Real Kyper & Bourne - Heartbreak for Canada's Women's Hockey, Celebrini's Olympics and Wade Redden!

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

Nick Kypreos, Justin Bourne and Sam McKee share their reactions to the Olympic Women's Hockey Gold Medal Game with USA Hockey edging out Canada 2-1 in overtime, before bringing on former hockey player Wade Redden (3:29) to get his thoughts on the final, his memories of playing with Team Canada for the 2006 Winter Olympics, and what he makes of the 2026 men's hockey squad ahead of their semifinal match vs. Finland. Then, Nick, Justin and Sam weigh in on Sidney Crosby's uncertain status ahead of Friday's game before sliding in their final guest Jason Bukala (28:05) of Pro Hockey Group to discuss how Macklin Celebrini has performed throughout his very first Winter Games, if the group can overcome a match without Crosby, Finland's style of play, and how important is Jordan Binnington in net outside of the stats on paper.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.

Right back at you on the Real Kipper and Bourne show. This is the abbreviated version of our program. Jake the Snake Shilts, Derek Brandeo, Nick Kiprio, Justin Bourne. Sammy McKee. We are live on Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet 590, the fan in Toronto, 650 in Vancouver. Sportsnet 960 in Calgary. And streaming always on SportsNet Plus.

Also available Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube. This Hour of Real Kipper and Born brought to by Bet365. Ouchy. If the women's gold medal game today was any sign of what's still ahead for us in a men's semi-final or gold medal game, look out we're in for one hell of a finish. Yeah. I mean, shout out to the Canadian women. Obviously, credit goes to the American women as well.

But that was a hard-fought, heartbreaking hockey game. They gave the American girls who were heavy, heavy favorites all they could handle. Americans were minus 500 or something. minus 475 at puck drop, so a little money obviously came in in the States, but I mean, I'm in Canada, but I just, first of all, I'd like to apologize yesterday saying there's no hockey today. It's been a long, it's been a long and emotional week for me, okay? There's been a lot of hockey.

We have predominantly, we are an NHL men's league kind of show, so. I feel bad, though, but I just. Well, you're the producer. You can't let these things slide. You're right. And I've been letting a lot slide due to emotions. And I thought, I thought today, I texted in the group chat to both you guys.

I said there's just not any chance they win this game won nothing. And you could just feel it. They were pouring it on, pouring it on. Canada had a couple great chances on the power play late. And Poulin hits the goalie between the eyes. Anywhere else in the net, it's in the net. Just tough, man. It is.

It is. It is, it is. And in itself, it was quite remarkable for the women's Canadian team to come up with such a great effort. when you look at the past seven games that they've played against this team. It's all you can say. And outscored, I think, in the last five games, something like 30 to seven. They've been getting filled in every game.

You know, we talk about the men's team pretty much looking like perfect hockey up until their battle and adversity against Czechia. A lot like the states. The women today came up with a near perfect game. Yeah, and it's not even like the Americans outplay. them and the goalie was awesome. Like Canada gave them everything they could handle. There were opportunities in the third period to go up to ice the game.

Nets empty. You got a chance to fire one down the rink and lose a draw. And it's there. It's Hillary Knight, right? On the doorstep, tips it in. You know, if we're going to talk about this the way we would, you know, any other game, that defensive play in OT, you can't be lunging at a puck on a one-on-one.

That person's still got to come through you. You know, you can square up it. It's unfortunate. It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, three and three. I'm not, I'm not getting on my soapbox here, but it's just, you, you are talking about an element of the game that they just don't rehearse or practice enough. It's a complete, different feel and look to decide a game. Yeah, we're throwing an asterisk on.

It was a great tie for America and Canada. Good tie today. Good tie today. Great, great tie. All right, let's get to our first guess, uh, guy that knows all about Team Canada, Olympics 2006. Wade Redden joins us now. Wade, how are you, my friend?

Hey, Nick, good. I'm doing well, thanks. Yeah, thanks for having me. Oh, our pleasure. Did you soak in the women's game this afternoon? If so, just your overall thoughts? I did watch it, yeah. I was glued to it.

It's been awesome watching the Olympics. Really, really good. I thought the game was, yeah, it was Canada's game. I mean, they played well as a hard-fought game. You hate to see it come down to one play. I mean, that's just the way it goes. Obviously, U.S. had had their number all year, and I thought Canada was going to pull it out of the bag,

but unfortunately it wasn't the case. Wait, every time the Olympics come around, you must have some flashbacks to your own experience, getting to be there. What are some of the memories when you think back to 06 that really stand out as lasting memories? Well, yeah, it was an honor to be a part of that team. I mean, obviously, we didn't get the ultimate goal, but to go and represent your country,

I mean, it is always a special feeling. Yeah, some of the memories were, yeah, just all leading up to it. I mean, there's so many, you know, great guys on that team get to play with some of the, obviously, best players in Canada. I know Joe Sackrick was a leader on that team. Adam Foote was a guy that on the back end that, really looked up to as well. But yeah, just a great group of guys.

I mean, and then being in an environment of the Olympic Village and getting to see the other athletes, getting to meet a few other athletes and watch. There's actually one watched a few different events. It didn't get a lot of time to do that. But it was a special, special time. Wait, as a hockey player, you've had plenty of experience, both in Best of Seven series and one game, winner take all.

and just the prep work or the feeling that you can overthink it. We all know whether we're talking about a Super Bowl or a game 7. Anything can happen. Canada, pretty much the team everybody thinks that needs to be beat and they almost get beat by Chechia. Today in the women's, the U.S. comes in with all this momentum. Yet it's one game, anything can happen here. How about the mindset of where you are as an athlete coming into both those situations?

Can you over think it? Wade, can you overthink it? I think so for sure. I mean, it's hard not to really. That's what this is all about. And it comes down to 60 minutes, winner take all. I mean, I think that's where, I mean, leading up to it, I think there's habits that are formed over time that, you know, prepare you for those situations.

And I think that's really a big focus for these players all year long, really, to prepare like you're going to be in that situation. I mean, it's hard to replicate, obviously, but I think that's what coaches hammer home, good habits, good habits, good habits, because those are the most important moments come. It's going to be a play that, I mean, it's inevitable. Mistakes are going to happen, but you just want to be super sharp in all those little details of the game that that ultimately lead to. to win in or losing.

So yeah, you can overthink it. Yeah, it's, it's, I guess at the end of the day, too, you got to just leave it, leave it, I don't know, in Fates, Ann, but you almost got to just go in with a mindset. You can control, you can control, and then whatever's going to happen will happen. So I have to imagine, like you got a team made up of all these guys who play, you know, for defensemen like yourself,

20 plus minutes per game for their team. And then they go to this event and they say, all right, you're going to get 11 tonight. Does it become a totally different game? Is it more challenging? What changes for a guy whose role changes so drastically? I don't think there's something to that. I mean, I can't remember exactly how many minutes I would have played when I was there. I know I wasn't the go-to guy in key situations.

We had Pronger and Blakey and those kind of guys. But I think you're so hyped up. just ready whenever you're you're kind of put in the situation to play. I don't think it really matters the fact. I mean, you're just hyped up. I mean, those games, like we said, it's one game, it's a short tournament. So I think you're just ready to go whenever you get the tap on the shoulder from the coach. And when you're with all the great players are there beside you, too, it makes the game almost a little easier too. And everyone's got the same mindset. That was always a big thing for all the team Canada as I played on

was checking the ego at the door and guys take different roles and love doing it. Just your early thoughts of, you know, if this thing comes down to Canada and the U.S., maybe tell us your thoughts on each blue line. It seems to me like Canada's got more Wade Reddens than they do.

Perhaps Quinn Hughes and we look at the American side and you've watched, I think, Jake Sanderson in Ottawa, right? and just their ability to kind of dictate pace of play. But, you know, which one ultimately stands tallest? Well, yeah, you look at the U.S. defense, it's pretty hard to say there's a better team on the blue line, especially for my experience watching Jake. I just love the way he plays and the power and the poise that he all has.

But, I mean, yeah, maybe they're unsung. I mean, obviously we got Kail McCar and. he'd be the best guy in the world, but everyone else can play. And like I said before, it's going to come down to, you know, all those little things at the end of the day that's going to get it done. U.S. is going to be tough to knock off. Obviously, Quinn Hears wasn't there. I know watching the Four Nations Cup, they didn't have him.

He's a guy that's going to be a big part of it. So I know as a fan watching, it's going to be exciting. It's unreal hockey. I mean, even just watching the Olympics in general and seeing, all the Canadians, you know, going for their medals and winning and just competing over there. It's pretty inspiring stuff. Wait, you mentioned Jake Sanderson. So do you still have a role with Ottawa or do you just follow them more, you know, based on your path?

Well, I did. I'm not with them officially. Right. I worked with them for three years in player development. Jake just kind of getting his start. So I got to meet him when he was basically joining the team. but now I just I take a pretty keen eye on watching them I mean I still feel like I got a bond with with that organization for sure so do you want to get back involved with

the NHL at some point are you very content in your retirement I'm content right now yeah I'm enjoying life and but with that said I mean it is a big it's a huge job those guys put in lots of hours I mean in the management role and the coaching side of things as well. So I'm not not quite there yet, but whenever I'm around it, it is quite, you know, it is a lot of fun to be a part of it. It's a pretty special game, as we all know. And you got a chance as well to kind of work with a Brady Kachuk at all, just your overall assessment of somehow being that inspirational leader for the USA team and what a potential big stage he has this weekend.

Yeah, it's hard not to, well, being on the other side now, he's going to be a factor. I mean, he just, both those brothers are, I mean, they just get under your skin and it's hard, hard to cheer for him right now. But yeah, he's, they're factors. I mean, they bring it all the time and nothing really slows him down. Nothing seems to derail their energy and kind of pizzazz that they bring to the game. So it's, they'll be, they'll be a factor. I mean, obviously we got Canada and U.S. aren't there yet, but, you know, they're going to be big parts of it if they do.

So Canada draws Finland coming up next. And I'm looking at that lineup. And yeah, there's some superstars there. There's Ranting and Heiskenen. But there's also those guys at Lundell and Lister Rinen and Lekinen and, you know, just that's a tough team. Like, Finns really have an identity as hockey players, don't they? Well, I could be wrong. Are those two guys play with Florida?

You hardly hear their name, and they're like such a key piece of what that team's been able to do, just the way they play and the way they grind. And, yeah, I mean, look at Chequio. They were within six minutes of beating us as well. And, yeah, there's no, nothing's going to be easy. UC Saros has the ability to be great also. So it's going to be, going to be tight. it's going to be fun to watch. I mean, it's so exciting for all of us to watch it.

So it's going to be good. Wait, just in terms of the extremes of Sydney Crosby at age 38 and Celebrini, who comes in as a teenager, and just marveling at what he's been able to do. And anyone from your experience back then where you didn't know too much of them, and then you just left going, oh, my God, are they good? Well, there's no big.

surprises I don't think over my years. I got to play with obviously just being when you're up close to some of these guys and get to see them and play with them like Joe Thornton and Marty St. Louis, I mean, getting to play with those guys, they just bring, I mean, to name a few, but when you're with all the best players and get to see how they operate, how they conduct themselves, how they play and compete, you know, and then watching these celebrini. at this age. I know I've heard so much about him and got to see him a little bit in these few years that he's been in the NHL.

But yeah, it's unreal. I could see him being there the same way Sid's there at this age. I mean, that's just kind of the mold you see him following. Wade, we really appreciate your time stopping by, man. Best of luck with everything

and we'll catch up again real soon, okay? Thank you guys. Yes, pleasure is mine. Thanks for your time. Really appreciate it. National Hockey League defensemen, and of course, part of that Team Canada in 2006, Wade Redden. Jake Sanderson, an interesting name mentioned there. You know, it's funny. You talk about the American defenders. You know, yeah, Quinn Hughes, pretty good.

Zach Wrenski, awesome. Jake Sanderson just gets blown over. Talk about going back on pucks and skating. He was, I think, maybe the best player, one of the best players in that Four Nations final. He scored in that game. He was unbelievable. He flies up and down the ice. Yeah.

So. I don't think we've heard. any official report out of Sidney Crosby, but John Cooper went on record saying that he won't rule him out. Mm-hmm. I... He won't rule out of anybody. I assume they got their MRI back,

and I think worst-case scenario, they probably would have announced something similar to Kevin Fiala if he was just done. Right. Right? But it sounds like he was going to skate tomorrow morning. and get a sense for where it's at. Yeah.

I think we can almost rule him out just from what we know and think and observe for next game, for tomorrow. But I think that by the gold medal game, there's a fingers crossed. Are we allowed to guess or speculate? Let's do it. I mean, I saw...

We are guessing. I saw Rishog, he was talking about it. Yeah. He said that he's going to take a quick skate tomorrow where things are at, unlikely to play against Finland. That's what he said. I'm thinking

MCL for... weeks. MCL four weeks. Standard. Yeah. Tweek of a knee where, depending on the degree, I don't know if 48 hours will be enough to settle it down,

but maybe 72 will do it. I did call MCL yesterday as well. Embrace it all you like. You can't go play. Yeah. You can't go play freshly. You can't play. My other thought in all of this is we all love Sid,

but like this lineup, this particular lineup, it shouldn't come down to whether or not a 38-year-old is in the lineup or not. Well, don't slander a 38-year-old. No, I'm not. But if you said it shouldn't come down to a 90-point forward, we can have the conversation. Same difference. Yeah.

Okay? And he's 38. Yeah, it just happens to be 38. To me, it's just. I don't care. I want to put the onus back on that lineup to say, okay, listen, he's extraordinary, but he's 38.

So get your 20-something ass going this weekend. Yeah. To me, it's like you, this Canadian lineup should be good enough to lose two or three very good players. And this is our big claim as a nation, right? That our B team could win. Well, what are you guys talking? It's it. I know it matters.

It's not any 38-year-old. It's not any 90-point guy. I'm making the point. It's the defining player of our generation who they all look to. all love. He's the most important guy on the team potential. I'm making the point that you have 12 forwards who are all on their number one line. Yeah.

Okay. There isn't even a guy on this lineup. Maybe with the exception of Tom Wilson, that would have any idea what it would be like to play on the fourth line. Yeah. So, like, the talent is there. Talent is there. And listen, I get the point you're making. It stinks to be.

without Sidney Crosby. He's one of our guys. But there's enough there. There's enough. Thank you. Sure. There's enough there. But I just, when you start.

No buts. No, there's a butt. When you start looking down the bench, I mean, who do you look to for, not advice, but who you look for their body language and how they're acting and what they're doing and leading by example. Family Cups, pal. I know. Drew Doughty and Brad Marshand.

They're just not. Brian Hart. Yeah. They're not Sid. And I really don't. I think you're underplanet. No. I think you are.

I think he's coaching. You're coaching. Sure. You're allowed to coach. Yeah. I'd go in there and guilt the crap out of the rest of the lineup. Yeah. Gilt the crap out of them.

Yeah. He'd be like, oh, yeah, you're going to be without a 38-year-old. Sid's sitting in the other than I'd be like, what? Who's this Muppet? It's an all-time. Oh, yeah. All-time bird. Suzuki should be able to go in there

if he needs to go and act like a top six forward. Yeah. Right? He's done it all year for Montreal. And you know what? A little more confidence for Suzuki, this is going to be good. He really started to find himself back at center last game,

so progress there. I do like him way more at the center. Yeah. Like I think that. So the other semi-tomorrow, we're going to get the Bucula at 530s. I don't do game time here in a second, but Slovakia is no chance tomorrow.

After everything I've witnessed in the last 24 hours, I'm giving everybody a chance. You know what? A hot goalie, 60 minutes. All these games where everyone has a chance, the favorite one every single time. And, you know, this ridiculous three-on-three to decide advancing or winning a gold medal is still a flip of the coin for me. You know, Slovakian hockey is interesting. They had eight guys drafted last year, I think, and, like, six of them in the top first two rounds.

They had a big fall off for a while, but they're coming back. It's funny. This is a forgotten footnote in the 2010 run, but Slovakia is who Canada played in the semifinals, and it took Roberto Luongo making an unbelievable goal line glove save on the now late Pavel Demitra, like on the goal line to save it. And it would have tied it and gone to overtime. They won two one in that game. Isn't it funny?

All that stuff gets washed away to history. I don't know why I happen to say. see some random montage of Brian Scalabrini, the old basketball player. He was 6'10 redhead who played zero minutes. Yeah, he was like, he won championships. I think he won two championships, just being a part of it. And all what happens on the way there gets washed away, he won two championships. And this is the sort of thing where it's like the Chequiest story, not even going to matter.

I think, you're through. I do think that when we look back on this, that will be a huge part of it. I think this next game gets Finland's going to be tough, but I do think that there's a world where that was a huge wake-up call for Canada and they roll Finland. Oh, dude, this Finland roster is so good. I was looking at it just before we came on air. It is terrifying.

But they can be sleepy too and then come on strong. Canada saw their demise. They felt their demise. I think there's a different energy about them. You know what, though, too, you can't underestimate too. And we saw it again from the women's is that like, Man, the ability to tighten up and keep things to the outside. Like, we're really staring down 2-1 scores here, guys.

That's what we're doing. It's just, so I want to agree with that because in theory, but like Connor or David, Nathan McKinnon, Cam Car, like, try all you like. Like, they should find a way. Game breakers. That's what we have them known as. But they just need one chance, right? to capitalize.

You just give them one inch where you give up the middle of the ice and they will make you pay. But they're not getting, they may not get not many inches. For the one,

they may have to do it under four or three chances, but it can cause a little bit of a lull in the game, but it just goes to show you the attention to detail. Like, again, the women's team today. Like, how do you go from

losing sometimes 10, nothing or 10-2 to this team and then be able to just like hyper-focused on attention to detail. That's it. That's it. It's just, right? They have, they've had, these women have won these games before this stretch. What were the odds? What were the odds that Canada would take the U.S. in a final and shut them out for like 57 minutes?

It's amazing. Canada had, that's an older women's team, eh? Like, I think they had a dozen. Yeah. 30 years old. So, somewhere in that nature. For 60-minute games. You got the ability to kind of frustrate a team sometimes too.

Yeah. Yeah. No matter how good they are. So what you're saying is Slovakia, Finland final in a ratings bonanza. Let me talk about this Finland team for second. Miko Ranton, Kivirantan, all our captains have a great season with Montreal. Tara Vinen, Nico Mikhail Mekylla, who's won. Soros is a great goalie.

Mikhail Granlin, you know, Ristelainen, Heiskenen, Matin Paulo. Markov skating? I don't know, man, but they are. Rupé Hints, they got players. Essel Lindell. I'm just saying, I don't know that this team is... Probably close. Yeah, probably close.

Probably close. It's going to be a hockey game. I think it's going to be a more decisive victory than the one against Czech. Yeah. I think, I think it was... Was that one, five nothing, five one? No. The one that we just...

Oh, I thought you were talking about the earlier. No, no, I think it's going to be... I think it'll probably be a four one or five two game for Canada. I think they're really going to stretch it out. I hope you're right. I could be... They'd pull the... this one if you want to. I don't want to hear I'm done though in the group chat.

Oh, you'll hear it. Just don't engage me. If you don't send anything, I won't say anything back. But it's like just throwing bait out there. Yeah, you love it. That's why. Just, come on. If you haven't figured it out by now, the whole dynamic of the show is you say something to piss me off, get me fired up. And then you react to me getting pissed off. Then we go to break. Not at all. Not at all. And welcome to real camera. Curtin.

It's game time. Presented by Bet365 is the athlete of Saunds and CY. It's ever ordinary. Bet, 365. It must be 19 plus. Ontario only. Please play it responsibly. So, yeah, we were talking to two games tomorrow. Finland and Canada.

Let's just quickly pull up the odds. The number has gone down a little bit. I think a little bit of Finland money coming in, which would make sense. Great spot for a happiness hedge for Canadian fans. Plus 350 tomorrow. Like you said, with that roster, that's a live dog with a good roster.

Plus 350, good spot for a happiness hedge. Canada, minus 450 on the other side. Slovakia plus 525 against the states, minus 750 for the Americans. Wow. Minus 750. That's as heavily favored as you can possibly get. And just a quick note. The NBA returns tonight and the Toronto Raptors playing the Chicago Bulls.

They are minus 240 favorites on the money line. They are minus six and a half favorites. So I'll actually have something to watch tonight. Raptors basketball back. And two days from now, Jay's back on TV. I've got to tell you, boys, I have been watching

the worst crap just on Netflix. I watched poker for a full hour last night. Like, started it on Sports and watched the whole thing. There's nothing on. I can only watch so much of limits. We have later on in the show, some NHL news, Sammy.

They're all practicing. We have a few things. Bucle out. Oh, no, I know that. But like, that was game time presented my pet 365. Visit the Apple.

This odds and C-Wis. Every ordinary, I bet, 365, must be 19 plus. Ontario only, please play responsibly. I saw Joseph Wall this practice today. What for? Hurt. Nice. Ill.

And don't mean mispractice, personal. But yeah, I wasn't he ill to start the season, too, Joseph Wall? Oh, boy. Sammy, too early for your leaf takes, my friend. Way too early. Let's hit the break and get the books. All right, Jason Buckelah, pro hockey group, Sportsnet. He does it all for us.

Up next when we return to Real Kippron Bourne. dive deep into Toronto sports and the NFL, the J.D. Bunkus podcast. Subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a reminder, this hour of Real Kippren Bourne brought to by Bet365s. In a few minutes, we'll welcome in Jason Buchla, before we do. Okay, we've got monitors on with the Olympic Games on. And I just want to ask you guys, what the hell did we just see as an event? I think I'm watching cross-country skiing,

but they're not actually skiing. They're just running on skis. Off by hill. And then they take the skis off and go up rocky stairs. Right? And then they put them back on and then come back down. And go over a jump. Stop at one point to pull out some sort of sash.

I have no idea. They had backpacks on. Who was making these Olympic events? They could not be more arbitrary. I think the race to the next ski lift event. Whenever a guy or when they're cross-country skiing uphill, I'm always like, that is the exact opposite of skiing. You're supposed to go down it.

As I'm watching this, I just envision two Olympic officials going at the bottom of the hill. Okay, what do we do next? Throw some tires out there. Make them jump through tires. Okay, do it. Hot dog eating contest halfway through. They got a curl a rock at the end. What was that?

By the way, Shagher. Yeah, Brad Jacobs in the final against Great Bitten. Bitten? Great Britain. Yeah, we're all a mess. Yeah, boy.

I just Googled, what event do you ski and run upstairs like Rocky? And it's ski mountaineering. Ski mountaineering. Ski mountaineering, of course. Ski mountaineering. I have long. Of course.

All right. All right. All right. Jason Bucola, pro hockey group, SportsNet, and future ski mountaineer. We need a scouter. report on the Norwegian ski mountaineer.

Boogs, what are the analytics on that event? Give it to us. Fellas, I don't, you guys are a bunch of clowns, right? I'm listening to this. This is awesome. I'm getting a huge, I needed this giggle. I've had a day. I've had a day.

But I've got to tell you a true story here, boys. This is true. So, Yari Kekeleinen, who was our director of scouting in Florida in Europe when I was there. He's in Winnipeg now. but they love their cross-country skiing in Europe. They love this competition. I was watching the same thing as you guys today in the slush and guys were falling down.

It was something to watch. I got in a car in Helsinki, and I was driving to Pori, which is one of the darkest places on Earth with Yari, and he listened to cross-country skiing on the radio. Wow. The way to we listen to baseball or hockey over here, I'm not lying. Cross-country skiing live radio is a new low.

That is. Cross-country skiing live radio. And I listen to all the cross-country skiers out there. I'm not trying to be that guy. But anyways, needless to say, before I reached the outskirts of Helsinki, I was ready to shut her down and have a knot for the rest of the way to go to 40. For sure, no doubt. I'm thrilled about this information.

All right. I'm going to use this at some point. We're on the clock here. Bookes, just your overall thoughts about what we saw out of Canada, of the first three games and then the challenge against check yeah so you're a believer that whether we're talking

about an elimination situation here or best of seven teams can grow off of adversity yeah absolutely I'll tell you what else teams can do they can grow off of first time or like when you play a team twice in a tournament

like this whether it be the world juniors or the Olympic games the coaching and the athletes are just so good and they're so You learn something and Czechia clearly learned something out of the first game against Canada. They played that neutral zone clog pretty effectively in game two. And it exposed some of the things on our back end for Canada. Now, having said that, adversity is a fabulous conduit to one or two things. It's either going to fall flat on your face and you're not going to understand what you have to persevere and push through,

or you're going to learn from that and understand that there's got to be another level that we still have to go to as a group to, to continue your journey moving forward, which is in this case, obviously, hopefully to get to the gold medal game and win a gold medal. And now they're going to have to do it with some potential other injuries amongst the group and other guys are going to have to play

outside their comfort zone and layers of guys that I believe can still be better than what they have. They're going to have to find 10 or 15% more here and we'll see where it goes. Bookes, you and I did an article together on Macklin Celebrini today. His progress is a 19-year-old.

old playing in the Olympics representing Canada, five goals and four games. You know, you saw it coming to some extent, like a couple of years before he was drafted. You had a sense how special this could be. What have you seen out of him so far at the Olympics? Pretty much, right, what I expected it to be. Highly competitive kid, plays a 200-foot game. He's not afraid to be F1 on the 4th check to create a stir. He's quick to small areas, goes to the net.

I mean, honestly, guys, we'd be, we'd be pulling. smoking significant holes in his game if we were the least but upset with anything there. I think that you could roll him over the boards in key defensive situations and when he's not producing offense, he'd do an admiral job doing that as well. So, I mean, he's a star, isn't he?

He's San Jose's lucky to have him. We've said it at nauseam and he belongs here. And now, depending on what happens with Crosby and I'm just spitballing here. But, you know, what's the strategy? Do you just load up that top line, And, you know, I don't know how it's all going to balance out here, but do you load up that top line?

And maybe you insert a Bennett who could play the middle as well with the Tom Wilson and you have a real checking line in this mix. I'm not sure. But I expect Celebrini is just going to continue to do what he does in the next couple of games here for Team Canada. You're watching Jason Buchala, Pro Hockey Group, Sportsnet, former NHL scouting director. So I threw this at the guys that this is why you go get predominantly the most talented

a team that you can assemble. And, you know, Sid's an important piece. We know historically where he stands. We know the emotional elements that he can bring. But this team is deep enough to overcome this if he can't play. Correct? Bukes?

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely deep enough. You know, it's an embarrassment of riches, really. And like I just said there, about getting another 10 or 15 percent of a certain guys. I think the four of us would agree that, you know, Reinhardt, they can get more out of Ryan Hart. Certainly, Suzuki, when you move back to the middle, towards the end of the game the other day,

it looks much more comfortable in the middle than he did on the wing. And that gives you that confidence that you can, you know, shuffle the deck a little bit and do different things. They absolutely do. It's a competitive group. They've got a ton of skill. They've got enough will. You know, a couple of things that I'm monitoring, I guess. Morrissey coming back in, I think, is going to be a huge.

I'm assuming that this is going to happen. I'm hopeful that it's going to happen because certainly the Sanheim and Parakel pairing, we're having trouble guys launching the attack from their zone, like tracking pucks. And Chekney did a really good job of, by the way, dumping pucks to Bennington's backhand side, where Bennington is great to play in the puck. You got the trapezoid, but also when you dump it to the backhand side, he's less likely to make a real on-time play. like it's going to be a flip more than a direct stick to stick play.

A lot of the time I found that Pareko was getting pucks in that region on that side, and it exposed us a little bit. But having said that, adjustments will be made, and we'll see how they attack going north. Trust me on this one, the Finns will be playing a Liga-style game tomorrow against Team Canada. And what's that mean? It's like soccer in that league when they get in motion like that.

They'll bottle things up with the limited space that's already in the neutral zone. So we're going to have to find a way. way to transport it aggressively on zone exits from the back end. All right. So Canada and Finland play 100 times. How many times does Canada win out of 100? Ooh, good one. 90 times, I think.

With this type of roster construction, we win 90 times. You know, that's a tough one to answer because it's the, we haven't seen this type of team forever, right? For any. So, you know, when you're talking about the world championships, you're talking about the world juniors, the fins are always a hard out. They're a hard out.

But on this stage, when we can ice our very, very best, I believe that we win nine out of ten times, nine out of ten times when we're going the way we can go. Books, we're all wishing and hoping, I think, for another Canada, U.S. final here. If we go back to four nations, did we underestimate what not having Quinn Hughes on that team in that final game meant

to U.S. and are we going to feel differently this time around? Oh yeah, we're going to feel differently this time around. No question about it. It's a two-headed monster with Werenzki and Hughes. Hopefully, Morrissey, coming back into our lineup, adds that element with McCar for us.

But Hughes and Werenski, you know, we can sit here and have a beer, guys, and argue until darkness that these two should be Norris trophy finalists, right? The two of them should battle it out all the time. Hughes is just super elite. He can eat up 28 minutes if he needs to.

And everybody's a year older, too, like the favors of the world, even the Werenskis, all these guys. So we're in tough that way. I like their defense better than I like our defense. The hell of us been really good in goal. We have to get there, obviously. Nothing's going to be given. Slovakia is going to be a really tough out for the U.S.

That's Slovakian team. They play with a ton of pride. They're heavy, and we'll see what happens here. Yeah, it's, you know, fascinating. fascinating situation here thinking this Canadian team with all the expectations that they've had to win gold

and just now without Sidney Crosby, I don't know, I think there's some people out there that are a little bit nervous about that one factor, but I guess how much do you know? So I've been wanting to frame this question to someone who does scouting stuff

because the Crosby stuff so much of it is leadership and personality and just who he is and what he means to the team. That's kind of happening with Jordan Bittington in it where it's not, stats. It's just it's a guy who Canada believes in. The team thinks can do it. And he's kind of, when do you throw out stats and scouting and all we do and just say, this guy's important and we know it's important. So we're going to use them.

Yeah. It's all comes down to timing, isn't it? It's like how, when we need you most timely, can you be there for us? And I liken it's sort of boring in a roundabout way to answer the question to, if you remember when the Edmonton Oilers were a wagon back in the Grant Fier, Wayne Gretzky days, all that. It was always a grand fear. He might let in three or four or, you know, whatever, but the Edmonton Oilers, they won hockey games. Why? Because, and Stanley Cops.

Why? Because they knew he was going to make the next save. It was going to be timely. He was going to come up with a big stop. Coming into this tournament, did I trust Jordan Bittington a great deal? No. I mean, I'm not going to sit here and lie to you guys and say that I did, but he's been really good and timely saves.

Now, listen, I'm writing something. I wrote it today to handle after Rory on the dotCA. where we're boiling, our editor over there. Here's what I think is going to be really important in the next couple of days of Bennington. So I broke down Saros versus Binnington tomorrow. Saros an undersized goal tender really good. He's been really good in this tournament.

He's played every game for Finland. Binnington's played three. So I went three, the last three starts between the two of them. The two of them, when they get too active around the crease, is when problems arise. In the last three games, you see Saras's face 75 shots on goal, and he's given up 16 second chance, opportunities off direct pucks that he's seen.

Okay, so he's given up, out of the 75, 16 have been off rebounds, second chances. That's problematic for defensemen, and it's going to be problematic for the Finns if we're crashing the crease and creating havoc. Conversely, for Jordan Binnington, he's faced 65, and he's given up 10 of those. So 10 of those second chances. Why is that important? Because you live on the margins, right? You live on that shot block where Taves blasted into Nakesh's pads, and it's a breakway going

the other way or everything's going to be on the margins here. Timely saves and rebound control, crease composure. That's how I'm going to look at it for tomorrow and going into hopefully a gold medal game as well. I know this is like away from everyone's mind, but it does make you wonder what the heck's been going on in St. Louis for the past year now and why they're in this predicament when this guy has such a great reputation for rising at key moments.

Like to now turn around and go like the hell of you guys been doing in front of me? Yeah, a little bit. I mean, Doug Armstrong pretty much said that at the presser in Minneapolis when the team was announced. You know, when people were talking about Bennington, he said exactly that. We just haven't been very good in front of them. And I can tell you, and I think that, you know, any of the goal-taying experts that you will speak to, goalies get overactive when things break down in front of them. It just happens.

I mean, it's human nature. You're trying to do too much to stop a puck. He sometimes don't play with as much composure as you should. Now, having said that, he's also led in some lemons this year. He's led in some muffins too, guys. But all that matters now is the next 120 minutes. And it just comes down again. I'm kind of regurgitating it, but the timeliness of how he approaches things.

Like, I didn't feel very good the other day when the checkie went up three, two. We come back, we tie it, and I still wasn't sure. And then when he made that save on the breakway, I thought to myself, oh, I think we're going to win this. hockey game and it was a hell of a ride. I was sitting on, you know, the edge of my seat, but it didn't occur to me that he wasn't going to make a save, which was kind of reassuring between the years.

Brooks, you want an update on the ski mountaineering, are you okay? No, I'm good. I'm good, but I'm going to get you guys that subscription to the Finnish cross-country skiing network. On your travels, if you're bored, you might want to, you know, tune in. That's world record whiteness. That should be a paint color. It should be.

All right, buddy. Enjoy the semifinal and enjoy the weekend, okay? Okay, guys. Have fun. Enjoy the games. Nice having or nice seeing you guys. Thanks, Booge. Appreciate your time, man. Jason Buchala, pro hockey group, SportsNet. Okay, I just have one last question about the mountaineering. Where is the sash coming from that they're stuffing in their shirt? I don't understand that part of it. Okay.

Back to hockey. No, no, no. Oh. Let's stick with cross-country skiing. Okay. What are they saying? And he's still doing it. He's still skiing.

Cross-country skiing. He is still going one leg in front of the other. Yep. Oh, up a little hill, not a little hill. That's hypnotic. That's insane. The Bittington stuff, I was wondering while you were talking about him, would excellent play here and a, you know, tanking St. Louis team,

would that maybe increase the odds that he gets traded at the deadline to a contender? The Oilers. I don't, I don't. I think there's a ton of teams that would love to take him right now. but there isn't a ton of teams that can make that happen. And people want to link them to Edmonton once again. But it really feels like Edmonton played their one card, their goalie card a lot earlier this year.

It felt a little early. And I don't know if you now go back to that. But listen, they went back to Paul Coffey. I don't know what they're capable of. Do you think they'd hit the big red undo button if they could on the Skinner trade? To bring Skinner back? Yeah.

I don't think so. Because I think, I mean, we talked about it a million times. It just had to be not him. Just had to be not him. But Peter and I have been talking about this. They should have just plugged their nose and did Bennington. They should have just weighted it out a little bit. I think, like, and again, I don't know what they're capable of.

But like to make Bennington work for Edmonton or a few other teams, and there's probably not that many, it's like you got to unload. You got to get rid of cash. You got to get rid of a goalie. I mean, I guess there's a way probably Edmonton could do it, but they're going to have to shed some more money. Bennington makes six this year. So, I mean, 20 games left and next.

Six isn't. Six isn't. You need they retain on that? You can make anything happen. You can if you just stay with it. Stay with it long enough. The Blues don't, Doug Armstrong does not like to retain money. And I don't know if he's done.

it yet. If he's done it. Dead Capspace is only a biotoric frug. So he, it's not his, it's not his stick. Yeah.

Yeah. But I tell you what. How excited would Oiler fans be if this guy ends up on that team? I don't know. Were they? Sorry?

I just, I picture it. I mean, he mentioned the Grant Fear parallel. It's just, it's too great. Like, it's just the guy that maybe

doesn't make the saves early but makes them late. I don't know. I just, he's, He's got to finish the job here though, too, right? I totally agree. I think that that goes along with it, but I don't know.

We talked about it with Jari. That's the move. You know, when Binnington goes into the room with Connor McDavid, Connor McDavid's like, yeah, okay, like, I believe in this guy. I know that he can do it. I don't know. I just didn't love the Jari thing.

Canucks Heidel to have X-rays after taking puck to the face in practice. Did this guy I mean break a monkey's paw Like what the sort of witch voodoo thing? Is there a cartoon called Little Jinks? You sound sure It's just like it could be

It's just side show Bob stepping on ranks That's all it is to me I feel horrible for this guy But some days you just shouldn't leave the house Deflected office gate and then the glass Before it struck him in the cheek He's missed time twice due to head injuries this year Yeah I feel horrible for him

Yeah it's unfortunate stuff Domain Walmus practice We covered that a little bit NHL. Gunner just texted me from the fan morning show and he said The sash

Oh Is a grippy skin To help them not Slip down the mountain Then they take it off To ski downhill at the end So it's on their skis Physically

Yes It's like a climbing tape Yeah And then they take it I was wondering There's a lot of straight back Most it's really tight shuffle Isn't it?

It's a tight shuffle It's almost as if It's almost as if they're all got to go to the bathroom and there's only one toilet at the top. Race to the top of the stairs. But we all know that Gunner was obviously watching too. He's like, I got to Google this. Yeah, he didn't have that information on hand.

Shout out Gunner. Shut up the gunman. So, yeah, Gunner, by the way, with a whole hockey team of kids now. His house is a zoo for the next 20. Yeah. Zoo. Just signing off on a quick 20. 20 years.

20 years, though. Yeah. So Morrissey come back for Canada tomorrow, 1040 start here on Sportsnet. You think he's back to? I'm more concerned, not if Sid can play tomorrow, but how healthy is McKinnon? How healthy is Marchand? How healthy is a few other guys?

Didn't skate. Then it becomes a real story on, are they limping in here? Are some of these guys less than, you know, 80%, 70%, It's a lot easier to understand Florida's season when you go, Marchand really hurt, Bennett really hurt. Brian Hart, pretty quiet. Not sure if he's hurt or not,

but they've been not very good as Sam changes the channel from the American women celebrating their gold medal. Sorry, guys, couldn't do that. Yeah, I don't blame me on that. But it does help me understand where Florida's at. Did you see an overtime when Canada, before they won, right before McKinna went off, he kind of did like a cut back onto his right leg.

And he, like, you could see it like jolt through him and he went right off the end. Nice. Just like it caught him. It caught him. If you're always on the verge of like, you know, like a tooth pain, like a nerve or something, worried that it's about to happen. Tough to get skating when you're.

So to me that's hip. But I'm making stuff up. Well, that's, to me, that's that little twingey, flicky. He's probably not playing if it's something in the knee. Yeah. But they need. Either way, they need a little bit more from him. So it sounds like if Crosby is out, likely is.

Zuzuki just going to step into that spot. McKinnon is another guy that, like, he'll be playing with him. I would think, I don't know. Like, are they going to do McDavid-McKennon-Cellibrini now? Probably. Yeah. So tomorrow, you said that you're going to come in here and watch the game with me. I'm not going to come in.

Tomorrow's a dark base. Okay, where are you going to be? I'll just come in to your house. Dark basement, I think tomorrow. We should just show up. Dark basement tomorrow. Close all the blinds. Wow.

Just grind it out. Wow. The final is a go-out in public event because it's like you got to be out there if they. 8.m. Yeah, I got a resum. Yeah, I got a resa. Where? No, don't say.

I'm going to real sports. Are you back? Yeah, I'm doing it. It's Canada versus maybe canada. I hope so. I'll be doing barley pancakes in my belly. We got to call the chef. Yeah.

At real sports. So I'll go to real sports the morning. But yeah. You want to come? I could maybe be talked in. Oh, now we're talking. I don't know. Now we're talking.

Face painter. You're facing? No. Come on. I'll put a jersey on them. I'll put my, I'll put on my said jersey. Okay.

You don't have a Wade Red? I don't have a Wade Red. Patrick Marlow? I don't have a Patrick Marlo. of our recent guests. No, I have. We've had Scott and Edermeyer, Chris Pronger. We've had a lot of Olympians on representing the Ryan Getslap.

Yeah. Anyways. All right. All starts, 1040 Eastern. Yeah. Tomorrow morning. It could be a grind. You're nervous about this one?

Of course. I think they're going to win. I think there's a chance they roll, but it's just, it's still a semi-final. It's still a chance. Just send it something in the chat tomorrow just to show me that you're breathing. No problem. No problem. Okay.

Yep. And we are on from four to six after the game tomorrow. We will be here to break it down into Friday. Yeah, we're going to bring in Mac? Yes, we are. Mac watching it? Oh, he's glued. He's all over it.

Yeah. He's off the beach. A lot of East Coast boys. If Sid's not playing, will he watch? Oh, McKinnon and he's going to be all in there. Our thanks to Wade Redden, former NHL defenseman, Jason Bucula, also a major contributor to our show. Okay, you're down to men's semifinals tomorrow, USA, Slovakia, after Canada, Finland, 310 p.m.

We'll know a lot when we return to Real Kippronborn on our Off the Rails Friday.