Spittin’ Chiclets Episode 584: Featuring Dallas Drake & Colby Armstrong
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Whitney, Paul “Biz” Bissonnette, Rear Admiral, Mike Grinnell
Guests: Dallas Drake, Colby Armstrong
Episode Overview
This episode kicks off a new NHL season with an irreverent recap of the recent Chiclets Cup in Boston, diving into ball hockey chaos, tournament highs and lows, and plenty of chirping between the hosts. Special guests Dallas Drake and Colby Armstrong join to reflect on their careers, hockey culture, and an emotional night honoring Marc-André Fleury in Pittsburgh. The episode also touches on major NHL news, contract signings, injury impacts, and the wild scene at the latest Ryder Cup. Listeners are treated to classic Chiclets banter, inside locker room stories, and updates on the evolving podcast schedule.
Chiclets Cup Boston Recap
[02:17 – 37:18]
Main Takeaways
- Boston’s Chiclets Cup was a massive hit, with fans, families, and food trucks creating a festival atmosphere. The event continues to grow in scope and intensity.
- Brampton Midnight Express solidifies a dynasty with a championship (“they played this tournament to perfection" – Whitney, 05:51). Winners in each division took home $5k.
- Both hosts’ teams crashed out again—Biz’s “Big Deal Selects” lost finals despite improved chemistry and new roster tweaks. Stranglers (Keith’s team) also bowed out, with Biz getting some revenge along the way.
- Terry Ryan & Senior’s Absence: Absurd travel woes (incorrectly spelled tickets), leading to locker room laughs but also highlighting their importance as team “spirit animals” (Biz, 13:58: “Sometimes it’s about the experiences and the lifelong memories...”).
- Chirping and Team Identity: Constant ribbing about Biz’s team never winning ("No, you don’t, bud. No, you don’t. You don’t got the recipe. You don’t got it." – Whitney, 15:32).
- Event Praise: Both hosts and guests emphasize the event’s competitive level, fan engagement, and camaraderie ("It was one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of." – Keith, 30:12).
- Women’s Division: Biz commends their intensity and calls for rule changes to allow slapshots ("They played their clits off, buddy." – Biz, 25:04).
- Lifestyle Content: Stories about night life, tailgating, and unique personalities from across all ball hockey teams—highlights included wild parties (Park City & Loco), hungover performances, and family moments.
Notable Quotes
- “At some point, you gotta win it. And we beat you.” – Whitney [13:58]
- “Sometimes it’s about the experiences and the lifelong memories you had with your friends at Chiclets Cup.” – Biz [13:54]
- “If you want this…sign up! Sign a team up.” – Biz [29:46]
- “The women’s division at this tournament, they play their clits off.” – Biz [25:03]
- “There was probably 1,500 to 2,000 people there. My kids…thought it was amazing.” – Keith [30:12]
NHL News and Analysis
[37:19 – 70:39]
Barkov Injury Fallout
- Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers): Out for season with torn ACL and MCL.
- Discussion centered on the impact for Florida, whether Anton Lundell can step up, cap management, and potential replacements.
- Biz’s gut reaction was Leafs-centric, immediately declaring “Leafs year,” then profusely clarifies he’s not rooting for injury (“He’s irreplaceable… I feel so terrible…” – Biz [38:33]).
- Florida’s Adjustments: Speculation about signing Jack Roslovic.
Whitney: “He does play center, Biz. That’s not a bad call.” [46:34] - Playoff Cap Rules: The end of “LTIR circumvention,” meaning Florida can only replace a fraction of Barkov's $10M in cap space.
Leafs Signings & Cup Dreaming
- Anthony Stolarz signs with Toronto.
Biz: “That’s a testament to the buy-in of this group… That’s why I’m convinced it’s their year.” [49:29] - Full breakdown of Toronto’s depth, cap maneuvering, and the culture shift under Brad Treliving.
- Ryan Reimer brought in on a PTO as “Bible study” backup presence.
- Biz vows celibacy and lifestyle changes until the Leafs win: “No weed, no jerking, just strictly winning, baby.” [55:34]
- Whitney is skeptical, referencing past playoff failures; banter about “recipe for championships.”
Anaheim Ducks’ Moves
- Mason McTavish Signs: Six years, $7 million per. Whitney and gang approve: “He’s going to be a 70-point player making $7 million bucks…the next six seasons” – Whitney [62:57]
- Discussing Anaheim’s young core, Joel Quenneville’s presence as a sign they’re pushing to win now.
St. Louis Blues Contract
- Cam Fowler re-signs for 3 years at $6.1M. Praised for leadership, skating, and fit on the top pairing.
Marc-André Fleury Farewell Night in Pittsburgh
[70:39 – 101:13]
Guest: Colby Armstrong returns to discuss the event; full segment includes memories from all hosts.
Segment Highlights
- Fleury honored by Penguins in a packed, emotional preseason game, signing a ceremonial PTO to appear in the third period.
- Only select icons would merit this kind of sendoff (“It’s like the 1%ers of a guy…” – Army [72:01]).
- On-ice energy, push-up antics, and the crowd response described as “electric,” with fans erupting for every save and touch.
- Biz calls for more teams to adopt this tradition for their legends (Joe Thornton-San Jose, Jonathan Quick-LA, Joe Thornton-San Jose, Shea Weber-Nashville, Carey Price-Montreal).
- Fond anecdotes about Fleury’s legendary practice competitiveness, positive locker room energy, pranks, and the 2009 Cup run.
- Emotional acknowledgment of Fleury’s maturity during Cup runs when benched for Murray: “That was a hard time for him…He handled himself incredibly.” – Army [91:10]
Notable Quotes
- “He’s a showman.” – Keith [73:20]
- “He brings something different…He was like that through his entire career.” – Army [82:52]
- “He stopped you with a smile on his face.” – Keith [86:29]
- “He’s a star. Great guy. One of the best teammates I ever had.” – Army [95:38]
Interview: Dallas Drake
[103:50 – 165:52]
Interview Breakdown
- From Small-Town BC to NHL Grit: Dallas recounts early days on the family dairy farm (“Every morning, 6 o’clock, milk the cows…” [109:17]), developing work ethic, and late physical growth.
- Northern Michigan Glory: Discusses winning a national championship in one of college hockey’s wildest games, and how he focused on being a two-way player to prolong his career.
- NHL Memories: Detroit rookie year, sudden trade after coaching miscommunication with Scotty Bowman (“He told me to stop hitting guys—so I did, but then got no ice time!” [126:41]), and evolution as a checking forward.
- Roommates & Legends: Colorful stories about being Keith Tkachuk’s longtime roommate and Al MacInnis’s quiet leadership. Describes Shane Doan as “tough as nails, one of the nicest people ever.”
- Winning the Cup: Emotional recall of reclaiming the Cup in his final season. Lidstrom insisted Drake hoist it first: “I’ll never forget the rest of my life.” [152:34]
- Championship Afterparty: The team breaks the Stanley Cup on the first night—Yuri Hudler drops it in half [164:35].
- Locker Room Antics: Candid discussion about infamous “locker room legend” Jim McKenzie, tough minor league memories, and the kinship unique to the ‘90s/early ‘00s era.
Notable Quotes
- “My dad knew nothing about hockey...he’d stand on the bench and go get stuff for the coach.” [113:07]
- “Be more than a one-dimensional kid.” [116:04]
- On the Cup: “We broke it in half, first night… people had one half each!” [164:45]
- “There's nobody else that really did what [Kachuk, Shanahan, Doan] did, top to bottom.” [145:59]
Ryder Cup Mayhem & US Choke
[169:56 – 189:19]
Highlights
- Recap of Ryder Cup drama: US collapses again (“Europe’s now won 11 of last 15,” Whitney notes [169:56]).
- Course setup criticized (“That sign needs to be taken away,” Whitney, 171:35), and US captain Keegan Bradley blamed for soft rough.
- Biz and Whitney lambast the “half point for injuries rule,” debate playoff tiebreaks, and review the embarrassing attempts to get US crowds into the event—a viral cringeworthy video is described in detail.
- Rory McIlroy praised for clutch performances amid heavy chirping: “I want all the smoke… if I ever see him at The Grove again… I’m gonna get on both my knees and kiss his feet.” – Biz [178:35]
- Strong opinions on fan decorum—a clear line drawn between rowdy fun and outright slurs or abuse.
Announcements & Show Schedule Change
[189:19 – End]
- Spittin’ Chiclets expanding to two pods per week:
- Monday Live Show: Focused on current events and interviews, 2pm Eastern (when live) or 6am (pre-recorded for commuters).
- Friday Pod: Long-form interviews (e.g., Dallas Drake), game previews, and week catch-up.
- Game Notes remains on Wednesdays, making for three days of Chiclets content per week.
- Upcoming YouTube Content: Chiclets Cup recap, new Sandbagger episode, and Chiclets U video dropping in October.
Most Memorable Quotes
On Lessons from Championships & Failure:
"Sometimes, boys, it’s not all about winning. Sometimes it’s about the experiences and the lifelong memories..."
—Biz, [13:54]
On Cultivating Hockey Culture:
"It was one of the coolest things I’ve been a part of…to feel a part of a team again."
—Keith, [30:12]
On Marc-André Fleury’s Career:
"He was like that through his entire career…He brings something different."
—Colby Armstrong, [82:52]
On Locker Room Camaraderie:
“Walt just dropped his gloves and walked right in the shower, skates on, just to see Jimmy Mac’s…”
—Dallas Drake, [138:51]
On Unapologetic Toronto Optimism:
“That’s why I’m convinced it’s their year; they are set to go have a miracle season and end this ridiculous drought in Toronto.”
—Biz, [53:03]
Key Timestamps
- Chiclets Cup Recap: 02:17 – 37:18
- Barkov Injury & NHL News: 37:19 – 70:39
- Marc-André Fleury Farewell: 70:39 – 101:13
- Dallas Drake Interview: 103:50 – 165:52
- Ryder Cup Reactions: 169:55 – 189:19
- New Podcast Schedule Announcement: 189:19 – End
Final Thoughts
This episode is a tour-de-force of hockey culture and camaraderie, mixing tournament escapades, poignant NHL analysis, and classic behind-the-scenes storytelling. Whether reminiscing about broken cups, locker room pranks, or the rituals of hockey family, the Chiclets crew delivers an engaging, laughter-filled primer for the season ahead.