Halford & Brough in the Morning - The Best of Halford and Brough 6/3/25

Episode Date: June 3, 2025

Mike & Jason look back at the previous day in sports, they talk yesterday's Abbotsford Canucks playoff loss that puts them up 2-1 in the series versus Texas, they hear from Elliotte Friedman on Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, they chat with BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke ahead of Saturday's home opener, plus they speak with Canada Mens Soccer manager Jess Marsch to preview Tuesday June 17th's Gold Cup matchup at BC Place. This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

You're listening to the best of Halford and Brough. Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na Sulla by Huru gets it back for Kero and front shot scores! A second shorthand and goal for the Texas Stars! Such a downer. Alright, give us a mooner. Hello, I'm Dr. Cheeks. I'm doing my rounds and I'm a little behind. Good morning Vancouver! 6 o'clock on a Tuesday. Hello, I'm Dr. Cheeks. I'm doing my rounds and I'm a little behind. Good morning Vancouver! Six o'clock on a Tuesday. Happy Tuesday everybody.

It is Halford and his bruv. It is Sportsnet 650. We are coming live from the Kintec studios in beautiful Fairview slopes in Vancouver. Jason, good morning. Good morning. Adog, good morning to you. Good morning. And Laddie, good morning to you as well.

Hello, hello. Halford and bruv of the morning is brought to you by Sands and Associates, VCs First and Trusted Choice for Debt Help with over 3,000 five-star reviews. Visit them online at sands-trustee.com. We are in hour one of the program. We're right at the start of the show. Hour one is brought to you by North Star Metal Recycling, Vancouver's premier metal recycler, pays the highest prices on scrap metal.

North Star Metal Recycling, they recycle, you get paid. Visit them at 1170 Powell Street in Vancouver. We are coming to you live from the Kintec studio. Kintec footwear and orthotics, working together with you in step. We got a lot to get into on the show today. It's a four-guester, and we got two guests in the eight o'clock hour, Jason.

So know what we learned today in the traditional format. We might sprinkle some in throughout the show, but the guest list today begins at six thirty. Greg Wyshinski, our ESPN insider from for the NHL is going to join us. It's media day today at the Stanley Cup final in Edmonton. Just one day ahead of the start of the series tomorrow. Wish has a huge profile piece up right now on ESPN about Brad Marshawn. Brad Marshawn says he wants to live in the moment in this Stanley Cup final. He don't want to miss a thing.

That's nice. Anyway, we'll talk to Wish about that. I also want to ask. Now I'm tired of the Brad Marshawn story. I was like, I was like, yeah, it's funny how, you know, he's become this kind of wise character. Now I'm like, it's a little too much. I'm back to not liking him.

Good, right ahead of the Stanley Cup final. That's good. I also want to ask Wish, what the heck is going on with the Dallas Stars? I know he's ensconced in Stanley Cup final talk, but the Dallas Stars sure took on a main character energy yesterday. We'll get into that and what happened as well,

but Greg Wyshynski at 6.30 to talk about all that. Seven o'clock, we asked yesterday, what's it like to be a fan of one of the worst teams in the 122 year history of Major League Baseball? Then we started thinking, what's it like to cover one of the worst teams in the 122 year of history of Major League Baseball? So we got Patrick Saunders, a Colorado Rockies beat writer for the Denver Post. He's going to join us at 7 a.m. at 10 and 50.

That's their record through 60 games, 10 and 50. Colorado is off to the worst 60 game start in MLB's modern era. So we'll talk to Patrick about all that at 7 o'clock. Then at 8 o'clock, going to be joined by Nathan Rourke, studying quarterback for your BC Lions. The Lions open their season this Saturday at 7 p.m. against the visiting Edmonton Elks, and that of course will be preceded at 5.45 by Snoop.

Snoop-a-loop, bring your green hat. He will headline the concert kickoff series at BC Play, so Saturday should be a lot of fun. We'll talk to Nathan about that. Working with Buck Pierce this preseason, the New Look offense. Maybe we'll even get a couple of questions in about his his famous brother, who's now a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

That's at eight o'clock with Nathan Rourke. Eight thirty. Very excited to get this guest on the show. We've been chasing him for forever. Jesse Marsh is going to join the program. Canadian men's national team manager. Canada has a very busy slate upcoming. They're going to play the Ukraine this Saturday,

then the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, and then the Cunka-Cab gold cup starts against Honduras on Tuesday, June 17th, right here, BC Place. Of course, Jesse Marsh will miss the first two games of the gold cup, because he's still suspended for that red card that he took in the nation's league against the US. So we'll ask him about what's the plan there.

That's why we love him, That's why we love him. What are you going to do? Do you have walkie talkies? How are you going to get down to the pitch? Talk to the guys on the touch line. He should be like, we've got a secret program. We've been working with some drones. Jesse, don't do that.

Apparently, this is roundupon. I didn't know this, but they don't like it when we use the drones. So Jesse Marsh is going to join us at 8.30. It's gonna be the final. Yes to the final segment of the show today We are giving away yet again for the second day in a row We're doing it every day this week a $50 gift card to white spot awarded daily caller number five at 815 this morning So right in the middle of the Nathan Rourke interview. The phone number is six. Oh four two eight Oh zero six50 that number again

604-280-0650 a $50 a white spot gift card white spot BC spot to celebrate all of life's big and little moments. Okay, that is what's happening on the program today It's a big show. Obviously we got a lot to get into so without further ado laddie, let's tell everybody what happened. What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened?

What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? What Happened? Making safety simpler by giving construction companies the best in tools or resources and safety training visit them online at bccsa.ca We should start with the Abbotsford Canucks their reign of terror over the Texas Stars ended last night Hopefully just abruptly they did lose game three of the Calder Cup Western Conference finals at the HEB Center The HEB Center Jason a 5-2 loss call it the HEB the HEB they, Jason, a 5-2 loss. They call it the HEB. The HEB.

They have 5-2 loss, so Vancouver, or the Abbots or Canucks, sorry, against the Texas Stars on Monday night. The show should apologize. We apologize. We made yesterday about Archer's Seelove and whether his tremendous play in the Calder Cup playoffs should make the Canucks think

any differently about their off season, about what they're going to do for the goal tending. We ask questions like, is Artie ready to be the backup next season? And then the star scored five times on him yesterday. 36 shots, five goals on three. Everything changes after that. Forget that plan. Don't trade Demko. I don't even know what plan we endorse I don't think we endorsed a plan, but I talked about it. Yeah, we just talked about it. Good. Could they do that and

Sorry Artie so game four you'll get you we won't talk about it. We won't talk about it So then prove us wrong again or whatever in the next game is the Halford Brough jinks And that's on us. That's on us game three Don't worry about anything. That was our fault. We won't ruin it again in Arthur Silov's defense It should be noted that the Abbotsford Canucks did not play very well in front of their netminder yesterday their once seemingly unbeatable penalty kill was dinged twice as Texas scored twice on the power play. Here's a crazy one. Texas scored twice yesterday, shorthanded.

Anyone want to wager a guess on how many shorthanded goals the Abbotsford Canucks gave up during the regular season? The answer is zero. None. None. They didn't give up a single short-handed goal during the regular season. This is a big time Halford or Bruv chicks. And they gave up two. This is big.

What do we do? How? The statistical anomaly alone. Anyway, Linus Carlsen did score again for the Abbotsford Canucks, but it was a very one-sided game for the Texas Stars. Can I play a bit of audio? Greg, you absolutely can.

You may have heard it in the intro, and I talked to you before the show, Halford, but the Texas Stars apparently have the loudest goal horn in the history of hockey. 15 seconds left, Linde with a shot, scores! Here's Hughes, backdoor pass, Blumel scores! Hooroo, Blumel shot, scores! Poclusine score!

Strongess! Gets it back for Carroll, and front shot scores! That's overpowering the broadcast. Doesn't sound that loud. Does it? Okay, I got some hum. It was drowning out Brandon Astle's call. I guess it's a smaller arena.

It's not like a big NHL arena. It sounds like the stars are in their horn. It sounds like the Dallas stars. They brought us in a smaller arena. To the Hebb. They said that the Hebb is quite small and intimate. I'm just kidding, I don't even know what H-E-B is. But they guess they go all out in Texas.

The things are bigger in Texas. This is a really dumb question, to the point where I'm like, is this what it feels like to be ADOC? Are all the horns actual horns or are some of them just played over the speaker? Good question. Because is that one just Dallas' horn that they play over the speaker? If it's that loud, I'm guessing it's the real horn or a similar horn to what they have there.

But there are a few teams that do play it through the speakers. Okay. And I know way too much about this than I probably should. Okay. I love it. But different.

Like do the Canucks have a real horn? Yes, the Canucks have a real horn and it's tuned to sound like the fairies actually. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, the, this horn in Boston and the horn in the New York Rangers arena are played through the speakers because of local municipal laws

about blaring horns indoors. This is the most- Certain places don't let you have indoor horns. This is the most interesting ever. Really? Yes, including Boston and the New York Rangers. So if you listen to the- That was a good follow up question.

If you listen, are you really the head of the Quiggy board? What? Really? That's why when you hear the Rangers of Ruin score, it's the same amount of honks. It's the same, it's a clip. They're playing a horn clip.

Every time. Wow, I didn't know that. That's so impressive, Greg. Do you know what the loud... I don't know why I know this info, but I do. Do you know what the loudest gold horn in the NHL is? I thought it might've been Dallas. Chicago.

Oh, they were one of the first too. 120 decibels. There you go. Chicago. Oh, they were in the first too. 120 decibels. There you go. Yep, I. Roberto Luongo would know that. Right, I heard it seven times one. Hey, hey, hey, hey, here's a good seg.

Okay. There's a lot of noise in the NHL right now. Oh. You know what? Woo. Let's go. We gotta get into this. Okay, so, all due respect to the Abbots for Connexion, we're moving along here because there there does appear to be some heat,

heat emanating from the National Hockey League non Stanley Cup division. Let's go through some of these key dates first, because I want to give everyone a sense of where we're at and what the next few weeks are going to be like, because we only get a couple of really good weeks in June leading up to the end of July, but before everything falls off. Okay. Uh, it's June 3rd today.

That's important. Does everyone know that? Uh, that one is important because, you know, live in the moment like Brad Marshawn. Uh, in fact, it's media day today at the Stanley Cup final in Edmonton. Um, so we'll probably for tomorrow's show at the very least, we'll have some, uh, audio to play if there's any good stuff coming out of Edmonton. Um, so we'll probably for tomorrow's show at the very least, we'll have some, uh, audio to play if

there's any good stuff coming out of Edmonton at media day. Um, game one of the Stanley Cup final is tomorrow and Gary Bettman is scheduled to do his annual state of the league. Now, if it goes seven games, uh, game seven will be on Friday, June 20th. So that is the last possible day of the Stanley Cup final, June 20th.

The scouting combine is on now in Buffalo. They do it in Buffalo every year, right? It's their signature event. That's their thing. Buffalo loves the combine. We're never losing the combine. We're just built around this in Buffalo. So right now there's interviews with the

players going on, so all the organizations are there talking to 18 year olds and asking them around this in Buffalo. So right now there's interviews with the players going on. So all the organizations are there talking to 18 year olds and asking them really tough questions. And that goes on through this weekend basically. The draft is June 27th to 28th. So June 3rd today, draft 27, three weeks away basically.

Three weeks away from the draft and then free agency is July 1st. So the Canucks are going to be busy over the next few weeks. There's no way they're going to wait until July 1st to make all their changes. In fact, Rutherford made an interesting comment at the end of the season when he said,

if we have the cap space, we'll try to be active in free agency, which I suppose means there's a chance they won't have much cap space by that point, most likely because they've traded some form of futures, be they picks or prospects for actual NHL players with actual NHL contracts. So these next three weeks, pretty much we're looking at it.

I mean, the three and a half weeks, maybe, maybe some of their work gets done at the draft, but because it's a virtual draft this year and Gary Bettman is like, the teams wanted it this way. I said, I wouldn't do that, but they wanted it this way. So I guess after the draft, because we're hearing some people that say, maybe we shouldn't do it. Well, you wanted it. Guilty mom mode of Gary Bepman.

Um, people are saying a lot of these deals. Well, where is everyone right now? They're at the scouting combine. So maybe that's where some of the stuff is going to go down. Okay. So you mentioned the Vancouver Canucks there. Talk about a great morning of segues. Paul in the Okanagan, formerly the Sunshine Coast, texts in very interesting

Intel on the Vancouver Canucks from Elliot Friedman on the Kipper and Born show yesterday. Well, Paul, guess what? We've got that audio for you. Two clips, uh, each on the teams. I would say most important players, one on Quinn Hughes, and one on Alias Pedersen. The first is Freage talking about a question posed by Nick Kiprio about the noise, the noise around Quinn Hughes this off season. And if it's going to linger all the way to say July.

Elliot said there's one way for the Vancouver Canucks to silence all this and there's only one way and that's for the team to return to its winning ways. Here's more Elliot Friedman on fan five 90 real Kipper and born yesterday on the future of Quinn Hughes. There's only one thing that's going to change all this and that is Vancouver has a really good year and Vancouver is a contender. Last year when they went to the second round of playoffs and took Edmunds into seven games nobody was talking about any of this stuff. Nobody. And this year they have a nightmare of a year,

they trade Miller, they missed the playoffs, their coach leaves. Now this comes out. You think guys don't leave situations where they think they can win. Guys want to win. Unless they got two brothers they really want to play with. Yeah, but you know what, Nick, I got to tell you something. I think if he thought Vancouver was a winner, I don't even think this would be a question. I really don't. If he thought he could win here, you know, you can, like the thing is, like like I had one agent say to me a couple years ago, he had a player that was a little bit unhappy. And he had a team that had like a monster deal on the table for him. And he said, he said to the player, the one of the things they talked about was, like, like you could win here. And he goes, yeah, and they got a lot of money on the table. Yeah. He says, look, like if you sign the contract and things

go badly, you don't think we can maybe force an exit to go somewhere else. Like you can always do that paths can always change. You know, these agents, they have a lot of power. Players have a lot of power situations go badly. Players have more power in the NHL than they have they've ever had before. So I look at it this way, if you're Quinn Hughes, I think more than anything else, he wants to win. And if the Vancouver Canucks are in position to where, are in a situation where they can win, I don't think we're hearing a lot of this noise. But like Jim Rutherford is a smart guy, he doesn't throw that comment out there at the end of the season by accident. He knows they had a really hard year and if they had, and if it continues to go like this, Queen News is going to start looking and saying, I don't want to be somewhere where I'm not going to win.

So I don't think this is a question of the Canucks are a winner. I think it's purely a question because they're not going very well. So that's sort of starts to point everything in the direction of where this summer is going to go. If you're, you know, fully invested in what free just throwing out there, there's a couple of things and you'll hear it in the second clip as well. Jim Rutherford is once again, moved to the forefront of all these discussions. Like, yes, Patrick Alveen is still the general manager,

but it's very clear between the media availabilities and the insider's talking that Jim Rutherford is the driving force behind a lot of the decisions that are being made. And the clear and obvious one here is that this team has no interest, no interest in a dog's far fetched plan of, you know, trading Quinn Hughes this summer, that the entire impetus of the organization is get better, get back to winning and do whatever it takes to get there. Now, we've gone through this exercise before. A lot of people disagree with it.

A lot of people don't think it's possible. You pointed out on a number of occasions, rightly so I might add, how difficult the task at hand is going to be between what's available in free agency and what might not be available in free agency and what little they have to trade. Yeah, yeah. So, let's pivot to another piece of audio.

This of course also talking about trades. Freedgen was asked about Elias Pedersen and his future. Now note in this clip, not just about how he downplays the possibility of a trade, but also yet again, how important a role and figure Jim Rutherford is in all of this. This is Elliot Friedman. Same thing. Kipper and born yesterday.

Fan 590 talking about the future of Elias Pettersson in Vancouver. Jim Rutherford is the guy who spearheaded signing Patterson. He was the guy who was most behind it. He was the guy who wanted to do it. I don't think everybody in the Vancouver organization was sold about it when they did it. But Jim Rutherford, who had the biggest voice and the biggest vote he was. And so you have to tell me that he's changed his mind or he feels there's something he's got to do differently. Now I think at

different times this year, the Canucks really thought about it. You know, I think one of the issues was that Pederson struggled so much this year, that it kind of hurt his value. And I don't think they, look, I mean, ultimately the better thing to do, Nick, is solve your problem as opposed to trade your problem. And I think that is their goal. The other thing too is, if you're concerned about Quinn Hughes' future, and clearly they are, how do you feel about yourself as an organization if you have a

situation where both Hughes and Pedersen could be gone in a couple of years? I think you would consider that a major disappointment. So I know they've looked into it, I know they've considered it, I think they know exactly what his value is, but I always remember that Jim Rutherford was the guy who made the decision to sign him. It wasn't unanimous, he did it, so you've got to convince me that Jim Rutherford was the guy who made the decision to sign him. It wasn't unanimous. He did it. So you've got to convince me that Jim Rutherford has changed his mind.

Gee, who do you think, uh, which members of the Vancouver organization, I don't know if they're still there, but, uh, which members of the Vancouver organization do you think might've been, you know, like, I don't know if we should sign this guy. Did anyone have significance leave this off season? To the fact that Jim Rutherford was the driving force behind it, even though there were some dissenters in the Vancouver organization, or at the very least,

and people are going, I don't know if you should do this. Who do you think that, it could be anyone, I suppose. It really could be Jason. Yeah, yeah, it could be anyone. Did anyone leave? No one of note. Let's just call them Rick T. He didn't quit though. He wants to make that abundant Okay His contract just expired. That's right. Yeah, you didn't even just leave

Yeah, there's nothing to see there. So there's nothing to see there in the interest of being fair and calling out pipe dreams and everything, I am going to put a lid on my continual. I think it's best for all parties involved if they trade a Leah's Pedersen conversation because I just don't think it's going to happen now. I think I'm ready to face reality and quit talking up something that's just not going to happen. You know what And I had a good run. I'm proud of myself. I pat myself on the back. I stuck to it for a while, but if we're going to talk about things based

in reality as opposed to a pipe dream, then I'm going to stop trying to put force that in there because I just don't see it happening now. You know what's funny though? I mean, Pedersen had a bad season and it was for everyone to look at and the entire league saw it at the four nations. But this happens all the time in hockey. Pedersen hasn't played for a while and there has been some idea like, okay, well, he's going to work out.

He's going to be motivated and he's going to have, he's going to be motivated and he's going to go back to Sweden. He stayed in Vancouver for a week and worked out in that show dedication. Almost every day. Everyone's like, you know, he's got a lot of pride and he's going to come back. What I have noticed on the social medias is that

fans from other teams now are like, okay, I want Pedersen. Like they've got their list because centre is so hard to find. Sure. And players like Pedersen when he's on his game, as we saw, which is why he, I mean, he was in the market for that contract that the Canucks signed.

The Canucks did not sign that contract. It wasn't like a crazy ask given what he'd done in the past. And that's why this show is so hard on him. And that's why we've been unwilling to lower the bar for him and celebrate how great he's been defensively. Yeah, but like that's not the entire package. That's what we, we need more. So other, other fan bases are like, okay, well,

I'm putting my list together of players that I want. And there's a lot of them out there. They're like, go get Pedersen. Like we need a one C we need, we need a guy with, with elite talent. Go get that guy. And I realized fans aren't general managers, but sometimes GMs do act that way, right? A little time goes by, they start thinking about it. And they're in a position where they have to go find someone. There are a lot of fans in say Buffalo right now that are like, go get Elias Pedersen.

Sure. You're never going to have the opportunity to get a player like him, like you are, like you can now. So it's funny because you're saying I'm going to stop this Trey Pedersen stuff. I think you should at least keep an open mind over the next little while because you know Kipper made an interesting point in his trade boards piece that was up on Sportsnet.ca and he basically said a lot of people think, I'm paraphrasing here, that his value is gone. Don't be so sure about that. I don't think it's necessarily gone. I never did. I thought, I mean, you could trade anyone

in this league and they also- Probably losing the trade though. I don't think they'd win that trade. Yeah, but I mean that's your management knows that and that all goes into part of the equation My whole point is like the also would cues like that trade with what Hughes want that trade We're in operation. He's happy now. That's the other party. He's happy So does Quinn Hughes want them because if he doesn't want them to trade EP 40, they're not gonna trade them, right? so I'm gonna keep an open mind on it because I think there's going to be such a dearth of options available in free agency. And we'll get into that conversation a little bit later in the show as well.

But I do I get exactly what you're saying is recency bias is a thing. When you're watching someone struggle, you're like, oh, I don't want any part of that player. But when you don't watch him struggle and it's been a couple of months since you've seen it, I can absolutely understand. I've seen it historically in the past in the National Hockey League, where executives do talk themselves into a rebound

or there's something there. And you brought up a good point. Sometimes it's dictated not necessarily by the player you're getting, but the players you're not able to get. When you miss on your first few targets and you need and you're desperate for a center or a right-hand or a right-shot defenseman

or a third-line left winger or a backup goalie, you end up talking yourself into a solution because it's the only solution available. And that does happen sometimes. But I'm just trying to be as. Caps talks themselves into Dubois. And it worked. And it worked for them. I just trying to be as- Oh, the Caps talks themselves into Dubois. And it worked. And it worked for them.

I'm trying to- They're going to be plenty of examples out there. It was like, well, look at these guys. It worked for them. Might work for us. I'm trying to be a reality-based guy for at least once in my life. And so this pie in the sky nonsense that I'm always clinging on to. And I keep looking at it and I'm like, I know that I think

that it would be best for all parties involved if this was the summer that they had their amicable breakup. But the more I look at it, the more I hear. I agree with you. I think it's most likely that they keep Pedersen. But I just thought it was interesting that now that the Canucks haven't played games for a while and it isn't front burner a story, right?

People are like, okay, we'll go get this guy, because. Everybody knows what happens, and everyone knows the story now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like absence makes the heart grow fonder, especially if you don't have a good center to begin with. Okay, we got a lot more to get into on the Haliford and Bref Show on Sportsnet 650.

We are gonna continue. I like the possibility that just as you're like, okay I'm out on trading PD. That's when it's gonna happen. I mean am I doing this on purpose? Who's to say my weaponizing it? I don't know very good player shakes loose from another team that might be facilitated into a Pedersen trade Oh, I mean, I'm willing to keep an open mind You never know what could happen in the offseason you don't you really really don't we? Never know what could happen in the offseason. You don't you really really don't we But a dog will that make Quinn Hughes happy? I don't know you're listening to the best of Halford and brough you're listening to the best of Halford and brough

So the BC Lions open their season this Saturday at 7 o'clock Against the visiting Edmonton Alkes of course an hour and 15 minutes prior to kickoff It's gonna be Snoop headlining the concert kickoff series at BC Place Saturday should be a lot of fun let's go now to the Power West Industries hotline we'll be joined by the starting quarterback on Saturday Nathan Rorick of the BC Lions joins us now on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. Morning Nathan how are you? Good guys how are you guys doing? Thanks for having me. Yeah. Thanks for coming on. We appreciate you taking the time. So you got the Elks on Saturday.

You had the Elks in your final preseason tuneup game last Friday, a 20 to 19 loss, but the score is kind of immaterial. Good game for you. Eight for eight, 84 yards passing. How did you feel in that preseason game and was it an adequate tune up for the regular season opener on Saturday? Yeah, I think in those type of games, you just want to be able to have a good operation, be efficient and get some big situational practice going into the season. And I think we did that. And obviously, there's only so much you can get from a preseason game, but

they were going against their starters and that's always good. And so the speed of the game and to be caught up with that is all good things. And so I think it just bode well for the prep that we are putting into the week one and this week and hopefully we'll pay off during the game. How valuable has it been getting a training camp and some preseason games, unlike last season when you came to the team halfway through the season? Yeah, I think it's been great. Full time of prep and be able to not feel rushed, to be able to ease your way into something.

But also to be able to take the fall off season to spend time with under-height coach Buck Pierce and to be able to learn the offense from him. It has been really valuable and really meaningful and I think it's been able to, for things to slow down again for me, which has been good. I felt like I was taking some steps as a player and a quarterback in my development already and I look forward to that continuing during the season.

This might sound like an obvious question, but what did it feel like last season when you felt rushed? How does that play out on the field? Yeah, I mean, there's timing things, obviously, getting back and filling out the game and I think you don't want to ever be as a player thinking too much. You want to go out there and just play. Unable to play fast and just let things happen, I think you're don't want to ever be as a player, you know, thinking too much. You want to go out there and just play so unable to play fast and just, you know, let things happen. I think you're thinking about every little thing, the steps,

you know, how to how to grip the ball, how to, you know, what you're seeing. You might not be trusting it as much, but, you know, when you feel like you're comfortable with things, you're doing things like it's second nature. Like you're able to play a lot more, more loose and faster. And I think that's where I'm, that's where I'm feeling that right now. We're speaking to Nathan Rourke BC Lions quarterback here on the Halford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650. Uh, you mentioned your new head coach, Buck Pierce.

What's it like working for a guy who's been a former quarterback in the CFL and been an offensive coordinator in Winnipeg where they had one of the league's most dynamic offenses. What's it been like working with Buck so far? Yeah, it's been great. I think his perspective and his experience at the position is extremely valuable. I think there are certain things

you can only get from playing in the position. And so that's been great to learn from. But obviously, the experience and the success as a coordinator in Winnipeg is great and I think it's a great ad for our organization. We're hoping to replicate some of that success here in the coming years. But it's just been great to learn

and to get another perspective on the game and really broaden my view in that perspective. Have you had a chance to go back and watch any of Bucks highlights from when he was the quarterback for the BC Lions? Oh yeah, I remember watching him, we're watching him run up a little bit, which I won't tell him, I won't remind him. But you know, I definitely, definitely seen some report I've been meeting sometimes just to get a little bit of a laugh. He's a great player, one of the toughest players I've seen, made a lot of plays. I think there's a lot of things that resemble, my game resembles his.

I think that just being able to see that resemblance is able to hopefully play out in the field and be able to apply some things. So I think that's just cool to be a part of and to have a coach who understands how to get it done as a player and a coach. I hope you don't take as many big hits as Buck Beard. Yeah, me too. Are you a Snoop Dogg fan? Are you going to sneak out at all and see any of the concert? I probably won't sneak out. I'm definitely a fan. I think it's always cool what Mr. Doman is doing and bringing in some really cool guests that a wide audience can appreciate. So

we're fired up about it. We're fired up about the environment that we're gonna be able to play in. And it's always a fun one to open it. We're speaking to Nathan Rourke, BC Lions quarterback here on the Haliford and Breff show on Sportsnet 650. So obviously last year, Nathan, there was a dynamic at quarterback with you and Vernon Adams Jr. And I know you guys spoke publicly about how you got along and you respected, like working with one another

But there was a definite competition there and it played out throughout the year about who was gonna get the snaps and who's gonna be the number one Now it's a lot different. You've got a veteran guy in Jeremiah Mazzoli working as the number two What's the quarterback room like now with Jeremiah in the mix? Yeah, he's been even great. You got nothing but positive things to say I mean obviously tremendous respect for him as a as a player and the success he's been great. He's got nothing but positive things to say. I mean, obviously, I have tremendous respect for him as a player and the success he's had in Hamilton and in Ottawa. He just brings just a wealth of knowledge and experience to the room and just honestly another coach in there, just another prospector to be able to say, hey, how do we get this done? At the end of the day, I just want to become better. I want to be a better player. And I think he's one of those people that have been helping me get to where we need to be.

And the CSL, the other thing is that more often than not, you need two guys to get you to where you want to go. And I think that we don't have any other, but we have a lot of trust in the guys in the room and to get it done if something were to happen. So I think that that is tremendously, that is tremendously comforting and, and so we're benefiting from him being there in more ways than one. Uh, pivoting off the lion stuff for a minute here,

I did want to ask you about your brother. What was it like and how cool was it to see him get drafted by the Niners this, uh, this spring? Yeah, it was, it was awesome. It was a tremendous honor to, to be there with him and to, to experience that with him and, and, um, yeah, to be there with him and to experience that with him and to be there in person. It was a tremendous nerve-wracking day, a lot of nerves, anxiety, especially with a team that thought we were going to pick him, pass on him.

But the fact that he got drafted in a such a good organization like the Niners, and they got a plan for him long-term and they're allowing him to rehab and get healthy. There's no rushing him back. I'm extremely excited for him, proud of him, and happy to be a part of what was a very special day. What were you able to share with him about your experience as the NFL?

Because there is a difference, and as fair or unfair as it is, when a guy gets drafted, there's more of an investment in him as opposed to showing up and having to work your way in, but you still got to experience not just that working in process, but with a lot of different NFL teams.

So what sort of advice or lessons were you able to share with your brother? Obviously, he's just at the beginning of his journey, but he's got a journey in the NFL now. Yeah, absolutely. I think you're 100% right in saying that, you know, that draft picks get, you know, a little bit of a different

experience than the guys who are undrafted. He went through a similar situation last year where he went from Ohio to Indiana and he kind of had to win the respect and win the trust of the guys there. I said everything that you did there to win that experience and to be, to be the guy and to, and to establish yourself as a leader. Those are all the same things that are going to be important going into a new building in the, in the car. What I've found in my career is that people can just kind of see through any

type of false sense of, of pride of pride or ego or whatever it is they can see through it. You just be genuine, be who you are. And I think that's who we've been so far and I think people are really, they really gravitate towards that. And so not being anybody other than himself, I think is a big one. The BC Lions open their season as mentioned a couple of times. We'll mention it again this Saturday, seven o'clock kickoff against the visiting Edmonton Alks. And of course at 5.45, it'll be prompt, concert kickoff series featuring Snoop

that'll all be at BC Place this Saturday. Nathan, thanks a lot for doing this today, man. We really appreciate you taking the time. Best of luck on Saturday. Go get a dub and then we'll be doing this a few times throughout the regular season. Sounds good, thanks guys, appreciate it. Yeah, thank you. That's Nathan Rourke BC Lions starting quarterback here on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650 the manager of your Canadian men's national soccer team Jesse Marsh joins us now on the Haliford and Brough show on Sportsnet

650 good morning, Jesse. How are you? Good doing well. How about you guys? We're well We're still kind of feeling the sting from the Vancouver Whitecaps and the CONCACAF Champions Cup final on Sunday. Did you get a chance to watch a match? Yeah, we watched the match. It was hard to watch. And then the guys showed up the next day and you know, they were disappointed, but you know, I thought Ali Ahmed kind of captured it up, captured it the best way.

And he just said, man, we got killed. We just weren't you. We weren't able to put it together. So sometimes in finals, you know, and when you play at elevation and heat and everything, it's not so easy, but they're having a great start to the season. They had a great run in the tournament and they have a really good team. Look, you played a long time in MLS. You managed through this competition. I believe when you were at New York, it was actually the old school format where it was group stages instead of the tournament. So, give us a sense of how difficult is that competition given one, how the away matches, especially against some of the league AMX teams. And then as we saw on Sunday, how seriously they take that continental championship. Yeah. Well, it's a big tournament

because the payday for being in the World Club Championship is very big. And then the honor of being the best team in the region is also very big. So playing down there and dealing with, you know, the environment, the fans, the elevation, it's an amazing experience, but it's always such a difficult challenge. In fact, I think we were the first team in New York as an MLS team to ever win a knockout

phase game in Mexico, and that was not until 2018. So, you know, we're making it to finals consistently. We've won the tournament as an MLS group a couple times and we're making progress. But those Mexican teams are really good. They pay a lot of money for their players. They have really good foundation for competing in this tournament. And certainly they take it personally to beat MLS teams the same way we take it personally to beat them. You know, you mentioned the conditions.

How much have you thought about the World Cup and how hot it might be getting in some of those stadiums? Yeah, well, I think in general, you know, up in Toronto and Vancouver, it tends in summer not to be quite as hot, but you know, we went through a lot of very hot environments when we were in Copa America and I thought our team was really fit and responded really well and we're younger.

So I think we can run better and understand the standards of international football and what those environments are like. So we're going to next year go, you know, this year we're here at Halifax sort of to continue a lot of the making the team accessible to the Canadian community. We've only played twice on Canadian soil since I've been the coach over the last year. So I think it's really important that we get to get to bring our team to different places across the country and people get to see their heroes. But next year, we're going to have preseason down in the heat again, we're going to run them, we're going to make them fit, we're going to make them strong and we're going

to go after that tournament in a big way. Did you see England are training in tents? They're using tents to replicate the heat because an Englishman in the heat is not necessarily a high performer. Yeah, and maybe it's the UV rays they're trying to hide. A lot of sunburns. Yeah, they're all going to have sunburns. Yeah they're all gonna have sunburns. No look like fortunately we you know I always look even like when players are their backgrounds are from

you know more humid and and hot climates it's amazing even their DNA is built that they can usually handle that better so we have some guys from Africa some guys from Jamaica and Caribbean and and some of them even grew up in some of those places and now I've come here and And then I also think young players young players can usually Handle the heat and the and the the pace of games and all those things a little bit better than some of the older players So we'll be evaluating all that as we get going, but we're gonna make sure we're you know We're always trying to be fitter

We're always trying to be stronger than the opponent and we always want to play that way We are speaking to Jesse Marsh here on the Haliford and Bref show on Sportsnet 650 Canadian amends national soccer team manager Here on Sportsnet 650. Okay, let's get into what's going on right now. So there's the camp underway You've got the game against Ukraine on Saturday Ivory Coast over the on Tuesday And then we're two weeks out from the start of the gold cup so we mentioned a couple times that you're going to not be available for the first two matches of the gold cup stemming from the suspension from Nations League what's the plan on the touchline while you'll be serving your

suspension? Yeah so first Mauro Bielo my assistant has been a head coach he's also been a head coach for this national team, so he'll be fine. He'll be able to handle it. He knows what he's doing. But even more importantly, I think I already spoke to the team and I said that, you know, unfortunately, this isn't my first suspension on the touchline, so I have some experience in this area. But I always try to use it as an opportunity for the players to really take ownership of what's happening with the team and what's happening on the pitch, right? And we've been together for a year. I think we've had a really strong year together.

I'm very proud of this team. I'm very proud of the progress that we've made. And I think they're ready for a challenge like, you know, this is their team. It's time for them to take it over. It's time for them on the pitch. They're the leaders. They're the leaders. They're the, they're the ones playing the match. And by the way, they're Canadian, right?

Not me. And, and so in all ways, this is their team and this is a chance for them to show that they understand what that means. Well, it's interesting you brought that up because you've brought Michael Bradley into the fold for this window. And for those that don't know Michael Michael Bradley, uh, a decorated American international, but also a tremendous club player in it for a Canadian club for TFC and captain them to great heights.

What was the thinking beat behind bringing Michael into the camp as a coach? Well, we brought him and David Edgar, who's an, an ex national team player who's starting his coaching career. And that's what we've tried to do is bring some of these kinds of profiles of people in who are starting their coaching career, who are young and where, you know, the experience of being around the national team and seeing the way that we coach and the way that we lead the team can be valuable for their overall development in their coaching careers.

So, you know, I thought both of those guys gave a really, you know, today we had like our first full meeting with everyone here and I always have people get up and speak to the team, whether it's a new player or a new staff member. And both of those guys gave a really eloquent version of what this experience means to them, what the Canadian national team means to them, and how attached they are to the development of the team. And so my relationship with Michael is such that I've known him since he's four years old, you know? So having him around has been really great.

We know each other so well. I know he's had incredible football experiences. So I think he's been able to share a lot of that and to have a real positive impact on, on what the guy's experience has been like so far in the first couple of days. So you've got a couple of friendlies coming up against Ukraine and Ivory coast, uh, one team from Europe and one team from Africa.

How important is it to set up these friendlies against, um, conferences that you don't regularly play? Yeah, yeah. That's kind of been, this will be the strategy over the next year is we'll have a lot of friendlies. This is our real last competitive experience will be the gold cup, but we'll have the opportunity to arrange a bunch of friendlies against the kinds of teams that we could see in the world cup. So we're looking at the level of opponent, we're looking at the styles of opponents and and and we're trying to give our team an experience of what those games can look and feel like and make sure that we understand what

that will require but always still be able to try to dictate the game in the way that we know we can. So that'll be the balance for the two matches. We'll kind of be mixing up the group a little bit and giving everybody an opportunity because a big thing about this next year is continuing to not just the absolute high end of what our team can be, but also the breadth and like making sure that we have an entire player pool

that we can count on for next summer. So I think we've done a good job of that already and we've increased the, I think, reliable players that we have in the overall pool. But I've started this campaign internally, and I call it 26 for 26. And we want to make sure we have 26 players that we can absolutely count on at any moment

in any type of match for the World Cup come next summer. Now you'd obviously, obviously like to have that all the time. Um, but is that partly in response to what happened in Qatar? Was there a feeling that there wasn't the depth there? Yeah, maybe, but also what happened to us in

Copa America, right? We, we look, the group has, has gathered experiences now. So they're not just a young and inexperienced Canadian national team. They, they've, they've now been to a world cup together. They've been to Copa America together. A lot of them are playing at really big clubs. So, you know, this is, this is now becoming a more experienced team that,

that has higher expectations and, you higher expectations and I have higher expectations of us. And in the end what we learned from Copa America is by the time we got to the semi-final because we didn't rotate that much and Argentina did that they were just able to be fresher and stronger come that phase of the tournament. And look, obviously the expectations for a team like Argentina and a team like Canada are different when you enter into that tournament, but still, I think we learned that.

We still achieved a lot last summer, but we're trying to continue to grow and adapt and build everything from all of our past experiences. And I can only say that the mentality from the group to do that every time we're together is fantastic and really enjoyable to be a part of. So how do you make sure that experiences, especially ones that maybe don't go your way, are strengthening the group as opposed to creating like fear?

Because we've seen that sometimes in all sports, you know, you sometimes have a here we go moment or maybe the lesson you take from games against Argentina is like, oh, we can't hang with these guys. How do you, how do you turn that into a positive? We, I said to the group at the end of 2024 that, you know, our, our, our progress and our process together has been pretty linear. Like we've been pretty successful and we've been able to kind of grow into what we're becoming kind of pretty simply step by step.

And I said, you know, that's not even really a good development. It's a compliment to them that they're so committed and that they've grown a lot. But in the end, we need to be challenged. And in some ways we need to fail and learn from that and then rise to the challenge for the next moment and understand what it takes in the toughest moments

to still emerge and be successful. So that's, you know, even though, you know, a lot of people like, I hate the word friendlies. When they use this to describe these matches. And we've tried even to work with MLSC to create more of a tournament feel around these games with Ukraine and Ivory Coast to make it feel like every moment that we're on the pitch together is massively important and we need to carry the gravity of the situation with us that

way all the time so you know I'm not afraid of the challenges I invite the difficulties and then it will be about how we respond and making sure that we get better from every moment. We are speaking to Canadian men's national team soccer manager Jesse Marsh here on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650. I do want to get into a couple of different players who could be featuring this summer through the windows here, Jesse. So Alfonso Davies obviously out after tearing his ACL, moist bomb,

Bito wrist surgery. So he'll be out as well. Um, what is the future for Alistair Johnson? Is he officially out for the, and I won't call them friendlies, the upcoming matches and then the gold cup as well. Cause he did have a pretty exhaustive season at Celtic. Yeah. No, no, he's had a great season. He's an incredibly important player. So he, uh, will miss the, the friendlies. Uh, he's had a great season. He's an incredibly important player. So he will miss the friendlies. He had a little bit of a hip surgery toward the end of the season, but then came back,

but then he needed a back injection and so he needed some time off. But he will be getting back with us at, you know, after about a week. So I think we're talking about him coming in somewhere around the game against Honduras and then really ramping up his reintegration so that you know by the by the third match the group phase or group match against El Salvador he should be ready to go and ready to

start so you know he is really important to our group he's had a great season and especially without Moyes and and Al, um, Alfonso, it's really important that our guys here that are part of our defensive group are strong, are, are adapt quickly, are ready for some challenges. And I think that is important as well for, for developing our entire player pool for next summer. So yeah, it's a big summer for our defensive group for sure. Okay. There, I know we're up against up against every time I got two real quick ones.

One is just on another, uh, player selection front. What happens with Jonathan David moving forward because his club career is still very much up in the air of his departure from Lille and a lot of big European clubs, obviously expressing interest in him. Uh, what are the conversations like with the John Jonathan David and his camp and how's he going to feature this summer edge on johnny such a special guy so you know uh... you know we've talked a lot about him being here in like making sure that you

know we're not risking anything in in terms of an injury perspective or or hit uh... a possible you know connection that he's going to make with his next club uh... you know she's at ease with the whole thing. He's got lots of options. I don't think Johnny knows yet where he's going, you know, but we're hopeful that he's made it very clear to me that he wants to be here

and he wants to win the gold cup. And so, you know, we're evaluating with his agency and with him what's happening and what the potentials are, and we're ready for anything at any moment. But at the same time, this is one of the beauties of Johnny is he's not overly stressed. He's focused on being here. He enjoys playing football. He loves the national team. You know, I've talked to him about being the captain of the gold cup. So that,

that will be our emphasis for once we get to that stage and we're hopeful that he's still here, but we're supportive of him and his career in every way. And we want to make sure that we're helping set him up for success because he's such an important player. On the subject of success last one, I promise. What does success look like for this Canadian men's national team at the gold cup? Winning winning. So we are,

we are singularly focused on doing everything we can to win this tournament. And the guys know that and they know the importance of that and they know the weight of that. And I don't think we're being too arrogant or we're creating any bulletin board material to say that we feel like we've come a long way, that the team has been successful over the last few years, and that winning trophies has to be part of our ambition. So we're excited to compete for that, and we're ready for the challenge. Well, Jesse, I wanna thank you for doing this today, and as a long-time Leeds United supporter,

I never felt that it was right. Oh, wow. I never felt that it was right the way you got dismissed. I loved having you as a manager there But the silver lining is that if all of this leg Yeah If you had all of this led to one becoming the manager of the Canadian men's national team and to getting to do the show today It was all worth it. So thank you for taking the time

Thank you for saying that and and I you know, it was such a big challenge at leads But I you know it was such a big challenge at Leeds but I really enjoyed it but you're right like it's something sometimes you don't know why things happen and how everything comes together but being here and being the Canadian national team coach I just feel like I'm honored to be here I feel like I'm at the right place at the right time I'm enjoying coaching this team and and you know it's we have big ambitions and so it's it's been great thank you for accepting me thank you to all. I mean, I can't can't say enough about how this this nation has accepted me as

the national team coach. So, you know, we're trying to make you guys proud every time we step on the pitch. Good luck at the Gold Cup, Jesse. Thanks again for doing this. Thanks, guys. Take care. Jesse Marsh, Canadian men's national team soccer manager here on the Halford and Bruff show on Sportsnet 650. You're listening to the best of Halford and Bruff.