Real Kyper & Bourne - 4 Nations Final Nerves & Stakes

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee give a pulse check ahead of tonight's 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and USA with the stakes rising as they get closer to puck drop. They discuss whether the US surpasses Canada as a hockey nation with a win, the political backdrop of the game and whether the mistreatment of Charlie McAvoy's injury impacts the tournament's future. Later, Olympic Gold medalist and Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer (28:23) helps tee up the game and shares how winner-take-all international games compare to NHL playoff intensity, the growth of Drew Doughty, how Cale Makar changes the matchup and much more. Finally, Nick, Justin and Sam discuss where this game ranks among the most important in recent history and how the hockey world gears back into the regular season slog.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Hey, better late than ever. We are live on sports at five 90. The fan sports at three 60 and sports net plus it's game day. Not just any day Canada versus the U S tonight, 8 P M Eastern. Sammy look at me. Breathe. Sammy's doing un-good. Probably not if he's doing un-good. The good air out with the bad. You okay? Can you do two hours of this to get us closer to

Puck Drop? I booked three great guests for you guys to talk. Like I really am not in a good way today. It's been a day already. It's only four o'clock. It's been a lot emotionally, online. All right. Three amazing guests, all with international experiences for their respective countries. In about half an hour, we'll welcome in Scott Niedemeier,

four-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist. At the Cup champion, two time Olympic gold medalist. At the top of the hour, Olympic gold medalist in 2002, Eric Lindros will join us as well. And then, we gotta have a balance here for the USA. We're gonna track down to the best of our abilities, Jeremy Roenick. Yes!

There we are. Okay. We are, yep. That's pretty darnick. Yes! Yeah, we are. Okay. We are, yep. That's pretty darn good. Pretty darn good for game day. If we cannot get you ready for puck drop, nobody can. No. And it's possible that nobody can,

because I don't think Sam's even ready, so. He doesn't want to be here right now. Okay. Go ahead, boys. You set up, your names are on the show, you talk. No, no, no, no. Listen, you've worn the hats before, but the jersey is another level. I've never wanted your your close to being Elaine's boyfriend on Seinfeld the devil. I mean, I would have painted my face today

I already put a little makeup on so that's technically painting my face. You are this close to being a face painter right now Show support for Me for my team. Oh are my country been under a lot of questions Whether it is our quick country anymore and there's been a lot of people talking about what's happening But I thought I put on the jersey today rare that I've never done it and I decided to do it day I am terrified of this game tonight, boys. We can get into it, you guys can talk a little bit, but I feel, you know, the Leafs relationship is different.

I used to feel like this about the Leafs when I was in my 20s and I, you know, it's been beat out of me. But having this, having the stakes, having everything, I have been sick to my stomach since I woke up today. I am definitely please come into my office lie on the couch and Talk to me. Yes What are you scared about? I am scared that the level of winning

doesn't match how bad it is to lose where You've lost them a Saturday night We talked about that a ton, and how much that hurt, and how much that sucked, and the way that game went, and all that stuff. If you win tonight, unbelievable. You win the Four Nations Face Off trophy, it's great. You win.

Which is a nothing, meaning it's not. No, no, no, it's not. It's a no, no, no, we're not going there. It's just a dumb trophy. We're not doing that right now. No, no, we are. No, just let me finish. We are, because it's not about the trophy. It's not about the trophy. That's my whole point. Okay, that's fair. It's stupid. now. No, we are. No, just let me finish. We are. Because it's not about the trophy.

It's not about the trophy. That's my whole point. It's stupid and it's meaningless. It's not about the trophy. But you're facing either going one-on-one versus the States, right? Where you've beat them once, they beat you once. Or you're facing going 0-2 against them and they win this trophy that nobody cares about, according to you, everybody cares about it. I just

It's a Huge huge stakes hockey game that I can't remember having this feeling about you're not you're not getting to the core Okay What's the core the core is? What are you scared of now that if they go? Owen to if we have this amazing game? Mm-hmm, and it's just a bad bounce either late in the game or in overtime Yeah, and they find a way to win the game now

They strip you of getting to say it's our right it strips you of your supremacy for hockey in Canada that's what you're really scared of. Correct. And I think the record that Canada has against the states in best on best tournaments, I think Canada and USA have met 20 times in best on best tournaments. Canada is 14 and five in those games

with one tie in those games. Here's what I'll say. Canada usually wins this game. And over the the years you look back and all these games that have come to it It's USA versus Canada Canada usually wins this game, but I am terrified what it means for the game I love for the country. I love what it means if they don't get it. I'm terrified by that Is he legit here or is he just well super sensitive? I mean, he's just a basket case of Both can be true. I think you know, there's the hockey standpoint and then there's the greater Canadian identity

Standpoint there is no doubt that the percentage of Canadian hockey players and NHL is on decline The American percentage is on the way up. Sam is worried that we have hit where they cross percentage is on the way up. Sam is worried that we have hit where they cross and the Twain, the Twain never shall meet again. Like it's over. Like the Americans are going to pass us. He's afraid we're there. And this has been our identity that it's our game. The rosters are really close. Yeah. They're close. And they didn't used to be. Okay, I'll grant you that, but like, we're also dealing with a country that has 333 million people to start picking hockey players from. And we've got 35 million. And that's what was so amazing about us being dominant.

It is kind of inevitable that they will either close out and or is not inevitable you know making me feel better here is this supposed to be the corner here so it's it's okay that you can be that close together and then you're in a Pickum kind of situation which we are in tonight. Are we not in a What is you do your best? Right says we're in a pit right down the middle. Mm-hmm. So, you know I mean, is there any chance at all that Canada could play a really sound hard game lose by a Overtime goal and now we've lost our manhood? I don't know, because I don't feel that way.

I don't feel that way either. Yes, but maybe Sam can answer that better. I still feel like we have the best players on Earth and we could put a second team in this tournament that might win it too, and I still feel good about things. Interesting. Nice. It's quite a perspective there, boys.

I like, so you, regardless of what happens tonight, and we are in for, may I say, what is going to be a fabulous hockey game. I don't think there's any way that this game sucks tonight, okay? But like, your contention here is, is that it does, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal.

Is that what you're saying? I think if it's a hard-fought game, they look good. They go down swinging and They lose by okay, they can win the four nations and we'll win the Olympic gold next February And then where are we right back? For you, mr Therapist yeah are nudging us down the road to looking at politics, to saying it's not just the four nations. You're right. The trophy isn't just the thing.

The president's involved. The countries are involved. He's starting to get smarter. He is. He's always been pretty good. But where he's getting, he's starting to figure me out just a little bit and I don't like it. It is not just the trophy is it?

So this is where we are right now as we go to our first Kippers Clipper on where politics has seeped in to this week and what's it really done to lead us into this championship game? Let's go to head coach Mike Sullivan from the US Hockey Club to speak on that very subject. No, I can only speak for our group. It has not. I think politics aside, these guys are hockey players. They love to play hockey. They love to compete, and they have a certain pride with respect to their country. And so I think that that is the motivation and the inspiration to bring out the best in each individual in our room.

I know what this means to these guys. They're vested and, you know, they're looking forward to the opportunity to play tonight left side second row How would you assess call? So the inspiration isn't annexing Canada to be the 51st state then I guess Different from what some other people were saying. This is where we will not allow the USA hockey club to have their cake and eat it too. No and and I think what Bill Guerin said, he went on Fox News and made comments

that maybe were slightly misconstrued, but he did invite the president, had the president call in to Team USA Today, and the reporter asked him, was there any talk of annexing Canada to be the fifth state? And he said, a little. A little bit.

But it was mostly about, say, what do you do? Little like, obviously then. Yes. And then I think Garen and other people when asked about this said, but it's not about that. It's not about politics. It's about the hockey teams.

And it's like, you can't just suddenly take a lot of heat for making a political and say, well, now it's not about politics. You drag the politics into it. I'm so with you on this 100% you don't get to Have a president pump up the boys with we're going after Canada Zoom call today or audio call whatever you want to call it and then turn around and get to tell us Well, we just want to focus on hockey. We don't really want to, no, no, no,

that's not the way it works. You want to drag in a president that wants to strip us of our country on a day of a hockey game, then you know what, the boys are fair game. They're fair game. And you don't get to hide off of no comment to me. You know, like, so that's where it opens up for the media. You don't get to hide off of no comment to me. So that's where it opens up for the media.

And I've been around this thing for like 25 years. I don't think they're gonna go away. I think some of those guys have to answer the question on, do you support this? Is this part of the strategy to be motivated to go win Canada over? And I think Kip that maybe part of this is the coaches Trying to keep the players focused on what matters the for check the power play. This is just about hockey whatever

But by doing this you have inflamed the political tensions. Yes around your room, which you're right We'll eventually lead to interviews, questions, whatever. And I think it's a problem for the NHL. Do you? Oh yeah, I do. We've got American players that play in Canada. Captains, Brady Kichuck and Austin Matthews in Ontario. So Austin, like, you know, you're the captain of the team.

What do you think? Well, what do you think? I got no comment. Let's like, well, is it gonna be left alone now? You invited it. Your program invited the political angle in on this. And for some in the media, it just might not be enough to say no comment.

You're playing in Canada, you're working in Canada, you're earning a living in Canada. How do you feel about it, Austin? Yeah. How do you feel about the fact that your president wants to take over Canada and how many jobs that could be potentially lost in this country because of it? How do you feel about that?

Yeah. No, I have no rebuttal to that. Go ahead. Well, you know, it's interesting, because Cooper has a quote too, and we have a Cooper line on this subject where he says something similar to Sullivan, that it's not about this bigger thing,

it's about hockey, am I right? Is that sort of the tenor of the tenor? Before we play that clip, can I just pose something to you that the way this is game has been built up in the United States and the president calling into them and Like you said ESPN main like everything it's all hands on deck there for this and everyone's talking about the big number down there I saw a clip of Matthew Kachak FaceTime with Charles Barkley in the locker room before the games.

We have to win it. We have to win it. That's what he's saying. I to the point earlier in the week about getting asked if they're underdogs. I do think that as much pressure as there is here in Canada on this Canadian roster to perform and to win. I think this storm around USA has created such a massive amount of pressure for them going into this game.

They like they have so much at stake with all these new eyeballs watching with all these new fans after the three fights and all that stuff. The amount of pressure that they have on them is immense. How could it not be? I can't disagree with that either. The president's calling you. You're talking about taking over Canada. They're in the US, JJ Watts tweeting about it. It's, you know, like, you know, pardon my take, the biggest sports podcast in America, they're having a live view. They flew in some

random Canadian. They're doing like a live viewing of the hockey game tonight. Like this is their big chance. And on the other side, you have Nathan McKinnon Connor McDavid Kale McCarr Sydney Crosby all guys that have not said one thing about this. They haven't waited into this They haven't made it about the politics They just all they've been talking about is winning a hockey tournament and it's two very different things that adds a lot to it I think there's a ton of pressure on these American guys. There is. It's a valid point. I just said, I listen, it also could be me being like there's more pressure on them. Like Canada doesn't even care about this. But like I am really interested to see how they respond and they have the

three, like they only have the three cup winners on their team, right? We've talked about this at Nausium. And you know what? It kinda disappoints me that this thing is kinda turned into a little bit of this political circus. And while everybody wants to jump on ratings and great for the game and all of that, let's face it, the attention that this has gotten now isn't because Con Connor McDavid's such a great skater.

It's because America woke up when they found out that we booed their anthem. That's what started this whole thing. Well, I don't know about that. Look at the ratings in the first game. Yeah. There were normal ratings. and then it jumps from 700,000 people to... No it's not. Yes, because it's Canada USA. We booed the US Anthem. That was the lead. It's a piece of the juice. Not the sports. Not, hey, last night's scores. It was on every major

media channel across the US. It led with the booing. That's what started this thing. Listen, it's been nine years since our country has played their country, and that was going to be a big game, whether we had booed it or not. The numbers it did, over 10 million people

watched that game internationally. Yes, after the booing. Well, yeah. What was it gonna be pre-booing? Seven? 700,000? Yeah, you had 9.3 million people tuned in for booing. Oh, well, yeah, what was it gonna be pre booing seven seven hundred thousand Yeah, you know nine point three million people tuned in for booing. Yes. Oh, come on. Yes, give it some credit Why don't you want to give this tournament any credit? This has been a long waiting their best against our best

It's that's all we've wanted to see but that's not that it's no doubt Literally driven certainly in Canada. You know what? They don't even know how sensitive we are about this annexation stuff. It's a joke there. It's a like, they don't even take Trump seriously. They don't know how touchy we are about this, which we should be.

But I, you know, it's a layer, man. It's a layer. And which is why when you go online today and you tweet the Trizzy train is coming about Canada, about Trump potentially coming here, you're gonna be in hot water. And again, that's where some people, if they wanna jump on this bandwagon of attention and stuff,

you're really putting yourself out there. That's what happened to PK Subban today, right? With what did he call Trump's? Yeah, the Trizzi train is what he called. You know, he shared Trump's tweet, which says that maybe soon will be the 51st state and the governor Trudeau and all that. And he says the Trizzi train is coming.

Yeah, and that's opened up a lot of backlash on PK and one of them's from an ex-teammate Yeah, Keemalu. Keemalu has like a seven paragraph take down. He took a pretty good run at him. He did. But that's that's you open yourself up, but that goes to show you the temperature, right? So now I'm hearing some executives who were planning on going there aren't going there because they don't want to get caught up in that. Yeah Yeah, it's you know, and I think this probably, and I can't speak to this, I wasn't alive, but I imagine the Summit Series picked up intensity, ferocity, you know, Canada losing some of the early games, I'm sure gave it some

juice as it went on. But you hear people talk about the Summit Series now as one of the seminal moments in international hockey history. And that would have been a made up tournament, which is a thing that bothers me when people say because they're all made up. And it became something that meant something. And this has become something that means something. And yeah, you're right. I get why people want to just kind of I don't want to be the one to touch the stove and get my hand burn.

So I'm going to keep my hands behind my back, which might be the right move for some of these guys. All right, let's go to Mike Sullivan again, head coach of the USA team on the impact that it's having in this country right now, this series. Well, we're trying to win a game first and foremost, so we're digging in here, and we're spending a lot of time with our team, our coaches, we're doing everything we can to try to set our group up for success. That's part of it. Having said that, you know, I've got more

phone calls and texts in the last couple of days from people that I haven't heard from in a long time and and I think that's I think that's just an indication of the impact that this tournament has had. I think, you know, and I've said this on more than one occasion, it's an incredible celebration of hockey. These are the very best players in the game these are the guys that these are the savants that When when they bring their creativity and their brilliance to what they do out there That's how the game evolves and and that's what we're seeing. That's what we're witnessing firsthand

I feel like I have the best seat in the house because I'm up close to it right behind the bench. I say in the right thing, I got to tell you, I've listened to a ton of Mike Sullivan throughout this tournament, and this will be the last nice thing I say about Team USA, but I like him. I really he's concise. He's a good speaker. Other than saying when he was coming coming which was probably the dumbest thing

He could have ever said on a he must have been fed some he's got some bad info Billy Garen was too busy talking to Fox News about Trump to give him the right info or whatever but yeah, I I really liked him the way stuff he said and he was a lot closer to maybe Becoming a Boston Bruin head coach one day Than he is today because the Boston Bruins are absolutely furious with Team USA on Charlie McEvoy. They are ballistic.

Is that right? Really? Yeah. So it's not good. Have you heard anything more on that? Because I mean that Freach clip from our show yesterday. Yeah. Freach. He was as direct about that as I've ever heard about anything. And basically had a shoulder

injury. And if I'm not mistaken, they gave him a shot. I think they tried to freeze it, to be honest with you. I'm sitting there going. That already is bad to hear. And I'm going like, I'm sitting there going already is bad to hear and I'm going like Game seven in the Stanley Cup playoffs or a final. Yeah, we freeze Exhibition game Saturday night with this playoff spot in the line and then it gets and then it gets infected. Mm-hmm My god, they have every right to be pissed if that's how that played out. That's yeah. Yeah.

Pretty like it's but like why are we shooting up guys for an exhibition series here? Well because he obviously was dying to play. Well, yeah, that's it is that these guys don't view it as you know, NHL exhibition game. This is obviously more meaningful. Yeah So I know you don't want people to care about this they do no I'm not saying that they don't they shouldn't care about this I'm saying that we got to rethink about putting the guys in this position Moving forward here. Yeah, you want to do this every two years

and and We're gonna have the guys play like this come on this is wild mark my words this will become a hot button topic moving forward oh you're right what we're gonna do how we're gonna do it like this charlie mcavoy story will not go away because this is not the way you want teams biggest assets to be treated. And the Boston Bruins I think should be in a position going. That's a good question and I can't answer that. I don't know.

Right? That's a good question and I can't answer that I don't know right of had but there's there is there is there is there is there is talk that They may have they may have done this on their own US hockey may have maybe made the decision there were Minnesota doctors and I hear good things about the the staff the doctors that When you when you put a needle in anybody's body there's always a risk of infection. Yeah. Right? Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if Boston's not acting like they they knew. Right. Is my point. It's crazy. I guess through a hockey note Travis connect knees out for such harvest I know and there is so much there from from the hockey side of things joining your Cooper's thoughts on

The effect in the room. No, okay I don't know you clipped it. I did but it feels like we beat it up kind of beat it up a little bit I mean we're gonna break here shortly for Niedermeyer anyway but the big the big news I guess today for on the ice is that Konecny is coming out for Seth Jarvis and the coach talked about it we get clip one please Cooper I was gonna replace Konecny tonight and same reason there's a lot of you know why it was reversed the last game and just needs and wants and It's You know, we we built this team to win and everybody's gonna have to chip in it's in their own ways Some chip in in some games some chip in others and some chip in and all of them and they've all been a big part

why we're sitting here and There's ultimately it. Okay. Yeah, good player. He is. Yeah. Jarvis is a heck of a player. Wish Mark Shife was drawn. I like him a lot, but he's he's not growing any bigger than he did earlier in the tournament. That's the unfortunate part. Yeah. Yeah. The one thing I will say is he does feel like a pretty tenacious guy.

Hopefully the USD is not big and imposing. No Charlie McEvoy. It does feel like one of those guys could have a night tonight, you know, with the other surely they're going to be matching Slaven against McDavid, likely the Wuransky pair against McKinnon. Like maybe maybe he's able to get a match up and have a moment. It could be anyone's night tonight. I don't think there's going to be a lot of offense. So I know Sammy's.

I really I don't think you can just as a hockey conversation, the swing of Saturday night from Charlie McAvoy out to McCarr in the way that swings these two rosters is what helps me sleep at night yeah I really do think the lack of him but then you still you worry about Bennington who is still the goalie tonight right he's starting tonight they didn't fly in Logan Thompson that part of it still scares me yeah having McCarr really does make me feel a little bit better you know Hilda bucks had a number of bad playoffs in a row. I know you know so there is you know I don't know how you feel about the

This guy has a big ego and has played in big moments and had success versus hellebuck's been great But had some soft mobile. Yeah, yeah, I Do agree with go big or go home with Bennington. Yeah, I'm start to finish Yeah, so at this point and there's there's there might be something about him. That's just He's cocky enough to maybe get away with gives you confidence just squirrely enough to just in there something and it's If we look back on it We're gonna look at four games and if he's left his best for last, then it works. And was it Valley who talked about,

to win the Stanley Cup in St. Louis, he had some bad games, but when it counted, he came through. Who? It was Carter. Carter. All right, there you go Carter and All he needs is one good game out of four and you do feel like because of that confidence

He's not nervous in the big moments like he's gonna be able to give his best Please I think Carter said he gave up five The game before he goes into Boston into Boston and beats the Bruins in game seven. That's got to make him feel good in that building. Yeah. No.

Yeah. You know, he was also played in the pressure cooker of the OHL finals game seven when my own sound attack beat the St. Michael's majors in game seven overtime. Huge. He's in that for that too. If one of the teams, if we're sitting here tomorrow and one of the teams has won four to one, five, nothing, five, nothing, it would be much more shocking for the U S to have done it to Canada than Canada to do it to the U S because we do have the best

players. Connor McDavid could go off. McKinnon could go off. My car, my car can go off off. If one of these teams, and so you have to feel better anytime you feel like your team has a higher ceiling to get to in these games. So yeah, I think they're 51% favorites. Oh my God. We should go. Okay. Let's take a quick break. When we come back, four time Stanley Cup champion Scott Niedemeier will join us and he'll get us set

up. He'll have that calming influence on our Sammy after the break. More Real Kipri and Bourne. Dive deep into Toronto sports and the NFL. The JD Bunkus podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Nick Kiprios, Justin Bourne, Sammy McKee, Canada and US set to meet tonight in a final of a best on best tournament for the first time since 2010 Olympics. With that, let's welcome in Scott Niedemeier, Olympic gold medalist. Of course, twice and Stanley Cup champion

and a guy that may know something about a Canada-US matchup. Scott, thanks for joining us. Any plans tonight at all? I don't know, is there something on TV? Yeah, no, looking forward to it. It'll be a lot of fun, Should be a great game, obviously. And you're out west, right? You're in California.

We're in British Columbia. You're in British Columbia. And what is the yeah, there you go. There you go. What's the good side? We're on the good side of the line here. What is the vibe out there and in terms of either your your your neighborhood, your community what's the feeling been like over the buildup of this thing? Yeah I think people have been a bit surprised with just the level of hockey and you know sort of the level of intensity that these games are being played with. This weekend I was on the

road with my youngest son coaching and we were playing during the game against the US and people were just going crazy looking at their phones watching the highlights at the start of the game so this game's really got a good build up and I think everybody's gonna be tuned in tonight. So we spoke with Eric Lindros today and we'll run that interview a little bit later in the show but one of the questions I asked him was just what's the difference in the feel playing in a winner-takes-all single game know, playing for Canada versus some of those Stanley Cup final games you would have played in?

Well, I mean, it's like you said, winner take all there. There isn't a tomorrow. It's a game seven. Um, you know, there's no room for mistakes. Leave it all on the line, all those things, and it's all true. And needless to say, there's a lot of emotion, um, leading into a game like this, a those sayings, and it's all true. And needless to say, there's a lot of emotion leading into a game like this. A lot of anticipation, a bit of nerves. You know, and the more you've been in it, I think it can benefit you.

And I'm sure you're gonna bank on that tonight where you've got some Canadian guys that have been in these type of games one way or another. And I think that's gonna bode well for their performance tonight. Scott, when you talk about managing expectations, when you represent your country compared to maybe managing the expectations of a city you represent in a Stanley Cup playoffs,

is there much of a margin for you? I wouldn't say there's a big one. I think when you get to the top of the pile going for a medal, you know, for your country or you're going for a Stanley Cup championship, the emotion, the intensity is at the highest level. You have to bring everything you have to sort of that situation. So it's a bit different. There obviously is a different feeling.

You know, you're playing for a country and, you know, you're kind of aware of that on intellectual sort of mindset, that type of thing. But as a player, I think it's a matter of getting out there, being focused and trusting what you have to do out there to help your team succeed. Scott, you played with Drew Doughty during the 2010 Olympics. He's still involved in a very meaningful hockey game here.

What are your thoughts on his game then and now? Yeah, I mean, just flies obviously. I think of him exactly that as a young guy, young teammate, you know that stepped in and kind of brought that youthful enthusiasm to our team in Vancouver and here he is the elder statesman back on the blue line. So I think he'll you know be a level head out there. He's been in Stanley Cups, won Stanley Cups before, been in the Olympics, had success there. So I think he'll be one level head out there. He's been in Stanley Cups, won Stanley Cups before, been in the Olympics, had success there. So I think he'll be one of those guys

that's been in a situation like this before. He'll bring the emotion, he'll bring the intensity, but he'll understand how to use it to help his team and help himself perform. Scott, when I picture you or remember you representing Canada, you were that defenseman that could control the game, a pace of play. Kale McCarr is similar in that scenario. We saw a game Saturday night where the USA team

got the lead and then just shut the door down. I mean, how does a guy like Kale or your experiences over the years when there's not that much room out there and you may wanna do something that, something you think is there or isn't there, how do you pick your spots when you're a go-to guy like yourself? Yeah, I think that's something you do learn as a young player. You make some mistakes when you're younger

and you can't afford to make mistakes in a game like tonight. And I think that's a great question. I think Kale has been in some of these big games. He understands, you know, the fine line there. He knows what he can do and at the right time, you know, the nature of the game, the score, the time, all those things will go in to sort of his decision making.

He's got a lot of talent up front to get the puck to, you know, he really isn't obviously gonna be relied on to do everything for that team. You know, he really isn't obviously going to be relied on to do everything for that team. You know, the subtle little plays he can make, breaking pucks out of our own end, the D zone, offensively supporting the attack, getting shots to the net, that type of thing, can be the difference.

Oftentimes it is one subtle little play, or you know, everybody on the ice chips in with something that makes a difference in a game like this and he understands that I'm sure. So the stakes are this high like I read a great book by Dr. Dana Sinclair who we had on the sports psychologist and it's called dialed in and in when the moments are this big did you ever find yourself drifting from the hockey game to be and almost like being aware of where you are what it's worth or were you able to stay in the game all the time? I think you know I think when you're performing at your best you're in the moment there's no question about that. I think at times in a moment like this you can kind of you

know what if I make a mistake what if something bad happens I think that's not a good state to be in either you have to trust the work you've done you have to trust your teammates yourself the game plan and just be immersed and focused on that the whole way through and then let it let it play out as it will. So I think that those are good questions, probably one of the big challenges of a moment like this for for all people involved, the players and coaches even I think for for managing through this. But like I said, I think the guys that have been through this,

it is an advantage in how to handle those type of situations and be where you need to. One of the things I think that you probably didn't experience that these guys are experiencing today is just this political landscape of what's going on off the ice between Canada and the US. If by chance Canada pulls this off, do you think maybe it could feel close for Canadians,

a golden goal kind of feel that we all had in 2010? Yeah, I mean, I would think so. I mean, you know, the president's south of the border, he's not afraid to stir up some controversy, get his name in the headlines. He kind of does that every five or 10 minutes. We've, we've become a target here. And I think we have a lot of pride. And I've been really actually impressed just by how Canadians have sort of banded together and shown that pride over the last few weeks with what's going on and I absolutely think it would mean more you know to win tonight. I think people that

would just be another you know part of our pride and going forward as a country and what we're all about and you know I always say hockey's maybe the ultimate team game where you rely on others you don't take all the credit yourself and that would be the way Canada wins here tonight for sure. So you were on the ice for the Golden Goal. Am I correct in saying that? I was I was on the ice. If you go back even a little further on the highlight,

which is usually cut off, I gave gave a puck away in our own zone. Longo made a save that I recollected it and gave it to said. And he went down and that's where the highlight starts. But that's hockey. You have to be able to, you know, bounce back and, you know, trust your teammates. Longo did his thing there. When I made a mistake, he bailed me out and, and the rest is history. So yeah, I was kind of sneaking down into the high slot. I was wide of sneaking down into the high slot. I was wide open.

I probably out for the puck. Were you actually? By mistake. Yeah, it was pretty cool to see. I have a really good memory of the puck hitting the back pad of the net, because the angle I was coming in, the net was empty, and I could just see the puck hit the back there, which, needless to say,

was a good sight. Anything in particular when you're in a scenario of one game winner take all, the feelings that or the words that were uttered prior to the game or even in between periods to calm the nerves down, could it be similar to what they're experiencing tonight? That's an important part for sure, the preparation. Sometimes maybe you get distracted or away from what you normally do. I think you have to keep it as consistent

as you normally would. The emotion and intensity at a moment is gonna make that a challenge, but ultimately that's your job. Trust what you've done, trust the preparation, trust your habits of what you do as a hockey player and as a team and go out there and do it as well as you can and I think that's the the best way to try and win a game like this. I think we trusted a lot

more if you could suit up tonight. Yeah that'd be great. I feel good about it. I think there's guys there that know what they're doing. We're in good shape. Love it. Really appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to join us on such a special night here Scott Thanks for doing this pal. No problem. Good talking to you guys Yeah, you too. Thanks so much for time Stanley Cup champion Scott need a Meyer Two-time Olympic gold medalist first into hug sit. I'm told from Sam McKee, correct I have a in my office where I do least talk from I have a massive picture right beside me of Sid with his hands in the air and the first guy with the arm around him number 27 Scott and Yermier

And if you're watching on youtubers or set The reason there's an a on this Sydney crossbidger is gonna say the C was on our guest that we just had there So he was a captain of that he was he was the Sydney of the room. Yeah, and Yeah, I just watched the Sydney of the room yeah and yeah I just watched the clip which I really enjoy usually yeah wide opens a stretch like it would have been a quite a pass to make there hundred percent he was coming down the shoot wide open and I love him talking about him having a great angle yeah

because he did he was right between like just above the hash marks we would have seen it hit hard in first. Yeah. You know, what's funny about that is so last night I watched Sportsnet's behind the scenes on the Four Nations and they got the coaches mic'd up. And one of the things John Cooper says and he yells it several times over is be selfish, be selfish, be selfish. Yes.

He's trying to say to these guys, we're six pet, you know, he wants it to shoot that Yeah, he's not looking for the cutesy one doesn't need or my and and that's the game where where they show him yelling that where? Mcdavid shoots it in up the post McKinnon shoots a couple in mm-hmm be selfish This is one of the the themes and you don't know how many shots you're gonna get or opportunities So well the trigger, you know, I do have an issue a little bit with You know I do have an issue a little bit with Right. I saw some like saying this is the biggest game on Canadian soil I think it was Frank Sir Valley that tweet is like the biggest game on Canadians on American soil since 1980 and he explained It's just like you know

There will never This is an incredible tournament and this is gonna be a huge moment for whoever wins this But 2002 to me and even ahead of 2010 It's all like yeah will always me and even ahead of 2010 it's all like yeah will always be the most meaningful and maybe it's just the age I was at or maybe whatever it is but it's just all the players that were involved and just everything that happened like this is a monumental sports event and I don't want to take anything away from it no but it doesn't have the history of

Canada chasing a gold medal for 50 years yeah 2002 is a massive and everybody can't even listen to it. It is. It just is. Like this is this is huge. Don't get me wrong. You want to weigh in on that before I go on my little spiel here? I can't wait for yours. My spiel is I have been seeing people say and Connor Bedard said this that this is the highest level hockey ever played. And so for me it's an oh come on come on and then you sit back and you go when has there ever been this collection of talent playing with that level of effort and intensity if you believe that the game has increasingly got better year over year it's reasonable to say that this is the best

hockey ever played again, though like It's it's just the eye of the beholder. Yeah, like I don't I don't need Every guy skating a thousand miles an hour just to go to the wrong place. You know, I mean, yeah, it's what you think is The ingredients it will settle in it's whatever the ingredients that you think that you like about your hockey game and Connors hold Thank God but our days con he's like whatever hasn't been around to see too much, but in his eyes I I certainly get it. Yeah, and no NHL team Hard if it's the fastest yeah, it talent. Trying that hard. It's the fastest, yeah.

It would go down as one of the fastest games or tournaments that we've ever seen, but is it greatest? Yeah. Can I read you the lines from the 2002 team when somebody says that? Yeah. Kariya Lemieux-Izerman, top line.

Gagne Sakic, Aguilmah. Shanahan, Neuendike, Flurry. Lindros, Nolan, Pecca. Ryan Smith is your extra. Pronger, McInnis, Niedermeyer, Foote, Jovanski, Blake with Brodeur, Joseph and Belfort. That's the best Canadian team ever assembled. Unbelievable hockey team. And it's just like, yeah, like I think this is great.

It's fast. It's upbeat, but it's not. Just even Saturday night, the other day we went at it pretty good. I'm like after the US went up, I saw a lot of kind of not incredible hockey. I saw a lot of shutting down. I saw a lot of star players not getting near the net. Well but see, this is what's going to happen tonight is everyone's all fired up for this game but it's an hour of hockey and eventually you can't run out of position in a neutral zone for check.

You drop back into your spots. You can cut a guy off and run interference and it slows down puckets. It'll be hockey at some point and people are going to go, God, I thought this was supposed to be whatever and it's like, it's not a drag race. It's an hour of hockey. So to Scott's point, we're going to hear Eric Lindros in a few minutes here at the

top of the hour. These guys know it's, you pick your spots. And there's some times when you got to sit back. You gotta, okay, you got to manage the clock or you got to manage the situation and you got to go risk reward. And I'm not willing to jump up on this play. So it may look bad for you for the next minute, two minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes, but I'm not making the mistake.

And to go back to that show last night, one of the things Cooper says is you don't have to, and you can't win every shift. The goal is to tie every shift or win them, but not lose any. So you're always making the conservative choice and hopes you win seven of them and you lose zero of them. But that means there's going to be 50 ties or whatever it works out to after that.

A lot of tide shifts. The ties. Okay, the tie. You're playing for the next guy to get him on a good spot. Next thing I would ask you about is about the crowd which is going to be more split down the middle right? Montreal crowd was Canada and I imagine the crowd won't seem as good tonight because they'll be cheering for different things much more than in Montreal. I have no idea yeah I don't know I mean is it gonna be

predominantly Americans in there? I would imagine there's gonna be some Canucks down there, boys. Like if it's 20,000, like 12,000 Americans. The weather hasn't helped anybody. The fact that Toronto's a major hub. Yeah, you can't get anywhere. Has not helped anybody in North America get to Boston. Yes, maybe more American crowd.

I mean it. I mean, Seth Jarvis's friends drove 30 hours, didn't they? No, no, wasn't it 30 of them? I thought it I mean Seth Jarvis's friends drove 30 hours didn't they no no wasn't it 30 of them I thought it was whatever there's a 30 involved yeah I hope it's uh I hope it's a split at best it would be fun that Canada and the players pro-american crowd us against the world okay I just wanted to ask you guys a question. Okay, and it's a very philosophical one Heading in because we are in our lease hour after all. Oh boy so Saturday night game 56 Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs. Yeah

How the hell am I supposed to care about that? This has been the most supercharged Emotionally politically hockey for two weeks here where I've lost sleep over these games. I've been sick to my stomach I like I haven't I haven't felt like this for least playoff even Lawrence in a bit I haven't thought by the way, I saw a clip I don't know like a like Leafs latest which is like they aggregate all the least stuff do a fantastic job and I saw them put out like a board be like Craig Borube really praised Matthew Nyes as I'm like, oh my god. How am I supposed? Who cares?

Who cares? You should care cuz Nyes will be on the American team. I know great just another one I get to cheer You know what I'm interested in. You will for sure not think about who I wasn't even there. Of these guys Who's playing and who's not playing on the weekend? Matthews will play neither. That is my prediction. Mm-hmm He's playing you think why wouldn't he play? Well, if he's hurt he's forcing it for tonight So he wouldn't miss this game for the world against don't start with me No, I If you want to have a leaf he's good enough to play tonight and

Nothing significantly nothing significant happens to him These guys like they're fighting for playoff spots. Okay, they're getting paid tens of millions of dollars season ticket holders have put Investments in the NHL season. I just paid. Maybe I'm going to my first game ever on the weekend and the stars are taken off. That's not the way the business should work.

May I present to you a load management? This is the NBA. Here's the best players in the world who don't want to hear 10 games a year. 20 games. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it.

I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear it. Just plug the ears. You know, I think there's a chance that, okay, Matthews, they play at home on Saturday against Carolina. The beloved season ticket holders who won't get out of their seats for one moment for anything in the game, they'll be having sushi. For them, he'll play that game.

And then the second half of back to back in Chicago, maybe misses that. Is that fair? Would that be okay or no? If he if they come out and say he's lower body upper body day to day I may let it get away with rest. I hear some stakes for the boys. I hear precautionary And i'm like get your ass on the ice a load management. Okay. Okay. Hey glad we had that out. They're gonna manage his He's playing He's playing yeah, there's no it's is there any Any prominent leaves on either team boys is anything happening today?

You want to hear an Ottawa senator fan wants to hear that Brady Kachuk's taking the weekend off? now Maybe probably should he's been sick and they lose by a point Yeah, that would be tough. That would be sick, right? And they lose by a point. Yeah, that would be tough. That would be tough. Um, some high stakes for old Matthews and Marner tonight. And then the eye of public perception. I would say everyone would like to see nice performances from the...

You're always going to have guys that are stars from their respective clubs playing this over the course of 40 or 50 years where they the points don't support it or their roles are aren't as important as other star players and I'm sure there will be they'll be good tonight But will it satisfy leaf fans that they're not the stars kind of it can be honest I hope Matthews has a dreadful game. I hope he's I hope you can't I hope Matthews has a dreadful game. I hope he's, I hope he can't touch the puck. I want his injury.

I want zero points dash five. That's what I'm praying for tonight. Well, this concludes our leave. Go Mitch, go! God! This concludes our leave edition of our program. All right, we go national next. We'll welcome in Eric Lindros.

We had a conversation earlier. We can't wait to play that for you as we continue to get you ready for the big matchup between Canada and the USA Tonight Four Nations Tournament. Don't go away!