The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Official Business ft. Dave Jackson & Sara Orlesky

Episode Date: February 10, 2025

Jeff Marek is joined by Dave Jackson and Sara Orlesky to kick off the week on The Sheet. Discussing what it's like to be an official in 2025 at the professional and youth levels, a recent video that went viral involving young referees, and the Winnipeg Jets' recent success.Shout out to our sponsors!👍🏼Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/TROY SMITH VIDEO: https://x.com/dtroysmith/status/1888637030566871058Reach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Flames_Nation🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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starting at $19 per month at zensurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. at zensurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. Friday night downtown Toronto the legendary horseshoe Tavern Placement he say the bar that stomping Tom built Please no hockey song jokes, please hold on Zach I want you to join here right off the top and we got a lot to get through Dave Jackson's gonna be here in a second Sarah or Leslie's gonna talk to us about the Winnipeg Jets and

Yeah, we're gonna try to get excited about the Four Nations. Hasn't hit me yet. Zach, I thought by now, like all season long, I kind of said, yeah, you know what, by the time I get around the Four Nations, I'll get more excited about it. Hasn't happened yet. Maybe Wednesday comes along. I'll be as gung ho as I was when I was eight years old watching, was that eight or seven? Canada Cup 76, which was the first big one for me.

I was too young for 72. Or 1987 Canada Cup or 96 World. So Vancouver, Sochi, these tournaments. Maybe I'll get that excited, but I'm just, I just don't have it to fake the funk. Is what I'm saying. I don't have it to fake the funk. Do you?

I'm not there either. I kind of was at first when they announced it because I think it was the concept of, hey, we get international hockey back. That was what was exciting. And then from that point, it was kind of just like, okay, I don't know if I care. I don't know if I do. Yeah, I know. Let's see what happens by Wednesday. We'll give it a shot, but we're not, we're not going to lie to you. Like that's the nice thing about doing the show. Don't kind of

pretend to be geared up about something that I really give about two thirds of the square root of sweet FA about. It's OK. Just be honest. By the way, before we get into today's show and I have a point to make about Canada versus USA and the theory of, as the Kinks would say, give the people what they want. That is a sick hat you're wearing. Small Town Strip Club. How was the show on Friday? I was super jealous that you got to go to this one. I got to catch them on their tour.

They still got a lot of dates. Small Town's got Hamilton, Guelph, Colona, Woodstock, Stratford, London. So I got some time here to go see Small Town. But give us the nickel and dime tour of you, plus your buddies, plus the horseshoe, plus the awesome band that is Small Town Strip Club. Yeah, so Friday night got to go see Small Town Strip Club.

It was really cool. Got there, got to meet a bunch of the guys from the band, first of all, before they went on and then stuck around and talked to some of them. After as well, my first time at the tavern, I was texting you during it. Yeah, I know. It was a super cool venue. It was awesome. You go in and the front is like this little bar. Did you barf? Did you barf in the bathroom? You haven't barfed. You haven't lived here. No.

Barfed for the horseshoe. Come on! I did not, I did not. Youth, youth. But like, it's like these little like normal like Queen Street bar at the front. And then you keep walking and then there's a lady there that gives you a stamp and it's like bang! There is a stage and a big concert area and tables and everything. It's an awesome venue and they were unbelievable. So it was really cool.

My buddies also loved it too, cause they didn't know what Small Town Strip Club was, really I told them. And then when I was playing the music before we went, they were like, oh yeah, I know this song, Cheapshot, cause it's in Spin Chicklets. The Spin Chicklets spot. And then we played through on a record

and they're like, oh yeah, that's in your show. Same man. They got the market corner on soundtracks for hockey pods. These guys are smart. And they kept playing other stuff and then they're like, this is awesome. Like everyone was pumped up to go. Everyone had a great time.

It was an awesome night. And yeah, they hooked us up with a hat. I got one for myself. I've got one for you as well. So yeah, we've got some merch from the boys. Awesome. Well, listen, let's throw up those tour dates a little bit later on in the show So want to get our friends out there anyone that Participates in the show watches the show listens to the show if you get a chance go check out small town strip club from

Stratford, Ontario Alright a couple of things in the spirit of just give the people what they want We all know what the desired outcome is here. What has everyone been talking about about this? Four nations. What does everybody want? There's two nations. Yeah, everyone just wants Canada US finals.

Everybody wants to watch Canada US on Saturday and the anthems and the booing and the flags and all that stuff and they just want to see Canada US. So here's the thing. Like just stop with the, oh we're going to have a fake international tournament here and other countries will be involved. And here's the Finns and here's the Swedes. And like, no, best three out of five, four to seven,

Canada versus the United States. One of the things that we all, I think this is a real lesson for people. It's been a lesson for me as I've gotten older and understand, tried to understand like essentially what people want and how to give it to them. What we do in media specifically is we over complicate things that are really really simple and the most successful properties, whether it's media, whether it's sports, whether it's entertainment, is when people realize what people want and then quadruple down on it. All the people want right now, and the political situation is throwing a real log on this fire as well, is Canada versus the United States.

Like that's it. This is like Summit Series 72, although now it's not Canada versus Russia slash then Soviet Union. This is like Summit Series 72, although now it's not Canada versus Russia slash then Soviet Union. This is Canada versus the United States. For the longest time, we've always wondered whether the future of international hockey was going to be Canada versus the U.S. And the answer is yes. And the answer is now. And the answer is this is what people want.

So just give it to them. So don't worry about the criticism of, oh, it's not a real tournament. No, it's not. It's just a Summit Series. No, you know what? People want to see Canada versus the U.S. So just give it to them. So don't worry about the criticism of, oh, it's not a real tournament. No, it's not, it's just a summit series. No, you know what? People want to see Canada versus the US, so just give it to them. And can we have an environment where we're just honest

and say that people just want to see, and again, Sweden, no offense. Love you. Finland, no offense. Love you. I'm actually cheering for Finland in this tournament, considering how decimated that blue line is specifically, I want to see Finland do well. I want to see a Finland, Sweden final.

I always cheer for the Swedes too. I've always had a soft spot for Swedish hockey. That goes back to when I was a little kid, um, idolizing Boria Solming. Um, but people want to see the United States versus Canada. Just give it to them. Five games, seven games, whatever. Just give that to them. You seven games whatever just give that to them you with me you against it yeah where you at in the gym I'm with you and

I like I'm reading the chat and trying to see where everyone's at I put up a poll too when we started so if you haven't yet go vote on the poll like the stream by the way as well I'm gonna do it so that Jeff doesn't have to do it like to stream but I gave four options here Jeff are you excited about the four nations could not be more excited 17% It's cool but not over the top. 42%. Meh, neutral. 28% and 12%. I don't care about this at all. Which I think is probably a reasonable response to this. It's like, okay, yeah, we get to see some Canada, US, we get to see best on best student like in a setting, not like the traditional ones that we see with Olympic hockey, but we get to see it. And otherwise, it's whatever it is what it is. And I think that's kind of the general sentiment of the chat. And on top of that, I did see there, I'm just trying to find the comment. But it was like, someone said, I, Jay Rock, I want to see the fins in the Swedes. I do too, but in a setting like this, I'm kind of, it's not the story.

It's not what I'm as excited to see. In Olympic hockey, yeah, I love seeing that kind of stuff because you're playing the whole tournament, the whole thing's involved, all their places, like it makes it more real, I guess is what I'm trying to say. Canada, US, in Montreal and Boston, Finland versus Sweden in Stockholm, Helsinki. Done. Yes.

Yes. How about that? Just do that. Here's the- I subscribe to that. Here's the other thing. I was having a conversation with someone about this over the weekend.

In a lot of ways, cause this is a sort of warmup, this is the chumming of the water for the Olympics next year. This is what we keep hearing. Oh, players are going to want to go for it because they don't want to miss a spot on the Olympic team. And we know how political it can be with hockey Canada specifically about, well, they didn't do this tournament said no over here.

And so we're not going to have the bomb. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. See where that got hockey Canada with the world juniors with players not going to the Hulinka. Yeah. And Canada can't score at the world juniors. So here's the thought. The thought is that if the real prize, which it is, is the Olympics, perhaps the best case scenario and someone put in the chat, Jeff hates Canada.

It's pretty funny. I do get that. Put in the America in America. Maybe the best outcome for Canada Canada if you're cheering for Canada is for a Canadian loss and here's why. If Canada loses this thing they will be forced much like at the world junior level to make hard decisions and not emotional ones and not ones that are based on and not ones that are based on loyalty. Like if they, if Canada wins this tournament,

will there not be a feeling of run it back again with the same crew? I know Brad Marchand's gonna be 38 and Jude Oudy's gonna be whatever. Like if Canada loses, again, it's a better scenario for choosing Team Canada for the Olympics which is the bigger prize than the four nations face off. Agree disagree. Yeah, because you're thinking like auto bid. Like they win, it's just bang, you're on the team.

Like we need this whole team going back together. Can't change your winning line up, Zach. How many times did you hear that playing hockey growing up in AAA and the RMHA? Oh, can't change the winning line up. Sorry How many times did you hear that playing hockey growing up in AAA in the RMA? Oh, can't change a winning lineup. Sorry, your health bombed again. Yeah. I mean, I guess, yeah. Because I feel like at that point they start to overlook, hey, this guy's not actually

playing up to the standards of our Olympic hockey team and probably shouldn't be on it. Well, he won at the Four Nations, so we got to have him. Yeah. I am curious though And I'll put it push back on you. Do you not think that there would be like an organizational understanding within hockey Canada after what just happened at the World Juniors that even if you do win Hmm, like they can't sit around at the table and have the conversation Because I do agree and I think that that would have been more of a thing in years past but I wonder if that's changed now just based on what we just saw.

Pablo in the chat, Jeff is pushing a tank scenario for Team Canada. Seriously. No, I'm just saying like what's the best if you're a Canadian hockey fan. Eyes on the prize folks, Olympics, not the Four Nations face-off. Alright, coming up on today's show, we got a lot to get to and a couple of great guests that I'm really looking forward to talking to and with. Daily Outline presented by FanDuel, North America's number one sportsbook app provider and coming up on the program today, we've kind of already wagged our tongues about the Four Nations and don't forget Daily Face Off live tonight seven o'clock Eastern on our Daily Face Off YouTube channel live from Montreal

we will talk about officiating and this coming off a very disturbing piece of video that most if not everybody is seen by now in Seattle over the weekend where an angry parents ran on to the ice and assaulted a pair of officials who were 13 and 14 years old. So thought it might be a good idea and Dave Jackson is a board, former NHL referee, now NHL rules analyst for ESPN, and a real authority when it comes to this and he can speak to it because not only has Dave been through it himself but his son is a linesman in the NHL. He had another son who was an official and then left to go to law school and is now smarter than everybody

and a great guy. So we'll talk to Dave Jackson about this as well and just a sort of state of officiating and things that officials go through and I do have a couple of ideas that I want to float out there for how to actually try to make things better for officials in hockey. That'll work on both sides of the border. Also, here's my big question for Sarah Orlesky, who I think we've all admired for years, whether it's working with the Jets or working with TSN. She's one of the more brilliant broadcasters this country has. Delivers so well. Here's a question about the Winnipeg Jets. Sarah Orlesky. Are things great or really great?

Winnipeg Jets right now, the team that can do no wrong. Holy smokes. So they there's just some teams that, you know, you don't that they don't want to have a break at all they Just want to keep on rolling So we'll talk plenty about the Winnipeg Jets coming up with Sarah or Lesky as well winners of eight in a row heading into this break and You see Jamie been on the weekend Did you see Jamie banned the Dallas Stars against the San Jose Sharks more pacifically as we say in the Atlantic on Saturday

It was a beat down and the highlight for me and I can't stop watching it Zach you may be the same way and I can't stop laughing about it. Did you see the eighth goal of the game? Jamie Ben, breakaway, lazy wrist shot, scores scores zero celebration, one tiny little fist bump, doesn't go down the bench, no train, nothing, no circle Sally, nothing, sits his ass down and looks as grumpy as Jamie Ben has ever looked grumpy and that is often. I've told you before about my love of grumpy hockey players. You're Chris Prongers, you're Ryan Kessler, you're Nikita Kucherov. I love grumpy hockey players and Jamie Ben is right up around the top and

that to me was the highlight of the weekend. So we'll get into all of that and you know Dave Jackson is going to be joining us here in a couple of moments. NHL rules analyst for ESPN. You know, a really disturbing bit of video that we saw that came out either last night or early this morning. I saw it early this morning. And so it's, do we have the video in question? So we're all on the same page here, Zach, before we get...

Yes, we have Dave as well. We have Dave. Let's just bring Dave on and we'll sort of talk through this. And I do have some details and we are waiting for a statement. Oh, we have Dave as well. We have Dave. Let's just bring Dave on and we'll sort of talk through this. And I do have some details and we are waiting for a statement. Oh, hang on. So Snow King. Okay, so hang on.

So Dave Jackson joins me now, former NHL referee, now NHL rules analyst with ESPN. So Dave, first of all, thanks for joining me here today. I sort of wanted to do a, you know, not like, hey, Dave, whenever I have you on, it's always like, what would happen? Is this a penalty? Should this be a penalty? What's this call? I have you on it's always like what would happen is this a penalty should this be a penalty what's this call I don't want

to go through the sort of the minutia of officiating I just want to talk about like the human side of being an official but I do have some news to share so this is about the the game last night with the house league game in Seattle it's a 12-you game and a parent hit the ice and assaulted two young officials. One of them age 13, one of them age 14. I still haven't heard back whether the kids are okay, but I can tell you now the answer is no, because even if they're physically okay, they've just went through a scenario where they were assaulted by a grownup. So this is a game between Snow King and Seattle Junior

and Snow King has just released a statement. We're watching the video now, if you're watching the show. It's just, it's horrible, it's indefensible. There are some things we can say, well, you have to look at the motivation and the game situation. No, no, like some things are just black and white Let me just read this

Statement that has just come out from snow king. I just got this in my inbox We are deeply sorry learn of an incident at a local hockey game this past weekend at Kraken Community Iceplex KCI Involving a spectator and two officials the incident occurred during a youth hockey game involving a Snow King team. The individual was not a Snow King coach or volunteer. Snow King bylaws and spectator code of conduct expressly prohibit this type of alleged conduct, and we are collaborating with our state associate,

Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey governing bodies to review next steps. Snow King strongly believes there is no room for poor behavior from any person at youth sports that endanger players, coaches, and referees and has suspended this individual from Snow King ice arenas and any Snow King related events. That is from Wendy Rogers, development and marketing director of Snow King hockey. I've used up a lot of oxygen here Dave Thanks so much for joining me. You've seen the video

You have your own stories. I know your kids have their own stories as well. My brother-in-law is an official What went through your mind when you saw this video? Let's start there Well, Jeff, thanks for having me on. It's always a pleasure to be on with you. It brought back a lot of memories. I mean, first I saw it just made me sick. Barring the gentleman from the arenas is only the first step. He should be charged. I hope he's charged in a court of law. That's assault. It's not something that would be acceptable anywhere other than

on the hockey rink. And I just hope it's not acceptable there either. But it brought back memories. I can remember the first time, I mean, I started refereeing hockey when I was 14 years old. And when I was 17, I moved up to basically travel hockey. You went from my own city to the whole island of Montreal. And I refereed a bantam game. It was a three-man system. I was the referee with the Ardbans. I refereed a bantam game between two teams and it was a very hotly contested game. When the game ended, and this had to be 45 minutes after the game, I walked out the front door of the arena to be met by a group of 10 parrots who physically jumped me, all 10 of them, separate punching me over my head.

I was down on the ground. They were kicking me. We obviously got the police involved and I really don't think much came of it from the police. And I actually, I quit refereeing at that point. I told my mentor, a man named Doug Hayward, who has gotten a lot of NHL referees to the NHL. He was a supervisor. I told him I quit. I'm not doing this anymore. And he said, okay, I respect that. I understand that. But I'm going to call you back in two weeks just to make sure that's your final answer. And he gave me about two days, called me and said, come on, don't let this ruin a promising career. I'm glad I listened to him. I came back, but it was just,

it was a terrible experience to go through. And as you said, are they fine? Well, maybe physically they're fine, but that's gonna leave a scar. That's gonna leave a mental scar. I was almost 18 at the time. I was still pretty young, but I can't imagine that happening at 14

because I think that might've been my last game if that had happened. Those two players, by the way, I was told this afternoon are both players as well. Like this is very much, and this is the one thing that I wanted to get to. So those two players, those two officials rather, are also hockey players in youth hockey in Seattle.

As I go through this as a hockey parent with both my kids, like we've all seen horrible things. I've never seen anyone assault an official like you got assaulted, Dave, um, in men's league. I've heard stories, crazy stories. Again, my brother-in-law has told me plenty of stories that he's been involved in or heard from other officials about what has happened.

Um, but the thing that I've been trying to put forward, and I don't even know how you would administrate this, but I just know under the spirit of what's good for the game and what's healthy for youth hockey and what's healthy for grownups as well. Like let's be honest too, like there's like a whole other side of this with like diseased minds about venting your own petty frustrations at officials. I would love it if somehow USA Hockey and Hockey Canada could come up with a program where every single player who plays has to do essentially volunteer work. How would you describe it?

Has to officiate a certain amount of games every year. I think it would be good for the kids because they would see how hard it is to officiate a game. And two, it would be really good for the parents to sit in the stands and watch their kid officiate a game and hear other parents unload on their kids. I think like I have a hard time finding any holes in like, I know I'm looking at me, Oh, look, there's my navel.

I'm a my great idea. I'm sober, but I have a hard time finding anything negative about that scenario whereby part of your development as a youth slash minor hockey player, you have to also along the way officiate games. Could you get behind that? I could absolutely get behind that. I've said that for years. I think it should be part of your registration process.

I think you should be forced to referee, even if it's a handful of games, because I've talked to people my age who are great, much better occupiers than I ever was. They were on the plate D1 and some semi pro and they said, I, geez, I tried to refer a my kid's squirt game one time and I was getting yelled at by parents that I know and I'll never do it again. I never realized how hard a job it is. And I don't think people realize how hard a job it is.

The external pressure coming from all sides and it's a real eye-opener to get out there on the ice and now realize that all the things you complained about, now they're within your control. And you have that whistle and you go ahead and you do the job that you think you can do. And most people would fail miserably at it. And I think it would be a great idea. I also think one easy way, I shouldn't say nothing's easy, it's never going to stop completely.

Sure. But if I was a coach in the minor hockey league level, I think it would start with me not abusing officials. That doesn't mean you can't point out mistakes or yell at an official in time to time, but you need to have respect. So I think it starts with the coach and then I think it starts with a parent meeting saying, listen, I don't tolerate disrespect from myself, from my players. If I see or hear disrespect from the stands, then I'm taking it over on your kid and he'll

be benched. It might be tough for the kid, but listen, it starts at home. So if you, if the parents know we're not going to tolerate it from you. And if we do see it, it's going to impact your child. Maybe that might be the beginning of something. There's, it's interesting in this scenario, I was talking to someone this afternoon who's, let's just say around this story, and we're talking about the victims here, and the two most obvious victims

are the two young officials, the 13 and 14 year old, and this person brought up another point too and said like, look like that parents son who's in that game is also a victim here. All those kids that are on the bench that saw that are victims here and plenty of people that were in the stands having to see that are victims here.

Like this is one of those things that poisons the well for everybody and sort of, you know, moves along this idea of, you know what, maybe it's better at the youth slash minor hockey level. Maybe we don't have parents in the rink. Maybe there are just some games that are so hot. You know what, officials just say, you know what,

everybody out, everybody out of the pool, let the kids play. I think that's extreme. I don't think it's fair to be the parents and the kids that do manage their emotions. It's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. I just think you can't down everything down to the lowest common denominator. You have to just make the people accountable that need to be held accountable. And you know what? Kids quit refereeing. Like you said, kids quit refereeing or there's parents to see that, that, you know, the kid might come to them next year and say, I want to referee dad.

And he goes, not a chance. You're not referring because of stuff he's witnessed. And I think I think what a lot of, sorry, go on. No, no, no, please, please finish. Please. Well, I think, I think what a lot and not all, because there's some very good organizations both in Canada and south of the border. But I think what a lot of organizations neglect is paying money for supervision for officials

because this is an extreme case where two kids got assaulted. But this is a case where two kids, 13 and 14 years old, are being berated all night. They're being berated by both coaches. They're being berated by a bunch of parents. And they come up that ice with no supervisor in the stands. And they talk to each other and they say, geez, maybe we aren't very good. Maybe this is not for us. Whereas if there's a supervisor in the stands, some kind of mentor who comes in after the game and says, listen, guys, or girls, you did a great job. You did exactly what we asked of you. You called the penalties.

You had to call. You showed a lot of guts out there. You did what you had to do. And you guys are really good at this. I can tell you from experience, all that yelling and external stuff disappears. You've made the guy proud that it's your mentor and he's told you're doing a good job, you're coming back to that rate the next day.

Now imagine showing up to hockey in October with your parents and the parents asking, who's coaching Johnny this year? And the convener says, we're not gonna have coaches. We're just gonna give you a mini training camp. I think we're gonna throw the players out there and they say, no coach, let them figure it out on their own parents will be shaking their head losing their minds but that's what happens in a lot of cases with referees they get a preseason training camp

they get accredited and then they're out there on their own refereeing hockey games there's no support network and that but that costs money it's it's like it's like re-shingling the roof on your house it costs a lot of money and nobody really notices it, but if you don't do it, the house falls down. Do you have business insurance? If not, how would you pay to recover from a cyber attack, fire damage, theft, or a lawsuit? No business or profession is risk-free. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses, data breaches, and natural disasters. Get customized coverage today starting at $19 per month at ZenSurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. Just got a quick note, Dave, from someone there, confirmation that one of the two,

we don't know about the second kid, but one of those officials in question is, in quotations, physically fine. Just haven't heard about the second official, but one of them I'm told is physically okay, which is good news. Let me, I'll be blunt, Dave, let me personalize this for you. As the father of officials, we watch Ryan. I know that Shane officiated as well. What are, first of all, what did you say when they talked about wanting to become officials? Well, first off, my son Shane, the older son, he's almost 32 now, and he wanted to referee. He kind of thought it'd be cool to do. He played travel hockey, but he wanted to make some money on the side and referee. And he became a referee when he was 15, I think. He refereed for two or three years. Just a pretty high caliber hockey for his age.

And he decided, you know, it wasn't for him. A big part of it was the abuse from coaches and from parents. And he decided to go to law school, got his law degree, and now he's a NHLPA certified agent. And smarter than all of us too. It's talked to him as like, you're too smart for this, Shane. I actually have a funny anecdote about him refereeing, but my younger son had zero interest in refereeing. He wanted to play in the NHL. He ended up playing hockey in college.

He ended up playing semi-pro hockey for two years, realized he wasn't going to make the NHL and he took advantage of the NHL's officiating combine in Buffalo every year. Went to that, made an impression, spent a year in the American Hockey League as just a local linesman and then got signed to a minor league deal and now he's on a 50-50 NHL American league contract as a linesman. It's his third year now he's, you know, on a 50 50, uh, NHL American league contract as a linesman, it's his third year and he, I don't mean he's loving it. Um, but I think the abuse at the NHL level is much less, there's a lot more

external pressure, uh, the games mean a lot more, but the, the, the, the physical abuse just doesn't happen at that level. You know, one of the, know, one of the things, I guess this is probably true about other sports, although I don't know other sports the way that I know hockey. It's almost as if, as it comes to officiating now,

that it's sort of normalized behavior to have a go with officials, every single game. And you know, I believe you have a story about something going back to the Atlanta Thrasher days about people that you wouldn't expect just unloading on officials because, oh, that's what we thought hockey was all about. That's part of the scary thing here too. Well, exactly.

And Atlanta is not a traditional you know hotbed of hockey like Montreal, Toronto. So I mean they had just had their I mean they had the Atlanta Flames several years ago and then the Thrashters came back. First year of the Atlanta Thrashters season I was doing the game and first period ended and score was 0-. We had one minor penalty for tripping. So I mean, there was zero going on that game. Nobody was mad at anyone. No one was mad at me.

So I'm used to taking abuse from the fans and they pay their money. And as long as it's only verbal, that's their right to do that. But when you come into my house and try and abuse me, that's a little bit different. So here I come, I come skating off the ice where the Zamboni comes on and there's a rubber mat and just sort of standing one foot on the mat, there's this guy in a three-piece suit, very well dressed

and he's just giving it to me like vulgarities and he's yelling at me and telling me where to pull my head from and all that. And I'm sort of, I'm kind of running because you know, you come off the ice, you're gliding, you hit the mat, you take a few steps kind of running. I slammed the brakes on, I turned around and look, I turned to our security guy and I go, who is this guy? Like he's not in the stands, he's blocking my way to get to my room and he's just giving it to me. He goes, I don't know who he is, but what do you want me to do? I go, well, throw him out of the building. I mean, it's kind of extreme, but we're allowed to reject fans if we want. I said, get rid of this guy.

So I go in the room and I close the door. Having a Gatorade, there's a mock in the door about five minutes later. It's a security guy. He goes, listen, Dave, it's a really unique set of circumstances here. The guy in the suit was about to go on the ice to present like a large, large donation check for some children's charity. And he's like the vice president of this,

I won't even say the name of the company, very well known company. And he says, if he gets kicked out for this reason, it doesn't present the check, he's gonna get fired. I said, well, did you ask him why he was giving it to me so bad? And says, well, quote, it's my first hockey game ever. And all I know about hockey is people yell at the referees. So I just thought I was, I just thought I was being part of the game. That was his honest answer. He goes, I know nothing about hockey. And so I kind of laughed and I went, well, did he learn his lesson? You know, he's almost in tears. I said, well, then drop it and tell him to be better next time.

Right. But I mean, that's just sometimes the culture. Like they just see whether it's a blue baseball umpire or a striped referee. Like they just think it's their right to yell at the guy. Did I ever tell you what Crosby told me? Did I ever tell you this story, Dave? So this was, this is years ago. So I want to say this like five years ago at the NHL players tour before I was in, before they moved to Vegas, she used to be in Chicago every year. And I remember interviewing Crosby and I said, you know, not that I'm

trying to wrap up your career here, Sid, but when you look back at your career. Um, you know, we always think about the highlights and the trophies and the cups and all these types of things, gold medals, golden goal, all these things. What do you regret? And right away, you know what he said? He goes, if I could change anything, I'd go back and change the way that I talk to officials

when I was a rookie. He said, I was awful. He said, I've spent a lot of years apologizing in my career. I go, I started, I was terrible. And I've spent a lot of time saying, look, I'm sorry about how I behaved when I was 18 or 19 years old. Have you had many players come up to you as they get older? And once they start to realize just how difficult the gig is, come up to you and say, you know what, back when I was, you know, 20, I was a real

jerk. I'm sorry about that. You know what? Not so much from the past, but I'd had players come up to me later in a game after they behaved a certain way and apologize, right? I'd had players come after the game and apologize for what they said or possibly possibly the next game. It's funny you say with Sid because there were two things I remember about Sid.

One was a game in Buffalo and after a penalty-filled game in Buffalo and I called him for cross-checking which in my opinion was a blatant cross-check. And he disagreed, vociferously. He did not think he cross-checked this guy. And he was telling me to go look at it between periods and feel shame, basically. And then come back, come back know, basically apologize to him for that call and extended on the ice next period. And he was the first guy out before his team. He had a beeline to me with his head down and he just was shaking his head. He said, I watched the between

periods and I am, I am very sorry. Shouldn't have spoken that way. I deserve that penalty. And, you know, please forgive me. And, and I don't hold a grudge. And I thought that was very respectful. And then my final time ever refereeing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sid came over to me during one of the last commercial stoppages. And just he said a lot of nice things about our interactions through the years, which I was very sincere. And I never asked him for anything, but there's a knock on the door after the game and trainer came over came over with a stick signed by Sid with some very nice things written on the blade. I mean, he's just a class act.

So I never found him that bad when he came in the league, but he certainly made amends and he's one of the most, one of the class, he's just the most gentleman-like players that the league has. They're like it out. For sure. One of the things that I've, and I've felt this way for a long time. Curious your thoughts on this one. I think one of the reasons why people,

I'll just focus on the NHL here. Fans, players, coaches, feel comfortable unloading on officials is because they don't, it's gonna sound harsh, but I think you know what I'm getting at. They don't look at them as if they're human beings like everybody else. And what I wanna get to here is,

I think that the NHL would do a lot of good humanizing officials by doing one thing, and that's putting their names back. Putting the names back on the sweaters. You know, I go back and I watch a ton of hockey games, and I always loved the shot of, okay, here they're starting goalies, now let's meet the officials.

And it personalized them and it made them human, as opposed to just robots that are making calls that you feel you can unload on because you're not relating to them as Ron Hogarth. You're not relating to them as you know Finn or Chick or you know you're not related to D'Amico. Like you're not relating to them. Like they're like they're like they're people like you and me. Does that resonate with you or no? I've always felt that way that it's like everybody else gets a name, everybody else gets to have a nickname, I know that

everybody knows each other, but it's almost like the referees are sort of removed from that and you're not supposed to know their names. It's like this it's really it almost feels like really impersonal to me. Well I would say that's twofold. Whenever I lecture or teach at amateur hockey camps, I always tell the referees if they ever have a chance to go over and introduce yourself to the coach. I don't mean necessarily on the ice, could be in the lobby before the game having a coffee because I think a coach is less likely to yell at Jimmy than he is to yell at just a striped shirt. Yes.

And if he knows you personally, he knows he's now yelling at Jimmy and not just a robot in stripes. At the NHL level, I'm old enough to have started my career wearing my name on the back of my jersey. And that was the pinnacle of success for a young referee because growing up, nobody had names in their jerseys. It's just the NHL. You didn't have it in junior hockey. You didn't have it in triple-ed hockey. You had to wait to get to the NHL to get your name on the back of your sweater. So I had

it and when they took it off, it did disappoint me. I was very proud of that, but it didn't take long to realize that everybody still knew who I was. The fans, the players, the coaches, they all know your name. And being out there on the ice without my name on my back doesn't make me feel one bit less known than when I had my name on my back. Everybody, any player that's been in the league more than a year knows who you are. Okay, let me close with this. I've taken up so much of your time today. Um, and you're supposed to be on a break here.

It's the four nations. No one is America's dragging me on his show. Jesus. I'm trying to enjoy my day. Um, advice for young officials, like there's going to be a lot of, like everyone's going to see this, like I'm going to the rink here in about 20 minutes and everyone's going to be talking about this. Um, and this is going gonna be true of rinks

all across North America specifically. What's your advice to young officials that see that? Cause everyone's gonna see it. Players are gonna see it, parents gonna see it, and officials are gonna see that. Like young officials will see this. What does Dave Jackson say to them? Well, to the two officials involved,

I say, I just give you my sympathy and can't tell you how sorry I am that happened. It should never happen. It's inexcusable. But to them and the officiating community at large and to potential officials, do not let this temper your enthusiasm to become an official because being a hockey official is extremely rewarding. Not everybody gets into it to make the NHL. You can get into it to make a little bit of pocket money. You get exercise to stay in the game. And it's amazingly beneficial as a confidence

booster to people that might be a little bit timid and all that. You have to skate over to an adult and explain to them, this is your call. This is why you made that. But you have to skate over to an adult and explain to them, this is your call, this is why you made it, and you're gonna have to live with it, sir, and skate away. That's the freedom that gives you, both emotionally and mentally. I think it does wonders to boost your self-confidence.

It really, really does. And to all the adults out there, thank you to the ones that are that are great supportive adults. And for the ones that are just be better. This is disgraceful. And there's no place in hockey or in society for this type of behavior. You're the best. I've said it before. I'll say it again. And if the chat's saying it, Randy Workman, Dave Jackson is

terrific. Yes, Randy, we all agree. Thanks, pal. I really appreciate you jumping on today and a pretty difficult day in the officiating community and for all of hockey really. This is just exclusive to officials. Like you, I hope those kids are okay. It sounds like one is at least physically, but at the point about mentally, man, the effects of this will be wide reaching. Thanks for sharing your expertise as always, Dave. We really appreciate it. Anytime, Jeff. Thanks. Thanks.

Do you have business insurance? If not, how would you pay to recover from a cyber attack, fire damage, theft, or a lawsuit? No business or profession is risk-free. Without insurance, your assets are at risk from major financial losses, data breaches, and natural disasters. Get customized coverage today starting at $19 per month at ZenSurance.com. Be protected. Be Zen. There he is, the great Dave Jackson. Former NHL referee, you can see his son Ryan

still in the NHL, but not Shane. He's gone to law school and he's like smarter than everybody now. I always appreciate Dave stopping by. And yeah, like it's gross. We've all seen it. There's no even coming close to defending it you know one of the things that someone mentioned to me um because we wonder

like what would what would make a parent do that to jump on the ice like that to to assault um to assault an official and someone who was there told me that the parent in question um, was upset that his kid got kicked out of the game for fighting. Just let the irony of that sink in. Okay. To happier things. Uh things Sarah Orlesky, Jets reporter joins me now on the sheet the maiden voyage one of our favorites as the Winnipeg Jets Sarah I'm guessing did not want this break at all thank you very much you talk about like

galloping into a break that's what the Winnipeg Jets are doing first of all I know you're super busy sports mom thanks for parking time you and I are both sports ubers so we're we're simpatico that way. I'm guessing Winnipeg didn't want this break or did they? Well I think it comes at a good time for them actually Jeff so in terms of momentum probably not because they've won eight of their last ten games they've won eight straight obviously they're sitting on top of the NHL standings right now in terms of wins and points. But I think that this break comes at a good time

in order to try to get some guys healthy. They've been without Adam Lowery over this eight game win streak. They haven't had Morgan Barron. They've got some other guys that are dealing with some bumps and bruises. And I think just mentally as well, people need this break. It has been such a grind and I'm sure, you know, it's been that way for every team so

far and you've probably heard so many different people comment on it. Just this constant playing every other night schedule that they have had, I think, has really taken a lot of them. I know I was really looking forward to the breaks. I can only imagine how much players were, because the every other night games were, you know, we're taxing, I think, on everybody. So, yeah. So I think that in that sense, it comes at a good time. The question will be obviously, can they maintain that momentum, pick it back up or when things return in a couple of weeks? No team is perfect.

We all know that. And if I was going to sort of, you know, pick things apart here with the Winnipeg Jets and really try to, you know, sharpen the pencil on what they need, I'd say like, oh, they need a second line center. And then I say to myself, well, you know what, Namesikov's been really good. Like he's been really good in that spot.

Like Sarah, you're a lot closer to it. You're there, the games, the practices, all of it. The meeting, the talking to the players, the coaching staff. Based on what you've seen, heard and how well you know this organization, put yourself in the brain of Kevin Chevaldeoff here. What do you think he's thinking about perusing, investigating in advance of trade deadline for this team that's not slowing down.

No, and I think that Nemesnikov has done a really good job. We've heard him ever since he's arrived in Winnipeg being described as that Swiss Army knife that's been able to be utilized in a variety of different spots up and down the lineup. And he certainly, he's done a good job with that second line. That second line you know which typically has had Colport, Feddy and Nikolai Ehlers on it has gone through their ebbs and flows certainly this season. Sometimes where they haven't been able to produce offensively and you've been looking for more from them. We saw when Nemesnikov went out Adam Lowry got pushed up into that role so I I wouldn't be surprised

and I feel as if every trade deadline, since this team has rarely returned to Winnipeg, we've always said that they're looking for depth down the middle, someone that can fill that second line role. It wouldn't surprise me if that's something that they are still looking at, but if you're not able to find it, this is a team that has played so well

this season as a team. They have gotten contributions across the board and it seems that wherever they've had to put players in to deal with injuries or if they've tried to shake things up just because, you know, in small spurts the offense hasn't been going, guys have been able to step up and fill that void. Do I think that if you're looking at a long playoff run, would you like more depth down the middle? Yes, because if something happens to Nemesnikova, Lowry, Ashaifli, I don't think that they have

the depth there that you would want for a long term or a long playoff run that they're obviously hoping to have this spring. Okay, let me have a hockey hipster conversation with you here. When the attention turns to the Winnipeg Jets, like listen, Halibuck takes a lot of the oxygen out of the room, and rightfully so. Like the guy's going to be fantastic, right? Having a Hall of Fame career. And Mark Shafely takes a lot of the oxygen out of the room as well, and for good reason, and Josh Morrissey, et cetera.

But when I get my hockey hipster on, I like talking about Dillon Sandberg as like the one guy who doesn't get, you know, we've talked about the one guy who doesn't get the headlines, doesn't get it, etc. If you're gonna have a hockey hipster conversation about the Winnipeg Jets, what, who does Sarah Orlesky turn to? Is it Dylan Samberg or is that there an even greater hockey hipster conversation to be had on the Winnipeg Jets? The one player that everybody's missing out on, the band that no one's heard. Well I think that Samberg certainly, I mean, is a great choice to fill that role because of what he's meant to this team. You know, last year,

so he was in the third pairing role, there's the questions about what was going to happen with Brendan Dillon when he didn't re-sign with the Jets and who was going to fill in on that second pairing left side. And the expectation was that it was going to be Sandberg. That was going to be his spot really to lose. But you still don't know exactly how he's going to make that transition because you're not just talking about the additional minutes. And I mean, they're substantial compared to what he was playing in the, you know,

on that third pairing and he has the penalty kill responsibilities, but it's, it's not just to me, the minutes, it's also the opposition that he's going up against, right? You're not sheltering him in that third pairing. He's going up against a lot of the top six players on the opposing teams and the expectations were great for him. And he has met all of them. I think that he has made such a smooth transition into it.

And Scott O'Neill has been asked about it throughout this season, just is there anything that surprised you about it? Because even though people felt this was what he was being groomed for to take that next step and it was inevitable it was going to happen, it just seems to have gone smoothly and there's sections of the season where he's being sidelined. You know, he broke a bone in his foot blocking a shot and so he was out of the lineup for a while and you just notice the difference in the group, the impact that it had not having him in that lineup on the penalty kill.

He will go out there and I mean, he throws himself in front of any puck there and just that stabilizing piece because not only did he impact special teams and you had to again, move players up the lineup and play more minutes than perhaps they're used to. He has been a great pairing with Neil Pionk. Those two, they'd known each other for years.

They grew up in the same part of Minnesota and so the same town. And so they're Hermantown, Minnesota boys. And so they've known each other forever. And so the chemistry that they've had, they just work so well. So I thought that when Dylan was out of the lineup, not only did it impact the blue line, it specifically impacted what we saw from Neil Peonk too. So he's been great and he is a great character. He's just, Samberg is a funny guy, Jeff. I don't know how much you've had the opportunity to talk to him. Oh yeah.

But he's got a great personality. He's got a great personality with him too. I mean, just even around the room with what he is. So, but he's one a great personality. He's got a great personality with him too. I mean, just even around the room with what he is. But he's one that certainly, I think a lot of people outside this market, or if you don't pay a lot of attention to the Winnipeg Jets yet, then you wouldn't be familiar with what Samberg's done. But he's definitely, to me, he's made the biggest jump this season.

How great is Eric Comrie? Just from a personality point of view, the net-minding off the side, it's funny too, whenever I play clips of Eric Comrie, I'm just like, he's going to take all of our jobs if he decides that he wants to do media when he's done. How about this? I just did, I was actually, I'm just editing a feature on him right now. And so I had asked him about, he made a comment about one day, joining the broadcast. And I said, Oh, would you like to get into media when you're finished playing? And he goes, Yeah, maybe. I just don't know if I'd have enough to say. And we just, I

don't think incredibly and his wife was with us as well. And his wife goes, I don't think that's an issue. We should have said is like, Yeah, I don't think you could afford the pay cut is more like it, Eric, for crying out loud. 100% fit. You know what, he has been so, and I've, so he has been so great as well for the room and for years. So Eric Comrie's come and gone throughout this Jets organization many times over, right?

Whether it be on waivers or he signed back as a free agent this summer. And every time he comes back, right? Whether it be on waivers or he signed back as a free agent this summer. And every time he comes back, everyone is so happy, not only from the community relations side and the foundation sides because of the work that he does within the community, but in the room because he doesn't really have a bad day, it seems, in terms of his personality. He's always smiling, he's gregarious. And that was something Paul Maurice used to talk about. It's impossible to not be happy when you're around Eric Comrie and he and Connor Hellebuck are very close

friends and they just, they're kind of a yin and yang in terms of personality, at least outwardly what you see, but they compliment each other so well. And for he has done, I think he's done a great job under the tutelage of Wade Flaherty. He speaks so highly of him. Even though his results haven't always been there, I don't put that on Eric. For so long, he went through a stretch of eight games where he was just getting no rent support from the Jets. Oh, so bad. It was so bad.

It was just... You know what? When they would lose when he was a net, it wasn't that they lost. You just look at everyone and they go, oh, poor Eric, because he'd play well and you just, you know, as the goal you're going to wear it and he shouldn't have been. And so we also joked around that, you know, with so many close friends, Mark Shieffley and Josh Morrissey are two of his closest friends. And I said, do you ever go to them and say, hey, just a little bit of help here this week? I mean, we're supposed to be best buds here.

Could you, do you think maybe you could pot one in the back of the net for me? Nice. Just kindly, you know, for you. Oh yeah, exactly. You know, you guys are averaging almost four goals a game as a team when I'm not in that any chance you could help out of it. But he's back, you know, he's when his last couple starts and no, he's just being an absolute gem

and his honesty is incredibly refreshing whether you're talking about a netminder or just a player in general. Okay, you've got sports mom duty, but I want to close with this. It wasn't that long ago that everybody in Manitoba was taking back their empties, checking under every cushion to find every quarter to make sure that Barry Trotz was going to be the coach and it seemed like Manitoba turned itself upside down. They're offering cars and free food and never have to buy a beer and everything. The whole province just wanted, you know, the old Regina Pat defenseman, you know, Manitoba's own Barry Trotz to join the mix.

Where is the province of Manitoba at? Now, you got to go on re-signing Kyle O'Connor. Is everyone taking their empties back and making sure there's enough money for Kyle O'Connor because this contract is going to be and should be a whopper here? Well, I think a lot of people are probably pretty happy to see that the salary cap was going to be going up. Big time. That was certainly good news.

If you're looking at it from a Jets fan perspective and what you're, and I'm sure from Kevin Sheveldayoff's too, just in terms of some of the options that you have. Yeah, you definitely want to sign Kyle long-term. As much as there's the talk sometimes about the Jets and players, you look at the success that Kevin Sheveldayov has had signing, resigning, a number of his big stars, obviously most notably recently, Connor Hellebuck and Mark Shiefly. And the chemistry that that top line has, especially this season with Kyle Shiefly and then Gabriel Velarde, it's been great.

And you know what? I think that, yeah, It's been great and you know what I think that yeah he's certainly someone that you want to see this core remain together when you've got a players locked up long term that you do. He is obviously the next big piece and he's one that I think even though everyone knows how how skilled he is what he brings to team I think also he's still someone that flies maybe a little bit under the radar just in terms of overall notoriety, just because he's such a quiet guy. You don't see a lot from him out in the media,

but you certainly see the highlights from him and what a season he's been having. And the Jets are obviously hoping that when they return late February that he's able to pick up where he left off and that that line is because you need your best players to be at their best. And they certainly have been for the Jets so far this season. Pucks on a stick puck goes in. Okay. Sports mom, your next job awaits. I know you got a hard out. You're the best. Always appreciate your contributions.

Be well, enjoy a break knowing full well that in Sarah Orlesky's world there is no such thing as a real break. You be well, we'll check back soon. Thanks Sarah. Okay I look forward to it anytime Jeff. Thanks for having me. There she is, the great Sarah Orlesky joining us here made in voyage on the sheet. Yeah Winnipeg looks great you know I'm so happy for that organization, those fans, those players. You just like I know that they're one of those teams act much like you're trying to make beliefs Where the questions are not in the regular season the questions are all in the playoffs And I just really hope that you know, this could be that year for the Winnipeg Jets Like have a deep run, you know, let your mind

Race off with the idea well we won the Avco Cup in the WHA once upon a time Stanley Cup would look good anyhow wish for good things with the one effect Jets and thanks to Sarah Orlesky as always for stopping by one of the best people that this industry has I've always maintained if there are more people like Sarah Orlesky in our business what a great place it would be anything from either Dave Jackson or industry has. I've always maintained if there are more people like Sarah Orlesky in our business, what a great place it would be. Anything from either Dave Jackson or Sarah Orlesky you found particularly salient or were you just arguing with people in the chat?

No, I was just reading the chat. It's interesting with the Dave Jackson conversation because we have a lot of cool guests come on this show. And I think one of the things that I often find myself thinking feeling is a lot of the times in line with the chat where it's like, that's really cool. We never get to hear that. We never get to see that. I didn't know that. The Dave Jackson conversation is very different because in many ways, I'm sure most, if not all of us watching myself being a part of this, you doing the show, everybody in hockey, around hockey has had experiences with referees. Whether you're mad at them, whether you've seen people be mad at them, whatever.

Everyone has had those kinds of experiences and sometimes having it humanized is probably the right word to describe it. Humanized these people as like they're just not referees. They are Kids or you know teenagers who are refereeing these situations puts a lot of it into perspective a lot of times You ever tried it look I you ever tried officiating No, and I had no interest whether it was getting abused or like just worry of making mistakes I'd rather not be on that side of things.

So it was something that I never had interest in. I had my fair share of experiences getting pissed off at referees while playing the game, whether it was lacrosse or hockey. And then you hear something like that and you kind of go, oh yeah, like, whoops, like, I get it and shouldn't have said or done those things and it was just kind of interesting watching the chat there kind of experience that listening to Dave as well at the same time. Do you think that there's anything to the idea at the NHL level, even though everybody

already knows who the officials are, the way that, and I think we all know like when the referees went on strike and then the NHL took the names that, and I think we all know like when the referees went on strike and then the NHL took the names off the jersey, try to make them like automatons and robots, like that was done deliberately, right? Oh, okay, well, no more personality for these guys. I really do think that that did a disservice to officials because even if something is putting your name on your back,

it does add a human element and a reminder that these people are human beings. As if you needed a reminder to begin with, you degenerates, like these are human beings. And in the case of what happened in Seattle over the week, and these are children. And the other thing that I wanna get to here, I'm gonna have a lot of time for,

one day I wanna do a big thing on minor slash youth hockey here, part of the, I still maintain and this is not, and this is not going to be popular. Like I know full well I'm going to say this and then right away it's going to be f you Merrick. I don't care. I'm at a place in my life where I don't care. I think that there's a real problem in youth hockey and minor hockey in the parking lot in the backs of trunks with alcohol and parents having a few drinks before they go watch their kids play and Then just feel loose enough to start unloading

because they've just spent that you drop you get off an hour before so they can do warm-up activation all those things and the parents go and drink in the parking lots and then come in and are loose and hockey's a flow game hockey's a very emotional game hockey's a violent game and You see the worst come out of people and I don't think that in a situation like that Alcohol makes anything better as a matter of fact, it makes everything worse. And that doesn't get checked at all. You know, my kids have been on teams where the parents will drink, will do bus trips, and the parents will be like, not just drinking, but like doing jello shots.

And I'm just sitting there like, what are you freaking, what are you doing? What's wrong with you pre gaming the peewee hockey pre I know pretty much pregaming the utens going to Kingston got a pregame what got a two and a half hour bus ride let's go who's got the job what are we doing here what are we doing here it's it's it's embarrassing and again I really hope those kids are okay even though I know What are we doing here? What are we doing here? It's embarrassing. And again, I really hope those kids are okay, even though I know they're not.

Physically they might be okay. I'll just say quickly on it, because you brought up the idea of the refs having it. I think it helps to an extent, there's still going to be the people who are going to go nuts are still going to go nuts. And I mean, honestly the other thing I would point out would just be like, someone I see who takes it a lot online

would be like Wes McCauley. You know, Wes makes a call and you take, go to Twitter, Jeff, search up his name after there's a call on online and it's, you know, shut the F up, stop doing the entertaining stuff and worry about officiating. And it's like, well, dude, the guy cross checked him in the teeth.

That's probably a penalty, you know, like you can calm down here, but people still do it even if well dude the guy cross checked him in the teeth that's probably a penalty you know like you can calm down here but people still do it even if they know the guy's name I would a hundred percent agree that it's more it would be more effective at the youth level though I think that makes it a kid with the name on his jersey or like a 16 year old with the name on the jersey maybe alleviate some of that pressure a little bit more where the parents are like yeah that's not just some kid wearing stripes that's Merrick out there reffing tonight's game.

Yeah screw that guy. That guy doesn't know his ass from page 6. Wrist watch, Merrick doesn't have a clue. Also Laz in the chat have me laughing. What's Laz doing now? You're talking a serious conversation I see Laz in the chat have me laughing. Laz, you're talking a serious conversation. I see Laz in the chat. I used to ref roller hockey. A 12 year old told me I was an effing moron.

I tossed him out and he cried. It was awesome. I just want to see the 12, just want to meet the 12 year old and shake that young man's hand. Like what? I'm like, what? Uh... Alright, lad.

Thanks, bud. Alright, a couple of things here as we, uh, that's really good. A couple of things here as we wrap things up. No games tonight. No games until Wednesday. But a couple of things to talk about still. I want to remind you, FanDuel,

a partner of this program, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments of the year. No games until Wednesday. But a couple of things to talk about still. I want to remind you FanDuel, a partner of this program, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments that matter to them. And tomorrow, Zach, here's our job. We're going to try to get excited

about the Four Nations. It's going to be a challenge for you and me. We're going to try to drum it up. We're not going to drum it up, alright? We're not gonna fake it, right? We're not gonna be like, we're rights holders and everything's great. Like, no, no, no, no, no. We're gonna really try to care about this thing.

And who knows? Maybe by the time Wednesday rolls around, we will. So here's your schedule. Wednesday, Canada against Sweden. Eight o'clock Eastern. Get excited. Thursday, USA against Finland, eight o'clock Eastern, get excited. Right?

This is our job. This is our goal. We're going to get excited about this. And then Saturday we get an afternoon game. All right. Sweden, Finland, they don't like each other. Zach, let's get excited. You and me get excited

about that game. And then there's the anthem game. USA versus Canada at 8 o'clock before the venue shifts to TD Garten in Boston. All these other games are at the Bell Center. And at Greta Bar YYZ watch party. Nick and myself. Yeah, I know you'll be excited there and possibly Well lubricated as well. Maybe like yelling at officials youth hockey parents An hour and a half in the parking lot while your son or daughter does their activation Before the game we're gonna get excited about all of this Zach. That's gonna be our goal for tomorrow I do want to remind you, speaking of Foreignations, Daily Face Off Live, hitting the road.

They're in Montreal, live on location from Foreignations. Exclusive coverage right from the tournament, starting today, all the way to the 20th. Tonight's show is seven o'clock Eastern at our Daily Face Off YouTube channel. Live shows every weekday. Daily Face Off Live on location from Four Nations, February 10th to 20th. They're turning Tyler Yeremchuk loose in both the cobblestone streets of Montreal and Boston.

Zach. Yep. Tyler Yeremchuk. Now, we talked about some heavy stuff on the show here today And I wanted to get that official stuff into and as more information becomes available We'll pass it on both on this show or social channels, etc. I Want to end with something funny we started the show talking about Jamie Ben and damn it. We're gonna end the show talking about Jamie Ben I

Love grumpy hockey players. I love them. Older I get, the more I appreciate Stadler and Waldorf. The old Muppets. That's what I appreciate. That's who I'm here for. That's what I love. And maybe this is just a case of like, ah they just had the rookie party and he just wants to go home. It's the end of a three game road trip and Jamie Ben just wants to go home. To me, this is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. To me, this is the funniest thing I've probably seen all season long. And I'm glad that our good buddy, former coach of the kitchen Rangers, former U17 coach team, Canada, Troy Smith made a video for his hockey IQ.

Can I call it a school? I guess I can. He's doing sessions for his hockey IQ. Can I call it a school? I guess I can. He's doing sessions for his hockey IQ videos. Made a video of Jamie Ben after scoring the eighth goal in the game against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and did something that's now become so envious to me that I would just you know some things happen in hockey and just like, oh wow man, I wish I could have done that. I wish I could have had this Jamie Ben celebration. What do we have, Zach? What do we got? Just so you know, I have the video of the celebration. I did put the link to the Vitroys video

in the description because we're having some audio issues with that one going through. But it's in the description. but here's the Jamie Ben Cole Jamie Ben on the breakaway left-hand shot comes in scores celebration nope train nope to the bench and sit out to the bench and sit down I don't know why that's so funny to me nothing along the bench no stop so I just he skates right to the bench and sits his ass down I think I've watched that thing like 50 times since Saturday how many times have you watched that Jamie Ben sit your ass down video?

Yeah, I think like between 40 to 50 is probably a good number. When you told me about it, I sat watching it like over and over and over again and just couldn't stop laughing because the other thing I brought up to you was, you know, I like the videos where the guy scores in a shootout or overtime and they skate straight off the ice. This far surpasses that for me. Like you sat on the bench during the game. It was like looking like there's six minutes too long left in this game. It's 8-3.

How about the laziest wrist shot too? Just like pfft. Oh yeah. Like all of it. The lazy wrist shot. Like just watch it again. Like it comes in like alright break away. I guess we're still playing. Boop.

Okay, a little fist bump along the way. Just sit down. So we're done. Can we go now? Can I just get to the towels and the oranges in the room please? I'm just so done with it. I'm good to go thanks for having me we're out of here. It's awesome. Alright and that's it for us. Anything we leave on the table today are we gonna

pick it up tomorrow? I want to talk about the Bruins tomorrow. No. Morning Cup of Hockey I talked to Billy Jaffe about some Boston Bruins stuff and I want to talk more about about the Bruins tomorrow. Yes, for sure. One thing I want to throw out there to people is we just played this Jamie Ben video throughout the week here as we've got Four Nations and hockey stuff. Tweet at us, tweet at us, DM us, whatever it is, however it's easiest for you. At the Sheet Hockey on all platforms, make sure to check us out there. Send in hockey videos that make you laugh. Tag us, tweet us, whatever. DM me personally, however it works best for you.

I wanna show them during this week, next week, however it goes, we'll spread them out. Send them to us. Because, you know, there's four nations. There's not that much hockey going on. Even as we try to get excited, Jeff. We're gonna get excited about it. We're gonna get into it.

Yes, send those. Because I want to play them on it. We're going to get into it. Yes. Send those because I want to play them on the show here and Jeff and I can have a laugh. Maybe we've seen them, maybe we haven't, but what makes you laugh? The other thing I'm going to throw out here, which maybe this will make you laugh as well. I do have some bets for the Four Nations.

These are not advice, but I want to hear what people think because I see Laz gets roasted by his chat for his bets all the time. Here's what I've got, okay? You're gonna notice a theme. I have Sweden to win the Four Nations at plus 450. I have William Nylander to be the top point scorer on Sweden at plus 500.

I have William Nylander to be the tournament's top goal scorer at plus 2000. Oh, Smos, get the lead one. I have William Nylander to be the tournament's top goal scorer at plus 2000. Oh, get the lead line. I have William Nylander to be the top goal scorer. I have William Nylander to cure cancer after he reinvents oxygen. Flavored oxygen is next. Oh, this new oxygen is minty. I want to thank William Nylander for that, according to Zach.

So Nylander tournament top goal scorer plus 2000. Nylander tournamentnament Top Goal score plus 2,000. Nylander Tournament Top Point score plus 3,000. And Sweden to get nine plus points in the tournament plus 900. So they would have to win all three round robin games because you get three plus for regulation wins in those. Taking some long shots, taking some swings, and these are not advice, but those are the bets I've got. I wanted to get them out of the way here before the tournament starts. Can I tell you something?

Yeah, you don't like it? He'll never love you back. That's okay. He'll never love you back, Zach. No matter how hard you try, he'll never love you back. Just like hockey. He'll never love you back. Yes. Hockey will never love you back. One of the most disappointing things was I

Kneel enters probably like my favorite player on the Leafs just in terms of you know, I feel like he shows up all the time I love his swag his energy all that The Amazon or the yeah Amazon documentary that came out. I Happen to be in it. I'm in it for 10 seconds talking what? Yes, it's me saying, where is William Nylander? Why do we not know anything about this? And I'm like, no. The one thing I get grabbed for.

You're roasting William Nylander. And the context of it isn't even me being like mad at Nylander. It's like, it was about why has the team not said anything, but that's the clip that goes in there. It's like, where is at Nylander, it's like, it was about why has the team not said anything, but that's the clip that goes in there, is like, where is William Nylander? Why have we not heard anything? And I watched it and I was like, are you kidding me? The one clip he's gonna hear me saying anything is that?

Yeah. It is what it is. That's gonna be a good story. One day when you sit down and talk to Willie Nylander. We should have him on the show and you can just break in and say, Willie, Willie, I gotta hold on a second here before- Just so you know. Just so you know, man, remember that like Amazon thing like that?

You don't understand the context, man. And you know what Willie's gonna say? He has no idea. I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. Yeah, exactly. That's what he's gonna say. Yeah, I figured yeah is whatever all right so yeah send in your video oh by the way Zach and I were

talking about this yesterday I don't know if you got anywhere on it but one of the funniest things I ever saw in hockey you didn't fight you can't find it there is a long-looking Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs game this would have been when Babcock was coaching the Maple Leafs call a timeout everybody huddles around the bench and Zdeno Chara skates into the middle of it and just stands there listening to Babcock as nobody does anything. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. I'm trying to the video. I've been trying for years and it's never popped up if You know where I can find it

Yeah, I tried so hard. I'm on it. Yeah, we're trying to find this thing It's one there's another one with Brian Giante. It was char grabbed him by the helmet loops and started dragging Yeah, that was that was a funny char has done a lot of funny things in his time And a lot of dangerous things too. Okay, that's it for us on behalf of Zach Merrick wrapping things up here Thanks for our guest today the great Sarah or Lesky and the great Dave Jackson. Thanks for joining us tomorrow's Tuesday So that's a wish day wishes tomorrow, correct? Zacharoo. He's a Doesn't have to preempt for four nations or anything. He's still good to go Yes, I'm checking in with Wish today.

Okay, sounds good. In the meantime, whatever you do, like you got a free night. You got to go night. Go! Have fun! There's no hockey again, as far as NHL hockey really, until the NHL tournament begins on Wednesday. So enjoy a couple of days.

Don't forget Daily Face Off Live, 7 o'clock Eastern, right here at our Daily Face Off YouTube channel. We'll talk to you in about 23 hours. How about that? Have a great rest of your day. Thanks for the chat! I can't get out my head, lost all ambitions day to day Guess I can call it a ride I went to the dark man, he tried to give me a little medicine I'm like, nah man, that's fine I'm not against those methods, but no It's me, myself and Alice gonna be fixing my mind

So you wanna break it? I turned on the music I do wanna break it I turned on the music It's enough, enough, I don't get you sometimes, you get Helping on the days that went wrong Do you have business insurance? If not, how would you pay to recover from a cyberattack, fire damage, theft, or a lawsuit? No business or profession is risk-free.

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