Shaun Newman Podcast - Ep. #143 - Steve MacIntyre

Episode Date: January 11, 2021

Originally from Brock Saskatchewan this larger than life character (6'5  260lbs) made a name for himself throughout the hockey world. Over a 16 year career he played for 17 teams in 9 leagues and made his debut in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers. Now retired we talk his life of being a fire fighter in North Carolina, life lessons & some funny stories from his journey from small town sask kid to NHL pro.  What did you think? text me! 587-217-8500

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I hope the weekend treated you well. First off, in the show notes, I have updated it with my phone number. That way, if you want to get a hold of me, you can just shoot me a text, or maybe you got some thoughts. I just want to chat? It's all good. I was saying to a couple of buddies this weekend, some of my best guests have come off of either your suggestions

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But it helps when you guys have ideas or maybe some good suggestions or people you know that would be great guests. I love to hear. Now, before we get to today's guest, which he surprised the crap out of me, here's this big giant of a man who used to, to tussle in the NHL and just an absolute gentle giant. Before we get there, let's get to today's episode sponsors.

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Giveaway Gartner a call 780808-5025. If you're heading into any of these businesses, make sure you let them know you heard about them on the podcast. I know COVID is making it a little interesting for all of us, but it helps them know you're listening. And if you're interested in advertising on the show, visit shan Newman Podcast. In the top, Sean Newman Podcast.com in the top right corner, hit the contact button and send me your information. We don't have a ton of space left for 2021, but there is a couple spots, and we want you to come be a part of this team. We're having a lot of fun on this side, and we'd love to have you advertise on the show. Now let's get to your T-Barr-1, Tale of the Tape.

Originally from Brock, Saskatchewan, he played in the WHL for the Blades, Rebels, Raiders, and Medicine Hat Tigers. He made his NHL debut at age 28 in the Battle of Alberta. Over his career, he suited up for 91 games for the Oilers, Panthers, and Penguins. He played 16 years pro for 17 different teams and nine different leagues, and at one point moved nine times in three years. He was a career enforcer, a journeyman. I'm talking about Steve McIntyre, Big Mac.

So buckle up. Here we go. This is Steve McIntyre. Welcome to the Sean Newman podcast. Well, welcome to the Sean Newman podcast today. I'm joined by Mr. Steve McIntyre. So first off, thanks for hopping on. Hi, my pleasure.

Sorry I wasn't able to get on last week. Well, that's all right. Like I said to you via text, that's life, man. That's what happens. And we just work around it. So now we get to do it. And we're going to have a little bit of fun. So no, it's all good.

I appreciate it. Now, for oiler fans, because you're, you know, this is oil country. I'm in, they're going to remember you from back in the days of when you got your start. What are you doing now? From what I hear, your firefighter. I'm a full-time firefighter, yep, in Cornersville, North Carolina. In North Carolina. How's that?

How is things there? It's funny you say that. Today's a little bit different. It's a little eerie with everything going on, you know, President Trump and the presidency. It's kind of, we're a little bit glued to the TV because we kind of want to know what's going on. But at the same time, we're trying to, like today I've been going through papers and files and, you know, try to go through different things that I've kind of neglected over the course of the last few years. So it's kind of my day to go through that.

But today, like I said, it's a great job. I enjoy it. Obviously, you hang out with your buddies. It's a lot similar to the dressing room. You know, we crack up and, you know, bust jokes and do a lot of dumb crap that, you know, we used to do the dressing room all the time. So like I said, it's a lot of fun. I enjoy it. A group of guys stuck in a room together.

No, that can be any fun. No, that wouldn't be fun at all. Yeah, I mean, I get stuck with these two idiots. Like, I'll show you. I'll give you the tour. Yeah, do it. Let's do it. Yeah, so these are two idiots that I get to hang out with.

We're making supper right now. So, yeah, we're here. Seriously. So we got the Mexican going, and I'd like to say that's my guacamole dip and it's it's unreal and here's my mess you know i've got the halapinos and onions and you know the cheese the case or whatever you call mexican cheese and we get some rice going on here and some we're making carnitas i mean yeah yeah that's it's unreal but yeah i get stuck with these two idiots especially this guy he's my uh young protege that's my captain so

It's, like I said, this is a life of a, you know, firefighter. We're literally in an old house that has a, I mean, it's, obviously we have the regular fire stations that everybody sees, you know, the big shiny buildings of the big fire trucks. Our fire station is literally an old house that has been converted into a fire station. And, I mean, it's, it's awesome. I love it. We don't get a lot of calls, but, like I said, I'm just giving you. the tour uh you know we got our rooms of different things and obviously i'll show you what i'm driving today i'm pretty proud of the old girl she's at 2006 appears there she be

well that that'd be your fate oh there she is there she is i suggest for all the listeners they hop on youtube so they can see what the heck you're talking about oh i'm on youtube this is awesome like i'm kind of you know i'm giving you the grand tour of everything. So this is, I'm driving this old girl today. Yeah. So it's just kind of the, like I said, the icebreaker. There she is, the old Pierce. That's badass. She's the oldest battleship out there on the front line right now. Steve McIntyre, screw hockey. Let's talk, let's talk fighting fires. How long, how long you've been, how long you've been doing this for? Four years in August. Four years in August.

Yeah, so, yeah, it's been fun. I actually, I mean, what better job to do other than to get to hang out with your buddies, you know, 24 hours a day. Yeah, absolutely. I've had, you're the second firefighter that I can think of that's come on. Well, another guy in Calgary, former hockey player, and he says the exact same thing, right? and he's gone and played in the world what is it the world championships it's it's like firefighter olympics almost oh yeah yeah yeah so i i i get it there's a there's a lot of camaraderie there i mean you're on a team all pulling the same way so that's super that's super cool

now if we're not we put our like i said we put boots and asses too if you know somebody's not pulling away we'll jump on them pretty quick so I'm not afraid to call a guy out. I feel like I'm living under a rock here in small town, Alberta. What's going on with Trump today? Well, like I said, the whole deal with the, well, with the, how can I be, you know what? I'm going to screw being politically correct. I'm, you know, it's, you know, obviously with what's going on down here with the Biden and Trump.

obviously, you know, the election and how, you know, people, I have a hard time. And I'm not, like I said, my take on it is, you know, we're supposed to be Canada, the U.S., North America as a whole, it's supposed to be the, I'm not going to word this right way, the ship, like everybody, the, we're supposed to be, you know, talking about democracy, talking about different things like that. Like we're supposed to be, you know, the shining light, the guiding, the guiding way of the way to do things.

With the corruption that's going on, I mean, I'm not going to get into politics, but either side, you know, and even back home, the corruption that is there and that nobody is taking, for me, I feel like in a lot of America, well, I'm not American, I'm Canadian living down here, but at the same time,

there's not a lot of, checks and balances and I think people are getting fed up with it and obviously today they stormed Capitol Hill and yeah it's it's pretty Western up there right now so it'll come growing up Western Canada you go back through history and you can see how some people that were you know they kind of thumbed their nose and said screw you guys Western Canada you know you guys are nothing and but yet you know like said You don't have, you can't thank a farmer and a rancher. You don't get, if you don't think a farmer and rancher three times the day, you know,

you got something to, you know, you're just, you're not seeing the right picture. But. Well, you come from small town Saskatchewan. I come from small town Saskatchewan. Uh, grew up on a farm. You grew up on a farm. Farmers are the best. And, uh, I know exactly what you're talking about.

Yeah. And that's, and like I said, I'm proud to be, I'm proud of where I was raised. I'm proud of my heritage, you know, growing up farming and ranching. That was what I knew. And I was very thankful. You know, we every day before supper, before dinner, whatever, you know, we'd say the blessing and thank the good Lord above for giving us what we have to eat. And in reality, I think a lot of people don't understand where, how much of a factor that

those, you know, the farmers and ranchers and people that maybe not necessarily have the voice that the majority of people that live in the cities, like they just, it's a different way of thinking. And, you know, I'm not trying to get into politics. No, no, it's all good. But I mean, I just, I've always had that mentality. And I mean, you know, even playing hockey,

I've always had that mentality of, of, you know, even the job that I did that I was always trying to watch out for, for somebody that was smaller or somebody that was just, you know, and that was just me. And even right now, it's like, I feel for farmers and ranchers. across rural America, across rural Canada, and it's just like, you know, nobody's really hearing them. And right now I think it's come to a head where, hey, you know what, we are here to be heard.

Like, you look at all the people that are on Capitol Hill right now. They're all, you know, kind of that blue collar type bunch. So because they get it. And they're not the crazy, you know, they're not out there starting fights. They're not, you know, but they're standing up for what they believe in. And that's something that, you know, more people have to do. And I think a lot of people are scared to do because of the repercussions. And, you know, like we can go on and on and on talking about, you know, this or that.

But that's just my, you know, my take on it. But anyway. Hey, I tell you what, Steve, don't, I know everybody's nervous to talk about anything because it's like, well, I got to be like politically correct or whatever. I could safely say to you here, you're talking to rural communities and everybody's going to be going ra-rah with you. I had Theo Fleury on and he was all over the liberals and my area. I'm a balanced guy. I hear exactly what you're saying. I see, I feel, I try to see both sides. And that's the thing about it, Sean, it's like, you know, the right, far right is wrong. And far left is wrong.

But it's like, you know, people don't understand, okay, there is some middle ground. But the way you look at the whole new world order, you know, you go back to wrestling days. And you think, you see the NWO. And it's like new world or, but now you look at it now. And it's like, you know, everybody wants to go under this, you know, it's kind of, it's a little bit scary, you know, to think about. And, you know, like I'm not like this stupid mask thing. Like, you know what? Yes, Corona is a real thing.

Yes, you know, it affects people different. Am I still there? Yeah. It affects people different. You know, I do it out of respect for the elderly or for, you know, I try to be respectful. Do I agree with it? No, I think it's a, and even talking to my mom and dad, like, you know, my dad had some medical issues. and, you know, fortunately, you know, he's overcome that.

But, I mean, his immune system's down. So, you know, I can understand. But at the same time, people are, there's so much, there's so much fear that has been instilled by certain, you know, government and media or, you know, I mean, the list goes on that people are living in fear of, you know, this big scary. And I mean, like I said, I'm not, I'm not taken away from what it is because it is real. And it does affect people. Like we've got one guy, you know, we've had several actually in the fire station. You know, not this particular one, but in our, in our department that have had the corona. You know, I've got one of my good friends. She's a medic, you know, for side of Canada. She, she had it. And I mean, I was following her like on Instagram.

I was like, hey, you know, how can I, you know, if you need anything, how can I help? What can I do? Because, I mean, it was bad. it was really, really bad. And so I understand that. But at the same time, you know, it's like walking down the street. All right. You know, you're going to walk down the street and, you might get hit by a car or you might get hit by a truck, but are you going to be cooped up in your house living in fear all

your life? Like, that's the way I think of it. And I mean, it's simplistic and it's, you know, maybe archaic and cave vanish. I don't know. It's just me. I'm not going to have, you know, I'm not going to live my life in fear. and it's unfortunate that some people think that way and and uh you know do the masks work the n95 do but you know these things and and this you know the the the like you need a bridge

but anyway that's my uh my take on thing but i think it's i think it's a good take uh i think it's a good take. I would say I agree with everything you just said. Listen, the flu kills a lot of people. We just never. The funny thing about it is, let me tell you this. Ever since this Corona thing, have we had any flu cases? No, that's kind of weird, isn't it? I was going to say is the flu kills a lot of people every single year. And listen, I'm a guy that when March and April, I would say, I was like, stay the hell away from me. Let's just lock up and get through this thing. But the longer goes and the more hypocrisy you see and the more things going on and you're like, some of this just doesn't make any sense.

It's like it goes back to what you said. Well, I drive every day and you know where I live and the roads I drive on in the seasons of the year that we have here. Man, the statistics, we don't look at that because if you did, you probably wouldn't be doing it. You'd be stayed at home. That's right. But that's, you know, we have to do that to,

like, you know, the other day I was asking my engineer, I said, hey, I said, is it a truck, is it pretty top heavier? How's it handling the ice and snow? Because they were calling for ice and snow. And me being, you know, Saskatch and Parvite I am, I'm thinking parking lot, you know, let's go test this bad boy out. Let's get her, you know, can you imagine me, you know, the town manager driving down the road in his, you know, his car and seeing us idiots out in the parking lot, spinning donuts and the bar truck. I mean, not saying that couldn't happen, but, you know, I mean, you'd probably get a million hits on the YouTube. Yeah, I did fired over that one. I definitely got called him the chiefs off for that one. He'd probably be laughing, but at the same time, he'd be like, yeah, I mean, like, we're like, well, we're just, you know, it's just driver training.

We were learning how, I mean, just like growing up as kids, you know, dad took us out on the slew and taught us how to drive. You know, our tractor feeding cows, you ever done? How about this one? You ever done donuts? tractor feeding cows? Well, I mean, those are things you do on the farm. That's how you learn how to, you know, drive it. It's just figuring it out. What was the first, what was the first vehicle you learned to drive on the farm as a kid? Well, 12 years old, I had a, my dad had a,

well, actually, the very first time I ever drove, we had an old Dutes, 130, old co-op implements tractor. And it was a stacker tractor. And, of course, we had to stack all. And, of course, we had to stack all the idiot cubes. I've, ugh. And the funny thing about it was, like square veils, my dad used to tell me stories about,

oh, well, you don't have it that bad. I used to, you know, stack square bales till blah, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, well, okay. But I mean, literally, we didn't have a round bailer until I was probably,

oh, probably 14, somewhere in there, 14, 15. So we were stacking, you know, we were feeding 100 cows plus, plus, you know, all our horses. We had a bunch of brood mirrors and different things.

So, I mean, you can imagine the feed we put up. And dad, I mean, we had a stack yard. And I mean, we spilled at about half full, usually, you know, and then filled the rest full of, you know, roundbills and neighbors. You know, we'd get guys come in and roundbill some stuff. But, but I drove this old duc tractor and it had a real bad clutch. I mean, you had to feather it. And if you didn't feather it, I mean, your head was bouncing off the back window.

So, of course, I thought I was pretty cool. my grandpa or my dad was teaching me how to drive this tractor and it's you know it's got a high low and then it's got a you know your gear shifts so it's got it's got two it's got two gears shifts i mean no big deal right so how was the first one i drove and i mean i'm like i said even to this day you still got to be it still runs and it's still the tractor tractor but uh it's it's you've got to learn you've got to have you have got to have your mind right when you're driving that track It ever bug you that kids probably won't, well, I shouldn't say that farm kids will probably learn that. But even now when you go to buy a vehicle, you know, we always, I feel like my parents always impressed upon us to get a standard, right?

You got to learn it. You got to learn how to shift. You got to learn that. The funny thing about it is, y'all, like back home we grew up saying standard, like standard automatic transmission standards. Down here, they call it a straight drive. Straight driving. It's weird. Yeah, straight driving.

man you all got straight driving that trip oh yeah no okay you know just just different terminology you do a pretty good accent i got i gotta i gotta say i'm gonna tell you this story so today and this is totally off topic and i mean i'm terrible for rabbit trail and i think it's one too many waltz upside the head but literally so today

i forget we're we were talking about sled so down here they call a took a toboggan and I'm like a toboggan is something you get on and ride down the hill right so anyway we got talking about uh you know I suppose to snow on Friday while everybody you know we're going to go sledding down the hill on on Friday and I'm saying okay you know and I got talking about you know back in the day we used to get on the skadoo and and it didn't I mean when I grew up it didn't matter if you had arctic cat blare you know whatever everything was a skadoo right We had a promenere, that is correct.

Whatever, it was John, whatever. So me, I'm like, yeah, you know, I said back home, you know, we used to pull a couple twos behind the, uh, the, uh, the scadoo and my old captain, he's like, whoa, whoa, stop right there. He's like, what's the scadoo? I said, well, scoooos like a sled, you know, and he's then, of course, he's like, when you were riding on the toboggan, did you have your toke and your skadoo suit on? And I mean, it was just kind of like just the terminology.

So I have a toke, my, I have my toke, my, I have my toke, my skadoos suit with my mucklucks on, riding the tobogging. And they're like, their mind is just blown, right? Have you, have you hit them, have you hit them with bunny hug yet? Oh, absolutely. But I think that's just, it's just a Saskatchewan thing. It's a small part of Saskatchewan, I think. Yeah, I guess.

I don't even, I got to be honest, I don't even fully understand it. I'm defensive of the word. Like, I will defend that word to the cows come home. But at the end of the day, I don't know where it came from. I really, I have no idea. But I mean, growing up, it was a bunny hug. I don't know if it's West Central Saskatch one. Like, well, I mean, you're kind of on the tip of that too.

But it's just, I don't know. I mean, it was always a bunny hug. Like, up until I started coming down here, it was a hoodie. And I was like, well, you know, What's a hootty? Oh, that's a debaugged, or not a tobogging. A bunny hug. And they're like, oh, my God, where did you come from? And the, but anyway. For another Saskatchewan terminology that no kid probably will ever, ever know anymore, did you play Tom Thumb? No, I ever did. Never played Tom Thumb? That was, well, I don't know, initiation. What do they call first year of hockey now? Participation ribbons.

Oh, yeah, that's pretty much right. Speaking of getting some awards, did you watch Canada last night? No, I never did. We don't get it down here. No, what happened? I haven't even heard. Like, we get zero hockey, and I'll be honest with you. I've just kind of just taken myself.

Let me rephrase this, okay? The whole, I just got a sour taste in my mouth for sports in general. Really? Play the damn sport. shut your mouth and leave the politics and all the crap outside. That's my take on it, period. End of story. But anyway, I still root from my country, but I hate to say, I missed a game last night.

I tell you what, I might argue with a little bit on that. Yeah, that's fair. But as time goes on, I just want sports back, man. Like, I just want them to come back and play. Like, I can't take any more political talk. Like, it's just rammed down our throat. Just play some hockey. Let's have some fun.

Yeah. I mean, literally, like, you know, we really want to come down to it. It's just like, you know, I grew up playing a sport I loved hockey. And, you know, unfortunately that purity got taken out of the game for me. Like, you know, in a sense that. So I kind of got, yeah, not. not necessarily a bitter taste, but it just was like, you know, but now I kind of stepped away from it for a while.

And I just, and I mean, like I said, hockey's giving me an opportunity to see my biggest take from hockey, honestly, is I got to achieve my dream of playing the NHL. And then obviously playing with the team I grew up cheering for. I mean, that's any little boy's dream. Meeting all those guys that, you know, I watched growing up, that was a huge thing. Like I met everybody. actually I didn't make grass but you know Mark Messier sitting there talking to me like for shoot 15 minutes I'm like this guy he comes up to me and he's like hey Mac how's it going

and I'm like are you talking to you know like I mean it was just me me and marty McSorley you know I mean I mean he'd see me and I mean of course I'd see him and I mean we just rush out you know just I mean he's like talking to you know you're best best buddy in the world. I don't sit there and talk hockey or talk farming or whatever. I mean, he's just a cool guy. Talks and, you know, really, really friendly. Mom and Dad got to meet him and just thought the world of him. You know, all those guys growing up, you get to watch them. So, I mean, that was my, that was my, and then obviously going to Pittsburgh and Florida, like Pittsburgh, and Mary Lou Amie talking to him, you know, I mean, that was one of the coolest things I ever

experienced my life is talking to this, like, I was like a little kid. I mean, not that of Starstruck, but it was like, Mary L. U.S. taking the time to talk to me. I'm just a peon that he pays for, you know. But it was cool like that. But like I said, my biggest date from hockey is, is I never, I don't think I ever changed who it was. Like, you know, when you talk about small town, you know, small town,

you know, you go back to your small town and it's still Steve McIntyre. And they'll, you know, it don't, people still bust you down to size. You know, you're still that little runt that, you know what I mean? And for me, that was my biggest take is I got to meet all these people and walk into different places and, and, you know, genuinely be excited to meet somebody or to talk to them or, you know, that's me. Like, I, I enjoy talking to people. I enjoy, you know, visiting. You know, a lot of my dad, like, growing up, you know, we go to church and my mom, you know, after church service, my mom would be like, can you please go get your dad? I mean, he'd be in there talking stories for, you know, half an hour for you, we're ready to go for lunch or, you know, ready to go back the farm, whatever, dad, I got to literally drag him out because he's, you know, so I mean, and that's the other thing, too, is, is not only did I get to experience it a dream, but I have my friends and my family, you know, I got to, they got to experience it. And that was, that was probably the coolest thing, you know, yeah, the hockey, you know, that's, that's great, whatever. But the experience of, of, of, of, of,

you know, obviously when you play in Emmington or any Canadian city, I mean, you're held to a, you're held on a pedestal. And for me, uh, you know, wherever I went, it was always like, uh, I was, I was so proud to wear that. Oh, there's Jersey. Like, you know, it was just, and I mean, yeah, we didn't, we sucked, you know, at that time, you know, it was a growing pain, whatever you want to call it. Uh, but, you know, to, to, I shouldn't say it sucked. We, we, we, we, It just didn't work. Dave, I'm a fan. You were in a rough spot of the Oilers.

It's all right. It still doesn't take away from the fact. What's cool about what you say is, you know, I've had a lot of guys come on here, and some of them still remember what you talk about. Others are like, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I met, you know, whoever. It doesn't matter.

And they're like, yeah, it's no big deal. What's cool about what you're talking about is, it is a big deal, right? Like, it's cool. To wear an oilers jersey should be a big, freaking deal. And that's the thing that I, every day that I got to go out and represent the Oilers was like, you know, I thought, man, this is the greatest thing in the world. Like, I'll never forget. The very first time I ever put, so I got put on waivers by Florida. I haven't been picked me up.

And we ended up in playing in Calgary. Of course, I mean, my eyeballs are like the Battle of Alberta. Like, this is going to be a blood bath. Somebody's going to die. Like, you know, I remember the old days where, it was like, you know, I don't know if you want, I mean, remember, like, back in the day, it was like in the playoffs. It was Winnipeg, Evanton, Everton, Calgary, you know, and it was just a freaking war. And I mean, I was a huge oiler fan. And my dad and my uncles, they were always, like, cheering against for Calgary, which, I mean, and then Winnipeg.

My one uncle, he was like, oh, yeah, the Jats are going to beat up on the others. And I would get so mad. I would just be like, I never took hockey so seriously, so seriously. in my entire life as those playoff series between the flames or with the jets and uh i mean even to this day i'm still getting fired up about it the audacity that they had to to go against my oilers like i just you know and it was they do that and of course you know now that i'm older i can i can understand where they're coming from because they're just sitting there just kind of you know stirring the pot just stirring the pot and i get so worked up about but i mean the first game i got to

play against Evan or the oilers or the oilers against the flames. Well, I'm putting this jersey on and I think I was like one of the last guys to leave the dressing room. I mean, I'm just like, I'm putting it over my chest and I think it was right before we went for a warm up or something like that. And Ethan Morrow was sitting in the, you know, a couple down, a couple of stalls down for me. And I had a kind of tear rolling down my eye. I was like, you know, I said, I'd have never thought that I'd ever be, you know, doing what

I'm doing right now. Like it just never occurred to me. And I don't mean that I maybe necessarily didn't have what it took, but the opportunity to live a little boy's dream like I got to. Like that was my dream is to play. Not only, and I mean, I was just, you know, we were still in training camp. It was just an exhibition. But it was, it wasn't just an exhibition. Like a lot of guys, oh, it's just exhibition. It's just exhibition. It's like even if it's exhibition, like you still, you know, get to put the jersey on and experience the fans and, you know, the, the electricity and, you know, and then obviously go out there and, you know, cause a little bit of a, you know, be a little thorn in somebody's side or stick up for your teammates. Obviously, you know, that's good too. But, you know,

to get your name on the goal sheet or whatever, that was. always, you know, my goal, but, but, but I mean, it was just, it was a dream come true. And then, you know, to, to be able to be a part of, for Eminton to accept me as a part of their community, you know, that was obviously huge. Like, even in this day, like, you know, people come up to me. Like, I was in Eminton last Christmas, a year ago. And people, you know, they just, I haven't been home to Eminton. And I mean, I call Emmington home because I, you know, I loved Edmonton. And people still, oh, hey, Mac, how's it going?

I mean, they just, they just, you know, they just were so welcoming. And, you know, we'd walk into different dealerships. Like I got to be really good friends with Jay at Cycleworks. And they were so good to me and my family. the way they treated us and Mike Barber there. He was at Teen Ford. I'm not sure who he's with now, but I walked into his office. And I didn't know the man from a hole in the ground.

And I bought a truck the summer before. And this is like I said, a story. But I mean, just, you know, kind of plugging the characters all together. I walked into the office and I said, you know, I'd like to talk to the general manager. So they escorted me over to Mike. And I introduced myself and we exchanged pleasantries. and I said, Mr. Barber, I said, you know, I want to drive a Ford truck. I said, I want to represent Team Ford or, you know, I want to drive a Ford truck.

And I mean, and I told him, I said, I'm all my already driving a Ford truck. I said, but I want to get in on this deal that, you know, the rest of these boys got, this is a pretty slick deal to get to drive demo trucks and beautiful, you know, come in and do all this stuff. I said, I want to be a part of that. I really, I'd like to do that. And of course, you know, I'm sure you probably know how it all works with agents and players and, you know, different deals. And I don't even, I didn't know, I didn't know how it all worked. I just went in there and introduced myself and not, I didn't put my hat in my hand, but I said, you know what? I would like to, to figure out how to do.

What do I got to do? You know, and he looked at me and, he just, he was kind of surprised. I think that, you know, that I was, maybe the way I was, maybe I was so forthcoming. But at the same time, I think he took it as like, man, this guy's a pretty real guy and just like the rest of us, which I am. And, you know, he really, and I mean, I struck up that relationship with him. And like I said, Jay at CycleWorks. And man, it was, it was so good after that. You know, he calls me. He said, you know what, Steve, we don't have anything right now. He said, but I really appreciate it. I'll never forget this conversation.

He really, like he told me. He said, I really appreciate you coming in and introducing yourself and being bold and coming in and saying, hey, you know, I want to represent a brand. And so he said, he told me, he said, right now we don't have anything. He said, but if we get anything, you know, we'll let you know. And I told him, I was like, I'll drive a Ford for Steve. I don't care. I mean, I don't care. So anyway, he called me about a week later.

He asked me, say, hey, Mack, what are you doing? I said, well, actually, as a matter of fact, my buddy, Ryan, uh, Kohler, we're actually move something right now. I think it was me, Ryan and Louis de Brusk. And, uh, and there's another, like, there's two other guys that are just phenomenal people like Ryan Kohler and Louis DeBrasst, two of my very good best friends. And, uh, you know, when I was in Emmington there. And, uh, he calls me up and said, hey, you know, we got a, we got something for you.

Come by. He said, but you got to make me one promise. He said, you can't go moose hunting. take it moves hunting with you. I was like, that's a deal. I could do that. So anyway, I go in there the next day or whatever after practice, and he takes me down the lock. He said, well, what do you want to drive? And I said, I don't care. I said, I'll drive whatever you want me to drive. I mean, I don't care. And I said, man, that's a sharp looking red truck. He had a red F-150 or whatever. It was lifted and had nice wheels. I mean, it was sharp. I said, man, that's a beautiful truck. I said, that's, and I mean, you know, not thinking much up. He said, you want to drive that one? I was like,

he's like, you know what? He said, that'll actually work out good. He said, that's my sales manager's truck. He just built it. He's getting out of it. He wants to build another. So anyway, I ended up getting a truck out of the deal to drive. And I mean, it was just the most, but I mean, you know, going back to my upbringing,

that's how I was, you know, raised is, you know, you always treat people with respect. And you always make sure that you go the extra mile and do, you know, treat people how you want to be treated. And like I said, you know, Edmonton especially, you know, and not saying just Edmonton, but all the cities. But I mean, obviously, Evanton is the closest to my heart because, like I said, I can go down the street and talk to somebody and, you know, we'll strike up a conversation

with, you know, about whatever. But, well, like I said, that was, that was some of the cool things that I got to do and, and be a part of in the community of Evanton. And like I said, when I met Jay at Cycle Works there, man, I went in there and obviously my dad you know there's like I said you know what it's like growing up of the farm there's always there's ever any extra money around there's always it'll get spent somewhere and it might not be you know maybe allocated over here for something and then it's like oh crap you know

we broke something we got to take that and move it over here well that's kind of how it was with dad mom and like I said not saying that we ever did without by any means because we never did they always found away and but dad you know he never really ever he always wanted he was looking that four-wheeler for like, I don't know, a year, two years or whatever. And he's just, you know, my dad and I are a lot of like, you know, we kind of sit there and hum and haul and, you know, he wasn't sure what he wanted. And then when he figured out what he wanted, it was like, gosh, dang, you know, I got this, this and this to pay off.

And, you know, just like I said, normal everyday farmer rancher stuff that just comes ahead of stuff. So anyway, I walked in a J. I got my first paycheck from the NHL or from the others and I just about fell over. but one of the very first checks I got. I said, you know, I said, Dad, and this is when I was younger, I'm going to preface this with this. When I told my dad when I was younger, I said,

Dad, if I ever make the NHL, I'm going to buy you brand new John to your tractor, front wheel assist, grapple forks, you know, and I know you know what I'm talking about. And if anybody doesn't know what, I mean, we're talking a lot of money, right? And I have no idea how much this stuff costs when I'm not eggs, but I'm talking a big story because, you know, We were doing stuff with the old case and not taking away from the old case. But, you know, anyway.

So, you know, I'm thinking, you know, I got to do something for dad. Like to eat, you know, mom and dad drove it up me up. And, I mean, I'll never ever be able to repay them by any means. But I walked into Jay's deal. I said, Jay, this is what I want. Fix me up. And that was probably. that was the coolest thing.

And like I said, I'm not bragging by any means. But I got to get my dad a mom and dad a four-wheeler for Christmas. And, you know, it was, and of course I made sure that it had the biggest mud tires. And, you know, way overkill at the time. But, you know, had all the bells and whistles. And it was a, I think it was like a Browning Hunter edition or something like that. Yeah, it's something my either. but

but I mean you know hand warmers you know everything on it I thought I told you I was like Jay I said I want everything on it

don't you know and he showed me this package I said that's perfect put these tires on it you know that'd be great well anyway that struck up that that relationship

and Jay and the guys of cycle were so good to me I mean they after I introduced them to my dad and, you know, he came in and I forget what, you know, but I always, but they, they said, Steve, you know what, whatever, if you ever need something, if you want a machine or whatever, just let's know.

And I mean, I'm kind of like, you know, whatever. Well, I'm telling you, they delivered a four-wheeler to my house and they're like, hey, you know, take it, use it, you know, don't abuse it, don't kill it, whatever. But you need it, there you go. I'm like, and of course, I'm just beside. myself because I think this is the greatest thing in the world. And then, of course, we had a big snow and they're like, hey, you want to sled? And I'm like, you know what?

The kids have never been sled. So I was like, they're skidooing. So, of course, I get a big sled. I mean, trailer. I mean, they were so good to me. The trailer, trailer, trailer, sled, four-wheeler. I mean, honestly and truly, I'll never forget that ever. As long as I live, the generosity of the, you know, people like, like Jay and the guys at

Sakeworks and the guys of Team Ford when I was at them, you know, a lot i'll never forget that and you know it's just and then to be able to bring my family and my friends and experience all the things that like that and then you know and that's just that's away from hockey but to experience uh you know the things i got to experience with hockey heck when we at rexall or north alliance whatever you want to call it my dad he'd come down with me and and uh you know if he was in town i'd bring him with me and he knew every security guard's name or pardon me, the security guards names knew who Steve's dad was. And it was always Mr. McIntyre.

My dad's like, whoa, whoa, it's Ross. I'm not, I'm not Mr. McIntyre. I'm, it's Ross. But I mean, Dad, I mean, pretty near, it was kind of funny because dad knew the head security, and I made sure everybody knew who he was. I introduced him to everybody. But every time we went down there, everybody said, I said hello to everybody. My dad is the same way.

And literally, we got the, the, like, dad, pretty. much had the run of the building. And I mean, what dad can say that? Like, especially, you know, I mean, it was just kind of one of them things. And I mean, he'll tell you stories like when I'm playing, you know, I forget there was one new security guard that didn't know who he was or something like that. Oh, no, no, that's Mr. Rector. And, you know, this is the head guy saying, while this security guy was going to, you know, grab him whatever. And the head guy was Mike, you know, he's like, oh, no, that's Mr. Rattattair. I mean, it was just, and of course, dad, he's just giggling because he's just going where he's, you know, he's always gone, right?

But, or he's in there breaking up, you know, I'm going to brag on my dad a little bit. My poor mom, God bless her. She, so I've been on, I think, two or three father's trips, and my mom, she'd get so ill. She'd be like, gosh, you know, and I mean, she never cussed by any means.

So I'll rephrase that. But she's like, she'd get so bad out of shape because dad always got to go on these trips and she had to stay home feed cows and she's like well i can't believe this is crap la la la well anyway my dad like I said my dad and I are my dad's small town country boy and uh we were down we were with Pittsburgh and we flew down we were in Dallas that think, or not Dallas. We made the West Coast Wing, I think, I was the first or second. That might have been the second trip. I think actually that was the second trip.

The first trip was Oilers when we were out west and I'm, which is another story. Anyway, we're down in Florida. My dad, well, there's two stories now that I think of it. I need to actually write all these down. We're at, I'll preface this with this, okay? I was in Florida with the Panthers. I met Bobby Orr.

Bobby Orr was Nathan Horton's agent. I walked in the trainer room, Bobby Orr sitting on the couch, and I mean, I do a double take. I'm like, oh, my gosh. And I walked out, I was like, Frowsy's, that's Bobby Orr. He's like, yeah. I was like, that's so cool. Of course, you know, whatever. Well, I had known Bobby for, you know, a couple years and whatever.

And I mean, you know, we always, he always sit high and we always exchanged supplies and and whatever. Well, I got it. my dad a signed stick. I said, you know, Mr. Orr, would you sign this for my dad? He just, you know, that, you're his idol ever since you, my dad was a Bruins fan. So anyway, he's absolutely no problem. So I stand up, give it to him, send him a stick, whatever.

Anyway, fast forward a couple years later, I'm with Pittsburgh. We do the father strip. I ended up not playing. I dressed, you know, took the warm up, going out there, stretched, you know, snipe a couple genoles and warm up. and had the sweet flow, I think, going to. And, you know, how workout came up to the box where the dad's work. Well, I want to say Eddie Johnson was there.

There's a couple other guys. And then Bobby Orr was there. Well, I'd seen, as soon as I walked to the door, Bobby's there. So I go over, you know, he's talking, whatever. I said, hey, Bobby, how's it going? They said, hey, Steve. I said, and of course, my dad's sitting over in the corner. he's sitting here drinking his sprite like that's bobby orr and of course my dad doesn't get starstruck right

never ever i mean he'll talk to anybody well my dad's over there drinking his sprite or seven up or whatever and he's sitting there drinking and and of course i'm talking about yore and i go over dad i said hey dad you know what he's thinking he's like oh you know this pretty cool and uh i was like i said uh um you know how would you like to meet bobby war and he's like he just was like You know, you can tell he kind of got a little bit nervous, right? Like I said, my dad doesn't get nervous. I mean, he's got, he's like a duck, you know, calling surfs and paddle like hell in the water.

So I could tell this. So I introduced them. And, of course, my dad, you know, he's talking to Bobby. And he's just, you know, I just kind of backed off and just kind of, you know, went and did my thing and just kind of, I think I took a picture and sent it to my mom or whatever. Anyway, they talked for 15, 20 minutes or whatever. And I said, what did you think? oh, and real nice guy, you know.

I said, you know, he's, you know, anyway, Bobby comes over. This is a kind of cool guy. Like, you hear stories about people. But, I mean, he was such, he was so genuine with me and my dad. He comes over to me and he says, hey, Steve, what's your address? You know, what's your dad's address? I said, well, you know, I gave him the address back home.

He said, let me get you something. About a week or two later, there's a post or a picture to Ross, your friend, Bobby, when he's flying through the air. And, I mean, you know, something like that means meant so much to my dad. Like he, of course, he calls me up right away. And he's like, oh, guess what? Guess what I just got. Anyway.

So now, fast forward to after the game, I think it was either after the game or the next day we had a day off in between. I think we were playing. We were in Florida or we were at Tampa. I couldn't remember. I think we ended up Tampa the next day we had a day. off. We practiced. We skated. We had a dinner on a boat, you know, tour the harbor, whatever. Well, we went to the blue martini. Now, it's freezing cold back home in Canada while my mom's

feeding cows, bless her heart. I can't leave her out. She's a trooper. I love her to death. You know, she's my best friend in the world. But she's bent, her nose is bent out of shape because we're down in Florida, you know, and she's at home in the cold. What's wrong with this picture? right and she's cussing the penguins or the oilers or whoever you know at the time you know because dad just to go on these trips this is a dad's trip but anyway i think there might have been a mom's trip after that because i think some of the moms they got pissed off and voiced their opinions but anyway that's for another story i didn't stick along or didn't stick around long enough to go on the mom's trip sorry mom but anyway so anyway uh we get in there and of course you know we've got some high profile players with Pittsburgh. And, you know, it's just different. You handle them different. And they're just, not handle them different, but I mean, it's just you have to, I mean, I was very watchful. You know, I always made sure that I was not on guard, but I was always watching people. Because I didn't trust anybody. But anyway, and I get it. And the funny thing is you'll,

you'll get where I'm going here in a minute. Well, anyway, we go to this, I think it was called a blue martini or whatever in Tampa. And they escorted this out. to this outside. I kind of had it roped off or whatever, and it was kind of like a keyhole the way it was, you know, and the, like Sid and the guys, his dad and Gino and, you know, his kind of whatever people. And then, you know, all the dads were there and the players, whatever.

Me and my dad were at the front. And, you know, which is fine, whatever. And, of course, the whole time we're, you know, crowding, having fun and just telling stories and BS and just people watching. I'm a big people watcher. me and my dad big people watchers and uh so anyway i said dad you know just kind of keep on out of things i'm going to go to the bathroom unbeknownst to me a comeback dad's got this guy and this girl and the bouncers and i'm like what's going on he's got this guy by the scruff of

the like got him by the scruff of the collar up against the guy or the door and he looks at the bouncer he looks at he looks at the bouncer he's like these guys got to get these guys got to leave now. And of course, I looked at bouncing, like, you better get your asses out of here. I said, because it's not good. When dad gets wound up, it ain't good. I don't care who it is. Because then I get torqued up and we'll clear this place out. And anyway, so of course, after this happens, I mean, you know, I was, man, I had my chest puffed out, like

my dad. I mean, and of course, what happened was these guys were being idiots and kind of causing a scene and, you know, doing some stuff this year and probably been doing. And dad just pretty much straighten them out, quick, fast, and in a hurry. I mean, cowboy style. And, you know, of course, it was just kind of one of them deals where, you know, you can appreciate your roots that much more. And you can kind of understand, you know, why you're wired the way you are, I guess.

And like I said, when I see my dad do that, I'm like, all right, I kind of like this, now. I mean, you know, if it goes south, we're going to be okay, guys. but anyway, Neil's to say, mom, dad got home, we told her stories

and mom didn't think they were that funny. She's like, I'm out here feeding cows and 40 balloons. You guys are jack, you know, jack lagging around down to Florida. Yes,

mom, pretty much. Yes. But I think he got her, like, I think he got her something nice, you know,

a purse or, awl. So this is a funny story. And then I'll quit telling stories. But another father's trip, I think this was Abington. So we're in Evanton. We're on the Fawd strip.

We're in Anaheim. So we're in Anaheim. We're in Orange County. You know, the big fancy, smancy hotels and malls. And, I mean, walk into this place.

And I mean, it's just everything you can think of, right? So, dad, so my mom's favorite color is green. So she's always got a green purse or, you know, whatever.

She's always got something green on. So anyway, dad's like, you know what, Steve? We need to go find mom a purse or something. I'm thinking, okay, sure. I mean, they got the Louis Vuitton, the Gucci, the Prada, the, you know, the name goes, you know, the Tiffany company, the hell I don't even know.

But anyway, we got walk into the store while we're walking by it. And dad looks and there's this green alligator purse. Alligator. You know, no big deal. Whatever. That's idiots. We got our cowboy boots and wranglers on. We walk in this place.

You don't really think much of it. and so I get to looking at it and the ladies like would you guys excuse me would you do you guys need a gentleman need any help and we're like yeah you know we're thinking about buying a purse from my my mom or my wife and and I'm just kind of sitting there giggling and there's you know I'm not I'm thinking why doesn't this purse have a price tag on it and of course you know it's got a chain on it they're not a chain but like a cable or whatever and I'm thinking oh okay well there's no price tag on it there's no and it's got a chain on there's something this is not good so anyway dad's like yeah you know he held his purse up and

it's great it's pretty nice and he said yeah ma'am uh we'd like to know how much this purse is so and when i say this when she's like you know she went back to the room she's like i'll go back to the room and and find out how much it is whatever she comes back and when i say uh i'm not kidding you when i say this she said yes sir that's twenty five thousand dollars Both of us were like, okay, see you later. Thanks for coming. We took a picture of it and sent it home to mom. But, I mean, it's just like, you know, two country bumpkins, you know,

literally turn up truck. And we're in this big, fancy, schmancy white. We're sitting there the whole rest of the day. We're like, good God, like, you know, kind of started clueling into this. This is not your regular mall, like your typical mall. Like people drop. We might be out of place. We might be a little out of place.

Definitely so. Everybody's kind of looking at us. I mean, he's 6'4. I'm 6'5. Walk around Kelby boots on. You know, kind of eyeballing these different people out. You know,

kind of look, you know, they're a different breed out there. But, I mean, it's just, like I said, it just goes back to some of the experiences that,

that, you know, we experienced. And, I mean, my buddy's got the experience. too. And I'll tell you this quick story. Like, you know, we're always asked for autographs. And it's fine. Like, I love, I'll stop and sign it, especially kids, I'll do anything. And then you've got

some ones that are kind of a little bit, okay, like you've had my autograph, however many different times, and obviously, you know what they're doing. And by no means, do I sound conceited or anything like this, but I had a truckload of my buddies. This was terrible. But they're, uh, I don't think they caught it, but I was driving. So I drove and then there's just something, you know, an oiler thing or whatever. I can't remember what it was. And I shouldn't even be saying this, but I mean, I literally passed it around the truck. And they didn't know any different.

But I mean, guys were, you know, signing their names or, you know, from minor hockey like Rosedown Red Wings number 19. You know, Mike Clayton or, you know, Jason Peachter, number 16, Kenner's the Clippers. You know. I mean, we were just, you know, I mean, like I said, this is kind of, but I mean, they got the experience to it too. And I mean, you know, it was just such a fun deal. Like, you know, anytime they were in town, anytime we'd win, you know, have all the guys in the room and, you know, be cracking a couple of cold ones, you know, in the, in the lounge and introducing the guy. Well, shoot, heck, or got to meet all the trailer park boys.

Ricky, Bubbles, and Julian, they came in the room. Of course, they found out I was a big fan. Well, all of us were big fans. All of us are big fans. We got to meet them. And, you know, that was pretty cool. You got to then, so as a guy growing up watching the Oilers, and now in the new building they don't have it, it kills me.

But the oil, Derek, when it came down and you got to skate through, was that a big deal? Like, as a fan as a kid watching that, like that was a big deal to me uh yeah all of that like i'll never forget walking through the you know the the the the tunnel or not the tunnel but like the dressing room you walk through the fans and you know some of them be like you suck you guys are terrible you know whatever i mean you got put up on that too i mean flames fans but anyway uh but uh you know doing that and then and then skating through the derrick i mean it was just i mean

It doesn't, I feel, you know, when you get that flame on the back of your neck and you feel that heat, it's like, hmm, all right. I'm here. And that was the first, that was one of the coolest things about, you know what I mean, I've only been to Rogers Place once. Or, and, but the very first time, the very, I want to say our home opener, the very, the first year I was there was against Colorado. And I think Ryan Smith was still in color, was, I think he was still there. But anyway, uh, the electric. of the building when I walked through the security entrance in the back after the down the ramp through the security entrance you could feel the electricity in the like it was something that

I've never ever felt in my entire life like it was something like you know uh it was it was something special about that place yeah you know it was old and whatever but it just had character and it was just I loved it like I you know I'm a when I first started kind of coming up was all about the new ranks, new buildings, whatever, but as I got older, it was like,

you know, a guy knows, a guy sees everything, you know, all the bowels of the Wrexol, Coliseum, like, if the walls could talk,

you know, what I mean? You know, what would they say? And just, I don't know, I just had that feel. Yeah,

character. Like, you know, going into a, I used to, I used to hate going into Prince Albert when I was in blades with the Sastrian blades. You know, I used to hate it because every time we go to PA, it was cold and miserable. And, you know, there was always.

And but then I went and played there. And I'm like, I love it. I mean, it's an old barn. You know, it's got character. And that was kind of when I figured out that, you know, what that meant. And like I said, now these new buildings, they don't have. have that character. They don't have that, you know, that, uh, I don't know, the smell. I mean, you know, I don't know. It's just, it was just different, but that was something that

was cool about Rexall. It was the Derek and the doors and, and, uh, I got a picture of me and my little guy walking through the doors for the, I don't want to say it was for the skills competition. And one of my best friends, she took the picture. And if I can ever figure out how to blow it up and take the red eye out, it was kind of, it was a, it was a phone. And it was, and it was a, was before they, you know, became decent quality. She took that picture of me and my little guy. He's looking up with me and I'm looking down on him. I got his hand in his hand.

I was like, man, if I could ever figure out how to blow that picture up, I would in a heartbeat. But, you know, it's just, I'll never forget that. Well, somebody, somebody listening knows how to do that, Steve. That is, that can't be that difficult. Yeah, I don't know. I'm not, I'm not text savvy. Like even right now, like talking on this phone, it's just like, you had to bear with me there for a minute. You know, talking about PA, that was, geez, with COVID going on, my years

are getting all mucked up right now. But the crates, the standing on the milk crates, did you get to experience that then playing there? Do you know what I'm talking about? Oh, yeah, behind the bench. But up in the stands where they had all the milk crates around the top and people racing again? Like, I had the play-by-play guy on the podcast. and he talked about it that it's just like kind of almost surreal to see people racing to get to their spots and have a milk crate to stand on. I'll do you one better. Like obviously, I don't remember.

It could have been when I was there, but I honestly don't remember. But when I left Prince Albert, I went to OCEN. Yeah, the Blizzard. You want to talk about fun. That was probably the most fun I've ever heard. had playing hockey. I mean, it was the fans

and the, in the, for a barn that, I think it held like 1,500 talks. I mean, there's literally, literally people hanging off the rafters. It was, I mean, but I mean, the way they, like now that I'm a farmer, or well, claim to be a farmer,

the code violations. I don't even know how they, you know, got by. at that particular time, but sorry, I'm just cleaning up my water mess. But, I mean, it was just my one, my Billet family, dad, he was, as soon as we come out of the door, he was, he was right above me. And he was like right there. And that was, I mean, that place was absolutely amazing to be a part of and play there and talk about electricity. I mean, well, you got to play there. You would have played with the two-toos, yeah?

I got to play with Terrence, yeah. With Terrence, that's right. I've had Jordan on the podcast while back. And he, what a hell of a hockey player he was. But when I got looking into it, I'd read about O.C.N. Well, I mean, and I'd heard the stories, I played out in Ontario. And so I heard the stories of OCEN. I actually played with guys who played against or with OCEN.

And I've heard the stories about how wild it could get there. It was, I mean, if you could think it, it happened. And then Flynn-Flawn was just up the road. And I mean, Flint-Flawn and O-C-N were like, you know, not a rival because Flynn-Flawn was in the S-J-H-L. Yeah. But it was kind of a little bit of a rivalry.

But, I mean, I went up to Flint-Lon to watch a game. And, I mean, Moose leg out there. I forget what else they'd toss out there. You know, Mariah, you know. know, fish or whatever. And it was just, it was, it was something else. I have got the place. The thing about the, the both of them, and, you know, growing up a, and like I said,

I'm not, I had so, I didn't know, uh, the natives. I didn't, you know, I mean, growing up in Saskatchewan, where I grew up, I mean, you'd see the natives that were in Saskatoon. And you kind of, you know, the way you kind of looked at them was just like, you know, But when I got to go up there and spend time with, you know, Pasquayakri Nation, OCEN Blizzard, I got, they were some of the best people, proud, stubborn, stoic, but they would do anything for you. If they, if you were accepted, like, if they accepted you into their world,

it was just like, man, this is cool. Like, they were so good to us. You know, we, uh, I had soul. much fun up there on the reserve and you know a lot of people don't understand it you know the way but i mean it was just when you got up there and they cheered and they i mean they would do anything for you they take us fishing you know they they were so good to us and like i said i had probably i mean i'm going to say it i have probably the best bill that i've ever had in my life next to i mean dolly and larry kellet and prince albert were you know obviously dolly

Ollie and Kelly, or Ollie and Larry in Prince Albert. And then I had Alof and Rosemary in OceM in the Paw there. And they were two of the best. I was very fortunate with Billet families. I had some of the best Billet families that I've ever been part. And those two were amazing. But a lot of fun. I had a lot of stories.

He drank a lot of rum. But my billet, he, you didn't, I shouldn't say we had a lot. lot of rum, but he, I'll never forget some, I get home from, you know, hockey, I'd be all busted up or something like that. He said, well, Saddie, boy, you want to, you want to run? I was like, yeah, you don't want to, El off. I might have to have one. So he'd be like, you know, I got to, I got to ask, I think, I listened to a couple of your interviews on different podcasts. And I think one of the things that stuck out to me was, um, 17 teams and nine leagues over your career.

Does that sound roughly correct? Could be. And I was like, man, that's, you know, I think as hockey players, you want to, you want to play for a team and you want to sink into the culture and be there for 20 years, right? You want to be Stevie watch, right? That's what you want. But like your career is one of like, man, you were all over the place. place, up, down, leave, sideways.

Major move, I want to say, move nine times in three years. Did you ever go? Maybe it's just isn't it? I know it's when you finally make the big time at 28, which is, as we know, late to make the NHL. Yeah. When you finally make it, it's easy to go, wow, it was all worth it. But up until that point, where you having fun or were you,

going like what the hell am i doing a lot of what the hell am i doing like even you know that's that's kind of where i'm at right now it's like you know i sacrificed um i sacrificed a lot of my my family time um you know my that's the side that nobody really you know that's the dark side that nobody really talks about you don't be wrong you know, I know there's different instances, you know, throughout a guy's life, but, you know, that's the stuff that doesn't really get talked about is the sacrifice. And like I said, don't get me wrong. There's everybody's make sacrifices.

But, you know, as an older guy making the NHL, there was definitely times where it's like, what the hell am I doing? Like, why am I here? I'm sacrificing everything. You know, I barely get to see my kids, you know, a lot of things. the wheel kind of started coming off. And looking back, you know, I think I maybe, you know, I talked about a dark time where I kind of had enough of hockey.

I blamed a lot of things on hockey. And I had to take a time out from hockey. And over the course of that career, I looked and it's like, you know, I got to the, I mean, you're getting, you're getting raw. You know, I looked at when I got to the top of the game, the NHL, you know, I got, I didn't really. really get to soak it all in because it was such a whirlwind. But when I look back at it, it's like, you know, wasn't worth it.

And I mean, everybody, you know, hindsight is 2020. And there's a lot of things that I miss my brother's graduation for a, you know, a top prospects camp. And looking back, you know, I'll never get that opportunity to go to my brother's graduation again. And that, that's bothered me probably more than anything. And I mean, I've had to deal with it and get on with it. But, you know, that you, you start.

And this is what I talk to, you know, I tell guys that are up and come. There's a guy that's in Edmonton and I talk to, you know, on a fairly regular basis. And kind of mentor, help mentor him. And he's such, you know, a wonderful kid. And I just tell him, you know, make sure that you stop and breathe because as much as we you know as much as coaches and our teammates and everything mean to mean to us or what they mean to us they're not our family is our family and there's nothing more important in life than your family and that's something that

you know develop the relationships outside of the rink you know get to actually have a come learn how to have the conversation with people, learn to talk with them, talk to them, listen to them. And it'll take the time to smell the roses because pretty soon, you know, it's just gone. It's, you know, you go back and it's like, gosh, dang, I wish I had a couple more of them, NHL paychecks just, you know, tucked away. But knowing that, I've been able to help, you know, with some guys and just kind of because I like I said I I didn't have the time to if I sat and smell the roses at my time at my point of my career I would have been you know blown by like you know the next guy would have come along so I mean I was just like I felt like I was just

on the go all the time all the time all the time and I mean that's the only thing that I have to say bad about it it was you know I sacrificed everything and I didn't have an opportunity to go back and to kind of watch and just kind of enjoy it a little bit more. And I mean, I think that's kind of where you get into the, you know, the 17 teams in nine years or nine, you know, nine different players, whatever. But, you know, I would have liked to been in Edmonton or been somewhere for two, three, four, five. You know, but I mean, that's the way the game is. I mean, you're a commodity, unfortunately. and if you're not producing, then the next guy's going to come.

And that's just kind of the nature of the beast. And it's unfortunate, but it is the way it is. But like I said, I tell the young guys up and coming guys, like just relax. Don't rush it. Enjoy your family. Do the things. You know, hockey is a sport. Hockey's fun.

It's not ever, you know, my mom and dad told me when I was young. They said when hockey isn't fun, that's when you need to retire and you need to quit. And I'll be honest with you. I retired and then I came back and then I retired. And then I just took some time away from hockey. Like I didn't want to do anything. Now, you know, 30, 39, I think I started playing for, I think I was 37 maybe. And I started playing for the local team here.

And I mean, having a blast. Like, you know, and I'd be doing the same thing if I was back home too. I'd be playing senior hockey somewhere. I mean, I'll be smashing somebody's ankles, and I might be getting my, you know. I'm thankful. I'm not against that. I mean, I'd be getting my teeth handed to me,

but my gosh, you know, they might whip me, but young whippersnappers and know they've been in one. I don't, I'm not so sure about that. I think I'd be, uh, I'd be staring at your, uh, your kneecaps, so to speak, because, uh, you're what, six five? Yeah, six five, yeah.

Walking around at like 260. I'm five, six. Five, six, you kidding me? I couldn't even get up, but close enough to swing at you, man. I couldn't catch you, probably. See, that's the thing. So, and that's the other thing, too.

It's like, I was never, I mean, I'm not ever, I'm, flow, is, I mean, I'm even slower now. So it's just like, you know, I just chop guys down a little, you know, dad's like, it's like, you can't do that. I'm like, dad, I mean, you have anybody. I'm not going to get embarrassed here. So I will take a penalty. if I have to break his arm, I will take a pound.

And he's like, you can't do that. I'm like, you ain't tried. But I mean, so, I mean, I kind of, I love it. I mean, I get a lot away with a lot of stuff because it's a, but I always, I was playing defense. I'm back playing defense. Well, I've got my bionic knees, both one brace on each leg. And I mean, I'm, you know, getting around there.

I might have been a little jubb here a couple years ago. I might have weighed closer to 300 than, you know, before. But anyway, I was more of a football player, physique-ish, you know. So anyway, I'm literally, like, I can't turn, I can't do nothing. And I mean, but I'm having fun. Well, I'm getting frustrated. So I just start chopping guys, like right off the draw, across the lace top of the laces you know i start getting and then i start and i mean i wasn't

practicing because i was working but i'm playing so now i'm getting back in a game shape and i'm still cracking guys across the top and the funny thing was like right off the draw you know he'd give a guy shot off the laces and uh you know it's like kind of a f blah blah blah blah well i'm every face off every face off every time i'd chop guys and i mean and i do it so fast I wouldn't do it with two hands. I'd just do it with one. But I could, you know, hit guys around time. And, I mean, I have one guy, I'm telling you, he's like, don't you do it?

Don't you do it? And I kind of fake, like, and I mean, he literally jumped three foot the other way. And I'm sitting there kind of just, I'm giggling. And he looks at me and he starts, he busts out laughing too. And, of course, he just kind of put her head down and, you know, went on the day. And I don't think I did the rest of the game to him. but I mean, it was just, I'm kind of a big bully at this. But I mean, the thing about it is it's fun.

I enjoy it. I'm back playing for the fun of the game and for the love of the game and the fun of the game. That's something that, you know, I reiterate to the guys that I talk to is, if it's not fun, you don't need to be doing it. And, you know, it's serious. You don't want to take it for granted. You don't want to go out there. And like I said, there's a difference between having fun and going out there

and just, you know, put your whatever. That's not what I mean. I go out there, like even at four years old, like I go out there and I play hard as hard as I can because that's the way I'm wired. But that's fun for me. But anyway, but yeah, it's, like I said, it's still trying to play and still enjoying it.

But that was the one thing that I don't think that gets brought up is the sacrifice. And I mean, everybody's sacrifices. Don't even wrong. But the family, side of it, the little things like that, you know, when they, when you're done and you're tired, you go back and think about, man, I wish I could have been there for that or, you know, I wish I could have done this. And, you know, unfortunately, if you can, if you let it get you

down, it will get you down. But, you know, me and my brother, you know, we talked about it. And, you know, you move on and do the best you can. I got to ask about, actually one thought on that. When it comes to sacrifice, is when you want to be at the absolute top level, I don't care if you're talking hockey or sporting business. It doesn't matter. Everybody makes that sacrifice. You can find that balance where maybe you're at that level,

but you got there at a young age so that you're not doing it through the young years of your kids or marriage, that you can find that balance sooner. When you're pushing for the best, man, that's what's sacrificing it. You got to put in the time. You got to go where people don't want to go. I mean, as a young guy, you know, your buddies are going out and having some frosties.

And you got to be in the gym or at the rink or at the prospects tournament or wherever else. I got to ask about PA because there's two local guys. One would have been the top score of the year, Scotty Hartnell. And another one would have been a little off the radar. And I don't know, I don't know the timeline of if he was in PA or you were in PA or what. But does Dwayne Perlatt ring a bell? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, gosh. That's a name. That's a blast from the past. Diesel, Diesel, Diesel played senior with us in Helmont. He's from my hometown. Don't pair of tits. You tell him I said that. I'm going to make sure he sees this. Absolutely.

Oh, God. That's, she, I'm trying to think where him and I, if it was in, Prince Albert or if it was in Kiddersley Well he played I can't remember So I've had Diesel was like Guess number I don't know

I can't remember 15 on this It was a long time ago year and a half ago And he He played for PA And then he went down to I want to say Humboldt

And from Humboldt got picked up By Kindersley for the Anavit Does that sound right? Something like that Could have been Yeah I mean

That's a blast in the past. I can't remember, but yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Beauty. Air tits. We picked on him a lot. He, uh, I can't believe he didn't shoot any of us. Here's another one for you. I was trying to do, you play in heart. He was our backup goalie of Prince Albert. Yeah, that sounds right. I'll report me on that, but he was back up to Evan Lindsay, I think.

Diesel was fantastic goaltender, fantastic, a giant of a man. Yeah, that's a blast for the past. Well, I'm glad I could bring a name up on you that you haven't heard in a while. It's been a long time. I'm doing old days, all birthday. How about the Rangers? You played for Hartford, the Wolfpack. Yeah.

Did you get to go, whether it's training camp, whatever. Like, I was looking at the time you were playing for the Wolf Pack. Am I right in thinking you were on the ice with guys like Messier, Yager, Kovlev, Leach, Lindros, Holik? Is that the right time, Eric? Yeah. I'm trying to think. So that was, I'm trying to think. 2,034 is when I see you're in Hartford.

actually in 0405 for that man. I went to training camp in Hart, well, actually in New York. And Yager was there? I want to say Lindros was there the year before. That sounds about right. I can't remember exactly. And then Kovalev, I don't think he was there. Like they had a pretty kind of hodgepodge team there, that 0404.

or 05 or 05 or so i can't remember and i mean not hodgepodge like you know but it just was it wasn't uh uh it wasn't like the big namers they had the year before i think i think leach retired maybe the year before i think um i met graves and richter uh they were they were retired what did you think of what did you think of madison square so we did our training camp was actually in Westchester. You didn't even get to play. Well, I did, but not with the Rangers. I got to fight at Madison Square Gardens.

Did you? Twice? Yeah, that was pretty cool. Yeah. I got my tail kicked the first one, and I did pretty good in the second one. I redeem myself, I think, in the second one. But I definitely got my tail kicked in the first one.

You know, I got to know, you brought up trailer park, boys. I hear you got out good bubbles in impersonation. Is that true? Well, I used to. It's out of practice right now, but I, I, uh, I used to have one. It's on, it's on YouTube there. You'll have to check it out. You're not going to, you're not even going to try and get back on the bicycle, eh? Oh, I got my glasses going. I guess I could, I go to a little bit. But, uh, but, uh, but anyway, uh, no, they actually got to meet them and I actually got to put Bubbles's goggles on. And, like, literally that like his eyes he doesn't have to his eyes are that big like they're like

two magnifying glasses i was like mike where did you get these he's like i got them out of a grad sale and i mean they're literally he's like please be careful with them they're held together with scotch tape so that was pretty cool but i got a picture uh duane or uh pardon me davy staffer took a picture of me and them guys and i'm sitting there like you know what the got with these glasses on it was yeah yeah Well, here, before I let you go, we do a little thing at the end. The Crude Master Final Five, a shout out to Heath and Tracy McDonald here in Lloyd Minster, huge supporters of the podcast.

It's just five questions, and then I'll get you back to your day. If you could sit down with one person like I'm doing, have anyone you wanted, who would you take? Phil Robertson. And what would you ask him? Everything. Probably one of the wisest men to walk there is right now. All right.

line mates you get to pick them who you who you picking up or defense partner whichever way you want to go you want to play you and play forward i'm not going to brag but sidney crosby played on my line so he'd be definitely one uh who'd be my other my winger you know he's a d man but i'd have to go with brent curry he's one of my good buddies and i still talk to you there's a blast from the past he's actually from back home funniest guy ever met in my life can you imagine the the sports writers on that line crosbie being centering two d men nobody touch him perfect i mean absolutely you touch him we'll break your yeah but i mean i'm trying to think he would be my buddy so funny i'm gonna tell you funny quick story

about sid so sid's skating around right so we're the fifth line. Well, Sid's on the fifth line with me, right? And I think Tony Grinotto, he filled in. He was a coach. And I was like, he's like, my buddies are like, yeah, senior, you know, I seen here on Sid's line. I said, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, let me tell you something. The fifth line, that's my line, and Sid was on my line. So let's just clear that up right here. So, and of course, you know, everybody got a good chuckle, of course, and all's good. But I mean, there's, there's, there's, there's, Sid's definitely my center, by far, because, I mean, he could bank it in off my Yeah, so there's still a goal.

Goals go, right? Absolutely. I could get 50 him just banking it off my ass. What is Sid like? Great guy. Yeah. Yeah, really. He's really vanilla when people, when the interviews,

but he's, he's a good, like, he really is a good guy. He really is. He's funny. He's got no, well, I shouldn't say this, but we giggle and be like, hey, Sid, go talk to that girl. Just tell him your name. Just telling your name. You know, and he'd get all red, you know, kind of, like, just funny.

James Neal used to give him help all the time. You know, I came in, I came in and we're undressed, you know, we're getting ready to put her underwear on, you know, so we're getting out of our street girls. and these two idiots are literally like at each other's throat talking about the powerplay. And I'm like, like, you guys are arguing about the power play. I'm like, I mean, just back and forth,

back and forth, like two old women, just back and forth, bickering, back and forth, like an old couple, whatever you want to call it. And I mean, I'm just sitting there,

I'm like, God, I said, I just, I wish I just got on the ice, let alone power play. Like, you want to shoot?

No, I want to shoot. You know, whatever. I'm just sitting there like, you know, I've texted my, buddy and I was like I never would have thought I'd be sitting in in the lounge or in the

dress room when these two idiots are sitting here and arguing about power play you know small town Saskatchew boy these two you know all-stars are sitting there arguing about a freaking power play hell I'm just lucky to get all the ice I'm happy with that so you know it's just different but I'll never forget that number 33 why well uh wait belock was number 30 he started out number three i think in saskatoon and i came on after him i actually there was ryan henderson was there and then i came on and uh the trainer at that time was like here this is your number i'm like okay i got some big shoes to fill and then obviously marty mcthorley uh he was one of my my all-time favorites spoilers growing up uh you know just just a you know no nonsense

just kind of whatever goes didn't really have like you just it was a free fall it was it was like you didn't know I mean you know back then he was raw and and then like I said he developed his game and I mean he was tough his nails and just played the role I wish I could have played it a little bit more like him but they you know just the way the rules were they handcuffed us so much but we couldn't really do our job properly not saying that I you know I might have been born two years or 10 years too late because there's a lot of tough guys 10 years earlier. So, you know, but the rules definitely, you know, but those two guys, you know, big part of Iowa War 33. And then like I said, you know, it was just some kind of normalcy or, you know, but there's a couple of times where I had

threatened guys or had to take them for dinner or whatever before I could get it. So. If you could have one person as your tag team partner in the WWE, who would you take? Oh, yeah. You know what? My coworker, Big Jay Jackson, he's about 6'9, probably about 350. His legs, his calves are the size of my legs. He's on the truck company. He's the biggest man I've ever seen in my life.

And the funny thing about it is, like I talk shit to him all the time. I'm like, my God, I'm going to kick your ass, Big Jay. I'm going to kick it. And I mean, we were down at the training center, and it's just like, like, just two big grizzly bears. Like, he's way bigger than I am. But I told him, I was like, you know what? You might be big, but I'm going to kick you straight square in the Nader's. Like, I don't care.

You want to come on. You know, I tell him, I said, you can't fix crazy. I said, you know, that's my thing. You know. And, of course, but I mean, his hands are like, you know, I've got big hands, but he's got like. And I'll never forget him. the first time I met him, I'm like, Jay, have you ever thought about anybody? He's a big old country, corn fed, like works hard, one of just big, just a big human,

nicest guy in the world and smart, too. I said to him, I said, Jay, you know, I'm thinking sports, man, I'm thinking this guy played football. I was like, Jay, I said, you ever play football? He says, no. He says, I never had a handker for it. And I'm like, thank God, because you literally kill somebody. Like he is huge.

Like I'm not kidding you. His calves are the size of my quads. I mean, he's the biggest man I've ever seen in my entire life. He's a big human. But he'd definitely be the guy I'd want to be tag team with. All right. Your final one,

there's a lot of beef. Funny thing is, I was on the truck company the other day with him. Well, our captain, so I'm riding in the back. Jay's driving. And our captain's this little guy, you know,

he's not like, he's average size, whatever. And he's like, man, he's like, I feel like the toughest of it ever.

Nobody's messing with them. I'm riding heavy today, boys. Well, your final one is you go back to your father and he got tongue tied by Bobby Orr. Is there a guy out there that you'd want to sit and have a bevy or two with

that might have you tongue tied? That you're just like, man, that's, that's whoever. I don't know who it is. You know what? There's two people. that actually got me tongue-tied. When Terry Clark came into the, you know, the country music scene, I was like for me to the death away from her.

And I didn't, I was like, oh, her. And my buddy to this day, I told him that story. He's like, you idiot, because he loves Terry Clark. And Terry Clark's a good-looking lady, too. Yeah, back then she, yeah, she definitely was. But then, Grates, we were in, man, I saw, I've never got to meet Grates. you know, I haven't yet, but if I ever get the opportunity, he was, he walked right by me in, uh, where in Winnipeg. And I'm, I kind of was like, that's great. Like I just, you know,

I sat and talked to Ron McClain. Well, that's a sore subject, but I, you know, before all the, you know, everything happened. But I sat and talked to him. He was flying in the same plane as I was. I asked them all about him. He said, oh, yeah, no, he's great. Whatever. But those two guys probably, well those are the two like said i got you know obviously terry clare's i could say nothing here's here's the cool thing about don as i got to interview don like four or five episodes ago just by phone really and i was like i was really nervous about about doing it because i'd heard so many stories about him that he was like gonna be i don't know kind of rude is what i'd hurt and i was like man this is a guy like i bought rock him sock him as a kid and watched it all the

time on Christmas. And he was such a nice guy. And it was such an easy conversation. And what can be wrong. He's an older guy now. But man, I'd ask him about just about anything. And he'd be like, oh, yep, remember this time? And off he'd go again. And it was freaking awesome. I got to check that out. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it's, it's, it's, it's, like I said, I, I didn't have a opportunity to say hello or speak to him. Because it was kind of like in crossing, but it was just now another guy that I got to, meet Bob Cole. Like, you know, there's a guy that-

There's a legend. I'm telling you, dude, he, you know, when I met Bob Cole, he's not a, I'm thinking Bob Cole and Bob Cole, the deep voice, Bob, you know, and I'm thinking this guy's like got to be about six foot five. He's like, I don't know, five foot seven, five foot eight. I'm like, hey, Steve, I'm Bob Cole.

And, of course, I'm like, whoa, you know, he's Bob Cole. And then I was like, I mean, he's just a little fella. But I mean, you know, I got to meet Bob Cole. That was cool as hell. And then obviously Rod Phillips, there's another guy that, you know, just talking to. But, I mean, you know, I got to meet so many cool people. And, you know, for me, I didn't really ever get tongue-tied other than obviously those two instances where I was like, you know, of course, they're already gone.

But don't feel bad. Don't feel bad. I once got tongue-tied. I got to interview him on here, but Darrell Sutter when I was like, I don't know, I was probably like 24, 25, was at the Bruce Stampede

and was in his wranglers and his hat and shit kickers. And I sat there and I just was like, I couldn't bring myself to say hello. I sat in a circle with him sitting there just talking about whatever. And I couldn't spit it out. Darryl Sutter. I said that to my wife.

My wife's from Minneapolis. And she goes, who's that? I'm like, I just don't get it. Yeah, no. It's okay.

You can sit this one out, honey. He's one of the nicest, like, cool guy. Oh, down earth, down earth.

Yeah, I've met, I can't remember. I get them all mixed up. Of course, I have Brent as a coach. That's a funny story to you. I don't know how much time you go, but I got a Brent story story story.

But anyway. Let me be very, let me be very, very clear. You're the guy sitting. in a fire station. I can't tell if you got to go or what. No, we got time. And the guys are just, the guys are just waiting to clean up suburb, but I mean, it's all right. They're, yeah, they're fine. I'll clean up. But the Sutter's, um, I'm going to tell you, this was a life

lesson that I learned. And it's actually kind of funny because the second time I went to Pittsburgh, well, actually the second year I went in Pittsburgh, uh, I met Brandon Sutter, super nice guy, really, really laid back super nice guy. Not anything like his dad. Like, just totally, you know, I think he was more like, I've never met his mom, but I'm sure that, I mean, he's got obviously that competitive streak like his dad. Don't get me wrong. But I get traded from, excuse me, from Saskatoon, I get traded to Red Deer. It's a six-hour drive from Saskatoon to Red Deer.

found excuse me I found out I got traded that morning I think they practiced at I don't know four or five o'clock whatever

first practice I get there we get baby skated I'm six hours been in the truck my old chef Scott Stale single cab so my legs felt like jello driving the straight drive

and so anyway my legs are jello so I mean and he's up there you know up there and the stanler for you but anyway i'm saying oh god so anyway right off the hop we kind of didn't really see i die and he had just retired from you know the NHL just bought the team just you know did this did that whatever we didn't really see i die and there were some instances

where yeah we had a i was a student he was a teacher i didn't understand what he wanted. But anyway, we get back to the point. So we, I was playing in medicine hat or four medicine hat, and him and I got no piss and match. And I'm yelling at, poor Josh Mazur, there's a buddy of mine that I absolutely had loved guy that I, you know, fought many a time. And Josh and I always had good fights. Like he's just really good, like he's a tough, tough guy. And I mean, you know, we were back and forth. For a smaller guy, he could, he could fire him.

He was tough. And I, you know, did good against them, whatever. Well, this night, oh, my gosh, he was doing something. And I'm kind of, I'm kind of, you know, kind of barking at him. And Brant comes down and kicks me in the back of the pants. He's like, you know, freaking do something about it, blah, blah. So, I mean, I'm like, you know, never has. as any coach told me to go up.

So, I mean, I'm like, I mean, it just, you know, I went out there and I mean, I felt bad. And I mean, Josh's a big boy, whatever, but he didn't have a hope in hell that day. And with all due respect to Josh, love him. I would never fight him off the ice. But anyway, that's another story. But go out there, and I mean, I'm just absolutely more devastated, more to five. I don't even know the experience. I was just in a complete utter rage.

And because I was mad. I wasn't even mad. I wasn't even mad at Maze. Maze was just playing to do his job. I was more mad at Brent. And go out there and, I mean, you know, just absolutely. Anyway, I think I ended up after come back and he didn't even say nothing, good fight or nothing. But anyway, I think I got caught for too many men or something like that.

So anyway, oh, of course, oh, boy. He's, I mean, you might as well just pack your shit and just go back on the bus. So anyway Got this penalty Send me to the family box I'm like You know I didn't play the rest of the

The rest of the night I think I got like two shifts or something So my mom and dad Come up Come down to watch me So they'd drive two and out of ours Come watch me right So we lose

So we're going to eat Well he wouldn't let me eat with my parents And so that didn't vote very well And And like I said You know Whatever everything happens for a reason. Well, anyway, him and I had some words and, you know, this, that,

and everything else. He ended up calling me into the end of the coach's room. And I mean, I was at that point where, I mean, I was, like, I just, I didn't know what he wanted. I really truly didn't know what. I wanted to quit hockey and forget, you like go back to Cowboyne Ranch or whatever. He brought me in and he told me, he said, you know, he said, I know you're thinking about quitting. He said, if you quit now, he said you quit the rest of your life. And I mean, you know, your dad teaches you that when you're growing up, your mom and dad, but it never really ever resonated. And to this day, you know, that conversation that I had, I didn't know what he wanted. And this will kind of go into another, you know, side note. I'd never talk to him. I hated his guts.

I couldn't stand the sight of Brent Sutter. Like I freaking detested him. And because of that, you know, how I thought I was treated or how I, you know, whatever. And it was just, you know, personality clashes. Just, you know, just I really wasn't sure what he wanted. I didn't know how to do my job properly. And so anyway, you know, I was kind of not, I just had a bad taste in my mouth. Anyway, long story short, I meet him. Well, actually, he's coaching Calgary.

and I was in Edmonton the year before. And he, I got put on waivers. Florida picked me up. That's right. So he was in Calgary and I was in Edmonton the year before my first year. And then I got put on waiver, picked up by Florida. I went, played with their American League team, the Americans. Well, we were playing, they got kicked out or not kicked out, but they didn't make

playoffs that they were beat out of playoffs or whatever. Well, we're playing out of the playoffs. in Abford. We go out for supper after there's like a restaurant bar grill, whatever right beside the rink. So we go there. I'm there with some friends of mine and my family. And in walks,

well, first Ryan McGill walks in. I'm thinking, oh, hey, Gilly, you know, whatever. Because Gilly was my coach in Hartford. Well, in walks Brent. So me, I'm sitting there like, I'm literally, like, you know, I'm sitting here like 10 years later. I'm like, all right, what do I do here?

You know, if I see him, you know, what am I going to do? So I got up out of my chair and I go over, over to him. I know I hadn't spoken to Brent in 10 years or whatever it was. I think it was eight years, 10 years, whatever. And I go, I say, Brent, I said, you step outside. I said, I'd like to talk to you. And of course, Brent being Brett, he goes walking outside. And, you know, and he's on the sidewalk and I'm on the street.

And, you know, I looked at him dead in the eye. And I said, I'm going to tell you something. He says, I told him, I said, I want to thank you. And she looked at me. He's like, what? He said, I want to thank you. I said, I didn't understand what you wanted from me when you were my coach and red dude.

He said, now I said, I've understood what you wanted. And I appreciate the fact that you instilled that don't quit attitude. And you, you know, the short time that I was with you, you helped mold my, you know, future like even when you're down and out you never quit and you can see them kind of just I mean both of us I think we're kind of like you know you thought he was going out to just here we go well anyway you know kind of and then we started talking you know jackass you know whatever it was no big deal but I mean that was an instance well the next year two years later whatever brandon you know brandon I meet he were telling this story and he's like yeah I see my dad came

home or whatever he was telling me. He said, good, God. He said, I was so glad. I didn't get to swing it or whatever. He said, for sure, I thought he was going to deck me. We had a good chuckle over the album. And I mean, even to this day, like, if I see Brent, I'll just, you know, just kind of giggle.

Because, you know, it's just one of them life lessons as a young kid, you know, playing junior, nobody really tells you what you're supposed to do. You know, you're trying to feel your way through the game. And you don't really know what, I mean, I didn't know what I was doing. Hell, I never grew up fighting and scrapping. I didn't understand it. But, you know, it was just kind of one of them things where, you know, looking back, I was like, you know what?

I might have hated your guts then, but you know what? You taught me something. I appreciate that. So that was kind of cool. But anyway. That's a cool story. That's a hell of a way to end the podcast. Yeah, it was pretty cool.

Well, I appreciate you hopping on and taking some time for you. I had a blast. Like I said, I can sit here and talk all night. Well, that only means one thing. We can have you back on at some point, right? Anytime you got my number and anytime you need to feel some air and just let me know, I'll take all the space you need me think. Well, thanks, Steve.

All the best to you here in the future. You bet. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Hey, folks. Thanks for joining us today. If you just stumbled on the show, please click subscribe. Then scroll to the bottom and rate and leave a review.

I promise it helps. Remember, every Monday and Wednesday, we will have a new guest sitting down to share their story. The Sean Newman podcast is available for free on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever else you get your podcast fix. Until next time. You still listening? You still waiting to hear the end of it?

Well, if you've listened this long and you enjoyed Steve that much, You're in luck. Instead of bluepers this week, we got a couple extra minutes carved out for Steve McIntyre because after we stopped, we kept going. So here's the extra. Enjoy. God damn, I love senior hockey. Oh, like I said, you know, I'd be back home.

I'd rather, that's something that I never got is playing senior hockey. Like, I mean. Let me tell you something. There is nothing better than senior hockey. I'm partial to Saskatchewan, and I'm partial to Saskatchewan, and I'm partial because I only got to ever play a cup of coffee in Finland, never anything to higher levels. But when you get to a good senior hockey team, you get to play with that group for like, well, I had the same defense partner for nine straight years.

It was fucking unreal. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Like, I've always wanted to play senior with my brother. Yeah. It would probably be bad because I'd be wanting to, if anybody touched him, I'd fucking kill him. Even at 40 years old, like I might murder him.

But I mean, that would be. you know you don't talk about the line made that'd be that i totally forgot about that one that's idiot me said my brother what an idiot well i got i got to i got to one game because we're short players i got to suit up with my oldest brother who was turning fuck what am i he's turning 45 this year but he would have been like 40 at a time and then my next brother who would have been like 38 and then my next brother who would have been like 35 and my nephew we all suited up for one game and we're the opening lineup. So five Newman's

rolled out onto the ice. It's freaking awesome. My oldest brother talks about it like he was in the Stanley Cup finals or something now when he regales the store. But I mean, that's the thing. Like, you know,

like playing with your dad. Like that's honestly probably my biggest dream is if I got to go back home and play hockey, like I'd be like David, we're playing senior hockey this year. That's all there's to it. Just pack your shit and we're just going to do it.

And if anybody touches you, a fucking killer. Hard mic. But I expect the same from you too. Yeah. Like, well, let me tell you a funny story. So we're back in talking about,

we're playing rec hockey, all right. So there's me, my brother, my dad, my uncle, all right. We're playing a Brock.

I forget who we were playing. But now my dad is like the most laid back, non-confrontational, lady bing type kind of player. And there's my uncle, who's the biggest freaking stick art. artist that you would ever, I mean, he can't shoot a lick. Like, big is all outdoors, but cannot shoot a puck.

Like, has a wrist shot that like just, it's a little, I mean, it's terrible. My brother's the same way. He's got like moves. He's got more moves than Chick-full-ex-lax. But he cannot shoot the puck. Well, me, I can shoot the puck, but I have zero hands. So between the four of us, I mean, there's not a lot of talent there. But then there's my dad, you know, he's just, he's got the old school

Jofa like Shell Samuelson Jopha. Yeah. The big earpiece is like the, it looks like you got a basketball on your head. He's out there wheeling around. He's got the old bower, you know, gold pit blades and the old coho that's eight feet long. And he's just, you know, just out there.

Me and my brother and my uncle were just giving it. Well, this guy comes up and just wax my dad, you know, and I've seen it. I go over and chop to something. And I said, listen here, buddy. you touch them again. You're going to have three McIntyres on your wrist. So, you know, it was just looking back, it was just like, that's such a meathead.

But I mean, that was kind of what I think I was with the blades in or Raiders. I can't remember, but it was just kind of that mentality. It was like, don't be touching my dad like that. Don't be touching the family like that. I'll kill you. You know. I got to play in a tournament in biking. And it was, it was Brett Sutter's tournament.

many does in the summertime. And I got to play against the Sutter twins. And they must have hit me like three or four times and just loved every second of it. What are you going to do to them? Like what am I literally going to say to him? I got up, looked at him and was like, all right, carry on, right? Good one. And well, I really appreciated this.

I should have given Clicks and showed out for him and Ed, hooking this up for me. Oh, yeah. Tell him I said hello too. Yeah, we'll do. we'll do yeah well really nice meeting you steve appreciate you absolutely