Empty Netters Podcast - 13. The Bad Kind of Swedish Fish & Breaking the Bean Pot w/ Reagan Rust

Episode Date: January 26, 2023

(02:57) - Bye Bye Bruce (15:54) - All Star Snubs (24:15) - Hottest Teams of the Week (30:29) - Reagan Rust (33:33) - Winter Classic Backhand Toey (39:39) - Seeing the 800 Hatty (42:56) - From Mississippi to Pro Hockey (54:21) - Breaking the Bean Pot (01:05:08) - Female Athlete Society (01:10:56) - Building the Brand (01:19:36) - Pass Shoot Score (01:36:10) - Eichel/Matthews/Sabers (1:41:04) - What 2 Watch   GET 15% OFF YOUR FIRST ONLINE ORDER AT https://www.siphecho.com/ WITH PROMO CODE "NETTERS" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of the Empty Netters podcast, and we wouldn't be here without our incredible sponsor, ECHO Tequila Soda, the best. I thought you were going to say without your incredible producer, Emily. No, no, no, no. God damn it. Thanks for ruining my ad read. I have to start over now. No, you don't. That was funny.

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whipped out the ECHO tequila soda and it got cleaned out of the cooler faster than anything. And usually I'm a little bit wary of bringing out the canned cocktails on a Sunday. It feels like more of a wine day, a rosé day, maybe a beer day. But ECHO was the first thing to go because it's the best player on the board every single time. It's unbelievable. You guys need to stock this up. So what you're going to do is you're going to go to SIP-E-C-H-E-C-O.com. S-I-P-H-E-C-H-E-C-O.com.

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And that's easy. Now, let's get into this episode of the Empty Nader's podcast with our very special guest, Reagan Rust, who's absolutely changing the game in the hockey space on the content side and pumping up all of that talk and understanding in the mental health space as well as getting people to improve their brands and expand their personal brands, whether you're an NHL player or college player or just starting out in the game. It's a no-brainer. So let's get into it right now. We haven't done a little bit of hot ice in a while. We haven't done a proper hot ice in a long time. We have not done hot ice in a little bit, and we've got some hot ice. There is some stuff I want to talk about.

I know the guests are so great, and it links into the episodes, so sometimes we try not to bore you guys down too much, but there's some stuff I really wanted to get today. So strap in, go on a long ride, or whatever you've got to do, because we're talking about it. Bear with us. You will get to that unreal Reagan Rust interview in a minute. But we've got to talk about some stuff.

number one one of the most brutal and tearful goodbyes to Bruce Boudreau I think even Emily cried oh sobbed almost as much as when you didn't invite me

to your family barbecue this weekend it's just I feel like you got invited and you chose not to come you did not invite me that is not so don't even

no you did not invite me it's just she's right I didn't think you wanted to eat trytif sandwiches and watch football with us

are you kidding would you have eaten that? Yes, I would eat anything if it meant and being invited to the Powers residents. The next family barbecue, you're coming. You know I'm part of the family. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

A lot of people get the Sunday scurries and they get afraid to enjoy themselves on a Sunday. Not me. Not Chris, that's true. I don't get it. Don't let Monday ruin Sunday. Have a day. It's one of the only days of the weekend we have.

I get so few days off. It's unbelievable. So Bruce Boudreau has been on the outs with the Vancouver Canox's head coach for a while now. It's been known. Like, Pedro knew he was going to get fired. And the just abysmal organization

that the Vancouver Canucks have turned into were just parading him out there, making him answer questions. And all the while, knowing he was going to be, stop doing that. Either just do it, fire him, let him move on,

or if you're not ready to do it, don't make him sit up there at the podium and answer, are you about to get fired? Are you about to get fired? Are you going to coaching all of these questions? It was ridiculous that they did the way they did. To intentionally misquote an iconic Bruce Boudreau moment, don't just think about doing it.

Go out there and fucking do it. It's insane, Dan. It makes me sad. And I do want to say this up top. This is not, this is the average take. Like everyone agrees that this was handled pro-Ser. We're not out here being like, shame on the Canoxas if this is breaking news. That's obvious.

I think we just wanted to highlight how shitty. this was. And as someone, Bruce has never coached a team I liked. Um, I'm not like, I wouldn't say before this. I was like a massive Bruce Brudrow guy. But just seeing by that, you mean he's never coached a team that you're a fan of. Oh yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Yeah. No, no. No, not at all. And like half the time I'm wishing for his success, you know, like once my, once the Bruins are eliminated or something. And I just think, um, watching his emotion during this process really hit me in the feels, as they say and has just made me love him so much. Like I want nothing but good things for Bruce Bruce Bredo over the rest of his life. I agree. You've got to feel like this might be it for Bruce. Maybe.

It might be, that might have been his last coaching job. You hate to see it end how it did. But to quote John Beebe of Mystery Alaska, it's, you know, guys say that they love coaching more than playing and it's because they couldn't play anymore. And yes, things don't end well, because otherwise they wouldn't end. Yeah, cocktail. cocktail. And I feel as though this is one of those things. Bruce was asked, what does coaching mean to you? And he couldn't even answer. He said, I'll talk to you tomorrow because he was getting choked up. And it choked me up because Bruce is a great coach. He's coached some unbelievable team, some unbelievable Hall of Fame players. He's probably

a Hall of Fame coach himself. And it's just sad to see Brucey go out this way because it felt like he was being disrespected. Yes. I don't mean go out this way and you got fired because the team wasn't doing well. That happens all the time. Great coaches get fired. It doesn't mean you're a bad coach. It sometimes means that the team is going through weird changes. It needs an organizational shift.

And you getting fired as a part of that process doesn't mean you're not a good coach. Bruce is a good coach. I think any players played from would say that. What really sucks about this one is it just, it didn't feel like it needed to go down the way it did. And this circles back to everything that we've said in our preseason talks when we were about 10 games into the season. Good God Almighty, the Canucks.

Blow it up and figure out what the fuck is going on with your team. It's mental. I read some insane stat. And the players feel awful. I'm going to read some quotes in a second, but the players feel awful. It did feel like a situation, it didn't feel like a situation where he lost the room. No. They still love him.

The fans still love him. How often Dan do you see pretty much every time a team loses or is underperforming, it's like, fire the coach from everybody from the fans. Hearing the entire arena chant, Bruce, there it is. So cool. on his way out is like unbelievable moment. So cool. I saw some ridiculous stat that's like the Canucks have changed their front off or the coaching staff like eight times in the last 10 years or so.

I was on Instagram, but I was like, dude, come on. Like we need, you need something. You need some continuity here because this is not, the way you're handling it right now is not the answer at all. No, it's not sustainable. It is, it's just, it's a meltdown of epic proportions. And it just feels like there's infighting, not necessarily with amongst the players or amongst people in the organization. It's just stuff is happening with the fan base, with the staff that just is bad. It's just all messy.

And you need to clean it up so fast. And it's wild to think about we talked about this team and their roster at the beginning of the season. And when we're in a place right now where you're legitimately having conversations going, trade Beau Horvatt, your captain, who has 30 goals already and clearly does not want to resign with you. Trade Brock Bessor. trade J.T. Miller. It's mental. They're looking at that team looking at Quinn Hughes and Elias Pedersen being like, these are the only two guys are untouchable, and let's just try to figure how to restart from here. When it looks like you have the, you should have the pieces to be a

contending team here, a playoff team at least. It makes no sense when I think, when we were talking about, you said it, when we were talking about preseason, you know, and the king's trying to make a run again. I was like, there's some dangerous teams in the West out there, Vancouver. I was like, wrong. Yeah. But on paper. they should be. It's wild. They should be. But with with death, there also comes rebirth. Well, this is what, oh, okay, actually, before you say that, let me, I just wanted to read you these questions. Oh, yeah. They're awesome. Um, derail my incredible segue. That was funny. You want to try again?

No. Just go on with your Curtis Lazar said, this is one of the hardest days I've ever had in hockey when it happened. And then these last three are Bruce quotes. He said, the guys give it their all and I'm so proud of them, every one of them. People don't realize how bad they want to win. And when they don't win, they're so upset with themselves. But they came and they worked every day at practice. They didn't question anything I said.

They just followed orders. It's a great group of guys. And then after he said, we're all crying together, which I think is silly for us men to do sometimes. I think they would have went through. a wall for me and as a coach that's all you can ask for quite frankly and then this one which killed me addressing the guys before that last game he said he walked over the boys and said play hard for me one last time oh that's a movie quote oh my god dude i was like i don't know how i would have handled that what did that what did that game end up um i saw to not have this stat is embarrassing

for you if i'm being totally honest they lost they lost four one or something did they yeah you can't look up that amazing quote and then not tell me the score for that game. You go, they won 20-0, there you go. It was awesome. That's what I'm talking about.

Okay, tell, do your segue, I'll look up the score. I'm not going to do the segue again because it didn't work, but I think they lost, was that the Oilers game? Yeah, they lost 4 to 2,

which is tough. But I bet they played hard. I'm sure they did. They did every time they stepped on the ice for that, man. The segue was going to lead into the fact that Rick Tockett has been appointed,

the new head coach. We love talk. so does everyone, it seems. He's done such a good job on the T&T panel this season and you wish him the best, but it does feel like one of those things where I don't know how you get through it there

if your talk. I'm surprised he took this job, if I'm being honest. Talk deserves to be back on the bench. But I don't know. I don't know if Vancouver's the spot. It feels like there's some there's some things that need to change there beyond the coach. And it just feels like a large undertaking.

But not the talk it can't do it. It just feels like he had a sweet gig. Well, that's my biggest question. And only he knows how badly he wanted to coach again. Yeah, yeah, that's it. But I was also surprised just because of his gig. If he had been, you know, popping in on a few NHL TV segments and everyone loved him and then he took the job, and he'd be like, okay, yeah, whatever.

I guess he was bored at home. But he has a great thing going. Yeah. So you must really want to coach again because there's obviously going to be openings this off season. So he could have just waited. Sure. Let's just see what's available. Yeah.

So I was surprised. I also love him. I'm rooting for him. I'm rooting for the Canucks to turn around because that sucks up there right now. And it's a fun group. Yeah, it's a great, great city. As much as I tease the organization, it's, you've got an unbelievable team and fan base up there in an awesome city. You've got historic players with the Sadiens and Luongo who have played up.

there amongst many others. And you've got a fun group of elite talent. And yeah, I'd like them to be good. The league is better when the Vancouver Canucks are good. So hopefully they figure it out. Speaking of young elite talent, our next piece of hot ice, two monster injuries in the world of young hockey. We've got Cole Cofield and Josh Norris both going down for season-ending injury

shoulder. Yep. Surgery coming their way. Kind of weird. Same week. Weird, yeah, weird timing. Same week to elite young guys playing up there in Canada go down with a shoulder injury. My take here, dude, is I couldn't be, I couldn't be happier for him.

Because just stop playing. It's not a knee. It's not something, it's not a head. It's like, it's a nothing injury. Well, it's surgery. Like surgery's a big deal, but it's your shoulder. They're both going to be completely fine. They both, both teams, barring, hopefully they'll,

Well, you never know. But if this is a run-of-the-mill shoulder injury, they'll be fine. And both of their teams, stonk. Yeah. So get gut out of here, dude. That's the bigger thing. We never want injuries, obviously. You never want to see some of your favorite players get injured.

And a big thing for me, too, is the momentum. Yeah. Revolutions. They, they, both the senators and the Canadians are trash right now. You're not making playoffs. Tank for Badaard. I'm not kidding. Get as high of a draft pick as you can.

You don't want to see this hamper Cole or Norris's season next year. Yep. Because if you go down, you're missing half a year. You're missing half a season. You're going to get the surgery. You're going to be ready to go in the beginning of the season next year for sure. But if you have rust because you feel like you haven't played in almost a calendar year, that blows. So I hear you as a fan of one of those teams right now, you're not going, oh, fuck, Cawfield's done for the year.

You're done. But as a fan of the kid and a fan of their trajectory, it's never good. Yeah, I wish they weren't heard ever. Getting a long-term injury is never good. So it sucks to see two, let's call it what it is, studs, young studs in the league going down with an injury blows. Yeah, they are so young, so this is kind of a wrong take already. But it just feels like, dude, you can't have a career without a surgery or two. You know, like literally, no matter what, it's not like you'd be like, damn, I was really

hoping Cole never had surgery in a beautiful 15 year career. I'm like, it just doesn't exist. Like, you get, hockey's a tough game. Yeah. And people get, you know, McAvoy's getting. It was right about, like these guys are getting massive surgeries. It was right about to bring up McAvoy. He missed the beginning of this season, getting a surgery.

He's come in and he is as hot as it can get, frankly. They'll be all right. Yeah. And then going from young man injuries to old man injuries, Ovechkin's day to day. It's a disaster, Dan. Hopefully, by the time this pod comes out, he's already back on the ice and it won't matter at all.

You freaking hate to see it. And, dude, he, talk about, he is, LeBron is an athlete that I do not care for. He's a part, I respect him as a human being and whatever, but I don't root for him to the athlete. I do root for Ovechkin, the athlete. But I would say they're very similar in that they're both such tanks that I'm like, they don't get hurt.

Like there's literally no such thing as those guys getting hurt. So here Incovetch can be like, I'm day to day and I'm like, what are you talking about, dude? Like, it doesn't make any sense to me. My brain does not compute. I feel you.

I also get nervous, though, when someone is that big, it feels like one, one injury and then it's a chink in the armor and you wonder if it comes tumbling down from that. I'm like, oh God. It scares me. It legitimately scares me.

We're wishing him a speedy recovery because we need OVee. We need that goal record. Yeah, we do. So stay healthy. You want to get into some All-Star, the All-Star rosters and then snubs before we move on to this interview? That's the last thing I would love to hit. All right, I'm going to rattle off these All-Stars.

Thank you. So the All-Stars in the Met, we got Crosby, Johnny Goddrow, Kevin Hayes, Jack Hughes, Brock Nelson, Ovi, Artemi, Panarin, Andre Sve-Svich-Topson, Andre Cicesternich, Adiorek, Andrei Svetnikov, Adam Fox, Igor Shosturkin, Elia Sorokin. Then in the Atlantic, we got Kuturov, Dylan Larkin, Mitch Marner, Austin Matthews, David Posternak, Nick Sizki, Taze Thompson, Brady Kuch, Matthew Kuhlowski, Andre Vasile Vasilberg. Linus Ulmark. In the Central, we got Carrel Caprizov, Clayton, Kellorne, Nate Dogg McKinnon, Miko, Ranton, Jason Robertson, Bad Vlad Tarasenko, Seth Jones, Kale McCarr, Josh, Josh Morrissey, Connor Hellibuck, U.Ce Sarros, and then in the Pacific, we got Maddiebony, Leon Drysidal, Kevin Fiala, Bo Horvatt, Nazam-Caudry, Connor McDavid, Elias Peterson, Troy Terry, Eric Carlson, Stuart Skinner, and Logan Thompson.

So those are our All-Star teams, but with that, like we talked about, I believe last episode, last episode There's going to be some snubs here And we're not sitting here stamping our feet going I can't believe it But with the Everyone gets a trophy mentality

There are some people Who are not on this All-Star team That are a bit of a bummer Would you like to take us away? I'd just like to say Actually, Chris, you included in this We got a couple firsts here First-time All-Stars

We talked about Kevin Hayes That's amazing. Brock Nelson's on that list as well Are Temi Panarin being a first-time All-Star blew my mind Yes. When you really think about it, it's kind of like, oh, well, okay, that kind of makes sense, but it's also a bit surprising. Do you know, Dan, because I don't. This, and we're getting this data because it's in parentheses on the list. Like it says the player, that is, and I found this out the hard way, because I gasped at something. It's, if, it only counts it if they play. So, like, I saw it says Sydney Crosby 5, and I was like, he's only made four All-Star teams. But he's just been hurt? Or just sat out or like, yeah, like, He's like, oh, I got a knock. I'm not playing.

Do guys do that? That feels more like a Pro Bowl. Well, I guess then he's actually hurt. Because my point is, this is his ninth, SIDS. Ninth time being selected. Got it. But this will be his fifth play. So I don't know.

Maybe Panarin. This will be Panarin Fox and Sorokin's first time playing. Yes, and maybe their first selection too. I just don't know. We should look it up. But maybe Panarin. Actually, Emily, can you look that up? Well, Andres Fetchnikov first.

Shasturkin first. Yes, for sure. Tage Thompson's first. Linus Ulmarx first. Jason Robinson's first. Josh Morrissey's first Maddie Baneers Kevin Fiala

and Logan Thompson Stuart Skinner has also got one of those asterix Oh the asterkist fan vote So that's just like that Oh so that it's just still there first Yeah but my point is He might have been selected Before Panarin specifically

I bet Panarin Or I wouldn't be shocked if Panarin Has been selected before I just never played in it Last year I feel like he must not make the All-Star team last year But maybe not Because Crider and

And Ziba Are just on fire last year Yeah right And that's actually a good segue into the snubs down because with this format it becomes difficult to make the team if your team has a bunch of all-stars. Yes, it really does. It was interesting to note, I believe it is Colorado is the only team with three representatives from the same team. Oh, wow.

I think it is, I'm not even playing that well. I think it's kale, Nate Dog, and Moose. Miko, yeah, are the only three. Okay, well, the only team with three. I'll bring up my, not my biggest snub yet, but my, just the first one to bring up on this topic, William Nealander. I think it's going to be extremely hard for him to make all-star teams when he's playing with Austin Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Johnny Toadrags himself. But Nealander, I mean, Marner went on that epic point streak, but Nealander has been an incredibly consistent player for the Leafs this year. And I want to say kind of like, finally, right?

Like, I feel like Nealander has been this untapped potential guy for so long that everyone's been like, he's nasty and he doesn't quite put it on tape. He's putting it on tape this year. And this felt like the one. I was like, oh, you got to get in now. And he's never been in. I'm pretty sure that would have been a nice thing for the voters to do. And didn't get through. And that one feels like a miss.

I disagree. I think you make great points, but I don't think that feels like a miss. To me, it feels Nealander is playing fantastic. But I look at some of these other people to keep it right in the Atlantic. Dahlene on Buffalo not being in this All-Star game is crazy to me. I think that's probably my second biggest. He has cooled off a bit from his insane start to the year, obviously, but Rasmus Dahlene is an All-Star, and you can't tell me differently. Strong, strong agree.

I'm riding the wagon. I think we wrote it down, Dan. He's like third, second or third in defenseman in points or goals or some points. Third in points, third in points tied for second in goals. And I'm like, he's not. He's not an all-star. It feels... He's like a legitimate, legitimate Norris contender.

Yes, this system seems insane. Not an all-star. Okay, not my biggest one yet either, but I'll hit this one. My boy, Dan, Kyle Connor. Yeah. Kyle Connor, and you know what's actually made me laugh, or kind of smile about this, I should say? Earlier this year, did we air the underrated players episode?

Say again? Did we air the underrated players? No, I don't believe we did. So, but in that episode, which is where the Ikelbeck came from, by the way, I think. Or one of those episodes. But anyway, you had said, Tage Thompson is one of the most underwood players in the league. And I, this whole year I've been like, oh, wow, great call by you as he's pumping in. Also said he was going to score 50.

Yep. Yes. And one of the men that I had laid out strongly was Kyle Connor. And somehow this snub made me feel better because all the stuff on the internet is like, this is one of the most, what does he have to do? He's on pace for like 95 points. He's going to score 40-something goals again, if not 50. and he just constantly flies under the radar.

No one wants to talk about him. And that one, I mean, again, anything can happen, you can get injured, whatever. But if someone's on pace for 95 points, I think he's in the All-Star game. So similar to that pace and someone that I listed last episode that was going to get snub, that is tough. And I actually think this one is very similar to Neelander. And in my opinion, deserves it a bit more than Nealander is R&H. This is my biggest snub. Ryan New Jean Hopkins, like I talked about last episode, is having a career year.

He's got 54 points in 47 games. He's 13th in the NHL in points. And it's just tough. It's tough that you're on a team with dry saddle and McDavid. I get it. I get it. But like we said, it's the inclusion of someone from every team is cool. But it makes it feel like less of a all-star game than it should be.

Dude, 54 points at the, well, it's not even the break yet, but 54 points at the break. and not being in the All-Star game is nuts, dude. It always happens. When you look at the best team in the league, Boston. Boston is the best team in the league, and they have two bona fide stud defensemen in Charlie McAvoy and Hamas Lindholm. And neither of them are on this team. And when you look at the defenseman named to out of the Eastern Conference,

they're great players, but you do kind of have to ask yourself, do those two guys belong on this team ahead of them? or more than them. And it's interesting, I would say. It's like, those guys are top five defensemen in the NHL right now. Yep, completely agree. I'll hit another one that is one of my big fan, big fan of this guy, as everyone knows. But there's some justification, Jack Eichol.

Obviously, the injury has derailed an incredible first half of the season. And I think if he wasn't hurt, he'd probably be in. So I wouldn't even be having this argument. And I'm not ready to fight for him over RNH, for example. who's just like has 20 more points than him. But it does suck when the game is trying to showcase these really young bright stars. And you have someone like Jack who's finally back from injury on a new team, having a monster point for game season, and it's just not included.

And you're like, okay, it's crazy. All right, those are our big snubs, if you will, for the All-Star game. We're getting geared up for that in a couple weekends here. It's going to be an absolute blast seeing all this talent on the ice. Quickly going to rip our three hottest teams of the week. Do I go first or do you go first? Um, this... No, no, no.

I go first. Oh, Emily. I get to go first because I'm not as educated as you guys, so I can't really like... Well, in... That's not true. You have a great education. Hockey education. Well, I feel like you get your hockey education from us.

Crash course. So, therefore... You know everything we know. Yeah. Okay. You're going to go three or just one? Just one. Okay.

Who's your hottest team of the week? My... I mean, I'm sorry this is a really basic choice here, but I have to pick the Bruins because they are on a... an 11 game win streak. Is that correct? Why are you looking at me? Like, it's not correct.

Keep going. Okay, well, I was just going to say they also have, there's the regular season. You are wrong, but keep going. I'm wrong? Yeah, I think so, yeah. They're nine and one in their last 10, though, which is great.

Okay, well, they're on a lovely game win streak in my book. Yes. Okay, also the regular season point record is 131 points. and they are on an 139 point pace. Which is sick. And the regular season record for points. For wins. For wins.

Win record for points is 62. And the Bruins are at a 66 point pace. Let's go. Win pace, win pace. Do you know who that team is that 162? No. It's okay. I have a couple more things to say.

We shout out, shout out to, goalie Linus Altmark or whatever his fucking last name is because he earned

his 25th win of the season and he stopped and his last game against the sharks he stopped all 17 shots

at the goal that's pretty sick and so he's now the fastest goalie to have 25 wins in history and one other funny thing

that I thought was great for this Bruins pick was that they signed a 10 year old to their team that was a fan for a day.

I didn't see that. Pretty cool stuff. Yeah. Oh, I have more knowledge than you, it sounds like. That was great. I actually thought Em was going to drop the Pavel Zaka extension in news and I was like, well, that's a wild. Well, I could have done more.

I just don't want to talk too much. That was really good. Well, it's a perfect segue, Em, because our three, or do you want to give it a shout-out to anyone? I want to give a quick honorable mention. Usually we do the top three hottest teams, but sometimes it's just a fourth team that deserves a little bit of connection. That's not fair. Yes, it is.

And this week, it's going to be the Florida Pan. They're seven, two, and one in their last 10. They've won four of their last five. They're three in one this week. They beat the Sabres, which is a tough win. Dan, it's a tough win. They get the HABS, which is an easy win. They beat the Wild, which is a tough win.

They're only losses to the Leafs in OT, and that's a good squad, too. The Panthers, we said, are going to need to get hot in the second half if they're going to get themselves back to the dance. And this is the way to do it. So in honor of the fall on quack deck, can we just give some quacks for the honorable mention panthers? Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack. Nice.

Quack, quack. That's good. All right, three hottest teams of the week. Number three, we're going with the Boston Bruins. Emily's Boston Bruins. They're in the top three. You kind of said it all. You know, they're just, they're rolling so hard.

They're playing some of the best hockey. They've got people in the hockey world. Pundits are jumping into the conversation, just asking the question that we're all asking is who's beating this team? Who is beating this team in a seven-game series in the playoffs? If they keep playing like this, I don't know what to say. And we're going to get into some possible trades here in the next coming episodes of this podcast.

Not today. But when you talk about a team like the Bruins, I'm like, I don't know what you do. I don't know if you do anything. To me, it's just when you've got a team rolling this much, they've won five straight. They're nine and one, their last 10. It's nuts. Yeah, I mean, they could be won in this segment just about every week. But it's our list and we'll do whatever we please.

Correct. Then we like throwing some love, so the Bruins come in at three. The second hottest team of the week this week, the Edmonton Oilers. They were number three last week, and they come up a spot this week, thanks to another three-and-o week. And by my math, three plus three, carry the one. Yeah, they're on a six-game heater, Dan. It's pretty sick. They beat the Cracken and the Lightning.

That's two tough games. They beat the Canucks. Sorry, Bruce. But they've won, like I said, six-game heater, and they don't look now, dude, but they are pretty comfortably in a wild-card spot. We've been talking a lot of shit about them being a 500 team of missing the playoffs. Right now, they are, they're chilling. They're relatively comfortably in a playoff spot, I'd say. I mean, they're only four points into that spot, you know.

Comfortably. And they are, they're an ass hair above 500. So I'm not, I'm sorry, I'm not. I think for like six games. Well, they, they're, they're doing all right. They're 27, 18, and three. So they're, they're okay. That's all right.

Yeah. Yeah. It is, it's good to see them playing good hockey. You know, it's that, that's that. And, but frankly, I'm not going to give them too many paths in the back here because this is just what they should be fucking doing. Correct. So, you know. And you get scared when you look who's right behind them.

Tell me. And that is our number one hottest team of the week. It's the Colorado Avalanche. This is, you know, they just had a four win week. They beat the wings, six to three, flames four to one, Canucks four to one, beat the Crackin, who, as we know, are red hot, two to one. they were our number one team last week. That was in a shootout. They've won five in a row.

We've said all year, what an awful team to be just sitting down there as the wild card. This is like when the Bulls had to play, or the Maple Leafs had to play the Bulls in the first round last season. It's like if you are just a number one team. A division winner. In the West, a division winner, and you have to play the avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.

It's just trash. So do not sleep on this team. If you are, you're a dumbass. I don't think anyone is. It's more of a, God damn it, they're finally waking up, and this is scary. So they are our number one team of the week. And that's that. And that's that.

We are going to kick it now to our interview with Reagan Rust. Reagan is one of the coolest interviews you will hear incredibly impressive young women in the game of hockey and just in life. such a great person and fighting for so many great causes and raising awareness in so many special areas. She is currently ripping it up for the Metropolitan and Riveters playing professional hockey while also doing all of this stuff. So check this interview out. Have a blast with it. Reagan, you're the best. Now we will say we are delighted to be joined by a former BU Terrier, member of the Beanpot Hall of Fame, current player in the PHF. P-H-F, I keep stumbling on that for the Metropolitan Riveters. Reagan Rust, welcome to the Empty Netters podcast.

Thank you so much for having me. Wish I was in California with you guys, though. I know, I know. I was saying earlier to Reagan, next time you're in L.A. You're going to come into the studio and get the entire Empty Netters Friday Beers appeal. But it's so great to have you here on us. Where are you at right now? You're in Jersey right now?

Yep, in New Jersey. hopefully in New York City or maybe back in California soon. We'll see how it goes. I was going to say, it's pretty cold and dark. Yeah. How is the weather adjustment coming from sunny L.A. to heading over and dealing with the wet, rainy weather you've got going on in the northeast? I thought there was going to be snow and there's like no snow right now.

I mean, I lived in Boston for a couple years, so we had a lot of nor'easters, you know, but we don't have any of that this year. It's been surprisingly warm. I've just been wearing this hoodie and a vest. I love being in the Northeast. I pick up every November, it starts to get cold, and I pick up a hoodie and I wear that for four straight months. Like, I just never take off the same hoodie gets me through the winter. And then that's the sign of spring when that hoodie finally comes off and goes in the wash. Everybody has their favorite hoodie that they wear.

This is definitely one of mine. Yeah, yeah. And you escape the blizzard in Buffalo. I'm glad you guys got out of there. That looked wild on TV. Oh, my God. I always get so nervous. Like, I can't drive in the snow.

Maybe because I had a Nissan Althma. back in the day in high school and I had no idea how to drive in snow and I had summer tires, but I do not want to be the bus driver ever. It's tough. Yeah, like a massive vehicle. A lot of people, a lot of people you're responsible for, you know, drive. Yeah. Seed belt or buckled, that's for sure. That's incredible. There was, um, and then you guys had a little break, right? But, um, uh, you guys are back out of now in season, full swing. Yeah, full swing. And then we got all-star break this weekend. And then I think we have one more weekend before IHF break.

Awesome. Where is the All-Star game? It's going to be in Toronto. Oh my God. Amazing. Pretty cold up there too. It's going to be cold and I think there's supposed to be snow. So great.

I'll bring my parka. Well, listen, this is your fault. You are the one complaining about not getting enough snow. Not enough snow now. So you're just going to travel around the country wherever the blizzard is. You're going to find it. Yeah. And then in April, I only want beach until maybe next August.

We'll see. Perfect. That's a good plan. Stick to that plan. I'm in. So, Reagan, top of the month in January, we were at the Winter Classic, got sent back to Boston, speaking of the Northeast, and you had a whole show there, whole event. Can you walk us through how that whole process went? How did you got invited and got set up to be out there on the ice with, you know, the old time hockey guys, Zach Bell, you were doing all the content

creation stuff, having an absolute blast, putting on a show with the dangles, deacon goleys out of their pads. Tell us how that all came together. what it was like for you because obviously playing at BU, you've had time playing in Boston, you're familiar with the city, it must have been fun kind of being back on the old stomping grounds, going to the same bars, seeing some people, I'm sure. Tell us about that whole event for you. It was a wild 72 hours, is what I will say. I did not expect it to go the way that it did, but I think I finished practice on the 30th, drove up with my captain. She was going to Boston as well for a wedding. 31st, woke up, played some beer league hockey with some more.

old friends. And then I went right to Fenway from there. We had like this creator influencer skate where the hockey guys were there, Zach Bell, all the guys you just mentioned. And everybody, I'll talk about that skate because I was really nervous to go on the breakaway because everybody was doing everyone was super confident. But like, you know Zach Bell, you know Swaggy Pete. They're always doing all these crazy stick tricks. I'm like, I can barely catch the puck if I throw it high up in the air. And so I'm like, I don't really know what I'm going to do. And so everyone kept telling me go and I was like, no, I'm not doing it. But when there was like maybe 10 minutes left in the skate and I was like, you know what? It's now or never. Everybody was turned around. I told the one

guy to follow me with his camera and then I just did that move. I don't know. Normally I practice it, but I've never like executed it before. It's a gnarly fake backhand towie at Fenway. That was unbelievable. I'm stealing that for sure. I was like, holy shit when I saw that highlight. That was amazing. It's surprising to say that you weren't confident with it because that was the smoothest move ever and then you had that cheeky smile going around the net like you do it every single movie that was because I literally went when nobody was looking so it was really funny to pull it off and then after that you can see me go like yeah I'm done not doing another one after that that is a pro move looking around the ice making sure everyone's gone already the cameras

are turned out other where other areas on the ice and you're like all right now quickly follow me real quick Reagan Reagan's gonna get a shoot out in the playoffs and look at the whole rank and be like everybody turn around don't look I got to do my thing here and then break out the real math and stuff. Well, I had a joke going that I had. Oh, sorry. No, go on, go on, go on. I was just going to say that I had a joke going with shootouts and Boston.

They're kind of my thing. So it was good that I got that one and the beanpot one. That's what I was right about to say. So it feels like, you know, you've played in Boston a bunch. You've had huge games with BU. But there must have been something unreal about being out there at Fenway Park, doing all this stuff with these people, kind of getting that experience. Was it surreal at any moment or was it just so much of a whirlwind that you didn't really get to take it in?

It was pretty surreal. I think because Boston feels like home to me that it was just not another day, but I'd kind of known those people that were going to be there as well. It was just like my first time meeting them in person. So I think it was a really fun experience. I was definitely a little bit nervous to be around them because they're really big creators. They're really good at hockey. But yeah, I felt really good to be there. It felt like just being at home. It was so awesome for us getting, because we're from there too, right? So we got to go back and just see the environment outside Fenway and all the bars and everything like that. And I said to a couple other guys, just walking up the ramp at Fenway and seeing the rink was such a cool moment. It was just the production value was so high. It looked amazing. So I love that, you know, your friends and you and your friend road trip up and they're going a wedding. And you're like, actually, I'm kind of doing something a little bit sicker this week.

Catch me on the way back. Yeah, I mean, I didn't know the festivities were going to be as fun as they were. but there was a NHL party on New Year's Eve. That was the most insane thing I've ever been to. Were you guys there? No, tell me every single thing that happened right now. I was going to say, we missed it the night before, so you've got to rip into that for us.

Yeah, so we had the creator skate, and then I went over to one of my friends' hotel rooms and just got ready with him and his girlfriend, and then we showed up. I don't know why we showed up so early, but we literally got there at 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Normally nobody gets there that early, but there were so many people already in the building. And as soon as you walk in, there's like Co-check and they already have drinks set up where you can just grab and go.

There's like people mingling outside. And they're like, all right, we should go in and check out what's going to happen. So we walk in, open bar, open food, and everyone's just talking at different tables. There's party favors, all those things. And then obviously the night gets a little wild when you have open bars. So by the time, who was it, baby Rexa came out to perform. It was insane. And then obviously at midnight, there was confetti falling. I have the coolest video at midnight. I'm like front row with baby Rixa. She's saying I'm like, I'm good. Yeah, I'm feeling. All right. It was just like it was a movie. That's all. That's how you describe it. It felt like I was in a movie. You were going to have to text us that video after this. I need to see it. And especially open bar starting at 9 p.m. I can't imagine it got pretty rowdy by midnight. That's a long time. It was dangerous. I get going, yeah.

And did you go right from your road trip straight into that party and then the next day, straight on to the ice at Fenway? Yes. Yes, I did. I think, well, I've been going because the month of December for me was pretty crazy because I had my ESPN trip. So I went to Chicago, Blackhawks game, watched Ovi get his 800th goal. Insane. It was really wild.

I already knew as soon as Seth put in, he was going to get a hat trick. And then I also was working with Bauer for the rivalry series. So I was at the women's games. I was at the LA Kings games. And then to have the NHL trip, it was just like I was nonstop going for at least a month, a month and a half. That's truly a intense whirlwind of events that you're just going to back to back to back.

And it's amazing when stuff like that's going on. Let's just jump right into the OV800th because we saw that you were at that game. And you're saying you knew it was going to happen. Well, I saw it, Ray, I saw you tweeted after the second that you were like, he's going to do it. He's about to get a hat trick for his 800. So I need to know if you, are you like, are you a wizard here? Like, did you have this spiritual realization before you even set foot in the building? You're like, I'm about to watch this guy go for 800. So I need to know how early you're on that. And I also need to know what the rink was like when that happened because what an awesomely unique

experience do you have been there for? My God. So I need to know if you're sitting here saying right now, you knew he was going to tuck a hatty and get to eight on me. I think she's saying that. I think she's saying that's it? I did know. Honestly, before I even stepped on the plane to go, because I just finished practice and I'm like, all right, let's look at the Chicago Blackhaw season so far. And he's on a, he's on a freaking tear right now. So whenever I landed and I like walked into the stadium and everything, I was just like, I'm feeling it. There's good vibes. There were Santa Claus there. I got a picture with Santa Claus. There was like performances by these like little school, these kids and these dance clubs were there and it was just like the energy was high not for chicago blackhawks but for ovi himself

and they were playing soccer before the game and i saw him and he had something he had a hoodie on and i think the back was like no i'm not michael jordan or something along those lines i don't know where he got it i wish i had a picture of it because it said something about like another basketball goat and um yeah whenever they took the ice it's just like i'm feeling it for him and so i think you scored the first what 24 seconds and then second nine minutes and then i was like Oh, he was just like camping out in front. They were trying, every single fuck they were passing to him. So I knew what was going to happen.

His defensive game has rounded out so much. But you know when he got two in that game, he completely turned it off. Sitting in his office for the rest of the game, just being like, I'm getting that third one, 100%. Well, I was so rattled because obviously we were all on 800 watch, right? Like, we were excited for him to figure out he's going to do it. We got a couple big, big OVee fans in the office. And I saw he was, you know, he was three away. So I was like, all right, I don't need to be paying attention to every Ovechkin game.

just yet once he gets a little closer and then i was getting the updates on my phone like ovigal oh my god he's going to do it tonight and of course of course perfect ovechkin fashion caps it off with the haddy unbelievable yeah and the goal was just like it was such a strange one it was right in the crease and then i think once it happened everybody stood up everyone even in chicago black hawks fans and then even the players on the other team to start tapping their sticks it was like you can't not celebrate that that's an unreal achievement so it was really cool to see That's so true. I feel like we saw that too with Stammers 500.

The Canucks were definitely given some stick taps as well. You're right. Those milestones are so unbelievable. And 800 is, I feel like if I were on the other team, I would have jumped off the bench and celebrated. Me too. Just saying you have. Everybody dog pile. Right?

It's like you get to say I was on the ice when Ovi tucked his 800. I would 100% get in that dog pile just to be in the picture, be able to show my kids one day. I forget who was playing goalie that night, but I'm jealous of the goalie. Like, I want to be like, yeah, it was me. He did it to me. We would have just elayed the second he got two. You just let the third in and be like, yeah, it happened on me. Whatever.

That's unbelievable. Awesome, awesome memory to have. What a great thing. Okay, Riggs, I want to talk about, honestly, your whole journey, and I'll give it to you piece by piece here, so you can answer them one at a time. But you've had such a fascinating life story in the world of hockey, right? So, you know, you grew up in Mississippi, for those that don't know, playing on a rec team, the Mississippi River Kings, which is an elite name. I love that squad.

A little turtle. Yeah, it's so awesome. God, perfect. And then you know, you go from there to become the first woman to play D1 in college at both RIT and BU. So let's start there. Let's talk about that and just being a little kid from Mississippi and you're a BU terrier by the end of it. Talk to us about that process. I could not have imagined it. I could not have dreamed of it because to be honest with you, was growing up playing hockey. The Mississippi River Kings came around and my aunt started going to the games. And so I didn't know hockey was a thing. I started playing t-ball. That was my first sport. Hated it. It was not fun for me. And when my aunt started taking me and my sister to these games, like every Friday, it was like, whoa, like I didn't know this sport existed. Like this is really cool.

And I think their second season that we started going to, they were like, oh, you guys should come out. We're starting a rec week. And they're like, there's going to be so many girls there. We were like, okay, like, sure. Like, whatever my sister did, I did. And so we show up. It's me and my sister, one other girl, and 30 boys. And one of them was Akeel Thomas. That's actually funny enough.

His dad was playing there at the time. And so while we were playing, I think we got ice time once every month. It was we were sharing with the rodeos. We were sharing with basketball. We were sharing it with the pro hockey team and all these club teams. And so whenever we were on, we were just excited to be there. And so five years playing in Iraq. Then we played a couple years in Nashville.

which was double-a hockey. And then my mom was crazy enough to drive me the 12 hours to Pittsburgh every other weekend. So I played AAA there. I went to five different high schools. Eventually, I was a Ford for most of my life. And I told my mom, I was like,

I really think that I should play defense. Like, it's calling my name. And she's like, no, you need to score goals. I was like, I don't think I'm a goal score.

I think I should go back on defense. And the first game, my senior year, that I go back on defense, my coach was like, hey, can anybody play D? Or short on D. I was like,

sure, why not? It was in Boston for the Beantown tournament. And that first game, I get recruited, play D1 hockey. I was like, are you kidding me? It was this easy? I told you defense, mom. I told you I had to play D. I knew the whole time.

I'm actually going to call you out Raking because you said you could have never imagined it. And I just know that that's not true because when you were 10, you said you were either going to play D1 hockey or be a brain surgeon. So you went 50%. It was very impressive. I never could have imagined BU. Like, it was a very, it was a stretch for sure. Like I probably if an adult would have told me you can't make it, I might have believed them.

But my uncle, thankfully, was like, yeah, you can do anything. You set your mind to. So did my sister. And so the brain surgeon thing didn't work out. But I actually really do enjoy psychology. So I read up on that all the time and I help a lot of other athletes with it. And then never had to play at Harvard. They didn't want to recruit me.

Actually, no other D1 school wanted to recruit me besides RIT. So it was kind of like that dream was a little far fetch once I got a little bit older. And then there was just, I decided I wanted to transfer. had no schools asked my release and then started emailing people. And then it came to fruition. Yeah, it's perfect. And I'll tell you this right now. There are other brain surgeons from Mississippi. There are no other female D1 hockey players. So you're much more impressive and rare than a brain surgeon. Just saying. Thank you. I appreciate it. And Reagan, I love what you just said there about kind of having to fight for yourself, right? And I think in a lot of young athletes,

guys, girls, whatever, have a hard time putting themselves out there, reaching out to programs, trying to make the next step because you just expect or you hope, I guess, that there's going to be no speed bumps, no hurdles. Like, oh, I'm just going to play on the right, you know, elite teams growing up and then get recruited and it's all going to be fine. But that's pretty much nobody's journey for the most part. It's very rarely is a smooth sailing. And I think it's amazing that you did that. And I wanted to talk about two other instances where things like that came up in this career, in your career. So 2017, the women's net, the world championships are happening. and the women's team is boycotting for a myriad of reasons,

including getting some equality in the men and female sport of hockey. And when they're trying to fill that roster, they reach out to you and you get to say no to them out of solidarity to stick with everyone else. And then even again, after school, in 2019, when you're going to play for the Worcester Blades in the Canadian League, it's like, yep, I've committed, I know what I'm doing after school. I finally made this huge decision in my life. And then that league folds.

And you're like, okay. So then that ends up in the pivot to, the PHF right now where you're playing. But talk to me about those two huge inflection points in your life and what weight went into those decisions to get to where you are now. So the first one, I mean, I was at RIT at the time and I knew a lot of players that were on Team USA. And so I looked at them as not only my heroes, but also my friends. And I think just standing with them in that time was like the most important thing that I could have done because I didn't earn that spot. I didn't get asked by Team USA to go play, like not the right way, you know, where you have to pass the

the USA test when you're bag skating yourself. Yeah, I don't know. Do you guys know that, that test? Oh, yeah. Oh, it's the worst thing I've ever done in my tie. Yeah, it's just terrible. Yeah. And so like, I didn't go through the hell that they went through. And I, so I didn't think that I deserved it. And so it was kind of just no brainer for me just to say no. And then whenever it happened after I graduated, I was kind of fluctuated between playing and not playing, maybe taking a year off because I had fractured my back, my senior year of college. And so I was in a decent amount of pain, but also all my friends were still in the CWHL league. So like, I wanted to stay with them. And then when it folded, I was like, oh, no,

what's about to happen. So when I saw everyone in the PWHPA, I saw what they were fighting for, like that's what made me want to go there in the first place. Yeah. It feels like there's been a lot of times where this has happened, kind of like how Chris just mentioned. I mean, it also happened you when you are at the National Sports Academy, right? You went to Lake Placid and then all of a sudden, boom, school's done. So you had to go back to Pittsburgh. And then you get in this Canadian league and then the team folds before you can even sign a contract. So it feels like every step of the way in your career, both at an amateur level and a professional level, you've had to adapt constantly. And how is that felt for you in your path to playing hockey at this elite level

that you have because I even think back on when you're a kid in Mississippi and you're driving 12 hours at a time every other weekend to go play this game that you love. It's kind of hard when you're that young to realize the sacrifice that your family's making, the strain it is on you yourself and then the other people that are helping you out. Were you ever kind of aware of that at that young of an age? And then how did that help you in all of these different steps throughout your career and these pieces of adversity you had to battle through? I would say, I mean, I've always been, especially as a kid, I was a little bit more hyper aware of what was going on around me because my mom, like, basically took us all four of us kids and like paid for everything, like they did whatever she could as a single mom to get us where we need to be. And I have two older siblings that are quite a bit older than me and then me and my younger sister or my middle sister, we played hockey together.

And so my mom was always sacrificing for us. And we could see that. We could see that like it wasn't always easy to get hockey gear. I don't know if you know anything about Mississippi, but it's one of the poorest states in the country. So playing hockey wasn't really in our cards, but we made it work. Like my mom would work at the ring to get us free ice time. I would write essays to get scholarships. And so to be able to play and like to see my mom how much he sacrificed me, like I'm forever grateful.

And I tell her all the time. And I tell everybody, I'm like, she is the reason why I have made it as far as I have because she let me go to prep school when I was in 10th grade. I was like, mom, it was ninth grade. I was like, I cannot keep doing this drive. This is two years in. I'm missing every Friday. I'm playing like five sports. I kind of just want to focus on hockey at this point.

And I was like, look, there's this great opportunity to go to prep school. And so while I was at prep school, like I had some of the best players in the country on my team. I think our record was like 50, 23 and I don't know, three or something. We played like 70, 80 games a season. And so while I was there, like I developed and obviously whenever it folded, it was really sad. and they wanted me to go back the next year, but I was like, I don't really know if this is the right decision. My mom was like, I think you should just go back. I was like, I'm going to go back and I'll just bill it. Well, let's just try that this time. And so thankfully that was the right decision. I just continued playing 19 U for two or three years and then got the opportunity to play.

But it was like so much back and forth all the time. The five high schools in four years, I would not recommend that to anybody. That was tough. That's got to be a record. Also, how was your billet family? Were they homies or were they bizarre? Um, the first thing is bizarre. That's a bizarre answer for sure. Let it out. It's okay. I don't really like to talk badly about people and I definitely won't talk badly about them. I think we just had different, like the way that my family grew up was different than the way that their family kind of grew up. They were very close-knit family. They love board games, love hanging out together. My family, obviously older siblings, they're dispersed. My mom is always working. Like, I'm kind of just vending for myself half the time. And so whenever they wanted me to like kind of do those things, like I always felt a little bit uncomfortable. So it's like it wasn't their fault and it wasn't my fault either. Just like two different. scenarios coming together. So I played the season there and then I told my mom was like, I'm going to come home after the season. And my mom had moved to Texas. So I wasn't even back in Mississippi. I went to a new school in Dallas. I was down there for two months. I basically just did online school because they had none of the same classes that I was taking at my other school.

And then the next year I went and built it with a different family. And that was a great experience because it was just me. I had a car and they didn't have any kids. So it was like I was the, I was considered the daughter of the senator, I think, of Pennsylvania. Oh, damn. That was on the Wikipedia page. Because they had like unofficially adopted me. What an unbelievable little feather in your cap you get to have in that stretch of your life. Yeah, just the daughter of a senator for a year.

All good, all good. Also, did you just try to slide in there that you don't like board games? Yes. I am super competitive. I can't play them. I'm not nice. There's no better thing for you. than board games. I feel like if we set up Reagan

and a Settlers of Contan games, you would kill someone. Me too. I was going to say, just put the reps in. Put the reps in, you'll get better at the board games, and then you'll pummel everybody in them, and then you'll like them more. It'll be awesome. No, I'll stick to sports. Any sport I'll take anyone on. I don't care who it is. I actually agree with that. Whenever

we go on a ski trip or something or get together with a big group of friends and code names gets popped out or something, it's all really fun for about 30 minutes, and then if my team starts losing, I start going nuts. For me, where are you out on this, Reagan? For me, it's the the yard games. Like, I have a hard time with yard games because I'm so competitive. Like, everyone's like, hey, we'll just, you know, go play spike ball or something. And I'm like,

well, this will end our friendship. So let's not play. Yeah. If I lose the last game, I'll be like, no, we need to go again right now. Like, we're going to play until I win again. That is so accurate. It's the amount of ping pong paddles I've broken my life playing this idiot is just unbelievable. It's just a very, very real thing. Speaking of competition, you mentioned it earlier, let's talk about this pretty epic run here in the beanpot. Yeah. So your senior year, you get the letter slapped on your sweater. And before even get into this bean pot, how did that feel?

I mean, like you said, your road to this world of college hockey was bizarre. I mean, truly, the more I'm hearing about it, it's the most bizarre road of all time. And now you get here, you didn't get really any D1 looks except RIT. Then you go over to B you. this school that has so much history, so many unbelievable players have gone in and out of that school. Now you're here representing your team, representing the school. You've got a letter on your sweater.

What did that mean to you? Honestly, it meant a lot that my teammates thought highly enough of me to give me that because when I was in my sophomore year, I was kind of losing my love for the game. Like I almost didn't play the next year. I wasn't planning, I was planning on transferring, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go D3 or D1. and I didn't even know if I was going to get the D1 opportunity.

And so whenever it happened and I transferred to BU, it felt like I constantly need to prove myself. I constantly need to be like all my best behavior. And I think my teammates made it so easy. My coaching staff made it so easy. Like the transition could have been a lot harder. That's for sure. And I think it was a little interesting because the season wasn't really a winning season

my first year there. We had won like 14 games, which isn't bad, but it wasn't great. I mean, it was better than winning the six games that I did at RIT. But I was expecting a lot more like to be top 10 and all of those things. And so at the end of the season, I kind of just did what I always did, which was just put in the work. And I loved staying on the ice lay. Like that's just my happy place. And there's no place I'd rather be than on the ice.

And when it came around, I think it was St. Patrick's Day weekend, you know, in Boston, it's a pretty wild weekend. And so we all had quite a few drinks in us. And we were at some party wherever the parade goes through. and one of the seniors who was also in assistant captain the time she came up to me and she was like you know Reagan like you would be a great captain for next year I don't think it's going to happen because you only been here one year

but you never know and I was like whatever I'm not going to give my hopes up like I'll just keep doing what I do like I'm just such a rude tease if she didn't know like I can't believe she teed no idea oh my God that's uncalled for no she had no idea like she's the sweetest person ever and so there was like a couple weeks of spring training go by and then the coaches walk in and they're like all right it's time to announce

captains for next year and like he said the first two names and then he said mine and I was just like are you serious I was like this is pretty crazy like I didn't believe it at first I was like is it is it going to be stripped off me if I do something bad over spring season like I don't know what's about to happen um but no he's a great guy you step on the ice for your first game in the season you're a dash four and they're like yeah you're not the captain anymore I was I was negative five Oh my God, I was on for all five goals. Did you see that before? No, no.

I missed it by one. Damn it. I should have gone up a little higher. Oh, that's unreal. Yeah, I was on for all five goals. My first game. I was like, this is a learning experience. That's true.

You really need to lock into the leadership qualities after that one. Come back to the locker room, take some responsibility. That's exactly what I did after. I honestly looked in the mirror. I was like, this is not. how my senior season's about to go. And so we had a lot of meetings that year to actually get our leadership together because there was obviously three seasons. So we worked together really well and then we ride the team and we got all the freshmen on board. And I think for the first 10

games, like we actually weren't good. Like we were pretty bad. And I think around, what was it, October time, end of October, that's when we, we just had a freaking streak going on. We ended up sweeping like two, we swept BC. We swept R.A.T., which was really nice. We swept them away and then we had to, had to put that one out there. And then we came back in January. Same thing. We were just, we ended up being top 10 for the first time in like a couple of years. So it was wild leading up to the bean pot. Yeah, the success definitely came. And like you just said, in the bean pot. So we get into the semifinals and you get the shootout winner, which is unbelievable. And I'm curious because of friends of the program here, do you

remember that game is against Northeastern. Was that Aaron that you scored against in the shootout? It was Aaron. It was. Nice. I can't wait to turp her about that. Oh, that's fantastic. So you score the shootout. Yeah, she remembers me. Oh, yeah, I bet she does. Yeah, yeah. You're on Twitter, like, congratulating her on a good game. She's like, shut up, Reagan. I, you know, but so you're in this, yeah, it's one of the most iconic college hockey tournaments in the country. You get that shootout winner, you go to the final, and then you beat Harvard, scoring the first goal of the game for you that takes you to lift in the bean pot. First bean pot in women's BAU since 1981, that's got to be top, if not the top hockey moments of your career, I imagine, right? Top moment, 100%.

The party after was also a top party moment for me, up there with the NHL, New Zee party. How does that compare to partying with Baby Rexa? You know, those got to be pretty close. Pretty close. I mean, we ended up breaking the bean pot. I think every team at this point has broken the bean pot trophy. But I have the funniest pictures with like our equipment manager. He was like, can we just return it like this? The bean pot is off. And it's just like the wooden little statue holding it. Oh, my God. We can't show anyone those. We don't know. We don't know where the pot went. I'm sorry. You just take this woodblock back. Give that to the next year's team. Exactly. And Reagan, I was going to ask you before you started, I was like, oh man, that must have been so tough. going against Harvard in the final, the team you dreamed about playing for. But now hearing you talk, I'm like, oh, no, you wanted it even more that it was Harvard. You're like, oh, I'm going to bury you

guys in the finals. Trust me. Yeah, for sure. I mean, even that first game against Northeastern, we hadn't ever been in Northeastern was in my time being there. So we'd probably play in like eight times. That was the first game of season. It was five, zero. Oh, total redemption. Wow. Oh, my God. Yeah. Wow. What an unbelievable turnaround. It was definitely, it needed to happen and it was such a good feeling. But I remember that game, like, I was sucking. I was like, why do you keep putting me on the ice? Like, I should not be here.

But like that shootout, my coach said the craziest thing to me. And like, bless his soul. I don't know if he was trying to get me pumped up or what. But he had told me about like a little bit of a tragic story that had happened earlier that day with one of my teammates family members. And then he was like, you can go make her the happiest girl. And I was like, I was like, where is this coming from, VD? I was like, first of all, why are you choosing a defenseman?

Second of all. I mean, I was like, he truly what the hell. That is, that's, there's an element of that that's motivating, but that's too much pressure. You can't tell a tragic story of a family member. Mind games to another level. Just go out there and score a very high pressure shootout goal. No big deal, Reagan.

You got this. I legit step on the ice. I just take a deep breath. And I'm like, what the hell does happen? And I'm like, well, I guess I'm not thinking about anything else. There were no thoughts in my head when I was going down the ice. I was like, well, I know I can't dangle. So may as well just shoot the puck.

So that's exactly what I did. And I guess his motivational speeches work. So we'll take it. It worked out. It was genius. And then, because I know this happens in tournaments. If we played enough of them, how were your team, certainly, but certainly you too after having the shootout winner,

how do you refocus going into that final? You know, because you're like, we took down Northeastern, took down the dragon, heaven beaten them. I scored the shootout winner. That almost feels like the Super Bowl right there, right? So then you have to regroup and rally for the championship. What was that like? Because it's a quick turnaround, right?

It's like a week or something. Quick turnaround. And obviously we went out that night on Tuesday because it's just like the best one we could have. We didn't even care. We won the championship after that. Now, I'm just kidding. We did.

But like that win was definitely icing on the cake. When we, the next week, I remember the game was super back and forth. Like, we scored one, they scored one. We scored one. They scored one. And I think it was in between like the second and third. Like it felt like we were beating them by a lot, but we were tied.

And so I remember saying, I was like, you know what? I know we're joking right now, but we definitely need a focus on what's about to happen next. Like we can have to come out with like whatever we can to defend this and then get that trophy because I was like, we just need to refocus and stay level-headed. And so in between that second and third, we did it. thank goodness got them into OT, but OT, oh my gosh, there was, you know, Schroeder with the pride right now. She was in net. I think she had like nine saves and one shift and it was these scariest. I was like, coach, get them off the ice. You're not going to be out there anymore.

Get them off. And I think the next shift they went down and scored. I was like, thank God. It was just like the relief of not losing. That was what felt the best. Those games that you're describing are almost the sketchiest. It feels like, like those are the ones you lose most often when you're tied and if you feel like you're pumping the other team and then it's just one shift one switch down the other end of the ice you give up a goal so to get that win when it feels like you're on top of them the whole time it's rare honestly I'm telling you those back and forth games where you're you've got the upper hand they so often flip the other way so it's huge that you got that and I totally agree what you just said Reagan the

relief of not losing is so it hits me so much harder than the joy of winning like I'm just so glad we did lose. Well, because the year before that, we had played, we had beaten Harvard in the first round, and then we played BC in the second. And we were down, I think, to zero going into the second period, our coach. I don't think it kicked over a trash game, but he was mad when he came into the locker. And he was like, you guys better figure this out right now. We're like, okay, we'll get it together.

So like when we came out, took them into OT, and we got a penalty. So we lost on a pillory and O-T and that one was like the biggest heartbreaker because it was like we were right there. But I don't know if you had ever heard like the BU bean pot curse. Oh yeah. We grew up in New England and obsessed with hockey east

and plenty of being friends. So it's a very real curse. There's no doubt about that. You broke it. Yeah. Finally. Holy smokes. It was so awesome.

Okay, Reagan, so we want to ask you too. you have done, you've said so much and done so much about mental health in your life and a lot of podcasts and everything and you can never say enough about it honestly. So for some of our listeners that don't know you as well yet, can you talk a little bit about that and specifically about the female athlete society that you started and kind of what that stands for in your journey empowering all these young female athletes and everything in that realm of your life. Yeah, mental health means the world to me. I've been dealing with mental health since I was 14 years old, if not before I was born,

because a lot of my family members have dealt with bipolar, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, all those things. And so for me, when I first dealt with it at 14, I felt so alone because this was, social media was kind of a thing. It was like when Instagram was first starting to get going, but, like, athletes weren't openly talking about their mental health back then. And I think if I had Googled it, like, I wouldn't even have known how to get a therapist, how to talk to anybody.

So, like, when I was that young and experiencing everything that I was experiencing, I just kept it on the inside. And it was almost the end of me. And so once I got a little bit older towards my senior year of high school, I eventually started to see somebody in therapy. And then I had another bout with it again whenever I transferred from RIT to BU. So that whole transition from like small city to big school plus big city, new teammates, everything was new.

It was really hard. Plus I was experiencing like PTSD from the other school that I'd been at prior. So I think because I experienced it so long, so young, I was better equipped to handle it when I was older. But if I hadn't gone through it then, like, I don't know if I would have known what to do when I was 19 years old. It's really hard still to find resources. So like I put together a ton of resources. They're always linked in my bio. They're always linked anywhere that I can put it.

But I think the biggest thing is just being open with yourself when you are feeling that way because it's so scary. It really is scary to talk about. Even putting out the posts that I had last week, I was still like, wow, okay, I have a lot of new followers recently. They don't know anything about me. I put this out there. I could be judged. I could be shunned away, even though like I've talked about before, it's always scary. So I think having those people that you can go to always to help you through those things and finding therapy, doing medication, whatever you got to do to get it done is the most important thing that you can do for yourself. But it always starts with being an advocate, which kind of leads me into a female athlete society.

So whenever I got back from Budapest, I was like, what do I do I do with my life now? What do I, who do I want to be? And what do I want to give back to female athletes? And so I put out this post on TikTok. It went like 500,000 views. So pretty viral. There was like thousands of DMs. Like it broke my Instagram and TikTok DMs where I couldn't even get any more messages.

And I still have some popping up from that time, which was two years ago now. And I was like, something needs to be done. Like these people are asking about mental health. They're asking you about training. They're asking me about mental performance, all these things. And so I was like, all right, what can I do? So I was like, let's try to create a community. So I created this offline community that people could join in.

I think at the time, I had like 400-something girls from all over the world and women. So I had people from like 13 years old, all the way up to college athletes and then coaches themselves. So it was really cool because like kids would post and ask questions. Other people would answer it to say what worked for them or resources that they found. and then I've kind of taken it back online. So now it's just Instagram. And so I just put a lot of resources there, which I'll be restarting next month, actually.

It's unbelievable. And it really is. When you really think about, we've talked a lot about it here, but the tumultuous ride you had all through your career when you were that young age with all the travel, switching schools, it's no wonder that feelings of anxiousness crept in.

And you're so right, being able to talk to people, finding an open, safe space where people are ready to talk about it, know how to talk about it and open to talk about it is the most important thing in this space of mental health. So having someone who is as vocal and educated in this space as you are is just so great to see and it's so cool for all of these young and older athletes, just, you know, people, anyone in the community or anyone in this space who struggles, having more voices like you is so important. So it's so great that you're doing. And Dan, I would say not that mental health is unique

to athletes in any way. It obviously isn't. But I've, find that the arena of sports can be an even scarier place to bring it up, like you were saying, Reagan, about being judged or whatever. Like, I'm with the team. I'm in the locker. I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to talk about any issues I might be having. I just put your head down in play.

And you creating an atmosphere that makes athletes comfortable, I think, is an incredible step forward in changing the way we talk about this stuff forever, which is massively important. Yeah. It's been really cool, too. I obviously, like, started doing social media a couple years ago. but my following has been growing and each time it grows, I see more and more men reach out, boys and men. And I'm like, wow, they feel comfortable enough to reach out to me, talk about mental health, to talk about what are the next steps in hockey?

Like, I get a lot of kids reaching out about junior hockey. I'm like, I don't really know that much about junior hockey. I have a lot of friends that have played in it. I can, you know what, whatever questions you need help with, like, just let me know. So it's been cool to talk about it and see how much it relates with other people. I think building that community has been really big for me. Yeah. One of the main things that we really wanted to talk to you about, and one of the reasons we reached out and felt this was a great connection, in addition to all this stuff that you're doing,

you kind of just touched on it. It's been a while two years for you. I mean, you've been getting involved in so many different things. Well, also, let's just take a pause and say, well, also playing pro hockey. Fucking playing professional hockey. You're doing all of that on top of this. it's been so, so cool seeing how much you push for hockey players, both at, you know, the amateur level, the college level, the women's professional level, and then the NHL level of these players growing their own personal brand and getting out there doing more things, making people know about them, the things they're going through, the things they're doing, the day to day. And that's been something that we at this podcast are huge on when we have guests on

because we say all the time, hockey players are the coolest people in the world. They're the coolest professional athletes. They're so interesting. They're so funny. And it's been interesting growing up, loving the game like all of us have. And you really don't see the personal lives

and the personal brands of these hockey players as much. And seeing the things that you're doing, whether you know it or not, it's making steps towards this. It's growing it. And guys are getting out of their shell. Girls are getting out of their shell. They're starting to grow these brands.

and it's fun seeing it with, you know, people coming on the shows that we're doing and doing stuff with you and these TikTok things, like with the guys like Zach and the old time hockey gang, that stuff is growing more and more. And it's so sick for the game because it's just, I can't tell you how many people we have who DM us or hit us up or stop us on the street. And there are people who, you know, you get a lot of hockey fans as I'm sure you do. But it's the ones that are like, hey, man, I didn't really know what hockey was. And, you know, it's like I follow your page or I, you know, listen to this podcast and hockey. hockey sick and these cool players are so are so fun and it's just amazing seeing it and how does it how do you feel like you're getting to do more of that and spreading the word more and seeing growth in that area i think i mean i've been seeing it especially since i went to sweden budapas so it was like i had a small following at that time that's when i really started getting into stuff but it was when i was in Sweden that I finally got my teammates to be in videos with me. Like I was showcasing like what we're eating like pasta at nine in the morning. Really? Like that's our pregame meal. And it's like it's just the small things that people don't even think about like what I eat in a day. Nobody would ever know.

And I look at all these other these hockey guys, especially the ones in the NHL like Cindy Crosby had an Instagram or a TikTok. Can you imagine how much bigger he would be? Like he's already huge. But like the next generation of kids coming in, like, they want to know what he's eating. They want to know what he's doing day-a-day. How do you recover? How did you get to where you are? What do you think helped you do the best? Like, if he was a little bit more accessible, I think, it would help the game so much more, especially because we play one of those sports that like, we're fully covered, head-to-to-tow. Like, you have no idea what we look like unless, like, we put ourselves out there. And so I think, well, one, I always look to basketball and soccer players for

inspiration. Like, they do such a good job of building their brand of having a little of following. being able to like help the next generation of athletes. And I think us hockey players, if we actually want the sport to grow, we need to do our part in growing it. And that starts with our personal brands. I think that's so accurate. And you said,

you said me such a funny thing there where it's like, I really want to know what Sid does to recover. I want to know what does in the gym. But also I want to know if he likes regular Sour Patch Kids or Sour Patch Kid watermelon. You know, like you can have fun with both, right? And that's the,

there's obviously a ton of negativity in the world of social media. If you don't have to look hard for it, but it can be such a great and fun thing just to provide that little window for fans to learn more about you, the human being. So I think that's so awesome. Plus those walk-in fits. Those are huge. We need better walk-in fits.

Walk-in fits are huge. We need more guys in the league like pasta and line A who are really stunted with those Friday fits and just getting it going. It's a huge thing. And it's something else that's really cool about it. The more the guys in the NHL start doing this, the more it shines a light on the professional leagues that you are involved with. And that's, you know, when we had Aaron and Hannah on a couple weeks ago, talking about all of these amazing professional leagues that all of you ladies are set up in and you're growing the voice for, it only helps when everyone starts doing all this stuff.

That the building your personal brand, getting more out there, doing more fun videos like this, it gets more eyeballs on every element of the game. And that includes the women's game. So it's just such a great rising tide situation of everyone being supported and just getting more fans and more people talking about it. Yeah, for sure. And even I posted something on Female Athlete Society maybe a year ago and it was just about all the different places that you could play, these different sports. So basketball, soccer, hockey. And people are like, really, you can go and play all around the world doing these things?

I was like, absolutely you can. And so for like us to showcase these different links because now I played in the EWHL. I played in Sweden. I played here. I played in the feed up, everything. And so they like never would have known that those were things that you can't just Google. that stuff. It's not out there right now. Like somebody needs to put it out there. So putting that stuff just for them to see, like once you see it, then you're like,

oh, I'm dreaming. They're like, this is where I'm headed. I think that's important for the next gen too. For sure. And on this topic, how is the ESPN creator class helping with that? Because that's something that you were invited to be a part of, I think, last year, right? And is that kind of in this sphere doing a good job of lifting a lot of these initiatives? Yeah. It was the first time they ever did it. I actually. She just graduated on Friday, so I'm feeling pretty good. Let's go. You know, Reagan, we'll get you a copy of all the places you'll go by Dr. Susan.

Just mail it to you because that's just the cost of graduate. It'll be perfect. Yeah. So, yeah, that started. I think the first trip that we did, we had some interviews. I didn't even apply to it. It was just like them planning us on TikTok and Instagram. I did the interviews, and then they flew us out of Bristol.

So there's 10 of us creators, all from different atmospheres. of like sports. There was basketball, F1, football, soccer, baseball, you name it. It was there. I was the only hockey one though, which was kind of cool, but like not cool at the same time. But I got to meet like all the NHL and ESPN guys. I got to like go toward the facilities. Bristol is crazy.

It's huge, first of all. They got basketball courts. They got the gyms, you already know. And they also gave us classes. So we got to learn a lot from the different executives within Disney, within ESPN. And then they were teaching us about like, kind of monetize using TikTok, basically giving us all the info that we needed. And then the last piece of it was a trip.

So I actually wanted my trip to be the Winter Classic. And then the NHL reached out. So I ended up going with them. And then they sent me to Chicago for my trip. So it was like I had practice that morning, flew out that afternoon, was there for one night, got back on our recovery day and then had practice the next morning again. So it was a really cool experience. I'm super grateful for it.

And I think it's helped me kind of rejuvenate why I'm creating content because like sometimes you're just like in the flow of things and you just keep posting to post. But then being around those other creators that are doing really cool stuff in their areas, it made me want to do more. Hell yeah. It's it's pretty awesome to be in that inaugural class. And agree with you. It kind of sucks that you were the only hockey person, but also kind of swaggy. Yeah, agree. You're the first ever hockey person in this ESPN creator class.

that's a nice little notch on the belt to be able to brag about. Yeah. And my mentor, it turned out, her kid actually played hockey. I had no idea. It was just, I was like, perfect. This cannot have been better. Some of them came to my game in, yeah, some of them came to my game in Connecticut, too, which was really cool.

Oh, wow. That's such a blast. Very cool. And I think it's so great, too, that you get to see these people in all these different fields because like you were saying earlier about taking inspiration from the basketball and soccer guys, you're doing the same thing. here, right? You're just meeting people in other fields that see, see their plan on social, see your plan on social, figure out the best way to make it work together. And it totally

reminds you why you're doing it. When you see the, you get the inspiration and you see those DMs flooding in about, you're making an impact. I think that's such, that's such a great reminder to be like, okay, this is, this is my big, big agenda here. This is why it's happening. Yeah, I'm honestly forever grateful. And I can't wait to see what's coming up after because I've been talking to so many of them, like just those connections that I made. I already know I have some lifelong friends. One of them right now, she's one of my good friends. She covers all women's sports, but she's at the Aussie Open in Australia. I didn't even know she was half Australian. Like she literally has a passport to Australia. And then there's another guy. He does like football

bets. He lives in, um, what he's living in Phoenix or somewhere in Tucson, Arizona? And he was like, yeah, I bought your jersey. I was like, what? That's so cool. So like you sent me a picture of it. Like, thank you so much. Like we just been making so many good connections with those people. So I'm definitely grateful for it. Yeah, it's the best. Okay, Reagan, we are now going to play a game with you that we play with all of our guests. It's called pass shoot score. So what we're going to do is we're going to throw a few things at you. And it's more or less a ranking system.

So we're going to throw you three things. And then you're going to have to rank them whether you're going to pass, shoot, or score those things. Pass being the first one, you know, dish in the puck round is good. But we don't love it that much. Next one, shooting's great. The only way we can score is if we shoot. So that's the next best one. And then scoring, obviously, lighting the lamp is the best.

So that's your favorite one. So we're going to rank these three things for you, and you've got to pass shoot and score one of them. You want me to go first, Chris? Yeah, you can go first. All right. First, we're going to do some places that mean something to you in your life. So pass shoot score, Sweden,

Los Angeles, California in general, and then South Haven, Mississippi, the hometown. Pass the hometown. We'll shoot L.A. and then score Sweden. Wow. Okay, so Sweden's number one. Sweden's number one. So first of all, RIP and peace, everyone back home in Mississippi. You're telling me that the Tangor outlets in South Haven don't do it enough for you

that you won't go back there all the time? Have you been there? Don't worry about if I've been there. I want to know what do you think about that? No, I'm not. I'd rather go to the mall Scandinavia. Hey, there you go. I actually totally get that.

I feel like you didn't like the Swedish snacks, though. I saw you eating them, and you weren't about a lot of that candy. So I'm surprised that's your number one. No, they picked out all of the candy that I hadn't tried before. I have my personal favorites, and I drink Nolko almost every day. So I love my Swedish stuff. And their food's pretty good, minus the fish. I don't know if you guys saw that one video.

Oh, my God. That's that's gross. So I have spent a lot of time in Sweden. I completely, I think their fish is amazing. The can fish? The one that I, like, there's a specific one. Okay. All right.

All right. never mind. I get what you're saying. The canned processed fish, maybe not so much. Yeah. Don't eat that one. It's pretty gross. I get you. Do you have any family left in Mississippi? My brother and his kids live there. Okay. So let's pray to God they're not listening to this. Yeah. It's probably not. It's good.

Incredible. Okay. Here's the next one. I'm going to hate you with a couple hockey tournaments, all right? So pass, shoot, score. The Beanpot. the Penguins Elite Thanksgiving Classic and the Pucks for Pops Charity game. Oh, come on. Don't throw that one in this. Because I can't pass that one. If you do, you hate dogs.

Thinking that Bean Potts can be an easy score and then, well, if you put the Pucks for Pups one down low, it means you hate dogs. So sorry, you're going to have to deal with this. Well, I'm going to have to pass the Thanksgiving tournament, even though that's one of my favorite ones, obviously. I'm going to shoot the pups and then score for the bean pot. But let me, you know what, before you say anything, I just say,

we don't move on. Fine. No, no, no, go on. floor is yours. I want some explanation. The reason why the Thanksgiving tournament was one of my favorites, even though I passed it because you didn't give me any other options. We would show up.

We would stay with like one of my teammates. It was always a slumber party. And every single morning we had chocolate chip pancakes. It was like the best way to start the day. day and then we would just go on a tear. We'd like play pond hockey. Like it was just nonstop hockey the entire week. So no joke. When I was looking that up, I thought you might pick that one. I thought that might be your score. It looked so cool. I had obviously never been there. I'd never seen about it. But I was like thinking about myself playing on teams at that age and getting to do that.

And I was like, this would be the most fun weekend ever. So I'm, I am not surprised here. It was very, very cool. Yeah, it was great. Those nonstop hockey trips are so elite. Oh my God. Hard to top. All right. Next one, we're going to take it to the music world. Let the people know a little bit about your taste here. So here you're three, the lubeneers, Bonavere, and Nickelback. And Reagan? Nickelback is what's up? Don't lie. I know you like Nickleback. And I also want to say this. You're in a safe space. We are Nickelback supporters. Yep. We found out earlier this year that the predators are a big nickel back. back team and we're doing our best to spread the word that it's okay to like nickelback.

They are good. Well, what I was going to say is our team plays nickelback every single pregame game day. Okay. It's always a lot of them. You guys are the predators are pumping nickel back. I love this. That's two teams so far. We're on the journey to make it 20 by the end of the year.

But I love a nickel back locker room. But I'm going to pass nickel back. Sorry to say. Oh, my God. I, you know what? I will sing the songs. I will listen to him and it will get me pumped up. but it's not my first choice.

I would definitely say shoot the limineers and then pass. What was the other one? Scores. He said Bonnevere, yeah. Oh, no, score. I want to score the limineers. And then shoot the middle one, Bonvier. Yeah.

But one republics are the top. You should have added them. That's literally my favorite band. One Republic is at the top. Nice. Wow. Okay. What's your favorite song?

I've been listening. So I play four songs before I go into the locker and get ready. And it's always sunshine and then wanted. I lived and then sunshine again. So sunshine. It's probably my favorite one right now. We've got a sunshine sandwich there. That's very good.

We start and end with sunshine. Okay, that's amazing. Really good. All right. Now we're going to do a food one, Reagan. All right. Ready? Olive Garden breadsticks and pasta.

A McFlurry and fries. or your favorite thing from McAllister's deli. All right. Let's shoot McAllisters. Wait, wait, hold on. We're going back. Score McAllisters. Score McAllisters.

Okay. Score McAllister's. Shoot McDonald's. And then what was the other one? Pass. Pass. All of garden breadsticks and pasta. Pass all of garden.

Okay. So what's the McAllister's order? Yeah. We got to know. what's the top order at McAllister's? I change it up every time I go, but the best thing to get is the sweet iced tea, which is obviously a classic in the South.

And then they have the best club sandwiches, and they have some, they call like sput necks, and it's just like big spuds. So good. You can add whatever you want. That's huge potato. Yeah.

Have you found one in New York, New Jersey yet? No, I saw one recently, though. I don't know where it was. Maybe it was in Texas. I think there's some in Texas. But no, not up here. Or Waffle House.

I was talking about this with my teammates the other day. You guys been to Waffle House? Of course. I never been to Calhastres, but been to Waffle House. It's legit, man. I'll tell you that much. Waffle House slaps hard and more people need to know about that.

Reagan, you know, there's that it's like, you know, a popular online fantasy football punishment. If you get last place in your league, the joke is like, you have to go to a waffle house for 12 hours.

But for every waffle you eat, you get one hour reduced from your time there. And everyone's like, oh, it's a disaster. And I'm like, oh, I'll do that right now for free. Can I do that if I win the week? It sounds amazing. I'll be there for 20 minutes because I had 12 waffles immediately. I would 100% do that. When I was in Nashville this summer, that was the first place that I went.

I was like, there's a waffle house right around the corner. I bladed there right away. And then I had like a meeting an hour later. Did you bring your blades with you to Nashville just randomly? Or was this for... Everywhere. Okay. God damn, but I love that.

We're trying to get back into rollerblading big time. We were just doing a thing with the Kings, and we asked Justin Brown if he'd been rollerblading. And he's like, no, my kids rollerblading, but I'm not rollerblading. And I was like, why? I think we got to get back in it. We made a big bet at the beginning of the season about Jack Eichel over under points on the season. And if I lose, my punishment is rollerblading up and down Manhattan Beach. I kind of don't think it's a punishment.

You're going to be happy. That's not punishment at all. I use a blade. I do have to wear an oversized custom Jack Eichel jersey, which I'm kind of out on the custom jersey game, much to the followers of the pages chagrin. They're very mad at me for saying that, but I'm going to have to do it.

So I'm here for it. Any chance I get to rollerblade, I'm into it. Yeah, no, that's the best. I've brought my blades all over the world of me at this point. I brought him to Sweden. I brought him to Denmark. I was in Budapest with them, France. it's like the best way to get around it's so easy this is just smart what kind of blades are you rocking

have some old ones they were like i think 150 bucks back in 2015 some old bower ones damn you got some miles on those like that which is pretty sweet there's so many that's a good deal though they're expensive now reagan like we were looking up the newest ones you're like the mars blades are like 400 dollars and i was like god damn but yeah that's tough i had like the mission ones you don't even remember this year too young but we had like cross-weas wheel mission roller blades that remember those they were called v blades or something yeah b blades good the the wheels were literally staggered instead of it a straight line every wheel was like alternating angle to make it feel more like i think i am too young for that yeah you are trust me i'll get you a

picture all right we got a couple more this one's kind of a random grab bag of things here so pass shoot score a fresh brand new outfit from lulu lemon which is hard to top yep traveling to a new exciting country you've never been to, or being able to use the excuse of Filipino time for being late to stuff. I have a story about that one, actually. I should be used that this week when I was late. I'll definitely tour the new country, shoot Filipino time, and then pass the little women outfit.

Good, okay. I'm really glad that that's the order. We do. I've been to like 29 countries now. Sorry? Yeah. You're a big fan of travel from what I know. But yeah, you've done so much of it.

It feels like you're almost kind of, you're doing it so much that it's not as much of a necessity. I get that. No, it's still fun for me. I love traveling. So like Portugal, I'll probably spend my time there this summer and just like pop around, maybe do some hockey camps in different countries. but like anytime I go travel, it just feels like it's home, especially Europe. I love living in Europe.

But the Filipino time was the one that I wanted to get to because we had a meeting yesterday and I was like stretching in the gym and I was just like listening to music and getting ready for the game. I was like, oh crap, I have a meeting in 10 minutes. And I had to like pack up all my stuff, put my clothes on. And I had like just lost track of time. Just trying to mentally prepare for the game. And you know, you're never supposed to be late for meetings.

Me and two other players, we got there at exactly. exactly 1130. The time it's supposed to start. And as we walk in, our coach was so mad. I felt so bad because I hate being late. But she was like, why were you late? Why were you late? Why are you late? Give me your best reason. I should have said Filipino time. You had it in the bag right there. How did you not use that? Because here's the thing, no one can say anything to you when you say that. If you're like, I'm sorry, I was on Filipino time. They're like, well, shit, okay. I can't really argue with them. Well, I think Finnish people are a bit more strict. So I don't think I can use Filipino time for her.

True, true. Probably flies a little easier here. Okay. Here's the last one, Reagan. And these are all three, these are three dislikes. Okay? So these are going to be three things you don't like. So you can reverse the order.

Like pass for this one is the thing you can tolerate the most. Score is the thing you can tolerate the least, the thing you hate the most. Okay. Okay. Got it. All right. One, wanting to go to having a huge Chick-fil-A craving, but realizing it's Sunday. Two, getting, not being able to get an exit row on the plane and getting stuck with the worst legroom seat on the whole plane.

Three, the feeling of being extremely winded after going up a flight of stairs. I feel like that one just super accurate about life. That one's easy. I would want to, I think I'll shoot the first one because that one sucks. I think that happened every single hockey trip weekend. We're like, let's go get Chick-fil-A Sunday. Oh, God, dude. Because the games are over, you know, you've played like three games in 48 hours,

and you're finally on the way back, and you're like, God, do you just get me some Chick-fil-A? And they're like, close. It's also the weirdest policy. I feel like Sunday is the day that you want Chick-fil-A. To nightmare. They need to change that and open on Sunday. They would double their profits. Mm-hmm.

100%. Well, we actually pulled into the parking lot multiple times on Sundays. Just like thinking. Yes, we can go. No, it was like the worst feeling ever. I would really score the no leg room because I have been in plain rides. I were like six hours long and there's a person in the middle just like pushing my legs to the side. I'm like, I don't want to be trapped here right now.

Like I need to move. And then I will pass the other one. Yeah, the flight of stairs. I'm pretty tall. And the no legroom thing is an absolute killer. If there are some airlines too specifically that I just feel like the coach seats are no one fits in those. It's outrageous. So that is a very.

Yeah. It is ridiculous. It is not healthy, especially on those long flights. You know, if you're going somewhere, if you're going across country or whatever, it's not, it's not acceptable. Reagan, just low-key poor-shamed you. Yeah. You find spirit. You peasant.

I fly everything. I don't care. I'm trying to get that Delta membership, though. Yeah, let's go. You need that. Being on a plane with no legroom is the closest thing to understanding claustrophobia I will ever get to. It is the worst feeling ever when you're just stuck there with your knees in your chest. Totally agree.

Well, you know when you start getting really warm too and like you just can't move and it just starts heating up even more? That's what makes it the worst. You're subtly moving the little fans from the people next to you towards you. But sometimes I can't even reach them. Like if you're in a window, the air is like too far. It's kind of over the aisle person. And I'm like, ah, excuse me. Yeah, it's awful.

It's just terrible. All right. Well, Reagan, that was it for Passion Score. You absolutely nailed it. And that was perfect. We have taken up over an hour of your time here. So we want to let you get on to everything that you've got going on. But before we do that, we want to give the floor to you right now to plug anything you want.

Give a shout out to anything you want. What's going on in your life? What are some things that you want the people to know about? I should give a shout to my mom and my family. I normally, I like to do that just because obviously I'm here because of them. I want to say if you have you questions about your journey or anything along mental health or where to get resources, you can reach out to me on my Instagram or my TikTok, ray.

and then Reagan Russ for TikTok. And obviously my email, if anybody ever needs it, is Reagan at Reaganrest.com. So I try to be as accessible as possible. And I just want to say thank you guys for having me. It's been so fun. Absolutely. We're so pumped to have you here. We're going to do this again.

you're a recurring guest now, whether you like it or not. So next time you're in LA, we're going to get you in the studio and we'll chop it up again. And have a blast the rest of the year. You guys are going to crush it. I know it. Thank you. Huge, huge shoutouts to Reagan Rust.

Such a fun interview, such an awesome and impressive human being. Can't wait for her to get back into L.A. so we can chop it up again on the pod to have her into the office and studios. I'll say this. Big partier, Reagan. Yeah. I want to hang out with her all the time.

Emeril, you noticed that. She could not stop talking about. about party. I did and I loved it. But they were all appropriate times. Yes. It was like, I won the bean pot. And that's what I'm saying. She knows she knows how and went to party. Yeah. That is a good stat to have. Yeah, I'm,

what a cool person. I can't wait to rollerblade Manhattan Beach with her when she gets it. I completely agree. It's going to be amazing. All right, Chris, wrap this episode up for us. Let's get into a little bit of Ico watch. Yeah, there we go, Emily. Okay, honestly, this, including the injuries one, this might be the saddest one I've done.

Jack has 34 points in 35 games. He's dropped below a point per game for the first time all year. He has one assist, so one point in his last five games. Vegas is about to fall out of first place. He's an all-star. No, he's not. No, he's not. Jack's not an all-star.

And this current stretch right here is not due to injury. He's back, he's healthy, and he's just not producing. He is no longer on pace to take. hit it. We know how quickly that can turn. I know what Jack's capable of, but he's in a rut. He's in a slump. And he needs a little bit of a slump buster. I've got a few secrets I can give him, but he's going to start pulling out all the stops here because him and the knights have to turn this thing around quickly. This, yeah, it's starting to look real good for me on all fronts. Yes. Which is, uh, again, I don't like to see it. No one likes. No one likes when you are happy. I would have

taken my lumps happily because I want what's best for Jack. So that's that. checking in on the Sabres wagon. We're not going to do where in the world is Austin Matthews because he's just fine. He's home. Actually, you know what? I'm going to use this moment to say this. Me too.

What the Toronto Maple Leafs are doing right now is the smartest thing they've done in years. They are so goddamn good and they're just hiding behind the shadow of the Bruins and they're just coasting. They're coasting in second place in the Atlantic. They're playing so well. They're getting top performances.

from all of their top players. They're playing two-way hockey. They have good goal-tending. There's legitimately nothing wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs right now. And it's the first time that anyone can say that in a long time,

including the last couple of years where they've been shredding the league up, but there's always cracks. It's like they were winning games six to four, but now they're just winning hard-nosed hockey games. They're winning two-way hockey, hockey games, and it's terrifying. If you are used to the Toronto Maple Leafs

pissing down their leg. I don't want to speak too soon here and jinx them, but I'm saying right now this is a different Toronto Maple Leafs team. And it's genuinely scary because what they're doing is so smart. They're using, they're, they're not making any noise for the first time ever. They're not making any noise and they're just playing in a dominant fashion as a result of it. And everyone should be putting everyone be on high alert right now is what. what I'm saying. Sick jinks, dude. That's not what I'm trying to do. It's rattling.

But, like, Austin has 52 points in 45 games. He's playing unbelievable balance hockey. Incredible. He's just like the Maple Leafs. I will say this. Earlier this year, you would ask me if I thought Ottawa had a better chance to make you the playoffs or the Leafs getting out of the second round, and I picked Ottawa, and Ottawa is definitely not making playoffs. And the Leafs, to your point, Dan, I would say in you,

and dude, they're still going to catch the lightning. Like I got bad news. It's still an extremely tough first round matchup. But this year, I think for the first time, maybe in certainly recent history, you go in being like, the Leafs are significantly better. They're a great team. They should win. I think you maybe thought that last year, but this year, you know, come on. All right.

I led you a little playoff trail action. Little playoff trail action. Checking in on Buffalo, we are five points out of a wildcard spot, which is not insurmountable. That's two wins. and a shootout loss. Yeah. We were right there. Yep.

It's been a little bumpy. The last, we'll call it, eight games, been a little bumpy. A little up and down. Had a couple of skids here, but never, never going completely off the road here. Here's what I like. We're not losing wheels or anything like. Yeah, not yet. Here's what I like.

We had Ryan Miller night, retired his jersey. That was pretty sick. They did a goalie ceremonial face off. Did you see that? Yep, very cool. Awesome. They scored a six burger again wearing the goatheads. That's pretty sick.

What I didn't like is the Blackhawks OT loss. Just so unacceptable. That is a team trying to lose hockey games. It's just so annoying too because I'm like, Chicago, fuck off. Just take your losses and take Connor. Get away. Let us win, please. Just go away.

Everyone wants to win. You want to lose. Why are you doing this? There's some sticks in the spokes of the wheels here, but we're all right. It's, we need a good stretch though. I'd love another three, three game win streak. Yeah, listen, dude, you're all, you're on the way to Oregon. You're halfway across the country already, and you haven't drowned in a river.

So I would say that's a good sign. All right, I'm going to kick us off with games to watch this week. To close us out, I'm going a classic, and hopefully the day-to-day doesn't mess this up. OV. Sid, Battle on Thursday. We got a 4 p.m., Pacific Time puck drop, penguins, caps. It's always fun when those two teams are playing. Dude, had that one, too. so I'll just interject, watch that game. God knows how, we're not going to get that many more.

No, no, we're sure not. So watch that game. Yeah. Do you have any others? Yeah. Hit me. Saturday, Kings at Lightning, two warm weather teams that are getting really hot and I like it. That's going to be a good one. Also, Arizona at Anaheim, Bedard Watch, tune in. Sunday, Boston at Carolina rematch the last year. That was my last one. Sunday matinee, two of the top teams in the league. Always a fun one to watch. Sick game. All right. Well, those are games to watch. That is our episode. We hope you enjoyed that unreal interview with Reagan Rust. Again, Reagan, massive stick taps. Thank you so much for coming on. And we will see you guys next week for another episode. Later.