Empty Netters Podcast - 47. GOAT Vision featuring Adam Fantilli

Episode Date: August 2, 2023

Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets joins the pod! He explains how he got a single dorm as a freshman in prep school and why college hockey was the most fun he's ever had in his life. The boys hear about the craziest GM draft questions, all the perks of being a Blue Jacket, winning multiple gold medals, and the secret to grandma's cheesecake. (00:00) - Intro (03:43) - Bergeron Retirement (07:14) - New England Prep School (19:08) - Michigan Experience (32:15) - Winning two gold medals (39:18) - NHL Draft (46:54) - Playing for the Blue Jackets (54:12) - Peripheral vision training (1:01:05) - Hogwarts House (1:03:24) - Pass Shoot Score SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuf52MHW1O7guPMzsMvv2kA FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/empty.netters/?hl=en FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@empty.netters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we are here. We've got the Clark Cup champion, Clark Cup MVP, Big Ten tournament champion, big ten tournament MVP, World Juniors gold medalists, world championship gold medalist, the third freshman ever to win the Hobie Baker, the only person ever to win the Hobie Baker, the world juniors, and the world's in the same year. The third overall pick of the 2003 NHL draft. the Columbus Blue Jackets and the biggest Avengers fanboy on the planet. Adam Fantilli, welcome to the Interneters podcast. Thank you very much.

That's quite the introduction. Thank you, Adam. I might take the biggest Avengers fanboy title from him, if I'm being honest. But we'll get into that later. Oh, yeah. I'm excited. Yeah, you guys are going to have to duke it out because I'm up there, but Dan's bigger than me.

Like, Dan is dialed, and so I'm excited to see you guys go toe-to-to-to-on. All right. He's probably going to beat me. been dialed in recently because I thought the movies lately have been not good. Yeah, they're not good. It's back in the heyday was when we were really making our money. That's when I was completely committed. Stan Leewood, it wasn't.

Yeah, dude, midnight showings for all of them. Yeah, that was that was the time to be like. Dude, before we even get started, do you have a nickname? I have a couple. I have a couple. This year, the boys in the team started calling me Mo. Okay. Explain, explain.

Yeah, my name at birth was actually Adamo. Okay, love that. Dude, actually, that makes a ton of sense because when we were reading about all you and all this stuff, I'm looking at every name in your family. And it's like, you know, so deep Italian history and all your names, your brother, Luca, everything. And then I get to you and it's like, Adam. And I was like, Adam. They landed on Adam.

So this makes way more sense. Yeah, yeah. It's Adamo. And that's what kind of Brindley actually gave me that. nickname. And then I, me and my brother played on the same team for a while, so it was a fans or fans or tills. I don't pretty much anything. Okay, because here's a big question. Tell us about the Lion King, because that is a nickname of your past in the USHL, and I need to know why that pops up online.

All right. The announcer there, Mark Citron, is a pretty out there kind of guy and I guess if anybody's ever heard a game that he's called they've made a comments on it they remembered it for sure and in my first year there he was calling me the lion cup all year until the clark cup final game um I scored in that game and in like in his call for like the goal he like starts saying like Hakuna matata like the ponds is long and like starts calling me the lion king And then the whole next season he called me the Lion King. And it was just kind of evolved that way. It was pretty funny.

And there's no explanation at all for the Lion Cub. Like just one day he was like, yeah, he's the little lion cub out here. I guess so. Because I was the youngest guy on the team. And I don't know where he got the lion from. Like, I don't know. Like, I don't know where I came from. I love it.

I'm so here for it. Yeah, I agree. But I knew you had something because hockey's the most nicknamey sport of all time. And I said to Dan, I was like, it's got to be fans or something. So I like A fans is my favorite so far. I think I'm going to roll with that if that's cool. Mo feels too personal.

And a couple more hangs I can get to Mo, but for now, A fans. We'll stick with that. Dude, something that's very topical that I feel like we can all sort of reminisce about and be sad about together. I know you grew up a Bruins fan. So we got to talk about Burke. How are you feeling? I called my dad after a workout.

I saw on my phone that he retired and I saw his statement. I called my dad right after and me and him were both so upset. I was really looking forward to maybe being on the same life as to him and maybe taking a face off against him. I thought that was going to be a really special moment. But he had an amazing career. It's just weird to think about literally every year I've been on this earth. He's been playing at the highest level.

And now he's calling it a great career. That's crazy. That is a great career. fucking wild. I didn't think about that like, too, that is bananas. Yeah. That is absolutely absurd. Oh my God.

But I mean, yeah, it's, you're right. It's like, I mean, for you being able to say that literally every year you've been alive, Berg has been on the Bruins. It is, I did the same thing. I was, I was driving through Venice the other day. And I called my dad and I was just like, I don't know. It's not the same anymore. And we had so many debates because, you know, us growing up, it was Ray Bork was the guy.

And that was the first Bruins player that I kind of imprinted on and clung to. And then Bergeron sort of took that mantle. And I remember having discussions with my dad the last couple of years being like, I don't know, man. I think Berg is a more iconic Bruin than Bork is at this point. And my dad was always like, no, no, no way. And we were talking on the phone the other day. And he was like, I think you're right.

I think it is Bergeron now. And now that he's gone, it feels it's like, it's like Captain America being gone. Dude, everything's different. Yeah, I agree with you. I need to recalibrate. Yeah, 100% I agree with you. Oh, my God. How did you become, how did you, your dad, I guess,

that's probably how you became a beast fan, but how did your dad become a beast fan? So growing up, his dad was a Leafs fan or a Canadian's fan, I'm not sure. And then, so as he would grow up, he would always, like, root for those teams, just watching with his dad. And then as he was watching,

he was watching the era of Ray Bore, Cam Neely, all those guys going through. and he just fell in love with the way the Bruins played, I guess, like that rough style. And they were winning back then as well. And I guess he just fell in love with it. And ever since I was a kid, my dad kind of brought me into that culture as well. And he brought me down to, I think, three cup finals with the Bruins against St. Louis, Chicago, and Vancouver. So we would always go down and watch the cup finals there.

And it was really cool. That's, you know, what's really funny is we, we were in Boston game seven against Vancouver in 2011. And it's, it's really funny to me thinking about us out at the bars being idiots and you, Adam, being like seven watching that game, doing the same thing. We were there at the same time. You know, we were basically brothers in arms in that moment. I love it. Yeah. Which game were you at in that Vancouver series?

I think I was at game. four or five. Sick. It was a blowout for sure. Yeah. It was in Boston. Oh, that was four then. Yeah. Yeah. And they were pumping like 50 by Luongo in those home games. So that must have been a good environment.

Yeah, it was great. Incredible. So electric. Okay, dude. So we got to talk some New England prep. You're a Kimball Union guy. I don't know if you know this. But where are New England prep guys too? Dan.

No, what? Yeah. Dan played at Phillips Andover. I played at Phillips Exeter. Wow. A little bit of a rivalry on our hands here. I love that. That's unreal.

Yeah. You know what's really funny is like there was an element of this that I was excited to kind of talk shit. Because when we were there, like we shit pumped you. Yeah, you guys are trash. Every year. But in recent years and especially when you were there, you beat the wheels off of, I mean, I think you guys beat Andover 6, nothing. So I can't say much right now.

This is tough. You know what? I don't even remember that game, to be honest with you. I'm trying to remember it. Do you know how I have any idea how much more? Yeah, how much more insulting that is. He's like a 6-0 beat down. He doesn't even register.

But dude, actually, go ahead. I'll go. I'll go. You got your debut, dude. You showed up as like December 7th or whatever. that season, and you played Vermont Academy at Exeter. That was your first game. You were at my barn, dude, playing at Vermont.

And you guys won 15-0. Like, what the fuck happened? Like, what happened? That was the most insane squirrel I've ever seen. Do you have 10 tucks? That was ridiculous. We showed up. I remember getting there.

And there was, like, stuff coming down from the ceiling. And I didn't know what was going on. And we were getting dressed in this, like, crazy dressing room. And I didn't know what was going. I had literally just gotten there and I was 14 years old and I just got thrown into this environment and guys were older and we had a good time but after like I don't know like midway through the second period we just kind of wanted to go home there and remember that. Yeah, of course, dude.

That Exeter Barn is like looks like a bunker, war bunker siloed or something too. So I imagine you walking and being like, where the fuck am I? I just left home at 14 and I'm in here. I don't know what was going on. in this decrepard barn their shit falling from the ceiling you idiots Chris you all you extra boys defend that place

like we're on a group chat the other day and I think it's the shittiest rink in all of New England prep and you are all losing your minds and I was like it's literally falling apart dilapidated piece of shit and we have fancier now to prove it this is ridiculous and dude

it's like I don't even know if you remember this Adam but there's no doors in the benches you literally have to jump you can only jump and the bottom floor of the bench is like you know waisted high when you're on the ice and the other rink there's probably no one playing when you guys are there but if there's another game going it's just open air between the two ranks so you just hear whistles like you're flying down a two-on-one you hear a whistle from the other rank and you're like oh I'm

offside and they're like oh no sorry that was the other game yeah I distinctly remember jumping the boards and almost falling my first time because it was it was a good like six foot like from the ice to the actual top of the band joe is oh yeah drop dude the funny part about that is So that rank is probably 30, 35 minutes away from where we grew up. So playing youth hockey, we had a bunch of games there. And when you're a little kid playing on that barn, you actually can't get over the boards. The coaches would have to lean over and pick you up by the shoulder pads and pull you onto the bench. It was so insane.

Dude, like Dam is saying, you guys were a wagon. You had a great year there. You personally, the whole team. And I don't know if this is right. So I was trying to look it up because you pummeled and, over 6-0. Dan was right. You beat Exeter.

You beat Exeter at Exeter 2, 4-1, tough. Smoked us both. And then I think Kimball had won like three straight Nepsax when you got there. I'm pretty sure. Like they were on an absolute heater. But they didn't even finish the finals. You're a year, right, because of COVID. Isn't that true?

No, we finished. But I think you guys did finish because you lost, right? Yeah, we lost. I remember I had just gotten hurt. and I was watching our final game and it was crazy to watch. I think they were playing Salisbury. Yeah.

Yeah. And I was watching with a couple of other guys that were injured and whenever we would send out our first line, we'd scored. And I forget the score of the game. It must have been like 6-4 or something like that. Dude, I think it was 7-4. Great memory.

Yeah, and we like sent out our first line and we'd score and then we'd like, they'd be able to for two minutes. They'd come off and we'd get scored on. And, like, it was just going back and forth the whole time. And I remember my brother must have to log, like, 35 minutes that game. It was a half the day. That was always the prep school of life, you know, like the top dogs, just like eating minutes, power play one, penalty kill one, doing everything.

It was ridiculous. Tell me if this is true, because I also read when you were there, you had a single dorm room as a 14-year-old. Is that true? I got there so late that the only thing open was a single dorm room in the dorm that my brother wasn't in. So I was in a building, like, away from him in a room that was barely fit my single bed. And it was, yeah, it was crazy. Well, dude, I'm sure it was tough. Yeah.

Well, yeah, I mean, like, it's, you know, we went to prep a little later in life and we would always laugh about some of these 14-year-old freshmen who are there. Obviously, it's great having Luca there with you. But, like, what was the KU lifestyle like for you? When you got there in that single room where you like, this is insane, I'm completely isolated. or did you adjust to it pretty quick and you were like, this is kind of sick. You're living away from home.

You're on campus. It's a cool lifestyle. Yeah. At first, I was just pumped to be around my brother again and be playing on the same team as him. And that was sick. But you guys have been to Kimball, correct? Oh, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. So it's literally in the middle of nowhere. There's no cell service. There's one like deli down the road and like a tavern if you want to get food away from the school. But other than that, you're eating in the cafeteria. I remember I remember I had the youth Olympics that year and I was getting a call to tell like to tell me that I've made the team but I and it was this was like the first time I would ever like represent Canada for anything. Yeah. And I was getting the call and I just called just kept dropping.

I kept dropping. And I had to climb up this this like bell and like this clock tower and get into like the top of the bell. was just to get like a bar so I could hear that I had made the team. So you can make the Olympics. Like, sorry, I just got to figure out I'm on the Olympics team. It was, it was a crazy like environment, but honestly, like going there, everybody was so much nicer than I would have expected, like, almost like overly nice. And you thought it was like a little suspicious at first. That's just how everybody was. And it was like a small community. Everybody knew each other and all your classmates to come to your games and stuff. It was like really a miniature college feeling. And it was really

really cool. Yeah, absolutely. I love that I have this image of Adam Flee soloing of Bell Tower right now, like hanging off the side of it, he made Team Canada. And he's like, great, thanks, guys. Dan, I'm still pissed because he's getting a single dorm as small as you say it is. I was in a room just as small. I'm 19. I was still there as a 19 year old in a double that barely fit me and my boy. So I think they just knew you were going to the show someday and I was a plug. So they were you can, you can bunk in the closet, buddy. But I got that. But I got that. I couldn't believe the size of the room, to be honest with you. And then, like, the walls were, like, cement.

I was going on here. Dude, my favorite moments with that shit was when you're, like, trying to feel at home and you're hanging posters with that weird little putty stuff they give you, and you're sticking it to cement walls, and it falls down two days later. And you're like, am I in prison or what's going on here? But, dude, it sounds like, you know, from where you came from and where your family lived, you actually got a little bit of heat going to New England prep. Like, do you remember any of that?

And what was the process in your mind of making the decision and how much of it was just wanted to link back up with your brother playing on the same team again? And how much of it was you being like, nope, I think this will be a great step for me and help me to get to that next level again. I said it was like 50-50. I tried to, so I tried to play minor midgette a second time. Like my brother had just left home and I had already played the year. And I kind of felt like it was getting a bit monotonous. And so I just wanted to, I went to go visit Luca. I forget what day it was.

It might have been like Canadian Thanksgiving, American Thanksgiving. I forget what it was. When I went to go visit him, I was like, oh my God, like I miss this guy so much. I can't believe like he's down here playing. And it looks like so much fun. And it's U-19. So like it would be a level up from what I was playing. And so I was like, I got to come down here.

And even if I want to go to the OHL, like I'll still be more prepared for that anyway. Yeah, no doubt. when I made the decision, I was like getting, at this time point, I like, like, like, legit, I'm 14. I got, like, so young. 400, 400 followers on Instagram. And I'm getting these DMs telling me that, like, never come back over the border. And I hope you never represent Canada.

And, like, it was just like, like, you're a fake Canadian. Like, all that type, all this type stuff. And I didn't like, dude, I'm just trying to play with my brother for, for a year. And I just feel out the college or high school vibe down there. It was, it was weird. Now you got two gold medals in each year. you can't hear him sorry buds yeah seriously i mean i i i understand why you limit yourself on social media these days if i was getting hate messages at 14 years old i don't think i'd ever pick up a phone

again that's absolutely absurd it was god but yeah i mean like like like you said it's i actually really love i mean obviously i didn't try to follow in chris's footsteps because he's an absolute dust but i i i can totally relate to you know how fun it is playing with your siblings and and the way you push each other and stuff like that. So, you know, obviously you guys played the steel together and then it was off to Michigan. Did you feel like you got any of that as well? Because that was, you know, with the caliber of player you were, man, when you made the decision to go to university in the states, I know there was a lot of comments as well being like, I can't believe this kid's going to college instead of continuing to play in Canadian junior.

And did you feel like your experience with what you went through going to Kimball absolutely helped with that being like, nope, in one ear, one out, out the other. and just like going to play with Luca, having a new experience. Were you excited? Did you have any doubts? What was going on then? Yeah. So that year at Kimball made me grow up fast.

I think I matured really quickly there. Learned a lot about myself. Like I said, being in a single dorm room, like you're alone a lot, so you learn a lot about yourself. And obviously, I had the stuff that was going on on on social media and stuff like that, you learned to deal with that quickly. So when I made the choice to go to Chicago, all things that I was hearing on, like, Twitter or DMs or anything like that,

it kind of just didn't really affect me at that point. And then after a while, like, while I was in there my second year, it just kind of died off and you're just out of the limelight a little bit. But when I first went down there, there was that COVID year and OHL didn't even play. So I got to play a full season.

And I just wanted to go back. And I was like, hey, like, go back another year. If I still want to go to the OHL, I still can. Yeah. It's amazing the rules of the OHL versus. is the USHL and you can only go to the OHL once you go to the OHL, but if you go to the USHL for one year, you can go back two years and college.

I feel like it just kept more doors open. And yeah, when I went to Michigan, I was just super excited to get to play with my brother for another year and push each other. And we lived together in the dorm room, which was really, really cool. So it was awesome.

That's sick. Yeah. And I mean, you know, I know you've answered a million questions about, you know, this, like the decision to go to Michigan and everything like that. But what I'm more curious about is, you know, you go there. You obviously meet a ton of great guys that you're still buddies with now.

And I'm sure that that network branches out and goes, extends into the new team that you're playing for now in Columbus, which we'll get into. But do the thing that I'm most curious about is what was it like being at Michigan, dude? Like was it sick just being like, let's take hockey away. You go to one of the coolest universities in the states with some of the best sports programs. You guys are a wagon when you're there. The football team is a wagon when you're there. It's one of the most fun campuses in the world. Just tell everyone about you're just genuine as just a kid college experience at Michigan. You beat Ohio State, dude. Like, come on. Yeah. So, yeah, taking hockey away from it first, the way I like to describe it is like some people would say you're balancing going to school and playing your sport. But the way I looked at it

was it was two completely different lives that you enjoyed the heck out of where you wake up and you go to the gym and you work out with your buddies, but then you go to class and all your classmates are unreal. You get to meet everybody. Everybody has different backgrounds. Everybody somewhat knows you from coming to your games or whatever it might be. So you just get to know them. And then the football team was an absolute wagon this year.

They won the Big Ten. And when they won the Big Ten, we were actually like mid-game against Harvard. And we're in this third period or the second period or something. And plays like in the neutral zone. It's like a scramble in the neutral zone. And nothing's happening. Like there's no offense being created. and our arena just starts going nuts,

like as if we had just won a championship. And I was like, what, like, what the heck is going on? Then our Zamboni doors open, like, midplay, and the entire football team starts coming out. With J.J. McCarthy came out and, like, dabbed up our goalie, and it was so, so cool. We couldn't believe, like, the environment that was going on. Oh, that is sick.

That is insane. Yeah, it was the most fun I've ever had every single day. I could not believe. I don't even contemplating going any other route. I had so much fun. Yeah, I feel like you're a big Michigan guy now. Like I feel like you're, I mean, I love that we got the sweater in the background right now as well,

but it's like, it's just, it's just everywhere. Yeah. No, but it's sick. Like you bang the drum for Michigan a lot and it's like, that's what pumps me up is. And it's when you can kind of see that the brotherhood,

if you will, of all the guys who've played there now who are in the league. it's pretty fun to see because I feel like you now probably maintain some friendships with Michigan boys who you didn't even necessarily play with. But it's just like you all know each other and get to hang out and chat and stuff. And that just makes it so much fun. Yeah. Our freshman class was phenomenal. We had a 12-guy freshman class, which is crazy.

And we had a really good group of guys that we always hung out with. And even like the classes that came before us were amazing guys. And the guys that were graduated or left to go play pro or always come back. and give you advice or whatever it may be. So, like, the alumni, I want to say, like, with Michigan is just so out there that, like, you have guys like Andrew Cop, Kyle Conner, Dylan Larkin, Owen Power, like, all these guys that have been high-profile guys and you're basically following in their footsteps, living in the same house as they were living in, going to the same spots and playing

on the same rank. And it was just, it's really, really cool. I never thought about the living in the same house. That's pretty sick, actually. Like, they were all just in the same place. Yeah. That's awesome. Andrew Copson.

It's really, really cool. Amazing. That is sick. Part of me is like, I hope that there's some element of you guys, like, leaving your mark in the rooms when you leave. So it's like, you just have this NHL All-Star squad of people who have lived in that house and been in the same room. That is so much fun.

Yeah, some guys will, like, leave their name bar. or like they might have won like the other house there's like a full like glass award but I don't know how it hasn't broken yet but it's

everybody kind of leave something it's pretty cool they're gonna have to get another house for all your awards they're gonna get around another place put all your hardware over there let's get into your season yeah let's bring hockey back into it

because I do need to I need you to know I for whatever reason it started when I was like six I'm a huge mission fan like massive massive massive and uh i i was as as invested as you last season i assure you so i need to i need to get you into this so chris take him away uh so dude you and dan's not lying by the way his whole bedroom when we were kids was painted michigan colors and i was like you're spas but it

totally poor totally worked later uh so you have a monster year dude obviously you know you know the stats 30 goals 35 assists you win everything you win every trophy frozen four appearance just tell us like minus the natty that must have been pretty close to your wildest dreams of a freshman year at michigan right so like just tell us kind of like some highs of that year like some of your favorite memories from that unbelievable story brook season you guys had yeah like was it surreal adam like did you i mean like you said your freshman class was preposterous did you guys know did you have a feeling going in you were going to make noise or was it kind of every day, was it like, holy shit, we're out of control?

Well, the first half of the season, if you were falling as close as you said you were, we did not have a great start. Yeah. And I guess that's like tribute to 12 freshmen that were young, we're immature and didn't play like at the style, like as disciplined as we could have. But I honestly, I couldn't believe it. We were in the gym the last summer and I work out with the Hughes is a little bit. and Luke had a monster year, his freshman year or two,

and he would always come up to me and ask me, like, legit, like, how many goals he's scoring this year? Like, how many are you going to have? I was, I was like, I don't know, man. He's like, no, give me a number. Like, I want a number. And I was like, what did you score? And he had, like, 17 or something.

And I was like, I don't know, like, 15. I just want to contribute. I just want to do what I can. He's like, 15? He's like, we're not winning anything if you score 15 goals. So he's, like, giving it to me. I was like, okay, I got to try and elevate it. And, like, going in, like, all our upperclassmen were phenomenal when we first got there.

Like, so welcoming to all the freshmen and showing us around and making sure we were all safe and all good. And it was amazing. And then going into that start of the year, we had a good start production-wise. Obviously, it didn't win as much as we wish we could have, but we had some good production. And World Juniors happened. We won World Juniors, which was amazing. and then came back from Willa Juniors got pumped by OSU in our own barn. And it was embarrassing.

And I think that was our, that was kind of our wake-up call when all the guys came back from old juniors. And we just got slapped around in our own barn. And we kind of had to figure out at that point. And then we went on a bit of a tear after that and worked towards the Big Ten, won the Big Ten. And we won regionals and went to the Frozen Four. Obviously, it didn't go our way. And then after that, world championships and then the draft, and it was all a lot. Before, before Dan buries you for your frozen four loss, the Big Ten ship must have been sick, though, beating Minnesota.

That must have been a hell of a night. You know what? If there's a team in college hockey that I'd like to beat again, it was that team. I love that. We had a huge rivalry with that team, and Third Barn hated us when we went in there. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if you guys watched that goal that was scored. Yeah. I thought it was game after that.

I was like, there's no way scoring that goal to go up three to in the third period in that barn. That was like the craziest goal I've ever seen. I didn't even see it. And then I went out to take the face off and I'm looking up, looking at the Jumbotron. And Nize is looking at me from across the dot. And he's like, dude, like, what just happened? We couldn't believe. That is so sick.

Well, that mid-third period, the two people were like, holy shit. I have no idea how that happened. We're like, dude. And then we ended up like pulling it out. And it was huge because we went back-to-back years in their barn, which was pretty cool for us. So it was a monster. Man, I'm really curious. And I know tons of people are curious about this.

You think about something like college hockey. There's tons of guys, I'm sure, you know, a lot of, or I know a lot of your teammates, a lot of your classmates who don't have aspirations to play at the next level or maybe it's not in the cards. And their mentality is so much different than what you're going through. And I'm just so curious to hear, how did you find it balancing the mental element of the game when you're doing something like World Juniors? And then you come right back and you play in such a huge game and then you're right back into the college season and you're chasing. a national title. But you're also thinking about the fact that you're going to be a top five NHL draft picks soon.

And it's like, you know, I just think it's so interesting to be playing at that high of a level with that high of stakes going for something like a huge championship that Michigan hockey hasn't had in a while. And then you've got people like yourself in your shoes. And then Luke, for example, who, you know,

you guys lose. And what was it? Four days later, he's on a plane and he heads to New Jersey to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs. It's like, what is it like? Yeah, the next day.

That's right. So it's like, what is it like for you guys? And what are you saying to each other? How do you keep yourselves, you know, just like mentally healthy when you have so many different things? I mean, dude, you're playing for a gold medal, a national championship, and then for your future, for yourself to make it to the NHL and be a top draft thing. How do you balance that? Yeah, I mean, I have a mental performance coach. She's great.

I talk to her multiple times a week during the year. and something that like we focus on all year and pretty much for the last I want to say six or seven years I've been working with her it's just like kind of being where your feet are and it kind of came most handy this year like you get to campus and you know okay be where your feet are have fun your first week of school be a college kid and then again when your first game starts like you're standing in yo so just be as present as possible and then you know you're trying to make the world junior team, but what's more important at that point is winning with your team there. And then you get to World Juniors and you try and be as present as you can there.

And then once that kind of takes place, you just leave in your rearview mirror and worry about what's in front. And at the end of the year, after you do that a couple times and you do that with the big time, you do that with the Frozen Four and the draft and world and everything, at the end of the year, you can kind of take a second when you go home or go on vacation wherever you are and just kind of reminisce and look back at the body of work or the year. just kind of enjoy it that way, but maybe you don't get to enjoy it as much as you want to mid-year, but you're more just chasing your best version of yourself and not focusing on what you're

accomplishing or anything like that, and then looking back after the season and trying to just enjoy it at that point. That's a phenomenal answer. I hope I'm sure the mental coach was really prepping you for today. You know, like be present. You're going on netters. Like you can reflect after, you know, but just like be there with the boys. We actually talked about this before.

I love it. Let's go. Dude, I would never ask you to speak for Luke, but like, you know, you mentioned he literally left the next day after you guys lost and he was off playing for the devils. Is that something that you guys talked about with each other? Or do you do you and did he kind of try to put that as out of sight out of mind as possible while you're playing for the national title? I mean, we did talk about it. And it's hard for him because we're going to the Frozen Four, but he's bringing an extra bag. Like he knows. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

And I guess it's tough. I mean, we had the Hobie Baker ceremony right like the next day on the Friday after we had lost. And the whole team was there. Obviously, I was upset that Hughes couldn't be there, but he was too busy to scoring overtime winners. Scoring national hockey league. Putting all you guys in his rear view. Yeah, I know. That's exactly what I said, though.

Like, it's kind of going to the next thing. And then I'm living at his house right now. Like me and Luke are living together right now. We just kind of look back at the year and enjoy it. But for him, it's weird going into your biggest game, your college career, but then also having a separate bagpacked for the second you're done. So it's really weird. Yeah, no doubt.

Unbelievable. All right. Dude, I'm going to kick it to worlds because this is something that I've always dreamt of as well as partook in in certain ways. But I know playing for Canada has always been a huge. huge thing on your list of dreams that you want to accomplish. And here we are, you haven't even played a second in the NHL yet, and you have two gold medals.

You once called that your favorite hockey memory. Do you think currently it still stands that way? It's so hard. I mean, this entire year I put as my favorite. Yeah, wow. Good answer. I can't put one thing over the next because at the World Juniors, that environment, I've never,

I've still never seen anything like that. And I've been to game sevens. I've been to like deep playoff runs. And I could not believe when we would score, especially like against the States when we scored. And Heaveaway came on. And you could just see like a sea of red jerseys bouncing at the same time. Yeah.

And like how loud that building got. Oh my God. It was so cool. Especially like after we won like singing the anthem. And like you couldn't even hear the actual music being. played because everybody was singing it so loud. It was so special. And then coming

back and you win the Big Ten, and you're like, these are my brothers. I just won another championship with these guys. I'll never lose again. Like, obviously, like, I know how hard championships are to come by. They don't come by easily and you're extremely fortunate when you're on a team of that Caliburna

team that accomplishes that much. And as soon as we had finished up, obviously not winning the national championship was was tough but we were we were on our freshman trip in florida and i got the call that i had been selected to play for canada at the world so got on a plane the next day and drove down did you uh did you have to climb a bell tower for that call as well or was that i was in brinley's backyard um in florida we were on we were on jet skis just kind of having a oh my god hold on hold on Were you literally on the jet ski when you got the call?

Someone came down the dock and said your phone's ringing. Jesus Christ, dude. This guy only takes international team selection phone calls in some absurd place. This is amazing. Yeah, it was so cool. And I was like, oh, my God, like we haven't been skating for like two weeks, two and a half weeks. So I drove straight down or flew to Detroit, grab my gear. And I was going to start skating in Ann Arbor and start getting ready.

And then I walked into Yost and there was no ice. And I was like, what am I too? So I jumped back in my car, drove straight down to Chicago. And I lived with my old Bill of family. I skated with the steel before they were getting ready for their playoff run. And then I flew out to Budapest for their training camp. So it was such a wonderful thing. Thank God you picked the USHL over the O.

Because otherwise you would have been trash at Worlds because you would have had nowhere to skate. and it would have been a disaster. It all added up, yeah. Dude, growing up a Bees fan, what was it like lacing him up with Luch? It was amazing. He's the best. He's exactly who I would have thought he would be.

He's amazing. He was so helpful for me. I didn't know the locker room and being around the guys. We played on a line for a few games together there. Assisted your goal, dude. Yeah. When I got that pass, ass and I ended up going

and I was just I was actually kind of scared I think you can see the fear in my eyes after the goal when I see him skating at me just like straight face and I was just so intimidated for about five seconds yeah you're like

I'm like kind of bundle me right now what's going to? I definitely like showed him some I actually have some pictures but I have pictures in my basement and I have his jersey in my basement and it's like me and him and I'm I think

10 or 11 years old or however old I was how was I think I was six or seven when the Bruins won the cup and I took some pictures with him and they're framed in my basement and believe it or not this is actually I'm not even going to say it never mind oh come on oh come on you have to say it now I didn't have like I didn't name them but my dog is named after Lucheecheech. Yes that is fantastic does he know that yeah do you tell him and I told him and I told him that and he was like at first he was like laughing and I think it's funny and he's like dude like I started juniors the year you were born like let's just let's just leave this like he just didn't want to talk about anymore but it was it was funny like he was he was

amazing and he was just so helpful what kind of dog was it um it's I don't even know the breed it's not like it's like a family dog and I haven't but a big dog though I feel like Luchich has to be a big dog I can't mean you have a big dog I don't even size dog I have I don't know. He'll take that, I think. Yeah. Dude, what was the difference between the downtime at World, like, when you're between games at World Juniors and you're with, like, the boys in every of them, you know, 17, 18? What's the difference between the downtime there and then the downtime between games at Worlds when you're just like with fully grown adults?

Yeah, so being in Halifax, we kind of had a lot of things on the go. Like, we had a lot of signings we had to do and, like, appearances at a team. that we were doing there. We really, we were kind of on lockdown, to be honest with you, with everything that hockey Canada was kind of going through and with the World Junior Squad and everything that way. So we understood the precautions they were taking. And we didn't really have a lot to do.

We got like an hour or two every other day to see our families. And that was pretty much it. But at Worlds, we got to like hang out, go to dinners, do pretty much anything we wanted until like we had to be on the bus. So we really got to like see Budapest, Latvia, Finland as like just seeing like European countries and cities. It was so cool. Yeah, that's amazing. What would you say was the biggest difference in the game? Like, you know, it's, you're playing in two international tournaments in a matter of what, six months apart from each other. But I've got to imagine that the physicality

element and the speed elements of those two different tournaments must have been way different than people realize. Yeah, I mean, it's obviously, it's a little bit quicker. Um, physicality yeah like they they hit a little bit harder they're smarter about their heads but the biggest thing i noticed was was how good they are with their sticks and like getting their sticks in planes and taking away time and space that way like when you think you have a lane and you go to pass it like someone like is already reading that same play so just getting used to their sticks that way was was probably the biggest thing i noticed that's awesome uh okay a couple draft questions for you uh and this this video actually we did get to air when we met you

with the draft. You kind of gave us a little tease of your suit and everything and what that was going to be. And then obviously everybody knows now you had that epic vest with everybody's name on the back and stuff. Everyone that, you know, supported you and got you there. So I wanted to ask you, because Dan and I got to make, we got to make a lot of lists for the, for the account, you know, top 100 players here and top 10 goalies there, whatever. And every time I make a list, there's always that like one off, you know, like who's 11 that got left out of the top 10? So I heard you say you had like 140 names on there counting the family names but dude i just feel like who was one 41 like i think there's a zamboni driver at k ua that's fucking fuming because he's like dude

i was the guy like i'm cutting that ice so how hard was that to trim down the list you know what it was it was tough um i tried to get everybody that that actually had a hand and getting me there on there that's why there's so many names um i'd say like at this point at this point I don't even know. Dami, to be honest, I don't know if you're on there. Yeah, look. I was going to ask you, Dami on there, because if not, that's brutal.

Yeah, I think Dami might be the 11th one that I wish I could put on there now. But next year at the awards, which are in Vegas, by the way, next year when you're winning rookie of the year, you need a bigger vest because I want to be on it. I think, you know, I can slide you some cash around the table, whatever, but we got to get more names, bigger vest, bigger suit, something, we'll figure it out.

But you got a lot of work here. We'll just edit the vest and we'll... Yeah. It'll be... I can be really small font. I don't care. That's fine. Just like put it down there in the bottom corner.

Dude, speaking of the draft, we had a Cutter-Gotee on and he told us some really funny stories about some of the GMs he met with and some of the questions they hurled at him. He got asked by one GM, what animal would you be? And then another asked if he went into a public toilet and there was a $100 bill in the bowl, would you grab it and shit like that? So I'm curious if you can share with us any of the wildest questions you got

from some of the GMs you talked to or met with. Also curious if CAA gave you some preparation. Yeah. Were you doing your job done? To get your reps in? Yeah. So I got the animal question as well on and off the ice.

What animal I was? Do you say Lion King? The answer? I didn't say Lion King. I didn't say that because that's like a generic answer I heard. And like apparently I don't like that. So me and Brinley were going in there. Just, we're like, you know,

let's just like mess around with this question whenever we get it. So I'm pretty sure like off the ice, he said he was a seahorse or something like that. And I said like golden retriever. And we were just kind of just messing around with it just to try and get them the laugh. Because like, I don't know how much me telling them what animal I would be would give them about my personality.

So we were just messing around with that. And, um, it's clear that Columbus likes that then. Yeah, yeah. End up in the same place. Exactly. We, yeah, like me and him both approached our interviews the same way. Like, we were just going to be ourselves. And, like, they're all, most of them are played the game, been around the game forever.

And they're hockey guys. So, like, just treat them the way you, you'd want to be treated. I just kind of have the conversations that you'd want to have and then keep it light and not try and get too serious or anything like that. So we both just wanted to be ourselves and hopefully they like us for us, which was great. We were also roommates there, which was so much fun. But back to the questions. All right.

I feel like the people got to know. Did you have any conversations with the Ducks? Did you meet that with them before the draft? Yeah. So when they pulled me in, there was a lot of people in there, and it was just me on the other side of the table. And I was obviously a little bit intimidated. Like there's a lot of people in there and having that conversation. And they're asking me pretty standard questions.

And I was just kind of getting more comfortable. And then the GM was sitting right in front of me and probably like three feet away from me. And everybody else was like behind them asking me questions. And then he wasn't saying anything. And then straight in front of me, he had your linemates taped their sticks. And I kind of caught me off guard at first. And I was like, all right. I tried to think back.

And I was like, oh, I do know how Brindley tapes. a stick. I do know how Margarorety tapes of sticks. I started like rattling off how they tape their and like thick or thin tape. If they do the toe, um, like puck marks, not puck marks, whatever. Oh my God, dude. Top and bottom. Oh, yeah. I did, I did their, uh, I did their blade and their bottom. Uh, I was, how does. Adam was like, uh, give me a stick. I'll show you exactly how they do it. I'll, I'll give you this diagram. Exactly. And, um, I guess his, like, reasoning behind it was like, you played with St. Louis and had that yellow stick. Um, oh, My God, dude.

You'd see it behind guys or anything like that. So I guess it made sense, but at first it caught me off guard. Well, yeah, it was easy for him, dude, because he said, look for the yellow stick. He's asking you, like, dude, is it thick or white tape or thin white tape? And you're like, Jesus Christ, bro. I would have been so rattled if in that meeting with a ton of people, the GMs just straight in front of you, not saying a goddamn word until that question. Especially if everyone else is like, you know, how was Michigan? How was worlds?

And you're like, pretty good. And then they're like this bang. Tell me everything about every stick tape you've ever seen. It's exactly how it was. Everybody was behind him. And he was just sitting right in front of me, like, not saying anything for a while. Yeah. He's like, who spends the most time in the showers?

And you're like, what the fuck is going on? All right. And then what about Columbus? Yeah. Yeah, what did they say? So I had dinner with Columbus. I think it was Tuesday night or Wednesday night. And I had an interview the day after.

And we went to dinner. and everything went really well. We were just chatting it up and then having a good time. And as I was going back, they dropped me out at the hotel and I was going up the elevator and I got a text and I was like,

hey man, like, you don't need to show up to the interview tomorrow. Like, all good. And I was like, oh, are you guys sure? Like, is that, is that right? Like, yeah, like, you're pretty much our last interview of the day anyway. Like, it's all good.

And then I had another interview once I got to Nashville with Anaheim. in like the top floor of the hotel. And once that had finished and I was going down the elevator, I just, this is a complete fluke, but I just ran into the entire Columbus organization as well.

They had another conversation with them there. Oh, and then went back to my Airbnb, and that was kind of the story of both of those interviews. Dude, what a flex. When that happened, like when they text you and they're like, hey, we're good, we don't need the interview.

Did you feel good about that or bad about that? Were you like, oh, that must have meant the dinner went great? or were you like, oh shit, they don't even want to talk to me now. That's what I was saying of Brindley. Like, I was in the room and we're just watching Netflix. I was like, dude, is this good or bad? Did I blow it? I don't know.

Yeah, I feel like my mind would have been spiraling. I would have been like, I think I absolutely bundled that. Like, what is going on? They make fans pay for dinner. They're like, yo, why don't you? Can you get half of this, bro? Also, interviews canceled. Like trying to interpret a text from a girl.

You're like, I don't know if she likes me. all or like if this is going well or not this is awful oh shit that's too funny unreal well clearly it did go well and they called your name third which is an iconic moment for you you'll never forget it obviously unbelievable night and i've heard you say in interviews already a lot of stuff about why obviously you had made that comment before the draft like that that would be a good fit so you know it is a great fit organizationally for you be trying to be a center which i know what you want to play and it's close to home and there's michigan guys there right like all that stuff totally works and that's awesome and you look good in blue you know everyone's happy about that so that's great you

know but can you tell us at all just like other than just being in the n hl which is epic can you tell us what maybe you're most excited about to be playing there this season you know it doesn't have to be like with this guy or whatever but just anything you're most excited about coming in to be it to be a blue jacket next year yeah there obviously is a lot of big names on the team um guys like wrenski guys like gudrow line a all those guys are like big name nchel guys guys are like nchel guys and obviously to learn from those guys and be in the same locker room and go on the road with those guys is going to be really, really cool. Being able to play in different NHL arenas is going to be really, really cool. Yeah, good one.

Maybe going back to Toronto. That'd be really, really cool. And then just playing against guys that I grew up idolizing. I know we're in the same division as the Penguins. So being able to play against Crosby is going to be really cool. So buddy buddy November 14th just so you know home versus pit opening opening draw dude one C versus one C you got to do it so mark your calendar. I don't know if you guys heard that story about Zegrois asking I think it was O'Reilly or dry

cytidal uh like 200 bucks for the first face off it was dry dude and he was like shut the fuck up dude I heard he won the face up and he got the Venmo request after like he got the oh really that's epic I didn't hear that part of it. I don't know if that's actually true. That might just be through the grapevine, but I thought that's what I heard on the podcast or wherever he was saying it. I'm rolling with it. You got to win that draw.

That's going to be a nice thing. Snap one back against Sid. I'm going to be, I hope so. That would be crazy. I just put one into his fingers, dude. Yeah, go forward, dude. He's not ready for it. Go forward.

Go right between his legs right around him, dude. Give him a little pat on the back on the way by. How helpful is it with all of the, those Michigan boys there. It's like, I mean, what a, what an incredible, I mean, Brindley getting drafted as well, seeing how pumped you guys were, like that, that just like filled me with joy just from a, you know, personal level of knowing the game and playing with your guys. But I feel like it's got to be a pretty awesome element to get there and have so many Michigan guys on the team already. It must make it a little bit easier. Yeah, obviously,

you got Kent Johnson, Nick Blankenberg, Wrenski. Like, it's like so many guys that have been through exactly what I've been through, and you can kind of relate to them that way. And like I said, the alumni part of Michigan is what's so great. Like, you got guys that are always willing to help and guys that are willing to have a hand in your development and just be there for whatever you might need. So right now, like me and Rinsky are at the same gym

and skating together sometimes. So he's giving me some tips, some pointers. And I'm just asking him a ton of questions. I'm sure he might be getting annoyed with it at this point. but I'm asking him he's muted your text thread yeah he's like dude and then

Michigan with Brinley there and then Brinley getting drafted it was just such a cool moment to be looking across each other and she was sitting right beside me when that pick was made and I'm pretty sure I stood up

and my chair hit the wall behind me and I just like sort of jumping around and I'm pretty sure I started crying when I gave him a hug it was so emotional and we were both so pumped. God, that's awesome.

I mean, like I said, like, you know, just knowing the game and loving the game, seeing that moment and how pumped you guys were like that. It was so fun for every fan to see. And that's the type of stuff that I feel like gets Blue Jackets fans so fired up. It's like when you see that the team with already such natural built-in chemistry, it just takes your fan base to the next level when it's already at such a great level. So it's only good for everyone involved in the Blue Jackets organization. and the fan base. So it's just so exciting. And then a really cool thing, you've got Babcock coming in.

And, you know, I'm a big Red Wings guy if I'm not rooting for the Bruins. I just, I grew up loving so many of those players and idolizing so many of those players like Lidstrom and Dotsuk and Zetterberg. And Babcock obviously is a guy who kind of has a tough guy reputation, but he's also got a billion playoff appearances. He's got a cup. He's got three finals appearances. And I feel like sometimes with a coach like that you'll hear people be like, oh, you know, I'm not sure if this player's going to like him or that player is going to like him. I feel like he is actually a perfect personality and coach for someone like you and watching the way that you've played and that really great element of your game, how you've kind of embraced the grit. And I know people look at you as such a huge playmaker

and a star player, but I also know that you like scrapping and getting down and dirty with the game. So I'm excited. I know you're excited. So how excited are you to play for a guy? like that and learn from a guy like that and be able to show all the different facets of your game. Yeah, I mean, I don't think there's anybody better to teach you how to be a pro fast and teach you how to be a pro the way you want to be a pro. I wouldn't want to have someone else and who kind of just like lets me go and I build some bad habits. And then I have a coach like Babcock who's trying to mold me the other way. I'm excited to go on there with no expectations and tell him to just basically coach me. I coach me to be the best player I can be. I know he's coached players that are that are far,

far better than me and far better than I'll probably ever will be. So I just want to be able to be the player that I can be and the best player, best version of myself I can be. And we did have that conversation and then we spoke. And I just told him, whatever it really takes, I just want to be the best version of myself. So you're a Hall of Fame coach and I'm just really excited to be on the squad for you. What were, yeah, what were some of your first interactions with him like? Like, what's,

what's he like just on a personal level when he first talked to him? At first, I was extremely intimidated. I was. But then, like, talking to him and just,

and getting to know him, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, just amazing to talk to. So he's,

I've, I've been building a pretty good relationship with him. Hopefully it continues to grow throughout the year, but, so far, so far so good. And I'm really excited.

Is he a straight shooter, or is he, like, kind of a funny guy? Like, what's, what's his vibe? he's both like honestly like he can turn it on and off um like when he when he turns it on like you can

tell and like you kind of sit up straight and uh it's but obviously he's one of the most respected people in the hockey world so you're always trying to make sure you're on when you're around them and yeah like like i said i honestly just couldn't be more excited to be working with him and and just trying to be molded by something like that so so far so good to you turn one over at the blue line in preseason and then and then I'll see how he's doing. Dude, well, one thing that I think is going to gel super well with him is we've read so much about your work ethic, you know, and Lucas said some funny things where it's like, you know, you've got your social media, no Twitter and like your timers on Insta and TikTok and, you know, you're in bed. You sleep into pitch black, by the way, which is, I don't know that's true, but so do I.

And Dan hates that shit. You two are psychopaths, man. I don't understand it at all. That's how you're supposed to sleep, Dan. No, dude, I'm Team Luca here. Like, you've got to fall asleep. Your team was light, you're a nightlight? Yeah, yeah, yes, he is.

Yes. Yeah, fuck yeah. I'm a goody guy, but yes, absolutely. Listen, falling asleep to pitch black and no noise, like at least get a fan going or like some ambient noise, because if you're in the pitch black just trying to fall asleep with nothing but your thoughts, I will off myself in minutes. I don't get how you guys.

Okay, but when you're falling asleep and there's lights on, do you not like start focusing on random things in the room like when your eyes open or like well i i just keep my eyes closed what the hell are you talking about you get the tvs get the tv going dude this lights and flash all the place is awful i like when it's your dialed in it's time to sleep you go to sleep pitch black i guess it's me too i get what you're saying but the phrase dialed in to go to sleep is the craziest shit but i agree you guys like I've got a little lesson for the both of you. Just relax.

Just like calm down and fall asleep. You don't need to be so geared up to fucking go to bed. It's insane. Oh my God. Team Buzzlight, your nightlight and family guy all day. So I'm like you fans. I totally get it.

And you know, you're early to bed. You're working hard. I know you've said so much about your mom and dad instilling so much of that work ethic in you. And I actually think it's funny to hear a lot of your old coaches. skating coaches, actual coaches say very respectfully that they're like, you weren't the most naturally gifted kid they've ever seen. You just worked. You have a ton of gifts and you worked.

You outworked everybody. You worked so hard, which I think is fantastic and a great, you're a great role model for kids out there. But we did read that you went to an eye doctor to improve your peripheral vision. Is that true? And did it work? I, so yeah, everything that all those coaches said is absolutely true. I was never like the best skater. I was never the best stick handler, the best shooter, the best, or really, I was never the past that anything. Except sleeper, the best sleeper. Yeah, but it really annoyed me when I wasn't the best at something. So I would go home like that night or that summer or whatever it might have been and dialed in on what my worst trait was. Like my hands were awful at some point.

and I like would go into my basement and my dad had this hockey room set out with synthetic ice and I just roll my wrists for for hours and go through pucks and stuff like that and until like some people could say like he's got good hands like he's like hands aren't like a downfall of his game and I did that with shooting I did that with skating and I tried to just build blocks on my game and and just work at it because like I said like Crosby's a guy that I grew up idolizing and obviously he talks about that a lot as well where like he just works at one detail until it becomes the strength of his game and um so that's kind of something that that i tried to do as well yeah dude i think um i think the peripheral vision is how you knew everyone

how everyone tapes their sticks you know like everyone's up there back there you didn't even know you were watching bro but it's all you locked in also i have a little piece of uh i don't even know what to call this for you a little factoid for you but i think we're going to i think this is going to change your whole career. I looked this up and goats like the animal have rectangle pupils instead of circular pupils, which gives them a 340 degree field division. It's the biggest of any animal. They have the greatest peripheral vision of anybody. So I think we might have a new nickname, dude. Before you even step on the ice in the NHL, you're already the goat because you've got the best perips. We've got the best proofs out there. So let's just see how that feels. We'll let that marinate,

but you're already the goat in my eyes for your straight, your rectangle pupils. I totally forgot to answer your question, too. When that happened, I was still in, I was in fifth grade, and my dad thought it would be a great idea that I go to this eye doctor and just do this training thing that he had found. And I was like, all right, like, I don't know what really to expect here.

like sure I'll go in and I go into this place and I walk into the eye doctor and they're like now like one building over like you gotta go to our training facility I'm like training facility what do you mean? This is this is which lens is better like

Yeah that was getting the letter test dude It's an E doctor. It's a big E yeah I walk like 10 steps down the sidewalk and I'm in this place and all of a sudden there's these numbers like spinning on a wheel in front of me and and there's these letters above me.

And as the numbers are spinning, I have to like, this is like my first time there. I have to call out, all right, find A and then find one and then B and then two and then C and then three. And I got to find it while I'm doing this. And then as like you're getting better,

like you're standing on like balance beams, just throwing balls at you and stuff. And believe it or not, I would put class to do this. My parents would let me go home. Oh my God. Mid-day on like my lunch break and I'd go to the eye doctor and I'd miss my fourth class or whatever it was once a week.

Yeah, algebra. Who needs algebra? I can tell you C3. Yeah. Little does fans know that this is not a real place at all? It's something his dad invented. Yeah. Yeah.

Literally. Oh, my God. I'm also so glad to find out that his dad was involved because when this story started, I thought you were going to say that in fifth grade, you were like, and then I just, I decided I needed better peripheral vision. And I was going to be like, what the fuck, dude? Like, how in the world are you at 12 years old or whatever you are making that decision? Yeah, well, that was the summer, that summer it was like, all right, like, dude, your decision-making sucks.

Like, you can't see anything on the ice. Like, you're just trying to dangle through everybody and skate through everybody. Like, what are you doing? And one of my coaches said that to me, and when I was like, all right, this is how we're going to fix it. Yeah. Go on my lunch break and go work out. You got hypnotized every day at lunch. Lighty, dude.

That is elite mentality right there from, from Pops. You got to love it. Oh, yeah. He was stowed out then. Dude, before we move into the final game, we're going to play with you here. We try to piss off Emily once an episode. And usually the way we do this is by discussing Harry Potter, which is something that we all love. Okay.

I love it. And we once saw that you, when asking the question, First of all, I got to give you credit, because you were asked the question, what house you'd be in. And your immediate response, like this, if this were a GM question, you would have nailed it because your immediate response was that that's up to the sorting hat, not me. Yeah. Which is a just dialed answer. You can't ask someone in the house. Yeah.

I don't know. This guy gets it. But you said Hufflepuff. And you hope for Gryffindor, right? Yeah. But you said you think it would be Hufflepuff. So why? And walk us through that.

What of your traits do you think would put you in health buff? Honestly, I was, I don't really, no, I just trying to was staying out of the lime white that way, because they weren't really as in the movies as Griffin, Doran, Sutheran were. Fair? So I was just, I think that's kind of like how my career's gone for a bit, just staying out of it for a bit, with Chicago and Kimball and everything that way. Yeah. But the more I thought, if.

About it, the more, I was thinking about that question, actually. Obviously, at Gryffindor's where everybody would love to be in. But we actually have a couple of jokes about Slytherin on the team, or if I said Slytherin, actually would have been pretty funny. So I do, I might have switched that up, but I don't really know. Dude, I think Slytherin would have been not only a really funny answer, but also maybe the correct answer because they get a bad rap. I think they're the most ambitious,

house and that whole all the work ethic story dude you're out here like correcting every wrong in your game ever and you might be a slitherin maybe i mean like i said i got to sit down in a chair and let the hat figure it out but yeah damn right maybe it could i could be a slutheran um i think i think melfoy gives them a tough rap but yeah yeah he's a bad egg dude there's some good witches and wizards who came from slithering people forget that oh yeah all right so what we're to do now fans is we're going to play our last game that we do with everyone it's called pass shoot score it's basically a ranking system so we're going to give you three things passin's great shooting's better scoring is the ultimate goal so basically of the three things score is going to be

the one you like the most shoot is going to be you know second pass is going to be third the thing you can kind of live without so we're going to start with a shared love of us i'm going to throw you right into Avengers. So your first pass you'd score. Captain America, Tony Stark, and Thor. Those are my three favorites. I knew it.

He's one of us, dude. I knew those are the three to pick, because I knew he was a real one. You actually, those were my three favorites. Me too. All right. All right, I'll pat. I'll put Thor at pass.

Which I hate to do. I'll put Captain America at shoot and Tony starts at the score. I'm team Tony too. Dan's upset. No, I'm a cap guy. I am. But how could you ever be mad about that? It's awful.

It's such a tough decision because those are the two, right? Like those are the two guys. They're iconic. They're iconic. What is your, give me quickly, like, top of your head because I know it's hard to pick. And we're talking the golden era, but what are your top five-ish movies? No order.

Just like, you know, five favorite. Endgame was great. Winter Soldier was awesome. Iron Man One. Iron Man 3 was actually pretty good. Dude, I love Iron Man 3. Everyone hates on that movie. It's a Christmas movie, which is great.

It's really, really good. And when you start branching out, like, Honestly, like the first Black Panther was really good. Oh, yeah. Yeah. And then Dr. Strange, one, was unreal. Yes. Yes.

Dude, our boy actually wrote the latest Dr. Strange. So we're dialed into those movies, which is nice. Also, I think Adam is my best friend now. The fact that he threw, the fact that you threw Winter Soldier in there is like, that's such a good shout. Not enough people give that movie. That movie is fire. It's just a sick espionage movie and no one talks about it enough.

It's unbelievable. Okay. So, all right, that's a good, that's a good five. That's a really clean five more movies. I'm very happy with that. Okay. Next, your next pass shoot score. This is, we're going into actors, okay?

Pass shoot score, Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper, Will Ferrell. Did you guys watch the thing where I was asked who, and then. Oh, yeah. All right. I'll pass Bradley Cooper, even though I love his movies, all of them. I just watched that new one. I think it's what's it called Chop Chop?

What's it called? The Kitchen One. Oh, Burnt. Burnt. Great movie. Great movie. Yeah, I'll put him in pass, and then I'll put Ryan Reynolds in, shoot, and then Will Ferrell and score.

Okay. Is the Will Ferrell squirrel strictly because of Elf? I don't know where that came from. Is that not real? You don't love Elf? I love Elf. Like, don't get me wrong. You have to love Elf.

But, like, I don't know where it came from that I watched it, like, 400 times. Yeah. I don't know where that came from. That's what it says. That's so funny. What are your, what do you, give me a, give me a favorite Will Farrell. Give me a favorite from each of those three guys. all right so

Bradley Cooper obviously hangover those are unreal right now is Deadpool's great yeah love those movies and then Will Ferrell I can't even like old school's unreal wedding crashers unreal

yeah he's barely in wedding crashes and yet he's still the best one he goes to show yeah it's screaming too oh my god dude I can't believe you just said that that's amazing that is such a good movie Very slept on movie. So slept on.

Yep. Fantastic. Great picks. All right. I got your next one. I feel like this one's going to be particularly hard for you. Yeah. So kicking it to food.

Pass you'd score. The first one you're going to give is from the same video, so you'll laugh. Yeah. Chipotle bowl, double brown rice, chicken steak, queso, mild salsa, lettuce and cheese. Breakfast at Strayhan Cafe with Luca. Come on. And then eating known as cherry cheesecake.

All right. We're going to put Chipotle in a three spot. Has to. Really pigeonholed him on that one. I kind of have to put it in that one. I'll put Stray Hannah too with my brother. What do you get there?

What do you get there? I have quite a few orders there. Honestly, I'm not even kidding. I think I have my own button on the screen. Oh, shit. Because I get this. That's a good feeling.

I get this waffle thing. And every time I go in there, I'm like, can I like take this out, put this in, and get two of these? And so I think I actually just got my own button. I'm pretty sure. That's fire. That is fire. These waffle things are like small waffles, but there's like four of them. Oh, yeah.

It's like a waffle flight. It's called the flight combo. Yeah, there you go. Sick. Now the fantili combo, but it was called the flight combo. That's really good. And then I really like the avocado salmon toast is really good. I'm a fan of that.

Yep. And I don't know. There's a ton of stuff there I get. And then I'll have to put anything made by my grandmother at one. Incredible. That's like I knew that was, it had to be one. But, you know, had to get her in there. By the way, I have to say, having multiple things that you choose from at one of your favorite restaurants is a pro move.

And I do the same thing. And not enough people. like, oh, this is my favorite place and I get this one thing every time. And I'm like, dude, you're not executing the menu like you could be. If it's your favorite place, there's going to be a lot of good shit there. Because someone's going to suggest it. And then you're like, I don't feel like waffles today. You don't have to go waffle. Exactly. Dude, obviously, we know your grandma that makes a great cherry cheesecake, but what's her, what's your favorite of her pastas? Like, what's the pasta dish she makes that you're like,

yo, this could start worse. It's mioki, 100%. Oh, really? Really? Wow. Oh, it's, damn. I was not expecting that. That is a good one. It's so good. And like every, it's almost like to the point where when you go visit Nonna and she makes you and Yuki and it's just you and her, you're sending a picture to the family group chat with all that kind of and everything.

Oh, yeah, have to. Make everyone jealous. Really rub their faces in it. Does she, is she down with crossing the sauces like a pink sauce or is that blasphemy for her? No, we don't do that. Dude, see, we've gotten really mixed reviews on that. A lot of players in the league are crossing sauces, and then we bring it up to some guys are like, yeah, everyone does that. But then we talk to actual Italian people.

They're like, absolutely not. Yeah, you go to a grandmother, an Italian grandmother's home and you try to cross sauces, you're going to get the, you're going to get the front of time. If I said to my non-like, can I please put Alfredo sauce with your tomato sauce? She'd kick me out. You'd never eat the yokey again. Rightfully so. That's not allowed. That is so funny.

Okay, we got your last one, dude. Vacations, okay? Pass chute score. Going back to Prince Edward Island where you had the family cottage. Going back to Italy. See, you can do all the sites. You can do all the big sites,

but you can also go back to Molese where the family's from, do that trip. Or go to Norway and see the Northern Lights. You guys did your research, man. Oh. All right, so two of them have family included. So I'm going to have to put Norway in a three spot, even though I really want to do that.

I think that would be really, really cool. Dude, I'll tell you this. Our dad is Norwegian. And I've actually seen the Northern Lights in Iceland. And it was a top two or three moment of my life. but I'm fixing I haven't been back to Norway to see the old man's family

so we'll go to Norway together and see the... Dibs I'm going on that trip together, yeah. Sounds good. I got a lot to see it. Yeah. I'm really, really jrothed about that one and then you're making me pick between two different sides of my family and it's not going to go well. Okay, you can have you can, you can score too maybe.

This is now the best moment of this episode. My mom's out of the family the Prince Edward Island one and my dad's side is going back to Italy. So I'm going to have to score and celebrate with those two. I can't shoot. There's no shooting involved. Two gold night. Two goal night.

I'll take that. That's acceptable. Do you guys still have the cottage? I think we, my grandmother still has one in PEI. We sold ours and they got a, we got a spot out in Canmore, Alberta. Oh, nice.

Nice. That's real nice. What was your favorite part of the Italian trip? Because I've done a very, very, very similar, like three places that are kind of the three places that you've talked about. Yeah. So first, we kind of like broken up where like we went to Rome first and did all the history stuff, like the Vatican, the Coliseum, all that stuff. I think you have to do that. 100%.

So we did that first. And my family's from just outside of Rome. So I got to see them and go back to Bignoli and see like where my. Like my grandparents grew up and stuff like that. So that was all really cool to see the history side of it. But then just going through Italy, like I love Tuscany. Chiquita was great. And then like the whole spot of being around Sorrento, Kathy, and the Almofi and everything going on over there is it's kind of like you can do it all in one day almost.

Dude. Yeah. People don't talk about it. It's kind of quick. Like you can see everything and then you're just chilling on the beach the whole time. And it's unreal. Yeah. So I loved all of it.

We basically went north from Rome. And like I said, went through Tuscany, Cinque Taitas, Sorrento, Capri, Del Maffi, and then kept going up. And we ended up in Milan and flew out of there. But it was,

it was really, really cool. Yeah, that's beautiful stuff. All right. Well, dude, we've taken up enough of your time. This has been an absolute blast. But before we let you go, is there anything you want to shout out or anything you want to nod to

before we send you on your way here? I just want to say thank you guys. Cheers. This was a big of time. Of course, of course. I enjoyed this. It was great. Listen, I knew that you were serious about this when you willingly didn't play golf to hop on.

Dude, but like I said, are you an eight? I heard you're an eight. An eight handicap? Yeah. I'm probably closer to a ton. Fuck, that's so sick, though.

God damn it. That's awesome. You lefty? No, but I said, I said at the beginning of this, we owe him around a golf when he comes through L.A. because we did rob him of this one. Yep. That's a good deal.

I actually do have a more funny story for you guys that way to prove. Oh, all right. Hit us. My dad's crazy. So he just asked me if I'm a rightie or a lefty in golf. And I'm a righty in golf, but I shoot left in hockey. And I started playing golf when I was like 7, 8, 9. and my dad made me a righty to balance out my back.

So my back wouldn't get overloaded just playing hockey. Dude, I have so much to say about this because I also play hockey lefty and play golf righty. And I think you played, you played lacrosse too. Did you play lacrosse lefty? Yeah, that's why. Yeah. So I played hockey lefty, lacrosse lefty, baseball lefty, everything lefty. But I throw righty, which isn't that weird.

But then I golf righty, which is weird. And mine was because of my dad, but only because he had ready clubs. Like when I was learning, he had ready clubs and just wasn't going to get me a new set. And my, I swear to God, dude, my, I have like, my shoulders are crooked. I have little scoliosis. And it's like my righty swing. I makes me, if I play golf a lot, I feel better because I've just been like turning my back that way instead of the other way that I always go. So I think I had the same path as you just unplanned.

But that is like, that is next level shit from your dad to not overload your back as a kid. Oh, yeah. He was dialed in from a young age. He was like, you're going to be playing hockey. So when you play golf, you'll balance out your back on the other side. I was going to say, your dad was all over it with so much of the idea. His name is Juliana. We call him G, and he's, we actually had his, on his 50th birthday party, it was super G theme. Where we, it's actually, it was pretty nuts.

We all got these shirts with like the Superman logo. Yeah. With a G in the middle. It was actually. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just because, like, all those, like, little moments and all the little things you would think about, he was before his time growing up.

Yes. Dude, he's definitely a Slytherin. I'll tell you that much. He was dialed on the ambition from an early age. No doubt about it. Well, shoutouts to Super G because he clearly did did his job right by you, which we'd love to see. But, dude, thank you. This was, like I said, one of the best times ever.

So I appreciate you coming on and we'll get you back on the golf course. Yes, absolutely. Thank you guys so much. Dude, of course.