Spittin Chiclets - Spittin' Chiclets Episode 231: Featuring Scott Gomez

Episode Date: December 30, 2019

On Monday's episode, the guys are back after the holiday break and are joined by Scott Gomez. Scott joins (42:55) to talk about his career, mainly just the beginning because of how many stories were t...old. Winning the cup, playing with Claude Lemieux and a ton more good stories on tap. The guys also touch on the recent JR situation, along with some recent NHL news, a gambling corner, and a bunch more.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/schiclets

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey, Spittin' Chicklets listeners, you can find every episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. Hello, everybody. Welcome to episode 231 of Spit and Chicklets, presented by Pink Whitney, the pink lemonade-flavored vodka from our friends at New Amsterdam Vodka. I probably should have given a Texas-sized hello, seeing as we're down here in Big D for the next few days. The Winter Classic is on, what, Tuesday or Wednesday?
Starting point is 00:00:41 I can't keep track of the days. Nashville and Dallas, we're down here getting some interviews. Let's say hi to the boys first. Wits, what's going on, brother? What's going on, what, Tuesday or Wednesday? I can't keep track of the days. Nashville and Dallas. We're down here getting some interviews. Let's say hi to the boys first. Wits, what's going on, brother? What's going on, guys? Pleasure to see you. It's been quite a little break we had just because we got to play the Best Of episode. Absolutely.
Starting point is 00:00:55 So it seems like we haven't recorded or talked in quite a while. Has there been any news that we need to talk about? I'm not sure. We'll give it a little look-see in a second. Let's finish saying hi to the boys first. Biz, what's going on, buddy? Boys had a great little vacation in Cabo. You unplugged it all?
Starting point is 00:01:13 I shut my social media off for two days. My buddy, Jeff Jacobson, who's my business manager, he was sending some posts out that I had to, based on requirements, one of which, the feature I did on Sportsnet with Serge Ibaka, Penny Oleksiak, Bianca Andreescu, and Beau Bichette, this young stud for the Blue Jays. And I had a blast.
Starting point is 00:01:37 Obviously, one thing was not like the others in that room, all top-tier athletes, and then Biz got thrown in the mix. But somebody backed out last minute and they called me and i got to go to toronto and and hang out with those superstars and it was a great time and let's not forget biz you didn't know the words to rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and then he's like it was like when um tommy boy was like did i catch a niner in there he's like rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And he just had no clue.
Starting point is 00:02:08 I'm like, how do you not know the words to Rudolph? Well, when the cameras are on and there's that many celebrities in a room. So you were feeling a little nervous. I get nervous before recording podcasts. I care about my performance. And I think that before every game, exhibition games in the ECHL, I would get nervous. So that's just any time I'm going to be on, I'm usually, unless I'm so fucked up on mushrooms or weed that I just don't give a shit. But I figured since I was showing up for Sportsnet, I'd lay off the drugs that day. He's either super nervous or has no clue what's going on.
Starting point is 00:02:40 There's no happy medium there. No, in between. He shut down social media for three days and then made up for it all this morning. What are we on Sunday with the dude who didn't understand how prices at liquor stores worked up in Canada. Oh God, I only shot out a few today, but folks, whatever, liquor stores
Starting point is 00:02:56 in Canada trying to charge $70 for a bottle of Pink Whitney, we have nothing to do with that. That's a privately owned liquor store that's trying to gouge you. Don't buy a bottle there. We don't want you buying bottles there i think the highest or the lowest to highest it goes is usually the what 25 to 31 dollar range in canada depending on the province it's that high because of health care let's not even get considered getting starting on the health care subject we won't do that but uh listen if you come down to the states and buy
Starting point is 00:03:24 it it's fucking 10 bucks. Yeah, we obviously have nothing to do with that. I thought it was like an Indian that was like rupees or something. That price was so fucking high. I was like,
Starting point is 00:03:32 Jesus Christ, dude. Go somewhere else. That actually comes with a little bit of wit's urine in it. It's like a special edition bottle. Don't use it for a drug test. And the last but not least,
Starting point is 00:03:42 our producer, Mikey Grinelli, the guy who makes it all happen behind the scenes here. What's up, buddy? Like I said before the show, last show of a decade.. And last but not least, our producer, Mikey Grinelli, the guy who makes it all happen behind the scenes here. What's up, buddy? Like I said before the show, last show of a decade. Let's have a good one, boys. Yeah, absolutely.
Starting point is 00:03:50 And our buddy Rudy's here as well. I know he's not on the microphone. Great addition to the trip. Great addition. And don't worry, that does not mean there's a hinge ad coming. It's just Rudy here to help out, give a helping hand. Whit actually introduced me and Rudy last uh to a bam bam party for the first time oh god should we get right into that yeah these these two these two guys had never um
Starting point is 00:04:11 had an ambient to help go to sleep and i've mentioned many times before that you get in the room with teammates and this is back when i played hockey and now you know rudy mikey they are my teammates so you get in the room with the teammates you You guys have an Ambien. We had a beer or two, and we just started talking shop. We started just shooting the shit. I'm asking these guys questions. I'm asking Rudy about college. Rudy's an interesting guy. Rudy's a very interesting cat.
Starting point is 00:04:35 It's just a fun conversation. Well, next thing you know, I don't exactly remember what I was upset about, but I had my golf club, and I was working on my swing while we were having the conversation, and I started hammering the club off. You were mad at young NHL players in how they act nowadays. Yeah, probably a little overdramatic. Maybe the ambient was talking
Starting point is 00:04:52 if I'm actually banging my golf club off the bed. But next thing you know, knock, knock, knock. The security came. They're like, you guys are too loud. It was 9.30. I was like, it's 9.30. Can you even get one of these? It doesn't matter.
Starting point is 00:05:04 This guy's trying to sleep. It's all right, boys, we got to keep it. He could have used one of your ambience. So we had a, yeah, we had a great discussion.
Starting point is 00:05:10 I said, what did you guys think? They're like, that was amazing. Actually, last night I go, have you guys, do you guys feel anything?
Starting point is 00:05:15 And they're like, we feel weightless. I like that. I like that. I think you'll be like hazy on the memories of what, what we talked about last night, but they, they crushed their first,
Starting point is 00:05:24 uh, bam Bam Bam party. Not to be confused with Kevin or Jim. Jim? Who? Hayes. Jimmy Hayes? What did I say? You said a little hazy.
Starting point is 00:05:35 Oh, okay. And I said not to be confused. Now, more importantly, I asked, well, how was your sleep? And Rudy said he was basically in an inception because he had a dream within a dream within a dream within a dream. So Bam Bam worked and I would take a half of one and I would basically be out in
Starting point is 00:05:51 30 minutes. We mentioned the story about me getting wrapped in the cocoon in Detroit. So I'm glad I didn't stop by last night. But R.A., how was your break, R.A.? It was nice and relaxing. It was good to get away for a couple days. Not from you guys. I love you guys. But just, you know, there's no games. You can just unplug, spend some time with the family and, you know, not have good to get away for a couple days. Not from you guys. I love you guys. But just, you know, there's no games. You can just unplug, spend some time with the family,
Starting point is 00:06:07 and, you know, not have to worry about anything for a few days. When I played, I love the fact that you get the days off. You get the three days off, 24, 23. Oh, Jesus Christ. Four, five, and six. Four, five, and six. Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey. The show started 10 minutes ago.
Starting point is 00:06:24 When I played, I love the break I Loved it as a fan Now I hate it it's three nights I can do two nights I'm like I need games On the 26 I'm like oh shit it's the Three days so hopefully the Players had some nice relaxing refreshing Breaks that get the batteries recharged with us
Starting point is 00:06:40 As fans it's hard three nights without hockey You're itching for it That's why Christmas night I was betting Kawhi's fucking point total over 25 and a half. I hit that. Yeah. I hit that. Easy money. No, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:06:51 I hit Russell Westbrook was 24 and a half in one of those games. Now, one set of hockey that does get started on the 26th, though, is the World Juniors. We're going to get to that later, but we got some stuff to talk about. First off, the Ambien Party. That's actually one uh well i guess drug narcotic i've never actually i tried one of the few i've never sampled once well you make it sound like a legit drug i mean it helps me sleep when i'm in an uncomfortable bed on the road i get used to my bed at home i need it to sleep it's not a drug like it's like you need a script for it don't you yeah fair enough fair enough it's a drug.
Starting point is 00:07:28 If you're talking about the drugs that you try and then you're comparing that to Ambien, you're clueless. That's all I'm saying. Oh, shit. Well, in certain states, you need a subscription for weed. Subscription to you. Subscription. I'll take the six months. What do you call it?
Starting point is 00:07:42 Oh, a prescription. Yeah, you subscribe to Sports Illustrated. You get a couple pre-rolls. But like you said, Biz, you did allude to something we need to talk about. And one of our last guests, Jeremy Roenick, he was on. He was a great guest. Nobody complained on Twitter, on social media. I certainly didn't see complaints about him.
Starting point is 00:08:02 I didn't hear of any complaints. And then seemingly out of the blue, NBC suspended him for comments he did make about his co-worker uh where he basically broke nbc's corporate rules uh whatever the in-house whatever the in-house rules are he violated some of them while he was on the show here um there was a you know basically a big kerfuffle about it let's go to you with first We'll get your take on the situation And your thoughts on it Because people have been waiting Okay So
Starting point is 00:08:28 As JR was talking JR loves just letting it fly He's a great interview He's a great guy And he was telling very funny stories One of them to him Is a close personal friend And I'm sure on the vacation he was making
Starting point is 00:08:46 the same type jokes and my guess is uh katherine tappan was was probably like shut up jr you know that's kind of my sense of the whole thing now when he was saying it i will say in my head i was like ah i was like like i'm not saying it was bad but i was like oh i don't know if i'd say that kind of thing but but whatever just kind of like my thoughts as he's talking and then you said to him at one point oh co-worker I think it was a careful co-worker knowing the climate
Starting point is 00:09:13 what the issue was he's talking about someone that is such a good friend of his and is like family to him so jokes that some people find funny and there's just so many people now that, that don't find it funny. And,
Starting point is 00:09:28 and something about that, it's a hot topic, like a hot button issue. And what happened was right away, everyone just goes all out on NBC. What a fucking joke. This is ridiculous. What are they doing?
Starting point is 00:09:41 Well, until you hear from Catherine Tappan, you can't really say like what a joke it is. And she came out with a statement that said, even though we're best friends, and I'm paraphrasing here, we're good friends, what JR said, it wasn't acceptable,
Starting point is 00:09:54 I didn't appreciate it, whatever that was. So you understand that even if she didn't care, the climate we're in now, it doesn't work anymore. You can't say things like that anymore i mean that's just how it is i don't i think it's ridiculous i don't agree with it all the time i felt really bad for katherine tappan because she was put in a bad spot right even if it's a joke to her well there's so many women young girls that look up to her and even though it is a joke like talking about like banging a co-worker, it's just like not kosher anymore.
Starting point is 00:10:28 I mean, that's kind of what it is. I love JR. I think everyone loves JR. Do I think the punishment was maybe a little severe? Yeah. But in the end, I kind of understood what went down because of the times we're in. Does that make sense yeah no and and i i guess my biggest regret is is is in times before you know we've caught things where
Starting point is 00:10:53 we've taken things out of interview to protect guys where they might not even know that we've done so and there's been a few times we've said uh you know like you know you guys you know this was kind of a different interview or and we make comments where, I mean, I've talked to Grinnell after. We had to take, what, at one interview, we took over 10 minutes out of it. And that was because we were concerned about, you know, a joke maybe being, you know, being blown overboard where somebody would get in trouble. where somebody would get in trouble. So ultimately our podcast is trying to bring the best out of our game and bring humor to it and make everyone who comes on look awesome because these people are awesome.
Starting point is 00:11:33 And that's why we want them on the podcast, because we want to hear their stories. And the fact that at this one time, maybe I didn't catch it and text Grinnell and say, hey, I think we should remove that. Like, you know, I didn't catch it and text Grinnell and say hey I think we should remove that like you know I felt shitty about it because JR has been nothing but supportive to us as a group he's been nothing but supportive to me as an individual and to think that you know something that he may really enjoy and that he gets separation from outside of his like personal life and going to work you know that's been taken
Starting point is 00:12:05 away from him because of our platform and just any you know teams or anyone listening is like we we give everyone full editing rights like we don't want anyone getting in these types of situations on our platform now i'm not apologizing for for jr or for what he said, because I have a sense of humor where I get where people would be offended by some of the things that I say. And, you know, I'm, I'm trying to learn as you go.
Starting point is 00:12:33 And even sometimes I catch myself where, you know what? I would say this with my friends, but I wouldn't want it on the podcast because I don't even want to fucking deal with it. Okay. So, but in the same breath,
Starting point is 00:12:43 I don't want any of that taking away from the thing that you said about katherine tappan and and and women in a in a you know male and in a male dominated industry where i i get it i i and i get it and and it sucks and i feel terrible about it and i and i messaged jr i couldn't i was having a hard time enjoying my holiday because that that had happened to a good friend who's been supportive of us. And it happened on our platform. So I apologize to everyone who was offended by it on the podcast behalf. And JR, we love you, man.
Starting point is 00:13:17 And I hope you can get back to doing what you love soon. Here's what I'll say. And maybe I'm wrong. I would be shocked if Catherine Tappan went to them first so I do think NBC and RA you mentioned quickly there was no comments about
Starting point is 00:13:33 that interview anywhere negative usually stuff happens nowadays based on response online especially there was none and all of a sudden boom he was suspended I'm pretty on top of all that shit too I would have let you guys know in a second if that happened the other aspect of this of our entire show is um it's a really fine line we we're trying to to walk so it's entertaining and and we enjoy telling all these stories and we really hope people come on and enjoy telling
Starting point is 00:14:00 stories because this is this was our life this is it's it's it's how we it's how we like went through our entire lives is with the boys and telling great stories and yeah some of them probably are a little risque that that but listen we also we also like try to have a pretty good line of what we can and cannot say this one was just they were they're such good friends that for me it just you know i was just like oh like that's how they joke around so i know i'm kind of playing both sides of the fence but the other thing about it is we've had the coaching issues the the the player stuff the now we had this dude we all right we started this thing we're on the couch like shooting the shit about hockey then we start interviewing some buddies like we're morons and all all of a sudden people are like you know they're asking like our opinions on these things like dude i played hockey uh i talk like i make jokes with my buddies about back in the old days when we were playing and we
Starting point is 00:14:54 talked to current players like all of a sudden people like what's your opinion you're not gonna say anything about ronald green's experience like buddy i'm sitting on my couch like gambling on seven games why are you looking for me for my opinion on this? I'm a joke. So it's a little different when our show, it's great. It's become big. It's overwhelming. I don't want that type of responsibility.
Starting point is 00:15:16 Yeah, I'm like, buddy, lay off me. I'm sitting there interviewing guys. They're saying whatever they want. And at the end, we're saying, hey, guys, you can take out anything you want. What do we do? Right. And as far as, like, a guy like Roenick, J.I., he's been on TV for a long time. He's, you know, he's 50 years old.
Starting point is 00:15:31 He knows what he can and cannot say, and it's really not, like, not that he's going to keep him from getting in trouble, but we can't tell him, oh, you can't say that. He sort of knows what his limits are, and when he was, I think he was intent on telling that story because, you know, you had said something, too, careful, J.I., it's a kid's show, jokingly. And I think he just kind of wanted to get that story out. But, I mean, we can't say, hey, don't fucking – you can't say that. And, again, if he wanted to take it out, we gladly would have. People also reference, like, future guests.
Starting point is 00:15:59 Now, we've already had at least one interview since then. We had no such issues for it. I don't think we're going to have issues going forward. I mean, basically, it's pretty simple. Like, you know, don't go where you're not supposed to. Like I said, JR has another job at NBC, our job at NBC. They have their set of rules. He violated one of those rules, apparently.
Starting point is 00:16:16 But as far as people coming on and telling their stories, I don't really think it's going to be an issue going forward. I mean, people know what we're about at this stage. You can come on and say whatever you want. If you don't want to come on i take no offense to any of it it's if if people don't want to come on anymore because jr told the joke that didn't go over well all right i mean what are you what are you what are you gonna do i said this i said this to a few people it's like we are who we are and if we're if we're goons if we were to get blackballed because of something that was said by someone else on our podcast hey man we fucking hang it up i go fucking focus my attention on something else and and life goes on so hiring
Starting point is 00:16:54 now now the last thing i want to say though is is i don't think a lot of people that listen to our podcast necessarily had a problem with it. I think that, and that's probably why we didn't see anything on Twitter. I hope that none of this takes anything away from what JR has accomplished, not only as a player, but his transition to out of hockey and how big of an ambassador he's been to our game. And that's why we want that fucking guy on our podcast, because he does tell incredible stories.
Starting point is 00:17:24 And he is the life of the party. And he's why we want that fucking guy on our podcast, because he does tell incredible stories. And he is the life of the party. And he's the fucking man. And it's just very, very unfortunate. I haven't talked to Catherine Tappan. I mean, I haven't reached out. I'll admit that. So I hope she still wants to come on if she's mad at us. I get it, I guess.
Starting point is 00:17:40 But I think she does an incredible job. So you want to mention that. And hopefully at some point we'll get to talk to her don't talk about this but i don't it is it kind of was shitty for her as well right i have to be and one thing that got overshadowed was the fact that jr was coming on to promote charity that was going to financially benefit children's charity challenge jazz charity challenge correct which people can still take pot in and just to go back to nbc for a minute too you know this is a company that had already dropped the ball on Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein. They buried a story on that.
Starting point is 00:18:08 They had Matt Lauer fucking running amok for years with a lock on his door, plus whatever else we don't know about. So when this comes up in this kind of post-MeToo era, the last thing they want to do is look like they're coming, being soft on this issue, even though there's really no issue. Because, again, like you said, with a guy telling a story involving involving his best friend it wasn't really our job to police that story so and that's not us taking a shot at nbc that's just us saying maybe there was some overcompensation there on the jr issue because of things that they have done in the past i'm gonna take a shot at nbc
Starting point is 00:18:37 i'll tell you right now nbc you think that fucking they're going to get Scott free here? Did you see their all decade team? Patrick Kane wasn't on NHL on NBC. I would have had him top five. Patrick Kane won three Stanley Cups. One of them, I'm pretty sure he won the Conn Smythe. Yes. He's the leading scorer in the decade. He wasn't on their top ten. So, yeah, R.A. said right away when I brought this up to him,
Starting point is 00:19:05 I don't care about those lists. They never bother me. I took exceptions to not having Patrick Kane in your top 10 for the 2000 to 2010 season. I mean, let's be honest. So NBC, you can suck on that one, idiots. Do you think Patrick Kane gives one fiddler's fuck that he wasn't on that list? He probably doesn't even know. He's like, what?
Starting point is 00:19:25 Oh, shit, it's the end of the decade? He's still busy doing his fucking thing. I'll read his passage. And by the way, I'll do a quick top ten real quick here. Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin, Eric Carlson, number three, Patrice Bergeron, Connor McDavid, Evgeny Malkin, Henrik Lundqvist, Anze Kopitar, Stephen Stamkos, Zidane O'Chara. Now, without counting, there's a few guys on that list who didn't even win a cup.
Starting point is 00:19:45 Kane won three of them, and this was the small paragraph after Kane's name. One of the best offensive players this decade. His problems off the ice will always detract from that and be a part of his story. What? That had to be like a kiddie, like, toe-dragged nine times one season in Buffalo. Kind of wild to, like I said, not have the guy who won three cups and an additional con smite on there. But, like we said, that's why these lists are made, to get us fucking griping.
Starting point is 00:20:08 Another big story, Biz mentioned a few minutes ago, the World Junior, that tournament started the day after Christmas over in Czech Republic. We had a little controversy after Canada suffered their worst ever loss in the tournament, a 6-0 shellacking at the hands of the Russians. Canada's captain
Starting point is 00:20:24 Barrett Hayden didn't remove his helmet before Russia's anthem was played. Really pissed off the Russian captain, Grigory Denisenko, to the point where he didn't shake Hayden's hand in the handshake line that a couple other Russians didn't as well. He actually pointed to his head when he walked by him. Hayden, to his credit, did apologize after the game in the press scrum, and Hockey Canada released a statement as well. I'll give that a quick
Starting point is 00:20:45 read. The statement from Barrett Hayden, I'm sorry for leaving my helmet on for the Russian anthem following today's game, and I apologize to the Russian team and its fans. As a leader on this team, I was trying to process the game and evaluate how we can regroup. I was lost in the moment. The Russians played a great game tonight, and my actions
Starting point is 00:21:02 were not intended to be disrespectful. My mistakes should not detract from their win. I owe it to my team and all Canadians to be better. Hockey statement from Hockey Canada was essentially the same thing. They basically apologized for it. He's lucky Nikolai Volkov wasn't in the building. There could have been some issues. Old school WWF reference for you there, Biz.
Starting point is 00:21:20 You guys play in these type of tournaments. What's the situation there? Is it easy to get, quote-unquote, lost in the sauce, or do you know to snap two right away and get that home? Before we toss it over to Witt, so essentially what he was saying is he was processing the game and thinking about the game, so it was a complete accident. Yes, that's what I took from it.
Starting point is 00:21:38 All right. I didn't hear that until the song. They're kids. Well, wait. Now that's why I want to toss it over to Witt, because he's probably got a different opinion. I'll say this. I speak for all fifth overall, first round fifth overall picks,
Starting point is 00:21:55 saying we don't appreciate that behavior by Barrett Hayden. That's not a fifth overall pick thing to do. You win with class, you lose with class. You know who I blame? I blame the NHL club who drafted him. That team probably hasn't taught him what it's like to really be a true competitor. And what do you know? It's the Arizona Coyotes.
Starting point is 00:22:13 When you got an absolute dirtbag like Biz as your radio guy, how do you expect your fifth overall pick to know to be a classy, classy captain in an international ice hockey tournament? So it was upsetting to me, and i didn't buy the the the reason i mean that is wild that line at the end i was thinking about the game and how we what i was gonna say remember the handshake line at the end yeah yeah oh i don't blame those
Starting point is 00:22:39 ruskies for not shaking his hand and i respect the hell out of that russian captain for banging a stick saying the ref dude tell that guy to take his bucket off. It's our country's national anthem. Everyone takes, you got to take your hat off, your lid off for the anthem. It doesn't matter what anthem's playing. And then, you know, just the reason he said that he was processing the game. Dude, the game's over. Every single guy on the line with you, right to your right and left,
Starting point is 00:23:02 don't have a helmet on. I mean, unless he's like severely, has severe add i don't know like i feel like that would be just like you're so out to lunch maybe it wasn't on purpose but um i think that the russians had a right to be pissed off and we'll see how the canadians respond i mean right now they're one-on-one coming off a shit kicking from russia we'll see what happens love to see them play each other further down the line. Is that possible? I know what the scenario is. I think they would have to cross brackets first because they're in the same division.
Starting point is 00:23:31 But, you know, unfortunate because he's such a great kid. And it's like a brain fart like this. By the way, in the end, this doesn't matter. No, it does. It doesn't. And people are obviously clinging on to it. And even if he did do it intentionally, such a brain fart, he's going to have to answer the noise.
Starting point is 00:23:50 And it's a shame that he'll probably be remembered for it in the near future. So anytime his name pops up when he's scoring hat trick for the Arizona Coyotes, who are the biggest fucking wagon in the Western Conference, now they got Taylor Hall, he's going to have to answer questions about it. So very unfortunate. I hope that we can all move on. And the argument now is like, oh, if another country did it to fucking Canada, Canadians would lose it.
Starting point is 00:24:15 Yeah, you're fucking right. There's a lot of shitty fucking Canadian people online who just fuck, like World Junior Time, they really come out of the fucking woodworks. And any time a Canadian guy costs of the fucking woodworks and anytime a canadian guy costs his team a goal that might be a big one they want the whole family kidnapped and fucking the kid to be fucking hung at the cross yeah it's like you know it's fucking nuts these kids and and there's an argument right now going on it's like you know are these kids yeah man oh i made plenty of really stupid decisions in my fucking 20s,
Starting point is 00:24:45 let alone my teens. I mean, this is the time when you make dumb decisions. We live and learn. The only difference is being I was a plug and I wasn't doing it on the national stage. So anyway, shitty situation. But we have to give thanks to Barrett Hayton because now all of a sudden all these Russian spies have been,
Starting point is 00:25:04 their course has been changed. The red dots aren't hitting me in the forehead anymore. I've been sleeping a little lighter since this has happened. So to Barrett Hayton on behalf of the Chicklets crew. The Billy Madison cross off the Whitney Bissonette name. That's what I'm saying. Go to Hayton. I wonder what Igor is thinking about this.
Starting point is 00:25:22 Oh, yeah. I'm going to have to check in with him. Yeah, I like what you said though, Biz. Brain fart. Hopefully he moves on what you said, though, Biz. Brain fart. Hopefully he moves on. He apologized, but the apology was hilarious. One other note from the juniors. Alexis Lafreniere, the expected number one pick in the 2020 draft.
Starting point is 00:25:33 He was injured when he crashed into the Russian net. Though it looked pretty bad initially, he still might return to the tournament per Frank Cerevelli. I think he's with TSN, right? Yeah. I also saw, I think it was James Duthie mentioned that his first game, I think a goal with three assists, he said one of the... He was phenomenal.
Starting point is 00:25:51 He said one of the best performances by a Canadian World Junior player in a long time. So you could totally see. It looked scary. It looked like his knee kind of buckled and it might have been bad. But if they're saying it's not bad, that's great news because that kid, impressive. Can I just say the Grinnelli curse is alive and well at the World Junior? It never left. Let me just say, so the four players I said to watch, Askarov, the goalie from Russia, yanked in game one.
Starting point is 00:26:14 First period. First period. Cole Caulfield, I don't think he scored a goal yet. He had a very difficult first game, but, I mean, they got a fairly okay team, so I guess he's flying under the radar a little bit. Big win against Russia. And then I said Lafreniere, and now he got hurt. So my apologies to everyone out there. Now, to be fair, somebody said that Lafreniere was injured
Starting point is 00:26:37 coming into the tournament. He wasn't 100%. Now, I don't know if it was his knee that was bugging him. When you watch him go down, there's no way he didn't get hurt on that play right there. It could have hurt an injury more than it already was, but it was pretty bad. Another crazy thing about the World Juniors,
Starting point is 00:26:53 and it's a great time of year because now there's so much hockey going on. NHL's rebooted after the 26 there. Team Sweden. A couple things. Henrik Lundqvist had a very funny head and shoulders commercial uh where he he had a very serious speech and at the end he he dropped the punch line how about all the kids hair in that commercial too oh they all look phenomenal they all had blowouts beforehand but they haven't lost a game in the round robin since 2006 they've
Starting point is 00:27:22 won 50 straight round robin games wow that's i mean it's got to be a record though i mean i i think it's a record now wits look at me like i have three heads i mean unless someone's messing with me on social media i'm pretty sure i read that today so congratulations to team sweden sweden on that crazy run and uh and they're looking pretty good again absolutely and uh guys speaking of adjusting your helmet, sometimes things don't always go the way you want them to in the bedroom. That's why you want to check out Roman Swipes. Most guys have tried different ways to last longer,
Starting point is 00:27:54 thinking about stats and trophies and all that shit, but it doesn't always work. That's why the folks at Roman, an online men's health company, are changing the game with Roman Swipes, the secret to longer-lasting sex. Roman Swipes are clinically proven game with Roman swipes. The secret to longer lasting sex. Roman swipes are clinically proven to last longer in bed. They're effective, easy to use, and fast acting.
Starting point is 00:28:13 And the best part, they don't require a subscription. I mean a prescription. Roman can ship swipes to you in discreet, unmarked packaging. And each swipes packet is small enough to hide in your wallet for whenever you need it. Swipes are great. They will not transfer to your partner. And you can last longer without worrying. They're super easy to use. Just wallet full whenever you need it. Swipes are great. They will not transfer to your partner, and you can last longer without worrying. They're super easy to use.
Starting point is 00:28:27 Just take the swipes out of the packet, swipe it on, let it dry, and you're good to go. That's it. And when you go to GetRoman.com slash chicklets, you can get your first month of swipes for just $5 when you choose a monthly plan if you use the link getroman.com slash chicklets. One more time, that's getroman.com slash chicklets. Hopefully, Biz, you won't need that anytime soon. But if you do, it's okay. It's a natural thing to happen to us guys every once in a while.
Starting point is 00:28:55 Or so I read. All right, enough of that. No, no, all right. I was processing that whole ad read, and I thought you did a great job of insulting me about my fuck-up earlier. It's a prescription, not a subscription. That's good. We're good to go.
Starting point is 00:29:09 I think it's a prescription. Yeah, prescription. That's what I meant. Don't want to make it any tougher than the Chiefs than it already is. All right, let's start turning our focus to the current NHL. They have been back for a couple days, and you guys' old team is kicking ass and taking names right now. One- nine of their
Starting point is 00:29:25 last 11 without the fucking one of the best players on the planet sydney crosby what dog what do you got for us buddy oh what a team this what a team the penguins have and you got to talk about brian ross who on and he is on an 82 game pace for over 50 goals and over 100 points 82 game did i say 52 i don't Whatever. I might have just messed up. But he's on a crazy pace. What he's done this year has been wild. Gensel, we've talked about that. But to win 9 of 11 and the biggest thing being Tristan Jari and this guy.
Starting point is 00:29:56 I mean, all of a sudden you look and Matt Murray had a good win Saturday night against Nashville. They won a home and a home against Nashville. But they were up 3-0. And all of a sudden it was 4-4. So you start thinking, like, if Jari stays playing this good, like, he could take a guy's job. I mean, you've seen it happen before in that city. Murray Cuck Flurry, yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:16 And so the way that this Jari's continued to improve and the hockey he's played without Crosby, you mentioned, and Malkin's been great. But the funny thing was that Crosby, I think, came out and said, what was the joke, Biz? You told me what he said. Well, and he's right. He's going to have to work hard to get back in that lineup.
Starting point is 00:30:33 You better make some plays in practice, Sid. That's what I'm saying. It all starts in practice, Sid. If you show the coach that you're deserving to get back in that lineup, maybe if one guy's not playing good after a few in a row, maybe you'll start off in the fourth line and build your produce maybe you bump up to the third line we'll see playoffs you can be back on the first line now he has reached out to me for uh for some advice on how to be a healthy scratch and you know how he should be in the locker room before games
Starting point is 00:30:59 which songs you can play of course i said that it should be the same song that Joe Vitale was playing over and over and over for him. So, Sid, best of luck getting back in that lineup. And, hey, those bag skates aren't fun, my friend. And, Gary, his last 12 stats, 10 wins in his last 12, his save percentage has been unreal. This kid has been fucking a phenom. And it's going to be curious to see in the playoffs roll around if Pittsburgh is indeed in the playoffs, who the starter might be. And Jim Rutherford, that guy, he just keeps fucking reloading and reloading and reloading, right?
Starting point is 00:31:36 That Brandon Tanev deal, everyone looked like, wow, six years, and it was kind of odd for a player like him to sign that long. He's been awesome, and He's not making crazy money. The way he plays, he's deserving. I think it's $3 million. It's just a well put together team. Maybe it ends up helping that Crosby and Malkin have both battled injuries
Starting point is 00:31:56 when playoffs come. They don't play the 82. We'll see what happens, but it's certainly a fun team to watch right now. It goes to show that developing players from your own organization that you draft is the key to success in today's NHL. And Pittsburgh does it just as good as anyone else. They have a great minor league system.
Starting point is 00:32:15 They treat it like it's the NHL. Those players get treated well. They have great resources. I haven't been to it yet, but that new practice facility in Wilkes-Barre is state-of-the-art. So we can no longer keep stroking off this organization because my wrists are sore. Well, I can give one more quick one. Jerry, his numbers, to go back to them for a second. How they just do it.
Starting point is 00:32:36 His goals against 187 on the cover card. Remember that old song? No. Snoop and Dre. I know that song. I know that song. Deep cover. Save percentage, 9-3- that song. I know that song. Deep cover. Save percentage, 9-3-9.
Starting point is 00:32:47 He's got three shutouts as well. So, like I said, when playoffs roll around, it could be quite the decision for the organization to see where they're going to roll with it. All right, get that cock out of my mouth. We're done with that. Hey, now, another team on fire. The Blues, eight in a row.
Starting point is 00:33:00 No signs of a Stanley Cup hangover from this squad, eh, Biz? Probably still the drunkest team in the league. These guys are still on a heater from a Stanley Cup hangover from this squad, eh, Biz? Probably still the drunkest team in the league. These guys are still on a heater from that Stanley Cup, and it is fucked. They're like, why slow down? Why? And one guy I have to mention who has been incredible, and talk about a journeyman, and he found his way back there, Perron. The season he's having, he set a franchise record for overtime goals he's
Starting point is 00:33:26 got four this year um so far and that's the franchise record for st louis so um just everybody pulling the rope there i feel like no tarasenko to be doing yeah no tarasenko and it's one of those situations where they got the monkey off the back and these guys are like well we're playing with the house's money we We won it last year. We could win zero games this year. The city would still fucking love us, and they're just getting it done. Was I correct in saying that about Perron? Yeah, he's got four overtime goals this year, and he leads the team in scoring.
Starting point is 00:33:57 He has 16 goals, 24 assists. I mean, that's a pretty stacked roster to be leading in scoring, and he's no spring chicken either. Funny thing about him, I've probably said on said this on the podcast before but he's he started with st louis he went to edmonton he went to pittsburgh he went to anaheim he went back to st louis he went to vegas he went back to st louis so he's three different stops in st louis but he's played for four other teams he's only ever signed the contract with the blues which which kind of cracks me wow so of all those teams all the deals were signed with the blues and and he fits in he fits in perfectly he was awesome in the playoffs and he plays with sandpaper we talked about i
Starting point is 00:34:33 think him recently and kind of he has that rat tendency but 40 i mean point per game guy that that's no joke so what go ahead well i was gonna say we won't dive into it too much but i'd be interested to see the returns that they got for him and considering he ended up back there. And what they, I mean, because they kept signing him, right? So they were giving him away and getting back assets in return, is my assumption. I don't know who the guys were.
Starting point is 00:34:58 So we'll dig into that. I'm sure some people will send some messages to us, but Doug Armstrong just buzzing. And they're another team with a two-headed monster in net. Obviously, Jordan Bennington came out last year, unreal first season. But Jake Allen, he's been getting some run this year, 7-2. He's got two 1-9 goals against with a 9-3-1 fucking save percentage. So, you know, that's a great situation.
Starting point is 00:35:18 We say it all the time for Chief Coach Berube to go in and say, hey, man, I got two number ones here, basically. Oh, yeah, and Bennington, he commented on that goal that Justin Bieber put out online. It was a horrible goal. I mean, like, wraps around on the ice in front of the goal. He does a spinorama, goes in. And Bennington said, hey, I'll give you 10 breakaways. If you score once, I'll dye my hair whatever, blonde or white, however Bieber.
Starting point is 00:35:39 He said it to Biebs? He wrote it on his Instagram. So he still got that cockiness we talked about last year. It's been nasty. We also have to mention that Biebs was skating over the holidays with Tyson Berry, Mitch Marner, and Austin Matthews, who hopefully we can get soon because this guy's on a tear right now. I don't want to get too far away from St. Louis if you had any more notes there, all right? Did you?
Starting point is 00:36:02 Go ahead. Go ahead. No, I was going to bring up uh a game that i noticed right out of the break calgary put a beat down on edmonton in edmonton uh calgary's now ahead of them in the standings it's been a complete reversal of the first half of the first quarter of the year uh for both those teams so a little scary time as an oilers fan as this is last when last year they started to dive and never got above and back into the playoffs. So kind of an odd time for that team and on the other end, Calgary, since the coaching change.
Starting point is 00:36:32 I mean, it's pretty obvious they couldn't stand Bill Peters. Let's look at the team now. Yeah, it's crazy. Happy for Ward. And I think we knew it was just a matter of time before they turned things around, whether they had Bill Peters or not. I mean, the shooting percentage for Lindholm, Goudreau, and Monaghan was just way under their career averages.
Starting point is 00:36:55 So they're getting going. Even though they had that couple-game injury to Kachuk, he's just been carrying the boys. How about that Central Division? The top three teams, St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas, and then you think of the teams that aren't in right now. I mean, Nashville, what's going on there? And Winnipeg's on the first wild card.
Starting point is 00:37:15 They've been awesome. But that and the Metro is just powerhouses for sure. And going back to Edmonton, man, you've got to wonder, I know he doesn't listen to the show of follow, spit, and chicklets, but is Kenny Holland going to make a move for a goaltender? Because right now they're not getting the kind of goaltender that, A, might not get you into the playoffs, and, B, if it does, are you going to be too confident in the playoffs?
Starting point is 00:37:33 Should we start a rumor? Matt Murray to Edmonton? I'll write the blog. Okay, thanks. Yeah, just start the rumor. Matt Murray to the Oilers. Yeah. Penguins win two more cups in a row.
Starting point is 00:37:41 Oh, Penguins fans are probably already starting it themselves. Yeah, it doesn't take much. But, yeah, it's something to certainly keep an eye on. I mean, Mikko Koskinen, 276, 914. And Mike Smith, he's been struggling. 3-1, two goals against, 8-9-3. And that worked great 25 years ago. But in today's NHL, not so great.
Starting point is 00:37:59 So we'll keep an eye on that like we do all things. What's up, Whit? Another guy, because just thinking about after the break, people deserve to be showed out current league wise and check out the new york rangers and panarin is he's exceeding the expectations and you signed for 10 million you wonder how's that possible every shift he's out there it's a blast but the guy that's more impressive almost is a benedict oh yeah and you heard when Broussard, when that deal went down, people loved Broussard. What's going on?
Starting point is 00:38:26 Dude, you got a true stud in Zibanejad. So the Rangers have been surprising people. They battled to win a great game in Toronto, 5-4. They actually beat Carolina in Toronto back-to-back nights after the break. And granted, they're not in the playoffs right now, but they're going to be a pain in the ass the entire year. They've proven that. And then Tony D'Angelo. We've heard about like some I don't know attitude issues but straight
Starting point is 00:38:50 domination this year he's going to sign a ticket and he's been a huge reason that the Rangers are really good offensively yeah that's a guy that the Coyotes let go unfortunately a stud on the back end he's a better guy he was on the Coyotes? He was on the Coyotes. They got rid of him. And listen, I heard things about the quote-unquote attitude issues, but I don't know him personally. Every person that I've talked to seemed to really like him as far as the guys are concerned. So I don't know. Maybe he just doesn't like authority.
Starting point is 00:39:17 But hey, if you had that much talent wrapped up and you felt like it wouldn't be in use, I might have some attitude issues as well. You were talking about Zibanejad. five of his last seven games multi points in them he is he's a very special player and a guy that hopefully we can get on this podcast at some point because he's got a great personality as well we mentioned his djing skills but the rangers do not let him play late night sets in nyc, so he's keeping things under wraps. Yeah, 15 goals, 15 assists in 25 games.
Starting point is 00:39:48 He's been getting it done and also getting it done in the net. Not so much Henrik Lundqvist, but his backup, Alexander Gorgiev. I think that's how you say it. Gorgiev. I heard his G silent and not silent. He's got 10-7-1, sorry, 2-9-9 with a 9-1-5. You know, not the best numbers, but they're getting it done. I mean, they're only five points out of the playoffs.
Starting point is 00:40:08 This is a team that probably a lot of people had pegged for the lottery, and, you know, they're probably looking at the playoffs as being within fucking striking distance right now. I am so happy. I didn't forget to mention this guy, Ryan Strom. He is fucking playing awesome. I am so happy for him. I feel like when he went through that period in Edmonton
Starting point is 00:40:26 and then he got put on a poster by Sid in overtime, I feel like maybe his confidence was really shot. And then right after that move, I think he had a good end to the season last year in New York after the move. And then this year, I think he's just under a point a game, isn't he? I think he's got like 28 to 30 points right now. And I couldn't be happier for the guy because you know playing in Canada. under a point a game isn't he i think he's got like 28 to 30 points right now and and and and i couldn't be happier for the guy because you know playing in canada and he's got 35 points
Starting point is 00:40:50 at 38 games there you go he's almost at a point a game and when you're the butt of the joke in a canadian market it's difficult on the psyche so uh shout out to our boy uh ryan strome do you think the rangers would try and trade lungquist and think Lundqvist would accept a trade at the deadline to a playoff team? I got a sense that he doesn't want to go anywhere. That's just like, I don't know. I feel like he's New York. And yeah, he's probably not going to win a Stanley Cup. But I don't know.
Starting point is 00:41:19 I could be way off. Actually, I heard he wants to go to Edmonton. So that's actually, they could maybe solve their goal-turning issue. I don't know. It would make sense if Georgie had even better next year that next year at the deadline you're like, hey, do you want a shot? Yeah, go for a little run. But he may say, I'm all set.
Starting point is 00:41:36 And he does have a full no-move clause, so he doesn't go anywhere unless he absolutely wants to. And like you said, talking to him last year at the All-Star game, I got the impression as well this guy doesn't want to go. I think he wants to be a Ranger for life, and that might matter the most to him than anything else. And let's not forget, I think maybe next year at the soonest, maybe the year after that, they're going to have a solid team.
Starting point is 00:41:59 Once some of these younger kids get a little bit better and they add a few more pieces, I think this is a good team. I remember in preseason on my breakdown, I said there's no way playoffs, and then a few Rangers fans talked me off the ledge, and I was like, you know what, they do have some weapons. Maybe they could sneak in this year, but maybe another reason he's looking at it like, hey, I don't think this team's going to be half bad moving forward, and I think maybe in New York I could get a chance at one more run.
Starting point is 00:42:27 I think the biggest scoop we got from Hank Lundquist was that he gets that luscious haircut at a barbershop. For $15, right? $22. And he won't tell anyone where it is, though, which is even better. And he doesn't tip. That's another rumor for everyone. Speaking of Rangers, well, of course, this guy was a devil as well.
Starting point is 00:42:43 Scotty Gomez, we forgot to mention from the top. We were so excited being down here in Dallas. He's our guest this week. He's a guy that a lot of people have been telling us to get on for a long time. We finally did, and holy boy, was he worth the wait. Well, yeah, before we go to him, sometimes when you're interviewing people, you're just grinding to get stuff out of them. So you could tell this is one of those times.
Starting point is 00:43:02 We did our best, but I hope you guys enjoy. Wow, what a pleasure what a pleasure to be joined now by a very special guest i guess that i got to play with at the end of my career it was an absolute pleasure this guy is a two-time stanley cup champion he won rookie of the year in the nhl he dominated junior he played in two all-star games if the list goes on and on. He made lots of money. Good for him. The best player ever from Alaska, Scotty Gomez. Thanks for joining the podcast. Thanks for having me, guys. Best player from Alaska.
Starting point is 00:43:34 What an ending. He put hockey on Alaska on the map. First native Alaskan ever in the NHL. First native. First native Alaskan. Yeah, there's a bunch. You're quite the pioneer, man. If I can say the reason why made it was the guy that gets the most credit is Trajan Langdon. He went to Duke, played in the NBA. But growing up in Alaska, back then, without the social media and all that, you're kind of concerned you're not going to be found.
Starting point is 00:44:01 And Trajan, next you know, coach K Bobby Niter at the at the court in Alaska and he just kind of made us all then realize that uh you can get out of here and and do something so they came to see him it wasn't even at a tournament in the city no it was games I mean that's back when uh you know I was pretty big in the basketball back then because that's kind of the year uh Iverson oh yeah Lopezopez well what was the guy from boston uh herring uh chris harris all those guys so that was pretty neat growing up with uh but yeah he was like for rock rock star besides we'll get into the other guys uh trajan definitely was uh was the man so i owe him uh all the credit that's that's awesome um so we talked to who we had on nate thompson right
Starting point is 00:44:43 and it's funny because you are the godfather all these guys now naturally you're the first nhler to come from alaska but it was more the big brother the guy they looked up to so how cool has it been with all these other guys matt carl there's so many names that they all really look up to you they do though i know you're modest but it was just the way it was. I'm proud to be from there. At one point, there were six of us that were in the NHL. Got a pretty good photo of that. A bunch of us happened to be there.
Starting point is 00:45:14 Was Tim Wallace one of them? Wallace was there. Can you name them off just so people know? Joey Crabb, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Wallace, Nate Thompson, Matt Carl. I hope I'm not missing anyone. There's a couple other younger guys that are pretty awesome. Yeah, it was good. But it's like, you know, I think that was just part of our culture that,
Starting point is 00:45:36 hey, we're not going to get into the, you know, because people talk, oh, this guy's jealous of him. No, right away, you know, for the young guys, that's not going to happen with us. We're proud of our state. We're here. And this is, you know, even on the ice, it was just fun. And as they got older and started establishing themselves,
Starting point is 00:45:51 we all worked out in the summers together, and it was just a good thing for all of us. At what age were you like, all right, I think that I'm one of those guys that's going to get out of here, and I might even fucking make it to the NHL? Well, I told my mom I was buying her house at seven. I remember saying that. But you're going to help her buy her house? No, I was going to get her a house.
Starting point is 00:46:09 They were my parents. But the thing was is growing up there and, you know, probably the same for Whit. I don't know, maybe different. But the only goal was to get a college scholarship. That was the only – I mean, if you got a college – That was making it. Yeah, I was making it.
Starting point is 00:46:22 That was the only thing we said. Obviously, things went different. But we didn't know about the WHL. We didn't know about those leagues and stuff. But I think what happened was if we're all growing up in Alaska and we play against each other and the competition is unreal. There's two organizations. Actually, there's a third.
Starting point is 00:46:42 Oh, Ty Jones, he was another one. Competition's unreal. There's two organizations. Actually, there's a third. Oh, Ty Jones, he was another one. He won a marriage. And what had happened, I think when I was 11, second year in Pee Wee, they put the best kids on one team.
Starting point is 00:46:59 Because it took away maybe the competition games, but whenever we went outside, teams would blow us away just because it was just what it was. But then when we had the squad, the group, yeah, we could compete with anyone. We lost two national championships in our last year we won. But that was really key. And a lot of parents today, they don't get that, that the practices were unreal. I mean, we're going against the best every day. And now I don't even know how many organizations are in Alaska
Starting point is 00:47:26 because a kid doesn't make it. Well, we'll just start a new one. And it just kind of got watered down, I think. Were you playing up a couple ages at some point? Yeah, I was playing up the fact that I was young. I started school early. I started school at 4 because the neighbor down the street. You were late 79.
Starting point is 00:47:45 Yeah, he was five. And my dad was pissed because, you know, I'm going to be stuck at home. And my dad was just like, you're just as dumb as this kid. There's no way he should be starting school. So I remember I had to go take some tests. And I started. And then the asshole in third grade, because, you know, I was a solid C student. And I was struggling, you know.
Starting point is 00:48:04 And they thought some genius idea that he'd hold me back. in third grade because you know i was a solid c student i was struggling you know it was and they thought some genius idea that uh that he'd hold me back so i was held back in third grade and people don't realize is that the fourth graders go out to recess while the third graders are coming in so all my buddies and everyone and i'm just standing there i mean you're dominating all the third yeah but thank god my mom uh you know i'm kind of a mama's boy, too. And, you know, she must have, I was just miserable for weeks on end. And she probably cut the old man off or something because next thing you know, I had a big speech that I just, you know, you got to be better in school, whatever. So they moved me back up.
Starting point is 00:48:36 I was back with my friends. But, you know, I set the bar. I was a solid C student. But, you know, I still consider myself probably one of the greatest gym students ever. Oh, yeah, every sports guy. I mean, it was Alaska, too. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball. So much for that college scholarship, then, huh?
Starting point is 00:48:53 Well, you went to the VCHL first. When you're that good already, you're fucking going to college. Somebody else is doing your homework for you. No, I mean, I was a master at cheating on everything in school and this and that. But I loved it. I mean, it was a social aspect. I mean, where else are you going to go see girls every day? Yeah, I mean, it just – but no, I was supposed to go to the SHL. Things probably would have worked different.
Starting point is 00:49:19 But they got messed up where I was going. Oh, really? That's what happened. When I was 14, a coach came to Alaska, and he said when Scott turns 15, 16, we're going to have his rights. And my dream was always, growing up in Alaska, was to go to the Omaha Lancers because I forgot to mention this guy. He's the ultimate.
Starting point is 00:49:45 One of my favorite hockey players, one of the best hockey players I ever saw was Brian Swanson. Oh, Colorado College. Yeah, so that's the only reason. So, Swanee, all those guys went to Omaha. Like, there was a group of guys, and that was my dream to go to Omaha. And the coach sat in my house, and he said, I remember he shook my dad's hand.
Starting point is 00:50:04 He goes, hey, if Scott's, when Scott turns 16 and he still wants to go there, I'll trade his rights. And he shook on it, and I'm just like, oh. My mind was already made up two years later. They whined and dined me, I'm not going to lie. It was great. I went there once, but I wanted to go to Omaha, and then it just, it wouldn't happen, the rights.
Starting point is 00:50:23 And actually, Lincoln was in an expansion team that year oh that'd be awesome and then I didn't know anything about that and it and we've all gone through it we're you know recruiting people don't realize it's you know this is back when you got one phone and I mean yeah the phone calls non-stop this and that all my buddies they're getting ready to go to their junior their junior teams and i was still sitting around and finally you know we heard of the bc league because of paul crea and this and uh and the only reason i ended up in surrey because you know my dad sioux city just wouldn't give up the rights i could have gone to lincoln and my dad gave me the old you know one of the famous gomez speeches that hey uh
Starting point is 00:51:01 you know this guy lied in our house we can give in or i was going to make the ultimate decision because my parents weren't going to let me go somewhere where or make me go somewhere i was going to be miserable and it'd be on them but i went to the bc league and and it's funny because when i got home for christmas uh you know we lived in a small ranch style house when i get home and fuck there's big screen TV, stereo system. I think the old man got greased because – You're like, wait, dad. You hit the lottery? Yeah, you. It literally was like that and he just had a big smile on his face.
Starting point is 00:51:32 But it was unbelievable. It's referenced with the Mexican thing, but I crossed the border every day to go to school in the States so I could keep my – Graduation. Yeah. And what happened was basically my billets, John Short and Carol, but mostly Shorty and Rick Lance, my head coach, and Mark Hollick, they basically sabotaged college.
Starting point is 00:51:54 They were like. You're going junior. Well, they, you know, they worked my old man and they, you know, brought my, when my parents came down to visit or they took him to a WHL game and literally were like, see that kid right there? That kid right there is going to make a million dollars next year. No.
Starting point is 00:52:10 It was a fast track. It was a fast track. And everyone assumed that. And the big rumor was back then that like, you know, I think it's different in the O or whatever, but back then, you know, you got money under the table. And I guess Paul Crea got offered, the rumor was, you know, $250,000. So Spokane had my rights. Ty Jones, one of my best friends, he's playing, you know, first rounder.
Starting point is 00:52:32 He's playing for the Chiefs. And the Chiefs, they were hosting the Memorial Cup that year. Just proves we had no idea. I still wanted to go to college. I still, you know, I ended up signing a letter of intent for Colorado College. Koswani and those guys were there. They were a powerhouse. And literally, Spokane dropped my rights.
Starting point is 00:52:49 The owner was a good friend. Ron Toygo was good friends with my billet. And they were like, hey, we can get this kid to go. And I ended up going to Tri-Cities. And funny thing was. How much? Well, there was none. I mean, everyone assumed.
Starting point is 00:53:02 I'd made more in the BC League. That was a cut. Highest paid guy out west. You're like, what WHA team? Nah, BCHL. But the problem was is that the problem was is, you know, I could have gone. It's my draft year. I'm rated in top five, whatever, this and that.
Starting point is 00:53:20 And I go to Tri-Cities, and I have no clue. And, I mean, I think we won like 17 games i was gonna say that yeah that year that year i know i was you know during the summer uh mr jolly runs a moving company got me a job because you know wanted some money and i didn't move anything i just shot hoops all there was a basket they wouldn't let me move but so i langdon yeah well it actually was jordan because I think it was 96, and that's when they were in the finals. But I remember sitting with a bunch of guys at my first lunch,
Starting point is 00:53:52 and I was just pumped I have a job. And one guy's telling me, he's like, if I could go back and get a college scholarship and do this and that, and don't do this. And I just remember I just gave it up, and I'm like, oh, shit. That's all I need to hear i think my fifth game into the into my whl career i i um broke my collarbone it was my draft year i totally went down and it worked out games i mean i only played like 40 45 yeah 49 game or something like that 40 games and you know i mean it was an experience it
Starting point is 00:54:23 was uh it's kind of a panic right like i'm a first rounder it's just you just you know, I mean, it was an experience. It's kind of a panic, right? Like, I'm a first-rounder. We're all caught up in it then. We're all caught up in it. You're looking at those reports. What was that, the Red Line report? Oh, yeah. And you're constantly moving down.
Starting point is 00:54:35 Yeah, yeah. You're constantly moving down, but, you know, in the grand scheme of things, it... It felt pretty good. Well, for me, falling down in the draft, I mean, I ended up going, you know, the draft, I mean, I ended up going, you know, instead of going that high, I ended up going to a team that, man, you had to, you know.
Starting point is 00:54:49 The stars aligned. So the next year, you lit it up. Well, he lights it up, and was the team way better? The team was way better. We had to let go of our coach. Rick Lance came to coach. It was just a bad situation. It was a lot of leftover guys. It was what it was. And Don Hay came in came in and hazers and that's a scary human being when
Starting point is 00:55:10 you're uh when you're a kid we were older we knew we were just so young we knew we were going to be better but i was still pissed off that i had to go back because i thought i literally was the last cut um for making it with the devils. Oh, your first training camp. You were sick. And it wasn't that. It was more like the game was easier up there because you're playing with the better guys. And, hey, I like to dish the puck. You're a thinker, dude.
Starting point is 00:55:36 Yeah, and so it was just – I thought it was going to stay. I don't know if they still got that rule where if they keep me and you play 10 games. Burn the year. Yeah, and so uh yeah i remember for the devil's team considering then with that because i think me and niedermeyer at that point were uh the only two that didn't didn't go to albany like you were set you had to go to albany so that year i go back to juniors and i'm just no i'm horrible because I'm so mad I'm playing with bad guys and give the devil's credit
Starting point is 00:56:06 no offense I think Lou no no no I mean but Lou Lou flew up and to see me because they
Starting point is 00:56:13 I think they told him I was struggling because I was pissed I didn't make it and he kind of gave me a little rally cry and it was awesome we had a great group
Starting point is 00:56:19 we made it to the like what did he say I mean I'm not wake the fuck up Homer he said I mean and you know You kind of, when you do Lou
Starting point is 00:56:28 You got to do his voice It's just the way it is Let's go, let's go And I was just like, you know Scotty, listen here Yeah, I know you're upset You didn't make it, but Now we got to see really what you got
Starting point is 00:56:41 There's some lines like that I don't know But basically we got to see you help out But it just showed you The kind of different organization that, you know, like there was other guys struggling and not once did their GM come fly down. It said a lot. And so, yeah, that's kind of that. I mean, fuck, I don't know if I want to go there just yet
Starting point is 00:56:59 in your relationship with him. Do you guys want to talk a little bit more, Junior? Because sometimes I get selfish. Well, I can tell. I mean mean i can tell what happened next year was such an iconic figure in hockey and and although i i maybe disagree with some of his old school mentalities and how much control he wants to have is you have to commend the fact that he's he's been there he's done that and now he's fucking doing it again in long island yeah it was uh here's the here's the power that you realize what you're getting into or you don't you don't um at the draft i'm sitting with my agents and i just wanted to go in the
Starting point is 00:57:32 first round and i'll give a funny sounds cool right it sounds cool but we all go on stage we all grow up going on stage the arms get wrapped around and it's it's the dream so big dog so i thought for sure dallas was going to take me and this is the year that the NHL, I don't know who came up with this dumb idea, but the teams were allowed a timeout. Oh, yeah. So if you weren't, you know, you get how many minutes. If you weren't key, you got like 10 more minutes. So the first round dragged on forever.
Starting point is 00:58:02 I thought Dallas was going to take me. The doctor turns around from Dallas and he's kind of looking. So now it's the last pick in the first round and on forever. I thought Dallas was going to take me. The doctor turns around from Dallas, and he's kind of looking. So now it's the last pick in the first round, and the Devils trade for the pick. And I'm sitting there going, oh, shit. And I didn't really talk to him that much. But finally, New Jersey Devils select Scott Gomez. Parents, everyone jumps up.
Starting point is 00:58:20 I think my agent was right there, and he's like, fuck. Yeah, and you kind of look at him Contract negotiations for the next many years My job just became so hard So I go up on stage I got the curls It's all slicked back So afterwards
Starting point is 00:58:36 Four cell phones and all that All my friends and stuff were back watching And I called them and I'm like Hey where did you go And I'm like what the fuck and they're like where did you go and I'm like what the fuck you mean where did I go and they're like after the 27th pick ESPN cut it off and put Buck Hunting
Starting point is 00:58:51 that Buck Hunting show on such an ESPN move are you fucking kidding me my dream of getting on Stia so that was maybe things to come but then that next year Gab Great Jr. World Junior of getting on Stiaz, so that was maybe things to come, but then that next year,
Starting point is 00:59:06 you have great juniors, world junior, all that stuff was great, and for playoffs, we all dyed our hair blonde. We do stupid stuff. We lose to Kamloops. I didn't play. A rookie knocked me out with a puck.
Starting point is 00:59:24 Whatever. Your own team the puck whatever your own team yeah our own team we were doing power play and he turned around fired it out so I was out for the last game wouldn't have helped
Starting point is 00:59:30 they beat us I think 4-1 but they I remember I was at Darryl Hayes Billet's house
Starting point is 00:59:37 I forgot where the party was I'm passed out and the billet comes and she's like Scott your billet's looking for you and I'm like oh okay
Starting point is 00:59:44 season's over I'm like my billets were great they were you know i leave my cigarettes yeah we got more beers for you yeah and uh and they um what happened was is uh my flight was at three o'clock to go to new jersey and my hair appointment was at 11 to dye my hair back to being black. That's the power of Lou Lamarillo. And then talk about the worst experience. So I fly to Jersey and I'm thinking I'm going to Albany for playoffs. So I'm like, this is going to be great. And I fly to Jersey and I'm sure we'll get into it later.
Starting point is 01:00:19 The famous Turtleback Hotel that's across the rink from the South Mountain. And I go there and basically don't do anything. No one tells you anything. They're getting ready for playoffs. They're the number one team. They're playing against Pittsburgh, the A seed. And so finally I'm just sitting around for two days. And I finally get a call from the strength guy, and he's like, yeah, hey,
Starting point is 01:00:41 you got to come out. You're going to go on the ice. I'm like, with the big guys? All right. So I come over with my my gear and we've all been there especially in those days i mean you just it's it's not what friend is this it's not yeah it's not what people think man it's it's almost you're just scared you don't there's an aura yeah being around those fucking guys and it's it's an aura and now you look back it's it's fucking playoffs i mean this is they've already lost last year in the first round. They were the top seed.
Starting point is 01:01:05 So this is serious business. And here's some pigeon-toed Mexican kid. No one even knows that he's a first-rounder. I walk in, and I'm going to go on an optional skate with these guys. And this is where, as we all know, gets older, Hall of Famer Dave Anderchuk, it was his first time being healthy scratched in playoffs. So I look back and I'm like, what the fuck?
Starting point is 01:01:28 What the fuck is this guy thinking? I'm on the ice with him. And it was just a horror. A black ace with Anderchuk. Yeah, it was just. How was he? Was he fucking mad or was he expecting it? You know, back then you look in perspective.
Starting point is 01:01:41 He was probably beyond pissed. I mean, he's already a Hall of Famer. He's already got the numbers. And it all happens we've all seen I didn't know what the agreement was going into that that that season if he was on the way out yeah no because no because he played uh he played more I mean he played it just so it was we've all seen it happen like maybe you know the coach just whatever but here I'm on the ice with these guys and this guy's you know not that they treated me bad or anything but I look back I'm like what the hell am I doing here so they were two weeks into it I had a couple buddies you know, not that they treated me bad or anything, but I look back and I'm like, what the hell am I doing here? So they were two weeks into it.
Starting point is 01:02:06 I had a couple of buddies, you know, playoffs. It goes game seven. And now I really don't I don't go back to the rink. I don't know what I'm doing there. And I have a couple of buddies that went to school in Iona from Alaska that played that played playing hockey there. And I remember calling them and I'm like, hey, you guys got time off. I think they were done. And so they come down and we went to,
Starting point is 01:02:28 I called the devil's office because I thought you could do it for, the Nets were playing. And they were like, well, Scott, there's a game tonight. Like, aren't you going to watch the game? And I was like, oh shit, am I supposed to? Like, I'm like, I'm not a part of that. And I just remember saying like, you know,
Starting point is 01:02:44 I just get so nervous watching it, you nervous watching the playoffs, this and that. So we ended up going to a basketball game. Great excuse. Yeah, I mean, was I supposed to watch them? Like, I'm not even part of this yet. Like, when I'm on the team, then I'll watch. How did they end up doing that year? I don't even remember.
Starting point is 01:02:57 They lost to Pittsburgh for the first rounds, too. So it was two years in a row. Oh, geez. Sure, but the coolest thing I do remember, and my favorite hockey player, my idol was uh there's other stories you want but um i walk into the rink and doug gilmore oh in the gym and this is doug gilmore and i'll never forget he was your my idol this is this why the jersey tuck was this way i tuck my jersey because this way like i'd you know i'd hate i'd put baby powder on my stick.
Starting point is 01:03:25 Yeah. Just because anything he did, I would do. And I remember one time I was taking a face off and I think it was Danny Heatley. And then when they're like, easy grats. And I'm like, shit, someone saw that? It usually didn't come off right away, but it did keep the tape on. And Doug Gilmore completely stops what he's doing. And you had to walk around where the old gym was at South Mountain and introduces himself.
Starting point is 01:03:48 Hi, I'm Doug Gilmore. Welcome, Scott. And I was just blown away by that. I was like, man, here's... Best feeling. Oh, man. Especially as you're out here. It was just...
Starting point is 01:03:55 You always want it to be what you dreamed it to be. Because sometimes, even if they're not in a good mood or whatever it is... It's like anything. And sometimes people got to realize that. They hear that like, oh, this guy was an asshole. Well, maybe he just found out his old lady's cheating on him. Yeah, yeah. You never know.
Starting point is 01:04:13 Real life gets in the way and people don't think of that. But when you're with someone, like you're at a sit down or a table or wherever and you're with one of your idols, this and that, and the guy's more pissed off that he's stuck with a young rookie. Then you're like, what a dick. One thing about it, those guys, it's like another one of my idols was Randy McKay. Yeah, legend, right? And this guy was, during training camp, I sat next to him.
Starting point is 01:04:39 Doesn't say a fucking word at all. Doesn't say a word, first camp. I make the team and I come in the room and he's doing he's doing karate kicks and this and that the timing's off
Starting point is 01:04:50 because that year I did make it the next time I was gonna make it every day I was in the bar with Randy and Lyle Odelein
Starting point is 01:04:58 because I make it by curfew and I remember calling my parents and I'd be half in the bag every night being like me too with O, and I'd be half in the bag every night being like... Me too with Odie. And I'd literally be like, Mom, Dad, but I was having a great camp.
Starting point is 01:05:10 They're like, hey, keep doing what you're doing. Doesn't matter, kid. But my thing was that the more these guys get to know me off the ice, the better they're going to help me on the ice. And so it's like anything. A guy would stand up and go, hey, who's coming? Kid, you want to go? Yep. I'll go. You don't say anything. I'm in a bar. These so it's like anything. A guy would stand up and go, hey, who's coming? Kid, you want to go? Yep.
Starting point is 01:05:26 I'll go. You don't say anything. I'm in a bar. These guys are playing golden tea. I'm like, this is, you know, but I'm sitting here. I'm in the NHL. And then the excuse was,
Starting point is 01:05:33 you know, this is a training camp. And then the excuse was wine. You know, hey, we got to take this young kid out for dinner. You know, they're telling their wife. So now the wine comes out. But it was literally. They were using you as a scapegoat.
Starting point is 01:05:44 Yeah, exactly. But then they realized, this guy's fun to hang out with. So then Randy, Randy. And even then, you're still being quiet. But Randy, I remember I make it. I come in the room, and Mackie's doing karate kicks. He always had a big Copenhagen, and I'm just like, what the fuck? And anyway, we start talking, and I said, hey, man, you're a cool guy.
Starting point is 01:06:08 Dude, you're pretty cool. Why are you such a dick? And he goes, I'm bad with names. And I'm like, what does that mean? He goes, man, there's so many of you young fuckers here. I don't know your names. He's like, make the team, and then I'll know you. And I just was like, all right, that's pretty cool.
Starting point is 01:06:20 I respect that. I mean, this guy, characters like that. I love how you're a young guy asking him why he's being so mean to you. So for everyone listening, I remember when I was with Florida, and you'll see where I'm going with this. When I was with Florida, I was there for like seven games. I was terrible. Gomez is on the team, and one night in Upshaw's room,
Starting point is 01:06:37 he goes, Gomez is coming down, the best hot stove ever. And I actually thought when this podcast began, I was like, God, if I just talk to guys like Gomer, it'll be the best. And as everyone can hear who's listening, this guy's one of the best storytellers going. What I want to get into is that first year, okay? You win Rookie of the Year, going into camp, and you're talking about that training camp now. Did you have any idea you'd play that big of a role? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:06:58 Because they are – that team is loaded. Well, the confidence gave me was – it gave me uh the year before i knew i could do it like i you know now and what happened was and it's probably the only reason why was uh that summer it's probably illegal but i had to move down to jersey uh july 1st and that's when i got to meet the guy that probably shaped my career probably one of the most, was I had to work out with Vladimir Bure. Only guy? You're the only guy? No, there was eight of us that started with him. Five of us ended because the other guys were working out with him.
Starting point is 01:07:36 All the minor league guys were there. So this is the schedule, and this is no word of a lie. You get up at 6 in the morning. We'd go over to the rink. Me, Colin White. We'll get into him later. Whitey, Sheldon Surrey, Dennis Peterson, Sergey Breeland, and a couple other Russians. Pierre Dagenais. So we'd get up in the morning, and only five of us.
Starting point is 01:08:01 Shelly didn't last too long. They were already there. So here's the schedule. We'd go down to West Orange High School and we'd be in the field and we'd run. And there was laps, sprints for a good two hours. Then we'd play tennis. We'd play tennis for another hour.
Starting point is 01:08:21 Then after that, we would go have lunch together. We'd nap and then we'd have to be back at the rink at around 3 or 4, and then that was weights. That was Monday through Saturday. Wednesday was just one a day, and then at night, you know, the Russians, the sauna. We had to do the sauna thing, and then Saturday was just in the morning. And later on, I'll give one of the best stories of Whitey
Starting point is 01:08:45 and Bruce Springsteen comes involved with that but but this is I mean in the things we are doing it's not allowed now
Starting point is 01:08:53 it's not even allowed it shouldn't be allowed but we're doing what I mean what these guys did I mean there's you did Russian training we're doing Russian training camp
Starting point is 01:09:01 and and Vladdy had all of like Pavel and Valerie's things. And I mean, it's just amazing how like... But this was, I mean, the fights that happened, the FU matches, this was every day. Just because it was so hardcore. It was so hard.
Starting point is 01:09:14 Everyone was on edge. Getting sick of each other. Sick of each other. And we're just together. And we're not on the ice. These guys are already on edge. And we're just doing this, and this is all like... And granted, I'm from out west, where you guys...
Starting point is 01:09:27 I've never felt fucking heat like this before. The humidity. And it just, I mean... And the guys that did it, they were still proud of it. I mean, it was just something that... But we... And then we got on the ice, and it was just laps, laps, laps, and everything was timing.
Starting point is 01:09:42 By the time training camp came, I mean, you took a week to, it was, and back then they had rookie camp. That wasn't even considered rookie camp. Yeah, they had like a week and that's the only bad thing now, because, you know, I don't know if you guys were in yet, but the first couple training camps were so fun because there were so many guys and it lasted like two weeks.
Starting point is 01:10:00 Pittsburgh training camp was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life in 2005. And you got to know guys more. Now it's like, bang, and as a young guy, that was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life in 2005. And you got to know guys more. Now it's like, bang, you get in as a young guy. That was the coolest thing. You get to hang around these NHL guys forever. But now, I mean, I remember, I think it was my third year maybe. It was like a week, bang. Everyone's left. The team's, here we go.
Starting point is 01:10:15 But Vladdy was definitely the reason. And people forget. Were you not burnt out going to that? No, because right before he was a genius, we thought we were right before you get basically a week off of nothing. Don't do a thing. You're not doing a thing. You probably feel great after.
Starting point is 01:10:31 Oh, God, by the time you get in there. And like I said, you look back at the pictures, I'm pretty chubby. So for me to have abs for one time, I mean, it was like the first summer I could walk without a shirt on and this and that. That would be nice. But Patrick Elias and Brendan Morrison were holding out. So it basically came down to two –
Starting point is 01:10:53 John Madden was next in line because the way the Devils worked was you – Start in the fourth line and move on. Well, you start in Albany, and then that's what happens. So that really helped. And I remember because the first – I had a great training camp. And I could tell a story that's still to this day I can't believe happened. Let's hear it. Okay, so it boils down to there's two guys.
Starting point is 01:11:18 So Madden's already got the spot. Now there's one more spot open. It's down to me and Eric Bertrand, French guy, beauty, great guy. We play a game, and we have a back-to-back. It's the last game. It's going to come down to me and him, I guess. And they don't tell us who's playing. Something happened, and I saw Bertrand when I was at the Canadiens in Quebec.
Starting point is 01:11:40 We were in Quebec, and I saw him, and we just both laugh at the story still. For some odd reason He had He knew someone in the city And was like Let's go to dinner in the city Or this club And I was like
Starting point is 01:11:51 We don't know who's playing The next day 50-50 here bud So And it's not even that Hey we'll go You know it all starts Like hey we'll just go
Starting point is 01:11:57 Yeah Let's go for dinner Next thing you notice You know Probably meet some people Hey they're gonna go to this place Yeah let's go to this place And this is You know It got To the point It was Next thing you notice, you know, probably meet some people. Hey, they're going to go to this place. Yeah, let's go to this place.
Starting point is 01:12:09 And this is, you know, it got to the point it was, who knows what time it is. And back then you're invincible. I mean, hey, you don't, you know, I'm going to the NHL. No one's stopping me. And, you know, there's no GPS. There's no phones. We have no fucking clue how to get back home.
Starting point is 01:12:25 But we know Route 3 is right there, there and the metal lands is right there so me and this asshole we we basically stayed in we slept in the car and this is the new jersey devils we slept in the car and i forgot because it was game day i think we had so we didn't we weren't wearing suits like we had changed our clothes whatever and basically walked in and like you know 7 30 in.30 in the morning and just like scared. I don't think there's cameras in there. It's not in the parking lot. I shouldn't even say slept. It was only like a couple hours.
Starting point is 01:12:53 Instead of risking it to go, we stayed in the parking lot. The fact we did not get caught, I have no clue to this day. But we both were in the lineup. Actually, Birdie got hurt that that day so he gets uh so i guess he i guess i'm gonna make it next day i walk in the locker room and number 23 is on my stall and i was wearing always where i was wearing 48 in camp and i just thought they'd give me that and you think that a kid would be
Starting point is 01:13:22 like that must have meant I probably made it. They changed the number, this and that. And I just looked at the jersey and I'm like, fuck. I'm pissed. And Larry Robinson sees me and he's like, hey, kid. I was like, did I make it? And he's like, congratulations, you're here. He goes, look at the number.
Starting point is 01:13:37 And I go, what the fuck I got to wear that for? Like, I wanted number 11. And Larry's like, really? And he's in shock that I'm mad about the number. You're not, like, going ecstatic. Yeah, I'm like, God. I'm like, who's 23 besides Jordan? Jordan's got that taken care of.
Starting point is 01:13:52 And he's like, well, you know, there's a guy, Bob Ganey. And I'm like, yeah, but he was more defense, man. I'm offense. I'm flow, man. What a young punk. Wow. Yeah, and I'm just, but it's, you know, I think back now. And anyway, Larry goes, okay.
Starting point is 01:14:04 And this is kind of, he goes, okay. And this is the kind of thing. He goes, no problem. We'll solve that. And he says, he goes, the trainer's standing by the door. And he's like, hey, Dana. He goes, is number 11 available in Albany? Looks at the sheet and goes, yeah, it is. He looks over and goes, you still want number 11?
Starting point is 01:14:19 I was like, I fucking love 23. Well, I'm glad you brought up Larry Robinson because that season, people who don't know, Robbie Fitora coached 74 games and he got fired. And with eight games to go, Larry Robinson comes in. The team withers in four and four. They win the Stanley Cup. What is the thought process when the head coach gets fired that soon before playoffs?
Starting point is 01:14:40 First of all, you know, it's such a whirlwind. You don't know what's going on. And you're young, so you don't care. Like, I remember to get to that, and we've all gone through it, I was becoming really close with Brian Ralston. Roley's one of the best. Very underrated guy. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:14:55 And so Roley, and growing up as a U.S. kid, he was a college legend, likes to play in the stadiums. So I'm becoming close with Roley. After warm-ups, we're playing Colorado, and I'm watching Sackick, Forsberg. i can't believe i'm on the same line you know and i come in the locker room and something's different like something's something's different like there's you know there's uh the feng shui's off you know there's something like what's going on to the four someone die here like what's going on here and guys are in and out of the room and anyway Brian Ralston just
Starting point is 01:15:25 got traded for Claude Lemieux and he's in the weight room and guys are going in and out to say bye I'm going I'm like what the this hat like this hat like this and you know and you start realizing man this is a business so that was kind of and with the Robbie thing you know we were yeah we were kind of struggling but we're still you know powers and you know, we were, yeah, we were kind of struggling, but we're still, you know, powerless. And, you know, one thing about. 41 and 25 and eight. But one thing about Lou, I mean, he felt the team, he felt, you know, wasn't right. But I just remember we were going to, I think we were busing to Long Island and initially
Starting point is 01:15:57 Larry didn't want it. And they were, we were all on the bus waiting and Larry, Larry and Lou were in the car and then the announcement was made, and it was just – and people forget it wasn't like we just turned it on. We were still 500 towards the end. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, and then here we go. That's such a ballsy move by Lou.
Starting point is 01:16:14 Like, that's why he's a legend, right? Well, I mean – To make that call just to feel the team out where – Another thing, I mean, I think you might have to look it up, but, like, when, you know, Claude Julien got fired with, I think, a game. We were in first place. And this is when you knew the balls this guy's got on him is the fact that he went behind the bench.
Starting point is 01:16:35 He went behind the bench, and it was literally like, and we just never forget that day was the fact that all the old guys are calling, because is Lou going to skate with us? Like, the guy's always in a suit. We've never seen him on wheels. Everyone is on the ice early. Everyone's on the ice early, and it's like, and here he comes, you know, he's got the stick.
Starting point is 01:16:55 He's holding it like this. He's got the gloves that are up to here. He's got the clear toques, blades, whatever, and it was like, holy shit, this is going to happen. But, yeah, it was pretty funny. So you brought Lemieux in. Like, we had Shelly Osan. He said But, yeah, it was pretty funny. So you brought Lemieux in. We had Chellios on. He said everybody, even his teammates, couldn't stand him.
Starting point is 01:17:08 But he was obviously older by the time he got the jersey. Well, for the second time. What was it like having him in the room? The whole atmosphere. A popular guy leaves. Lemieux comes in. All right. Nice.
Starting point is 01:17:19 Crack a beer. Yeah, this could be a while. But if, and I'll say, and these stories that i'll tell because hey you know if claude lemieux were right here it'd even be better because you'd hear his side of it yeah it's so and so so literally so we've been together at dinners and stuff and it just goes better so it's not just one side and i signed him a jersey for the 95 reunion and all the sayings he told me so now claude Lemieux comes on the team. And remember, he won a cup with these guys.
Starting point is 01:17:48 All these guys know him. And, I mean, it is just like, you know, something's different. Something different's going to happen. And I'm like, who's this guy? And Randy McKay, remember, telling me, like, oh, wait till you get a load of this guy. He walks in, and you don't realize how big he is first of all he's a huge man and you're like geez you know so at the all-star game joe sackett comes up to me and he says hey well how's
Starting point is 01:18:17 the pep and i'm like oh man you know it is you know i don't know him that well yet and joe sackett goes hey just realize he's always open He's always open So I'm like Okay So now me Brendan Morrison Play with Claude Lemieux
Starting point is 01:18:30 And This fucking guy Is literally I mean On us On us It's everything Never
Starting point is 01:18:39 Nothing's ever good enough Ever this and that Blah blah blah You get to the bench And he's saying He's just like Hey you know We could do that Hey kiddo I was open there This and he's saying something. He's just like, hey, you know, we could do that. Hey, kiddo, I was open there.
Starting point is 01:18:46 This and that. And you're just like, and it's called a meal. So now me, Brandon Morrison, and Claude, we get into a rhythm. But it's all happened. Is Mo playing center or you? I think me and Mo are kind of – I'm on wing. I'm playing wing. I'm playing wing.
Starting point is 01:19:00 So me and Mo and Pep, and we have like a five game. Mo's on like a seven-point streak. I'm on a five, and for people who don't know, we all look at the sheets. And once you get a five-point streak, you're on the list. You're on the name, whatever it's not. And Claude's the guy on the line basically doing all the work, but not getting rewarded. He's on a two, so this and that. So anyway, me and Mo, we go to Carolina.
Starting point is 01:19:29 And there was that snowstorm because there was like three teams caught there. Me and Mo were like, hey, let's go to Chapel Hill. And well, Carolina's playing Maryland in basketball. So we don't have tickets, but I go up to the ticket counter, and I'm like, hey, we're with the New Jersey Devils. So-and-so called. We're supposed to have a couple tickets. And the guy's like, and he's looking, and he's looking.
Starting point is 01:19:55 And I'm looking at Moe, and I'm like, don't worry. Hey, got this. He met Scott. I'll get his send. Don't worry. And we're waiting, and we're waiting, and we're waiting. And finally the guy's like, hey, the game's free if you just want to go in today. Because it was a snowstorm and I'm like, and Mo's looking at me and I'm like, oh, God.
Starting point is 01:20:13 So go in the game. Afterwards, like I said, I didn't go to college. So afterwards, there's just an ant trail. And it's still early. We're like, hey, let's go have one. And so we have a couple. Make it, find out. We were staying in Raleigh, and that snowstorm.
Starting point is 01:20:31 We've had a couple. And anyway, we're not going to make it back because we can't get a car. And I should say I probably had more than a couple. I'm back with my age group, kind of thing. And so we can't get a car we met these guys that were grad students that were from Canada
Starting point is 01:20:50 so they knew who we were great people they had a clothing line I wish I still knew the name of this but we hung out with them all night we had to call them
Starting point is 01:20:57 I don't even know what time of morning it was and be like hey well can you give us a ride home like we'll leave you tickets blah blah blah this and that
Starting point is 01:21:03 guys were great they take us back. We didn't think we had a pregame skate. My roommate, Jay Pandolfo, I come in and I'm just whacked out of my, ah! You know, like, and so anyway,
Starting point is 01:21:13 we get down on the ice. We have pregame skate. Ken Danico takes a shot and we're like the three, warming up the goalies, three lines, and I don't know what the hell Moe was doing in front of the net,
Starting point is 01:21:23 but Moe takes one off the foot. So now his foot, they think, is broken. I have a piece of lettuce. I'll never forget that. And we get to the bus early, and back then, I'm hurting. That was your pregame meal, by the way. I'm hurting, yes. And I'm hurting.
Starting point is 01:21:37 I'm hurting. Like, I'm like, oh, my God. And I got to get out of here. I got to get just up to my room. And, like, I probably reeked this night. And back then, it was really strict. Like, like, I probably reeked this and that. And back then it was really strict. Like, you don't eat until all the vets eat. And I think one of the guys knew.
Starting point is 01:21:49 I was like, can I? It was just, like, three of us. I don't know what happened. He was like, yeah, you can eat. I literally grab a piece of lettuce, put it in my mouth, and I just walk off. So the game starts. Or the game. We're in the game.
Starting point is 01:21:59 And, you know, we've all been there. I think. I don't know if the kids today. But, I mean, I don't even know if I can play in guilt. I'm hurting so bad. You're hung, Katie. But, you know, hey, things are going good. Hey, we're going to Nashville after this.
Starting point is 01:22:09 You know, whatever. Claude Lemieux comes over and grabs me and Brendan Morrison, and he goes, hey, come here. And he takes us over to the corner, and he sits us down. And no one's around, and he looks, and he goes, I know what you did last night, you motherfuckers. He goes, you don't fucking play good tonight. He goes, I go to Lou Lamarillo. You go to Albany tomorrow, mother. So we are like, holy shit.
Starting point is 01:22:37 So me and Mo are like, and guys, we all know my game. I was fucking hitting everything. I was skating. I'm scared. I'm blocking shots. I'm just trying this and that. And what happens is third period, it's one-to-one. Puck comes around.
Starting point is 01:22:56 It hits me off the back by the blue line. Moe just shoots it on net. And Columew gets the rebound and scores the game winner. So after the game, I mean, when they say you put it all on the line, I gave everything I had. I mean, I'm only 19. I had nothing. Me and Mo were just sitting there on the thing.
Starting point is 01:23:13 And Claude Lemieux comes over and was like, that way, kiddos, I knew you would be this and that. Because he got his cookie. He got his cookie, but he deserved a show. So same thing happens. Same thing happens. We go down. Same thing happens. Mo's getting his We go down. Same thing happens.
Starting point is 01:23:26 Mo's getting his points. I'm getting my points. And Pep's the guy not happening. So we're in Pittsburgh. A pregame optional skate. And me and Mo are getting a little cockier. You know, kind of like. We're having a big year.
Starting point is 01:23:39 Yeah. And so Pep wants a line. Colami wants a line meeting. Right at the igloo. Right on the side of the ice. So he decides, you know, we need to do this. We need to do that, blah, blah, blah. And Mo goes, you know, Pep, we need you to be a little more positive
Starting point is 01:23:56 because it makes us go better. Like if we know you're always down, it just doesn't. We grip it tight. I start chiming in. I'm like, yeah, you know, when you're positive, Pep, it's just so much easier. And the look on his face was just like something serious happened. And we're like, you kind of just, okay, meeting's over. Me and Mo are skating down like, suck on that.
Starting point is 01:24:19 Like, fuck off. Like, we're just laughing. Like, you know, we get down to the other end. We're so proud of ourselves. Like, we stood up to him finally. And all of a sudden you hear this, hey, get over here. We skate down. Gets us in the corner.
Starting point is 01:24:31 And he says, I tell you this, and I tell you this once. I play in the league 16 fucking years. I don't get you going. You get me going. Get the fuck out of here. Me and Mo were just like, that didn't work. We thought we got him. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 01:24:49 Oh, my God. This guy is fucking something else. The worst day of my life was Brendan Morrison gets traded. And Alex Mogilny, it was great for us, but Mo gets traded. Now I'm stuck with Pep. You got no line mate now. So me, him, and now. Did Mogilny take his spot?
Starting point is 01:25:13 Now I can play with Alex Mogilny. And this guy doesn't. I mean, this guy's as cool as they come out. And so Pep, he's on me in the room. We're in the room in between, period. I'm losing it, guys. I'm losing it. Like, I just can't. Because he's not going to the room. We're in the room in between the period. I'm losing it, guys. I'm losing it. Like, I just can't.
Starting point is 01:25:26 Because he's not going to give it to McGill. No, no. So now I get a double thing. And so Pep's on me, this and that. And I'm like, fuck him. I'm going to show him up. So we're in the room in between the period. And he's on me.
Starting point is 01:25:38 He's on me. And I go, I say to him, I don't know where it came from, but it's like your dad's on you enough, and you just got to get to mom to let her know that this guy's on you. So Pep's on me, he's on me, and I go, and I just start acting like I'm crying, like I finally broke down, and I storm out of the room. And I'm like, and now if Pep were here, he'd say his side of it, like now everyone's looking at Claude like, you broke this kid.
Starting point is 01:26:03 Like, you dick, this kid's like a nice, you know, god damn. And like, so I'm out of the room, he's looking at claude like you broke this like you dick this kid's like a nice you know god damn like so i'm out in the room he's got to do something i'm in the bathroom stall and i'm just like you know yeah like you know fuck you this and that and he comes to the thing the plastic door and he says kiddo kiddo you okay kiddo i'm like yeah pep yeah yeah peppy goes kiddo you okay and he said yeah next you know is boom fucking door he kicks the door open gets right in my face and goes you fucking show me up you show me up just get your fucking ass back in there you show me up I'll fucking then and I'm just like I go and I remember saying to him and I'm like no I think I broke my arm I think I think I broke my arm that's why I'm crying like dude I had to walk back in the room and I was like, no, I think I broke my arm. I think I broke my arm. That's why I'm crying.
Starting point is 01:26:46 Dude, I had to walk back in the room and I was like, I had to walk back in the room and everyone's just, I was like, yeah, that didn't work. I'm just sitting there like, yeah, whatever. And it wouldn't do it justice without this. So Pep's in back of the bus and he's, and this is, you know, so I'd sit back in the bus, I'd sit back in the bus with Ken Danico.
Starting point is 01:27:07 And Dano would fucking complain, you know, God damn, I play a thousand games. I got to shit in it. But he's got worse ADD than I do. So he'd forget about me in like two seconds when his phone went off. So I'm sitting there back there. You know, I just want to be with the guys. And he goes, call him.
Starting point is 01:27:22 He's in the back of the phone, and he's talking dirty. He's like, oh, I do this and that, you know. And I turn around, and I look, and he's like, fucking turn around, stupid rookie. And I'm like, don't listen to me. And so he goes again, and he's going on, and I'm just like, what the fuck? So afterwards, he hangs up his phone.
Starting point is 01:27:40 He goes, come here. And he sat in the back, you know, the three-seater. He goes, sit down. I was like, who are you talking to? He goes, I was talking to my wife. He goes, you always talk dirty to them. And he sat in the back. You know, the three-seater. He goes, sit down. I was like, who are you talking to? He goes, I was talking to my wife. He goes, you always talk dirty to them. We are going on the road. You talk dirty to them.
Starting point is 01:27:49 You let them know that this and that, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, listen. He goes, because all these other stupid idiots. He goes, they fucking, they don't think when they leave, that's when the wife, she grabbed the peanut butter. She spread it all over. The dog and the cat come over. Lick, lick, lick, lick.
Starting point is 01:28:02 I'm like, what the fuck? He's like, now get out of here. So Pep's telling me this. And I'm like, what? What is wrong with this guy? No, no. But he was just the best. He was just, I don't know.
Starting point is 01:28:12 He was just great. He was just like that. But another time, we were in Nashville. You think this guy would come on? He's the best. Yeah, he's the best. He's one of the best interviews. But another time, he's new to the team, so we're still kind of scared of him.
Starting point is 01:28:27 Not to everyone, though, right? I mean, no, no, no, but he's just, you know, he's Pep, man. He's Pep. We're in Nashville, and the guys, you know, my roommate, they're all single, you know, at the time. And anyway, Pandolfo was talking to this beautiful girl. It's not a lie, because it was like a Swedish model convention was in Nashville or some shit. So Jay's got her.
Starting point is 01:28:56 But someone, Jay went to the bathroom, you know, and someone told the girl, joking around, that, oh, yeah, you know, he's engaged. And he wasn't. I mean, this is my rookie year. Yeah. So the girl joking around that, oh, yeah, you know he's engaged. And he wasn't. I mean, this is my rookie year. So the girl got pissed. She's out and Jay doesn't know. He's trying to explain this and that. So anyway, she takes off. Jay is livid.
Starting point is 01:29:17 Pando is livid. Who shriveled me? So he hears it's this one guy. I forgot who it is. So one of the young guys. And so Jay's going to go. It's late. We don't have a game tomorrow.
Starting point is 01:29:27 We've all been out. We're pretty in the bag. And Jay is going to go find this guy. And we think he found his room. So he goes to the room. And he starts kicking the door. And he's like, get the fuck. It's Jay.
Starting point is 01:29:38 And before you know it, I'm right behind him because I'm dying. I want to see. And before you know it, the door opens. And I don't wear glasses, but, you know, people that wear glasses. This guy is going like this. And he's trying to find his glasses. It's fucking Claude Lemieux in his boxer. He's ripped as hell sitting there.
Starting point is 01:29:56 And Jay just stood there like. And Claude Lemieux's like, what the fuck? And Jay's just like, wrong room. Wrong room. Claude Lemieux's like, no shit, it's the wrong room. room Claude and he was like no shit it's the wrong room get out of here like
Starting point is 01:30:06 oh man so and here's one of the last ones this is Claude we went and we win we win
Starting point is 01:30:14 the Eastern Conference and we bust back to Philly from Philly we're going back and Ken Danico owned a restaurant and oh man that was home base
Starting point is 01:30:23 and some of the first two years were so fun at that restaurant so we're uh we're in the i mean i don't know you know drinking beers every sat and back then when we went around you and you had days off you'd have a break whatever you'd have a you'd have a team party you'd have everyone get together man you've accomplished something like hey we're you it's got to be fun i mean it to the finals or whatever. Something like that. So the party's set at Dano's.
Starting point is 01:30:48 Everyone in Jersey is like, it's going to be packed. And Vladdy had my car because he was living with me during playoffs. Vladdy had my truck. And I had this, like, I don't even like this Toyota, like, kind of like a mini Subaru kind of thing. It was something you'd see like a Barbie Tonka Tour. Something like, yeah, and I'm driving this. And I'm carpooling
Starting point is 01:31:13 because I lived at the end of Montclair and Scott Niedermeyer and Claude lived in Montclair. So I'm dropping them off before we all go to Dano's. And it's terrible. I shouldn't have been driving. I don't know why I'm driving. Needs doesn't drink, but I'm in them off before we all go to Dano's. And, you know, it's terrible. I shouldn't have been driving. I don't know why I'm driving. Needs doesn't drink, but I'm in the car driving.
Starting point is 01:31:30 Claude Lemieux is a singer, likes to sing. So he's got the tunes up. I think me and him are probably hacking darts. And we're sitting there, and Needs is just in the back, and it's in Upper Montclair, and this road, it's completely dark. And it was either a raccoon, or I don't even know if they have possums inums in jersey i think it was but the thing comes out on the road and i i swerve and both both guys go like this and fucking what what what the hell happened what are you what are you doing and i was like i think a possum just i didn't want to hit the possum he's like you
Starting point is 01:32:00 fucking stupid rookie you go through the possum you go through the possum and needs is in the back he's like yeah you go through the possum and i go through the possum. And needs is in the back. He's like, yeah, you go through the possum. And I'm like, meanwhile, I don't even know why I'm driving. I know why Claude's pissed because a piece of ash got on his suit. And he's like, yeah. But I will say, man, if you're going to go win a Stanley Cup and you've got to pick a guy that is – and we all heard the myths.
Starting point is 01:32:24 And you look at the guy's record in the consummates and all that, but to see it live, to see a man that, you know, jump on, jump on. He's possessed. He raised his level like no one. And he taught me stuff on the ice
Starting point is 01:32:39 that were just, it wasn't all bad. Like I said, he's a true great friend. He was great to me. He was unbelievable to me. He was unbelievable to me. They were unbelievable people. But he just like falling back on the ice. If I'm with Biz right here and Biz pushes me over, well, you just push me over.
Starting point is 01:32:59 But instead of pushing over, Claude Lemieux was like, you're stick. Act like your hands are out of control. Now I'm just trying to smoke you in the face. Like, this guy would do stuff like that on the ice. Like, just, oh, he's nasty. Anything to win. And, like, he was just, but, yeah, you saw it. I mean, when the chips were on the line,
Starting point is 01:33:13 this guy was great. And he also, like, we win the cup, and we're in the China Club. And I'm on the dance floor, and I'm dancing with this girl, and she's like, what are you doing? How do you know all these guys? And I'm like, well, you know, I'm on the dance floor, and I'm dancing with this girl, and she's like, what are you doing? How do you know all these guys?
Starting point is 01:33:29 And I'm like, well, you know, I'm on the team. Cup champ. And she's like, you are? And I'm like, come on. I'll take you to the VIP section. And it's so packed there. So I go up, and the dude at the roped-off area, and, like, everyone, you know, we've all been in the suit. And, like, everyone there, he's like, beat it, kid. Like, beat it. And I'm like, no, I'm on the team. Like, I'm on the there. He's like, like, beat it, kid.
Starting point is 01:33:45 Like, beat it. And I'm like, no, I'm on the team. Like, I'm on the team. He's like, yeah, right. Get out of here. And the girl looks at me like, yeah, well, you loser. So not only that, I can't get in. I can't get back in.
Starting point is 01:33:56 So I'm like, Pandal's right there. And I'm like, Jay, you know, I'm talking to him right there. I'm like, hey, come get me. And he's like, he kind of looks and he's like, no, like, he's not going to get his spot back. And I'm like, I'm going to like right there. I'm like, hey, come get me. And he's like, he kind of looks and he's like, no. He's not going to get his spot back. And I'm like, I'm going to like three guys on the team. Hey, someone's got to get me. So I go to the end and there's Pep and he's got his own tail.
Starting point is 01:34:13 And I'm like, Pep, come get me. He's like, get in here. And I'm like, they won't let me in. And Pep fucking jumps up, makes his way to the door, just goes right to the door guy. He's like, you don't let him in? And the guy's like, is he on the team? He's like, yeah, I'm fucking all right.
Starting point is 01:34:27 He's on the team. Get in here, you stupid rookie. And I was just like, yeah. So he always had my back. He was always like. Finally gave in. No, I mean, he's got Claude Lemieux right there. But like four of my teammates.
Starting point is 01:34:35 No, I'm saying Claude ripped on you all year. And then you win the cup. And he's like, come on in. Oh, no, no. He was not in that. He was great. You know, those are just some of the stories. Who won MVP that year?
Starting point is 01:34:44 Scotty. Scotty Stevens. And that's? Scotty. Scotty Stevens. And that's a different beast. But Pip. We got it. I told you. I feel like that's a whole other show. I told you.
Starting point is 01:34:51 We got to have him on 10 times. There's too many stories. He remembers every story. That's the thing, too. The guys like me going, because I read a lot, and I read a chapter, and I'm like, what the hell did I just read? But when it came to the hockey stories, it was just something that, you know. You mentioned a story of Bruce Springsteen.
Starting point is 01:35:10 What happened there? I got to bring that back. Well, Whitey, you need a couple of those. Yeah, Whitey. So, like I told you about the workout. All summer long. All summer long. So, getting towards the end.
Starting point is 01:35:21 And Whitey was one of those guys, he's next in line. Is this Colin White? Colin White. Yeah, sorry, sorry. Colin White. Colin White's next in line I was just calling White calling White calling White calling White's next in line he's next he's the next guy that's gonna make the Devils
Starting point is 01:35:28 and you know he's a legend in Albany he's this and that and so Whitey me and Whitey got in a night show we were working out and all the guys
Starting point is 01:35:40 on the weekend would drive back up to Albany because they only had to work work out till Friday so all those guys would leave. So it would basically always just be me. And for some odd reason, Whitey stayed because his wife at the time was in Albany.
Starting point is 01:35:52 So it's me and him. I found a bar that I could go into. That, you know, I guess... You would never go back to those. Well, and they didn't ID. I mean, I'm only 19 years old. So I found a bar. So me and Whitey, we finished our workout.
Starting point is 01:36:04 We have a case of Coors Light, and we're already starting. And it's like, that was a hard week. And we're going to go to this bar. Just then the phone rings in my room. And usually when you got a call from Lou's secretary, Marie the best, it's literally like, hi, Scotty, Lou wants to talk to you. Bang. He's right on the phone.
Starting point is 01:36:25 Because he doesn't want time for you to prepare. Not even that. So it's like probably. So he's like, Scotty, what are you doing tonight? And I said, oh, me and Colin Whitey, we got tickets to this movie premiere. There was a new movie out. So I was like, we got these tickets that were really hard to get, and we're going to go to that tonight.
Starting point is 01:36:43 And he's like, change of plans. He goes, you're gonna go to the bruce springsteen concert tonight and i'm like granted you know bruce springsteen what the fuck i don't want to go see bruce springsteen like just like what like you know i'm like love yeah and i'm like and basically there's no we're going to a bruce springsteen concert and he's like and i want going to a Bruce Springsteen concert. And he's like, and I want you to get there early. So me and Whitey, you know, okay. And he goes, and I want you to watch one thing. I want you to watch his work ethic.
Starting point is 01:37:20 So we're like, so me and Whitey are like, so why get off the phone? And Whitey's like, what was that? And I'm like, dude, we're going to Bruce Springsteen. I don't know if Whitey was a fan. So I remember calling my parents. I'm like, yeah, I got to go to this Bruce Springsteen concert. This is in 99 where the E Street band hadn't played together. So this is a reunion.
Starting point is 01:37:40 So we get to the Meadowlands early. It's packed. It's packed. I can't even explain how packed this is. And there's just a vibe. It's like, what the hell's going on here? Oh, a lot of energy. Yeah, yeah. The energy in a place like that.
Starting point is 01:37:50 And new to Jersey. So I don't know anything, the history of Jersey, this and that. So we get in the stadium, and we're there, and I see my old world junior coach, Bob Mancini, from USA Hockey, and I see him, and I walk down, and I say hey hey coach what's up and he's like looks at me he's like you know hey uh you're going to you know he's like he's just pumped the whole place is jacked and I'm like yeah I'm trying to play it cool I'm like yeah you know I gotta come he's like you never seen a Bruce Springsteen concert and I'm like well no
Starting point is 01:38:18 I didn't even know they were together you know he's like he's like Gomer kid he's like this is gonna change your life this this is and and I'm like, yeah, okay. All right, whatever. You know, I'm still going to raves, I think, at that time. I'm like, yeah, okay. For the next three hours, me and Whitey were literally just on our, I mean, we could not believe what was going on. I mean, it was unreal.
Starting point is 01:38:38 Unreal. The work ethic was still good. We went to, we asked again, you know, can we just go see his work? I think we went to like three shows that were here. That year, we actually, Bobby Higgins became friends with Max Weinberg, and they were great. Yeah, became a huge part of the boss. And you learn early in Jersey, man.
Starting point is 01:38:54 It's like when you're in a bar and it's Bruce or Barn Jovi just comes on. I mean, it's a loyalty. It's amazing how his words Like they just like They just resonate With the crowd And how powerful it is I mean It's like a church Going to a spring scene
Starting point is 01:39:09 I've been to one Like I said It's wild I don't know how many shows I've been to I mean I've never been To a spring scene But like I went
Starting point is 01:39:14 And saw Eddie Vedder A few times I mean Pearl Jam I think they do A pretty good job Where did this lead With Whitey Oh
Starting point is 01:39:21 Okay so Whitey So What's his line Sorry before Isn't it like grade seven education fucking make a hundred oh this guy so so whitey uh i'm with whitey one night one day we're at the hotel and he drove a you know he drove a truck that of course it's like i need a ladder to get up he's you know tires this and that he's driving a truck and he uh and we're
Starting point is 01:39:44 leaving this bar whatever and whitey's banged up and he uh and we're leaving this bar whatever and whitey's banged up and he's scary he's scared i don't know him that well at this point and he's scary and he's like you're taking me to albany you're driving to albany and i'm like and it's one of those stories we always tell that if you if you were there it just doesn't justice so i'll try but it's literally that so i'm like scared out of my head like do i really got to take this guy to albany like that's a three-hour drive i don't you know he's yelling at me to do it and i'm like hey whitey and so we're making our way back to the hotel and whitey's like god damn i i thought i told you we're going and i'm like yeah i got to get something from my room
Starting point is 01:40:18 i'm like i just got to get the hotel i'm leaving in his truck so now this lady is parked the only parking spot in there, there's this lady and she's got a bag, or she's got all these groceries and stuff. And I said, I go, Whitey, stay in the car. Let me come around and get you. You know, come in the car. I get out of the car and I walk around
Starting point is 01:40:39 and I forgot something happened. Someone was in the hotel and they're like, Gomer, we're, I was like, hey, I need help with Whitey. Like, I don't think he can walk. And I was like, get out out whitey's stumbling around and this lady really doesn't notice him yet and he's just stumbling around and i look and i turn at him and he just smokes her car why this poor lady's with her kids taking groceries i think she drops all the bags and whitey's whitey's just laying whitey's just laying there and he's just and he's got this laugh that's like And he's doing this laugh
Starting point is 01:41:06 This poor lady's just like And I'm like oh my god my friend's got food poisoning Like this hand I get him into the hotel I get him into the hotel And he We get in the hotel Say it one more time
Starting point is 01:41:22 I'm just remembering This guy I gotta get his room key and i'm like whitey stay right here don't move you know and there's steps to go up whitey makes it like five seven steps and this just you see this guy tumbling down and and don't forget everyone at the hotel probably works for lou they're gonna know and i'm like he's full he's got food poisoning i just kept going with that but whitey was just uh like the reason why I didn't play in Albany either was calling White we had like a day off and Whitey uh asked me if I want to go to Albany with them all the guys and I'm like sick of being at the hotel by myself I'm like yeah I'll go
Starting point is 01:41:57 so I drive up to Albany we go to this one bar and so I get loaded we go to this other bar and now I think we all you know got some money in our pocket and I'm at this bar and I'm talking We go to this one bar, get loaded. We go to this other bar. And now I think we all got some money in our pocket. And I'm at this bar, and I'm talking to the bartender. And me and Chris Thompson, who's a WHL guy, me and him, we're sitting at the bar just having a blast, doing shots. And I think I tipped, I think I gave the girl like $100. And I'm like, hey.
Starting point is 01:42:24 And we were joking around the whole time. And I joked, I'm like, Hey, I just gave you a hundred dollars. We shouldn't have to wait. Whatever. I didn't, I guess her boyfriend was the bouncer and I didn't, I probably thought I was, you know, we almost go,
Starting point is 01:42:33 whatever, whatever. All I remember is a guy grabs me by the, by the throat, picks me up. Next thing you notice, I'm carried out by like three bouncers. They get me in the middle of the dance floor.
Starting point is 01:42:43 They dropped me. So I'm, I'm face down. I'm just trying to get my wallet and i literally get thrown out of the bar and all i know now i'm thrown out there's a line people are just watching me and i'm already thinking like this is gonna get back this is gonna get back this time and next thing i was calling white comes running out and he just starts losing it who threw him out who and the bouncers are like oh colin he's with him or he's with you whitey and he's like yeah they're like oh Whitey Whitey so sorry and I'm like they're apologizing to Whitey meanwhile I'm on
Starting point is 01:43:08 the ground I'm like so Whitey takes me to another place I pass out and you know a lot of people don't realize that I had kind of a fro and it was and Whitey and I don't know who else but they they got a picture somewhere they proceeded to put I think they got up to count like 200 and somewhere they proceeded to put i think they got up to count like 200 and 210 red straws in my hair and i just and i just i remember waking up at his house and it was just yeah that was that was my last time in albany so that was motivation right there i'm not going back there dude i think we have to like how long have we gone right now oh my god dude We haven't even left this rookie year yet. How long? We've been an hour. Should we talk about, I think Marty Brodeur has to be talked about in the first one, no? Yeah, I mean, there's so many guys.
Starting point is 01:43:53 I mean, what's interesting is your relationships with these guys and how you have stories and great ones about all of them. Because you were such a likable guy where I feel like there was not much conflict going on between you and teammates. No, it was sad. But I went in a situation where, believe it or not, you're quiet, you're just not. But the thing about the Devils and the thing about the guys, there were so many different personalities in there. And the thing about the Bobby Huliks, the one thing about it, they let you be. This is different.
Starting point is 01:44:24 I mean, everyone, we all prepare different. There's no other profession. I mean, this is as tough as it goes. And so you see some of these teams or whatever, and no, we don't have to do all the things the same way. I get prepared different than you. And the Devils were great about that. Like, if you were going to go out all night, that's fine.
Starting point is 01:44:44 But in practice, you're going to work. And it was easy because Scotty Stevens at that time is 36 years old, and this guy is the hardest working guy in practice. So it pretty much falls down right away. But they let you be. And everyone thought it was so stiff and this and that. Yeah, the rules were different, but we still had a blast. But we just took care of business on the ice.
Starting point is 01:45:03 But your personalities were allowed. So, like, I think my buddies asked randy mckay he was over at the house one time my buddies asked her like what was you know what was gomer like as a rookie like what the fuck like you know my personality's never changing he goes you know what he was he's probably the cockiest little shit we've ever seen but he was the most respectful rookie like meaning backing up on the ice it was a vet it was i mean these guys were my idol i mean i was doing a job that like you know they they took care of me and i mean yeah it was but you had fun i mean it was it was like my second game in the league uh we're at home for the first time and everyone you know certain guys dan was just rocking scott everyone's in the room and i'm like man i can't be in the room i i gotta go out hides i i think about hockey when i stepped
Starting point is 01:45:42 on the ice and i remember walking out and, and we had a little lounge there, and Jennifer Hanniston was on the cover of People magazine, and that was my future wife, I thought. And I remember just grabbing the magazine, and next thing you know, I'm sprawled out, laid out. And it was about 10 minutes to go before warm-ups, and I remember Scotty Stevens coming behind me, and you can see the glance, and I'm like, oh, shit.
Starting point is 01:46:05 I'm just reading this magazine. I'm like, ooh, is this allowed? You don't know the rules. And he's just like, and the next thing you know, it's just like four guys just watching me. They couldn't believe that. Dude, we're about to go play in Antony. They had to get all intense.
Starting point is 01:46:16 Because they're rookies. Yeah. It's like, I know, Todd, but we're in Toronto. Remember the first time any of us went to the big rinks? It was like, so we're in Toronto remember the first time any of us went to the big rinks it was like and I get like uh and I'll never forget this because there was this smoke show this beautiful woman was right up behind the bench like 10 rows up whatever and I'm like wow this is Toronto wow this is the league and I think I I take like I can't remember who was in the box first but I think I take like a penalty where you know you who was in the box first, but I think I take, like, a penalty where, you know,
Starting point is 01:46:45 you stepped on my blade, and right the next shift, Randy McKay fights Ty Domi. And maybe it was opposite. I came in, so, you know, Domi's the king at that time. But, you know, Randy held his own, whatever, this and that. But it was a pretty good fight. Randy comes into the box, and he's just all disheveled, you know know this and i just fought you know and i'm sitting there for my tripping penalty and like what do you say to this guy i'm still new i'm still don't know him that well it's like
Starting point is 01:47:12 fifth game or six games here and he's like i'm like hey man i was like hey smacky uh you know good job man good fight like you did great and he's like jesus christ kid he's like did you see that broad right up there fuck if i would have known she was looking i would have done a little bit better and i'm just like yeah this is the nhl i was like all right cool i was like all right you can have fun you care about the fight that's unbelievable um any other quick glue stories and i we won't even get to broder and and what's good is let's save the Montreal shit for the next time you're on. There's so much more. There's so much more positive.
Starting point is 01:47:50 And that was awesome. One of the ones that doesn't do it is Pat Burns. I think the reason why maybe. He told me some great things about him. Later on in life where you get these coaches and you get people that try to act tough and scary. And until you've seen scary, it's Pat Burns. So he comes in and I held out. And I held out for like a day.
Starting point is 01:48:17 But I still held out against the Devils. Good job. I was pumped. And anyway, I'm not really hitting it off with Bernsie, I could tell. He doesn't really like kind of my personality, let's say, in the beginning. And so, anyway, we're in Carolina. And after the game, we're going on a team retreat.
Starting point is 01:48:37 And so, Bernsie's kind of on me. I kind of feel like – and Jimmy Mack, McKenzie got the story wrong, but I think we're like 4-0, 5-0, whatever, this and that, and that start the season i have to look it up we get a power play we're down by a goal and i go out there and and i'm just i'm nervous for burnsie like things i'm not getting a good start whatever and i take a tripping penalty to get us off the power play and rob schick schicker was the ref and he was at my golf event one year and I told we could tell the story but no so I'm I'm pleading to Schick like I'm pleading to Schick that that you know you can't do this you can't do this and I'm yelling and I was living with Jay Pandolfo and
Starting point is 01:49:17 another guy from Boston and his cousin so I'm living with four mass holes in the room and I heard the greatest line ever because it was during a Sunday football, and the guy says it to one of the buddies, and I was like, oh, man. So I say it to the ref. I say it to Schicker, and I'm like, you know, why don't you go down and finger yourself? I use the C word.
Starting point is 01:49:40 I go, why don't you go down and do that and smell your fingers after because that's how you just ref this game, and before you know it, Schicker just, bang, I get an extra two. I get an extra, I get kicked out of the game. And I'm like, oh, this ain't good. This ain't good. So Jim McKenzie, I'm in the room.
Starting point is 01:49:55 I don't know what to take my stuff off. I don't know what to do. Jim McKenzie and Turner get in a fight. They come in the room. They're fighting, and I'm like, this and that. And I'm like, oh, shit, this is not good this is not good so pat burns walks in and he goes he walks in he sits down and he goes everyone's sitting down and he goes now i know now i know now i know why the fuckers have got the last guy fired now i know that you bunch of prima donnas blah blah blah and the conversation
Starting point is 01:50:24 is basically going to me and now he starts going he stands in front of the room and the guys ever in the room will never forget this day he dies and he starts going wow wow wow wow he does that for if he doesn't do that for a minute it's 30 seconds that's a long time this guy doing that and it's like oh he's basically staring at me. And everyone just kind of set the tone, whatever. Next day, we go to the, we're at this vacation spot. You got to pick whether you wanted to golf or go fishing. I was going to go fishing.
Starting point is 01:50:55 I didn't golf back then. The boat's right there. The boat's right there. And there's Burnsy and the coaching staff off to the side. And he's got a big cigar that you'd pitch your pat burn smoking and i'm like motherfucker i gotta like i have to walk by him there's no way i can get around it i'm like oh man he picked fishing too yeah so yeah so i get on the boat and you know and he's one of those guys and you hear about parcells like you don't
Starting point is 01:51:19 know to say hi to him in the morning he might get offended by that like it's just and if you don't and it's just burns he's just don't, and it just burns you. He's just the best. So I get on the boat and I'm with the equipment guys and masseuse guy and I think Pano's with me and one of the equipment guys
Starting point is 01:51:34 is from Newark, New Jersey. So the guy's never been on a lake before in his life. So we're going about, we go, I don't know how far we go out, not that far
Starting point is 01:51:41 and the train, one of the stick guys goes, what the hell was that last night And I was like What do you mean He goes All I hear from the outside Was wah
Starting point is 01:51:48 Wah Wah And I'm like Freaking out I'm like hey don't do that Don't do that Like shit floats off the wall Like
Starting point is 01:51:54 Like Burns He probably heard that And he's like Ah you don't hear shit Two seconds later My phone rings I don't know the number I look down
Starting point is 01:52:03 I answer it Because it's a Jersey number. I answer it. You're the last fucking guy ever. Wow. You're the last. You're the last guy to ever fucking be wowing anyone. You piece of shit.
Starting point is 01:52:12 Or something like that. Click. I'm like, you know, I literally like, literally like, who was that? I'm like, oh, so it just said him. Oh, man. He was, he was the man. Did you ever go up and tell him that it wasn't you? No, no.
Starting point is 01:52:23 So we had it. We had a security meeting. So now Bernsie, me, Patrick Elias took it the man. Did you ever go up and tell him that it wasn't you? No, no. We had a security meeting. So now Bernsie, me, Patrick Elias took it the most. And now after the trade deadline, it's literally like, fuck off. I'm doing my thing. So we have a meeting. We have a security meeting or one of those like they're teaching you, you know, whatever.
Starting point is 01:52:40 And I finally had enough, and I'm like, I'm going in there to his office, and here it is. And the guys are all waiting for the meeting to start. I go into Bernsie's office, and I've been doing everything he said. And still, I'm not playing. I'm not this and that. So finally, it's like the big, you know. And I'm like, you know, fuck you.
Starting point is 01:52:54 We're throwing F-bombs back, this and that. He's getting up on the board showing me. I'm like, fuck off. You just don't like me. This is a joke. You know, I'm, you know, I'm. And he's just sitting there. And he goes, you want out of here? He goes, you walk upstairs. You, you know, I'm, he's just sitting there, you know, and he goes, you
Starting point is 01:53:05 don't, you want out of here? He goes, you walk upstairs, you walk up to the big man, you tell him you want out of here. And I don't know where it came from. I go, no, no, no. You're the one that wants me fucking out of here. You walk upstairs and you tell him. So anyway, we're going at it and now we're really going at it.
Starting point is 01:53:18 And I'm going, I'm yelling at him, yelling at him. And finally he says, shut, he goes, shut the fuck up. And I'm like, fuck you. I'm not. And he goes, shut the fuck up and i'm like fuck you i'm not and he goes shut the fuck up and i'm like i'm not gonna show and this guy stands up and goes one more fucking word say it say it and for me to shut up i was like you could tell oh dude i'm like there was a string so i'm literally like and i'm in tears now like i'm so like i'm in tears blah blah blah and like everyone's waiting for me in the meeting but i'm kind of happy that they all heard me you know everyone had hair
Starting point is 01:53:46 and I'm like hey man I'll stick over here but anyway so I leave the meeting and I'm like fuck him I'm going to show this guy up I'm just going to
Starting point is 01:53:53 I'm going I'm not going to stay at this meeting so I start walking like but I got tears in my eyes I'm crying I got tears in my eyes
Starting point is 01:54:00 and I'm walking and you guys have all seen the way I walk so it's probably I'm trying to act like I'm, yeah, yeah, I'm trying to act like I'm like storming out of here. Bernsie comes up
Starting point is 01:54:09 and it's a long walk to the door where our cars were and Bernsie like sees me and he's like, oh no, oh no, where the fuck do you think you're going? And I turn around
Starting point is 01:54:20 and I'm like crying and he caught me. I'm like, I gotta get something from my car. That's the only thing I could think of. So he's like's like he's like it's like your daddy and he's like you get your fucking ass back out here i'm like i gotta get something from my car he's like you'll be back here and i'm like yeah i know i gotta get so i sat in my car for like a minute crying i'm like i gotta go back in this meeting everyone's looking at me and i'm crying like the tears but yeah i
Starting point is 01:54:40 mean he was the best man that guy was that guy was the best. He called me two days, three days before he died, passed away. He could barely talk. He was in Montreal. He'd always chuckle at me when that year was terrible in Montreal. So, Burnsy, you know. Burnsy, his voice is barely there. He's like, hey, I just want to say, Gomer, I just want to say sorry, kid. And I'm like, Burnsy, suck my dick, man.
Starting point is 01:55:08 I'm like, you, hey. You're not changing. I go, you made me who I am, man. I go, Burnsy, I fucking love you, man. That's unreal. He was just like, we started Latin. And I'm like, hell no, I won't accept that for you, man, because you were the best to me. Oh, man.
Starting point is 01:55:20 You made me. Stanley Cup champions. You made me. I didn't realize it now but i'm like no way you were you were so special in my heart at the end like you were you were the best i mean but this guy like i know we got to go but just no this is an incredible way to end up so we have a curfew at ottawa saturday burns burnsy has a curfew on a saturday night and we're staying downtown we're not staying at the brook street so we don't play till like a couple of days and
Starting point is 01:55:43 i think something happened with other parts of the organization. Yeah, somebody was fucking somebody in downtown Ottawa. I don't know what happened. Lou must have had. No, I'm just kidding. Side piece. But we had a curfew. And I was like, you know, kind of rebelling.
Starting point is 01:55:59 And I'm like, and I remember one of the trainers, whatever. I'm like, dude, me and Jay, I'm like, dude, let's go. We're not going to college. Let's go. Like, whatever. I'm like, dude, me and Jay. I'm like, dude, let's go. We go, let's go. Like whatever, like we're winning by a lot. And so panels, like we were going to go up to the trainer's room to find out what's going on, but we're in our clothes.
Starting point is 01:56:12 It's not Jay goes to the door, opens the door and just bolts back in the room, bolts back in the room, like past me. And I'm like, what the hell? His clothes are already halfway off and he's in bed and he's like, he's down there. And I'm like, who? And he's like, Burnsy. And I'm like what the hell his clothes are already halfway off and he's in bed and he's like he's down there
Starting point is 01:56:25 and I'm like who and he's like Bernsie and I'm like fuck if he is I open the door and Bernsie's walking no he's coming to our room he's at the end of the hallway he's come we had like the last room in the hall he's coming to our room and he goes and now he's at now I'm even quicker
Starting point is 01:56:42 I'm in the room I'm in bed and you know and I hear the knock and I'm the younger guy so I always had to like go'm in the room. I'm in bed. And, you know, I hear the knock. And I'm the younger guy, so I always had to, like, go get into the room. And Jay's like, get the door. And I'm like, no. I'm like, no. And Pandal's like, get the door.
Starting point is 01:56:53 And then we're hearing the knock. And I'm like, no. I'm like, Jay, I'm not getting the door. Like, no. So Jay gets up and gets the door. Like, Bernsie just, like, pushes the door past Jay or whatever. He's like, is that little prick in here? And just walks. And I'm acting like I'm seeing, like, fast J, whatever. He's like, is that little prick in here? He just walks,
Starting point is 01:57:05 and I'm acting like I'm seeing, he's like, yep. Just check, he just walks out. It went from being the cockiest, fuck, no, no, to I'm in bed like this. Oh, yeah. He just, oh, man.
Starting point is 01:57:16 He was, yeah, those guys, I mean. How big was he? He's a big guy. And it just, he had a presence, and he, there's some of the greatest. He was a cop. Yeah, he was a cop, and the story's tough. He had an aura about him. Yeah, he had a presence, and he, like, there's some of the greatest. He was a cop. Yeah, he was a cop, and the story was tough. He had an aura about him.
Starting point is 01:57:26 Yeah, he just an aura, and he knew how to run a bench. Like, he, and he didn't give a, he didn't care if you were the top, if you were going that night. You were going. Bernsie knew how to, you know, it took a while to understand it, but I'll give you the loose story with Bernsie, and this is, so I'm benched again with Bernsie, and we're in Long Island, and it's 3-0
Starting point is 01:57:48 and whatever I'm just like this is this sucks and just then the kiss cam comes on and it's going around
Starting point is 01:57:56 the rink you know and that stupid song or that Faith Hill song kiss me whatever so it's going around the rink
Starting point is 01:58:02 I'm sitting next to Jamie Langenberger and I'm in the middle. I'm dabbing the middle because I've been benched for the last two periods. We're up 3-0, and I think Jim McKenzie's on my right, and I turn to lipper Jamie Langenbrenner, and I said, if this thing goes on me, I'm going to kiss you. And he goes, do it, do it.
Starting point is 01:58:21 What are the odds? What are the chances? We've been in every game. We've never seen the bench go on. The son of a bitch goes on me. And I look at it, the camera, you know, the crowd's laughing. I look and I look over at Jamie and I just kiss him on the cheek. So the crowd is just going nuts, this and that.
Starting point is 01:58:38 Just then the Islanders, a couple shifts later, they score. So now it's starting to dawn on me, like, should I have done that? I don't know. So now we better win this game next you know it's two minutes later it's three to two i went from sulking on the bench because i've been benched to like the biggest cheerleader like come on guys please so right after the game we win the game and you know everyone takes their time and everyone ices up and does this guys Guys couldn't get their shit off quick enough because rumor has already come down that the old man, Lou, has lost his mind over the Kiss Camp thing.
Starting point is 01:59:12 So guys are running, like basically running to the bus. Burnsy is like, oh, this is going to be a good one. This is going to be a good one. What did you do this time, Wilbur? Vladimir Burry is, and he's like,
Starting point is 01:59:24 Vladdy's, I see him in the hall and I'm like Vladdy is is he that mad Vladimir Bury is crying laughing
Starting point is 01:59:33 he's can't even get it out he's like oh like oh my god oh my god oh like he's dying and I'm like
Starting point is 01:59:38 oh this is not good so I go to the bus and there he is he's waiting for me and not only that he fucking he starts giving it to, he starts giving it to me. He's giving it to me. But all the guys, he's facing me.
Starting point is 01:59:51 I'm facing the bus. All the guys are against the wall, the glass. Guys are making faces. Guys are doing this. He's putting his tits on the wall. Bernsie's right there. It's a show and I'm just getting yelled at. He has no idea everyone's watching.
Starting point is 02:00:05 And I'm just like... It's like when your old man's mad at, and I'm just getting yelled at. He has no idea everyone's watching. And I'm just like, and it's like when your old man's mad. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, mother. And all you see from the bench is guys are just trying to get me to break, trying to this and that. Yeah, that was one, the old kiss cam. If you're on the Devils and you can't use clear tape on your socks, you certainly can't kiss your devil.
Starting point is 02:00:23 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, if you're on the Devils and you can't use clear tape on your socks, you certainly can't kiss your dad. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boys, that was incredible. I mean, people don't understand the – I think they don't understand the career you had. Over 1,000 games, a two-time Stanley Cup champ, like I mentioned. So we'll get into so much more next time.
Starting point is 02:00:36 Yeah, I mean, even the pioneer aspect of your career. You'll lose to the Mexican factor. First Mexican-American to play in the league. First Latino to take in the first round. I mean, that's something you must be proud of as well. Yeah, I mean, you know, the Mexican--American to play in the league, first Latino to take in the first round. I mean, that's something you must be proud of as well. Yeah, I mean, the Mexican-Colombian thing
Starting point is 02:00:49 from Alaska, like... Such a unique background. But where I grew up, you know, race was never a thing. It was a melting pot. It was this and that.
Starting point is 02:00:57 But the thing is is that people... I can't take credit being the first Latin because Billy Guerin always gave me shit that his mom's Nicaraguan. But anyway,
Starting point is 02:01:04 but the way... Well, Billy would always gave me shit that his mom's Nicaraguan. But anyway, the way they made it sound was like I played hockey and I supported my parents and this and that. So I think one of my first interviews was they were just making it into like this is some magic. And I was like, yeah. I just crossed Tijuana, the border, with a couple bottles of tequila. And someone handed me skates. And that's how I learned how to play hockey. And every reporter is just like, is that true or not? I'm just like, yeah.
Starting point is 02:01:36 So it was great. I mean, yeah. Well, we'll get into more next time. You're an animal. Scotty Gomez, thank you very much. Unreal. Unreal. A huge thanks once again to our buddy, Scott Gomez. Safe to say much. Unreal. Huge. Thanks.
Starting point is 02:01:45 Once again, to our buddy, Scott Gomez, uh, safe to say, go me, we'll be back again. Uh,
Starting point is 02:01:50 this is probably the easiest interview we ever done boys. He was like a windup toy. Just fucking one question. He was off and running, man. Hit the play button. One question, two hours goes by and you're like,
Starting point is 02:02:01 holy shit. We'll get to the second year of his career. Lou Lamorello, social security number, by the end of that fucking interview. Speaking of getting geared up and you're like, holy shit, dude. We'll get to the second year of his career. I knew Lou Lamorello's social security number by the end of that fucking interview. Speaking of getting geared up and ready to roll, Chicklets fans, Can I Brands is a CBD company that we support that's developing all natural hemp-derived products for athletic wellness. It's been started by athletes like our boy Biz over here. It's built for performance and puts wellness at the core of everything they do and stand for whether that's giving your day a boost getting a better sleep mending an injury or
Starting point is 02:02:29 refreshing your mind and body can i brands has a balm cream spray and oils made for you you know you love it you know you want it go online and hit up www.canibrands.com and use the promo code at canibrands.com and use the promo code. Biz20, baby, for 20% off. Swipe up, motherfucker. Do you want me to step in here too, R.A.? Please, jump in. I'm a founder of this company with Andy O'Brien, who's one of the most well-known hockey trainers,
Starting point is 02:02:57 or I guess even trainers now because he does swimmers and other athletes, but very proud of these products. The sleep is incredible. I get such better, especially, I mean, we were joking around about the Bam Bams early in the episode. That's the Ambien. I like the more natural approach, and I take that on the road, and I travel with it.
Starting point is 02:03:16 It's the tinctures where I just put it underneath my tongue, and it helps me sleep. I have weird dreams. I wet the bed sometimes, but, hey, I get my fucking eight hours of sleep. The Can I Boost Tink shirt, that helps me for morning time and later afternoon to get my workouts in. You mentioned the balms and rubs. I mean, all right, that's the stuff that you were rubbing on grandma's feet a couple months ago for her arthritis. It's great stuff, guys.
Starting point is 02:03:40 I'm proud of it. And the biggest news here is we're alienating half of our listeners because it wasn't available in canada because of the strict rules well guess what starting in the new year it's going to be available in canada i'm not saying january 1 but in in january i think early february at the latest you will be able to order it and another awesome thing that we've been able to do because the company has grown so much in size and we're able to buy the CBD in larger quantities, we've slashed prices on the website. So now it's more affordable because CBD products, it's not that cheap. And I understand that.
Starting point is 02:04:16 But you're getting unbelievable all-natural CBD. And now you can get them in all these different types of forms. And you can get them in Canada and the United States. And like you said, Biz20 is the promo code to get 20% off your next purchase. Also, Biz, you want to follow along on Instagram, at Can I Brands, to stay updated on more sweepstakes, contests, and promotions. Now you've got a contest coming soon, right? Well, yeah, we have a contest coming soon,
Starting point is 02:04:39 and we just had one where we brought a guy and his girlfriend. We flew them out to Arizona, brought him to a Coyotes game, gave him a bunch of product, and they had a great time. I got to meet them. I even gave him a couple bottles of Pink Whitney. How the fucking hell are you? And unfortunately, the guy who won had to let his brother go with his girlfriend because I believe he's overseas right now.
Starting point is 02:04:58 So look for more contests. We're going to do some more fun shit involving hockey. You just said look for more con. I was like, if he says content, I'm going to punt for his contest. Sorry, that's everyone's favorite word. So Can I Brands, the company behind all your favorite natural CBD creams, balms, sprays, and oils.
Starting point is 02:05:15 Is that still going? Can I Brands? Feel amazing. Anyways, boys, girls, back to the lecture at hand. NHL, Tom Wilson, another big hit that had people talking. This time it was Columbus Blue Jacket Jacob Lillia who was on the receiving end. I mean, it was a clean hit.
Starting point is 02:05:32 The guy was handling the puck. He came down. He was about to go around the net, and I know he probably didn't see Wilson. Wilson wasn't hiding behind the guy. He popped out behind the guy, buried him, and he landed very awkwardly. It was a tough-looking fucking hit.
Starting point is 02:05:43 But player safety, I don't even think they had to chime in on anything here. Biz, your take on it? Anytime Tom Wilson hits anyone, you know there's going to be stuff popping up about it. But, yep, clean, move on, let's go. Yeah. The guy's just bigger and stronger than mostly everyone in the league. I mean, the guy just ran into a truck. Yeah. And the scary part was of how he went in. It just looked so bad, mean, the guy just ran into a truck.
Starting point is 02:06:06 And the scary part was of how he went in. It just looked so bad, the way the guy went in with his neck. So I understand no suspension or anything. It shouldn't have been, but it was scary looking. Yeah, someone tweeted. At least he got the guy on the opposite team, Revo. Oh, shit. Who did Revo bury?
Starting point is 02:06:21 What was his name? It was Thomas Noshik. His own line made him bury. Noshik gets crushed by Revo, the last guy in the league, besides Wilson, that you'd want to get hit by, and he's your teammate, and you get lights out. Yeah, he went to hit Andre Kasha of Anaheim, and he fucking squirmed out of the way at the last second. He buried his own line mate, but fortunately Noshik was all right.
Starting point is 02:06:41 He did play the next game, but that's a tough one to take, man. That's a lot of beef. I played against that Kasha in the American League, and he is just a water bug out there. So no way Revo was going to be able to line that guy up. Yeah. He thought he had him in the train tracks. Did I ever tell you about the exhibition game I played with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Starting point is 02:06:58 when I was on defense, and we traveled to Wheeling to play against the New York Islanders, and I had Steve Correa lined up dead to rights. Waterbug. And I might have been one inch in front of him, ready to clobber him, and I don't know how the fuck he did it, but he ended up getting around me, and I looked like a clown.
Starting point is 02:07:16 This guy had the quickest lateral movement I've ever seen on ice. Steve Correa embarrassed me. He was even smaller than Paul, I think, too. Oh, my God. I played against him in college. You couldn't touch him. No, I didn't even try to hit anyone, but I especially wouldn't try to hit him. Actually, I'd probably be more likely to try to hit him because I know I couldn't get put on my ass if I was a bigger guy.
Starting point is 02:07:34 But what was the other thing we wanted to chat about? Not those two hits. What was the next one you were going to bring up? The surgery? The injuries. Oh, yeah. The injuries. Oh, yeah. The injuries. Do a little injury roundup.
Starting point is 02:07:47 I had no idea. Biz has some info on the Mikhailov. How do you say his name? Ilya Mikhailov. Mikhailov. I guess Mikhailov. Mikhailov. Yeah, whatever.
Starting point is 02:07:56 He played a great role for the Leafs this year. Sorry, I kind of interrupted you, but what happened? He cut his hand on a skate versus the Devils the other night. Very, very, very deep cut, as Maurice would say in Slapshot. But, Biz, you had a very similar injury as well, you said. Well, he cut a tendon in an artery or a couple tendons in some artery. That's what I did in my hand over the summer. You didn't get stepped on by a skate.
Starting point is 02:08:19 Yeah, come on. You cut your hand because you were an idiot. I cut an artery and lacerated a tendon. So, guys, I'll say this. After that happened to me, I was never the same. My bottom hand, I can't feel my thumb. I got about 10% feeling. Oh, you feel that?
Starting point is 02:08:35 No, I barely feel it. And it was a long recovery. It was about six months because they had to reattach the tendons. And I couldn't feel the puck as well not to say whoa hey guys pump the fucking brakes everybody i'm well aware i didn't feel it like like certain guys did i wasn't snapping around like wit but fucking i i was an okay player at one point and it definitely affected my bottom hand luckily i was able to transform into a fighter but um i wish this guy hopefully a speedy
Starting point is 02:09:05 recovery and and i hope that he didn't lose any feeling um in his hand because of it because that is definitely a scary injury and as far as the artery is concerned i told the story on the podcast before there was a doctor who'd been to um one of the wars i always forget the fucking war uh would it be um the the vietnam korea world fucking war. Would it be the Vietnam? It might have been the Vietnam War. And luckily he's been... Why the fuck is everyone laughing at me? I know I'm not very smart.
Starting point is 02:09:32 Hey, what war did that doctor go to? And that's not even the speak of the last 30. Well, I think that the war of 1876 didn't have any doctors, so it must have been the one right after that. So he'd seen some crazy shit, so he was able to get to the locker room right away and close the arteries. And the Devils, the Maple Leafs came out and said,
Starting point is 02:09:57 we want to give a special thanks to the Devils for handling it the way they did. Because as you mentioned, it's that first five minutes that matters most. Absolutely. And Dubas also stayed back in New Jersey to wait for the surgery to happen, stay with him overnight. So Dubas is just a stand-up guy, loves his players, and a nice gesture by the general manager. Yeah, he's going to be out at least three months.
Starting point is 02:10:20 I mean, that's seven arteries, seven tendons. And if you saw the clip, it's just such an innocuous look. look oh it never looks bad no because it's just this slight slice it's it's so weird how you think you can't even tell sometimes exactly i was new jersey devil yeah yes but brat he's like kind of like fell slash dove and it didn't even look like there was contact but it was enough to fucking not only cut him but cut him this fucking deep so and we mentioned it when talking about the carson thing with his Achilles. And they make those Kevlar wrist guards now, too, as well. So you're going to start seeing more and more guys wearing them because that's skate blade.
Starting point is 02:10:57 But although there were some parents online that had some solutions to saying, let's just stop sharpening the skates. So I think it's all going to be solid, and we're going to be all good. Yeah, that should work. I should mention he was having a nice rookie season, eight goals, 15 assists in 39 games. But his health is the most important, so obviously going to wish him well. A couple other injuries we want to update folks on. Speaking of the Leafs, defenseman Jake Muzzin,
Starting point is 02:11:21 he broke his foot blocking a shot. He's going to be weak to weak. Not too many other sports where you break your foot and you're fucking week to week. And the Blackhawks shelved Brent Seabrook and Calvin DeHaan for the season as both players had surgery. They both had their right shoulders worked on, and Seabrook will also have both of his hips done later in the winter. So both were placed on long-term injury reserve.
Starting point is 02:11:41 Brandon Satt also going to miss three weeks with a right ankle injury. So Blackhawks season, it's been a little tough so far. Just got a little bit tougher. long-term injury reserve uh brandon sod also going to miss three weeks with the right ankle injury so blackhawk season that's been a little tough so far just got a little bit tougher uh some other news here alexander ovechkin passed timu solani for third and power play goals at all-time nhl history uh ovies now is 256 the record is dave andrew chuck with 274 that's going down brett hull's got 265 for number two. Like you said, Whit, he's got a pretty good shot at breaking it, huh, you think? Well, first, you said he passed Timo Solani.
Starting point is 02:12:11 Timo Solani is skiing somewhere that's the most beautiful place in the world right now. I don't know if you've been checking his Instagram. It might just be stories. Hopefully, he posted something. I mean, I'm talking like the sunrise with the mountains and the perfect powdery snow. He had a picture last night of the Aurora Borealis. And yeah, I know Aurora Borealis the same way I know crepuscular rays. I can't remember what I ate for dinner last night, but I'm able to describe meteorologic terms on a whim.
Starting point is 02:12:38 But still, check out Timu's Instagram. That goes way, way away from the power play goal record or that Ovechkin just passed. Not record, but third. But still, it's no shocker, and I think you said it was a 25 more right around then. He's got that. No problem. Yeah, just shy of that. Speaking of Ovi, he also said he's going to take a pass on the All-Star game
Starting point is 02:12:56 once again this year. He was elected one of the captains, but he'd prefer to rest up. We can't really blame him. And by rule, Ovechkin will have to miss one regular season game for skipping the All-Star game. It'll either be the final game before the break or the game immediately after the break. Biz, did you have anything on that? Yeah, I mean, it's probably good that he misses
Starting point is 02:13:13 another game as well for maintenance. I mean, they have bigger fish to fry as they're going to try to make another run for the Cup and try to take advantage of this window they're in right now because their superstar players are not getting any younger. Most points in the league right now. Somebody brought up a good point, too,
Starting point is 02:13:30 to maybe turn the All-Star game into more of a Young Stars game because I think the younger guys who haven't been there want to go and they do appreciate it. Do you want to see guys like Alex Ovechkin who are like, fuck, do I have to be here? No, you want to see these young guys who are taking it all in after Ovechkin's already paid his dues and went and made it fun for how many years he has.
Starting point is 02:13:52 So it's such a tough situation because there's so many guys that want to take that time off to rest. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of tough for what he's done for the game that he has to sit out a game, But you say it best at this point. Like, whatever. It's not the end of the world. He can use a night off. Even though he's such a beast, he doesn't need it.
Starting point is 02:14:12 The All-Star game is not the most exciting thing. I think the NHL is probably looking at changing something up. You've heard about it maybe go back to international, North America versus the world. I don't really know, but it would be cool if they could change something to where I think people are a little more into it. I've seen ideas thrown around by a bunch of different people about possibly turning that into a time when you can have
Starting point is 02:14:36 a yearly best-on-best countries tournament. You know what I mean? Like something, if they're not going to be in the Olympics. How about this? How about all the all-stars Go to a warm weather place All expenses paid With maybe even They could bring their partner
Starting point is 02:14:49 Or maybe even A few more people And they play drinking games And they televise it On ESPN The Ocho And we get to go And yeah
Starting point is 02:14:57 We get to go do interviews And So Ovi Ovi will be missing out But yeah He wasn't probably Going to be bringing Much intensity
Starting point is 02:15:04 Had he been in St. Louis. Yeah, not too many guys do because there's no fucking hitting. Another couple notes here. Yaroslav Vlach, going to stroke off my bees a little bit here. He had another shutout for the Bruins Thursday in Buffalo. He has 53 starts so far at the Bruins, well, a season plus. He has eight shutouts and 53 starts at Boston. That's fucking pretty obscene.
Starting point is 02:15:25 And then I went and looked. He's got 50 and 487 games as a starter. That's like one every 10 games. It's not too shabby, huh? I don't know what would be considered a good average for that, but it seems to be that that's very impressive. It's deserving of a stroke off, all right? Yeah.
Starting point is 02:15:41 And they had Hudobin, who's a great backup before, so it helps. You see why Boston's one of the top teams. They got a goalie every night who can get you a win. Absolutely. And my buddy, Patrice Bergeron, became the first Bruin in 30 years to score multiple goals in at least three straight games. You know who the last guy to do it was, right? Cam Neely. Yeah, absolutely.
Starting point is 02:16:00 But Bergeron, a guy we love him here on this show. Hopefully we'll get him on someday. Not really counting on it because he's a pretty quiet guy. Well, you guys are buddies, you just said. Yeah. I don't know where that came from. Maybe we're running out of steam here. Also, another cool – I thought this was a pretty cool story.
Starting point is 02:16:15 Washington's Kyle Hagelin, he played street hockey with the neighborhood kids on Christmas Eve. He had been slumping a little bit. His first game back, boom, gets a goal. I wonder if we're going to see a little more of this game on Wayne and God style stuff with players. It's a better slump up. Get the neighbors yelling at you. Shoot the puck.
Starting point is 02:16:33 Shoot it. Better slump up than we've heard about in years past, though. That's for sure. Yeah, that's true. Also, to social media, we got a couple of funny stories here. Robin Lehner, he gave a little chirp to his former teammates. He said, Merry Christmas, everyone. Best Christmas gift is going to be the two points against the Islanders on Friday.
Starting point is 02:16:51 And he chirped a couple of his former teammates on the Islanders. Obviously, in good spirit, not like shit talking. And then Anders Lee replied back, Merry Christmas, big man. See you in the crease with the Thanos fucking gift. And then Lehner texted back with the Thanos getting, when he gets snapped and he disappears. I wish we saw more of this stuff. It's funny.
Starting point is 02:17:11 It gets the fans involved a little bit. But I don't know. Are we going to see more of this as like these younger players start showing a little more of their personality or what? Well, yeah, especially because most of them are on social media. So we got the Jerry, Jerry. Get a little, I i mean the most we've seen of it is guys going at their own teammates tory krug and brad marshall dude if from the
Starting point is 02:17:33 outside looking in you'd think these guys hated each other but uh tory krug i tell you i don't know who's editing this guy's videos grinnelli uh but they had what was the one recently with the grinch where they superimposed Brad Marchand's head on the on the little guy in the car and and Torrey Krug just picked him up with his with his two fingers out of the seats and stole his vehicle so Marci just taking some abuse on on Twitter and I knew speaking of the island there's New York Island the Anthony Beauvillier taking a page out of Michael Scott slash Wayne Gretzky's playbook. He decided to shoot his shot with the New England native Anna Kendrick on Twitter with a simple hi.
Starting point is 02:18:09 And this led to a shitload of people replying, like enhancing this guy's resume, saying he saved people in a fire and he could cook and clean and do all this shit. Finally, she replied, these replies have been my entertainment for the last two days. Thank you all for regaling me with the true tales of this man's heroism uh it wasn't a yes or anything but it's certainly better than no reply right biz i tell you what he's a handsome devil too he buzzes out he's a good player he's a handsome guy who knows maybe he's gonna have some a-lister on his side maybe she slid in dms right after he you know she got all those responses maybe she she gave the public, oh, this has been funny.
Starting point is 02:18:45 But then actually she's like, hey, what's up? Could you imagine the damage that him and Barzell are doing together in Long Island? Or why, I guess. By damage. And if you listen, by damage, he means scoring damage. Correct. Correct. On the ice.
Starting point is 02:18:57 Yes. What damage? That comment was brought to you by Roman. What damage are you talking about, Bissonnette? Actually, if he does get a date, Bess, he's definitely going to look good. So he'll probably want to use Indochino for those duds that night. How does wearing a suit make you feel? Makes me feel good, look good, feel good, play good.
Starting point is 02:19:14 Right, boys? And with Indochino, it's all about you. You get to choose from hundreds of high-quality suit fabrics to pick the color, patent, and weight you like best. Then you choose all the personal touches, including your lining, lapel, and monogram. The customizations are all your choice, and there's no extra costs. Your suit is made to your exact measurements, so you end up with a perfect fit for the shape of your body. Indochino also sells custom shirts, coats, and chinos, so you can get a full custom wardrobe. They have showrooms all across North America where one of their style guides can take your measurements and walk you through the process, or you can simply do it from home at Indochino.com. Right now, get an extra $30 off any purchase of
Starting point is 02:19:55 $399 or more at Indochino.com when entering Chicklets at checkout. Plus, the shipping is free. That's always a plus. that's indochino.com promo code chicklets for 30 off your total purchase of 399 or more high quality custom suits for an off the rack price you can't beat that you want to get on that i had another note that kind of jumped at me boys jumped out at me jeff cotter extended his franchise lead with his 11th overtime goal for the kings but more curiously this is the 29th different team to stage a multi-goal comeback when in this season 2019 2020 uh whit as a gambler that's something you like to see man because that tells me you're never out of it when you're better team i love that i love knowing them now
Starting point is 02:20:40 you say that as in multi-goal at any point in the game? Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, yeah, it could have been the first period. So, is that uncommon for like last season? What was it, like 15 teams did it? Honestly, I don't know how many did it last year, but I think the fact it's not even New Year's yet and 29 teams have already come back from a multi-goal deficit. That seems like it would be a lot.
Starting point is 02:21:03 Well, I'll say this. Coyotes have done it two or three times, so suck it, everybody. Yeah, and they can't teach a guy to not take his helmet off or take his helmet off for the national anthem of an opposing country. What else did you have? Sorry. No, that's all right. We got just one more thing left here, the old gambling corner. I feel like my last pick was 100 years ago.
Starting point is 02:21:23 I'm not even sure how I did. Actually, it was the Blues I think The puck line which was a win by the way So let's see I was taking a look I'm looking ahead and I know the Flyers do play In the meantime but Tuesday night the Flyers are in LA If I'm not mistaken yeah they're in LA
Starting point is 02:21:38 I'm not sure who's going to be starting Carter Hart or Brian Elliott but either way I'm not sure it's going to matter because I'm going to jump on the Flyers. I know the Kings have been playing a little bit better lately, but I'm going to take the Flyers on the money line and we'll see what the line is on the puck. We'll just say, call it a unit
Starting point is 02:21:55 on Philly for the money line and throw a half unit on the puck line. A unit is whatever you want it to be because my games and bets change. They fluctuate every day. And fuck, we're here for the winter classic. So I'd be remiss if I didn't put in a winter classic pick. It's Nashville at Dallas at the old Cotton Bowl right down the street from where we are right now. Obviously, we don't have a line on that yet. I'm probably not going to bet Nashville, A, because they're
Starting point is 02:22:19 the visiting team. And B, they haven't been playing all that well lately. So fuck it. I'm going to throw something on Dallas for the puck line. No idea what the line is yet. Follow me on Twitter. Also, I'll be posting a blog as well, most likely. So Dallas puck line on the Winter Classic. What do you got, G, for us? Well, speaking of the Winter Classic, guys,
Starting point is 02:22:36 we are going to be doing a live show on the 31st at the Rustic. It starts at 4 p.m. We're going to be giving tickets away to the game as well. So come by, try and get some tickets, get there early, and maybe you'll get in and see the boys. Absolutely. We'll be giving tickets to the game away and in addition interacting with some of our listeners,
Starting point is 02:22:52 which we always love doing. Boys. Tons of Pink Whitney there too as well. Oh, yeah. Can't forget the PW. Boys, any other notes you want to add before we conclude episode 231 here in Dallas? No, we're excited. Is there another story I wanted to tell?
Starting point is 02:23:05 We're going to bank some interviews. We've gotten a few guys already. We got Marty Turco. We had Mike Scroy come on. We're excited to drop that one. A crazy personality that Witt played with and played for 25 minor league hockey teams. His hockey PDB rivals Nelo Ferraro's,
Starting point is 02:23:25 considering Nelo was his own agent. But no, it's going to be a good time. We're going to do some other interviews as well and bank as much, I'm not going to say the word, for you guys as possible. Sandbagger too. We have a sandbagger coming. Oh yeah, we'll get into that. We'll get into that. We're going to interview
Starting point is 02:23:41 the two guys we're playing with. We won't tell you yet. Alright, sounds good boys. We'll check in with you later in the week after the game is played and now the bad boys are podcasting we'll be back later as always we'd like to say thanks to our wonderful sponsors and hopefully our awesome listeners are taking advantage of these sweet deals for roman swipes you want to go to get roman.com slash chicklets to get your first month for just five dollars when you choose a monthly plan for can i brands you want to go to GetRoman.com slash chicklets to get your first month for just $5 when you choose a monthly plan. For Can I Brands, you want to go to CanIBrands.com and use the promo code Biz20 for 20% off your next purchase. And for Indochino, go to Indochino.com and use the promo code chicklets and you get $30 off when your total purchase is $399 or more.
Starting point is 02:24:23 Thanks again, everyone. Have a great week.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.