Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Peter Loubardias (FULL INTERVIEW)

Episode Date: July 23, 2026

FULL EPISODE | FN Barn Burner: Boomer, Pinder & WarrenerPeter Loubardias joins Pinder for a conversation that spans decades of hockey. From scouting with the Calgary Flames to calling some of the greatest Memorial Cup tournaments ever, Peter shares stories from Sportsline, Hockey Night in Canada, Olympic hockey, and working alongside some of the biggest names in the game. He also reflects on his journey through broadcasting, his time in Red Deer, his passion for the sport, and where life has taken him today. If you've followed Canadian hockey over the years, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. What's your favourite Peter Loubardias memory?TIMESTAMPS ⏰0:00 Intro (Sponsors + Interview Preview)1:00 Intro Banter2:30 Scouting Flames4:00 Being In Sports5:30 Broadcasting To Scouting6:30 Career Path11:00 Regina Pats13:30 Sportsline15:30 Roger Millions17:00 Young Darren Dreger27:00 Calling The Memorial Cup31:00 2005 Memorial Cup32:30 2006 Memorial Cup36:00 2007 Memorial Cup38:00 2008 Memorial Cup40:00 2009 Memorial Cup43:00 2010 Memorial Cup44:30 2011 Memorial Cup47:30 Calgary Flames Play By Play52:00 World Hockey55:00 2002 Olympic Hockey1:00:00 Red Deer Scouting1:02:30 Sportsnet 9601:08:00 Working With The Boys1:12:00 Meeting Boomer1:15:00 Young Rhett1:18:00 Peter's Passion1:20:00 Craig Conroy1:21:30 Peter's Life UpdateSubscribe to FN Barn Burner 🚨➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner📲 Follow Barn BurnerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn🎧 Listen to the PodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIi🛒 Barn Burner Merchhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/flamesnation🎬 Watch Barn Burner Shortshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9Powered by our partners:• bet365 – http://www.bet365.ca/• McLeod Law – https://www.mcleod-law.com/• Village Honda – https://www.villagehonda.com/• Outdoor Dental – https://www.outdoor.dental/• Capital Chev – https://www.capitalchev.ca/• Crowfoot Dodge Chrysler – https://www.crowfootdodgechrysler.com/• Renfrew Chrysler – https://www.renfrewchrysler.ca/• Crystal Waters Plumbing Company – https://www.crystalwatersplumbingcompany.com/• Bon Ton Meat Market – https://www.bontonmeatmarket.com/• Templ – https://drinktempl.com/• Sundre Golf Club – https://www.sundregolf.com/• Taco Time Canada – https://tacotimecanada.com/• Adrenalin Source for Sports – https://www.sourceforsports.ca/pages/adrenalin-source-for-sports-calgary• GMC – https://www.gmccanada.ca/en/trucks/sierra-1500• Greta Bar – https://gretabar.com/calgary/Business [e-mail]: Jack Haverstock#NHL #Hockey #CalgaryFlames #EdmontonOilers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey buddies, welcome to Barnburner, a summer edition. Got some fun for you today on the program. And it is presented by Bet365. Canada just hit the biggest home run of the summer. Bet365 is available in Alberta and here to stay. Download the app must be 19 or older. Please play responsibly. The McLeod Law Studios, we've been buzzing, getting ready for summer.

And we've got some good people in studio today. If you have any legal need, that's MacLeod-law. Let's get to a guest I think you're going to love. Well, it is summer in Calgary and that means it's a chance to catch up with some of our favorite people and do a long form chat with some old friends. No, I'm not saying anything about your age, but our guests are I'm getting older. I think it was a milestone birthday for you in my research. Yeah, it was, yeah, it started with a six. I don't know how that's possible.

I thought it was 26. I was way of shoot. Math is not. We do. That's the maturity. level, not what's on the birth certificate. It is a sports hall of famer, a media icon.

And the man, I think you can either call the the sports encyclopedia or almanac, Peter Lubardius, a play-by-play voice of the Calgary Flames, a color voice of the Calgary Flames, a former colleague of all these morons on Barberder back at Sports at 960, a Saskatoon Sports Hall of Famer, I believe, a

sports coach at a national championship level, a man who's called softball, curling, hockey, World Juniors, Memorial Cups, NHL Olympics. And a guy that just started 18 years old at CJSL in Estevan. That's very true.

How are you? I'm fabulous. You are in town with the latest chapter of your incredible novel that we'll call a career. I believe it's your third season scouting for the Calgary Flames. How's life? You know, life is

life on the whole is really good. It's incredibly busy. You know, scouting has been a massive change, probably even bigger than I ever thought. It's very, in its own respect, it's very humbling.

And in some ways, kind of, you brought up Estevan. There have been times where I felt like I was starting like fresh and feel like I'm 18 in terms of just trying something, you know, very, very new,

although you've known, me for a long time. You know, I've always had incredible interest in not only just calling games, but evaluating. And so it's been, you know, it's, it's, it's been a fascinating three years. Yeah. And very fortunate, grateful, you know, and Craig and the people over there, I have, I have great bosses. So I have no complaints whatsoever. Yeah.

And I'm imagining, it was funny. we're recording this in late June. It's probably going to air it a much later date, but my kid for the World Cup every day, he's like, what are the scores? And he writes the minute, and he advances a team in the bracket. And he's like, okay, if this gold differential here changes,

then they're going to play this team. And I'm like, as I'm preparing for this interview, I'm like, I feel like young Lou would have been doing the same thing, pouring over the stats in the newspaper, and that your passion for sports led you into sports media, probably not a blind guess at how you got started at 18. with the Estefan Burns at a radio station. I know, I mean, you know, we've talked about this over the years, but I knew at a pretty

young age, like probably six or seven, that I wanted A, to be involved in sports for a living and always had great fascination in being a broadcaster and, you know, went to Western Academy and two years later or two months later, I was on the air, had no idea what I was doing. I'm still not sure I do when I go on the air. 40 plus years later, which is unbelievable. But yeah, I mean, anybody who knows me knows that I have still to this day incredible passion for sports. And I still love it and can't get enough of it for the most part and not just hockey.

I think, you know, you get associated for a long time now with one sport. You know it runs way, way deeper than that. Not a one-trick pony, my friend, and not surprised one iota to see you in the scouting universe. I know at one point you'd done that for red deer. Yeah, one. Uh, stop along the way. But again, it's, it's the fascination with sports and an eye for detail that I think makes great broadcasters and probably great scouts. Well, I mean, you know, I think like being a broadcaster, scouting in a sense is no different.

I mean, it's, like I said, it's, it's very humbling. Um, it's very subjective. everybody sees it a little bit different. And, you know, in my case, you know, I feel very fortunate in the sense that not a lot of people go from the broadcasting world to the scouting world. I mean, you know, and that at times, I'll be frank, has its challenges because you haven't experienced some of the things that people who played or coached have. But on the other hand, I've seen one or two or three, as he's laughing, three trillion games in my life. And, you know, and I said this even early, you know, even remember talking to boom back a few years ago. And it's, you know, to this day, I'm still going to sports school and feel like I've been there my whole life and have a ton to learn in this role.

And, you know, learning all the time, just trying to get a little better at it day by day. Let's rewind back to your early days in Saskatchew, and what was the upbringing like, you know you want to be a sports broadcaster, and then eventually you've got to find a path. You mentioned a stop at college, and immediately you're working at a radio station in Estaband, Saskatchewa.

Well, you know, it's funny. The path of my life doesn't look a lot different now than it did when I was little outside of, you know, I was one of those guys who was a pretty decent hockey player up until about 14, Pretty good ball player up until the fact that I was 18, couldn't hit a lick, but relatively intelligent and made my way through having no physical ability. But, you know, I digested, read, like, watched visually, went to games, especially in my teenage years every night, whether it was the Saskatoon Blades or AAA, this, or the. that or basketball or volleyball. So, um, you know, and, and I had one really neat scenario that

to this day made a huge impact. I was, I started when I was 12 and bless his heart and soul, but he's been gone for way too long. A gentleman by the name of Bob Steiner came in my life and said, how do you like to work with this, uh, women's senior A fast pitch softball team? the Saskatoon Harmony Centers. And so what I learned from them and their work ethic and their values and determination. So, yeah, for whatever reason, I was born to be around sports and I'm still right there. Tell me about that softball team because I believe Canadian champions, senior women. Yeah, and you were the head coach, our coach, you were around?

I mean, I started as the bad boy when I was like 12. Right. And then I was a statistician and I guess I was a. by the last year, the four years, I was a quasi-assistant coach. I, you know, I hit ground balls and did some of those things. But yeah, I mean, I was technically a coach. But, yeah, I was, you know, when I even talked to close friends and family members, if I had to do it all over again, and I wouldn't because I've been so lucky and fortunate,

but inside me, there's always kind of been a bit of a coach. Coach, yeah. Yeah, and it's so rewarding, right? I mean, the broadcast, it goes over the air on the screens and then it's gone, whereas I know even just working with, you know, nine-year-old, six-year-old hockey players, like, if you could see them better by the end of the year, it's not about making an NHLer, but like that kid couldn't skate backwards and never can. It's so rewarding.

Yeah. And even, you know, we'd be honest, for the most part, it didn't maybe work always perfectly. But even in my broadcasting career, like, it always really. And still does to this day, because I still do lots of different streaming stuff. And because, you know, I mean, I still have incredible passion. There's still nothing in a sense for me like calling live sport. I can't get that from anywhere else in my life. But, you know, I always wanted as time went on, whether it's when you and I work together

or wherever I was along the way, always had kind of like that mentor or someone in me that wanted to share and help people get better, whether I did it the right way sometimes or not, that's that might for a long time. I think that went pretty well. There's other spots. Maybe it didn't go as well. But yeah, I've always kind of, yeah, you know, and two gentlemen, that Bob Steiner and my longtime baseball coach Spiro Likis were two massive influences in my life, massive. Your next stop was in Regina, CK Radio, I believe, with play-by-play of the Regina Pats of the Western League, which I imagine when you grew up in the prairies, that's got to feel pretty dang close to the big times. Well, I had one real goal when I started as a broadcaster. I wanted

to call one Western Alaculate. And then I would have said, drop the mic, we're done. That's really how I felt about it. And over the years, I've sometimes had to go back and say, Peter, remember how this started and what you wanted? But it's the most ironic thing in my entire broadcasting career is, who do you think the team was growing up in Saskatoon that I disliked with an absolute passion, the Regina Pats? And who do I come, become the voice of in 1989, the Regina Pats? Like, to this day, it's still, you know, obviously I feel a lot different now, but at the time, I'm like, how is this even possible? So there's still a chance I could do the Oilers play by play then. Is that what you're saying?

Well, I don't know if they'd have you at this point. With the Pats had you, but was it just inside or was it like, hey, you're a fan. You want to shake your fist at something. Well, well, no, listen, like I was like not very bright teenager. And I'm still a pretty emotional, you know, hard on his sleeve kind of person. So I just didn't have the forum that you had when the dislike was at its greatest. And it was, it was, it was high. Western League would have been incredible, especially at that time.

Not that it wouldn't be now, but that era, it was, you know, there weren't walled-wall and they show games on TV every night. And, you know, Saturday night you'd have hockey night, but the Western League was the best hockey most people paid the most attention to if you were in the prayers. Well, I mean, even growing up, and I mean, that's just how times have changed. Like, I don't, you know, I don't know if, even though the league features more skill and more talent now than it ever. I mean, hockey just is very different today than it's ever been for what it's worth. But, but you're right. I mean, it was to get there and to be a voice of a team. And,

you know, that was literally a massive kind of dream come true. And you're right. I mean, people did listen to games on the radio back then. And because it was their only option. You know, it's, it's almost incredible to think now to me, the pendulum's almost swung too far. No, whether it's eight year olds or 10 year olds or whatever. It's like we can see everything. Yeah. Which in an odd way, not to completely go down this road, but that's what I do, is things to me aren't as special anymore because everything is available.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was a, yeah, it was a big deal. Even, even, you know, to get a chance after being an Estevan for four years, you know, to get a chance to work in the city of that size. You know, was it a bigger franchise. Like, you know, back in the day when there might be three people in a local radio station sports department.

Right. Yeah. Fair enough. Tell me about Sportsline, a TV show that you anchored in the evenings. It was, it was awesome. So this is after your Regina chapter. Yeah, I got to a point in Regina where, you know, NHL jobs, there weren't very many of them and they're really, really hard to come by. I think one year.

I got a call from Bob Irving in Winnipeg because the Jets job, Kurt Keelbeck, went through a weird scenario. And so I applied for that. I was probably in the final five or six. But, you know, then Roger Millions came calling. He was the sports director at then-STV, now global in Saskatoon, and said, would you like to give TV a try? And it was a hard decision just because, you know, I love calling. hockey and I love junior hockey and still do to this day with pretty much every ounce of my fiber.

And but I thought, you know, I get a chance to work with Rodge again. And yeah, I had four incredible years, primarily in Saskatoon. I had a weird stretch where I was with, you know, an old partner and she was in Regina. And so I made a move there like just laterally for a few months. Then I was with Darren Dregor in Winnipeg for a few months. And then Roger left there in Saskatoon to go to Edmonton. And then I got rehired back as sports director, my last two years in Saskatoon. But I had a, those, I mean, I've, I'm not sure anywhere. Hasn't been pretty great.

But that was, that was a really, really neat place. You know, I'm in my own hometown. And, you know, what I really loved about those shows, is that, you know, we had probably, Ryan, 24 minutes of content. Wow. And a lot of nights, we'd have 18 or 19 minutes of local content.

Yeah. Like, we covered Saskatoon sports teams. Yeah. Like they were pros. Right. And nowadays, I don't even know if you have sports.

You don't even have Cass anymore. Um, tell us about early Roger Millions, because he's a familiar name in this market. And I, if my memory is, Christ, probably what,

like five to 10? years into retirement at this point. Yeah. I don't know how we kind of got to that point. Well, you just said you went back to work with Roger. But what was Roger like? Because he calls you and offers you a job, but you were familiar with him at that point. He hired me. He was the sports director at CK Radio and Regina. Yeah. So he hired me first there. Yeah. Then he moved on a couple years later under the TV side. So that was that was time number two that he'd hired me. And then he hired me. And then he hired. And then he hired. me again at CFRN and Edmonton in the late 90s before I like so you know I don't know where I would be in so many ways without Roch he he was an incredible mentor I think he had the ability to teach all the right things and all the right values and very you know, incredibly grateful and means the world to me. And yeah, I don't, my career would have never kind of taken on probably the shape that it has without him and his belief and, you know, all that I learned and all that I valued, even though, you know, like everybody else were, you know, we're not exactly the same person. And, you know, we went through some stuff that wasn't always that easy.

but yeah I could never say anything but good things about Roger you mentioned a young Darren Dreger we get him on Barnburner every Friday throughout hockey season and it's just he's such a pro and he's also got a great sense of humor

and the man enjoys meat on the barbecue he fits right in on the Barn burner tell us about young dregs and what he was like on his way up to an NHL insider well it's crazy and you know every time I see him I'm like, A, I'm incredibly proud in a weird, odd way and maybe wish I could have taken his road a few times.

He's done pretty well for himself. I met him for the first time when I was the voice of the Regina Pats and he was in Brandon. And he would actually do my color in the first year or two when I go to Brandon to do games. So that's how I met him. And I knew, I knew immediately with drags that he had special qualities. And to this day, different, but he might have as strong a leadership quality as anybody I've ever worked with in 40 plus years of being around the media business. Really? Yeah.

He just has an incredible, professional, fun. Yeah. But people are drawn to him. Yeah. Like I remember Ryan and, you know, so we worked together in Winnipeg for a few months. And he was part of the reason why I ended up there. And then we were together in my early days in Sportsnet, which I started there in the fall of 2000. The station had opened in 1998.

And, you know, Mike Toth and I, another guy who was one of my truly favorite all-time people. in the business and did some incredible things here that are legendary, and I don't like to use that word, but in his case, and that show was, we used to get together on Wednesday afternoons for like a lunch across the street from the studios in Toronto. And it was like almost immediate, you know, like those lunches would be Toth and I and Dregor and Millard and Jamie. Campbell. So that was kind of like it was. Royalty.

It was a well, it was a pretty good group and it's early going even though Sportsnet was brand new. And to be honest, nobody really knew who the hell we were. You know, because TSN had a massive 14 year start. You know, RJ Broadhead was part of that group too. And talking about dregs to get back to it, he was like our unofficial kind of like player agent even then. Really? Yeah.

Like, that's, everybody went to him in a sense when he needed some guidance or needed advice. And like, he didn't ask for it. But just that's, that's why he says arguably one of the greatest leaders I've ever been around. So I, you know, I, I, I, I, I'm not sure I could hold anybody in much higher regard than him. Renfrew Chrysler, online Renfrewcrisler.com, 1920 pumphouse road. in the Southwest. When it comes to the Rams sport, Renfrew doesn't just compete. They lead. The 60K sport, widely known as Canada's best deal on a RAM sport. And that's just the start. Renfrew recently named the number one Stalantus dealership in Canada for most new vehicle sales.

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When was your first Memorial Cup you got to call? Because I imagine not long after you started at Sportsnet. They knew what they had. Well, I mean, I got really. lucky because when I started in 2000, I got hired as, you know, a reporter and an anchor. And in the spring of 2002, you know, I was kind of just saying, hey, if you ever, if you ever need somebody to do one junior hockey game, one. Yeah. I just want one shot. Right. Um, you know, and Deb Sanderson was the head of production at the time. And so my first ever game on national TV was a

playoff game in the old London arena between Rick Nash and the London Knights and the Erie Otters. And Carlo Coliacovo scored an overtime about 10 minutes into the first overtime period. And so that was my first. And then the next year, I got, Kevin Quinn was still like the main junior hockey guy. But I got a few Montreal Canadian kind of backbench game. and probably 15, 20 junior games. And then in 0304, you know, was the first year I was kind of the main guy

for the Memorial Cup and was the key guy as far as CHL broadcaster concerned. And I mean, to this day, that first moment, and I was just at the Memorial Cup in Colonna, which apparently was outstanding. It was terrific. outside of the home team. It didn't work out quite so well,

but that's another conversation for another time. The day I called the final, I try not to get emotional because I do every time I think about it or talk about it, but I had watched every single Memorial Cup final from 1973 on. So that day when I went to the rank on that Sunday afternoon, and I was going to call the Memorial Cup final, I mean, I just is like how I was the guy for 30 years who watched this game on TV.

Now today I get to be the guy that brings it to the country. And, you know, to this day, in those eight years, I wish I could have done the Memorial Cup for the rest of my career. That's, that's just, you know, that's just how I feel. That surprises everyone when they hear it first. not that you love the Memorial Cup, but when you stop being a TV play-by-play guy, it was not being able to do Memorial Cups was the greatest loss, not just, you know, well, there's a nice show.

Well, yeah, I know, but this is the Memorial Cup. Like, and it, for me, makes me think about that young kid hanging around the ranks and looking up to Western League hockey and being like dreaming that one day maybe I could do this. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, like I spent a lot of time watching. the Saskatoon blades and following the Western League and I always say and I mean it, the Western League to me

kind of feels like part of my family. I mean, it was a big part of my upbringing and my passion and my love affair. It created an incredible love for the game itself. And that's why I said even earlier in the interview, my goal when I got

into broadcasting was to call like one Western League game. And so yeah, it's not that I haven't loved doing all the rest of it. But that was my childhood. Like that was a big part of my fabric. And like I said, I didn't miss watching because forever,

that's the one junior hockey game we got to see on TV all year. Right. That was the only one. Okay. Was the Memorial Cup and the Centennial Cup. And so, yeah. And I just, that whole stretch to, you know, doing it the last six years with a guy who's one of my favorite friends.

and Sam Cozantino and the fun and the times we had together. Like, it's, yeah, it was, it was an amazing run. And I'm incredibly grateful for those eight years in particular. Okay, so 04 is your first. Yes. Tell me about it. Well, I mean, where was it? It was in Corona.

Okay, okay. Great. So, so like I said, and, you know, the Rockets won. And did they do well in the Western League on the way or no? Well, they, it was funny. It was a different format of that. No, it was the same format. But what happened to them in 2004 is they had a great regular season.

If I remember correctly, they either they or Madison had were first in the league. And I think Colonna was, but they got upset in the third round by the expansion Everett Silverfield. Okay. Is that a Constantine coach? Yes, it was. 100%. you know, they got a free round off. Medicine had beat Everett and four games that year to win the title.

Yeah. And yeah, like I said, it was, it was just magic. And as I already recounted, that championship final Sunday is arguably, it'd be in my top two probably all-time favorite moments. Wow. Yeah. I want to keep going just because you are the almanac. I don't expect you to be it, but I kind of do. 05.

05 was in London. Okay, who won that one? O5 was won by the London Knights. So home teams 2 and O with Lund. Yeah. Now, you have to think about who was in the O5. Tell us. Okay.

So London was like 57, 58, 9 and 2. Corey Perry, Danny Savrette, like Mark Mathought. Okay. who had won two-goal game all year long, and it came in the opening game against Sidney Crosby and the Ramuski Oceanic. Colonna won the league.

So they were back with Shea Weber and company. Wow. And the fourth team, the Ontario representative, because that year not only did London host it, they won the league, which is what you're kind of always hoping for, was Brian Kilraise Ottawa 67's. Amazing.

And it was the lockout. Right. So all kinds of eyeballs. So more eyeballs on that event. You're not losing to you guys. They didn't show off these rosters. Yeah. So unreal.

You know, and so at the same year that Canada had that unbelievable world junior team and Grand Forks and all those guys. And yeah, I mean, it's so that was 05. 06. 06 was in Moncton. Okay. And the Moncton Cup is what I call the Patrick Walker. Cup.

Okay. Because he was the coach of the Quebec ramparts. Ted Nolan was the head coach of the Moncton Wildcats. Wow. The Vancouver Giants had gone 16 and 2 to win the Western Hockey League title. Don Hay? Oh, yeah. Okay.

Yeah. Absolutely. Make sure my time lines. Yeah. You got some royalty for coaches. He won a few games in his time. No kidding. I'm talking about Don.

What a great person. And why I call it the Patrick Cup is, Moncton won like they hosted and they won the league like London did the year before they beat Quebec in the league final

and in a sense to Patrick's credit he was basically in the head of every single other goalie in that event except his own a gentleman by the name of Cedric de Jardin

and poor Josh Torchman was the head who was the goal I saw him walk in the rink that day Ryan and I'm like this poor guy probably should be wearing depends already like you could just see the poor guy and he was so good all the way along and in the tournament and then Patrick wah gets in his set down

and Patrick wah who in the media played it brilliantly um you know was kind of in his head and so in in that final by the way there's a pretty good player for Moncton on that team. His name is Brad Marchand, who was 17 at the time. And again, already scoring big goals and doing big things. Marshan things. Marshan things.

And did in that event, that's kind of when I, you know, for some people, he's not their favorite guy. I hold him in a little different place because I kind of saw the whole thing go through. And even then he was clutch. And it never changed. Like he, you can say whatever you want about this guy. Um,

but when you need to be at your best, this guy has always been at his best. I recall seeing him in a Stanley final recently where he's quite good. Yeah. Yeah. Or, or even in his first in 2011. Sure.

Yeah. Go back to game seven in Vancouver in that one. Or, or scoring a goal in both gold medal games of both world juniors that he won gold in. Or being arguably. Canada's best player at the 2016 World Cup in a year and you might remember this

nobody could believe he was on the bloody 16 man early roster for a lot of people. I wasn't one of them. Right. You'd seen it before. I've seen this movie a lot. Exactly. Yeah. And so Patrick Waz Ramparts beat Moncton.

Yes, in the final. 6-2. Keith Yandel scored the only two Moncton Wildcat goals in that game. This is so good. this is why we need Lou in here. Yes. We're going to be here for three days, but. Well, listen, I mean, we'll, there's a nice couch over there. We'll get you a blanket.

I'm a fine. I'm in three parts. Your listeners, my. I just, or in viewers. I'm too excited because it's like, part of me is like, don't ask Lou for where the places where the other parts, like, shut up, Pinder. He obviously has a story about everyone. No problem.

My favorite. Okay. 07's where? 07's in Vancouver. Oh, okay. And one of my faves. Tell me why. Well, you know, going in was arguably the greatest Western Hockey League final of all time.

It was Medicine Hat and Vancouver. And Medicine Hat won Game 7 in the fog at the old Medicine Hat Arena in double overtime. And so they were the arguably the two favorites. Plymouth was the Ontario team. Jonathan Bernier, David Perron, were the Quebec champions, the Lewiston maniacs. Right.

Yeah, okay. And so, you know, if those teams played Vancouver and Medicine had, if they played a hundred times, it would have been like 51 to 49. Yeah, like that's, right. So they met that year in the round Robin, medicine at one to earn top spot in the buy-in.

to Sunday. They won one to nothing. And then in front of a like bananas, 16,000 plus on the Sunday. And it was some juiced at the old Pacific Coliseum. Great, Rick. Um, you know, and one of the neat things about that final was what they call for Milan Luchich, the shift, which he ran around and hit three guys on the same shift, set up a scoring chance and then got into a fight with Jordan Benfeld, who, as my dear friend, Mr. Constantino, and I love the call on it, not what I did, but what he did, because he goes, and Ben Feld is head enough of this guy. So, so that was, that was 07. And that one just those two and the rivalry and the great crowds in Vancouver.

So that one was a little different and for all the right reasons. So hosts won the final over medicine? Yeah, three to three. So you're three for four on host teams. Oh, wait. Oh, wait. Put me on the spot here. No, it's all good.

I can remember all of them relatively well. 08 was in Kitchener, Ontario, Peter DeBore, Steve's spot. Oh, yeah, those two long history together. Great people. And they had a dynamite team and were arguably the favorites. And for the third consecutive year, the team that got to host won their own league. Yeah, wow. Like, right?

And as you know, as time has gone by, that doesn't happen all that often. That was a three-year window where the host won its own league. So that one became a battle between the Spokane chiefs and the Kitchener Rangers. And the Rangers were favored to win. But Spokane, coached by Bill Peters. Right. And they beat them in the round robin and then beat them four, 4-1 in the championship game in Kitchener in a game where Dustin Tarkarski made like 51 saves.

And I was it Chris Bruton that dropped the trophy? And yes, yes. And Rob Faults on the ice for the trophy presentation, which I think I said, the trophy presentation no one will ever forget. That is correct. That's what I remember, Boto-8. Yes. And the truth of that story is, and I don't know if you know this, but let's just say, and I'm

not going to out anyone. The Vancouver Giants celebration tour from 2007 with the Memorial Cup may have contributed to Mr. Bruton's experience in 2008. I wouldn't doubt that. No, I think you can take that right to your favorite bank.

2009. 2009 is in Ramuski, Quebec. Okay. And it's actually, I mean, I love them all, but it was, it was probably the most unique. Okay. One for all the ones I got to call because Ramoski was the host, Drummondville, and it was the first year of the Windsor Spitfires. Oh, yeah. Who won two years in a row with Taylor Hall crew.

Taylor Hall and Ryan Ellis and Adam Henrique and go on down the line. Greg Nemis. Greg Nemis, yes, was a big part of who. The goalie, I think, played a bit as well. I'm trying to remember though. Or maybe that was a later, no, no, he didn't. He didn't. Andrew Engelage was the goalie for Windsor in 2009.

If I remember right, then I might. So you said that one's unique for a reason. Well, because, because what happened in that one was Windsor was the power. Yeah. They lost their first two games of the round. Robin. Really? Yes.

And then became the only team in the history of the Memorial Cup in that format to lose its first two games and come all the way back. Right. Well, Ramoski, if you've never been, is an incredibly passionate, all in place. So, and there's sometimes the Quebec rivals, like, they don't like one another. In this case, it was like when Drummondville played, it's the one time, Ryan, where basically you felt like there was a home team in every game regardless. Because then what happened was Colonna went 2 and O under the guidance of one of my favorite coaches.

He happens to be the coach of the Calgary Flames, Ryan Uska, who guided Colonna to the 2009 Western League title. and Colonna had already clinched first when they played Windsor in their final round robin game and they didn't really have their best and Windsor was still kind of reeling and Ryan Ellis scored from the blue line with about 10 minutes left in the third

and then the Ramuski people were all pissed off because their path would have been easier then they ended up getting into a tie-brose. breaker and Adam Henrique who that year, take nothing away from Taylor Hall, who was the MVP, Adam Henrique should have been the MVP. He scored like two overtime winners and was just fabulous. But I've never seen an event where a crowd is engaged for every game, like regardless of who was in.

Yeah. Do you feel like a hostile territory for the angle versus Franco? A little, a little. And Guy Boucher was the head coach in Drummondville. And I mean, to this day, I love dealing with him. But this guy put on like he was a fascinating show to watch every day. And for the other teams, they didn't like them very much. I loved him.

I could have sat there holding court with him for three months. You're surprisingly or not surprisingly six for six. Let's keep going, 2010. 2010, Brandon, Manitoba. Oh, back to the prairies. And Windsor was just, they were a job you're not again. Just too good. They won the final.

They won the opening game against Brandon nine to three. Oh, my God. Okay. And then beat Brandon in the final nine to one. Jeez. So just hot knife through. And the fascinating part about the start of that event, and you can find it on YouTube, folks,

is Travis Hammannock. then of the Brandon Wheat Kings, could have ended Taylor Hall's career. If you ever want to watch a scary, go into the boards after somebody gets crushed, go back and look at that. But Taylor Hall was obviously built like a rubber band because not only did he continue,

he had two goals before the first period was over on their way to a nine three win. And the best game in that tournament was, Brandon and Calgary. Calgary had beat them and Calgary won the Western League title that year, the hitman. But the guy by the name of Shane Weeb scored an overtime for Brandon in the semifinal and they won five to four. 2011. Yeah, my last one, Mississauga, Ontario. hometown of sorts.

Yes, now. And where I may have met my current partner. Got a special place for that in your heart. Yeah, yeah, in some ways, in other ways, it's like, It was the last one I did. We'll keep moving. We will keep moving on. Yeah, that one was,

that one was interesting because any time junior hockey is played in the Toronto area. Yeah, it can be a little flat. Like, it can be a little flat. Now they did a good job. They drew really well.

Jonathan Hubert O. scored a massive goal because the St. John's Seedogues went. they won it. Andrew DeSeres was their goalie. The same Andrew DeSeres, who was on the losing cause in the final for Brandon, the year before in that 9-1 setback,

went right through the Western Hockey League. Like he wasn't picked up, got picked up by Gerard Gallant, who was the head coach of the St. John Seedogues. And they beat Mississauget, coached by Dave Cameron, 3-1 in the final. Hubert O scored with about two and a half minutes left to kind of put that one to bed. And what I always think about in 2011, and he wouldn't like it if I brought this up,

but poor Dave Cameron and Casey Sizekis suffered what I call one of the worst hockey hat tricks of all time. that was the year because David was also the head coach of the world junior team where Canada had a 3-0 lead in Buffalo going into the third against the Russians lost 5-3 Mississauga lost in overtime of the Ontario League final in overtime to owen sound whose goalie was a gentleman by the name of Jordan binnington and then they lost in heartbreaking fashion in the Memorial Cup file That's, that's a tough hat trick, my friend.

Yeah. With someone on the show that's got a tough hat trick as well, what those are. Yeah. Well, not all one. No, no, they are not. Yes. We didn't need to do that, but I think doing that is what makes you so special and amazing that

it's like, oh, I would, at that year, I would have lived here. And you're just like, no. And then this guy won the face off and all these names come back to life. Like, that was, that was phenomenal. That is like a window inside the encyclopedic. sports brain of Peter Lovarius. Well, that's fun. Thank you.

It's fun. That's a memory lane. I don't mind visiting. You become the play by play by play voice of the Calvary Flames on television in 2008, if I'm correct. It was three years or four? Three years. You worked with John Garrett and Charlie Simmer both over parts of those three years. What was that like being the guy for a team?

And how was your TV time as play by play? Working with those two guys. You know, you know what? Working with those two guys was awesome and I still can't believe John is gone. I still think about it probably at least once a week and go, that didn't happen, right? You know, I remember I was on an airplane. I don't remember where he's going. It doesn't matter. And I looked at my phone and I'm like, and I had like refreshed it twice to the point where you're like, this, this can't be true. Um, you know, everything you've heard about John is exactly what John was. He was just a, a fun loving, kind, um, you know, never really had a bad day. Uh, people love being around them. Um, you know, him and I, and I think I was, I always remember that I was number 32 on his list of working with NHL play. I played guys.

That's right. He came out after he passed. So he was awesome. And then like Charlie is just like again, right? You go. Okay. So when I was growing up, Charlie was part of the triple crown line with Dave Taylor and Marcel Dion.

And now I'm in a booth calling NHL hockey with this guy who was part of, the miracle on Manchester and, you know, going back to that big comeback against the Oilers in 82. And Charlie, honestly, just as kind, respectful. Yeah, I love might. If you've heard this before, but maybe your viewers haven't or listeners. If you don't like Charlie Simmer, you don't like people. That's Charlie Summer. I wanted you like right in the camera.

We'll do that again at some point before they care. The Lewisms we'll get to. We're getting closer to that chapter. You got to do play-by-play for the Olympics in 2010. 20-10. Radio? TV. TV.

I did eight games. Okay. Because obviously Chris Cuthbert had the golden goal call. Peter Marr, I think it was 2010. Yeah, you're on the radio. So what was that experience like and what are the games you remember? Because what an absolute privilege. For a guy that dropped about one Western.

the game. You're now at a Canadian men's Olympic hockey tournament calling games. I still go back every once in a while and it doesn't even seem real. It doesn't. So there were 30 games in the men's Olympic tournament.

Obviously I didn't, you know, Chris and Gord Miller were the kind of two main guys. So they did they combined to do 24 or 22 or whatever and I, I did eight. I just, you know, my first game was Slovakia against Yarramari Agar and now Czechia.

Which is a, that's a, that's a big game for our North American. And I was already kind of borderline in trouble five minutes in because I like to stand when I do games. Right. And I knew I couldn't. And in Vancouver, we were like in between the, like, you couldn't have had a bit. I could have almost reached out and touched the ice. So you can, like, I'm, like, this is as wound as, like, this is kids' dream, like, extravaganza. Because, you know this.

I might enjoy international sport a little bit. It might matter a tad. Too much? No. No, no, a lot. So it was funny. a photographer from Chakia.

Apparently I got in his way and he literally, five minutes in, I got excited during a scoring chance and he grabbed me by the shoulders and put me down in my chair and kind of threatened to go basically you better not do that again.

So are you between the benches or just real close to like we're kind of you know how you look even at the World Cup and there's always like or the Olympics there's kind of a section like right in middle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, that's where they built it in Vancouver.

So the sight lines were like. But there's someone over your shoulder where you traditionally. Yeah, yeah. Like they're shooting like photography right in behind. Yeah, that's a good angle to be at. The photography. They were in a great angle. He didn't love my.

Fair enough. So, but it was. I mean, so I, I got two of the eight that I got to call. Two of them were playing games because the format's still the same. to get into the quarters, including a hell of a game between the Czechs in Latvia, the David Craichy won an overtime. So that was a great one.

And then I ended up with two quarterfinals, including the U.S. in Switzerland. And the U.S. won that game, and it wasn't easy two to nothing. Jonas Hiller was tremendous in goal. And Zach Porese scored both U.S. goals, including one, into an empty net. And I saw, in total, I watched 27 of the 30 games that were played, saw the gold medal men's curling game, the women's gold medal hockey game, and one other, like, yeah, I mean, it's three weeks where, like I said, every once in a while I'll just go play the video to go,

he didn't really do that, did you? It's kidding a candy store. A lesbian. Because then you're like, oh, I'm not calling a game. Well, I'm just going to go watch

these other Olympic sports where Canada's participating. I was calling a game in Merritt the night before because I think the men's final was like a Sunday afternoon or mid morning or whatever. And I'd driven through the night from Merritt

to stay with a buddy so that we could watch the gold medal game from a pal that was like right by terminal like the train station there. Yeah. Which is not far. You just cut through Chinatown. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And so when the Canadians won, we poured into the streets and I was just, I could not imagine anything like that. Like that, Vancouver home gold medal ends. Incredible. It was, I don't know, like that, that's dream stuff. Yeah. And I think it's one of the, I'm biased, but it was an unbelievable show.

The weather was almost too good. They were shipping in snow. They were shipping in snow for those events. You know, the hockey tournament was, tremendous. Got overtime. Got overtime. You know, I was quite excited when Sydney scored.

I believe you. Beating the United States, which for me makes it, you know, maybe a little extra special sometimes. Yeah. Or every time. You know, and at that point, so, you know, on how lucky are you, Lou bases. So at that point, there was nothing in sports I wanted more than one thing.

I wanted to see my country when the Olympic gold medal in hockey. And I was lucky enough to be in the arena in Salt Lake City in 2002 for that game, which is to this day, without a doubt, one of the two greatest days of my entire life, how that, that's a story in itself, how that came about. It was amazing. And I almost missed the plane in Buffalo and didn't make. it, but I did. And then to be lucky enough to be in Vancouver, be in the building, call eight games of the men's tournament in 2010, it's like, hey, I was on the lucky train for a while,

for sure. It's a pinch yourself moments, but there's a lot of them already. And we're just at 2010. I've had a few. Yeah. Yeah. Incredible. Summertime out on the patio. You're up by the grill, it better be Bontan meats that you got going on there. Is that Bontan stuff? Because if not, you deserve better. You deserve the best. That's Bontan meats. Twenty-eight, Crowfoot Circle in the Northwest, 24, 25, 26 years running, the Southern Alberta's Consumers Choice Award winner for Best Meat and Deli. There's nothing worse than you spend all day. You get your stakes or whatever it is that you're doing. You season them. You put them, you get people over. Even you don't have people over. You just get them on the grill. You get into,

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dot com. Hello friends. I've got my stampeter, I got my red on. Must be got to talk to you about the stampers. Tough time for the stamps. Back-to-back losses to the Montreal Alouettes, the stinking al-O-O-W-S. The latest, though, a thriller at home, 38-32. The Stamps' offense has not been a problem. They have been rolling. They have scored 30 or more in five straight games. They've gone

two and three in that stretch. In fact, the stamps are the highest scoring team in the Canadian Football League after week six by a fairly wide margin. Problem is they also have allowed the most points in the Canadian Football League on defense. Keep VA and the boys rolling. Dave's on it. Just tighten up the D. Just tighten it up. Still early. Nothing matters before Labor Day. Isn't that what they say? Friday night, the red and white, they're going to roll into the peg to play the blue bombers. The Stamps posted Winnipeg in their home opener.

It was a 30, 28 loss on a last second field goal. Great game. Bombers have won three in a row. They've improved a four and two. They're tied for second in the West with Saskatchewan. This is a big one for the stamps. It's the first of three straight on the road. They've lost the back-to-back games to Montreal, but this is how you do it. You go in against the Big West, a big rival. Nobody likes the Blue Bombers, right? Going to Winnipeg, get it done. The next home game is Thursday, August 13th. So you've got a bit of time when they host the BC Lions, but you can get your tickets at Stampeaters.com. Be ready. Cheer on the boys. Big one. Coming up this week as they go into Winnipeg. As always, a big thanks to Bet365, the official gaming partner,

of Barnburner. Canada hit the biggest home run of the summer, specifically Alberta. Bet365 available in Alberta. And Bet365 is here to stay. Download the app must be 19 years of age or older. Please play responsive. Let's get back to another summer edition of Barnburner. You went to Red Deer and did some scouting

when your time at TV play-by-play ended. I'm sure now you look back and you're like, that was probably something smart I did. But what was that like? Because you go from a guy that's been a broadcaster your whole career and all of a sudden you've got a setter being like, do you want to come watch some players first? Like, uh, well, I mean,

you know, you talk about being grateful, you know, so I got let go in 2011 in the summer by Sportsnet TV. And so that year, I had um, so Brent was kind enough. We had a good enough relationship and he, he knew of my situation and paid me a little bit of money.

and allowed me to scout for the team for one year. That was, that is an experience that I don't know if I could have paid for in knowing what might happen down the road. But I will tell you this, scouting in junior hockey is probably the most difficult hockey scouting you could ever do because, A, you're dealing with 14-year-olds in the Western league. And the other part is those junior hockey scouts, you will sit in an arena on weekends with cold coffee from 8 in the morning till like 11 and 12 at night. That's not what happens in the pros. You know, you generally, sometimes you watch a couple of games a day if you're at a

tournament, but those guys watch six, seven, eight, nine games. So, you know, two things from that stint for me. A, obviously, in a lot of different ways, help set the groundwork in some respects for what I'm doing now. But it just, Ryan, it just gave me a completely different sense of appreciation for how difficult the craft was. How much went into it. And I've always had incredible respect for those people always, because I know how important they are to what gets built at all levels, but to go through it and see it and live it, it's like anything else, right? You think you know, but you don't know until you go through it yourself. So, you know, I will always be grateful to Brand Sutter for going, hey, maybe you could use a little break and

we'll give this a go. You end up back in Calgary, I believe 2014 as a color for the radio broadcast at sports at 960 and it starts a decade of you being at 960, Rett's there, I'm there, boomer's there, Pat's there, a lot of other characters, our boss Kelly Kerr, she sort of put this

cast of misfits together. Tell me about that chapter because it's a long one, it's a great one, and I think it's where Calgarians fell in love with Lou in a way because there's broadcasters all over doing all kinds of games, but you were one of ours for a decade.

You know, it's, I think about it often. And it was an unbelievable decade for a lot of different reasons. But story that people don't know, maybe you don't even know this. Okay. So in that year that I was out, I did a little like Kelly gave me some, because I'd been on TV and I'd done a little stuff on the radio, like during my three years as the TV voice, I would appear on the fan and whatever on a not regular basis,

but I didn't say no to the hits. And so Kelly knew I was in the area and around. So I had some fill-in stuff. And I remember in 2012, Tara Sloan and I did an Olympic show every day at noon. And so Kelly was really good to me in that respect. And I'd known Kelly going back to my time in Regina that we spoke about earlier when the Regina Rocket was in Regina. That's where you're in the strikes.

Well, it's true. He earned them. So he said to me, so I was in transition. I also, right after Sportsnet, I started to do a lot of the Western League on Shaw stuff, as well as the scouting. So Kelly phoned me in the summer,

and he said, okay, here's the scoop. Mike Rogers is stepping down. I'm going to offer this to you for one year and likely only one year because then maybe we're going to go in a different direction in some different ways. Let's leave it there. Sure. Okay. Well, I said no.

Really? Yeah. He offered me the job and the terms. And I said, I don't know. Yeah. I don't know if I'm ready to come back and be back in the middle. of that and and then I called them back two hours later

after being in a complete utter panic with Nancy at our table. And I said, okay, let's do this. And so that was scar tissue or that was your emotions of the departure of three years prior kind of stuff?

Just I think all of it. Okay. You know, like I think all of it. I just, I don't know if I was really ready to kind of do it. And,

but then after two hours I went, what are you going to do with yourself if you don't go give this a try? Yeah. So one year turned into 10. Crazy. Yeah. And from people on the outside, I might be like, oh, you were just doing play by playing TV.

So obviously just going to color on radio, but it's an entirely different craft. Completely. And, you know, even with scouting now, that, that, seeing the game through that land, for 10 years, even though I've always kind of thought of myself as a student of the game and as fascinated about why it happened rather than what happened. Oh, like that was such a great learning experience and, you know, all the time and all the different coaches I got to visit with and learn from and players and going through it.

like this is odd i never say this either but it's it's a part of my career i'm like quite proud of just to be able to make that transition and i think i did an okay job for a play-by-play guy and and that and i wasn't looking for that but i feel good like to this day about the ability to work in the other chair not my chosen chair arguably but the ability to do it. And, you know, I got a year with, with Peter Marr, which is like, I almost feel bad about it sometimes because Peter should have finished with Mike. But to work with the legend and.

The Hall of Famer. The Hall of Famer and his consistency and getting to learn him. And, you know, spending that year was like great in its own. That was like its own chapter in one year. So, yeah, it, yeah, I really was really happy. But you know what? The other thing, Ryan, because you talked about being with all you people, all you people, listen to me. The guy got in trouble for that once, I remember.

That's true. I know. You'd do that here. I just, I just thought of that before, but you know, I was talking about all you people in terms of you and boom and Kerr and Kersh and Patty. And Derek and like, all. our great, you know, Logan and go on down the line. The 960. The 960, all of yous. Like, what a time.

It's so much fun. Like, what, like, in the best of times there, it was pretty awesome. Yeah. Like, and, and again, a lot of really good people. Like, good at what they, good at what they do. It's, uh, I think what was interesting about it is that. I got to see it from the afternoon show perspective, from the morning show perspective, but not like yourself.

Before I became full-time there, I was doing some summer fill-ins. Yeah, yeah. It was Dean Abbott's for heat stuff. Like, hey, all these guys are on vacation in the summer. You want to come in and fill some time? Sure. But that morning show that Boomer's was the linchpin of

was always this, like, meeting place of all the characters at the station. And if you did something here or there or anywhere, or you slipped up and said the wrong word once, you knew it would be. Oh, really? That damn morning. Did that happen?

to everyone. But you know what's funny? But it was like you were in the club and sometimes you'd have to, you know, you'd take the horns, but you were in the club and everyone took their turn getting run over. And it was all for the left. But you know what, though? And I mean this from the bottom of my art.

You know, I had a daily show that was kind of partly mine, I guess, Hockey Central at Newman. But I like, I love going on your show. Like, if I had to do it over again, I wish I could have been like a regular contributor on the morning show. Even though, I mean, you know, every once in a while, you guys didn't always like what I had to say and maybe fights versa. But it, but you're right. I mean, it's, it's why you guys are where you are now. Because you built something really unique and special with three different people and three different kinds of personalities. Yeah.

And then whether it was me or Kron or. Commodore or like, yeah, like, what a, like that's a book, my friend. Yeah.

It's like seriously. And it's a book that, you know, continues to write new chapters. But that's why I think you guys have gone on and congratulations to you to be so successful because what people don't realize on the outside is, it's not easy on an everyday basis.

But when you have, unique personalities who figure out how to do it with one another and bring, like I, when people would say to me on the street and they'd say it often, like, what do you think of this guy or what do you think of this guy or what do you think of the show? And I would just say, like, it fits because they're all different and they all bring a little something different to the table. And you know what I kind of liken it to in all sincerity? Because it's a hell of a show. You guys are kind of like like overdrive on TSN. That's kind of like I think there's some similarities there.

Yeah, you've got your big personality former player. Right. Polish broadcaster, lots of personalities, laughter, guys not afraid to take runs each other. It's kind of that locker room vibe less CNN, right? Like am I off base when I say? I think that's the closest thing. And that's a real compliment.

Well, it absolutely is. And it's something that's not easily built in the sense that I think we probably really sucked for three to four years before we figured it out. But when you get 50s, that it gets better. I don't think you ever sucked. I think. I probably did,

but we figured it out. You've never sucked. No, it's true. But the uniqueness, which isn't always the case in media anymore. Yeah. Like it's sometimes like we don't,

it's weird. In your space now in this show, you get to kind of be who you want to be. But people don't realize in the media that, that's, that used to be the rarity. And we're still kind of trying to learn, I think, how to manage all of this new way of going about it.

Tell me, but when did you meet Boomer? What were your early Dean Mulberg interactions? I love Boom. Boom is such a, boom is such a talented guy and glues things together and has his own unique way about going about his business. And I'll tell you what, boom never does.

he never gives himself any bloody credit. 100%. He's his hardest critic. By my. And, you know, I may have a similar personality in some ways. Like,

I wish sometimes he would just say, you know what? I'm pretty damn good at this. Because he's, he's dynamite. Yeah. Frickin dynamite. And so I remember meeting him in Red Deer

in his days in Red Deer, um, radio. And, you know, he'd have me on whether I think I can't remember I might have been a sports net maybe when we first met but the cam moon era the cammoon era the mass of cam moon era guy who never seems to have a bad day I'm gonna come back in my next lifetime is him no because I've had a few um and we'll have few more um but yeah like

it's funny I always feel like you can learn a lot sometimes about somebody even from one interview. And he jokes about that interview because he gave me like on the set in Red Deer at the then cent centrium. It's not that anymore. But we had these headphones that were about this big. Like you're driving a track. Yeah, which I referred to them as, you know, some big set of something. And so that was always our running joke. Yeah. But I knew very, very early after meeting boom that, you know, we were going to get along. And you talk about great memories. One of my absolute favorite times in being in Calgary in the media is, you know,

Boomer was doing the afternoon show when I was doing TV. And he'd come to all the games. You're already at the hot stove lounge at the room. Right, right. So, but almost every single home game, we would sit. in, you know, in the media room outside of the hot stove lounge and just like reminisce and tell stories and break down the game. Like, and I missed it like greatly when all of it changed for both of us. Like those honestly, those are some of the like I loved hanging out there with him and us breaking

things down and whoever else was at the table and still some of those characters are still around the rank. Yeah. Like that was, that was an awesome part of my three years in TV, let alone all the great times I spent with them on the radio side. How much a ret did you see in the Western League? Lots.

Tell us about young Rhett Warner. Young Rhett Warner. Well, you know, Rett Warner was a Saskatoon blade. So I remember watching Rett all the way back to his U-18 days. and, you know, it was, it was very evident back at that time that this guy was going to be a big, hard-nosed, no fun to play against player. Now, did I know the Ratt Warner in just interviewing him as a member of the Saskatoon Blades back then that I know of today? but I love dealing with him then.

And again, Rhett is one of the most unique, important team people. Yeah. Like I was in a room when this, on the day that this interview was staged with his old teammate Marcus Nilsson, who's part of the flame scouting staff now.

And like I continue to hear, hear more stories and I knew it. Yeah. I knew it. But when one of his own teammates like is telling stories about him and his importance in terms like, Rhett was the guy in many ways during that time that glued

it all together. I was just going to say glue guy. And like and whatever it needed to be done on the fun side, on the not so fun side, maybe having some hard conversations with the coach. like he did it all. Like he really, you know, even, you know, as his time went on, you know, and I was lucky enough to be around when his, to get to know him again as a player and a pro player

and was around to see a lot of that too during my time. Yeah, I've just always liked him. Remember meeting his dad way back when for the first time? who's a, you know, a Saskatchewan hard work and heart and soul dad. So, yeah, I, you know, and I've, I've always held RET in very, very high esteem. And probably as time has gone on for this reason. Like, forget about the hockey. Forget about the rest of it.

Ret is Rett. And Rett's pretty good with being Rett. What you're getting, but you know, right. He's not putting a front up. But that's what I'm saying. Authentic. That's the word. That's the word.

And so I felt that from him like even in some ways going back to his junior days. So yeah, what a ride. Sneaky hilarious and absolute fun guy to be around. Oh, can't even imagine. Yeah. Those stories. You want to talk about a book. Yeah.

We need a paywall to let those ones out. Or this show's coming to an end. How many of those you can tell with this to continue. You said it. I didn't. Yeah, no, he's a legend. Listen, I loved having you around the building for, you know, I was a play-by-play guy, and that was my dream of what I wanted to do.

And it turns out that the number of opinions and how strongly I feel about things translated well into sports talk in the eye of Kelly Kirsch. And to have you around the station and amongst all these other amazing talented people was always amazing. I've always enjoyed our time together. And there is only one Peter Labardius. And even just today talking about Memorial Cups and Olympics, like the passion that comes out of your pores when you talk about sports, it's incredible.

It's why people love you. Your care is off the charts. And not unlike Boomer, I think sometimes you're too hard on yourself. And you need to let yourself know that you're great at what you do and you've had an incredible run. Well, thank you, my friend. I mean, that means the world and I feel exactly the same. And, you know, as you get older, the games and all of that I still love. But what I have learned more than anything in the last 10, 15 years, when you're doing things you love to do with people you love to do it with, it's the greatest.

Yeah. It's people. Everything really, and you're laughing because I know what you're thinking. but everything is about good people. It really is. An absolute pleasure having you in here. I'm super, you know, when more time will pass and we'll be able to do the scouting story stuff,

but I'm glad they got a sharp mind and a sharp eye down at 555, Sattled on Rise, whatever the new address will be. Yeah, it looks pretty nice over there. Looking after some, the future of the Calgary Flames in a small way on the scouting side with so many other talented people. and I loved what you said about, you know, Connie out of the gate. And safe to say you feel like things are in good hands right now.

I feel like they're incredible hands. And I think the more he gets to do it his way, I just think things are going to continue now. And I know he's my boss. But he is on those nights where you're driving in the snow and you've seen 43 games in a month, you're like, he's one of the people that,

I want to see that guy be really successful. Because he cares about people. He's, you want to talk, he is flat out good people. And so as long as everybody kind of just lets him continue to go with the plan and surround himself,

he's a, he's a really, like I'll be cheer like whether I work for the flames for 10 more years or two more years or whatever I'll be cheering for guys like Craig and Ryan Hoska till the day I leave the earth. We have a word for it on this show. It's called Connie Fiddance. Trust the process. I like that. Thanks for coming in. Have a great summer. I do actually, I was going to throw and end the show, but I want the update on Nancy, your son, your stepdaughter, because I remembered them as young, small children when we were.

at the station and suddenly my kids that haven't existed, didn't exist at that point, are now turning 11 in the fall. So that means yours are even older. Yeah, KAL is just turned 20. I can't believe it. Crazy. Yeah, crazy on the spectrum. And I'm just so proud of him. He just finished his first year at Nate in the broadcasting program. Some days, I'm not sure what the hell I think of that. But, you know, like anything, when you've been as lucky as I have, all you want for the people that you love and care about is can you find something you really enjoy and then get to do it on a regular basis?

So I'm incredibly proud of him. And my stepdaughter, Hannah, just finished her comedy arts degree at DePaul University in Chicago, where that program has been around now for the last five or six years. She was the first Canadian to ever get in. So I'm quite proud of that for a lot of different reasons. She is an amazing young woman who, like my son, I thought it was the older person who's supposed to be teaching them. Those two kids teach me more than I think I'll ever be able to teach them.

And Nats is, I mean, I don't know what to say about this one. And A, I'm still around, which is longer than I've ever been with anybody else, which probably not her best move, but, you know, she's, she's just an incredible, smart, well-organized, cares about people and cause. And I don't know if you have anybody. Well, I mean, your wife's a pretty special woman who's been through a lot. Nats is just somebody that has made me better because without her, I wouldn't look at life today about certain really important things that I now do.

Yeah. Yeah. We love you. Right back at you. We love having you in studio. We wish you all the best over the summer. Enjoy some sunshine. Get out of the rinks for a moment if you can.

Yeah, just at the ballpark sense. Oh, absolutely. And enjoy the family. Thanks, Paul. Thanks for being there. Peter Labardius, joining us on Barnburn. We'll see you, buddies.