OverDrive - Orlesky on the Jets' season perspective, Scheifele's track to the Olympics and the Grey Cup in Winnipeg

Episode Date: November 13, 2025

Winnipeg Jets Host Sara Orlesky joined OverDrive to discuss the overview of the Jets' roster and their start to the season, the face of the Jets, Mark Scheifele's start and the opportunity to make the Olympics, Jonathan Toews making his mark, the Grey Cup experience in Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers' season and the Roughriders and Alouettes' matchup and more.

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We tried to get some street crowd around here. We tried. Standing ovation for her. We tried. Standing ovation for the Queen of Winnipeg. Great to see you. Thanks so much for having me on, guys. Welcome to Winnipeg. Yes.

We love being here. This is amazing. It's a good crowd. Yeah, good crowd. We've got a great crowd out here. We've got a lot of fans out in Winnipeg. You sure do. I hear about it all the time.

Yeah? Yes. Okay. Especially, I mean, always when you guys were on radio, but especially since you guys are now streamed on TSN as well and you're available on. TV and YouTube people watching all the time out here. He asked a stupid question. Even if Hayes doesn't know

anything about Winnipeg? I'm trying. He had a stupid move today. We wanted to do a double shot. He wanted to do, he wanted to do Leafs early into the Jets game and he asked somebody, hey, where can I go watch the Leafs game? And they basically told him to stuff it. So there's no secret Leafs like crowd around Winnipeg. He was disappointed to find that out. I mean, I thought part of the reason

you were out here was because you weren't happy. you with the way that things were going with the leaves and you needed to have a break from it that's true we were here to escape let's have a cheat team for a couple days the winnipeg jets there you go we're on it will you accept our like it will you invite us on the bandwagon you guys you can have the leaps as your eastern conference team and then you can have the jets as your western conference perfect that works for us because we know that oh i mean you're you well noodles you too you both have been on the jets I told these guys, Sarah.

I told him when I got off the plane, it felt like home. It felt like home when I got off that bird. It's fresh air. That's what it is. And what Sarah's alluding to is you would pick the Jets to win the cup every single year. For five years in a row. You have to a row. We both took.

You saw it. I know, I did where it was just like, you know what? They're so good and they're so deep and they're so physical. And they've got this guy and they got that guy. And then they got their goaltender. And it's like they don't get it done. They're kind of a little bit like the one thing in common about the leaves is they haven't got it done either but you just fall in love again in the off season but you got to think

that one of these years sarah their gold tenor is going to play like a rock star come playoff time and he's going to put them over the hump yeah absolutely and look he's off to another great start this season and the jets easily set the bar very high last year winning the president's trophy and they get off to that historic start and they're 15 and one and so this year it hasn't been another historic start but they're still they're finding their groove and they're getting everybody back if people hadn't heard Dylan Samberg's back in the lineup tonight. He's going to make a season debut, and that's a huge boost for the Jets'D.

So, you know, Hellebuck, from our perspective, when I think of, like, the face of the Jets, as a kid, it would have been Dale Howardchuk for sure. Then it would have been Team Mussolani. I'm curious who you would tell us, I guess, if there's like a known face of the Winnipeg Jets. Is it Hellebuck now? Is it Shifley?

Yeah, I mean, probably Shifley is still what I would go with. And I think that naturally, partly too, you look at the foreword. you look at the just some of the highlight reels I mean you see that more so than maybe disrespect to the goalies but yeah but I think that they have a core group that's whether it be Shifley Josh Morrissey Connor Halibut Kyle Connor being here Adam Lowry of course is revered in the city as well a great leader such a great captain was a fantastic choices of captain and so they have that core group that's been together for a number of years and I think that when you look around those are the ones that people really think embody this Winnipeake

Jets team. Plus, goaltenders are lunatics for the most part. Well, I wasn't going to say it. If you look at, I love Helibuck's media. He'll give up seven. He'll be like, I felt great. You're not going to believe this, but I felt amazing in there. But he had that confidence about him. From the beginning. From the beginning.

And that's why he's so great. But we were talking about it earlier before you came on. What's the noise around Mark Schifley and Team Canada? Are you trying to create a buzz around here and get him going? Well, I think with the start that he had, too, how can you not have him in consideration for it? you look at, I think we're going to see a number of Winnipeg Jets, whether it be on the American team, Canada, Josh Morrissey, I think it would be a lock to be on that blue line. And I think that with the way that Mark's been playing, when you look at the season as a whole, he certainly

has to be one of the players that's considered to be right there. For sure. I think it's going to be interesting. You think of the talent that is available to Doug Armstrong Company to be able to choose from for this roster it's i think it's going to be really exciting to be able to see what they put together well and if he if he gets on the team which we're pulling for him i guess he can lean on jonathan taves too right to for experience and i mean it still almost feels like surreal that taves is playing yeah and he's playing in his hometown like how is he handled everything the comeback the fact that he's back in winnipeg he started a tire a little bit yet he must be like i need a breather today not playing in two years a long he's not a young guy

No, and do you think, I mean, you think about how much he's played over his career, whether it be on the international stage, this later than all of the playoff runs that they did as well. No, I think that he's handling it well. One of the things that he always points to is that he's still, patience is something that he's working on, but he's being dominant in the circle. You look at his face-off percentage.

I mean, he's been key for this team, and he's one of the league leaders in it. So you look at the way that he has been able to come back in it, he had a goal. in the last game, and I think that you see his game coming along. The great thing that when you're looking at Taves, though, I don't think that anyone's looking at what he's doing in this first half of the season.

It's about the second half of the season and into the playoffs and what he can do, but you go around town. I mean, they have the Jonathan Taves sportsplex here, and there are a number of players that are from Winnipeg that play in the NHL, but I mean, Jonathan Taves obviously is on a different level. Do you sense that he's had an adjustment?

Because keep in mind, has this aura about him for sure captain serious he's won cups he's done all these things he comes this isn't his team right he's joining a team that already has tremendous leadership tremendous stars and do you think there was a learning curve or did they accept him right away and he's just kind of melted into that leadership group i think just melted into it and they look at this leadership group one of the things that they've really been uh they've emphasized and that they've also been complimented on is that it isn't just the a few players and And so they do have a strong leadership group.

And I think one of the things that he was looking forward to was not being the main player. It's not being that guy that after every loss that comes out and speaks to the media or that is wearing it all on his shoulders in order to get this team to the next level. And so he's just, he wants to be one of the guys. He wants to be able to get his game back to the way that it was. But certainly there's expectations that come along with it as well because of what he's accomplished and because of the city that he's in. Absolutely.

Sarah Oleski with us. We're live in Winnipeg. How's the city handling the Blue Bombers not being in the Great Cup for the first time in 35 years? They go every single year. I'm looking around right now. I mean, there's some disappointment. There is no doubt about it.

Yeah, obviously everybody was hoping. Anytime that you host a Grey Cup, everybody's hoping that your hometown team is going to be, and especially with the way that the bombers have played in recent years. But, you know, this was a season that was not like the, other ones that we have seen, and I think you saw the ups and downs that went along with it anyways, but there is nothing. And I don't know, have any of you taken part in a Grey Cup weekend or festivities? Just in Toronto, like being in Toronto. There's nothing like it. And actually,

I was talking with James Duffy earlier today, and he was, we were talking about how it's just the ultimate Canadian. But there is, there's, especially when it is in the prairies, there's nothing that beats a Grey Cup weekend. It is so much fun. It is the, ability to be able to go around and also see so many people that make this a yearly event for them. And so you see the same faces all the time. I can walk down the street and go, oh, I recognize that. That person is an Al-Oat's fun. Or that person you know because you've seen them at every gray cup. And it's just a great sense of community. It is a ton of fun out there and there's a real energy in the city when it happens. I've been to a few, obviously, when they're in

Evanton and growing up there and all my drunk buddies would be running around you sneak in a Mickey of whiskey or whatever in your coat I don't know if you can do that anymore I probably should be talking about probably probably in Winnipeg probably in Winnipeg but what are we talking about some kind of like roped off area here or like is it indoors outdoors what are these big parts there's a whole there's a whole mixture it's the whole city's just on fire it's literally a convention center we're right beside it man it's going to be wild it's a full out party and everybody gets it like it's not a lot of bar fights and anything it's just more like let's go have a bunch of fun and drink a bunch of booze for 48 hours.

That's what it is. And it's different from so many other events because it doesn't have that real corporate feel to it. So one of the things Dethy was saying is, I mean, Super Bowl, obviously, it's very corporate with it. That's not the way the Grey Cup is, and they welcome everybody in, and it's just everyone's out to have a good time. So what can you tell us about the next Argos coach, Mike O'Shea? What can you tell us? Why do you keep bringing that up? I'm just pointing it out.

I think, don't yell at me. I'm just, trying to get booed again. I'm just a reporter. We want to get to know them before we got an interview on. How's that story going on? You know what? It's going to be one of those ones. You two are going to be embraced in the city like Nochmore.

You are going to be back on a plane. Tonight. They might kick me out of here. 100%. You're going to be doing it from the home studio tomorrow. We have a security guard for me. Only for me. These guys are welcome.

It's only for me. But it is kind of weird. Like, does the no contract kind of mean like this dynasty? is going to go in a different direction, or what's your sense of it all? Well, I think that it'll be interesting to see what happens. Look, I think that eventually all good things do come to an end, whether that means this upcoming season and whether that means with Mike O'Shea or not. Who knows?

But you look at the players that the bombers have had in recent years and their core group. And I mean, they're older, right? And things change. Things evolve and you've got to turn over as well. And so I think it'll be very interesting. We've already seen, obviously, with the move of Ryan Dinwe, to Ottawa and being not only a coach but GM, you've seen everything that's starting to trickle down right now,

and I think it'll be a very interesting off season, both on the field and off. So, again, I'm coming off as the bad guy here. I'm just pointing out the obvious stuff. I'm just pointing out the obvious stuff. That's your job as the host. That's right. Thank you.

The fact that the riders are in the Great Cup in Winnipeg. Yeah. How is that going over? We hate that, don't we? We don't like that. We don't like that. If you were to go, if you were to go, If you are a blue bomber fan, no, you certainly just the same as if you're a riders fan.

When the blue and gold invade Regina, you don't like that either. It is a great rivalry that exists between them. No, you certainly, I think probably a number of people were hoping that BC was going to be able to pull that off because it's a little bit easier to take if BC or Montreal, if someone has to win on your home field, as long as it's not the green and white, then... When's the last time the green and white won, though? It's a long time. Yeah, it's been a long time.

Let's just support them. Let's support them this weekend. No, no, no. Go with Montreal. Never mind. Now we're going to have to add two to the legs. You're going to have to share your body. You're going to have me.

I'm the only guy. I'm on the Allows. I'm on the Allows. That's right. I have lots of buddies who are Saskatchewan fans, one that got arrested at a game for running across the field, jumping into a hot tub. They have a hot tub in the end zone.

He ran across streaking and jumped into the hot tub. He knew he was going to get arrested. No, no kidding. right? There's free, you know, camera phones and all that type of stuff. But, yes, I think Montreal is probably, we got to ask a good place, man. We got to lean on Montreal. Davis Alexander, like that's a young quarterback. Like you mentioned kind of the turning over of the league. Nathan Rourke was that close to being, like that would have been, I think, pretty cool for the

CFO that was Warwick and Alexander going at it. Not that Trevor Harris isn't a great player, but he's been around a long time. Well, but there's a part of me that I love the fact that, I mean, although, yes, he is quarterback for the riders. I love that you see Trevor have the season that he has. I love that Bo Levi Mitchell has the season that he had. These are players that you think that when Cody

Fajardo, when he got put in in Eminton, what he was able to do with the Elks, but I love seeing players that people have started to write off and then see that resurgent. I enjoy seeing it with, you know, to go back to hockey with tapes. I mean, regardless,

anytime, I'm at that age now where any time I see, someone of a certain age or a certain, you know, a level of experience where I go, man, I'm really pulling for them. That's amazing when you're able to do it. If anyone's even close. 100%. I remember covering the U.S. Open years ago and Venus Williams is back in, and she and I

are the same age, and I thought, Venus, I am pulling through for no reason other than we are the same age and everyone else is probably 20 years younger. And now that's, you know. Absolutely. It's great. You have to. 100%. Because there's not, unfortunately.

There's not a lot left. There's not a lot of us left. Agreed. Sarah Aleski with us. So what should we be prepared for? We're here for a couple of days. What do we need to know? Break it down for us, Winnipeg, 48 hours gunning it. I mean, well, you've already got a sense of what the fans are like around here.

You do have to go and experience some of the Grey Cup festivities. You have to. You can't be all the way out here and be broadcasting from the Grey Cup, essentially, and then not take it in. And then tour around, you got to go down to the forks. There's a number of places that there's a lot of great places around to be able to check out, food, drink. Love it. Do you think Duthy would be a big name around here. Duffy's huge in Winnipeg.

He has a book signing tomorrow. Duffy's huge in Winnipeg? No. Duffy's big. We saw him for lunch. He big time. He kind of came over and said, I hey, hey, how are you? It's like, I got a meeting.

I'll see you guys in a bit. Like you could tell, like in Toronto, he'd be like, can I sit with you guys? in Winnipeg we're beneath him you know we're not quite at the duffy level in Winnipey. But he's a man of the people he is a man of the people he's a man of the people he's hosting the great cup and he's a beautician

we love JD yeah and we love seeing you Sarah thank you so much for coming down I appreciate it great y'all you know how much I love being on with you guys so the chance to be able to be in person what's your favorite episode is at the sombrero one you know

La Bamba It's just I have long claimed and I will go to my grave saying this that there should be a best of overdrive compilation that's put together because much like the well now they're on ESPN but the TNT crew with Ernie and Shaq and and Charles how they always make me laugh and so sometimes when I need that pick me up I'll just watch some of the clips and go down the rabbit hole it's the same thing with you guys and some of the some of the stories and the comments yes yes thank you we need to get some

on that. Doogie will do that. That's right. I'm just going to make more work for Doogie. Yeah, just get Doogie working. Well, he doesn't do anything, so he's got a lot of time. He was out riding the horse. He gets the horse. We had Tuffy the horse here. We had seven messages during lunch about the horse. Yeah, you guys, you want to. We're trying to get

ready for a show and this guy's texting. And then he was so proud about it. The horse is arriving at 1.45. We will meet. You guys can meet the horse. No, the first one was the horse is going to be in the lobby. You guys are going to meet me in the lobby? And we're like, the horse is going to the lobby. Yeah. And then he wrote, don't worry, the horse is that Boston pizza.

Yeah. Thanks for setting that up, Doogie. That's how high maintenance we are. We make the horse come to us. The horse came and met us. We'll be at the Boston pizza. You can take the guys out of Toronto. That's right.

That's right. There's a corporate vibe. I know it's uncomfortable. I know it's uncomfortable. All right. Sarah Oleski. We love seeing you. It's so great to have to you.

Thank you very much, guys. The Queen of Winnipeg. It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas with I-Heart the holidays. Stop Christmas music 24-7. All I want for Christmas with you. All your festive favorites. Unwrap the magic of the season. One song at a time.

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