Jackie Redmond previews 4 Nations USA-Canada final

Energy Line with Nate Thompson and Julie Stewart-Binks opens up talking about their experiences being at 4 Nations. They recap the games so far and preview the big final Thursday in Boston between Team USA and Team Canada. NHL on TNT sideline reporter Jackie Redmond stops by to discuss the 4 Nations experience, whether this should be an annual tournament, x-factors for USA and Canada, her favorite postgame interview and the importance of Sidney Crosby.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Energy Line is a production of the NHL and iHeart podcasts.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
It's a game seven right, like it's it's for everything,
and you're going to see desperate hockey. You're going to
see everything we saw in the first game and more,
I imagine, So you know, you're representing your country. This
is huge, the biggest game I've played in quite some time,
so maybe ever, I'm really looking forward to it. I
think everyone in the room's looking forward to it, and

(00:37):
it's what we wanted, right.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
The biggest game of my career. Really looking forward to it.

Speaker 4 (00:41):
Obviously, you saw the matchup last Saturday and uh, kind
of the fireworks that kind of led up to that,
So I think we're really excited for the rematch. And
you know, obviously it was fun to get the play
in front of our fans and then the support and
how the building reacted and saying that, I think we're
looking forward to Thursday and the atmosphere that we're going
to play in here and what it's going to look like,

(01:03):
can you know playing it On the opposite side.

Speaker 1 (01:07):
You just heard from tmsa's Jack Eigel and Team Canada's
Travis Sandheim talking about the Four Nations Final coming up
on Thursday, we've got Jackie Redmond from a TNT and
WWE joining us here in a bit on Energy line.

Speaker 5 (01:21):
With Nate and JSB.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
And Nate thrilled to be able to speak with you
over podcast format after seeing you in person in Montreal
this week and we never got a photo, which I
was very sad about. But it was really cool to
see you in person and also noticed that you had
very very good seats. What was your experience like at

(01:44):
the Four Nations?

Speaker 6 (01:46):
It was great to see you too, JSB. My experience
was incredible. I was lucky enough to go with a
friend that had some amazing seats for all the games,
and I felt.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
Like a fan.

Speaker 6 (01:58):
I haven't had that feeling in a long time and
it was great for me, I mean, to be able
to see those games live, to feel the atmosphere, to
feel like, I mean, just all of it, the fans,
and then and then I'll say too, like being a
formal Montreal Canadian, like I felt welcome back, a little

(02:20):
bit like people coming up being like, hey, Nate, welcome back.
You know, so I will say like, thank you, Montreal,
thank you with all the fans, like it was nice
to hear that, and it was just nice to be
back in Montreal and to be able to witness I think,
probably the best hockey we've ever seen.

Speaker 1 (02:36):
It was cool actually watching Nate get a lot of
fanboys coming up to him when we were walking around
the concourse. I didn't realize how popular you were there,
but I how awesome was it when that guy was like,
are you Logan Thompson?

Speaker 6 (02:49):
Oh yeah? I was like, oh yeah. I was like, no, wrong,
wrong when Nate Thompson, but thank you.

Speaker 5 (02:55):
Yeah You're like, no, Logan Thompson nowhere to be found?

Speaker 3 (02:59):
I know, I know, yeah. It just it just goes
to show you though.

Speaker 6 (03:02):
I think that the NHL got it right where they
put it in the right location with Montreal, because you see,
like I was only in Montreal for parts of two seasons,
and and those fans are so passionate and they know
every former have, they know, they follow everything, and you're
just you saw this how passionate they were about all
of it, and just how excited they were about these games.
So kudo's Montreal. What a city, what a place. I

(03:25):
had the best time. Not a whole lot of sleep
over the weekend, that's for sure.

Speaker 7 (03:29):
Of that.

Speaker 6 (03:30):
But that's that's that's okay, you know, that's what that's
what's supposed to happen when you go on trips like that,
and what are you.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
Going to do.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
That's the hardest part about trips like this when you
have a double header on Saturday, Oh my lord, like
that's a war of attrition, Like we're at the game
Sweden Finland, and then it's just like three or four
hours in between Canada USA and then it's obviously heading out.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
To well like twenty minutes it did.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Yeah, then a club and another club and another club,
and a bus and a plane and another club and
it's just like, oh my lord, Montreal and then everyone
got snowed in and we're all there.

Speaker 5 (04:10):
It felt like we're never gonna leave Montreal.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
I technically not even supposed to be back yet according
to Delta on my flight. So we all got we
all got a little we all had a little fun.
But it was great to see everyone too.

Speaker 3 (04:23):
You know.

Speaker 1 (04:24):
I made a joke with you about the fact that
like you were saying you were hanging with like whatever
and empty netters or missing curfew or spitting chicklets, and
it's like you got you're just now part of a
new team, like those are all just teams. Those are
other podcasts that west to those podcasts. Only Energy Line,

(04:45):
by the way, it's it's it's only energy line.

Speaker 5 (04:47):
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:50):
And I also found a funny Nate like it's okay,
this is like my anecdote I wanted to say was
I was so excited to see Nate in person because
I haven't seen you since twenty seventeen and now we're
like b F fae a e aa that's best friends
forever and ever and always.

Speaker 3 (05:06):
And I didn't thanks for clarifying that.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
Yeah, I just wanted you to know what contract you've signed.
But like, we were at the club, one of the clubs,
and I saw Nate and I was like, oh, all excited.
Like every time i'd had a couple of.

Speaker 5 (05:22):
Wobbly pops i'd seen Nate, I'd be like, oh, I
gotta go talk to Nate. And then like, but meat, Nate's.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
At a club, like he's probably trying to talk to girls, right,
Like I'm such a block for that.

Speaker 5 (05:38):
I realized that at one point when I came over.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
And I was like, right, right, I probably should not
be here, like interrupting his game my time.

Speaker 3 (05:49):
You were fine.

Speaker 6 (05:50):
You were fine. It was no big deal. I mean, yeah,
we got to you got to hang out. There was
a big crew of us there. We had a great time.
We don't really need to go anymore any more details,
but I don't worry.

Speaker 2 (05:59):
I won't.

Speaker 1 (05:59):
I won't go into any more details about anything because
I can't because I probably can't remember after that.

Speaker 5 (06:05):
Let's just say ha ha ha, Oh Montreal, we love.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
You, Oh Montreal, we love you.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yes, and now the tournament is in Boston. But like
you had such a great vantage point, what was it
like seeing those fights like right there?

Speaker 3 (06:19):
It was it was electric.

Speaker 6 (06:21):
I mean I to be right there to see and
feel I think that was the biggest thing is watching
warm ups and then seeing these fights unfold. You could
feel it, and you could hear everyone around me. And
I mean there was a nine year old boy in
front of me that was going, oh my god, I
can't believe I'm witnessing this right now. And I was like, buddy,

(06:41):
me too, me too, you know. So it was it
was something that I'll never forget. It was the greatest
start to a hockey game you'll ever see. Yep, and
I say, I say that because these guys, you know,
these guys that are fighting like Brandon Hagel, Matthew could chuck.
You know, I know Brady will fight, you know, in

(07:03):
the NHL during the season, but all but most of
these guys are not fighters. They're not guys that fight
all the time. But they just showed to us how
much that they care for their country, how much they
care about this game. And you know, John Cooper said it.
You know, we talk about fighting all the time, and
you know, people talk about how it should be out
of the game. And John Cooper said verbat him in

(07:24):
a quote, he said, I didn't see anybody running for
the exits. You know, when we see that, you know,
people are invested. And I think, you know, the NHL
and these games have put the rest of the world
and the rest of the sports on notice and all, yes,
because of the fact that fans want to see the

(07:46):
players care as much as they do. And that's exactly
what you saw. You saw these players care so much
about their country that they were willing to do whatever
it takes.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
They're willing to skate through the.

Speaker 6 (07:59):
Wall, They're willing to fight whatever it takes to win,
and unfortunately, in All Star games and Pro Bowl games
or whatever it is, flag football, et cetera, you don't
see that. And you're seeing these guys in the middle
of the season of their NHL season go out there
and put their bodies on the line for the greater

(08:20):
good of their country is for me, it was so special.
I mean, I'm getting goosebumps talking about it being there,
and it was something that I think people have to
realize that this is something that they might not ever
see again because of the World Cup, the Olympics. You know,
you don't get that dynamic, you don't get the NHL rules.
So be grateful, everyone, be lucky that you got to

(08:42):
witness that, because you know, we might not ever see
that again. And who knows what we're going to see
in the championship game. Maybe there will be fights, maybe
there won't be, but it doesn't matter. I mean, this
is must watch, must see. It doesn't matter if you're
a hockey fan or not. You need to watch this
on Thursday.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
Perfectly said Nate holy Cal the way that you married
the fact that the players did emulate what their fans feel,
that is such an important point. I don't think I've
heard anyone say at this point yet, because that's exactly
what they did. We saw just like raw emotion there.
I mean, it was like a pressure cooker in there.

(09:20):
We know, of course that there are political tensions between
the countries, that there was a lot built up with
the booing of anthems and all.

Speaker 5 (09:27):
That kind of stuff.

Speaker 1 (09:28):
We can't ignore the fact that that's also part of
the game. And you hear all that that stuff is
all part of it. And it honestly felt like something
something had to give at the beginning, just feeling it all.
And then I also, you know, from my binoculars way
up ee high watching the game, I.

Speaker 7 (09:45):
Was like, who's on us?

Speaker 1 (09:48):
I was like, who's fighting right now? Is that is
Canada playing against USA?

Speaker 5 (09:53):
No, I make it joke. I was in a very
good seat, but seeing well, let's.

Speaker 6 (09:59):
Get to the fighting thing a little bit too, Like,
I mean, don't you think like everyone talks about taking
fighting out of the game, but I mean you're seeing
these top line players fight and.

Speaker 5 (10:09):
It was great.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
I thought it was and that's part of it.

Speaker 5 (10:12):
That's a parclate.

Speaker 3 (10:13):
Fighting has got to be part of the game.

Speaker 1 (10:15):
I mean, it was it because it's already been a
part of it, and then we saw it on the
on the international stage, which we never do, and we
also never see international hockey anymore. We see these players who,
as you mentioned, might not ever fight normally, they fight
and it just shows like the passion, it shows like
just more than it's just more than a game, Like

(10:36):
it just felt like it's it just was. It was
everything you could imagine. And it's like it will go
down as three fights in nine seconds. It's like that
will be in history. And it got so many people
to watch hockey, like looking on X, looking on everywhere,
people who never have even watched hockey before messaging me

(10:56):
being like are we going to the game in Boston?

Speaker 7 (10:59):
Like they're they're hyped up, ready to go. They've never
seen a hockey game.

Speaker 1 (11:02):
In their entire life, And I was just like, wow,
this is so much bigger for the sport than we
even realize, and especially in the wake of like the
NBA All Star Game being a total bust as it
always usually is. And I'm just gonna say that, but
like this showed the truth hockey. I mean, like the
guys want it, the fans want it, it's part of it.

(11:24):
It changes the whole game, and now it's got us
all amped up. Well, that's got us all amped up. Nate,
Who do you think you're gonna fight? Because we know
Brandon Hagel seems to be putting it out there on
a silver platter. If you guys didn't know, the quote
is that he said he doesn't fight for he fights
for his country, not for the cameras, and doesn't have
a group check going, which.

Speaker 7 (11:42):
Was a bit spassy.

Speaker 6 (11:44):
Oh it's a major shade throw thrown at the Kachucks
and JT. Miller there because obviously they talked about, you know,
they had a group check going the day of the
game against Team Canada and that they were all planning
on fighting, which which happened.

Speaker 3 (11:58):
I don't know, I.

Speaker 6 (11:58):
Mean, I mean, I don't know in this, In this
in the championship game, I think I go either way.
I think, you know, there there could be a fight,
but there also might not be because you know they
already did that and now it's just about playing hockey
and winning the game. Do I think there's going to
be physical playing Guys are going to be probably running.

Speaker 3 (12:14):
Each other over? Absolutely? Do I know? If I don't know,
I mean Drew Dowdy did say.

Speaker 6 (12:19):
He did say he's like, if I have to fight,
I will, I'll do anything for my country. I mean,
I think it's not off the table, but I don't
think it'll be like it was last game.

Speaker 3 (12:27):
I mean, I don't know, Like I said, I don't
know if.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
I don't know if we're ever going to get a
start or a game like we did on Saturday. It's just,
especially in the first period of that game, I don't
know if that'll ever be.

Speaker 3 (12:39):
I don't know that.

Speaker 5 (12:41):
People were like streaming like it was like like the
the end of the world, like like in the best
way possible. Everyone anywhere you looked at was like, oh
my god.

Speaker 3 (12:52):
I'd say, yeah, I mean I told you that.

Speaker 6 (12:56):
That nine year old boy in friend of me literally
he looked at me after he goes, I cannot believe
I just witnessed this, and I'm like, yeah, I know
what to say.

Speaker 3 (13:04):
I'm like, hey, buddy, I agree. I agree. I'm forty
and you're nine and we I love that though, No,
you know, you know.

Speaker 5 (13:10):
That's like such a connection too.

Speaker 3 (13:13):
It is. It is.

Speaker 6 (13:14):
And he's a young Canadian kid and I'm a kid
from Alaska. I'm not a kid anymore, but I'll say that.
And you know, we were sharing that that moment, and
I think.

Speaker 3 (13:22):
That's that's that's what that's what.

Speaker 6 (13:24):
This is all about, right, I mean, it's the four nations,
it's everyone coming together.

Speaker 3 (13:30):
You could feel that in Montreal.

Speaker 6 (13:31):
You could feel the fans like, you know, you have
American fans, you have a Canadian fans, and and it
was just everyone was coming together to watch an amazing
hockey game and an amazing product.

Speaker 3 (13:41):
And we got that and we're going to get that
again tomorrow.

Speaker 5 (13:43):
It was funny how many like.

Speaker 1 (13:47):
Habs fans you realized there were until like a l
like a Leafs player touched the puck. Like even they're
like boeing William d Lander in the Sweden game. I
was like, okay, yeah, there's a lot.

Speaker 3 (13:56):
Of ABS fans.

Speaker 1 (13:57):
You're booing Austin Matthews, booing Mitch No, not Marner because
he's Canadian.

Speaker 5 (14:02):
He's like the one that gets.

Speaker 3 (14:03):
The and marsha On too.

Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah yeah in marsha Yeah, not in Montreal, but like
sort of they're very confused. But yeah, it's it's been fun.
It's been great. We think that it's going to have.
We're not sure if Quinn Hughes is going to be there.
That's like the big news right now is Quinn Hughes
is available, quote unquote, but like he was in a
non contact jersey in practicing in Vancouver on Tuesday, and

(14:29):
so somebody has to be injured for him to be
able to play, which he also has to be able
to get from Vancouver to Boston, which is not that
short of a flight. And I mean, he hasn't played
in a while, but he is Quinn Hughes.

Speaker 3 (14:44):
So yeah, I let mean let's get into that.

Speaker 6 (14:47):
I think that it's a similar situation with what happened
with cal mccarr.

Speaker 3 (14:52):
And Thomas Harley. And I mean, I don't know. I mean,
there's this is a brand new tournament.

Speaker 6 (14:57):
These are all new rules, So this is all new
I think to the league and the teams that they're
trying to they're trying to work through all these different
loopholes or whatever it may be. But my guess is
if they're bringing Quinn Hughes over, Quinn Hughes is probably
going to end up playing, and they're going to find
a way.

Speaker 3 (15:14):
To get him in the lineup.

Speaker 6 (15:16):
Yeah, because it changes the defense of the Americans. I
think it also changes the power play for the Americans
when you add a guy like Quinn Hughes, and I
think the Americans are pretty happy that they're going to
be able to get him if if it happens, we
don't know, but like, wouldn't it be.

Speaker 1 (15:35):
So it feels so weird if it was Sanderson that
goes out, because everyone's saying, like, well Sanderson, obviously Quentin
Hughes will come in, and you're like, that feels kind
of like weird. Coach Hippy shout Out makes the best
videos ever on Instagram. Had a funny one just like
Who's going out?

Speaker 3 (15:53):
It was pretty funny. But I mean the I mean
team candidate did the same thing. I mean, I don't know.
I mean, I don't know if it's the same situation, so.

Speaker 5 (15:59):
It's not the same. I mean, like cal mccarr went out,
not Jake Sanderson, doesn't matter.

Speaker 3 (16:05):
Charlie McAvoy had a game of his life against Okay.

Speaker 7 (16:08):
Well he actually is like really injured.

Speaker 3 (16:10):
I know that, but like even I'm just saying, there's he.

Speaker 5 (16:13):
Seemed like really like that was like I really struck.

Speaker 7 (16:16):
A cord right there.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
I'm fired up. I'm fired up. I'm really fired up.

Speaker 5 (16:21):
Let's say, now you're going to fight here on the energy.

Speaker 3 (16:23):
I'm I'm American. You're a Canadian. I know you said
you have your citizenship, but you're a Canadian.

Speaker 5 (16:27):
Yeah, and this in spite a fellow American.

Speaker 1 (16:29):
Come on, Nate, I'm not going to answer that. You
know I told you I fought a guy once when
I played hockey.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
I believe it.

Speaker 1 (16:37):
Yeah, when I'm sixteen, that's like pretty old to be
fighting a guy in hockey.

Speaker 3 (16:41):
That is old. Did you win?

Speaker 5 (16:44):
I don't know about that. Like I think I won
because I fought a guy, and I think he.

Speaker 1 (16:50):
Lost because he decided to fight a girl.

Speaker 5 (16:53):
It's kind of like a code. Like now, I'm fine
with it.

Speaker 1 (16:57):
If I'm playing men's league hockey and a guy decides
to run me, that's my own choice to be out there.

Speaker 5 (17:01):
I always say that.

Speaker 1 (17:02):
But if they see the pony though, and it's actually
like a target on your back. I heard Tessa Bonam
say that, Like the ponytail was used to always be
like sort of like a yellow light, like you know,
slow down, but now it's like it's like a double
green or whatever. It's like, go for it, get to
chick off the ice.

Speaker 8 (17:21):
No.

Speaker 5 (17:21):
Yeah, I had a guy.

Speaker 1 (17:23):
Cross check me from behind and then say something very inappropriate.
So then I just punched him in the face and
then he punched me in the face and we fought.

Speaker 5 (17:32):
Mm hmmm, wow, and.

Speaker 1 (17:34):
Then the guys on my team random for the rest
of the game. That was it, which was nice and appropriate.

Speaker 3 (17:39):
That is appropriate.

Speaker 1 (17:40):
What about you, Nate, What's what's your most memorable moment
of dropping the Mits?

Speaker 6 (17:45):
My most memorable moment are dropping the Mets. There's a
lot of them, so there's a decent amount. But actually,
funny story, if we were talking about dropping the Mets.
I ran into an old teammate of mine in Boston
and a guy that I also dropped the Mits with
was Adam mcquait. Wow, And I played with him in
the miners. Yeah, I played with him in the miners

(18:08):
and then we ended up fighting when I was in
Tampa and Boston, and yeah, I mean that just goes
to show hockey, Like we were buddies and we fought
and I gave him a little bit of a shiner
and he probably won the fight.

Speaker 3 (18:19):
But yeah, who's to say.

Speaker 1 (18:22):
Quick story, quick story, exactly what's inside your mind before
you fight, Like you guys go like hey, eight, like
you know what, we're gonna fight.

Speaker 6 (18:31):
I think it was more just I think it was
spur of the moment because I hit him and he
went down.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
It was towards the end of the game.

Speaker 6 (18:37):
We were losing bad and he got up and he
was mad, and I was like, all right, I guess
we're fighting. And next thing, you know, me and Adam
Equator fighting, And then next thing we were texting each
other after the game and it was like, hey, are
you good?

Speaker 3 (18:49):
Hey, you good?

Speaker 6 (18:50):
Yeah, Well that was funny, you know kind of thing.
So that's how it goes.

Speaker 5 (18:54):
Yeah, that's funny.

Speaker 1 (18:55):
Like but you could see if David gets rag Doll's again,
you know, I mean ping pong like all all over
the place, that something like that could happen. But again,
I don't see anyone on their team being that guy.

Speaker 6 (19:10):
I mean, I think you'll see anyone step up for him.
But like I said, it's there's a fine line for
both teams canad and US where they have to be smart.
You have you're going to be emotional, but you can't
let your emotions get the best of you. I mean,
I think that's the biggest thing for this game is
they're going to have to watch their emotions because it's
going to be an emotional game.

Speaker 5 (19:28):
Yeah, it certainly is.

Speaker 1 (19:29):
Oh boy, looking our chops waiting for Canada USA Thursday
night APM on ESPN, ABC can't wait for and also
for Canadian listeners and on Sportsnet. Also, you guys swear
it for It's on everywhere in Canada somewhere. You can
just turn the TV on in the hockey game will
be there. Final final words before we get to our guest.

Speaker 5 (19:51):
Anything on your.

Speaker 1 (19:51):
Mind that you want to say other those you're a
private jet Nate, and I'm co overnight coach bus Julie,
I also do.

Speaker 8 (19:58):
No.

Speaker 6 (19:58):
I mean, I'm ex I'm excited for this game. I'm
exed ided for what is going to come from it.

Speaker 3 (20:07):
I mean we've already seen what's.

Speaker 6 (20:08):
Come from it all over the world, just just from
that US Canada game and how much notice hockey is
getting from it and how much, like I.

Speaker 3 (20:15):
Said, it's it's putting all the other sports on blast.

Speaker 6 (20:18):
Basically like saying, like you know, this is how we
play our sport. We play with passion, we care it
doesn't matter if it's an international thing where guys are
just playing for pride.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
We fucking care and that's what it's all about.

Speaker 6 (20:30):
And I think that's that's what I got from this tournament,
and that's what everyone should be getting, and everyone should
be feeling grateful that they're getting to watch this because
kudos are the Kudos are the players for caring this
much and you know, making this the product. Because I
think that we're all lucky to be watching this.

Speaker 1 (20:50):
Yes, you said it so perfectly, and I think it's
we're just lucky to care about something. Gosh, it's so
nice to care about something and be really invested in
something these days, because you know, it's sometimes.

Speaker 5 (21:01):
Hard to find that.

Speaker 1 (21:02):
But in saying that, there's obviously a price that you
pay when you care too much, so I have to
see how that turns out. But we're lucky to have
somebody join us here on the show who cares a
lot about hockey, cares a lot about her craft and
it shows because she's one of the best. And that
is Jackie Redman from NHL on TNT and WWE joining

(21:25):
us on the energy line. Okay, we are so jazzed
be able to welcome in someone who actually has been
at the tournament. She's been there right rink side, interviewing
all these guys, and that is none other than the
wonderful Jackie Redmand from NHL on TNT and WWE, who

(21:49):
is literally always always, always, always working or on a flight,
and we are so thrilled to be able to have
her here.

Speaker 7 (21:55):
So Jackie, thank you for making the time, Thanks for
having me.

Speaker 8 (21:59):
I want to dispute your claims, but they're all true,
so I have to just roll with it, smile and nod,
but happy to be here. I mean, Julie, you got
to some games too, write some forny.

Speaker 1 (22:08):
Well, yes, Nate and I we both experienced the tournament
in different ways, but we did see each other there.

Speaker 8 (22:16):
He was.

Speaker 7 (22:17):
He was in the like front.

Speaker 1 (22:19):
Row, and I was like up in the you know, rafters.
But hey, perspective right, But Jackie, you were right. Layers,
there's layers.

Speaker 7 (22:26):
To the.

Speaker 1 (22:31):
I was on a bus whatever, you know. I'm not
mad about it, but I got not the p jade
of the.

Speaker 8 (22:37):
Coach bus like disparity going on.

Speaker 7 (22:40):
I love that.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
I feel like I'm never going to hear the end
of this.

Speaker 7 (22:43):
Beauhould you, nor should you.

Speaker 1 (22:46):
We're going to switch places soon. It'll be like the
parent trap or whatever. But Jackie, back to you and
you being able to be a part of this tournament.
You're there in Montreal for the first game, you're there
in Boston, Like, just give us the vibes of what
it was just like to be there.

Speaker 8 (23:02):
I mean, aside from obvious electric, so cool, I think
the atmosphere in watching one of the games back on
TV as well is that I think it translated through
the TV, so what people at home felt that fomo
that they felt that like, oh my gosh, it seems
so amazing, so loud, so energetic. That is what it
was like in person as well. And just for me

(23:25):
from a personal standpoint, like I've never covered Team Canada
on the international stage in person. I've done a lot
of studio work and a lot of highlights, but never
best on best ever, not even World Cup of Hockey
in twenty sixteen in Toronto.

Speaker 7 (23:39):
I didn't get to any of those games in person.
So for me it was very much a bucket list thing.

Speaker 8 (23:45):
And you know, ahead of the tournament, I wasn't sure
and I don't know what your guys thoughts are on this,
but I was like, do the players care though, Like
would they rather be in Cobo with their wives? Like,
I don't know the answer to that, and I don't
think anybody did until we actually dropped the puck on
game one or the guys out and started practicing for

(24:05):
the games.

Speaker 7 (24:06):
So I wasn't sure if people would give a shit.
Am I allowed to swear? I okay, I wasn't sure
if people would give a shit, That's just the truth.
I was like, they might not.

Speaker 8 (24:16):
I have no idea because there's no Olympic gold medal
at the end of this. But it was very clear,
as we all know now from the very first second
of actual gameplay, that yeah, it turns out they really
do care. And I think that that has made for
an amazing experience personally, professionally, and I think for hockey fans.

Speaker 7 (24:35):
So yeah, it was incredible.

Speaker 8 (24:37):
I was kind of pinching myself and flashing back to
the first time I met Cassi Campbell and being like,
oh my god.

Speaker 7 (24:43):
Dem Canada matters again. It's so good. Yeah, it's great.

Speaker 6 (24:47):
Well, I'm clearly outnumbered here being from the US. Finally, finally,
I know, I mean, you kind of answer my question
about what what you thought was going to happen with this,
with these games and going on from here.

Speaker 3 (25:04):
You would you want to see an event like this
every year.

Speaker 8 (25:08):
I would want to see it for sure, every couple years.
I mean, I'm hoping that, you know, NHLers are going
to continue to be able to go to the Olympics
every four years. I think we should definitely do it more.
Does it get watered down if we do it every
single year would be my worry.

Speaker 7 (25:25):
I think every two years is great.

Speaker 8 (25:27):
Because if you kind of you know, if you have
the Olympics every four years and then a World Cup
or a Four Nations every four years as well. But
like offset, I think that would be great because I
think this has really proven to be for you know,
players not named Connor mc david, a great way to
showcase yourself for the Olympics in a couple of years.
If you're one of those guys that's either getting older

(25:49):
or isn't you know, the best player in the world
to say I deserve to be on this roster, right
Like even Drew Dowdy, I don't think we're talking.

Speaker 7 (25:56):
About him enough. This guy almost wasn't.

Speaker 8 (25:59):
On the team and then you factor in injuries and
things that have happened, and they've needed Drew Dowdy to
play the role I'll be at a different one's than
he's played on the Olympic stage. They've really needed him,
so I've found that fascinating. I don't know if that
helps him for the Olympics or not. I have had
that that's beyond my pay grade. I'll leave that to

(26:19):
Canada to decide, but I do think it's very interesting,
and I think for the majority of guys, they want
that opportunity, especially if they're maybe on the bubble and
they're not sure if they would make a roster for
their country, to be able to say, okay, a year
before or two years before, I actually will be able
to audition or showcase myself in front of the people

(26:39):
who are going to be making those decisions. So yeah,
I hope that we do it more. But every I
don't know, every year, it might start to like if
Crosby's doing this every year or McDavid's doing it every
single year, does it eventually become like All Star Weekend
where they're kind of like pulling an ov and being like,
you know, this is great, but I'd really love to

(27:01):
have some beers on the beach with my friend because
that would be lovely too.

Speaker 7 (27:06):
So I don't know.

Speaker 1 (27:08):
I mean, Jackie, you bring up such a great point
with this being with the Olympics being next year and
just kind of like the idea of I mean, the
tournament is in itself very exciting, very important, But who
knows what these two teams and obviously other teams as
well will look like going forward based on everything we've seen.
But you bring up Drew Dowdy, and well, Nate's a
big fan. He's been like on his horse since the beginning.

(27:30):
But Dowdy said earlier this week.

Speaker 5 (27:32):
To TNT right with Biz, just saying like if he
had to, he would fight for his country.

Speaker 1 (27:39):
We got to ask, Yeah, I mean, obviously there's been
a lot of fights that have really galvanized, that have
attracted people to hockey that wouldn't have normally watched hockey,
which is great.

Speaker 5 (27:52):
I think it's like amazing. What do you think about
what we might see in the final in terms of
guys drop in the.

Speaker 8 (27:59):
Midst I think if it comes to it, any guy
on either of those roster will do it, because it's
very clear how much they care. We've talked about that already,
so I think they're willing to do it. I will say, though,
this one's for all the marbles. This is not a
quote unquote round robin game. And while that game certainly
mattered and they cared about it and they gave it
everything they had, I do think that I don't think

(28:21):
we're going to see a fight right off the opening
face off for this one. I think Canada really wants
to bounce back and beat the Americans and prove that
they are the best hockey nation in the world.

Speaker 7 (28:33):
And for the.

Speaker 8 (28:33):
Americans, they don't want to repeat of twenty ten at
the Olympics, right, So I think there's a spot for fighting,
and I think if the game leads there, the guys
will obviously do it. I mean, I think these guys
are willing to just like give it all up for this,
put it all on the line. But I don't know
that it's I don't know that it's necessarily going to
be let's fight right off the draw to like make

(28:55):
a statement. I think the statement was already made by
the Americans for sure, and now it's about okay. I
don't think that there's going to be any messing around unless,
like Connor McDavid gets run again by someonee.

Speaker 7 (29:10):
But I don't know if it'll be quite this yeah
twice twice.

Speaker 8 (29:15):
Oh my gosh, Charlie McVoy, what a game for him.
My god, it's it's unfortunate that we won't see him
in the championship game. But I say all that to
say I don't think there's going to be as much
of a spectacle, not that I want to use that
word because it might have a negative connotation.

Speaker 7 (29:29):
I loved every second of.

Speaker 8 (29:30):
The last game, but I don't think it'll be quite
I think it'll be a little more nerves involved in
this one.

Speaker 5 (29:35):
Maybe maybe.

Speaker 6 (29:37):
Yeah, that's that's actually a good point. I didn't think
about that because of the fact that, I mean, these
guys want to win the game first off, right, And
you talk about Drew Dowdy, you talk about all these
different players. I do think Dewey has been a huge
X factor for four Team Canada going into this tournament
and even being there the last few days. Is there

(29:57):
one player that you were kind of looking forward to
that could be an X factor? And I'll say Team
Canada because I know you're from canad them, so I
know you're going to probably give that answer. You know what,
who is that one player for you?

Speaker 8 (30:10):
Listen, I don't want to be disowned by my fellow
Canadians or my fellow Toronto Maple Leafs fans, because I
still sort of like, you know, I fly that flag proudly.

Speaker 7 (30:20):
Pretty pretty proud yers Actually, Keith could Chuck called me
out for it last week. I interviewed him and I said.

Speaker 8 (30:28):
Something and he was like, oh my god, you and
biz with the Leafs, like, knock it off.

Speaker 7 (30:32):
I don't even want to talk about it with you.
I was like, okay, cool, cool. How did you reply
to that? Literally, I said, okay, cool, cool, Yeah, it's.

Speaker 5 (30:43):
A Canadian way.

Speaker 7 (30:44):
Just what am I gonna say it all?

Speaker 8 (30:45):
What am I going to say to Keith could Chuck, No,
you have to talk to.

Speaker 7 (30:48):
Me about the Maple Leaves.

Speaker 8 (30:50):
He's like this off, like, no, I'm not talking to
you about Toronto, right, but yeah, no shout out to
him though.

Speaker 7 (30:56):
He's great. But what was the question?

Speaker 8 (30:59):
Oh?

Speaker 7 (30:59):
Yeah, an X factor.

Speaker 8 (31:00):
I know I already mentioned him a little bit, but
I think Charlie McAvoy had a hell of a game
against Team Canada, So I thought that he was a
big X factor in a way that I maybe didn't
necessarily expect from him, And maybe that's me kind of
being ignorant to his game on my part, but the
fact that at one point, I think he only had
four hits in the game and two of them were

(31:22):
on Connor McDavid, the fastest player world, Like, that's kind
of that's kind of wild, Like it's tough just to
hit McDavid in general. I would assume I haven't looked
up the numbers on this of like how many hits
he's taken and where that ranks in terms of like
the elite skill players, but I'm willing to bet that
McDavid does not take a lot of hits, and so

(31:43):
just catching him.

Speaker 7 (31:44):
And being able to make contact with him is one thing.

Speaker 8 (31:47):
To be able to do it in the fashion that
Charlie McAvoy did is like a whole other stratosphere. So
I thought that was I didn't expect that, Like, I
did not expect to see that in this tournament.

Speaker 7 (31:59):
So I'll say that.

Speaker 8 (32:00):
And then for Team Canada, you know, I was down
definite lyas.

Speaker 7 (32:04):
Somebody who maybe.

Speaker 8 (32:08):
Was a little bit like there's a lot of lightning
players on this squad and the great players.

Speaker 7 (32:13):
They're great players.

Speaker 8 (32:16):
Okay, I'm not taking anything away, so everybody just like,
bite your tongue for a second.

Speaker 7 (32:22):
But I was a little skeptical of that.

Speaker 8 (32:24):
But I think we've seen a few different examples of
Cooper understandably so sort of leaning on them because he
does trust them and he does know the way that
they play, and I am less skeptical of that. Now
we'll see how the We'll see how the final game goes.
And I do like that Cooper's been willing to sort
of change up his lines that obviously worked really well

(32:45):
for them against Finland. So I've liked that from Cooper
as well. But I was a little like, there's a
little bit of Bolts bias here, and I don't.

Speaker 7 (32:53):
Know if that's good or not. We'll see.

Speaker 1 (32:56):
I don't think you're the only one who thought that,
because I think a lot of people were just like, well, wait, sick.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
And I.

Speaker 6 (33:05):
Mean, toy, I think we know, like if we had
if Team Canada had Tom Wilson, it could be a
little bit different story too.

Speaker 8 (33:11):
Oh yeah, everybody's is on a beach somewhere being like
everyone loves you Yeah, everybody.

Speaker 7 (33:17):
Wants me there.

Speaker 8 (33:18):
It must be nice to be that wanted, you know,
Like this huge events going on, everyone's talking about how
it's growing the game, and it's been so much.

Speaker 7 (33:26):
Fun and electric, and the competition's.

Speaker 8 (33:28):
Been good, and Tom Wilson is getting all this attention despite.

Speaker 7 (33:33):
Not even being there.

Speaker 8 (33:34):
It's just everyone is just pumping his tires left, right
and center, which must be a great, a great feeling.

Speaker 7 (33:39):
Like absolutely the heart grow fonder.

Speaker 1 (33:41):
Yeah, And like I think probably people didn't maybe didn't
expect it to be obviously, people didn't expect three fights
in nine seconds, Like but like if they thought that,
I think been built differently.

Speaker 5 (33:53):
Yeah, you know, I.

Speaker 8 (33:55):
Just think that there was a genuine like unknown going
into this of will the players care and will they
care to the point that they're willing to sacrifice potentially
their regular season or parts of their regular season by
getting injured. We have seen, at least in terms of
Canada and the US, that they absolutely are willing to

(34:16):
get injured for.

Speaker 7 (34:17):
This, which is saying a fucking lot, Like I get it.
Four nations. You want to be the best nation in
the world.

Speaker 8 (34:25):
You want to come out on top, you want to
say that we're the best country in hockey right now,
and maybe even you know, set a precedent or not president,
set a tone for the Olympics next year. But at
the end of the day, like, there's still a Stanley
Cup on the line for a lot of these guys
that are playing in these games. So to me, the
fact that you're willing to potentially sacrifice your ability to

(34:46):
help your team get in the playoffs or contend for
a Cup when the time comes, I know it's still
far away, but a serious injury could take you out.
I mean, someone hurts their knee and they're done. So
I don't even remember where this tangent started. No, but
I think you make it a good point. The guys
like probably and maybe this is because of the nine

(35:06):
years of not having the best I'm best with NHL,
but these guys are like using terms of like I
will like die for my country, Like I will go
out there and I will block any shot with my face.
Like that's something that you could see Connor McDavid saying,
or like they're like no, no, no, don't do that.
But it's like maybe all this pent up just I

(35:27):
don't know, energy, especially just like Canada Usa, everything going on,
it's like everyone's like, no, I'm all in.

Speaker 5 (35:33):
And even more.

Speaker 8 (35:35):
Who saw Brandon Hagel having the quote of the term
yeah so far like I did.

Speaker 7 (35:39):
For the flag not the cameras.

Speaker 8 (35:41):
I was like, okay, okay, Brandon, didn't.

Speaker 7 (35:44):
Know you had that in you? That was that was spicy.

Speaker 5 (35:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (35:47):
I was like, wow, okay, listen.

Speaker 8 (35:52):
I just think there's so many things at play right
which has all resulted in this amazingly successful event for
the league, which is the obvious political climate, right yeah, right.

Speaker 7 (36:04):
Like at that play.

Speaker 8 (36:06):
If you don't think that that is part of why
people outside of our sport gravitated to that USA Canada
game and then you're insane.

Speaker 7 (36:15):
That's a big part of it.

Speaker 8 (36:16):
I think it's the fact they haven't been able to
play like the idea that we haven't seen Connor McDavid
in a true like best on best where it's it's
actual Canada versus actually to say, and the young players
aren't on some team North America and all that stuff,
which I loved. I loved not criticizing it, but I
think that's wild that it's been ten years of McDavid

(36:37):
being a pro and this is the first real shot
that we're getting to see him and Crosby on the
same team, Like it's it's just wild, but yeah, it's
it's a lot of things at play a lot, almost
too much.

Speaker 7 (36:51):
I'm overstimulated.

Speaker 6 (36:52):
No, I did while myself, I felt the same way,
Like sitting down watching the US Canada game, like after
this whole weekend, it was like I needed like a
just come down off of whatever. We're just whatever we
just witnessed. But you know, we've watched you on T
and T and you do a great job, by the way,

(37:13):
and is there one like is there one interview over
the course of your career or even this last weekend
that really like sticks out to you? We're like, man,
that was the best interview, Like I really enjoyed it.
You know, we're just some great answers, Like it's like
someone that really really sticks out to because I'm always
curious because of you know, you've been doing this for
a long time and I'm sure you've heard some great
things over the years, so you know.

Speaker 7 (37:35):
What it's so maybe I'm just tired. I'm like, who
am I interview?

Speaker 8 (37:39):
Like I'm trying to like remember and like kind of
go back, like this weekend was great, But I will
say this about a lot of the interviews that I
did this week those guys are so dialed in, Like
it's tough sometimes in game and even postgame to get
a good or exciting interview from a top star. And
I feel like even more so this weekend, these guys

(38:01):
were just dialed like they were.

Speaker 7 (38:04):
They were just so focused on winning the whole thing.

Speaker 8 (38:07):
Although it's been great to interview the game's best, right,
like that's never a bad thing.

Speaker 7 (38:12):
But I'm trying to.

Speaker 8 (38:12):
Think, like in my career, which one what interview would
stand out to me? I think, you know what, actually
I do know the answer Paul Maurice after losing in
the Stanley Cup final is probably one that I go
back to and one that people bring up to me
all the time. But I even write like they lose.
What did he say?

Speaker 5 (38:32):
Again?

Speaker 8 (38:33):
So I had asked him at first because remember kud
Chuck couldn't play in that final game, right like he
had played with that Sturdam injury in the game before.
But in the actual final game where Vegas won, he
was out. And I said to him, you know, how
tough was it for Matthew not to be able to

(38:54):
actually play in this game, like how how.

Speaker 7 (38:57):
Hard was that?

Speaker 8 (38:58):
And I could sense in his answer then that not
only was he emotional, but he was will to kind
of be open and honest, which I'll be totally.

Speaker 7 (39:07):
I don't know if I've ever said this like publicly before.

Speaker 8 (39:10):
But when I'm on the ice right Vegas has just
won the Stanley Cup, reporter slash media is like dream right,
Like I'm never winning a Cup, but to be on
the ice when the guys are skating around with it
and interview them after they just achieved, like a lifelong dream,
Like that is the that's what you want.

Speaker 7 (39:26):
And I'm out.

Speaker 8 (39:27):
There and pangers out there and we're doing our thing,
and producer gets in my ear and it's like, hey,
they want you to go back of house, which just
you know is by the locker rooms whatever and interview
Paul Maurice.

Speaker 7 (39:39):
And I was like, you want me to interview the
losing coach?

Speaker 8 (39:44):
I was like, do we really think that we're gonna
get a good interview here? Not even a pal Maurice
is always good, all right, like class act, But is
this really something more interesting to the people watching than
hearing from the guys that just won.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (40:01):
I kind of didn't know, and of course, so I'm
a professional.

Speaker 8 (40:05):
So I was like, whatever you guys need, I got it,
let's go do it. And I started thinking about what
I would ask him. And when I asked him the
Kuchuck question, I could tell immediately.

Speaker 7 (40:13):
I was like, oh, he's not going to give me
your stock whatever. I just lost. I'm devastated. I've been
coaching in this league.

Speaker 8 (40:19):
For one hundred years and like I still like, haven't
gotten it.

Speaker 7 (40:24):
He was very open and vulnerable.

Speaker 8 (40:25):
So my follow up question was just, you know, something
to the effect I'm paraphrasing, but something to the effect
of like, how how proud are you of the integrity
of this group? Because it was it wasn't that long
ago that you know, you opted to step back in
Winnipeg because for in some instances, not not a lack

(40:47):
of passion for the game, but kind of you were
burnt out and you needed to step away. Like what
does it mean to you to have gone through this
battle with this team who played through sternam injuries. I
think ek Blood had like a broken ankle or something
to that degree.

Speaker 7 (40:59):
And then his answer was un believable.

Speaker 8 (41:04):
He basically said that being around this group who love
each other so much and who have proven it on
this journey to the final, that it reignited his belief
in the integrity of the sport, the integrity of the players,
what they will do for each other, and the community
that it can create.

Speaker 7 (41:22):
I'm paraphrasing here.

Speaker 8 (41:23):
He said it probably a lot more eloquently than I
am right now, but it was a very heartfelt and
vulnerable and open and they had just lost and I
think it just people connected with that, people connected with
you know, this guy who publicly admitted, like I need
to step away in Winnipeg because I'm not the guy
for them anymore. I've taken them as far as I can,

(41:45):
and you know, to some degree, like there's a burnout, right,
the pandemic had happened, like so much had gone on,
and for him to sit there and be like they
they reignited something in me and my belief in what
this is all about. I think that touched a lot
of hockey fans, and so that's probably one that I'm

(42:05):
very proud of.

Speaker 7 (42:06):
But really all the credit goes to Paul, Like I
didn't do anything.

Speaker 1 (42:09):
I oh, but Yeah, I was just the set up
the question and the moment, like you don't guess you
don't get those answers without the right way, the right vibe,
like the way you are with the people that trust
that they have in you and when you're around them.
I know just firsthand how difficult it can be to
find to be to come up with the question that

(42:30):
could try to elicit any fucking sentence that is worthwhile
of anything. I know, I know, I'm I remember working
with the Ducks and I'd be just like going through
thesaurus like trying to come up with new words different ways,
like come on, we just need to pulling to get
something use. And you do a great job. You bring

(42:51):
so much energy and I love with you working with
WWE and kind of having that experience as well and
bringing that into hockey, which I think is really important
because it's not the standard that we not not the
same old kind of stuff that we see. Like you,
it looks as though you bring a different energy with
the players, and so when you are trying to come
up with these questions. First of all, I just want

(43:12):
to give you a shout out when you asked Nate
mccannon about the Nova Scotia connection. I immediately buyy you because, ah, because.

Speaker 7 (43:20):
I'm a Nova Scotia girl.

Speaker 1 (43:21):
Yeah, did you feel like any cud did you feel
kind of like, hey, I'm I'm also I don't know,
I feel I feel a sense of pride for you
being there up there with them one.

Speaker 7 (43:30):
Hundred percent one hundred percent.

Speaker 8 (43:32):
You know, if that was like a Brad Marshan interview,
I probably would have like included myself in it because
I think he would have like played off it really well,
whereas Nate is always like so nice, so kind, but
like he is like game.

Speaker 7 (43:45):
Mode, all business.

Speaker 8 (43:46):
So I was like, I can't really like try to
joke around here about this.

Speaker 7 (43:50):
I think you are but yeah, thank.

Speaker 8 (43:54):
You, but no, of course, you know, I didn't grow
up in Nova Scotia, but I am from out here.
I live out here, and now it's where I am
right now, is in the country in Nova Scotia, and
so I know firsthand what Crosby, McKinnon and Marshan mean
to this place. Like I think if you've never been
to Nova Scotia, you don't really know much about it,
Like it is a small place and you know, there's

(44:17):
a lot of people that live out here. But when
someone succeeds here this place, it's like I could get
emotional thing about it because they just have your back,
they support you, and I know we're talking about some
of the best players in the NHL when we talk
about Crosby and McKinnon and or sorry, yeah, Crosby and
McKinnon and Marshann. Like I don't think people realize, Like
my husband was on Big Brother ten years ago and

(44:40):
people still like at Tim Horton's will be like, I
was rooting for you, I'm Big Brother, and he's like
that was like twelve years ago, you know, But it's
like it matters. They're so proud of everyone that comes
from here. Like talk to Jody Shelley right like he's
from the Maritimes. People still like when he comes up
on TNT, all get tweets like, oh my gosh, we've

(45:00):
got two East Coasters on TNT, like Jody Shelley, Jackie
Edmond whatever. So people out here are just so proud
of anyone that that kind of finds any success. And
so I think it means a lot to people here
to see them succeed because they also they all still
live out here.

Speaker 7 (45:18):
You know, they they don't all live, you.

Speaker 8 (45:20):
Know, out in New York or Hollywood, like they're here
every summer.

Speaker 7 (45:25):
They still go to their local.

Speaker 8 (45:26):
Rinks, they go they don't even always go to the
private golf courses like they go to the public golf
courses sometimes. So it's just, yeah, it's the best out here.
I could go on and on, but yeah, it was
cool to be a part of that sort of in
some weird way.

Speaker 7 (45:42):
I guess, well, I mean.

Speaker 6 (45:44):
I've been out to the Maritimes, I've been to Halifax,
I've been to Newfoundland, and anyone that's been anyone that's
been in Newfoundland knows.

Speaker 3 (45:51):
What kind of time you're gonna have there. Yeah, but
I want to ask.

Speaker 6 (45:54):
And I think we all got to witness a pretty
special moment on Wednesday, especially when Sweden was playing Canada,
and I called it a Michael Jordan moment. And Sidney
Crosby what he did Wednesday and then obviously what he's
done the whole tournament, but I think particularly Wednesday against
Sweden and how he had three assists and I mean
just kind of talk about that. I mean, for myself
sitting there, I was just kind of like kind of

(46:17):
being like, well, I'm grateful.

Speaker 3 (46:18):
I'm grateful that I'm here to watch this.

Speaker 7 (46:20):
Yeah, Crosby in the first game. Is that what you're
talking about?

Speaker 3 (46:22):
Yes, yeah, first game?

Speaker 8 (46:23):
Yeah, Yeah, I mean I've everyone out. I mean everyone
loves Crosby. I remember a few years ago. Everyone loves Crosby.
But I remember doing a video or doing a segment
for NHL Network a few years ago where I actually
talked about how I think Sidney Crosby at that season,
in that year was being underappreciated because we're so used

(46:46):
to him being incredible and being amazing and being you know,
he is the definition of a gamer, I think, because
it's not always about the points. It's everything else that
he does for his team in other ways that I
think matters that go unrecognized in a lot of ways.
But yeah, So to see him sort of be the
oldest guy in the Four Nations tournament, to be on

(47:09):
a team where you know, everyone's talking about him too,
but like McDavid, got a lot of hype going into
the tournament, rightfully, so for him to sort of be
the guy in that moment when he's surrounded by younger
superstars and MVP candidates for him to be the one
where everyone's like, oh my god, Crosby is still one

(47:30):
of the best players in the NHL, Like there's no
denying it. For me, I still think that he's the
best all around competitor in the league, and there will
be people that come for me for that.

Speaker 7 (47:42):
But if you understand what.

Speaker 8 (47:44):
I'm trying to say, it's not just the skill, like
all around play, gamesmanship, everything like it's Crosby. So to
see him sort of come to the forefront and show
it and be like I still got it, Like I'm
still gonna be the person that can take it, take
a game and shift it and and be the story
and make things happen. It's pretty incredible, I think, to

(48:06):
do in the place that he's at in his career.
And I do wonder if this tournament I'm playing with
these guys and sort of having that passion reignited that
I think all of us kind of, you know, forgot
what it was like to watch this type of hockey
and to kind of feel this like national pride for
the sport. I do wonder if it alters his perspective

(48:30):
on the next few years of his career, and if
it maybe is maybe I do want to test the
water somewhere else because I'm sure if I feel this way,
where I haven't been this Like, Truthfully, I love my job.

Speaker 7 (48:47):
I'm passionate about hockey.

Speaker 8 (48:48):
But it has been a long time since I've gotten
ready for a game and been like, I'm nervous and
I care so much who wins right.

Speaker 7 (48:58):
Now, like I really am.

Speaker 8 (48:59):
I am invested, So I can't imagine for the players
what am I feel like after not having played in
this type of situation for so long? So does that
change things for Sidney Crosby. I don't know, And I
would have did like you to be a Penguin forever.

Speaker 5 (49:17):
Okay, that's a very interesting perspective.

Speaker 1 (49:19):
I thought you were going to say, maybe, like, does
this change things if he can play for Team Canada
next year at the Olympics. I think this really showed
us he probably still can. No matter what this guy's like,
Benjamin Budden.

Speaker 8 (49:33):
There's no unless he breaks his leg, Crosby is at
the Olympics next year.

Speaker 7 (49:40):
No, am I even if he did, I think.

Speaker 8 (49:44):
Right, yeah, I'd be on the bench, he'd be assistant coach.

Speaker 7 (49:47):
His leg's broken, but he's with us.

Speaker 6 (49:49):
He'd be well, the craziest thing is is he he
is still considered, I think, a top three player on
this team, and he's thirty seven, and you know, he's
still the guy. So I mean, I love what you said.
I mean, he is sid is he's my favorite player too,
and I played it watching it, he's.

Speaker 8 (50:06):
Such a surprise to like he yeah, and I think too, Like,
I know this is said over and over to the
point about a lot of guys, to the point that
I think maybe it almost sounds cliche or textbook to
people that aren't in the business or haven't played, or
or aren't.

Speaker 7 (50:21):
In the media.

Speaker 8 (50:22):
But Sidney Crosby really is the absolute, like perfect face
of the NHL. Like McDavid, Yes, is the face of
the league right now, McKinnon's a face like they are
the younger faces.

Speaker 7 (50:35):
Of the league.

Speaker 8 (50:36):
But I still think the way that Crosby conducts himself
with the media, win lose, doesn't matter. He's so down
to earth and humble, and you never, at least for me,
you never ever feel like he's just like, oh, I
just want to get through this interview. I just I

(50:56):
don't really want to be here. He never projects that,
even if he's feeling it. He always gives you the attention,
answers your questions, makes it seem like he's engaged, even
if maybe he's absolutely livid about whatever just happened or
the state of the Penguins or whatever it might be.
Like he cares so much about making sure the game

(51:17):
is growing and received in a positive light.

Speaker 7 (51:20):
And it's no shade to any other superstars in the league.

Speaker 8 (51:24):
But the majority of other superstars, like you will catch
them after a loss just getting through it, not really
listening to your question.

Speaker 7 (51:33):
And I don't blame them. I don't blame them at all.
Like I am never.

Speaker 8 (51:38):
Upset if a player isn't giving me time or I
can tell just as like, let's just get this over with.
It's fine, it's understandable. Like your job is not to
give me a good interview. Your job is to play
hockey and win. But my point is that Crosby always
does like he never lets what's going on with him,
his team, whatever, affect the way that he engages or

(52:00):
talks about the game with people. And I think that
that stuff matters, and so for me, he is still
the biggest and best ambassador in terms of active players
for our game.

Speaker 5 (52:13):
Yeah, I think that's spot on.

Speaker 1 (52:14):
I was watching TVA Sports from a bar in Montreal
when I was still stuck there, and they had the
camera still in the locker room afterward, which I know
they were just following the guys around. It was on
the big screen and they had it on Marshawn and Crosby,
and Marshawn was just you know, talking, just beaking away
whatever he's saying, and Crosby is just sort of like
looking at him and kind of like I was like,

(52:36):
is Crosby gonna like have like a bit of personality
or like being like.

Speaker 7 (52:40):
Hey, are you that ice?

Speaker 1 (52:42):
Yeah, And he was just sort of like listening to
Marshawn whatever he was like bitching about in the game,
and I thought, oh, that's that's like exactly Crosby. But
one little thing is that I know people in New
York absolutely hate him because he's member of the Pittsburgh
Penguins who have like hurt them in the playoffs, and
then also a lot of USA people here who hate
him because of the Golden Goal. And I just have

(53:04):
a hard time being around those people. AKA my ex boyfriend.

Speaker 5 (53:07):
But moving on to.

Speaker 8 (53:10):
Not an ex boyfriend, drop Oh my gosh, getting into
dating life.

Speaker 7 (53:17):
Yes, Nate and I have a lot to say about dating.
One thinks to get really interesting, let's go.

Speaker 1 (53:22):
I'm gay, I'm here for it, okay, but I do
want to just I we'll let you go in a second,
but I just really.

Speaker 7 (53:28):
Want to go.

Speaker 3 (53:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (53:32):
Yeah, really curious, just like because neither one of us
have been right down there locker room, and none of
our listeners have the perspective that you have.

Speaker 7 (53:42):
But like, what, what.

Speaker 1 (53:44):
Have the vibes just been like around the locker room,
guys getting ready for him up, they're walking in, Like
what's been maybe unique about Canada or USA? And just
like getting to see them and watch them at that level.

Speaker 8 (53:57):
What surprises me because I know how much they care
and how seriously they're taking these games. They're still very
loose and energetic and having fun. And I've been like
I've covered Stanley Cup finals. It's not always like that.
I've covered playoff series where one room is very quiet,
very like there's nothing coming. You can't hear anything when

(54:19):
they're in the hallway. It's just very dialed. So I've
covered playoff series where it's very quiet, there's no music
coming out of the room, it's very like, not low energy,
but just everyone's serious or very like this. And then
sometimes in the playoffs there's teams where it's less so.
But this is the most that I've seen anyways where

(54:41):
guys are focused but they're loose, they're energetic, they're having fun.
I think the energy that we all feel for this
being back and being excited, I think that they feel
it too, and I think that it's it's hard to
contain that when it comes from such a genuine place
of being excited to be there, and you know, we
live in a day and age where that's not always

(55:02):
necessarily the case like that is just life. Like sometimes
people don't want to be there, like you know, like
sometimes people don't want to.

Speaker 7 (55:10):
Be at the slam dunk contest. Sometimes people don't want
to be there.

Speaker 8 (55:14):
Like that's just facts. But in this case, they really
really do. And I think that as serious and as
focused as they are, it's it's hard to contain that
even even the podiums, right, Like, guys don't always want
to go out there and have media in their face
asking them questions. But everyone in this case seems very
just lose open whatever.

Speaker 7 (55:36):
I think they're all having a really good time, and
I will say.

Speaker 8 (55:41):
Maybe a little bit nervous. But Team USA is the
music coming out of their room, it's like I'm kind
of getting namped on it, like, you know, kind of
kind of beat to the place they're in, a little
they're in, like, at least from what I've heard.

Speaker 7 (55:55):
Now this might change.

Speaker 8 (55:56):
You know, you're only going buy the room so many times, right,
you obviously know obviously Freebird.

Speaker 7 (56:01):
But it's a lot of rock, which hmmm, I.

Speaker 8 (56:05):
Think it's because of the elder statesman in that room, right,
Like I think if it was a bunch of like
early twenties like NHL ors, it might be a different genre.
But everything I've heard has been like rock.

Speaker 6 (56:18):
I think the Aerosmith I think their win song was
Aerosmith dream On I think was their win song was
pretty I think so, which is pretty fire.

Speaker 3 (56:26):
Actually, it was a pretty good win song. I'm so very,
very very American.

Speaker 1 (56:30):
Yeah, I'm surprised there's not like a Kendrick Lamar Drake
situation going on between the locker rooms because that feels.

Speaker 7 (56:37):
First of all, first of all, first.

Speaker 8 (56:39):
Of all, okay, did you guys, sorry, did you guys
see the video that came out after Team Canada.

Speaker 7 (56:50):
I think did it.

Speaker 8 (56:51):
If I'm missing the person that put this together, I
sincerely apologize if I am given credit to the wrong place.

Speaker 7 (56:56):
But I think it was Team Canada.

Speaker 8 (56:58):
Was asking all of the guys, this is before the
first game had even happened. You know who they want
to see perform halftime at the Super Bowl?

Speaker 7 (57:05):
Oh yeah, and this is waiting after it.

Speaker 8 (57:09):
Had his performance, and half the guys said Drake, and I.

Speaker 7 (57:14):
Was like, I like, he's Canadian.

Speaker 8 (57:16):
I get it, I understand, but like, did we not
just witness the murder of break?

Speaker 7 (57:23):
I like we did. But he.

Speaker 8 (57:27):
Has since bounced back in his own way with his
new music, which full transparency. I haven't listened to yet,
but I've seen people talking about it. But at that time,
we hadn't heard from Drake yet. We just had Kendrick's
Elite Elite performance.

Speaker 5 (57:44):
Yeah, it was like one day later.

Speaker 1 (57:45):
I don't Yeah, I think I think I give back
to you guys too much credit for being cerebral. Sorry Nate,
But like maybe they just didn't really think about it.

Speaker 7 (57:53):
I don't really think that.

Speaker 8 (57:56):
Maybe, you know, like true they are focused on other
things they're not is like I'm like, I'm watching videos
breaking down Kendricks and them and what it means and
all that stuff, Like these guys are not doing that.
I wonder what they think about the Blake Lively, Ryan Red.
They probably have no idea.

Speaker 1 (58:12):
They'll just be like no, Justin Beldoni, like you know,
they just they're not Yeah, who is that? We need
to educate them on Mark? Well, sorry, eight, maybe you
can tell us. Do you think that they do you
think they knew about Kendrick's performance?

Speaker 3 (58:25):
Oh yeah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 7 (58:27):
Guys, do you think they thought about it?

Speaker 3 (58:29):
Like do I think that?

Speaker 6 (58:30):
Well, I think that it's it's Drake and he's from Toronto,
So I think especially the Leafs guys, I think they
feel like they're obligated to say Drake, maybe because who
knows some of them maybe know them or have them
there in their contacts.

Speaker 7 (58:42):
You know who they should have said, Bieber is what
they should have said. Yeah, you're right, I don't want
to see Bieber do a super Yeah.

Speaker 8 (58:47):
Bieber's like hello, maybe one of you guys said me, Yeah,
Bieber's the man. Also, uh, huge ambassador for hockey, like
he always is pumping his maple leafs and and you
don't see you don't see Justin Bieber and other teams jerseys.

Speaker 7 (59:02):
He's not throwing on habs jerseys.

Speaker 5 (59:05):
No, you have to remember Team Canada is the lead
is loyal.

Speaker 7 (59:10):
I'm joking. I'm joking, but we okay, Coach Chippy did
like the video. Here's the thing, here's the thing.

Speaker 8 (59:19):
Like I love Brad mar Shanksy's from Nova Scotia, but like,
why is he getting more and more likable because he is?
I can't root for him in the NHL like that,
can't I don't for anybody.

Speaker 7 (59:33):
Yeah, we don't have you know, I'm.

Speaker 8 (59:36):
Jack for I give the credit word, but I think
a lot of people.

Speaker 7 (59:41):
I think a lot of Leafs.

Speaker 8 (59:42):
Fans are having a heart and I haves fans too,
probably being like why do I like him?

Speaker 5 (59:49):
You're having to cheer.

Speaker 1 (59:52):
Austin Matthews and cheer four Brad Marshawn. It's like, it's weird,
breaks your brain, It's weird. Okay, Jackie, We're going to
let you go because Nate sounds like his kid screaming
in the background right now, did you guys?

Speaker 3 (01:00:09):
But he doesn't she did scream.

Speaker 6 (01:00:11):
But I have one one quick question what is your
prediction for tomorrow's game. I want to know that first
before we go.

Speaker 8 (01:00:18):
So this is not this is not me being biased,
I swear, but I think when you have McKinnon, Crosby,
and McDavid on the losing side of a game like
USA Canada last Saturday, it is very difficult for me
to believe that that loss in and of itself will

(01:00:42):
not be the fuel that fires those guys and drives
those guys to just put Team Canada on their back
and get it done. So I'm gonna say Team Canada
only because I think they're just not going to lose
to USA twice.

Speaker 5 (01:00:59):
Like you got one. That's good.

Speaker 7 (01:01:01):
You had to sacrifice a lot for that.

Speaker 3 (01:01:02):
When you guys, what's the score?

Speaker 7 (01:01:05):
Oh, I think it'll be tight three? Two? Yeah, I
think it'll be tight.

Speaker 8 (01:01:11):
I think it'll be it's gonna be a one goal game.
Maybe maybe if there's an empty net situation, maybe it's two.
But like it'll be a true one goal game for sure.
I hope it doesn't go to overtime.

Speaker 7 (01:01:23):
I mean that would.

Speaker 1 (01:01:24):
Still be badass if it does. I mean, Nate already
told us he said he's Okaya handle over time.

Speaker 7 (01:01:32):
So you are, I said, and I told him I
was going to keep it.

Speaker 6 (01:01:37):
I respect the game so much that if it went
to overtime, being an American, if only Sidney Crosby scored
the ot goal, I would appreciate it, and I would
not be mad because it's him. If it was anybody else,
I would be like, uh uh because it's because if
it's eighty seven, I would I would be okay with it.

Speaker 1 (01:01:59):
So that happens, you're going to get your Canadian citizenship, Well, we.

Speaker 3 (01:02:05):
Need to come up with a wager.

Speaker 7 (01:02:06):
But by the way, you should be asking for it.
Diss this point.

Speaker 5 (01:02:09):
Yeah, okay, nice.

Speaker 7 (01:02:15):
It's gonna be so fun.

Speaker 5 (01:02:17):
And I don't wait.

Speaker 7 (01:02:18):
I know, I can't wait.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
We're there, Jackie get a bounce to Boston, and I
will not.

Speaker 7 (01:02:24):
Be check it out. No, I wish that I could.

Speaker 8 (01:02:30):
Actually, I'll i'd listen if I hadn't had the month
that I just had. I spent four full days in
my own home in the last five weeks four so
I'm finally home for like four days in a row
for the first time since Christmas.

Speaker 7 (01:02:48):
So I am going to watch it on TV, probably
with a glass of wine in my hands. And I'm
going to be with the fans. I'm going to be
doing what the nation is doing. And I can't wait.
I truly can.

Speaker 1 (01:03:00):
You're like reintroducing yourself to your husband coming back after
that amount of time, Like, Hi, Yeah, Jackie.

Speaker 7 (01:03:06):
Nice to meet you.

Speaker 5 (01:03:09):
Yeah, you've been everywhere.

Speaker 1 (01:03:10):
We appreciate you taking the time, especially with only four
days at home and half of it now spent with us.

Speaker 5 (01:03:15):
Means a lot.

Speaker 1 (01:03:16):
Keep rocking on everything, love watching AWE.

Speaker 7 (01:03:21):
So you're the best. Thanks so much. All right, see
you when I see you.

Speaker 5 (01:03:31):
Okay, Jackie is such a gem.

Speaker 1 (01:03:33):
We are so lucky to have her on considering she's
only been home for four days in the last month. Wow,
that girl works her tail off. But I gotta say
I I do agree with her, as unbiased as that
opinion is both me and her, that I do think
Team Canada has that power up in them ready to
go after being you know, USA has kind of like

(01:03:56):
danced on their grave like in the game and afterward,
and I just feel as girl, everything yeah, and everyone
in USA has been.

Speaker 5 (01:04:04):
Like ho ho ho we own you know, like you're
put of the USA.

Speaker 7 (01:04:08):
Fifty first state.

Speaker 1 (01:04:09):
I mean, if I was playing for team Canada, I'd
feel a little extra fired up for this game.

Speaker 6 (01:04:13):
Yeah, I think that that definitely gives them some added
fuel to the fire.

Speaker 3 (01:04:19):
When when you have people saying.

Speaker 6 (01:04:21):
That they're the fifty first state in their face, and
then obviously what happened last game, I think that you're
going to get a response from Canada no matter what.
I don't think the Americans are cocky in this situation.
I think everyone around them is maybe cocky, but I
don't think anyone, well.

Speaker 5 (01:04:34):
The are cocky. Come on, that's like the N check.

Speaker 3 (01:04:38):
They're not cocky there jr.

Speaker 6 (01:04:40):
They're confident. No, I wouldn't say that they're cocky. I
think it's I think it's a swagger. I think you
got to have that swell.

Speaker 7 (01:04:47):
It's a very fine line made you heard.

Speaker 3 (01:04:50):
You heard Mike Sullivan talk about it before they went up.

Speaker 1 (01:04:53):
Just also the head coach of the team USA, so
he might have a been American.

Speaker 5 (01:04:59):
It's not cockiness, it's swagger.

Speaker 3 (01:05:03):
It's swagger. There's a fine line between being cocky and confident.
I think they on the line. They're right on the line.

Speaker 5 (01:05:10):
But I'm curious, like I go back and forth on this.

Speaker 1 (01:05:13):
Even being fired up like I mean fired up can
also you know, you could you could whatever. You could
shoot yourself in the foot with that by taking penalties,
you know, yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:05:28):
I mean it could. And and that's what I think
the Americans.

Speaker 6 (01:05:31):
If they're going to shoot themselves in the foot or
they're going to get in trouble in this game, it's
going to be if they get in the penalty box
or if they get too emotional, you know what I mean,
Like if you know, there's going to be some scrums,
there's gonna be some big hits.

Speaker 3 (01:05:43):
You know.

Speaker 6 (01:05:43):
I don't know if we're going to get fights again
like we did in Saturday's game, But I do think
that the Americans have to toe the line where you've
got to be smart because the last thing you want
to do is put the Canadians on the power play
with who they have on the power play, and we
got to witness that, uh this last weekend. So that
would be my sentiment for the Americans going into this game,

(01:06:06):
because you know, Canada is probably I mean, they're going
to be dialed.

Speaker 5 (01:06:10):
But same with Canada.

Speaker 1 (01:06:11):
I feel like that same goes for them as well,
because I could see them getting fired up and then
doing something I mean they.

Speaker 5 (01:06:17):
Seem a little bit more measured.

Speaker 3 (01:06:20):
No, but yeah, I think.

Speaker 6 (01:06:22):
Was what kind of what Jackie was saying, right, Like,
it's it's finding that controlled emotion, you know, being dialed,
being locked in, but being loose at the same time.
You know, I think both teams they're going to have
to find that. I mean, it's going to be a
lot easier said than done when you're playing and some
of these guys are saying the biggest hockey game of
their career. Yeah, so I mean it's going to be

(01:06:43):
it's going to be amazing.

Speaker 5 (01:06:44):
Are you taking the PJ there LEJ for me this time?

Speaker 3 (01:06:50):
I'll be hauled. I know it's a legit list, is
legitimate answer. I'm not going. I'm not going. I'll be
here at home on my couch watching the game.

Speaker 1 (01:06:56):
It's wild that, like we spent so much time in
Montreal watching games and.

Speaker 5 (01:07:00):
We're like, yeah, we're not going to be there for
the final.

Speaker 3 (01:07:04):
Spent all my energy and money three day gap.

Speaker 5 (01:07:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:07:09):
Yeah, Yeah, it's been a bit of an odd, odd timing.
I will say, I unfortunately schedule took up someone shift
at s n Y, which is Sports at New York
for February twentieth, not really thinking it through, and I
did that that would be the night of the final,
So I'll be talking about the Mets in the spring
training instead of watching that fin No, it's going to.

Speaker 5 (01:07:32):
Be all Kennedy able to watch the game.

Speaker 1 (01:07:34):
No, I'm going to watch it, and I'm going to
make sure that the entire broadcast is literally just a
post game show. They don't know that yet, but like,
I'll talk a nice little mention of Pete Alonzo at
one point, but then it's all straight cannady. I would
say on the Mets Network, Okay, score prediction, Nate for you.

Speaker 6 (01:07:53):
I'm going to go three two the Americans in overtime,
and it'll be Matthew Kuchuk scoring the gay GWG. Just
to I feel the fire a little bit more.

Speaker 1 (01:08:05):
It's like the opposite of twenty ten. It's like the
bizarro world of twenty ten when obviously Canada on overtime.
I just can't even imagine being on the losing side
of that. So that's why I just got like chills
when you said that. Okay, I'm going to say I
think it's going to be also two one. I'm going

(01:08:27):
to go Canada winning. But I'm not confident on that
answer because I do think it's just going to be
regulation overtime, no overtime. This one's got OT written all
over it, or it doesn't.

Speaker 5 (01:08:40):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (01:08:42):
We haven't even talked, Like, I mean, Goaltender's big. Goaltending
is big. I'm not really sure about Canada is huge.

Speaker 6 (01:08:50):
So who do you think is well? I mean, I honestly, Julie,
I think that Jordan Bennington has been really.

Speaker 1 (01:08:55):
Good except for a couple of except for a couple
of those letted.

Speaker 6 (01:09:00):
You could say the same thing for Hella Buck too.
He's letting a couple.

Speaker 3 (01:09:04):
Here and there, you know. But I think that Jordan
Bennington has been good for you guys.

Speaker 1 (01:09:07):
I mean other than Okay, first of all, I don't
play for a team Canada unfortunately, but I think that
just the idea of them having that lead against Finland
and then being four to three, and it's like, you know,
I will say, I watched with the Canadian commentators on
in the bar in Montreal and they said Canada hasn't
made any mistakes at all in this game, whatsoever. Booms

(01:09:35):
always as soon as they heard Craig Simpson say that.

Speaker 5 (01:09:38):
I was like, thanks, Bud, here we go, here we go,
all right, so we have our stakes.

Speaker 3 (01:09:45):
Are that?

Speaker 5 (01:09:45):
Also whoever wins?

Speaker 1 (01:09:47):
Just because even though I am an American, I'm a
Canadian hockey fan. First and foremost is that if USA wins, Nate,
I'll wear whatever USA bullshit you want me to wear.

Speaker 5 (01:09:59):
And if Canada wins, you wear Canadian.

Speaker 3 (01:10:01):
USA hockey stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:10:02):
Yeah, USA hockey stuff. Yeah, I'm just gonna have to
get my hands on that. Certainly, no USA hockey stuff
in here at all.

Speaker 3 (01:10:11):
I'll make sure you get it.

Speaker 1 (01:10:11):
Don't worry, I get it great, and I'll make sure
you get Team Canada stuff. Okay, guys, thank you so
much for listening to episode three of our new podcast,
Energy Line with Nate NJSB. Energy Line is a production
of the NHL and iHeart podcast.

Speaker 5 (01:10:25):
Thanks to Jake Brown for producing the show. Subscribe to the.

Speaker 1 (01:10:29):
Show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Give
us a five star rating, please end write in a
nice review. You can also hear us on the iHeartRadio app.
I'm Julie sur Finks, He's Nate Thompson. Nate and I
will be back with another episode. With another big guest
next Tuesday. Enjoy the Four Nations final and thanks for
listening to Energy Line. We will chat with you next week.

(01:10:56):
Energy Line is the production of the NHL and iHeart Podcasts.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts.