Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Cassie Campbell-Pascall (FULL INTERVIEW)

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett are joined by former Team Canada captain and Olympic gold medalist Cassie Campbell-Pascall to break down Canada’s loss to the United States in the women’s Olympic gold medal game, with Cassie offering insight from her experience representing Canada on the biggest stage. The conversation then turns to breaking news as Doug Armstrong steps down as Canada’s Olympic GM and what that could mean moving forward. Cassie also highlights the continued growth of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, including the upcoming Takeover Tour stop in Calgary, where the Toronto Sceptres face the Ottawa Charge at the Saddledome.#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #edmontonoilers CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello, Kathy. Hi, I'm doing everything at this time of day except for my green beer. I haven't had one of those yet. Well, I was going to say it sounded like maybe it had a couple there just before the, we got started. Yeah, how are you guys doing? I know you guys have probably already started. I can tell already. I know that Starbucks cup is not really started by this.

Irish Trojan horse. The Irish whiskey in there. How old are you? Our generation loves the green. The whole St. Patty's thing, isn't it the best? It's so much fun. And I love this. spirit of it. I should have wore my hat, but I, you know, I'm representing as you guys see.

But we'll be dressed up and having a green beer later this evening. So yeah, I'm good. How are you guys? Thanks for having me on you guys. I appreciate it. No problem. Anytime. We'll roll out the red carpet. Are you still, did you get over your jet lag and all that from the big trip over to Italy? Yeah. You know, what a blast to be back with my old group at CBC, the old stomping grounds back in the day when I covered Rhett when he was still playing. It's been so long, isn't it, Rhett? Like, it's not, but... It does feel like a while. I know, I know. And it's been a while for sure. And for me, too. But yeah, and then, you know, I got right back in it. I'm working with the NHL and ESPN, as you guys know. And I was home for

48 hours and then had a game in L.A. and then was home for four or five days. And then I was back in Seattle, L.A. for back to back. And then I had a week off, which was nice. But Milan was fun, you know, rather than the outcome for us Canadians. I thought we deserved a better fate at times, but it was really fun to be back and to work with one of my teammates, Cheryl Pounder. She's just a riot. So we were doing men's and women's hockey. It was a little bit of a grind,

but we managed to get out a couple times and enjoy the Italian festivities, if you will. But yeah, it was an amazing experience and to be back with the group that I kind of grew up with on Hockey Night in Canada, all the production people. And, you know, there's some of the best of the best in the business. So that was exciting for me. I was thinking about you, Captain Canada, sitting there watching overtime or a tie game late in the third

with the women out there. It's like, geez, we're barely hanging on to, but you got to be a pro. It's like, well, it's a big win for the Americans here and over. Like, I just wonder, I know how I am. I'm just excruciating pain sitting and watching. It's like, well, Cassie played, like she captained this team.

and now needs to be kind of impartial. How hard was that? Yeah, I think the hardest thing for me with the women's side was that I was with the program four years ago leading up to the last Olympics. And it was the COVID time and era, but you're part of the team. And then all of a sudden, you're kind of not,

but you still are and you always will be. But trying to, I think for me, was trying to send a message to them at times throughout my work there and things that I thought. And of course, I would text some things and they would reach out. And I spent, you know, the two nights after they lost, I spent some time with all of them. And, you know, you're always going to be connected. You're always going to care.

But, you know, you have to be professional and say what needs to be said. And, you know, it was interesting. A lot of people on the women's team thought that they should have gone younger. And when I was with the program four years ago, we were dying for these young players to step up. We're like, here's your opportunity. Step up, take over. and it kind of wasn't happening. And I think, you know, we saw a little bit of growth at these Olympics with,

with players like Sarah Filier and Daryl Watts and, you know, Chloe Primeraan was going to be there soon enough. But I think it was right for them to take a veteran group. And, you know, I know they lost and I know people were sitting at home. But I thought Gina Kingsbury did an amazing job with this program. And, you know, they could have won. They were two minutes and, what, four seconds away from winning. And I think we needed a little.

the leadership group to take on the mighty Americans. It's the best American team I think I've ever seen in women's hockey. And I don't even think they played well in the final. They were great in the round robin, but I thought they were just iffy in the final, but still managed to pull it off. But, and then the men's side, like you're just, you know, like before I'm, I was, I'm not going to lie, I was texting Crosby and Poo and saying good luck and you're, you're a fan.

You want them to win. And they should have won. And it's unfortunate what happened with Crosby, but hey, Hella Buck was great and we got to give them credit, right? Well, I heard a story. I don't know if it's, I mean, you don't need to comment on it necessarily. I heard you wanted to go into the room to talk to the team before old metal games. But you were,

Good old Mikey Canada said you weren't allowed to go in the, what? Like, I, you know what, I got to give it to him because he heard a story that he thinks was true and he said it, right? But unfortunately that wasn't the case. And poor Kathy Henderson got the brunt of it. And she's amazing, you guys. Honest to God, she's amazing and how she's taken over hockey Canada and all the stuff that she's had to deal with. So I got to give it to him.

Like you can't, like former players, we have to now be journalists to some degree. You've got to get your facts straight, you know. Yeah, that's what I focus on. He was like spouting off. I'm sure he had a few green beers that day as well. And so I got to give it to him. I love them to death, but I got to give it to him. You can't throw people under the bus.

Well, it was on this podcast. I know. I know. Be careful. Watch them watching. Breaking news. I'm going to go fishing. We're going to look for some big scoops here from you.

I got one more in the 11th before we move. Yeah. Doug Armstrong, it was announced today. He's going to resign as the guy that sets the NHL rosters for hockey Canada. He's also July 1. He passes over to Alex Steen as the GM in St. Louis. Just a thought on maybe. any relationship or understanding of what he's built and maybe who would you like to see take over

the program. It might be the most high profile job in hockey now that we have best on best every two years and it's hockey in this country. Yeah. Well, I, you know, first of all to Doug, who has been incredible to our family. You know, when my husband first started on the NHL side, leaving hockey Canada, Doug brought him into St. Louis and, you know, kind of showed him the ropes and I think he's been a mentor to a lot of people in the league. And so a really great person and a great guy. And I think it's timing. He's earned this time to leave, you know, on his own terms. You know, my guess is Julian Breezeball, Kyle Dubas, someone who's been part of this group and part of this process here and had the experience of going through

an Olympic Games before and what it takes. And, you know, that's kind of how Hockey Canada does it. You know, you think Wayne Gretzky back in the day and then Steve Eisenman was part of that group and then Steve Eisenman takes over, and Doug Armstrong was part of that group. And, you know, that's kind of how it goes. And I think it's important to have that experience around. But a really great person and deserves to retire, I guess, if that's what he's doing on his own terms,

and go enjoy and play some golf and have some fun and be with his family. And I'm sure it's not an easy time. I think all of you know we're in this for life, right? We're so fortunate to be part of hockey. And we're in this for life. Our hearts are in it for life. We care about it. So good luck to him.

And, you know, from our family, just thanks for being a mentor to my husband, too, and a guy that he could pick up the phone and call and text and ask advice to. And, you know, that's a sign of a great leader when you're giving back to other people. So you could probably pen a letter of reference to Rhett potentially or not enough of that. Yeah. Hey, Brett, would you ever want to coach on the woman's side, you know, hey? Coach, would they listen to me? I don't have a lot of, is off the glass and out of a play that's.

Yeah. No, but I think you have great experience. And you know, you never know, right? Like, it'd be a fun thing. As soon as I run my kids out of the house, I do want to coach. I just got to get a couple years and then shut the door on them. I know. That's me too.

You know, it's funny. I coached my daughter's team assistant coach up until this year. This is the first year. And she got asked to trial for AAA U18. And then I was like, okay, I don't want to be like, oh, she got it because her mom's there and da-da-da. So I stepped back this year and I miss it. I miss it so much. And I'm the same.

I kind of want to coach when, you know, she's gone and doing her thing. I want to get into coaching. Like I think it'd be a lot of fun. So we'll see. It'll be tricky for you. I'm not sure that. That's a tough sled to try and find a job there behind a bench.

You've got the hat on. Let's go there. Totally unrelated. Yeah. The PWHL takeover tour. Now I got to admit I was not that familiar. There are 16 neutral city, neutral site cities hosting games. Calgary gets to be one.

And I feel like there was 14,000 in Detroit, 17 and a half in Edmonton, over 10 in Halifax and a small building. A little pressure on Calgary to step up here and prove that they're a hockey town. I know. There is pressure. We have about 13,000 tickets sold already. It's amazing. Toronto and Ottawa are going to play. And, you know, part of our takeover tours have been about,

growing the game part of them about seeing who's interested in being an expansion franchise um we are going to expand probably two to four teams again this year so you know calgary has a chance and you know a big thing would be to sell out the building to sell out the dome and um we've done obviously a lot of promotion but we're starting to do a little bit more here as it's getting closer so april first it's going to be Toronto Ottawa you'll see a few of the Olympians in the house uh ran out of fast Blair turnbull Brand Jenner, the list goes on and on. And also we've got some local Jess Condis who actually helps train my daughter in the summer

working at Bold. And Sarah Woznovich, she's an Alberta girl. So, you know, we've got some Albertans in the mix. And so it's April 1st and tickets are still available and we're hoping to sell it out. Like what a statement it would be for Calgary potentially to get a PWHL game, especially with the new building coming.

which is the ideal place for us to play. And it's going to be great. And Toronto and Ottawa right now are sort of in that group, that mix of, you know, just outside the playoff picture. And with our system, you know, you win in regulation, you get three points.

So our standings are changing on a daily basis. And this is going to be a really huge game for both teams as they fight to get that, you know, third or fourth playoff position potentially. And it's been great hockey, you guys like I pinch myself. I always believe that this league could strive and survive and we'd have professional

women's hockey. But what we've been able to do in just three years, this is just season three, it's blown me away and I'm so proud of everyone that's worked behind the scenes. And we have over 200 staff league wide, which is something we never had before. And it just continues to grow and get better and better. So anyway, buy your tickets. If you're close in Alberta, you're close to Calgary. there's still tickets available and just go to the PWHL.com and you'll find the link and let's sell the dome out.

It'll be fun. And I wish you guys to be there. And if you need tickets, get off your wallets first and foremost. Okay. If your wallets and your visas are maxed out, I can probably help you out. We spent so much on our St. Patty's gear. Yeah, exactly. You've maxed out your visas with all the dollar store, St. Patty's stuff you have on.

Yeah, no, I'd love if you guys came out, let me know, and we can get your families in kids and teams, and we'll figure it all out. So it'd be great to have you guys there. There's a few rules the league's put in that I absolutely love. I want you to sort of walk through the nuances of them. You mentioned the point system. Like, I don't understand why in a playoff race,

you could have four teams playing all in the same hunt. Oh, this game gave away three points. This gave way two. You're like, what? How is this one game more valuable than the others? So I like the point system. Tell us, walk us through the shorthanded jailbreak, And then also, I think for who picks first in a draft, it's a unique, what is it called the golden rule or something like that?

Yeah, the gold plan. Yeah. Thank you. Well, we'll start with that. So Adam Golden, I think this is something the NHL should adopt because we've seen the tanking in the past. And so basically we try to eliminate tanking. So once you're mathematically out of the playoffs, you then become part of the gold plan, which is a point system where if you win, in the more points you get, you have access to, you know, potentially. drafting higher. So, you know, for the four teams that aren't going to make the playoffs,

you're still fighting for something. You still have something to prove. You can't just, you know, tank the season and hope that you get the first pick, which I think has been genius. And he's been unbelievable. You should have him on the show. He's one of the smartest guys I've ever met. And he's helped us with some of the rule innovations and some other things as well. And, you know, we're have a luxury where we're a new league. We can kind of think outside the box and our ownership group has allowed us to do that. So we have the jail break rule, which if it's a two minute penalty, so if it's a major penalty, there's no jail break rule. I mean, if you get a major penalty, you should be sitting there for the whole duration. But if it's a two minute penalty and your team

who's shorthanded scores on that two minute penalty, it's a jail break. So you're the person who got the penalty is able to come out. And you know, year one, I think it was Emma Maltay, who got the first jail break goal and the crowd loved it. And she's, right to the family box and she was like opening the door like come on you're out you know and it was just it's been so much fun and and we also have the no escape rule so if you take a penalty the four players who are on the ice have to stay on the ice you cannot change and trust me we've had teams that try to change so we we monitor it very closely and um so you may have two defensemen two fourths or you may have three fours and one defenseman depending on who takes the penalty and you know that's

actually increased our power play percentages across the league. And, you know, that's something that we've really focused on is creating more offense in the league and finding a way to increase the offense. And that's been one way. It's increased our power play from, I think it was almost 5% from year one to year two, which is a significant percentage. And, you know, last year, we didn't really make too many changes, a few, two weeks here and there. And, you know, we obviously want to keep the tradition of hockey that's important to us. But it's great that. It's great that But myself and Megan Duggan, we're part of our rules and competition committee. And we have representatives from all eight teams.

We have a coach representative. We have a GM representative. And we have meetings about four or five times a year just on let's think outside the box. Let's try to make the game better and make it more fun for fans. And the impact that that group has had has been tremendous. And it's just fun. You know, we still want to keep the tradition side of it. And, you know, we're constantly assessing our body checking rule.

We have hybrid body checking. So we allow a more physical game than women's hockey is allowed in the past. But we don't allow full body contact. So opposite directional hits we're trying to steer away from. It's a new body contact for women's hockey, but it's something the players wanted. They wanted it to be more physical. And I think the fans appreciated it as well. But they're still trying to learn.

They didn't grow up, you know, taking hits. like, you know, Rhett, you did, you know, playing minor hockey. You grew up learning how to take it. So we're still in that transition mode where our players are learning about that. But, you know, we're allowed to think outside the box. It's been fun, you guys. It's been, you know, when I left Sportsnet to join the PWHL, people were like, what, you're leaving hockey night?

Like, are you crazy? And I was like, this has been the best decision I've ever made. It's the passion. I have my weekends off now to watch my daughter play and to support my husband with the planes a little bit more. So yeah, it's been fun. And everything I do is behind the scenes. I don't have to be the face anymore.

I don't have to be out there doing all the interviews. We have so many great players who've become amazing faces of the game and ambassadors. And I'm enjoying just working with our hockey ops group who are tremendous. You started with six teams and a lot of them are sort of in a similar corridor travel. It's easy. You've gone out to Vancouver and Seattle. What can you tell us about those markets? And should that lead us to believe that you're absolutely keen on lots of

teams in the West down the road? Yeah, you know, I think it was important to our ownership group to have teams in the West. You know, I think there was not a fear, but a sense that maybe another entity could come in and start a Western side of professional women's hockey. So I think it was really important for our ownership group to establish Western content, if you will. And, you know, it was interesting the way the expansion draft went. And we did, we sat for seven months and analyzed how our expansion draft should go.

We met with, you know, the Vegas Golden Knights. We met with the Seattle Cracken. We got so much feedback from so many different people. And originally everyone was saying, you know, Seattle, Vancouver had an advantage with all the players that they were able to draft in the expansion draft and then the free agents that they signed. And, you know, unfortunately for them, it hasn't really worked out that way as both of them sit at the bottom of the standings. But we really wanted parity. You know, we didn't want, you know, you go back to the Anaheim Ducks when they expanded. and Ottawa senators when they expanded, San Jose Sharks when they expanded.

It didn't go so well to start. And we didn't want that. We wanted our teams to be competitive. And, you know, unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, those teams are at the bottom of the standings, but they've been competitive. The markets have been amazing. Seattle has the largest USA crowd for a woman's hockey game ever. Vancouver is our first franchise where we're the number one tenant in the building. So they have their dress room permanently.

all the signs around the arena are for the Vancouver Golden Eyes. So there's a real positive there. And they sell out every time. So it's really worked, you know, not so much as the standings are to, you know, as they sit. But it's been, you know, really successful. And we can just continue to grow and get better. And our takeover tours, I think you mentioned 16. And, you know, I think there's 30 different areas that want an expansion team.

And that's a huge list for us. And we're just going through the final assessments. The people above me, the business ops, people above me are going to make those decisions. But, you know, we have some really good candidates for potential expansion here. How far out are we from announcements on that, Cass? Yeah, you know, again, I think that's above me. So I'm not, I'm privy to some information, but I'm not. So, you know, definitely we want it sooner rather than later.

We want our, you know, to hire new GMs, new co-co-exam. new staffs. We want them to be as prepared as possible leaning in. It was a little late last time, and we thank our GMs for being flexible of the other teams. They didn't know how many players they were going to be able to protect. And, you know, they've been really flexible, and they understand their role in the game and helping it grow. And they know that year three problems are going to be necessarily there in year 10. And they're sticking with us, and they've done a really great job. So hopefully sooner rather than later. And I will say, I think we have one really strong candidate at this point. And I won't divulge who that is. But we're just kind of working on

the other candidates and in who it's going to be. See, that's smart. Because there's a term we use here. Cassie, she didn't want to get commodored. Right. And say too much on the show. Did he get any abuse for that or what happened? He turned up his phone and went golfing. I don't think he's overly upset. He's going to get over. He bounces back. He's very resilient, though. He walked his dog and went golfing. You got in one, right?

Isn't that what he's in one? It's in one and it's like forgotten, right? Yeah. Well, it's always good to talk to you, Cassie. I'm not sure because the trade deadline's done. You said you're supporting Brad. He's probably just hanging around the house, like bath roll, hot tub or something.

There's nothing last year. He got home last night at like two, three in the morning from Detroit. He was on the trip this time. And then the Wranglers play tonight. It never ends at our house, but we're lucky to be in this position to be in hockey. And it's a lot of fun. And, Red, I just want to thank you personally for asking so many great questions today. I thought you did really.

I've been working on my interviewing skills and a lot of homework. It's paying off. It's the hardest part. As a former player to do interviews, I swear to God, I found that to be my hardest part of the job. It is. You feel, you do almost feel awkward at times asking. It's like, because you know the answer.

You kind of know the answer. And if you're sitting around having a Guinness or a green beer, okay, yeah, that's easy. Let's have a chit-chat. But when you think you're putting someone on the spot, you're like, I don't know if I'm comfortable asking. Yeah, yeah. You know, we had a lot of fun over the years back in the day,

you know, the 2004 years. And I know you have a great story with my friend, Trina Rathgabber eating wasabi. And you had to pay her money. She ate a ball with us. She's revived. And we still talk about that story to this day. Yeah,

I hear this story. This sounds great. It was. Do you have to run cows? I don't know. If you have to, you know, I need to hear this.

So a bunch of my teammates who I played at the Calgary Olympic Oval, they were out with Rhett and the boys one night. And there was, you know, sushi evolved, I guess. And there was a ball of wasabi. And he bet her, Trina Raff Gabor,

that if $500, which was huge for us as back in the day. He said, I'll give you $500 if you eat that entire wall of wasabi. And you guys know, you know, it's like this, right? And sure it off, she just did it. It was not like that. It was like this. It was massive because I think originally it started.

I think she thought it was guacamole. Oh, dear. That doesn't matter. But yes. And I think it was our buddy Steve Montador that started all this trouble. Yes. He was definitely there. God, I love hearing that name, Steve Wonder.

What an amazing person, as you know. And so she ate it. And I will tell you this. She woke up the next day and she thought there was like a giant hole in her stomach. And of course, we probably had to practice or something and she had to push through it. It's one of the legendary stories of, you know, Trina, Sam Holmes, Kelly Bouchard, myself. like we we still talk about that story and it's like so funny and you you paid up you gave her the 500 bucks yeah yeah and it's it's fitting with sobby's green we're telling the story i'm

it's very possible it was st patty's who knows yeah it might have been it might have been stupid money to sum and then food for a week for others say i have to do this what do you mean can i Yeah, and that's the thing. We're all so competitive, just like the guys are. So she's like, hell yeah. Hell yeah, I'm going to eat this asabi and I get $500. But, yeah, it was a hole in her stomach for a couple weeks, I think.

Jeez. At the sign of a true gentleman stepping, you don't need to eat that. Yes, let's go. Halfway. Those were the days when, like, Kayle's, the rooftop. That's where we were, I think. Like that was the best bar of all time back in the day. Don't you think it was a rooftop patio?

And I miss sort of that atmosphere. They need to bring it back somehow. But yeah, those were. Today's the day. Much younger. No better day than today. You want to say Patty's Day. It's what already plus 14 out.

I mean, it's going to be pretty good. Yeah. But listen, hey, guys, thanks for having me on. And buy tickets, the pwh-wh-wh-wh-com, April 1st. It's no joke. It's going to be Toronto Scepters and the Ottawa charts. It's going to be a great game. It's a huge game for both those teams.

And we're going to have clinics and all kinds of grassroots programs around it. And let's sell this thing out. You know, sell the dome out. I think it'll be a good presentation of Calgary and what our new building could potentially have as women's hockey involved. So we'll see. We'll see what happens. Give Bradley our best.

Take care of yourself. Always great catching up. Thanks, guys. Okay, you love you all. Take care. You bet. There you go. Cassie, Campbell, Pascal.