Spittin Chiclets - Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 573: Featuring Nick Tarnasky & Gene Principe

Episode Date: July 15, 2025

On Episode 573 of Spittin’ Chiclets, Biz interviews Nick Tarnasky, a tough NHL’er with more than a few fights under his belt after a video online went viral of a guy getting thrown into the course pond after he had one too many. Later on, Gene Principe joins us for an interview about his legendary career, some of his biggest regrets and shining moments, as well as his thoughts on the likelihood McDavid stay with the Oilers. All this and more on this week’s episode. You won’t want to miss it. 00:00:00 - START 00:00:25 - Summer Updates 00:30:42 - Nick Tarnasky Interview 01:43:05 - Gene Principe Interview 02:56:27 - Whit’s Filibuster Support the Show: PINK WHTNEY: Take Your Shot with Pink Whitney BODYARMOR: Available for a limited time - grab your BODYARMOR Chill at 7-Eleven or a store near you. RHOBACK: Use code CHICLETS on https://rhoback.com for a generous 20% off your first purchase through the  end of this week  SKLZ: Go get the brand-new SKLZ x Spittin' Chiclets hockey training aids — now available online and in-store at Dick's Sporting Goods.  RO: Connect with a provider at RO.co/CHICLETS to find out if prescription Ro Sparks are right for you and get $15 off your first orderYou 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

Hey, spitting chicken listeners, you can find every episode on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon music. Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is Boston sports. Our white whale Sydney Crosby. Shave his head. Shave his head. Shave his head. Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, R.A., Mike Grinelli, Spit and Chicklets. What is up, folks? Welcome to episode 573 of the Spit and Chicklets podcast presented to you by Pink Whitney. It's me and Biz here.

We got a lot to get into. This was gonna be a best of episode, but then the greatest video in the history of the internet came out involving Nick Tarnaski. We'll get into that in a little bit, but first we gotta talk about Pink Whitney and what Pink Whitney brings to your summer and brings to your days in the lake

and brings to your days on the beach or your days on the golf course. It really doesn't matter because Pink Whitney always delivers. Biz, you know it. You go get the little shooters. You go with your buddies. You'll get a big bottle. You bring it over to a cookout. It doesn't matter. Just pour a nice cold, refreshing pink Whitney.

Mix it with a little soda water. Mix it with whatever you want, really. Some people go the double pink and they mix the pink Whitney with the pink lemonade, old school style. But either way, if you drink it you'll enjoy it. I promise you that and thank you so much to Pink Whitney for what they give to us and they're the reason this show exists. Let's be honest here. So thank you so much Pink Whitney.

Go check it out. Biz, what is going on my brother? I can't wait to hear this interview. Biz sat down with Nick Tarnas. He's going to be the only interview he gives talking about this incredible video. Since then, the guy he dummied has released almost an apology video.

Very, very respectful of that guy. We'll get into that in a little bit, but how you doing, brother? Good, I mean, we said we needed a break and here we are a week later. I mean, we're addicted to you guys. And it's 6 a.m. in Jackson right now and you're sitting in bed. Yeah, we're addicted to you guys. And it's 6 a.m. in Jackson right now and you're sitting in bed.

Yeah. We're addicted to you guys. Actually going fly fishing today for the first time ever. And apparently it's, uh, it's at like Jimmy Kimmel. He's part owner of this lodge. And they own this strip of land, which has like a river in it or whatever. I think it's a river. I'm going in blind obviously. And it's some of the best fly fishing in the world. Like people fly from around the world to go to this specific lodge and location. And we have an unreal guide today. So I'm pretty fired up for it.

And that's the first thing I wanted to say. Secondly, going back to Pink Whitney, I would imagine that guy on the golf course that Tarnaski threw around like a rag doll. He probably got into his own big, big old bottle. I would assume he had the big dog and finished it by himself. So it made a little solo mission for him. So, um, I will say with like, obviously like, like after that happened, I reached out to turn asking, I said, Hey, we've never gotten you on.

And obviously we want to talk about your playing career in which we did. Like I talked to him for over an hour and he actually downplayed the whole scenario and the main reason he wanted to come on was just to kind of give his side of it saying like, this isn't some old fighters looking to get back to his hay days and wanting to throw haymakers on the golf course and he'll explain exactly how he ended up getting in this altercation. So it's just good to see that. Like, obviously the other guys came to his senses and I mean when it originally happened I was I was going on my train at all the last couple weeks when I was in Arizona and

He's he he like works with sugar Sean O'Malley. I've talked about this guy. He he described it as like an adrenaline dump Maybe like I don't know if this guy was drinking and he was just so fired up and he just needed to get something out of him, where it's not very common where you're just like screaming and acting like that when you have cocktails. So he did mention that he played 36 holes.

Wait, you've played a lot of golf in your life. Have you ever been that buckled on a golf course? No, and there's been some sandbaggers. I mean, I think a 2 Carrasco. I mean, Riggs might've been twice as drunk during our 27-hole match with him, but he wasn't that aggressive. No, no. I think he was just so smothered he couldn't even be aggressive. We left the 2 Carrasco and Raycroft won, and I was like, this has gone a little extreme. Now, that was 18. Imagine going out for another 18. I'll just say like that video I mean I probably

watched it a hundred times and then it came out it was Nick Tarnasi I remember Tarnasi well on the lightning I remember on Springfield he was a complete maniac tough as nails enormous but you know it's been a while I I don't know him personally and then when it came out that was him. I watched it another hundred times like just the perfect video. I mean he chucks this guy in the pond he says good start pal like it's just and then he gets out and some of those punches and you could tell he's he's really laying back like he's hitting him but he could have been hitting him harder and then he gets him down and he gets back up. And at that point, I was like, he really could have killed him, but he chucks him again.

He almost reached the point again, the guy. He's completely parallel to the earth. And now you got to think you're going to a golf course. I saw some tweets. I was just I've loved this story. And the way the stories ended has been just perfect, too. I mean, both guys kind of not really loving the fact that it happened. Tarnaski just handled it perfectly. I mean yes, he dumbed a guy, but what are you gonna do? At some point you got to just like give a guy a beating and and then the other guy comes out

we mentioned it says like like a great apology video. I feel like we don't see many apology videos nowadays where the person's like I fucked up up. That's on me. Drank too much. Acted like an asshole. Just perfect. A perfect story. But when he's hitting him, bang, bang, to announce bang as you hit somebody. And also, if you ever, ever are close to an altercation or a fight with somebody, biz, and the person is sitting there telling you, listen, you don't want to do this.

Looking him in the eye, I'm telling you right now, you don't want to do this. Just start running. Just get away. Because if I'm somehow, some way going to be fighting someone and he's looking at me and saying, dude, I'm going to kill you right now. I'd be like, ah, all right, unless he's like the ultimate song master and psyching me out, like beyond any movie I've ever seen. It's like, what's that movie with Leonardo DiCaprio

in the movies? Like, what is that? Inception? Like that's almost, like unless you're inceptioning my mind, telling me you're that tough, like I'm gonna be like, all right, this guy, he's almost just like giving me an out right now. And Tarnaski tried to do it, but I can't wait to hear like the interview because I remember him tough as nails and just an incredible story. I, I, inception, inception lost me at the opening credits. So that just,

that just tells you how that one went for me. But you mentioned the sound effects, which is probably a lot of people's favorite part of that whole video. Mine afterward is finding out that Nick Tarnaski is from Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. Is there a more tough guy hockey city than Rocky Mountain House, Alberta? Rocky Mountain House? I mean, you meet a guy from Rocky Mountain House, he 1000% has been in a fist fight. And probably considering it's out there. Out of the womb. Out of the womb.

Oh, he fought, he's punching his way out of the vaginal cavity. What? I said you're fighting the lady cutting your umbilical cord in Rocky Mountain House. You're stringing out the nurse by maybe her mask as she's cutting the umbilical cord. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. You're stringing out the nurse by maybe her mask as she's cutting the umbilical cord. And then I'm talking, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, they've fought on the ice and off the ice because those people play hockey.

They love drinking and they love golfing obviously and they love fighting. So I mean, when you texted us, listen I'm sitting down with Tarnaski tomorrow. I couldn't. I'm sorry buddy. I'm sorry I couldn't. Don't be sorry man. That's what teammates are for. I mean Yans and you were busy. You guys actually, we'll talk about the hockey school quickly after, I mean whether before Tarnaski or after, whether you want. A couple other things that I thought were funny is a violent gentleman They released a collaboration shirt and it's and they always have those in force You know in force LA and for San Diego, whatever whatever pro team it is

They had an enforced pay supply and it says bang bang bang underneath. So I'm sure those are selling like hotcakes and Actually Sean Avery who's overseas right now filming a movie he reached out to me and asked for his email because I believe that Avery makes a cameo in the new Happy Gilmore movie that's coming out and the producers reached out to him to get Tarnaski's email to invite him and his family to come to the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2 in NYC so So the floodgates are going to open as far as opportunities for Nick Tarnaski for handling business on the golf course as they should. But I can't stress enough that this wasn't like a coming to flex and dunk on interview. This was a guy who was very, uh,

empathetic knowing that this guy was going to like, like, he's like this guy might have a family and kids and like his kid might have to see that. Right. And it's probably a little bit embarrassing. So, uh, he was, he was very honorable and mentioning all that and not really dunking on the guy. And then as I mentioned, we really talk a lot about his career and how it all started, how his hockey career began and how he fell in love with the game.

And with very similar to me where I don't think naturally deep down he likes doing it and likes fighting. He's easy. And that's it. You're holding them up on the golf course. Unless, unless you're, you're slowing down the pace of play, my friend. Don't be doing that. Woody, I could see you doing that for slowing down pace of play. So I don't think you could see me like physically dominating somebody like that, but I will

say like if you're golfing dude and there's a group in front of you that are slowing up the entire course and that are taking 20 minutes a hole and are lining up their putts as a golfer, there's nothing worse, nothing worse because it's not that hard to get up, get your club ready, your buddy hits, then you hit. A lot of times these slow groups, they'll all be next to one guy hitting, then they all drive over to the next guy hitting. It's like, dude, ready golf, play golf, play fast.

I think the core saying at Seminole Golf Club is one of the best courses in the world in Florida is like, play good, play fast, play bad, play faster. Like it's just one of those things where courses need to do a good job of really keeping up the pace play. That's why the Rangers are got to be out there. The course Rangers, they got to be out there and they got to be moving the pace along. And if you have a drunk crew in front of you, and not to mention if they let you play through, okay, no problem. Like if you're going to let everyone play through, that's not ideal.

But at least you're not holding up the course. But don't do it to Nick Tarnaski, because I'll tell you right now, he'll chuck you in a pond and yell out bang as he drills you with rights. That's that's a fact. Early 6 a.m. here. So sorry if I'm stuttering a little bit as I know nobody. No, am I doing all right for six AM in Jackson? You're you're you actually seem like it's six PM and you've had an

active day working out hiking. I went for a hike to altitude here. I'll get you, man. The, the, the dryness and the altitude. I, I did a hike. I, I went to up the snow King it's called. It's the one hill downtown here. And actually what they did is they created these concerts up there

So every every week in the summertime they throw a concert like last summer. It was like Portugal the man Who's the old like the the insane clown posse? Drawing a blank on who they had last summer, but I went to see a day lost soul The other night and they were incredible, dude. This is like a 90s hip hop group. I believe they actually started in 88. And they've been going since. And these guys are a little bit older now.

But fuck did they put on a show. If you could ever go see a De La Soul concert, go do it. I was dancing with the entire time. Could have been a little bit of the mushrooms. It could have been. But I had happy feet the entire time. Could have been a little bit of the mushrooms. It could have been fair, but I was, I had happy feet the entire time. But earlier that day I hiked up it and then you get the gondola ride down. I was whacked. I had to take a two hour nap in the afternoon because the altitude got me. But um, so played golf, you played golf with Brooks Orpik. Um, a big favorite of ours, great guy. I got to go to high school with Orp.

He went on to just incredible career, two Stanley Cups. He's gotten pretty fucking good at golf, huh? He's unbelievable. I know. I know. I couldn't keep up with him. I was fucking looking for my ball in the fescue all day. I was fucking all over the place, as usual.

But no, he looked. He still looks like he could play. Yeah, he's a lunatic in the gym, I think. So I'm actually going for a hike with him on Tuesday morning, which is tomorrow, the day that this comes out. Fewer of the things at the top of mind that I wanted to mention. Joe Pavelski. Holy shit. Eagle putt on 18. This guy's a machine. He is so nasty at golf. Like, I was watching yesterday at the end.

I mean, he... I don't get it. His swing is just perfect. So tight and compact. And he just beats it. And then that last hole, I mean, there's water up the left. It's a par 5. It looked like he hit like a nine iron into it. I know the ball travels a little further in Lake Tahoe, but just perfectly just right of the water uphill putt and he cans it for an eagle. He holed out a couple years ago and I think Madonna was in his crew. So I remember there being hype around him when he did that.

I don't know if he got a hole in one there also because I just remember there was an uproar. Yeah, I mean, yeah, exactly. We can name anything in golf and he's done it. Um, the other two things though, uh, back to hockey, I did mention that you and Yans, what was more so the Yanos threw on the rink shrinks hockey school and you helped out at it. So that must've been awesome. And then we'll get to it afterward is Murl's getting inducted to the New York state hockey hall of fame, which is awesome.

Congratulations to Murr. Loving all the comments that he invented the Hall of Fame, which is anything that we, when we mention Murl's now, it's that that's what's being mentioned. It's the Dos Equis man, which you brought up recently. It's just like, Murl's didn't just invent the New York Hockey Hall of Fame, he invented New York, right?

Oh, no way. Yeah, he was the one. He even of fame, he invented New York, right? Like he. Yeah, he was the one. He even drew out how he wanted the state to be shaped. It was crazy. He showed me. Yeah, he was like, he was real, real, real young and New York you think was around a lot longer than Murls, but no, everything changed when he was born.

But. So Christopher Columbus kind of jacked what Murls did. Yeah. He, he inception, going back to inception, he was kind of jacked what Murl's did. Yeah, he inceptioned, going back to inception. He was kind of in, I know, that's how the movie, Murl's invented inception, I know. Murl's invented the dreidel that Leonardo DiCaprio spins in inception to, it's wild what Murl's has done.

He truly is the most interesting man in the world. I love reading the comments, the other one the other day was like, Murle invented inventions. Like, that's inception like right there. But how was the hockey school? Like, were your kids out there skating around? So Ryder was, but quickly, let's just talk about Merle's quick. So happy for him.

And Armie, what a classy, like Armie is an unreal teammate. He always has been. You talk to guys who've played with him and just a guy you love having around. Dude, he shot up quick. He went up to Saratoga for Murls' weekend. They went to the track. I think Armie went 0 for 10.

He didn't even sniff one in a bet at the track. I saw Murls cashing in like an $8,000 winner. So it was Murls' weekend. Yeah, he invented cash too. So I think the fact that Timmy Conley was there, Clark McArthur was there, Army was there, it sucks I couldn't. Oh, they probably didn't drink at all.

Oh my God, oh my God. So Murl's had a great picture. Army could hang out with Elio the way that he's hitting. I know, I know, seriously. Army just got a, he got a kick in the dick, but just a great guy, and I want to shout out Merlz because Merlz dogs on himself a lot.

He was a great player, dude. Oh yeah. Like a freak as a kid, unreal, could have gone to any college he wanted to, decided to stay home, played for RPI where he grew up going to the games, was a legend there for four years. I mean, Merlz's story of being on a run pre-season,

freshman year, and then just stopping, and just being like, I'm not doing this, and the senior captain being like, what are you doing? Start running, he's like, nah, I'm not here to run, I'm here to get points, I'll get 50 points this year. 50 points as a freshman is, I mean, that's enormous in college hockey. Did he actually tell the captain,

he's like, I ain't here to run? Yes, I think Murls was, I think he was a little cocky back in the day. He was the best player since he was seven. He was always ripping it up in every league and he got there and he's like, I don't need to run, dude, I'll get 50 points. He finished with 49.

He didn't get 50, but 49 points as a freshman. He never loved working out. But Murls, like I said, doesn't give himself the credit he deserves. He was nasty. And then he changed his game a little bit. He was a pain in the ass to play against. He could PK. When he realized he wasn't going to be like a first-liner he had been in his entire life in pro hockey, you know, in the NHL when he was up, he was playing a different role.

AHL, he always point per game. And then he played in 15 different countries. Did you see his plaque? It's like Matt Murl, New York, he always point per game. And then he played in 15 different countries. Did you see his plaque? It's like Matt Merlin, New York hockey hall of fame, and then, you know, RPI, and then it lists off like all the countries he played in it. It was a seven foot piece of wood, you know, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland. Yeah.

So it was, it was cool. He kind of got to get a bit of a world tour as far as hockey, the back half of his career. And I'm sure he's grateful for the life experiences, but going back, I didn't know him when he was younger, but like just like, obviously talking to Conley and you're more aware of it. And I'm sure army was with the fact that they played together in Wilkes-Barre as well, but, uh, just kind of, yeah, he was like a prodigy coming up. Like you think, you think he was talked about like, like kind of like Crosby was? No, no, not to that extent.

That was kind of Timmy Conley. So Merle's is a 79 and Conley is an 81 and played with the 79s for like seven years. Like, I know, like playing up a year is kind of nuts. Like I see kids do it now. You're like, wow, that kid's that good. He's playing, you know, as you get older, like when you're 11, 12 and you're playing up a year is kind of nuts. Like I see kids do it now. You're like wow that kid's that good He's playing you know as you get older like when you're 11 12 And you're playing up the kids can be a foot taller and 70 pounds heavier Conley was playing two years up So Conley was like a true phenom and then went to the OHL lit it up and was fifth overall pick

Merles was just really good and and he was always really good. He was always dirty too. I don't think people know Merle's was a prick on the ice. I, that's why him and army get along so well. Army was a savage out there. Army talking about trying to just knock people out with shoulders to the face. I mean, that's when you know, we were playing in a different time. We were playing in a different era when army's like, okay, wit, make sure you angle that guy wide. He's going to have his head down. I'm going to come from the off wing and I'm going to put my shoulder through his

nose and he's going to be knocked out. And then it would happen. So different game, different error, a couple of rats, but just congrats to Murls. Unbelievable person. And the fact Murls came and joined us at that trip in Philadelphia, I want to say what 2018, 19, and he called the draw. He called the draw. Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals. He's going to be the gambling guy. We're getting into the gambling space at Barstool and Chick-Lots. Draw dude, plus 3.35. I invented ties. Boom, they tie murals. That was it. He took off. He just never stopped and he's our guy. So his army. So congratulations.

And on onto the season they had two game notes, man. They're evolving. Yeah. It's awesome to see. It's awesome to see. Very happy. We got a hell of a team. Those guys are the guys behind the scenes. Like even fishy hopping on this morning. You know, we said to everybody, we planned the best of and these guys, no problem, just hopping on and getting her done with us. G's in Greece, so G was at a wedding in Greece. G's in Greece and getting frisked in the, what do they call it, the TSA line right now, and on and watching from behind the scene. So just remarkable.

He went to that, uh, he went to, uh, I've drawn a blank on the DJs, uh, loud luxury. One of the guy, I believe it was Andrew got married over there. That's whose wedding it was. Yeah. It looked awesome. G and Alana went over there. I think they're on their way home now. And I think G might be even going back to Europe again.

I think he's going to Italy. Yeah. He's going to Italy in a couple of weeks. He loves Italy. I think Alana's got a family there who has a place and he just cruises around. He goes and eats all the best food. That's all I hear about is how good the food in Italy is and that you can eat all the pasta in the world, but you don't gain any weight. Ah, I don't know. If you stay there long enough, you might, but it's definitely not like the pasta over here

we're eating or the wine. You can have wine over there and not be hungover. I loved Rome. I was just in Italy for a little bit in Rome. It was incredible. But gee, happy for him as well. Alana, you know what? She went through with her breast cancer.

She's doing phenomenal. So they're getting to enjoy. they haven't had like a normal Summer together right like they've been going through all these different things So I'm very very pumped for G and Alana to get to go on these trips fish was at a wedding last night He hops on at 8 a.m. For us. You're up at 630 hell of a squad. We have here bed I yeah, maybe not maybe not rolling right. You know Fish can talk to somebody for hours. He could have been talking to the same guy from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. and then hopped on and done chic.

Let's that guy, he can talk. You know it Fish, you know it. But this week we did a lot of talking and coaching. So the Yandle Hockey Camp, there's my hat, Y3K. Got the Nantucket logo right there, beautiful lid. It was awesome. So this was the third year that Brian and Keith have thrown their camp in Nantucket.

First year for the Whitney family to get to be there. The dates were kind of moved around where we had our house rented. This year I said I need the dates, I wanna be there. It was awesome, it was awesome. Brian couldn't go on the ice. He's gotta get back surgery from an injury at work. So he's got that August 4th, so he couldn't skate

because like, his just backs all mangled. So Keith and I were out there. I was really helping out with the younger kids, the mites and squirts. I was out there like a couple days with the Peewees and Bantams the second hour and a half. But it was great, dude. Like a lot of local kids from Nantucket,

then a lot of kids who were there vacationing or who parents maybe rented a house with some friends so the kids could all do it. Started off with just giving them a good, good edge work biz. And then, you know, getting into the scrimmages, all the different drills we had. Ryder had a blast. So Keith's sister Lauren, she helps run the camp as well. She's doing the behind the scenes, checking kids in, dealing with the board of health, all the madness that you don't consider when you're talking

About running a hockey camp and all the things you got to do. So her son trip is riders age He was out there. We do it was a great time. How about Yance? This is classic Yance You know how he just don't give a shit right? No, he is There's never been a second of anxiety in this kid's life. So the camp ends Friday. It was nine to twelve every day. And we're sitting at his. Oh, he's got such a pad over there.

Beautiful house. All his family was over all his wife's family had come over for the fourth. Then his family's over for the camp. And he's like, oh, dude, I got his daughter. His daughters have, I think, a weaker two week camp in North Carolina. A big sleepover camp. A bunch of their friends from Florida are doing it. They did it last year.

So he's like, oh, we got to leave tomorrow. There's only one flight from Boston down to this area in North Carolina where the campus is at 9 a.m. We're on an island. It's 1 p.m. Friday. They got to fly at 9 a.m. We're on an island. It's 1 p.m. Friday They got to fly at 9 a.m. Saturday. I'm like you get the flight yet. He's like, nope I'm like you got a ferry off the island that nope. I'm like, ah He's like, oh, yeah, I guess we got to do this right now, dude

He's trying to book a flight then he's trying to find a ferry Like just I'm like anyone else in the world would have had this plan. Nope. The answer is just kicking it. He's just got his feet up in the pool area. He's on his phone. He's checking for ferries, checking for flights, ends up taking a 10 p.m. ferry off of Nantucket, getting to Hyannis in the Cape, stays at like the Hyannis Harbor Hotel and then takes an Uber at like five30 in the morning up to Logan to fly.

So just a guy who's just doesn't give a shit, never rattled, really cracked me up. That's why he could fucking walk the blue line last man back and just snap it like he did. You need to have alligator blood like that. That's what somebody said to me. Like no wonder he just had no, no pulse on the ice with the puck. He's just like, yeah, dude, I'm fine. I'll just find the guy late, top and hole.

I don't give a fuck. Still getting paid. I don't give a fuck. My money's already in my bank. But I was bummed out with the ending. We had a great week. We had a great week. My buddy, Jake Plaskowski, he's the head pro

at Sanktity Golf Club. It's my favorite golf course on Nantucket, old school mini Shinnecock I call it. I feel like you say that about a lot of golf courses. Nobody, this place is different. Now unfortunately, I shot 84, round before that 81. I stink at golf. I'm in a bad, bad, bad, bad place.

But to the point where I need some help like help mentally with like not being so like depressed when I'm bad at golf, because I know I'll be good at golf again and then I'm going to be bad again. I have to enjoy the down times when I'm really trying to find my game. Right now it's ugly and it's very, it makes me upset. But still I wanted to shout out Jake for getting me out there. Amazing course, my favorite. So we had a great day there besides my 84 hit a shank.

Just horrible, horrible birdie the first birdie the first from 50. You never want to birdie the first. No, I know. I know that my T ball on two, it went, it went basically, I'd say a hundred yards. Right. Okay. Literally. And luckily links golf. It went basically, I'd say 100 yards right. Okay. Literally.

And luckily, links golf, I found the ball, the eight iron then went 100 yards right, double and then it's kind of, I'm kind of screwed from there. But my week, I was thinking I wanted to be at this place Friday night after camp for, it's my favorite, it's the best sunset I've ever been a part of. It's beautiful. It's called Millies, it's Maddiquette, Nantucket. It's out best sunset I've ever been a part of. It's beautiful. It's called Millie's. It's Maddiquette, Nantucket. It's out on one of the ends of Nantucket.

You get the food, you bring it down to the beach, you get the drinks, you get the cooler and you're just staring at a beautiful sunset. I was talking about this months ago. I'm like, brief Friday night. I want to go to sunset at Maddiquette. So I, I dragged Brian Yandel. I dragged Joanna. I dragged their three boys.

I drank Lauren. I dragged Lauren Noonan, that's Brian and Keith's sister. I dragged their husband out there. And I'm like, guys, this sunset's going to be I'm talking about a sunset like I'm like a 12 year old girl talking about, you know, maybe painting a sunset. It's beautiful out five o'clock. All of a sudden, buddy, the fog rolls in the fog. You couldn't see 50 yards in front of you. And they're just chirping me.

Lauren Nunez said, no sky at night. Ryan Whitney's delight. So I just I just I got a kick in the dick. I couldn't get my son set kind of a kind of a bummer of an ending. But a great trip nonetheless. Great trip. My mom was over there. My dad came over with my aunt. It was just awesome. That might be the most wit story ever right there is crazy, dude And it was we were setting up a you talking about a sunset for that long and then to that for that to happen

I'm gonna show you something The only thing that would have been cooler is if the fog would have rolled out and there would have been capescular rays coming down Dude, that would have been cool. This is how the wit sunset I've been talking about for months went. Very nice sunset, huh? Yeah. Armageddon.

It was sick. It was sick. So incredible week. Awesome time. Um, anything else? Oh, this, the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Red Sox. I see you tweet about the Red Sox. I don't got much time here because I had to go fly-fishing. Let me know what the fuck the Red Sox are doing.

Okay, I know you got to go. I know you got to go. They've won 10 in a row, buddy. They traded away Raffy Devers. Who? People were like, what the hell? They signed a $300 million contract just whatever last year. And first off, people were telling me, hell they signed 300 million dollar contract just whatever last year and first off people were telling me Oh bandwagon fan, babe. I've been watching the Red Sox since this people these people chirping me were in diapers I didn't I probably watched a hundred games a year from 98 to like 2018 and then since then it's just but yeah, I haven't been watching many games. They haven't been great It's kind of been a disaster. Dude, they have this young squad.

They got this Marcelo Mayer, fourth overall pick couple years ago. Silky stud. He's up now. They got this Roman Anthony. This kid's an absolute stallion. He's lighten it up. It's just they got this Saddam. I don't even know what I'm saying.

Is it Raffaella? Now, maybe I look a Raffaella. Now, maybe I look a little bandwagon. Maybe I look a little bandwagon considering I can't say some of their names, but this team is so fun to watch. They've won 10 in a row. I'm back in. And I think what happened was, and I think other dads or moms will agree, Ryder is so into baseball. He loves baseball that I'm now, and so now he's like, can we watch the Red Sox? Now, dude, I'm back.

All my buddies at home, we're all back in, and it's just a joy every day to know when it's one o'clock, four o'clock, seven o'clock, you sit back, you watch the Sox. I feel like I'm 18 years old again. Not physically or mentally, but Red Sox wise, I'm 18 years old. I think it always is fun to root for an overachieving team. Is that what they're doing right now? They didn't have much expectation coming in where all these young kids are... I mean, they always have a big payroll, so that might be a bit dumb.

Well, that's changed a little. That's kind of changed, but they have this pitcher, this crochet, this guy, big lefty, absolute horse, horse. He's an all star. So I've just been very into the socks. It feels like summer. I'm loving it, but I know you got to go fly fishing. So let's send this, this thing over right now to Nick Tarnaski.

Amazing, amazing video. Bang, bang, bang. Biz sat down with him right now. The legend of the golf course course the no slow play king and before we throw it over Yans and Whit were not with me I didn't establish that right away I just want to say for those of you who are like oh where are those two guys they were helping out at a hockey school being fun yeah I was teaching how to make a tape to tape pass to a bunch of seven-year-olds and and

Yans is teaching kids not to give a shit so they can quarterback power plays So now over to Nick Tarnaski Guys we're here and this episode is brought to you by body armor bang It I'll tell you right now this new body armor chill. This is frozen cherry It's incredible this summer cool off with a body armor chill a bold new way to hydrate with no artificial dyes, flavors, sweeteners, 1,390 mg of electrolytes, antioxidants, vitamins, A, C, and E, coconut water, no artificial dyes, B vitamins, natural flavors and sweeteners, and they got some great flavors. This is frozen cherry. incredible. They got frozen orange and they got frozen berry. Impossibly cold, incredibly tasting.

And I'll tell you right now, official partner of the NHL, and this episode is brought to you by Body Armor. So check it out right now. Available for a limited time. Grab yours at a 7-Eleven or a store near you and you will not be disappointed. Frozen cherry I like, frozen berry is actually my favorite, but I've drank all of those, or drunk all of those.

Which one is it? I don't know. I apologize Body Armor for my English not being great, but Body Armor, chill, frozen cherry. Thank you so much to Body Armor. This episode is brought to you by them. Go check it out right now. 7-Eleven or a store near you. to you by them. Go check it out right now.

7-Eleven or store near you. Folks, it's just myself hopping on here and I'm with Nick Tarnaski. Nick, pretty insane moment. By the way, how's your last 48 hours been? Yeah, pretty tough, pretty overwhelming. I mean, it's nice to hear from them or every single team that I played with for 13, 14 years of my life. Um, kind of.

Oh yeah. I'm here from grass from Springfield in 2005. Like it's okay. Guys are fired up and get an NHL PTO off of this. Yeah. Fuck. I don't know. They'll lose a few pounds to get that back.

Well, for everyone, anyone who's been living under a rock, a crazy viral moment happened on a golf course in Canada, uh, in Alberta this past week. And I had to hop on because the story ended up evolving into the fact that it was Nick Tarnaski, a guy who I played against in my last year year with the San Diego gulls and there was a guy on the golf course, he was obviously intoxicated ends up biting off more than he can chew. And it just so happens it's with you, a former NHL heavyweight. And obviously it didn't end well, but we just wanted to get you on, or I guess I

just wanted to get you on and clear the air as to like how this all transpired. Hear from you. And then obviously we want to get into career after we talk about this story. But this is probably something that was viewed, you know, tens of millions of time online and it just so happened to be you, um, in the video. So how, I'll start with this. Like, how did, how did this all begin? Like was it, was this, this happened the minute he teed off to where

you guys ended up meeting up? Yeah. So we started on the back, we teed off on 10. I watched him tee off and I, I mean, I didn't know really what situation he was in, but I mean, you know, he hit a tee shot 10, 12 yards. You kind of give it, you know, take them all again, rip another one. I, and I didn't even pay attention. Then by the time I teed off, played hole 10, the Marshall comes back and he said,

Hey, you know, those guys are, I'm trying to kick kick them off, but you know, they're trying to fight me. And I'm like, all right, don't worry about it. You know, they're having fun. If I end up catching up to them, I'll just say, Hey guys, like, let's, you know, keep it fun. Let's stay respectful to the staff. And you know, the other golfers like no big deal. You guys are having yourself a time.

Um, okay. So catch up to them. Uh, the next group they're on 12. Now that's a buddy of mine and his fiance, and you know, apparently he, he, he had a long ball within 15, 20 yards of him. And now buddy came back and wanted to fight him too. So I'm like, come on man. Like, so now by the time these guys take 45 more minutes to tee off on 15.

So they're just, this guy's duffing every shot. He can't even stand up. He's just inebriated and, and it's taken how long to play like three holes. Like we're talking two some, a two some, a three some, and we're 20, 22, 25 minutes a hole. Um, and so now we've jammed up at 15 tee box. I'm behind my buddy. He's kind of, you know, he's a lieutenant because these guys are clearly, I don't,

I don't mean bass, salts or math, or I don't know what was going on there. So I said, Hey, I'll go talk to him. And, uh, so I rolled up and I just said, Hey guys, that we got to get moving. And that instantly set him off. Then he's doing the fist clenching and the, the pump in his arms. And he, and I said, you know, like that's where the altercation starts. That's on the video. Um, obviously everybody's seen what then happens and, um, from then on, it was

just basically what you see is exactly what happened. Is this like a, a place you're a member at? Like it was just just like a public chorus. Like how, how was this guy allowed to get this fucked up while playing and then take that long without, yeah, like I guess any type of restraint. I guess it's, I mean, it's a public chorus, but it's a great chorus. It's it's run well. It's in red drive. I've been a member there, I think for eight years now.

Okay. So in place you're a member at, all right. Yeah. Like it's, we have a fantastic membership there. We have a great group. Like there's never any issues. Very rarely do we even need a marshal out there. I've never seen these guys.

I don't know why they decided maybe Friday night would be the time where you come get obliterated and started looking for any type of person on the course that will fight me. I don't understand that mindset. I mean, it seems like the type of place you'd pick a fight to actually win one, but it just so happens you were, you were golfing that day. Now, so you, you obviously are aware you're an NHL former tough guy. This guy does not.

So he, he was kind of above ground, right? Like he had, he had like about a foot on you because he was on the tee box. Maybe that's why he, he might end up betting off more than he could chew. But was it you who yelled out, I'm going to throw you in the pond. So it was you who gave him the warning or was it your buddy? Like I, I, I was trying to be like, you know, let's make it fun. Like I'm not going to threaten you, but like, Hey, if I, if I, if I hear I'm going to get thrown in the pond by this f*****g mutant, maybe I'm going to

chill out, maybe, you know, and I thought, you know, that might be kind of a good fun way to be like, Hey, you guys are in the wrong, let's speed things up. Oh my God. So then he, so then he comes at you and then you, you throw, that might be kind of a good fun way to be like, Hey, you guys are in the wrong, let's speed things up. Oh my God. So then he, so then he comes out. Yeah. And then you, you throw him the first time and then he keeps coming. Like at this point, you're kind of telling the stop. But the one thing that I think surprised everybody was, did you give sound

effects to your punches when you played? I was just trying to have fun with it. Like, I just, I don't know. It's like, man, why I'm fighting in a golf course against a guy that like, is I don't even know what's going on here. I just thought, oh, fuck, this might be a blast. Fuck. Have some fun with it.

Like whatever. Oh my God. So what was like, what was the aftermath of all this? Like after that, was he taken off the course? Like how did it end? And he finally fuck off with his buddy. Yeah. So after the whole confrontation, you know, basically what's seen on the, on Like how did it end and he finally fuck off with his buddy? Yeah, so

After the whole confrontation, you know, basically what's seen on the full length video I tell him like, you know, you got to get the fuck out of her because it's not like you've now you've made it like Now there's three or four groups pounded up behind us There's other you know dad with with young teens and I'm like, hey like you guys got to go Like it's enough, you know at that point, you know, he's, he's completely, he has no idea now where he is. And so they put his tail between his legs and take off. They finally did. So they, they take off, um, the, the one girl that was behind that was my, my buddy's fiance. So she phoned the pro shop.

They phone the cops. So we go play hole 15. We're halfway through all 16 and I see the cops parked out the green walking over. So I pick up, I, you know, I headed over and they said, kind of like, you know, are you guys the group that got thrown in the lake? And I'm like, no officer, like, I'm not going to try to like hide from you. Like I threw the guy in the lake. He was threatening people, trying to fight anybody he could.

I tried to, you know, diffuse the situation the best a guy can without, without hurting someone, ripped him in the lake and he said, Oh, you know what, like, I don't know what more you could have done. Like we've already had five or six complaints of threats from staff, from golfers, from, you know, anybody involved in the golf course that day. The beer cart lady. So like, I mean, we've already kind of made this clear that this guy was being the instigator all day And then even in your situation like he was on the t-box And then he lunged at you the video out by the time the video catches that it kind of just catches him in screen

So he almost lunged at you and gave you a shove and that's when you kind of just threw like made the rotation and threw him in the lake Having Lake was close enough for that., okay, fuck, at least maybe give this guy a chance to pull up in this moldy fucking water. Like it's, I don't know what's growing in there, but like, fuck, you got a thing. You get thrown in the fucking pond. I was trying to give him benefit of the dealt like, okay, maybe he caught like a slip and slide action.

Then he came and then you gave him the other way. You got a full core workout out of it for sure. Oh my God. So, um, what, what's it been like the last like 24 hours and like the amount of like chaos, like we joked about the PTOs, but like how many texts have you gotten? How many phone calls? And I would imagine that you probably came on this one to just kind of clear the air, don't want to talk about it anymore.

This is my piece. This is what happened. It wasn't just me being a hard old on the golf course looking for one. Hey, I want to fucking dust off the old, uh, the gloves here, the fist, like my brain is you. You, this guy was antagonizing everybody, the staff. And then finally, you're just like, enough's enough. This guy needs a right hook and get chucked in a lake.

Yeah. I mean, you know what? At the end of the day, like I asked him not to, I told me, shouldn't get involved with me. I asked him to move on. I gave him every opportunity not to charge it on me. Like I'm not going to fold over. Like, that's not my nature to then I'm going to look like the character is no fucking way.

So I thought, you know, the lake thing would be good and you know, good laugh. And then comes out of the fucking lake, like the girl from that ring movie. And I'm like, dude, what's going on here now? You know, and then I got an easy because you don't know, right? He's looking at me with those eyes that I, I don't know if you're looking at me or through me or like, do you have a knife?

Like, I don't know. And so again, like I don't go to the golf course, especially where I have tons of friends and family that go there that, oh yeah, I'm going on a Friday night looking to get into a tilt. Like I play there five times a week. It's somewhere where I enjoy my weekends, my time and, and the friendships, I'm going on a Friday night, looking to get into a tilt. Like I play there five times a week. It's somewhere where I enjoy my weekends, my time and, and the friendships that I'm not trying to make a scene here.

Like I respect the people there and it's unfortunate that it had to happen. But when you go to a course and you challenge that many people, eventually you're going to run into somebody that says, fuck it. Okay. Let's go. Were you surprised at how easy you were able to hurl him? Like kind of like, in a, like jazzy Jeff and a fresh Prince of Bel Air, like out of the house. I don't, I don't know.

I mean, obviously there's some adrenaline, but like, it's just, I don't, I don't know what he was thinking. It was just kind of, it was so bizarre to me. And like, even my mindset at the time was like, is like, I'm looking at my friends, like, is this guy fucking serious? Like, come on, man. Like, is it just move on? I I'm huge compared to you.

You're, you're, you're way out of your element. Like just don't do it. Like why there's nothing good going to happen to this. And just like, let's move on. Like, it's not cool. Like we shouldn't, it shouldn't have happened. It's everyone's getting a kick out of it, but it's, it's unfortunate because it's just not like, it's not my mentality at the golf course.

And I guess ultimately just kind of guy, pick pipe off the wrong person. We can get a few, few chuckles out of it, but like, you know, there's the empathetic element as well. Like you're probably like, I didn't want this to begin with. Like I don't want to fucking flex and, and also bury this guy too. Cause like, I, I don't know where you got to be in life to get that buckled on a golf course where you're just all of a sudden challenging everybody. Right.

Like I kind of dealt with a similar situation where there was those, those guys around town, they were buckled. They were just looking for something. Right. So like, and this guy probably lives in your community and I don't know if he's got a family and like now all of a sudden, like your, your worst possible day is, is being portrayed online. Yeah.

And that's the thing. It's everyone's getting a good laugh. And I think the message was, was sent that it was inappropriate and, you know, he got, you know, he got embarrassed by it, but like, I think it's like, you know, let us sleep and dog sleep. It's nothing to continue hacking a guy about it's it happened. It's done with like, he's not feeling good about it for sure. I mean, I, I'm feeling the, uh, you know, the anxiety of the messages

and message and message, and they're positive. Like everybody reached out. I, I don't understand how that would feel to be negative. So, I mean, unfortunately it happened, but like, I don't think we need to beat the guy to death about it. No. Uh, how many calls and texts by the way? I mean, I was on the plane all day yesterday. I have probably 500. Oh, how many calls and texts by the way? I mean, I was on the plane all day yesterday,

probably 500. Oh, fuck, that's just getting buried. Now I would imagine this is something that like one of your buddies captured, sent it to a couple of group texts, like you wouldn't believe just what just happened. And then all of a sudden it was going through town and then somebody in town posted to the internet. Did you know who like first posted it? We have no idea. Like we tried to not let it out and it's again, Oh, one person hears about it. They see it and exactly somebody rips it out to a group chat with 80 people. And then it's fucking wildfire.

So, well, I mean, you're from Rocky mountain house, which is a town, actual town name in Alberta. Now that's not where you were, right? You're currently in Red Deer. Yeah. Okay. So how far in proximity is that? It's like 45 minutes.

Okay. And, uh, so I mean, let's kind of transition unless there's anything else you kind of want to button up about this story because like, like we also, I wanted to talk to you also because I played against you last year. You were a tough guy. You had an insane journey. Uh, drafted the same draft year as me in the ninth round. I don't know if you ever thought you were actually going to get the play played.

I believe over 250 games got to bounce around to three teams, by the way, all no state tax teams, so a ching ching, right. And, and then ended up in the KHL. So I want to hear all about it. And the people who are listening to this interview to also get to know like the, the human on the other side. So, uh, uh, how did you grow up love and hockey? Like what made you fall in love with the game?

Yeah. I mean, that's just in those days, like Rocky mountain house, it's really all there was. There's an oval and then an outdoor rink and a rink there. I don't know. There was like maybe four or 5,000 people. My dad would build a rink in the yard every year and like, that's all you do. And it's not where you play street hockey in the winter, you play ice hockey.

Like there's literally nothing to do. You know, there's no mall, there's no skate park. There's no BMX. Right. There is all that stuff now, but in the eighties and nineties, like he just played hockey, like everybody played all we did. The ones that loved it. I mean, Brad Stewart's from ready you won the Cup twice he came out of there too you know so I got to look up to him my whole

life and just kind of follow in steps so what he would do I'd call him once in a while meet up some play roller hockey with them and kind of learn from you know what guys did in the dub go watch the dub like Red Deer Rebels 45 minutes my dad would always take me we'd go. You'd see like tons of Brian McCabe, like Trevor kid, like all these old names, Peter VanderMeer, like Napal toft. You'd see all these guys play and, uh, you know, you kind of start to understand where you want to be. And then, yeah, that's just kind of where you set your goals and just

never really give up on them. Yeah. Good people around you, like kind of following that same goal. Now the minute the ice was taken out, was it right to ball hockey and roller hockey, cause we just had Matthew Schaefer on the first overall draft pick. And we were asking about him power skating and he said, no, actually it was more like rollerblading in the summer, which gave you my stride. So was that kind of the same thing, whether it was winter or summer,

it was ball hockey or, or whatever. Yeah. When we were younger, we do soccer and baseball and stuff like that too. And then, you know, once you get to 13, 14, 15, you kind of wanted to transition into more of a elite. Then you start with the, you know, the training and stuff, which I kind of neglected till I was about 17, but. Okay.

Why you just like what you wanted your off seasons to drink beers. I mean, how old were you when you started drinking? I would imagine in a town like that, it starts young. No, I wasn't too bad when I was younger, like a couple times, but just didn't really grow up like that. And we just we kind of like other kids, there were parties that I go once in a while, but I kind of didn't really want to get involved in that scene. Just had a pretty decent attitude towards getting better. Even though I didn't put the effort in, I also chose not to get involved in the distractions. So, kept my nose pretty clean there growing up.

And then even like when I actually finally made junior at 18, it was like because I didn't party at all. Like it was like quit it or like you might as well not even come to camp. Like there's no point in coming out of shape. I mean, that's a, that's a huge thing not to be drinking, right? You already have an advantage over all, like you had a young kids, you know, they want to live their, their social life too. Right. So at, at what point were you finally like, okay, I'm not drinking.

I need to also start dialing in the training. If I want to make this a, for real thing, Like, was it when you were drafted to the dub? No, I never got drafted to the dub. I got, I got listed to the dub and then I got picked up in the expansion draft a couple of maybe a season later by Vancouver. Then I got traded to Colona. So I didn't even work out before my first actual dub camp. I'd made the team, but then I got, I got sent back to junior a around November.

And then, so that was the actual, I never really, I never committed to training until my 18 year old year where I was like, okay, like, yeah, you, you can't like just go and play street hockey and rip in a few pucks doesn't get you where you need to get to make a team. Um, and obviously Mark Habscheid pretty well-known coach as far as, uh, discipline. I knew I was going into his camp and figured, well, I might as well, might as well commit my, I mean, 18 years old, you're kind of like in those days was. Your last chance to make the dub.

And so I had to, you know, commit that year and ended up making the team and they got drafted to the lightning after that year. So who, like, who did you lean on to like figure out, okay, where do I start training? Was it all those local guys you mentioned? Like, did you start all of a sudden going to, to, to sessions Monday through Friday? Like, how did you start doing it? Yeah, I moved into Calgary and my agent hooked me up with a, with the trainer there. And I got like, dialed in with a personal trainer and nutritionist and like did it

the right way and, and, you know, ended up being two a days and, and, and like understanding why you're doing certain things and what, what the process is from, you know, May, June, July, August to where you want to be for September. So it was a good step for me. I needed it. And, you know, I had a lot of support from my mom and dad financially, obviously to not work at home hardware, you know, Canadian tire for the summer. And I was able to go train. That's unbelievable. Um, so now like when you were growing up, when you were 12 years old, were you getting in brawls at school?

Was this something where like you liked to just like play the game and then at a certain point you're like, ah, I got to evolve my bag. So I have to start doing this. Like when did that, that side of you come out on the ice? I used to fight once in a while as a kid, but not much. And then, you know, I had a like massive year in mid of AAA had 40 goals and it's like, Oh, I thought I was a sniper. But then you get sent home from the dub the next year and it's like,

Hey, you're, you're not a sniper bud. Like let's get you, let's get you dialed in. Or there was Mark Habschrider that like just, he took me aside and he's like, buddy, like, I'm trying you on the power play. It's not working. You're not, you're also not that good at force buying. So he's like, he just said like, you need to find a way. And he, and he was just honest. He said, you know, go get in a fight.

Even if you get beat up, watch how good it feels. And so the next night we played Prince George and I ended up fighting twice. And he just came in. He, I was like already undressed and he came in, gave me a thumbs up and walked out of the room and I'm like, okay, fuck, you know what he's right. Like you can't be this size and be, be scared. Like you, if you are, you have no chance because I can't skate fast enough and I can't puck well enough in front of 6,000 people that I'm going to score 40 at any level.

So let's start doing more than one role and stay in the lineup or like you might as well go back to junior B and fucking Poco buckaroos and, and, you know, start on the beers. How'd, how'd the first one go? I think it was all right. I honestly don't even remember. I just remember the feeling of him exactly what he described that you, I mean, you remember like your first few fights were like, fuck, it doesn't

really hurt, it's quick, it's fun. And the crowds going, you get air drilling. You're like, fuck, this is actually kind of awesome. Like it's almost addicting where you can't wait to do it again. Cause it's so the rush you get makes you feel so good about what you just did and all the boys are fired up and like, yeah, that was the moment. I won't forget that day for the rest of my life. How the boys were like, fuck.

Okay. I don't know. Probably one, one lost one. I don't know. They probably, I mean, decently tough guys. And it's just like, you know, that was the transition between being a, I think I'm a sniper to, okay, I can play a third and fourth line role and then maybe score a goal or two once in a while.

Oh my God. sniper to, okay, I can play a third and fourth line role and then maybe score a goal or two once in a while. Oh my God. It, you just described it though, like the high from it, like it could also be where your team loses by a couple of goals and it doesn't really feel like the coach is as mad at you, especially if you did it for the right reasons. And all the boys in the room are like, Hey, thanks for sticking up for the boys. So it's kinda, it feels fucking good, man. It feels good. That's like, you know, it's, you know, exactly what it's like, especially, you

know, you go out after a, you get scored on a fourth time, let's go. And you're just like, well, fuck, I'm not going out. They don't, they're not putting me out to go like, Oh yeah, they're going to go get one. No fucking rights. We're not. You're going to go out there. You're going to, you're going to find Asham or you're going to find fucking Brad May. And he was tough. You have to, I never thought maybe,

or you're not playing tomorrow. Like it's not, and it's not like, Hey Nick, go do this. It's no Nick. It's your turn now. Like, well fuck, I get it. You know, I'm not too numb to the past. So at the fact of your size and now you kind of got this rush for, for it and you had this willingness to do it and you felt like what you felt from it. How often would you start doing it? Was it like 20 fights a season? Were you going pretty hard? The WHL was a tough league back then. I think I was only running about eight to ten fights a year because that was my 18th

year of the year. I think I had like 30 points and eight or 10 fights. And then I got like, yeah, then it was, yeah, I only played really only played the two years played 18, 19, I think I had eight or 10 fights and 50 points. My 19. And then it was that lockout year that we went into that, uh, was that oh, four or five lockout or oh, three or four lockout, whatever that was. And that was the year that really, really escalated the fighting because you look at those rosters and then you look at my team in Springfield, I think we had like eight super heavyweights in it and you look at every team, every

sportsman had six dice. Cause all the, all the really good players who were vets, like some of them didn't play at all, the really skilled ones who were still young in their careers went and took all the Euro spots and then the, the, the heavyweights kind of got put in this spot. Well, I want to play where are we going to send them the AHL? So there was this log jam of heavies where it became the UFC for a, for a year there. And, and you look at those, it is, it gives me like anxiety to this day.

You look at those rosters or, Oh, who you played in the world, Philadelphia fans in the spectrum, they got Kote, Eager, Josh Gratton. And I'm like, fuck like I'm fighting one of them. It's just, it's like, who, you don't know who. And like, you know, every, every rank, every team, three to five, tough guys, like monsters, stroche and fucking scroy. Like any of these clowns, like unbelievable dudes, ghillies, like, holy God, crazy tough guys.

Like crazy list. Kind of as crazy as that 03 draft. We'll get to that in a little bit, but, uh, man, so the, I was going to go a few ways. Your last year of junior though, uh, with Kelowna, you lit it up. Like that was where you finally got to also play a little bit. So that must've felt pretty good. Yeah. So that's, I, that actually was in Lethbridge.

I finished in Lethbridge. Oh, Lethbridge. Excuse me. Yeah. So I finished there and like, I just, it's one of those things too. Like I was fighting a bit, but I scored a few goals and just kind of ran a fit, had some confidence and just played hard every night. And I mean, fuck we had me and Chris Versteeg and Brent Seabrook on the PP, like pretty helpful to have a players like that to get kind

of stuck with on the ice and there, and, and, you know, build some confidence off, you know, given one piece of seeds out there, right? Like, okay, let's pick up some greasy apples just because you got, you got a chance to go out there once in a while because you earned it, right? So it was good. And then, yeah, like I have a decent year. Um, I think I ended up getting like 25 or so goals just based off of merit. And it was, you, you earned it.

You, you know, maybe, maybe you're not the first line, but you don't have to wait, you know, you don't have to wait till the 12 minute mark to get your first shift. You're not out there in the TV timeouts doing laps. Like, you know, you can get a little bit involved and have some fun out there. I know a lot about those laps. Um, were you working the half wall? Uh, Or were you the net front guy?

We, I actually, I got to play kind of all over. I don't even remember what the system was, but I remember I'd, I, anytime I'd get the puck, I had, I just made sure I got on Versteg stick or on Seabrook stick. And then I'd go find a way to just stay out there. Like. Smart player. Yeah. Get it to the better players hands.

What a veteran you are. Oh, so you kind of mentioned how you didn't do it growing up and then you had this fulfillment from it the first time he did it at 18, like I was a guy who, it wasn't natural. Like I was never a killer. Like there was guys like Colt, nor, uh, we, we were talking offline beforehand, Scotty Sabran, who I played with, who was a lefty where I'm like, oh my God, these guys are nail guns.

Would you get like, um, butterflies in your stomach from morning skate, basically till game time before you had to do it. Every weekend, you bet. That didn't matter.. That didn't matter. Like it didn't matter. Especially in the HL, like the, there was like one or two teams would be like, thank God, like they don't have anyone. So it was like lightning.

We play Florida and it'd be like, thank God. Like I get one easy night because there were guys in the league, like they might not be looking for me, but they're, you know, there was like the, the John Scots and the boo guards and like those guys that were, they were out there. The guy, I don't even remember a lot of the names, but you know, the, like the Zen and canop cause like when I was in Florida, then he was in tap. It was like, I wouldn't say I was scared, but it's like, I know we're fighting it's and like, how's it going to go?

Is it first shift, second shift? How many times like, I love them. Like we're going to fight. We're going to talk about it in the warmups and it's like, where are we going? And then it's like, yeah, fuck it. Let's go. So every time and it was every game through my whole career, you know, who's on the other team, and especially if you have been a beef, like the one year in the

minors, I think I fought Storks like 12 times. And it was like every single weekend, it was Hamilton against Rochester. Like we're fighting tonight and it's just like Storks, like getting over the bench. Like when, like let's do we get it over with? Get it over with. Right. Like I'd rather fight now than we can at least go play. Let's just do it warm up. Get it over with.

It's, I don't care. I think I don't care how, and I feel like, you know, the Lurox and those super, super tough guys would probably agree with us that I don't think it ever went away. The fact that you, you never know how it's going to go. You can always get caught like, you know, bigger than those guys, like such tough humans, I don't know that they'd ever, I don't know if it was ever easy for them either. Um, yeah. Oh, you're, you're bang on dude.

Fuck the butterflies suck. And yeah, you're, you're bang on dude. Fuck the butterflies suck. And yeah, you did it cause you had to, um, your draft, like were you expected to get drafted, were you blown away? I'm assuming you weren't there. I went, I went second day. I shouldn't have gone. I didn't go. No, I, I, uh, I know I was on that central scouting list, but it's like, I

think it was like 180th North America or something like absurd where it's like, you might, it's cool to be on the list. Like maybe I'll save this central scouting list for this scrapbook, you know, for my kid. Um, but no, I ended up actually just, you know, hanging out at home and just going to like a barn party and just, I didn't even think about it for the week. I just, there was like a, you know, local four H party or something, like a meat drawer or something, like all the community was at.

And, and then I woke up the morning of my phone ring and that said, Hey buddy, like you got drafted. And I was like, okay, like don't recognize this number. Like, okay guy, you know, and then, and then, Oh, you thought you were getting pranked? Thought I was getting pranked. So I was like, okay. And then, you know, there, I don't know, like, I honestly don't even know if my

parents had internet at the house. So I'd go, like, it's not like you can rip your phone and check, like, I got to see this ninth round draft. Like, did I go or not? And then, and then, uh, this, this guy from the lightning called me a couple hours later to, to welcome me to the organization. So I was like, okay, fuck, this is actually legit. Like, again, not feeling like, okay, ninth round.

I'm like, well, that's cool. But like, I, I, I don't know. Wasn't like ultimately like it's great, but it's, I think there were teams that actually had passed at that point before I got drafted. So I was like, it's cool. Like they grabbed me, like felt good about it, but it wasn't, you know, it's sitting there like, fuck it. You know, I'm Eric Stahl or I'm, you know, Dion or someone that went early

and you're going to play in the NHL the next year. So you mentioned your coach beforehand who kind of gave you the advice to fight. Who was also in your corner as far as like maybe a scout for the lightning. Like, did you find out who was in your corner base and you're like, we need to take this guy with the ninth round pick? I don't know who, like, I don't know who in the Lightning. I mean, I know Bill Barber was probably the one, uh, that was pushing for it. He played in Philly in those hard days.

Um, so I, I, I'm assuming he would have been one of the ones I, Jay Feaster loved me the whole time. When I, when I actually got to go to the camps, I got a great relationship with like Nigel Kerwin, the video coach who's still there. I still talk to him like every week. Like Jeff Reese was there. I got, I got, I ended up just having a great rapport with all the staff. And I think any, anybody that I got to spend time with that rookie

camps was like, this guy's fighting. He's, you know, having fun in the locker room. He's, I don't know what he's doing at the nighttime, but he's here and he's having fun looking poisoned. Uh, apparently not a lot. You were, you were a good kid. Did that, um, transition into when you first got on your own? Cause that's where I had a hard time adjusting where I was like you, I

didn't booze growing up, like I was very focused on, on advancing in hockey. And then when I first got to pro all of a sudden you got money, you're, there's no billet parents, you don't have a curfew, or at least not on game nights for most teams or, or, um, non game nights. Like, did you, did you start getting to the bottle more or were you always like pretty straight laced and stayed disciplined? Nah, those younger years, like I kept it pretty respectable. Just, just on the weekends on the, you know, when you had your day off, like

me and, me and Andre DeVoe lived together in Springfield and like we were, I was only 19 too, so there was not really an opportunity to be buying beers or going to the bars because there was just too much headache. So, you know, I'd been going to the bars for, for a couple of years, once in a while in Alberta at 18, but, um, you know, for the most part staying out of it. And then, okay, now you're, you're, you're, you're not 21. So I wasn't trying to make a huge scene, like trying to get the bars every night and making, you know, having the brass from the lightning, find out that the,

the underage kids on the minor league team are making scenes down in Springfield. Right. So you were raised right man good for you man that's awesome that you stayed really disciplined and held yourself accountable. Now what was it like when you finally got the call? Like how did it all was it out of camp? Like that was my first experience I made the team at a training camp or I was like fucking in shock or was yours like a mid-season call-up Like, do you remember getting the phone call or the coach calling you in to say, Hey, you're going up.

Me and Evgeny are two can got brought in together. And, uh, I think I don't, we only played two or three games of Springfield. And then we got brought in and it was kind of like, uh, it was a big time salary cap issue still in those days. Right. With it was low, like what 30, 40 million. And so we got brought in. It was, Hey guys, don't leave town today.

Like, don't be going to Boston. You might be going up. And we're like, okay. And then after then you had to wait till a certain time, I think it was 3 PM and then, and dear Graham called and said, okay, you two are going. And then we ended up meeting the team in, uh, Atlantic city, I think. Or yeah, I think we ended up meeting there and then they're on some trip and then we ended up flying to Atlanta or something from there.

All right. And then, I mean, you walk into that locker room. I think torts was there that year, right? Vinny LaCavalier, I believe St. Louis was still there at the time. Maybe Brad Richards. That was a loaded locker room. How intimidated were you walking in?

Were you a, like, were you a mega hockey fan growing up to where you were watching all the games? So you were like, oh my God, these guys brought these guys a Stanley Cup. Like these are legends in the game. I mean, fuck we had Dave Andertrack. We had Freddie Modine, Daryl Sidor. Like it, like it was like, holy shit. You know, um, ultimately like a hall of fame group.

And I don't really, you hop on and it's like, honestly, Torz came up to us at the first practice and he brought us his eyes and he's like, Tarn's already just play hard, but when you get the puck, get rid of it, get off. And we're like, all right. He's like, get rid of it, get off. And we're like, all right. He's like, get Vinnie a rest. You'll get another shift. Go bang some bodies. Get off.

If you don't want to do it, somebody will. And we're like, fuck. Okay. That sounds great. Like you can't really screw up. Get the puck, get the line, get it deep. Fucking awesome. Very simple.

Simplify. Then. Yeah. So then we ended up playing eight or 10 games and then I went back down, played a few more games later in the year, but yeah, I think I played 10 or, I don't know, 10 or 12 that first year and then made the team out of camp the next year.

Andrew Chuck, I mean, at that point, that's probably as old school then as you could have gotten. How old was he? He must've been like 40 by that time. Just a tree out in front of the net. He might've even still been using a wood twig. What was it like being in the presence of someone that old school? Unbelievable, man.

Like it's, it's you just to, and I got, I love talking and like, as I got older, it's like, you couldn't shut me up in the locker room, but like in those days, it's like, man, just shut the fuck up and just listen to what's Dave saying, what's Dave doing? No, what's, what's Brad Richards doing? Like, what's he doing? Just watch it because it's pretty fucking cool. You know, Vinnie was always great to me.

Marty's always great to me. Like these are guys that you like, even the young kids I coach now still, like when I bring up an example of, you know, you're not going to score as many fucking goals as Vinny did. They understand who that is. Right. And it's pretty cool to be like, Hey, I got to play with those guys and they treated me really well. And it's like, it'll never like, you know, they all reached out to me this weekend.

Just being like, Hey, making sure you're okay. See in the vid like, all right, man, you know, just checking on you. So it's still pretty cool. They're always great. And you just, you, you don't ever forget those memories. Like you'll have those like probably with Mario, right. And there is someone like that in pit. Yeah.

A few from training camp where you're just, yeah, you're like, Oh my God. Like this is the guy, he, all this, here he is live in the flesh. Like, wow, how does he carry himself so cool? And then you see him walk in a room and there's other people in the room and you see the air come out of the room and they're all just in shock. So it's kind of, it's kind of crazy to be in front of people that, that presence. Obviously, uh, Lemieux is a different level. Um, I like to observe too, like in the locker room, like the dynamic, you had

this coach and John Tartarella and also I believe kind of towards the end of his time there, because he can wear fit on players. What was the dynamic like between Vinny and those guys where if like Toritz got Barkin looked at me, I was just like, Oh, no, not even in the room. But Vinny would, Vinny would challenge him and like, they'd get into it. And I'm like, this is fucking unbelievable. Like I don't even want to say good morning to Torts. I'm so fucking scared. And Vinny's like, no, fuck that. Not a chance and fuck.

That's how, that's how I want to play. And I was like, you know, this is great. And Torts, I genuinely feel like Torts loved it and challenged the better, stronger players to, to challenge him and let, okay, let's hash this out. Let's get better as a group. Like I loved it. I mean, I planned for Torts was fucking nerve wracking and that's why I'm bald. But I loved it.

Like it was so much fucking fun. Like you keep your nose clean, you do the right thing and you get some opportunity within this. Hey, he's made, he's made a shit ton of money coaching. We should get him to get you a Turkish hair transplant. Like torch. I can tell he could do it.

Right. Give you that. And in the other player that he's coached, they should get a Turkish hair transplant on him. He could probably get a good deal on one. I think that the bar stool guys all went over there free of charge. They just had to promote it. So we'll have to fire up the social media for it for torts on any other, uh, any other, would you accept by the way, if he offered to buy you a Turkish hair transplant? Of course, if he came, he'd have to come with

me. Oh man, he is, he is getting a little thin up here. He's got kind of the widows to like the two, the two harbors. Um, God, now I got distracted by this Turkish hair transplant nonsense. Uh, uh, any, any other crazy, funny stories between like you towards, or that team that you remember, like what was, uh, you only played 11 games. You said your first year, did you have to pay for rookie dinner or was your rookie dinner the next year? No, I, I got, I didn't go, I don't even think I was there for the rookie dinner, so I didn't have to give, get, give me the option.

We did it the next year and it was fucking actually unbelievable because we did it in Calgary, which I was living in Calgary the summer. So big boy walks in the Cowboys dance hall and guess what? Daddy's home. Daddy's home. That is unbelievable. No, you can't call yourself Daddy because Shave Daddy has that nickname now. He took it. That was in those days anyway.

You can have Tarnasty. I'm no longer, I'm just Biz now. You're Tarnasty, especially after this past week's events. But what, so you, so you go into Cowboys, did you guys have to tell the joke and do you remember how much you had to pay and. Yeah, we did. We did it.

Uh, I think it was Calvary Chalpehouse as just downtown, just like kitty corner from Cowboys in those days. And we did it just closed doors dinner. We did together the group and I, yeah, we did our jokes. I think that's all he made us do just to give a joke. And then, uh, how were you? I think I told something inappropriate. I think a few of the boys laugh and it's like, they're pretty hard group to get

going like, oh, they've been to a lot of rookie dinners and it takes a lot to impress that group. Like, I think I was probably the one lot of rookie dinners and it takes a lot to impress that group Like I think I was probably one of the better rookies But like to try to get Brad Richards to laugh like you've you've I mean, it's impossible It'd probably be something like weird and diabolical and he'd be like That just see what says he's got like eight member golf memberships at all these fancy courses You should have him fucking join yours. You could be, you could be his protector.

Um, I got a question from the chat here. My buddy, uh, did torts reach out to you after that video? No. Oh, no. Who was, who was the most surprising person to reach out? Like whether it was like a celebrity. Like. Dude, Jerry Ferraro, Ferraro, I reached out today.

That was pretty bad ass. Turtle. Turtle. Yeah. So I was like, fuck, that's pretty cool. He asked me to ask, he asked me to go tee it up with him. So I was like, fucking right. Bring Johnny drama.

Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. We'll do a golf match. We'll get, uh, we'll get you, we'll get him on your team. Um, what was the most old school thing that Dave Andrew Chuck would do just like from, from watching him? What was, did something stand out to you? Honestly, you were 40 whatever years old and he'd still be last guy on the ice.

Stick work, tip, tipping box every day, nonstop. Like I don't know how many, what does he got? Six, seven, 800 power play goals. You know why? Nonstop tips every single day. And then that, you know, net drives, raps. He nasty at it. Like just watching them with, with, with they shoot a hundred in a row and boom, boom, boom, boom, anywhere they shot it. Didn't miss single one. Like fucking unbelievable.

Like you, you couldn't, I don't think you could pay him to miss one. That's fucked. Hey, and the craziest part about it donor was pretty good on him. I would watch him. They would have the D man, not just sift these things in. They were full blown clappers and they wouldn't, they wouldn't care. They wouldn't blink and they'd be coming in at about 90 miles an hour, 95 rockets. Who was the one shooting them usually?

Sidor? Well, yeah, it would be like Sidor or that Pavel Kubina absolutely fucking hammering biscuits at him and I'm like, holy shit, like he could rip it. And so he would pound the pocket and Dave would just, it was, it was fucking crazy. Like you can't, you can't teach it. You can either do it or you can't like you, you, you can't teach that. It's just, it was phenomenal. Ridiculous. Like probably the, I teach that. It's just, I mean, it was phenomenal.

Ridiculous. Like probably the, I would say that he would go down as a net front Mount Rushmore. Like net front pit guy. He would go, that would be a fun list to assemble. I don't have any other at the top of my head. I mean, Pavelski was good, but I don't know if he's top four all time. I don't want to sound ignorant like usual. So, um, you played, I got a good chunk. You played 77 games and 80 games in the second and third season with Tampa. Um, like the trade, like did it happen?

Did you just not sign there? You ended up going over to Nashville for, it looked like a part of one year and then got dealt to Florida. So, I mean, how was your experience there and how'd you take the trade or, or what they were signing? So I got sent over to Nashville, like from the European premier, um, with a broken thumb and so that didn't really go so good. I wasn't really ready to play and then ended up fighting

Prusty like my first night. And I'm like, I can barely even hold a stick, but Well, back it up. How did you start that sentence? What? So I had a broken thumb from cap. I got hit a slap shot and I was like, but you said something about a premier from somewhere.

Yeah. We were in a Prague or one of those NHL premieres. Like, so I was overseas with the lightning. Okay. Okay. In the trade. So I got moved to Nashville from like Slovakia or somewhere with no Stinny nap sheet, like running shoes.

And then, uh, like I got kind of thrown into the fire with, with Nashville, kind of not like, I mean, had a broken thumb. I hadn't, I wasn't really ready to play and ended up fighting Prosti. And then, yeah, it just, just wasn't a good fit for me. It wasn't really a, I just, I don't think I was the guy they were looking for. I mean, they wanted somebody to replace Hortichok, who was, I think a little above my level of fighting. Oh, fuck dude.

He was so tough. I had to fight him one time in Vancouver and you know, you really understand how tough a guy is. Tell the reaction of some of the guys in the way that they come and say, Hey, great job out there. And you're like, Oh, Oh God, I guess, I guess I survived that one. Apparently. Yeah.

So that it just wasn't a good fit. And then, uh, I only, I think I was only there for about a month. It was, it wasn't going great for breather side. And then I got shipped over to Florida and then, uh, had a decent second half of that year. And then the next year I, I ended up getting jumped by Chris Neil in pre-season and broke my orbital bone. And so I missed another half year and then.

What'd you get jumped for? Just in a scrum, just a, I don't know, I kind of an unnecessary, I don't, I honestly don't even remember, like there was no video it was in like Halifax or somewhere, like don't even really remember what happened and then kind of just a lucky break and then, uh, came back fighting there at the end of the year, but it just didn't really, I think too much time had passed that it was kind of like, not really fitting in anywhere anymore. Um, I, it's always hard when you go from the NHL down to the minors and like,

you know, you, you finish off in Florida, you played 34 games and then 31 year last year, um, and like, so then you go down to the minors with Rochester and then the following years, other than the season, the KHL, we will get to that. How, how hard was it for you to like make the adjustment back to the minors? Were you bummed out by it? Were you just grateful at the fact that you got to spend that time in the NHL being a ninth round draft pick and a guy where, you know, you, you know, you maybe didn't expect to get to that level of hockey?

Yeah, I think exactly. Like I, expect to get to that level of hockey. Yeah. I think exactly. Like I, I don't think there was much potent, um, not those years. Like again, it was, it was grateful exactly could have got to spend time with those hall of fame players and have those stories and have those experiences. And then I went back to Springfield for a year and then Rochester for a year. Hamilton. Uh, I mean, they're all fun years.

Uh, you know, got to mentor some kids got to, you know, have a few more fights, have a few more, you know, good laughs, couple of good years. Got to play with a bunch of buddies that I'd played within the past. Like that San Diego year. Um, I don't think coming back down to the minors is that hard for me. Just kind of maybe realizing that now in that role, there's only so many players that you can, you know, there's one per team and then it kind of got phased out. And then you got the new up and comers, you've got your, your new ninth round draft pick

that they're high on or their new sixth round pick that they're high on, you know, they've got their kids to the minors that they're already kind of slotty in. So it was tough to kind of get another sandpaper roll back. And, and then, yeah, you just kind of, you kind of get lost in the shuffle and I just never really found my way back. Um, so the year in the KHL, this, you played for this team, um, you had 173 penalty, penalty minutes there and the guys on this team, I think Marasti was there and this was kind of in the era where they had one team that just had all these mutants on it and if I'm not mistaken, would the owner come down

and like tell you guys, yeah, I want you guys to start a brawl off the opening draw and get the fans going? Okay, so how did you find yourself in this situation? Who did your agent call and say, I got this opportunity over in the KHL. Yeah. I was surprisingly, I was golfing. I get a call like, Hey man.

Um, I don't know if his offer is legit, but give this guy a shout. And so I gave a shout over and he was like, yeah, like we want to bring you over to Vitas. And, uh, and then, uh, they're like, and I knew cause like Gratz had been there before and Simon was over there before. And I because like grats had been there before and and simon was over there before and i was like okay that's that fucking tough guy team like all right well i don't know if there's really anybody that fights them so like yeah let's go over there and check it out and they're like oh no they told me like yeah don't even worry you don't you're not even going to be like the tough guy so i'm like fuck that's even better news because like

and then on my mind i'm like well, well, who's coming over there? And then like, I saw I get over there. Me and kit Brennan show up there together and, and then two weeks later, Johnny and Johnny and yeah, we'll show up and I'm like, oh my God. Oh my God. So you're the fourth guy. You must be loving it. This is the best fucking two fucking toughest guys in the minors are now with us.

Love it. I I've talked about Yaggle many a times in this pod. He fucking bammied me so much. He was nails. John Marastie, you could, you could punch him with a bowling ball on your fist and he's going to take four in the noggin and your hand's going to be broken. And then he's going to take over the fight. And then Kip Brennan, like he was a fucking super heavy in the AHL too.

Like he was a fucking heavy in the show at some point. So like there's, I would assume that most teams in the K at that time didn't even have a heavy. Why the need for four guys? And, and what was, what was your experience like with this owner? Was he just a scary fucking guy? He was actually awesome. Like I'll tell you what, it wasn't the nicest setup. It wasn't the nicest town, but you couldn't treat someone better.

Like with what they had and what that town could offer, you couldn't have been treated better. Like they, the community would come up, like you go sit down at a restaurant, all sudden, a ball of something shows up on your table and some big guy with a leather jacket's waving like thumbs up and like, it was, it was such a, like, it was such a, like a rewarding experience to be treated like that from a community and from, from an organization that they bring you in that, you know, what they're asking of you and you just, you go, you wear your harness, the forum and fuck, we'd be boxing with like povet

kin and, uh, and, and, and going through like the Vita is training with these guys and having fun with, with other athletes. And then we'd hit out to that. Uh, the boys have talked about it on here before to this, this farm that they had with like the wolves and the machine guns and the vodka and like, it was the, it was a blast. The owner, he didn't speak much English, so his son would translate. So do the, Hey, boss wants to talk to you. Then you, the three of you would talk.

So he translates something and then he'd be just like, yeah. And it'd be like, what's he saying? He's like, loved your fight yesterday. And he just like, and. And it'd be like, what's he saying? He's like, loved your fight yesterday. And he just like, and it was fucking awesome. He did show up at the hotel guy in the leather jacket in the blacked out land Rover and it'd be like, come. I'm like, Oh fuck, what are we doing? Nothing gives you a thousand bucks goes throw in your suitcase.

And then we're going to the, we're headed out to the, to the farm. And so it'd give you a grand or two grand or just throw you a bunch of dough for whatever you did previous. Like we had a couple of brawls that he had come in with like the big entourage, Hells Angels, uh, like all these Russian mafia guys, the Fox. Come in the room in the intermission and he'd be talking in Russian, getting all the boys fired up and we're like, fuck, what's he saying? And then it'd be like, he goes out and then that Andre Nazarov or coach would be

like, you guys gotta go make something happen. Like boss wants to see some action. So then you've probably seen those videos. Me and John, you're out there chasing people around. They're jumping in the bench. We're suckering guys. And, and boss would be like, you could see him. He'd stand it up in his suite. He's clapping.

He's just like, this is great. And then you get your thousand bucks. It's just unbelievable. I'm like, he, he then he'd bring us to like the local restaurants. He'd have these spreads. You bring us to the bowling alley, these spreads, like nice people. He'd have rides for us. Like it, you couldn't, honestly, you couldn't say a bad thing.

Um, other than maybe, maybe the, the look that we got from doing the stupid shit, you know, racking up, I think he, I would might've had 320 games that year. Something, something crazy. And Kip Brennan had 240. He had 240. He had 240. Yablonski had it. That was, by the way, that was in 14 games.

Uh, 16 games, 174 PIMs. Uh, it's Morasti 197. And then where are you at? Fuck. This is too good. Yeah. You were 173. I said that earlier. Oh is too good. Yeah. You were one 73. I said that earlier. Oh my God.

So you guys are just terrorizing. Aside from that look where I was like, fuck, I'm probably never playing in another league again, just because it's nonsense. Like it was such an unbelievable experience. Like when my dad came, we went to Moscow for new years. Like you got to move down the red square and like you got to just experience so much cool shit that you'd never seen in your lifetime while being treated so well by people that were just happy to have guys there that were, you know,

acting like meatheads, but also where we were pillars in the community there. You, you, I couldn't walk to the grocery store without a car stopping and somebody they'd come out, shake your hand and just, they just say, Vitas, Vitas. And they'd be so excited and it was fucking awesome. So you basically felt like you were back in the NHL, if not better. Cause you were playing in these Southern States where like nobody knows you walking around, so you kind of get that feeling like you almost did back in junior. Um, I gotta ask you a couple of things though, about more about that.

So, uh, Nazarov the coach, I've heard some crazy antics from him. Um, what was the most like Russian shit you would see just from on a day to day basis where you're like, okay, that's definitely not how we do shit. This is blowing my mind right now. You go down a rabbit hole if you want. And also about this coach Nazarov. The one thing that stands out to me, there was a, there was a game in, uh, maybe dynamo or I don't, I can't remember what the team was, but I remember like. He ends up like hitting fans with sticks and like Panarin's hitting fans with sticks and like, it's all because it's all because like I lost a draw and we

got scored on, he's like hitting people and I'm like, what the fuck's going on here? And he's looking at me like you lost the fucking draw, man. And I'm like, well, fuck, I don't know. I played 32 minutes tonight. We have nine skaters. Like, I don't know what you want. So I were just, that's, I mean, I just remembered that out of them. And like, he would, uh, he would have us doing every morning.

Hurdles 10 times, 10 sets of 10 hurdles and 500 push-ups every morning. And I'm like, dude, like I'm 240 pounds. Like I can't do one fucking hurdle. So he's like, okay. Then 20 sets of stairs. You choose. Like, all right. Did you, did you get there for training camp?

Yeah, it wasn't as bad. Like it wasn't nearly as bad in, in, in there as like, and he, he also was pretty cool since he played in the NHL with like us guys that played in North America. Didn't make us do the stuff. He'd actually, we had this, this huge tractor tire there. And so if you could go and lift the tracker tire and flip it without it touching itself, you're exempt from the next part of the training camp. So you've got to just go play soccer. flip it without it touching itself, you're exempt from the next part of the training camp.

So you've got to just go play soccer. So some kids would have to rip the fucking the tire back and forth down this parking lot 50 times, but if you're strong enough to rip it once exempt. So it was pretty good to us. Did you ever ask them why they just go so hardcore? Why it's such a thing? Like did you, they seem like a type of culture where it's, they go hard at everything, like whether it's training or drinking or whatever, they just go hard.

Yeah. I never really got too much into it with them. Just, you know, chit chat here and there, but for the most part, like try to keep to ourselves as best we could. No, I just meant more so in like your experience there and just kind of like, you know, just being curious of how they do things so differently. Uh, you mentioned them already. That was one of the other questions I had Panarin.

So you got to watch a young Panarin where that there was a clip that just came out. Uh, I think it was a Kevin Strick podcast that they had Revo on. And he said that, you know, they'd be playing basketball when they play together in New York and he'd be up till four in the morning with them, ripping this Russian vodka and playing hoops at his place. And he just said he's the biggest beauty, just very chill, nonchalant, high, high intellect and just loves the game. Loves the game.

He, it was, it was actually, we never heard of him because he was like 18. I was already like 27 or whatever. Like, and in practice, like it was like watching a little Kovalov fucking rip around fiddling and sniping. And I was like, damn, this kid's nasty, man. Like I wish I would have understood how good he really was. Been watching him at that age to see like where he is now. I'm like, fuck, that's unbelievable.

Cause I didn't really put it together in my head, like how good this kid was. And I'm so proud of him, how he was able to turn, you know, that from that team with obviously getting I P F stuff plays me for 20 games. So to turn that into playing the career he's turned it into, it's unbelievable. Like he was a lot of fun to watch watching him on the PP with with with some of the other skilled russian kids was just phenomenal like it is it's undescribable to what like you just remembering the practice we'd always play a three on three at the end or four on four with those kids and it was just if he played it was a totally different game than if he didn't um you guys had a tough year though only 16 wins that I mean but yet you seem to have such a positive

Experience from it now going back to that question What were the most shocking things you saw while there where you were like, oh fuck. I'm not in Kansas anymore Dorothy buck How you'd see like a full pig head in a freezer just sitting there You'd see like I don't know. Like just at the rink. Oh, like you just like you go to a grocery store. You think you're going to grab some burgers or something.

Like, no, there's the pig head in there. Open the freezer. Oh, fuck, wrong one. Um, like the, the village that we'd go to with boss was the wildest thing with that. There was that, that wolf that lived there and he'd be pacing around and buddy checking the check at every vehicle with the AK 47. That was wild. He had like all these furs, all these tiger furs and bear furs and all this

stuff that they were, did you get this man? Like it was crazy. We'd hit the song there. Like he would go out on these wild hunts. I'm assuming so he had them all we'd go from building to building. Each building had some different furs and some different activity we'd do there. We'd go to one building and eat, then he'd hustle us off to the next building and we'd do like 10 vodka shots.

Then he'd rip us into the sauna. We had Buddy in there. We were all, he got 10 naked guys in there and he got Buddy hitting us with the, with the big leaves. Yeah. The big leaves and we're like, what the fuck? So they were hardcore. Yeah. Boys that's hit the river now. Now we're all laying in the river and it's like, man, what the fuck?

This is too much. But it was a lot of fun. Like there's, I'd have to look back at my camera and relive some of the stuff. The, the getting paid in the Manila envelope was fucking priceless too. of some of the stuff that they getting paid in the Manila envelope was fucking priceless too. You get like 10 K and thousand ruble bills or what are $10,000 ruble bills. And you're like, what, like, what is this even? And like, I'm hiding it in the locker room because they'd give it to you

before practice and like, fuck, where am I putting this man? And try to rip over it to your, you're putting it in your fucking jock and you're, it was bizarre. You're taking it easy that day. You're not sweating too much. That's wild. How'd you get the money home? And, uh, and I have so many questions.

This property, this guy was on, was it the most insane compound you'd ever seen? Were the, were the structures nice or was it kind of like run down and just a bunch of land out in the middle of nowhere? Yeah, it was kind of both. Like there'd be a nice, like I'm a main house that was nice and all done up. Then there'd be kind of like a little garage-y type one, but then you walk in and it's got like granite countertops and you're kind of blown away. They're like, why did, what's going on here?

And then, you know, a lady would come in and she just ripped down like 10 different trays of some type of delicacy. Like you don't, you have no clue where you're eating and he's just like, Nicklas, Nicklas, eat. And I'm like, fuck, I don't even know what this is, dude. Like, oh, that was horse. Like, ah, fuck man. Oh, they eat like fucking shit over there.

It's crazy. Oh, those stupid, uh, those little, those little bead things that they are big on. What are those things called? Fuck caviar. It's everywhere. It's fucking brutal. Way, man. I hate the popping in your mouth. Oh, we can't do it, man. Um, God, this has been awesome, dude.

I appreciate your time, buddy. You're a fucking beauty. You know, what's even crazier is because of all this happening and you wanted to get this story out and people kind of, as much as you're getting patted on the back and as viral as Scott, you're showing the human element where there's going to be consequences for this guy. Hopefully that DUI story is not the case, but if it is, God damn, I'm gonna have to do it. I'm gonna have to do it. as you're getting patted on the back and as viral Scott, you're showing the human element where there's going to be consequences for this guy. Hopefully that DUI story is not the case, but if it is, God damn.

And, and just, you know, the, the empathy, if you know, after this, it's part, it's tough to live that out on your worst, your worst moment in front of everybody on online. Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think he paid for it enough and it's not something, you know, a guy needs to get, you know, ran through the walls about it's done with, it got dealt with. A lot of people had a, you know, a good laugh, but you don't have to, we don't have to continue to pound this guy down. Like enough's enough. Leave it and you know. Yeah. And hopefully he kind of turns it around, man. Hopefully he's not trying to scrap people on the golf course and he maybe tones down the drinking a little bit.

And, uh, yeah. But, uh, the other cool thing though is, is you're going to be on the podcast. The reason I got there is with Jean Principe. So it's cool, cool Alberta connection here with the, all the others talk. So, um, how, how did it all end? And like, when did you, when did you know it was time to just say, Hey, I'm fucking it's over. So that last year, San Diego, I actually got into car accident, uh, 30, 30 games

or 35 games and I got rear ended, like a block from my house and, uh, that, honestly, that was the worst concussion I've ever had between fighting and anything. So I, I ended up, I don't know if you played or not. fighting and anything. So I, I ended up, I don't know if you played or not. I played my very last game at Ontario. And I mean, I knew that was my last game because I'd missed like, you know, I was 33, 34, I missed 35 consecutive games, honestly. Like I was waking up some days, not even know if I'd be able to, to

like get to the store, Like, so that was it. That was it for me. And then I worked out that year, but I, I didn't really want to play anymore. It was like, Hey, if someone calls and offers maybe, but in my mind, I knew. I think it's probably best not only for like my health, but at this age, like that's let's move on with life here and, but at this age, like that's, let's move on with life here and try to get, uh, either to the next stage versus trying to slug out another year for a hundred grand and have another 15 fights.

I guess, I think that for me, the car accident was enough. And I think I'm, and I'm also pretty, it was a great sendoff year because I got to play a lot of golf, uh, that last couple of weeks with, you know, Gannon and Tukarski and Trop and guys that I played with in the past. And we had a, you know, a great finish to the year. Then I got to go on the playoff run with the boys still and be part of it all. Um, just from the sidelines. And I mean, I'm definitely at peace with it. That's awesome.

Yeah. Like kind of got to ride it out in style where I know you couldn't contribute on the ice, but Hey man, living in San Diego and sorry to hear about the car accident bother in the way it ended and we had a, I guess somewhat similar paths, man. Mine kind of ended my last year too. I tore both my ACLs and, um, you know, interestingly hear about all your journey really. So thank you so much for joining us.

Uh, there was a few more questions. Um, my buddy Jeff asked, what did you shoot the day that you got in the scrap? Like, what was your round? Fuck 81. Fuck off. Well, that was whole four. We played off the back. So that was only whole, like the fight was on 15.

So I played, yeah, I think I was only two over. I birdied 15 after the, or I parred 15 or like a 20 foot putt after the fight. I doubled 16 because the cops came, I picked up and then I think I birdied 18 and then I think I shot like 37 or something on the front. Wow. I put the hand in the ice bag and then the beer cooler each shot and dried it off and went and snapped it around. That is the most hockey golf story the world has ever heard right there. What a question

by my buddy Jeff. I just had a couple more just because we glanced by Nasty Murasty and Yablonsky and they're kind of these like folk heroes on this podcast we talked about because I had my experiences with them. You obviously did Morassi's doing the the Shorzy So he's off to to bigger and better things. So was Yabo. Yabo is doing great Talk to him not too long ago But what was it just like playing with those guys and they're like they're somewhat related or like very close to each other So they must have just been at each other's throats all day, chirping each other. No. Again, like just goes hand in hand with that whole experience.

Like being over there with those guys, like every day was a fucking riot. Like what are, what are they going to do today? Like, are we going to fight someone to practice? Are we going to fight each other? Like, or do we think we're now power play guys? Like, where are we today boys? Like we would, you know, fucking push and shove each other. We'd go, you know, I don't know what the fuck Yabba was eating.

He was, he'd be getting like 14 eggs for breakfast. I'm like, dude, how do you even function? Like he, we'd go over to his house. He's doing push-ups. He's doing chin-ups. Like, did you ever see the fucking magazine dude that we did with those two? No. Oh my God.

I got to send that to you. Oh, and in Russia they did with those two? No. Oh my God. I got to send that to you. Oh, and in Russia they did a big photo op. Yeah. And like, yeah, I've always just like, bang. It's just like, I've never seen so much muscle on a human in my life. It, I don't know what, like we go to the gym, have dinner, head back to the rink and work out at eight, eight o'clock. And like, those two were absolute such beauties lifting heavy, you

know, chirping each other, pushing each other, trying to fight each other, talking about all the old days, telling everyone other fights. Like it, it, it was just such an incredible experience. Like he couldn't ask for two better dudes to like share that with and look back on and be like, fuck, like even just the other day talking to Johnny and I'm like, cause he did that ice wars and he's like, Oh, you know, trying to see if I can come and we just start hashing about the old days like fuck remember this and like holy fuck Yeah, that did happen like all the you know fights I think me and Kip fought once and then I think him and he Diablo fought once once and like we just it was

like they're such great people that and they do a great job with it for how tough they are how they treat other people and how they, you know, interact with, with community. And, uh, it was like, honestly, like living in a cartoon, just what are, what's going to happen today with the boys and, you know, playing fucking soccer in Russia, or they make us go run after and the four of us to be like, you're making us fucking run in a blizzard. Like, fuck this. We just go inside and they're like, like they have this down to be like, Nazi, we ain't doing this. And he'd be like, fuck it. Why is it Nick doing it? And I'm like, well, if they're like, like they have the stones and be like, Nazi, we ain't doing this. And he'd be like, fuck it. Why is it Nick doing it?

And I'm like, well, if they're not doing it, I'm not doing it. And they're like, they're fucking tougher than you. You go do it. And I fuck off. I'm not running in a blizzard. Like, all right, well, you're off at this time. And I'm like, fuck bangs boys. Like I was, I don't have the stones to not do it, but it was great playing

with them is absolute pleasure. Like one of those ones where I wish we could have stayed together as a group longer, because I think that group, you could have with the young talent and, and the toughness, it would be, you could have probably built on it. Um, but then yeah, gills went over there next year and had a, a pretty good go to at it. So, um, now it was unbelievable. It was, every day was a pleasure with those two.

Well, it's awesome. Cause like not everybody's experience over there is good. And it sounds like even though you guys didn't play or win a lot, you had the best time ever. Well, um, what last one I have for you is what are you doing now other than, uh, doing security at the golf course? Uh, I sell cars at a Chrysler dealership back home. Okay. Sales made extraordinary.

What's the dealership? It's Summit Ram in Penoch, Alberta. So if anybody's looking for a great deal on a free-owned vehicle or a new Ram, give me a shout. I also work part-time at my dad's, uh, lumber yard roosters in Caroline, um, help him out on the weekends if he needs a kind of throw some, throw some wood around. Um, we've had that for like four or five years now. So do that once in a while, they'll him out.

And then I just teed up and get in fights once in a while. Well, buddy, I, I hope that, uh, I think this is going to open up some doors for you, like, cause you did the right thing and stuck up for for people being harassed at a golf course, so I wish you the best in managing all these texts and calls coming in but It was great to just chat with you man. Like I we played against each other I didn't know much about you But this is just a great refreshing conversation and for those of you listening I didn't establish it off the top

Yans and wick couldn't join there on vacation. And this was kind of something that happened like spur of the moment. So I felt like it was obviously our duty to cover it. And yeah, it was just good to hear you, like you said, like put more of a human perspective on it and give us the full breakdown yet a little bit of levity and, uh, just let everybody know about your, your career, man. So best of luck in whatever you're doing now and, uh, and keep it going. Yeah.

Appreciate it. I love having a, having a chance to get on her chat with you. It's been a while, so, uh, loved it and, uh, hope we can chat again soon. Love it, buddy. Thanks so much. Nick Tarnaski. Tarnasty. Guys, we got big news in the Spit and Chicklets world.

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That's the coolest thing for the kids. They love ripping it off those. Perfect for the driveway or on the ice. These products will help your offensive game in a big way. The Universal Shooting Target builds a visual focus to improve shooting accuracy. Very important. By the way, I saw Connor Bidard working on his little toe drag release recently.

You know, you know he could be using the skills hockey training aids. The hockey shooting trainer features five target areas and helps build the vision and muscle memory needed to increase scoring percentages. And the foam shooting targets have quick hook and loop attachments for multiple shot locations. And like I said, kids love burying this thing, big celebrations. And then you hook and loop it right back on. Easy, easy, easy to use. Go get the brand new skills and spitting chiclets hockey training aids now available online and in store at Dick's Sporting Goods. Well, once again, thank you to Nick Tarnaski.

Pretty crazy story about how this all transpired and wait, I mean, the guy challenged seven people on the golf course because they were trying to get him to play a little faster, even though he was buckled. And, you know, when you're threatening people like that and you guys saw the video also, he was the instigator, he's the one who ended up going after Tarnaski. So I don't think anything will happen beyond this other than the guy taking fault for it. Tarnaski putting the beat down, but I'm really happy that everybody got to hear about his playing career because there's a lot more to this guy than just a dust up at a golf

course, including those wild KHL stories. Him playing on that team. Nasty nasty Marasdy Kip Brennan. I mean, imagine imagine knowing like, imagine knowing if you're buckled on a golf course, like I'm about to just go toe to toe with a guy who played in the K.H.L. on the biggest goon squad the K.H.L. has ever seen. That's kind of where you're like, I got to go home. I need to go home. So unreal job by you, dude. Great guy. And thank you so much, Tarnasi. We appreciate it. And buddy, stay out of his way on a golf course. Let him play through.

Absolutely. And I'm going to be taking off here to fly fishing, but the next interview is unbelievable. And it's kind of sticking with that Alberta theme. And a guy that we wanted to get on for a very long time, Jean Principe, he's provided so much to the game of hockey, uh, with his humor, his insight, his interactions with the players, and especially for those people in Edmonton where he's beloved, a hometown kid, uh, I'm sure you guys will be happy about this one too. And, and Whit, like, I think that it was kind of nice to, to maybe get some, uh, words of encouragement about Connor probably coming back too. That was the one big thing that stuck out from the interview for me and he seems very confident that they'll be able to get it done and yeah it was it

was just great hearing Gene's story and why he brings what he does to the broadcast. Buddy have a great time fly fishing send me some pics I've been fly fishing before you have to have soft hands so So I don't, I don't know if you're going to, I don't know what, I don't know if you're going to catch it. I'll just bring my one hitter. Just, just bring your shrooms and your one hitter and just sit there and look at the beautiful mountains and the amazing landscape and then just worry about the other people catching the fish.

Okay, buddy. I should have got a lesson from little sask. Fishy was letting me know before we hopped on here. And I think that we were actually talking about it when we were at the writer cup, but he's a, a fly fishing expert, which I didn't expect from Lil Sasque, but I could see that though. I remember bringing that up. All right.

The man of many talents. See you later. Everybody have a great summer. I actually remember talking a little sass about that. And when I did it the one time in Vail, Colorado, I thought the guy was telling me to like have it land and then pull it up and have it land and pull it up and sass is like, that's completely incorrect.

You want to let it sit. You want to have it very calm. I guess I was getting a bad teaching or I was just bad at it. So I know Biz is going to be horrible at fly fishing. Horrible. He can't. He couldn't make a breakout pass. How are you supposed to just have this tiny little, what is it, lure?

I mean, I talk about not being good at fishing. Just be soft hands, soft on the water. Biz is going to be sitting there smoking, talking to people about like Biz does BC and they're going to be like, we're trying to like reel in this monster in Jackson. So congrats to Biz on a great interview. Thank you guys for tuning in. And Gene Principe now, I met Gene right when I got traded to the Oilers. Great guy, very friendly.

And I had no idea about the puns and how he would kind of bring his energy to the to the show in terms of what the game broadcast was. He's been a great dude. He's actually we mentioned in the interview, he's kind of popped off even more in the last few years. I think a lot of it has to do with how good the Oilers have become. But I mean, this guy is at the top of his game and he talks about when he maybe wants to retire, not for a long time. Don't worry, Oilers fans.

But it was great to see him on the on the Cup final broadcast for Sportsnet and all the things that he does to make the game fun for the fans. And maybe some stories when he might have pissed off some guys here and there. But Gene's an awesome dude. We sat down, I think it was over an hour with him, tell some great stories, told an old Wayne Gretzky story. And yes, Oilers fans, is another man close to the team confident that Connor McDavid will be back. He's not going anywhere. Don't worry. Don't panic. Enjoy your summer. He will re-sign. I don't know for how long, but

this year coming up is not the last year Connor McDavid will be on the Edmonton Oilers. Don't worry and enjoy right now, Gene Principe. Guys, Whit here and I want to talk about RO Sparks, a two-in-one prescription treatment for stronger, harder erections. Yes, that's right. RO Sparks will make your dick very hard, very strong, maybe a little longer if it's really, really, really hard. So RO Sparks dissolve under your tongue, meaning they hit your bloodstream faster than pills, so you can get ready for action quicker. Once the medication dissolves,

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That's ro.co slash chiclets, C-H-I-C-L-E-T-S, for $15 off your first order. We are now pleased to be joined by a very special guest. Everyone in Canada knows and loves this man, the king of the puns, Gene Principe. What's going on, buddy? I'm at my Whitney's end here getting started with you guys. I figured I'd just get one out of the way right of the way. Let's just cross it off the list. We're good. Checklist is done.

Listen, I got to say guys, first of all, it's great to be with you. I was telling my daughter that she's a huge Oilers fan, a big hockey fan, and she's like, oh, you're doing a podcast. I'm like, yeah. And she goes, which podcast? And I told, she goes, she probably goes, whoa. She goes, wow, you ever made it, you know, you're doing podcasts. Long overdue. Well, you know what, Kevin BX, who, who, by the way, I, I, you know, I'm, I'm like, um, so many viewers who, who watch people on TV or watch them on their podcasts and

biz, I saw you, um, at the final. I mean, I'm just a fan, biz, I saw you at the final. I mean, I'm just a fan at the end of the day, who just happens to talk in front of a camera and have a microphone, but I love hearing about hockey and that time that you were, you know, with you guys, that time you were down three, one, and, and you came back and just, you know, that's what fans

love to hear that inside conversation of what goes on. So Kevin said, I told those guys to put you on. So, uh, primary assist to Kevin and thanks guys for having me on. It was right outside the, our locker rooms anyway, before, uh, the finals in Florida, but long overdue buddy, you're a legend in the game and I'm actually glad we got you after the season in this setting so we could talk about your career and your evolution, but, uh, it's just a pleasure to have you on and you've done so much for the game.

And, and it was nice to see that Rogers sports net put you on for the final. Like, was that the first time that you've been ever been able to do that? Yeah, absolutely. I got to say Biz, I kind of fell in love with Henrik Lundqvist. Oh yeah. You and all of us, buddy. I, I could, I felt like I, you know, I took a photo with him and I'm wearing a nice suit, sports that gives us some great suits.

And I got a bit of color, you know, from being on the beach. Just a little bit. And, uh, and I look at that photo and I look like, Oh my gosh, like this man is just a piece of art perfection. Like it was, it was, uh, it was incredible. So that was one of the highlights of being along. That's why I say put me at the other side of the desk. Like put the, put me in the fart.

I feel bad for ace. Yeah, I get it now. Like it's unbelievable. And then, you know, I talked to ace a bit cause I remember him when he played here. And of course, Wayne, who doesn't know Wayne and Wayne. And yes, for me, I've covered many cup finals, but as quote unquote a news reporter, I was at the cup final when the Oilers were there the first time against Florida, but you know, it's different when you are hosting the cup final and millions of people are watching you and everything is, I guess, dissected.

You're just, you know, a lot of people, they tune in and they tune out. But if you're an Oilers fan, you're a hockey fan, a Florida fan, you're watching that. And it was great. I had a wonderful time. I mean, it was, listen, upfront and honest here, I grew up in Edmonton and when I was 17 and they won their first Stanley Cup, back then it was Jasper Avenue and there were no watch parties and people would spill out of their homes, their basements, sometimes little halls, and they would just all gather and celebrate, high fives and congratulations.

And here I was 40, 41 years later, now I'm hosting it and I have to admit, I sort of envisioned that it would end with an interview with Conner and an interview with Leon and Ryan Nugent Hopkins. It turned out to be not them, but David Amber, my coworker at Sports, I said, when you get in those situations, there's such an excitement and there's such a respect for the team to do that, not once, but twice, that it'll be a breeze. And it really was. And you know, I don't, Seth Jones, who doesn't,

you know, feel good for Seth Jones, right? This guy's had a solid career, ups and downs, didn't go first overall. I mean, he's always treated me well. Why would I want something, you know, bad to happen to him? Of course I'm an Oilers fan, but when you're on TV, you're not a fan of anyone. You're a fan of the game.

Yeah. Yeah. You can get away with of the game. Yeah. Yeah. Gene, like you can get away with it. Biz. Yeah. You can do what you want. Yeah. You got some kind of clauses.

Let's get these two other knuckleheads gone. Let's get them going again. Like when I, when I think of you, I think of a guy that just loves the game and it, and you just said it like being a fan of, you know, the players and the sport. But for you, it just seems like every day you're happy to be at the ring. You're happy to be doing interviews. Like you really, through the screen, you bring your enthusiasm and love for the game through that.

Then I just wanted to know where that started, obviously growing up in Edmonton with winning teams is huge, but where did that all come from for you? Yeah, I think it starts from that. In fact, I was thinking, you know, when we're, when, when you're on a show like yours or a podcast, you think of what can I, what can I say? And it reminded me of a story that did involve Wayne, uh, back in the day at the old building, um, there was a, a, a hotel restaurant, um, adult entertainment spot, um, across the street.

And I remember once back when I was 17, 18, there were no, um, you didn't know who was starting and Nat, you didn't know what the lines were. You didn't know anything. You went to the game and oh, okay. There's that's who's starting and oh, so-and-so is out of the lineup or he's on the fourth line. I remember bumping into Wayne across the street once and I was getting ready for my hockey draft and they had acquired Mike Kruczalnicki, if you remember him from the Boston Bruins. And I said, Hey, Wayne, like, what do you think he's, where's he going to play? And he goes, he's going to be on my line. And I said, oh, okay. So I took him, I kind of snuck him into my hockey pool and he ended up getting 88 points that year and he won me the hockey draft. And that was my first ever meeting, you know, with Wayne.

Insider trainer. draft and that was my first ever meeting, you know, with Wayne. Insider trader. So, so you know what I think, you know, being able to see guys around town, you know, back then like Craig Simpson and I are two weeks apart and so when I was going out, when I was, you know, 20, 21, 22, 23, there were, you know, the oilers, they were out and about in a, in a different way that I, I'm not sure they could do it like that nowadays, but they did back then. And that's just the growth of watching these unbelievable teams and once in a while bumping

into them. I think that's one of the great parts of my job, Keith, is you get to know Paul Coffey and you meet Glenn Anderson was kind of, well, they were all my favorites, but I always love the way Glenn just attacked the net would run into those posts and not worry about that they weren't supposed to move, but he would make them move. And so to be in my city and to cover, I guess, my team that I grew up with has given me, you know, an unbelievable amount of enjoyment. People are, you know, I'm 58, so I don't know how many more years I want to work. I don't know how many more years anybody wants me

to work, but I would love to see a couple of Cups come to the city as a real payoff to oil country and the support, uh, you know, that these people have given them throughout not just the years, but the decades. Hey, did you, uh, tell your fantasy buddies that you, that way told you that? I did.

Cause they were like, like Khrushchevsky back then had had not a very good season in Boston, but a different team. Cause they were like, like Khrushchevski back then had had not a very good season in Boston, but a different team Boston. And they're like, you're taking, you know, we used to just go up and down and write them down on a piece of paper. And I took Khrushchevski, I think third or fourth round. That's high. They're like, yeah, they're like, wow, why would you take Khrushchevski that high?

You know, like he's, he's not going to play with Wayne or Mark. And I'm thinking, oh, well, I guess we'll see. And then they saw, you know, coming back then the Oilers like, I remember we used to do like hockey pools every time they played in the most popular score that we would pick would be seven, three Oilers, because they just were always scoring a bunch of goals. So it was, it's funny. I told Wayne that story once and I, you know, I think he, I'm not sure he

remembered, but I think he remembers the fact that people around town would, would treat him and everyone else like royalty. But anyone who knows Wayne knows that he treats you right back the same way. They had to do pen and paper for keeping track of fantasy back then too. Oh yeah, somebody had the job of writing it all down. They'd check the Sunday paper. It was nuts. That's right. Once a week you'd get to stats. Sometimes we would check like on a nightly basis, you'd open up the paper the next day, and then at the end of the week, the once a week stats would come out and then

we would make sure that the stats were, were correct. It seems like a hundred years ago. So there's G made buddies with the guy at the newspaper, right? Miss printing his guy's stats. You could get around that Edmonton. Yeah, no problem. You could do anything like that back then. Marius Tchaikovsky had 19 goals last week.

What a pick in the seventh round, Gene. Oh gosh, Marius Tchaikovsky. Why are you taking the first overall, Gene? Where did you get your quirky personality? Like, Yan's kind of touched on it, how you show it on screen. And sometimes you got the costumes on. Like, is anybody helping you with these ideas or was this just you from an early childhood where you were just always the silly guy who, who wasn't afraid

of being in front of the camera. I think a combination like Dee, I would say all of the above. I think when you start in your career, whatever career it is, you're trying to find your way and figure out what's the best you to do whatever it is that you're doing. And I think, I didn't do that when I started, but it was in fact after the 06 cup run to game seven. And then I'll never forget reading a story the next day that Chris Pronger wanted out. And I'm like, how's that? I never heard of work, never. And then by the end of the week, he was, he was virtually gone or on his way to, uh,

Anaheim next season started and it was, it was a rough go. I mean, the team was in, in tough shape. And I just said, you know, uh, the one thing that people turn to at the end of their day, good, bad, somewhere in the middle is their sports teams. And when you turn on the TV and I'm the guy that tries to make a good first impression, I want to be able to do that. And when you're in, whether it's a football market, a baseball market, a hockey market, people know the power play, the penalty kill, save percentages, how many

wins, how many losses in a row. So I was like, well, let's, let's find some things that are, that are positive and then try and add to them. And so the adding became the puns and the props. And I still remember my first pun. Um, I was talking about Gary Batman and Chris Cellios. If you guys remember during the whole Chello stuff, that got heated. And I remember we were discussing it with, of the analysts and Chris, he's Greek.

And so I said, apparently Chris is fed up with the commissioner and that was the beginning of it all. Very, very subtle, soft start, like a soft opening for a restaurant. And here we are, you know, virtually maybe not getting close to 20 years later and still doing the same thing, but I got to credit my family for sort of being a test audience. The crews that I work with are fantastic. And at the end of the day, Sportsnet, because

they've allowed me and others to be creative and to try and do something that people will hopefully like. The world has changed, so some things that you could have done a certain amount of years ago, you won't be doing now or you would only do it once. Which is okay. So now there's a couple of layers. I go to our producer, we discuss it. And if we're not sure, if we got to go to our executive producer, then we know, okay, let's not bother because if we don't know whether we should do it, going to him, let's just leave it at no, we'll save it for another time. When I was there, um, you dressed up like a hot dog.

Um, it was, it was right around, it wasn't Halloween. He's like, I, I, I feel like a wiener for dressing up too early. And then he's interviewing Kelly Buckburger after, he's like, this is the first time a hot dog's interviewed a burger, like this guy's like, you wore the hot dog costume the whole game that day. The whole game. I remember. That is crazy.

I remember, and I remember Fernando Pisani who Fernando had been out for about, about a dozen games because of a back problem and they said, come on over here, you're doing an interview with Gene. And he comes around kind of a barrier and he goes, oh my God, he's like, are you kidding me? Like a hot dog? He said, I just, I can barely catch my breath. I'm not feeling great. And now this hot dog has to interview me. And so I remember that we were in Boston in fact, and it was fabulous. Like I just love doing that kind of stuff.

And I know not everybody does. And, but I just think it adds something now that we have, I don't know, 150 channels and countless podcasts, some better than others, of course, that there's so much out there. When I was growing up, there were a couple of channels, you were lucky to have cable and in our area, Edmonton, we would get Spokane.

That was where we would get our cable from, the ABC, CBS, NBC affiliates. And that was it, right? But now, I mean, there's nothing but channels out there and opportunities. So thanks, Witt for bringing that up. I remember that vividly and Fernando and I, Fernando lives in the area and we'll go for a

coffee once in a while and we always have a, you know, a chuckle about it. So that's why even the Oilers have been fantastic supporters too, to, you know, they might've went, you know what, we're an NHL team and we're not, we're not, maybe that's not the way we want to start our broadcast, but they've been fantastic and really supportive over the decades with it.

I feel like the players love it because it almost takes a little pressure off them as well. And I was fortunate when we played in, um, Arizona, we had Todd Walsh and he would always bring his, oh, he's incredible. And, um, especially with the, the way he spoke on the team's last game here, like live and he didn't even know that he was going to get sent that just an incredible human being, but I think the players love it. So, uh, but the question I had was what did you ever do that warranted you getting

called in where they were maybe upset? Like what did you do that was offside that you could have gotten in trouble for? Oh yeah. It was about to chain offside. Yeah. Uh, the one chain offside. Yeah. Uh, the one that, that sticks out. So I've had a few where they're kind of like, Hey, you know, like tone it down a little bit.

And, um, but the one that sticks out was, uh, you remember Drake Kajula and, uh, he was with the, the Oilers played on, uh, uh, I think it was this Saturday afternoon in Dallas and Drake had a couple of goals and he got moved to the first line. Right. So, and I had been thinking, you know, like, boy, it'd be great to do something on Drake, right? Drake, Drake.

And so that next game versus St. Louis, I did something on Drake and I kind of dressed up as Drake. Uh, no, no black face or anything like that. I want to make that clear. It was just a look, you know, clothes and stuff like that to, to look like what Drake might look like. And, uh, so I did something like on the first line, bling, you know, you, you know, you, the coach used to call me on the cell phone and, you know, and, uh, and so

that's, uh, that's kind of how I did it. And it seemed okay, like everyone kind of left, but what happened was, again, when I first started in TV, you did something and it was done. The next day someone might talk about it at the water cooler, as they would say, and that's it. But that night in our overnight run, we ran it over and over again. So in the morning, we have a morning loop. So every half hour is the same show.

So twice an hour, hour after hour, after hour, it got seen. And I think some people, I think they just got tired of it. And so that one got me in a little bit of, little bit of hot water. Um, and I think it was, it was okay at the time I was, and you know, for any of you guys that know me and all three of you do, I'm a, I'm a like make friends kind of guy. I don't want anyone leaving a room thinking anything bad about me. And I felt really bad that anyone would have thought that I was making any kind of racial gestures or anything.

It was just. What kind of bars did you write? Other, you had a couple for us. Can you say that? I think it was, I think it was, you used to call me on my cell phone. You need my goals. And then, uh, it's not about the first line bling and I did it. It was funny cause Drake thought it was great.

Right. And I think that, you know, kind of circling back to players liking it. I mean, I think it's kind of neat for a player when someone specifically picks them out and tries to entertain through their name, through their success, through both, through their play. But that was, and I remember then we went on to Buffalo and, uh, yeah, for a couple of days, I was kind of quiet. I felt really uncomfortable about it. And, uh, it just wasn't what I wanted to come out to people if there were those that thought that.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You're a sensitive guy, right? And it almost takes a little, a little wind out of your sails for like being creative for the next probably like month or six weeks. You go, go to a bit of a shell, all I need to do that you're right that's why everyone loves you is

because you take those swings and you put yourself out there and that's why you you become somebody everyone loves so don't feel bad about that one I would just say maybe work on your bars a little bit that's what that's what I would do and at least you didn't show up like Rafi Torres, I guess. Oh yeah, he's mad, because I said that. He's mad. I'm the one who put the picture out. I don't want the wrath of Rafi. Oh my gosh. I don't want any Rafi.

Oh yeah, you know Raf. How's that? Oh. I thought maybe with Drake Kajula, you would have thought of something like Dracula, because it kind of sounded, if you say it quick, I thought maybe. Yeah, yeah, Drake Kajula. Why'd have thought of something like Dracula. Cause I kind of sound like if you say it quick, I thought me. Why'd you pop up there with,

I think you're trying to tell Wayne Gretzky how to pass the puck. Yeah, that's true. No, no, no. I thought when he started telling the story that's the way he was going. Oh, he was going to dress up as Dr Dracula, like Drake. I was, I was waiting for another, uh, another hot dog outfit just fired biz. No, we just added another seat to the panel. Any other, any other ones where maybe that you got in trouble for where you're like, I'm not taking the L on this.

You need to lighten up. Yeah. You know what? For the most part, it was, it was very minor wrist slaps. Like that was the only one that kind of got elevated. I wouldn't say to the top, but, but pretty close. And if you did the Trump, if you did the Trump mask mask now, we'd have a different story.

Well, bingo. Right. And so that, that right. And I did it back in the day. Yeah. You were ahead of your time. Well, you know what? My son had dressed up as him, uh, for Halloween and the

inauguration would have been, I think around November 17th or somewhere around there and that would have been 20, was that 2017? It was like, it was like January 2017. Like when he was coming in. Yeah. Okay. So January 2017, you're right, Whit. And I, I put it on and I put a red tie and what does he wear?

Kind of a blue suit blazer. Orange makeup. Yeah. Yeah, that's kind of natural for me. And I just did an opening and I remember saying like, you know, Talbot, you know, has been like a wall, Oilers trying to trump the wild. And like, the only thing I saw was a little article in the New York post.

Um, someone actually sent it to me. So that's a perfect example with that's eight years ago, but that feels like 28 or 38 years ago. And just so everyone who's gonna watch this. Right. I would, I would never, I would never do that now. I wouldn't even think of it, but, but back then, it, I mean, it just kind of happened.

And, uh, yeah, like I don't know. I don't even know when I, when I think of it now, it just seems just bonkers. But at the time it seemed, I wouldn't say natural, but at least. Okay. Oh, for sure. Yeah. Your barometer was pretty solid there. Yeah.

Oh gosh. That's funny. I barometer was pretty solid there. Yeah. Oh gosh. That's funny. I wouldn't run a back neck season though. They might, they might move the team. McDavid will leave for sure. If you do that. Well, I remember, we remember where Connor dressed up as Trump for Halloween. Whip.

I don't know what was that. That would have been around. Well, around the same time. That was like probably a year before. Yeah. It was like, yeah, right around the, it was 2016, 2017, maybe along the campaign trail. And I remember him getting just a, not a grief is probably overstating it, but just getting a few comments, you know?

And, and, and, but, but now, uh, certainly he wouldn't, I wouldn't, none of us would do, um, you know, anything, anything, anywhere near like that. Yeah. I'm wondering like, when did you kind of know you wanted to do this? Right? Like, and what was your start? Because for people that are doing what you do, a lot of times, I mean, you're starting, you're starting at the bottom, right? You're at a small, maybe a small network. I don't know how it all began for you and how you even thought like, this is what I want to do with my life. Well, it's, it's a great question because so many people see you sort of at the

end of your career and think, Oh, you know what? Wow. Look at him. He's on sports net or whatever network. You know, they've got this podcast. I was, uh, I was a soccer player as a kid and I tried out for the, uh, provincial under 16 team and I got cut and I was like, you know, I'm not sure

I'm going to make it as a pro soccer player. So I always wanted to be a pro athlete. So I thought it would be kind of neat to cover pro athletes. And I'm not sure why, but when I was a kid growing up and Howard Cosell, Don Cricky, Dick Enberg, Al Michaels, so many of the announcers, I found myself enjoying the call of the game almost as much as the game.

And so I thought that, you know, I'm 15 years old. Okay. Let's, let's, let's try this. Got through high school, went to a local college. And then I honestly, it's like being a ball player. It's like rookie ball, single A, double A, triple A, and then you hope to make it to the majors. And that's what happened with me. I worked in towns of 25,000, 50,000.

And, uh, you know, my big break came, I guess, personally and professionally when I went to Winnipeg, that's where I met my, my future wife. And that's where I got to first cover the NHL before it left the first time or left initially. And then I went to Toronto and then I moved back to Edmonton in 1998. And since then I've been hosting the orders. I was funny.

I was telling my wife the other day, I said, I'm now the guy that I used to hate. Oh my God, he's still there. Like, what is this guy? What is someone going to get rid of him? Yeah. Like, and I'm, and I'm a big believer in that. Like I'm a fan of letting young people, whether it's in sports, in broadcast, in business, to have an

opportunity. I'm not quite there yet, but I am not going to be the guy at 71 or 73 or maybe even 68 or 67. I really feel like once I've had a good run, I'll be so happy with what I've done and not worry about what I am no longer doing and giving some young kid, male, female in their twenties, thirties, forties, maybe a chance to do something that they dreamed about that I had a chance to do for a long

time. So you're telling us right now in five years, they win the Stanley Cup, you're pulling a Ray Bork, you're done. You know what, Keith, I got to tell you, I'm as mentioned 58. If I was like 63 or 64, I'm not kidding you that it would have really crossed my mind because I would have been how, I mean, how does it get better than this? I'm, I'm at the, you know, I started when I was 20. So let's say I'm 63 and I'm 43 years into the business.

I'm covering the team I grew up watching. I'm interviewing a generational talent who's going to be knock on wood in the hockey hall of fame and one of the best top three, top five players ever all time. His sidekick is not too far off. I mean, where do I go from here? What's next? I might've done the mic drop. I've always kind do I go from here? What's next? I might've done the mic drop.

I've always kind of said that I would like to cover Connor from start to finish. I was there in 2015 when he was drafted, but I'm pretty sure he's going to outlast me. But you're bang on Keith that if I was a little bit older and if they had won, I might've been thinking that all day. What am I doing tonight? Like if they win this, am I calling it quits tonight or maybe I'm going to take the evening or a week to think about it, but that might be it.

I might be done. So you're saying that covering the team now with Connor and Leon is better than when Whit was there during the dog days. Hey, you went through a lot trying to, trying to get some good storylines with those teams. Holy shit. Shoot Roman candles out of his ass pregame to get people to watch. Well, it was, you know, the one thing I would say, that's the thing, you know,

it was kind of funny because you're right, Keith, it was a challenging time. But what I would say about Wipp and all those players through all those years of, you know, dejection and disappointment, the players always treated me well and were fantastic at still telling. They love you. Well, you know, thank you for saying that. I mean, that does make me feel good because Bizzy were bang on when that incident happened. I just kind of felt like, do I even want to be like that anymore?

I can just say, Hey, the orders are three, one to one of their last five, the penalty kills that 89% over that stretch. I don't, I don't need any trouble, but I want to try and entertain. So after a while you kind of step back and then you step forward again and you go back to, you know, kind of who you are.

But it was, it was a difficult time. You know, I have to tell you, when I see teams like Chicago and San Jose and some of these clubs now that are struggling and getting those high picks and trying to turn that into success, I have to shake my head and say, I remember when that was the Oilers and that was me covering a team like that, but the players through the many coaches and general

managers, honestly, they've been fantastic. I can't say enough great things about the organization and even through the changes and sometimes many changes because of the lack of success, I always got treated well. And I always felt like when someone comes to talk to me, I hope that they leave and say, yeah, I'll go back and talk to that guy again. And one of the neat things from the playoffs of all things was in the conference final,

we do these walk-up interviews and so they don't wait for the person to arrive as they're kind of in eyesight or the camera can see them, you kind of start introing so that they come up. And I was about to hear every Miko ranting in and you know, I've covered him and he goes, Hey, Jean, how you doing? And I can't tell you how much street cred that gave me because he wasn't, he wasn't an Euler and he wasn't, you know, quote unquote, a Canadian kid who grew up watching me. But here you, it was, you know, giving me this really nice welcome and hello. And so it was really nice. And one of the small things, it's a big thing for

me is when at the end of an interview, someone says thanks, Gene, or, you know, thanks Biz, thanks Jens, thanks whoever it is. It's just that little extra that makes you feel like, Hey, you know what? They enjoyed the moment. They enjoyed the time and that I hope they'll be back again.

So, you know, I met enjoyed the moment. They enjoyed the time. And that I hope they'll be back again. So, you know, I met you in 2010. Um, and then, you know, you've been doing it before I met you. You continue to do it. But, and tell me if you disagree, I feel like in the last three years and maybe it has something to do with how good the oilers have become, you've kind of reached a different level. Like, do you notice that like we're Twitter? A lot of your things are going viral. Like, I don't know what you're like, you had that. Yeah. You had the long hair, the baby oil on the beach in Florida.

But do you, do you notice what I'm saying where it's like, wow, you've like reached the top of your game. You're 58. Like, I don't know what happened. Cause you've been, you've been the same guy the whole time. Yeah. You are bang on. And I credit the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Opkins and Zach Hyman. I couldn't agree more. When I cut my hair earlier than the playoffs against Vegas, it was like. I was mad at you. I was like, what's he doing? I know. It was a subtle, so the Oilers in the first round, we weren't sure if they were going

to make it through. They were trailing. I think it was 2-1 at that time. And I had to do this event, which I just cleared with sportsmen. And my boss is a great guy, says, yeah, for sure. He goes, maybe they'll make you cut your hair for it. So I was like, okay, hint dropped. Okay, I received.

So then we get into, the orders get into the second round. And, uh, actually my son was graduating from university with his second degree. And so I was busy that weekend. I got to Vegas and I said to my boss, I said, Hey, this was going on. And, um, I said, but I'll cut my hair here. And it was kind of a line like, maybe he's going to go, ah, don't worry about it.

He said, God, you know, good luck. I hope it, you know, it turns out great. So I said, okay. And that morning I've never had so much haircut stress in my life because I had to find someone to cut it and then I had to Uber over, then catch an Uber back with a suit on and even the lady was like, I don't have

anybody come in with a suit to cut their hair. Like she's going, I don't know who this guy is, but he seems like he's important to some extent. And I went to the rink and it was like, everybody was just like, you know, even the players and even Chris Nobilek goes, I didn't even know who you were. And he's like, I wasn't sure. And then someone said, that's Gene. He goes, that can't be Gene. And so it was, you know, so kind of even Connor the day after. So I cut it game day, the next day, you know, just in Connor, like it was

so Connor-like, he's about to do an interview. He looks and goes, touch your hair, huh? Okay. And that was it. And then it was time for questions, you know. So, but, but that acknowledgement, listen, deep down to have people like that, whether they're former orders of greatness or current

orders from greatness, I feel like I'm 10 years old. And that, I think that is circling back to your question about what kind of keeps you going and enthused, it's things like that that make me feel young. And the other thing is you're around young people all the time, right? There's a new 18 year old, first overall picker,

first round pick. There's a new kid that was signed from Europe, he's 21. And so you keep hanging around young people and it just, I think it helps keep you young and enthused and energized for what you do. Yeah. That's so true. And it's just something that's like amazing to be a part of, right?

Like you're, you're kind of a part of the team with the fan base, like right before puck drop, we get to see Gene, we know he's dropping a pun and that's what's cool. But yeah, I didn't, I didn't know when you decided to, it's funny. You brought up the hair. I couldn't believe it. I, I flipped it on him. I'm like, what the hell is he doing? I know I felt that was greasy though.

That was getting greasy. Looked like easy. It really was. I went 19 months without cutting my hair and you know, some people, it just sort of grows like, so mine grows this way and this way and this way. Like it grows everywhere. Right? Yeah.

Totally. I mean, Did you say EZE? Yeah. Yeah. With the Jerry curl, that's what it looked like. It was out of control. I'll get them in trouble.

We already went down the rapper route. was out of control. I've got him in trouble. We already went down the rapper route. Um, who, who would you say were your, uh, your biggest, like inspirations growing up, like any other, like, uh, people in, uh, entertainment who you like idolize where you were like, Oh, I kind of want to be like them. Like what really sparked it? Well, you know, I mentioned earlier, Howard Cosell and, and, uh, when I was a kid,

uh, we get Monday night football, like we still do, but I mean, Monday night football was so special. And on Sundays, we would get kind of like the kickoff at 11 and then at two o'clock game and that would be it. And we didn't have all these different channels to watch all the different games. So Monday night was all about football. And I remember my parents would let me stay up till halftime and then Howard would do a kind of a wrap of the weekend action. And I grew up a Minnesota Vikings fan with Fran Tarkington and Chuck Foreman. Those were sort of my guys, Ahmad Rashad, Sammy White. And so I would always want to see the highlights. And I know this may sound strange. I may not have even known if we didn't

have the paper that day, if Minnesota had won the day before. I know that sounds weird, but I would watch those highlights and by the time halftime was over, I would know every result, including if Minnesota had played on Sunday, if they had won. So Howard Cassell, I was really into American announcers. In Canada, I was a big fan of Don Whitman, even a guy I had just worked with, Chris Cuthbert. Chris isn't a whole lot older than me, but I remember watching him do the Olympics. And then I've had a chance to work with Ray Ferraro, a great analyst and a wonderful guy. Jack Michaels, who you guys know, I mean, Jack's like a wrestling announcer doing hockey. I mean, he is people absolutely, you know, what you had asked about the last two or three years. I think Jack's answer about our brand, for lack of a better term,

would be the same. His has grown exponentially because of what he does, how he does it and the team that he covers. And of course, I feel very safe anywhere with Louis de Brusque. Oh yeah. What a weapon. Oh my gosh, Louis, you know, he's got the. He's a handsome bastard too. He would be very.

We talk about Lundquist, but holy. Yeah. Oh, Louis is a good looking dude too. Oh yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So lots, lots of people along the way, you know, but I, I would, I would say my parents, you know, I mean, uh, uh, you know, they, unfortunately both have, have now way, but I would say my parents, unfortunately both have now passed, but I remember my dad would always say we came on a boat July 19, 1959 and the people back home would

write letters saying that the streets of, in this case, Edmonton were paved with gold and he got here and he goes, I don't see any gold on the streets, but hopefully for you kids, you and your sister, that there will be some gold in your future. And they love the Oilers. They wouldn't have known a puck if it hit them in the face when they came over. But the people fall in love with the sport that they know nothing about. And I remember once having a 20 minute phone conversation with my mom and for five minutes, we talked about my three kids and the weather.

And then 15 minutes was like, what's wrong with the oilers? And I'm like, oh my God, like this is a 70 year old Italian immigrant woman who made, uh, with seamstress who made drapes for a living that all she wants to talk about is the oilers. So it is an example of, of what it's like. And I'm specifically talking about oil country

and the oilers, but you, but any major fan base that just has that kind of support. Just to kind of wrap up this thought, there's a lot of great times to come with the class, but sports helps a lot of people through difficult, difficult times. And just one story that through Instagram, I get so many notes from people and messages about all these great things that are happening in their lives thanks to the oilers. But this is a note I in fact sent to Kelly McDavid Connors' mom. And I said, I got this note from this gentleman whose father was, he was dying and there was no other way for him to put it. He said, but when we moved him into a hospice, he said the two things he wanted, I even think about it, that's how much these guys mean to people.

He wanted a photo with his late wife and he wanted his Connor McDavid jersey. Those are the two things that he wanted to bring with him. And I just think sometimes I, you know, I know it was disappointing loss, but it's, it's, you can't even, I think, register or calculate how much Connor the Oilers mean to oil country and take a certain player and their team and to their area. Like sports is wonderful. I just think it does separate people because you have your favorite teams, but it just brings them together and it's the most beautiful thing. And I couldn't ask for a better way, uh, you know, to have a career in doing this. You know, what kind of career, my friend's joke, when are you going to retire?

And like, wait a minute, you're already retired, you know? So there is a little bit of work that goes into it, but, uh, for sure. I love it. So did you ever have an instance with a player that they kind of were like rattled with you a little bit? Like, cause you're making jokes and maybe they're in a bad mood. He already knows and he's got the story teed up.

I don't know if you, if you have one you could share. Yeah. One in particular, I I've had a couple, um, just, um, I wouldn't say problems, but you kind of heard, uh, I, I, well two that stick out and one was diffused quite quickly. I remember with, uh, Kevin Lowe, do you remember Alexander Sullivanov?

Yeah. Yeah. He scored a Phil Esposito's son-in-law in fact, and Alex had been with the orders, if I remember correctly, scored 29 goals one year. And then the orders didn't sign him, which was, you know, no big deal. And I interviewed him, he went to Columbus and I interviewed him after a period and I said,

were you surprised that, I'm paraphrasing, but that you had to wait for a job kind of thing, that kind of instance or that kind of example. And then later on, I saw Kevyn Lowe and he goes, I'm not happy with you. And I'm like, geez, I'm like, Kevin Lowe's not happy with me. Now I'm not happy. Why? And he goes, well, what you asked Alex Alivanov and, and, and he, he, he recited the question. I go, yeah, you know, I didn't say the Oilers didn't sign.

He goes, but, but when you say what you said, you're lumping us in with the entire group. And I went, you know what? It's true because I'm, I'm broadcasting back to Oilers fans. So by not saying it, I'm still kind of saying it. And it was just a little subtle reminder, right?

And I thought, you know, he's kind of right on that. And it wasn't meant to be a shot at the Oilers, but if you're reading between the lines, that's kind of what you would hear is, Hey, are you surprised that the Oilers and the rest of the NHL didn't sign you? So I totally got that. The other one was Larry Murphy. Remember Larry Murphy, who put up a lot of points. Hey, are you surprised that the oilers and the rest of the NHL didn't sign you? So I totally got that. The other one was Larry Murphy. Remember Larry Murphy, who put up a lot of points.

I interviewed him once in Toronto and I was doing a feature on him. And I don't know why I suddenly thought I was like Mike Wallace, but I was asking him all these fricking hard questions, which I thought they wanted. At that time, Larry was making, I think three and a half million and we're talking 35 years ago, about 30. Uh, it was like 30 years ago. He was the whipping boy too. Right. And, and that's the point.

He was getting booed a lot. Another legend Toronto booed out of the lead. Yeah. Leafs fans stay hot. And that's exactly the setup. He was making a lot of money and he was getting booed. And so I remember asking him, and honestly, I would have wanted to punch myself in the face too, for this.

I said, do you think they're booing you because of your pay or because of your play? It's like, oh man, that hurts. Fuck. Who am I? Like, I'm really safe. That's like, gee, you're supposed to be talking about like hot dogs or something. I know, I know. And I just, when they said do a feature on him, that was kind of what was happening at that time.

So I thought, oh geez, I guess that's what they want. So Larry was really good, actually. Larry was fantastic. He answered the questions. We got out of there. The next game, Cliff Fletcher came at me, red, like your shirt with, and he was upset and I was like, Whoa, okay. And again, you kind of go back and you think about it.

And I didn't speak to Cliff that night because there was no point, but I saw him the next game. I said, Cliff, you know what? I actually watched the feature back and I said, you're a hundred percent right. I was totally out of line and he was so good about it. You know, he goes, you know, like we got a lot of pressure going on and, and you're the host broadcaster and we weren't expecting that from you.

We understand if he's standing in front of a bunch of journalists that people might ask him that, but we didn't think it would come from you or from your network. I said, you're bang on. I said, the next guy I got to talk to is Larry Murphy. I went to see Larry and he was fantastic. I continued to cover him in his career and then I would see him in Detroit a lot when he was doing the games.

He was great. He goes, no problem. He goes, I just was kind of surprised. I didn't expect that. I'm like, you know what? In some ways I didn't expect that either. It was new to the Toronto market and I think I felt like I had to do something and that's

what I did and it was the wrong thing. So those are, Larry's certainly sticks out as that would be at the top. And then there were some other ones like Kevin's that gave me some perspective on when you're asking people questions, sometimes it's not just what you say, it's the underlying meaning of the question.

Well, how long you've been in the league, if those are your only two mishaps, you're doing the right thing. Sometimes it's not just what you say. It's the underlying meaning of the question. Well, how long you've been in the league, if those are your only two, uh, mishaps you're doing the right thing. I already think we're going to hear that question. And he's almost gone to jail basically. Like seven guys have, uh, restraining orders on biz in the league. And then you just asked Larry Murphy if it's the pay or the play. Well, yeah, I mean, the thing that, uh, you know, the guys do on, on TNT is, is, and, you know, the podcasts have really opened things up.

Uh, again, when I was starting out, there were sort of three avenues. You either worked on radio, TV, or you were, uh, a writer. I mean, that was it. You had three options. There were, there was nothing else. Uh, and, uh, nowadays there's so many options for kids and a lot of times people will only fans everything. Yeah.

Vaughn. What do you mean? That's like one of the outlets. I'm not familiar with that. Yeah. I am not familiar with that. Twitter, Tiktok, sports, plenty of people on only fans. Not.

All right. Well, gee, these guys are torturing me. These guys are torturing me. McDavid's going to leave. Like, yeah, come on. Like, tell me why. Tell me how confident you feel that he will stay as an Euler. You know, I'm really confident.

I think that, you know, back to back losses in the cup final, one almost epic, only the second time ever, a team would have come back from a three-nothing deficit and to lose by a goal. Then another one where you're down to a best of three and you lose in game six. I think Connor is, you know, in soccer, we would use the term gutted. And I just think at the end of the season, Connor was, you know, in hindsight, it would have been nice not to have him talk, but you know, that would have been worse because people would have been making up

their own words and their own sentences. Oh yeah, we would have been doing plenty of that. Right? Of course, right? So he has to talk, but then people don't see this big smiley lovey doy words of I'm staying forever. I never took any of it, like when I say personally, I mean as a city, I never took that as anything

bad at all. I just took a guy who's spent, he's given everything and then some and has, I'm not going to say nothing to show for it, but not what he wants to show for it. So I'm cool with him like taking off, go spend some time at the cottage. I've heard he's already working out and yeah, just go relax and let's make this a negotiation. One of the great questions that he answered was a message to the fans and he spoke of how difficult it's been, but how enjoyable it's been.

And he said, you know, stick with us because for all of us, it's going to pay off. And to me, that was kind of better than, you know, I love you. To me, that was, I'm saying to you and to everybody, stick with it. We got this, we're going to get this, continue to be patient and continue to love us.

And, uh, I promise you, we'll give you the love that you want with the Stanley Cup. So I'm not, you know, I'm not saying he's signing an eight year deal, but I'm not concerned at all that Connor wouldn't come here. I mean, everything I've seen and heard, I've never heard an inkling that he dislikes. And anything, you know, it just came in his jeans.

Yeah. Yeah. No, that happens all the time though. Uh, a soft wind can make that happen, but, um, Jean, the, the, a lot of people, like I have some buddies at home that are like, why does he seem so miserable? And like, I've kind of said, I think he's just, you know, he's maybe wound a little tight, but he's obsessive about, you know, his craft and the game and he's a pro, but around the room, like he is different.

Like I've been told, like it's just more how he comes off in the media. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? He's been so great with the media. I mean, you know, that's where people will say, no, he hasn't. Well, you know, I think that, and what I was going to add was that when the

cameras stopped rolling, there was a time you think Connor was fast on the ice, the cameras would stop rolling and he was done. And so now the cameras stopped rolling and he chats with you. I mean, he, he arrives at 18 with this generational talent tag with an organization that you know, you played here, I mean, is trying to find just a sample of those glory days and it all lands on his lap. Despite everybody that he has, it lands on him. And I think over the last, well, certainly the last decade, Leon has taken some of that, maybe even more than we expected considering that,

you know, in the beginning, we weren't quite sure what Leon was going to be, but he's an all star. I mean, he's going to be a hockey hall of fame player, but I just think that he's really started to become more comfortable with who he is. And that's tough to ask an 18 year old. Where I see it the most is with kids. I think that Connor now knows and has for the last, certainly once we got through COVID and then there was more interaction with people face to face that, that 10 seconds, that photo, that signature, that handshake, that fist pump, that smile, that pat on the back, whatever it is.

I mean, that kid is remembering that for another 50, 60, 70 years. Life changing for some kids. Unbelievable. And it really is. And I, and I think that Connor understands that where before, you know, you, you, you get a 13 year old kid and you're 18 and it is tough. Like there's.

It feels probably a little weird in some cases. He just wants to be alone and, you know, privacy and it's a lot of, I couldn't imagine handling that at that age and, you know, privacy. And it's a lot, I couldn't imagine handling that at that age. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I think that over the course of the last decade, you know, he's now married and he set himself one day, you know, he's going to be a dad.

And I mean, it's the evolution of a human being who in this case is a guy that people are comparing with Wayne Gretzky. I mean, talk about, talk about a lot of pressure and trying to fulfill that pressure and the expectancy to win a Stanley Cup. Paul Coffey told a great story after the Oilers lost the first Stanley Cup to the Islanders and that's why, I mean, I think we just had this like dream sequence that the Oilers were going to win and it was going to be like 84, 85, you know, they lost in 83.

They came back to win in 84 against the same team, just like the Oilers back then. We had it all written out and Florida decided that they had a different script to finish this season off with. But Paul told the story how Wayne said, you know, I got to win a cup. They're never going to compare me or I'm

never going to have the same legacy as a Guy Lafleur after they had won their cups in a row or Braun Trotche and Mike Bossy. And I firmly believe that's Connor. And I firmly believe like Wayne, he's going to win Stanley cups as well. But I think sometimes people just forget the pressure, just waking up and you're Connor McDavid and people expect you to be a superstar every game and they expect you to win scoring titles and score goals and be Mr. Community and be the husband of the year and win a Stanley Cup and, and, and, I mean, he is a human and I've

seen him though really kind of get more comfortable with, with who he is. Wait, I'm not sure he's ever going to be all jokey and funny in front of the cameras. I do see that more than I used to, but I just feel like he's, even if it doesn't look like he's different, I think he feels different about his comfort level when he's talking to a row of cameras and microphones. I was going to ask the same thing about Leon. Like he seems like a, he's a pretty funny guy, very sarcastic, right?

Oh, I love it. I love it. You know, that's the thing about Leon, you know, he kind of puts you on edge a little bit. Like he reminds me a little bit, and you guys know him and played with him, Dustin Penner. Um, I remember Dustin was one of those guys, like you better make sure your question, first of all, was a question, not a statement.

And that the question, I guess, had some merit. Like Leon's not afraid to kind of give you a, I wouldn't say a jab, but make it clear that maybe the question wasn't a great one, he doesn't, I don't, I don't think he does it rudely, but I think he makes his point and he's more open and I think honest and forward with his feelings. Like if he doesn't like something, he doesn't like some questions, he'll, he'll tell you

whether he actually verbally tells you or he'll tell you in his answer where Connor, I would say that doesn't really, he doesn't really do that, but I've enjoyed being around Leon. I got to tell you, I didn't know what, first of all, I didn't know what kind of player he was going to be. I mean, McTee sent him back to junior with Colonna. They made it to the Memorial Cup and everyone's going, what is this kid? Who's he going to be? I mean, he's turned into an incredible, I mean, he plays with Connor and of course people have always 97 sort of first in their mind and then 29.

But Connor said it himself. I mean, I'm not the best player on the ice all the time. And a lot of times it's number 29. And so it's such a wonderful time to be that people say, how's your job? How's your work? How's your career? I get to watch those guys and the rest of the guys around them. So it never feels like work.

And Leon, you know, one of the neat things is getting to know guys from being teenagers into young men. And you just sort of see their evolution. And I love Leon. I think he's fantastic. And I think sometimes, long answer, I think he sometimes speaks for Connor. I think sometimes things are going on and it isn't maybe right or proper for Connor to answer a question, whether it be about him or the team, Leon will step

forward and kind of answer it for Connor and Leon's and the rest of the team kind of going, okay, enough, here's the answer. Let's move on. What's it like being on the road with Bob Stauffer? Well, listen, I haven't been the same since he said he would block shots in the nude. I've not seen Bob in the nude, but I see him a lot, I could kind of imagine. Bob's unbelievable. Bob and I once got into a little bit of a disagreement. Um, it was, I think it was after the 06 cup run.

In fact, I was walking to the rink in Vancouver, Bob had a show on a different radio station and, uh, he was, he was kind of questioning Craig McTavish, who was coach back then. And I can't remember exactly how he said, but I said, I was kind of like, like, I get if you are, ah, I don't know, I'm going to say Mike Babcock, maybe not the best example, but a former coach or a coach and they say, Hey, I didn't like the way he handled his power play. But I was like, Bob, you know, who are you to question Craig McTavish? And you know, Bob didn't like that, which I don't blame him. He's got you on his show. He's not expecting you to kind of call him out on it, but I've always been a big fan of, of, of

McTeen, he works with Sportsnet, he's on the panel with us recently. So after that we had a little bit of friction, but we got it settled and Bob's work ethic and his love for the team and the city is, is pretty hard to match. I mean, he, he wears results quite clearly. A lot of times you don't have to hear Bob say a word and you know exactly what the oilers have done. He is somebody, you know, him and I are just

like a year apart. We're both Edmontonians. I grew up on the opposite side of the city. So we sort of have the same background and so it's kind of neat to work with him and he knows a lot and he knows a lot of people. And for anyone who ever questions, uh, Bob's, I guess, Rolodex is what we would say, uh, don't question it. He's got, he's got a lot of people texting, calling, and back and forth, uh,

between, you know, different executives and different people in the NHL, including players. So he's very well connected, uh, in the hockey world and certainly in Edmonton. Well, I don't know. You got anything else for this guy, boys? I just had one, um, you know, everyone's talking about Florida, three Pete and going back. Do you see Edmonton in the same position? They didn't do a ton on free agency, but you see them getting back to the

finals and, you know, trying to get their crack at the Panthers, if that's who they're playing. Yeah. You know what? Yeah. I think, you know, it's been interesting with all the post-celebration or I guess post-Cup dramatics, theatrics calling out. I mean, I don't remember, and this is an observation. It's not a criticism.

I don't remember. I think people before that, right after Florida won the cup, I think many order fans would have said, let's, let's see somebody else. But then, uh, you know, uh, the, the playing of, of the other song. They were going at him for a week straight. Yeah. I didn't, I, you know, I didn't quite understand it, but that's, that's who they are. Right.

They're kind of like the Oakland Raiders back in the, you know, in the seventies or whatever you want to call it. Yeah. I mean, it was, it was great. So I think now people want them to play Florida because of A, the, yeah, the two losses in the cup final, but also what happened afterwards. I'm never betting against Connor and Leon. I really think, I know, you know, getting to three in a row is tough, just ask Florida,

but it's doable. The orders are, I mean, as good a team as anyone except for one. So I don't see there being any reason that they can't make it. And if they were driven to make a second straight Stanley Cup final, I can't imagine how driven they are to make a third. And that's the one thing I underestimated media day before the cup final. I think being around Edmonton and knowing that they lost to Florida, there's just an inherent feeling like these guys are hungry, they're hungry, they're hungry. Yes. But when I listened to the Panthers going into the cup final, I'm like, let's not underestimate how hungry these guys are to build

a dynasty to get to two. You can't get to three without two. And the idea of building something that could go down in history, especially the way the world is and the way the salary cap is now the hockey world, it's different than when you just would roll team after another, after another, and they would win four or five in a row or five and seven like the others. It's very difficult to do. So they were a lot hungrier than I expected, but Jens, I would like nothing better than to see another Florida Edmonton final. I think it would be awesome. It would be awesome, I guess, if other teams are in it too, but certainly from Edmonton standpoint, they want another crack at it. A Leon will be 30 in October. Connor will turn 29 next January 13th to be exact.

They grow up so fast. They do, they do, Biz. I mean, I remember them, I remember Connor at the draft. He was wearing like a cutoff shirt and a hat on backwards. And you know, you look at him and go, that's the guy. That's the guy that is going to lead Edmonton somewhere. We wait to see where that is. And now we've seen where that is.

So, you know, they're, they're still in that window, of course, but you start flipping the calendar into the threes and it's not like you're 24 anymore. I think these guys have many more great years, but to have a great team year after year, after year, that's a little more challenging. I think this stuff with the, the, during the parade and all that stuff, from everything we've heard that the trash talking during that series was crazy. So I think that kind of maybe had something to do with it, but you would obviously know more than us.

No. And I'd heard that as well, that there was a lot of that going on. Did you hear what was said? No, I never did hear what was said. He's not a snitch. Bullshit. What do they say in the weeds here? Snitches get stitches.

Let's get called into the office again at Sportsnet, come on. No, no, not again. I don't want to go back to the principal's office again. But yeah, I did hear a lot about that. I just have never heard that after. It's one of the unbelievable things in sports, right? Where after this hard fought series, they shake hands and they

seemingly wish each other congratulations or what a series. And then, I mean, listen, a lot of that was liquid courage. I'm not sure that if they hadn't had who knows how many beers, it would have all come out. The other thing too, as you guys know, listen, the others were well known at liquid courage, I'm not sure that if they hadn't had who knows how many beers, it would have all come out. The other thing too, as you guys know, listen, the owners were well known for getting the Stanley Cup at a strip bar and putting dents in it, just like the Panthers.

There was no video back then. Who knows what Martin Messier might have said, or Paul Kauff, or Grant Feuer, name any one of them, right? But there was nothing to be recorded back then. There was nothing to record. Oh yeah. Like you don't know those stories either.

Yeah. Well, Paul's a pretty good storyteller and as you know, Wayne's a wonderful storyteller as well, so it would be great to see them play again. Now I'm, I'm, Yanz you got me going. I want to see it. Oh, he wants it baby. Let's go. Let's do this.

Round three. Bro, start growing that hair right now again. It's coming. It's coming. Last one I had was, who's the most famous Edmontonian other than yourself? Wow. Most famous Edmonton.

Yeah, Stoff has got to be in there. But maybe outside the hockey world. Oh, hockey world. Jeez. Well, you know, for soccer. Joey Moss. Joey Moss. Yeah.

For soccer, you've got a kid named Alfonso Davies, uh, who's, oh, he's from Edmonton. Well, he came over actually from a Liberian refugee camp to be specific when he was five years old. And so he grew up, this is where they became Canadian citizens in Edmonton. There's a guy you ever watch, um, while he was on one life to live, then castle and now it's the rookie, Nathan Fillion.

You guys know that actor? No, I don't know any actor's names. I'm looking him up right now. Yeah. You'll know once you see him. There's those like Ron Jeremy and Peter North. Sure. Peter North is Canadian though.

I think he's from Halifax. I'm trying to think. Edmund, Joey though, would be up there. Biggest loads in the league. I know Fillion. I know trying to think of Edmonton. Joey though would be up there. Biggest loads in the league. I know Fillian. I know Fillian. You know Fillian. I think he's one of, I wouldn't have known, if you said that to me before I'd be like,

ah, and then you see him and go, oh, his, his actually, his mom taught me English in, uh, high school. We had Mrs. Fillian was our English teacher. I'm thinking other, other great, uh, Edmontonians. There's gotta be a bunch that as soon as we leave, I'll think about.

Um, and last one for me is, uh, you told one Wayne story. Do you have another fun one to end us, to send us? Ooh, another one. Let's go into the vault. Oh, or it could be one of your craziest, funnest Edmonton Euler stories. And it doesn't even have to involve Wayne. If you got one.

I do have a Michael Jordan story. Um, let's go baby. That's a great way to have heard of him. Um, yeah. Yann's golfs with him. Oh, do you? Yeah. I'm a member at his course.

I don't golf with him. Do you see him? Yeah. Every day. Yeah. Little salt and pepper on the steak. Uh, I just remember I was working in Toronto and, uh, the bulls were the Bulls.

I would have been mid nineties. And, uh, no, the story is great. Cause it's Michael Jordan. So I should preface it. It involves Jordan, right? Uh, I just remember he came off the bus and I was with the cameraman and, uh, the cameraman goes like, you gotta go talk to him. I'm like, I'm, I'm, I'm nearly like peeing my pants with nerves.

Cause it's like Michael Jordan. This guy is iconic, world renowned, internationally known. And, uh, I go up to him and I, you know, you remember the show cheers and, uh, whatever Cliff Claven would, would try and talk to a lady, his voice would, would crack. And so I started talking to him like that. My voice was cracking and we did in TV, we call it a walk and talk.

So we walked and talked for about a minute 15 until he got near his locker room. And he goes, is that, are you good? Is that enough? And I said, yeah, you know, that's good. And he said, see you later, brother. And I went, okay, see you later. And so that's why Michael Jordan, which

reminds me of Clyde Drexler. I do have one last, sorry. I love that. Did you? Oh, so Michael Jordan, but Clyde Drexler, this is like Clyde, Clyde the Glide, right? Played at Houston, one of the greats of all time. And this is, I guess, how the world has changed.

So there was a, there was a reporter in Toronto that was covering him. He had come through with Portland and the reporter, I don't know how to word this, but he was trying to be cool with Clyde and like just too cool. Like just, just be yourself. Right. And so he went up to Clyde at the end of the interview and he, I got, he kind of did all this stuff, right. Yeah.

To shake his hand. Yeah. He was doing all these things and Clyde goes, he goes, this is how we shake hands. And he just shook his hand. And that was it. That's like Leon. Yeah. It just was like, and I was just standing there going, Oh my God.

Like, and that guy was like, he I was just standing there going, oh my God, like, and that guy was like, he was really pasty white. Like he was just so uncomfortable with what had happened. But Clyde's just going like, don't, like, this isn't about any colors here where you're interviewing a basketball player, but he was so cool. It just going, this is how we shake hands. And he just shook his hand like, and it just a story that, you know, every time I watched him after that, I would just, no matter how many points he had or anything that he did, that's the story I remember about Clyde DeCly.

Going back to MJ, did you see him later? I saw him after the game and interviewed him. And, uh, you know, well, you guys have been in front of, you know, a wall of cameras being interviewed and he kind of, you know, he sort of just looked to see who was there and he looked at me and I was like, Oh shit. That's great. I think that was me for me. I'm not sure, but then you went over and dapped them up.

No, I said, this is how we shake hands. This is how we shake hands. Yeah. We got rollback last question. Use code chiclet on roback.com. Generous. What an interview with Gene Principe. Oh, unreal. A couple of clicks. Through the end of the week, 20% off CHICLETS

for the code on RHOBACK.com. 20% off all polo shorts, swim trunks and more with code chiclets. If you could work one other like big maybe sport or event. I got the answer. Okay. What is it? Okay.

So real quick story, 2006 Oilers play Alishamski scores. They win second last game. Vancouver loses that night. Biaxia was on that team actually, and they go to the playoffs. So I'm supposed to go to the world cup of soccer in Germany, right? So, okay, you know, we weren't expecting them to make the playoffs. They make the playoffs. Then they beat Detroit in six.

So, okay, we still got time. Then they're losing two-nothing and Rafi Torres, the guy we spoke of, hits Milan Mahalek and nearly knocks them all the way to like Orange County and totally turns that series around. And I remember Chris Pronger, they were down two nothing goes, mark my words, we're coming back to win this. They come back to win in six. So now we're into the third round against Anaheim and I'm calling my bosses going like, what are we doing about the World Cup? And they're like, well, what do you want to do? And I said, well, I kind of want to do both if the

Oilers advance. Like, well, we can't credit two different people. It's either one or the other. So I'm like, well, let's see what happens with Anaheim. So the Euler's jumping into a three nothing series lead. And I'm like, they're like, we got to make a decision. And they're like, what do you want to do? I go, I want to do both. And they're like, well, you can't. And so I said, you know, I just can't make the decision on this because I just,

I can't do it. I'm going to regret it no matter what. At that time I had three kids, five, three and one. And this was be a six week trip to Europe. So they say to me, Smorsen goes, you're staying to cover the oilers. Okay. So they win that series. Your wife's like, yes.

Yes. Saved your marriage. Yes. I think so. Six weeks with three kids at that age. So I'm like, I started a different family in Italy. Yes. All right Gina in Italy. Um, and then, uh, I, I'm like, okay, this is great.

Right? Like Pisani is all the rage, the Italian, you know, like it's all going great. And then the oilers lose in seven. And my cameraman calls me. He is 10 rows up from the Italians. As they want it, they want it. And I miss Tony, Luca, Tony was on the matarazzi with Zadan. Yes.

And I'm sitting here and I was like, I could be there. I could be there covering it. Yeah. Oh, the others could have at least one. Right. Or is it a name? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, you covering it. Holy shit. Oh, the Oilers could have at least won. There's a Dan Headbutt? Or is it Bane? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, you got it.

So if the Oilers had won, it would have been, hey, listen, this is truly a win-win. If I was there, I'd be covering the World Cup and Italy wins. If I'm here, I'm covering the Oilers and they win. And the other thing is, you got, I mean, the city now is even above what it was then, but you're right in it, right? Everywhere you go, everybody's talking Oilers. So the idea of being over in Germany, it just seems truly so far away, not only geographically, but

kind of emotionally you're right in it with the Edmonton. And so anyways, they didn't win and I wasn't there to watch Italy win. So what about next year? Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to the World Cup. I don't know if I'm covering it. I went to the Euros.

Oh, it'd be crazy not to have you. We got to get it. Yeah. I would love it. I would love it. I went to the Euros. Oh, it'd be crazy not to have you cover it. We've got to get it. I would love it. I would love it. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm obviously pulling for Canada as well.

So that'll be great. I'm looking forward to it. So that would be the event that if I could cover again, would be the World Cup. So we need everyone listening and all Gene Principe fans to get on, write your notes to Sportsnet. We need this guy on the coverage for the twenty twenty six World Cup. That'd be sick. Thanks. Put the Drake outfit and then and then the World Cup trophy and the Trump mask.

Why don't you go? Might as well go a quad box with MJ Air Jumper, Air Jumper, where Jeans, Jeans at the rim with a high five. That's funny. I love it. Thank you so much, man. This is great. And you at the rim with a high five. That's funny. I love it. Thank you so much, man. This was great. We appreciate it.

Boys. Thank you. I really appreciate it. Keep up the unbelievable work and have a great summer. And to Kevin Biaxa for facilitating this. Thank you. Thank you, Kevin. You're a legend.

Thank you so much to Gene Principe. Like I said, how do you not love that guy? Just a good dude, an Edmonton boy, Edmonton man, I should say. Amazing run and a cool career. That story of missing the World Cup as Italy wins to only see the Oilers lose in Game 7 on the road against Carolina in 06. That's tough. I mean, that's tough. We've seen a lot of heartbreaking oilers losses from the game seven against Carolina to the game seven last year, to just the drumming in game five and six this year against Florida. But don't worry, Connor McDavid isn't going anywhere. Also pretty sick. Like even Michael Jordan could tell he was a cool guy. You could just you know, a cool guy when you meet one.

That's why I don't think people ever, ever have thought I'm a cool guy when they meet me. But but she's pretty is laid back funny and Michael Jordan. I mean, he just he could tell this guy's my guy. So like we said, best of next week, we had to we had to talk to about Tarnassi in the best video of all time. Bang, bang, bang. If I could ever get in a fight and actually win the fight. We had to talk to about Tarnasci in the best video of all time. Bang! Bang! Bang! If I could ever get in a fight and actually win the fight, I would choose, oh, there's a hawk outside.

There's a hawk. I mean, I'm pointing like you guys can see the size of this hawk in this tree. I got to get Yoshi out of the yard. He could just come down and grab him. But what was I saying? Karnaski, bang! If I could get in a fight and ever hit somebody, bang! I would use the sound effects. Off to a good start as you chuck someone in the rivers.

Just, it's an all time internet video. Uh, what a guy he is. And like I mentioned before, that's an apology video from the other guy who got beat up. I tweeted out just a good old Western Canadian taking his beating like a man, owning it. What a great story. So, yeah, thanks for tuning in. Anything else? Oh, so I'm the assistant coach on the Kirk Minahan Show basketball team. They played Barstool New York's basketball team last year.

They lost. They played them already this year in honor of Cinema Lords, a big time, great fan of the Kirk Minahan show, tragically passed away. His brother is now playing for the Kirk Minahan basketball team. His whole family went to the game. They drum New York. They were down, I think, 15 to two. They end up coming back. So the rubber match is July 28th in Berlin, Connecticut, right in kind of in between, I think, New

York City and Boston. I don't know if that's true. I'm just guessing that's how they decided to play it there. And I'm an assistant coach. I went to my first practice Sunday morning at the Thayer Academy Sports Center. I never seen intensity like this. I've seen NHL teams getting ready for the playoffs practice. And then I've seen the KMS basketball team.

They got this guy, Matt from Providence. He's a monster. He can shoot. They got this guy, beanbag Ron running around. Kirk's got he's got range. He's he's just drop it. What's the term basketball? Making it wet is that that might not be it. That might be a little awkward.

Just this team was a blast to be around, though. A lot of energy, a lot of just feistiness in practice That's how you get ready to play. I can't wait. I need to be a part of a win You know wit you know the wit dog doesn't get to be a part of many wins, and I'm using third person here That's how lost I am it's all my golf game guys. God. I could go on a diatribe about my golf game Jesus Christ. Just across the line, stuck, just no turn. My body, like my hips and my shoulders, they don't feel good.

I'm just lost. But like I told Biz, I'll be good. I was lost last year. I've basically been lost for about two years now. And then I'll find it. And I'll find it for a week. This year I found it for two weeks. I was striping it like 74 75 74 76 72

That was like two weeks where I played like five times and I was like no and now it's just it's just gone I mean hitting it off the planet no distance just Disgusting golf it makes me so sad. I care so much. I love golf. But you know what? Like, three kids, seven and under, like I've noticed it can affect the golf game. But now, so now I'm a 3.2 handicap. When I'm playing good, I'm a great 3.2. But as I played in Nantucket, like I'm a horrible three even. So like, I now, some people are like, oh you're a sandbagger, and then they play with me, oh what happened to you, you're horrible now.

So it's like, I'm getting it on both sides, and I'm just like trying to fight it. I'm trying to fight out of it. But god damn it, anyone who plays golf, this is a little golf psychiatry, maybe just like session, where like, it sucks when you're playing bad. It really does. Now the question is, if you're really, really playing poorly at golf, and you love golf,

and you at one time were really good, even if you weren't really good, but you're really playing bad to your standards, how do you still enjoy it? I've talked to many people about this. Now the upsetting part is a lot of people have told me like, oh you can't. And I've had people tell me just try to have fun. Like you're outside, you're with your friends and it's so true. Like it's a beautiful day outside, you're with some good buddies, you're playing golf. You could be sitting there behind a desk. Like you could be working and grinding. Now I think the could be sitting there behind a desk. Like, you could be working and grinding.

Now, I think the problem is my job. It's pretty enjoyable. So I think for some people who can't stand their job, which is probably, I don't know, sound off in the comments, how many people don't like their job? 90% of people? It really sucks to think.

I really, really feel bad for people who can't stand their job. That stinks. But that's probably easier for them. I could be at work right now where I'm getting yelled at by my boss and I'm not turning in my TPS sheets like from the movie Office Space where the guy ends up burning down the office because people keep borrowing his stapler. When that's your job, on the golf course, no matter how bad you play, you're in a good

mood. Right now for me, I love being at home with the kids. I love my job. So when I play golf, I just wanna play good. I just wanna, and by the way, I don't even have to actually score good. If I hit it great, if I hit it unbelievable, and I shoot 79, I'm fine, I'm fine.

Seriously, because I just, I hit it pure, and then there was goofy mistakes, so I didn't putt well. But when I shoot bad, bad, ugly numbers while hitting it horribly, it's just, it's like, I don't wanna be out there. That's the thing. I've actually been like, I think I'm gonna buy a boat.

Like, that's the saying, like I gotta buy a boat. Like, golf is not it anymore. How do I enjoy it when I'm playing real bad? So my new thing is just embrace the suck. That is a saying I learned from J.B. Spiso, a legend, army ranger, who told me that down in the ditches when they're grinding away, protecting our freedoms, they say embrace the suck. Well, I'm going to bring that over to the golf side and I'm going to try to embrace the suck. Well, I'm going to bring that over to the golf side and I'm going to try to embrace the suck and I'm going to know and just remind myself you'll be good again. And then you'll be bad again. So you got to embrace the suck. You got to enjoy being with friends and playing golf. But yeah, it's tough, man. And every time I go play, I'm like, today's the day I'm out of it. And I'm driving home like this. I'm driving home Like I just saw a ghost like what the hell and it's also I'm playing for for big money

I really that's what I enjoy to do. I love playing for money So then not only are you playing like shit posting a horrible number screwing your partner? But you're Venmo and somebody just a bunch of bank. So it's like I got to embrace the suck I got to get the club more laid off, I gotta try to just grind through the ugly days. And maybe people don't wanna hear this, but I don't care, cause I'm on this show alone right now, and I'm just talking like I need to talk.

I mean, I'm sitting in my living room, I'm getting the club laid off, practice swings, getting the club laid off, and then I video a real swing. My right elbow is up here, the club is off, and then I video a real swing. My right elbow is up here. The club is completely across the line. I've reverse pivoted, which means in the golf world, like, I think I'm turning my left shoulder behind the ball,

but I'm actually leaning towards the ball. Then I come up and out of it. I early extend. There's enormous high blocks to the right. There's the occasional snap hook, and it's, you know and it's an 8 handicap, which is nothing wrong. Nothing wrong.

And when I started playing, it was a 16 handicap. I would have killed someone to be an 8 handicap, maybe not killed somebody, unless they were slow playing me on the golf course and I chucked them in a pond. But I would have just, I would have been like, oh my God, 8 handicaps are unbelievable. But then I got good. I got really good. Now, I was playing, in fairness, I've said this a million times, I was playing at least eight rounds a week. So that's one day's 36.

The rest of them are 18. But on my 36 days, I was not trying to fight the entire golf course and then trying to fight a former NHL enforcer. I was just playing golf. And now I don't really play that much. And I think with my swing, which isn't exactly nice or in good spots or technically sound, I don't know if I could play very good, consistent golf, not playing every day. Playing every day is done. That's done. Maybe Cal's just turned one. Maybe in like 16 years. When Chicklet, who knows if Chicklet is around in 16 years, I think I'm going to need therapy. But maybe when I get back and I'm, will I be in 16 years?

52, 58. Jesus. Yeah, the good golf in my life might be over. But no, no, no, no, no. I'm going to embrace this suck. I'm going to be back. I'm going to be back. I need to have better tempo. I'm sorry, everyone. I just needed to talk about this. I need to just go out there and enjoy it.

Bad swing, good swing. It doesn't matter. I'm going to keep trying. Thank you for listening to this TED Talk with Ryan Winnie. Thank you to listening to Nick Tarnaski in Biz. Awesome interview there. Gene Principe is the man. Shout out him.

Shout out the Red Sox. Ten in a row. Awful time for the All-Star Break to come. And tell me right now. Tell me you don't know me. If you're saying, oh, yeah, you never watch the Red Sox. You don't know me. Because the Red Sox have been a big part of my life.

All my friends. I'm talking ninety nine, ninety eight when Pedro struck out like six or five Hall of Famers at the All-Star Game in ninety nine at Fenway Park. I really hope it was ninety nine. I'm going to sound super dumb. That was like the beginning. And then Aaron Boone home run.

And then they put it that you want to think that I'm not into the Red Sox and that I'm a new bandwagon fan. We were playing the Norfolk admirals in the A.H.L. Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Penguins. And we're playing Norfolk at some random game October, maybe end of September. It was game seven Sox Yanks the year the Sox were down 0-3. And in intermission, I'm going up to Jimmy Morlock. Jimmy, great guy.

He was the kind of like the PR guy for the Wilkes-Barre. I was like, what's the score? What's the score? He's like, Damon hit a bomb in the first inning. They're up 4-0. He was a Yankees fan too. I was laughing at him as Terrien was going over the breakout. So don't even try to tell me that I haven't been into the Sox.

The last six years, yeah, probably not much. But before then, I was diehard socks. Fenway Park, the best park in the world. I took the boys there, it kind of began the streak. My wife and I, we brought Ryder and Wyatt, sat like 15 rows behind the Blue Jays, dug out. I think they beat them 14 to two that game. Absolutely murdered the Blue Jays, and since then,

they are on a streak like no other. All-Star Break could kill some momentum. They come out of it, they're in Chicago streak like no other. All-Star Break could kill some momentum. They come out of it. They're in Chicago at Wrigley playing the Cubs. God, I'd love to get out there for that. But I'm not traveling anywhere. I'm hanging. And thanks for listening. This has been fun. It feels almost like an Euler's Spaces where I'm just talking to myself. But the Euler's Season's over. But McDavid's not going anywhere. I'm repeating myself. That means it's time to go.

Thanks to our guests. Thanks to our crew. And congrats to Matt Murley. What a guy. He invented the game of ice hockey. Don't ever forget that. Have a great week, folks. Best of next week.

We'll talk to you soon. Love you guys. Bye. I don't know any other way Even if I could go away I don't know any other way This feeling is so hard to wear I don't know any other way Even if I could go away

I don't know any other way This feeling is so hard to break I'll get you someday