wow.

One thing? It's hard to pick one. It is hard to pick one. It is hard to pick one. I just, you know what, I'm just proud of my career. I'm a small guy. Probably, you know, a knock here or there. But I hope to think that I was a competitor.

And, you know, I played. 18 years in the National Hockey League. I just, my career, I'm happy with it. And I hope people are happy and respectful of it too. And it wasn't easy.

It never is to play in this crazy game. It's, it takes a lot. Mental fortitude and thick skin and a lot of determination. So it's, I'm proud of my career. I'm looking at the all-time wins list you're at it goes Dominic Hasick at 15

who might be the best goalie of all time Mike Vernon at 16 Jonathan Quick at 17 I mean your wins total 16th all time that is impeccable that's good I like that it's I'm glad I'm just in that group that's a good good company I'm in the top 100

I've played against a lot of good goaltenders you know it's a Grant Fear my whole life I, to this day, I think Grant was probably the best goalie that played. Unfortunately, I never got to see Glenn Hall. I've heard and he was my goalie coach

for nine years and never came on the ice once with me. Really? Okay, it was all up here, the talking and things like that, but Grant Fear was probably the best goalie that I think that I think he's the top dog. I know Hachick,

he was a great goaltender too, but I granted, done a lot of great things. And he was phenomenal. I played against him in junior and watched him. And I learned a lot from him, but he was a great one. What are you hoping Craig Connery does with this squad this year? You know, I just, I think he's got a good mind for the game. And I think that he kind of knows what the strengths and weaknesses of the team are right now.

and I think he'll look forward to the draft and I think that he's, I think you'll see him start building up the middle of the ice. A lot of teams, they look at the middle of the ice and they start building from there. I can always turn a centerman into a winger, but I can't turn a winger into a centerman. So I think that he'll,

he'll probably take his time and really, you know, do his homework, but right now he's got to get the right coach for the team. And I think he has an idea what he wants. And he's just going to probably interview a bunch of them and go from there. But he has his opinions and things like that. And I'm sure he'll, he's got the green light to do whatever he wants. So I'm looking forward to watching and criticizing and applauding.

Yeah. Well, you know what? Observing. Connie's got thick skin. So he's, you know, you're always doing things for a reason. And the public might not understand that. They might not understand the salary caps. They might not understand what he has in the minors that is coming up.

So you've got to, there's a lot of jostling that goes on. It's a, you know, realistically, I don't know if his wife's going to be excited because they, they don't have a lot of dining time in the summer. Like, you'd be lucky to get a two-week vacation. in the summer. And it's, it's a tough, tough position. And hopefully he just surrounds himself with some good people that he can bounce stuff off of and make his decision.

That's Cliff Fletcher was a master at that. He had Al McNeil in there. He always had guys that he could talk to. And then he would go and make his own decisions and things like that. But no, he's a level-headed guy. He's not, I don't think he'll do things. emotionally or anything like that. It's he'll think it through.

Betway, bet of the daytime guys. It's Pinder here. And I'm looking again at NFL futures where, yeah, Patty Mahomes, of course, is going to be a favor to have the highest total of passing yards in the NFL this season. But I'm looking for a little more value. How about down at 10 to 1?

Josh Allen, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, they're airing it out. That's an offense built around passing the ball. 10 to 1 for Josh Allen to win the passing yardage title. I like that one. That's my Betway, bet of the day. Make sure you get the app. Play responsibly, bet the responsible way,

bet way. Thanks to your time. It's been really fun. I love running into you. And it's just like, it's some Calgary royalty. The fact that so much of your life's been here. And to look at what you achieved

even after an incredible decade in Calgary, like amazing career. Well, thanks. It was, it was fun. You know, it's, yeah, it's,

something that I can always reflect back on and makes me smile, but it's funny. My kids don't know a lot about the past because they were too young or born at the time. So when we were over the COVID, my wife taught us to play that Majan game. Oh, yeah. So we'd have dinners and I had all the kids home, but they'd always have the reruns on. So I'd always play, have the TV with the reruns on. we're playing mods and we're always not looking up and they say oh my god dad your equipment it was awful come on guys are slow there's no advertising on the boards it's like what it's going on

so it was good fun thanks appreciate you like anytime and i think i speak for everyone the whole city appreciates you i've been one of the an ambassador to the game and to the town so well we can always do more but uh thanks Thank you.