The Sheet with Jeff Marek - Oil Strikes Back ft. Gardiner MacDougall, Landon DuPont, Matthew Schaefer, and Dan MacKenzie

Episode Date: June 13, 2025

Live from the CHL Awards in downtown Toronto, Jeff Marek brings you a special edition of The Sheet, breaking down a wild Game 4 that saw the Oilers pull off a massive comeback win in overtime - capped by a clutch goal from Leon Draisaitl. Jeff reacts to the chaos and momentum shift in the Stanley Cup Final while welcoming a parade of CHL stars who stop by the set ahead of the awards show. It's a jam-packed episode full of NHL drama and Canadian hockey’s rising talent, all from the heart of downtown Toronto.#TheSheet #JeffMarek #CHLAwards #CHL #StanleyCupFinal #Game4 #LeonDraisaitl #Oilers #NHLPlayoffs #HockeyTalk #NHL #HockeyCanada #JuniorHockey #OvertimeWinner #HockeyShow #LiveFromTorontoShout out to our sponsors!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Ninja Kitchen Canada: https://www.ninjakitchen.ca/products/ninja-crispi-4-in-1-portable-glass-air-fryer-cooking-system-zidFN101CGY?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=olv&utm_campaign=25Q2-Crispi&utm_content=en👍🏼Budweiser: https://www.budweiser.ca/ca_enReach 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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Thanks for joining me here today on the sheet and no, I have not slept yet. Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta to Toronto to right now. So you'll have to excuse the Louis Vuitton's that I'm wearing underneath my eyes. Today folks are getting the coffee shop look. But nonetheless, thanks so much for joining me here today and we have a number of great CHL guests coming up here over the next 60 minutes or so. Gonna talk a little bit here to start off the program though about the Edmonton Oilers last night and the star of the show Leon Dreisle with the overtime winner, the overtime

heroics and now the series is a best two out of three. Before we get to our daily outline here, and I want Zach to hop on and chime in on this one too, I want to read to you a text I got from a former Edmonton Oilers teammate of Leon Dry Cytl, a text that I got from him last night after Leon Dry Caitl scored that goal. Let's admire 29's ability to sneeze and score at the same time. The hand of God guides this man's stick and he's just so sassy doing it. This guy just sneezes a puck at the net. Everything on his banana blade is just a and here's the money line everything on his banana blade is just a, and here's the money line, everything on

his banana blade is just a magnet to hell for goalies. He's incredible. What do you think about that line? Everything on his banana blade is a magnet to hell for goalies. Yeah I mean he was trying to pass it. He was trying to pass on the final backhand, one hand, guarding the puck outside, fires it towards. And then my favorite part of that text, the sassy. It was sassy. How he passed it was sassy. His celebration was sassy.

Everything about it was sassy. The pod Coleson pass was great. You know, I'll tell you what, there's something there with dry saddle, pod Coleson and Perry. We'll see what happens as the venue shifts now to Edmonton on Saturday night but hands up who thought this thing was done after the Florida Panthers went up three Cobb. And I expect all of your hands to be up at the same time as well that's right Nick Corollie in the back when you got your hand up too. Like this has been like normally by the time you get to this they when you get to the Stanley Cup final, we're usually very kind to it because guys are tired, guys are beaten up and

the quality of hockey deteriorates as the playoffs go on. We all know the first round is always the best. That's a story that's been told as long as there's been frozen water and rubber pucks. But this series, and even in the blowouts, this series has been incredible drama and incredible theater and it almost feels like almost like operatic in some senses because we're not just watching games, we're watching dramas. Like you're watching like you're watching like Elizabethan Shakespearean theater here and I am King Curtain and getting there

there's like tragedy and violence and euphoria and twists and turns this has been hands-down One of the best Stanley Cup finals we've seen in a long time I always judge Stanley Cup finals by 1987 Edmonton or there's in the Philadelphia Flyers But so far this one as far as drama and quality of play might be right there with it. It has been outstanding. Alright, so let's get to what we have on the program here today live from the Delta Hotel in downtown Toronto. Daily Outline powered by FanDuel. Make every moment more with North America's number one sportsbook FanDuel. And coming up on the program today in a couple of moments Gardner McDougal, I can't wait for this,

Gardner McDougal is gonna stop by here. The head coach of Moncton and the CHL in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League, who just won the CHL's Coach of the Year. He will be aboard, land in DuPont, who you'll be hearing plenty of come 2027 draft. The Rookie of the Year in the CHL, he will stop by Matthew Schaeffer, whose name you're going to hear in about 10 days or so. Matthew Schaeffer, the you're gonna hear in about you know 10 10 days or so

Matthew Schaeffer the defenseman of the year in the CHL. He's going to stop by he'll be first overall folks Let's face it Dan McKenzie the president of the CHL will stop by as well We'll talk about the CHL Awards themselves, and we'll also talk a little bit more about Game four as we stand by for Gardner McDougal Have we seen the last of Stuart Skinner safe Safe to say that this is Calvin Pickard's net now period. And what a story this has been. I mean he was a second round pick at the Colorado Avalanche. His brother

Chet Pickard was a first round draft pick and it seems as if there was a yellow brick road out in front of him. Calvin banged it out in the minors here and there in the NHL. game here a game there and we always talk about players that are being players that are resilience and don't quit like these are the these are the players we should be lauding this is why we love sports it's for stories like Calvin Pickard you know I know I might have might be in the minority on this one but I was one of those guys that didn't ever want Peter Forsberg to retire.

You know, wanted Peter Forsberg to always try to find that magic boot that fits. As everybody around the NHL was screaming, oh, he's diminishing his reputation. Oh, think of the legacy. To me, the legacy of Peter Forsberg was the guy that didn't quit. As long as someone was going to give him a job, he was going to keep on playing hockey. Maybe that's one of the reasons why we're really learning to love Corey Perry here. He doesn't want to see him slow down either. But the one thing about hockey, and really the one thing about all sports in a lot of

ways, it always gives you a reason to quit. And I can't help thinking that this game has given Calvin Pickard so many opportunities to pack it in has given Calvin Pickard so many opportunities to say you know what it's time to grow up and get a grown-up job and be a respect not just play hockey my entire life and every single time that there was a speed bump for Calvin Pickard, he jumped over it. I don't know if the Edmonton leaders are gonna win the Stanley Cup.

The probability now is probably 51% Edmonton, 49% Florida. Maybe Florida has an edge in quality of team and certainly depth of forwards, but Edmonton's got two home games in this one. I don't know who's gonna win this still. To me, this is still a jump ball. All I know is it's going to be with Calvin Pickard in Nets. And part of the reason why I think we all love him is the way that he plays. Like is

there a little ball hockey in there? Like you're watching him play last night coming in cold. Kind of ball hockey, goaltender making ball hockey saves, right? There's someone behind the camera right now, Steven L is smiling at that idea the ball hockey goaltender Any takeaways major takeaways for you Zack from from last night's game? I mean Leon was the hero the comeback was great. I thought pod Colson was excellent He was a story in the Vegas series was a story last night great pass What did it for you Zach? the timing and

The way that he went about it Chris Knobloch with the pull of Stuart Skinner and then going to Calvin Pickert It wasn't just a pull an auto pull Yeah We made a lot of the story that happened with Pete DeBoer in the Dallas series and how things went down with him and Jake Ottinger. Yeah. Could have made a big scene about it. Could have said, Hey, that's it for you. We got to shake things up. Calls him out in front of the team, does it quietly.

And it ends up being a turning point. Like Calvin Pickard came in, he played incredibly last night, but I thought he was just one of those like calm moments by a guy who has a calm demeanor and has kind of carried that through the entire playoffs. You saw it when they were down in the LA series. You saw it even like even in that one second left goal against the Vegas Golden Knights by Riley Smith. They cut to Chris Knoblock and he's just like, all right, onto the next. There's no change. Win a game, lose a game, keeps it going. And you could just see that in that moment. There was no panic. Win a game, lose a game, keeps it going. And you could just see

that in that moment. There was no panic from him. Down three nothing early in the first period. No, no problem for him. Everybody on that bench, every Oilers fan in that arena, everybody watching on television or streaming wherever you're watching this, everybody in Edmonton, just a massive sigh of relief when Dreisleidl scored that goal but no one more relieved than Connor McDavid channeling his inner Nathan McKinnon refusing to smile until this is all done as he's leaving the bench to go to as he's leaving the bench as the as the game is over and Leon scores in overtime all I could think was the weight of the world is off Connor McDavid's shoulder briefly

and it'll be back on again as the venue shifts to Edmonton and it is now a best out of three. It's gonna be fantastic. Okay, to the first of numerous CHL guests, you have Gardner Mc, caught my throat. Gardner McDougal joins us here, head coach of Moncton. Thanks so much for stopping by, much appreciated. So I was flying in from Florida today and I'm thinking I'm talking to Gardner MacDougal. I want to hear Gardner MacDougal tell stories, but like coaching stories,

and congratulations by the way on coaching. I don't think anyone is surprised at that by the way. and congratulations by the way on coaching. I don't think anyone is surprised at that by the way. My favorite coach story is the Fred Chiro bacon and egg story. I don't know if you ever heard the bacon and egg story. I have heard the bacon and eggs, but maybe not with Fred. So with Fred, the team gets waxed on Saturday night against Pittsburgh. Not a single puck hits the ice the next day.

He comes in the room, draws a plate, draws three strips of bacon and two eggs, says, you guys are talking about the contributions you made last night, all the contributions. This is what I had for breakfast. This is what I expect out of you as a Philadelphia flyer. The chicken made a contribution, but the pig made a commitment. That was Fred Chiro. That was his way of getting to his players. Do you have a favorite coach or pet sayings

or any sort of coach wisdom that you like to impart to kids? I think there's a number that come up throughout the season. A lot of times it's spontaneous. Yeah. It's from different stories. In the past, I've been lucky to be at this for a while. I read a lot.

What do you read? I'm curious. Let me park that for a second. What interests you? High-performance books on teams or players. I probably read more basketball or football books and hockey books. It seems that like John Wooden I probably read 10 of his books. And then at a used that like John Wooden I probably read 10 of his books. And then at a used bookstore in Moncton I found another one in the fall this year that I didn't have. You know guys like Nick Sabin with Alabama, the success they had. But then Clemson got hot so you like to read about their coach. I think in the business world sometimes

you like to read about high performers in the business world I think there's there's qualities of high performance that are transferable over not only to sport but to business and to life you know so Robin Sharma is a guy that I've read all his books from you know the monk that sold the Ferrari was his first. And I get a weekly update from him. He's a guy from Cape Breton Island that was a law student at Dalhousie and got bored with law. And I'd say he's probably the number one

motivational speaker in the world now. So I'll get a weekly thing from him. But one of the things, we've kind of changed some of this, but consistency is the mother of excellence and incremental improvement is the father and we'll talk to our teams a lot about that. I'm glad you brought it to your team. I'm curious, we keep hearing about kids have short attention spans. Look, I've got three kids too. I know that at a certain point they check out. Now part of that is just because it's

dad talking to them and they'll be more in tune to their coaches talking to them they'll stick with it longer but how receptive and maybe for how long are the kids receptive to your messages and do you know when you're when they're starting to tune out a little bit? I think I do a lot of you know talks of businesses presentation I guess I'm a more of a percenter than a talker. I've tried to study what makes a top notch percenter and things like that and I've had lots of experience at that and it's interesting,

I mean it didn't work out how we wanted it but in our Memorial Cup semi-finals, Luke Madill, who's a former player of mine, former assistant coach, spent his three years. We told him he came to UMB to get his real degree after four years at McGill. And his dad was a former player at UNB and still holds the record seven goals in one game,

a Herb Madill. But Herb's, or Luke has worked with us all year and he's unbelievable in the sports psychology field of what he does. He teaches at St. Andrews High School in Toronto there. But he's fairly in-depth on the world juniors, does Hockey Canada, and we brought him in, you know, finished his last class on Wednesday at St. Andrews. And so we flew him in the next morning to Rimouski, and he had a chance to speak to our group. And by Zoom all year,

he spoke into our group all year, but it was great to get him live. And then we had him in prior to our game, you know, our game prep. And our game prep, I think, is maybe a little bit unusual, but some of the things we do. But we have each coach talk a little bit. And I'm always, as you mentioned, on, okay, I think simplicity is the ultimate source of sophistication and how simple can we make something. And a lot of times in the coaching world, especially practice-wise, a lot of coaches like to go to the board and probably prove how smart we are. I don't know what you're talking about, I've never seen that out of a coach. You know, so, and we talked about that, but he was amazed, you know, I was fortunate to have tremendous

staff. I think, you know, the award I got today was coach was really the staff of the year, and the staff of the year to me extends to our owner Robert Irving, because he's the head of the staff, you know, and he's just unbelievable, the environment he provides and the opportunity he provides for our team, our organization and certainly our coaching staff. But Luke came in and you know Dustin Friesen who did an amazing job as an associate coach. He'll kind of have the pre-scout. Antoine Samuel, I can't say enough about a goalie coach, a video coach, he does a pre-scout, just a phenomenal person and what he lent and then Doug Dowell you know had a longtimescout, just a phenomenal person in what he lent, and then Doug Dowl,

a long time pro player, did a tremendous job, and everyone had their little niche. And he was just so amazed, he said, it's probably, you try to, I remember, in the NHL you'd hear about video sessions, trying to be five minutes or less at the NHL level, and I don't know if you can say on time, because I think if you change the environment,

we start with maybe a video, one person talks, another person would have a different topic, and then maybe the environment changes that. And so I don't know if you can put, like say, hey, you got to be four minutes or less or five minutes, I'm always, hey, we got to be short, and we got to be to the point, you know, that type of stuff. But I thought our group did a really, really good job

of doing that. That being said, we started miserably all four games at the Memorial Cup, so usually at UNB, I think we're well known for starting fast and starting on time. So that's my summer project, though, what the heck happened for that first period, because if we take care of the first period,

the second, third, we're usually pretty good. So that's my summer project. You mentioned the Memorial Cup. There's one thing that I do want to ask you about. And I understand if it's private between the coach and the players. But that huddle at the end with your group, That's pretty unique. I remember watching this,

I was like, well that's, I mean, it's Gardner and McDougall so we should expect something different. But that one was really unique for me and I think really unique for a lot of people. Yeah, I mean, that moment is the worst moment performance wise of these guys' careers. Because the goal is to go to the Memorial Cup and win it. You know so it's not only for a stop but heartbreaking you know for

these players and it was just we had a lot of fans that came to Rimouski and a lot of fans are watching on TV and things like that so it you know just acknowledgement you know I always say we've got to try to make a significant difference and we're really performers you know and we talk a lot about I know whether it's Wayne Gretzky said it or Michael Jordan said it. You know like every time you play and if you the original Michael Jordan video that they did the highlight video I think he says it on it but yeah it's been a tribute to Wayne Gretzky several times like you're playing someone's watching you for the first time tonight and someone's

watching you for the last time tonight. and someone's watching you for the last time tonight. It was interesting that Dylan Gill, who we acquired in a trade at Christmas, and Spencer Gill, who plays for Fumuski, they played against one another in, I think, January in Monkton. And I think we talked about that different times. This was pretty neat. The two brothers were going to play against one another. Big game. And we didn't play as well that game. We didn't have as much belief as we needed. We acquired more belief as we played them later on in the year but Dylan came to me later that next week and he said coach I just want to let you know we had a lady that's been with her family for a long time. She's like a second grandmother and she was so excited to be the come and watch Spencer and I play this game. The next day she was in her 80s, the next day she had a

heart attack and passed away but she was so excited that and you know it's pretty neat that you always said someone's watching for the first time, someone's watching for the last time, little did we know be like that. He was they took it as a positive to Gill family that she got to watch the Bofia play a game against one another and she was so pleased when she left the arena. Part of that little scrum was just to acknowledge, hey, this is special, we'll get a chance in the dress room,

but there's a lot of people that drove to Moncton, a lot of parents came here, they're still cheering you because of who you are. You know, you're part of the Moncton Wildcats, but you're special people. So, even though we're in Rimouski, we'll just take a moment to acknowledge these people that have given so much for each and every one of you and for our team. That's really thoughtful. That really is.

And you know, one of the players, and players I'm gonna hear plenty more about him leading up to the end of June in Los Angeles Caleb de Noailles. What can the coach tell us about someone who's gonna be drafted top ten maybe top five in a couple weeks here? Just you know I don't know if special is overused word but he's special yeah and he's elite special you know and I was fortunate that the under 18 to get a chance to coach him and initially it wasn't going to be that long because he was an underage and then it was tough to lose Roger McQueen but you know Caleb D'Annulia got a chance to play full-time

in that tournament and you know played with Marton and played with McKennan did a really good job as an underage you know in that tournament for us and didn't know at that time I'm gonna be his full-time coach in Moncton, but it worked out and, you know, got the job. And certainly the first call to a player I made would be to Caleb, you know. And I think there was, you know, something came out. I think we had beat Sweden in going to the gold medal final. And our good RDS

put something out, the new coach of the Monk the Wildcats and of course Caleb's a curiosity, full of curiosity the next day, is this true coach? I said, let's win today. Talk about that after, we'll talk about that after. But he changes things when he comes to the rink every day. He's just got such a magnetic personality, he's a team first guy.

And he's just so engaged. He walks in the rink and our team gets better. When you go through a long season like this and he had the Hockey Canada, it seemed every time he goes to Hockey Canada he gets banged up. We love the experience. He went to Olenka, he got banged up there, he played really well. I got to watch on TV that and he came back. So we rested him, we wanted him, he's a key part of our team. So we gave him some time. Our first game of the season, our home opener, he separated his shoulder. So again he's out for a bit. We just got him going again really good.

He went up to the prospects game and had a tremendous second game I thought, you know, not the first game that then but he you know, he texted me said I'll be the real Caleb today and that intruded the form he is and got banged up again. And if you check our stats, I didn't play much center after that, you know, he played through an injury till Christmas. We had a little bit of time at Christmas to rest it up. And then in January, it's a somewhat similar injury on the other. So he played both wrists banged up all year.

So he's got a tremendous amount of grit to him. But he's just a difference maker. He loves the game. No moment's too big for him and he was made a significant difference for our team he's just one of those elite special people that you know as you'll find you know in LA is going to be in the elite number where he gets drafted. He certainly will. I want to ask a couple more things I would be remiss if I didn't if I didn't bring up a very unique situation that you find yourself in with your son Taylor.

We always think of father-son combinations in hockey. We think of the Howes. For example, oh, playing with Mark and Marty, all the gorgi, beaming like a proud parent. What's it like working with your son in the role that he has with Moncton? Yeah, it's one of those lifetime moments. How many, you know, we got a lot of, you go across the country,

we got a lot of dads that are into hockey. You know, a lot of them work in hockey, a lot of minor hockey coaches, a lot have played the game, you know. Millions have probably played the game in their country and then get that opportunity. And I was fortunate to coach them at UNB for five years and I don't know if my wife always agreed with the amount of ice time I gave him. You know, so. But, and it wasn't easy, you know, obviously the program we had at UNB,

the step in that, you know, and he had a, you know, a role with us that was part of team success. And I still remember we were playing the national championships in Halifax We're playing st. Mary's in the national semifinal that we're down five on three We have different guys that can go out there. He was you know, very Great face-off guy and I remember putting them out in the five on three You know, there was a coach in me. Okay, this is the right thing, but there was a dad in me my godson please because

there's a no win almost yeah he kills it off he's supposed to if he doesn't what did the coach do that but that was one moment and we ended up winning the national championship that year and it was so gratifying you know as a coach son but so that experience of five years was phenomenal this is this is a different venue different a different avenue. I mean, obviously what he's done in this career has been phenomenal. He got to play the CHL for five years,

got snuck one year in, it was interesting. He was doing his law degree, business law usually seven years. He did his five while playing. And I was just so impressed. How do you do this? Pat Quinn, so Pat Quinn did. Yeah, yeah.

Pat Quinn did, that's great. Yeah, you know, so just phenomenal. And then, you know, he snuck in, I remember it, he was just about to write his law exams, his final year, and he finished up his fifth year at UNB, and he made his own calls up to the Brantford battalion. Dad, I'm gonna go up there, I got 10 days before I write my exams.

I can play three or four games for pro here. And I remember I was down in Portland. We had played Portland that year and I'd been a good friend of the coach. I had a journey to Portland to watch them play weekend games and then he had texted me and said, listen, Dad, I'm making my debut in Adirondack tomorrow. I'm on the bus right now with David Ling.

Oh, David Ling. Oh, I haven't heard that name in forever. One of my favorites. Yeah, we're driving from Brampton to Adirondack. So I looked on my map. I said, okay, as a dad, you got to be there for the pros. I didn't only watch one game in Portland, I went through the mountains of New York State and I arrived in Adirondack and we had two other UNB guys playing in that game so that was neat but then becoming an NHL player agent and just the mentorship of Lan Waw, I mean he was Taylor's agent as a player, became a really good family friend. He's a wonderful guy. Oh yes, yeah so you know to give him that opportunity, he was going to, he had done one year of his articling in law and was set, he was on the dark side, criminal defense.

And you know, he was going to Dorchester, penitentiary meeting with Hell's Angels guys. You know, and I, you know, we talked all the time as a major junior player every day. I almost talked more when he's a criminal defense lawyer. Okay, what did you do today? Who did you represent today? And he was going to try that law and then Land gave him the opportunity to work with him. And the years that he had there was interesting. I'd give him a call where, yeah, I'm in Broadway Street, Nashville today,

or I'm in Vegas seeing a player today, or I'm following Jake Allen today I'm going to see him you know so and I remember in the last couple of weeks here obviously a busy time of year with the draft the NCAA coming up with the possible and then he said you know one thing he said I'm really thankful that I was a player agent and made the connections and the experience I got from a LAN and now as a general manager it's helped me so much now being a general manager. I think, yeah, just his collaboration, his connection with players, I remember our first meeting this year, he spoke to the group and he said, you know, we have to be the tightest team going.

You know, at UNB we won national championships and our team was really tight. Guys would give up a specific role for the good of the team. And the more success the team had, the more success individuals had. And that was one of the things, you know, when you grow the culture in Moncton, and that was a big part of it, is just having the group really connected. We did surveys at the end of the year, and every survey was just a family in Moncton. And we call it FOE, family over everything. And your own family is the most important.

And obviously we went through, you know, circumstances at the Memorial Cup that, you know, tested that. That's for sure. You know, and it was a little late coming here to this function because we had a really special ceremony in Fredericton yesterday for Pat Buckley. So that's always the most important. But then the next is the Wildcat family or whatever organization you're with. Is that family over everything? And I think we really accelerated that process and advanced how important your teammate is

and how important the organization. And I go back to Mr. Irving like he's just just the biggest proponent of that. He seems like and I've never I think I may have met him once he seems like the kind of owner who if you need something slash want something you'll get it. Yeah I mean you're gonna have to I know you make the case I know you make the case for it. Yeah you make a a case, but yeah, he's unbelievable. But if you can demonstrate that this is what this team needs. Yeah. Oh yeah, and I, you know, for 24 years I was on the outside and, you know, I had good friends that worked in the organization and you'd always hear

different things and all that, but you know, my first month on the job I was invited to a neat event in Moncton. I had four former Premiers of New Brunswick were on a panel and it was all for the homeless and food support in the city. Mr Irvin had made a big donation to that group and then we had our golf tournament he gives $25,000 to a young group and 50,000, he's going to have a million dollars given in 10 years to them. And then he was over to PEI and he gave a big amount to the farmers in PEI.

It's amazing. You know, like in a two or three week brand. And most of the stuff he does, he does under radar. But he's an amazing person. He's business interested. He could be flying to Europe. under radar, you know, but he's an amazing person. Like he's, his business interests, he could be flying to Europe, could be out to North Dakota. He has a big plant down in Georgia.

During, you know, the tariffs with Canada and the US, he spent two weeks in Washington, you know, and then he finds a way, he never missed a playoff game of ours. You know, he just has such passion for life, for making a difference with people and then obviously the Wildcats is his real passion. You know when I... let me close on this one with you Gardner

and I thank you very much for your time. Yeah, no. Earlier when I brought up Coach of the Year, you talked about your staff. You talked about everybody on the bench. And last year, six months ago, I read music producer Rick Rubin's book on creativity. And his point is that no one does anything on their own. He said everything, whether it's music or whatever, everything's a collaboration. You're part of everything you've listened to, every conversation you've had, every interaction you've had,

every, in this case, game you've watched, for example, when, first of all, do you agree with the idea that everything in our lives is a collaboration, and if so, who have some of your influences been on the way up? That whether you realize it or not, you're collaborating with their ideas. Yeah, I think it's really awkward and really true when you look at, you know, we've been fortunate to have some success here of late, maybe a little more prominent,

and I don't know if you got country music fans, Luke Combs, you know, and a range of boards. And I've been fortunate to have a lot of positive success, and I said, just hope there's still something left in the back pocket. You're the winning machine gardener, that's what they call you. Yeah, but you know, but I think you're truly right, because you have enough experiences, but you need everybody.

The team, we talk about the strength of the team is the team. And we got that at UNB, because we get a lot of players that would come to UNB, 60, 70 point guys, and never ever asked, am I on the first line or the second line? And I spent a lot of time on recruitment and all that type of stuff and we want the same thing and it's tougher to do with this age group. You know, 16 to 19, there's a shorter window, every player, you know, the goal is to make the NHL.

And to make the NHL you got to get drafted. And to get drafted you got to have a lot of ice time, you know, so I thought the group really played into the roles and I was talking to, like I didn't have one knock on my door this year. A butter player coming in and saying, hey, I need more ice time. I had some talks on the ice

and I've tried to keep the business on the ice a lot of times, but okay, what's my role? And that's all part of it. But I think Taylor probably Probably helped out a lot as a GM and found which stuff to come through to me and which not and I think as I said Did an amazing job of that, but I think you know all these little experience and even as a player You know, we talked about Caleb, you know Caleb said such unbelievable career and win-win-win and then you through the playoffs, and part of it was with the injuries, part of it's a long season, you

know, and he didn't have the production, and he wants to be the guy every night, and that's the special thing about him. And the one thing, and I used to always refer, I watched Crosby when he was young, and, you know, in the Quebec Major Junior League, and rarely did he have a game where he didn't get a point, but when he didn't get a point, it was often multi-points the next night. And those special players, they have that special talent. Okay, you may have stopped me once,

but you're not doing it twice. Yeah, and they just have that special ingredient. And Caleb, he went a little extended through with the playoffs, and then, because I remember he came, three games I haven't got a point. I don't know when this has happened. And I said, hey, let's work on this together. And hey, this will be good for you in the big picture. We're still winning.

I was going to say, I'm listening to you say this, your team was one or two in the country all year long. That kind of helps. No question. Tough to complain about the program. No, no, we've been really lucky. But I think question. Tough to complain about the program. Yeah, no, no. Yeah, really lucky. But I think that it's a chance to just grow and going back, our motto at UMB was make a significant difference.

The university motto, I've tried to, since I got to UMB, I said, what a great philosophy to live your life. How can I make a difference in somebody else's life? And whether obviously hockey is what we do but even seeing you know I go for a run in the streets in Toronto this morning while I'm staying alone everybody I got a few weird reactions and then I got some people actually we don't do that here we don't do that we're not in the Maritimes but actually I was amazed today down in the waterfront I got a lot of smiles you did

it yeah you know so but that mean that's part of life. I mean, our job as coaches is to serve, you know, and you know, our staff, the server players and turn our players to serve the community and make things special for Moncton Wildcats. This has been a real delight. Congratulations again. Not just you, because I know you want to put your staff,

the full bench of the year. Congratulations. Oh, it's a pleasure. Yeah. all the best. Thank you very much. The CHL coach of the year is Gardner McDougall. We have a couple more guests still to come here on the program from the CHL Awards here at the Delta in downtown Toronto where Gardner McDougall actually got runners in Toronto to smile at him. If you know anything about running in Toronto, that is no easy feat, but then again, Gardner McDougall is a very unique person

behind the bench and as you probably just saw as well in life, just like an infectious personality. Well, one, a wonderful coach has the ability to connect with young hockey players. You talk a lot about University of New Brunswick, where he was wildly successful. Don't forget as well, he won a Memorial Cup with St. John. The Seedogs was parachuted in, essentially for the tournaments.

And the Seedogs ended up winning the Memorial Cup. And a lot of it was based on the work that he did. And you know, I'll tell you, like, many, many people do wonder if somewhere one day down the road, and maybe even sooner than later, if Gardner MacDougall ends up somewhere on an NHL bench. Now I still do believe that there's going to be a long run as the U-20 World Junior Hockey Championship coach for Gardner MacDougall with Hockey Canada. But there have been a couple of times, I remember talking to one team and I brought up Gardner's name and what came

back to me was, oh yeah he's on a list. Don't worry he's definitely on a list. You know one of the hardest things to do now with young players is to connect with them and be able to speak their language. And he has this unique ability to connect, and as you probably just saw, to connect and speak to just about anybody. Hockey, young hockey players, grownups, adult hockey players, that's just Gardner MacDougall.

And everywhere he's gone, he has won. They won the Q Championships this year, came up a little bit short in the Memorial Cup, but as we've mentioned before on the program, I still maintain this. That is the hardest hockey trophy to win. You have a window that at best is four years to win that thing. And probably it's three and more probably it's two to win that thing. You're you have everything in your hockey life has to click and connect all at the right time that it does with everybody else on your team if you're going to win the Memorial Cup. Toughest trophy to win in hockey

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That's bombas.ca slash the sheet and use the sheet at checkout. So to come on the program today, Dan McKenzie is going to stop by. He's the president of the Canadian Hockey League. We had Dan on not too long ago and a couple of follow-ups for Dan, a sort of snapshot of where things are at right now. And not just with players leaving to go to college, but also players leaving other junior programs to go to the CHL. I think is an interesting one as well. And the nature of the competition for recruiting now,

it's a little bit different because it's no longer either or, it's this and. So it's CHL and college hockey. How does the CHL respond to that and what they expect of all of their franchises? By way of enhancing the player experience, so we'll get into that with Dan McKenzie coming up a little bit later on Matthew Schaeffer is gonna stop by defenseman of the year in the CHL

the presumptive First overall draft pick this year's NHL draft First overall draft pick, this year's NHL draft. So we'll talk to Matthew Schaefer, defenseman for the Eerie Otters, coming up in a little bit. And also Landon DuPont is going to be stopping by here in a couple of moments, I believe. Who do we have coming up, Chris? Landon DuPont is coming up here. We'll get him up. So this is a name, folks, you're going to hear a lot of in the next couple of years he's a CHL rookie of the year he's just getting wired up now and getting on set an incredible young athlete who was granted

exceptional status to get into the Western Hockey League early plays with the Everett Silver tips and is part of this incredible skill wave coming out of the Western Hockey League. Please welcome to the program someone whose name you're gonna hear a lot in the next few years Landon Dupont. Landon thanks so much for stopping by. How are you and congratulations on the rookie of the year. Thank you. How do you feel? Feels great. Yeah. Obviously it's a huge honor to win that award and I'm happy. I'm gonna bring this mic right in there. I'm always curious about the exceptional status phenomenon. Michael Mises here as well.

He was granted exceptional status into the OHL. What was that process like for you? Because it's not just can he play at that level in the Western Hockey League. There's more to it than that. Is he mature enough? Can he handle this? What was that process like for you?

Yeah, it was a long process obviously you know halfway through obviously my U18 season. My agents kind of just said like hey you want to want to try this out and I was like yeah sure and then it's a long process you apply for it and then we had zoom calls and just like you said to see if you were mature enough and then you would kind of write a nice long essay about why you think you should be granted for it and what do you remember from that essay you know I'm gonna ask that one what did you put in there when you defended yourself uh well they just asked like how are you gonna do like moving away at such a young age and

yep and how are you gonna do if you know if you were to get into a slump and stuff like that. So I was just trying to be myself and trying to be as honest as possible and then lucky enough it went my way. One of the advantages that second generation hockey players have, and you know this, your father played in the NHL, Mickey DuPont, is there are some things that you don't have to learn because you already know it because you grew up in a hockey family Whether it's you know who gets off the bus first who checks in at the hotel first like all those tiny little protocol things

You didn't have to learn those. Yeah, like the the the the second generation hockey player phenomenon I mean, I don't know if you noticed it I mean from our perch we always see it But did you feel that you had a sort of leg up on everybody else who is entering the league at the same time as you? Yeah, I think so like just some of the little things like you said like just who's getting off the bus first But I think most importantly is like for me from my dad and having an older brother I I learned the compete side of things the most and you know I hate to lose and I feel like just having that competitive lifestyle like not even just hockey just my whole life is I'm competitive I'm a competitive

person I always want to win if I can and I hate losing so I feel like having that and learning that is at a young age really helped me. So I'm curious what it feels like when your highlights started to make their way around social media. Like I'll tell you I've got my my oldest boy is a 2010 and I know I always know what you're doing because he always sends me clips. It's like oh yeah dad you see this DuPont did dad you see what DuPont did? So like if I'm getting it I mean all the kids are sending it around What was it like when you realize that kids are sending all these incredible hockey videos of you around?

It is it weird it was it was weird at first because it didn't really hit you you kind of see it and like oh like Almost a little like well kind of sets you back a little bit and then and then as it happens, it happens more and more. It becomes more normal. And it's cool, but I just like to sell that stuff out and just play the game that I love. And I'm not playing for those highlights and not playing for anything. I'm just playing the game I love and doing it with the teammates and having fun.

What's Everett like? I mean, that's a powerhouse organization. Yeah, it's awesome. It's a great city. It's right on the outskirts of Seattle and right on the water there. So it's really nice, lots of trees and everything. And then the organization's just awesome.

They take care of their players so well. And our coaching staff, our trainers, everything just our front office like they put so much time and effort into everything and sure and then they make it royalty for us players. As a young athlete, what do you need from a team? Like what really helps you? I think just support and you know resources like we have places to shoot pucks, we have places to work out, we have skill sessions, we have guys that if we're injured they can work on us,

they have massage therapists, they have everything a junior player ever could dream of and just having that resource really helps us. How often are you shooting pucks? Well, I like to stay on One of the last guys off every practice. I kind of okay set that bar for myself and you know, I like to shoot pucks then and then Me and my Bella brothers. We have a super deaker at home and we shoot pucks. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we Everybody was going insane in Canada for super no, it's like three years ago. You know, I couldn't get him a pro hockey life anywhere I know I I live with two forwards. So

They uh, they're pretty good at the Superdigger stuff. I'm a D man. So I'm I'm still trying to get my numbers out What's your what's your record number? Oh, not good. I think like 70 or something still pretty good. Yeah, that's good. But my Bella brothers make me feel stupid. They're in the 90s or something. When it comes to shooting as a defenseman now, I mean, in general, like, Evan Bouchard's kind of a freak, you know, the back scratch and the slap shot, like,

it's from a different era, and if you have it, like, that's great, but now it seems to be more just about, just sifters and getting it through, and you know, waiting for yourifters and getting it through and you know waiting for your screen and getting it to getting it to net. When you work on shooting what are you working on? Just like you said just sifting it on net like nowadays the goalies are so good that you know it's hard to beat them clean and you know sometimes that 100 mile an hour shot it's hard to tip so I think for our

forwards like you know I talked to them and just be like what do you like and then obviously they obviously told me that they like the sifters that are you know kind of waist high so that the goalies kind of reach for it and then they can tip it one way or you know fake the tip and hopefully find a lane. That's really when when John Klingberg first came to North America and played with the Dallas Stars. I remember James Richmond who's a head coach of Brampton in the OHL because he was in Sweden. He said he would like shoot high from the point. Yeah.

And guys would be like ducking for cover and getting out of the way. But it seems as if like now remember talking to someone with a team who said, we tell all of our defensemen to shoot it hip high, because they're either going to deflect up or they're going to deflect down. Like I'm from the era, and a lot of us are all from the era that shots to the point had to be low and along the ice. Right along the ice and the forwards will provide that ramp and that's the only way that you're going to do it.

But now more and more it does seem seem it's interesting you mentioned shooting at hip height. More teams are doing that more defense and are doing that. Is that new or is that something that you've always done shooting at hip height? Well it's something I've always done just because I like to go high at a young age. How many of your teammates screamed at you for firing a knife from the point? I was always that D man that was hitting guys in the head and stuff But you know as I moved up obviously I started shooting lower and lower and I see because that's what the forwards want they want that ramp and then when I got to junior my

my head coach actually like kind of explained it to us D man and he was showing like My head coach actually kind of explained it to us, D-Man, and he was showing like, if you shoot it, upper half of the net makes the goalie reach for it. And then when they reach for it, you can either tip it into one of their holes if you're forward or you just beat them clean by a screen. So I thought that was pretty cool.

And I feel like that translate, even just watching the NHL and the Stanley Cup playoffs I feel like you see that lots. Who are your favorites? Favorite players to watch? Favorite players growing up? I love Kael McCarr, Quinn Hughes, True Doughty when I was a little kid and Zee Boyum he's a young guy I love watching him. He's so silky. He's so good. He's gonna be awesome. Yeah, he really is. You know, one of the things that, you know, I'm always curious about players, and specifically players that achieve status of exceptional status. Did this game come easy to you? Like, were you sort of born to do this?

Or at which point did you realize this is gonna be more than just a hobby for you? Like, how old were you when you realized or your parents realized, this is more than just gonna be something for the for the kid to do in a spare time? Yeah I just remember like my dad playing hockey in Europe overseas and I remember I'd be a little kid and I'd be watching his games and I just loved the rink. I used to always just be in the rink on the ice playing many sticks with a sock over a blade. Just all that little stuff. And so I think my parents saw how much I loved hockey.

And I think they never really forced me into anything. They never forced me to do anything. So I was always just kind of willingly just trying to work on my game. And then as I got older, I fell in love with it even more and kept building my game. What, and maybe for some players it's stick, for some players it's skates, for some NHLers it's, you know, I'm wearing the same shoulder pads I did when I was 14 years old. Is there one piece of your equipment that you're just like fanatical about? Oh, I mean... Or does it even matter?

Ah, I'll put skates on out of the box, no big deal. No, it's definitely, it's probably my skates. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, skating's so important and I've been using like the Bauer Vapor skates my whole life. I can never switch out of those. I mean, they're such great skates and I don. I can never switch out of those. I mean

they're such great skates and I don't think I could ever get used to another pair and so I feel like that's probably mine. What is it about the Vapers? They like so much. I feel like you just feel like you have hop with them. You feel like you have that pop, that extra stride, that extra gear in you. extra stride, that extra gear in you. I tried some CCM skates once and they just didn't feel the same. It's tough switching, hey? I know. Once you start somewhere it's so hard to switch. How often do you get a chance to watch NHL? I try to every night. Yeah? Yeah. Well, yeah. Did you watch overtime last night? I did. What did you think? That was crazy.

That was crazy. I like to just sit down and while I'm eating dinner or something, I like to just have it on in the background, just watch. And then obviously just watching highlights and stuff like that. But you can't just watch highlights. You got to watch whole games because that's what you need. Again, I'm going to sound like a hockey dad here but like this is what I keep telling my kids too because I'd tell you like yeah my like TJ my oldest my sound like a bad, let me sound like a hockey dad.

2010 sends me all these videos of you and I keep reminding them like yeah DuPont's awesome but watch a full game. Yeah like it's all that stuff in between all the highlights like that's that's where the game is. Let me close on this. For any young defenseman, like what kind of advice would you give them about how to play the game? Like what are the things, like the unsexy things that you need to work on if you're gonna improve?

Everyone can watch the end to end rushes and all these types of things, but like what are the things that you think young defenders should work on? I think it's just like, it goes back to that compete, wanting to win and wanting to do anything for your team, whether it's blocking a big shot or making a big hit to set the tone for your team. I feel like just wanting to do things for the sake of your team and not just for the sake of yourself is a base thing and then skating is the most important. That's it right? Skating is the most important thing in hockey so I think just work on your skating

and you'll be valuable. We have someone coming up here in a couple of moments and Matthew Schaefer who's a pretty special skater. I'm sure you've had a look at him a couple of different times. Yeah, yeah. What do you see? Let me close on that one. What do you see in Matthew Schaeffer when you watch him?

Man, he's special. He's gonna be a, obviously you see his drafts coming up. He's gonna be a generational D-man. Some teams gonna get very lucky when they pick them and it's gonna be a team that rhymes with New York Islanders yeah that's that's that's that's who's gonna get Matthew Schaeffer he's got first overall written written all over him all day yeah I think they'd be I think they'd be stupid if they didn't pick him because you know and he's just so mature off the ice as well yeah

obviously meeting him today and obviously he's been through a lot but just seeing what he does every day like with the kids and everything and then great yeah it's awesome. You're awesome thanks so much for this. Thank you. Congratulations. I went in the Rookie of the Year looks great on you and look forward to my kids sending me more highlight videos of you. I don't think I'm the only dad whose son sent them highlight videos of land in DuPont. See what DuPont did? Do you see that video of DuPont? Do you see that video of DuPont? Anyway, that is a very talented young man. Granted exceptional status into the Western Hockey League, he is the CHL's

Rookie of the Year, Landon DuPont. And from one great young defenseman to another great young defenseman, we're going to bring aboard Matthew Schaefer here in a in a couple of minutes. And, you know, it's rare that someone who doesn't play an entire full season

is still head and shoulders above everybody else in his draft class with all due respect to Michael Misa and distinguishes themselves as a number one overall pick. But that's what Matthew Schaeffer has done. I've said it before I never thought I would ever see anyone skate like Jay Bollmeester again. Matthew Schaefer skates like Jay Bollmeester. I'm telling you he's a remarkable athlete if you haven't seen him play. Matthew Schaefer from the from the Erie Otters the CHL's defenseman of the year joins me now. Matthew thanks so much it's great to see you again. Yeah. How have you been? Been good. Busy hey? Yeah really busy I mean Combine to Florida. Yes. Yeah, how have you been been good? Really busy. I mean combine

Florida yeah, I'm not complaining going to going to a Stanley Cup game So in Florida too, so got a little tan on but also all right got to watch a good game I I got on the five o'clock flight this morning to make it here So last night last night's game was it was a buzz last night's game. What was. Last night's game was a trip. I'm curious, because look, we all expect you're gonna go first overall. You're gonna play in the NHL. You're gonna be a major impact player. Landon DuPont's here saying,

your generational defense, when you haven't seen someone. I keep telling you that, I keep telling people I don't think that I was ever going to see someone skate like Jay Bowmeester until I saw you skate. I'm like, this kid is remarkable. Are you at the place now where mentally you can say I'm ready for that next level. Like I can see myself like when you're in Florida I can see myself with the Oilers, with the Panthers playing in a Stanley Cup final. Are you there? Yeah, yeah obviously this summer is gonna be massive for me.

You know working out in the gym with NHL Are you there? Yeah, yeah, obviously this summer is going to be massive for me. You know, working out in the gym with NHL players, getting pushed by, you know, Sean Monahan, Scott Lawton, Kaudri, all those guys. So I think just being in that environment helps you a lot because you get to see, you know, the things they do to be their best at that next level and how they train. And my D coach is Mark Giordano. So I'll be I'll be learning a lot from him. I told them when I got there my ears are wide open and he's just gonna be telling me things I need to know because I want

to you know hear everything he has to say so when I get to that next level I'll be ready and I'm you know my goal is to be ready that next level at the end of the summer. What like I mean there's always you know gym work certainly but like what do you think you still need to work on? I mean people watch your game and we come back come away and say I don't know he looked great what am I supposed to say? Um honestly um I just want to be an all-around player I think you know my D zone can always get better maybe boxing guys a little bit earlier Ozone getting shots through my shot my shot My shot can always be improved on and there's always things I can improve on. Ending zones sooner. There's always going to be things that I can work on and there's

going to be things that I'm pretty good at but I want to be really good at. So for me when people are like, oh you do this good, Well, I wanna do it that much better. And you know, you can always do it better than you do. And I look to progress each and every day. It wasn't the season that you hoped for, clearly. I was in the rink when you went into the net and we all cringed and watching you go off. No one wanted to say it, but we're like, oh this one looks bad.

When it first happened, did you know? Yeah, so to run it down, because I know the big question is, did you see the post? And maybe next time I'll, maybe any glasses or something, so I don't see the post there. No, basically what happened was, I was driving the net, I was going full speed,

I was going pretty fast. I was that I was right. I was right honestly I was like 20 rows up a watch. I'm like, oh it comes shit I've skated but um to run it down. I shot it. I followed my rebound with my head I kind of followed it and then I thought I was out of line with the post but then I ended up You know nailing the post and everyone thought it was my head but I knew right away my shoulder I did something I was hoping it wasn't bad and then I went straight to the room I didn't feel it like I felt good when I got up I just kept my you know arm in the same spot

um but then I went to the room and I knew like they they started taking off my shoulders and they knew I couldn't move it and I tried doing it was they take it off or they cut it off they had to cut my shirt off because I couldn't move it I just kept it like that yeah um but I really wanted to try and go out there but they said no so I'd uh yeah I mean like I said like injuries and stuff aren't fun there's a lot worse things that can happen in life though I mean I've lost my mom I lost my bullet mom so I've been through a lot worse in life So this was a little bit easier but still I was

You know really I was crying in the dressing room and my dad and brother were because you know It's the world juniors you want to play for your country. You want to win gold I want to be there for my teammates especially um, but yeah, it's you know No hockey player doesn't like to sit in and watch hockey. You know, I wish it could have been out there But there's a lot worse things that can happen in life. Like you have, everyone that talks to you comes away with the same thing. This kid is way more mature than his birth certificate says. You've had a lot of tragedy in your life.

You mentioned your mom, you mentioned your billet mom as well. Your owner is one of the most loved owners and I got to know him back when he was in radio decades and decades ago and then got to know him when he bought the Eerie Otters and he's someone that, this is Mr. Walters, who always had, Mr. Walters always had time for you and would remember conversations that you had previous. Do you have a word or two about him? Yeah, no. Because everybody was shocked and deeply saddened when he passed away. He became one of my best friends, good friends.

Jim Waters, Sheila Waters, they were amazing. My parents said, the day they said they would take me, my parents were super happy. Jim actually asked if we wanted to fly down, excuse me, to Erie. My dad said, no, you get me some wings and we'll have dinner, but trust me, I'm already coming. My son's already coming and my parents felt so relieved, you know, letting me come to the Erie Otters knowing that those were my owners. But they take so much care of us, they spoil us, I mean a lot more and my dad's like, hey, when you come home don't be expecting this treatment. So no, but they do so much for our team, they do everything so that we can

succeed and they said, you know, if we need anything, come up to them and they'll get it ready for us, they'd do anything do anything but they just care they're good people and they want to win and they just care so much. I know at the time one last thing on your shoulder at the time you're thinking about Team Canada and the World Juniors you're probably thinking about the Erie Otters in the OHL. Was any part of you thinking about the draft? Not really. I take it day by day and I was focused on the World Juniors. It was maybe the most fun I've ever heard. The biggest and most motivating game I played in. I mean going out in warmups.

Packed house. I was skating around and I was like, this is unreal. I was so fired up. The Finland game was amazing. We came out, we really showed them how we were supposed to play. But no, I was focused on the World Juniors. I was just sad I couldn't play the rest of the World Juniors because like I said, I want to play.

I wish I could have played all year like I love playing hockey um but yeah I know I was just thinking about my teammates especially and I wanted to be there for them and I was happy I could get surgery in Ottawa so I could stay with my teammates along the ride and be there for them and you know give them that extra pat on the back read that line up and just be there in case any of the boys need it but no we yeah I I mean, I missed that group and I wish I was able to play the full tournament. Are you the kind of person, I mean, sometimes like players just like hanging

up in your stall or a little texted to you, but do you follow the draft rankings at all? Oh, this guy's got me here, that guy's got me there. Like it became pretty quick this season, even though the body of work wasn't a full season that, oh yeah, Schaeffer's number one. A lot of people always bring it up and say all these things and you know you see it but it's really not said and done until the draft and yeah there's so many great players and I mean obviously a lot of players had a lot more time to play than me and really all I can do is just be a good teammate for my Erie team and not focus on anything else but you know being the best the best person I can be to help my teammates out in any way

Yeah, like I said, you know anything can happen those rankings don't mean anything until you know, it's seven down at the draft. Of course Deandre's haven't tipped their hat. No, I mean I had dinner with them. I met him at the combine. They're amazing people I mean, I mean I had dinner with them. I met them at the combine. They're amazing people. I mean I'm really happy for Matu Darsh and GM spot there and he deserves it. I've heard a lot of great things about him and when I met him he was you know the person everyone talks about. But yeah they have a great group there. The coach has a junior background. Exactly. And a Stanley Cup background. I know he played him. And a Stanley Cup background. I know he played in the area. So they got good stuff going for them.

For sure. But yeah, they're amazing. I mean, they got a great team. So yeah, I mean, it'll be good looking forward to it. Do you have your suit picked out for the draft? And is there any sort of special lining, any seek messages, either private or otherwise? Yeah, so I won't say what designs on the outside I'm doing okay. I keep that pretty low-key until the drafts little surprise

But yeah, I'm the inside my I'm doing pictures of my family and my mom And then I'll do one hockey my brothers. I gotta do one hockey I'm like I want to do family because families take really important. Yeah Um, but no I ended up doing one picture of hockey and then I did You know family and my mom and then I did, you know, family and my mom and then I put my mom's signature on my heart. It's actually in here too. Oh, that's great.

So I did my mom's signature on my heart and then I did from, I did, I already did four hearts because it's on my mom's stone at the cemetery. I has four hearts representing our family and then I put family beside it there And then yeah, I'll probably maybe do my signature on the back and like the lapel but then Yeah, and then in the inside so it's a mixture of pictures of my family and my mom And then the draft 2025 kind of oh, it's awesome. Yeah This is like, so much of this is not just, you know, your own personal journey. You mentioned family is certainly very important to you.

You know, I always think of, you know, minor hockey coaches and other teammates that sort of helped you along the way. Do any of those come to mind when you think about like your time playing, you know, before you got to the OHL? Yeah. Who were your people yeah well um I want to thank Jim Jim Jimbo we call him he's my he was my D coach my last year in Halton um I still talked to him to this day yeah he always has my back throughout you know

life and um yeah he's been nothing but the best he comes to watch me play still um yeah there's a lot of coaches that I've had and you have a hurricanes logo inside the suit jacket I guess it's blue and black there you go so that works that works but yeah I know a lot of people are doing a lot of their logos and everything but for me it was a no-brainer to do you know family in the inside. I mean honestly, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my family and especially You know my mom and dad and brother driving me to games me going to watch my brother in the OHL He's nine and a half years older than me. So, you know things like that just means so much And I think the biggest thing my mom wanted was to us to be humble and just be a good person. Um, you know people

You know hockey players can get a bad rep because you know, sometimes they don't think they're too good But uh, my mom just wanted me to be a good person Respect people how they want to be treated. Um, but yeah, I just always have a smile on your face Your special young man great player and a wonderful person wish you all the best at the draft Thank you. Number one is gonna look great on you. Matthew Schaeffer. He's gonna go first overall. I know Matthew Darsh is already rehearsing how he's going to say Matthew Schaeffer's name and as we mentioned didn't have the the most complete season because of the injury but I mean he did enough and has done enough that

in this draft year everybody looks at Matthew Schaeffer and says he is the guy and if you've ever seen him play the first thing that jumps out at you is the skating. Holy smokes can this guy move feet? And very much has his head in the right place. Has had, listen, he's had a lot of tragedy around him. He's had to grow up quickly. Right? Let's be honest. I mean, I went through what he went through. I lost my mom when I was 16 years old to cancer. And I went the opposite way that Matthew Schaeffer is is going. Matthew Schaeffer as you can tell everything about his journey through hockey is all about his family and honoring his mom and honoring his

billet mom and I love the way that he talked about Jim Waters who really was one of the most beloved owners in the OHL, the late owner of the Uriottas. That was wonderful. So expect to hear his name first in Los Angeles when the Islanders pick. Michael Meese's name will probably be second. And then after that, it is really jump ball. Thanks to Matthew Schaefer

for stopping by the program here today. Dan McKenzie is going to stop by here in a couple of moments. We'll get Dan all set up here on the set. He's the president of the Canadian Hockey League. We are by the way here at the Delta in downtown Toronto for the CHL Awards. Matthew Schaefer was named defenseman of the year. Before that we had Landon Dupont on. He was named the rookie of the year gardener mcdoogle who kicked off the program today was the coach of the year the president of the chl is no stranger to this program he is dan mckenzie and he joins me now dan thanks so much for this again then thanks for for hosting us here that why why do it this year here at the Delta? Well Delta Marriott is

one of our newest partners. Excellent. We're excited about that partnership and so when we did that deal we thought what I mean and this hotel is one of my favorites in Toronto. Oh it's great. You can't beat the location. Yeah it's excellent. So that was part of it and we you know what we wanted to do is we worked with the OHL in terms of their timing on their awards. We used to always do the awards at the Memorial Cup, which happened just the way it worked before.

Those were fun too. I really did enjoy those awards. They were. But we wanted to do the CHL awards as the last CHL event of the year. So doing it here after the OHL awards, which they had this week, made a lot of sense. And be honest, you realize,

you and I both live in the area yeah you know you forget how easy Toronto is to get to for people and so we've got we've got winners from across North America yep it's one flight in and out and a lot of some of our folks so I spent some time last night with our with the parents of the award winners and the award winners some of them don't get to Toronto all that much so to get a chance to to whether they went actually some of the guys we got them tickets to the Henry Lamar concert last oh no way that they went to we ended up going over to real sports to watch the orders game like just some of the things that we sort of take for granted oh I know a lot

of these folks don't get a chance to be a part of so a fame any of them wander over to young in front you know what I got the Hall of Fame I think that some of that might be happening today okay yeah so as you mentioned this is the last sort of you know tentpole event for the CHL on the calendar. So you'll wake up tomorrow morning and Dan McKenzie will do what? Now that I'm guessing in your mind this season has been put to bed? Well, we still have the draft. So the NHL draft is a big one for us, especially this year.

Especially for the first overall pick who was just sitting there a couple of seconds ago. So like you know we're gonna this gonna be a really good year for us I think on the draft front our record for first round picks is 21 I think we're on track to be in that range if not beat it I think it's about a 25 year I'm sure that's it that's it that's a record yes so we're that's within sight. 170 guys on the central scouting list. We're just really excited about the group of players and and we had a chance to meet some of these kids at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. I know you were very very great to help support. Great

group of kids. These guys are just pros. They work hard, they're good students, they're great players, they're great people, their families are great people. You know, today was a really great example of the caliber of people we have in the Canadian Hockey League and I think the NHL draft will be another day like that too. The one thing I'm always impressed by now more so than ever and I always try to figure out why and maybe it's a lazy answer but I always say well it's because they all grew up on social media now and they're used to having themselves out there but whether it was you know Matthew Schaefer who is just here or Landon Dupont who's you know granted exceptional status and

he's the the rookie of the year and in the CHL, just me or are we at a place right now where kids seem more comfortable in their skin talking and communicating and presenting than they've ever been? I think so and I think you're right. I think social media is part of it. I think it's a big part. I think in our league, these kids are, as you know, they're known in their communities and they have profile in the places where they play and they do a lot of media I mean, that's the reality of it. So like whether it's what you know, whatever you do I mean interviewing but like I mean the more interviews you do the better you get at it

It's the same same thing for them But you know like hockey social media is huge Like it's always I've always felt that it was a sort of a niche in hockey that was underserved not anymore, right? There's so many different places for these players now to get exposed I've always felt that it was a sort of a niche in hockey that was underserved. Not anymore. There's so many different places for these players now to get exposed. I mean, digital has been wonderful for that. And I just wonder if that contributes to it as well. It absolutely does.

I mean, the familiarity and just the comfort level with having yourself out there is just different than it was even 10 years ago. One of the things I was mentioning before you came on, I always try to put myself like, okay so if I was Dan McKenzie, given you know the reality of the the new landscape, and I thought by the way, and I went back and watched it and I thought you gave a great answer when I asked you know what was this going to be like between the NCAA and the CHL, and you said, quite honestly, no one knows. Right now, everyone is sort of marching into the unknown.

It's gonna settle into whatever it's gonna settle into. But the one thing that I do wonder about is, do you think that this, I don't wanna say battle, because there's no longer a fight between the two, but this competition to create in player positive environments from market to market, how much do you think that fuels individual markets just bluntly to up their game? And is this something that you would you know I don't want to single out any franchise that we need to say like hey

market X it's time to pick up your game here. Yeah I think I think there's multiple layers to it and part of it is as you could be market specific but I think philosophically I think there's also probably a bit of a a bit of a discussion right now that ends some decision-making the players need to make in terms of what path is the right one for me and I think you know there's the one path of you know playing the CHL play a play a full schedule play four rounds of playoffs yeah play for the Memorial Cup and that that sort of going through that gauntlet and that grind yeah is really valuable

for these players and I know from speaking to NHL, the NHL gyms that I speak to say that the biggest transition is for players when they go to the NHL or the AHL is getting used to the grind. Outside of the talent jump and that kind of thing. So I think that's one philosophy. And then there's another philosophy, which is play less, go to the gym, play on the weekends, and recover and all that kind of stuff. So I think, and go to school. So I think that, when I answered your question last time, no one really exactly knows what the right answer is. I think it's player specific, I really do. And I think that from our perspective, I think we feel pretty comfortable that based on

our historical track record of placing players in the NHL and professional hockey leagues around the world, that our model works. But, to answer the layered part of your question, we have to continue to make sure that every market that we have teams in can operate at a standard, or operating at a standard that is the best development opportunity for our players.

So some teams it might be they need to upgrade their training facilities. For some teams it might be they got a higher mental performance coach. For some teams it might be, it might be, I don't know, it might be more around strength and conditioning talent. But I think every player is different,

but so is every market. And so with our commissioners, that we have three fairly new commissioners in each of the league, highly focused with their clubs on how can we make sure that the standards just continue to rise. And I feel pretty comfortable that, you know, when it's all said and done, we're going to be,

we're going to be stronger when it's all said and done. You know, one of the, one of the things that, and this is might be, it's always been like this. So we all sort of take it for granted, but I really do think that the one area that I'm sort of a little bit surprised as CHL doesn't put more of a public accent on is the relationship with equipment manufacturers. I've heard so many stories

from other junior leagues where mom and dad have to send sticks or I need a new pair of skates I just had a growth spurt and mom can you send me the the vapors in a box you know and I've always this to me like as a hockey dad I look at it and go, my kid goes to whatever market, I'm not sending sticks anymore, I'm not buying skates, I'm not buying gloves anymore. Yeah, and that's something that we've spent a lot of time on in the last 18 months.

As you know, we announced last year at the Memorial Cup a new set of partnerships. So we have a new, so our old, we had a great relationship with CCM for years and years. And CCM was both our lead partner in equipment and also in apparel. And what we ended up doing as we sort of went through the process is we ended up splitting it up

and we landed with Under Armour on the jersey and sock side who really are sort of their specialty products are in that area. And we think that's going to pay dividends both for the athlete. I mean, they just have a history of innovation in terms of Jersey and that kind of Jersey and protection and that kind of stuff. Um, and also at retail, we think there's going to be some really good opportunities for the fans eventually. And then on the equipment side,

we ended up transitioning to Bauer and to your point about, about sticks and skates. I mean mean as a hockey parent when you come oh I know I know Dan when you come into the CHL it's the first time in since your kids been probably five years old that your equipment is paid for and so and so our clubs you know cover that for the team for the players and sometimes you forget how how important that is but it's it's not only is it important from a cost perspective, but from the perspective of these players having the best equipment to play with.

We've got our roster of companies who our teams can buy from are the best in the business, Bauer, CCM, True, Vaughn. And whether it's player equipment or goalie equipment, our goal is always to have the best equipment for our players. So we're really excited about those partnerships and sometimes it is something that's overlooked, but

especially for us on the Jersey side, it's gonna be interesting to see where UA takes us in terms of jerseys, fan jerseys and player jerseys. Retro CHL jerseys? Potentially, potentially. There's some beauties from the past. You and I have had this conversation before. There's some gorgeous, and even teams that don't exist anymore, New West Bruins, and Hamilton Fin Cups, and all these great old teams.

And alumni, too. Yes. So we have some, the combination of the logos and the alumni could be pretty exciting. How much more can this league expand? You know I? Know the the the the Quebec maritime league wants to get into the United States. There are almost two That joined the Ontario Hockey League How much expansion can you and I know there's a lot of hurdles to it I probably for a bigger conversation than I'm asking now,

but how aggressive does the CHL and all three member leagues want to expand? So I think it depends a little bit on league, and these decisions are made at the league level, so each of the league's board of governors makes those decisions. As you've indicated, there have been, there's been, I think Mario in the queue

has been fairly public about their desire to expand into the northeastern United States And so that is I think on their roadmap I think in Ontario I think there is a feeling with the with especially with the the changes to the rules and the expansion of the player pool expansion of interest from US players to play in the CHL that we think there probably is an opportunity for a bit more. I don't have any real specifics yet but I would not be surprised to see there be expansion in the OHL down the

line and potentially even some markets in Ontario. There's some markets in Ontario that might make sense but again that'll be a decision that the OHL governors and Brian make in the next, in the short term. I know it's continually on the agenda. No firm deadlines yet. As you said, it is a little bit complicated in terms of all the things have to be in place for that to happen.

But I'd say that, and then in the West, outside of what's already been announced in terms of Penticton this year and Chilliwack next year, just given the geographical footprint out there, not exactly sure where the WHL is gonna go on that front, but again I think the plan ultimately, if the player pool can support it, would be to expand and probably the bulk of the expansion would be in the US. It really does seem, and again like I'm not there, this is probably a better question that I should, that Dan Dan year will give a great answer to

but you're right on top of it as well the one major area of growth for elite players is the Western League right now and the Academy model like listen Landon Dupont was here a second ago and Maddox Schultz and Connor Bidard and etc. so I go right down the Gavin McKenna etc. It used to be, and I know I always, Gordie Howe fans and Joe Sackett fans and Kerry Price fans will always get on me about this, but generally superstars in the NHL that came from Canada came from the Ontario League or the Quebec League. Now there are very high end players coming out of the Western League and that's always been true, but not like the Marios and the Waynes and the Bobbies.

There was the Gordy from Flint Flats. But you know what I'm talking about? But now it's consistently up at the top of every NHL draft there's someone coming from the Western League. Yeah, I think as you said it goes in cycles partly. I think the model, I think the sports school model out there is something that is... I really think that's what it is. It's a hot house.

It's a hot house. And it's interesting. We had a gentleman from the Canadian School of Sport League, Andy Oakes, join us in Rimouski and he met with us all about what they're doing and their expansion plans and they're aggressively moving across the country and so I think they've they've established a foothold in the east their Ontario's kind of I know important to them so I think you might see that model continue and then I also think that hockey Canada is also going through a whole look at their CDM and what the the sorry their athlete their athlete development model and so I think that you're gonna see,

there's a lot of focus right now on how we produce hockey players from the younger ages all the way up. And we'll be part of that process as well. And to your first question about standards, we all have to get better. No one is sitting on their hands here. Being a great place where players can develop their skills

is something that we're all about and it's really important. So what's next? Well I'm going to probably rest tomorrow. It's been a long stretch. Give yourself a day. I think for us, summer goes by so quick now. It does. What is summer? We're all working deep into, once by the time it was July 2nd, it's like, all right, gone fishing. Yeah.

Those days are gone. No, those days are gone. So I think for us, we've got, I'd say we've got a busy summer. You know, I think we're still in the process of working through some of the implications with, you know, with, you know, with some of our clubs are gonna do as it relates to their rosters for next year, depending on changes. I think a third national event is something

that we're gonna spend some time on this summer, digging in on. So we've got the Memorial Cup, we've got the Prospects Canada, USA, CHL USA Prospects Challenge, and we'd really love to put a third event on the calendar. So we're not there yet, but we're gonna work on that. I think we're gonna be working on

who's gonna be our host for 2027 and the OHL for the Memorial Cup. That'll be on my agenda. And then we've got some work to do on our media deals. So we've had a couple of announcements on the streaming side, WHL on the queue. Yeah, I saw that with Flow in the queue. With Flow, Flow in the queue and Victory Plus in the dub.

So the OHL should be announcing something in the coming weeks. And then our national rights are up after the end of next season. So we'll be spending some time on that. So, you know, there's a lot going on. And then obviously, of course, just, you know, working with the NHL on what the future looks like

with that deal. So I think it's going to be a busy summer. And there's always someone to talk about. I mean listen, I always say and we've heard they all saying you know may you live in interesting times. There has probably never been a more interesting time in the history of junior hockey in this country than right now. And I think that your answer as I mentioned before the last time we spoke was a particularly salient one. The real answer it might not be great for Sports Talk Radio but it's the truth. No one knows. Yeah. And we don't know. We don't know. And you know what Jeff I just say there's a lot of speculation and I would say you talked

before about the you know the good things about digital there's also a flip side to that a little bit and I think that you know we got we got to remember it's funny. So for this event a little bit. And I think that, you know, we got to remember, it's funny, so for this event, we had, I mentioned that I had some of the parents and players in last night, we had a dinner and some of the kids went to the concert. When you're with these kids, you realize,

well two of them weren't there, and you know why? Prom, they had prom. It's like two of them, two of these, you know. We let them be kids now, they're a hockey machine, they need prom. And these are two kids who are going to be in the top five in the NHL draft they put they They had prom and so you realize like when with all the speculation and the so-and-so is going here and so-and-so is going there

You realize they're just kids kids and so let the cards play let these families and players make the best decision for them and You know, we're all gonna be fine We just got a we just got a you know, do the best we can but I think we just got to slow down a little bit sometimes. Amen to that. So much thanks so much for this congratulations on a great event here at the Delta much appreciated. Thanks as always. We'll chat soon. Appreciate it. Dan McKenzie is the president of the Canadian Hockey League live here from the Delta it is the Sheet with yours truly Jeff Merrick and that ends the the

guest portion of the program want to thank Dan McKenzie for stopping by. I want to thank Matthew Schaefer for stopping by Landon Dupont and Gardner McDougall. In the meantime, hey Zach, remember from like two hours ago when we were talking about the Edmonton letters? I kind of get carried away when I talk when I talk to junior hockey people. You must know this by now. Yeah I do. I figured that one out at this point. Yeah, if there's anything I know. Listen, junior hockey was my first love. I remember going to Marlboro's games when I was a kid, and then when I was at university at Guelph, I don't think I missed more than a handful of Guelph Storm games. But nonetheless, we got something for the Ninja Crispy inbox. So

We got something for the Ninja Crispy Inbox. So it is now time folks for the Ninja Crispy Inbox presented by the Ninja Crispy 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer, Zach. Meet the first of its kind. The Ninja Crispy portable cooking system. The power of a full-sized air fryer in the palm of your hand. So you can cook big or small batches.

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favorites to one dish meals. What Zakaru do we have in the crispy inbox today? This one came in on Twitter the other day. This one says from Michigan Mike at Mike McMacMan 21. No one is mentioning Red Wings as linked to any top UFAs or even RFAs. Is it because Izerman never leaks info or no top guys want to join the wings? Still got to think wings are a destination with new building, facilities, cities reborn, practice rinks on site, Isermans respected by players, or am I way off? So Detroit's really interesting.

One, yeah, Iserman is, as we like to call him, the new Lou. Nothing much gets out of the Detroit Red Wings organization. And we did see a sort of little mini volcanic eruption between Dylan Larkin, the captain of the Detroit Red Wings, complaining essentially about a lack of action from his general manager around trade deadline time. And you saw a sort of mini tempest in a teapot between his star player and the general manager. The one thing that I keep coming back to with with the

Detroit Red Wings, and maybe it ultimately won't get solved until Trey Augustine is a pro and is their starting netminder, I keep thinking that we've mentioned that Utah's in the goalie market. I don't know that there's a bigger team in the goalie market perhaps than the Detroit Red Wings. Not that I want to pin all the woes of the Detroit Red Wings on their net mining, but it's been less than impressive, let's just say. It's amazing what can happen when you can get a save and no team knows that more. Oh, thank you. I thought it was a good point too. No team knows that more than the Detroit Red Wings.

So if I'm looking to see what's available around shopping time on July 1st, I'm probably looking at netminding for the Detroit Red Wings. But much like we talked about Pat Verbeek and some of the shine coming off the rows, okay, he's been in this role for three and a half years. It's time to get something done.

It's probably that time as well for the Detroit Red Wings and Steve Iserman. It's a, like, Iserman is a big name in the market, that's true. But there's only so much both the fans and the Illich family are gonna take until there are some significant questions asked there. Does that make sense to you, Zach? Yeah, that makes sense. The new Lou is also.

Yeah, he's the new Lou. The new Lou. Lou goes out and then there he goes. Stevie Y fills his spot. Yes, correct. All right, I'm curious to see what you come up with for this one. Last night was an absolute banger.

Last night was the emotional roller coaster. We don't have a game until tomorrow. Let's see what Zachary Wu's got on his mind. The sheet is powered by FanDuel, home of the same game Parlay. Make every moment more on FanDuel. FanDuel, proud to connect fans to the major sports moments that matter to them.

What you thinking about today, Zach Phillips? Alright, so you know at this point, there's been one market I just keep going back to. And after last night we saw a major swap. I told you before, I thought some guy was pricing correctly. And after last night's game, Leon Dreisaitl now at number two for the Kahn Smythe. Oh yeah, look at that. Plus 230, Sam Bennett plus 140, McDavid in third plus 270, Marshawn plus 1700, Kichucked up to plus 3000.

But Jeff, one of the reasons I listed out all five of these guys, one guy has fallen out of the top five and I think it's over for him no matter what. You know who that guy is? Who's that guy? Sergey Bobrovsky. Yeah, you start to let in five spots six spots all of a sudden you start to fall out of favor

and maybe this is just recency bias here but like to me it's it's coming down it's coming down to two players it's gonna be Sam Bennett or it's going to be Leon Dreisler yeah and now listen can Conor McDavid go off for five points a night? Absolutely. Doesn't seem like it's going to happen. But nonetheless, Leon Dreisle continues to perform. And again, I think they've really, they've really got some found money here with that Dreisle Podkohl's and Perry line. Ride that one to success. Although you know what would be a real trip Zach? What would be a real trip is it's not gonna happen. But the Calvin Pickard story is fantastic. Oh you want Pickard Consmaith? It's not gonna, again, it's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen. But for someone,

like I love the the career AHL guys guys like things really did not come together at all For Calvin Pickard until he's like what 33 years old Right, and he's have been given every opportunity to quit It may be reason to quit all he's done Zach is he's come in he's won every single game Yeah, I know 7-0 7-0 and there he was again winning this like We were all writing off the Edmonton Oilers and even after the first period last night We were really writing off the Edmonton Oilers. Twitter was on fire

Against the Edmonton Oilers and Calvin Pickard came and calmed everybody down Now he's not the most calm goaltender I kind of said tongue-in-cheek like he's playing the most calm goaltender. I kind of said tongue-in-cheek like he's playing ball hockey style sometimes just trying to make saves. But what a trip it would be and what a story it would be if he ends up with the record of 9-0 and the Edmonton Oilers win a Stanley Cup. There's got to be some one of the writers that goes, you know what? Kelbo Pickard's kind of saved this team season not once, but twice.

Should maybe Pickard be given some consideration here? What do you think? Honorable mention. Sure. They didn't do the honorable mention cup. I completely understand what you're saying with the argument and I actually kind of do agree Because of the entire body of work, but no on smite. No not happy not picking it up No, can I throw one thing at you before we get out of here? By the time we get back this will not be in play

On morning cup of hockey the other day. Yeah last tried to pitch the idea that it was effectively it's better for the oilers to be down 3-1 than tied 2-2 because there's more pressure on them at tied 2-2 i just want a quick thought from you now that the series is tied 2-2 is there more pressure on the oilers than there would be if they were down three one. Doing this job is hard. You have to come up with things to say every single day. Trust me, I know I've done this since 1995. You have to come up with different takes. Sometimes, and you know, and sometimes,

and this is what the best broadcasters will do, they'll deliberately take a position that they know is wrong and bordering on stupid. So I'm going to go with Johnny Lazarus, is taking one for the team, trying to make the show better, by taking a point of view that is absolutely ridiculous just in order to get our reaction out of me out of Colby out of anybody watching or listening to that show I love him so I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubts but a holy smokes there's more pressure down too. There's more pressure tied to two than down three to one. Again, it's not an easy job folks. You got to come up with something to say and multiple things to say on a daily basis.

I'm just not sure that I'm picking up what our man Laz is putting down on that one. And with that we'll wrap up here from the Delta. Different style show at a different time. We thank you for hanging in there whether you're watching the stream in the chat or listening on your favorite podcast platform. We appreciate the support. Want to thank the CHL for hosting us. Chris Sagan, great job. Want to thank everybody here at the Canadian Hockey League. Want to thank Dan McKenzie for stopping by the program. Matthew Schaefer, Landon McKenzie for stopping by the program.

Matthew Schaefer, Landon Dupont, stopped by the show, the great Gardner McDougall stopped by as well. Nick Carolli for putting it all together. Great job, man. And our man Zach Phillips for holding it down as well. And, and to Steven Ellis, who did a ton of interviews yesterday with a bunch of CHL players as I was in Florida for game four. So the show returns on Monday at this normally

scheduled three o'clock time. Don't forget morning cup of hockey with hot take Laz. If I'm the Oilers I'd rather be down three to one and facing elimination than tied two two. Who wants that? Who wants the best two out of three when you could be down three to one? I love you bud but sometimes you eat in space cake. It's just the way it is. Just the way it is. We've all done it. Morning Cup of Hockey Monday morning 9 o'clock Eastern DFO live at noon and our act at three bells. Talk to you next week. Signing off from the night. I'm like, no, man, that's fine I'm not against those methods, but, you It's me, myself, and Alice gonna be fixing my mind I do wanna break it

I turned on the music I do wanna break it I turned on the music It's turned up, down, bad, and bad Thanks for watching!