June 22, 2023 • 34 mins
The Trashers’ star player is back for some bloody revenge, although no one could have predicted quite how violent his return would become. The chaos on the ice is the least of the worries for the league’s commissioner, who is now caught up in the investigation into the Galantes.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Novel Weakfield is serious pain right now.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The slaughter of the calaber Zilland ripped doctor's helmite quickly.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Back in December two thousand and four, when the Thrashers
were rampaging through their first season, they lost their star player,
Brad Wingfield.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
The doctor is coming on for Camber and that's never
a good sign.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Brad was taken out with an alleged sleutho. His leg
was smashed to pieces.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Wefield is plashing on to Danbury, Crainer, rapel, schladering it
her dear wife at seems.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yeah. They said, this is a current an injury. You're
not going to able to play at the level you
want to play out again.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
But even in that moment of excruciating agony, Brad knew
he couldn't let the doctors be right.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
I know that doctor probably has an obligation to tell
you the worst case scenario, but that's up to me.
It's not up to him to tell me I can't
play again.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Brad lost pretty much all movement in his leg, so
as his teammates battle through the rest of their inaugural season,
Brad returns to his hometown Vancouver, but he hasn't come
home just to lick his wounds. Brad is planning a
comeback because six months from now, the Kalamazoo Wings are
(01:31):
due back in Danbury. This is going to be Brad's
chance to serve up a cold slice of on ice justice.
He wants to avenge the Wings player who injured him,
Josh Elsinger, but given the state he's in right now,
he has some serious work to do if he's going
to be ready in time.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Picking up marbles off the ground and then dropping them
into a bore with my toes.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
This might sound like a straight new hobby for a
hockey pro, but this is no game. This is physio.
Brad is on the road to recovery.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
It was so hard to pick up these marbles that
couldn't feel them at all, and it just shows you
the amount of nerve damage because it was one of
the hardest things to do is pick up a marble
with your toes.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
These exercises help rebuild the sensation in his leg and
as he pushes on visualizing sweet revenge day after day,
they work.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
You can feel and see yourself making progress. And when
you person like me, as soon as you see that
all this is working, you want more and more and more.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
This goes on for weeks until Brad can walk again,
But of course he's got his heart set on much
more than that.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
I love playing for the Galantes and the Trashers, so
I was working my ass off to get back in
that lineup and be ready to go and be a
Trasher and to play for the Galantes at that level again.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Brad won't stop until he's back on the ice in
that black blue and trash can silver uniform with Elzinger
firmly in his sights. But before that's even a remote possibility,
he has to go back under the knife one more time.
The metal work pinning his bones together needs to come out.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Oh yeah. They run a titanium rod all the way
through your tibia, so it's like fifteen inches long. It
goes where you're basically your bone marrow is. They hammer
this rod through there. Then they put screw it under
your knee, through your tibia, just under your knee, and
then I had a bunch of screws I think six
on this one in my ankle and into this rod,
(03:49):
trying to screw all the all the hardware, and they're
trying to screw the bones back together. So you actually
get set from the inside. Yeah, so they take out
this tight Indian rod through your tibia, and they take
out all these screws.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The Galantes aren't gonna let Brad have the operation in
any old hospital. They want him in the safe hands
with doctors they know and trust. They pay for his
transport back to Connecticut where they've booked him in for surgery.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
I actually lived with the Glant's house in the summer
for two or three weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
AJ gets a big brother for a while, but more importantly,
he gets a second player for his favorite video game,
Virtual Hockey. Of course, AJ told me he whooped you,
and you're a sore loser.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah. AJ likes to tell everyone that he was the
champ and yeah, all this and all that. But AG
and I both know that I would just lay a
whooping on this guy. I didn't even feel bad. This
is like my boss. But I would just beat him
and beat him. AJ was a sore loser.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Good to get the story straight. When Brad and Aj
aren't kicking back on the huge family, battling it out
on the Xbox or whacking each other with pillows, they
have a lot to talk about, like their real life
hockey war wounds.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Oh, both his injury and my injury have affected us.
And you know, bouncing mac ideas on rehab and getting.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Back recovery isn't easy. But as the summer draws to
a close, Brad feels stronger. He's hungry to hear the
roar of the crowd, the sound of the puck hitting
the net. But more than that, he wants.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Vengeance, absolutely revenge. Every dog has his day, and he
knew I was going after this gat. There's nothing I
could have done to start myself.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
He's laser focused on the man who shattered his leg
and put his whole career on the line.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
First off, I checked to see if he was stack
in Kalamazoo, which he was.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
If he wants to get Elzinger back, Brad needs to
be in the Trash's lineup by November or he'll miss chance.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm going to get an opportunity here. That's all I'm
focused on. Let's get this guy back.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Determination is one thing, but medical reality is another. Brad's
got a lot of marbles to move if he's going
to give Elzinger the welcome he deserves. I'm Claire crafton
from the teams at Novel and iHeartRadio. This is the
fighty Cucks Game seven, the Big Payback. The summer of
(06:56):
two thousand and five has been a busy one for AJ.
He wrapped up his first year of college, Brad Wingfield
came to stay, and finally there was a small matter
of his dad's garbage yard getting raided by the FBI.
But AJ doesn't let all these distractions get.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
In the way.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He keeps his eye on the prize, an enormous silver
trophy shaped prize, the Colonial Cup. Winning the Cup would
prove to his city and the United Hockey League that
he isn't just a spoiled little kid riding on his
dad's coattails. He's a hard working leader capable of pulling
off a miracle. For Jimmy, winning the trophy would mean
(07:37):
well winning, and there's nothing Jimmy Galante loves more than that.
The tough guy tactics AJ chose for season one brought
the fans in and got his team noticed, but ultimately
didn't bring home the Colonial Cup. So he needs to
make some adjustments.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
We realized we had to get a lot more skilled
and you know, faster as well.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
After some diligent Hockey dB Ringbinder research, AJ goes on
a new recruitment drive.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
We went for smaller guys, but more speed.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And there's one player who totally fits the brief.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Hi, how you doing on?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Michael maturely Nice.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
To meet you.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Mike Amocholi. At just over five feet, he certainly bucks
the trash of season one trend.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
I've had guys every single game call me a midget,
call me short, trying to get me off my game.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But what Mike lacks in bulk, he definitely makes up
for in talent. He's been playing in the European leagues,
earning himself a reputation.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I was always embarrassed my whole life because I didn't
play in the NHL. I know I was skilled enough
to do it, but the size held me back. And
I knew size didn't mean anything, but I couldn't convince anyone.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Mike's an overlooked talent who's itching to make a name
for himself despite his small stature. In other words, he's
an under dog for AJ, It's a match made in
hockey heaven. At the start of September two thousand and five,
Mike arrives in Danbury with the trashes in the midst
(09:12):
of their pre season preparations. He settles into a beautiful
lakeside cottage, all paid for by the Glantes. His neighbors
are his teammates. It's gorgeous, but down at the arena
something's a little off.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I remember walking into the rink and someone saying, Oh,
look at that vand that's an FBI van, And I'm like,
you're crazy. They are just look like normal vans.
Speaker 7 (09:39):
Parked across the street.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
That's not the FBI. Then we saw a few of
them get out and have lunch at the building across
the street. We were all like, oh.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Yeah, that is FBI.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
When Jimmy's Garbageoge was raided in the summer, the secret
was out. The FBI are investigating the Galantes, and their
agents don't even seem to care about staying under the
radar anymore. Mike and his teammates don't have time to
dwell on this off ice drama. Season two is almost
upon them. The Glantes have made it crystal clear they
(10:16):
want to win this time. Aj has done a great
job laying the groundwork for victory with his latest recruitment drive,
but with a season about to kick off. It's still
not clear whether the Trash's first and favorite recruit will
be rejoining the team. Brad Wingfield has had the screws
(10:37):
and titanium rod removed from his ankle. It's time to
try on his skates again.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
It hurt. It felt off the very first time stepping
on the ace. It felt disgusting, like it hurt to
put on my skate boot to lease it up, felt terrible. Well,
it was a bittersweet feeling. It was awesome to be
back on the ace, but I'm like, oh man, I
don't know if I'm going to be I'll do this
at that level again.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Brad tenaciously sticks to his rehabilitation plan. He pushes through
the pain, and eventually, towards the end of October, he
feels like he's ready to rejoin his team. He's proved
the doctor's wrong. But let's be real, Brad hasn't been
moving marbles with his toes for a year. Just to
(11:25):
say I told you so. The Trashes are due to
play the Kalamazoo Wings in a couple of weeks, and
now Brad is finally ready to destroy the man who
maimed him.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Just anticipating it's hard to wait. You know you're playing
for the Galantes, you're playing for the trash Er. It's
a super tough team, so there's a little bit of
pressure that you have to get out there and make
good on paying the guy back over a year of frustration.
Ready to come out under the sky and just unleash.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That's after the break.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Bill Jubileo with you and tonight did Ambery Trasher start
their road to the Colonial Cup in their second season?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I'm United.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
The Trasher's second season has begun and Brad is back
in the lineup, but with so many new players on
the team and old favorites easing back in, it takes
a while for the trash Is to find their groove.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
The De trash Zeport hurons.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
The first game is against the pork Huron Flags and
it doesn't go well.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
It wasn't a good night for Danbury in the end,
they lost five already shootout in wisiness.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
The next game against the Flint Generals is better.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Dembory escapes barely where the one goal victory overt win.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
The Trashers scrape a four to three win. Next they
face the Almira Jackals.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Tonight that every Trashers win the Elmira.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Jackals, and new recruit Mike Omacholi shows Danbury that sometimes
the best things do come in small packages.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I got Boli takes the pluck the center's quickly.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Calling, but even Mike Omacholi's impressive opening isn't enough to
save the Trashes. They lose four to two, and so
it goes. You win some, you lose some. It's as
if the Trashers can't focus on climbing their standings until
they settle another kind of score. First, on November twelfth,
(13:54):
Brad Wingfield is ready for war. He's in the lineup
against the Kalamazoo Wings, but when game day comes around,
josh au Zinger isn't even playing, and to add insult
to injury.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So Calabuser gets another other power play. Now the Wings
now lead at six to one.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
It's humiliating. They have another chance, though. A couple of
weeks later, the Trashers are playing the Wings again, but
not Elzinger oh and.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Gaburi is down for nothing.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Now the Trasher is once again having a tough night
against one of the top teams in the league.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
The Trashes lose again. Brad is almost giving up hope
of ever avenging his injury, but he's got one more shot.
The Trashes are due to play against the Wings in
less than a week. Third times to charm Right. It's
(14:55):
December third, two thousand and five. As the Trash has
kit up for the game, they're thinking about one thing.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I didn't talk a lot. I was very focused in
the moment with myself, thinking about how I'm gonna handle this.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Josh Elzinger is in tonight's lineup, so is Brad.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
What's gonna happen? This could be bad. I hope it's
not too bad. What is he gonna do?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Mike Omatoli hasn't played with Brad much, doesn't know the
guy well, but he's heard the stories, knows how Wing
that got his name. The guy's unhinged and his plans
for tonight are scary.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
Winger told us he's gonna injure that guy bad. He
wanted to break every bone in his body.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
As the Trashers prepare for battle, UHL Commissioner Richard Brussell
finds his seat. He's flown in from Missouri to watch
the game As the man in charge of the league.
He's hoping his presence tonight might help keep a lid
on things, but he looks out across the arena. It's
clear that he's the only one praying for a peaceful game.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
All the signs welcoming Brad Wingfield back packed house.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The Danbrie fans are out for blood.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
The noise in there was so deafening you could even
hear yourself think.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Rusal sports. Brad. He's taking a seat on the trash's
bench at the side of the ice.
Speaker 7 (16:28):
He was literally built like a fire hydrant. I mean
you could not budge him, strong as an ox. And
then you looked at who else was on the ice.
Not choir boys. Okay, yes, sense something was gonna happen.
They were out to cause havoc.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Welcome to another edition of Danbury Trashers Hockey.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Well, guess who's coming to dinner today, folks.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Josh Elzing and I know that name rings a belt
the Trashers fans. He was the defenseman who slew putt it,
Brad Wingfield. Exactly one year and two days ago, here
on a Wednesday night at the Danburray Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
As Brad and the other players skate out, even Trasha's
commentator Phil Giubileo can feel retention.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Brad Wakefield came out on the ice, saw el Zinga
and stared basically through him.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Phil's nervous about what might happen tonight.
Speaker 8 (17:22):
Winger is a guy that is capable of really hurting somebody.
I mean, this is a guy that you know is
basically a professional fighter on the ice. Josh el zing
is not going to be able to defend himself very well.
He's a little guy. He's not a fighter.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Three hundred and sixty seven days of frustration in the
back of Brad Wakefield's mind. We will see what will
happen tonight. Here at the Danburry Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
The two teams lineup ready to face off. The park drops.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Josh elzing is now on or kalamazoo. Alzinga sends it
up the rights. No Winkfield on the ice right now
for Danbury.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
That's right. Al Zinger's on the ice and Brad's on
the bench. But that doesn't last long. Soon Brad is
unleashed into the game, and finally, finally it's the moment
everyone has been waiting for.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
First time tonight, Josh Aldzinga and Brad Winkfield on the
ice at the same.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Time at first no drama.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Winkfield skated in front of Aldzinga and ignored him.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Seems like Brad is biding his time, waiting for the
right moment to attack. At seven minutes in, the two
teams are lined up in the Kalamazoo defensive zone.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Our face off in the wings end to the right,
Josh Aldzinga and Winkfielder right next to each other.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
It's the perfect opportunity.
Speaker 8 (18:54):
And then Winger drops the gloves and attacks them.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Winger big up Er cuts on Alzinger takes the down
and he's punishing Josh hel Singah.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
This series are right that Azinger is knocked down. He
manages to get up, but Brad grabs him. Then players
from both teams jump onto the fighting men. It's a
writhing mass of limbs.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It now looks like we're gonna have something else develop.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Heirs of rival players splinter off and begin separate rules
on the ice.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And they're punching along the far side board to the right.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Well Brad continues to attack Josh.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Well Figa and Winger are going in the left wing corner.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
The game officials try to pull the men apart, but
quickly back out of the way. Of the flying punches,
Brad pushes Zinger down onto the ice.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
Another take that in Winfield going bananas Here at the
dan Murray Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
According to the rules, when one player falls, the fight
has to stop. Everything beyond this point is considered foul play.
But Brad doesn't let that get in his way.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
They can't restrain him right now.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Three hundred and sixty seven days of frustration and pury,
big pound that I on the face of Josh shall think.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Of Commissioner Brusle Winces. His worst nightmare is materializing in
front of his eyes. This is more than gudery. This
looks like a salt.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
He beat the living shit out of him. I mean
literally throwing him like a rag doll on the ice,
head hitting the ice, shoulder hitting the ice. It was ugly.
It was an ugly sight.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
The Danbury fans disagree, and.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Everyone standing on their feet here in Danbury. Wow, Stick's
helmets gloves everywhere out there on the ice. This is
what everyone's been waiting to see here in Danbury for
over a year.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
The circus has returned to Danbury.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Folks, a circus it feels more like a gladiator arena
or a condemned man being fed to a lion. Haslinger
is on his stomach, tutling up desperately trying not to
get hurt.
Speaker 8 (21:00):
But it's not a typical hockey fight where both guys
are standing and there's punches being thrown. It's Wingfield on
top of them, just jackhammering away. I think at one
point he might have tried to pick his head up
and slam it in the ice.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
But before Brad murders Josh, the officials finally managed to
intervene in.
Speaker 8 (21:16):
The midst of breaking up the fight. They actually pull
wingers jersey over his head and they finally get him
up on the ice. And here's a bare chested Brad
Wingfield trying to get away from these linesmen as he's
being pushed away from the melee.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Did you worry that you might take it too far?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Oh? Fuck? Though I was gonna try to kill the guy.
I know, I kicked him a few times with my
skate onm so that felt good.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
At this point, the ref makes the cool Brad has
gone too far.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Brad Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
He gets two for cross checking, two for instigation, five
for fighting, a ten minute misconduct, and a game minute misconduct.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
It gets them on.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Wingfield's escorted off the ice, but it's not over. Between
the Trashes and the Wings. A year ago, the snap
of Brad's bones echoed through this arena, and it hasn't
been easy for his teammates to forget. The look of
horror on Wingfield's face still haunts them, and tonight it's
(22:26):
their chance to make the Wings pay.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
We got a lie brang. Everyone just pushing and shoving.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
It is absolute carnage. And it's just ten minutes in.
There's still a lot of road on the game and
the Trashers have their foot on the gas.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Say by Black covers up wait comes from the line
slap shot.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Those line are tough tone sept by the Trashiers. Here
in the first period.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Through the rest of the first period, there's fight after fight.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
We've got Sucker patchamly attack my Freddie Malaji pace first
right into the farm.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And the Trashers dominate every moment of the second period.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The right shot Scar Drama, Charlie.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Scoring five goals, got star shot Callimore put simply. The
Trashers hit the Wings like a truck, a garbage truck.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
The Trashers win in seven to one.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
A blowout of the highest proportions here in Danbury, and
Danbury owner Jimmy Galati is out there on the ice
congratulating its players, and the trashers definitely are looking to
send a message, not only to Kalamuzu, but maybe the
other teams.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
In the league.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Message heard loud and clear, and as two thousand and
five turns to two thousand and six, they batter their
way to the top of the league. It seems the
team is destined for bloody glory. Nothing can stop them
(23:59):
right more after the break, The commissioner of the United
Hockey League, Richard Broussel, is hard at work in his
Missouri office. Since Brad Wingfield beat up Josh Elzinger, Brausel's
(24:22):
been busy. The other owners in his league are not happy.
They don't want their teams to play in a league
where this kind of violence flies. Braussel has spent the
past few months reassuring them that he's got a handle
on things. It's been tricky, nothing he can't deal with.
Speaker 7 (24:40):
But then my administrative assistant came into my office and said, Richard,
there's a marshal here for you.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
What not the kind of visitor the commissioners used to
Brussel's used to enforcing the rules, not getting in trouble
for breaking them.
Speaker 7 (24:56):
You have been served by the State's Attorney of Connecticut
to appear before a grand jury.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
That is serious grand juries make decisions on whether criminal
charges should be pursued. The Marshall doesn't tell him much,
only to pack his bags and board a plane to Connecticut,
which makes Brissell wonder could this have something to do
with the trashers at the airport. A couple of FBI
(25:25):
agents meet Brissel at the gate. He's escorted to a
hotel to stay. The night guards watch his door. The
next morning, there's a.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Knock, mister Brossell, are you ready?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Two FBI agents are there to take the commissioner to breakfast.
He needs to eat, he has a long day ahead.
Plus this will be a nice opportunity for the three
men to get to know each other.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Quite frankly, I was in no mood to talk to anybody.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Maybe not then. Once the awkward breakfast date up, another
agent joins the gang and they escort Broussel from the
hotel to the.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Courthouse, one on each side of me, one behind me,
and one in front of me, and they take me
in the back entrance into the courthouse.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Brussel's ushered into an elevator and into a holding room.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
You're literally in like an interrogation room. No windows, no water,
no nothing, metal door, metal desk, metal chairs. And one
of the FBI guys said, all right, I'll come and
get you when they need you. Like, well, how long
is that going to be? He goes, have no idea,
there's other people testifying before you.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Briucel is left alone.
Speaker 7 (26:42):
You're sitting there going over in your mind what is
going on here?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Before he has time to work it out, an agent
returns Brauscel's whisked along the corridors of the courthouse, through
a door and into the courtroom. The jury is seated
to one side. Broucel is shown to the witness stand.
He looks up at the state's attorney, and then the
questions begin.
Speaker 7 (27:06):
Please state your name, where do you live, are you married?
How long have you lived at this address?
Speaker 3 (27:13):
And there are a lot of questions.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
What is your position, who do you work for? Do
you know why you're here?
Speaker 7 (27:21):
Well, because I was subpoena Well, but do you know
why you're here? I was subpoened, which I would believe
has to do with the Dan Barry Trashers. You're absolutely correct,
but it's about Jimmy Galante. Okay, tell me how you
know Jimmy Galante. How long have you known Jimmy Galante?
Did you ever have breakfast with Jimmy Galante?
Speaker 6 (27:42):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (27:42):
I went to dinner with he and his wife and
AJ and his daughter. We went to an Italian restaurant.
Do you remember what the conversation was like? It was
all about family. He was asking me about my family.
I'm talking about his family. Do you remember any specifics?
Speaker 9 (27:57):
No?
Speaker 7 (27:58):
I don't actually any point in time since you've known
Jimmy Glante, has he ever threatened you?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
No, So this is where it's headed.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Has he ever had anybody who's affiliated with himself threaten you? No?
Have you ever feared Jimmy Glante?
Speaker 9 (28:16):
No, I have not.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
To Brisselle, it seems as though the state's attorney wants
him to paint a picture of Jimmy as a yelling, menacing,
dangerous guy. But Priscell isn't playing bull.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
Have you ever had any dealings with any of his associates? Absolutely?
I dealt with many people, all pertaining to a hockey team.
Did any of those people ever threaten you? No, they
did not. So let me ask you again, mister Russell,
have you ever felt fear or threatened by Jimmy Galante
(28:52):
as I stayed at numerous times. No, I have not,
nor have I ever been when we find that kind
of hard to believe you have, and to know what
he's capable of, No, sir, I don't know what he's
capable of.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Then the state's attorney changes tactics.
Speaker 7 (29:09):
Were you aware that Jimmy and his associates were wiretapped? No,
well they were. I'd like to play something.
Speaker 10 (29:18):
For you, Richard, Richard, good morning, Serrol Viento. What's going on?
Speaker 9 (29:30):
Sarah?
Speaker 10 (29:31):
How you doing, Buddy good Man?
Speaker 9 (29:33):
What do I owe this great honor?
Speaker 11 (29:35):
Oh? I'm on instructions this morning.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Brasell had no idea this phone call had been recorded.
He hears himself in conversation with Jimmy's right hand man,
Zero Viento. It's the conversation that took place shortly after
Jimmy was arrested for punching a linesman.
Speaker 11 (29:54):
I was asked to give you a call, but not
to give you a call, so that you would never
be put in a predicament where somebody said that you
were called. Yeah, you know how that goes, right, I.
Speaker 9 (30:07):
Got you got her.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
As per Jimmy's off the record instructions, CIO's asking Brissel
for help. Jimmy wants the linesman Jim Harper to drop
the charges.
Speaker 11 (30:20):
He he wanted me to impress upon you as to
how important it is to get that letter uh huh
from mister Harper, uh huh for tomorrow.
Speaker 9 (30:31):
Oh no, it'll be there Monday. It'll be bached over
to Jimmy's attorney first Sunday morning.
Speaker 7 (30:36):
Okay, that's it. That's all they play. That's all they played.
And I said, there's no no, won't let me say anything.
He's putting his hand up. Nope, I think we've heard enough.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Brussell says. The prosecutor doesn't play the full call in court,
just an excerpt. He thinks that was a delay tactic.
Speaker 7 (31:01):
Yeah, makes it appear like I took care of his
dirty business for him. My sphincter spasm, like nobody's business
at that moment.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Sounds like Brussel had his own dirty You ordered to
do it after the hearing. According to the commissioner, if
the grand jury had heard the full recording of that call,
they would know he didn't do anything illegal. I'm going
to play with you. Now make up your own mind.
Speaker 9 (31:25):
I'm glad that you made this call. That you didn't
make this call. I have spoken to the pool linesmen
and have told him exactly what to put in there.
Speaker 11 (31:33):
Right, you know, with all the confusion, we don't know
who hit who, or who puts too or whatever, could
have been anyone else. I mean, I'm sure you know
what you're doing.
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Well, yeah, we we have the opening statement. I, Jim Harper,
solemnly swear that I have been cohurstince dropping the chart.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Oh man, I guess that last bit is a joke.
But either way, back in March two thousand and five,
the grand jury never got to hear it. The state's
attorney tells Brissel he's dismissed.
Speaker 7 (32:04):
All right, I have nothing further, I said, well I do. Now.
It doesn't work that way, I asked the questions interrogation over.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
As Bricell leaves the courtroom filled with sphinc desposming anxiety,
the state's attorney turns to him. He has some final
words for the commissioner.
Speaker 7 (32:25):
We reserve the right to open up an investigation against you.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
Brussel's league, his reputation and even his own freedom and
now in jeopardy. But if he thinks the State's attorney
is going to all this effort just to uncover the
truth about a post game punch up, He's got another
thing coming, because you see the FBI or on a
mission to prove that Jimmy Galante is connected to someone powerful.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
He's one of the most successful wise guys in the
history of New York City.
Speaker 7 (32:58):
Wise guys.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
You know, he's one of the most powerful men in
New York City period, and most of that was because
of illegitimate activity.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
One of the most notorious men in the country.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Violence, threats, extortion, etc.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
That's next time on the Fighty Pucks. The Fighting Pucks
is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel,
(33:38):
visit novel dot Audio. The series is hosted by me
Claire Crofton and produced by me Joe Wheeler and Amalia Sortland.
The executive producer is David Waters. Story editing from Max O'Brien,
Mitherly Rawls and Austin Mitchell. Our field producer is Bebette Thomas.
(34:00):
Our fat checker is Darnia Suleiman. Our Hockey Sensitivity reader
is Nikhil Desis. Production management from Scharie Houston and Charlotte Wolfe.
Sound design, mixing and scoring by Nicholas Alexander, Additional engineering
by Daniel Kempson, Music supervision by Nicholas Alexander and David Waters.
(34:23):
Original music composed by Eric Phillips. Willard Foxton is Creative
Director of Development. Special thanks to Sean Glynn Katrina Novelle,
David Vassiman, Sean ty Tone and beth Anne Macaluso novel
Novel Weakfield is serious pain right now.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The slaughter of the calaber Zilland ripped doctor's helmite quickly.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Back in December two thousand and four, when the Thrashers
were rampaging through their first season, they lost their star player,
Brad Wingfield.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
The doctor is coming on for Camber and that's never
a good sign.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Brad was taken out with an alleged sleutho. His leg
was smashed to pieces.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Wefield is plashing on to Danbury, Crainer, rapel, schladering it
her dear wife at seems.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Yeah. They said, this is a current an injury. You're
not going to able to play at the level you
want to play out again.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
But even in that moment of excruciating agony, Brad knew
he couldn't let the doctors be right.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
I know that doctor probably has an obligation to tell
you the worst case scenario, but that's up to me.
It's not up to him to tell me I can't
play again.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Brad lost pretty much all movement in his leg, so
as his teammates battle through the rest of their inaugural season,
Brad returns to his hometown Vancouver, but he hasn't come
home just to lick his wounds. Brad is planning a
comeback because six months from now, the Kalamazoo Wings are
(01:31):
due back in Danbury. This is going to be Brad's
chance to serve up a cold slice of on ice justice.
He wants to avenge the Wings player who injured him,
Josh Elsinger, but given the state he's in right now,
he has some serious work to do if he's going
to be ready in time.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Picking up marbles off the ground and then dropping them
into a bore with my toes.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
This might sound like a straight new hobby for a
hockey pro, but this is no game. This is physio.
Brad is on the road to recovery.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
It was so hard to pick up these marbles that
couldn't feel them at all, and it just shows you
the amount of nerve damage because it was one of
the hardest things to do is pick up a marble
with your toes.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
These exercises help rebuild the sensation in his leg and
as he pushes on visualizing sweet revenge day after day,
they work.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
You can feel and see yourself making progress. And when
you person like me, as soon as you see that
all this is working, you want more and more and more.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
This goes on for weeks until Brad can walk again,
But of course he's got his heart set on much
more than that.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
I love playing for the Galantes and the Trashers, so
I was working my ass off to get back in
that lineup and be ready to go and be a
Trasher and to play for the Galantes at that level again.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Brad won't stop until he's back on the ice in
that black blue and trash can silver uniform with Elzinger
firmly in his sights. But before that's even a remote possibility,
he has to go back under the knife one more time.
The metal work pinning his bones together needs to come out.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Oh yeah. They run a titanium rod all the way
through your tibia, so it's like fifteen inches long. It
goes where you're basically your bone marrow is. They hammer
this rod through there. Then they put screw it under
your knee, through your tibia, just under your knee, and
then I had a bunch of screws I think six
on this one in my ankle and into this rod,
(03:49):
trying to screw all the all the hardware, and they're
trying to screw the bones back together. So you actually
get set from the inside. Yeah, so they take out
this tight Indian rod through your tibia, and they take
out all these screws.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
The Galantes aren't gonna let Brad have the operation in
any old hospital. They want him in the safe hands
with doctors they know and trust. They pay for his
transport back to Connecticut where they've booked him in for surgery.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
I actually lived with the Glant's house in the summer
for two or three weeks.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
AJ gets a big brother for a while, but more importantly,
he gets a second player for his favorite video game,
Virtual Hockey. Of course, AJ told me he whooped you,
and you're a sore loser.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Yeah. AJ likes to tell everyone that he was the
champ and yeah, all this and all that. But AG
and I both know that I would just lay a
whooping on this guy. I didn't even feel bad. This
is like my boss. But I would just beat him
and beat him. AJ was a sore loser.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Good to get the story straight. When Brad and Aj
aren't kicking back on the huge family, battling it out
on the Xbox or whacking each other with pillows, they
have a lot to talk about, like their real life
hockey war wounds.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Oh, both his injury and my injury have affected us.
And you know, bouncing mac ideas on rehab and getting.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Back recovery isn't easy. But as the summer draws to
a close, Brad feels stronger. He's hungry to hear the
roar of the crowd, the sound of the puck hitting
the net. But more than that, he wants.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
Vengeance, absolutely revenge. Every dog has his day, and he
knew I was going after this gat. There's nothing I
could have done to start myself.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
He's laser focused on the man who shattered his leg
and put his whole career on the line.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
First off, I checked to see if he was stack
in Kalamazoo, which he was.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
If he wants to get Elzinger back, Brad needs to
be in the Trash's lineup by November or he'll miss chance.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
I'm going to get an opportunity here. That's all I'm
focused on. Let's get this guy back.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Determination is one thing, but medical reality is another. Brad's
got a lot of marbles to move if he's going
to give Elzinger the welcome he deserves. I'm Claire crafton
from the teams at Novel and iHeartRadio. This is the
fighty Cucks Game seven, the Big Payback. The summer of
(06:56):
two thousand and five has been a busy one for AJ.
He wrapped up his first year of college, Brad Wingfield
came to stay, and finally there was a small matter
of his dad's garbage yard getting raided by the FBI.
But AJ doesn't let all these distractions get.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
In the way.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
He keeps his eye on the prize, an enormous silver
trophy shaped prize, the Colonial Cup. Winning the Cup would
prove to his city and the United Hockey League that
he isn't just a spoiled little kid riding on his
dad's coattails. He's a hard working leader capable of pulling
off a miracle. For Jimmy, winning the trophy would mean
(07:37):
well winning, and there's nothing Jimmy Galante loves more than that.
The tough guy tactics AJ chose for season one brought
the fans in and got his team noticed, but ultimately
didn't bring home the Colonial Cup. So he needs to
make some adjustments.
Speaker 6 (07:55):
We realized we had to get a lot more skilled
and you know, faster as well.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
After some diligent Hockey dB Ringbinder research, AJ goes on
a new recruitment drive.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
We went for smaller guys, but more speed.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And there's one player who totally fits the brief.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Hi, how you doing on?
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Michael maturely Nice.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
To meet you.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Mike Amocholi. At just over five feet, he certainly bucks
the trash of season one trend.
Speaker 5 (08:25):
I've had guys every single game call me a midget,
call me short, trying to get me off my game.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
But what Mike lacks in bulk, he definitely makes up
for in talent. He's been playing in the European leagues,
earning himself a reputation.
Speaker 5 (08:39):
I was always embarrassed my whole life because I didn't
play in the NHL. I know I was skilled enough
to do it, but the size held me back. And
I knew size didn't mean anything, but I couldn't convince anyone.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Mike's an overlooked talent who's itching to make a name
for himself despite his small stature. In other words, he's
an under dog for AJ, It's a match made in
hockey heaven. At the start of September two thousand and five,
Mike arrives in Danbury with the trashes in the midst
(09:12):
of their pre season preparations. He settles into a beautiful
lakeside cottage, all paid for by the Glantes. His neighbors
are his teammates. It's gorgeous, but down at the arena
something's a little off.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
I remember walking into the rink and someone saying, Oh,
look at that vand that's an FBI van, And I'm like,
you're crazy. They are just look like normal vans.
Speaker 7 (09:39):
Parked across the street.
Speaker 5 (09:40):
That's not the FBI. Then we saw a few of
them get out and have lunch at the building across
the street. We were all like, oh.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
Yeah, that is FBI.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
When Jimmy's Garbageoge was raided in the summer, the secret
was out. The FBI are investigating the Galantes, and their
agents don't even seem to care about staying under the
radar anymore. Mike and his teammates don't have time to
dwell on this off ice drama. Season two is almost
upon them. The Glantes have made it crystal clear they
(10:16):
want to win this time. Aj has done a great
job laying the groundwork for victory with his latest recruitment drive,
but with a season about to kick off. It's still
not clear whether the Trash's first and favorite recruit will
be rejoining the team. Brad Wingfield has had the screws
(10:37):
and titanium rod removed from his ankle. It's time to
try on his skates again.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
It hurt. It felt off the very first time stepping
on the ace. It felt disgusting, like it hurt to
put on my skate boot to lease it up, felt terrible. Well,
it was a bittersweet feeling. It was awesome to be
back on the ace, but I'm like, oh man, I
don't know if I'm going to be I'll do this
at that level again.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Brad tenaciously sticks to his rehabilitation plan. He pushes through
the pain, and eventually, towards the end of October, he
feels like he's ready to rejoin his team. He's proved
the doctor's wrong. But let's be real, Brad hasn't been
moving marbles with his toes for a year. Just to
(11:25):
say I told you so. The Trashes are due to
play the Kalamazoo Wings in a couple of weeks, and
now Brad is finally ready to destroy the man who
maimed him.
Speaker 4 (11:39):
Just anticipating it's hard to wait. You know you're playing
for the Galantes, you're playing for the trash Er. It's
a super tough team, so there's a little bit of
pressure that you have to get out there and make
good on paying the guy back over a year of frustration.
Ready to come out under the sky and just unleash.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
That's after the break.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Bill Jubileo with you and tonight did Ambery Trasher start
their road to the Colonial Cup in their second season?
Speaker 1 (12:31):
I'm United.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
The Trasher's second season has begun and Brad is back
in the lineup, but with so many new players on
the team and old favorites easing back in, it takes
a while for the trash Is to find their groove.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
The De trash Zeport hurons.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
The first game is against the pork Huron Flags and
it doesn't go well.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
It wasn't a good night for Danbury in the end,
they lost five already shootout in wisiness.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
The next game against the Flint Generals is better.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
Dembory escapes barely where the one goal victory overt win.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
The Trashers scrape a four to three win. Next they
face the Almira Jackals.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Tonight that every Trashers win the Elmira.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Jackals, and new recruit Mike Omacholi shows Danbury that sometimes
the best things do come in small packages.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I got Boli takes the pluck the center's quickly.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Calling, but even Mike Omacholi's impressive opening isn't enough to
save the Trashes. They lose four to two, and so
it goes. You win some, you lose some. It's as
if the Trashers can't focus on climbing their standings until
they settle another kind of score. First, on November twelfth,
(13:54):
Brad Wingfield is ready for war. He's in the lineup
against the Kalamazoo Wings, but when game day comes around,
josh au Zinger isn't even playing, and to add insult
to injury.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
So Calabuser gets another other power play. Now the Wings
now lead at six to one.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
It's humiliating. They have another chance, though. A couple of
weeks later, the Trashers are playing the Wings again, but
not Elzinger oh and.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Gaburi is down for nothing.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
Now the Trasher is once again having a tough night
against one of the top teams in the league.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
The Trashes lose again. Brad is almost giving up hope
of ever avenging his injury, but he's got one more shot.
The Trashes are due to play against the Wings in
less than a week. Third times to charm Right. It's
(14:55):
December third, two thousand and five. As the Trash has
kit up for the game, they're thinking about one thing.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
I didn't talk a lot. I was very focused in
the moment with myself, thinking about how I'm gonna handle this.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
Josh Elzinger is in tonight's lineup, so is Brad.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
What's gonna happen? This could be bad. I hope it's
not too bad. What is he gonna do?
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Mike Omatoli hasn't played with Brad much, doesn't know the
guy well, but he's heard the stories, knows how Wing
that got his name. The guy's unhinged and his plans
for tonight are scary.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
Winger told us he's gonna injure that guy bad. He
wanted to break every bone in his body.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
As the Trashers prepare for battle, UHL Commissioner Richard Brussell
finds his seat. He's flown in from Missouri to watch
the game As the man in charge of the league.
He's hoping his presence tonight might help keep a lid
on things, but he looks out across the arena. It's
clear that he's the only one praying for a peaceful game.
Speaker 7 (16:08):
All the signs welcoming Brad Wingfield back packed house.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
The Danbrie fans are out for blood.
Speaker 7 (16:16):
The noise in there was so deafening you could even
hear yourself think.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Rusal sports. Brad. He's taking a seat on the trash's
bench at the side of the ice.
Speaker 7 (16:28):
He was literally built like a fire hydrant. I mean
you could not budge him, strong as an ox. And
then you looked at who else was on the ice.
Not choir boys. Okay, yes, sense something was gonna happen.
They were out to cause havoc.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Welcome to another edition of Danbury Trashers Hockey.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Well, guess who's coming to dinner today, folks.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Josh Elzing and I know that name rings a belt
the Trashers fans. He was the defenseman who slew putt it,
Brad Wingfield. Exactly one year and two days ago, here
on a Wednesday night at the Danburray Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
As Brad and the other players skate out, even Trasha's
commentator Phil Giubileo can feel retention.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Brad Wakefield came out on the ice, saw el Zinga
and stared basically through him.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Phil's nervous about what might happen tonight.
Speaker 8 (17:22):
Winger is a guy that is capable of really hurting somebody.
I mean, this is a guy that you know is
basically a professional fighter on the ice. Josh el zing
is not going to be able to defend himself very well.
He's a little guy. He's not a fighter.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Three hundred and sixty seven days of frustration in the
back of Brad Wakefield's mind. We will see what will
happen tonight. Here at the Danburry Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
The two teams lineup ready to face off. The park drops.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Josh elzing is now on or kalamazoo. Alzinga sends it
up the rights. No Winkfield on the ice right now
for Danbury.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
That's right. Al Zinger's on the ice and Brad's on
the bench. But that doesn't last long. Soon Brad is
unleashed into the game, and finally, finally it's the moment
everyone has been waiting for.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
First time tonight, Josh Aldzinga and Brad Winkfield on the
ice at the same.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Time at first no drama.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
Winkfield skated in front of Aldzinga and ignored him.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Seems like Brad is biding his time, waiting for the
right moment to attack. At seven minutes in, the two
teams are lined up in the Kalamazoo defensive zone.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Our face off in the wings end to the right,
Josh Aldzinga and Winkfielder right next to each other.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
It's the perfect opportunity.
Speaker 8 (18:54):
And then Winger drops the gloves and attacks them.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Winger big up Er cuts on Alzinger takes the down
and he's punishing Josh hel Singah.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
This series are right that Azinger is knocked down. He
manages to get up, but Brad grabs him. Then players
from both teams jump onto the fighting men. It's a
writhing mass of limbs.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
It now looks like we're gonna have something else develop.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Heirs of rival players splinter off and begin separate rules
on the ice.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
And they're punching along the far side board to the right.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Well Brad continues to attack Josh.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Well Figa and Winger are going in the left wing corner.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
The game officials try to pull the men apart, but
quickly back out of the way. Of the flying punches,
Brad pushes Zinger down onto the ice.
Speaker 6 (19:38):
Another take that in Winfield going bananas Here at the
dan Murray Ice Arena.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
According to the rules, when one player falls, the fight
has to stop. Everything beyond this point is considered foul play.
But Brad doesn't let that get in his way.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
They can't restrain him right now.
Speaker 6 (19:55):
Three hundred and sixty seven days of frustration and pury,
big pound that I on the face of Josh shall think.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Of Commissioner Brusle Winces. His worst nightmare is materializing in
front of his eyes. This is more than gudery. This
looks like a salt.
Speaker 7 (20:16):
He beat the living shit out of him. I mean
literally throwing him like a rag doll on the ice,
head hitting the ice, shoulder hitting the ice. It was ugly.
It was an ugly sight.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
The Danbury fans disagree, and.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Everyone standing on their feet here in Danbury. Wow, Stick's
helmets gloves everywhere out there on the ice. This is
what everyone's been waiting to see here in Danbury for
over a year.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
The circus has returned to Danbury.
Speaker 3 (20:46):
Folks, a circus it feels more like a gladiator arena
or a condemned man being fed to a lion. Haslinger
is on his stomach, tutling up desperately trying not to
get hurt.
Speaker 8 (21:00):
But it's not a typical hockey fight where both guys
are standing and there's punches being thrown. It's Wingfield on
top of them, just jackhammering away. I think at one
point he might have tried to pick his head up
and slam it in the ice.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
But before Brad murders Josh, the officials finally managed to
intervene in.
Speaker 8 (21:16):
The midst of breaking up the fight. They actually pull
wingers jersey over his head and they finally get him
up on the ice. And here's a bare chested Brad
Wingfield trying to get away from these linesmen as he's
being pushed away from the melee.
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Did you worry that you might take it too far?
Speaker 4 (21:40):
Oh? Fuck? Though I was gonna try to kill the guy.
I know, I kicked him a few times with my
skate onm so that felt good.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
At this point, the ref makes the cool Brad has
gone too far.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Brad Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
He gets two for cross checking, two for instigation, five
for fighting, a ten minute misconduct, and a game minute misconduct.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
It gets them on.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Wingfield's escorted off the ice, but it's not over. Between
the Trashes and the Wings. A year ago, the snap
of Brad's bones echoed through this arena, and it hasn't
been easy for his teammates to forget. The look of
horror on Wingfield's face still haunts them, and tonight it's
(22:26):
their chance to make the Wings pay.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
We got a lie brang. Everyone just pushing and shoving.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
It is absolute carnage. And it's just ten minutes in.
There's still a lot of road on the game and
the Trashers have their foot on the gas.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Say by Black covers up wait comes from the line
slap shot.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
Those line are tough tone sept by the Trashiers. Here
in the first period.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Through the rest of the first period, there's fight after fight.
Speaker 2 (22:55):
We've got Sucker patchamly attack my Freddie Malaji pace first
right into the farm.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
And the Trashers dominate every moment of the second period.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The right shot Scar Drama, Charlie.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Scoring five goals, got star shot Callimore put simply. The
Trashers hit the Wings like a truck, a garbage truck.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
The Trashers win in seven to one.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
A blowout of the highest proportions here in Danbury, and
Danbury owner Jimmy Galati is out there on the ice
congratulating its players, and the trashers definitely are looking to
send a message, not only to Kalamuzu, but maybe the
other teams.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
In the league.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
Message heard loud and clear, and as two thousand and
five turns to two thousand and six, they batter their
way to the top of the league. It seems the
team is destined for bloody glory. Nothing can stop them
(23:59):
right more after the break, The commissioner of the United
Hockey League, Richard Broussel, is hard at work in his
Missouri office. Since Brad Wingfield beat up Josh Elzinger, Brausel's
(24:22):
been busy. The other owners in his league are not happy.
They don't want their teams to play in a league
where this kind of violence flies. Braussel has spent the
past few months reassuring them that he's got a handle
on things. It's been tricky, nothing he can't deal with.
Speaker 7 (24:40):
But then my administrative assistant came into my office and said, Richard,
there's a marshal here for you.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
What not the kind of visitor the commissioners used to
Brussel's used to enforcing the rules, not getting in trouble
for breaking them.
Speaker 7 (24:56):
You have been served by the State's Attorney of Connecticut
to appear before a grand jury.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
That is serious grand juries make decisions on whether criminal
charges should be pursued. The Marshall doesn't tell him much,
only to pack his bags and board a plane to Connecticut,
which makes Brissell wonder could this have something to do
with the trashers at the airport. A couple of FBI
(25:25):
agents meet Brissel at the gate. He's escorted to a
hotel to stay. The night guards watch his door. The
next morning, there's a.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
Knock, mister Brossell, are you ready?
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Two FBI agents are there to take the commissioner to breakfast.
He needs to eat, he has a long day ahead.
Plus this will be a nice opportunity for the three
men to get to know each other.
Speaker 7 (25:52):
Quite frankly, I was in no mood to talk to anybody.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
Maybe not then. Once the awkward breakfast date up, another
agent joins the gang and they escort Broussel from the
hotel to the.
Speaker 7 (26:04):
Courthouse, one on each side of me, one behind me,
and one in front of me, and they take me
in the back entrance into the courthouse.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Brussel's ushered into an elevator and into a holding room.
Speaker 7 (26:18):
You're literally in like an interrogation room. No windows, no water,
no nothing, metal door, metal desk, metal chairs. And one
of the FBI guys said, all right, I'll come and
get you when they need you. Like, well, how long
is that going to be? He goes, have no idea,
there's other people testifying before you.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
Briucel is left alone.
Speaker 7 (26:42):
You're sitting there going over in your mind what is
going on here?
Speaker 3 (26:46):
Before he has time to work it out, an agent
returns Brauscel's whisked along the corridors of the courthouse, through
a door and into the courtroom. The jury is seated
to one side. Broucel is shown to the witness stand.
He looks up at the state's attorney, and then the
questions begin.
Speaker 7 (27:06):
Please state your name, where do you live, are you married?
How long have you lived at this address?
Speaker 3 (27:13):
And there are a lot of questions.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
What is your position, who do you work for? Do
you know why you're here?
Speaker 7 (27:21):
Well, because I was subpoena Well, but do you know
why you're here? I was subpoened, which I would believe
has to do with the Dan Barry Trashers. You're absolutely correct,
but it's about Jimmy Galante. Okay, tell me how you
know Jimmy Galante. How long have you known Jimmy Galante?
Did you ever have breakfast with Jimmy Galante?
Speaker 6 (27:42):
Yes?
Speaker 7 (27:42):
I went to dinner with he and his wife and
AJ and his daughter. We went to an Italian restaurant.
Do you remember what the conversation was like? It was
all about family. He was asking me about my family.
I'm talking about his family. Do you remember any specifics?
Speaker 9 (27:57):
No?
Speaker 7 (27:58):
I don't actually any point in time since you've known
Jimmy Glante, has he ever threatened you?
Speaker 3 (28:04):
No, So this is where it's headed.
Speaker 7 (28:08):
Has he ever had anybody who's affiliated with himself threaten you? No?
Have you ever feared Jimmy Glante?
Speaker 9 (28:16):
No, I have not.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
To Brisselle, it seems as though the state's attorney wants
him to paint a picture of Jimmy as a yelling, menacing,
dangerous guy. But Priscell isn't playing bull.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
Have you ever had any dealings with any of his associates? Absolutely?
I dealt with many people, all pertaining to a hockey team.
Did any of those people ever threaten you? No, they
did not. So let me ask you again, mister Russell,
have you ever felt fear or threatened by Jimmy Galante
(28:52):
as I stayed at numerous times. No, I have not,
nor have I ever been when we find that kind
of hard to believe you have, and to know what
he's capable of, No, sir, I don't know what he's
capable of.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
Then the state's attorney changes tactics.
Speaker 7 (29:09):
Were you aware that Jimmy and his associates were wiretapped? No,
well they were. I'd like to play something.
Speaker 10 (29:18):
For you, Richard, Richard, good morning, Serrol Viento. What's going on?
Speaker 9 (29:30):
Sarah?
Speaker 10 (29:31):
How you doing, Buddy good Man?
Speaker 9 (29:33):
What do I owe this great honor?
Speaker 11 (29:35):
Oh? I'm on instructions this morning.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Brasell had no idea this phone call had been recorded.
He hears himself in conversation with Jimmy's right hand man,
Zero Viento. It's the conversation that took place shortly after
Jimmy was arrested for punching a linesman.
Speaker 11 (29:54):
I was asked to give you a call, but not
to give you a call, so that you would never
be put in a predicament where somebody said that you
were called. Yeah, you know how that goes, right, I.
Speaker 9 (30:07):
Got you got her.
Speaker 3 (30:08):
As per Jimmy's off the record instructions, CIO's asking Brissel
for help. Jimmy wants the linesman Jim Harper to drop
the charges.
Speaker 11 (30:20):
He he wanted me to impress upon you as to
how important it is to get that letter uh huh
from mister Harper, uh huh for tomorrow.
Speaker 9 (30:31):
Oh no, it'll be there Monday. It'll be bached over
to Jimmy's attorney first Sunday morning.
Speaker 7 (30:36):
Okay, that's it. That's all they play. That's all they played.
And I said, there's no no, won't let me say anything.
He's putting his hand up. Nope, I think we've heard enough.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Brussell says. The prosecutor doesn't play the full call in court,
just an excerpt. He thinks that was a delay tactic.
Speaker 7 (31:01):
Yeah, makes it appear like I took care of his
dirty business for him. My sphincter spasm, like nobody's business
at that moment.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Sounds like Brussel had his own dirty You ordered to
do it after the hearing. According to the commissioner, if
the grand jury had heard the full recording of that call,
they would know he didn't do anything illegal. I'm going
to play with you. Now make up your own mind.
Speaker 9 (31:25):
I'm glad that you made this call. That you didn't
make this call. I have spoken to the pool linesmen
and have told him exactly what to put in there.
Speaker 11 (31:33):
Right, you know, with all the confusion, we don't know
who hit who, or who puts too or whatever, could
have been anyone else. I mean, I'm sure you know
what you're doing.
Speaker 9 (31:41):
Well, yeah, we we have the opening statement. I, Jim Harper,
solemnly swear that I have been cohurstince dropping the chart.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Oh man, I guess that last bit is a joke.
But either way, back in March two thousand and five,
the grand jury never got to hear it. The state's
attorney tells Brissel he's dismissed.
Speaker 7 (32:04):
All right, I have nothing further, I said, well I do. Now.
It doesn't work that way, I asked the questions interrogation over.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
As Bricell leaves the courtroom filled with sphinc desposming anxiety,
the state's attorney turns to him. He has some final
words for the commissioner.
Speaker 7 (32:25):
We reserve the right to open up an investigation against you.
Speaker 3 (32:30):
Brussel's league, his reputation and even his own freedom and
now in jeopardy. But if he thinks the State's attorney
is going to all this effort just to uncover the
truth about a post game punch up, He's got another
thing coming, because you see the FBI or on a
mission to prove that Jimmy Galante is connected to someone powerful.
Speaker 2 (32:55):
He's one of the most successful wise guys in the
history of New York City.
Speaker 7 (32:58):
Wise guys.
Speaker 6 (33:00):
You know, he's one of the most powerful men in
New York City period, and most of that was because
of illegitimate activity.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
One of the most notorious men in the country.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
Violence, threats, extortion, etc.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
That's next time on the Fighty Pucks. The Fighting Pucks
is produced by Novel for iHeartRadio. For more from Novel,
(33:38):
visit novel dot Audio. The series is hosted by me
Claire Crofton and produced by me Joe Wheeler and Amalia Sortland.
The executive producer is David Waters. Story editing from Max O'Brien,
Mitherly Rawls and Austin Mitchell. Our field producer is Bebette Thomas.
(34:00):
Our fat checker is Darnia Suleiman. Our Hockey Sensitivity reader
is Nikhil Desis. Production management from Scharie Houston and Charlotte Wolfe.
Sound design, mixing and scoring by Nicholas Alexander, Additional engineering
by Daniel Kempson, Music supervision by Nicholas Alexander and David Waters.
(34:23):
Original music composed by Eric Phillips. Willard Foxton is Creative
Director of Development. Special thanks to Sean Glynn Katrina Novelle,
David Vassiman, Sean ty Tone and beth Anne Macaluso novel
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