Shaun Newman Podcast - #91 - Scott Hartnell

Episode Date: June 29, 2020

Originally from Lloydminster AB/SK, he was drafted 6th overall by the Nashville Predators in 2000. Over a 17 year career he played 1249 games split between Nashville, Philadelphia & Columbus. We talk about the improbable run to the cup finals as a 7th seed during the 2010 playoffs, his acting debut on This is 40 & playing on a line with Jaromir Jagr.   Such a cool dude & great story teller.  Enjoy.   All episodes can be found at shaunnewmanpodcast.com   New episodes every Monday & Friday

Hi, this is Scott Hartnell, and you're listening to the Sean Newman podcast. Welcome back, everyone. Happy Monday, back in the studio, back at her. We got a great one for you today. But before we get to that, let's talk a little bit about the goings on around here. Have you seen the SMP billboard across from the UFA? Man, it looks good. I know I've been getting tons of feedback on it. Thanks to Deanna Wanler, read and write advertising. They did an exceptional job. It just looks unbelievable. So if you haven't stopped by and taking a look, finally the train track construction is done so you can get by and take a look at it. It looks super sharp. How about Lauren and the team at Art and Seoul? I just dropped off a couple jerseys. I'm super excited. You know, I was sitting here looking over my right shoulder and Kent Stanforth, who's been on the podcast before, we had that

game out in Hillmond. And he got a jersey done up by Lauren and her team there and I'm just staring at it and I'm going man it looks sharp man it looks sharp so if you got any jersey that you're sitting there thinking about I've been sitting holding on on this

maybe I should go get it framed stop by and visit Lauren at Art and Seoul I know she'd sent me a note about a lady who'd gotten a family heirloom done up it was an auction sale poster it looked pretty kick-ass too so I mean it doesn't have to be a jersey

I always think I got jerseys everywhere I know a lot of hockey fans do, and she does an exceptional job. She's open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Give her a call 7808-60313 or stop in 5016 39th Street. It's more than just a frame. It's a story. Gartner Management is a Lloydminster-based company specialing in types of rental properties to help meet any of your needs.

Obviously, they're housed in the podcast, and the room just continues to look unbelievable. as we continue to tweak and add things and get in looking just top notch. And Wade has been, you know, unbelievable landlord thus far. So if you're looking at getting something my size, a nice little small space, he's the guy. If you're looking for something bigger, 6,000 square feet commercial space, give Wade Gartner a call 7808-5025.

Mass Entertainment wants to let you know if you're planning any intimate ceremonies, and we're starting to see a few more weddings come out. Give this guy a call, or maybe your parent looking for movies, games night. I finally got to watch one at a birthday party this past weekend, and we watched the Sandlot. He was pretty kick-ass. I'm not going to lie. Sitting outside had my son with me.

He certainly enjoyed it. I was a little disappointed. We didn't get to watch the end of it. It kind of got a little late. And so we had to go find the Sandlot in Netflix or whatever the heck it was so we can finish it. I think it was actually Disney Plus. Somebody will correct me on that. If you're looking for a little bit outside entertainment, keep the kids going.

Check out Maz Entertainment's Facebook or Instagram for video and pictures. Give Cody a call 780-214-2920. Carly Closson, Windsor, Plywood. They are the builders of the podcast studio table. I had a few people in today, and the same thing happens. I sound like a broken record. They walk in, they sit down, I go, holy crap, this is nice. Then they got to give it a little touch, a little feel.

They ask all about it. I'm telling you, if you're interesting getting a table done or you want to see some cool work, head over to Windsor Plywood here in Lloyd Minster. I promise you you will not be disappointed. Give them a call 780875-9663. Thanks again, Carly, for all the amazing work that you guys have done inside this studio. If you're interested in advertising on the show, visit shawndoenopodcast.com. We'd love to get you involved with the show.

We've got lots of different options, and I want to find something that can work for the both of us. So if you're interested in advertising, check it out, hit the website, send me an email, and we'll see what we can work out for him. All right. Now, on to the T-Barr-1 Tale of the Tape. Originally from Lloyd Minster, Alberta, as a 15-year-old, he suited up for the Junior A, Lloyd Minster Blazers. Following this, he played two seasons for the Prince Albert Raiders in the W.HL. He was drafted sixth overall in the 2000 NHL entry draft by the Nashville Press. He played 17 seasons in the NHL with Nashville, Philadelphia, and Columbus.

He played a combined 1,249 games, amassing 327 goals, 380 assists, 707 points, and 1,809 penalty minutes. He was selected to the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. He is also well known for his charity Hartnall Down, which helps support hockey children and communities around the U.S. and Canada. Canada. Currently, he can be found on the NHL network as an analyst. I'm talking about Mr. Scott Hartnell. So buckle up. Here we go. Welcome to the Sean Newman podcast today. I'm joined by a legend, Mr. Scott Hartnell. So thank you for hopping on with me. That's a big word legend. I'm not sure if I'm legendary status or not. Well, you know, it's crazy. I was saying to a buddy of mine the other day. In the NHL, there's very few characters. And you're definitely a character that is well known

throughout the NHL, throughout all of hockey. And I mean that as the best thing. I don't mean it is a bad thing. But in the NHL, lots of people are just, they have the hockey player answer, the cookie cutter answer. And your career has been anything but. Well, I appreciate that. You know, I kind of came in the league, you know, obviously 20 years ago, crazy to say that. And, you know, there were some characters. He had tough guys that were, you know, dropping the Mets every game. You know, guys like Macriachie with the, you know, the long hair and the toothless smile and just looked like you got out of bed every time he stood in front of a camera and you can go on and on about the characters in the game. But, you know, I tried to kind of carve out a career

for myself and do the things that kind of made me successful, learned a lot along the way, some great stories, some great times. And, you know, unfortunately, ever won a Stanley Cup was there once, but, you know, it was a fun career while it lasted, and, you know, it just seems like you look back now, I'm like, man, that went fast. It's crazy how quickly time passes, isn't it? It's, yeah, it goes too fast, and, you know, and now that I have kids, it's like, oh, man, we had a daughter almost eight weeks ago, and it's like, holy man, it just seemed like, you know, yesterday we weren't sleeping for the first two weeks, you know what I mean,

and now we've got a little bit more rest, but it's still a grunt. and my other son, he's over two now, and it's just like, whoa, this is unbelievable. Well, I was laughing when you're like, I'm going to be late. I'm in the middle of children. I say to everybody, the listeners get tired of me talking about it. Our oldest is four, and we got three under four. So I know exactly what you're doing. You're in the trenches right now.

You're running off of not many hours of sleep. You're not playing hockey. I'm sure you would jump at the first crack if they said, hey, Scotty, we're going to fire up playoffs here in two weeks. Like some time away from the family to play some hockey? If I was still playing, I'd be like, yeah, see you later, honey, good luck. You know, nowadays, you know, if I had to go be an analyst on it, you know, in one of these subsidies, I don't think I could, you know, take it away just because I know how much of a grind it is, how hard it is for the women that, you know, do this as, you know, they're basically their jobs

and one of the hardest jobs they do. And I have a great wife and a great mother of our children. but you know I just you know you're trying to fight with them trying to put them down one screaming one needs diaper change and you're like you know sometimes you just want to scream but you got to realize they're just kids they're just doing what they're going to do and and it's all good had lots of are having lots of laughs every day with all you're enjoying fatherhood that it's it's amazing you know I'll never forget the conversation me and my father had I don't know probably 2011-12ish something like that and

and, you know, a single guy and, you know, obviously had tons of fun off the ice and, and all that could, you know, travel and do what I want and golf trips and, you know, Las Vegas in the summers and whatever. You know, he kind of just said, he's like, hey, just so you know, when you do find, you know, that special someone and have that family, he goes, it's going to blow everything that you're doing out of the water. So, you know, make sure you find a good girl. And I'm like, wow, I really head home now that I do have the family and the wife and

and the kids in a home and it's just, you know, it's amazing how, how smart our fathers are, how, you know, when you have that good one that you look up to. It's funny, you never take the advice for what it's worth at the time when you're young to do you. No, I know, I was like, well, whatever, dad, I got, you know, going out here to Saturday night and, you know, in L.A. when we're going to, you know, L.A. and whatever, right? And now it's like, wow, this is, you know, kind of, you know, not that it was a perfect time. I retired and my son came like literally a week after we lost out in game seven my last year plan. So it was like kind of perfect timing for that.

I can be all on being a dad. And instead of being, you know, like a lot of NHLers, they have kids while they're playing. And, you know, they miss so much that I've got to see. And I got to see. So it's, I wouldn't change anything for the world. Speaking on your analyst side, do you think the playoffs are going to happen? with everything going on with COVID, with riots, with just the state of the world currently, you think they're going to have a playoffs?

My guess, well, they're going. They're trying everything in their powers to do so. You know, I don't think, you know, players, there's some players that are all in. There's some players that are, you know, kind of on the fence. And there's some players that don't want to risk leaving. and, you know, maybe getting infected and, you know, might be in the, you know, older on in their careers where they might have won or whatever. And they're like, I don't want to, you know, I'm not worried about the, you know,

$100,000 in Nescro that will lose or whatever it might be, right? There's a lot of different situations that every player has. But I think the world would love to see some sports, especially playoff sports, whatever sport that is, if it is baseball coming back, like they said last night, hockey and basketball. And who knows about football? even in the fall. But if I was a betting man, I would say, yes, there will be playoffs.

And, you know, it will be different without the fans. And, you know, with all that jazz and excitement for that you get from watching the games live or on TV from fans, but, you know, it's still going to be some good hockey. Can you imagine going into a rink playing game one and not having, well, choose your pick. You played in several different cities, but everybody always remembers the, I think your most iconic team was the Philly Flyers when, you know, the orange crush is going nuts. And, you know, they got the, what you're going to do shirts with the, you're giving the fan, the Hulk Hogan.

And imagine going in there right now and having none of that. I mean, don't get me wrong. We're all hockey players. Hockey players are finding a way to get up for it, but it'll be strange. Yeah. You know, I just, you know, think of, you know, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, 2010 finals, and in Chicago, the Mad House, you know, them singing that song when they scored, I still get nightmares of that song.

But, you know, imagine that song being played because that's their goal song, but with no one singing that tune or no one screaming, your ears aren't, you know, you're not covering your ears on the bench because it's so loud. So it will be, it will be weird. But, you know, at the end of the day, it's hockey. They're playing for the stand the cup. They're going to be going balls to the wall. Maybe they can pump in some artificial sounds.

Yeah, I don't know about that. It's kind of like golf too. You watch it and it's, you know, the fans, when they get rolling on a Sunday, roaring and 18, and, you know, if they thought about putting speakers out there, it's not the same. I think it is what it is. We're in a weird pock at a time. You know, probably in 10 years, everyone will look back.

They're like, oh, remember that year that, you know, there was no fans. You know, and, you know, next year it'll be, you know, hopefully, you know, knock on wood back to normal, but, you know, it's just is what it is. Speaking about, normally I start back towards the beginning, but I was watching the highlights of the 2010 cup run. And I, you know, I was talking with a couple guys here, and I'd all but forgotten that came down to the last game of the season against the New York Rangers in a shootout to get into the playoffs. Wild.

What was that like? It was pretty crazy. I remember, you know, if we want to even go before the game, I always had, we played the two-touch soccer game. We, before warming up, you know, kind of doing your activation, whatever you want to call it, right? And me and Aaron Asham, we'd go have a quick, like, you know, two, three-minute hot tub and, you know, have a quick shower and put on your gear in five minutes and go out for warm-up. And, you know, we were a little nervous, a little excited because we both knew that this game. you're in, right? And it was like, he's like, he's like, Scott. He's like, he's like, he didn't call me Scott. He goes, Hart's he goes, whoever wins this, whoever wins this game, is going to win this damn the cap. And I said, I said, you know, let's go do it, man.

And, you know, got out there, got dressed and, you know, went into overtime, shootout, and went in the shootout. And, you know, we end up, you know, rolling through the first round, that come back against Boston and beat up on Montreal. And, and next thing, you know, we're playing for the finals. And obviously a couple of goals. of that, but I love how you just blow through all that. To the fans who don't remember, it's a one-one game, last game of the season. The last game yet. It goes to a shootout, and you can see the tension on both benches.

You can see the heartbreak. It almost looks like a game seven scenario, which pretty much is, right? And you can see the Rangers, because there was, I think, if memory serves me correct, there was you guys and the Rangers both tied in points whoever wins goes into the playoffs whoever loses misses and i'm sure the sports writers had a field day with they should let it go continuous OT but it goes to a shootout in the shootout you guys win it looks like a staling cup celebration you get in the playoffs here you are a seventh seed and in the second round you go down three o to boston which as we all know has only happened four times in

NHL history of the team come back and you're one of those teams what was what was it about the group you know that walked into being down three games to none you had guys like pronger on that team and the Jeff Carter's of the world and the um Mike Richards that group yeah Simone Gagne Danny Breyer Billy Lano had a great great playoffs James van Reeves Dyke was a rookie there so you know I could almost pretty much name all all 20 guys that were dressed and It was wild because if you go to the beginning of that series, game one in Boston, obviously they had home ice. We played a really good game and lost. And we're like, okay, you know, we deserved a better fate, right?

You know, you're watching video, blah, blah, blah. Game two, we played a really, really good game and lost. And we're like, oh, man, like, okay, home ice, we'll get them. Game three, we played one of our best games of the year and somehow lost. And we're like, boys, like, if we keep playing like this, we're going to win at least one game. And if we might win four, who knows, but we can only win game four. And we play even a better game, game four. Mark Recky ties it up with like 30 seconds to go to send it in overtime.

Goalie pulled and we're like, oh, my God, this is how our season is going to end. Like, you know, being swept after, you know, the whole last game of the year, game 82 and whatever. And so we end up with that game in overtime. Now we're just like flying high. We go in to Boston, we, you know, kick the crap out of them. We come back home. We win handily again. And then we go in game seven and our confidence is sky high.

Boom, boom, boom. Three goals to nothing in the first like seven minutes of the game. And we're looking around and we're like, what the hell just happened? We're just letting this all hard work the last week. Just kind of go down the drain. Lavie let call the time out. He bought all the guys in. Michael Layton, goes, you stop the puck.

He's like, boys, we just need one goal. One goal of the rest of this period. We'll make it 3-1. And I guarantee you we're going to come back. And we're like, okay, we got like, you know, seven minutes ago or whatever it is. And let's get that goal. And we end up getting one, 3-1 and came out. I had a goal and assist in the second period.

That was 3-3. And then Simone Gagne had a great, nice shot there on the power play towards the end of the game. And we held on, you know, at the end of the game, They had the full court press on us, but that comeback was pretty amazing. Not only in game seven, but the whole deal in the seven game series was pretty neat. Yeah, well, and to do it against the Boston Bruins is like, you know, in the last 10 years, heck, maybe even a little longer than that, they've been one of the premier teams of the NHL. They've really found a way to be competitive every single year.

And to be down three games to none, Well, there's a reason why it only happened four times in the history of the NHL. Like, it just, that is a hole to dig yourself out of it. It says a lot about the group that you guys had in, in Philly. Yeah, I think it was, I think it was maybe once or twice. I have to look it up. But anyway, I think there's one or two times before us in hockey, one another sport. I think it was basketball.

And then we were the third or 14 to do it. And then L.A. Kings did it against San Jose a couple years after us when they won. when there's Stanley Cups. So not that it's more common now, it's only been twice in the last like 100 years, but it's kind of cool to do it and, you know, puts our team and our names in history. Well, let's go back to the beginning and come back to Lloyd for me.

You played for the Lloydminster Blazers, you know, if we go to the junior A ranks for a year as a 15-year-old. What was playing for? the hometown club like back then? It was, you know, pretty cool. You know, I, you know, if you even go back a little bit earlier than that, you know, my peewee, uh, I was in Adam and I was a really good Adam player. My first year Adam, so I wanted to, you know, we thought it would be good that I moved up

to hitting in peewee and, and move up a year. So I would have been, you know, a year younger than underage, I guess you'd say, in Peewee and I tried out for the double A team. And, you know, I got cut from that. And so I went to play Peewee. Pee-E-A as an underage instead of going back to Adam and dominating that league. So I learned to hit, learn to, you know, against maybe not the best players in hockey that year in Pee-Wea.

But then at the end of the year, I got called up for Pee-E-W-A and, you know, the next season played Pee-E-W-A. And then it was like, okay, you know, 15 male trial for the Blazers. And Gort Tibido was my coach there. And, you know, he was just a great coach. It was hard on me, you know, make sure I was learning. learning the game, learning systems, all the kind of stuff I could do at that age. And I really appreciated his guidance and, you know, everything through that year.

So being at home trying out for the Blazers, I thought that was the NHL. I watched both of my brothers play for the Blazers. You know, I was the rink rat holding, you know, over the bench. Hey, got your stick. Can I have your stick? And, you know, I didn't know the guys. I thought they got three sticks, right? And like, hey, why didn't you give you one?

You know, come on, buddy. And so that was kind of the NHL in my eyes. Watching my brothers play junior hockey. And when I made that team, that was pretty sweet. And I guess I had to set my eyes a little higher in the hockey ranks to get where I really wanted to go. Well, and you rose quickly, you know, you talk about playing as an underage at the younger levels and then making a junior A squad at 15. That's impressive in itself. I was laughing.

I went back through that roster. I was trying to see who was playing with you, you know, that names that stuck out. I've had Chris Weeb on the podcast before he was playing back then. Your guys is the leading. That year was Mark Hallam. A couple of guys that I recognize from around town is Randy Dugan and Dallin Falsher, although Dallin probably didn't play a whole lot. It looked like you'd only played a handful of games.

But that would probably be some names that would stick out to you, bring back some memories. Yeah, Ryan Faulkner as well. He was my linemate me, me Chris Weave and Ryan Faulkner, and we got out there. And I'll never forget to the first, I think it was maybe seven, six, seven, eight games. I had probably like eight or nine points. I was right up there top of the league of scoring. And I'm like, oh, my God, this is so easy, you know. And, you know, I remember just being like pretty cocky, right?

And, you know, the next few games had just terrible games, you know, kind of the high of making the team was gone. And, you know, couldn't kind of maybe keep up that pace. And little cockiness too in there as well, but, you know, didn't have a few good games. And Gortibito, uh, sad me for a game. And, you know, I was just like, why I'm like, you know, top, you know, almost top of the team in points now and whatever. And, and, and he's like, he's like, you know, he's like, you know, take a look in the mirror. And I was like, oh, you know, I obviously talk to my dad. And he's like, yeah, you know, you're, you know, let things get good to you and, and, uh, you know, you got to wake it up and get back in the line. So next practice,

I was, you know, the hardest working guy out in practice and try to get back in the lineup. And, you know, I did and things went from there. Cool. I was, you know, some of the coaches you've had, even Gord Tibdo. Gord, Tibito, another guy I've had actually on the podcast and getting to listen to him and his thoughts and processes. But he's a guy who holds an all-time record for most wins in the age of HL. And so to have him at a young age and then, you know, into the NHL, like guys like Barry Trots, and all the people,

La Villalette, can't even spit it out, right? The cup winners, right? Like those guys have had extensive careers. John Tortorella is another one. I'm sure he was a handful or an interesting. Oh, yeah. At least he enjoys dealing with media on a day-to-day basis, that's for sure.

But, I mean, you've had some really cool coaches that have been very successful to help kind of guide your career or shape it at least to be sat. as a guy who's, you know, probably at the top of the points on your team right off the hop. That's an interesting, an interesting way to make sure everybody's pulling in the same direction, isn't it? Yeah. And I remember one of my, or my agent that I had at the time, and he came to, you know,

kind of meet me and my family, and we've talked to a few of them, but the big agent was coming in town and meet me. And I was, like, so excited, you know, to play for him and, you know, just let him see what I can do on the ice. Now was the game I got scratched. So I sat up with him for a period. I was like, you know, man, he's like, and, you know, he gave me a couple good, you know, things for advice to, you know, get working hard and, you know, keep your chin up and this and that,

blah, blah, right, everything that you do. So it was pretty funny just how the timing of that all worked out. I'm sure even Gortibital probably knew that he was probably coming in town. And so, oh, this is a good lesson for him to learn as an early man, a young man. And one guy you forgot, Kevin McClellan. and my coach and Prince Albert for the Raiders. Yeah, right, right. Former, former Emmetton Oiler, you know,

his claim of fame, one of the biggest goals in Emmetton Oilers' history. Back in the 80s, you know, when they want a Stanley or one of their Stanley Cup. So a big tough guy there for the while. So to play for him and junior hearing his stories at the NHL and, you know, that kind of lifestyle was, you know, very, gave me a lot of motivation to, you know, set my sides bigger than just leaving Lloyd, going to PA to play junior hockey, was the NHL. So it was, you know, along the way, those people give you motivation and things to look forward to and strive for.

And definitely had some great coaches along the way. You speak of PA. I love to ask guys about the Bannam Draft. Bannum Draft is like giant now. Heck, you know, the SGHL just did a version, well, their version of it now of Bannum draft. And kids get so excited or beat down if they're selected or not selected in it. knowing you got selected uh i think it was seventh overall by pa back in 1997 the way oh do you remember was it just a phone call was it were you paying attention to it uh was it a big

deal yeah well internet wasn't around i don't think 97 maybe dial up was but you know someone pick up the phone you know while you were on the internet it got cut off so you had to dial back in to, you know, it took you a minute or two to dial in. But, you know, I remember fielding some calls from different teams that were, you know, from, you know, number three or four that were picking to, you know, eight or ten. And, you know, a couple. I remember one was Prince George and, you know, I know my family, my dad being a principal and in the education system and on how long their bus rides were,

how much they were on the road. He didn't want me to go to that team just because of education and how probably it would have suffered where, you know, PA was, you know, perfect. It was Saskatchewan schooling. It could transfer back to Lloydminster after the hockey season. So it wasn't that we picked a place to go. It was just it ended up being a perfect fit for us. And it was close.

So I'm and dad, we're almost at every game, you know, and then they were up working, you know, at the schools the next day, both of them. So it ended up being, so yeah, like I said, the original question, did I field some calls? Yeah, it was, you know, a few calls. You know, it wasn't until like maybe the next day I got a call from the Raiders general manager saying, yeah, with Scotty, we picked you, you know, our training camps. This day we'll see you. You know, this day we'll get you built lined up. And, you know, that was that was it.

Like, you know, not much talk until you showed up for training camp, really in September. So it was just a wild experience. But, you know, something that's a lot different today. You fast forward 20-some years and it's almost a spectacle. and, you know, who's who's who of hockey and this guy got picked before this guy. And there wasn't that much competition. Maybe there was. It just, you know, no one really talked about it.

Speaking of PA, did you ever get to experience two years ago they made the finals? And the craziness of the fans, which was awesome to see, you know, one of the great and terrible things about social media is sometimes social media can be a little bit much. but sometimes it can show you really cool things. And PA, when they were in the finals, I mean, the fans were like the melt crates and everything else. You got to play there for a couple of years. I know you didn't make the finals, but did you ever get to experience or what were the fans like back in the day for you in PA? Well, it was, you know, like the NHL to me, right? At the time, you don't really know much different, right?

You come from playing junior hockey to the lead-Mr. Blazers and you're traveling around. on the bus with your track suit on. You're like, ah, this is cool. You know, we're driving six hours to Calgary to play that kind of knocks in the Royals. And, you know, and next day, you know, you're driving 24 hours and you're playing to Colma and Seattle and Portland and 24 hours back. And then you've got to go to school the next day, right?

And, you know, for our barn, it was, you know, 3,000, 3,500 people. And, you know, not that we were selling out. The only time I think we sold out was when Jordan Tutu came to town with the Brandon Wheat Kings. and it was just a goddamn madhouse in there, which was really cool to experience as well. And a funny story about two, it's in PA. He was backing up like a defenseman and chipped the puck in and was kind of going to go around.

He wasn't really skating backwards. And then he goes down, submarines me at the knees. I go flying over him. And then I kind of follow him. And he's like kind of like he's waiting for me to punch him, right? And so finally whistle blows. and I finally pop them, you know, kind of not a brawl, but, you know, everyone's punching each other. And I get two minutes and, you know, man, I think I felt something in my knee, right?

I'm like, you know, go back, you know, after the period or whatever. And sure enough, I had some cartilage torn in my knee and had to get a scope. And this is back in 98. And I'm like, oh, man, my career's over and, you know, all this kind of stuff. So I got the scope done. And, you know, a couple weeks I was fine. and, you know, I want to get that toots back, you know, so bad. And, you know, then he gets drafted to Nashville and, you know,

ends up being, you know, one of the best guys and, you know, one of the best men I know in the game, in and out of the game hockey now, both of us now. But just an incredible story that he had. And, you know, it's kind of weird how those things happen. You hate a guy for something they do or something they say in the ice. And then you become teammates with him. And he's like the best man around.

So it's kind of funny how the hockey world works. Was it a few tense moments in Nashville when he first walked in the dressing room? You remember, you remember me, big fella? Oh, yeah. I still bring up to him, you know, in the summers we're having a good time. And, you know, you guys get around. A lot of hockey guys in Kelowna, we tell the stories and things like that. It's one of my favorite stories to tell about Teets.

How about the draft day? You know, the draft that year, I kind of had all but forgotten was in Calgary. So it was nice and close for you. At the time, I assume you know you're going to go in the first round. I assume that you're heading down there. You probably got all your family. You're excited. Did you have any idea you were going in the top 10?

Yeah, the Central Scouting rankings were out there. I think I was rated five. So I knew I was probably going to go high. And so we showed up, I think, a couple days early before the draft day to do the pre-draft meetings with teams. They're running around in hotels. and you're talking to, I talked a few times with Columbus Blue Jackets. They drafted fourth.

Islanders, I had one meeting. They drafted first and fifth, you know, a few other teams. But, you know, teams that were probably below 10, they didn't really need to kind of, they probably figured I was going to be picked before, before then. So it was just, you know, a half a dozen or so teams that I ended up talking to for the majority of the park. And yeah, and it was right during graduation too for us, you know, grad of 2000. And that was kind of a big deal back then. And, you know, I think I left the all night or, you know, you're supposed to stay all night

till seven in the morning and drink and party with your friends, right? And my dad was a chaperone. He goes, okay, you can stay to like 1, you know, 1.30. Then we got to go because you got to get a couple hours sleep from driving to Calgary for the draft. I was like, I was so mad at them. But, you know, I was like, I get it. So, yeah, just get out a lot of them missed a couple days of the whole six-seven-day draft thing is, is you may have been hung over for the actual draft day.

No, no, I know. This was a couple days before, so I had those meet the meetings and stuff. But yeah, it was just kind of a while a few days you look back and, you know, how nervous you were. And one of the funniest stories of my career, not even hockey-wise, but, you know, I'm sitting in a, I just, got out of a National Predator meeting, you know, with David Boyle and Barry Trots and, you know, six or eight of the scouting staff or whatever, you know, half hour 45 meeting and, you know, my agent is there and we shuffled down the, down a few doors down and Columbus Blue Jackets are there and they were drafted forth. And this is like my second third meeting with them and had a couple

meetings already with Nashville. So I knew it was maybe one of those two teams, right? And and this one was with the psychologists of the team and the general manager so there's only three three people in their two psychologists and and uh how it goes uh riseboro i think anyway a GM of Columbus at the time and so we go in there and and they're just like what and this is one of their questions and this is after a few kind of weird questions right so my mind's got all over the place and like what are they going to ask next you know and so like how would it feel to put on our uniform and this is I'm talking to the bluejackets staff and how would it feel to put on our uniform and you know that opening night of the season and I said oh man it would be so awesome to

put on a national predator uniform you know and I and I'm looking at them and you know kind of do that to put on like pretend I'm putting on the jersey and I'm like oh shucks I'm not I'm in the wrong team and I'm like god just kidding guys you know blah blah blah you know and they all started lap and so I thought I played this out perfectly. I'm like, oh, I'm so funny, like, you know, witty, blah, blah, blah. And so that, you know, shake your hands or whatever. And one of the psychologist walks me out and he goes, you kind of screwed up there. You didn't really mean to make that joke. And did you about the jersey? And I said, no. And he goes, he goes, I knew it. And I was like, oh, all right. You knew exactly what I was thinking, what I was going to say next.

And so it was pretty funny at the time. I, you know, had a good couple laps with the family after that one. I expect, you know, the guys, DePietro goes first that year, which I'm not positive on how many goalies went first overall, but it is very few. Danny Heatley, a few others in there, but when your name finally gets called, that had to have been, A, an exciting moment, and I assume you were excited to go to Nashville. Yeah, very excited. I remember when it was, I was, I said I was ranked fifth by Central Scouting. So when the Islanders came up for their second pick in that draft, it was, you know, all the cameras came around us. You know, we're sitting front row in the stands. Me and my mom and dad, brother, sister, aunt, these uncles, you know, had a bunch of family

there. And, you know, New York Islanders would like to select with a fifth overall draft in the 2000 entry entry draft. And, you know, I'm kind of getting still sweaty, clammy, everything and Rafi Torres from the LHL and my mom's like yes but she didn't want me to go to you know New York you know the franchise had some bad drafts treats and traffic bad bobble whatever it was and and so then all the cameras are like whoa where's Rafi sitting you know like they're trying to zoom in on him hugging his family for you know for all for TV and then they stuck it around for the next one the next pick sixth overall which was Nashville and and was ready to ready to rock then so I was very happy that I got

selected to the Preds. It's a great organization and loved all my time there. Do you ever get used to the cameras being on you like that? Yeah, over time you do. You know, kind of, you know, being a young kid, you know, a little shy of them or, you know, what to say, but, you know, I've, you know, for doing it so long, you kind of, you kind of, you kind of roll with it. You know, sometimes they're there watching you, you know, they're right in your face and you're tying your skates right before you get out there for puck drop and they're right there and you try not to smile and guys are chirping you trying to make you smile you're trying to put on the game face and so I didn't even try and hide it

I was like you know hi mom you know all that kind of stuff you know during it's it's it's almost unbelievable how much access media gets to you guys um as soon as you get to the rink so you got have a strong mental game man to be able to deal with like haven't like you say having a camera right in your face all the way up because you're you're you're you're you know, all the way up to that point, I would assume, you know, you get in the dressing room and it's kind of like, okay, it's business. There's nothing, you know, or maybe it wasn't. I don't know. What is it from your perspective? Yeah. Well, I'm kind of a jokester, prankster and, you know, I thought, you know, I thought, you know, you talk about characters of the game. It was, you know,

for me, you know, I kind of kept things loose, whether it was a joke or a prank or, you know, something funny on the ice of practice and, you know, just to keep things fun, right? You're playing and we're still playing a game at the end of the day. Yeah, we're getting paid, you know, millions of bucks to put the puck in the net and, you know, go on streaks and get the playoffs. But, you know, you got to have fun at there out there at the end of the day. And whether that be, you know, playing kickball before, you know, practices or games or, you know, cutting somebody's laces and they're, you know, scramble to get in and they, you know,

rip their lace and it's three minutes to go to practice. and they show up a minute late and the coach gives it to them and you know everyone's in on the prank right so it's uh it makes them sweat a little bit but everyone's having a good time so uh whatever it is uh you know i always tried to have fun every day i was at the rank and and and uh you know definitely a lot of a lot of laughs uh i don't know if courtesy of me or at me or however you want to put it but it was a fun fun career to have well now you got me interested what's the best prank then you've done on somebody? What I got

is in Philadelphia and I was one of the rookies was just a few down for me and you know kind of planned it where I had my lace broke would break whatever I'm like oh man I might run out time and he was already standing up and I'm like yeah I'm like hey wellie you know do you mind go and asking a nasty one of the trainers for a left lace right and and you know

it's my left skate that broke and as everyone knows, there's not a right or left to your skate laces, right? So he runs out of there and he's like, he's like, he's like, do you have a left lace for Scott for hearts? He just broke his left lace for hearts. Everyone's just like dying left and he's like, he's like, what? What are you laughing? And everyone's like a left lace, really?

He's like, oh, hars you idiot. He's like, screw you, right? So that was a pretty good, but not like a huge, huge brink, but something that we've got a good crack out of them. What's the best prank that's been pulled on you then, when you were the young kid? Just off the top of my head, on our way to my first NHL game, which is in Tokyo, Japan, for the Predators. We played Pittsburgh Penguins in the Planet Series or whatever they called it.

World Series, whatever it was. They called the first two games overseas. One was a home game for us. One was a home game for the Penguins. And we flew from Nashville to Detroit. And then we took like a 12, 14-hour flight all the way to Tokyo, Japan. And that first two-hour flight to Detroit, I took my shoes off, you know, like I did on my way down to training camp. And, you know, kind of fell asleep.

We had nice track suits on and, you know, wake up and no shoes were on the plane. And I'm like, looking around and no one's looking at me. I'm like, okay, someone's doing. I'm like, guys, anyone that want to give me my shoes here? And no answer, right? I'm like, oh, man. So get out, you know, get off the plane. And, you know, I'm walking through.

And, you know, we got like a mile to the next gate. And, you know, we're going through it. I'm sitting there. I'm looking around. No one's giving my shoes back. And Barry Trots comes over. He's like, Scotty, where's your shoes? You know, and then he's third.

I'm like, I fell asleep coach and, you know, woke up and no shoes there. He goes, he goes, first mistake, never fall asleep on a plane when you're a rookie. And I'm like, all right, no, did, coach. No, no, did. And so I was like, I got to go to the washroom, you know, and, you know, nasty washrooms are, especially in airport, there's pee on the ground and all this stuff. So I'm like tiptoeing around and trying to take a fee and come back.

And lo and behold, right by my bag, wear my shoes. So someone, I still don't know who did it or who gave back or what. But a lesson learned, I, you know, try to stay awake and watch movies, play some cards on planes. So I didn't have that happen to me again. Oh, that's clean fun. That's good stuff. What was playing in Japan like? There's something that most NHLers don't get to say.

What was what? Sorry? Playing in Japan, like. For like music or? No, no, no, Japan. You said you went over. Wasn't it in Tokyo, you said? Yep, yeah, yeah.

We flew over there and we played Pittsburgh Penguins for two games in my first year. It was wild. It was, you know, you know, look back at, you know, my game, game three of my career four, you know, there was, you know, it wasn't full of Japanese people in the stands, right? It was, it was, it was so insane. And my first, my first NHL shift, I'll never forget it. It was me, Greg Klosson, a good Saskatchewan kid, and Billy Pelton and veteran finish right winger. And so we were out there and Pittsburgh Penguins had last change. And, you know, when you're looking around, I'm like, man, this is cool.

I'm like, I'm like, NHL, but I'm like, we're in Tokyo, whatever. So I look back at the bench and very trotses like this. You know, he's like, you know, change it up. That's the universal symbol for change it up, right? And but, you know, the week before, we were doing these face-off plays. And one of the plays was around the world, right? And so the centerman, when the puck back, the inside winger, on the left winger, I'd come up around behind him,

take it up, go down in the corner, take a shot from the corner, call it around, you're almost going around the world, around the circle. So I look back and I look and they got Mario Lemieux, Yarmere, Yager, and Jan Herdina out there for they had last change. They put them out. Trotsy's giving her one of these, right? And Claussen goes to me like dead serious.

He's like, all right, kid, around the world. He's like, I'm going to win the puck. I said, no, no, it means change it up. We got to get the F off the ice here. So literally puck drops. He doesn't even know where it went. He lost the draw for sure because it didn't go back. And he and him, we sprint.

all the way down the ice and changed literally a four and a half second shift and we're like and we're sitting there like what a shift we're bouncing we're ready our heart rates at like 160 for that four second sprint and we're like what a what a start through the NHL right so it was I think I only had maybe four or five shifts that game but it was still what a start my career did go up after that I man Mario and Yager that that's quite the company you get to play with you auger down the road but before we even talk about that what was mario like being on the same ice surface as them it was pretty cool uh not gonna lie it was uh you know one of the guys that you idolized that you watched all his goals and highlights and shots and uh passes everything it was a

guy that uh you know kind of walked on water for for uh growing up hockey player in canada and you know to play my first shift against him even though it was only four seconds and you know even when he came back from from his cancer it was I think one of his first games was against us Nashville in Nashville and I think he only played about a period and a half of that game because we were up like eight nothing on him and he's like well I'm not going to I'm not going to stick around here I'm the owner slash player I'm just going to you know go go in ice my back but anyway playing playing against him and obviously yager those guys it was just the names that were elites that you kind of idolized

Peter Forsberg was another guy for me that, you know, I idolized, I looked up to and was fortunate up to play with him for half the season in Nashville as well. So the hockey world's a small world. It's, you know, there's not many degrees of separation for anybody. And pretty neat. And really, not many bad guys you get to meet in the hockey world as well. So very lucky to play a sport where there's great guys, great people and, you know, great organizations as well to along with it.

You got to play in a line with Yager. What was playing with that guy like? He was intense, man. He was his first year back from, I think he went to Russia for five years, four or five years. I had only exactly something like that. And Philly was the first team that he signed for. And obviously he played a few years after us. But I remember getting on a line with him.

I started on the fourth line that year. I had not a great training camp, you know. The first few games were okay. I was playing fourth line, you know, seven, eight, nine minutes. And then, you know, we kind of are like, oh, so, so our team and Lavilat gave me a chance with Drew and Yager. I'm like, okay, I got one game to, you know, this is going to save my season and, you know, whatever, right?

And played so good with these guys. We were, you know, felt like we played together for years, right? But no points. Like, we end up losing the game. And I'm like, you know, call my agent after. or my dad and my man like I'm done I'm back to the fourth line or whatever and he goes no no you guys you guys were so good

they'll watch the film coaches will watch and you'll get another chance at them or with them so you know just can't wait for the next day of practice to see if I'm actually practicing with them right and sure enough I was and I couldn't wait for that next game and I got two goals two assists and you know I was right back on my you know points per game you know by you know point six point seven points per game

So I was like, okay, perfect. And then, you know, had a heck of a season with those guys. You know, a couple of stories about Yags and Klaudeau for that fact. We'd be getting ready for a game. And, you know, an hour and a half before the game, you know, I've been there for already an hour or so already. And Yogs would come up to me. And he'd be like, Scotty. He'd call me Scotty.

Skatey, I feel so good tonight. He's like, he's like, I'm going to dump the puck into your corner. He's like, you got to go in there, get body. position and you hold the puck scotty scotty hold the puck he's like it's got to be like three four seconds you hold the puck takes me a while to get there scotty but i get to get there i'm gonna control it i'm gonna beat the two guys and i'm gonna score okay and i'm like okay that's cool right okay no big deal and literally i'd walk away two minutes later drew would come up to me hearts he's like oh man i'm feeling i'm feeling tonight you got to get me the puck and then get open i'm gonna give it right back to you

And I'm like, I'm not even going to tell you what Yogg said because he said the exact, he wants the puck. So I got two guys that want the puck on my life, which is great for me because I'm not the stick handle or the skater, the playmaker. I'm there around the net. I'm there getting myself open for shots. So I'll put in the rebounds. And, you know, I think we had a heck of a night that night. And I'm like, okay.

And then after the game, I told them both. I said, you know, you said this and you said this. I'm like, couldn't work out any better for me. Just I get you guys the puck ahead of the net. And I got a few points. So we won the game. So pretty cool guys. And then for Yager, I remember, I don't know if it was just those mid, mid season blues,

you know, you got game 35 and, you know, you got 47 games left, whatever it is. And, you know, it's just a grind. And he just got off the road of, you know, 10-day road trip. And my practice, I had a bad practice. And I didn't really care to be out there or whatever. And Yager came up to me after practice. He goes, listen, Scotty. He goes, I came over here to win a Stanley Cup.

He goes, he goes, you screwed me today. You know, you screwed the team today. You screwed the organization today. I need you, Scotty, to be the best practice player every day, every day. And, you know, we practice. How are we going to play out on the ice? And he gave me a, you know, a talking to him for probably a minute and a half, two minutes. And I was like, I was like, man, this guy is like serious, right?

Like it was kind of a wake-up call, right? And it was good to have because that next practice, I was prepared, I was warmed up, I was ready to go, and we had a heck of a practice, and I think we had a good few games in a row with not much practice in between, right? So it's amazing how those guys can give you those little bumps of advice or lectures, whatever you need to be because he was the best player that I've ever played with, you know, his whole career and the points and goals and accolades and all that stuff. So to hear that from him was kind of awakening, I guess,

in my career, I wish I would have had that at 19 years old, right, instead of 29 or whatever I was, but it was still pretty cool to see. Is it true? The story I've always heard about Yager is he would have keys to the rink, and I don't know if this was in Philly, but he'd have keys to the rink and he'd convince people to go to the rink with them at all hours of the day to work on things. Like, was he that intense? I don't think he had to really convince many guys if he would. wanted someone there to pass him, some pucks, whether that was a trainer that came with him late

or, you know, one of the guys that just wanted to be around him and kind of see him work and his aura. And, yeah, he was definitely there. I wouldn't say all the time, but I would say probably, you know, on average once or twice a week, probably, you know, without the, you know, without playing games, depending on the schedule too, but he would go there at 1130, 12 o'clock at night and, you know, he'd be in there, turn the lights on and would shoot pucks and, you know, do some stops and starts and turns and things like that, protecting the puck. And, you know, a couple times, too, there was a, you know, a senior game going on out there. And he's like, hey, you guys, mind if I come play with you guys? So, he Armour Yagoos out there playing with these schmelt out here in Philly.

They probably made their whole lives, right, playing with this guy. So he was just what he did, like, they, like, practice in practice. off the ice on the ice he was one of the hardest working guys that I've ever been around how about being on a movie this is 40 how the heck did that even come about no big deal huh no big deal absolutely you know what when when you first when we're watching the movie right that movie comes out from I'm assuming most people remember this is 40 it was fricking hilarious and it had some big stars in it paul rudd and uh les leslie man thank you leslie man a young maggin fox yeah um and then all sudden scott hartnell walks in

and who are the two guys with you uh there's jvr james van rames like ian leperrier and mac carl oh and matt carl four of you that's right four of us and uh two hockey players that were actors that were kind of doing the talking after our scene that we were in the bar. How it happened, it's, well, you could probably be Ian LePierre with the flipper in his mouth. So they wanted it. That was the whole point of the scene was to give Megan Fox his fake tooth. And I didn't know that, so there was two of the flippers, right? And so flippers are the things that you can take in and out of your mouth for people that are

listening that you take out when you play hockey so you don't lose it or swallow it or whatever and then you put it back in when you're done and you want to look good you obviously don't look good there sean but that's so there's too and i was like i'm like oh she's gonna actually put in his like not that i'm a germophobe but like he's gonna put she's gonna put ian the perrier's lipper in his mouth that's disgusting but anyway she had her own thing that was sanitized so they both had their their own and so anyways they handed it underneath the the line of the camera right So the camera's here. So the pass was below it.

And so she took it, but she had it already in her hand, right? And, you know, we've got the fake teeth and whatever. So that was the whole premise of the scene, right? And so they wanted to get guys that were either American or and I had a green card. So I was lucky enough to say, yes, for sure, I'll go help, you know, a Judd-Apital movie. This is going to be awesome. And Leslie, man, couldn't have been great. Megan Flock, she was not the nicest person in the world. I'm not going to say anything bad about her,

but she was just there for all business, no, you know, just trying to be nice and make conversation. She didn't even want to say hi to any of us guys. But it was a cool experience. We were there from six in the morning till almost midnight at night. It was like one of the long, my longest days of my life, just because you were there in a suit at 6 a.m., you know, dressed up like we're, you know, after a game, like the whole. scene, you know, says, and I'm looking around, we get there at 6 o'clock. I'm like, oh, my God, there's like 40 hot girls here. Like, this is unbelievable. I'm like, why are they all dressed up? Like, I didn't, you know, sticks the morning out. I was tired or whatever, but I'm like, why do they all

look so good? I'm like, oh, and then the first scene was at, you know, 8 o'clock or 830. I'm like, oh, we're in a nightclub. I get it. You know, they can't be one in their pajamas at, you know, six in the morning. So just the whole way that they filmed it. And, and, you I didn't really know much about movie making or anything, but just to see it firsthand and to be a part of it. And, you know, still get the residual checks from Universal NBC Studios. You know, every couple months I get the check for about 20 bucks, but there are nothing, I guess.

You're getting residual checks from Universal still for that movie? Yeah, it must be on TV, you know, on the Bravo channels or whatever you call it. and I can't imagine, if I'm getting like $20 for this, I can't imagine what Paul Rudd gets for being actually in it, right? So it was just, it was funny. And all the extras, the girls and stuff and that were around, they knew that we had speaking parts in the movie, right? So they're like being extra friendly to us for like, you know, no parent.

I'm like, why is everyone wanting to get close to us? Like when you're trying to dance and all this kind of, stuff and I'm like, oh, they know that the cameras are on us, so they want to be, they're just using us to get, to get noticed on a thing. So it was, I was like, I couldn't, so I learned so many things that day, even though it was like such a long day, but it was just pretty cool. So now I'm done playing hockey, you know, maybe try and get a little bit more of that. Just kidding, just kidding. Did you go around afterwards, Scott Hartnell? I'm an actor. Okay, yeah, when it came out, I did for sure. It was during the lock, I was.

as well in 2012 or 13. And so the movie premiere was in December. So I had nothing to do. I'm like, yeah, I'll go out first. So flew out to L.A. And, you know, we did the whole red carpet, us hockey guys. And, you know, sat in a big Oriental premiere movie theater where they have the premieres. And, you know, we're sitting there and, you know, looking around, there's stars from all

these other movies there watching. I'm like, wow, this is pretty neat. This is better than being an hockey player for a night, right? I had a blast and you know it was just seeing your seeing my mug on the big screen you know you kind of get in that movie mode and you kind of forget why you're there watching it's like they go down the stairs and into this club I started to sweat I was like oh my god I'm like I haven't seen it yet either didn't see the didn't see the fine I don't know if we're on there for you know 20 seconds or 40 seconds three minutes I had no idea I think it's just over a minute I think that we're all on there but like to see my face. I think I was the first guy. Oh, yeah, we played for the Philadelphia Flyers and my hair's out to here. I'm like, oh, God. Oh, God.

Once you got back playing, you know, hockey again, were you getting Razz through the league for that? Did anybody throw it anything? No, probably more jealousy than anything. Well, and I mean that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But nobody commented. Nobody walked by and seen, I seen you in the latest, nothing. Well, it's, and what's the weirdest part, I was on a flight.

somewhere maybe at right when it was getting released but it wasn't released yet and this this couple right beside me i'm on the aisle and they're in the middle and window seat and they have their uh iPad out and they start watching this movie and i'm like you know looking like this like oh wonder what they're watching there and no shit it was this is 40 and i was like oh i wonder if they're going to know it's me right so now i'm watching the movie like they're like moving it away like, you know, like, don't watch me. And anyway, they watched the whole movie and didn't say anything to me. So I guess I didn't leave an impression.

That's awesome. You know, one of the things you're probably known for now the most, which is funny, you probably think it's hilarious, is Artnall Down. I mean, what's come out of it has been amazing. And the kids' book and everything else and what your foundation has been able to do. but how it starts is a pretty comical story. I'm sure you get asked to talk about it a lot of time, but maybe you can share with the listeners how hurtnull down comes about

and what it's now doing. Yeah, well, it's a foundation I started back in 2012, 2013, something like that. And this guy, first sign I ever saw was we were in Phoenix, and this guy had a ticker or a counter, I guess, not a ticker counter. And it said, Hartnall down, and the ticker was at 145. And that was the sign in warm up. And I'm like, heartinal down, you know, do a lap of like 145, do another lap. My heart knell down, 145.

I'm like, what the heck is this me? I'm like, whatever. Some stupid sign, right? And whatever. Next game they were following us at Phoenix, California, a couple games. And so like three games later, warm up, same thing. I'm like, skating around like, Cardinal down 167. I'm like, Hartnold down, 100.

I'm like, you know, that went up 22 points in, you know, two games and three games. I'm like, what is this? So I asked her trainer, Nasty, and I was like, Nancy, what is this? He goes, he goes, he's like, you know, maybe I'll try and get out right quick and go ask this guy. So anyway, after warm up, I'm, you know, take my top half stuff of my equipment off. and so he kind of peeked his head around the corner. He's like, come here, come here. So I get out there.

He's like, he's like, you're never going to believe it. And I'm like, believe what? I kind of forgot that I asked him. I was like, all bowed in, focused. And he's like, yeah, that heart and down sign. He's like, they count how many times you fall down during the ice or in a game and they just have this counter. So I was like, oh, those assholes, right?

I don't like, that's kind of stupid. So I call my agent after, blah, blah, blah. And he couldn't stop laughing. And so his wife thought of an idea like, hey, let's, you know, make some shirts and sell them online and, you know, if we sell 150 shirts, we'll just give the money away. So, you know, started, you know, I don't even think she started the web, she had to have, yeah, started a website, heartledown.com, you know, put on there and next, she got an app on her phone to see how the website's going. And so I tweeted about it at one time

and it was like, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, thing, sold out, 150 shirts sold out in like five minutes and it was like okay well let's order you know a thousand right ting ting thing thing thing thing sold out and it was like oh wow this is kind of cool so she made a couple and she made all these shirts and she's doing this from our home she's you know going to this small post office in in Brainerd Minnesota right with you know 300 shirts and the next day 300 shirts in these packages and she you know this this little post office like what do you guys got going on here what kind of business is this and so anyways we you know

started a foundation and, you know, had a couple golf tournaments throughout the years, raised some good money. A lot of kids went from Philadelphia here, Columbus, to go to these hockey camps that, you know, they probably more than likely would not be able to experience and meet kids out from all over the world, Russia, Canada, Minnesota, and participate in these camps that I participated in, that Wayne Simmons participated in. T.J. Oshy was working out in JVR, Clark MacArthur. All these guys came in and we'd work out together and skate together.

And not an easy camp, but fun for kids to get away from their parents and their livelihoods to experience this camp. And anyways, it was just kind of a fun deal. And like you said, it's kind of someone, you know, kind of poking fun at me, kind of, you know, trying to jab at you, take you down. I guess a little bit and you turn it into something so positive and, you know, something amazing that, you know, I was really proud of. What's been a unique characteristic of yourself, I feel like when people try to attack you or maybe just try and poke a little fun and have a little bit of fun. You seem to be a guy who's able to accept that and carry on.

Yeah, you have to. You have to. Yeah, you have to. It was, you know, I just, I remember being there with the kids and they were there the same weeks that I was there. And, you know, I saw a couple of the kids, inner city black kids here from Philadelphia. And, you know, they're laying on the grass. And I'm like, hey, you guys, what are you guys doing? And it's, and it's, you know, 9.30 at night.

And it's blackout, you know, it's dark out. And they're like, they're looking up with the stars. And they're like, I've never seen a sky like this. And I'm like, well, you probably never lucked up before. They're like, no, no. Like, listen, I, you know, I, you know, you get the city lights, the street lights and, you know, all this kind of stuff. And so I sat there for like five minutes with them and just watched the stars. And it's like as an adult, I'm like, I haven't probably looked up with the stars in 10 years myself.

Right. So I sat with them and had a moment with them. I'm like, wow, this is like one of the coolest things that I've ever done. So I was that moment, it was pretty cool. I'm talking about it and reliving that. Thank you for that. It's, you know, makes me feel good that, you know, did some good in some kids' lives. you know it's it's something that i think the nchl is actually doing a better job of lately

uh maybe in the last since social media has become to the forefront of there's lots of good stories that you guys who are in positions to really affect some some children's lives or people in tough situations um and really bring some positivity to the world and that heart knelt down is while you just talked about one of the instances like that's pretty cool what you've done and donating the money back and helping support, you know, inner city kids like that. You know, it's something out here in rural, you know, being out here, we take for granted all the time when you look up, you see the stars. And actually, going back to when I interviewed Carly Agro, she talked about the Northern Lights,

never seeing them out east in Canada. And I was like, what? Wait, what? Like that just, you know, that's part of life here. And so that's, that is a very, very cool story. yeah no thank you um how much longer do i got you for whatever you want oh that's a dangerous came to play i know we talked early at the start of this that i had you for roughly an hour i'm just looking at the clock closing in on no young kids and so if if you got to run we can always do

part two i just uh at the same token i don't want to overextend uh my stay yeah no we can Well, whatever you want to do, if you want to do another, some other time, just to break it up, we can do that as well. I hear my little daughter crying right now in the background. Okay, well, give me, I want to talk about Jason Smith and then the five questions at the end, and then we'll do a part of two, a different day. Fair? Okay, perfect. Okay, perfect. So let's go back to your time in Philly.

You come there, and your first captain is Jason. Smith and the reason I like Jason Smith is I'm an oilish fan and I got to watch that guy go to war every single day. What was he like walking into the dressing room and having that grizzled vet? I have so much respect for that guy. I think he was only there the one year and then I don't think the flyers resigned him. And yeah, so he was our captain and he in the playoffs we went to the conference finals that year. He could hardly skate. He was so banged up. He had a broken index finger. It looked like it was bending the wrong way in three different directions on his one finger. He had like a dislocated shoulder, could hardly lift his one arm up, but played like a beast

during the games. And it was like everything was bothering me. He couldn't hardly skate, couldn't hardly get out of bed, but this guy was a warrior and would do anything to win. And so anyway, playing with him and not, you know, playing against him for so many years and, and just kind of respected the way he plays and then actually playing with him and seeing it firsthand what a guy can do. Just an absolute warrior. One of the biggest warriors that I played with for sure throughout my career. Yeah, the reason I bring him up is as a kid, watching the Amminton Oilers back before the Connor McDavid years and the Taylor Halls and all that, they were a very blue-collar team. And he was the captain, I think, for, I want to say, four or five years. and then he went to Philly for one year and wore the sea for one year and then left.

And so that just to me speaks to his leadership capability to be walking to a new room, never have any ties to that organization and be handed the sea. And then like I say, to just go to war and just do everything. I mean, he was not a pretty player. He wasn't this superstar elite. He was an absolute beast on the ice. Yeah, he was, I guess, an old school defenseman, you know, in somewhat of the new era times, you know, he obviously wasn't playing against Connor McDavid. He would probably roast him and Gator would be the guy to admit that he would just fly by him. But, you know, off a glass and out, taking care of your goaltender, clearing out of the front of that, and did it with a smile because he loved just being a mean S-O-B out there and had a lot of respect for him and how he played the game. had a heck of a career doing it.

So he was, like I said, it was like, you know, watching in practice, you know, during the playoffs and I'm like, why are you even out here? You know, like just save yourself for the game. It was like, you don't need to practice. And he's like, no, no, no. He's like, I got to be out here. Like, and that was just like, wow, this is the guy that, you know, I need to strive to be like, too, to be a warrior like it.

And, you know, when I had the bumps and bruises, I always kind of remember that story about him, how he just did it. every practice every day he was out there. Well, before I let you go, let's do the final segment, the Crude Master Final Five. So a huge shout out to Heath and Tracy McDonald. They've been sponsored to the podcast since the very beginning. So it's just five quick questions, long or short you want to go. What's the best lesson you've learned to this point over your entire NHL career?

I guess don't take any for granted. You know, you just, you know, I was lucky enough to play so long. I played with guys that, you know, had looked like they've had promising careers. And they've been cut short of an injury or concussion, whatever it might be. You know, sometimes it's just not right fit for them. And they get traded and traded. And, you know, next thing you know, they're out of the league. So, you know, one thing I never took for granted in my career.

And, you know, always put in the work and always made sure you don't cut any ridges either, you know, because the hockey world's a small world and, you know, comes full circle. And, you know, when I left Nashville, I'd never thought that I'd be back in Nashville at the end of my career for one last year. And, you know, Mr. Poyle, who know, who would have thought that he still would have been the GM 10 years later and he was. But to have those relationships, you know, I had when I was there, you know, sure paid off, you know, towards the end of my career. Who was a coach in Nashville when you went back? Peter Laviolet.

I had him in Philly and then, you know, he was a big reason why, you know, they, they signed me there for one last season. That must have been a cool send-off to go back to where it all began. Yeah, it was cool. The city changed so much. It's bigger. It's, you know, the hockey talks are bigger. Everything is bigger and better and, you know, the condo buildings and the hotels and it's just

such a destination for people. across the world to come and listen to the best music, country music, and, you know, have a good time, right? It's, uh, but when I played there in 2000 to 2006, it was, it was just a kind of a hidden jam that, you know, you went there, you know, barely ever, right? But now it's just a destination and, and there's just so much good energy in that town. What's one type of music or song that got the boys going before the game, before a game? Oh, boy, that's a tough question. Kind of like different teams are different DJs on each.

You're on the run to the 2010 Stanley Cup finals. What is the jam that gets stuck where everybody's, that's the song? Or that's... I'd have to look at my phone. I have some playlist from kind of that area. So it would be something wrap, I think, for sure. I'm not sure if it was Snoop Dog or Dog. Dr. Jerry or something, but I'll say the rap tunes.

Okay. If you could hop back on a line, what line mates would you take tomorrow? Well, probably my best season, Claudeau and Yarmierre. That's probably no-brainer. They were so much fun to play with the playmaking ability, the unselfishness they had with the puck. I think we all worked together. I was kind of the grit with those guys.

And I think we had a great, I wish Y'Artschardians. would have came back for another year just to see if we could have done it again but uh you know i love playing with them and that's so much fun uh through this i've heard you talk about your father an awful lot if you could walk into a house party and in it is your father but in it is also your father from five years previous his age all the way back to when he's 20 what part of your father would you want to sit down and have a beer with oh gosh um um Probably maybe in his 30s, 40s. So maybe 30 year ago, Bill Hartnell.

Just when he had young kids, like I have young kids now, you know, came from two brothers and a sister just to see how he dealt with it all. Some days are more trying than others. But just to see how he handled it all and see how, you know, I just obviously can't remember when you're young, young, what your father did with you. but, you know, just to see if I'm doing the same things that he did for me because I think I turned out right and, you know, I just want my little man and my little daughter to be the same thing. Final one. If you could bring one guy, you were a guy who was traded a couple times in your career.

If you could have had anyone come with you in a trade, who would you want to admit? Well, I did actually. Nashville to Philadelphia, Kimmel Teemann. Yeah, he's my neighbor across the street. He was the best man in my wedding and just a one heck of a guy, great family and a friend that I'll have forever. There's only a few guys, maybe more than a few guys that you'd consider forever friends, even though I've played with hundreds and hundreds of guys. You know, there's a handful of guys that you keep in touch with, that you talk to,

that you care about, not that you, if you didn't see them, you know, if I didn't see David Legwan, for example, I played within my first six years. If I saw him tomorrow, I'd be like, hey, man, how are you doing? It would be like a long weekend away, right? But there's some guys that you make the effort to keep in touch to see how their families are and make sure you always kind of have that contact. So, Akima would be one of them.

Cool. For sure. I really appreciate you sitting down with me. We're definitely going to have to do part two because there's so much more I want to dig in. But really do appreciate you hopping on with me, Scott. And enjoy parenting. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

Hey folks, thanks again for joining us today. If you just stumble on the show and like what you hear, please click subscribe. Remember, every Monday and Wednesday a new guest will be sitting down to share their story. The Sean Newman podcast is available for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you find your podcast fix. Until next time. Still hanging out there, folks? Still waiting for this guy to come back on and give you another little little. hint at who 100 could possibly be. That's what we're doing here. We're playing a little game. I'm

giving you a clue each episode at the end leading up to the 100th episode, which is July 29th. All you got to do to enter is head to social media, tag the podcast and the hashtag WHO's W-H-OS 100 with your guest for 100. You're just your guest. Guest at the guest. Jeez, that's a mouthful, isn't it? And that gets you one entry into the draw. And what's in the draw you say? Well, a huge shout out to Sandy Beach. They're tossing in a round for four people in two carts, a round of nine out at Sandy Beach Golf Course. And a huge shout out to factory sports. The boys over there dropping off a $200 gift card. So all you got to do to get in on this is head to social media, whether it's Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, it don't matter. Track me down. And put who your guess is.

for the number 100 on there, and you're entered automatically. So here is your hint for this episode on June 29th. He's been in the building when the Stanley Cup has been handed out. There it is. All right. Go out there. Be awesome. We'll catch you Wednesday.