Sunday Mornings with Matt and Myron
Episode: Hour 1 - Miracle On Ice 2?
Date: February 22, 2026
Hosts: Myron Medcalf, David Dennis Jr. (filling in for Matt Jones)
Network: ESPN Radio
Episode Overview
This episode captures the electrifying gold medal game between the United States and Canada in men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics—a rematch that evoked echoes of the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” Hosts Myron Medcalf and David Dennis Jr. share the suspense and drama in real-time as the game unfolds, reflecting on sports' greatest single elimination moments, Olympic pressures, and discussing college basketball with analyst Tom Crean. The episode reaches its crescendo as Team USA wins its first men’s hockey gold in 46 years.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: Coffee, Cars, and the Gold Medal Game
- Myron shares his harrowing travel fears due to a blizzard in Bristol and his struggle with rental car technology (03:03).
- Light banter on caffeine dependence:
- David Dennis Jr.: “Never had a cup of coffee in my life… To paraphrase the great CM Punk, I'm straight edge, which means I'm better than you.” (01:44)
2. The Olympic Showdown: USA vs. Canada Hockey Gold (04:58)
- The main event: US vs. Canada tied 1:1 in the third period; the historical weight of the moment with the US chasing its first gold since 1980.
- David Dennis Jr. emphasizes the universal appeal and high stakes of single elimination hockey:
- Quote: “Everybody I know is locked in… There's nothing like it. This is peak sports.” (05:02–05:24)
- Myron spotlights the fierce rivalry and raw honesty in hockey:
- Quote (Brady Tkachuk, Team USA forward): “There's hatred there. I mean, they've been the top dog… We want to be the best. So, yeah, it's going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say this is the biggest games that they've ever played in.” (05:53)
3. The Power of Rivalry and Single Elimination Sports (06:36 – 10:03)
- Contrast with friendlier vibes in Olympic basketball; the unique animosity and stakes in hockey.
- Discussion: What makes the best single elimination event in sports?
- David Dennis Jr.: “If you tell me there’s a Game 7 in hockey, I’m watching that ahead of anything else… You’re more likely to have sudden death or overtime, or this thing come down to one final shot.” (07:49–08:23)
- The lines open for callers to weigh in on the most dramatic single elimination games across all sports.
4. Callers Debate: Baseball, Rivalries, and March Madness
- Sean in Phoenix: Argues for baseball’s unique pitch-by-pitch tension, referencing the World Baseball Classic.
- Ron in Chicago: Cites legendary Game 7 moments in baseball: “I don't even see what’s second… it’s baseball.” (15:30)
- Greg in New Hampshire: Rivalries matter most in Game 7s (17:48).
- JD in Alabama: “It’s the March Madness tournament. Every one of those games are single elimination… the emotions, the drama.” (20:06)
5. The Emotional Weight and Difficulty of Olympic Hockey
- Myron marvels at the US goalie’s performance: “Give him a gold medal no matter what happens.” (14:34)
- David: Emphasizes the intensity and the unique way hockey players physically express rivalry (16:25).
- Discussion of the challenges of playing goalie vs. quarterback:
- Myron: “Goalie at this level is the most difficult position to play in all of sports… These dudes are out there on an island.” (17:06)
6. The Spectacle of Overtime: New 3-on-3 Hockey Format (38:36 – 44:10)
- The game goes to sudden-death overtime with a “never before” 3-on-3 format, intensifying the drama:
- Myron: “I don’t know everything and sometimes that’s the best position to be in, David… I love this idea. Why are we not doing this in other sports?” (39:42)
- David: “This is cinema right now.” (40:08)
- Real-time reactions as the US and Canada battle for gold, with both hosts visibly caught up in the tension.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Hockey Rivalry (05:53)
Brady Tkachuk:
“There's hatred there. I mean, they've been the top dog… We want to be the best. So, yeah, it's going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say this is the biggest games that they've ever played in.”
On the Drama of Elimination Games (08:23)
David Dennis Jr.:
“Tell me there's a game seven. I'm watching… you're gonna have people knocking each other around. You're gonna have some bad blood. You're gonna have animosity that's built up over that time.”
On the Gold Medal Stakes (12:26)
David Dennis Jr.:
“I think this would be one of the great American Olympic stories that we have… to do this, to beat Canada in hockey.”
On the New Overtime Format (39:42)
Myron:
“I love this idea. Like why are we doing this in other sports? If you told me in the NFL instead of overtime, all of a sudden we were playing seven on seven… This is incredible.”
On the US Victory (42:59)
Myron:
“The United States just won the gold medal in hockey for the first time in almost 50 years… This is gonna be a documentary. This is gonna be a film. This is gonna be something that we talk about 100 years from now.”
The Emotional Aftermath (44:10)
David Dennis Jr.:
“When I’m watching Team USA celebrate, but also the sadness on Team Canada… This is absolutely the biggest game of some of these dudes' lives. Patriotism has run amok here on Mad Myron.”
Key Timestamps
| Time | Segment/Event | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:20 | Show Open, David Dennis Jr. joins, coffee banter | | 02:00 | Myron’s blizzard/airport woes, car story | | 03:49 | Off The Top — Gold medal hockey, US vs. Canada intro | | 05:53 | Brady Tkachuk on US-Canada rivalry | | 08:23 | Why hockey is the pinnacle of single elimination | | 10:03 | Callers share their favorite single elimination games | | 12:26 | Potential US hockey gold as historic moment | | 18:10 | “Power play” update, Myron enthusiastic for hockey | | 24:48 | Tom Crean (ESPN) on Olympic/college basketball | | 26:50 | Crean’s take on March Madness pressure | | 29:49 | Deep dive: Duke-Michigan game, freshman stars | | 38:32 | Overtime format explained, real-time reactions | | 42:59 | Team USA wins gold in overtime, hosts react live | | 44:10 | The emotion, legacy, and aftermath of the win |
Episode Flow & Tone
- Authentic and Excited: Both Myron and David elevate the anticipation and emotion in real time. Their genuine lack of “hockey expert” status brings an every-fan perspective, adding to the accessibility and enthusiasm.
- Cultural Relevance: Pop references (Kendrick/Drake, Knight Rider, CM Punk), humor, and honesty shape the discussion.
- Fan-Inclusive: Listeners are drawn in as active participants—call-ins and shoutouts make it a community sports experience.
- Emotional Climax: The US gold medal win is announced live, and both hosts convey the enormous personal and national significance, capturing the essence of why sports matter.
Conclusion
This episode is a must-listen for sports fans and casual listeners alike. It captures the once-in-a-generation drama of the US men’s hockey gold, the infectious tension of single elimination contests, and the electric unpredictability of live sports. With humor, heartfelt commentary, and memorable moments, Matt and Myron (with David Dennis Jr.) deliver a dynamic snapshot of sporting history in the making.