Shaun Newman Podcast - Ep. 37 Ottawa Senators - Dave Dziurzynski

Episode Date: October 9, 2019

Dave has a pretty unique story. He goes from walking onto the Lloydminster Junior 'A' Bobcats, going undrafted and finally traded out west to the BCHL. For most this would be the end of the road, instead he becomes a top 6 scorer in the league followed by signing with the Ottawa Senators. 

Welcome to the podcast. I thought we might start off with talking about Boundary Battle of Alberta. We talked a lot about it here on the podcast. I saw the Oilers alumni versus the flames alumni here in Lloyd Minster, even had an appearance by the Birdman himself. You know how I'm talking about. And it raised over $100,000 for Project Sunrise. So, I mean, kudos to you, Lloyd Minster. That is just friggin' impressive. And it's all going to a great cause. So hats off to you. Once again, Lloyd Minster. awesome, awesome support of a great event. Kudos to Boundary Ford for helping put it on with Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation. Now, this episode today is brought to you by Kent Staniforth and Team Over Fountain Tire,

excited to announce they've teamed up with us here at the podcast. They've got a deal going on right now on tires. So until October 26, you can save up to 25% on selected Goodyear tires, plus get 10% off a wheel alignment with the purchase of the four new tires. and don't be like me. Don't be like me and wait until November 20th on your wife's birthday to finally go and do the deed and get winter tires. And slip and slide and curse every second day you do it

and then finally on your wife's birthday you go, all right, I'm going to bite the bullet and you go spend $1,000 on not your wife. Don't be that guy. Go head over to Fountain Tire. Get some tires on your ride here. Be a little proactive before it gets any worse because, I mean, she was pretty gnarly last night into this morning, and it looks like winter is coming or winter is here.

Next, T-Barr-1 Transport. They are Lloydminster's 2013 business of the year. They're looking for class-one drivers. They start at $28 to $30 an hour. You can send resumes to dispatch at t-bar-1.com. They do it all, heavy haul, winch trucks. oversized tank moving pickers or pipe yard they got it all for you guys so if you're looking for a job shoot them in a shoot him an email if you're looking for some hauling give them a call 780 205

1709 tell them sean sent you senior hockey's right around the corner and that's where factory sports walks in uh i'm i just think about myself i'm sitting here i'm all excited for you know senior hockey season's firing up the sask delta's got 12 teams in it this year six Saskatchewan, six Alberta. And I know there's a whole lot of guys who are doing what I'm doing. They're going, I need a new twig. Or maybe you're like a buddy of mine who forgot his mitts out in the garage and then the mice moved into him.

You don't want to use those. Go get yourself a new set of mitts, dummy. And head over to the boys at factory sports. They know sports, guys. They can get you hooked up. They can get your mitts brand new mitts. They can hang out with any sticks you need. Don't be using me.

mice riddled mitts go find something else these guys can help you out and the other thing too as i was uh just seeing with the boys that they can do team apparel so if you're looking for uh hoodies or tukes hats you name it they can help you out there vic juba theater it is fully licensed seats 550 is a hidden gem in this town they got shows going on all the time this coming week october 17th they got natalie macmast or two-time junior award winner in we gave away two tickets to that last week. And October 20th, they got Sloan. We might be giving away a couple tickets to that a little later in the I-D innovative

question of the week. If you're looking to get tickets right now, guys, go to vikjuba theater.ca. Or call the box office at 780-872-7400. They can get you hooked up. If you like what you're hearing, mention that you heard about them from the Sean Newman podcast. Shout out this week to Mr. Todd Kirkpatrick. He reached out after Reed Wilkinson's interview last week.

Read at Wilkinson for you guys that don't know, why do I keep saying Wilkinson? Reed Wilkins. Read Wilkins. Let's get this right. Reed Wilkins is the host of 630 Ched and Eminton's Inside Sports. He does the post game hosting for the Hamilton Oilers. And Todd Kirkpatrick here said,

Love the Wilkins, Reed Wilkins podcast. Almost said Wilkins said, Wilkins again. Love the Hall Trade Analysis. There's a story behind it for sure. If you don't know what he's talking about, go back an episode, listen to Reed Wilkins. He was fantastic. He knows his way around the mic.

That is for sure. Now, like I said, we are giving away on this episode, two tickets to Sloan, October 20th. That is the IHD innovative, or listen for the IHD innovative question. Somewhere in the episode. episode here with Dave Drozinski and answer the question to be put in for that draw. Now, if you want to interact with me, you want to get a shout out on the podcast, look me up,

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, love hearing what you guys think, you got guest suggestions, you got suggestions for the podcast in general. I love hearing from you guys. I thrive on it, so please reach out and we'll try and get you a shout out on the podcast. Now this week, I sat down with Dave Drozinski. He was an undrafted guy. Further point, he was a guy who walked into a junior A camp. Nobody knew who he was.

By day two, he was signed. He ends up playing three years junior eight in his 20-year-old year. The Ottawa senders call him at the end of the year and say, hey, we'd like to sign you. Oh, okay. And the story continues on from there. So I'm not going to spoil it anymore. Have fun with this one, guys, without further ado. Welcome to the Sean Newman podcast.

I'm sitting with Dave Drozinski tonight, and he's starting to tell me a story. I was saying to him here 10 seconds ago that I've looked at his last name probably 50 times and had to be like Trisinski. Now, you're saying your mother had to teach you how to say it or spell it in the song? Spell it.

So she would like sing the song like D-Z-I-U-R. Yeah, she would sing it to us and that's how we learned how to spell it. Because everyone always asked growing up, like, how did you guys learn how to spell that? And then I'll tell them that's how we learned. So pretty cool. That's awesome. Yeah.

Well, hey, cheers. I'm glad you came in. Tonight, we got a little blonde from the Fourth Meridian Brew in Lloydminster here. So I'm pretty pumped about that. It tastes pretty good. Oh, yeah. Love that place. They got good beer there.

I recommend anyone to go there. There you go. Well, Dave, I've been really excited to have you on. knowing you for a long time, but we've never really sat down and chatted anything, and you're a guy who's, while still playing hockey, still playing really good hockey, and had a cup of coffee in the NHL,

but was an undrafted guy and has, like, in my opinion, a very interesting way of getting to the NHL. So I thought for people who don't know you, we would start with where you grew up, and then when you started playing hockey. Yeah, I was born. in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. My parents were from a small town, like an hour away, big river, Saskatchewan.

So grew up there until I was like eight, started playing hockey, because that's what you do in small town, Saskatchewan. You pretty much play on the rink, outdoor ponds and all that. So got really involved there, and my dad accepted a job in Lloyd. So we ended by moving into Lloyd Minster where, yeah, I grew up and been living ever since. Did, growing up were, because you have what, one brother, two sisters? I have two older sisters and one younger brother, yeah. Did they all play hockey then?

Yeah, so growing up in Big River, I played on three different teams because they hadn't enough players, so I would play with my sister, my oldest sister, and then I'd go down me and my sister were on the same team, and then I'd play with my brother too. So it was pretty cool growing up, always playing tons of hockey and stuff growing up. Yeah, so that was... Pretty much lived at the rink then. Oh, yeah. Mom would bring dinner right after we would go right from school to the rink,

and mom would have a crock pot full of dinner and stuff, so she'd feed us all down at the rink. Yeah, so we pretty much lived there in the wintertime, and yeah, in the summertime, even playing summer hockey and stuff, too. So it was always just hockey, hockey, hockey, growing up. How big is big ravey or do you know? It's 800, 900, 900 people. Oh, yeah, so pretty small like Lashburn or something.

Yeah, it's a little bit of, yeah. I don't know what Lashman exactly is, but it's got to be closed. Yeah, it's pretty small. And I think it's smaller now because the mail was shut down, but I think they actually opened it back up. So starting to boom again, I guess. Did you play other sports growing up, or were you always just a hockey guy?

Yeah, well, when we moved to Lloyd, I just kind of got into the ball, like baseball. I played competitive there for a little bit. But then after it just was too much, so I had to pick. So I ended by sticking with hockey. because we were always busy in the summertime. If you could go back and hockey wasn't an option, you could just pick one sport to play and you could have as much success than it as you wanted.

Would you go back then and play baseball? I think I would go back in golf, actually. Oh, golf, yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I just love being out there and just viewed all yourself and it's just playing against yourself. So I think that's what I would choose. So if I have a kid and hopefully stick a golf club in their hand

and side of a hockey stick, but we'll see how that goes. Have you been out golf much this summer? Yeah, like I was on workers' comp there for a little bit, so once I healed up, I was playing a little bit, but now that I'm back working, it's so tired and stuff after work, so I just go home and go to bed. So I haven't been playing that much, live late. You must have later, well, I mean, only a couple years ago, you were playing in Florida, aren't you? Yeah, that was. Was that not unreal, just getting to hit the links all the time?

Well, yeah, but it was, like, when we got there, it was so hot. Like I couldn't even stand old silence I was just dripping sweat because it was so humid So but yeah like later on in the wintertime It's like we were playing I was playing like probably once a week But I don't know It's so expensive to get on a course there

And you're not making the big bucks down in that league So But yeah I know it was fun It was a good spot to play and I enjoyed it Yeah Yeah Well you make your way to Lloyd And then you start playing your Bannum

Your midget your pee-y whatever here. Were you always at the top level then? Did you always play AAA or AA? I don't know if you had AAA yet there. Yeah, I mean, I think it was Pee-E-Double A. They didn't have the AAA when I first started. So I played P-V-W-A both my years and then my first year Bantam. I think that was the year where they had the age change. So I only had the one year Bantam. Oh, okay. And then it was, so I got cut that year. I played Bant-Dub-A because they came with the

AAA team. that year. That was the first year I came to Lloyd. So I didn't make that team but and then the under 15 or under 16 team that that came in around then too. So I played the first year that was I played then um with I forget what it was called the blazers or probably was back then it was probably the blazers everything was yeah now everything's the bobcats everything switched over yeah so I played under 16 for the one year and then midget triple the last two years Do you remember ever thinking about, I love to talk about the Bannam draft with guys, because for me, I just, at that age when I was in Bannum,

it just kind of never crossed my mind. I was playing top tier and I'm putting it in print or quotes. But we didn't have Bannum AAA back then. All we had was Bannum Double A when I was growing up. It was after me. I'm older than you, obviously. So it was after me that the AAA came in. But I remember with the Bannum draft, like never, I guess it just never really crossed my mind.

With you, did you ever think about it? No, not really. I was, yeah, we were always going to the junior A games, and I don't know, just never growing up, I never really even thought about it, never even talked to a WHL team my whole time growing up. How big are you now? How tall?

Like, just under 6'4, but I was late growing. When did you, when did you, I got a freaking mosquito flyer. Yeah. When did you grow? I think I was like 17, 18. Like the year before I went into my first year junior. Is when you sproated? Well, yeah, because I was 5'8.

They're all growing like Bantam, Midget. And then after Midget, I think I grew to like 6'1. And like the summer before I started playing junior in Lloyd. And then I just kept growing through junior and stuff and started to fill out a little bit. Well, the filling out I get, because that's everybody, right? But like, you're a tall guy. Yeah. Actually, I had Corey Cross in here a month or two ago,

and he talked about he was a late bloomer. He was, you know, small skinny guy, and all of a sudden, over like a summer, he grows eight inches. Yeah. Not like an inch. Heck, I would take three inches at this point, right? But, like, he just sprouts, like, a huge amount. That's basically what happened to you then, too, as well.

Yeah, I mean, I honestly think it helped me out in the long run just because you had to learn as a small guy to the skate. and I mean, if you grow too early, I feel like you don't develop your skating because, I don't know, you're just awkward. Well, you probably don't have to worry about getting crunched by the big guy. My entire life, you've got to have your head on a swivel because you don't want to get killed by a guy like you. Yeah, so growing up, I was a small guy, and then when I grew,

and I don't know, I just liked to get in there, and I was always laying big hits and stuff. I just kind of adapt to my game like that. But, yeah, so I was a late bloomer, but, I think in the long run it helped me out. Did you play after you graduated high school, or were you playing junior in high school? No, after I graduated, it was my first year.

So as an 18-year-old, you went and tried out with Lloyd? Did you try out anywhere else? No, like I was talking to other teams, like Brooks, and there's a few other teams that I was talking to, but I don't know, I just wanted to play for my hometown, I guess. I don't know, they didn't really have any, like, few of my buddies like Brody Foster like a couple local guys we all decided to stay in town. I don't know. I just wanted to stay at home and play here because it's growing up watching them

and stuff. It just thought it was pretty cool. Were they the Bobcat Center? Were they the Blazers? The Blazers. Yeah, I think two years before I started playing with them, that's when they changed the Bobcats. Two years after or before? Two years before. Like I started with the Bobcats and it was the third year of them being in the Bobcats. I got you, I got you, I got you. Yeah. So what was it like walking in your first training camp?

Do you, because you're a big guy now. We were talking beforehand about whether or not you're a big fighter. Like when you strolled in as a rookie and 18-year-old into your first junior A camp, where you're like, all right, I got to impress somebody. Let's drop the Mitz and make a name for myself. Or were you a finesse guy, big put the puck into that? I don't know. At that point, I think I was just trying to.

to adapt to a role and I I mean I talked to like the general manager Cross and Jim Cross and he was a general manager and he just invited me to camp I remember and I didn't really

know the what role I was coming into but so I started to grow then I put on a little bit of size there so went into camp and I was just running around just hammering everyone and just trying to stand out a little bit just to make the squad.

And, yeah, I ended up by signing with them, I think, two days after the camp started and signing my card. And, yeah, so it kind of worked out like that. And, yeah. That must have been a confidence booster, eh? Yeah, for sure. Just, I honestly, it was just a surprise because, like, even I remember making the team. And the coach called me in the first week of, like, before.

the season started. He's like, you were the biggest surprise to make this team. Like, no one had you penciled in to be on the team. And I don't know, me and him didn't really see eye to eye very well. So I think that kind of started it right there. You know, it's interesting. I had Nigel Dubay on here, the

current coach and GM of the Bobcats. And they brought into their main camp this year 28 guys. So they basically had their team built and didn't bring in, you know, I always go back to when I was a kid, they would bring in, I don't know, 40, 60, 70 kids, and you'd maybe get a gem like a diamond in the rough, so to speak, like a Dave, right?

Would all of a sudden just pop out and be like, holy crap, good thing we had the camp. And so we were talking about that a little bit, and it sounds like more of the mindset now is jelling your team sooner so you can hit the season and be off and running. Yeah, I think lots of teams are doing that just because they want to start working on their systems and get all that stuff, like start working in training camp so they can see what guys adapt to the system that they're trying to teach in training camp and to see if they're, I don't know, if they can play it, if they're smart or, I don't know, but that seems what lots of junior teams are doing now. They're bringing less guys in. What do you think of that?

I don't know. I mean, yeah, I'm not really, I think, I've, yeah, I don't know. Well, I, I'm curious to see how it does for the Bobcats this year, right? If they walk in and their top team in the league or, you know what I mean, top five, and they just get off to a great start and everything is roses, you go, oh, maybe there's something there. I always just wondering, like, I think competition is a good thing, right? To have guys pushing everybody.

And to not be like, sure, you're going to have your probably walking into camp, what, 15 guys that are just like locked in, these guys are in, maybe it's even 18, right? Yeah. But to have the last spots of battle so that you can be like, oh, this kid just walked across, like, to me, I don't know, I almost want to have a main camp where it's like, all right, let's see what we got. Yeah, I think either way you look at it, like you want to bring guys in who are competing and say that every sport. spots open at the start of camp. You don't want to, like, have the guys penciled in. You want us, like, go in and say, all right, everyone's battling for these spots. Like, you're not guaranteed anything just to make it more competitive. But yeah, I think more guys there pushing for the spots, I think could help out a little bit more. But like I said, this is system-wise. I think that's why

lots of guys are doing it just, because even when we go to camp, like, we're always, like, first day of camp, they're starting to teach systems right away, which that never really, they never really did that, like, when I first, like, my first couple years. When you go back to, it's Kansas City now, right? Yeah. Right? In the ECHL? Yeah. When you go back, are there triouts or is everybody just on contract and it's just show up and start playing? No. Last year when we, when we showed up, I think there was, we had 18 forwards and like 10D and like everyone assigned the contracts, but those contracts, X don't really mean anything. You just go in there, whoever, everyone's trying out for a spot.

And if they don't like you, though, this release you right there. Yeah, so your contract isn't guaranteed is what you're saying. Yeah, like, no, it's not guaranteed. How does that change things for you? Well, it's tough, I think, but, I mean, you have those, like, I'm an older guy now. Relatively, relatively. Well, yeah, like, this year I'll be the oldest guy on the team. Okay, never mind you.

Yeah, so it's pretty young. a young man's game now the professional. But yeah, I think going in, you have to, I don't know, being an older guy, you want to be working your ass off just to prove that it's not any spot, it's not handed out. You got to earn your spot.

You got to, I don't know, compete. And I don't know, that's just how I am. I've always been everywhere. Every time I'm on ice, I'm always hardworking and pushing other guys and trying to make make everyone better. Going back to your junior days, what were you doing in the off-season to train for?

Were you doing anything yet as you walked into your first junior camp? Were you hard at the gym? Were you hired a trainer? Did you have anything? Yeah, so I worked a full-time job, Dex Construction. Every day after work, I would head to Kujo condition because that was his first year.

He started out because he just finished the Bobcats like two years. He went to school for two years And then he came back here and started Kudjo conditioning Right on Highway 17 there? His first one was actually out of the curling rink At the Lloyd Golf Club That's where he first started, yeah So I would, after work, I would rip over there

Sorry, where in the... Right in the curling ring Because they wouldn't have the ice in there And so he'd rent the space off him with a little train Until the ice went in Yeah, so yeah, he would rent that all summer And he did all his training out of there And it was brutal

because the horse track is right there, and we were over there once, twice a week, running around that track. Those were the days where it was miserable. You didn't not want to go, but you'd battle through it. So, yeah, so that's where it all started, Kudra conditioning.

And I remember people seeing me when it came to camp because I really put on a, like, I bulked up a lot that summer and was lifting pretty heavy and went in and all our fitness tests and stuff, but they were pretty good. at my rookie year. So, yeah.

That's pretty cool. A lot of kids wouldn't put in that much effort, right? I mean, you're a guy who doesn't get taken in the Bannum draft, which nowadays is huge, right, if you're a kid in that kind of age group. And just be a kid walking into a junior A team where they're, you know, it's not like they've given you anything to, like, take it that serious, to work out that hard. Because, I mean, working a full-time job.

and then going to the gym. I know you're a single guy, but still, that's a lot of work to put in to achieve something like that. Yeah, I mean, I was, I really wanted to play,

and I didn't want my career to come to an end, and I could have played junior B, but I really just wanted to see how, if I could make a junior A team. So I put the work in, and like I said, yeah, I put on some weight and bulked up, and just got ready for training camp,

and ended by working out for me. So, How were the, you played two years for the Bobcats? How were your two years in Lloyd? Did you guys make any noise? Were you a decent team? Do you remember much about that time? No, we made the playoffs like my both years, but we, the first year we got swept by Grand Prix in the first round.

And then we ended up by playing them my second year again, and we lost 3-1 in the series. So we, like, we had good teams, but I feel like we're, you know, very poorly coached. I think we could have made a lot more noise. When you say poorly coach, because by now in your career you've had really, really good coaches and you've had very poor coaches. What is the difference?

What did the poor coach, when you say poor coaching, what was he doing that was so poor? Oh, just the communication, I feel like nowadays you have to be able to communicate with your guys. And just to get the point across, to get everyone the same level. But I just remember in playoffs, playing Grand Prix,

Van DeKamp was a coach on their team. And we had, like, we had a good team and, um, he was just matching lines. He wouldn't ever, like, so they would just sit one of their lines. And like,

one of our good, like, lines wouldn't ever play because he was just so, focused on getting the right matchups on night. And I feel like, he beat us because he just got out-coached. And I talked to everyone after, like, the season, and they all thought the same thing. So I just, I don't know, it was just frustrating.

And that was, like, the last straw I had. And that's when I decided I wanted, I didn't want to play there for my last year. So you walk in and you go, I'd like to get traded out of here? Yep. I went in, I didn't even go to the coaches, went to the GM.

I was pretty good. got along with him, Jim Cross, and he was a good, good awesome guy. So I just went into his office and said, I just told him this is my last year of junior hockey and wanted to move away from town, way from home, and just go and see what else is out there. So he told me he wasn't going to trade me to the Alberta League. So I said, well, I want to go to BC and if you can trade me out there. So anybody got that done and, yeah, I ended up going to that. So what was it like going to?

Alberney, right? Yeah, Auburny Valley, yeah. It was awesome. Like, I didn't know what to expect because being away from home, driving out there all by myself first time. But, yeah, we got out there. I think they were finished last

in the whole BCHO the year before. So I didn't know what to expect. I told my parents I'd go out there, give it 10 games, see how it is. And I don't know, just, it was kind of like the last, I thought it was my last year of hockey. Like, I didn't really train to go out of,

I stopped training because I just worked on the rigs all summer, so it didn't go out with skate really at all. For people who don't know what working rigs is, that's hard work, man. Yeah, no way. I mean, it's not like you went and pushed a pencil around the desk, right? Like, I mean, that's getting in the thick of things. Yeah, so that's what I did. I was just working all summer, go out there, like, hop on ice for the first time.

But yeah, I go out there, and the coach was, he was awesome. I'm like just. So did you go for, when did you get traded? Was it middle of summer? Middle of summer, yeah. So the first time you go out there was for main camp then? Yeah, main camp. So it was like end of August or middle of, or end of August.

Okay. I started driving out. Drive out by yourself or did your parents go? No, I just hopped in my vehicle. Nice. Mom was crying on the driveway as I was pulling away. And yeah, so started driving out there. I remember I got to town, got to Puerto River, I pulled in.

It was probably like seven o'clock at night, and I tried calling my billet that, and I couldn't get a hold of her. So I'm like, well, what do I do now? What do I do? I call mom. I'm like, well, I can't get a hold of anyone. Couldn't get a hold of coach or anything. So I just went and rented a hotel room and how just felt so, I don't know, it was like alone, so alone that, like, first time being away from home, I guess I was 20 years old. So, but, yeah, so.

Well, I talk about it all the time, right? I drove out to Ontario by myself. I'd never seen a team before for main camp. Same kind of thing. And that feeling of being all by yourself. And that's before, you know, like, what is that? That is 0-910. So iPhone is just essentially being built or is in its first year or two, right?

So, like, you can't even almost comprehend it. You can't, nowadays, it's like, oh, you go to BC and your FaceTime and your parents, right? Yeah. Like, it is a little bit different back then. Yeah, well, it was big time different. It was a big change for me, but I feel like it helped me grow up a lot. I don't know, just being out there

and then the success I had out there. You have a phenomenal year. Like, Lloyd after they trade you and see the year you had, I mean, the year before you had 12 goals, 25 assists, and 37 points as your second year and junior. You're finally year and junior going on to the BCHL. and you put up 21 goals, 53 assists, so 74 points and 57 games. Yeah.

Like, that's a year. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I just get off to the start I did. And from our team going from last place in the BCHL, then we ended by winning our division out there. We finished first in our division. So that was like the biggest turnaround ever, like out in the best we've ever. Like we won like 16 games in a row or something.

Like it was ridiculous. So were you playing top line then? Oh yeah, like top, first line. Who were you on the line with? You wouldn't believe this. They're actually two Lloyd boys. Mark and Mitch McMillan. Really?

Yeah, they were my line mates all year. So we stayed together all year. All three guys were from Lloyd in Port Albany. Yeah, all of us were from, yeah. Or not Port Albany, Albertian Valley? Albanyville. It's Port Albany, but they're called Auburny Valley Bulldogs. Okay, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, so. How did they get out there? Well, Mitch played there the year before. I did. So then I remember looking at the roster and I'm like, Mitch McMillan. I'm like, I played with him growing up. I'm like, awesome. Like at least I know someone out there.

Absolutely. Yeah. And then his brother, by signing there too that year, he was his rookie year. And yeah, I remember the first day training camp. We all got put on the same line. And we just had. Lightning in a bottle. Yeah, just chemistry.

And Mitch, I think he had 62 goals that year or something. Holy crap. What is he still playing? No, he went to school. He went to, I think he went to Northeastern, and then he transferred to North Dakota, just played with his brother. So him and his brother both went to North Dakota.

And played for the Sioux? No, like the North Dakota, like the NCAA. Yeah, yeah, isn't it? Is that what they're called? The North Dakota Fighting Sioux, aren't they? Oh, yeah. Like the Division I team? Yeah, you're probably right, yeah.

I'm not sure what they're, yeah. That sounds right, though. Oh, now I got to... Well, we got to look it up. I mean, all the listeners are sitting there going, as are morons, keep talking, but I want to know, Division I won hockey. I'm sure it's...

Nodak. Oh, now it's... The Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey team is what it says, UND. Oh, okay. Yeah, so they were both there. They were playing there, and then Mark, he ended by, again,

drafted by him on... year all so I got to play against him in the American league and stuff and the coast actually last year he was in Wichita so I got to play against him there so he's still playing yeah he actually just signed back over I think he's going to Denmark or something this year are they still living in Lloyd or not no no they so they moved when we were in midgett they moved out to penticton oh nice so that's where they because they own the Canadian tire in Lloyd and then they sold it and then they bought the one out in Pentict and his dad did so they moved out there when they were what a nice change that is Lloyd to Pennington yeah yeah so that's cool so you go to Elberney show up to training camp

you know one Lloyd guys there you end up on a line with two Lloyd boys and then just absolutely tear the league apart yeah like we were both all three of us were like top six and scoring in the league so like yeah like Mark as a rookie I got like 80 points or something but yeah we were phenomenal, really good line and carried on into like playoffs. And I remember we were up three won in the coastal final in the series. And we ended by losing

three straight. Power Debra came back and beat us in seven. It was devastating. Because I thought we were, we were going to actually have a chance to win the league and go to Doyle Cup. Yeah, and have a shot at maybe. Yeah, maybe playing the RBC

because that would be one, yeah, That would have been awesome if we could have made that. Pardon the interruption, folks. Here is your I.D. innovative question. How many goals did James Nail score last night against the New York Islanders on October 8th? That's it. Nice and simple. The others had a big win.

They're now 3-0 on the season. I hope to say they're going to win the Stanley Cup now. Probably not. I won't jump too far. Throw me the answer at, John Newman Podcast at gmail.com or hit me up via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Any which way you want to do the answer, gets you put in the draw for two tickets to see Sloan on October 20th here in Lloydminster at the Vic Juba Theater. All right, back to the show.

You mentioned your coach Nolan Graham. Yeah, Nolan Graham, yeah. Yeah, what, coming from a program where you had a coach that you butted heads with and then going out there, what was it about him that was. because you list him as your best coach last mentor you had. What was it that he did? I feel, I just, as soon as I got there, he just made me feel really comfortable. Just instantly brought me into dressing room.

He's like, this is where, like, just showed me down the rink. And then, I don't know, he always had trust in me. Like, he just played me a lot, and it was always sitting down with me. He would call me into office and just watching big. with me and just trying to work on the little aspects of my game that needed to get me to the next level. And he, yeah, like I said, he was there for the, I was his rookie year as a coach, his head coach. And he ended up by going straight to the NCAA after that year.

So where's he in now? He is, I think he's northeastern or, I forget what school he's at. I haven't talked to him for a while, but, yeah, I think it was northeastern or something. something out with the school he went to. Wow. Yeah, so it was pretty remarkable for him to, like, first year rookie coach and then going straight down it. Like, it doesn't happen very often like that. No kidding. Yeah. What was, uh, what was Vancouver Island like? It was, it was cool. It was beautiful out there, uh, like, driving to Port Alberti. They have, like, the, the huge trees where it takes, like, 10 people's arms linked together to go around it. So, I mean, I loved it out there. It was, it was, it was

a cool spot to go for your last year, junior, just to get away from town, get away from home and stuff. What were your road trips like on the bus? Because you guys must have bust everywhere, I assume. Yeah, so we played, well, there was Victoria, Cowich and Ima, those were all the four teams, and then us on the island, and then Powell River was a ferry ride away. So we were always on the ferry. We were always ferrying across the mainland there, because we would always be.

have to go up to like prince george and so we had long bus trips but they would always uh like go on like a week like two week road trips so it wasn't too bad you only go out there once a year yeah but what uh when you got on the bus what was the thing you look forward to the most of sitting on the bus because because you can you can make the bus out to be the worst place in the world or the best place in the world yeah i think just i don't know i just getting to know the guys i like just bullshading with them and, I don't know, cracking jokes. Like, you know, like, I've played with so many different guys over my career that you've got to get to know every guy because you've run across so many different personalities.

So over the years, I've learned not to judge everyone by, like, the first time meeting them, actually get to know them, to know the people they are because they could turn out be, like, your best friends and which some of them have. Well, short, funny little story. one of the guys who stood up in my groomsman in my wedding. The first time I met him, I was like, I don't fucking like this guy. Like, I don't know I can like this guy. This guy's way too cocky.

His name's Shadmore. He's a buddy of mine from Calgary, Erdry. And then he was a captain of my college team. And it took probably, I bet, three or four more times, and then you get on the bus, and then you have a couple beers. And all of a sudden you're like, all right, this guy's pretty sweet, right? So I get what you're saying 100%. That actually happened to me too, was my best friend.

Or from Ottawa, like when we went to development camp, like me and camp, me and him, like, well, we're both rookies coming in. He's like, he's like, I remember, you'm saying, like, who is this big idiot? Yeah, man, I don't know, we just hit it off and then we ended up living together for three years down in Binghamton. And we, yeah, we just came best friends. but yeah, I remember we did not like each other for the first couple times. It's a funny thing your brain does when you meet new people, right? Yeah. It's something that's probably once upon a time when we were living in a cave.

It was a very good trait to have. You see something, you make a quick decision like, this is dangerous, don't like the look at that moment, I'm out of here, right? Yeah. But now as time has evolved and we, you know, society's changed, not to get too deep on this. When I sit and look at somebody, my brain still does the same thing. It's spitting out stuff all the time, right?

And it's a good thing, a good point you raised, right? Yeah. Should sit down and get to know somebody and throw them a cold beer and see what they have to say because lots of times you'll be surprised at what they do have to say. Yeah, and just the stories. Everyone has their own stories, so it's just cool to actually just listen and get to know people and what they've went through in their life. And I don't know, just it's cool that I've got to play for as long as they have

and just meet as much people of life as I have over my career. Yeah, one of the stories you've said that was really influenced your life was Todd Bertusies. And when you wrote that, I'm like, ah, I got to talk about that. What is that about? Okay, so this is a cool, like I was going into the rink that day, no idea. Like, I remember. Going into the rink where? In Binghamton.

In Binghamton, okay. And I remember how we go into the room, can you walk in, and then we walked through our gym to get back to, like, are changing solst. And I remember walking through the gym and I look and I see this huge guy on the bike just warming up getting ready and you, I'm the type of guy that's like walk through the like the gym and toss a odd chirp out to the boys like rolling out and stuff. And all of a sudden I see him and I just go like instantly quiet. Just don't say a word. I'm like holy that's Todd Bertuzi like he is in our dressing room. Yeah. So he was coming. down because you wanted to make a comeback to see if you can sell play and he was good friends with our

coach luke richardson so he was uh come down he was practicing for the week and then he was going to play two games with us and i remember going out for uh we had our first day of practice and me and my good buddy daren kramer we were just we were sitting by bertuzi in the room and we're like bert you want to go for lunch and he's like yeah for sure so us three we go sit down at at this Burger Mondays is called have a burger and we start crushing beers and let me tell you this guy can crush beers like no other I was trying to keep up with them at lunch for beers I think we finished six beers before our burger even came out like it was ridiculous so yeah just sitting down and talking to him and just and then I mean I was started getting a little tipsy and just the whole incident happened on I remember bringing it up And he's just like, I don't, I regret what happened to him, but I was just protecting my teammate. And, like, there's two, like, my teammates and my family are always going to be protected no matter what. And, like, that's how growing up playing hockey, you just, I don't know, the mentality you have, you always are protecting your teammates and stuff.

So, him just, just listen down and, like, him telling me that. and I don't know, just bullshating with him and telling me his life story. And he's got a lot of cool story. So it was awesome that it got to like meet him. And yeah, so kind of keep in touch with him a little bit. Did he end up playing a couple games with you? Yeah. So he played one game with us.

It was funny too because we were sitting on the bench and we were playing Syracuse and they were like one of our huge rivals. And me and Kramer were just beacon like no other. up from the bench and one guy came tried to come into the bench so me and kramer were just teeing off on him and i'm still remember the heavyweight for syracuse was going to hop out of the bench and come over there for tuzzi literally first thing he does hops on the onto the ice and just goes and stands right in the middle of both the benches and everyone just like didn't do a thing after that like he just patrolled and ret like he was just almost

like a linesman and one of the coolest things of ours is the respect that he that he had yeah that he had just just like that and no one yeah no one in nothing else happened with that so but yeah and then so he played that game and then we he rode the bus with us the after the game to lehigh valley and he was he could he was probably the first time he's been on a bus in probably 25 20 years i would imagine like because he's yeah flying the fly everywhere. So he was complaining about riding the butt. I'm like, oh man, get used to it.

Like, we've been doing, like, I've been riding the bus for, I don't know, my whole life pretty much. I don't know how many hours I got on there. But yeah, he was complaining. And then he played in Lehigh, and he, um, we and me and Kramer were suspended for that game, so we didn't

play. So we were sitting in the stand. And after the second period, he didn't come onto the ice. So we go down in the dressing room just walking in the room and he's just hammering some bud lights just because but yeah he was it was pretty emotional because he just like started like tearing up and he said boys like i'm done my knee like i can't i can't play anymore so like that was when he knew he was like redone and he was retiring so like i had to walk away because i was started getting the adam like

the thing in my throat and i was starting to tear up and because he used to was like full down like having a breakdown so just yeah it was very sad but yeah just to be able to have that story and like just to meet him in my life was it was very cool on he's a guy at the height of his career was one of the best players in the nchal for that like build right like a big burly power forward yeah and then you mentioned the incident he hits uh the guy off colorado and i'm the name is escaping me. And he goes down the road of, you know, never playing hockey again and all that. And the legal ramifications and everything that came with that whirlwind.

And he went from being one of the best to one of the guys who almost, you wondered if he was ever going to get back to form, right? And nobody can blame him. I mean, geez. Yeah. He, uh, that was a lot of shit to take there for a while off the media. Yeah, it was. it was and just how he dealt with it is just kind of cool that he was able to share that

and feel to yeah just talk to him and just ask him questions because I was still pretty young in my career then so just to get some knowledge from a guy who's been around like that is it's pretty cool did he give you one piece of advice that just has stuck with you then like was there a question that you'd asked him and the answer you gave you're like oh that's pretty cool yeah just because I mean you all the older guys that you played with, they always tell you that, like, it doesn't last forever. Like, enjoy it while you can because, and over the years just watching, like, all the older guys are getting pushed out of the league with all the young guys that are coming in.

It's just, yeah, so he just told me, like, enjoy every moment of the time you get playing hockey. And, yeah, that was probably one of the best advice right there. So got to always enjoy it. Yeah, for sure. Going back to your, to flip back to when you're playing junior, so you guys lose out. Now, rewinding this conversation half an hour, 20 minutes, whatever it has. You lose out, had you been talking to teams up until that point? Because you're a guy that's undrafted.

You don't get drafted in the NHL draft. You don't get drafted. Well, I don't know. We haven't talked about it. Have you been talking to teams now? Like you're putting up, you guys are like a hot line. You said you're three of the top six scores in the league. Obviously, that's going to garner some attention.

To tell you the truth, I didn't talk. I remember my, well, he wasn't my agent, but he was like family advisor because you weren't allowed to have an agent at that point. So he called me and just wanted to, he was helping me out talking to schools and stuff because I was going to try to get a Division I scholarship. And then I remember I was driving home after the season. It was April 1st and he called me and just said,

yeah, we got an NHL interest. And like there's six teams who are wanting to sign you. So I gave him until noon, whoever comes up with the best deal. That's what we're going to go with. What on earth are you thinking when you get this phone call? Oh my God. Yeah, I was driving home. I was just vibrating.

I didn't know if I should call my mom and tell her. But yeah, so I called her and it was April Fool's. And I just told her, like, yeah, so this is what's going on. And when I hear from it. It was on April Fool's. It was April 1st. Yeah, I was driving back to Lloyd, April 1st because the season was done. So when your agent called, were you like, stuff fucking around?

Yeah, I was, I literally, I'm like, is this a joke or like what's going on? So then when he called me back at noon and told me like, yeah, Ottawa, they're signing you. Like they off, here's the contract we're getting. And I remember calling my mom and dad and telling them, and they were ecstatic. Like they just both started crying and, uh, bowl that cracked some beers and started drinking. And, but yeah, then they're telling everyone around town. And I remember all the messages I was getting like, like good April Fool's joke. like ha ha ha and I'm like no like this is serious like this is happening and yeah so that was a

crazy day so I got to know did you find out who the other five teams were do you know who the six teams are um I know one was Vancouver uh Philadelphia the Flyers and I'm not sure who the other the other three were but yeah now going as far as you've gone do you ever wish man like playing for the Flyers? Here's what have been freaking cool. Or does it even cross your mind? No, it doesn't really cross my mind. I mean, I made the decision and thought that was the best for me

just for getting the opportunities and stuff, which, I mean, it worked out pretty good because my first year, I went straight from junior right. Right to a colder cup winning team. Yeah, for the right to the American League, which is pretty unheard of. So just for that to happen, just get an opportunity to play the whole year in the American League,

my first year was pretty cool. Did you get a signing bonus? Yes, I did. What did you do with your signing bonus? Did you paint the town red or did you put it in underneath a rock and the rainy day? Well, my first check, I bought my truck. So I bought a brand new because I've never had a new truck. So I bought a truck and then, yeah, I just saved some of it and just like, well, because of the summertime you don't.

How, like, was it just like, like, how cool was that? Yeah, it was, like, it was pretty cool. Just to get that huge first check, you're like, wow, like, I can't believe I'm getting money to playing hockey. Like, it is something you dream of as a kid, but you never think is going to happen. And when it does, you're, I don't know, just, it's a crazy experience, yeah, feeling, I guess. Well, I mean, if I kind of summarized your career up to this point,

you got cut from the AAA Bannum team in Lloyd when they first had it, correct? Yeah. So then you play out your midget, whatever. You're not drafted, no real sight. You work your freaking tail off one summer, make a junior team because nobody suspects you're going to make it. And then from there you get traded out to BC and have an amazing year and then all of a sudden, no wait, NHL teams come knocking. Yeah. Like that's unreal.

Yeah, it all happened very quick, like, just like that. And I don't even know what to say. because it was cool It was awesome So what do you do You're on the ride It's April Fool's Day You're like

Well nobody Everybody's all these texts are coming back Nobody believes me right now Like you just Come home Like you gotta have the biggest grin on your face That nobody can wipe off Oh yeah

Like I remember I got I got pulled over too By the cops on the way Like right after I heard this And he thinks I'm smuggling And you think some smuggling And drugs back from From the island

Because I'm just pulled into Alberta. So like I had to deal with that and like get out and like walk the line for this cop and like do all this. Yeah. And then all my friends are texting me and I had a few friends in Eminton. So I was on the way home stuff in Emmington and we all went out and celebrated that night. I remember. Did you just tell the cop like man, I just got signed by the Ottawa Senators? No, I didn't even tell him just because I was so nervous because he was literally tearing apart of my truck thinking I had. have, he's like, well, where's your hockey sticks?

Like, why don't you have hockey sticks? I'm like, because the team, like, they took all my gear. Like, I don't, that's why I don't have hockey sticks. Like, I'm not lying to you. I didn't drink last night. So when you, on your way home, after you finish your career in the BCHL, they take all their equipment back? Yes, they took

like, our sticks, everything. It was, like, we go in to get all our gear and they have all our stuff put away, packed up on this, like, ask my trainer, like, where are my sticks like i can't take any of that owner no we auction all that stuff off so yeah we didn't get anything which is pretty crazy because it's the only place i've ever played that that didn't give us

their sticks that's in the year especially the ones we've already had cut off no kidding like yeah so hey you're sitting in somebody's basement right now that stick it's probably somebody bought it for 20 bucks and they got a well i mean they bought it for 20 and now it's worth a couple hundred because it's a dave jrzynski signed stick probably yeah probably game used Yeah, for sure. I mean, someone probably does have it in Port Alberternie. Sit in their basement, summer, collecting dust. So that summer, you come back and now I'm assuming you got to work your freaking tail off, yeah?

Like, I mean, they probably have a regiment or somebody you need to go see or, I don't know, walk us through that. Yeah, so I signed. I remember they sent me my contract, signed it all, and I had calls from the therapist, the equipment guy, just like, then like the strength guy, because they send me like this big booklet of workouts and all this stuff they want me to do. And I'm just like feeling overwhelmed at this point. And so I'm like, well, I should probably go to a good trainer.

So I remember I moved to Saskatoon. Me and my brother, we packed up. We moved into a little house in Saskatoon to train for the summer just because he was like his Saskatoon trainer, there because he's playing for the blades at this time. So we lived there all summer, like just got in really good shape. And, yeah,

just skated there. We played, because they had like that ASHL or whatever, that league there. So we were able to get on the ice all summer and stuff. So we thought that was the best thing for us, but kind of turned into a little bit of shit show. How so?

Well, I remember, I had to go to a development camp. It was end of June And three, two days before I go to development camp, we go to Alan Jackson concert at the Sastatel place there or whatever And we were pretty full, we were having a few beverages

And I remember leaving after the concert And one of my buddies is just started flipping off someone And I was just standing there was pretty, Feeling pretty good And I just remember just getting laid out Someone just sucker punched me Drop me And I was just like holy

I gotta go to camp in two days Like what's like I was freaking out I remember I go home Just pass out Wake up in the morning My whole bed is this covered in blood From bleeding nose And I go look in the mirror

And my eyes are both just black Like huge black eyes And I'm just like I call him from him like Mom I don't know what I'm going to to do like I go to camp in two days they know they haven't even seen me skate they haven't like seen me in person or anything yet so I'm freaking out I'm just like I remember I called my agent and I'm like yeah so this is what happened and so he had to call him and like make up his lie that

I got hit in the face of the puck playing summer league so I show up there and um I have two black guys everyone's just staring at me, all the new kids and all the young prospects and stuff. And first ice session, I go out, getting my heart rate gets going. My nose just starts gushing blood. So every time my heart rate got up, I would just start, like, my nose would start bleeding. So I remember I couldn't do anything in the whole development camp. I literally just laid in the training table like this for the whole week. And everyone's just like, what's wrong with this guy?

I'm like, oh, this is a good first impression. Yeah, so that was pretty crazy. I had to come home and I had to get surgery on it. And, yeah, so that was the first experience of going to an H.L. camp. Yeah. Frigg me, right? Yeah, yeah. You look like a raccoon, and any time you skate hard, you start bleeding out of the nose.

Yeah. They're going great signing, boys. signing yeah and that was literally first impression because no one seen me before so I was nervous going back into the main camp the next time but it all worked out so how going to development camp I mean obviously it wasn't the greatest at time because you couldn't really play that your normal self but what did they do what was development camp like aside from the the hockey of it it was just it was uh more of just getting you used to the pro like the pro lifestyle.

They had the nutritionists, steaks, like all these seminars, how to take care of your body, like roll, stretch, ice, just all those little things because you're playing so many games. You go from playing, what do you play in junior 60 games,

and then to 80-some games pro. So just like how you're supposed to eat, and, like, they do all the fitness testing and stuff with you. Like the first day you show up, they do all, like, your bike test, your skate test and all that fun stuff that you got to do when you show up. But, yeah, I think just getting you out of being a kid trying to adapt to, like I said,

the pro-life style of taking care of your body and just so you're performing at your highest every night. So you come back, you stay away from the Sastel Center, I assume, or Sastel Place, and you get surgery and then you go back from Maine camp? Yeah, main camp, middle of September. So what was that like? Because now you're skating with, I assume, there's guys out there like Alfie, like Daniel Alfredson.

Yeah. Eric Carlson would have been there at the time. Spetsa? Yeah, Phillips, Neil. Who else? Kovalev? He was there. Kovalev?

Oh, my God. This guy was the most skilled guy I've ever seen in my life. Like, he was, like, we'd always play Keepaway with, like, it was like him and Alfie. And they would always play with, like, couple of young guys trying to get the puck off those guys was ridiculous like they were a whole different level and i remember showing up there i was just in awe my jaw was on the ground just walking around the dressing with all these superstars around that you grow up watching yeah so it was

it was uh pretty pretty cool my first like just to be there first time and yeah did you get to playing any games in your first um main camp or yeah how did it work did you yeah yeah So usually, uh, like everyone usually gets one game. So I think I got one exhibition game. My first, it was in Winnipeg,

I believe. Yeah, we traveled to Winnipeg for that. And it was, uh, I mean, it was pretty cool. I mean,

I was just flying around out there. I don't really remember much because I remember it was just such awe just to be out there. And so, what was it like putting on the Ottawa Senator's jersey? Oh, it was cool I mean, it's Well, I mean my first NFL game

I still remember just Like heart just beating out of my chest Like hands were all sweaty Let people know where you're Your first regular season game Where is it? And let's talk about that We can talk great about that

Okay, it was Hockey Night in Canada in Toronto So I remember my My girl, my wife at the time Or she was my girlfriend at the time but she was flying down to Binghamton to come see me because it was like February 14th. It was Valentine's Day. So she was coming down to see me

because we had this big weekend plan. And I remember I got called in to the coach's office in Binghamton. He's like, yeah, like you're going up. You're going up to the NHL. And I remember I was just come out and she was like on her way there. So I had to go like call her and I was like,

babe, I'm like I'm going to Ottawa. like I'm going to Toronto. So she changed all her flights, came to Toronto. She had our dog with us, so she had to find a place downtown Toronto to stay with our dog. Call my parents, they quickly booked a flight for the first game. Yeah. Yeah, so it just all happened so fast.

And I remember I drove to Ottawa, did one practice. We flew to Toronto, then right after that, stayed in this fancy-ass hotel, the Ritz Carlton, So I'm downtown Toronto. Like, he just got treated like the, like, yeah, the food, the meals. He's just like what is going on right now. Just, just, it's always all pretty crazy. So, but.

But your Saturday night hockey night in Canada in Toronto against the leaves. Who'd have been willing the leaves at that time? Kessel? Yeah. Kessel. Funnuff, maybe? No, I don't think he was there. Oh, he actually, yeah, he was there.

He was there at that point, yeah, because that was 2012, I think, was my first call-up. So, Funnuff, Kessel. Cadry, probably. Bozac. Bozac, yeah. Who else did they all have there? I can't even think right now. It all just happened so fast.

So what was it like, I'm a little fan boy sitting here right now, right? I'm just thinking of going to Toronto and playing your first NHL game there. What was it like stepping on the ice? Like, was it just like time slowed down or time was going so fast? Or you just, like, and so on? Like, what was going through your head? What was that entire game like? Well, I remember the first, like, O Canada.

And the, like, I was standing there on the bench for O Canada. And I remember, like, I thought I was going to pass out because I was just, my heart was racing. like I was just sweating like like it was I don't know I didn't really know what to thing and then I go out there for my first shift and we get scored on my first shift of the game so I'm like oh no like here we go like am I gonna get sat for the rest of the game here like but they ended by again like I played really good that game because you're just your adrenaline is going so much like I was like had a few like good forechecks

a couple of big hits I got like I put on a line with Elfie and frick who else was I playing with I was like yeah but I was on the left side You were in line with Daniel Alpherson? Well just for a period

like they they switched the lines up so I was like I played like yeah for a full period I played on a line with Elfie What was that like sitting beside him on the bench? It was yeah it was like it was crazy he was one of the nicest guys

I've ever met like just a good captain he would come in every new guy that came like he would just go introduce himself like if you need anything just let me know like i'm here to help you guys like so that it just had i had a lot of respect for him so just sitting there like playing with them it just i don't know it's hard to explain i guess just like there's so much emotions going like through your head and through your body at that time and just all happens so quick so where do you do you just stick up then for x amount of games that year yeah so i played 10 games in a row and then i had that fight where it was in hockey night in canada yeah my 10th game there yeah so then i got heard after that so i had to

let's talk let's talk about it Fraser Fraser McLaren fight. Yeah. I'm saying this off there, right? A lot of people in Lloyd, if they know you well, knowing that you're playing very good hockey, you made the NHL, et cetera. But for a lot of just common people in Lloyd,

you're known as the guy who fought Frazier McLaren and got knocked out. Yeah. I mean, it's not a pretty thing to watch. No. It was looking back at it and just like kind of taking it all in because, I mean, it was years ago now that happened, but I wouldn't change it. I mean, he asked me to fight.

I didn't get into a fight in NHL yet. So. Were you fighting? I should have asked this a long time ago. Like, were you fighting all through your junior, all through Binghamton, like up until his point?

Like, was that the reason he was approaching you? Yeah, I mean, I've fought some, like down in, like I did it a little bit in junior. I think I,

I don't know, like my 20-year-old year, I didn't really have to fight them with because everyone was, you're putting up over a point per game yeah and I was a big guy and I fought a few of the bigger guys in the league and I just beat them up pretty bad

so like everyone was pretty scared so you don't like you don't have to really worry about that and then American Hockey League like you're a bigger guy so I think I got in like five fights my rookie year like fought some pretty tough guys

like Stortini and like all these I don't know I did pretty good so he knew he kind of he probably knew kind of who I was I've been in a few fights, so he just came up. But you weren't there as a fighter then? No, like, I was playing on, like, the fourth line. I was playing with Zach Smith and Chris Neal.

So, like, we're, I don't know, like, kind of then the fourth line, of course, or, like, they still had those guys in the league at that point where they had, like, the, where they were just out there to fight. Because there was, like, Colton Orr, then there's McLearn, who is, like, a heavy. Then they had Mark Fraser, that big demon. and he was on their team. He was a big man. Yeah, so they had those guys who, who, like, they like to fight.

So I remember he came out to me off the draw. It was literally 20 seconds into the game. And hockey, yeah, like my 10th game. And he asked me, and I was just like, no, I'm good, man. And then Mark Fraser, the team, and he was lined up next to me. He's like, come on, kid, like, try him out. Like, what do you have to lose? So, like, in the back of my mind, I was just like,

well what what do I have to lose like I've been in a fight yet so kind of talked myself up to it went over I was like oh yeah we'll do it so we squared off and it all happened really quick I remember I landed like two or three good ones on him right right off the bat and then my hand like kind of slipped off his jersey and I like kind of left myself exposed and you can't do that when you're fighting a heavyweight like that So he just caught me right on the button in the right spot and just dropped me. And I was like, yeah, I was out. I remember coming to and I was like getting helped off ice. And like right when I was stepping off the rink, I remember I like kind of like, holy, like what just happened.

Like so got into the room, the doctors came, checked me all out. And I remember it was my phone just blowing up. Like everyone calling, texting like, are you okay? Like my mom was bawling, my grandparents were bawling. It was just like, so I quickly texted her, I'm like, all right, guys, I'm fine. People have been knocked out before. It's not that big of a deal, but just, yeah. Well, if you're knocked out in an HL game and probably, you know,

when it went under the radar and, you know, a few people would have known, but on national television, right? Like, if you look it up now, you can just, they're just like, it's a huge media string, right? Like Don Cherry talks about it down in Coach's corner about you. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I remember that, him bringing it up. But, like, people were, like, given kind of Fraser a hard time for fighting this rookie, but it's not his fault.

Like, he, it was, I agreed to it. I mean, I wouldn't take it, change it for anything. I actually had a beer with him after. Like, he was the heart, no, MacArthur, hope he's, like, the golf tournament they had in town. Yeah. He came to it. And so me and him, we got, like, we. We got pretty crushed together.

And he just, like, apologize. I'm like, man, please don't apologize. Like, that makes me feel worse when you're apologizing to me about it. Got a lot of freaking hockey guys, right? I don't know too many sports, and I shouldn't say this because they're probably all like us. But hockey guys, I feel like are special. When you get in fisticuffs like that, instead of being like, yeah, guys, a piece of work, and I'm going to get them next time, it's like, nah, we sat down and had a beer, you know, right?

Like, that's pretty cool. No, it's, yeah, it was really cool. I mean, just, and he's a awesome dude. Like, he was so nice. You wouldn't even think he's a heavy weight. Yeah, like, if you ever get, like, if you get to talk to him, he was awesome about it. So I'm glad I got to, like, meet him and just say, like,

no, I don't want an apology. Like, it was fine. We both agreed to it. It is, and it happened how it happened. Did that affect your career, do you think, anyway? I think it did a little bit, just because every single year after that, going to main camp, they said, oh, you're not the same players as you used to be. You're timid. You're not, you're not. So they just, just gave them a reason to, I mean, send me down

to the American League, I feel like. So after that, it was two or three years and finally, I got another call up. So finally got, got another call up and got to go, I mean, see if I can stick there again. But, yeah, just, I feel like it affected a little bit. But, I wouldn't change it. It is what it is. What was the second time around like when you get called up the second time? It was... What would that have been? That would have been you played 1516, 2015, 16. Yeah, 14 games.

A goal, three assists and four points. Yeah. No, that... It was cool. I was playing really good when I got called up at that point. Like, I was... They were pulling me out in some big minutes. I was playing probably over 15 minutes. the game because we're third line. Who were you playing with on that?

I was playing with like Zach Smith and Chris Neal. Oh, okay. We were the third line. We were playing against the team's top line because we were like the shutdown. So we were playing a shit ton of minutes and yeah, I was playing really good, putting up some points, getting lots of opportunities. So, and I thought I was doing all right, but then guys get off injury and they're on their one-way contracts.

So they're obviously going to stay there before you. so I mean I got 14 games so got enough games but I wish I could go back and just try to change a few things but you maybe stick up there for like a full season or so but were you playing good enough do you think to stick up for a full season I think so I mean I thought I was playing pretty pretty good when I was up there and I mean my dad he's pretty hard on me and he's one of the guys who pretty much got like me get where I am today. But I mean, we talked and I thought I was playing pretty good. I remember the one game we played LA and I think it had like 12 hits or something.

Like I was just running around. Like I was a pretty big impact on the game, like had an assist. And I don't know, I ran over Drew Dowdy a few times. Oh, yeah? I remember. Anybody ever say anything to you after you did that? Yeah, Lucci. She came out to me and he tabbed me on his shimpads and he was shaking his midst of him.

like no I'm good I'm not fighting you man like how big of a guy is that man oh he is a absolute monster but he's not as big as charra i remember playing against him holy what a absolute b-sac guy is like you can't get around him his stick is like 11 feet long i feel like did you take a run at charra i remember i tried to hit him and i just bounced right off him and just landed real nice yeah he was uh he was uh he was was a big dude and he was solid he was very strong in your time in the nchal who was the best player you played against like who was the guy you were like holy diana i remember lining up against right across from uh sidney crosby he was taking the draw and i was just sitting there and i

was just like shaking i'm like oh my god i can't believe on on ice against sidney like playing against sidney krosby right now so he him or eetchkin like they were both yeah you played against OV as well? Yeah, I played against him. I don't know. There's some good players. I mean, I've played against, I don't know, probably like 12 different NHL team, so. What has been in your time in hockey?

I mean, you've got to play in a bunch of different NHL barns, so maybe what is the what is the best NHL rank you walked into that had best atmosphere? I'd have to say Montreal. The forum? Yeah, Montreal. Just, It is loud in there. I remember the one period we played there.

I think Montreal shot us 24 to 1 or something in the first period. And we couldn't even hear ourselves think in there. Like, it was insane. I remember going into the dressing room after that period. And Craig Anderson, he was just getting pepper to shop. He comes in and he just blows a gasket on us. He's like, you guys got a fit. figured out, like, we can't play like this all game.

Like, we had one shot or something. And I think we ended by come back and winning that game, actually. But, yeah, it was not good. But it was the crazy atmosphere. And Winnipeg, too. Winnipeg had, they have crazy fans there, too. It's a good spot to play. How about before your NHL time, whether it's in the HAL or even junior?

Was there a rink that stood out where you, like, just awesome to play in? Yeah, the Hershey, Hershey Bears, Washington's farm team. They have like a ring that holds like 12,000 and they sell that thing out every game. And I remember playing there. And they were always so good, like, because they had, they just have a good owner who signed like guys of American League deals. You'll like pay them pretty good. So they're always pretty good. I think they want like two color cups or three in a row there when Hope he was there. But yeah, they always, I still remember their chant. It was like, B, E, A, R, S, bears, bears, bears,

every time they scored this, and then they would light us up for like seven goals, some games, like, and we're all this, like, if we have to hear that fucking song one more time, like, come on, boys, let's go, figure it out. Like, we're all this yelling at each other. But, yeah, I know that was a cool spot to play. It was a good atmosphere. I was read, I just finished Brian Kilray's book. He's most winningest coach in all of Canadian junior hockey.

And they always talk about having curfews and going on road trips and they weren't supposed to be drinking and stuff like that. I got to assume playing in Binghamton and you boys maybe broke the rules every once in a while. Yeah, you don't really have professional hockey. They don't have curfew. Like, you are responsible for taking care of yourself and making sure you're ready to play every night. Because if you're not ready and you're, like,

if you go on a few bad games where you're not playing very well, like you'll get scratched. You'll get taken out of lineup. They have all these guys waiting around to take your spot. So I feel like there's no curfew. But, yeah, there's a few times where we went out on the road. What was your favorite place to go out on the road? Oh, Newfoundland for sure.

I don't know if you've ever been there before, but what a, it's a crazy, like, the George Street. I've been to George Street. Yeah, and I just, the live music and everyone's always happy there, and I don't know, I just love going there. We go there this year, actually, and I'm really looking forward to because I haven't been out there for, like, three or four years. So, yeah, I think Newfoundland or Charlotte, North Carolina.

North Carolina was pretty cool too. They have a good spot there. What's in Charlotte, North Carolina? What do you make it? They got the Charlotte Checkers there. I'm sorry, I meant nightlife-wise. What's special about that place? Oh, just right downtown they have, like,

where the rink, where the basketball team plays there. It's all, like, just in this big area. And, like, just, like, three stories full of bars and like just good nightlife and lots of lots of hot ladies walking around and i don't know just warm there it's just just a good spot to go if you ever have the chance you should go check it out it's pretty cool little city they got there charlotte yeah yeah go go watch the panthers play and yeah they got they got some good stuff there they always the nascar it's pretty big around there too so it's pretty pretty cool spot you always talk about that you uh you're a pretty big chirper what's the

best chirp you've heard on the ice well I got I got a few missing teeth so I always hear about that guys are always and then I don't know just I just say that like the bald guys when they're like

taking off their helmets for for the national anthem to always just give it to them about being having no hair but probably the funniest one I ever seen is I forget who it was but this guy I guess this guy liked his drugs a lot

because this one guy picked up snow on his blade and put it up to the guy's nose he's like here you go buddy this will get you through the game or something like something ruthless like that and the whole bench was just dying laughing so yeah I don't know how about the best practical joke

amongst teammates you've seen because you always got the joker on your team yeah no we always guys would always like put like cups of water under your helmets so whenever you go pull it off they're like dump all over you so I remember one guy at Shane Prince he got

me with it so pre-game skate we had a game that night and it was in Newfoundland and I go with me and Darren Kramer we go in extra early that morning and we go and we take the knobs out of a stick and we fill a stick

with water and then put the knobs back in yeah and then taped them all up And his stick felt like a brick, and we did it to every single one of them. So he'd come to the rink, he got his stick and he was taping it up, and he was pissed. Like, I've never seen someone so mad. And the whole dressing he was just laughing at him. He almost broke out into tears.

He was so mad. Like, it was, but I thought it was pretty funny. That's the hockey life, isn't it? Where you're trying to, it's a rough, crude sense of humor and joking. Yeah. That's what a team's built around Yeah, and then the other one One of my buddies

Got me with this one My jeans He like Soed the pockets At the top So you have all your cell phone And everything's still in there But it's you can't get into your pocket

So it's all sewed shut So I had to go Go like Get the stitch ripper And like rip every stitch out of my pants Man Oh I was so mad but it was pretty funny that was a good one too let's go back to your first year with

binghamton because your first year in binghamton you guys go and win a calder cup what was that like going from playing junior-a-hockey to now being in the hl playing against grown men and then going to the finals like yeah it was pretty crazy i think we we finished eighth in our conference So we had a real tough road when we got the playoffs. We had to play the number one seed. So people were counting us out to get swept first round. And I remember we're down three won in the series. And every game that we won, we won in overtime.

So the last three games all went to overtime, like double overtime, and we ended by winning all of them. So, like, after that, like, series, we're, like, boys, like, we could do this. Like, we have a really, like, really good team. Robin Leonard, he was our goalie, and he was on fire. Like, no one could score on him if you're like. So we ended by winning that round. We go to play Portland.

We beat them in six. And then the conference finals, we ended by sweeping Charlotte to go to the finals. So we're all, everyone just like, well, we're, like, we're here. like we might as well like we're gonna we're gonna do this like we're gonna win who'd you play in the finals uh Houston Minnesota's farm team yeah yeah so we went there for two we ended by splitting one-one then we come back to Binghamton for three so then we went two so we're up three one we go back there or it was three two we go back there for game six and we end up winning in game six and uh what a feeling that was just great like i've never won a championship

before my life any hockey i played so just uh finally get to get that under the belt and it's i mean a pretty big one so just it was an awesome experience and we had a really good fun group of guys too so just i don't know we had a good party after that who was on your team well it was like Zach Smith, Colin Greening, like all these guys, like they're... Who was on your top line? Who were the big scores? Who was the... Ryan Keller, he was from Saskatoon. He was one of them. And then Ryan Puttunley, Pottsy was in, yeah. He played in with Oilers for like three or four years. Okay.

Who else? We had, like Roman Wick. He was over here. He was from Switzerland. He was awesome. Bobby Butler yeah just a bunch of like good American league guys that we had I mean like we had Zach said Jared Cowan he came from junior that year to in the playoffs yeah

what was when you win did you win in a home ice no it was in Houston only one so did you spend the night there oh yeah yeah we uh we had we went into our room and just beers just coolers full of beers and we were just had the champagne spraying everywhere like and then

we ended up by going out to a club in downtown Houston stayed out there to like four four in the morning then we had a seven o'clock charter back to binghamton so we land in binghamton and literally the whole city is on the runway waiting for us to come come in so that was pretty cool we got off we're all still just hammered getting off the plane like have the calder like we're all just celebrating we uh go we have like this parade around the whole city and there's probably a hundred thousand people like out in the city like it was wild yeah and so like we're on top of like our rink like we had this big balcony we're all up there like holding the cup in front of the whole city and like it was everyone was

It was going insane. Yeah, it was cool. They pretty much shut down the whole downtown just for the party, so it was cool. Who was coaching your team that year? Kurt Klein and Dors was his name. Yeah? Yeah. So, yeah, I had him for three years.

Well, you played for Binghamton for six years? Six years, yeah, six years. I think I was like third all-time for games played there. Really? Yeah, so I had, I think I had like, yeah, 400 and some American League games in Binghamton, so, yeah. You miss playing there at all? Yeah, I mean, I was there for so long, so I just, I knew a lot of people there. It was a good spot to play, a good hockey town, lots of good fans, so I miss it, yeah, I wish I could have stayed a couple more years there.

but just never worked out that way. After your time in Binghamton and Ottawa, and you see what has gone on since with Eugene Melnick and Eric Carlson getting traded out and who's the guy I went to Florida? I can't think of his name. That's my best friend, Mike Hoffman. Mike Hoffman?

Yeah. All that stuff going on. Was that, did that surprise you at all? Or were you like, ah, you kind of, that organization, just kind of. Yeah, it was a, It was a shit show there. Like, for being an NHL team, it was, I mean, it was ran pretty good,

but just they didn't want to, like, spend any money. They were just looking for the cheap way out of everything. So they didn't want to pay any of their guys, and that's why they don't have anyone left there. Like, if you look at their team this year, you probably, I don't even know who their best player would be, because I don't really know too many guys there. But, yeah, it was, like, with all that, like my buddy Hoff and Carl's,

and all that shit that happened between their wives and stuff. It was just an absolute shit show with it all. So I think he was happy to get out of there and just have a change and go somewhere else and start over. Is that why you chose Germany after Binghamton? Looking for a different place to go? Yeah, I don't know. I just wanted to go over and give it a try

and see what the hockey was like. and I had a good opportunity, a pretty good contract they offered, so I couldn't really say no. And I just went over there for the year to try it out. So you played one year in the Germany Elite League. Who did you play for? Isolone Roosters. Okay. They're kind of like the, they were all right.

They're like kind of the bottom end teams in the league, though, like not like the Berlin's or the Cologne, like the higher paid. Like you have those teams that, like they have lots of. money and stuff. So we didn't make playoffs that year. But I don't know. It was a good experience. I really enjoyed it over there, but it just wasn't my style of hockey.

I mean, I think I was second in the league in penalty minutes, and I had one fight the whole year. So just from hitting too hard, hit someone too hard to get kicked out of the game. So I think I had a vote. What did you think of their fans and they're chanting? Loved it.

At first, I'm like, what? Because I had no idea. Like, because I remember, after the first game we won, we all did the salute around the rink where you go raise your stick. Then you go into the dressing room. You take off your top half your gear and then just leave your jersey. And then you got to go out and, like, do another lap where you wave at everyone.

Then you go into the middle and you do this like, hey, hey, like do this like, chant to them and they're chanting back at you. and I don't know. It was different at first, but I don't know. It grew on me, and I thought it was, I don't know, it's cool. I wish everyone could go over and just experience a game over there, just go watch one hockey game because it's totally different than over here, that's for sure. 100%.

Yeah. Was there a bunch of North American guys on that team, or were you one of the few that could speak English, or was it, you know, how was the language barrier? for you. We had 11 North Americans. Oh, crap. Yeah. I think you're allowed to dress 9.

So we had 11 at the start, and then a few guys got released. But yeah, so I knew a few guys going over, like, Louis Capru. So I played with him in Binghamton for a year and a half, so he was over there. So I kind of knew a few guys going over. But, yeah, it was

got to remember going over by myself. to and then just they literally drop you off with your car give you your address to your house and it's like all right here you go like don't give you any direction or anything so like it was i was pretty i got homesick there for a little bit just because i was didn't get internet for a month like it took a month for me to hook up my internet so i'd go home it's all german tv and like no one really lived like around me so like i'll just go home and just literally sit in the silence all day had to get a new number but only had like a certain amount of gigs so like face-time in the wife and the family like you're usually you're burning through this and it's supposed to last you the whole month

so i don't know it was hard at first but i grew to to really enjoy it a good life experience for yeah for sure you talk about going out to bc when you're in your junior age to to kind of be off by yourself, away from your family. Go over to Europe and experience a culture slash language slash every other barrier known the man. Yeah. Yeah. Teach you a lot about yourself. For sure.

I remember the first time I went to the grocery store there. It was probably like, yeah, two days after I got there. And there you bag your own groceries. That's right. I had no idea. So I'm standing there putting all my stuff on the conveyor belt. And there was like no, like it was a small town. Germany so no one really speaks English.

So, and it's Germany, it's so overpopulated. Like, there's like 86 million people who live there and it's the size of Saskatchewan. Like, it's ridiculous. So I remember standing in line, there's probably about 20, 25 people behind me and all my stuff's going through. All of a sudden the cashier just starts yelling

at me in German. I just like, what are you saying? I have my hands out. I'm like, English, like anyone speak English? everyone in line just starts pointing at the bags I'm just like oh so I just grab a bag like hand it to her just started ripping all my stuff into the bag like pay for it and I just like had the biggest anxiety like I was just I didn't go I don't think I went back to the grocery

or like two weeks after that I'm laughing because I remember doing the same thing where I played in Finland the last place I played the first place I played there were six of us North American, so at least you can figure it out together. The last place I played, I was the only North American. So I had nobody. Yeah.

Talk to myself in my room. And the grocery store is just like, you talk about anxiety. That was terrible. Oh, it's bad. Like, yeah. And you don't know what anything is. Like, you go order meat and it's all like behind counter. So you have like order from a, and you're trying to like tell her how much you want.

You're like using your hands like. this much I guess it's yeah but no once you get the hang of it it's pretty cool

I don't know I enjoyed it I wouldn't I wouldn't change it for anything so another thing I'm curious about is you come

back to North America right you go to Germany for a year you come back and then you play with Florida Florida yeah

what was your time in Florida like because there was only one season correct yeah it was oh excuse me yeah so I was

actually I signed a contract to go over to Russia. Really? To the KHL? The VHL, like the second league. Oh, okay. So, like, I was, I had a pretty good opportunity, like,

but it was, like, deep Siberia, like, and way down in, like, southern Russia, like, almost in Kazakhstan. Okay. And I was looking at the roster, and I was the only North American. Like, they had no one, and the coach didn't speak a lick of English. So I had this, and the whole time,

I was just sitting with my wife, and I'm like, she was going to come over with me, and I just had the worst, just had a bad feeling, this anxiety and stuff. So I backed out of it, like last minute and just signed in Florida, like right, like right the next day. I just wanted to play again, so they were interested in, I don't know, Florida is a pretty cool spot to go. So I was just like, all right, so me and the wife, two days after we hop in the vehicle and drive 45 hours down to Florida to make it to train in camp. So, yeah, it all happened pretty quick, but yeah, no, it was awesome. Like, I love Florida. It was a cool spot. We ended by making it all the way to the Kelly Cup final.

And then the final game seven, it went to game seven of the final. and it fell on the exact same day as my wedding. So I had to miss game seven in a Kelly Cup final. What day was your wedding? June 9th. Yeah, because I was over in Europe the year before, so we had this old book because I thought I was going to go back and the seasons are done way earlier.

So it just all happened with my lock, of course, it happened. But yeah, it falls on the exact same day as our wedding. Well, you ruddy full. you as a hockey player should know the only day you pick in the summer is like August 1st because you're like, there's no way I'm playing hockey in that thing. I know.

Yeah, I don't even know. I mean, that's pretty shitlock, right? Yeah, it was pretty shit luck. And yeah, so it made the wife happy, that's for sure, because I made it home for the wedding. But we ended up by losing in the game 7. But you didn't play game 7? No, I...

You missed game 7 to get married. Yes, I did. Well, I think that's true love right there. Yeah, holy crap. Oh, hopefully it all works out. No, I'm just kidding. Yeah. No, yeah, so she, well, she said you can go, but I was like, well, we're not going to.

Well, yeah, but it's your, I mean. You only get married once, hopefully. So, like, I had to, I don't know. I told the coach before going into playoffs, like, all right, my wedding's June 9th. We should be, like, we should have been done. by them but the team we were playing in Colorado they they booked their rink out and like and they won the league before so I don't know why they no shit luck man yeah so it just it all like we should have been done a week early before that but then it all just happened where the schedule came out and game

seven fell on June 9th and it's like okay well let's not go to game seven right guys let's win it before then or lose it before what we got to do let's not go that yeah so the whole team knew so they're all like we're all rattling behind like all right dizzy like we're going to win this for you and it never worked out like that so the june 6 was uh game 6 in colorado so the wife was there and june 7th the morning we we flew back to lloyd and all my friends and everything were coming coming into town for the wedding june 6 you're where i was in colorado the night before your wedding well it was like two nights before my wedding yeah and i'm playing at game 6 like

So, oh, man. That's awesome. Yeah, so, yeah, I don't tell too many people that story because everyone always gives me a hard time. You miss game second. Yeah, but think of it on the other side. You know, think about from a wedding standpoint. I can't imagine my wife being like, you're going to play in game six the night before a wedding. Right?

Like, did you make rehearsal dinner and everything then? Oh, yeah. Well, yeah, we flew in, like, we booked a flight, so we flew out a, it was June 8th. We flew out of Colorado to get to the rehearsal. Like we flew in Daventon, we had to rush home, and we had our rehearsal dinner, all that stuff that night. Anyone that's been married understands the week before a wedding

is a crap ton of work. And there's just stuff and it's stressful. And you're sitting in Colorado playing game six. Yeah. Luckily, I had an awesome wife who literally planned everything that I didn't. Because that was away. I didn't come home. I literally got home a day, day before we got married.

Still sucks. You lost game seven. I know. Yeah, it was because I remember sitting at the wedding too and I was following on my phone. And then we had to get up to do all our speeches and everything. And someone asked like, what's the score in your game? They yell out. So like I get someone at the, like my best man to like look at the score or it was like one of the bridesmaid or something.

They're like, they yell out. it's tied 3-3, but that was the series. Like, it was the series was at 3-3. So we ended, but it was like 2-1, we lost or something. So I'm like, oh, it's tied up. Like, we're going overtime or I announce. I'm like, oh, never mind. Actually, we lost.

Everyone just like, oh. Yeah, so it kind of, yeah, it was shitty luck, but I wouldn't change it. I mean, we had this, we had the wedding plan there. for a while. No, no, I mean, it's understandable, right? I mean, that is crappy luck. Yeah, for sure.

Right? Yeah. So why not go back to Florida? Why Kansas? Because you've been playing in Kansas City now for two years, right? Yeah. So my brother, he signed in Kansas City. So that's why I decided.

What does that happen like, playing with your brother for going on now two years? It's awesome. I mean, it's nice because, well, we played two or three guys. games in the American League we played together. It was me, him, and Zach Stortini was their line for two. Really? For two games.

Just, yeah, so it was good. And then, right, like, when you... Stortini is a giant man. Is he not? Yeah, he's a big, big boy, but he is not a very good hockey player. And I remember going into my coach's office finally and said, like, all right, it's like, you got to get me off this guy's line, like, because I couldn't get, just get anything.

going. All the ones I do is dumped a puck and it was, but it was all right. I got to play with my brother for a few games in the American League, so it was good. But yeah, playing with him, this year, I mean last year and then this year we're both going back to the same team again. So it's cool. I mean, nice out of familiar face and just play like, I don't know how many years left. So it's nice to have the last couple just playing with him. It's our wives are together and stuff, so it'll be good. That leads me into my first question of about five before we get you off here. Is what is next for it?

So is you plan on playing hopefully another two, five, eight? This is my last year. This is your last year? Yeah, this will be my 10th year, professional. And yeah, I'm going to hang them up at the end of this year. So I'm going to try to get into, well, I'm going to help coach a little bit this year. be a player coach and stuff, maybe just help out a little bit with that whenever they need. So, yeah.

So you're looking to get into coaching as you move forward, then you think? Oh, yeah. I think it's a lot of question. I would like to sit down and talk to a few guys. And I don't know, just to see, because we're planning on the wife just accepted a job in Evanton. So we might be moving there next year. Oh, I'm good for you. So, yeah.

So I'm going to try to get in contact with a few people there and just see what options. as I have and figure it out from there. But I'd like to learn a little bit this year from just the guys we have coming in for coach and stuff and just talk with them and just get a better idea of what's happening and stuff. Cool. Well, I got one, two, three, four, four questions before I let you out of here. Okay. So one we do all the time is if you had a time machine and could go back to any time in history

to witness an event, is there a place you would go? Uh, probably I would go back to junior, to game seven of the coastal final. Red do it. Red do it and try to win that game. Because I really wanted, like, I don't know, junior hockey was fun. I didn't, there was no worries, you just go out and play, no stress. Like, I don't know, I just really enjoyed playing junior hockey. hockey so I'd I'd probably go back and

relive a few of those moments in junior. Is junior hockey your favorite time then? I would have to say yeah it was just like I said like once you start the money comes into it it's more of a job so it's just more stressful and junior hockey you're you're still kid you're just out there enjoying the game it's just so fun to play and all your buddies and I don't know you meet such good people in junior and I still have lots of lifetime friends I've met playing. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

If you could pick any line mates to play with, what two would you pick? My brother, for sure, he'd be one of them because we played together last year. And I don't know, I just like playing with him. He's fun and he's one of my best friends. Okay, so you got your brother. Who do you stick on there to make sure you're putting the puck in the net? My buddy, Mike Hoffman. He'd stick coffee on him.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, we need one of those snipers on there. Were you surprised when he went down to Florida and had such a good bounce back season essentially? No. You knew that was coming. I knew. He is one of those guys that just 60, like he has one of the best shots I've ever seen. Like if you ever watch him shoot the puck, it's fun to watch.

He's got the unreal release. So I knew he just needed an opportunity somewhere else. And I feel like he found that there. and I think Florida is going to have an unreal team this year. I think they might have an actual real shot at winning the Sand the Cup this year. No, no kidding. There's a prediction, folks. I might toss some money down on them in Vegas, actually.

If you could party with one celebrity, who would you party with? Who would you want to party with? I don't know. That's a tough one. Maybe M&M? I don't know growing up. No, M&M and M. Yeah, I don't know.

I've, growing up, I always loved his music, and I still listen to it all the time. So I, oh, sorry. I think it'd be cool just to hear a story. Like, he always tells us stories through his songs, but just like the real life, just to have a beer and sit down. And I don't know, just, I think it would be cool. Who is maybe one of the coolest people you've ever partied with it? Have you just randomly had one of those random nights or all of a sudden you're sitting at a table? And you're like, I can't believe he's sitting here.

It's got to be Todd Bertuze. It's got to be Todd Bertus. to be yeah just the experience and getting to know them and stuff and that was one of the fun as nights we ever had like we well we went all day we went from noon right till midnight i think i drink 12 hours straight with some one day so yeah it was pretty cool and it didn't even see like i was wasted but it didn't even seem like he had one beer like he just he can slam beers i'm telling you if you ever have the chance have a beer with him because he has some cool cool stories All right, speaking of the Florida Panthers, and I should have put Hoffie on the question, but I didn't.

We do a game here. It's called sign. You got sign one guy, trade one guy, and buy one out. And so I got Hubert O, Barkoff, and Daninoff. Signed Barkoff. What was it? Trade and buy one out. Trade, so was it Huberto?

And I would trade Huberto and I would buy out, Daddanov. Oh, interesting. Well, cool. Barkoff, he's a, he's a stud. Yeah, he's awesome. He's a fun player to watch. I like watching him play, so. Cool.

Well, best of luck in your upcoming season. I hope you enjoy this. I certainly enjoyed having you on. And maybe we'll have to get you and your brother on here together at one point here in the future. Yeah, for sure. I talked to him about it and I said I was doing this and he was interested. Cool. Yeah, that would be awesome.

And thanks for having me. Yeah, yeah. It was awesome. It was a cool, cool thing to do. Awesome. Well, that's all. Perfect. Hey guys, thanks for tuning in to Dave Drozinski.

Wish him the best of luck here in the upcoming season as he heads back down south to play alongside his brother. We'll try and keep a tab on you, Davey boy, and see how you make out. Next week on the podcast is Tyler Wyman, goaltender of the Lacombe Generals this year. He won the Allen Cup. And he was a guy who played for Tri-Cities back in the W.HL once upon a time. got drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2002, round 5, 164th overall. And then he played all over the place, HL over in Germany. And he's got quite the career, 14 years per all.

And so we sit down and we talk with Tyler Wyman. And so here's a short clip of it, and we'll see you guys next week. again, me and another guy were the only guys were there that long. So we traded for a lot of misfits that came to Tri-Cities. We traded a lot of our top scores for toughness at times, depending who the GM was. And you picked up pretty soon of who you think you should hang out with and who's going to bring you up and who's going to bring you down. So I kind of learned at a young age of being selective with your friends and who you can, count on because even though your teammates and you have to rely on each other you can't because

you're going to always have okay come with me there's always going to be temptations there's always going to be people pulling you in one direction but um so where's that come is that your parents upbringing of you i'm kidding we're going down a deep rabbit hole here because that's that's a I'm really curious with young kids one of the things that always scares the living crap out of me is when they get older with alcohol, drugs, you name it, right? Mm-hmm. So where does something like that maturity, understanding that at a young age, come from?

I don't know. Maybe it's just seeing it saying, I don't want to be that guy, knowing that you have a future in order to get to where you want to be in that path, that these are the steps I need to take. My path isn't going to be like his over there and I don't want it to be.

and again surround yourself with the right people it's not always easy because you're going to have your closest friends sometimes going in that direction but again it's it's okay to say no so it's it's easy to say now but