Empty Netters Podcast: 2026 Milan Olympics Preview and Predictions w/ Jack O’Callahan

Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Almost Friday Media
Special Guest: Jack O’Callahan (1980 Miracle on Ice gold medalist)

Episode Overview

In this special Olympics preview, the Empty Netters (Dan Powers, Chris Powers, and Evan Watkins) break down the men’s and women’s 2026 Olympic hockey tournaments, analyze rosters for Team USA and Team Canada, and deliver bold predictions ahead of their departure for Milan. Joined by legendary 1980 gold medalist Jack O'Callahan, they dive into Olympics memories, Miracle stories, and offer a candid, hilarious look at building a championship team. The episode is high-energy, irreverent, and loaded with deep hockey insight, banter, and memorable moments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Olympic Hockey Roster Reactions & Line Analysis

[07:16 – 38:38]

Team Canada: Immediate Impressions and Line Grades

• First Line: Macklin Celebrini – Connor McDavid – Tom Wilson
  • “A plus, no notes.” – Dan [08:22]
  • Powers brothers debate Wilson’s presence on L1, surprised but see logic: “Put some grit in there…who’s also going to get you 75 points in a season.” – Dan [11:40]
• Second Line: Mitch Marner – Sidney Crosby – Mark Stone
  • Mixed feelings, concern about lack of true snipers and speed: “There’s just something I don’t find delicious about it.” – Dan [12:10]
  • “We could have had more fun on that line.” – Chris [13:16]
• Third Line: Brad Marchand – Nathan MacKinnon – Nick Suzuki
  • Both hosts want Suzuki to play center: “No clue what we’re doing not putting Nick Suzuki at center.” – Dan [14:02]
  • Suggest line tweaks for optimal balance.
• Fourth Line: Hagel – Bo Horvat – Sam Reinhart
  • Praises Canada’s depth: “That line is going out as your fourth line and you’re another team, you’re like, are you kidding me?” – Dan [16:52]

Defense & Goalies

• Top pair: Toews-Makar is a lock.
• Questions about Harley sitting, Parayko’s inclusion; see Canada’s D-pairs as “marriages of old” that shouldn’t be changed lightly. [20:19]
• Goaltending no longer a huge advantage for USA: “LT (Logan Thompson) and Darce (Darcy Kuemper) are so good.” [21:34]

Team USA: Immediate Impressions and Line Grades

• First Line: Gensel – Matthews – Boldy
  • “B minus” – Dan, still skeptical of Matthews as 1C and captain: “He has never showed up in big games. I just don't get it.” [24:20]
• Second Line: Tkachuk – Eichel – Tkachuk
  • Hosts love the chemistry and identity.
• Third Line (Hughes/Larkin/Thompson or Connor):
  • “That is an all-star team like you read about.” – Dan [26:26]
  • Jack Hughes seen as better suited to wing.
• Fourth Line: Keller/Trocheck/Nelson or Miller/Nelson/Hughes
  • “B minus. I am like, I don't know, man.” – Dan [29:43]
  • Hosts rail against Trocheck/Miller over Kyle Connor: “If you scratch Kyle Connor… that belongs in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise… You’re fucking dumb if you do that.” – Dan [31:17]

Defense & Goaltending

• “Happy harmonious marriages” on D, love Quinn and McAvoy, see Slavin-Faber as elite.
• Goalie debate: “I wouldn’t start (Hellebuyck). As great as USA’s are, none come without negatives.” – Dan [35:21]
• Complexities in starting order and rotation; worry about confidence and pressure.

Format & Predictions

• Clarifies Olympic tournament format and controversial OT rules: 3-on-3 OT even for gold medal [44:12].
  • “We talk about ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it’…I want to see who is the better team 5-on-5.” – Dan [45:03]

2. Notable Quotes & Banter

• “Tom Wilson can score five goals in this tournament just by standing in the right place.” – Chris, on Team Canada’s construction [09:45]
• “The embarrassment of riches…” – Dan, on Team Canada’s insane depth [15:58]
• “If you scratch Kyle Connor, the galaxy brain stuff…belongs in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.” – Dan [31:17]
• “When you’re as good as this fucking dude…there’s absolutely no reason for him at any moment to just go like this: ‘I’m here now, fuck off.’” – Dan, on Auston Matthews [52:38]
• “I want the D pairings to be marriages of old. No one’s getting divorced back in the 40s and 50s!” – Dan [20:19]
• “No, you idiots. Mark Stone is so good…” – Chris, defending Mark Stone [13:16]
• “If you start Sway (Swayman) or Otter (Oettinger) and they’re kind of leaky and you get by Latvia, it’s almost a good feeling to be like, we’re going back to Helly, dude.” – Dan [38:52]
• “If you go someone else, you have now benched Connor Hellebuyck…you can’t really go back to him after you bench him…” – Dan [37:54]

3. Olympic Women’s Preview

[46:56 – 49:14]

• Recaps early women’s results: “The women’s game is already buzzing…” – Dan [48:57]
• USA-Canada women’s games are must-watch, “those ladies go to war against each other.” [48:57]

4. Players to Watch & “Coming Out Party” Picks

[49:14 – 58:46]

For USA

• Standouts:
  • Charlie McAvoy (“playing the best hockey of his life right now.”) [49:41]
  • Zach Werenski (“Argument to be made as best defenseman in the NHL.”) [49:57]
  • Jack Eichel and Dylan Larkin called out, but Matt Boldy and Tage Thompson tabbed as breakout stars.
• Coming Out Party: Matt Boldy (“I legitimately think he’s going to be one of our top producing players.” – Chris [52:15]) and Clayton Keller [51:21]

For Canada

• Standouts: Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid, goaltending duo
• Coming Out Party: Nick Suzuki (“This is going to be… like we were with Slavin. People around the league… are going to go, ‘what the fuck, is this guy a top player in the league?’”) [54:05]; Celebrini as well [54:58]
• Heart Pick: Evan picks Sidney Crosby (“He’s the heart and soul and he’s still around…this might not even be his last [Olympics].”) [57:13]

5. Group Orders & Medal Predictions

[58:46 – 64:16]

• Group top picks: Canada/Czechia (A), Sweden/Finland (B), USA/Germany (C)
• Bronze Medal Predictions: Sweden over Czechia [minute 60]
• Gold Medal Game: Consensus wish for USA, but majority pick Canada to win gold (“I want USA to win so badly, but…put a gun to my head, I think Canada is going to do it.” – Chris [61:41])
• Sentimental note: “It’s so conflicting…I wish they could tie.” – Dan [62:23]

Interview Segment: Jack O’Callahan (1980 Miracle on Ice)

[65:57 – 137:10]

Major Highlights:

On College Choices & BU Days

• Jack’s near-Harvard commitment, why he chose BU for hockey brotherhood, fit, and coach Parker's influence.
  • “Harvard almost took it for granted…but the BU guys were all around my family.” [72:19]
• Stories from the iconic Beanpot tournament and balancing hockey with bartending at the “dugout” in Boston.

On Pre-Olympic Preparation

• 61-game pre-Olympic schedule—Herb Brooks color-coded importance, with “gold” games including all NCAA matchups:
  • “He was like, ‘if you can’t beat a college team, I’m blowing up the whole team.’” [93:02]

On Injury and Making the Team

• Shocking near-cut after a knee injury at MSG Soviet game—last-minute medical save by Dr. Richard Steadman, radical “active” rehabbing.
  • “All Steadman did was buy me time.” [100:26]
  • “At that time, I thought I was off the team.” [96:32]
• Ended up missing only two games in Lake Placid.

On Team Culture, Miracle, and Brooks’ Methods

• Inside scoop: Jack admits he wasn’t on the ice during the famous “Herbies” scene; describes what really happened—arena staff shut off the lights to stop Brooks [104:24].
• Team-building through “the ball” – tape ball with every quirky Herb saying.
• The now-legendary locker room speech before the Finland gold medal game, confirming its reality and intensity:
  • “I was just on fire…no way in the world we were losing that game. We were 100% winning that game. Absolutely.” [123:13]
• Bunker Hill moment real; Charlestown pride and the myth behind “we won at Bunker Hill.” [123:45]

Life After & Reflections on Miracle

• Involvement in “Miracle” film, consulting on accuracy and sharing personal archives; praises the film’s impact.
  • “Every guy to a man on our team thinks the movie’s awesome…it’s become a little bit of an iconic movie.” [133:50]

Memorable Quotes

• “He takes out a piece of tape, writes the saying, and rolls it into a ball…by the end of the season, the freakin’ ball was this big.” [108:55]
• “We were incredibly determined…no way in the world we were losing that game.” [123:13]
• “Miracle is all for one, one for all…we were like the twenty musketeers.” – Jack [135:48]

Other Segments

College Hockey Rundown

[139:49 – 146:08]

• Detailed NCAA rankings rundown, big games, and shifts at the top, with passionate analysis of Michigan-Michigan State and Boston Beanpot.

Beer League Hotline: Wild Listener Confessional

[149:29 – 153:59]

• Call-in about a beer league commissioner creeping on a listener’s girlfriend on Instagram, then kicking the caller off the team.
  • “This is the biggest no-brainer. Why in the world would you not expose him? This guy is a pervert.” – Dan [151:09]

Blind Rankings: Best Italian Foods

[154:37 – 163:08]

• Fun food rankings in advance of the Milan trip; robust, friendly debate about carbonara, lasagna, margherita pizza, and more.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Canada Lines Analysis: 08:08 – 18:09
• USA Lines Analysis: 22:24 – 38:38
• Olympic Format & OT Rules: 39:27 – 46:21
• Women’s Tournament Discussion: 46:56 – 49:14
• Players to Watch & Predictions: 49:14 – 65:00+
• Jack O’Callahan Interview: 65:57 – 137:10
• College Hockey Segment: 139:49 – 146:08
• Beer League Hotline: 149:29 – 153:59
• Italian Food Rankings: 154:37 – 163:08

Memorable Moments

• Jack O'Callahan on “Miracle”:
  “Every guy to a man on our team thinks the movie’s awesome…and I think it’s become a little bit of an iconic movie.” [133:50]
• Jack describing the Olympic gold moment:
  “We were 100% winning that game. Absolutely.” [123:13]
• Canada vs USA roster meltdown:
  “If you scratch Kyle Connor…you’re fucking dumb if you do that.” – Dan [31:17]
• On OT rules:
  “I want to see who is the better team 5-on-5.” – Dan [45:03]

Tone & Style

The episode is raw, lively, and authenticity-obsessed—equal parts insightful hockey analysis, bold opinions, sibling roasts, and celebration of “beauty” in both the sport and its culture. The addition of Jack O’Callahan’s Boston charm, historical knowledge, and storytelling prowess grounds the episode in both reverence for tradition and a joyous “let’s hang” modern hockey podcast vibe.

If you missed this episode, you got Olympic roster scoops, classic “Miracle” lore, up-to-the-minute predictions, and an unapologetically honest, passionate look at the sport.