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Spittin Chiclets
Spittin' Chiclets Episode 624: Featuring Zach Werenski, Jack Eichel, Noah Hanifin, Abbey Murphy and T.J. Oshie
02:42:55
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- [00:00]
Ra
Hey, Spit and Chiclets listeners. You could find every episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify prime. Members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. Me and Ryan have been officially welcomed to the jungle that is barstool sports.
- [00:15]
Biz
I brought it toward the coyotes and I asked them if it was okay if I joined the Spit Chicklets podcast full time.
- [00:22]
Whit
Ryan Whitney's got a Pink Whitney out there now. Heath Yandel, the song man, is a full time member. Marley just gotten assist from Chris.
- [00:35]
Yance
Whoa. We're buzzing right now.
- [00:40]
Whit
What is up, folks? Welcome to episode 624 of the Spitting Chiclets podcast. God, things have changed. Biz biz, don't cry yet. Don't cry yet. Gotta show no Pink Whitney first. God, the amount of Pink Whitney that was involved in Florida and in the gold medal win for Team USA and our lives throughout our trip down there with the baggers and the gold medal game and everything. Shout out Pink Whitney. Shout out for anyone, anyone who's ever tried it. If you haven't, just. Just give us a chance. Just give us a chance. You may love it, I think you will. But shout out Pink Whitney as Keith brings the bottle along. As our lives move along as gold medal winners. Thank you very much to Pink Whitney and thank you very much to New Amsterdam. Wow, guys. We recorded. I looked. It was about a hundred hours ago. Is that a weird thing to say? Instead of three and a half days? Yeah, but about a hundred hours ago. And, God, a lot of stuff's happened. I mean, that feel. That feels like three months ago. That trip we did feels like a lifetime ago. The gold medal game feels like a lifetime ago. And at the time, I think we were all just. It was like. It was like the. The dopamine and. And the drop and the euphoria, and all of a sudden it was just like, okay, we got to record. And I think we did a pretty good job of expressing our feelings. And biz, I know you were. You were just.
- [02:04]
Biz
I was shell shocked.
- [02:05]
Whit
You were shell shocked.
- [02:06]
Biz
Yeah. Like, you talk about that week long trip we did. We captured so much, so many baggers interviews, recorded some podcasts and had fun with the boys. But yeah, that was a tough one. That was probably the most difficult, definitely the most difficult loss I've ever faced as a fan. And. But in the same breath, you guys were so classy in. In how you guys were able to win it. And then also explain how Team USA got there. This wasn't something that was just built overnight with. You talked about the development program and everything so really over the last three, four days, it's just fucking letting USA enjoy their flowers. And, and I think that it was very, you know, I've talked about being a proud Canadian. Like I was very moved at how patriotic the team was and how much they love their country and were able to express that right in the moment. So that's really how I felt about it. I know that people are saying all the, all the politic nonsense, but like, I just want to talk about the hockey side of it and, and how happy they were to represent their country, as I'm sure the, the Canadian guys were too, as disappointed as they, they were. So how have you guys felt in your celebration and, and being able to take it all in? Yan, you were, you were able to see the guys in Florida?
- [03:17]
Yance
Yeah, Vinnie, Vinnie Trocheck invited me to go meet them. They were having dinner and just went and met, met them, met up with them, talked to a bunch of the guys. And you could tell it still hasn't even hit them, right? Like maybe it has now that now that they're back and they're getting their standing ovations from their teams, they're getting welcomed home, I'm sure in their neighborhoods and, and all that stuff. But I, I really don't think it had hit them yet. It was kind of one of those things. They were still like, maybe on cloud nine. Everything hasn't really sunk in, but I honestly don't think you could pick a group of guys to represent the United States of America and what, you know, being an American is and being a hockey player in the United States, I don't think they could have picked a better group of guys because they were just so grateful. And you hear all their speeches and, and guys interviews and you know, it's like, hey, we went over there for a job. Like, we went over there to get a gold medal, not just for our team, but for our country. And it seemed like every GU said that, that it wasn't about them, right? They knew. It's been 46 years and we've all been in locker rooms where, you know, you play with Canadian guys or Swedish guys or whoever it is, and they're like, guy, you haven't won anything since 1980. You know, the jokes going around and these guys went over with a mission. They got it done. And you can just tell like, how patriotic they are, how much it means to them to do something for their country. And I, I really appreciate that. And just seeing them at dinner and stuff, you know, never once did I See a guy turn down a photo or an autograph or, you know, even a conversation just to chat with.
- [04:51]
Biz
They were putting the gold medals around the fans necks to take the pictures.
- [04:55]
Yance
It's amazing. It's amazing what. And I think. I think they know what it means. Even, you know, only, you know, 24 hours, 36 hours after getting the gold medal, I think these guys really, you know, embraced what it meant to not only just the hockey world, but the entire country. Right. Like, what were the numbers? 20 million people watching.
- [05:14]
Whit
6 million at one point.
- [05:15]
Yance
Point.
- [05:16]
Whit
I think in overtime, the largest sporting event or the most watched sporting event like for the morning in the history of the United States.
- [05:24]
Yance
Wow.
- [05:25]
Whit
Which is just crazy. And, and I. So I got home Sunday night and I think I said it on the show like that was not a fun game to watch. And I, I think that every American and Canadian would say this, like, watching it and biz your. Your love of the Maple Leafs and my love of the Oilers and Keith with the Panthers. The. It doesn't even come close to like the feeling during that because it's your country and it's. It's your flag and the jersey that. That's representing your nation. So I got home and. And I watched it again and obviously it was so enjoyable. Like, just knowing the outcome, even watching it the second time, I'm like, you know, you're still sitting at the edge of your seat. But I was able to kind of enjoy it and look forward to the moment. And I mean, I remember when McDavid got the puck going through the neutral zone and OT, it was like. And I don't even think we talked about it. It was Jack Hughes. He was going down on.
- [06:15]
Yance
Yeah.
- [06:16]
Whit
And Hughes did a great job. You could tell he was probably like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. But he kept. He kept him to the outside. I think Warrensky came over a little bit. Hellbuuck. Might have had a poke check. And then all of a sudden they're off. And I mean, Makar, I think, has taken a little bit of heat in terms of like the pinch in there. And I think in a three on three overtime in the NHL, you do that every time. It's a two on all with him and McDavid, if he gets that puck, I think after maybe, maybe his back check. I mean, I'm totally. I'm nitpicking at this point. I'm trying to kind of think, as a Canadian would. Didn't really get those few hard strides off the, off the start that maybe could have caught. Caught him up to Jack Hughes, but it happened so quick. And he's also probably thinking, hey, if McKinnon gets that puck, who I also think might have hesitated that split second. Yeah. Then I'm gone on a breakaway, and it's just. It's happening so fast. But watching it again, it was incredible. And I've watched the overtime a couple times since. And Keith, I think you said it best, like, has the celebration and the. What's happened since. Ben maybe a little overboard. Like, I don't think so. I could see why Canadians do.
- [07:20]
Biz
But, dude, that's. That's how Americans celebrate. And that's beauty.
- [07:24]
Whit
Six years, dude. Like, if we won in 2010 or somehow got the gold medal in 14 and Sochi, like, it just. It would. It wouldn't have been this.
- [07:32]
Biz
I got a banana hammock up my cornhole celebrating a win against Finland. So I'm the last guy to be pointing the finger at the Americans in the way that they like to do things. That's how they like to do things, and that's what makes it them different and special. Right? So going back though, to that. That sequence and like, whoever's taking the blame, there was a lot of, like, a lot of things that went on there. Like that play by Warrensky to just like move it to his backhand and one hand it. Because that was the lane that was kind of give it to him. I actually appreciated the read from a car because it wasn't a hard play that was made, but it was a
- [08:05]
Whit
soft puck there to the middle.
- [08:07]
Biz
It was a soft puck. So he sees when you go to one hand, he's like, well, he's not going to have the leverage to get this to him solid. But, you know, Jack then makes that next play and then I think maybe the lack of strides in the back check like you mentioned, were due to the fact that I think they thought McKinnon was going to get that puck. And for whatever reason, the pressure that was applied by Warrenski, who started the whole thing off, you know, it made McKinnon hesitate a little bit and credit him, man. He had the strength to force him off the puck. Then he had some separation and he was able to slide a back door based on the lack of strides taken on the back check. So, buddy, that's why, like, you, like we talked about the three on three stuff, and then like, you'll always see in the comments, like, oh, you weren't complaining. And when they beat Czechia, it's like, absolutely, there's no Excuses to like, like Canada losing and then not, and then trying to take away from the States. I just thought we could all agree that it would have been five on five would have been the way that I would have wanted to see it end. But buddy, they fucking go against the three best players in the world, three on three and then they get it done the way that they did. Celebrate, pop your bottles and, and let the celebrations begin, man. And like, I think that they, they did it their own way. They set out to achieve something and, and they're the world fucking champs, baby.
- [09:25]
Whit
We have to almost like mention what's gone on since. Like, never in my life have I been more kind of aware that like social media is like not the real world. And I, I know this is something like RA is mentioned a lot and, and Twitter is one thing, but I, boys, I don't think that, that if you could have asked any of those guys, hey, you want Trump to make the, the joke he made? Like, they're probably saying no. It's like they, I don't care what you could say, whatever you want. Like, they were really tight with that woman's team. And I've seen Swayman and McAvoy have come out and said like, yeah, we kind of like didn't really respond in the correct way, but dude, they won the gold medal like eight minutes before that. You're, you're, you're taking a phone call from the President, ok? However divisive he is, he makes this off color joke. Like, but, but I wouldn't have made the joke, right, but I, what were the players supposed to do? I, I, I, I understand. Like they're laughing. It's like, all right, well, everyone is on this high. They've probably all had three or four beers in the eight minutes you've played a game. It's just, it was such a crazy story that I get. You say, hey, why is the President making that joke? Because what the women did was very special. What a dominant team they had. I just don't get the hate towards the players. I don't. And I think a lot of the hate that you've seen online is you go and see Jack Hughes's speech, it was a, it was a crazy ovation for him. And Jack Hughes has lost all these fans. It's like, no, he hasn't. No, he hasn't. And if, if you're somebody out there and it's your right who hates the US players now for laughing at that joke, it's like, I don't know What, I don't know what you want. I don't know what you want them to say. I, I, I just don't. I, I think it's, it's such a crazy time. Things are moving a million miles an hour. You're talking to the President, United States, and all of a sudden like, you're, you're enemy number one, like with some of these people back home and just, it's just kind of brutal that, at least online it turned into that. But that's mainly what I mean is that in the grand scheme of things, dude, like, I, I think Americans love this team. I think they love these players. I think they appreciate the amount of patriot, patriotism they have, how much they love living in the United States and being citizens of the United States. And that just took over as, like this storyline that was just unfortunate because it was amazing hockey. It was an incredible win that they pulled out and the way that it all turned into this madness, it was just kind of unfortunate. Now when, you know, when, when Cash Patel is in the locker room and Trump's making a joke, kind of putting aside the women's team, that's going to happen. I just didn't, didn't get the hate towards the players. I didn't.
- [12:03]
Yance
Yeah, it's, it's taking away from what they did and, you know, what it meant to, you know, not only the hockey world, the nation, right. Of, you know, bringing back a gold and achieving something that's so difficult against teams that are so hard to beat. And I, I just don't like the fact that it, that was taken away from them a little bit. You know, did they do something wrong? No. Was, you know, something that the President said? Maybe off color? Yeah, but it's, I, I just don't like the fact that it was, you know, that stuff has been, you know, taken away from them a little bit. Where it's, people are, you know, coming at them and coming at their character. Like these guys, like, who else wins a gold medal and is thanking the troops and thanking the first responders and thanking everybody that helped them get there. Their teachers, their coaches. Like, these guys know what it means to, to win and put on that uniform. And, you know, it's, I think that, you know, anything that's being taken away from these guys is, it's tough to hear right now to, you know, to see them get put through the ringer a little bit. But at the end of the day, they did their job, they went over there, they represented us the right way and got that Gold, med and biz.
- [13:16]
Whit
I told you after we recorded, like, you guys have been the standard. I mean, and so, like, to finally kind of slay that dragon. Granted, people say it's three on three, like, it happened. And it's only good for the game, I think, I think it's great for the game. I think that my major takeaway from the tournament was how incredible best on best is. And the fact we're getting it every two years now is phenomenal. And we don't really know how the NHL is going to throw on their World cup yet, but just knowing that we might get another U.S. canada matchup. And I mean, look at the U.S. sweden quarterfinal. Look at Canada's quarterfinal and semifinal. It's like, it's so good for the game, and it's so amazing to see. You know, I, I, I, I know you don't agree, but, like, Canada finally loses one. These guys, how many? They'd won everything. It was 14, it was 10. It was the World cup in 16. It was. There was something else in there. It's just, you couldn't beat them. And Crosby not playing in that game sucked. But it was like, geez, we finally slayed the dragon. And I think that's part of the excitement, too, is that, like, we just couldn't get you guys. And we finally did.
- [14:22]
Biz
Yeah. And like, like I said, like, there's going to be no excuses. If anything, it's like, it's a, It's a good opportunity for us as a nation to be like, hey, we got to look in the mirror and just, you know, keep getting better. I thought we played an unbelievable game. Like, look at how we, look at how we. We showed up. I thought in the second and third period, they poured their hearts out and they dominated the game, but eventually didn't get it done. So, yeah, I just hope that they. You'll continue to strive to be the best and, and, and, yeah, keep moving the needle. As far as all the political stuff, guys, like, obviously you kind of touched on it. Like, I think we would have all agreed that, like, wrong time to make that joke. Like, never the right time to make that joke. And it sucks that it got out, because I really think it took a lot out of what the Americans deserved as far as their celebration and stuff like that. And the political stuff, man, it like, it like, I get, like, anxious and, like, weird, and it, like, makes me feel shitty. I don't know about you guys.
- [15:15]
Yance
Like, same.
- [15:16]
Biz
It just like, it was a great hockey game between two great nations, and Like, I'm. I'm a Canadian, a proud Canadian, but, like, I've also spent 50 of my time living in the United States, and this country has been so good to me, too. So listen, like, fucking, I want to beat the fuck out of you guys next time we play each other, but at hockey, that's it. Leave it at that, right?
- [15:37]
Whit
So I was going to say about the game of inches, I forgot to mention, this is like, McCarr makes that pinch, right? Like, Warrensky. I mean, McKinnon might, like, hesitate that split second. He was just sitting in the box, dude, at the end of that game. And buddy, he mentioned it himself. Like, I was in the box thinking of, like, I'm going to be on barstool as the guy everyone hates, which he meant, but you might as well just said Frank the Tank. Yeah, but buddy, talk about a game of inches in life and in sports, like, they score a goal there and yeah, he's. He's the. He's the guy that took the penalty to lose the gold medal, and then two minutes later, he scores a goal that changes his life. It's just so wild how it all worked out. And the fact is, I think that that guy, man, like, he took a lot of heat after the Four nations, right? Like, he wasn't great in those games against Canada. He had seven points in six games in the Golden Goal, and his life's changed forever. And I think his speech was pretty cool. Him grabbing Tage Thompson was amazing. Yeah, he grabs him off the bench, and I don't remember a time with a guy with a mic addressing the whole crowd, but they loved it. And it was. It was a really cool moment, his first moment back. So I just. I appreciate the entire tournament. I appreciate how different these teams will look in four years.
- [16:51]
Biz
I just thought the fact that they had two sets of brothers and that dynamic was so cool. And, and how Quinn had Jack's back saying, I don't think a lot of people know, like, injury wise, what, what it takes to come back. And even though when you're back fully healthy and playing like it might be, you know, 10, 12 months before you're feeling like yourself again. And. And just to hear his brother have his back like that in the press conference and. And speak highly of him, and then obviously the. The Kachuk dynamic in which, you know, you know, maybe not as, like in the NHL, maybe not as dynamic compared to some of the other guys on the team, but like, you heard his quotes today about, like, we knew we weren't seeing the ice, three on three. So we turned it on to being the biggest cheerleaders in the world for, for, for our guys. So just, yeah, it was just so cool. And you know, you brought up something interesting before the tournament started and like, basically like that with the Canada staying in the hotel rooms. Right. And I personally, like, didn't look at it like a big deal because they'd done it in the past. But like, what I guess can be made a big deal is how the United States really embodied like the Olympics and what it was about. And I think when Teddy, their trainer, who Yan's had in, in Florida, who we had in Wilkes Barre, he just said they, the team just really embraced the imperfection of it, how, you know, like, things weren't going to be perfect, how, like, okay, you were going to have maybe a shitty room for your practice facility and you would be shoulder to shoulder and you wouldn't have like a stall to go put your regular clothes away like you normally do in the NHL. So I really think that their, like, mental approach to, to embracing all that was really cool and a part of the story. I don't think that the Canadians doing it different should be blown out of proportion. And a story I think just focusing on really how once again the States embodied what it was all about and just all these small storylines that ultimately led them to being champs. And I mean, we, we've already glazed Hellebok, but oh my God, just like. And some people were critical after I said I think that he should have got MVP. And I doubt that McDavid would even want it after what happened. Like, people are like, oh, look at it. Yes, McDavid had an incredible tournament. Hellebuck had a look. What were his numbers? I think he had over a 950 save percentage against the best shooters and scorers in the world. So you can't just say like, like, oh, like I'm glazing the Americans. It's like you got to tip your cap. And when push came to shove, we, we talked about this leading in. It was goaltending and United States back end against the firepower up front from the Canadians. And who came through, who came through.
- [19:27]
Whit
Goaltending in the D, goaltending in the D. And for him not to get mvp, it's crazy.
- [19:33]
Zach Warrensky
It's.
- [19:33]
Whit
It's actually insane to me.
- [19:35]
Yance
But I think he's fine with the.
- [19:37]
Whit
It doesn't matter. He got the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I think he's the first hockey player ever to get the Presidential medal of Freeman. He also Got like, signed Secretary of Defense off the Air Force. I think he's like, I'm fine not getting the mvp. I got this gold and a medal of freedom. And then the celebration, man, like, they, they went to 11. People are like, they're at a strip club. It's like, that's not a strip club. It's a club with strippers. But I'd say it's a little different than, like, your, your standard run of the mill, like, Tampa Bay strip club. But still, the celebration, the fact that they got to hang out that much, the fact that they got to go to the White House. People say, what you want? People been going to the White House after wins. And I do, I do think that the craziest thing I saw after all this is the Jack Hughes miracle thing. Did you see that clip Biz? One of the final cuts of the 1980 Olympic team was a guy named Jack Hughes who ended up playing 46 games in the NHL. It was 46 years from the last gold medal. It was just like all, it was just like, we're living in a simulation type thing.
- [20:46]
Yance
So was he the one from Harvard? Jack Hughes from, He went to Harvard.
- [20:49]
Biz
Cue the guy from that, that Philadelphia show where he's got all the stuff on the wall.
- [20:54]
Jack Eichel
You're right, Yance. He did okay.
- [20:56]
Yance
Yeah, yeah.
- [20:57]
Whit
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. The guy Charlie doing always sunny.
- [21:00]
Biz
Just like.
- [21:02]
Whit
But when you talk about the D and buddy, like, I, I, I think Warrensky was incredible. He had a lot of points, you know, Quinn Hughes, Slaven Faber, McAvoy. I know McAvoy had no points. I don't know about slaving and fit that save.
- [21:18]
Biz
We forgot to mention that save he made when we were talking about all the craziness.
- [21:21]
Whit
I know, like, that puck was behind Hellbuck and McAvoy goes down. Like, that's another one that just, that
- [21:27]
Yance
was off of the Brady Tkachuk turnover, right? And just like that just shows how much they cared about each other. Like, he's diving behind the goal. He doesn't want his boy to get that, you know, to have that turnover, to lose his team, the game. Like, it's, they were all in from the minute. And I remember listening to the Kachuk's podcast and talking about when ice surface. Remember all that, something. They were like, we don't give a if it's played in a bathtub. Like, these guys just wanted to go over there and play, right? Like, and you could tell, like, from the start to the beginning, they were hanging out together. They were playing as hard as possible for each other. Because people don't understand like a two week tournament. And we've all done it like to. To come together and be that close. Like these guys are battling all year against each other. To come together and be that close and care that much about one another. And then all their families seemed like it was. It was the same way. You see them hugging in the crowd. It's truly a tip of the cap to the leadership group that they had there. And all the guys that Billy G Picked. Cause he picked the right guys to win that tournament.
- [22:27]
Biz
And I gotta. I gotta own this one too. A couple clicks for Super Mario and Luigi and Geppetto in Italy for getting that ring done on time. I know there was a lot of nerves.
- [22:35]
Whit
Chicken parms, couple bottles of wine. And they, they. And that. That atmosphere look great. Great. We're talking to Eichel, Hannifan and Warensky today. We'll ask them about that. My final things. U.S. and Canada have played three games in the last year. The Olympics plus the two in the Four Nations. The shots have been 95, 84. Canada 7 to 5 in goals for the U.S. 2 to 1 in wins for the U.S. two games without Quinn Hughes. One game without Sidney Crosby. Two of the games went to overtime. So just incredible, incredible matches.
- [23:06]
Biz
We need a fuck. We need a best of seven fucking summit series and.
- [23:10]
Whit
And there'll be no one left. Canada. I do want to mention that, that the quote from McKinnon, it was. It was clipped to him saying you watched the game. You know who the better team was. I want to read the entire clip.
- [23:23]
Biz
Yes. Thank you. Thank you.
- [23:24]
Whit
It was. It's been close for a while. You know, they're an amazing, skilled group of players. Just. Yeah, I just felt like it wasn't going to be. You guys can be the judge of who the better team was tonight. That was the quote taken. But they won and we lost. That is not, not a bad quote at all. They. They clipped it and you know, I guess the way we did, we. Our social media did to spec. We'll get into that in a little bit.
- [23:47]
Biz
Oh my God. Everyone keep in mind memes just took that video like it was online as it was cut.
- [23:54]
Whit
So like we'll talk about that when we talk about the oil.
- [23:56]
Biz
We'll get it later. But we're gonna have a guy on right now. Listen, he broke our heart in a sandbagger with like crushed our soul in a sandbagger. He crushed mine at the Olympics. But you know what? He's Never gonna have a chick.
- [24:08]
Whit
Let's cop a chick. Let's go. But neither do you. Gold medal winner assisted on the golden goal. What's up, buddy? Buddy? How are you feeling right now? How's the jet lag? How's the body?
- [24:23]
Zach Warrensky
I've been better, for sure. Today on the ice, I was a little slow, but I'm excited to be back. It's. It's been a whirlwind few days, and. Yeah, good to be back with the guys, I guess.
- [24:33]
Whit
And that the picture of you at 11, probably the best picture I've ever seen, ever. Just soaking it all in in the middle. How fun was that night? Like, the boy. It's kind of the last night with all the boys, right?
- [24:44]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, it was incredible. I think just the reception from. We landed in Miami, all the fans there, the police escort, the helicopters. We got to the hotel, and it was jam with people chanting, usa. And then we go on this bus ride around the city, and there's people lined up in the streets, you know, chanting for us. Yeah. Saw you there at dinner. I mean, like, you saw, like, the reaction we were getting. It was. It was incredible. And then you get to 11, and it's. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. And to be a part of it and just enjoy it with everyone. Look at that fact. No, I actually can't. I can't get enough of it. I've just been scrolling on my phone, looking at content of all the guys. It's. You can't make it up. It was. It was insane.
- [25:27]
Yance
Zach, I was talking to you at dinner and, you know, asking you if it had hit you yet, and you were like, honestly, no, Like, I, I. It hasn't. Like, has it hit you yet? Or when do you think it will?
- [25:37]
Zach Warrensky
Honestly, not really. Like, I got to Boston, even things like this. I grabbed lunch yesterday by myself, and they came out and they're like, lunch is taken care of. Like, congratulations. At dinner yesterday, all these people were coming up saying, congrats. Today in the hotel. It's. It really hasn't fully hit me at the extent of it and the magnitude of that win. But, yeah, I'm gonna enjoy it the best I can. It's. It's been incredible. And, yeah, we're. We're bonded together as a group of guys for life now.
- [26:05]
Whit
Based on that, I, I want to go through the. The gold medal golf just quickly. Like, McDavid's flying through the neutral zone. It's always a scary sight for anyone. Hughes is kind of Playing the one on one, you're like, oh, and then I gotta wonder when you threw that thing to the middle on one hand on the back end, there had to be a minute or a second. You're like, oh shit, no.
- [26:26]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, no, there's a more than a minute the whole time. Like as I was watching that go, I was like, this could end up really bad right now. I actually make that one hand play a decent amount, but it kind of rolled on me so I didn't get all of it. And I was so committed to joining the rush that it was all or nothing at that point. And obviously Jack makes a great play getting a buy him. And yeah, I just tried to get on my horse and, and catch up to it and kind of put some pressure on McKinnon because I was aware if he gets to it and hits it the other way, it's a two on zero. So I was just trying to make him uncomfortable in that situation. And yeah, puck bounced back to me and I saw Jack over there and yeah, it's history. So it was pretty incredible.
- [27:06]
Biz
I was on TNT last night and Granado asked me about like strategy going in and I saw Matthew's comments before the game when they interviewed him about how, you know, obviously it was raw, raw in the locker room. But then after that you guys kind of settled things down. What like, was your strategy going in three on three against Canada like any different than it might have been against Sweden? Like what, what did you guys talk about? Like specifically systems wise and how to handle it?
- [27:31]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, we just talked about how we wanted to play it, you know, times where we could pressure times where we had to kind of sit back a little bit. Obviously they have, you know, three of the best players on the world on the ice at that moment. So I saw McDavid winding it up on Jath. I know he's not a defenseman, so I kind of just went over there to try and help. But he did a great job. And then that's three on three. Usually one team kind of gets a chance and then another team gets a chance the other way. It's. It's kind of a show, to be honest. But yeah, I mean, we have some of the best players of the world on our team too. So we were confident we were going to get it done. And all it takes is one chance and yes, it's incredible.
- [28:10]
Yance
Do you people forget that when, when Canada won the one that Whit was at in Vancouver, the NHL overtime was played four on four and they played four on four. Overtime over there, they won. Now the NHL has placed three on three. Overtime. You guys won three on three. Do you, you know, as a guy that played in it, do you wish it was five on five? Obviously it's done with now. You won the three on three, but do you wish it was more like playoff style where you play five on five?
- [28:36]
Zach Warrensky
That's a good question. I mean, I think for me, it is what it is. And every team's. It's the same rules for everyone. Right. And you can make the argument it's not real hockey, it's three on three. It's not five on five or even four on four, but it's an even playing field. And. And everyone's in the same boat. So I do think it's a little bit different. We're used to three on three in the NHL, so to me, it wasn't a shock or anything like that. I don't understand the Cup. It's five on five till to a goal. But yeah, I'm obviously happy about that.
- [29:09]
Noah Hannifin
We won.
- [29:10]
Zach Warrensky
But going into it, it is what it is. Both teams are doing it. If we would have lost and it would have been three on three, it's all part of it, right?
- [29:18]
Noah Hannifin
So we'll.
- [29:19]
Zach Warrensky
We'll take it and enjoy it. So it's cool.
- [29:22]
Biz
I'm getting to work with these guys. Being American, like, you learn a lot about, like the program in Ann Arbor, which you were a part of, and just like, you know how this has been a long progress of work in order to get to this point. So I guess for you, how cool was it to get to experience winning a gold with all these guys you at one point had grown up playing with. And I really feel like that camaraderie and chemistry has been being built up over the years, and it's just not all of a sudden success right away.
- [29:50]
Whit
Yeah. Who was there with you at the program that. On this team?
- [29:55]
Zach Warrensky
So on this team, it was me, Hannifin Matthews, Matthew Kachuk McAvoy.
- [30:03]
Yance
Wow.
- [30:04]
Whit
Old age.
- [30:05]
Zach Warrensky
I think that's it. From.
- [30:07]
Whit
Was Larkin your year or a year above?
- [30:10]
Zach Warrensky
Larkin and Eichel were the year above us, so we were there with them. A couple of us went up to the 18s and we're in school with them. And then I don't like the year after Kells, Tage Thompson was there. I was gone at that point. But like, it's. It's a long process and I feel like when you get to these events, in a sense, we have an upper. Upper hand with how Close we are, right? And it's gone back to high school. We went to high school together with all these guys. So from there to the world Juniors, to the World championships, to, you know, four nations and Olympics. Like, you get in the locker room, and it doesn't feel like you're meeting guys or you're unsure. Like, you go to dinner or whatever it is, and you pick right back up where you left off. And I love those guys. We've been playing together for, geez, 12 years now, 13 years now at tournaments, and it's a big reason why we won. And I've been having success for. For USA Hockey right now is that US Program, and it dates back a long time. And I can. I expect the US to continue to get better and better. And that's. That's a scary thing.
- [31:09]
Yance
Were you one of the lucky few that had Professor Portnoy as a Spanish teacher? He's been telling everybody that. That he had. He. That he was a Spanish teacher for the US NDTP team.
- [31:20]
Zach Warrensky
Really? No, I didn't have them. I. I wasn't there with them. So, no, I. I don't think I even took Spanish in high school.
- [31:27]
Whit
Looking at. Looking at your career and, like, just where you're at in life right now, the last four nations and Olympics, you have 12 points in 10 games, right? You got 62 points at 52 games this year. Your wife's expecting. Congrats on that. Like, you ever kind of pinch yourself, especially after this gold medal, like, where you're at, and. And I know you've put in so much work to become the player you are, but it has to be crazy to see where you're at in life and how things are going.
- [31:53]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, it's been pretty unbelievable. I mean, these last two years for me have gone extremely well. I dealt with some injury history early on. I feel like I couldn't really get to my full potential until a little bit later in my career. And in a sense, it feels like everything's kind of gone right for me the last few years. I've have got married, had a great year last year, finished, you know, second in the Norse voting. I'm having a good season this year. The Olympics gold medal. Now my wife's expecting.
- [32:20]
Noah Hannifin
It's.
- [32:21]
Zach Warrensky
It's kind of all going right. But then I look back on it, and like you said, I have put a lot of work in, and I feel like this is just a product of that, and I put myself in good situations around good people, and,
- [32:33]
Biz
you
- [32:34]
Zach Warrensky
know, I just want to Continue to help my team win, continue to play as good as I can, and just enjoy it. That's the main thing. I've just been having a ton of fun. We have a good group here in Columbus. I can't wait to meet my son in a few months and experience that chapter, and that's just all good things right now. So I've. I've really been enjoying life.
- [32:53]
Biz
Oh, great. Another American defenseman we got to worry about coming up. For sakes.
- [32:57]
Whit
Suck on that biz. We. We got the chance to meet your brother. I know you guys are really close. It was a blast hanging out, and we did that sandbagger. Was he over there? And if he was, how buckled was he? He must have been a complete mess.
- [33:10]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, he was over there.
- [33:11]
Whit
He.
- [33:12]
Zach Warrensky
He was probably one of the most drunk guys in the. At the after party, he was having a great time, and they had an early fight the next day, and he has a young son, so he was grinding in the airport. But no, it's. I think having the families there means the world to us. We wouldn't be there without them. And for them to enjoy, for them to party and be a part of it, that's what it's all about.
- [33:31]
Yance
Zach, you know, everyone, especially in a tournament like that, like everyone says, check your E at the door. And it really seems that you guys did that, like, especially for you. You're a guy on your team. You play the full two minutes on the power play this tournament. You know, Quinn got a little bit, you know, started on the first unit, but it never seemed like it bothered you. You went out there and did whatever you needed to do. And not just you, your whole team. Was that something you guys talked about, or. It's just you guys knew going in that's what it was going to take.
- [34:00]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, I think we just knew that's what it was going to take. I mean, I think the coaches and Billy talked about it early on when we got there, about having no egos, and it's not going to be perfect for everyone. And, you know, to be honest, I've never been in that position before. That was probably the first time in my hockey career. I'm playing 12 minutes a night, 13 minutes a night, and it's different.
- [34:22]
Noah Hannifin
It's.
- [34:22]
Zach Warrensky
It's different mentally. It's harder to stay in games, but I just kept telling myself, be. Be ready for whenever my number's called
- [34:29]
Ra
and
- [34:31]
Zach Warrensky
when I'm not playing. I was, you know, trying to open the door for guys and. And pump guys up and Just do whatever I could to stay in the game and help the guys win. At the end of the day, it's not about me. It's about our country, it's about our team. It's about doing whatever we can to, to win the gold medal, and we accomplished that. You know, I look at Jack Hughes for an example. Started on the, the fourth line, was playing 12, 13 minutes. He was incredible, and he could have been playing 20, 21, but, you know, if he stayed ready, he scores the big goal. You can go down the lineup of guys, look at Larkin, where he started to where he finished. We had so many guys that just had no ego. And that's what it takes to win a tournament like that is guys that are selfless. And we got it done. And it doesn't matter about your minutes now. It matters we have a gold medal.
- [35:16]
Biz
Is there anybody, you went to the tournament where you didn't know them that closely on your team that you ended up leaving being like, wow, like, what a guy. Like, who was like, one guy you hadn't really spent much time with?
- [35:28]
Zach Warrensky
I think after the night of party, I'd say Brock Faber. He was pretty incredible.
- [35:33]
Whit
The picture of him with the glasses was ridiculous.
- [35:36]
Biz
He looks like the guy from the sandlot.
- [35:38]
Zach Warrensky
I looked around and we were the last two standing, and I'm like, fave, let's go home. It was like 4, 30 or 5. Got our arms around each other, walking out. More videos just keep coming out and I can't get enough of them. They're incredible.
- [35:54]
Biz
Another thing, too, I just wanted to ask, what is the village? And like, you know, you guys staying there, what were the fun takeaways or interactions that you had when you were there that, like, ended up like, like, will be for forever lasting memories for you?
- [36:08]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, the village is incredible. Some nights I'd stay at the hotel with my wife. She's seven months pregnant. But most nights I'd say in the village. And I think just being around all the other athletes, like, we'd sit in the cafeteria to eat lunch or breakfast or breakfast or dinner, and we wouldn't want to leave. All these US athletes are coming up, sitting with us, figure skaters, speed skaters, athletes from other countries. It's one of the most unique experiences I've had, and I'm. I'm so grateful for it. I got to know a lot of other cool athletes, gone to some really cool events, and then just us kind of holding court at tables in there and just enjoying each other's company. I mean, I think that's what it's all about. Usually you go to hockey tournaments and you play for the US and it's just a hockey tournament. You stay in the hotel, you have your set boss times, you go to the rink and that's it. Or this was. This was something bigger than hockey. And I'm just so grateful for that experience.
- [37:02]
Biz
What, what events exactly did you go to, if you don't mind me asking?
- [37:06]
Zach Warrensky
I saw all the events in Milan, so I saw speed skating, figure skating, and then I went to the women's U.S. canada game. Not the final, the one before that. So I got to see all the events and just some incredible athletes.
- [37:18]
Whit
Zach, the. The Goudreau family being there, it was so special. And I think the. I was pretty emotional after the win. But when you and Larks went and got his kids, like, that was just, I think the entire country, like, no, there's not a dry eye watching that. You know, Johnny's spirit was around the team is. When did you guys know you're gonna able to get his kids for the picture? And. And was it just you and Larks? Talk quick. We gotta get these kids over here.
- [37:45]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, it happened kind of quick. I remember last year at the World Championships, I went and grabbed his jersey
- [37:49]
Yance
and
- [37:52]
Zach Warrensky
I knew after we won that his jersey would be on the ice with us. And we found like a. Drills in the crowd. We wanted to get the whole family down. I just think where they were at, it was hard for them to get over the gate. So we're like, well, if we can't get the full family, let's just go get the kids. Because this is something that. That John would want. This is something John would be at first family to be there, first kids to be on the ice, to share that experience with them in that moment. And that's probably my favorite moment of the whole day was that moment. So that's what sports are about. That's what Team USA is about. And I think we made John proud there.
- [38:30]
Yance
I think the winning the World Championship was even a longer drought. Right. So how special was that to go over there and do that this summer? And a guy like Tage Thompson basically cemented his name on the team by going over there and helping you guys win.
- [38:44]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, I think that was 92 years. I think it is, since the US won the world Championships, which is incredible to think about. And the US has had so many good hockey players and teams for so long. I think it just shows how hard it is to win in international hockey. But, yeah, you know Tage has the golden goal there. I think that really sets him up to make the Olympic team. Kells was the captain of the team. I think going over there and winning that whenever you can win, it's super special, especially at wearing a USA jersey at that level. And I think for us, I remember when Kels made the team, he texted me saying, let's go two for two. And so we're two for two at World championships and Olympics together. And that's been an awesome few months. I have a few gold medals added to my collection and can't wait for the next time I get to represent the usa.
- [39:32]
Whit
We are going to be pumping your tires for the Norris, buddy, because this, what you've done this year, it's. It's out of control. 20 goals.
- [39:38]
Biz
I was going to.
- [39:40]
Whit
And I'll tell you, like Columbus, it's almost like you guys didn't even want the break worked out great for you. But since the coaching change, things have been incredible there.
- [39:48]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, it's been awesome. Bones is incredible. We have a really good hockey team and I don't think we were living up to it.
- [39:54]
Noah Hannifin
And.
- [39:54]
Zach Warrensky
And that's part of the business. You make coaching changes. And since he's been here, I think we're 11 and 1 or something like that. So we're run a bit of a heater. Obviously, the break probably comes at a. An inopportune time for us, but the guys seem ready to go. Skated this morning with them and play the Bruins tonight, play the Islanders in a few days, Two teams that are right in front of us. So it's going to be an interesting finish, but, yeah, excited to get back out there with the guys and hopefully push for the playoffs there.
- [40:23]
Biz
Last one I had was just how cool is having a guy at the top like Billy G to just calm everything down? It's a guy who's experienced it all. He's been there, done that, and just brings a lot of levity along with professionalism.
- [40:35]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah. 100. He's. He's incredible. I think just when he comes in the room, he's making jokes with the guys. He's one of the boys and it's just. He has an infectious personality, a guy you want to be around. You gravitate towards him. He knows what to say at the right times and he puts together one hell of a hockey team and he deserves that gold medal as well. So, yeah, honored to have been selected and just get to know him over the few years. I have a ton of respect for
- [41:01]
Whit
Billy Garbage Zach thank you so much. I know you got a big tilt tonight, but, dude, congratulations, man. So, so proud to watch you guys play. And it was an honor to to watch Team USA finally get a gold medal in the Olympics again. So thank you for everything, and thanks for coming on.
- [41:17]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah, I appreciate it, guys. Thank you,
- [41:22]
Whit
Guys. We got to take a minute and talk about Hershey's, the gold standard of chocolate. Our friends at Hershey's would like to congratulate the US Men's and women's Olympic teams on their incredible and historical victories this past weekend in Milan. You weren't just given gold medals. You earned them. And today we want to thank you for what you've given us. You gave us more than just bragging rights. You gave us moments to be together, turning the United States into truly that, reminding us how powerful it is to be able to celebrate as one. You gave generations to come, a clear picture of what's possible, opening doors for anyone to see a future for themselves on the ice. And finally, you've given each of us proof that by simply doing what makes us the happiest, even in the face of pressure, we can bring joys to others.
- [42:07]
Biz
Boom.
- [42:08]
Whit
If you're watching, look at this. Double Hershey's gold medals. An incredible package, something that I'll cherish forever. It's unreal. These aren't going anywhere. My kids are not going to be eating these. And while you're gone, we made chocolate medals for the folks here at home to celebrate that idea. You could see them right here. But together, you have all taken it even further, and you brought us all to our happy place. Hershey's. It's what it's all about. So congratulations, Team usa. The gold is yours, but the happiness is shared. There's nothing sweeter than that. For those listening at home, you could find out how you can share happiness@hersheland.com Olympics. Thank you so much to Zach Warrensky. Played an incredible tournament. 12 points in the last 10, best on best games he's played. And. And like he said, like, playing like 12, 13 minutes a night. He's used to playing 25, so that's crazy. Now we're going to throw it over to Jack Eichel and Noah Hannifin, the Vegas Golden Knights together. What a pleasure. What an honor it is to be joined by two gold medalists, Jack Eichel, Noah Hannif, and boys, how you guys feeling right now, man?
- [43:22]
Jack Eichel
Pretty good, actually. We just got off the ice, so we're still in D.C. but feel pretty good.
- [43:27]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, yeah. We're kind of coming back to reality a bit now, so.
- [43:31]
Whit
Okay, that. That's what we. We talked to Warrensky, and he said it really hadn't kind of sunk in yet. It hadn't hit him yet. He was on the ice. Felt a little slow. So you guys skated. But as Keith asked Zach, has it. Has it hit you guys? Do you understand what you accomplished yet?
- [43:47]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I think it has over the last, like, as things have, like, kind of calmed down and. And I think you're able to digest everything that happened in the last, whatever, three, four days and, you know, dating back to the game, I think that that's, you know, when you're, like, by yourself and, you know, there's not a whole lot of stuff going on, you're just. You kind of process everything that just took place, and I think that that's. Yeah. I mean, it's tough because everyone just goes their separate ways. Right when it. You know, right. Right after, basically. Was it Tuesday? Everyone's just, you know, it's back to. It's back to the season and the grind and, you know, excited to be back playing. Like, it's. It's. It's unbelievable. But it's crazy how it just, like, flips like that.
- [44:30]
Noah Hannifin
But, yeah, even, like, when we got to, like, the airport, like, I feel like, like, after you won, like, it was obviously awesome. Like, we were partying and stuff and having a good time in Italy, but not until we got back to the airport and, like, seeing the reaction, like, in Miami, like, seeing all the people that were there, like, just in lines of. Of lines of people just taking photos and, like, so pumped that we, like, had landed there and got back. Like, it was not something I think any of us had expected to see right away when we got back. And then just, like, outside the hotel, all the noise and the people there, like, you could feel, like, the support right away. It was unreal, especially for you guys.
- [45:04]
Yance
Like, you know, me and Whit have, you know, had the pleasure of knowing you guys. I remember exactly the first time I saw Jack. You came and skated with us in. I think it was Canton Rink. You were probably, like, hang them. You were, like, 13 or 14 years old. You were way better than us already.
- [45:20]
Whit
I was like, what the Is this? What is this?
- [45:23]
Yance
Yeah, Keith, the coins. Like, hey, I got this little kid who wants to come skate with us. And at the end of the skate, I'm like, where was the little kid? I just remember this insane player. And then Noah. Same with you. My dad one time was like, hey, can you come skate? There's this like 14 year old kid who's going to be an absolute stud. And so, but just, But I also, knowing you guys, knowing your families, how blue collar you are, what. And then just hearing you guys talking about winning and the gratitude you have for the United States and thanking the troops and the first responders and everything, like, you got it. It truly seems like the whole team, you guys, knew that it meant more than just winning a hockey game.
- [46:02]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I think it did. I mean, I think everyone, you know, everyone in that locker room just took so much pride in wearing the jersey and what that means and what it means to be an American. And you know, like, it's, I mean, it's, it's such a amazing feeling when you're able to represent your country. It's just so much greater and it's, I mean, there's, it's really hard to explain the, the magnitude of, of, you know, how many people are affected by winning a hockey game. But you, you know, you come back and you're here on US soil and people who are not the, you know, normal hockey fans that, you know, don't probably watch NHL on a nightly basis and follow the league as closely are, you know, they were so in tune to what was going on and, and watching our team and following us and. Yeah, I mean, when you think about all the people that you're able to, you know, affect by just playing a hockey game and, and for us, it was like, we're just so grateful to be here and be representing our country and what it means and to be wearing the red, white and blue, you know, on the ice and in the village and around Milan, like, that was such a cool part of it, you know. You know that everywhere you go, you're wearing your country's colors and, and what that represents and, and how much pride we took in it.
- [47:18]
Biz
Jack, I have so much respect for you and like, obviously you've been through so much. And one of the cool things about the Olympics is when you guys would get off the ice, how the reporters would be there to interview you. And Jackie Redmond had one with you, dude. And I was like, I was getting emotional just seeing you get emotional just about, you know, you go from being in Buffalo and going through that whole, you know, surgery with your neck and that to then winning a Stanley cup with, with Vegas and then now an Olympic gold medal. So I mean, to summarize, like, everything from, like that what you've been able to accomplish and what you've been through, like, just like, like, where. Where are you at now? Like, how do you feel about everything that you've been able to overcome and now accomplish?
- [47:57]
Jack Eichel
Just really grateful. Grateful. Like I said in the interview with Jackie. And I was emotional there for, you know, a lot of reasons. It was, you know, it was a lifelong dream of all of ours to do that and how special that moment was and being able to celebrate and just the raw emotion, I think, from all the guys on the team, on the ice during the celebration,
- [48:18]
Biz
you know,
- [48:19]
Jack Eichel
right after that, I think, you know, I. I saw my family right before I walked into the mix, the, the mix zone for the media and seeing their faces and how proud they were, you know, having the opportunity to see my parents, my wife, just, you know, the people that have. Have really been in my corner when, you know, some things haven't gone so well. Yeah, I mean, that's why. And then, like, I'm walking through the mix zone and I get, you know, grabbed by Jackie right away and, and I really hadn't, you know, let my emotions kind of calm down yet. So that was just. That was just me being, you know, really raw and organic in the moment and, and how much it meant to be. How much it meant to me to be on the team and, and, you know, to be able to win with all these guys.
- [48:59]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah.
- [49:00]
Jack Eichel
I mean, I look back at my journey and, you know, sitting here now, I wouldn't, you know, change it for anything. I'm proud of everything, you know, that I've been able to be a part of and all the, the, you know, amazing people that I've gotten to play with and the people that have helped me on a day to day basis to be able to, you know, be on a team like the Olympic team and have the opportunity to play for a gold medal and, and be a, you know, be next to all these guys in the locker room. You know, it's just. You feel a lot of gratitude and, and thanks for all the people that help you.
- [49:29]
Whit
Noah, take. Take me through and, and the listener through. Like the village and your guys setup, like the Kachuk store was always open. That was one thing. And what was it like to be in there and to be around all the other athletes? And by the sounds of it, it was just. Everyone would kind of congregate to the Kachuk's room and just have a bunch of hot stoves, huh?
- [49:48]
Yance
Yeah.
- [49:48]
Noah Hannifin
There in the dining hall. We spent a lot of time in the dining hall. Brady was crushing all the focaccia bread. And we were running out of olive oil because he was just ripping through all the food in there. Lala cakes. It was hilarious. One of the guys that actually, like, he was like this Italian guy who like ran the kitchen like the second day. Brady and Matthew are like boys with them, like becoming best friends. And then like, we were getting like late night, like desserts sent out that like, it was hilarious. All the other athletes like, what are these guys doing? They're like, they're getting ready for their speed skating competitions and things like that, and Bray's mucking lava cake. But it was, it was unbelievable. Just like you said, like being on the. The same floor with all the guys, it kind of brought. Brought me back to like, you know, when we were kids going to like, Rochester, like USA Hockey summer camps or, you know, things like that, where it just, it just felt like we were young again and it was such a refreshing feeling to be able to spend all the time with those guys and meet some of the other, other athletes and get to know them. And it was just such a special experience. So just really cool and, and, you know, pretty, pretty amazing to see what some of those other athletes are capable of and how they train and their backgrounds. It was awesome.
- [50:56]
Biz
You were throwing the body in that tournament. I remember a few of these. Hey, wasn't he. We were, we were sitting there watching the games. You were a fucking madman. You look like Radco Gutis out there. Hannifin, man.
- [51:07]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, Yeah. I mean, it's kind of one of those situations where, like, there's so much talent on the team and everybody has different roles. You're playing in a role, you know, you may not be used to playing in with your respective team. And like, like Jack said, when you're representing your country, you're just like, I'll do whatever I need to do just to help this team, whether it's five minutes or 10 minutes, whatever, it doesn't matter. You're just trying to contribute and, and block a shot, things like that. So, I mean, that's why our team, I think we were so good and, you know, everybody just bought in so well. We all cared for each other and it felt special, like, right from the beginning, so it was cool.
- [51:39]
Whit
Who was running the D?
- [51:40]
Noah Hannifin
Noah Quinny, David Quinn.
- [51:42]
Whit
Okay, so Quinny was running the D. So Torts. Basically we were saying Torts was there as like, I don't really know, like, just like, was torch. He was a man with you guys.
- [51:51]
Ra
What are they?
- [51:52]
Biz
What do the kids call it? He Was like
- [51:55]
Ra
the whole team.
- [51:56]
Jack Eichel
No, I mean, honestly, there were moments in the tournament, like, where Torts came in between periods just out of the blue, and like, he delivered some really, really, like, good, like, like powerful messages, like, just basically speaking from the heart and shooting it with us. And. And he did it, you know, he did it multiple times where, you know, when he, when he was speaking, it was like a great message. And yeah, he was awesome. He was, he was, he was great. For us, it was. He came in at like, we were. I don't know if we were down or tied to Denmark. At one point early in the tournament, he came in and. And, you know, he was just so positive saying, this, this. This game's gonna make us better. We're dealing with some adversity now. Like, but that was his message through the whole thing. And, you know, just, just. He was, he was phenomenal.
- [52:48]
Biz
That was one, One takeaway too. Is, Is. Is Billy G's message was like, hey, guys, like, this is not going to be perfect and you have to embrace the imperfectness of it. And it seems that you guys really did that. Was there any situations where you guys were like, whoa, what the hell's going on here? And then obviously the comedy routine of like six or seven guys chirping, what the hell is actually going on? Like, what were some things that you guys dealt with that were, like, not normal?
- [53:12]
Jack Eichel
Trying to think, like, I would say, like, the pre game meal thing. I think pregame meal in the NHL is like a big. It's like a big thing. And we're so used to just being spoiled and walking into like a, you know, a hotel ballroom and everything you could ever imagine is there, right? And I think everyone takes their nutrition really seriously and wants to be fueled up properly for the game. And, you know, for the first game, it was. It was a little bit like, a little bit all over the place. And then USA Hockey did an unbelievable job of. Of finding a way to make sure everyone was taken care of. And like, even the, you know, for the gold medal game, they had, you know, food all catered over and brought over to the. To the village for us because we were playing at 2. So, you know, that was like something early in the tournament, but, you know, it took one game for everyone to iron out the, you know, the details. And after that, it was. It was pretty smooth sailing. I mean, you know, you deal with little things over the course of the tournament, but. But, I mean, I think I, you know, I can't say enough good things. Like, I saw you guys had Teddy on the other day, like, Teddy and Frosty, our athletic trainers. Like, unreal bridge, our team services guy. Like, all the people that were behind the scenes, they were working so hard the whole time, like, doing so much legwork for us, and you just can't say enough good things about all the stuff they were doing.
- [54:26]
Whit
I, I don't think I've missed playing as much as when I saw. I think it was one of the Kachuk say this team's so great and so close because if one guy says something, there's eight guys chirping them immediately like that. To me, I was like, oh, my God. Like, that is being on a team. Was there one guy who was getting it more than.
- [54:44]
Noah Hannifin
Who was the punching bag trying to think.
- [54:47]
Yance
No, I heard.
- [54:47]
Noah Hannifin
No, I, I, I was. But it was like Milsey Millsy was
- [54:53]
Yance
just an easy target.
- [54:54]
Noah Hannifin
Believable. Like, it was like we'd sit in the back of the bus and Brady would, like, play music, like, on the way to games. On the way back to games. Anytime around the bus, Brady was playing tunes. And then like, like, like he said somebody would say something, and it was just like, it was like, crazy. It was so fun, though. It was like so many of us had played together in the past and had known each other since we were kids, and I think that's what made our team, like, so unique and special. Like, obviously all the other countries guys know each other and they come play together, but you know, from the national program and when we were kids, like, I feel like a lot of the guys on the team are around the same age, so we had that bond and it was like, when we got back, it was like we only had four days to practice, but it felt like we had been together for like a year, you know, I mean, it was just like, right back to, like, your high school buddies. It was, it was pretty cool.
- [55:38]
Whit
We were talking about the NTDP and like, what it's meant and this is like the long road and why it was created for you guys. I mean, based on a couple years. It's, it's you two, it's Matthews, Larkin, McAvoy, Orensky.
- [55:51]
Yance
It's crazy.
- [55:51]
Whit
When did you two realize, like, holy shit, like, our country's stacked at this age group? Was it when you went out? There was even prior in, like, summer tournament tournaments and stuff? I don't know.
- [56:01]
Noah Hannifin
I would say, like, I knew, like, I knew our team. Like, my specific team, the 97s. Like, we, we had a great team. Obviously, Jack and Lar, the Year above us. So we were there together my first year. But just looking around that team, like. Like, rensky Matthews, Chuck McAvoy, like, there were so many guys that are just studs in the NHL now just from that one team. And it was pretty cool. Like, I remember, like, going to some of the games, especially when you're getting into, like, the semis and the final game, like, driving and, like, looking at all the guys, and it was, like, pretty surreal being, like. I remember when, like, 16 years old, you know, going to pioneer high school together and, like, hanging out and, like, now we're all, like, just, like, you know, having a good time, and, like, we're driving to the gold medal game, and, like, you can feel the weight of the country behind all of us. And it was, like, a full circle moment. It was, like, pretty cool to, like, get on that bus and, like, we're all together again. It was. It was awesome.
- [56:51]
Yance
I think it's such a cool thing because, I mean, when me and Whit were growing up, like, guys from Massachusetts hated guys from Minnesota, Michigan, when we would get together for, like, those satellite. Whatever it was. Yeah, the festivals out in Lake Placid, like, you wanted to kill those guys. But what they've done with the ndtp. Oh, yeah, we hated each other. And then when, you know, what this NDTP has done is brought you guys together and how it's a bigger goal and, you know, like, we've talked about checking your egos, and you guys did such a good job at that. But what I want to ask you guys was the pk, like, you guys didn't give up a goal in the four nations or in the Olympics. Like, how fucking insane is that?
- [57:28]
Ra
Yeah.
- [57:29]
Jack Eichel
And I, you know, like, Heinz, he was the. The PK coach, and he was. You know, he's unbelievable. He's unbelievably detailed, and, like, it's very black and white, and he gives such a great plan. It was actually funny. Like, the first few days we were working on the pk, Like, I mean, our power play was. You know, we were. We were pretty good. We had some good players in the power play, and it felt like we couldn't complete a pass against our own pk. You know, when you got, like, guys heckling and shit, and you're. You're, like, getting frustrated on the power play, and you're like, I can't even complete a pass. Right. It seems like they kind of knew what we. We wanted to do, but it was definitely something that I think our whole group Put a big emphasis on especially the guys that were going out there, you know, constantly. Whether it was, you know, Troach and, and Millsy, you know, Nelly, Larks, like those guys, those guys carried the weight of that PK up front. And our defense were so good, you know, like it was something we knew was going to be a huge, you know, a huge component to us having success. And, and Heinz, he said in the beginning of the tournament, he was like, we're gonna really, really need to be good. There's going to be a moment that comes in this tournament where we're gonna have to kill a huge penalty to win and we gotta be ready to do that. And, and obviously the guys got it done and that was a huge 5 on 3 kill and there were plenty more that you could go, go, you know, down and think about. But the penalty kit was unbelievable. And, and you know, the best player on your penalty kill is always the goaltender. And Heli was our best player. So when the penalty kill failed, when all else failed, Helly was there to make some incredible saves for us. So I think the guys took a ton of pride in it.
- [59:04]
Biz
I think you look at the, oh, that jack picture, probably the most iconic of the bunch. But the paddle save is what I'm going to remember. I was fucking right in the back of the net and he reaches back. What are you guys thinking or like saying on the bench?
- [59:18]
Noah Hannifin
No, it's pretty cool too. We were talking about when we were flying out, like we're talking to Helly about it because he's getting his jersey signed by the whole team. And I was like, think of how much this jersey is going to be worth. Probably like it was his game born, gold medal jersey. And then he said his stick, he said when he turned around, made that paddle save, he said there's like a puck mark, like a perfect mark on like the, the spot of his stick. It's like pretty cool. I just like how like lights out he was and such a great guy. But, but you know, just being able to have that performance and like the biggest moment there, there is like, it was incredible to watch.
- [59:48]
Jack Eichel
So I was actually on the ice, I was about to eat a minus, but he made an incredible save.
- [59:54]
Ra
So.
- [59:54]
Jack Eichel
Thanks Heli.
- [59:55]
Biz
Thanks Heli.
- [59:57]
Whit
What's he like as a, as a guy in the room? Like day game, like some goalies you don't hear from but like is he, is he talkative? Is he like that or is he quiet?
- [60:05]
Biz
He looks like he goes sicko mode.
- [60:07]
Jack Eichel
No, he was just like so Calm. Yeah, and like collected and confident. Like you could just see it. And I think I, I saw some of his comments after like the day of the gold medal game. Like he just felt like he was so in the zone and. But like there would be times where like we'd be going to a game and he, he would like doze off on the bus and you'd be thinking yourself, like, is he like, see exot. Whatever. And he was just so relaxed and like you could just tell he was in the zone of. He just knew what he needed to do and you know, he would, he would pipe up and say a few things before the game. But you know, goalies are, you know, very cerebral people. And I feel like he was just, you know, in his own. That, you know, we were just in awe of watching him.
- [60:50]
Biz
I would assume that Brady got the aux cord then if he was the one playing tunes on the bus.
- [60:56]
Jack Eichel
No, Milsy was on the bus.
- [60:58]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, yeah, Mills, he was. He was good. He had some good jams going.
- [61:01]
Biz
What was the one that you guys would listen to right before you would go out? Would you always keep it the same?
- [61:07]
Jack Eichel
Trying to think, what was this? We had the.
- [61:09]
Noah Hannifin
We had.
- [61:09]
Jack Eichel
We had one. Yeah.
- [61:12]
Noah Hannifin
He played a lot of like rock music. Like old 90s, like rock music. I'm trying to think of what he would.
- [61:17]
Yance
It's up your alley, isn't it? Jack loves you. Oh, that's a good one.
- [61:24]
Jack Eichel
He played like some. He would have like Creed going, Stone Temple Pilots and then you'd hear like shine down before the game. Like he was kind of all over the map. He played some great tunes and the boys were loving it in our tiny little locker room. It was awesome.
- [61:39]
Biz
Any weird like pre game rituals or routines that you notice from the other guys on the team where you're like, oh my God, how does this guy do this every game?
- [61:47]
Noah Hannifin
I don't know.
- [61:47]
Jack Eichel
I have a lot of weird ones. So I'd probably say I'm.
- [61:49]
Noah Hannifin
He's probably.
- [61:50]
Jack Eichel
People were probably looking at me like, what's wrong?
- [61:52]
Whit
What are some of the mics?
- [61:54]
Jack Eichel
I don't know. Hanny was. Hanny was like, at what?
- [61:57]
Noah Hannifin
At one point he like had like, he has like this eye patch that he wears and I'll put an eye patch and he'll like balance on one leg and throw like tennis balls off the wall. And I looked over and Brady Kachuk was walking around with the iPads on. It was unbelievable. I was like, like, it was unreal. Like there's like that guys are just like, busting each other.
- [62:15]
Jack Eichel
You'd, like, come over to me. He's like, what are you doing there? And, like, I was, like, kind of explaining it to him, and he's like, let me see that thing. He's like, I gotta work on my vestibular system.
- [62:25]
Noah Hannifin
Brady would be warming up for the game biz, and he'd be leaning off the edge of a bench, like a bench press. And he'd be doing neck curls like he's getting ready to go fight Mike Tyson.
- [62:33]
Jack Eichel
Like, he'd have no sleeves on his shirt. He had, like, like, cut marks all over his shoulder. He had his wrist taped up.
- [62:39]
Noah Hannifin
It was so funny. He got no sleeves on, and he's
- [62:42]
Jack Eichel
just doing neck exercises like he's Mike Tyson off the end of a bench.
- [62:45]
Biz
Ikes, you're going to be performing in Vegas when you get back. That's why you got the one leg. Yes. What's the. What's that new dome called? What do they call it?
- [62:55]
Yance
The Sphere.
- [62:55]
Biz
Oh, the Sphere.
- [62:56]
Jack Eichel
The new dome.
- [62:57]
Biz
The new dome.
- [62:59]
Whit
Ikes, you see Metallica's there.
- [63:01]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, that's going to be. That's really. Yeah, going next fall. It's unreal.
- [63:07]
Biz
Eagles there yet?
- [63:08]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I seen the Eagles. They were phenomenal.
- [63:10]
Biz
Unreal. Yeah, that. That was one I went to. What? Oh, you must be a big. Not. Not decent. What's Grateful Dead? You must be a huge, dreadful Dead guy.
- [63:21]
Jack Eichel
I'm not a huge Dead. I'm not, like, a Deadhead. Like, they're like. I feel like Deadheads are, like, religious to the Grateful.
- [63:28]
Whit
That's not hard enough for you?
- [63:30]
Jack Eichel
Oh, I mean, I like the Grateful Dead.
- [63:33]
Zach Warrensky
Don't get me wrong.
- [63:34]
Jack Eichel
They have some incredible music, but. But I never made it to a Dead concert when they were there. We went to the UFC together, the two of us, when they had the. The Mexican Independence Day fight. I think it was two years ago. We went to that. But Metallica will definitely be on the list.
- [63:50]
Noah Hannifin
That'll be nuts in there, for sure.
- [63:51]
Yance
How excited are you guys to get back to Vegas? Like, you saw the ovation that Jack Hughes gets last night, and, you know, you see what it means to your guys's fan base, especially playing in an American market and especially in Vegas, too. Like, the way that they bleed red, white, and blue. Like, you guys must be fired up to get back there.
- [64:09]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I mean, in our. Yeah. I mean, our fans are incredible. Like, we're. We're so lucky that they're, you know, just so supportive of. Of our team. You know, it is such A great place to play every night for all the guys. And. Yeah, I'm excited to get back there. I'm excited to. Yeah, I'm excited to be, you know, back here in the States. Obviously. We got a little road trip going here now, but, yeah, it'll be nice to get home. It's been a long time and. Yeah. Excited to kind of get back in my. In my house. It's been, like, what, four weeks? Almost three, three and a half weeks. So it'll be good and super excited to get back at T Mobile.
- [64:46]
Biz
Does Air Force Two have gold tickets? I heard that it has gold tickets.
- [64:51]
Yance
What's gold tickets?
- [64:53]
Biz
Like toilet paper?
- [64:56]
Jack Eichel
I don't think that. I don't know. There's probably a couple guys that probably use the bathroom in that way, so you could probably ask them. I'm not sure.
- [65:03]
Biz
Who's the type of guy who would dump on a flight on that team?
- [65:07]
Jack Eichel
Who is.
- [65:08]
Yance
Yeah, Milsy. He's a farm animal.
- [65:11]
Jack Eichel
There's actually a lot of guys I could think of that would do that.
- [65:14]
Noah Hannifin
So nosy, like, fell asleep right when we got on the plane, and, like, Chucky was like, yeah, good time to take a nap. Millsy. Like, we're on Air Force Two for two hours, and he snoozes the whole entire time. It was so funny.
- [65:25]
Biz
Hey, but probably better food on the plane than there was at the White House. They were feeding you guys Mickey D's.
- [65:30]
Jack Eichel
No, it wasn't McDonald's.
- [65:31]
Whit
Oh, no.
- [65:33]
Ra
I think.
- [65:34]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, that kind of got out there.
- [65:35]
Jack Eichel
That got out there.
- [65:36]
Yance
That.
- [65:36]
Jack Eichel
It was McDonald's, but it wasn't like, burgers. We had burgers, and, you know, they had a nice spread for us, whatever. But it was kind of cool. The top of the burger bun had a. Had a White House stamp on it. So it wasn't Mickey D's.
- [65:50]
Biz
It's all in the details, right, boys? Just like the penalty kill.
- [65:53]
Jack Eichel
It's all in the details anymore.
- [65:55]
Biz
You dropped the eyepatch story.
- [65:57]
Whit
Like, what.
- [65:57]
Biz
What were your top. Top three church memories where, like, the whole room was just erupting at guys carving each other. Any more fun moments like that?
- [66:06]
Noah Hannifin
There was a lot.
- [66:07]
Jack Eichel
I mean, trying to think. Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to think. I mean, Millsy was the brunt of a. Of a few really, really good jokes, and. And honestly, he. He, like, wears it himself. Like, he almost makes a joke about himself, and there were times where he just. He had us in tears. But, I mean, there was so many characters and personalities on the team that there was Never a dull moment.
- [66:35]
Whit
Fizz for a while, has been talking about Matthews, like, 200 foot game. And if you watch the Leafs a lot, you could tell. But that, that tournament, specifically the gold medal game, I'm like, holy shit, this guy. Like, he is not just an offensive player. Like, do you. Do you appreciate maybe more people realizing that? I know the Hughes just spoke up, up right after the gold medal game about him.
- [66:55]
Yance
Like, and Jack's the same way. You guys don't cheat the game, man. Like, for the two best forwards on the team. Like, you guys don't cheat the game.
- [67:01]
Whit
It's like, Jeff, like, you've gotten that credit. Like, people have always said that about you, where maybe they haven't with him.
- [67:08]
Jack Eichel
Yeah. I mean, and I don't know where any type of criticism comes for a guy like that, who. He's so dedicated, like, he works so hard, he does all the right things on and off the ice. He's an unbelievable teammate. He's such a great guy to be around. He's like, you could. If you watch the game, you see how unselfish he is. It wasn't like, hey, I'm Austin Matthews, I gotta score the goals. It was like. And we know, like, the guy, he has, he has over 400 goals already in his career. Like, I mean, we're all in awe of what he's. What he's. What he's done. And. And the criticism is so. It's just so wrong to me. And when you. When you spend time around him and you see him and you see him in an environment like that, like, he's so dialed in, and the only thing that mattered to him was winning. And you could see it. It was. It was unbelievable. He was our leader for a reason. And I mean, he was a horse the whole tournament. Like, he was unbelievable night in and night out. And I'm so happy for him that, that he's, you know, that he accomplished that. Because I feel like he gets so much. He gets so much in the media, and it's just. Just to me, it's so unprovoked because he's an unbelievable teammate. And there's not a guy that can say a bad word about him. He's, you know, he loves the game and he loves his teammates, and he was awesome for us.
- [68:26]
Biz
I feel like, because he's such a quiet, humble guy, they try to provoke him and he just never takes the bait. He just kind of goes about his business and, you know. Yeah, I think that he's. He's. He's massively underrated.
- [68:38]
Whit
Still, Noah, as a defenseman who's used to playing 20 minutes, like, like, what are you doing to, like, stay in the game? It's hard, right, when you're getting put out there every third shift or something like that, maybe fourth shift. Like, what were you doing to, to stay ready? Because it is a lot harder than people think.
- [68:54]
Noah Hannifin
I find, like, the hardest thing in situations like, when you're not playing as much as normal is like, just when, like when the puck's on your stick, like, being comfortable with the puck because, like, you haven't been on the ice and so on feeling it. I think the legs and stuff are fine, but I think for me it was that. But I don't know, you just get used to it and like, you're, you're so dialed in, like, the intensity of everything that whole time, like, every game, like, every practice is, like, ramped up so much because of, like, how important it is that I found that, like, for me, mentally, like, it wasn't just like another game, like, during the season, like, you're locked in, like, you're laser focused that when you get on the ice for like, one shift, like, you, you try to stay present. And I just, that's what I try to do at least the whole time. And you're also on the ice with, with four, four studs every time you get on the ice, and you're just like, you know, just the little things, like we're just talking about Matthews, like, just how good, like, you know, Jack and Austin are, like, coming back helping defensively, like, winning every, every battle. Like, the little things like that, that people may not see all the time, but when you're playing with them on a daily basis, you see it and it's like, it's unbelievable.
- [69:54]
Yance
So your practices were ramped up. It wasn't just like a feel good practices. You guys were going hard every day.
- [69:59]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, like, even when you're working on, like, special teams and stuff, like, it was just like everyone was going 100%. Like, I, I, I, I thought at
- [70:06]
Jack Eichel
least it was competitive. Yeah, the practices were competitive. And I thought that was great right from the first day. I mean, we, but we kept it light on the ice, like we were joking, laughing, like there was chirps flying all the way through the, you know, we, we had an optional skate the day before. We had an optional skate Saturday afternoon, and everybody skated except for one guy. I won't single him out, but, like, it was very light on the ice. I mean, we're playing the gold medal game in less than 24 hours, and. And, like, we were making jokes, and it was pretty light, but if you want me to single them out, I will. Millsy took the day off, so.
- [70:39]
Yance
Shocker. Were you. Were, like, coaches taking heat from the guys, too? Or was any. Would the coaches off limits?
- [70:45]
Jack Eichel
No, no, Nobody's off limits in that. No, everyone was. And that was, like, the. That was one of the best parts is, like, nobody was off limits. Everyone got it. And I think that's what made. Made it as cool as it was.
- [70:59]
Biz
Was that the bet, Like, I mean, just to direct it over to Canada. Was that the best team you've ever played? Like, just from what you saw, from what they threw at you guys, like, incredible hockey game.
- [71:08]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I mean, for sure. Like, they. They brought their A game, and a team, like, that brings your A game. That's. That's a lot to handle. And, like, I texted you after the game biz, and I was like, yeah, our goalie made a few saves, huh? You know, like, I mean, he played unbelievable. And obviously, we're not. We're not in this situation if it wasn't for him. But. But at the same time, I thought the whole group competed, you know, so hard. And a ton of credit to them. I mean, they. They came ready to play, and, you know, in games like that, it can really go either way. And for us, it was just nice to, you know, be on the right side of it.
- [71:45]
Biz
Also, Charlie McAvoy, Yance, like, a guy who breaks his jaw earlier in the year, being able to just stay on the goal line and take whatever's coming at him and make that save. Like, I know it's remarkable, all the little moments that happen when you guys were, like, against the wall, but you guys strong.
- [72:01]
Noah Hannifin
We were talking about the other day, too. It's like, one of those things where, like, as the game is going on, like, you could see, like, little things that were happening, like, some of the saves or when Charlie, like, kept that puff out of the net, like, it was almost like it was, like, destined to happen. It felt like at one point we were like, all right. Like, the fact that we kind of got out of all those situations alive now, like, I feel like it's just, like, on our side right now. I. I don't know. I don't know if you guys felt that way watching, but I felt that way.
- [72:26]
Biz
Paddle.
- [72:27]
Whit
And then McKinnon, you guys killed the five on three. I'm watching. I'm like, dude, if they could kill that like, it's kind of like the saying, you don't score on a five on three, you don't deserve to win. I was like, if they did that, like, this might be the day Biz asked Warrensky about Billy G. Like, he said it best. He's just such a guys guy, and, like, having him in charge of this team. Staying in touch with you guys throughout the season, what's it like when he comes into the room, addresses the team, like. Like, how much do you appreciate the way he's able to do things?
- [72:57]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I mean, he was. He was. He was awesome. I mean, throughout the whole summer, you know, when we were in, you know, Plymouth for a few days, it was pretty informal. And then, you know, coming, you know, into Milan, like, there was a few moments where he came in and addressed the team and basically just trying to instill as much confidence in our group. And he put, you know, such an awesome group together. So, so much credit to him. But that's exactly the way that he is. I mean, he's such a guy's guy. He's gonna tell you exactly how it is. And, you know, he was in the locker room after games joking with guys, and he was one of the guys that was making fun of people. People were trying to take shots at him. So that's exactly how he is. He's a guy's guy. And it's really cool to have somebody like that who's, you know, who's been through it, who's. Who's played, who's represented the country at the highest levels and just so much respect for him, you know, his. His entire career, him as a person, and. And what he was able to do, you know, with our group.
- [73:55]
Yance
How cool is it after the game, you know, obviously you guys in the locker room with just the guys, but going into the family room after and seeing your parents and seeing your friends, that made the trip over there, and I know how close both you guys are with your families and friends. That must have been just like the icing on top.
- [74:11]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, it was. It was unbelievable. I mean, I had two of my buddies from high school that flew over on, like, two days notices to come over and catch it and, you know, high school buddies and then just. And like, you know, my parents, my brother, sister, you know, my wife, her family, like, it was. It was so special. And that was like a moment that I'll never forget. Like, when we scored that goal, like, the joy I felt, like at the last time, I felt that I was probably like 10 years old. You know, like, it was like you felt like a little kid and jumping around and. And then celebrating with the guys, but then going upstairs and seeing, like, my dad and stuff. Like, it was like something like. I'll never forget. That's Noah.
- [74:45]
Whit
Was your. Was your sicko fake uncle there?
- [74:48]
Ra
Billy?
- [74:48]
Noah Hannifin
No, Billy didn't make it. He's down in Naples.
- [74:50]
Yance
Golf doesn't have a pass.
- [74:51]
Biz
Is this. He's a fake uncle, buddy.
- [74:53]
Whit
He's got a fake uncle that is an absolute menace.
- [74:58]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, yeah, yeah, he is.
- [75:00]
Biz
He just tell everybody he's your uncle.
- [75:02]
Noah Hannifin
He's like, my dad's, like, best friend. They, like, grew up together. And Billy Pender, he's like my. We playing like that. Member. Guest at Wallace, where. Where Wood is and Keith used to be at. And he's my guest, but everyone calls him Uncle Billy. He's a. He's a riot. He's a good guy.
- [75:16]
Biz
Is that the place we golf? That Wallston?
- [75:19]
Whit
Yeah, yeah, with the Bruins.
- [75:20]
Biz
Okay. Yeah. I don't know if we're gonna get the invite.
- [75:22]
Whit
Speaking of that, boys. You guys. You guys. Hey. You might be gold medalists, but Biz and I own Granite Link, so you're gonna have to find a third. Who's in. Who's in mind here?
- [75:33]
Jack Eichel
Who's in mind? Who's our third? Might have to pull a ringer. Another master.
- [75:37]
Noah Hannifin
You might have to get Keller.
- [75:38]
Jack Eichel
Well, Keller. I was gonna say another mask guy.
- [75:41]
Noah Hannifin
Daisy.
- [75:41]
Jack Eichel
Matt Boldy.
- [75:43]
Noah Hannifin
Oh, he just.
- [75:44]
Whit
That's who Biz said he.
- [75:45]
Ra
He's.
- [75:45]
Whit
He might be too good.
- [75:46]
Noah Hannifin
He's a stick wit. I've seen him play a few times. He's legit. Like, he's legit.
- [75:50]
Whit
No, I played with him once, and I. I almost puked on the first hole. He hit it 320 yards. Hit it to a foot. I'm like, what the. And shot. He shot like three under.
- [75:59]
Zach Warrensky
I was like.
- [76:00]
Noah Hannifin
He went up to BGC last summer. I saw him. Like, I was playing with a few of my buddies, and he was up there with somebody else, and he shot, like, a 66 at Boston Golf last summer. Like, he was like, he's gross.
- [76:11]
Zach Warrensky
Yeah.
- [76:12]
Biz
He can't play back. No, we're not. Yeah, he doesn't get that. He's on the no fly.
- [76:17]
Whit
Goal was so nasty. Dude. On the bench. You guys must have been losing it.
- [76:20]
Noah Hannifin
Dude, it was crazy. It was kind of like a. Like, I don't know. I thought it was because it was such a great game, and obviously Hughes's goal was such an unbelievable goal. But like, that gold bold score was like, nasty, like.
- [76:32]
Whit
Like it was Makar.
- [76:33]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah. Like he's. He's another guy. Like, you know, when you play with him up close like that and you see like all the little things he does, like, he's just a stud. Like, he's so strong on the poc. Like, he's such a good student.
- [76:43]
Zach Warrensky
Dick.
- [76:45]
Noah Hannifin
Obviously last year we played them in the playoffs and he was, he was unreal for Minnesota, but just. Yeah, that was a great goal.
- [76:51]
Biz
I asked the same thing to Orinsky, who was maybe a guy that you guys didn't know that closely going into this experience where you left being like, oh my God, this guy's such a beauty and I'm so grateful to be. Share this memory and be basically lifelong friends after it. His answer was our Faber.
- [77:08]
Ra
Oh, yeah.
- [77:09]
Biz
Who had that iconic photo favor glasses.
- [77:13]
Noah Hannifin
He's great.
- [77:13]
Jack Eichel
Babes is unbelievable. He's. He's like the epitome of a guy's guy. He's. He was the best. Yeah. And he's unbelievable player as well. But there was a lot of guys that, I mean, we got really close last year in the Four nations, and then, you know, we didn't have. We didn't have Quinny there. Right. Like, Quinn didn't play. So I thought it was really cool to be around him. You know, having him a part of the group. It was obviously tough. We didn't have him last year. He got hurt right before the tournament and. And just getting the chance to get to know him. And I mean, he's special player, but just, you know, such a great guy as well and had a ton of fun with him.
- [77:53]
Biz
The Kachuks, I feel like they are. I. I describe them as like these WWE characters where they're obviously able to go out there and do what they do on the ice, but I feel like they're able to shoulder a lot of the media stuff where it probably helps the other guys in the team just kind of focus on the world work. Do you guys feel the same? And how would you describe their dynamic and like, what they bring to a locker room when they're together?
- [78:14]
Jack Eichel
I just think they have unbelievable personalities. I just think they have such great personalities. So when they're in the locker room, they do such a great job of bringing the whole team together and you know, to be able to do that is. Is. Is such a great skill. And you know, they obviously were such huge parts, part parts of our team on the ice. But. But their personalities and the way that they brought the Group together off the ice from day one. Like, it was, it was really. I mean, it was a huge part of, of of our success and why our team was so close.
- [78:46]
Whit
I did love how Matthew's like, yeah, I knew when we went to ot, my night was done. So I be. I became a cheerleader. Who were you going to be out on the ice with Ikes? Did you get a shift in between the.
- [78:56]
Jack Eichel
Yeah, I got one. Yep. I gapped up a few times, got over a few guys.
- [79:00]
Noah Hannifin
Hell yeah.
- [79:01]
Jack Eichel
Holidays. Work, work, pressure wet.
- [79:03]
Whit
Oh, your night was done.
- [79:04]
Noah Hannifin
I was done. I was send me tro. We were sitting there, we were like freaking praying. We had our heads down on the boards. It was like, it's almost like nerve wrack, like, wrecking watching because you're like, yeah, like you're. It's one thing if you're in the moment, like playing the game and you're getting into it, but when you're sitting there and you're just like watching it, you're like, this could go either way. Like, we're either gonna do what we did the last few days or it's just over and you, like, lose. So it was pretty crazy to watch just this, buddy.
- [79:28]
Jack Eichel
Yeah.
- [79:28]
Whit
Or it's just this.
- [79:31]
Biz
Hey, that shines bright. Just as bright, buddy.
- [79:33]
Whit
Yes. Silver shines bright, boys.
- [79:35]
Biz
That's Yanza's line. New line. Why are you looking at, like, me like that? Yeah.
- [79:40]
Yance
Because it doesn't.
- [79:41]
Whit
Boys, it was, it was legendary. I know you guys know that, But I think 26 million people watching that, buddy. It's something I'll never forget. I know my oldest, he won't stop talking about it. And you guys will be legends forever because of it. So thanks for joining the show.
- [79:55]
Jack Eichel
Thanks for having us on, guys. Thanks for all the support as well.
- [80:02]
Whit
Guys, we're gonna stop for a minute here and talk about prime Monday night hockey. Coming up this Monday on Prime Monday night Hockey, it's the Flyers versus the Maple Leafs. March 2, 7:00pm The Maple Leafs boys girls, they gotta win almost every game, it seems like. I mean, we're talking about a team who I picked to have over 99 and a half points in the regular season this year, who are fighting for their lives to get in the playoffs. They have the Flyers, they got to get this one done. It's at home Monday, March 2, prime Monday night hockey.
- [80:34]
Jack Eichel
And you got the trade deadline on Friday coming too.
- [80:37]
Ra
So this is a pivotal game for the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise, because if they lose this one
- [80:42]
Jack Eichel
again, they could Go full cell mode
- [80:44]
Ra
and they could be a fully different
- [80:45]
Jack Eichel
looking team in a few weeks.
- [80:47]
Whit
And maybe they give a bunch of guys over to the Oilers to try to bring a cup back to Canada. But. But it's all about Flyers vs. The Leaf Chiefs on Prime Monday Night Hockey. Our listeners in Canada can watch Monday night's game on Prime Video. If you're already a Prime member, you're all set. If not, sign up for a free trial that's free@prime video.com Prime Monday Night Hockey. It's on Monday. It's on Prime. Thank you so much to Jack Eichel, Noah Hannifin. Great people. The re. The rematch is on, boys. They're gonna find someone and I don't know if they want this smoke again. They might need, they might need a true stick to take us down down in the sandbagger this summer. Mark Spector, he despises us. He came at me again last night. So a clip of him interviewing McDavid. Somebody else. So biz, I guess you had it. But somebody else tweeted out a clipped version of his interview to break it down.
- [81:41]
Biz
Is Mark Spector asked a long question and he did set up the fact that it was going to be a difficult question. And then McDavid had a quick response saying, well, that's, that was very nice of you essentially to ask that horrendous question after I've just fucking laid it all on the line for my country and then proceeded to answer it. Well, somebody online posted the video of that and then as soon as he'd said, well, that's a nice question, stop the video. The hard question. But you know, Stanley Cups found Gretzky and Crosby and those guys and, and gold medals and you've been in, put yourself in position and it's not finding you. Did you think it would be this hard?
- [82:19]
Zach Warrensky
It's a nice question.
- [82:20]
Noah Hannifin
Thank you.
- [82:21]
Biz
McDavid then had a long reply. But at the time, Memes just saw that part of it. Right. He's not in Edmonton. You know, that's a video that's circulated and it's spec being spec again. And so they're trying to basically spin it. Like we purposely cut this clip without McDavid's response, even though he answered the hard question, basically saying that it's like we're, we're horrible, like for like true journalists and blah, blah, blah, blah.
- [82:46]
Whit
Let's listen.
- [82:47]
Biz
Memes was the one who saw the video and posted it. We have nothing to do with that. And Memes is just doing his Fucking job. If memes would have saw the clip with the response as well, he would have just posted that with the. The, like, Spec at it again, basically. So I don't know. Him and Gregor are obviously not big fans of us. Like, I don't really give a flying fuck. And. And, like, came at us for that, but, like, whatever. I mean it. To me, it's a bit of a nothing burger. Also, probably not what I would have asked McDavid after he just put his heart and soul into trying to win a fucking gold medal for his country. And, yeah, it's hard, man. It's hard for McDavid. He's now been to two Stanley cup finals and a gold medal in the Olympics, and he's come up shorthanded. And it's not. It's not because of him. Just.
- [83:33]
Whit
I feel really bad for him.
- [83:34]
Biz
I'm ready to fucking send over whatever you guys need from the Toronto Maple Leafs to ensure that this guy lives sustainably. Cup because he deserves it. I talk about these guys putting every fiber of their being at all times into trying to be the best. And it just so happens because the greatest game in the world is not just a few guys going out there and getting done. And it takes a team. You know, he's been left a little bit shorthanded. And, yeah, like, I'm not going to. I'm not going to run away from the fact that, yeah, his. His. His numbers are obviously not good in those games, but I think we can all agree that he was probably the most or one of the most dominant players on the ice for Canada in that gold medal game and, of course, throughout the tournament. That's why you won mvp if not for Connor Hellebuck. We're having a completely different conversation right now.
- [84:19]
Whit
Right? So, yeah, I just think, like, there's certain ways to ask that question I actually respect. Reporters have to ask hard questions, and it sucks that players have to deal with hard questions. That's part the of of it. Like, Spec asking a hard question, buddy, that. That's your job.
- [84:37]
Biz
That's your job.
- [84:38]
Whit
Now, you can't tell me he's not looking to make that as hard as human.
- [84:44]
Yance
He's known for that, isn't he?
- [84:45]
Whit
Oh, yeah, buddy. Like, he. But listen, Spec had a point. Spec wrote to me last year. Oh, no, this was two years. This was three. This was November 11, 2023. He said, hey, Whit, Spec here. Shit's raining on me because of the dumb fucker who made that tweet on your account.
- [85:02]
Ra
Account.
- [85:03]
Whit
You Think Woody does does read us all. He's giving me a fresh shot every day. He's talking about Woodcroft. Your guy got fooled by a phony. And the Chiclets account is making hay on my rep. I have no idea what you're talking about. Then yesterday, I see your place is still misrepresenting my work. McDavid gave a thoughtful, intelligent answer to my question. But your place clipped it before he spoke. Making it look like he didn't answer. Makes me look bad. Makes me look bad. Bad. You guys do pedal in the dishonest, don't you? Spec, Buddy, the clip went viral with somebody else's memes who's a complete mutant moron looking at milfs all day online. Put the tweet out there and then you're coming at me. Ok, yes, he did answer your question. But that question he asked could have been worded in such a nicer way. He. He revels in making you as uncomfortable as you can. And buddy, like the clip. Look, McDavid gave you a long, thoughtful answer because he's a pro. He gave you the quick answer that was tweeted out and went viral because it's an asshole way to ask the question. That's a fact. Ok, so you want to remind him of the Gretzky and the Crosby and the Lemieux and winning, coming easy to them. That's a hell of a way to word a question, dude. So we apologize once again. I, I, I. It wasn't even. We didn't clip it, dude. We didn't clip it to make you look foolish. Fucking spec. Everyone reads spec. Tristan Jari literally could not save the puck last night in. In Anaheim. The Oilers were up two nothing. They had three different leads. They lose in regulation. He actually got pulled. Have you ever seen a goalie get pulled when it's 55 with like 6 minutes left in the game? I've never seen that. But I think at one point Knoblog's like, all right, this is ridiculous. They end up losing in regulation. Ian Moore scored a goal. He had two goals and in his career coming into the game. Short side glove. That was the first one. Seneca scored the fifth goal. I think it was on the ice. Five Hall. Now, a lot of the responses to my tweet saying, can we get Bennington or look at the D. Bennington won't help. It doesn't matter who you have in there. Maybe that's true. You could see the winning goal, Cutter Gauthier, standing alone on the back post. And there's five Guys from the Oilers staring at the puck and Leo Carlson, who fires it across for a tap in. Yeah, I don't, I don't biz. You said it. You'll give us help from Toronto. There are some other things we had to get to here. Brutal news for the Penguins guys. Crosby's out. He's out about a month. I think usually it's around six weeks on an mcl. Say it's been a week. He's probably got four to five more weeks. Pittsburgh, sitting second in the metro, had this magical season that nobody, nobody expected. See if Dubas can do something. See if the team can, can stay, stay afloat until he gets back. I think we've all said many times we want to see Pittsburgh in the playoffs. Give Sid another chance at maybe another run. You never know. Malkin, maybe he resigns. I think there's been discussions. He's had such a great year. Bring him back for another year, I hope. But that sucks because the way Sid had been playing this year and the records he set and it's just, we want him in the game, we want him playing. We want Pittsburgh to make a little bit of a run. That'd be an awesome story. But the Penguins weren't done in the news. They traded for Sam Gerard. Biz, you've been all over this for a while in terms of, of Colorado. If they were going to move on from someone, it might be him. They have. Makar Malinsky's just resigned. He's pretty good offensively. They got Manson, they, they have Brent Burns there, so they didn't necessarily need Gerard in his offense. They go and get Brett Kulak and I think the, the ABs traded Gerard and a second round pick to the Penguins for Kulak. I saw Kulak the past years in Edmonton. I saw last night in the Colorado game that they won. He played about 19 minutes. He is steady, he's solid. He's kind of exactly what Colorado needs. If they look at Gerard and maybe his times on turning it over and looking at how good he is offensively, it's like, all right, let's just get somebody a little bit more steady. And I think Kulak is that. I don't think he moves the puck as well. He can't create offense like Gerard. But just looking at their team, I think we're able to, to lose Gerard and bring this guy in. And Biz, you kind of called this one a while, but back.
- [89:30]
Biz
Yeah, like, well, I just, I said that I felt like he was probably the easiest to, to leave exposed just because they already had that dynamic with Mar. And then you saw what Malinsky signed for Score. It's like, ah, he comes in what, probably close to $2 million in cheaper than Gerard. And he's also like a bigger player. Where I found that Gerard would maybe get like. Not to say he doesn't compete for, for an undersized guy. Like, it's just, you know, your, your frame is your frame, right? So I felt like in some games I would notice they would get hemmed in a little bit. It's hard for him to really close off a guy and I think that they would probably value that more, especially getting it done a lot cheaper if they ended up moving on from them and obviously open up some cap space to maybe do something even more drastic as we get towards the deadline here to ensure that they get their second Stanley Cup. And I would imagine after Nate got that teddy bear there, he probably ended up being like, we better win a Stanley cup or somebody's gonna die around here. He's. I bet you he's an all time
- [90:31]
Whit
clip, by the way.
- [90:33]
Yance
All the time.
- [90:34]
Biz
I bet you he keeps that next to his nightstand. And he wakes up every morning at 6am being like, I'm gonna rip this thing's head off, but. And uses it as motivation. But it sucks though. And like you could see like through Eric Johnson's tweet about Sam Gerard and just the way that his teammates and, and, and I'm sure they're, they're like the management, even how they feel about him, like he's a winner and he's an incredible player. I love like how he's able to, to, you know, buzz around out there. He's a water bug, right? And he's able to create offense on his own, open up his own lane. So he's a very good player to watch and a great pickup for the Pittsburgh Penguins, especially as they maybe lack a little bit of that offense with Crosby to lineup for the next four weeks. So. So wish him well. This sucks, man. This is the nature of the beast, right? The nature of the game. And I can only imagine he's like, fuck, he feels gutted that he was about to go on his second Stanley cup run with this Colorado team and all of a sudden he's getting this type of news after the All Star break or, excuse me, the Olympic break. But yeah, yeah, it's tough. That's a tough one, boys. I mean, you. Fuck you. You were, you were that guy.
- [91:41]
Whit
Yeah, he won one at least, right?
- [91:43]
Biz
But you were that offensive Defenseman where they're like, ah, we need to address this area. And it's hard Cap. And that's just the way the money works.
- [91:51]
Whit
And they had, they had Gonchar, they had Latang and Goes coming.
- [91:55]
Ra
Yeah.
- [91:55]
Whit
And it was quite evident, like we can move on from this guy. This guy being me. And it sucks. But at least, at least Gerard did get one there. And I want to read Eric Johnson's tweet. He said, Sam Gerard Appreciation post. We were coming off the worst season in franchise history when we got G. From that moment on, we were a perennial playoff team. G was a huge part of that and a big reason for our success. G went through personal issues in the public eye and came back a better man. He should be celebrated and thanked for what he did in Colorado. We were lucky to have him. Good luck, Sammy. And Gerard was pretty open about taking a little bit of a break from the game for some issues. And just to be open, open with that stuff is pretty powerful. I think it helps a lot of people that, that aren't in the public eye that are maybe hesitant to do that. So. So yeah, Sam Jarrah's a fun player to watch and I think he'll be great. On Pittsburgh, it just. They just looked at their roster and kind of thought what would help us more. Is it a steady 19, 20 minute, a guy, PK guy, or is it a Samuel Gerard? And Colorado made that decision. But Kulak's a free agent after this year and Gerard, I believe he signed through next season. Through next season. So. So Pitts and, and Dubas has set this team up, man. He's got a ton of picks, he's got a ton of prospects. So we'll see what the Dubas stock is able to do here.
- [93:16]
Yance
And doesn't that leave. Didn't Biz or someone send a text message that leaves $8.7 million in Colorado's cap space.
- [93:26]
Whit
We promise to never bring that up again. Biz did so Kadri also Nazem Kadri, apparently, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, wants to be traded. 7 million dollar cap hit. I think every single team in the league that wants to win a Stanley cup would have a lot of interest in him. If he's your second line center, even your third line center on some really good teams like you are set to win. The guy's a gamer. He's a mean prick on the ice. He could score. He can.
- [93:55]
Yance
Playoff player too.
- [93:56]
Whit
Playoff player. I would love to see Kadri on a team trying to Make a run.
- [94:01]
Yance
Do you think it's going to be one of those things that Calgary is going to have to eat some salary? You know the teams that he's, he's got, he's got 13 team no move clause like the teams that he's going to want to go to probably don't have $7 million in cap space, right?
- [94:15]
Whit
Probably not. I mean Buddy, if that's going to, if that's going to increase your return. I think it's pretty obvious Calgary wants to be set to get going as the new arena opens. I think it's two years away. If you can eat a little bit of money on that and then you can get the return even greater. That's kind of a no brainer for me. That'll be that. I just wonder of all the trades and the names you hear like what will be summer deals and what can get done. I mean the deadline's in eight days boys. It's kind of crazy how quick this is coming. But we'll see.
- [94:49]
Yance
I see him in Dallas for some reason. I don't know why I, I just see him in Dallas and Dallas.
- [94:55]
Whit
Tough news out of the Olympics. Miko Ronton will miss a minimum of two weeks. Weeks with a lower body injury he, he, he suffered in Milan. Just kind of part of what you're dealing with when guys go over there. But he should be able to return before the regular season. Not the end of the world. They're in the playoffs, they're in a good spot. I don't think they're catching Colorado either way now maybe they lose home ice to Minnesota in that first round matchup but you saw last year that, that when Rontin is going in that game seven. A game that nobody will ever forget what he was able to do to his former team. So, so this, this would be the
- [95:29]
Yance
year of the cap circumcision. If you could do it like bringing back all these guys from.
- [95:35]
Whit
And if the last year you could do it.
- [95:36]
Yance
I. Oh you can do it this year.
- [95:39]
Whit
Yeah.
- [95:39]
Jack Eichel
Right.
- [95:40]
Yance
Oh shit. I think teams are going to be doing it. Yeah.
- [95:42]
Biz
And they're actually moving a 3 on 3 in overtime these playoffs as well. Just kidding.
- [95:48]
Yance
Perfect.
- [95:49]
Whit
Blues forward Robert Thomas, he took a leave for personal reasons. So hopefully everything's all right in his life.
- [95:56]
Jack Eichel
Life.
- [95:56]
Whit
What a player he is. That's a guy who's been kind of out there. I think it would take a boatload to get him out of St. Louis. True number one center, incredible player. So hopefully everything's all right in his life. I guess he's going to return to the team this week, though, so.
- [96:14]
Biz
All right.
- [96:15]
Whit
With that, we got ra's World coming up. But first we're going to talk to Abby Murphy, gold medal winner for Team usa. Let's throw it.
- [96:20]
Biz
Can I say just one quick thing?
- [96:23]
Jack Eichel
Coupe.
- [96:24]
Biz
I don't know if we mentioned. Coop obviously had a very difficult week. He loses that gold medal game, and then after the gold medal game, I think it was, you know, 30 to 36 hours later, he loses his father and just a brutal, brutal gut punch. And we just want to send our condolences to Coop, Canadian icon. Love you, buddy. Really sorry for what you and your family are going through, and it's just been a really brutal week for. For. For. For. For a lot of. A lot of Canadians.
- [96:51]
Whit
Well said. So, so sorry, Coop. Let's bring in Abby Murphy right now. Very, very, very lucky right now to be joined by gold medalists and the person who I think has the assist of the season in hockey, that is Abby Murphy of the University of Minnesota. What's going on, Abby?
- [97:12]
Abby Murphy
How are you guys doing? Thanks for having me. Just back to normal life here.
- [97:15]
Whit
Yeah, we're doing great. How are you doing is the question. I can't imagine the celebration. And we saw you out chug Jason Kelce, so we know you could drink. I can't imagine how you're feeling getting back to campus.
- [97:28]
Jack Eichel
Yeah.
- [97:29]
Whit
Yeah.
- [97:30]
Noah Hannifin
Cheers.
- [97:30]
Biz
Down, up. Love that little interference pick play.
- [97:39]
Yance
You should get another. Another gold medal for that.
- [97:41]
Biz
No, she did.
- [97:42]
Yance
Oh, nice.
- [97:43]
Abby Murphy
That was electric. I mean, that guy's a legend, you know, in so many ways. But for him to be there supporting us was super cool. And to chug a beer with him, a massive guy, but I can't even imagine how many beers he deletes. But I could say the same over here the past couple weeks for us girls, so. That was awesome.
- [98:00]
Biz
It's crazy. You're just going back to your college campus. Like, what a whirlwind, dude.
- [98:04]
Abby Murphy
It's nuts. I mean, the. The journey in the past couple weeks in Italy has been. Been wild, but I guess that's kind of what we signed up for here. Going back to school and kind of getting back into things.
- [98:14]
Yance
The professors aren't making you do homework or take tests or anything, right? Because as. As a proud American, and if any of those professors are listening, give Abby an A for the rest of the year. She's done. She's done for the year, dude.
- [98:27]
Abby Murphy
I think that's like the shittiest part about going back to School is, you know, it's a part of kind of staying eligible, but just trying to pass, you know, obviously not focused on school. It's hockey's life. You know, when came back to my fifth year for hockey specifically, so. But professors have been great. You know, get your schoolwork done on time whenever, hand in late stuff. They'll take good care of you. So really lucky here at the U.
- [98:49]
Biz
Well, we Talked to Gavin McKenna. He's taking fly fishing. What, what kind of courses are you taking, dude?
- [98:55]
Abby Murphy
God bless that kid. I mean he's having the time of his life over there. He's a legend. So I wish I could take fly fishing. I'm in like some BS classes, Tibetan medicine and nature heals. So have to do a little work. But we're trying over here.
- [99:09]
Whit
So take us, take us through the tournament. I mean it was leading up to the gold medal game, the most dominating team I think I've ever seen. Just, I think it was at one point you'd scored 20 goals, given up one, and all of a sudden you're down late to Canada. Like before that game, did you understand or did you guys all realize that it would be a lot closer than it had been the past few games?
- [99:29]
Abby Murphy
I think, yeah, I feel like whenever you, you get put up against Canada under that kind of pressure and a. You're going to expect everything to come at you. So I mean, leading up to it, I think, I mean it doesn't lie. Our team was obviously the best team in that, in that tournament. But I mean, there's so much talent on one team. You know, everyone kind of playing a role. Having Hillary Knight as your captain is just electric energy. So. But yeah, I mean, obviously that gold medal game, I mean it went down to the wire, you know, but frickin Hillary with the tying goal, she's shows up in those, in those kinds of moments. So then Megan Keller, absolutely Putting someone in a blender and put out and then that was, was nasty. So such an electric moment for both men's and women's hockey teams. You know, obviously so much history there. So incredibly special.
- [100:15]
Biz
I thought it was like we were talking about it. So Hillary Knight, did she get engaged the day before the gold medal game?
- [100:22]
Abby Murphy
Day before biz.
- [100:24]
Yance
That's when you know you're, that's when you know you just, you know you're gonna win.
- [100:28]
Whit
It made me nervous.
- [100:30]
Abby Murphy
I'm like, listen, we can't F this up. Like, I mean this is like a storybook ending right here. Like you get everything you want. Like we gotta do it for Hill, you know, I mean, it's her last Olympics. She gets everything. She gets the girl, you know, so super, super cool moment for her and obviously ending off with a gold medal. We can't really complain.
- [100:47]
Biz
Did she tell all you girls she was doing it before the game?
- [100:51]
Abby Murphy
No, she didn't. But I mean, Hill likes to go on these little side quests us, and she doesn't like to share many information about those. So a lot of us were super shocked. So when we found out at practice before the gold medal game was electric, the, the locker room was going crazy. So it was super fun, but super happy for her.
- [101:13]
Biz
She's probably thinking though, like, I, I, I'm pretty sure you guys called a timeout before you scored that goal, right? Because it was a power play goal. Like she's probably thinking, hey, I gotta, I gotta bury one here. Or I maybe look a little silly at the fact that I. And then we end up fumbling this gold medal over.
- [101:30]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, dude. I mean, she broke the record for what, most goals? I think something about most points. Like, no better moment to do it, you know, but she shines, like I said, in times like that, moments like those. She's a legend in the game, you know, along with so many other players. But such a cool moment for her, for her and our team.
- [101:47]
Whit
Is, is she the, the loud one in the locker room intermissions prior to the game, or is it somebody else who's doing a lot of the vocal, you know, speaking in the room?
- [101:56]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, for sure. I feel like that's what's like really cool about our, about our team is everyone kind of speaks up, you know, whether you're a college kid or you're a Hillary Knight. You know, she's obviously always saying things kind of, you know, that first period in the Canada game, we kind of got our asses out, worked a little bit, and I think we know that. So. But you know, she came out locker room, kind of told us to wake up and we knew this wasn't going to be handed to us how the rest of the round robin games went. But yeah, I mean, she's such a good leader on and off the ice, you know, you can't have it any better than that. So we're extremely grateful for her and everyone else who leads on our team.
- [102:28]
Yance
Abby, I was going to ask you, I mean, you look at your guys roster, guys got people from all over the U.S. right? Like, it's kind similar to the men's, like the way that the game has Grown. And you guys are a very young team playing against the older, more experienced Canadian team. Was that kind of one of those things where you're like, okay, it's our time now, Especially you being one of the younger studs, like was it kind of like the younger gals talking and being like, hey, this is our time to fucking shine now. Like we want to show everyone that USA is going to be on top for a long time. Time.
- [102:59]
Abby Murphy
Absolutely. You know, I think we give a lot of props to our coach, you know, Robo, who put together such a legendary team. You know, obviously you put so many people in who haven't had much experience at an Olympics or whatsoever, but I think we've all played enough hockey to be able to be put in those situations to shine bright. And you know, I think when you put in young players and talent that you have on our team, it's kind of unstoppable against, you know, a little bit of older players on that Canada team who, you know, they're great players. You know, I feel like we just kind of outworked them a lot and you know, a lot of players on our team shine like Hannibalka and, and Heise and I can go list after list but you know, at the end of the day we were just a legendary team and it was so cool and electric.
- [103:44]
Biz
So it wasn't even your first Olympics like you, you were able to experience it in 2022. So did you feel like that experience like helped you out in like getting acclimated to when you get there and kind of everything you have to go through through. And what was like, what was the difference in your experiences compared to the first one?
- [104:01]
Abby Murphy
Absolutely, yeah, it was completely different. You know, Covid obviously didn't, didn't help anything. It made, made a, made a little bit shittier, obviously run into a lot of issues. But you know, I feel like personally I played a different role at that Olympics. Didn't really play much, so kind of being able to kind of go through that, those moments and kind of experience it all and then into Italy, kind of playing a different role here and obviously being in those Canadians heads, they can't get sick of me, so. But it's, it's so cool, kind of.
- [104:30]
Biz
What do you mean by that?
- [104:31]
Whit
You mean you're chirping all food to a biz. I love it always.
- [104:35]
Yance
Chicago girl.
- [104:37]
Biz
What kind of stuff are you saying
- [104:39]
Yance
from old block dude, don't fuck around.
- [104:41]
Abby Murphy
Oh, not quite, but close. Not quite, but close. You know, but they. A lot of people on Our team like to say I live rent free in their heads.
- [104:50]
Jack Eichel
And I think.
- [104:50]
Abby Murphy
I think that's. It's an honor, you know?
- [104:52]
Biz
Are you digging up dirt on these people? Like, outside, you're just. You're. You're doing like a private eye, detective type work.
- [104:58]
Yance
She's like Jalen Ramsey.
- [105:00]
Abby Murphy
Yeah. You know, I try to a little bit. You know, my. My teammates give me some dirt, you know, they'll do anything for their country. Why not? Anything you say is going to piss them off. And obviously you can't cross lines, you know?
- [105:12]
Whit
Who taught you to play with that edge, though? Like, where did you get that?
- [105:15]
Abby Murphy
Grew up with two older brothers.
- [105:17]
Noah Hannifin
Okay?
- [105:17]
Abby Murphy
They. They beat my ass when I was younger. They kind of sucked.
- [105:20]
Jack Eichel
Set the.
- [105:20]
Abby Murphy
Set the path for me. I kind of chirped them. My dad would be like, nope, that's off limits. And I tried different things, and some would be okay, some wouldn't. But, you know, growing up playing with the boys, you kind of had to fight for yourself and learn new ways to kind of win and battle, so. But now it's just been so fun. I feel like it's a battle between us and the Canadians. Canadians.
- [105:40]
Whit
For a very long time, watching your team play, like, the. The Caroline Harvey, to me, like, I was like, holy shit. Like, seeing her skate, I know you guys are both O2. She's a rival at Wisconsin, but how have you kind of known her and realized, like, she. She has to be the best skating women's player, right?
- [105:58]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, dude, she's. She's insane. I mean, she's on a whole nother level. You know, whoever taught her how to skate's got to get a lot of hell a hell a lot of other people to. To learn from them. But just the way she moves and. And her agility is incredible. I mean, when I watch her, like, work on the blue line, it's like putting people, like, literally in blenders, like, back and forth. It's like they literally cannot keep up with her. But she's so impressive up there, you know? Like. Like watching her with the puck, it's like, yep, let her do her thing, and then something's gonna happen out of it, and it's just gonna be like, holy shit. Like, she just did that. Like her goal against the Swiss. I don't know if you guys saw that. Yeah, absolutely. Just down the wall. Made the goalie look like an idiot.
- [106:38]
Whit
Just like, she's like, Quinn Hughes. Like, it was the same way. Like, just such a better skater than everyone else.
- [106:43]
Abby Murphy
No. And it's not even matched either. Like, like, it's, it's here to hear. So props to her, but love playing with her. Hate playing against her, you know, so really cool.
- [106:54]
Yance
My thing is, like, the high school that I went to, the. I think like three of the girls played on. On Team USA and just like the hatred that you guys have for Canada and now nowadays, you guys might play on the same teams in the PWHL and. And you know, be a little more buddy buddy like the NHL guys are. But like, even now, like, you're still. You can, you can feel the hatred of, of, you know, the two teams. Like, what is that? Just one of those things you're born with or when you get in that locker room, it's just passed down from generation to generation.
- [107:24]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think when you experience it at like a U18 world, you kind of first come to realize that it's just the rivalry that you'd never expect, you know, and ever since I put on a USA jersey for U18s that my, my hatred for Canada. Sorry, biz. Kind of grew, you know, so. But I think everyone feels the same way. You know, Canadians hate us too. I'm just happy I don't have to go back to a PW and play with. Play with any of them or against them. So. But yeah, I mean, you, you go on the ice and it's a free for all. You know, there's. There's no limits to. To what gets said or what gets. You know, you put someone on the line, you hit them, you know, it's. It's whatever you're. We're not for friends. You know, I'm happy I'm not friends with any of them. You know, obviously look up to a lot of them. Pullin's one of the greatest players in women's hockey. You know, she's.
- [108:12]
Biz
Is she the goat?
- [108:13]
Abby Murphy
Dude, I. Hillary's my goat, you know, but Pullin is right up there, a Canadian goat. You know, I mean, playing against her, dude, it's like you gotta watch out for her every single time, you know, so much props to her. But like I said, my goal is to get under her skin and not let her do her thing that. That she wants to.
- [108:32]
Yance
I, I think it truly is like the best rivalry in sports just because it's. It's always seems to be you guys in the finals are playing the meaningful games and you guys wear it on your sleeves like it's hatred and in the best way possible. Obviously you have respect for them, but that, that Rivalry. I don't think there's a better one in sports.
- [108:50]
Abby Murphy
I can't agree more. You know, I look back to the men's game at the Four nations, you know, and they just drop the gloves and start hammering each other other. Like, does it get better than that? Like, no, it doesn't. You know, like, I think that just shows, like, how cool the sport of hockey is that, that you can do that and then go back and play with these guys. But, I mean, it's the same. If I could drop the gloves and start beating the. Out of someone, I think I would. I think that'd be really cool.
- [109:15]
Biz
Well, I'm interested to get your take on that. Like, if. Is it up to the girls? If maybe. I know there is an element of physicality to it where you can, like, out and. But like, like, obviously open ice hitting is not quite there. Do you think that that will ever change? And is that something that the girls are trying to invite and get into the game of female hockey?
- [109:33]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, you know, I quite honestly have no idea. I think that it should be considered. I think it'd be really cool for this entire sport, especially, obviously, women's hockey. Men's hockey's on a whole different level. But, you know, obviously they, they leveled up in the women's league allowing hitting. Obviously they kind of are trying to manage that and find. Find limitations on. On, like you said, open ice hits. But I couldn't even imagine a better feeling of. Of what we could do if we were able to kind of hit in games like that at the Olympics. But, you know, we'll see. I mean, I feel like the, the sport's growing in a good way, that you kind of see how that rivalry plays out and, and hopefully one day they can, they can allow things like that. But who knows? Who knows?
- [110:16]
Biz
Excuse my. My negligence. So now that you're in your fifth year at university, have you been drafted to the PWHL yet? Or does that have to happen once you leave college?
- [110:27]
Abby Murphy
Once you leave college, you were going
- [110:28]
Whit
to be a top pick last year, decided to come back. You guys are fourth right now. So you have a lot of unfinished business this season. And then the draft will come. Like, I imagine that you're. You're ranked to go pretty high. Have you thought about that? Or is it more kind of the moment right now with the Gophers?
- [110:44]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, absolutely. Obviously you dream about playing in that. In that league. You know, obviously, obviously coming back to school was a huge option choice that I had to do over the summer. So I feel like just for training wise for the Olympics, it was kind of the best option, best route to go. So just the facilities we have here and the stuff that our staff workout guys kind of give us. So I'm really lucky but excited kind of to get up in that draft pretty high. Not really sure where I'll go, but wherever I do go, I'll be excited and looking forward to it.
- [111:17]
Biz
What are you ranked like? Like, have you looked or do you not look at that stuff? Would you say you're. You're probably a top three pick at this point? Potential first overall?
- [111:26]
Jack Eichel
I don't know.
- [111:26]
Abby Murphy
The way we talk about Caroline Harvey, you know, she's up there, obviously.
- [111:29]
Whit
I'm reading online. It's YouTube. Back and forth, one, two.
- [111:33]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, you know, I mean, whoever gets it, you know, I'll be happy for her. But, you know, you fight for that, you know, where however this college season ends out, you know, but wherever I go, you know, I'm happy to just be there, you know, but battling for that spot would be pretty cool. But like you said, she's a legendary player. You know, her skating, the things she can do on the ice. But super looking forward to that and playing in that league and allowing hitting.
- [111:57]
Yance
It must have been a little different because usually you guys train together, like for a year or two coming up, but now with the. With the P Dub and then you guys in Cole College, like, it must have been a little bit different. How long were you guys training together as a team before you went over to Italy?
- [112:14]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, it was weird, actually, because, I mean, obviously in 2022, we took the residency year, so entire school year off. That was so nice. Not doing school and just living life. Playing hockey every day with your friends. I mean, the best. No complaints at all in the world during that year. But, yeah, super excited. So we started camps in August. So we did a week in Lake Plaza. September was in Michigan. October was in Blaine. So just one week a month. And then we did robbery series November and December, just for. For one week. Kick Canada's ass there too.
- [112:46]
Biz
So I'm gonna do a loser lap here. You guys can accent as Crush. I'm gonna take a quick break.
- [112:51]
Abby Murphy
Let us know when you're back. But yeah, that was kind of. It's something different, you know, that you kind of had to adjust to, which was different in the Olympic year. But obviously we never kind of took those weeks for granted. Got better every single month, so. But yeah, back to school, it was just really weird, like leaving and then kind of Having to deal with the fact you're gone for three and a half weeks and then go back to school and right in time for playoffs, so. But it's really cool, kind of being on a high, being at that highest level right now, kind of going into it. So our team's really excited, though.
- [113:22]
Whit
Talk about Coach Roblo. I mean, great play player. Coached the National Team development program and, and went through a lot in his life. Like, what does he mean to you guys? What kind of coach is he? And, and how much did he mean to the team when you guys ended up getting the gold?
- [113:36]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, we love the guy. You know, whatever happened, you know, we don't know much, but just his journey is really cool to see. You know, he took over our team so well and we, we haven't been happy about it. You know, the way he, he leads our team, the faith he puts in us, the belief we have every single day we, we work together, so. But yeah, I mean, for example, you know, that gold medal game, being down 1 to 0 the entire game, you know, he just instilled that belief factor in our team. You know, you're going to win this game. Like, go out there, win. It'll, it'll come, come your way eventually. So. But you know, seeing him cry after that game was, was electric. You know, he's worked with us for so long and he's done so much for our team, our organization. So, so much to be grateful for for that guy.
- [114:22]
Biz
I don't think we've talked about Layla Edwards. I got a chance to interview her. She, she, she. Yeah, she's like, she seems a lot taller and bigger than the other girls. Like how she. Is that the case?
- [114:34]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, but she might beat your ass.
- [114:35]
Biz
Like, oh, she would, she would. But she also seems a little bit soft spoken. Like, she's this like, big presence, but a little soft spoken. Is that the case behind the scenes and even in the locker room room?
- [114:46]
Abby Murphy
Dude, she's got a big heart. Like, she is so much fun and like, such a good person to be around. Like, amazing. And it doesn't get much better when she puts on the ice. It's a whole different person. It's like, get the F out of my way, you know, like there's no other thing but her shot, dude, it's like, like crazy. See it and it comes off. It's like it's in the back of the net every single time. But I got, I got a good one for you guys. So we were at the Slovakia men's game. I want Slovakia versus usa. I think that was. Was that the quarters of the semis?
- [115:16]
Whit
Semis.
- [115:17]
Abby Murphy
Semis, yeah. And we were hammered already, like, at the game, and we went down to the locker room, and we were. We were all messing around, kind of getting ready to go out there for the third period. And we were. Me and Layla were messing around. She put me in a chokehold, wrapped me around a corner, and I just fell flat on my ass. And the team heard the biggest boom. And I'm like, layla, get me up. Like, I can't get in trouble for this right now. I'm like, get me up. Me up. Hillary's like, what the was that? So I'm like. I'm, like, terrified right now of, like, our captain about to, like, you know, wake the F up. Like, you gotta, like. No, like, we're in the locker room. Let's go. So. But she's awesome, you know, that was
- [115:58]
Biz
you guys just afterward, basically, like, your tournament was over. Right. And you're just celebrating getting to watch the men's and probably about 60 Michelob Ultras deep.
- [116:06]
Abby Murphy
Yeah.
- [116:06]
Biz
And she's just playing. Playing around with you and just chucking you like a kettlebell bell.
- [116:10]
Abby Murphy
Exactly. Literally. You couldn't. You can't put any better than that. But that was a funny moment.
- [116:15]
Ra
We.
- [116:15]
Abby Murphy
We're still joking about it. I wish there was footage in that little, little hut, but. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. She's an unbelievable person. Player. So happy to. Like I said, happy to play with her, but the second we put on those skates and play against each other, it's. It's a little rough.
- [116:29]
Yance
How was. How was the reception when you got back to school? Like, it must. Have.
- [116:32]
Ra
I didn't.
- [116:33]
Yance
I don't know if it's even hit you yet of what you guys have accomplished and how big, big of an accomplishment it is. Winning gold medal and bringing. Bringing a gold medal back, but especially going back to a college campus must have been incredible.
- [116:44]
Abby Murphy
Yeah. You know, it was such a warm welcome. You know, I felt the support here from. From our school, from our teammates, obviously, people who. Who I see out at the bar kind of giving me the wave. Congrats. So super. Super awesome. Obviously, love this school. Love this campus. And coming back here, just bringing that gold medal back was. Was an honor and can't wait to. To obviously continue the celebration, obviously, after. After playoffs here, but on a little stretch here.
- [117:12]
Whit
So how many college players besides you and Caroline were on the team?
- [117:16]
Abby Murphy
I want to say six.
- [117:18]
Whit
Okay.
- [117:18]
Abby Murphy
I think.
- [117:19]
Biz
Well, they went younger. That was the Big topic of conversation. And you guys seem like you guys brought a lot of energy to the squad.
- [117:26]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, you have to, you know, I mean, mean, you know, we have veterans, you know, who obviously paved the way for us. So, I mean, our goal is kind of just to have some laughs in the locker room, make some jokes, kind of make them feel young again and especially on the ice, kind of being creative and doing different things, so. But we loved kind of what we could give to our team, you know, it was super fun kind of being one of those, whatever, how many players it is in college, so such a cool opportunity, you know, but the skill that these college players have, have is just. It's incredible. And to know these girls, to play with them is. Is just a blast.
- [118:00]
Biz
Do. Do the women have any, like. Like. Like a hockey lingo words that maybe the men are unaware of? Like, is there anything that's, like, said in the locker room that we would be like, oh, okay. And then if there's. If there's no. No answer to that. Who was the. The coolest athlete or athletes that you met at the Olympics while you were there, whether it was in the village or whether they came to see you play?
- [118:21]
Whit
Play?
- [118:21]
Biz
And I mean, obviously you mentioned one of the Kelse brothers. That's pretty cool. So any. Anyone that you got to meet that you're like, wow, that was an unreal interaction.
- [118:29]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, the lingo part. No, I feel like it's all the same.
- [118:33]
Biz
All same. Okay.
- [118:34]
Abby Murphy
Oh, yeah. I mean, you always get girl talk here and there, the bs, you know, but no, not much. But, yeah, there were a lot of cool celebrities there. I think Jason Kelsey and Kelly Kelsey were up there as. As two of my top ones. You know, they are such cool humans. Almost felt like. Like a. A normal interaction for how famous they are. But, you know, met Snoop Dogg. That was cool. That guy's a crackhead. But, yeah, I mean,
- [118:59]
Biz
I don't think he's smoking crack unless that's what he's lacing it with.
- [119:03]
Abby Murphy
I. I have no idea. No, it's probably. No, but way to put it, but that guy is, like, no better, like, person to have, you know, help in the US Kind of. It was. It was so cool to kind of meet him and hear what he has to say, supporting us, you know, Got to have him come to the rink and join our team. There you go.
- [119:22]
Biz
I got mine, too. Snoop on a stoop with his crack pipe.
- [119:26]
Abby Murphy
That was incredible kind of meeting him. He was definitely a unique person, to say the least. But obviously, his support for, for the entire US Olympians was really special.
- [119:35]
Biz
I saw your. Obviously we all did your online video where you, you busted out some witchcraft on that unreal assist you had had. So I'm looking at your hockey DB here and it's your fifth year at Minnesota and you had 18 points your first year as a freshman and then after that it was 50 points. 62, 65. And in 26 games already this year, 61 points.
- [119:56]
Yance
Now just save some for the rest of them.
- [119:59]
Biz
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I, I would imagine that maybe by the time you're finished that you're the all time leading scorer at, at University of Minnesota for the women or are you already there?
- [120:10]
Abby Murphy
I actually have no idea. So goals. I got one more to beat the league. The leading scorer right now, so that's pretty cool. Hopefully can get that done this weekend here. But so many legends have played here at the U on the women's side, so. But yeah, I mean it, the level of, of college has just been fun. Scoring a lot of goals is my thing. It's a lot of fun to celebrate. Do stupid shit. So. But yeah, it's been of a bunch blast.
- [120:36]
Yance
Who has that record? Amanda Kessel?
- [120:38]
Abby Murphy
Is she Nadine Mazal?
- [120:40]
Whit
Are there any like, maybe younger girls, 16, 17 phenoms coming up with USA Hockey that you've like, heard about or anything, or are you kind of out of that loop? Yeah, body bag them.
- [120:51]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, I'm a little bit in the loop, obviously. Watched a little bit of 20, u18 worlds. I know there's a girl, Jane Daly, going, going to Ohio. She's supposed to be a legend. So super excited for her. Kind of killing it there at U18s. I think she's broke the record for, for most points at a world championship.
- [121:09]
Noah Hannifin
Okay.
- [121:10]
Abby Murphy
But I'm sure there's a, there's a lot of kids with a skill that are coming in here and excited to watch them kind of kill it.
- [121:17]
Whit
It was an amazing tournament. You're. You're an electric person. We appreciate you coming on and congratulations once again. It was an incredible story. And that game, man, I was nervous. I was like, there's no way. Because I knew you won the games in Edmonton and you dusted them the first one. I'm like, there's no way. Way. And boom, you guys pulled it out. So incredible. Congratulations.
- [121:36]
Abby Murphy
No, it was a special group to be a part of, you know, so honored to represent our, our country and to be an American. There's no better feeling, you know. So biz, you're trying to trying to get me on here a long time ago.
- [121:48]
Biz
And I was like, right I dming with you, dude?
- [121:51]
Abby Murphy
I was waiting for this moment. I'm like, God. I'm like, brian, my agent. I'm like, you got to help me out here.
- [121:56]
Whit
I'm like, but it's better that you waited.
- [121:58]
Jack Eichel
Yeah,
- [122:00]
Abby Murphy
dude. So fun. My brother's got this group chat, and he's like, abby, when are you getting on the pod? When are you getting on the pod? His. His entire group chats lighting up. They're called the riders, so.
- [122:09]
Biz
Oh, Rico Bosco, Riders.
- [122:11]
Abby Murphy
Yeah. They're going to be excited when this pod comes out. So I appreciate you guys more than you. You guys are awesome. And I watch a lot of this.
- [122:19]
Yance
Was it your brothers that were over there acting crazy, dressing up?
- [122:23]
Whit
Whose brothers?
- [122:24]
Abby Murphy
Those were Hayley Winn's brothers, but mine were kind of on the side. They were probably more intoxicated than they should be.
- [122:29]
Biz
They couldn't put them on camera.
- [122:31]
Abby Murphy
Camera, yeah.
- [122:32]
Biz
Just one last one for me, Abby. Like, are there any other, like, fun, memorable stories from the village that you got to experience while there?
- [122:39]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, obviously there were a ton of. Ton of really good memories to make, but I think one that kind of will stick with me for a long time coming is that last gold medal game for the men. We were obviously on the way back home from closing ceremony, so we walked into the dining hall. Everyone was starving. And the first two guys that we saw were. Were Brady Tachuk, Connor hillbuck, and Charlie McAvoy. And Charlie McAvoy had his goggles on, his head still wrapped around, I mean, biggest smile on his face, and he welcomed every single girl. A big old hug, you know, a squeeze that we were all laughing about. Big, good memories. And he was just super happy for us, as we were for them. But I think my favorite part was after that hug, I. I was going to walk by, and Brady Chuck literally had, I think, 20 of the lava cakes that the dining hall is famous for, about 20 of them. And we all walked in and we're like, those all for you guys? And now he laughed and he said, listen, like, take one, take them all. So sharing that with all of us, I mean, obviously was super funny, but that was just awesome, you know, joining in the dining hall after that, both teams kind of conjoined and sat together for, I want to say, like, two and a half hours in the dining hall up until 3am I know they had had a quick flight out. I know they had to get on a bus around 4am but we sat around the table with laughs and jokes. Jack Eichel was leading a lot of cheers that we were following along on. I was sitting next to Tage Thompson, who had a lot to share. He was a really funny guy. But it's just stuff like that that we're going to remember forever. Obviously, for us, us, both teams, kind of writing in history is just such a cool opportunity. So to be there with them and experience all those things was some of the best moments ever.
- [124:24]
Jack Eichel
Remember?
- [124:25]
Biz
That is incredible. So Jack AO was getting a lot of the booze going with the girls, and you guys were sharing more stories and how you guys got there and always.
- [124:33]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, he wouldn't stop with the chance. He was yelling and got everyone else. Everyone else yelling after him. So it was electric. It was just so much fun. And then the figure skaters, speed skaters came in and they were just open arms, you know, sit at the table, hang out. Everyone was kind of conjoined, so it was mix. But yeah, like you said, sharing those stories, it's just super cool for. For both of us.
- [124:56]
Biz
Did. Did anyone like you say that? Cheers. Like, so when he would do it, Jack, would he be like, like talking from the heart about, like, how you guys have been able to achieve what you guys did. And I think if you even go back, like, both ladies teams own the world championships. So you guys got all four titles right now, both teams, right?
- [125:15]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it doesn't get better. Better than that. You know, their team was so much talent. You know, it's incredible to watch them succeed at the highest level, too, so. But I mean, we've achieved so much in the past couple of weeks together. I'm pretty sure Jack, like, go. Started the channel where it's like, oh. And then he just kept on going on and on. But yeah, obviously a huge honor to. To represent the country with them. So glad to make as many memories as possible.
- [125:40]
Biz
And you guys deserve that because, like, that comment ruined the moment a little bit. But we're going to. You guys are going to get it back and you guys deserve it.
- [125:48]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, no, I mean, we heard the whatever, but you hear someone in the back of the phone call yell, yell, two, two for two. You know, and like, it. We never felt anything bad from them, and it was just. It's sad that they even have to apologize for anything. Like, it really is. It was a huge, honestly part for. For both teams and a really cool moment.
- [126:09]
Biz
You just mentioned, like, somebody in the back of the call saying, two for two. Like, is that kind of what you guys remember and take from. From that whole thing?
- [126:19]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, absolutely. You know, that's what we were there for. You know, it was two. Two teams had one goal in common, and that was gold. And. And kind of hearing that was a lot of re. Reassurance for our team, you know, like, he's not the only guy who was thinking that too, and. And we know that. So, like I said, they're. They're a special group of boys, and we're just honored to kind of be in that. In that journey with them and share it, so. But we know how much they respect us, and we respect them, so it definitely goes two ways, Abby.
- [126:48]
Biz
Like, it's. It's really cool to see, like, where the women's game's going, like, to see all those PWHL games sold out and the support they get. I know they're already talking about league expansion, but the quality of play and. And where you girls are driving it to is amazing. And I look forward to getting you back on after you're drafted in the top. Top two picks, and hopefully it's for. For Toronto.
- [127:11]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, I know.
- [127:12]
Whit
I don't think you can go to the Fleet because they're too good in Boston, right?
- [127:15]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, you never know. Hopefully. You know, I'm willing to go wherever, you know, help make an impact with whatever team. Boston would be pretty cool, but, yeah, they're killing it right now.
- [127:23]
Yance
Abby, thank you so much as. As a. As a girl, dad, I appreciate everything you did. You had us. You brought us so much joy watching you guys for what you guys did. You guys embodied just being Americans, being, you know, hockey players, and, you know, it was truly amazing watching you guys and how you represented yourself. And congratulations to you and all your teammates now.
- [127:43]
Abby Murphy
We appreciate it. We'll live this one together. Both men's and women's sides. Such an incredible honor, like I said, to kind of write your name in history, so thank you guys for having me. It's an honor. So I'll continue to watch you guys episodes and follow you guys.
- [127:57]
Whit
I think I might need to lay
- [127:58]
Biz
some up, boys, and get on the ice with Abby the shit talker here.
- [128:01]
Yance
She'll fucking dummy you, dude.
- [128:02]
Biz
Yeah, yeah, yeah. You want to bet Paula Bissette's gonna give her the elbow?
- [128:08]
Abby Murphy
Yeah, I'll go for the knees biz.
- [128:11]
Noah Hannifin
Oh, he's got bad.
- [128:12]
Whit
Riders will stab you.
- [128:13]
Biz
They already took those from me my last year. I got no knees left. I got my. They look like wits ankles.
- [128:19]
Abby Murphy
Perfect. And I know your weak spot.
- [128:21]
Whit
Yeah.
- [128:22]
Biz
All of them. You're the best girl. Thank you so much.
- [128:25]
Abby Murphy
Yes. I appreciate you guys so much. Thanks for having me. All right.
- [128:28]
Biz
Oh, this is great.
- [128:33]
Yance
Guys.
- [128:33]
Whit
Let's take a minute and talk about Lucy. Lucy is the obvious choice for the true nicotine pouch connoisseur. That's why they're the official nicotine pouch partner of Barstool sports. Every pouch is the same. Lucy breakers, game changers. They're the only ones doing it differently to give you the longest lasting flavor in pouches. Lucy pouches go up to 12 milligram in strength and have a unique shape that feels great. Lucy is in stores nationwide now now or get Lucy delivered to you ASAP. On apps like DoorDash and GoPuff. Lucy is the only pouch that delivers long lasting on demand flavor. Find a store near you at Lucy Co stores or get it shipped with 20% off your first order at Lucy Co Chiclets Using code Chiclets Lucy products are only for adults of legal age and every customer is age verified. Warning, this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Thank you so much to Abby Murphy. What a player. What a team. Congratulations to the women's team. Unreal run domination the entire way. And with that, let's throw it to our guy. Haven't talked to R.A. in a while. Here he is.
- [129:49]
Ra
Hello everybody and welcome to Ra's world here on the spitting Chiclets podcast. What a great week for the states. Whit Yance Biz. Sorry you lost the big game, but just an awesome, awesome game. One of the best games I've ever watched. No doubt about it. Connor. Hallebuck. We can't beat that drum. Enough. Just awesome stuff. I knew you boys down Florida Ian Delis with your dirty socks walking around this house all week. I, I went down.
- [130:13]
Biz
Did you hear Hella Buck's quotes, Ari? After the game he said your chicklets coach cup performance and that inspired him to go do what he did in the gold medal game.
- [130:21]
Ra
That was the first time I think I ever impressed Whitney in my, in my lifetime.
- [130:24]
Whit
That was unreal, right?
- [130:25]
Ra
Yeah, it was pretty good.
- [130:26]
Yance
And last.
- [130:31]
Ra
Good, good. No, I, I actually I was in bed early the night before. Believe it or not. I know some people probably thought I would have stayed out for Saturday night through rolled right into Sunday morning. But no, I, I got the bed early, I set the alarm for 7:20, got up, grabbed an uber down the club and it was great. My buddy to put a great breakfast spread. We had about 25, 30 guys down there on Sunday morning. That's pretty impressive. And it was great. You know obviously high, you know high tension. It was very tense atmosphere. And then they scored. Every guy jumped up hugging each other. And then what was great biz was you know when they were doing the national anthem, you know I always sort of like sing it to myself kind of quietly and then by the second or third verse every guy in the place they sang. But it was very subtle, it wasn't like loud. It was almost like we didn't want to disturb what was on the team TV. It was great just have a the 2530 guys sort of singing the national anthem as it was being played on tv. It was a real goosebump, goosebump moment. So it was great stuff to be down the club with all the guys. You know I've grown up and ra
- [131:27]
Yance
your phone must have thought you got hacked setting your alarm for 7:30 in the morning.
- [131:34]
Biz
Rejected it.
- [131:35]
Whit
He must have meant PM.
- [131:36]
Biz
Yeah like why won't this set. It's like it refuses. Yeah the whole system crashes.
- [131:41]
Ra
Only needed one snooze too but. And then of course while down there it's like code of silence key. So like I posted like oh the boys are going wild. You know Free Bird was blaring. I was like. But I had to blur out everybody's face in the background. Not that like the you know old ladies would have gave a shift they were out for that game but it was pretty. Yeah it was a great day. I was glad I spent with a lot of old close friends and what to piggyback on your ratings? Yeah, those 18.6 million people attuned it. It did peak 26 million during the over the second most watched hockey game ever on NBC trailing only the 2010 gold medal game. It was the most of the most watched single network non football TV broadcast the last year it was number five after the World Series. Dude, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. People really like love that. That was.
- [132:23]
Yance
I think everyone just puts that on.
- [132:24]
Whit
I throw it on in the morning Thanksgiving, you know, you see the big
- [132:28]
Ra
Snoopy kids love it and then Winter Olympics lead out.
- [132:32]
Biz
That's what gets you going with you're a big Snoopy guy.
- [132:34]
Whit
Throw the pig skin around.
- [132:36]
Yance
See the.
- [132:36]
Whit
See the 400 foot blow up Snoopy and I'm ready Turkey.
- [132:40]
Biz
Does that Garfield. Does Garfield get a shout out? Yes, I know you.
- [132:43]
Whit
Yeah, but he's a big lasagna guy that I burnt.
- [132:45]
Ra
I'm a Heathcliff guy. Well remember that year with I. I forget who it was with when the two like, you know, big blow up things got like tangled up and one of them was like, basically like, like tossing the salad of one of the other blow up things. See that one? Oh, you never. Yeah, basically.
- [132:59]
Biz
Definitely my favorite float.
- [133:00]
Ra
They got like crumpled up. Yeah.
- [133:02]
Yance
One was basically the Bonnie Blue float.
- [133:06]
Ra
The biz float. Yeah, yeah. The men's gold hockey mother of my children.
- [133:09]
Biz
Watch your mouth. My bad.
- [133:11]
Ra
I'll tell you, one of my favorite parts of the crowd experience in Milan was when they played the. The Godfather wedding song. I. I don't like when the old Italian guy comes out the beginning of the Godfather at the wedding, he's like. Then he puts his hands on. It's like an old wedding tune. They actually played that in the arena. I thought that was absolutely hilarious. Biz, you know. You ever seen the Godfather? The biz front to back, you know
- [133:32]
Biz
what ra I self. Admittedly, I've never watched them from start to finish, but like have seen it. Like if you put it all together that I've seen. Yeah, probably. But that's probably one where I need to put There Will Be Blood on hold for like a day or two and actually watch another long form movie like that.
- [133:49]
Whit
If it's a rainy day, you got six hours, you put on one and two.
- [133:52]
Yance
He lives in Arizona, no rain, so we can't watch anything. But There Will Be Blood.
- [133:59]
Biz
So. So the. The number three was dog, right?
- [134:02]
Ra
Yeah. We don't talk about that at the dinner.
- [134:05]
Biz
So should I not even bother watching three?
- [134:07]
Ra
No, not really. No. I mean you. You can if you're a completist, but no Godfather and then Godfather Part two. I mean, I like. I can't. If you pick one over the other. I'm not gonna argue with you. I mean, I know the original, the novel had like segments of both parts of it, but I probably watched part two like three times this week or snippets of it.
- [134:25]
Biz
Would you put those. So I'm a huge ca. Love casino Good fellas. Like you put that. The. The Godfather ahead of those types of ones. A Bronx tale. Those are better than that. Wit. You're shaking your head.
- [134:41]
Whit
Godfather one and two are better. Especially two.
- [134:44]
Yance
Yeah, all of them are amazing.
- [134:46]
Ra
Someone I'm not going to fist fight someone over if they think good fellas is better. But yeah, the Godfather. The Godfather Part two, you know, the. The pinnacle good.
- [134:53]
Yance
What if it was miny? Would you fist fight them all over it?
- [134:58]
Ra
I don't.
- [134:59]
Whit
The Price is Right.
- [135:02]
Ra
Another thing, I don't know if you guys saw that Segment, I. I tweeted out the other night of Jack, Jack and Quinn Hughes's mother, Alan Hughes, when she was like 11 or 12 years old playing hockey down in Dallas. Which is crazy too, like to think, like, you know, not a lot of girls played hockey back then and especially down the South. And dude, how much does she look exactly like? Absolute spitting image. And then the best was the highlight. Absolutely insane back check. It was an empty net. Looked like they were going for the empty netter. And she dove, knocked the puck away. Just made a sick defensive play. And yeah, it was good stuff. If you haven't caught it, check my Twitter feed. It was awesome stuff to see. I know you guys just mentioned Crosby sucks. He's going to be out four weeks at least with an LBi. But there was a pretty good clip the other day. It did keep him from going to the Penn's youth clinic. He went over there, he was like taping up sticks for the little guy. Cool. I mean, imagine being, you know, 8, 10, 12 years old and, you know, said the kids over there, like, taping up your sticks. Fire. It's just awesome stuff, man. And like, and legit. I could say one of my real, like, maybe first pinch me moments was when we were up, you know, Halifax a few years ago, interviewing him and Nate. And you know, we went to that, that bar. We kind of had the whole sort of section corralled off. And first off, how respectful everybody was told. I'm like, in Boston, you know, people would be gawking, taking pitches, whatever, like, they left them alone. I remember when at one point it was just me and like, Sid sit there and I was hitting a vape pen and just like shooting the with him. I was like, oh, what the am I doing here, man? Like sitting here hitting a vape pen stocking of Sydney Crosby. He's just like, he is the genuine article. Like, I mean, I don't. Bruins, Penguins, all that, whatever. He is like a genuinely awesome human being and such a great ambassador for the game. And I'm sorry to see he got hurt, but, you know, I have nothing but. But great props to send. Sid's way awesome, dude. I'm not sure if you heard about this. The DRO's making the trip over Initially, you know, Johnny's parents, Guy and Jane had said no, they weren't sure if they want to be over there if he wasn't there. And then one night, his mother said, I didn't sleep. I think John would want us to go. I think we should go and Their daughter Katie said, if you get there and you go to the first game and it's entirely too hard, you don't have to go back, you don't have to go, you can leave, but if you're watching the game at home, you can't be there. And that kind of like swayed them to say, all right, we, you know, we'll go over there. So it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They decided to go, go. And they met up with Meredith and the kids down in Atlanta and they headed over and NBC higher ups who have helped facilitate that stuff. So I, I thought that was a nice little side story for how they get over there. Additionally didn't want to go, but, you know, the daughter said, let's go over and. And we gave us one. Like, I mean, I was, I think half the club was, you know, had tears in her eyes when they brought.
- [137:27]
Whit
Oh, buddy.
- [137:28]
Ra
Just an awesome, awesome.
- [137:29]
Whit
She is so strong too, man.
- [137:31]
Yance
That's incredible.
- [137:32]
Whit
And throughout this entire thing since they passed, like, she is a rock, that woman.
- [137:37]
Ra
Yeah, it is. It's a strength I, I certainly don't have. And you know, we commend her and the whole family because it was a beautiful moment.
- [137:45]
Biz
And just the hockey commute, I me, I remember when it first happened, like he's playing in Columbus and then Torts in the Flyers brought. Brought him over for a practice and just, you know, it's so hard in those times, right. And, and they just. The hockey community has just done such a good job of, of trying to make them feel love and through this difficult time. And that's the, like, that was the pinnacle, I think, for everybody. Just the way that it tied it all together. So Johnny Hawk, you'll live forever.
- [138:12]
Ra
Absolutely. I mean, when him and Hazy come over for that interview and I had never met him before and here he is in my living room and I had a pair of old cowboy boots in my basement. And you know, it was after the. He wears Yeezys to the Stampede. And I brought up, hey, here you go, buddy. Here's a pair of boots for you as a joke. And you know, he laughed his ass off. It was, you know, a little bit of an ice break breaker and I got a good picture of it.
- [138:32]
Zach Warrensky
So.
- [138:32]
Ra
Yeah, man, Johnny Hockey for everybody. We love that guy.
- [138:34]
Biz
He had, he had the Gucci belt on, I think, in the Yeezys. Riding a cowboy at the Stampede parade.
- [138:44]
Ra
Hilarious stuff. Wait, I know you mentioned USA Hockey earlier, and this is a lot of this courtesy of Big Head Hockey, a great Follow on Twitter, 17 out of the 25 players on Team USA went through the United States National Team Development Program Program. You know, throughout the first decade, they will only average at about two NHL first rounds per draft. But from 03 to 05, Jack Johnson, Eric Johnson, Phil Kessel, Patrick Kane and JVA joined the team. Jack Johnson went third overall, Eric Johnson first overall, Kessel fifth overall, Kane first overall, and then JVI with second overall. And then from 2012 to 2015, we had Austin Eichel. We're in. Charlie McAvoy, Adam Fox, Maddie Tkachuk, Dylan Lock and Tage Thompson, Noah Hannifin, Clayton Keller and Quinn Hughes all joined the program. And then the 2019 draft. Jack went first overall, Alex Durcott fifth, Zegrus ninth, Boldy 12th, Spencer Night 13th, Cam York 14th, Cole Caulfield 15th, and John Beecher 30th overall. All these guys went through the program. So just like we said earlier, just the. The way this program is just like running the game lately, it's been a awesome. It's great to see USA catching up with Canada. I'm not saying they own the game yet, Canada, but it's been a hell of a, hell of a run for USA Hockey. No doubt about that. And how about this? Craig Custin tweet from January 24, 2011. I'm sorry, January 24, 2011. He said USA Hockey's eight and under membership has reached 100,000 for the first time ever. He actually said, look out, 2026 Olympics. Like, how crazy is that?
- [140:15]
Whit
And it was 2011, right?
- [140:17]
Ra
Yeah, yeah.
- [140:18]
Whit
I mean, yeah, crazy.
- [140:20]
Yance
That's insane.
- [140:21]
Biz
That's why when, like, Dave. Obviously, Dave doesn't follow hockey very much. And you said this will just, like, catapult the growth of hockey in the United States. Like, this is. I can only imagine what the amount of signups are going to be in the next few years as far as people just being so inspired by. And also, like, what, like, hockey in general teaches you about life. Like, look at the way that these guys formed a bond. London, it's amazing, man.
- [140:45]
Ra
Yeah, I think they'll get like a miracle, like, bump from this. Like, you know, back 46 years ago with the effect that had, I think this could be equal to that. So also, the Paralympics are going to be starting up. That's going to run from March 6th to the 15th. And the sled hockey starts on the 7th. Team USA has won five golds, including the last four in a row. So check these guys out. Incredible athletes to go around with. You Know, they have the little like, sort of stick. Sticks and things. I don't even know what they call them. Sticks. And they propel themselves around. Around the ice. But these guys are unbelievable. Check.
- [141:15]
Whit
All right, we have. We're gonna have Declan Farmer on who is the Connor McDavid. Now.
- [141:21]
Yance
We.
- [141:22]
Whit
We. We hope we win, right? Like, he, you know, I'm naming the greatest player, but this guy is the guy, the dude in. In sled hockey. And we're gonna have him on before the. The Paralympics.
- [141:33]
Biz
And they're. They go like. They basically, like, torpedo one another, so there's just as much physicality and that if. If not more. And then they got those little metal spikes on the end, which I heard they kind of. They use as, like, butt ends to jab one another.
- [141:46]
Whit
We had. We had Rick Middleton on the interview will be dropping somewhat soon. And he coached the OH2 team for Team USA and he goes a lot into that and his career. It's a great interview. So excited to. To see that and talk to Declan and for you guys to hear Rick Middleton.
- [142:01]
Biz
And also, I remember I did that hike this summer with a couple guys who'll be heading over there for the Canadiens snowboarding and skiing team. Chase Nicklin and then my buddy Tyler Turner. So best of luck to those guys. And, yeah, very, very cool, man.
- [142:16]
Ra
It's sort of reminiscent. You guys ever see the documentary Murder Ball? The guys who, like. It's sort of like rugby, isn't it? It's sort of like wheelchair, like rugby slash soccer. And they. They're, you know, they just. They pummel each other. It's like insanity how much they. They kill each other out there. Great documentary if you've never seen it. So, yeah, Murder Ball. Good stuff. All right, we got a little history lesson for you. Biz today in hockey history. 1994, Peter Forsberg pulled off the Forsberg, and when he joined us on episode 420, Nice. He told us it was the first time he ever pulled off that move successfully. He had never pulled it off until he did it in the Olympics. Talk about some balls, man, huh? You know, do something you'd never actually succeeded with. To do it at that level and then to pull it off. Awesome stuff. So, couple more. Another guest from episode 324, Brent Sutter, scored his first goal of his NHL career. Added an assist on February 27, 1981. And an island is 51 victory over Vancouver. And the other guest that episode, Yandeli, you were a guest that same episode as Brent Sutter. Yandel Yandeli. I've said that.
- [143:24]
Biz
Why? Why do you call him Yandeli?
- [143:25]
Ra
Just because my old man and his uncle Paul like, you know, ran around like I said before, they went to a party in 1980, it came back in 1984. So like my father used to call his uncle Yandeli. So I kind of riffing off that,
- [143:39]
Biz
I guess you got. You might have the most nicknames of everyone anyone I've ever met. Yance. Oh, Shandle. What's the other one? Snay.
- [143:48]
Ra
Yeah, I'm a big. I. I like personalized nicknames too. Like you. When you give some someone their own nickname that nobody else calls them. You know what I mean?
- [143:56]
Yance
Like, yeah, my uncles called me Jelly for the longest time when I was a kid and I had no idea what it meant until I turned like 15.
- [144:04]
Biz
And what's it mean?
- [144:06]
Yance
My initials are KY.
- [144:07]
Biz
Okay, okay, okay. I'm pretty sure you've told me that before, but you know, cte.
- [144:13]
Ra
All right, one, one last one. This day in history, buddy. Henrik Lundquist became the first goalie in NHL history to put up in at least 30 wins in each of his first seven seasons of league on this date back in 2012. So good stuff. Interesting day in NHL history.
- [144:29]
Biz
Some guys get it all.
- [144:30]
Ra
Yeah, nice head of hair on that fella. Okay, what I've been watching lately, Netflix. I don't know if you saw this. It's called Queen of Chess. It's a documentary. It's really good stuff. It's about a father who. I forget which iron Curtain country they grew up in, but he raised his daughters to be like chess prodigies season. And one of them became like the greatest, like, you know, female chess player of all time. But, you know, they kind of tell you that from the friend. It's really good, man. It's very interesting. I'm not. I haven't played chess in freaking 40 years. I couldn't finish a game now if I tried. But if you're looking for a nice little documentary, Queen of Chess on Netflix.
- [145:01]
Whit
You ever seen Searching for Bobby Fischer? Oh, yeah, Great movie.
- [145:06]
Yance
What about the Queen's Gambit?
- [145:07]
Ra
You watched that?
- [145:08]
Biz
I watched that one, actually.
- [145:09]
Ra
Absolutely. I wrote a blog on that way back in the day. Yeah, awesome stuff. Another one I've been watching on hbo, A Night of the Seven Kingdoms. Now I watch Game of Thrones. They. They missed the land on the last season. Everybody knows that. And then they had the other show come out a couple years ago. Didn't really tickle my fancy. But this one A Night of the Seven Kingdoms. I put it on the first couple eps. Really good man. It's like this I guess he's a former rugby player who's like plays the main guy and this little kid is sort of like his companion. But first few reps are awesome. I've been digging that. It also the show industry industry on hbo. Not sure if you ever heard about this. It was on for three seasons. They took a little bit of a lull and they just come back with the four season. It's about like a finance houses in England now. There's a lot of I don't understand what's going on. English politics like finance industry. Way over my head. But it's a dynamite drama. If you're looking for a show that you know isn't like violent, it's just sort of like a you know, a drama type show. Give that a whirl. My classic recommendation for this week is Steven Spielberg Goldberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Awesome flick. It's. I know ET Is what he's known for, but Close Encounters is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's. Yeah, basically it's it's an aliens related movie actually Melinda Dylan who played Hanrahan's wife in Slap Shot, she said it. She plays the mother of the little kid. But if you're a sci fi person Spielberg guy. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Give it a whirl. Awesome flick. NHL Picks I don't have much insight because you know I don't have the line Chip but Buffalo is at Florida Friday night. It's going to be a back to back for Florida playoffs. Not looking too good for the Panthers and they had A League High 10 players in the Olympics. Save has been rolling so I'm going to take Buffalo whatever. The liners have no idea right now. Take the save as Friday night and biz I know you did mention Coop's dad Robert who passed away. Again we extend our deepest sympathies to our palace coupe and we also extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jim Boomer Gordon. He was the longtime host of the Point with Boomer Gordon on Sirius XM's NHL Network Radio. He passed away at 55 from Kansas. Just way too young. So we want to again extend our deepest so much.
- [147:17]
Biz
Yeah, I saw a ton of messages online about him and and what he meant and and oh you just tell he was such a likable guy based on all the replies and stuff like that. So just a brutal week For. For some deaths in the hockey community.
- [147:31]
Ra
Yeah.
- [147:32]
Whit
Ra. You mentioned Coop and the lightning quick. You see Kucharov 700th assist the other night.
- [147:39]
Noah Hannifin
Crazy.
- [147:39]
Ra
Yeah. Oh, and Quinnville thousandth win as well.
- [147:43]
Whit
Yeah. And the. The awesome way for the. The Ducks to celebrate. All the players have the mustaches on.
- [147:48]
Zach Warrensky
That was funny.
- [147:49]
Whit
Quinville's hilarious. He walked the game is laugh. They gave him the jacket. He's like, I haven't been giving this jacket before. Impersonation.
- [148:01]
Biz
That was.
- [148:03]
Whit
He might as well had like a stogie in the way he's like walking.
- [148:07]
Yance
He's always whacking a stogie. He always like, you see him driving in his car. He always has a stogie. And yeah, he. He's old school.
- [148:14]
Biz
I told you guys that Edzo story on here. Did you remember the. About the horse?
- [148:19]
Yance
Oh, yeah.
- [148:20]
Biz
Because I was asking Eds all because, you know, he loves the horses. He. He does all the Kentucky Derby stuff. And out of curiosity, I'm like, what's the most you ever won on a horse race? And I think a few times he's been near the. The half a million mark. And the one time, I guess, like, you have to. You have to guess the whatever the exacto box for 10 straight races. So he got it all right for the first nine and he was so excited. And these were like races that were going on in a different time zone. So it was pretty late at night night and Edo and. And Q often communicate about the horse racing. And it was like 12:30 at night, 1 o'. Clock. And. And Edzo called, help me out, Q, Q. And literally one ring and Q's like, what do you got? Like, it wasn't. He was sitting by the whole waiting and then boom. He ended up hitting it for. They get just over half a million. He. He crushed it. And just like hearing that and then hearing the Q story of him, like, I think it was before a big playoff game and he was a little bit late for his pregame speech or something. And he's in there like losing. He's like, yeah, come on, come on. He's got the piece of paper on his knee, you know, come on, get going. And then hits another big one. So I. I don't know. Those stories are enough to make me want to get in the horse racing. I'll tell you. Oh, yeah, you do it. Yes.
- [149:37]
Ra
Money.
- [149:38]
Yance
Yeah. I love the horse races. How many? So he's the second. Second to a thousand wins. Scotty Bowman's won. How many wins do you Think Bowman
- [149:47]
Whit
has off the top my 1200. I'm gonna say 1400.
- [149:55]
Yance
1244. And. Which I was. Which I was shocked. Bowman only has two Jack Adams and Q only has one Jack Adams. And it was in 1999 with St. Louis. Like he never got one in Chicago.
- [150:11]
Biz
Buddy.
- [150:11]
Whit
It's like you don't even want to win one. You don't even want that.
- [150:14]
Biz
Like Coop. Coop doesn't have one.
- [150:16]
Yance
Yeah.
- [150:18]
Biz
Three Stanley cup finals.
- [150:20]
Ra
Oh, shout out to my boy Frosty too. He was the head equipment guy for Team usa. He's been a Palma for a long time. Awesome dude. Did an awesome job over there. It's fun to see him on TV too, during the whole Olympic stuff.
- [150:31]
Whit
So I saw him, I saw him in the pictures at 11. I was just dying, laughing. What a guy. Guy.
- [150:37]
Biz
That's a. I'm glad you brought that up. Ra Game notes Army and Merls ended up having on Teddy Richards. I mentioned it earlier and they talked about Frosty. So if you want some insight as to like what the trainers who are just lugging these insane hours guys behind the scenes and, and what they do in order to set up these players for success, go check that interview out. And as I mentioned earlier, I had him in Wilbur with wit and then Yan's had him in. In Florida. He's Cuddy's a. And he's been doing this a very long time. And. And those guys don't get enough credit for what they do.
- [151:08]
Yance
Yeah, I don't think people realize how much those guys mean to a team, especially in a tournament like that. I know, I know. Teddy had to go over early to kind of like set everything up, get everything kind of there for them. And in Frosty the same thing like those guys, those guys can never have a bad day, right? They. They're usually the first guy you see in the locker room. They have a big smile on their face. They're. They're the ones you see first, they're the ones you see last. They're. They're the heartbeat of a locker room and they deserve just as much credit as the guys.
- [151:38]
Ra
Yeah, Jens, I've been saying since the show started, they're the grease in the gears of the NHL. Like without them, the league doesn't run it. And you know, and every. All these guys, they want like sort of one big team. Even though if they all work for different teams, you know, they all have to work together doing laundry and you know, fording, you know, the equipment, all the stuff there. So yeah, shout out to all the equipment guys are all around the league, but again, congrats to my man Frosty. Very happy for you, buddy.
- [151:59]
Biz
We got to get him on at one point. Point to just tell all these crazy stories.
- [152:03]
Yance
Oh, he's the best.
- [152:04]
Ra
Yeah, yeah. And he do. He still looks like he's about 22 years old too. That's.
- [152:07]
Yance
He looks amazing.
- [152:08]
Ra
Yeah, he does. All right, boys, great time. Great segment usa. Good stuff. Congrats on this weekend, Rya.
- [152:17]
Biz
Well, hey, well learned boys. An incredible tournament and a fun way to cap things off. And we'll get you next time.
- [152:24]
Whit
I do see that there's Ottawa reporters demanding Brady could Chuck apologize. Guys, the fucking world has lost its mind. Fellas, there's an. There's a clip of an Ottawa reporter demanding Brady Tkachuk apologize for what?
- [152:39]
Ra
What?
- [152:39]
Whit
What the fuck did he do? Trump's joke.
- [152:41]
Ra
Yeah.
- [152:41]
Jack Eichel
So a reporter asked Brady Tkachuk if he felt the need to apologize and if he understood why the girls would be upset after those comments. And you know, Brady gave an unreal answer. And then at the end, the reporter again doubles down and says, you know, do you feel the need to apologize? And again, Brady gives an unbelievable answer that, you know, the woman's team and the guy's team were so close. It was 10 minutes after, you know, they had just won the gold medal
- [153:08]
Ra
and Donald Trump called and they're, you
- [153:10]
Jack Eichel
know, he was going to laugh at basically anything he said.
- [153:12]
Ra
It's just kind of the situation they were put in.
- [153:14]
Jack Eichel
So the Ottawa media right now is just trying to bully Brady Tkachuk into this. And it's just. It's so unfair to him. It's so unfair to all these U.S. players.
- [153:24]
Whit
But we do have someone who actually
- [153:26]
Jack Eichel
wants to pop in biz. I do believe you lost the bet.
- [153:29]
Biz
I did. Yeah.
- [153:30]
Whit
Someone wants to pop in here.
- [153:31]
Biz
Absolutely, boys. Absolutely.
- [153:33]
Noah Hannifin
Wow.
- [153:36]
Whit
What a W, boys. What a W. This must be how
- [153:43]
Noah Hannifin
you guys feel all the time, huh?
- [153:45]
Whit
I know. We had to live it up. We never get this feeling.
- [153:48]
Biz
I know I'm not going to be a sore loser. So. So I have a couple jerseys here and so I got to thank my buddy Jeff for scrambling. And one fanatic step stepped up. So I have two here. This one fits me. The other one is a fanatics one where they. They ran out of jerseys, boys. I guess they didn't anticipate us winning this thing. So now they're like backlogged and back ordered on all these jerseys. So this is the one here. So this is. And it's got the o'. Callahan.
- [154:15]
Whit
Okay.
- [154:16]
Biz
But old school.
- [154:17]
Noah Hannifin
I like that.
- [154:18]
Biz
This one is going to stay in my, my shrine over here forever. And this is obviously this year's jersey. Jersey. And, and obviously a Johnny Hockey.
- [154:28]
Jack Eichel
Oh.
- [154:28]
Biz
So I want to thank fanatics for sending this over. So which one would you like me to. This one's a medium. It might be a little tight, but I think I should try to squeeze it on and I'll. I'll leave it up to Osh to. To tell you guys on. On what we ended up deciding for the charity.
- [154:43]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, Johnny Hockey for sure. Let's go. Let's go with that one.
- [154:49]
Yance
And then yeah, we.
- [154:50]
Noah Hannifin
This was actually Biz's idea. A great idea by him first of all having to go for charity. But then we're putting it to the, the Johnny and Matthew foundation, the G Boys, which is honestly the, the foundation hits a little close to my heart, like my family's side, but it goes
- [155:10]
Zach Warrensky
towards
- [155:13]
Noah Hannifin
hockey families that have been affected by drunk drivers. My, My older cousin when I was growing. Growing up, he's basically my older brother. He was killed from a drunk driver when we were young too. So I love the foundation. Obviously a lot of love for the Godreau family.
- [155:31]
Ra
Look at that.
- [155:32]
Noah Hannifin
It is a little tight on you.
- [155:34]
Biz
Yeah, he likes it like that.
- [155:36]
Noah Hannifin
Oh, I love that though.
- [155:37]
Whit
But that, that, that was, that it
- [155:39]
Noah Hannifin
was Biz's business call and he actually donated a lot more than. Than what we agreed to. So hats off to Biz on that for supporting the Goodrill family.
- [155:50]
Biz
Yeah, I mean, Boys, like, you know, I, I get to work with you guys. We talked about it earlier. I get to live in the United States. Amazing country. And, and obviously the, the Johnny and Matthew story has really affected us all.
- [156:00]
Noah Hannifin
Amazing cause and amazing family. I, I personally never. I played against Johnny for a long time, never with him, but know a lot of guys that did. And honestly I even seen like, you know, pictures of him having fun with the boys and it just. He just looks like he was unanimously like loved by anyone. Anyone lives that, that he touched and ran into.
- [156:23]
Yance
So.
- [156:24]
Noah Hannifin
And then Matthew as well. So unbelievable.
- [156:26]
Biz
And, and before the two years he played in Columbus, I mean he played in Calgary, Alberta in Canada. And, and after his passing, the one story that really stood out to me was just like a, an Uber driver who was going to drop his food off and when he got to the door and he was obviously a big Johnny Hockey fan and how like cool and, and how long Johnny ended up talking to him for. So not only the, the impact that he made on the, you know, the U.S. program, but also what he did in Canada while he played there as well. So I got to meet him through Yan's and Wit and you know, he's, he's, obviously there's a reason why these guys hung out with him. He's just a, he was a joy of life to be around and a funny, a funny, funny bastard and just so sorry that he's gone and, and yeah, it's, it sucks.
- [157:14]
Noah Hannifin
I think one thing that's really cool and I think you see this time and time and again in the, in the hockey community, no matter what country you're from, is how tight everyone comes together in, in tragedy. And it's up and down. It's like if you play hockey, like, no matter if it's like US Canada,
- [157:35]
Zach Warrensky
whatever it is, like if you're a
- [157:36]
Noah Hannifin
hockey player, there's automatically a special bond there. And so not surprised at all the, the appreciation and respect that they showed show Johnny and his family on the ice there with the kids and just so special.
- [157:53]
Yance
And I also think too, the way that, you know, you hear these guys talk about the way that they bonded, the way that they were just hanging out in the, in the village. And osh, I know from playing with you at Worlds, like, you're one of those guys that never wants to go to bed, never wants the night to end. And that's how Johnny was. And I, I bet him looking down, like, I bet he's more proud of that than, you know, even winning the gold, just like the way that his team came together and you know, I'm sure it was talked about in, in, in their locker room, like, hey, this is what Johnny would want. And you know, the way that they hung out together, stayed in the Village, you know, all the stories you hear of them hanging out with the girls team, watching the girls team, going to other events, just chilling in the, in the cafeteria. So, so I, I could imagine that he's smiling down on that just as much as he is for the gold.
- [158:41]
Noah Hannifin
Absolutely.
- [158:43]
Biz
And great job. Osh. All the, all the coverage that you, you did. And I know that this is your first real year stepping into media, man, that's a lot. So congrats on everything you, you, you're able to do over the, well, I guess like do as far as the media coverage and, and congrats on a gold buddy.
- [158:58]
Noah Hannifin
Yeah, thanks, man. I, I, I appreciate it. It was, it was fun being over there.
- [159:02]
Ra
Guys.
- [159:02]
Noah Hannifin
Gotten a little bit of a routine with, with your boy Ace and And Lindsay too. That is mostly us three, but we had fun and you know, I'm just so, I'm so proud of the, the U.S. guys. I think this has been a long time coming with the amount of gold medals that we've gotten in U18 and, and World Juniors leading up to it. So you know, I think Canada's, you know, they're still the, you know, still, they're still the big dogs, but I think they're, they're one of the big dogs now. Ju. Not just the big dogs. So proud of the boys and yeah, I'm sure there'll be another hell of a rematch here coming soon.
- [159:41]
Yance
You must have, I'm sure you saw the guys after the win and stuff and I'm sure you mean a lot to a lot of those guys, especially what you did in the Olympics and the way that you played your whole career. But like, do you, do you remember any conversations you had with guys after the game? Yeah, I mostly just through text.
- [160:00]
Noah Hannifin
I know they were calling a lot of the guys on Air Force Two, a lot of the former players and I had a group, group text with Matthew and Brady and, and they said that it was happening, but I was doing a, a feature, a one on one feature with Ovi in, in D.C. and so sure enough when they called, I was on the ice and didn't have my phone. So I missed, missed it. But no, just a lot, a lot of text congratulating the boys, obviously a tight connection with Brock Nelson being from Ward. And then the Chuck brothers, obviously, like they were little shits running around the locker room when I played with their dad. So it's, it's cool. I, I mean just like I'm just, I'm. It's hard to like explain like how proud of these guys I am and how they carry themselves and, and the flags around them and, and talking about the country. And that's what you hope for, right? Like, I mean boys, you guys know like as guys that played for, for us before, like all you hope for is like that you and your teammates, you come together, you, you, you try to have success and when you do, you immediately shift it into America, the United States, your teammates, your brothers, USA Hockey as a family. So, so I think they. I'm, I'm just so, so proud.
- [161:23]
Whit
Osh. I think that when Jack Hughes gave that great interview right after and he talks about the guys who came before him, like you're somebody that came right to my mind and I think it's the same for all those guys. Like what you did, how you played, type of teammate you were. So thanks for popping on. I don't know if we get this dub without that bet you made with Biz that might have. That might have put this thing over the top. So we appreciate you and we appreciate everyone for listening. So thank you so much. Ra. Great to see you again.
- [161:52]
Biz
Boys, to summarize, you know, I. I mean, Tate McCrae wasn't a mole and. And Jack took our pop icon and.
- [162:02]
Whit
And he took our gold medal thanks to Jack.
- [162:05]
Yance
Looks good on you.
- [162:05]
Whit
Noah Hannifin, Zach Warrensky and Abby Murphy. What a show. What a group of people. Ostog, we'll talk to you soon.
- [162:12]
Noah Hannifin
Thanks, guys. Appreciate you boys.
- [162:28]
Zach Warrensky
A bad habit worth breaking, but it's taking time.
- [162:34]
Whit
I don't know. It don't matter happen. It's gonna happen again. Wanna.