March 6, 2025 • 21 mins
On this episode of The Landscape, Tony Brown sits down with Trey Fix-Wolansky to discuss his journey into the AHL, his path to becoming one of the key players for the the Cleveland Monsters, and the challenges and triumphs along the way.
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Speaker 1 (00:17):
Welcome Monster fans to the landscape presented by Hospitality Staffing Solutions.
I'm the voice of the Cleveland Monsters, Tony Brown, and
today we're sitting down with Trey fix Wolanski. We call
him the franchise on the Monster's side because he's got
essentially all the offensive club records and we're lucky to
have him today. FIXI, thanks for taking a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, thanks for having me, Tony.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, I thought we'd start maybe a little chronologically here.
Let's go all the way back to the twenty nineteen
Calder Cup playoffs. You had just wrapped up your season
with the Edmonton Oil Kings and you joined the club
I think in Toronto right for those playoff games. Looking back,
I mean, you've traveled quite a distance here with the
Monsters organization and in your career since then. But you know,
(00:58):
what was it like shouted junior right into the American
League playoffs?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, like you said, fresh out of junior, wasn't really
too sure what to expect, never really seeing HL games
on TV that much or watched any in person, so
I just knew I was super excited to get the
opportunity to play professionally, especially in the playoffs, and our
team in Edmonton had a pretty good run, made it
(01:23):
to the Eastern Conference semifinals, and then kind of just
used that to my advantage and came up here and
you know, tried to make an impact on the game
anyway that I could. You know, when I got in
the lineup, I watched I think the first game in
Toronto and then that second game in Toronto. I was
lucky enough to get into the lineup, So yeah, I
wasn't really too sure what to expect, But looking back
(01:44):
on it now, is great for my career and it
was a great experience.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah, great to jump start that second season, your first
full pro season, having at least some understanding of the people,
the personnel, all that stuff. Did you score a goal
in that first game?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Not in the first game, but in.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
At some point in that series, I thought, Yeah, one of.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
The games here in Cleveland, I ended up scoring my
first AHL goal and hadn't assist that same game.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So pretty crazy, man. We were just talking before we
started shooting here. How time flies. I mean, you're now
what two hundred and sixty plus games into your career now,
parts of six seasons, with the monsters. You know, back then,
you couldn't have envisioned right that Cleveland would play this
big role.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
In your life.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But you go from a nineteen or twenty year old
to now you're in your mid twenties, this city's had
a real impact on your on your life outside of
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I mean over the past six years, I've spent more
time here than anywhere else in the world, even home.
So this is pretty much like a second home to me.
I came here pretty young, had a roommate my first year,
and then ever since then kind of been on my
own and just trying to, you know, figure out the
city over those years, get to know the restaurants, different
(02:53):
golf courses, and honestly, the city of Cleveland has been
been great for me. It's been great to my family
and just coming here without knowing what to expect. Cleveland
is definitely a second home to me.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know, we think about all the places across the
American League that players could end up. Cleveland is unique
in that it's a major city with all of these
things that support a lifestyle that you might want to
live when you're in your early to mid twenties as
you are. So how has the city kind of grown
on you over time, because it takes some time anytime
you move to a new place. I've been there to
discover the city, to sort of understand it. I'm sure
(03:27):
that played out over the course of a couple of seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I mean I think my first and second year here,
Like I said, I was still trying to just figure
the city out, you know, get to know kind of
the people and how the city ran. And you know,
now I look back and I just think how much
they love sports. You know, they have all the major
sports here, and the city of Cleveland just absolutely loves
every single sport. And you know, that's what I think
(03:54):
is so cool about Cleveland is how much they care
about the city and how much they care about the
sports that are.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Here in the city.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
When we return on the Landscape presented by Hospitality Staff
and Solutions, we talk to Trey about the atmosphere inside
Rocket Arena and how it helps his play on the ice.
You're fixed moo Landskip, who praise Besser. You know, we
(04:27):
talk in generalities a lot about the fans, you know,
the fan base, the people that support your team, but
I'm sure you've made connections with individual fans now over
the course of five or six seasons, just that personal
connection that doesn't exist everywhere in my experience, And you're right,
I think it speaks to the way the city feels
about their sports teams. But it must be a unique
feeling as an athlete to even if you're not in
(04:49):
the major leagues, be able to have a personal connection
with the fans. I mean, that's a major league thing
to achieve, even though you're in the AHL.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I mean, obviously your number one goal is to be
playing in the NHL, but when you come to Cleveland
and you're playing in the AHL for the Monsters, you're
treated like an NHL player by the fans. Playing in
this building, the atmosphere that they bring it honestly, it
drives us players, and you know, just the love and
passion that they show for our team and for all
(05:18):
the teams that's it's just it's super special here in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You know, when I think about you and your career
with the Monsters, I've been lucky enough to call I
think every single one of your games, maybe one exception,
so you know, the fans give you a stage here
in Cleveland. I mean the roars that you've elicited with
your you know, your not just the goals, but the
celebrations which have become signature for you.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Just that stage.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
It's the arena, but it's the people in the arena,
it's the atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
How's that helped you in your career?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Because confidence is a huge thing with athletes, and when
you can make fifteen thousand people react the way that
you have so many times, it has to have played
a role in boosting your confidence along the way.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Absolutely. You know.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I think I think my first your second year, they
started to really understand the kind of game that I played,
and you know, it's kind of a grittier game, but
a lot of skill as well. So I think they
they took me under their wing. And you know, I'm
happy that that I'm the one that they kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Look up to or or look forward to for a
big goal.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
You know, I I'm sure everyone likes to be that guy,
and I like to be the guy that scores the
big goal or makes a big hit and kind of
gets the crowd into it. I think just being able
to go out there and do something that, like you said,
gets fifteen thousand people on their feet or sixteen thousand
people on their feet and cheering. It gives me a
(06:40):
ton of confidence. I know, it gives the team a
ton of confidence, and it's just super fun to be
able to play in that kind of environment.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Let's talk a little bit about your role with the
team and how it's evolved over the course of time.
Of course, you came in as a young player trying
to figure out the league, and now you've got a
letter on your jersey and you're a part of the
leadership group formally and informally just with how long you've
been here.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So what does that mean to you?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
That evolution throughout the career and now you're at a
point where you can help some of these young guys.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I mean a player like.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Jordan Dumay comes to mind, a young guy trying to
figure out the American League. You've sort of grown up,
you know, in terms of yourself, but also your game,
your role.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
So if you could speak to that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Process a little bit and how things are different for
you when you walk into the room now than they
were back in maybe twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, I think when you're a young kid, You're only
focused on playing in the NHL. You don't really focus
on the career you could have or the kind of
impact you could make in the AHL with that organization.
And you know, not a lot of guys are lucky
enough to stay with the same organization for six years.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I've been lucky enough to do that.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
So, Yeah, like you said, it's just when I was
coming in, I had older guys that helped me kinda.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Make my way through.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Understanding the game, understanding the off ae part of the game,
road trips, that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Because you are playing a.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Lot, You're on the bus a lot, so it's a
it's a little bit different, and you know, I think
coming from junior can be a little bit eye opening.
But I want to be able to help those young
guys kind of get to the same position that I'm
at now, or even into the NHL.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I think that's that's the number one thing.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
If if you can help a guy get to the NHL,
then that feels really great as well.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm wondering who were some of those older guys that
you know played a mentorship role for you right when
you were breaking into the pros.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean Nathan Gerby is one that comes to mind.
Zach Delpi as well. I was just with Delps at
the All Star Game, so it's really nice to see
him again. But Gerby being an undersized guy, the way
that he looks after himself, the way that he carries
himself at the rink outside the rink, I think that
was a great guy to look up to. And you know,
(08:45):
you can pick little things from each and every older
guy on the team, and that's what I tried to do.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Let's talk about that, you know, the hockey side of
things a little bit now. You know you mentioned being
an undersized player. I'm sure that's something that you've heard
lots of different things from different people about throughout your career.
But you know, Gerby's a great example of someone who
had a great National Hockey League career.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And he's smaller than you.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Of course, he might be the smallest guy to ever
play in the National Hockey League or.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Close to it.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
So what were some of those things that you learned
as that's something that maybe if not physically mentally, you've
had to overcome in your career. What are some of
those lessons he gave you that you've taken with you.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I mean, just play every game or every practice that
gets your last. I think he would have the passion
and the drive each and every day when he came
the drink, whether it was a workout or a practice
or a game, he had that passion and that drive
to get better. And I think that's something that the
main thing that I took from him, Just coming to
the rink with a positive attitude, with passion, with drive
(09:45):
and the want to get better, and eventually things will
things will start to start to go good for you.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Well, things have gone great for you here in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So let's talk about some of the accolades you've been
able to generate during your time with the Monsters.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I mean, let's start with the franchise.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I mean, how do you feel when you think about
this organization, what the role it's played in your life
and that you're one of those names that's achieved more
with this team than than most, if not anybody else,
especially at your position. So what's it mean to you
to have that that mantle and to know that it's
your play, your hard work, and your production that's given
it to you.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Yeah, it means the world to me, Like you said,
it's a lot of hard work, a lot of overcoming adversity,
you know, being able to stay positive when things maybe
aren't going your way. I think there's there's been a
lot of times in my career where things haven't been
going great, but just the resiliency sticking with it, and
I think that's what's allowed me to, you know, overcome obstacles,
(10:42):
adversity and kind of become the player that I am
and be able to hold all those accolades. Like coming
into the league as a first year player, I never
expected any of this. So as the years go on
and you know, the accolades kept building up, It's it's
super special and it really means a lot to me
and my family for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Coming up, we talked to Trey about how the American
Hockey League holds a lot of value to them.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
This and more.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
When the landscape presented by hospitality staffing Solutions returns.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Cleveland not turn forward treatality.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, you know, the American Hockey League is so unique,
in my opinion, in the entire landscape of hockey. I mean,
I'm talking from youth hockey all the way to the NHL.
The AHL has this like distinct role in the business.
So for somebody like you that absolutely wants to be
at the highest level, that's the goal. How has the AHL,
you know, overcome the fact that it's not the big leagues,
(11:44):
but but how has it shown itself to be something
that still.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Has a lot of value for you personally?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Yeah, I think just the entire day of the league
since my first year, has gotten better. A lot more
prospects in the league. Teams bringing over players from Europe
to play in the league, and I think that's just
made the league a lot better. There's a lot of
high end skill and a lot of guys in this
league that could be playing at the next level. You know,
(12:10):
whether it's adding one or two things to their game
to get them there.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I think that's.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
What's so great about the AHL is you have time
to develop. You have time to develop players, and you
know you might not be ready for the NHL right now,
but who's to say that next year after a year
of hard work and you know, battling that you won't
get a chance with the big club.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You've had a solid chunk of time with the Blue
Jackets and you've seen what hockey's like at the highest level.
Here and you know, it's kind of counterintuitive, but we
talk about adjusting to the NHL.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
When you're coming from the American League, but there's an.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Adjustment coming back down to which illustrates that there's a
difference between the two leagues in terms of what happens
on the ice. So what is that difference and how
can the AHL be in a way it's.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Kind of more challenging to play in.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're when you're at the NHL,
you're a level. You're playing against the best of the best,
the best skaters, the best thinkers, the best passers, the
best shooters. So you know, you've got to be able
to compete every night. I think there's guys in the
league who who definitely aren't, you know, the best skills wise,
(13:13):
but they do something else that that brings another element
to the table that that teams find valuable and and
find that they can put them in the lineup. And
so I think that's what's so great about the NHL
is there is there's that difference between the skill of
the top end guys the the bottom six guys, but
at the end of the night, there they're still the
(13:35):
best at what they do, and that's why they're there.
So I think just being able to kind of find
that niche in the AHL, find what you're good at,
and you know, kind of play to that strength, I
think that will definitely allow the HL.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
To get a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Well, let's talk about some of your strengths here, kind
of your calling cards as a player. I mean, the
production speaks for itself, but the way you approach each
and every shift. Describe that a little bit, maybe how
it's evolved over the course of your career.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah, Uh, definitely worked a lot with the coaches. My
first couple of years, I feel I was kind of
looking to make the perfect play every time, or looking
to create offense every shift I was out there. But
you know, it's a definitely, definitely a shift in mentality.
When you come to pro You're not gonna you know,
you're not gonna get a chance every shift like you
might in junior. So you know, you've got to be
(14:22):
able to to just keep grinding the game and then
when that when that chance comes, you got to be
able to bury it.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And I think that's something.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
That I've learned to do over my past six years,
is just when there's not a play to be made,
maybe making the simple play and just knowing that eventually
throughout the game the chances will come, just based off
the player that I am and not rushing it and
kind of just playing patient and letting the game come
to me. I think that's been probably the most important thing.
And over the past six years.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You know, we talked a little bit earlier about influences
on you mentors sort of in terms of players, but
let's talk beyond just Cleveland coaches that have made a
difference in your life and career that could be coming up,
that could be since you've been a pro. Who are
some of those individuals who you wouldn't be here without
what they taught you.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah, well, growing up most of the time, my dad
was the coach, and then a couple of my buddies
dads would would help him out. So I gotta start
with him. Obviously, he pushed me pretty hard, but I
think that was kind of why I played the way
that I do today. You know, he told me, the
bigger they are, the harder they fall, So try to
(15:28):
try to mix it in a little bit of physicality
and you know, catch a guy off guard every now
and then, and you know, it wasn't too much me
and the garage or anything working on my shot or
my stick handling. It was more so going to the
outdoor rink or going out onto our front driveway where
there was ice and kind of just stick handling out there,
saucing the puck around there. That's what definitely, you know,
(15:50):
got me into into wanting to be a hockey player
and play hockey for professionally. And then definitely my junior
coach my last year in Edmonton when I was nineteen
before coming here, he came from the NHL the year before,
and I think he just he just treated us like
(16:10):
pros and he wanted us to conduct ourselves like pros.
So I think that was a very very good first
step for me to get introducted kind of into the
pro game, which allowed me to kind of have a
pretty pretty seamless transition coming from junior as a nineteen
year old to the AHL as.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
A twenty year old.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
When we come back, we talked to Trey about his
first NHL goal and what that meant to him and
his family. It's all ahead on the landscape presented by
Hospitality Staffing Solutions.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Hey to this third.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Period and to end go me with a pass dropped
there quick shy scores. Welcome to the National Hockey League.
He couldn't believe it, but boy, how about his teammates,
They were thrilled for him. I think everybody knows who's
gonna get that fun.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
It's pretty pretty surreal experience.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
But you know, let's keep keep.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Keep the winds rolling and to take it into Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
One moment that, of course in your career I'm sure
must stand out is when you scored your first National
Hockey League goal. I remember watching that. You know, your
folks were able to be there in the building and
see it and experience that with you. For all the
sacrifices that any family makes for their hockey playing kid,
there are many to get you know, just through you
hocking much less well beyond that, what did it mean
(17:36):
to you to have that moment and to be able
to share that moment with the people that are responsible
for you being there?
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Yeah, it makes me emotional.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Actually, I mean, my dad and my mom grind grind
it so hard to get me to where I am
and to be able to score that goal and just
see the look on their faces after it brings me
a ton of joy, and.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I'm just happy that.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
They were They were there to see it in person
and I didn't have to watch watch it on a screen.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
But yeah, it just makes me super emotional.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Thinking about that moment and kind of all I had
to go through to get to that moment, all they
had to go through to get me to that moment.
So yeah, it's definitely something I'll remember forever.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Well, I mean, it was something anyone who watched it
could see how much it meant, not just to you,
but to your parents who were interviewed and all that stuff.
I didn't mean to get so thank you though, I
mean that just speaks to the sacrifice that a family makes.
Though because athletes cannot do this on their own. There's
no way, especially in hockey, all the travel that's involved
(18:40):
in the financial element that is significant when you're starting
out as a kid. So if we could just drill
down a bit on your family and just how they
have paid the road for you to walk on.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Yeah, I mean early practices, getting up at five in
the morning, going to the rink for a six am practice,
going to school after you know, any time at Christmas
I would ask for a new stick usually my mom
would find a way to get it for me. And
I think that's just something you know that as a
young kid, you look back at now and you're super
(19:14):
grateful for all the things that they did, driving you around,
taking you to school, taking you to hockey from school.
You know, they really never stop. And then obviously the
money money side of things too. It's it's not cheap
to play hockey in Canada and they were never never
shy about shelling money out to to help me chase
my dream and allow me to try and become a
(19:34):
professional hockey player, which is where I'm at now.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Yeah, and to be a professional hockey player that has
made an impact on a major league city, I'm sure
that they are as proud as you are of everything
that you've achieved. Fixie, let's bring it back to Cleveland
as we wrap it up here. You know, we talked
about its impact on you at a specific time in
your life, But what's something about playing here, whether it
be the city or the Monsters themselves, just the Monsters organization,
(20:00):
what's something that would maybe surprise people to know about it,
or something that's made a serious impact on you individually
about coming here, not just to the league, but to Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Yeah, I mean, I'll start with the organization. You would think,
you know, being a part of a arena where there's NBA,
that you would kind of be pushed to the side,
But that's not really the truth. Everyone in this arena
takes great care of us and the fans love us,
(20:33):
So I think that's just something.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
About the organization. And then the city.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I mean, we were fortunate enough to stay quite a
bit longer last year in playoffs, so the weather started
to turn around, and you know.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
They got Edgewater Beach.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
There's a lot of great restaurants and kind of bars
down in the flats that you can go down to
and enjoy the sun at So I think being able
to come here enjoy the sun, you know, not worry
about it being too cold, I think that was super
cool for me because that was the first time that
we've truly been around for that long and been able
to see kind of the switch and weather and everyone's
(21:08):
outside having a good time down on the flats. And yeah,
I just I love Cleveland and I can say enough
great things about the city.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Well, the city loves you too, man, and thank you
for doing this today. Thank you for an amazing run
here with the monsters. And on a personal note, thanks
for giving me so many great moments to call I mean,
from the playoff run last year to all the big goals.
It's been a pleasure. It's been a privilege to work
with you, and thank you for doing this today. A
great look at what Cleveland has meant to you and
what you have meant to the city. So thanks for
(21:37):
being here.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Thanks Tony, I appreciate a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
That'll do it for this episode of the Landscape. Make
sure to tune back into future episodes as we bring
you guests from across the land. You can find us
on Rock Entertainment, Sports Network, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Until next time, I'm Tony Brown.
Welcome Monster fans to the landscape presented by Hospitality Staffing Solutions.
I'm the voice of the Cleveland Monsters, Tony Brown, and
today we're sitting down with Trey fix Wolanski. We call
him the franchise on the Monster's side because he's got
essentially all the offensive club records and we're lucky to
have him today. FIXI, thanks for taking a few minutes.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, thanks for having me, Tony.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Of course.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, I thought we'd start maybe a little chronologically here.
Let's go all the way back to the twenty nineteen
Calder Cup playoffs. You had just wrapped up your season
with the Edmonton Oil Kings and you joined the club
I think in Toronto right for those playoff games. Looking back,
I mean, you've traveled quite a distance here with the
Monsters organization and in your career since then. But you know,
(00:58):
what was it like shouted junior right into the American
League playoffs?
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Yeah, like you said, fresh out of junior, wasn't really
too sure what to expect, never really seeing HL games
on TV that much or watched any in person, so
I just knew I was super excited to get the
opportunity to play professionally, especially in the playoffs, and our
team in Edmonton had a pretty good run, made it
(01:23):
to the Eastern Conference semifinals, and then kind of just
used that to my advantage and came up here and
you know, tried to make an impact on the game
anyway that I could. You know, when I got in
the lineup, I watched I think the first game in
Toronto and then that second game in Toronto. I was
lucky enough to get into the lineup, So yeah, I
wasn't really too sure what to expect, But looking back
(01:44):
on it now, is great for my career and it
was a great experience.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah, great to jump start that second season, your first
full pro season, having at least some understanding of the people,
the personnel, all that stuff. Did you score a goal
in that first game?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Uh?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Not in the first game, but in.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
At some point in that series, I thought, Yeah, one of.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
The games here in Cleveland, I ended up scoring my
first AHL goal and hadn't assist that same game.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So pretty crazy, man. We were just talking before we
started shooting here. How time flies. I mean, you're now
what two hundred and sixty plus games into your career now,
parts of six seasons, with the monsters. You know, back then,
you couldn't have envisioned right that Cleveland would play this
big role.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
In your life.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But you go from a nineteen or twenty year old
to now you're in your mid twenties, this city's had
a real impact on your on your life outside of
the game.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
I mean over the past six years, I've spent more
time here than anywhere else in the world, even home.
So this is pretty much like a second home to me.
I came here pretty young, had a roommate my first year,
and then ever since then kind of been on my
own and just trying to, you know, figure out the
city over those years, get to know the restaurants, different
(02:53):
golf courses, and honestly, the city of Cleveland has been
been great for me. It's been great to my family
and just coming here without knowing what to expect. Cleveland
is definitely a second home to me.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
You know, we think about all the places across the
American League that players could end up. Cleveland is unique
in that it's a major city with all of these
things that support a lifestyle that you might want to
live when you're in your early to mid twenties as
you are. So how has the city kind of grown
on you over time, because it takes some time anytime
you move to a new place. I've been there to
discover the city, to sort of understand it. I'm sure
(03:27):
that played out over the course of a couple of seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
I mean I think my first and second year here,
Like I said, I was still trying to just figure
the city out, you know, get to know kind of
the people and how the city ran. And you know,
now I look back and I just think how much
they love sports. You know, they have all the major
sports here, and the city of Cleveland just absolutely loves
every single sport. And you know, that's what I think
(03:54):
is so cool about Cleveland is how much they care
about the city and how much they care about the
sports that are.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Here in the city.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
When we return on the Landscape presented by Hospitality Staff
and Solutions, we talk to Trey about the atmosphere inside
Rocket Arena and how it helps his play on the ice.
You're fixed moo Landskip, who praise Besser. You know, we
(04:27):
talk in generalities a lot about the fans, you know,
the fan base, the people that support your team, but
I'm sure you've made connections with individual fans now over
the course of five or six seasons, just that personal
connection that doesn't exist everywhere in my experience, And you're right,
I think it speaks to the way the city feels
about their sports teams. But it must be a unique
feeling as an athlete to even if you're not in
(04:49):
the major leagues, be able to have a personal connection
with the fans. I mean, that's a major league thing
to achieve, even though you're in the AHL.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I mean, obviously your number one goal is to be
playing in the NHL, but when you come to Cleveland
and you're playing in the AHL for the Monsters, you're
treated like an NHL player by the fans. Playing in
this building, the atmosphere that they bring it honestly, it
drives us players, and you know, just the love and
passion that they show for our team and for all
(05:18):
the teams that's it's just it's super special here in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
You know, when I think about you and your career
with the Monsters, I've been lucky enough to call I
think every single one of your games, maybe one exception,
so you know, the fans give you a stage here
in Cleveland. I mean the roars that you've elicited with
your you know, your not just the goals, but the
celebrations which have become signature for you.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Just that stage.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
It's the arena, but it's the people in the arena,
it's the atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
How's that helped you in your career?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Because confidence is a huge thing with athletes, and when
you can make fifteen thousand people react the way that
you have so many times, it has to have played
a role in boosting your confidence along the way.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Absolutely. You know.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
I think I think my first your second year, they
started to really understand the kind of game that I played,
and you know, it's kind of a grittier game, but
a lot of skill as well. So I think they
they took me under their wing. And you know, I'm
happy that that I'm the one that they kind of.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Look up to or or look forward to for a
big goal.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
You know, I I'm sure everyone likes to be that guy,
and I like to be the guy that scores the
big goal or makes a big hit and kind of
gets the crowd into it. I think just being able
to go out there and do something that, like you said,
gets fifteen thousand people on their feet or sixteen thousand
people on their feet and cheering. It gives me a
(06:40):
ton of confidence. I know, it gives the team a
ton of confidence, and it's just super fun to be
able to play in that kind of environment.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Let's talk a little bit about your role with the
team and how it's evolved over the course of time.
Of course, you came in as a young player trying
to figure out the league, and now you've got a
letter on your jersey and you're a part of the
leadership group formally and informally just with how long you've
been here.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
So what does that mean to you?
Speaker 1 (07:01):
That evolution throughout the career and now you're at a
point where you can help some of these young guys.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
I mean a player like.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Jordan Dumay comes to mind, a young guy trying to
figure out the American League. You've sort of grown up,
you know, in terms of yourself, but also your game,
your role.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
So if you could speak to that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Process a little bit and how things are different for
you when you walk into the room now than they
were back in maybe twenty nineteen.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Yeah, I think when you're a young kid, You're only
focused on playing in the NHL. You don't really focus
on the career you could have or the kind of
impact you could make in the AHL with that organization.
And you know, not a lot of guys are lucky
enough to stay with the same organization for six years.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
I've been lucky enough to do that.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
So, Yeah, like you said, it's just when I was
coming in, I had older guys that helped me kinda.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Make my way through.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Understanding the game, understanding the off ae part of the game,
road trips, that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Because you are playing a.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Lot, You're on the bus a lot, so it's a
it's a little bit different, and you know, I think
coming from junior can be a little bit eye opening.
But I want to be able to help those young
guys kind of get to the same position that I'm
at now, or even into the NHL.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
I think that's that's the number one thing.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
If if you can help a guy get to the NHL,
then that feels really great as well.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
I'm wondering who were some of those older guys that
you know played a mentorship role for you right when
you were breaking into the pros.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, I mean Nathan Gerby is one that comes to mind.
Zach Delpi as well. I was just with Delps at
the All Star Game, so it's really nice to see
him again. But Gerby being an undersized guy, the way
that he looks after himself, the way that he carries
himself at the rink outside the rink, I think that
was a great guy to look up to. And you know,
(08:45):
you can pick little things from each and every older
guy on the team, and that's what I tried to do.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Let's talk about that, you know, the hockey side of
things a little bit now. You know you mentioned being
an undersized player. I'm sure that's something that you've heard
lots of different things from different people about throughout your career.
But you know, Gerby's a great example of someone who
had a great National Hockey League career.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And he's smaller than you.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Of course, he might be the smallest guy to ever
play in the National Hockey League or.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Close to it.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
So what were some of those things that you learned
as that's something that maybe if not physically mentally, you've
had to overcome in your career. What are some of
those lessons he gave you that you've taken with you.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
I mean, just play every game or every practice that
gets your last. I think he would have the passion
and the drive each and every day when he came
the drink, whether it was a workout or a practice
or a game, he had that passion and that drive
to get better. And I think that's something that the
main thing that I took from him, Just coming to
the rink with a positive attitude, with passion, with drive
(09:45):
and the want to get better, and eventually things will
things will start to start to go good for you.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Well, things have gone great for you here in Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
So let's talk about some of the accolades you've been
able to generate during your time with the Monsters.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
I mean, let's start with the franchise.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I mean, how do you feel when you think about
this organization, what the role it's played in your life
and that you're one of those names that's achieved more
with this team than than most, if not anybody else,
especially at your position. So what's it mean to you
to have that that mantle and to know that it's
your play, your hard work, and your production that's given
it to you.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
Yeah, it means the world to me, Like you said,
it's a lot of hard work, a lot of overcoming adversity,
you know, being able to stay positive when things maybe
aren't going your way. I think there's there's been a
lot of times in my career where things haven't been
going great, but just the resiliency sticking with it, and
I think that's what's allowed me to, you know, overcome obstacles,
(10:42):
adversity and kind of become the player that I am
and be able to hold all those accolades. Like coming
into the league as a first year player, I never
expected any of this. So as the years go on
and you know, the accolades kept building up, It's it's
super special and it really means a lot to me
and my family for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Coming up, we talked to Trey about how the American
Hockey League holds a lot of value to them.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
This and more.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
When the landscape presented by hospitality staffing Solutions returns.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Cleveland not turn forward treatality.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Yeah, you know, the American Hockey League is so unique,
in my opinion, in the entire landscape of hockey. I mean,
I'm talking from youth hockey all the way to the NHL.
The AHL has this like distinct role in the business.
So for somebody like you that absolutely wants to be
at the highest level, that's the goal. How has the AHL,
you know, overcome the fact that it's not the big leagues,
(11:44):
but but how has it shown itself to be something
that still.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Has a lot of value for you personally?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Yeah, I think just the entire day of the league
since my first year, has gotten better. A lot more
prospects in the league. Teams bringing over players from Europe
to play in the league, and I think that's just
made the league a lot better. There's a lot of
high end skill and a lot of guys in this
league that could be playing at the next level. You know,
(12:10):
whether it's adding one or two things to their game
to get them there.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
I think that's.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
What's so great about the AHL is you have time
to develop. You have time to develop players, and you
know you might not be ready for the NHL right now,
but who's to say that next year after a year
of hard work and you know, battling that you won't
get a chance with the big club.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
You've had a solid chunk of time with the Blue
Jackets and you've seen what hockey's like at the highest level.
Here and you know, it's kind of counterintuitive, but we
talk about adjusting to the NHL.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
When you're coming from the American League, but there's an.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Adjustment coming back down to which illustrates that there's a
difference between the two leagues in terms of what happens
on the ice. So what is that difference and how
can the AHL be in a way it's.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Kind of more challenging to play in.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah, I mean, I think you're when you're at the NHL,
you're a level. You're playing against the best of the best,
the best skaters, the best thinkers, the best passers, the
best shooters. So you know, you've got to be able
to compete every night. I think there's guys in the
league who who definitely aren't, you know, the best skills wise,
(13:13):
but they do something else that that brings another element
to the table that that teams find valuable and and
find that they can put them in the lineup. And
so I think that's what's so great about the NHL
is there is there's that difference between the skill of
the top end guys the the bottom six guys, but
at the end of the night, there they're still the
(13:35):
best at what they do, and that's why they're there.
So I think just being able to kind of find
that niche in the AHL, find what you're good at,
and you know, kind of play to that strength, I
think that will definitely allow the HL.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
To get a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Well, let's talk about some of your strengths here, kind
of your calling cards as a player. I mean, the
production speaks for itself, but the way you approach each
and every shift. Describe that a little bit, maybe how
it's evolved over the course of your career.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Yeah, Uh, definitely worked a lot with the coaches. My
first couple of years, I feel I was kind of
looking to make the perfect play every time, or looking
to create offense every shift I was out there. But
you know, it's a definitely, definitely a shift in mentality.
When you come to pro You're not gonna you know,
you're not gonna get a chance every shift like you
might in junior. So you know, you've got to be
(14:22):
able to to just keep grinding the game and then
when that when that chance comes, you got to be
able to bury it.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
And I think that's something.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
That I've learned to do over my past six years,
is just when there's not a play to be made,
maybe making the simple play and just knowing that eventually
throughout the game the chances will come, just based off
the player that I am and not rushing it and
kind of just playing patient and letting the game come
to me. I think that's been probably the most important thing.
And over the past six years.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
You know, we talked a little bit earlier about influences
on you mentors sort of in terms of players, but
let's talk beyond just Cleveland coaches that have made a
difference in your life and career that could be coming up,
that could be since you've been a pro. Who are
some of those individuals who you wouldn't be here without
what they taught you.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
Yeah, well, growing up most of the time, my dad
was the coach, and then a couple of my buddies
dads would would help him out. So I gotta start
with him. Obviously, he pushed me pretty hard, but I
think that was kind of why I played the way
that I do today. You know, he told me, the
bigger they are, the harder they fall, So try to
(15:28):
try to mix it in a little bit of physicality
and you know, catch a guy off guard every now
and then, and you know, it wasn't too much me
and the garage or anything working on my shot or
my stick handling. It was more so going to the
outdoor rink or going out onto our front driveway where
there was ice and kind of just stick handling out there,
saucing the puck around there. That's what definitely, you know,
(15:50):
got me into into wanting to be a hockey player
and play hockey for professionally. And then definitely my junior
coach my last year in Edmonton when I was nineteen
before coming here, he came from the NHL the year before,
and I think he just he just treated us like
(16:10):
pros and he wanted us to conduct ourselves like pros.
So I think that was a very very good first
step for me to get introducted kind of into the
pro game, which allowed me to kind of have a
pretty pretty seamless transition coming from junior as a nineteen
year old to the AHL as.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
A twenty year old.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
When we come back, we talked to Trey about his
first NHL goal and what that meant to him and
his family. It's all ahead on the landscape presented by
Hospitality Staffing Solutions.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Hey to this third.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Period and to end go me with a pass dropped
there quick shy scores. Welcome to the National Hockey League.
He couldn't believe it, but boy, how about his teammates,
They were thrilled for him. I think everybody knows who's
gonna get that fun.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
It's pretty pretty surreal experience.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
But you know, let's keep keep.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
Keep the winds rolling and to take it into Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
One moment that, of course in your career I'm sure
must stand out is when you scored your first National
Hockey League goal. I remember watching that. You know, your
folks were able to be there in the building and
see it and experience that with you. For all the
sacrifices that any family makes for their hockey playing kid,
there are many to get you know, just through you
hocking much less well beyond that, what did it mean
(17:36):
to you to have that moment and to be able
to share that moment with the people that are responsible
for you being there?
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Yeah, it makes me emotional.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Actually, I mean, my dad and my mom grind grind
it so hard to get me to where I am
and to be able to score that goal and just
see the look on their faces after it brings me
a ton of joy, and.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
I'm just happy that.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
They were They were there to see it in person
and I didn't have to watch watch it on a screen.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
But yeah, it just makes me super emotional.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Thinking about that moment and kind of all I had
to go through to get to that moment, all they
had to go through to get me to that moment.
So yeah, it's definitely something I'll remember forever.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Well, I mean, it was something anyone who watched it
could see how much it meant, not just to you,
but to your parents who were interviewed and all that stuff.
I didn't mean to get so thank you though, I
mean that just speaks to the sacrifice that a family makes.
Though because athletes cannot do this on their own. There's
no way, especially in hockey, all the travel that's involved
(18:40):
in the financial element that is significant when you're starting
out as a kid. So if we could just drill
down a bit on your family and just how they
have paid the road for you to walk on.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
Yeah, I mean early practices, getting up at five in
the morning, going to the rink for a six am practice,
going to school after you know, any time at Christmas
I would ask for a new stick usually my mom
would find a way to get it for me. And
I think that's just something you know that as a
young kid, you look back at now and you're super
(19:14):
grateful for all the things that they did, driving you around,
taking you to school, taking you to hockey from school.
You know, they really never stop. And then obviously the
money money side of things too. It's it's not cheap
to play hockey in Canada and they were never never
shy about shelling money out to to help me chase
my dream and allow me to try and become a
(19:34):
professional hockey player, which is where I'm at now.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Yeah, and to be a professional hockey player that has
made an impact on a major league city, I'm sure
that they are as proud as you are of everything
that you've achieved. Fixie, let's bring it back to Cleveland
as we wrap it up here. You know, we talked
about its impact on you at a specific time in
your life, But what's something about playing here, whether it
be the city or the Monsters themselves, just the Monsters organization,
(20:00):
what's something that would maybe surprise people to know about it,
or something that's made a serious impact on you individually
about coming here, not just to the league, but to Cleveland.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
Yeah, I mean, I'll start with the organization. You would think,
you know, being a part of a arena where there's NBA,
that you would kind of be pushed to the side,
But that's not really the truth. Everyone in this arena
takes great care of us and the fans love us,
(20:33):
So I think that's just something.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
About the organization. And then the city.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I mean, we were fortunate enough to stay quite a
bit longer last year in playoffs, so the weather started
to turn around, and you know.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
They got Edgewater Beach.
Speaker 4 (20:46):
There's a lot of great restaurants and kind of bars
down in the flats that you can go down to
and enjoy the sun at So I think being able
to come here enjoy the sun, you know, not worry
about it being too cold, I think that was super
cool for me because that was the first time that
we've truly been around for that long and been able
to see kind of the switch and weather and everyone's
(21:08):
outside having a good time down on the flats. And yeah,
I just I love Cleveland and I can say enough
great things about the city.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Well, the city loves you too, man, and thank you
for doing this today. Thank you for an amazing run
here with the monsters. And on a personal note, thanks
for giving me so many great moments to call I mean,
from the playoff run last year to all the big goals.
It's been a pleasure. It's been a privilege to work
with you, and thank you for doing this today. A
great look at what Cleveland has meant to you and
what you have meant to the city. So thanks for
(21:37):
being here.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Thanks Tony, I appreciate a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
That'll do it for this episode of the Landscape. Make
sure to tune back into future episodes as we bring
you guests from across the land. You can find us
on Rock Entertainment, Sports Network, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Until next time, I'm Tony Brown.
Host
Serena Winters
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