Empty Netters Podcast - 2026 Milan Olympics Were A Dream w/ Hampus Lindholm and Nikolaj Ehlers

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Stars of Team Sweden and Team Denmark, Hampus Lindholm and Nikolaj Ehlers, give the boys the full rundown on their Olympic experience. From hilarious hangs in the village to the intense games on the ice. The NHL is back but without Sidney Crosby so what’s the point? And the boys breakdown their favorite memories from their first Olympics. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 02:22 - NHL is back 09:59 - Hampus Lindholm interview 40:37 - Nikolaj Ehlers interview 01:08:09 - USA Hockey Statement 01:14:02 - Milan Adventure PRESENTED by BetMGM. Download the BETMGM app and use code “NETTERS” and enjoy up to $1500 in bonus bets if you lose your first wager! Thanks to our Sponsors! BetMGM: Use bonus code NETTERS when signing up to receive up to $1500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all you? Not I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas and ran into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready and we are back with another episode of the Empty Netters podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers, joined with me by the man who I cannot wait to get away from. This is how I always feel after a long trip, Chris Powers. Say hello to the people.

As always, we are currently in the Dolomites, in the Alps. CP and I tried to take a two-day vacation for the first time, maybe since the beginning of the show. we truly unplugged from everything, from all the social media, from all the, you know, we didn't do an episode. We just,

we thought it was going to be a long, long trip over the Olympics, which it was. It was a ton of fun, ton of work, and we thought, we'll just take a quick break.

We'll unplug from socials. We'll unplug from the internet. And good God almighty. So apparently, we can ever take a vacation again, Chris, because we are not allowed. This is what happens.

Yeah, the world will allow it. So, folks, We've got an awesome episode here for you. Like I mean, like I said, where we're sitting here. I'm in like the dining room of this Alps restaurant because incredible establishment out. Yeah.

It really is. But we had to get an episode out for you, babes. We got tons of fun stuff to get into. The NHL is back today, the time of recording. Quick hitters on that. We've got an unbelievable interview from the Olympics with Hampus Lindholm of Team Sweden and the Boston Bruins and Nikolai Elers of Team Denmark and the Carolina Hurricanes. You're going to hear from both of them.

We're going to get into the news with USA hockey this week that has really exploded. And we are going to talk about our Milan adventures, some of our favorite parts. Forgive any of the background noise that you might be hearing for me. I got a lovely, lovely party in the next room just having a great time. So if you can hear some laughter, that's what's going on. They're playing cards. Oh, they sure are. They're playing everything.

It's unbelievable. So by the time you're listening to this, it will have been day one, night one of the NHL back. So the things we're going to, or at least one of the things that we're about to talk but will have happened. Like we said, not a lot going on. We are usually a bad news first type of gang. Rip the bandit off.

So we've got to rip the bandaid off of the entire city of Pittsburgh. Coming back from the Olympics after missing the semifinals and missing the final, Sidney Crosby has been put on IR and will be out for up to four weeks for the penguins. C.P., how are you doing? I am devastated. This was the fear. And dude, it wasn't just sit, right? I actually anticipate a lot of announcements coming soon of guys missing significant time.

Obviously, Kevin Fiala badly hurt. The penguins reached a point right before the break of 70 points in 56 games. And if you look at other central team, or excuse me, met teams, the penguin, they built a bit of a gap where it was like, okay, you know, you'd have to stumble pretty solid to come down the stretch. here and fuck up. This, you saw what happened to team Canada without Sid. This is not a sustainable

injury for this Penguins team, period. There are a lot of games happen in four weeks of hockey. And now we are staring down the barrel of the nightmare scenario, which is the Penguins just miss, and they didn't miss

enough to trade Sid and all that shit we've rehashed a million times. So I fucking feel terrible for myself. I feel terrible for Sid. I feel terrible for Penguins fans. And the one thing I want to kick back to you, Dan, because I want your thoughts to is I get before big game planning, you go, someone's questionable because you're like, you're just trying to smoke and mirrors it. But we people, well, we know well, who have no reason to lie to us, told us that Sid looked great skating before the gold medal game. And so I'm like, four weeks, he almost played on Sunday.

Like, what the fuck? What happened? You know that Matt Davenstein in the contagion, contagion? Contagion is what you're right. Like, literally what happened? Dude, I think, I think he probably did look great because I think it's said. Like, I don't think obviously that there were ways for them to do x-rays and MRIs in Milan, but I just think he was like, dude, I'm fine.

I'm going to play through this. And they did an assessment. And they're like, he looks good, but like, I don't know if he should play. And then they probably did. Because what those people probably didn't see were the MRIs. They probably just saw him skating. Like he was just skating and his MCL is torn off his body. And they were like, he still looks great.

I won't fault anyone for saying that he still looks great. He would look great. He would be the night in Monty Python Holy Grail with no legs and he would still be ready to rock. So I don't blitz. I don't blame anyone for thinking he looked great still because he will always look great. But yeah, I think here we are. I mean, this team is a playoff team again out of nowhere. And you just like, you got to make sure he's healthy for this run.

And after all, after all the deading of the penguins and not in a negative way as far as like, we don't like the penguins, love the penguins and love Sid. But it was just like, let him fly. Don't make him be a flightless bird. Let him grow his wings and fly back. into the playoffs and now all of a sudden they did it and I'm like fucking rights this penguins team but at this point if this four weeks man without him if they just lose a bunch of games and fall out of a playoff spot I don't know what I'll do I can't even imagine what you will do and what

penguins fans will do but I don't even know what I'll do that's how severe yeah right that's how serious this is it's awful god damn dude yeah fucking brutal I feel awful for him and it's it's that's it. I feel terrible. Yeah, so we're going to have sharp eyes on the penguins to see how they go. The other bit of news is we got a debut. Artemmy Panarin making his debut for the LA Kings tonight, Wednesday. By the time you're listening to it, it will have been last night. But exciting times, really shit that we've lost Kevin Fiala for the season. I mean, this was a big move by the Kings, just a great trade. You're adding Panarin to this offensive group, and now you've lost Fiala to this for this offensive group.

And it's just like, are you fucking kidding me? It's devastating times. But either way, exciting times to see this new future king for at least a couple, a few years here, this new future king joining the team. My favorite part about this, I don't know if you saw this, CP, but

Panarin's wearing 72. Oh, I didn't see that yet. 72 was worn by a very important king by the name of Bailey. It's my dog That's my dog And we had a

We had a Rolex bribe For the number That is so fucking awesome dude Panarin There's some great photos That the King's posted Panarin had to snag a Rolex And give it to Bailey so he could wear 72

I don't know if Bailey's gonna keep wearing 72 Because like it's not a roster issue I think he probably will I don't know about that dude I feel like he can't be wearing that shit Yeah It's kind of what I'm saying He's part of the team dude

I've always thought it is the craziest thing in the world, how in Major League Baseball managers wear numbers and they potentially are taking a very significant number from a very good player that could possibly happen. I always think that's nuts. Dude, my prep coach at hockey, I wore 13. And then the assistant coach of the hockey team was the head coach of the baseball team. And then I was like, yeah, I'm wearing 13 here too. And he was like, actually, I wear 13. And I was like, bro. There has got to be nothing.

There's got to be nothing more ridiculous on this earth than a high school baseball coach wearing a number and taking it from a player. And bro, I'm like, I'm like, you know, not to be fucking glory days, but it's like I'm hitting lead off playing center field. I'm not like an idiot. I'm like, give me my fucking number. You can't, dude. He's had that number for decades. And he had, honestly, though, he threw us, if we won four games in a row, he would throw us the fucking sickest dinners. at his

at his basement so he can wear whatever fucking number he wants. That's true. All this Chandler Bing and aside I love,

I am here for mascots wearing numbers and getting gifts from players. If you're a mascot on an NHL team, you've got to change

your number to something very significant. Like change it to 19 or, you know, like, As soon as it freeze up, yeah. Do a quick Google.

What is the most common number in the NHL? Change it to that. And then bang, you're going to get a watch out of this, pal. That's a no brain. That is a no brain. It has to be so big, though, to get around Bailey's wrist. Yeah, that's even better, dude. Now you've got a fat daddy.

More money. It's going to have so many links on that thing. Holy shit. But I'm telling you, I think this is a brilliant move. Mascots out there, start picking some significant numbies. And you like get a gift or tip. I fucking love this. It's just fantastic stuff.

All right. Like we said, folks, that is just going to be some quick hitting news in the NHO. We don't want to waste any time getting into these amazing interviews. So, C.P. Let's kick it to Hampas Lenthal, our boy. Our boy. And, dude, I give, I was so excited to talk to him because Sweden probably had maybe the checks but had the

most interesting tournament to me. Yeah. The games you won, the games you lost, the draw you got, there's so much to talk about with him and he didn't shy away from any of it. It was just so cool to hear his POV as someone who dreamed of putting on that jersey in the Olympics and then the, and then the experience they had and also the fucking shenanigans

at the village. I mean, dream, dream guest. Dream, dream guest. It's been a long time coming and getting a hamp on, met the world to us, you know, during, while we were there in Milan for him to take his time as he was getting back to pop on with us. It's amazing. Enjoy Bruins fans, Sweden fans, and just good people fans. Here's Hamphus Lindholm. At long last, because I'm going to be honest, Ham, this is the people have been asking.

We finally got you here on the Empty Netters podcast, fresh off of the Olympic tournament. You are back in Boston right now, which is also, we just talked about a little bit. We'll get more into it. But you got back what? Yesterday, the day before? Yeah, it was a quick turnaround. We played and then right after the game, obviously you were a little sad after losing the way he went down and then just got to text the bus leaves at 6.30 in the morning, five hours later. Dude, and you skated today in Boston. Yeah. I didn't skate.

I just came in some treatment, so he's kind of do a little maintenance day. But yeah, I was back at the ring today. So it's been a quick turnaround. God, that's insane. Incredible. I actually, I have a question about that plane ride, but we'll get to it in a second. I first want to hear how you got the first call. Like Brodine goes,

so a couple guys get hurt and, you know, they're adding guys. There's no guarantee who it's going to be. But where were you and what was that, what was that first call like that you were coming? Yeah, that was obviously a nice,

nice feeling good at a call. We were actually playing in New York. So I think I was going in for my getting, go, do my pre-game nap there before the game. And then he said he wanted to talk to me, the coach there and called me. So that was really,

really nice feeling. obviously with everything going down missing the four nations and the world championship last season with my injury and stuff and then coming back and making the Olympics was it was a nice nice feeling and all the work you put in there in the summer that's kind of got paid off man it's it's it's so funny hamp like we did our whole preview of like we picked you know our rosters and who would be on what team and obviously you were on the team that i picked and it's amazing to see you at in the games and like Chris said, we'll get into that. But you never want to see injuries, of course, and Jonas is obviously such a good guy,

such a good player. But the second he got hurt and it looked like he wasn't going, I texted Alice immediately and I was like, Hamas is going to make this team. And when you made it, and I message you, I was like, holy shit, let's go. Let's see you in Milan. And you just said, like, it's obviously such a good feeling. But what were the first things going on in your mind as far as like, you know, obviously we'll get into the fact that you've roomed with Ricard,

your buddy. You obviously were, have so many great members with him and Anaheim, but were there just so many feelings as far as, you know, getting back with a lot of the guys that you used to play with and being able to represent your team, it must have been unbelievable. And it all happened so fast. Yeah. Yeah. No, like you said,

it happened fast. And I think obviously we haven't been able to play the Olympics, my world career, basically. I think my first year in the league, when I was like 19, that was 14, 13, 14 season. that was yeah so i haven't had a chance to play it like i've been at the we had like that world cup 2016 but just like the best on best and being out there on the ice like it was a really fun feeling uh to be out there like playing against the u.s and stuff just just to feel how that is and

just kind of show to yourself that it's you're you're just as good as all of them not that i didn't already know that but it's like it just kind of gave you a little extra confidence boost and I think it's just so fun games to play because you play like an MLA, like a game like that in like quarterfinals, it's win or lose. It's ups and downs. And I think you learn so much from it. And then representing your country, like you speak in your own language in the locker room. Like I've been in the U.S. now for so long. I remember when I won world championship there in 2018, it's just the short tournaments would speak in your own language and like, you know, like it's shit chatting in the locker room and culture-wise.

It's a little different. So it's overall, it's just such a fun experience. I love, okay, I love that you just said that. I mentioned that to Chris the other day. How, like, how quick do you realize that? Because obviously, like Elias, your teammate is there with you on the team. But how quickly do you realize, like when you're in the locker, when you're practicing, you're like, oh, shit, we don't have to speak English here.

It sounds like a small thing, but that must be awesome. Yeah, no, it's like, I was joking. I think it was for a force break. I was joking with it on the bench. It's like, something. time saying some stuff in Swedish that you haven't said on the bench to guys in a while, it sounds so soft. You're like,

So true. Let's have a go boys. And then you turn it into Swedish. It's like, like, I feel like a school boy. What I'm saying there. Yeah. So, no, it's, but it's, it's fun. It's, like I said, it's our own language.

It's been a while too long, but it's, it was fun. Ham, Kemp, can I hear what is, what is let's fucking go in Swedish? Can I hear, can I hear what you guys are snapping around? Come here. Communique la. Yeah. You can say in different ways, but it's, yeah, it's, it's not like the American movies when it's like coming in and you get dropping the, yeah, the hockey words, you know which ones there are. Which we all know.

Yeah, yeah. Dude, we, obviously, and I'm going to ask you about this in a second too, but childhood dream, we wouldn't have traded this for anything. But I need to know, did you have to sink a vacation to come? So I was also smart for once. I had some travel insurance on my vacation. So I knew there was a chance. I told me, obviously, when I got the call for not making a team. So I was like, I might as well be smart.

So I don't have to eat that one. So, yeah, no, I didn't have to eat it. I had insurance, luckily. Good, good man. That's Chris. That's veteran shit. That is veteran shit. That is veteran shit.

You're not going to see that from guys like Jarvie, but you will see it from that. Correct. Yeah. Where were you going to? Bowenham. Bahamas. Oh my God, dude. Hey, it was nice here though, eh?

It was okay. It was pretty nice. I thought it was going to be cold. Yeah. The sun came out. So it felt like winter was over. Then you come back to Boston and snow everywhere. Yeah.

Yeah. Well, okay. So I wanted to ask you this, dude. You just brought this up, but you won a World Championship gold in 2018. You won a U18 silver in 2012. You've put that jersey on. But this was your first Olympics. And how different?

was it? Like, how amazing was that feeling where you're like, this is the fucking Olympics and I'm here in Milan putting the sweater on? Yeah, no, I think I've also played for so long. So it's like, I don't know, been around the guys, been around the league. I've been fortunate to play in a lot of different scenarios already. So, but Olympics is like, I think it's everything, it's almost more for everyone else around you. Like, it was so cool to see my parents in the stance after the game, even though we lost, like my, obviously you just had a baby. And, Amanda came out like it's just like as a country it's like every fourth year it means so much to your country and to your friends and your family so as an athlete having the chance to

possibly win something at the Olympics it's like it's so special like it's it's hard to explain because like you you grind with the guys in your in Boston like all years like winning Stanley Cup would be like nothing you can't compare to it because you grind all year together

like there you come in short tournament But as a country as a whole, it means so much. And that's for the players because you don't play it very often. So it's hard to really put it in a word, but it's obviously so special. And all the little things, like speaking Swedish, coming in, like they have all the different sports. You can connect with all the different athletes. It's a very unique experience. But the only thing I do wish is that we stayed together with like the cross country skiers because I know a few of the guys over there.

Because that's the one sport that would be fun to go watch live for me as a suite because we're really good. at it. So, but it was overall like such a cool experience. I'll never forget. But that's such a good point, man. It's like, I love the, the dynamic of, you know, you play with the guys in Boston for so long and then you come here. And I had mentioned earlier, is there an element for you, like, you're in the Olympic Village. You're rooming with Ricard, who's like, you know, just a hot mess, as you've said. And you guys, your beds are like two feet apart from each other. You're speaking Swedish with the boys. You're putting on that jersey. Is there a part of the, you're putting on that jersey? Is there part of you that kind of it transports you back to being a kid just playing the game.

It's like you're, it's almost like you must have felt for a little bit like you're back in Sweden. You're playing in your youth days. You're playing with the boys you grew up with. How crazy is that feeling? No, 100%. Like you've been playing against a lot of those sweets. Like, I mean, fortunate to have a few of them as some of teammates, like you said, Ricard

and Elias, but you've been playing against each other and battling and like being on the same team and then kind of just fighting for something together. Obviously, we have so much in common coming from the same country. So it's, yeah, it's very unique. It's really fun. Like, obviously, our journey kind of fell a little short. I think we could have gone further, but that's just the way hockey goes sometimes. It's winning loose and it's small margins, but it's definitely really cool.

Like, all those guys have been battling against them forever and then go and play for the same country and together. It's definitely a new experience, but it was really fun. said it turns me back to being a kid like you just go out there and enjoy it i just try to enjoy that tournament as much as i could and soak it all in dude did you know on the bench the tiebreaker in that slovakia game because we were watching on tv and it's like yeah that was they're celebrating when they score the pilot like you guys pulled like i'm like what the fuck is going on because in my mind i didn't realize they didn't count the italy game i didn't realize you made like the subgroup and and obviously your staff knew which is why you pulled the goalie but

the players, did you guys have a sense of what the stakes were in that last group stage game? Yeah, we knew we had to win by four. And then when they scored, we had to score five. So we knew it. Yeah, we were aware of it. It's very unique situation. We put ourselves in it so we can't really say anything more than that. But it was a very, very unique situation. But if you look at the playoff bracket, it makes a big difference if you end up first or third. So it's like huge, dude. Huge difference. So it's, uh, it's, uh, very unique situation. So it's, yeah, no, it's, it was definitely weird seeing a team celebrates when they score and you're still winning. Yeah, but we knew it.

So, like, we knew what much it meant. So, like, it wasn't weird for us, but like, I understand. Look from the outside. It's definitely weird. Because it's such a unique bracket. Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. Yeah.

Well, I was going to say, Ham, this is kind of an inside baseball question. But it's been a very funny topic of conversation inside the hockey world with Harlem being your coach for Sweden, who is, you know, coach in Sweden, not being a North American NHL guy. Was that hard at all for the players with like, you know, coaches that maybe you haven't worked with that none of the guys really work with kind of that translation of the different styles of games?

Or was that just easy because it's kind of the similar style that you've grown up with and like you've been saying, the same language and stuff like that? I don't know. Like when you get the best, some best, like everyone is such a good pro. Everyone's played for so many different coaches. So that's usually not a problem.

Like you throw a system in or you want us to do something. Everyone is there to try to have a chance to win gold for your country. So I think as a coach, it's not really that hard. You just kind of have to come there and like embrace all the talent you have, I think. I think any coach, I guess a coach, any Olympic team, I think it's probably, I'm not a coach myself, but it must be a really fun, fun experience because you have guys you can put in any situation, basically. So it's more, it's almost like playing chess with only queens. so you get all in your hands.

Such a fucking great comparison. And on that note, was there any guys, obviously, there's tons of guys in your own division and your own conference, were there any of the guys on the team that, like you said, since World Championships and juniors and things like that, that you were super excited to get back on the ice with on the same team? Or maybe guys that you've never played with that you were excited to see what their games like while playing together.

Yeah, I would add, like that you were surprised by where you were like, damn, this guy's fucking nasty. I didn't realize how good he was. I think I know the guy so well So I wouldn't be that surprised For me personally It was really fun to be back with Raquel obviously We don't get to hang that much now

Like we both have kids and like he plays in Pittsburgh And but like when we do it's like it was like yesterday Like we lived together for forever Played together for forever And we roomed together so much in Anand That we always we said we saw him More than a married couple when we played in Anand So it was a nice throw

back to live with him again and that made the journey even more fun for me so I'm super super happy I got to spend extra time with him and but to your point just like if I players that were better than like I expected I would probably say the opposite I would say like I think playing like against a lot of top guys when they're like singled out on a team like you can have like pre-scar watch out for this guy because you play the team but when you put them all put them all on team like I there weren't many guys that would be like that I would think that in a tournament like that really stood out. Like I haven't played against Canada. I think McDavid and those guys obviously I think in the tournament so far stood out.

But like when you put the best on best like that, it's still little things. It's like it kind of levels out. It levels out. It's a great tank. Yeah. I love that. It's like when we play the US, like you put a lot of those guys in their own teams and you play them like you're like watch out for this guy.

But like when we play them, I think because we have so many good players in our team. So it just kind of like evens out. So it kind of ends up with who works hardest. It's kind of like it's kind of evens it all out. So that was a fun, fun experience to feel in the US game and the games I get to play. Dude, well, speaking in that USA game,

I feel like you guys, because obviously I'm sure everyone was fucking pissed after the Finland loss, because even ignoring the group stage ramifications, you just want to be Finland at all times. And I fuck with that. But once it shook out the way it did, and you're like, holy shit,

We're getting the U.S. in the quarterfinals. It did feel like watching for us, you guys really found your game as it continued. Every game you were better than the game before. So just tell us a little bit about going into that USA game. What was the attitude in the room? And then during the game, because that was a fucking heavyweight tilt, dude. Like, how was that whole experience? No, we knew they weren't really happy about playing us in the quarterfinals after winning the group, which you understand.

And so we came out there with a good mindset. I think the guys who were hungry were excited to play. And I think it shows in the game, we had some good chances. He didn't really get the goals there in the first two pairs. Obviously, tied it late. But I think we played a good game. And like I said, the whole tournament, we look at Canada, check too. I've talked to pasta today.

It's such a small margins of winning and losing. And it's just shows like all the little details, they matter so much in a tournament like that. Every little thing you can get on your side. to hopefully win a hockey game, it's going to matter because it's so little that really like changed from team to team. Like it's even though you have all those stars,

like every team has stars. Every team has good players. So it's like you just get that one little balance or you get hot at the right moments. Yeah, that's what makes us term. It's fun too. Yeah, go ahead. Well, here's an interesting thought for you.

Is it, you know, you've been in super intense playoff series in your NHL career and you're going to be in more. Is it weird in the middle of the year like this in February to lock in? Because like there's so much mental preparation in the NHL season that I think a lot of fans don't realize. There's so many games. There's so many ups and downs.

There are breaks that you need to prepare for mentally and emotionally. And then all of a sudden here you are. You're about to be in the Bahamas. And now you're in Milan representing your country, playing with some of your best friends, playing with guys you haven't played within years. And you're on the biggest stage. Like the Olympics, Game seven Stanley Cup all of a sudden. The Olympics are insane.

And now you're in a quarterfinal matchup against the U.S., one of the better teams in the tournament. And it feels like Game 7 Stanley Cup. How crazy is it with that emotional shift of in a time where usually in the year you're used to taking a break and getting a rest? All of a sudden, now you're in one of the biggest games of your life. How crazy is it to prepare for that? Yeah. No, it's definitely pretty crazy. But I think even if someone woke me up in the middle of the night and said, I got to go and play a quarter final for Sweden, I'll be, yeah, heck yes.

Yes. Where I'm going? Where are you taking me? I'm ready. So I think that's at least my mindset around it. I don't know, was just more excited and try to soak it in and be in the moment and play my best hockey. And then that's all I can really control. But yeah, of course, it's a high pressure situation.

But I think also being a sports fan myself, I know it's. It's worse for the people watching than the guys that are on the eyes. So, so true, yeah. So true. Can you tell, you know,

and don't reveal any inside info, but what just give me the vibe in the locker room going into overtime. Just kind of like who's talking. Who's what's the, what's the speech like? And then also the vibe after. Is it like everyone's crying or is it everyone being like, hey,

boy's hell of a fucking moment. I appreciate this. Like what are those two moments like in the locker room? I think the overtime, like, it happens, like, it's not that we get a break. We sit on a bench and, like, let's go. It's kind of like, you go for overtime. Oh, yeah, right. Yeah.

So you don't really get like that, like you sit together and talk in a way. I think I turned around, I think to rest. I said I had a pretty good feeling. I was like, I think I got a good feeling. I felt, felt good coming in like three on three overtime. I think it's such a, such a scramble. Like one guy falls, one bounce, one scoring chance that way, goes the other way. Yeah.

So it's like, you obviously playing in the shuffle so long, I know how three on three works. It's like, it's a little bit, not a coin toss, but it's obviously a little bit more up in the air. So you don't obviously have that kind of like in your head. You're like, I had a good feeling, but like you never know, right? So and then obviously losing when we thought that we played a pretty good game and gave him a good effort and it could have gone either way. You're just kind of like left empty. I think it's quiet. and it's guys get interviews and stuff

so guys get into the locker room in different times so that also makes it a little more quieter and then yeah it's just it's just kind of quiet I think we were proud of that we play their best hockey in like the last few games but I obviously it wasn't enough so it's a disappointing feeling overall

it's a fun experience I learned a ton and I think as a team and as a nation I think there's a lot of stuff we can take from it moving forward because I think Sweden is a team that should always aim to be in the finals in every tournament. So I think what I take from that tournament is that we could definitely be in the finals tomorrow. And what can we learn from this tournament to make sure that we're there the next tournament? Yeah. Dude, real quick, Dan, before you ask your question, I will say, camp that the um certainly with our page right like we have a massive u.s canadian bias in our fan

base right that follows us and everybody's like oh just give me that gold medal game giving me that gold medal game the i think the biggest eye opening thing from this tournament for the people that follow us is how much you and finland put it on u.s and canada where it's like this isn't this isn't some like ha ha let's all laugh till we get to our USA Canada gold medal game yeah you guys in Finland are right there where it's like this could go that was a coin flip for for both games it could go either way and I thought that was awesome yeah no it's yeah like I said I think yeah we know that though it's it's not like yeah I feel like I feel like in going the tournament obviously US and Canada are like favorites but if you look at past tournaments like Finland and Sweden and

even check check now like there's a lot of teams that are always in it so it's like for yeah as a European I don't look at that as that way I think you was in And I love that. Sometimes you guys are causing your order. You don't look across the phone that much, but it's okay. It's all about us, Hap. It's all about us. Hey, don't want me in there.

Yeah. It's fine. You're so right, though, man. And it's like, you know, you mentioned it earlier. The U.S. fans were petrified to be catching Sweden in that quarterfinal. And rightfully so. I mean, like you said, I mean, be as cock as you want U.S. fans and U.S. players. That game could have gone. Either way, that was a massive tilt and it was such a good game.

And I know you'll never do it. So I'm going to do it for you. You are one of the most team guys I've ever met and that's all you care about is the team success. But if I may, holy hell, buddy, you played so incredibly well in that, I mean, every game you played. But in that, in that quarterfinal game, you were, you were unbelievable. You were just as good as your game gets. And it was just, you know, someone who loves you. It was amazing to see.

And, you know, I can't believe the amount of pride that you must feel in, in the boys and in the team and in yourself. But I loved what you said earlier about taking this tournament and the way that you feel playing with these guys, playing in this tournament, and then taking it into the rest of the NHL season. I think that's such a veteran and mature way to look at it because it could be such an exhausting thing. You know, you come here. And I mean that in a positive way. You come here. You're representing your nation. You're coming abroad and playing.

And it could be you get back and you have three days to get back on the ice. And it's like, oh, Jesus. But the mentality you have of going, I loved the way I played. I love the way that we all played. And now let's take these lessons and put it into the NHL season. Do you think that that's something that comes naturally to you? Or is that something that you've learned over the years? And how do you kind of instill that in your other teammates, maybe some of the younger guys on the Bruins team?

Because it's really remarkable. yeah no thank you for the compliments but no i think obviously learned over the years i uh working on my mindset and also i think i've always had a pretty good mindset since i was as a kid i've always kind of had that but i think over the years i think i've been better of kind of like putting into words and putting into words for yourself to use as motivation i think i've always had it kind of without understanding it. And I think when I got older, I know how to put it into words

and kind of put it to use more, you know what I mean? And use it as fuel for myself. Because like you said, we play so many games, seasons up and down. So you need to get yourself ways to motivate yourself too every day

and find some extra juice where you can find it. And that tournament obviously gave me a lot. Hell yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. It's amazing. Okay, well, I will let you get out here soon,

but I just give me, give me a highlight of like something you guys got up to in the off day or something you ate like I just want to hear like a fucking great meal you had or some sightseeing you did in Milan what was awesome while you were here moments in the village

yeah yeah what was the village like all the fans are just so curious about like what you know not the crazy shit but like what's going on in the village tell us that later tell us that later well I won't say names but there was obviously we got those Samsung phones

yeah yeah and they gave us like an Italian they gave us like an Italian phone number and like data for I don't know how long it lasted. So there's one of our, there's a few veteran guys in a team that got hold that phone pretty early. And there's a guy that had to do drug testing. And then I guess they, they, he got a phone call and one of the guys who tried to pretend with broken Italian English saying that he needs to come back because there was something wrong with it. Oh my God. So wait, wait, wait.

Actually, I can't be too... That is such a good prank. Yes. It was incredible. Wait, wait. Was the person who was accused freaking out? Were they like, oh, shit? What?

Calling the team doctor. And then he starts walking because we lived in like dorms. And then there's like a hallway. And so I guess he walked out of his door and I was going to go walk down because he like... Like, oh, fuck. And then he sees these two players like giggling in the hallway. Yeah, he's like prepared to do the walk a shave. Yeah, and then he just, hamp, hamper.

How deep in the tournament was it? Like, when did this happen? Oh, I think that was pretty early because they, like I said, they were early with the phones. Like, I got the phone later. This guy's like, I missed the whole fucking, I'm out for the whole Olympics now because I've failed this time. I'm out. Like, he's like, I'm, holy shit, dude. That is incredible.

I can't even imagine myself. Like, that prank is mean, but it's funny because like, I was going to say, you're going to have to tell me later because that's fucked up. Well, it's, it's so funny because it's like, you know you've not done anything. You've not. taking anything, but then there's that moment where you're like, how much wine did I drink? Yeah. Yeah.

Shouldn't take that sleep pill last night. That is incredible. That is incredible. Yeah. What was your favorite dinner? Any, any awesome dinners out or were you guys in the village all the time? No, I got out a little bit. We had a team dinner where it was really good, had a really good pasta, Vongoulet.

And then there was this other place in Milan, in the city where I went with my family, which I had like a lemon pasta. that I was like, you should always, that's a, if you go to an Italian restaurant to Milan, if they have like a, their signature dish, just a restaurant take it. You just do it. You just do it. Yes. Whatever it is.

Correct. Ham, we went to a place in that we asked, I asked the waiter, I said, what's the dish? And it was this pasta dish. It was like a tagli atelli or something. And on the menu, it says, it's a tagli eti with 40 egg yolks. And I was like, 40? And he was like, okay. So I got it.

And I don't even know. It just looked normal then. We still don't know. We still don't know if the sauce has 40 egg yolks or if Chris's actual portion had 40 egg yolks. But, you know, it was delicious. It was delicious. Italian are hilarious. I had a, yeah.

I've been to Milan, like I have a friend that used to Marcus Erickson. He used to drive, so he would drive from the one in Milan. So I was there watching his race. And I've been in South of France. And for people that have been to the South of France, you drink a lot. Like, it's more Rosset and stuff on that coast. Yeah. And so I was there with one of his buddies.

and we're going to go watch this race here when we go out. Let's grab dinner one night before the race. We go out. And we're kind of in the French Riviera vibe. It's summer. So, like, let's order a bottle of Rousse. The little Italian guy comes walking up. We're like, bubble of Rosei place.

He looks at us. And he's like, he just walks away. Like, disgusting. Yeah. He didn't say a word to us. He just walked away. And we were like, so in shot. And like, sorry?

Yeah, sorry, but he didn't even just walked away. No one came to us for me. minutes. So, and then he comes back with a bottle of reds, puts it down on the table, you drink red wine in Italy. We're like, so yeah, yep. Best bottle of my hat, by the way. Yeah, yeah, best ball in my life. Yeah, well, at least, at least he came with a great bottle. He could have come and given you the bullshit and been like, this is all you get. No, they're pros in. They tell you what to order. Ham, we were at dinner early when we got here and we were just with like, you know, one of our American buddies who

works in the league and he ordered a, he was like, do you have chicken parm on the menu? And the waiter just goes, huh, no, and just walked away. And I was like, oh, even I knew that one,

you idiot, God damn it. No, you're going to love the times. They're, correct. It's a vibe here.

It's a vibe. Yeah. They're the best. All right. Well, Ham, you're the best in the entire world for hopping on with us.

I know it's been like two days since you got back. You're still probably jet lag, but, um, I'm just hanging with Elliot, so it's fine. Yeah.

No, we'll let you bounce, but, um, Can't thank you now for popping on. We've got to get you on again soon for a full proper M-Tenetters experience. But we just want to say, man, like unbelievable tournament. Congratulations.

And it's just, again, as big fans of you, it's with the injuries and some of the bullshit over the past couple of years, seeing you pop on this team and have such a great tournament. It's so awesome. Childhood dream, dude. Child their dream, incredible. We're so pumped for you, buddy. I appreciate it. Thanks for having me on, guys. Hell yeah, brother.

We'll do it again soon. Sounds good. Hampas, you are the fucking goat. Massive, thank you, dude. We are going to do it again. And we're going to get, as you said, we're going to get the proper empty netters treatment when he comes on for the real deal interview.

But that was just, we wanted to give you guys a taste of Olympic life from someone on Team Sweden. And Hampus delivered, as he always does. As always. Incredible stuff, Hamas. You're a fucking legend. Okay, let's take a quick ad break. And they'll be right back.

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leaderboard. Make this march one to remember by joining the court of legends leaderboard and make it legendary. All right. Now it is time to kick it to our next interview with Nikolai Eilers. Another long time coming situation here. But new member of the Carolina Hurricanes, absolutely buzzing, had an amazing time plan for Denmark. So pumped for you to hear his experience getting to play with his family. It's incredible. Nick is incredible. Hope you enjoy this. God, he's the man. Well, I know a lot of Hurricanes fans have been waiting for this one for a bit, but we are thrilled to be here and joined with Nikolai Eelers, fresh off of the Olympics with Team Denmark here,

joining us like a legend after being home for like 36 hours. How are you, brother? How are you feeling? I'm doing good. I'm doing good. The jet lag isn't so bad coming this way. It was more getting to Milan was a rough one the first few days. But doing good.

excited to be back and and get this started again. How is the current feeling of just like your first Olympics? And we'll get into, you know, we've got all the crazy stats about like 2022. You maybe could have played and then you didn't get to go. But now here you are. You've just played in your first Olympic games with your countrymen with some of your teammates, as we know. Are you kind of riding a high still?

How unbelievable was that? And Nick, I'll add for you an answer. obviously you've put this sweater on a lot of time. We've talked to guys that haven't got to wear that country sweater, right? Like many World Championship games, Olympic qualifying games even. But was there, could you feel like a level shift of like, okay, fuck, this is actually the Olympics? Yeah. I mean, like you said yourself, like I've been trying to get to the Olympics for a very long time.

You know, it goes back to 2015 or 16 where we somehow, with the team we had back then missed out on qualifying. And then finally qualified and wasn't allowed to go. And now finally getting the chance to play for Denmark at the Olympics was obviously a dream come true. It was an unreal experience, obviously. I got to do it with with with with Freddie, my now teammate here and with my cousin who also plays for the team and family down to visit. So all in all, it was it was incredible. And, you know, it's obviously a little different now coming back to Raleigh. Getting back into that grind.

But yeah, the last two weeks were pretty strong. special. Dude, it's a, it's a super interesting situation with you on this team. And obviously, we'll talk about the fact that you get to go there with Freddie. And I mean, the fact that you're playing with your cousin is like the coolest thing I've ever heard of my love. So cool. But you actually had a bunch of really cool comments. And I'm, I'm curious to hear a little bit deeper in your thoughts. This is an interesting group in that a lot of these guys play together often. You know, they're playing together year round almost. And it's almost like you guys, the NHL guys, who come in and join this team,

you're almost like the outsiders to this group. Was that, I know from the things that you've said at least, there was no growing pains at all as far as them welcoming you in and meshing with the guys, but is that an interesting feeling of, you know, being in the top league in the world and coming into this group and they already have so much chemistry with each other. What was that like?

Yeah, I mean, it's always a little different, but I think, you know, I can't speak for the other guys that come from over here, but I think for myself, I've been able to play five world championships already, and I know all the guys so well. Yeah, right. So I've played with most of them already. And, you know, we're such a tight group. I know every team says that, and, you know, I can get a little cliche and stuff like that.

but the tightness of that group, you know, playing for a small country like Denmark, that's not really a hockey country, makes it so much more special when you put on that sweater and you go out and you can see that in the results that we've been able to make over the last, you know, five, six, six years beating Sweden. Yep.

I've played against Canada twice in my senior career, and I've won both times. How about that stat, dude? Come on that stat. Let's go. So, you know, there's some results that we've been able to make with this national team that may not come from being the best team out there, but playing for each other and really just working our asses off.

And I think when you look at our games, yeah, the other teams, they skate around us sometimes. And we know that. But we work hard and try to make it hard on them. And that gives us win some games. So it's always special putting on the red and white jersey and playing for your country. But, yeah, I mean, those guys, they do all the small camps during the year. they got the four or five weeks before every world championships plus the world championships and you know those guys are are really grinding for the national team and

and and that's uh you know i'm proud whenever i put that jersey on dude do you ever get chirped like okay the n hl guys are here all right here we fuck i got i got one guy blickfeld he's uh he's a guy who's uh who's actually played in the n hl as well uh yeah Okay, he's allowed. He's allowed to chirp. Yeah, but he's definitely got some comments once in a while. I'm done with you guys. Yeah. I'm in the big of you. You know, I think, like I said, our group is so tight that, you know, you can you can chirp and we and all that. We have a good time and there's no hard feelings. And, you know, they, I love playing for the team and so do they. It's the same. We, we, we all. We, we all. We, all play for the same team. So it's pretty fun. Dude, it's like you mentioned the cliche comment earlier and,

and, you know, I think it's good to point those things out. But can you try to put into words how awesome this feeling is? Because it's like, you know, you can make the argument all the time that it's like, even happened last year with four nations with,

you know, the four different countries that were playing in that tournament. It's like, this is usually your break. There's, you know, it's such a fucking grind of a season with injuries, with time playing every other,

day it feels like and yet you come to this tournament and you guys get so jacked up for this to play for your country to put on that red and white jersey like you said can you try to put into words how cool the feeling is and like getting out with all these boys again coming to a different country like and a city like milan and playing it does it do you feel like you're just like a kid again ripping around out there uh yeah in a way um i think all these like i've i've always loved going to the world championships and, you know,

playing with those guys because, you know, you got to have fun doing it, right? And like, I think this is going to tournaments with the national team can be a nice break too sometimes to, you know, not saying just have fun because we do work.

But, you know, we try to have a good time together. to make those tournaments and the long weeks fun. And, you know, I think that shows up during the games. I think you can see that. I think you could see that during the Olympics as well, that we're a tight group off the ice.

And there's just something about playing for the national team that is so special. You're not just playing for each other. You're playing for the whole country. and we're a pretty small country. Yeah, yeah. To be able to play in these big tournaments, like the Olympics and the World Championships. I mean, Denmark has been in the top group

in the World of Championships since 2002 or three, right? And you take a deep dive into, you know, how many hockey rings we have in Denmark and how many players we have in Denmark that aren't beer leaguers. It's pretty impressive. Yes, it is. That's why I, you know, it's special to me and all the other guys as well.

Dude, the, we talk about this success you guys have had for such a small nation competing at such a high level. And this format was kind of new, right, with the three groups. And it was like everybody's kind of, so there was a lot to think about, right? So I wanted to ask you, and I don't even mean this as disrespect to Latvia, but if I'm just saying looking at the odds, like the Vegas odds, the big game for you guys in the group was kind of going to be that Germany game. Yeah. So was that like, was that a frustrating night of you? Because I know you outshot them so much. You played so well that game.

Did you guys feel like, fuck, this is the big game and it's our first game. We don't even get to ease into the tournament at all. Like, was that, what was that mindset like kind of going into that big swing game for you? guys right away um well i think lot via has been a team that we've had trouble with over the last year yeah yeah dude they're frustrating they're a frustrating group for sure um so i think even if we played them in the first game and and we would have lost that we would have thought the same thing um fair yeah i think that game against germany um you know you get in three days before the

tournament starts and, you know, it's the same for them. You're trying to scramble together the power play and, you know, you're playing with different guys and new guys. And at the end of the day, I thought we played a really good game. And I thought over the full 60 minutes, we probably deserved more. For sure. But, you know, we just weren't able to score on our chances. So to start the tournament out with a loss, it's, you know, if we would have wanted to, that game and then we would have won against Latvia, we would have ended up playing against France instead of the checks.

Yep. But it's so easy to sit here and I know, I know. And, you know, France wouldn't have been easy for us either. So, I'm proud of the way that we played, you know.

Definitely. Yes. We lost three out of four games, but you know, Germany game, I thought we played really well. We deserve more. The USA game. Did we deserve more? Probably not, but at the same time, we were in it for a long time. Oh, yeah.

It was a chance. The Lodbya game, I don't want to say we didn't deserve to win, but that was probably our worst game. And we found a way to win. And then the Czech game, we worked their asses off and lost. I was to say that might have been your best game. You guys were credible that night. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I'm proud of there's results that, you know, we made even though we lost three out of four.

So, dude, is it weird? I mean, you've been in Stanley Cup playoff games where a power play in a tournament like this in a playoff situation is so intense. Is it weird that in those huge high pressure swing moments, you're kind of like, I've never really practiced with, I barely practice with this power play unit. Like what a unique thing in such a most important part of the game? Is that a kind of a unique thing in this term? Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, it's the same for all the countries that have, you know, especially the NHL players that have never ever played together.

Yeah. To come in and have two days of practice and get your power play figured out. I mean, you got the U.S. and the Canada that figured it out pretty much, right? and they got some pretty good players. So it makes it a little easy. It's not easy because you're trying to figure out where guys are going to be and kind of what the plays you want to make and things like that. And we had three different defensemen on our blue line

because one guy got sick right before the game. God. So that's not easy. But at the same time, you know, if you want to score and get good results in these type of games, you've got to have that down. And we weren't fully able to do that on the power play, unfortunately. Well, I mean, man, I like what you said about, you know,

like we're talking about how awesome these games are and how cool of an experience it is. But I liked what you said earlier about how you're not just here to have fun. And I think that's the coolest part about this tournament. And smaller countries like Denmark who don't have as many, not just NHL players, but people who play hockey, period. I mean, it's insane. And the fact that you guys still show up. and you're playing balls out.

You're competing. You're trying to kill the other guys. And it shows because, you know, obviously as a competitor, like you said, you know, winning only one of the four games, you're, it's not something you're happy about. But you guys gave people fits. And that I think that's the best feeling. It's like every game was tough. And I know that those U.S. boys in that game were like, fuck me.

I mean, like, just go away. It was, it was a long game. Yeah, that four three goal. Holy shit. And that is, I, you. you're absolutely right. And I'm so happy to hear you say that you're proud of the way you guys played because you should be. But taking aside the competitive nature of it. And as you mentioned earlier, playing with your cousin Alex, is that just like the funniest, coolest thing in the world? Because at this stage in your career, you're like, okay, you know, like I'm in the NHL. He's not here. He's over there now. And we don't, we don't know if we'll ever play again. And with injuries and this, that and the other, you might not make it to the Olympics. When you guys get to that moment, When you got to the Olympic Village, were you like, this is fucking awesome. I mean, yeah, absolutely.

It's pretty, like, he's one year younger than me, and, you know, our families always went on vacation together. So we have a pretty good bond. And both, obviously, love playing hockey. So to be able to get this experience with him, I've played the world championships with him before, but to be able to get this experience with him was pretty cool. And our families were both there. And, you know, what makes it, there's two things that makes it a little more special, too, is that my dad and his dad played together on the national team many years ago.

Oh, I didn't know that. That's awesome. Yeah. That is awesome. Plus my, my, so his dad's brother played on the national team with, so those two. and then my dad, they played together in the national team. So that's pretty cool for us to now be able to do it.

And then the other thing is we ended up playing on the same line together for the first three years. Yes. Yeah. Dude, Nick, you're not going to be the one to gas it up, so I will. That's not pretty cool. That is so fucking cool. Also, that is the greatest family reunion of all time.

I was just like the family there at the games. they must have been going crazy. Yeah. It's awesome. Oh, I love it so much. You're at the Olympic scoring a goal and you're celebrating cousin, right? It's pretty sick. Like, dude, literally, you score that goal and you look over and he jumps into your arms and you're like, holy shit.

Yeah. This is all time. And I pray, I'm sure you do, but like, I'm sure the dads all have a picture together. And now you guys do. And like, that has to be, that has to be the collage on every house wall in your entire family from now on. Definitely. That's amazing. And listen, man, Will I, you know, we want to at some point, I know we talked about this,

we're going to get you on again and get you the full empty netters experience. And we'll talk more about it. But this has obviously been a really awesome and exciting year for you with a new team, real cool experience, joining a new group. And I know Freddie was a big part of you, you know, coming to Carolina. How cool is it, you know, adding to all of these amazing experiences that you got to, you know, join this new team, join a country. in Raleigh and then you got to go to Milan together.

Did that elevate the experience at Tan being able to do this with him? Absolutely. You know, I've known Freddie since the first Olympic qualifiers together in Belarus 10, 11 years ago. And, you know, it's always been kind of a dream of mine to be able to play it with another Danish guy in the NHL. And, you know, for him to be here as well was, was pretty cool.

So to go through a year like this with another Danish guy definitely made it more special and made it more fun as well. So yeah, it's been a different year, a fun year though. Yeah. Yeah. Dude, was he, and it actually made perfect sense from a strategy and Olympic standpoint, but was he fucking pissed to not get the USA game? I can picture Freddie like, give me those fuckers.

I can take him down. I bet he wanted it, dude. I bet he wanted that game. Sure, he wanted it too. But with the tournament being so compact, like, he would have played four games in six days with a bag to bag. I don't know if he would have made it through the check game then. So I'm sure he wanted to.

But, you know, that's how it works sometimes. It was smart. It was smart. Yeah. That's so good. Well, dude, obviously the hockey was unbelievable. But we also want to ask quickly about how was the experience? Like, was being in Milan super fun? What were some of the best moments for you guys in the village or like ripping around the city? Some of the best meals you had. What were your favorite memories? Well, I've had enough of the pasta meat sauce at the villa.

Put it out way. Hey, wait. Can you actually don't have the full picture? Like, what is the eating situation at the village actually? Like, is it like a cafeteria buffet thing or what's the situation? That's exactly what it is. Open pretty much 24-7. And, yeah, it's just a big dining hall. And there's always, it's always busy.

You kind of just walk up and they give you the food, whatever you want. They got the meat station and gluten-free station, the salad and yogurt. And like, there's a, there's a bunch of stuff, but. And there's a meat sauce. There's a meat sauce that you've had enough. I have a meat sauce station pretty often. Yeah.

Wait, Nick, are you a creature of habit? Like, are you the same pregame meal every single day? I'm the same pregame meal every day. but that doesn't mean I want to eat that for lunch every day and dinner every day. That was more of the- Yeah, I don't have the same post-game meal. Yeah. It was more of a must.

Yeah, it was a necessity. It was literally an element of survival for you. Oh, my God. But, no, I mean, it was great. The village was nice. I thought the rooms were good. Obviously, those are going to turn into dorms. rooms, I think, for students and stuff like that. But, you know, I think when you're going with,

you know, 25 friends and you're all on the same floor, right? Like, yeah. And you're here in Milan, you're going to have a good time, by the way. And, you know, we found ways to, to entertain themselves and, you know, go into the city and walk around and go for dinners and stuff like that. So, um, we made it a good time. Did you have a guy on the school? Quad, who is the jokester in the village? Not in the village, but we have some... We have a few guys that, you know, are the class clowns if you want to put it away.

Out and about, yeah, out and about. Okay, give me one good meal you had. Doesn't have to be your favorite, but just one good meal you had out of the village that wasn't meat sauce. Give me one good bill you had out of the village. And actually, I'll stop there. Tell me that first.

Then I'll ask my next one. One good meal out of the village. Well, I mean, it was pretty easy. Like our, we're, we're in Italy. My pizza. Yes. So you can call it a cheap meal for me. It's a regular, you know, whatever.

I'll have a pizza whenever. That's just lunch out here, baby. Yeah, exactly. So I needed a pizza and we were able to find a good spot for that. Okay, perfect. And then did you guys, because we talked to some of the boys and they said they, in the village, like on the nights, that you're just in, they're like playing cards together, you know, whatever. What were you guys doing when you just kind of in, you know, a chill night before the games,

whatever? What were you guys getting up to? I don't have the marks anymore, but we were playing, we were playing ping pong. Oh, shit. Sick. That's, I love that. Yeah. Wait, who's the guy?

Who's the guy on the squad? Well, we had like three, four. guys that were pretty much like they could beat each other. One guy started off really hot and then he started slowing down. But the thing was like

some guys's backs after a couple were first of all drenched in sweat. Yeah. Of all we were taking shots at each other.

Whoever lost was ripping was ripping and was like shirt off shirt off shirt off yeah fuck dude that's insane so we had a few guys that had like five six seven marks on their back including you a because you just said you don't have them anymore but you got you took a few i i took a few yeah no i i love the idea that like some journalist is like going down through the locker rooms at the end of the game and is like looks like eilers has been doing some cupping uh yeah treatment out to the game like no i just lost five ping pong games last night actually.

What a professional guy there, hey. Yeah, yeah. Taking care of his body. Seriously. Hey, if you had to give one guy, if you had to say this guy top the bottom was the ping pong champ of the week, who would it be? The problem is it's one of my buddies and I don't want to give it to him. Yeah, I get that.

I get that. I get that. He can't hear that. You know what, Chris? I love that level of pettiness. We got a chance to be. We got a chance to boost this guy up on the show. No, no, no.

We're not going to give it to him. He started off really well, and then he slowed down, and then, you know, I beat him a few times. So it's, he was probably the best looking at, like, the full two weeks that we were there. He knows who it is. Yep. When I'm talking about. Is he responsible for any of the marks on your back? He is responsible for one of them.

Yeah. Fuck. But I also got him. So we're kind of. Okay. All right. All right. Good.

Good. Good. That makes you feel good. That makes you feel good, man. That's awesome. He's also the class clown. So he's, uh, okay. So he had a hell of a trip on us.

Yeah. This guy, this guy had the greatest two weeks of his life. I, I spend every summer with him back in Denmark. We, uh, we live in the same, same city. Uh, best guy ever. Like, he is, uh, he's the fun guy.

Um, but yeah, he, uh, ping pong he's he was the champion yep yeah yeah I'm proud of him yeah that's amazing um all right well nick we don't want to take up too much of your time again we can't thank enough for popping on but um just to close it out to pump up the canes fans how how fired up are you to you know get back with the boys and you know like get obviously like fishyy's coming back soon here and you got jarvie and slovo coming back like you must be fired up to get back with the squad and get ripping oh absolutely um I mean I'm pretty excited about the season that we've had so far. Obviously, we're in a good spot, but I think there's still a lot of games that, you know,

we haven't been happy with the way that we played and still somehow found a way to win. And obviously, that's what's most important. But now that you get closer to the playoffs, you got to start dialing it more and more and, you know, not play as many bad games. But I think that the way that we've, you know, battled and played and won games, it's going to be an exciting last 25 games here before the playoffs start. Dude, mad sprint, mad sprint,

when everyone gets back to me. I know. I know. Well, it's going to be exciting, man. And we can't wait to cheer you on for it. But thanks again for popping on, dude. Like, again, taking the time out while you got back like a day and a half ago. you're a legend.

But again, we'll see you again soon. We'll have you on again soon and get the full thing going. But congrats again, man. What an unreal experience. Great before. I appreciate it. Yeah, it's unbelievable.

Huge, huge shout out to Nikolai Eilers, stud for team Denmark and Carolina Hurricanes. Now jumping back on this amazing team, getting ready for a cup run. Fantastic stuff. What a beauty. Dude, what a beauty. I had a blast with him, dude.

He's so funny. Oh, my God. And, and, And same deal. Same deal. He was so authentic about what went down, you know, telling us the whole ride, start to finish. It was awesome hearing about the pride he has playing for his country and how fired up he's going to be in the fucking Stanley Cup playoffs for the fucking games. Like CP and I said, we took a few days break here after the gold medal game.

Needed just a quick detox from the huge trip. We logged offline. We got off all the socials. Let the algorithms. Let all that take care of everything. We took a little reset. And obviously, we missed. some stuff. So here we are to talk about it because we hear you all. We see the comments. We know

these things are important to everybody. We always want to show care and appreciation with that stuff. We understand that this is super topical in the hockey space right now and it deserves some attention. The thing that comes to mind for us first and foremost is if you don't appreciate respect, support, and champion this woman's team and female athletes in general, kick rocks. We got no time for you. And on top of that, and that being something that we've done on this show from the very beginning that is super important to us and that we're going to keep doing because it's awesome, we believe in our hearts from things that we've seen, things that we've heard, that we've witnessed personally that this men's team loves and supports this woman's

team. And we've seen a bunch of comments already since everything went down from a lot of the guys. And hopefully we continue to see more and we continue to see the love and support. that they've shown like going to the games sharing posts sharing moments and texts and and talking to each other all those stories that's great shit that's what we need more of and that's what we want more of and we're excited and hopeful to see more of it because that is what important that's that is what is important so again for us it's it's a matter of what these women accomplished is so incredible and you know we were so fortunate to be able to go there and witness that game be there in person these friends and people we admire and I've had the pleasure to speak to achieve this lifelong

dream. And that's something that we just want to see that love and positivity more. And this is an encouragement to everyone. It's like get on fucking bored, man. This is what it's all about. Watching these incredible groups of people do these remarkable things and championing it. That is of the utmost importance to us. Yeah. If you if you are not supporting women's hockey, this women's team, you have a dump in your pants. It's that simple. Facts. We know a ton of these guys personally. I believe that they support this team very much. We support this team very much. It's not a hard concept. And I also want to add, and I know we're not doing the politics thing, but just zoom out for a second. If you don't think it's fucking

awesome that the U.S. women and the U.S. men's hockey team traveled to Milan and both won gold medals. Together. That is fucking awesome. And I hate to think that it will be tarnished at all for either of those groups, this amazing accomplishment. Because that's what it fucking was. We got the lucky privilege and honor of being there.

And there are two experiences that I will never forget for the rest of my fucking life. It was exactly. It was amazing. And, you know, we always like to say, the only thing that we can control gang is ourselves, is our actions. It's how we treat people. how we respond to things and how we champion things. And that is why we are going to continue to boost up these ladies and boost up all of the people that we respect and love and support.

And we've been doing that from the start of the show. We're going to keep doing it. And we can't fucking wait to keep doing it because they're awesome. We've been reaching out to these girls, getting them on the show soon here, hopefully so they can tell all their amazing stories and the experience because that's what people want to hear. So that's the response from us is what we can control is what we do and what we're going to continue to do. And that is fucking boost up these amazing people and keep giving them whatever platform we can to shine because that's exactly what they do. And we encourage everyone to do the exact same thing. And especially the U.S. man, this moment, this opportunity here of being in the Olympics, one of the coolest things in the world where sports can bring us all together.

let's learn from this and just let the positivity, let the support, let the love and the championing of all these athletes. And absolutely these women rise to the top because that's what's needed. And that's what's the best. That's the most fun thing that can come from this. It's amazing. Yep. And my closing thought on a little bit more personal level, it was kind of a wild experience to come back from two days off and feel that we were completely caught up in an internet controversy. And I just want to urge again for kindness and positivity.

I feel that any anger should be placed in one direction and not another in the situation, not touching it, neither here nor there. I encourage us, everybody, just one collective, inhale, exhale, let's all take a breath and move forward in the nicest, most peaceful way possible. Yeah. It's like, let the boys take a couple of days. days off guys like you know we we we we love and and appreciate everybody and it as we said a million times like we care man like that there's a reason we we try to respond to everybody and and you know

put importance on on as many things as we can because we do we care so much but um you know I think the boys maybe give us a little bit of grace to take a couple days off after a crazy trip we got to reset sometimes here so uh appreciate everyone who you know gave us the the freedom to take a breather. But it's appreciated. And as always, we love you guys. And we're just going to keep leading with love and positivity because that's what, that's what this game is all about, man.

Like we got to just keep pushing that stuff. All right, CP, now let's get into Milan. Let's close out this episode with just some of our favorite memories, favorite moments and fun stuff. Okay. I had a running doc called Italy Observations because I've never did italy. You've been to Italy. And I was, you know, this is my first time.

So I was excited about just realizing some shit. Now, we have a, we have a combined list. Do you want me to do one first? We can kind of go back and forth here. I want you, because you put all of my stuff on the list, too, right? Yeah, yeah. You're always great at being a Sherpa with this stuff. So just bring up topics and then let's just chat shit about him for a few seconds.

Okay. Okay. First one. And we just saw a fucking incredible black lab at dinner. Oh, my God, guys. I should see you the picture of this fucking good boy. He was sitting right next to me and he was staring at the food at the table right next to him.

He was so handsome. He wasn't begging. He wasn't begging. No, nope. He was just locked in. But he was so handsome. He was so shiny. He had such a perfect little box head.

God damn. I'll fucking I should go steal him. So we love a dog. I'll steal a dog anywhere. And this, I presume, was an Italy dog. Maybe not. Maybe Swiss. I don't know.

You know what? That's maybe my favorite part about seeing dogs abroad is remembering that they are from that country too. Like when we're in Italy and we see a dog, I'm like, chow. It's Italian, yeah. Bonjourno. Like, it's so funny that he's an Italian dog. What of my first observations was dogs are weird in Italy.

They were every fucking dog. It was like, a dog would you see on the sidewalk and you'd turn the court of sidewalk and they'd like, you were like, oh my God. I'll say, dogs were odd. Dogs were odd in Italy. there were some barky dogs in the park. I like that they had isolated parks in Milan where dogs could just,

you go and take them off leash, they were fenced in. But some of those dogs would then just like run up along the fence and bark at people walking by like crazy. Also, do you notice there were a lot of big dogs? Like I'm talking like Beethoven's type shit. Also like big shaggy dogs.

Like it was some dire wolf stuff going on here. Yes. So that, because I love a dog. I normally want to go up to every dog I see. And dogs in Italy, I was like, yo. And it made me wonder, we had a whole, we should find this again.

We had a whole, what country has the most dogs debate and all this shit going on after this? It's the U.S. Yeah, it's just shocker. But it made me wonder if it's, we really have our own dog culture. I didn't, I didn't process that. I thought dogs were dogs in any country. But now I'm like, wow, we actually have our own dog culture. That's interesting.

Yeah. I think American dogs meet Italian dogs and they're like, chill, dude. Well, it depends. If they meet American big city dogs, like L.A. and New York dogs, like little yappy dogs. I bet they'd be like, what are you gluten-free? Fuck off. Yeah. Fuck off.

Italian dogs. Go drink your gluten-free and fucking echo bar. Go eat your macho par. Yeah. Bitch. Oh, my God. Okay. All right.

I've got a couple restaurants. I'm going to do that right now. The, we said this in the summer of video, so you probably already heard this. But the mid-afternoon siesta. I know that's not Italian, but the lunch break. Every restaurant in Italy, open 12 to 2.30, fucking closed, and then open again for dinner. That threw a fucking monkey wrench in many of our plans. Let me tell you, when you're in Milan during the Winter Olympics and during like the prelim games,

and the games, the men's and the women's games, some of them start at 12. The first one's at 12, yeah. You don't get out of that rink. And back into the city, you got like a little break. There's a 4 o'clock game, but a lot of it would be like, oh, I'm going to the 7 o'clock game, or I'm going to the 9 o'clock game. You get out of that game at 12, and you're still jet lagged. You probably slept till 11.

You didn't have time for a nice breakfast and a cappuccino, so you rolled right to the game. You get out of that thing and you just want some food. No, no, no, no, no. You can't get any food because all of these places are closed from like 4 to 7. Earlier, dude, 233, 233. Yeah, yeah, he's like 3. Yep. So that was a tough window.

Based on the game schedule and just the ways of Italy, that was a very tough situation for us. And part of me loved it because I was like, good. Let the people go home. See their families take a nap. But then the American in me that needs everything whenever I want it, I was like fucking go come back to work. I'll pay your salary. I need lunch. So that was crazy.

And then did the other one. And this one I actually am so in on. It's it startled me the first few times, but now I'm so in on it. Of course there are leisurely meals in this country. Of course. I knew that coming in. You know, it's a long time. The courses come and, you know, whatever.

But dude, when you're done at most of the restaurants, you just go up to the host and pay. You're like, hey, I'm done. And they go, okay. And then you just pay and leave. And that, at first it was so confused because we sat at a table for so long at one point, being like, is it going to come and give us the check? This is insane. But once I got used to it, I was like, this is amazing because you just eat.

And whenever you're done, you're like, all right, let's leave. It is nice. I will also say they're very not, not slow in an inattentive way. They're slow in a very relaxed way about bringing your next course or like clearing your plate or whatever. And it just reminded me how fucking bad. And don't cry for me, Argentina. I'm not sitting here complaining. I was just in Milan for three weeks.

I just want to go on a fucking actual real vacation sometime soon. Everywhere we go, we're just working. And it's like what we just said, it's like you got to get to a game. You got to go to get to record. You got to go get to this meeting. And I feel like we're always Russian. And the idea of being in Italy with people you love and sitting down and having like a four-hour dinner. So dope.

It's so fucking nice. And it's also a reminder for me. I don't know if anyone else in the States or in Canada, feels this way. We eat too fast. I'm going to call out. I'm going to call out Gavin. I'm going to call out Gavin. I'm going to call out Gavin. Dr. Locke. This fucking kid inhales food. It's like he will or I will cook him a dinner. Well, I'll cook him a steak, sweet potatoes, broccoli. He's getting better about the greens, but I'll cook him dinner. He will not

speak to me as he just vacuum cleans the plate. And then he goes, dude, that was gas. And I'm like, Did you even enjoy it? We got to just eat slower. Put your fork down. Hey, it's a good lesson. I got thought that a long time ago. Take a buddy of your food. Put your fork down.

Just changes the entire flow of dinner. Put your fork down. Truly does. Truly does. Okay, I got two rinked things now, Dan. I thought the rink was lovely, by the way. We've said that a million times. The rink was incredible.

One, you know how they do, for people that have seen a hockey game before, they clean the snow off the ice. Oh, Chris, we talked about this last episode, pal. We did a whole segment on power. Power brakes. It was hilarious. Power brakes were ridiculous. Not because they were doing them.

It was just like you got to fucking call it something different. And then this one, they let you walk to your seat whenever you pleased. Like if you went out to the palace or whatever, so that you come back into a rink. And anyone who's ever been to a hockey game knows that there's a person at the thing with a fucking little stop sign paddle that's like puck in play, bitch. For those who don't know, if the game is going and you're trying to walk back, your seat. They make you wait for a stoppage so you're not walking through the seats trying to get to where yours is while the game's going on and people are trying to watch.

They did not do that here. It was lawless. It was lawless. It's like, fucking Canada power play. All the boys out there. And then someone's like, excuse me, excuse me, like walking down to fucking. And I'm like, what to fendful of, handful of mini coronas. Yeah, the clod of mini cronas. And I'm like, yo. And what was even funnier, Dan, is when we would come back mid game from the bathroom or wherever, We would stop at the top if the puck was in play because we're like, well, we're going to wait because this is a society. And we would wait. And then the ushers would come up to us and go, excuse me, you can't stand here.

You got to clear this area. And I'd be like, no, I am trying to help. I am doing your job. Don't tell me to clear out. That was insane. That was, and everybody, all the hockey people were dying about that. That was like the most common shirt I heard in Milan. Okay.

All right. Now I got some car stuff down. Okay. This is the first one. The second one's funnier, but the first one that got me when we got there is people just parking on the sidewalk. There's cars and then it's like a curve and they would just bump the cars up and then like, you know, parallel perpendicular park right down the sidewalk. And then I'd be like it was trying to walk by and people were like getting, it was insane. Yeah, but it was great.

I know, I know, we needed in LA. He's parking the sidewalk. That blew my mind. And then what actually fucked me up was driving on the fucking train tracks. Driving on the train tracks was wild. And I think maybe cities that have like a trolley system are more used to this. I'm not used to it. So it was wild when you would see like you'd be in an Uber and there are train tracks,

trolley tracks, subway track, whatever you want to call them in like the next lane. And your Uber would just like turn into that lane and drip down it. And I guess it's like a, if the. lights aren't going, you can drive there. That must be the case. But it was, dude, if you, if you were a few glasses of Vino in and your Uber driver went on the tracks, you felt dangerous. You were like, oh, here we go. I also want to shout out the areas in the city where there was grass growing between the train tracks looked so pretty. It was a cool combination of it looked almost dystopian, like I am legend status, where felt like the world was on pause for a little

while so grass was growing, but it makes sense that where the literal wheels of the train don't go, that grass would grow. It was nice. Yeah, driving on the, I might start doing that in LA I do driving on the train tracks on this bad traffic. Just to see. Just to see. Just to see. Do that also, where are there

train through? Oh, buddy. You're talking about the metro. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Got it, got it. Hondo P. This one, we need to steal 100%. I got two bar things now. Almost every bar we went to, the bathroom. Italy doesn't love a urinal, by the way. Wouldn't you agree? like there's a few but like most yeah uh i would agree with that yeah um i agree with that so most

bathrooms i'm at the toilet there is literally a a like black circle on a um on a wedge here's the button that you just press with your foot to flush and i was like oh that is gas dude foot flush the foot flush how is that not everywhere dude that was fun to be that's a no-brainer incredible like what and that can't be that hard dan that would be like one day overhaul I kind of agree. It also, I will say it takes you

a while to find it on your first foot flush. First foot flush experience, you're like, where, how do I flush this? Dad,

I actually didn't even tell you this yet. Red's going to die when he hears this. In the Canada house, there were two bathrooms and in one bathroom there was a flush up here. Yes.

Yeah. So I had been to that one, and then later in the day I went to the other bathroom by the front. And there's a string here. And I was like, oh my God.

But on the side of the wall, there's this arrow that says flush me and it was a press against the wall so clear they could not have been more clear but I just didn't look because I saw the cord so I just boom pull the cord and it's it was like I've fallen in emergency cord yeah it was in an emergency I know and dude then I see the thing I flush and but then a guy comes like keying into the bathroom because he's like this dude's going to be upside down in the toilet and I was like this bonjourno that's odd be. Scusa.

Scusa. Bars incredible. Also at a bar, we had an incredible experience with Haley Wins family. Holy hell, man. Huge shout out. If you were unfamiliar with Haley Wynn, familiarize yourself.

Absolute stud for this team. And Haley Wins family rolled so fucking deep to these games. I know fans of the U.S. women's team are going to know all about this situation. But the whole family, I'm talking siblings. I'm talking sibling.

In-laws, mom, dad, all the brothers. Everyone was there. They started their own Instagram account. They showed up to every game in Kossum. They were wearing eagle rubber masks. They had all of their, like, just the sickest custom-made shirts, hoodies, all this stuff. They were rep in at every single game. They were so fun to hang with.

But we had one bar night with them. Just like the most straight up good class of people. and they were so fucking funny. They were so impossibly similar to our family. I know. Mrs. Wyn was like, I was like, mom with so many of the things that she said. And they're just like, that was a good American family, man. And like, they were all, they were all so sweet and kind and just full of questions and curiosity and compliments and also fun.

Holy, they can throw them back. blast. They can throw them back. And it was so funny because they kept talking about it. They were like, God, we've been here for so long. We've been going. I'm so tired. I can't do this anymore. Another round. Get, let's go round of shots. Negronies. And I was just like, let's fucking go wins. Here we go. They were incredible. Had so much fun with them. Yeah, that was fucking electric. That was my favorite night to the trip. Favorite nights of the trip. Got a shout at another bar while we're at it. Yeah, football pub. We told the fun story about the football pub and our first USA game experience trying to watch. We hosted our our little meetup at the football pub, went to watch a Chelsea game. The Chelsea game was not on. So instead we watched an Ireland, England rugby game. Six nations, Dan. A lot of awesome people.

Six nations. That was the most eclectic meetup of all time. People from all over. Friends of friends, which was shocking. We had some students abroad. We had some local Italians. We had a ton of a paradox, a paradox beer leaguer on the road.

That's right. We had a ton of Slovakians there. A couple of French fans. I could not believe there were a couple French fans who listened to Netters, but a couple awesome homies. But it was a great spot in the football pub really came through for us. So that was huge. Massive shout out.

Okay, three Airbnb things. Incredible Airbnb, by the way. Probably the best we've ever had on the road. Yeah, that was a home away from home. I loved that spot. They, there was, you know, there's always like a few things in the Airbnb we were going through. They had like six full packages of those cookies. that you get on Delta flights.

Oh, Biscoffs, dude. Biscoffs. I think it's called a Lotus. And hey, we made quick work of them, buddy. I think it's, I think it's called a Lotus cookie. So like, for everyone listening,

so this Airbnb was stocked. What a freebie. As far as stocked with paper towels, there were some good spices there, had all the, you know, plates, knives, glasses. We had a laundry detergent,

dish detergent. Like, it was fully stocked. But food, no. There was like some olive oil and vinegar and that's to be expected in Italy. But we open one cabinet and they've got a fucking army ration supply of Nespresso cappuccino pods. Red probably had fucking nine of those a day. And then they also had a massive container filled with those Biskopf lotus cookies,

like sleeves of them. Dude. Buddy, I was deleting those fucking things. I don't even drink coffee. I get home late night. I get home late night. I fucking see you, buddy. late night. It was just like the couple

of nights off that we had, I would make cups of tea and I must eat fucking 12 of those in a sitting. It was unbelievable. You had to get them away from me. I know. I'm going to stock my house with those. It's amazing. The two other Airbnb stories that I have, one, we had a washer dryer in our place, which is rare. Do red first. Do red first. Do red

first? Yeah. I think the red one is funnier. Okay, okay. For the end. We have a washer dryer in our place, which is rare in Italy. And we're in this beautiful little like plaza of different apartments. And we're, it's, it's probably 3 p.m. in it one afternoon, one of our few afternoons off and we're doing some laundry. Because again, we were there for like three weeks. We're sitting there watching how to lose a guy in 10 days.

And there's a knock on our window. Yeah, the window. Oh, yeah. And I go over and I open the window and it's this lovely Italian man. He's looking at me and he's gesturing. He's being an Italian. Yeah. He's gesturing.

Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, oh, I'm sorry. Just English. excuse, escusa, just English. And he goes, what is this noise? And I was like, oh, we're washing clothes. And he was like, it's all night, all day, boom, boom, boom, can you move it?

And I was like, can I move the washer dryer? What do you think this is, dude? A vacuum? I couldn't believe the question. Do you know how dryers work? Clearly not, because no one has them in Italy. It was so funny. Can you move it?

I go, no, I can turn it off. Do you want me to turn it off? It's 3 p.m. on like a Saturday. And he was like, please. And I was like, okay. So we turned it off, but I was like, when would you like me to use the washer dryer, my friend? And also, it just wasn't that loud.

So I could barely hear it in the house. He was in another house. It took me a second to figure out what he was talking about. That's how quiet it was. It must be like, boom, boom, boom, can you move it? What a fun, funny experience with our Italian neighbor. But that goes perfectly into this issue. because clearly the walls in this apartment complex are paper thin because God bless him,

man. Redman, our boy on the road. Hopefully you all know Red at this point. Red is, Red sleeps like three hours a night. He's a vampire. I don't know what the fuck his deal is. But he wakes up so early and he is truly the greatest roommate house guest you could ever imagine. He just clean. He's a house elf. He wakes up. He wakes up and he cleans. He's a house elf. He's also on it with the dishwasher. Like he is putting shit in that dishwasher every five seconds. He is a stubborn American dad's nightmare wasting the or running up the water bill with how much he runs that dishwasher. But he runs it every night. And for God knows what reason, because given the fact that he runs it every night, he's washing like three glasses and two plates a day.

There are plenty of mugs, glasses, whatever he may need. But he wakes, he would wake up every fucking morning. and the kitchen which was connected to my bedroom, he would then proceed to unload the dishwasher and stack the plates and glasses as loud as humanly fucking possible and wake me up every single morning. And because he was doing something so great for us,

I never said a word, but every morning when I woke up to hearing the clanking and clunking of plates and cups, I was like, could you do it at any other time? Literally at any other time could you fucking do this? And I probably should have said something. I didn't because he was doing a great thing and I wanted to be appreciative, but it was hysterical.

I was like, what is happening right now? It was so good. Absolutely amazing. Okay, after the final, we had a hell of a night celebrating with the team. Yeah, well, first and foremost, you know, before we tell this and close up here, huge shout out to hockey Canada, ice palazzo, everyone there who made us feel so welcome, you know, we're a couple of yanks and they welcome to San Shode us in, showed us a great time. They were so hospitable and so

amazing. So so much love to everyone there. And then so much love to everyone at Winterhouse, the USA House that obviously led us in a number of times to watch some games. And then at the post-game celebration, just like the best people in the world. And it just goes to show how great the game is right now with all these amazing people in Hockey Canada and then USA Hockey. It's just so cool. Two more. I was going to do thanks at the end, but since you started them, two more.

NHL and NBC Hosted an incredible party Invited us to that And that was some of the best food I've ever had Ever there was fucking Dan we are lobster snobs There was incredible lobster at that point It was very good lobster

And that venue was fucking sick Like I don't even That was like some castle The sanctuary Yeah and they like walked us down This cool path It was a kind of see Yeah it felt yeah

It was pretty pretty And then our friends at Bauer The Bauer event Was also in a palace where Napoleon lived. We actually stole Napoleon. But huge thank you, Bauer.

That was amazing. You're so dumb. Why would you ever? You think Napoleon doesn't have guys still? You think he doesn't have people still? You're an idiot. God. Okay, huge, huge thank you to Bauer.

Huge thank you to NHL, NBC. Okay, do start the boys thing. I have the boys thing and then a couple skiing things. Well, no. Save the skiing stuff. And I want this in the pod. Save the skiing stuff because top of next week,

we're going to tell some skiing stories because I have some fucking shit to say to you. Okay. I'm going to highlight these and move them. Highlight. So do I, ski talk. Ski talk is for next week's episode. Okay.

Okay. First, listen, it was just, it was so amazing. Being a young kid playing hockey, you always think about these moments. and being from the U.S., I've never lived through this, guys. Obviously, I've been blessed to see the women win gold a number of times. We've not seen the men ever win, so in our lifetime. So to see that moment and to share it with people that we call friends and people we have so much love for was very, very special. And I'm very appreciative of that.

And I know some people have seen it, but we walked into that place and walking in the door and seeing sort of way and just like immediate like tears in both of our eyes and seeing his his family and uh you know he put that gold metal around my neck immediately and it was funny because as he was doing it i was prepared to be like no what are you doing because i was like wait this isn't the cup i'm okay with this that yeah yeah dude it was so heavy bro and it was funny because i had the same reaction where i'm like i don't want to i don't want to touch the cup or at least at the ones we've been to like if sway wins the kings win you know but it at these moments i'm like no, no, this is yours. I didn't do anything for that.

But he was like, yo, you want to hold this gold medal? And I was like, fuck, yes, I want to hold that goal. It was just really cool. That was fucking awesome. Yeah. It was really cool. Again, like, we, you know, we're going to keep most things in how, just from, like, it was, you know, special moments.

They should remain there. But we just had a bunch of moments with, with the Hughes boys, Matthew and Brady, obviously, stars of the show at all times. There was a moment with Larks. He took his gold medal off and put it around. me, but it was tangled with his like credential. So we were just like connected and like fully lady in the trapping. Like we were like kind of spitting like trying to figure it out.

And then we just started fucking dying laughing. That was amazing. When he had the boom box up and he was put, you know, he was on the ox for a while. And at one point he goes, I got a great one next and just put on the national anthem. And it was at one point like nobody would like the party was kind of rocketed. And then everyone was like, oh, anthem. And then him and I were just kind of standing their arm and arm like belting the national. until everyone got on board.

It's like, perfect. No notes. But for me, man, like, you know, not to get too soft, as I always do, it was so incredible seeing all the families, specifically the moms. Like, seeing Ellen and, you know, getting to obviously like sway stepmom and seeing Charlie's parents and big Walt and just like the pride and tears of joy and all of their eyes, seeing the sisters and the brothers and witnessing their family members, their sons, their brothers, whatever, experiencing the, the lifelong dream.

Like, I know these guys, they dream of winning a Stanley Cup, but truly, man, I think many of us, when you start playing in the driveway, you think about playing for Team USA. And seeing all the families, seeing them experience that, that was so heartwarming. Again, I just think about our mom, like fucking waking up at five in the morning, driving us to practice every single day. And now she has to watch her two idiot sons on a podcast. God fucking bless her. But seeing these parents looking at their kids.

And it was, again, it was the same with the women, seeing them celebrate and all their, like we just talked about, the Wynn family, like seeing all of those parents like looking at their kids. and looking like kids because they were all just celebrating so happy that was so fucking cool so special there were some epic moments with Rizzo

Michael Ruzioni was there seeing him talk to Jack Hughes and just being like wow you know that's an incredible moment seeing him hold the gold medal like they I think maybe it was Larks like put it in Rizzo's hand

and Rizzo I was right there and he told it and he was like it's heavier than ours was and I was like oh my God dude it's so So just like really special moments like that. And then on a personal level, dude, I got to talk to Kyle Connor, who I've never met, but have loved from afar for so long.

And I actually was like fan girl. Like I wouldn't talk to him. And then finally he walked by me one more time. And I was like, Kyle, sorry, just wanted to say what's up, huge fit. He was, he couldn't have been nicer. Couldn't have been nicer. We'll get him on someday. Yeah.

That was special stuff. But listen, we'll obviously get more content and posts going. But what an amazing trip. Again, we'll tell more stories. and talk more about it, but end of the day, folks, the U.S. women and the U.S. men went over to Italy for the Olympic Games

and they both came home with gold and that is something truly incredible and worth celebrating and we're fired up for them both. It's fantastic. So that will wrap it up for this episode. CP and I got to catch a couple of trains and then a few planes to get back

so we can get in studio to keep ripping it up for all of you guys. Have an amazing, safe, fun, and happy weekend. Enjoy some hockey. The NHL is back. The P. Dub is back soon. Consume it all. Love it all.

And until we see you next episode. Do what the U.S. women and the U.S. men do. Oh, you skate hard.