OverDrive - OverDrive - December 31, 2025 - Hour 2 - Mike Richards

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

Join Michael DiStefano and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Former Olympic Gold Medalist and World Juniors Captain Mike Richards on his Olympics experience, captaining the World Juniors in '05 and Canada's team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Al's Brother and Feschuk are joined by Doogie to ring in the new year for 2025 Sports Trivia diving into the largest sports moments of the calendar year and the FanDuel Best Bets.

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Mike DeStefano, filling you for Brian Hayes. Got Dave Fashuck of the Toronto Star with me. Overdrive, brought to you by Fanduel, bring you more ways to play your game, Your Way. We were just doing some New Year's resolutions for our Toronto sports teams. We got through the

Leafs and the Raptors. How about the Toronto Blue Jays, Dave? What's the New Year's resolution if you are the Toronto Blue Jays? Coming off a run to the World Series. It's pretty simple. I was, brother. They made a lot of money

during the World Series run. They need to keep spending a lot of money to remain a World Series contender and to remain the big dog in the American League East. So what's that entail for you? Go and get Tucker,

Bichette, one of those guys. Why not both? Whatever it takes. Go get both. Whatever it takes. What's the? Many jerrys, many jerrys on them landing both Tucker and Bo Bichette. I mean, they're both still out there.

It doesn't seem like anybody's willing to meet their demand. So they're going to have to come down on their number if they're going to sign some deals here. So could that enter, you know, could that open the door for the Js to swoop in with a couple offers to both these guys? I think it's possible. I don't think it's very high. But what would you say? Maybe 12% chance? you think 12% somewhere 12 to 20% I mean it's not impossible that they do it I mean obviously it's not our money it's easy for us to say keep spending keep spending there is no salary cap yet there is going to be one if rob man for the commissioner of baseball has his way and but I do think this is a moment and we talk about it on the show a handful of times I was brother where with some of these teams talking about being and sort of beating the drum of cost control

and in the lead-up to what appears to be a labor war brewing here between the Players Association and Major League Baseball over the issues that surround the salary cap or the hope for a salary cap on the owner's side. This is a window for a team like the Blue Jays, who, let's face it, is owned by a company that's worth as much as any other owner and more than most owners in Major League Baseball. They're as rich as anybody and maybe richer than almost everybody

outside of maybe Steve Cohen with the New York Mets. This is the moment where you can get a competitive advantage by being willing to spend. The Yankees are talked about not wanting to spend too much. The Red Sox have shown they're not willing to spend too much. You can become the big dog in the ALE East if you're willing to lay out the cash necessary here. And yeah, it's easy to say when it's not your cash. But we all know that the prices are not cheap in that barn, that the beers flow very freely, that they were making money hand over fist,

and that they can afford to put a great team on the field. And great is what we're looking for here, not just good. Yeah, I mean, they completely have reset the expectations with the run they had last year. Like next year, it's, again, going to be World Series or Bust. I truly believe that. For them, they're going to want to get back to the World Series. If they don't, it'll be a bit of a disappointment. And for me, one of my resolutions for the Blue Jays, if they want to get there again,

I think they've got to find a more reliable closer. Like, Jeff Hoffman, like, did he get the job done to get the? them to the World Series. Yes, we also blew the save in the biggest game of the game. And how often were we worried when that guy stepped up to the mound this year to close out a game, you know, depending on which month it was, you know, you were sitting there kind of pooping your pants a little bit. So you didn't know what Jeff Hoffman you were going to get. Now, he settled in towards late in the season and on the playoff run. He pitched fairly well, I will admit. But when push comes to shove, he didn't get it done. And I just want someone

who I feel far more confident in closing ball games for the Blue Jays next year. You're 100% right on that. And we talked about it at the trade deadline. It was like, can they find someone to supplant Hoffman as the closer? The answer turned out to be no. And it ultimately turned into the main issue, or one of the main issues that kept them from winning a World Series.

And so I'm with you. That's a great resolution. Let's hope Mr. Shapiro and Mr. back and share it. Yeah. There's not much out there in terms of for agency anymore, right? They didn't go out and spend the big bucks on the closers early in for agency. They found homes. Maybe it's the trade market that they'll have to probably going to end up being the trade market if they are going to improve their closer role. But we'll see. You know, still a couple months to go in the in the off season. I think they made like a minor league

deal today I saw bringing in some relief farm. I don't anticipate that guy to be the answer to our questions. And again, we didn't anticipate a minor leaguer named Trey a Savage becoming a World Series starter. This is true or Nathan Lucas? And he did. Nathan Lucas, another improbable name that, you know, Rose's Stardom, Ernie Clement, you know, another improbable guy who went from career minor leaguer to establish big leagueer, you know, this season. So you're right, I shouldn't, I should not shortchange this fell in 2026. My 26 resolution, I'm going to be more open-minded, more open-minded in 2020.

2026 to players like that. So Big Night Tonight also in the world junior stage, Canada getting set to play their biggest game of the tournament to this point. They got Finland and pretty much winner takes the number one seat of Group B. And I think Canada, they're going to want this one. They're definitely going to want this one. And I think it's going to be a great matchup. You're looking forward to it tonight?

Oh, yeah. This is good stuff, right? like it's one thing to watch him absolutely destroy Denmark 9-1 and have a points night for everybody and see Mr. McKenna get his hat trick and that was great and everything but yeah this this is more of a consequential moment here it's not it's not make a break it's not an elimination game but you do get a big advantage with that top seed and you know Finland you know usually comes to play usually comes to play as a unit usually comes to play tough so they will not be a pushover here. And heck, we've been, you know, in a handful of World Juniors, the last

couple of which Canada's lost in the quarterfinals and finished out of the medals, you know, they need to take these advantages and run with them. Yep. It's the marquee game of their preliminary stages. I'm curious what the marquee game was for that 0405 World Junior team. Some say it's the greatest world junior team ever assembled. And we happen to have the captain of that team on the line. It's Mike Richards, former Olympic gold medalist, former captain of the Canadian World Junior Squad as well,

former Edgiller, Mike Richards. Welcome into overdrive. How's it going? Hey, not too bad, guys. How about you? We're doing great. We're just talking about how tonight Canada, Finland, big marquee game at the World Juniors, do you recall back in your world junior days, you know,

leading up to what would have been considered the marquee game, the big game for you guys in the preliminary round? I don't know if there was one game. I think kind of early 2000s, Russia was always the team that gave us fits, US. A little bit, they beat us in the year before when we were in Finland in the gold medal game. But early 2000s, I think Russia was kind of one of the biggest threats to Canada. So any time those games played, it was always a big one.

And when you think about it, I mean, these guys are. teenagers, you know, you've gone through it, Mike, you've had the great career, you've won at every level, but what was it like for you when you hadn't won and you were going into these high pressure moments with the maple leaf on your chest, knowing that nothing less than gold would be accepted? Like, what does that do to a teenage kid in his formative years as a pro? Yeah, yeah, it's tough. When I was there, I mean, that was 20 years ago, so there wasn't as much social or there wasn't any social media so it wasn't as in your

face as it is now. I think it would be a lot harder to kind of disconnect and separate yourself kind of from the tournament when you're back at the hotel but I think at that age you're kind of just naive enough to not pay attention

to it as much but at the same time like you grew up watching the tournament you know how important it is to us Canadians this tournament You watch it from when you're, you know, five, six years old. I remember going in Winnipeg in 99. I think I was about 14 years old.

So you grow up watching it. You can't help but think that how much the tournament means to, you know, fellow Canadians. So you can't really hide from it. I think you kind of have to try to get away from it a little bit when you're away from the rank and try to relax because, you know, it'll eat you alive if you keep thinking about it. So the team usually does a pretty good job of once you get back to the hotel, year-round family, you can kind of try to separate a little bit, but there's no doubt, you know, this day and age with social media

and everybody's got their phone, it's probably a little bit harder to separate. So as I mentioned prior, that 0405 World Junior Team that you were the captain of is arguably considered the greatest World Junior team ever assembled. Did you know that at the time? Like, was there a situation, a moment, I guess, throughout the tournament or maybe pre-turn it where you looked around in the dressing room and you just thought, man, what a collection of players we got right now? I don't think in the moment we thought like that.

I think kind of what I mentioned before about losing in Finland the year before, we had a three-to-one lead going into a third period against the states, and we kind of choked that away. And I think kind of going into the following year, we had that kind of better taste in our mouth, like you said, the expectations of Canada winning. So once we got, we had the pre-tournament in Winnipeg, so it was in Canada, too, so we were kind of around it. We knew some of the expectations at that point. Canada didn't win gold. I think it was five or six years before that too, so there was a little bit more added pressure.

But we knew we had a good team. I think Bergeron, too, was playing in Boston, and then got it. out loaned back to us as well. So we knew we would have a good team. And then once Bergey came back, we knew, you know, we were the team to beat or at least figured that we'd be the team to beat. And Brent Sutter didn't let us think like that. He's, you know, a typical Sutter coach.

He just kind of drilled, drilled kind of the game plan and drilled basically every game what we had to do and didn't let us get too high. So, you know, going into the finals against Russia, they had a good team, OV, and I think maybe Alkin was on that team too. So, you know, we weren't thinking that we were, you know, one of the best teams. We just wanted to get the gold medal. And at that age, that's all you really care about.

Well, a huge day, Mike, in Canadian hockey, not only Canada, Finland tonight at the World Juniors, but the selection being released, of the Canada men's Olympic hockey squad. You've been a member of that team way back in 2010. I'm wondering, do you have a story about the moment you found out you'd be playing for Canada at the 2010 Olympics? And what was that moment like?

Yeah, it was crazy. Crazy that it was 15 years ago now because just the whole scene in Vancouver was incredible. And I always say that that's one of the highlights in my life, not just playing career, being in Vancouver for two weeks. It was a pretty special time. I'm glad that the players get to go now and experience that, being around the different Olympians.

But when I got the call, we had pregame skate in New York at the garden. And I remember getting off the ice pretty early, going to check the phone. And I'm not sure if it was Kevin Lowe or it might have even been Doug Armstrong that left a message on my phone to, give him a call. He said that I made the team, and they give him a call and iron out some details and stuff like that, but you just get like a wave of excitement, I think, even being in New York and, you know, being in the garden and being around that much media and then getting

the call like that, it was something I'll never forget. I wish it would have saved the voicemail, but I think when you're in it, you're just kind of thinking ahead, and it was a pretty special moment with Mike Richards former Olympic gold medalist and a couple of your teammates from way back when 15 years ago still playing, still getting a chance to compete for a gold medal,

Sidney Crosby, Drew Dowdy, two players who were announced to this team that you played with back in 2010. How crazy is it to think that they're still playing at that high level after 15 years? Yeah, it's pretty wild. Like Sid, I played with in World Juniors too. Like I've

been done playing, I think, for eight years now. maybe nine and to see sit at the top of this game still night in night out every single time I get a chance to watch him I do because it's just incredible of what he's done and drew kind of being the same same way last year watching the four nations and seeing what it meant to him to try to get back as quick as he can from injury just to play on that team too so you know those guys are just like meant for those moments. I wasn't surprised to see Drew or sit on that team. It's just wild to see, you know, really both of them at this stage,

just dominating the NHL still is pretty wild. And Sid, it looks like he could probably go another five, maybe eight years playing at a high level. He just has no sign of slowing down yet. And I don't really expect him to anytime soon. Hey, Mike, it's funny. Drew Dowdy's been on social media telling a story about that 2010 goal medal game and how he nearly missed it, having missed a couple of the buses to the rink in Vancouver

and having to scramble to get there on time to hear Mike Babcock's pregame speech. And he mentioned in one of his interviews that, you know, you were one of the few people that realized he was actually late. What do you remember about that adventure from Mr. Dowdy? adventure nonetheless. So I remember him getting to the rank and like I mean usually you do this in practice

like when somebody's late you kind of like messy their stall up a little bit get their laundry out make it look like they're there but you don't really expect to do it for a gold medal game. So once a couple of us noticed that Drew wasn't there we started doing that brought his laundry out into the hallway so he can change and I remember him walking to the rink.

he had like a light gray tan or a light gray suit on and it was just absolutely drenched and sweat and he was so nervous and uh i was like how like how could you sleep in for a gold metal game but i guess he had to get to the rank i forget how he got there but then obviously with the olympics the security was so high so he couldn't get into the normal entrances he had to walk through a crowd of people and like literally fans trying to get another rank that's how late he showed up and I mean obviously luckily he got there he obviously wasn't going to be benched in the gold medal game but that's kind of drew in a nutshell he can just throw his gear on no you know no cares in the world go on the ice play 30 minutes and dominate so I think he has the personality of you know the basically any time he plays he's going to be the best because he's got no cares in the world well he was the young buck of that team back in 2010 Macklin Celebrini's the young kid here just 19 years old

forcing his way onto team Canada you know what have you made of his emergence as a top talent here in the NHL and what type of role do you expect for him to play yeah it'll be interesting to see how the coaching staff kind of plays him because he can go up and down the lineup he's such a smart player that I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing with Connor on the first line or, you know, you can go on a checking line with Sorrelli

or basically whoever John Cooper decides to put him with. But it's been pretty impressive. Like, I didn't watch a lot of the games last year full disclosure, just, you know, not in the best part of the standings to be in. But this year I've gotten to see him a few times. And just the way he thinks the game, it kind of reminds us. me of sit actually when we used to have battles when I was in Philly and he was in pit just the work ethic, the dog on a bone mentality of just always kind of round the puck

seems to come out with it, not the biggest guy, but you know, takes on contact and it's crazy to believe he's only 19 years old and excuse me, it's just going to get better once he starts kind of developing into his body a little bit more and gets. It's a little bit more knowledge about where to be on the ice. It's pretty incredible. Hey, Mike, you know how a day like this is in Canada. We got 30-something million people and 30-something armchair GMs that are telling Dr. Armstrong, you know, where he made a mistake, who he should have had on this roster.

You want to join the chorus? Anybody that you felt was a major snub by Team Canada? I'm a major snub. I personally would have taken San Bennett, you know, watching him what he did to start the game last year for the Four Nations. I thought that was huge for that team at that moment. And then to follow that up by winning the cons my trophy in the playoffs is kind of not too shabbyy either. But, you know, those guys picking the team have some hard decisions. I think there's lots of guys, Mark Schifley, another one in Winnipeg.

who probably could have been there too, but, you know, those guys know what they're doing. They got to really think of every single situation that, you know, the team might be in Italy, too. So, you know, it's not like you can just fly somebody in, too. So you got to think of all the fans or butts and those guys seem to know what they're doing. But hopefully it works out, obviously, being Canadian, you want to see them do. well, but those are two guys that I probably would have taken on my team. Yeah, we've had that

debate, and those seem to be the two guys that a lot of people seem to be going to bat for, but, you know, it's a talented group. I mean, there's a lot of talent here in Canada, especially at the four position. There was always going to be really good players who unfortunately missed

out on the opportunity, but, you know, if injuries arise, I'm sure they'll have their numbers pretty close by, and, you know, maybe they'll find their way at some point. Mike, really appreciate to take a good time to join us today for a chat and happy New Year to you and your family. Yeah, thanks, guys. Hope you guys have a good New Year's and thanks for having me on. Absolutely. Mike Richards, former Olympic gold medalist, World Junior Captain, joining us on the Maple Toyota hotline. Get in and go where adventure takes you

in a new 2025 Tacoma from Maple Toyota near Canada's Wonderland in the Maple Auto Mall. Visit and maple toyota dot com what a beauty mike richards i mean that that i mean 2010 to be able to be there in 2010 witnessing you know the the golden goal and and and all that encompassed it but then also being a part of that 0405 world junior tea he has been on some special special like canadian international teams oh this guy i mean yeah the most special you know of of for a lot of reasons, right? Like, I mean, to his point about being a part of that 2010 Olympics, right? I was brother, like, that was, you know, such a special moment, not only for Canadian

hockey, because obviously the golden goal and beating the U.S. and all the rest of it and all the drama. You were there, right? You were in attendance? Yeah, I was there. Yeah, exactly. But to be at the Olympics, because, you know, that was our own the podium moment, right? Where we put in all these resources.

We hadn't been at a Winter Olympic power, even though. although obviously we, you know, we expected to win gold and invest in hockey. Yeah. But, you know, we invested a lot of money and trying to own the home soil. And it wasn't going particularly well out of the gate, you know, there was, there was, it was some hiccups. But we ended up doing it. It was just such a great feel-good moment for Canadian sports in general, right? And capped off by the gold in hockey was as perfect as it could have been.

Well, I'll never be. I was, I was how old would I have been, 2010, 16 years old, I think. I guess that would make sense, about 16 years old, 15, 16, rolling down Clifton Hill after they had won the gold medal. I remember I had my team Canada, Luongo Jersey on, was in the family minivan. I had a Canada flag, you know, that I was going down there with. It's quite the celebration. I'm sure there was, you know, plenty of celebrations happening all across Canada. I know, obviously, you know, like Dundas Square and all that, definitely Nathan Phillips, I'm sure, had parties going on here in Toronto. But that was quite the moment. I mean, the golden goal still rings as the top sports

moment of my lifetime. That's for me, the number one moment that I'll never forget. Like, where were you when type of, type of move. You know, like there's a couple more that have come in after that, but I don't know if anything will ever usurp Crosby's Golden Goal on home soil to win gold. Like, it's just, I'm getting chills, just kind of thinking about it. And it just, you know, makes you think, like, man, we're going to get that again. And the fact that Crosby is going to be, you know, a leading player again, 15 years after that moment, and he is still a go-to player for Canada, just speaks to the longevity and just how amazing of a player this guy is.

I can't wait for Milano and can't wait for the Olympics. It's going to be a lot of fun. Yeah, it's like Doug Armstrong said, right? Like, Sidney Crosby, the testament to how good he has been and how good he has remained. A freak. It's like Armstrong said to us, like, if he had four points right now, he'd still be on the team. His current form would not matter. We'd still take him.

And that is probably the greatest compliment you can pay the guy because you just know when it matters, that guy will show up for you. And not only show up, but he may dominate. Yeah. I mean, we saw it to Four Nations. I mean, he was the best player. I would say heading into the gold medal game, he was probably, you know, like the MVP at that point in the term. He was Canada's best player. And then Connor turned it on and had an unbelievable gold medal game.

He gets the game winning goal in that one. It was almost like the passing of the torch, too, which is why I'm really curious to see how it goes here at the Olympic Games. You know, if this is Connor's turn to take over right from the get-go. Like, that's what I'm expecting to see. Connor really, really turn into, you know, that superstar player who's just going to elevate his game in his first ever best-on-best-on-best. Olympics. I think it's going to be a spectacle that that guy's going to put on, man,

an absolute spectacle. The luxury that John Cooper has is if McDavid doesn't become that guy, it might be McKinnon. And if it's not McKinn and it might be McCar. I mean, there's so many guys. And if it's not McCar, it might be Macklin. Right. Like there's so many guys that can drive the bus here for Team Canada. And I mean, the Americans are going to have a great team as well. The Swedes always put forward a solid squad. Finland, they're always a pesky bunch, obviously. Jackie has got some good talent throughout the NHL and throughout, you know,

other various professional leagues that will be represented there. But Canada, they're the favorites. Right now, Fanduil has them as plus 135 favorites to win gold. And obviously we have expectations that those cash, those bets will cash at some point. If not, we'll be a very upset, upset nation. But don't forget, don't forget, as Dugge pointed out in our group chat, Sam Bennett was minus 20,000 to be on the roster. Which was insane.

Like, I remember seeing that when the odds first came out, you know, months ago, and I'm like, he's absolutely not a lock for me. Like, I thought he would make the team. I thought that he was one of the guys who had strong consideration of those who were on the bubble. But I did not have him as an absolute no-brainer lock where it would be 20,000 to make the team. But I am surprised that he didn't make it when all. set and done. But that, that, those odds were a little, a little egregious. For those who put money on that, boy, that's just lighten, lighten your money on fire, realistically. Well, you're making

wages like that. Yeah, you're, hopefully you didn't put the 20 grand to win the 100. That's right. You got, you're wasting 20 grand to win 100 bucks. Like, that's, that's what that means. So it's, I, I would love to see how many people actually put money down on that wage or any type of significant cash on that wager. I'd imagine most people stayed away from that one. Dave, on the other side, Dugge's going to come in, he's going to join us. We're doing some 2025 year-in-review sports trivia. We're testing our knowledge to see how we can recall the year 2025 in sports.

Should be a lot of fun. I'm Mike DiStefano with Dave Festchuk. Overdrive continues on TSN 1050, TSN5, and up on YouTube Live. Overdrive continues on TSN 1050, TSM5, and on YouTube live. Mike DeStefno, filling in for Brian Hayesn-N-Fee. We've got Dave Festchuk of the Toronto star in with us as well. And Doogie, producer Doogie has joined us. We're doing a little trivia.

We haven't done trivia on this show in a while. Well, it's my first time doing it. Well, almost top of your team. You've been doing this for how long is the producer now? Two, three years almost. You've been producing it. We haven't done trivia. They used to be a staple on this show.

Oh, I know. On this show. That's crazy. So we're bringing it back. But I'm grateful to be here. Little year-in-review trivia, right? So it's questions surrounding around, you know, the biggest and best moments of the sports world in 2025, correct?

Oh, yeah. Full sports. Okay. And I'm excited for this. We know the deal. Trivia. Someone gets this deal if you don't get it right. Okay.

But we'll start with you all his brother. 2025 had a lot of significant moments in the year of sports. Before the show we talked about it, saying, like, you can compile a list of so many. But one team stood out to me. And it's in this city. The Toronto Blue Jays and a player stuck out to me, and that's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Who signed a deal in 2025.

Okay. But we're going to kick it off here. Vladi's extension made him a Blue J through which year? Made him a Blue J. So when does it fully end? 2040. Alex?

Wrong. Dave, happy New Year, by the way. Same to you, Doogie. I'm looking nice to see you. And I hear you're looking forward to a big night on the town tonight. Oh, yeah, of course. So nice of you to join us before you hit the streets. Is it 2039?

Yep, burn. Correct, correct. Dave takes the early points here. Obviously, April 9th, Flattie signed that 14-year deal. 500 Schmill. It doesn't it? It doesn't kick in until 2026, no? That's correct.

$325 million of the contract signing bonuses each season, no contract, in the contract, no deferrals, no opt-outs. Yeah, I did my math. I did my math, not my strong suit. Not my strong suit. Let's hope, let's hope he's eaten right in the off season. Let's hope he's eaten right in the off-season. Let's hope so.

Well, let's stick in the city. Toronto Maple Leafs talk of the town, obviously. Pretty tumultuous year for them. top of the division, then goes down to the bottom of the division, almost a calendar year. But we'll focus on some of the players of this franchise, and we'll start from back

the 2024-25 season to right now. Which Mapleese player from then to now leads, scoring wise. So regular season and playoffs. And I'll do four choices for you here. Austin Matthews,

Mitch Marner, William Neelander, or Matthew Nice. Dave, four options. Which one takes the cake? I would have to guess it's William Neelander. Alex? That's right, you sneaky little devil. I'm going to give multiple choices.

It's an easy answer. I'm giving multiple choices. I didn't have a multiple choice. Dave complimented me. I know. You would have a multiple choice. It had to be one of the years. Come on.

If he would have said 2039, I would have done my math, I would have got it correct. Very true. Very true. Fair. Unfair. It's under protest. This is under protest. Dave.

That's why I love you. William Nealander, 140 points, beginning of last season to December 31st. All right. Should have done from 2025, the calendar year. We're going to. Hey, quick criticize it, dude. He's doing a good job. Just because he's losing the game.

Come on, Dave. No kidding. All right. Next one. Let's, this was a crazier, as I mentioned, for the sports world. So Al's brother. What blockbuster trade shook up the sports world on February 2nd, 2025? The sports world.

Oh, Luca Donchich. That's right, you sneaky little devil. That was insane. That's another one of those, like, you remember where you were moments. I was at the blackjack table, and I remember I was with my now fiancé, girlfriend at the time. Congratulations, by the way. Thank you. Appreciate that.

And my phone starts ringing, and it's my mother. And I just give the phone to her. And I'm like, hey, can you answer this? And then she's like, Luca got trade to the Lakers. I'm like, what? And she's like, yeah, Luca got traded to the Lakers. I'm like, Luca got, like, Luca Donchit. She's like, Donchit.

She's like, yeah. I'm like, excuse me? Like, it was like absolutely mind-blowing when that happened. And just think about how, like, I still can't believe the Mavericks did that. Like, like, think about how much that has set that franchise back. And now they stink, they're going to trade away Anthony Davis. It was the big piece. That's the crazy part about all this.

I still cannot quite fathom the fact that that even happened. Dave, where were you when it finally happened? Yeah, it's a good question. I was definitely not at the blackjack table. Having my soon-to-be fiancé answer my phone for me. But, because I don't roll that way. Only Al's brother could pull that one off. But I do remember, like, just, it was one of those weird moments where you just don't believe it.

Like, you have to, like, in our, in the world we live in with AI and all the rest of the nonsense that's spewed on social media, you, like, everybody that I know was like, that can't be true. Like, Shams was hacked or something happened. Right. There's no possible way this is actually true until you found out, yeah, upon, you know, 15 double checks, triple checks, triple checks, it actually is true. Yeah, that was wild Yeah, absolutely insane Yeah, shout out to Owen Hall Who texted me at 12 a.m.

A. Producer of Gameplay to say that Luca Donchish has been dealt A-B on the board Insane, two to one Dave, your turn here I know you're a golf expert Who won the Rider Cup And by how many points?

Oh, okay Well, I don't know by how many points to be honest with that. That's part of the question, Dave. I didn't even stick around to recap the ending because it was over way too early. But we all know who won the Ryder Cup, and it was the great European squad. Yeah. You don't remember how many?

I was going to guess here. I'm going to guess here. Was it? No, no, hang on. Give me a guess. I'll give it a guess. I'll give it a guess. I'm going to guess they, in the end, they won it by four?

Morons. I can't take it. No. U.S. made that big comeback. And, like, they almost completed the comeback, right? Like, it seemed like it was done early, and maybe that's when you flipped it off. But they made it close.

Well, they made it close. I believe it was a two, two, two, two, indifference, no? Two points? It was two points. I was rather correct. It was close, man. They made it a good. It was at the Saturday.

They really came back and roared back. Wild day. Incomplete comeback, I guess. So, you know, it's not one that sticks in your brain as much. But, yeah, I do recall, recall that crazy comeback. Yeah. Absolutely insane. Well, with Hockey Canada choosing their team today,

we all revert back to the Four Nations, which was the spotlight in this country. But Al's brother, we're going to go from a points perspective. Throughout the entire tournament of the Four Nations face off, who led the tournament in points out of every team of the four? Every team. I'm not here making it seem like maybe it was an American. I do have multiple choice,

I'm not going to give it to you. Oh, but you gave him multiple choice for the one. I get no multiple choice questions. I mean, maybe for the next one, not for this one. It's between a couple of guys. I know it was,

I believe it wasn't McDavid. It was not McDavid. So on Canada, it was either Crosby or McKinnon. It was one of those two. But was there an American that had an unbelievable tournament that I just can't seem to, like did Eichel go off?

Definitely wasn't Matthews. I think Jake Gensel had a pretty good tournament, if I recall. Alex? I didn't make a choice. I never made a choice. I thought you made a choice. Where? Which two players I'm naming guys.

I'm going with McKinnon. Nathan McKinnon. Still wrong. Okay. Still wrong. Sidney Crosby. Still wrong. Dave?

You know what? I actually, I do not know the answer. So I'm going to take a guess. I am going to guess. would it be yeah I think did we say did you say McKinney?

He did. You said McKinnon. Okay McDavid. Okay McDavid. Final answer? Yeah. Wrong! Zach Wrenski of the United States

six points. That led the tournament? Led the tournament in points. Zero goals, six assists in the tournament. Corosby, Big David, with five. I mean, it was a pretty low-scoring tournament. It sure was. When you think back on it, yeah, very low-scoring tournament.

And I guess the scoring was pretty spread out, which we'll probably see happen again. Yeah. It seemed with the Olympics spread out as opposed to one guy controlling things. But Zach Werencky, I know. If you would have given me more like 17 different names, like I wouldn't have got to Werencki. Yeah, absolutely insane.

Well, let's go to some football fellas. And a big moment of 2025, obviously, Travis Kelsey, Taylor Swift, getting married. I'd put that at the top of the pop culture list of moments throughout this year. But let's... Well, hang on, Al's brother just got engaged. What are you talking about? Engage. They're getting married.

They're getting married. The second biggest engagement of 2020. Yes, number one, Al's brother. Until Belichick gets engaged. Did that happen? Did that happen? Did that happen? Not that I, no.

No, that'd be number one. I know he's watching a lot of cheerleading competitions, but I don't think of there was a ring on it. But let's stick in the NFL, and Micah Parsons became the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history at $186 million with the Packers. Dave, who is second of non-quarterbacks in the NFL? That's a good one.

That is a really good one. That's a good question. I actually don't know the answer to this one either, but I'm going to guess. yeah um let's see could it be not quarterback second overall believe i know is it one of two guys you know this else brother i think one of two guys i have two guys in mind i don't know which one but i have one of two guys i believe okay okay um well i can't tell you i can get to steal i know i know i know i'm just wondering if you're going to steal it i'm wondering if you're going to steal it off me um

You know what, I don't know. I'm going to say, would it be Tyreek? I don't know. No. No. Unfortunately not, Dave. Non-quarterback. Non-quarterback.

One of two guys with Miles Garrett. Wrong. Wrong. Is TJ Wong? No. Didn't Watt get that big deal afterwards? Doesn't exceed this guy, though. Was it a pass rusher, though?

Yes, Detroit. Detroit Liles. Oh, Aiden Hutchinson. Aiden Hutchinson. 180 million. almost 170 million. Yeah. Comparable to Micah Parsons,

186. So it's two to one. All these pass rushers got paid this year. It's a bad trivia contest. Where's Masters and Jonas? It was 2-2. 2-2 at this point. You did sneak in with that last point. Let's cap it off with this one.

Sam Bennett's in the conversation today for not making Team Canada going into the Olympics and a shock to many. And I was brother. Sam Bennett. as we know, Kahn's Mithe,

led the playoffs and goals, and I'll give you multiple choice on these, with how many? 12, 15, 18, or 20? 15. Yes, sir. Didn't even need the multiple choice. I would have preferred it with the Werenckkeke.

15 goals, and what, like 13 of them were on the road? 13 of them on the road, NHL record. Yeah, do we get a bonus question for knowing the road record or no?

Bonus answer? We could do that. We could do that. No. I think we have one more, one more in store. Dave, what was the number that Alex Ovechkin needed to break Wayne Gretzky's goal record this this year? Oh, man. Was it

uh, was eight, was it 892? Wrong. 895. That's right, you sneaky little dabble. How's brother. What a comeback. Trivia champ, Dave. Nice job, baby. Incredible work, though.

Four two. What a year of sports, though, boys, honestly. there was a lot there was a lot that went on in uh in sports anything else that kind of sticks out to you dave that didn't come up in the trivia in terms of like big sports news or or happenings in the sports world well in Toronto I mean you saw masai jiri yeah yeah ran at shanahan both given the boot I mean these guys have been you know formative people in this city for a decade plus you know I mean you know Maasai longer than shanahan right I mean I mean, these guys have set the tone in this city for a long, long time,

almost as long as this station's been around. So I think that was a pretty big seismic moment on both the hockey and the basketball fronts. Could have been bigger, too, because, like, if the Blue Jays did not have the season they had, if they would have just replicated what happened last year, where they're at the basement of the ALE East, there's a good chance that Chaparrainer and Atkins possibly could have been moved on from and let go. And that would have been every single front office, you know, in Toronto, all moved on from in the same

calendar year, which would have been seismic. But it didn't happen because the Blue Jays, I would say the Blue Jays provided the best moments for the Toronto sports scene. I mean, going to the, you could count it on so many fingers, the

amount of moments that, you know, led up to the Blue Jays, making it to within two outs or two feet of a World Series championship. But what a fun year in sports it was. Definitely. Good stuff. Good stuff. Thank you, boys.

Happy New Year to everybody. All right. One more lap around the track. I got my Fanduel. Best Betts coming up next. Today's Best Fetts are powered by Fanduel. Make Your Picks and Assembly. Same game parlay in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app.

Taking a look at a couple of hockey games tonight. A little Team Canada selection bump. He can parlay Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon to both score tonight. Anytime goal scores, and that pays plus $2.65 over on Fandual. Today's best bets, powered by Fandual. Every NHL game is available on Fandual Sportsbook app. Please pay responsibly 19 plus and physically located in Ontario.

Well, that's essentially a wrap for 2025, Dave. Any New Year's plans tonight? What's your deal tonight? Anything going on? I'm laying low, man. I mean, I'll just, I'm looking forward to the stories from Dugie out on the Mean Streets of Toronto. I know our guy, AK is heading out to King Street. What about you?

You got a big night plan? I had to drive back to Niagara and then not much plan. I'm not a big New Year's Eve guy. I find it to be one of the more overrated holidays if I'm being completely honest with you. When I was in college and, you know, younger,

when I was out there in my party day, sure is a lot of fun. But these days, it's more of just a formality. I'll sit back, watch the World Junior game tonight and just kind of enjoy with some family I think is probably going to end up being the plan tonight.

Yeah, hey man, this is going to be a fun one. I'm looking forward to watching this World Junior team play tonight against Finland. Got to start. This is where it gets interesting, right? You got to, this is a big one to win. It's not a must win, but it's a big win if you can get it. And it can set you up for a much more, much more palatable ride to the metal podium

if you win it. 100%. And for me tonight, like, it's, it has to be Gavin McKenna's game. I think there's his chance to kind of put a stamp on things. and, you know, say, I've arrived in this tournament. He had a great game against Denmark, had the hat trick, that unbelievable goal that everyone talked about from the next couple of days.

If he can put on a similar performance tonight in a big game against a top opponent like Finland, I think that that will kind of put it to rest about whether or not this guy should be considered the number one pick in next year's draft. I think he's an unbelievable talent, a bit of a slow start first couple games, and in the NCAA early on.

But I think there's a spark there in that game against Denmark. I'm excited to see what he can do tonight. So he's a player. I'm definitely eyeing and excited to see what he has up his sleeve. Hopefully, Canada can pull it out, though. Because as you mentioned, big game for them. Winner gets the number one seed in an easier path once you get into the playoff portion of the tournament. All right, Dave, that'll do it for us here today for Dave Festchuk.

I'm Mike DiStefano. Enjoy the games tonight and tomorrow, no show tomorrow. We'll be back Friday. Happy New Year's to Dave, the boys in the back, Joe from the Bridge, and everyone listening and watching. Be safe. Have fun. We'll chat in 2026. I'm Dylan Playfair. And I'm Tyler Smith. We're putting loneliness in the penalty box by talking to some of our favorite athletes about the importance of friendship. This is Bromance. Bromance is brought to you by Charm Diamond Center, proudly Canadian-owned and operator.

Charm has been part of your love stories and bromances for over 50 years. And you can find Bromance on the IHeartRadio Network or wherever you get your podcast.