April 23, 2025 • 46 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Co-Host Kim Cota-Robles are joined by Roadrunners Communications and Media Relations Coordinator Chase Clemens ahead of the best of three round one series versus the Abbotsford Canucks in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's five o'clock. Got yours hues day the two Sun
Roadrunners Heavy Out from Fox Sports fourteen fifty Am with
Jonathan shit Right.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We know the story, but you gotta tell the viewers
that starts. It's so funny.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's our usual Tuesday night.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Maybe we should start implementing some breakdance pregames during the
season and see how that goes.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Right here on Tucson Sports Day yet, Fox Sports fourteen
fifty am.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Fox Sports fourteen fifty am our usual Tuesday night get
together road Runners Happy Hour Playoff edition, as the Roadrunners
have entered the Calder Cup Playoffs as the very last seed,
going up against the Abbotsford Canucks tomorrow night here at
the Abbotsford Center.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Alongside me as always, Kim Coder, Robaz, and off the
top of the hour, we have our special guests this week.
You've heard him on the broadcast before, you've seen his
riding on the website, you've seen his press releases. Demand
behind the pen himself are metera relations and communications coordinator
Chase Clemens. Jase, we had you on Happy Hour long
ago on a game day you're running around. You were busy,
(01:12):
only got to talk to you for a bit, but again,
you've been all over the broadcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
You've now just finished your first regular season in the
American Hockey League, getting everything ready tomorrow for our playoffs,
even though you're still in Tucson. How's it big going,
How was the first season as a whole? And how
excited are you for playoffs?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, Johnny and Kim, thanks so much for having me
on today.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Yeah, end of the end of the regular season, but
hopefully we have a long postseason run here because I
just don't want this season to end.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
You know, since you know, I joined.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
The squad gosh September or so, right before the season,
it's just been an awesome roller coaster, mostly all highs.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
I know that hasn't been the case for the team,
but it's just been such a blast. And yeah, easily
best job I've probably ever had.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
And you were part of the kind of whole shift
of everything, right, And if you folks listening right now,
don't know, this is kind of a crazy story, but
pretty much we were gonna bring Chase on as an intern,
and then Adrian left for the Utah Hockey Club. I
was promoted to the voice of the Roadrunners, and then
we brought Chase on from intern directly the full time
(02:27):
to be my media relations coordinator to handle a lot
of the PR and writing side. And then Chase, You're
still finishing school at the time as well, so you're
going back and forth for probably the first six weeks
of the season before you finally moved here and started
just you know, finally being able to put all the
attention onto the Roadrunners. What was that all like for
(02:47):
you to really get all those bounces together and to
go from probably the quickest promotion ever from intern for
a week to full time and one of the head
of heads of the PR team.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, Yeah, I did a lot to earned that promotion.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
You know, I think I proved a lot in the
two days that we're in between getting hired on as
an intern and the whole time offer. Yeah, it's you know,
it feels like such a blur. I mean that was
only a few months ago. I finally finished school around Thanksgiving,
(03:24):
and yeah, I've been full, you know, having left Tucson
really other than for a few road trips since then.
But you know, it's definitely been a lot easier not
making that commute, and you know, I think it's it's
because of you and the rest of the team that
kind of made uh made it very doable to manage
(03:46):
school on top of the job.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, I just.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Basically I don't know how can I say it, just,
you know, not a whole lot of hours of sleep
or had during that first yeah two months of the
season or so well, not quite two months, six six weeks,
But you know, I was kind of used to it
before then interned with Sun Double Athletics while being a
(04:14):
grad student Arizona Cardinals ABC fifteen. So you know, throughout
my entire time in grad school at ASU, I was
applying myself and just doing everything I could over the
past year and change to you know, one day get
an opportunity like this, So you know, I think that
(04:35):
experience helped. Plus I was in the military before that,
so honestly, it was pretty easy in comparison in some ways.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
So Chase give us the two minute Chase Clemens lore,
if I'm stuck in an elevator with you and I'm like,
tell me who you are, give me where did you
come from? Where'd you grow up? When you get into hockey.
Was this the plan? Tell me everything?
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Sure? So so cal kid originally and then family relocated
to uh, Scottsdale, Arizona, kind of right before middle school.
So I grew up playing hockey in Scottsdale. Went to
Notre Dame Prep. So yeah, hockey's always been a huge passion.
Went to the University of Oregon from my undergrad got
(05:24):
my first degree that I'm not exactly using there.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
What was that?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
What was it?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Was? Advertising?
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Oh? Wow?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Okay, similar similar I was working for an ad agency.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
For a little bit and I did not know that
about you.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Quickly realize that that wasn't how I wanted to spend
my twenties.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
So not not Madmen style.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
No, no, yeah, fun fun industry. But I just think
at that age and that point in my life, I
kind of wanted to be i don't know, challenged in
a in a different way, and the military was was
kind of an interest. So joined the army. Did that
for about five years.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
And then wait, what did you do in the Army?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I was in the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Okay, explain it to me, like I don't know anything
about the army, So yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
I guess I was an Army Ranger in second second
Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington. Just an overall great
life experience, life changing experience. You know, made some of
the best friends of my life there and did some
of the crazy had some of the craziest experiences of
(06:46):
my life there.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Wait, were you like infantry or did you have like
other you were infantry?
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Infantry?
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:55):
Okay, okay, awesome, Sorry, keep going, keep going, I'm here, so.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yeah, yeah, infantry, you know, deployed to uh Iraq, and
uh yeah, you know that afforded me tons of opportunities
to you know, kind of grow and I think developed
a lot of a lot of life life skills, you
(07:20):
know when going.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
To grad school.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Uh you know, A real reason why I did it
was because, you know, kicking down doors and you know,
blowing things up isn't jumping out airplanes isn't super applicable
to sports, b are, But I I just think that
the kind of you know, being focused on a team,
working as a team, and in sports like we do,
(07:45):
sometimes it's all day, all night kind of thing, you know,
deployment or something like ranger school, you're kind of working
off little sleep and every day for you know, a
long stretch of time, and that's you know, I think
a great life experience to have for transitioning to sports,
(08:08):
because that's kind of how it's been, you know, serving
this team.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
I talked to Johnny about this. I don't know how
many times I've mentioned how kind of militaristic it is
to work in professional sports.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That's an understatement.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
Very much like a military tempo and kind of a mindset,
and they kind of make sense when you think about it.
The two of them, take the two of them like
side by side, very very different pay scales, but very
very similar operational tempos.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Yeah, yeah, and just sort of you know, being it's
you know, mission focused.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
It's not nine to five. It's kind of whenever the
job's done right and.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
You're all about the team right, and you could be
going somewhere you don't know where, you know, kind of
with very little notice, but but expect that you are
going to be working in multiple different places throughout your
employment and throughout your career and kind of like you know,
somebody at home with the home fires burning, because you're
(09:12):
out there and you're constantly like grinding away. That sort
of vibe like very similar.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Couldn't couldn't agree more so, Yeah, I think it kind
of prepared me and uh yeah, you know, the scheduled
demands or whatever of you know, the season hasn't really
been anything that haven't been used to. And what I
love about it too, is just kind of working on
a close team with with you two, with with Bennett,
(09:42):
you know, having a chance to you know, serve the
players and coaches. It's you know, the the.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Communications team here.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
We kind of, I think, have a unique kind of
bond because the nature of our work that you know,
now other professions afford you, right, because you're not necessarily
working you know, fifteen hours a day together.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
So yeah, I think post military.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
You know, that was a big reason why I wanted
to get into sports, was because I kind of wanted,
you know.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Something like that.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
And wait, Johnny, wait, wait Johnny, before you ask this question,
let me ask something real quick. Your birthday.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Oh no, oh.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
No, it's it's actually coming up here pretty soon.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Oh it is when Melee. Oh, we gotta keep that
in mind.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Okay, now go Johnny.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Okay, So, Jase, obviously, Kim and I know what your
day to day is on a game day, but maybe
the fans here listening on this show really don't know,
you know, what is your role entails on a game day?
And I know it's a little different for the away
games coming up tomorrow, but give us your kind of
whole day routine of a home game of how much
work is really put in to making sure everything is
(11:01):
set in ready to go?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Well, yeah, usually wake up, quick, quick workout, you know,
like like the Army days. You know, got to get
it in early, set the day off right on the
right tone, and then I come into the office and
start printing everything for media, for scouts, for both coaching staffs,
(11:28):
and a lot of that is is our game notes.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
So for those who don't know, any sports team, whether.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Professional or you know in collegiate athletics so has a
you know, communications director that manages and keeps track of
every single stat you could you could think of throughout
(11:57):
the course of a season. And that kind of allows
U the communications team to offer you know, his historical context,
what the team is doing, things of that nature. Helps
keeps keeps track of player and franchise records, career.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Milestones, things of that nature.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
So I update that after every game not to skip
ahead to what I do for after a game. But
that's a huge, you know, aspect of my role here.
So long story short, you know, I provide that to
uh the coaches.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
How much they look at it, I don't know, I
know the play.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
I know some of the players like to uh, you know,
kill some time pregame looking at a couple of the coffees.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I leave formed the player's lounge. Then I set up
the press box, uh for our off ice officials.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
For for you Johnny and Kim, for the visiting.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Broadcaster as well. Give them everything they need.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
And we have a lot of scouts that tend to
our games, you know, and that number can vary from
a couple to fifteen, just.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Just depends how the stars aligned.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
So I like to give them, you know, that same
material lineups as well. And then I help set up
where both teams is Hockey Operations booths are so that
consists of you know, management and coaches up and down
(13:36):
each team's organization. So both teams can have you know,
front office folks from their NHL affiliates or sometimes it's
just their ahel affiliates and various coaches.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
And then I'm just kind of on hand for anything
they need, as well as the office officials.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
You know, I'm there to kind of troubleshoot any technically shoes.
Not that I can fix it, but uh, I'm kind
of the middleman, I guess you could say, to uh.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Get the right person to fix any problem.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
So yeah, long story short, well, long story long, A
lot of a lot of prep doing some of the
things I mentioned, and then in game writing the recap
and press release that I try to get out there
for people.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
To read as soon as possible after the game ends,
and then.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Assist with any media interviews that have that are happening
after the game. And sometimes it's just our own internal
team and sometimes we have various outside media games, so
I'll be there to you know, help facilitate that and uh,
you know, make sure the media gets to speak to
(14:53):
the players that they they.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Want to and who we uh you know want them
to speak to.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
And then.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Basically on series where it's you know, we're playing back
to back, you know, it's time to get home, have
another cup of coffee, maybe some food too, and start
up dating the game notes from the game that just
happened and writing the preview for the next game.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Lots of writing, But I had a question about scouts.
Have you do you always know in advance when they're
going to be there? Or has there ever been a
situation where somebody showed up and you were completely blindsided?
What's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I'll I'll let Chase answer that question.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
There's there's been a few.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
There's been a few situations, but it's it's it's never
a problem.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I think they're used to it.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
You know, some usually their team services team sort of
handles their travel for them and they'll reach out to me,
but I'm I'm.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
The one to sort of confirm with all the scouts.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
You know that we receive their credential request, so we
like to know who's coming that way, I know, you
know how much, how many lineups to prepare for them,
where to seat them, things of that nature. So it's
it's nice to have a heads up. And I would
(16:21):
say like ninety eight percent of the time we know
who's coming. But sometimes there there are surprises, whether it's
just an NHL GM that you didn't expect, or last
minute request.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
From from a team.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
You know it might be ten minutes before puck drop,
but it's it's no problem.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, we we are.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Happy to host as many that want to come because
you know, it's it's really important for other organizations.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
But sometimes things slip through.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
The cracks, whether they email Adrian's old address and we
don't get it a lot, but it's yeah, it's it's
no problem.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Did you know, Chase that you're a Taurus?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
I have been told that. Okay, so you have mostly
by women. Women seem to always kind of keep track
of those things.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
It is a very telling indicator of what to expect
from you. So yeah, for sure, okay.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
So.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Exactly, Yeah, it's stubborn, right.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Oh yeah, it comes in there, but this is what
it says. Generally known for being loyal, dependable, and practical,
with a love for the finer things in life, they
are also known for their stubbornness and need for stability.
Is that accurate, Johnny? No, not you, Chase, Johnny? Is
(17:50):
this accurate?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Wait? Wait read that to me again.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Oh goodness. Loyal, dependable, practical with a love for the
finer things in life. Also known for stubborn and need
for stability.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's pretty that's pretty accurate. I mean
Chase's chases. Chase is definitely loyal to what we're trying
to do here in Tucson. I wouldn't say stubborn. He's
never really tried to, like not do something that doesn't
seem right, you know. So it's this the stubborn part, no,
but definitely the loyal and it's kind of would it
also say looking for the good things in life?
Speaker 6 (18:22):
I guess yeah, yes.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Chase is a you know, it's a perfectionalist in a
good way. So yeah, i'd agree with that. That's good.
That's a good statement.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
What do you think, Chase?
Speaker 4 (18:35):
I think it's pretty spot on. I could be very.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Stubborn about certain things, not really work wise, because it's
it's you know, if you know, I'm I think I'm
just the.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Sort of chain of command is ingrained in me.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
So if Johnny tells me to do something or anyone,
you know, I might offer, you know a couple of
alternative ways of executing it, but yeah, I'll follow my mark.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
So the stubbornness mainly comes in in your personal life
with your wife.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's well, I would just say, like
I like things a certain way. I like my routine,
you know, like off day it's like, yeah, you know,
let's go to the gym at this certain time.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
You know, let's do something. I can be stubborn for sure.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Do you this is a super random question that I
just thought about it. I haven't asked anybody this at
all ever. Do you have a player on the team
that you just really enjoy watching? Like I don't want
to say favorite player because they don't want to like
exclude people who aren't your favorite player, But like, for instance,
I love watching Cameron he Big play hockey. The hustle
(19:45):
in that kid is phenomenal, and then just like watching
his growth over the last what four or five seasons,
He's just so much fun. And I actually had a
friend came out to the game this weekend and knows
nothing about hockey and was like, who's number thirty? Now
he's electric, Like he's so much fun to watch, So
what are you thinking.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
About the way he's he's I love watching him skate
as well.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
He's so quick.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
If I had to pick one player, there's just something
about Hunter Drew's game that I love.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
True, I sometimes he just he if there's ever a scrum, he's.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
Usually in the middle of it, So you know, I
just really respect his physical game and how he stands
up for his teammates.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
But sometimes he just can take over a game.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
You know.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
He leads the team in unassisted goals, which we talked
about because he had his fourth one in the season finale.
He just has this wicked shot, you know, where he'll
just for whatever reason, on the right night when things
are clicking, he'll he can just dominate and just carry
the puck in the zone and just beat any gold
(21:00):
you know, with that rishot of his from the perimeter.
So just the way he mixes it up with other guys,
chirps other players, and.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Yeah, just kind of his leaderships.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It's interesting you say that, Chase.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
So last time we were here was December twentieth to
the twenty first. We won two games against Absford. Hunter
Drew had three goals in that series. And then the
last time we played Abbitsford when we swept him back
at home in February, Hunter Drew scored a goal in
that series too. He has four goals against Abbotsford this season,
actually tied with Cameron Hebick. So the two guys we
really said we liked the game lead our team in
(21:35):
goals against Abbitsford.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
So that that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Maybe it's a little sighn of what's to come in
these next three games. Chase, this is your first time
getting exposed to the chaos of American Hockey League playoffs.
I mean, I'm sure you've seen it from the outside,
but now you are in it of these crazy three
game first round series where we are the seventh seed
going up against the second. See we were in the
(21:58):
opposite of last year. We were the second team playing
the seventh. We knew how that went. Now we are
to complete underdogs into this series going against the red
hot team Abbotsford. What are you looking forward to for
these next couple of games and what do you think
this team can do and needs to do to get
an upset here?
Speaker 5 (22:16):
Yeah, I think the sky's the limit. You know, I
know two songs the seventh seed, but you know, the
Roadrunners uniquely know how little that means. Right after getting
swept by seventh seed Calgary last year, and then the
team has you know, had a lot of success up
in Abbotsford, you know, winning three or four games, So
(22:40):
I you know, I think the team is going in
really confident. What I'm interested in seeing is how they
match up against Abbotsford early because the team has had
success against Abbotsford. But the last time we played them
(23:01):
was when we swept them in late March. You know,
the Canucks went eighteen or yeah, eighteen, I think of
their final twenty games.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Or seventeen to two and one. So having quite matched
up against them.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
With the way their current roster has been playing and
is constructed, so you know, I'm really excited to see that.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
And you know, from our side.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I think we've had a lot of success against Abbotsford
because of the team is really played to their identity,
you know, playing roadrunners hockey, kind of mucking up the game,
making the game emotional by getting under their skin.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
And our lineup is.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
I don't want to say, I don't want to say tougher,
but we have a bigger lineup and play with you
know a little bit more of a physical edge, and
that gets taken a whole other level.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
In the playoffs or the games a lot faster.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
So I think that's fascinating and I think one advantage
could be is, you know, we've been playing a lot
of do or die.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Games down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
You know that game seventy two last weekend felt like
a playoff game, just with the effort plays you know,
the team was making, and with just how fast the
game was.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
And I know Abbotsford too, they didn't.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
They had to beat Ontario in their final game to
clinch the seed. But you know that wasn't their existential
you know, survival, right, They weren't gonna not make the playoffs.
So I think, you know, it's a bit of an
advantage on Tucson's end, you know, having played those games,
and you know, I think it will be really important
(24:52):
to get off to good starts. I think two songs
best goal differential is in the first period.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
I have to pull up my.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Notes to get the exact number, but I think Tucson
is somewhere around plus fifteen in Abbotsford's plus seven something along. Yeah,
so slight edge in the first period. However, the Canucks,
you know, the middle frame is really where they shine.
They have north of a plus twenty five goal differential,
(25:23):
and I think Tucson is about negative twenty six gool differential.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
For whatever reason.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
The second period, you know, the game's just gotten away
from this team throughout the regular season. So I think
leaning into you know, fast starts. You know, Paganski and
Douglas I think rank up there on the team for
you know, getting us on.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
The board early and first period goals.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
So I think the way those guys come out will
be huge in the team in general.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
And then you know, just keeping that up in the
middle frame.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
What about you, I was waiting for Kim to go,
Kim'd you have something? No?
Speaker 6 (26:11):
No, no, you go I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
No.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
I mean, yeah, Chase, I mean I completely agree. It's
just when you have that underdog mentality. And we've seen
this team be backed into a corner really these past
two months, right. I mean, once we went on that
eight game slide and we were out of the playoff picture,
it was like, we need to figure this out, and
we did. We got some big wins against Bakersfield, had
(26:34):
some huge home stands as well, including that sweep against Abbotsford,
and we were able to It took all seventy two games,
but we clinched the final seed. And I think the
mentality now is it doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't matter
what your record was, it doesn't matter how you got
into the playoffs. You're in the playoffs now, and now
you have an opportunity to not only get a huge upset,
(26:56):
but it could be the biggest upset of the entire
first round, right, I mean that we were the last
team to get in Abbotsford clinched a while back. The
Canucks finished as the hottest team in the entire AHL.
They went sixteen to one to zero to finish off
the season in the last seventeen games, including a thirteen
game winning streak, And then I'm tying it to last
(27:17):
year again because we were the hottest team going into
the playoffs and Calgary was the most struggling team.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And it's different.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Weren't the most struggling team going in, But it's just
that mentality of anything can happen, especially when it's just
three games. You just have to win two of the
next three games and then bam, you're You're on to
the next round. And if we do get past the
first round of the cal To Cup Playoffs against Abbotsford,
we'll be hosting a game on May second against the
(27:43):
Colorado Eagles to bring back wide out Tucson back to
the twoson Arena. So there's still a lot in line
and there's still a chance the road runs can be
back at home for the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (27:53):
It's scary. It's scary times right now. But honestly, the
way that I'm looking at where we're at right now
is very much the postseason pressure is a privilege. We're
incredibly privileged to be where we're at right now. Like
you said, it took seventy two games to get where
we're at. But when you're in these high stakes situations,
(28:15):
you're here because you did the things right and you
earned the privilege to be in the high stakes situations.
So I am. I think Chase you said, you said Pogo,
and who who else we're going to be? You mentioned
another name that was going to be kind of pivotal
to kind of setting the vibe for tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well, just you know, fast stars have
been so key for this team's success this year. They've
played their best often in the first period, and then
big drivers of that are you know, the captain Austin mcganski.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know, he's he's.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
Just had a knack for putting Tucson on the board.
I forget how many times he's done it. I just
I just remember writing about it the last time it happened,
maybe a week or so ago, you know, it was
like a sixth time or something like that.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Well, definitely that entire line, right, even just looking at
our last game on Saturday, Heaves and Pogo both had
multi point game and then Kyler had a point in
that game, Like that was just it was the bonkers game.
And then going back to to Hunter Drew who had
three points in that game. Like, like you said, a
(29:30):
lot a lot hinges on the very beginnings. And I
don't know, I think so many of our guys are
locker room guys also, and I think that that along
with being incredibly talented, they all just want to play
for each other and continue to just have success with
each other whatever, you know, whatever they got to do
(29:51):
to just keep playing hockey together. I think that's where
they're at mentally right now.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
And there's a lot of guys who are, you know,
experiencing career best seasons, you know, Paganski, he Big, you know,
which we've talked about.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Curtis Douglas as well.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
It's his second best season in best with with.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
The road Runners. So yeah, I just there's a lot
of guys who just don't want this this ride to end.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
And I you know, I think fortunately for Tucson, you know,
their their top playmakers are kind of going into this
game one matchup, you know, with some momentum. Drew, you know,
he's had three multi point games and his his last
six or seven, and he's kind of repeating what he
(30:45):
did last year, right, had that point streak to end
the year and then.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
Got on the board and in the postseason.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
You know, Kyler, you know, was in Utah for about
a month and then comes back and gets five points
in his last three games.
Speaker 6 (31:01):
Still, it's like he has a phenomenal season with us
even though he wasn't with us.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Also leading the game.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
We'd scoring for Tucson against the Abbotsford Canucks with Yep,
I want to say nine nine or eight eight or
nine points one goal in eight assists, I believe in
that stretch. So yeah, it's it's huge to have him back.
Everyone's constantly said that Yamamoto is a game changer, and
it's just something about having him back Volalta coming back
(31:28):
as well getting that huge win on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Yeah, Kim, you're right.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
We do have a lot of locker room guys, and
it's the locker room that in when working together and
playing our identity, we can beat anybody.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I do have to say one of the most fun
parts of the season for me is when Hunter Drew
gets penalties because when he sits in the box, and
I know he's not supposed to get the penalties. Man
has not met a penalty he doesn't love. But when
he sits in the box, it's so entertaining because he
just chirps the entire time, even though it's just me
(32:01):
and the office officials that can hear him, it's he
is wildly hysterical. And then also Chase I don't know,
and Johnny I don't know if you guys know this,
but Hunter started on d did you guys know that?
And then he got to a point in his career
where some yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Yeah, he told us that our first few shows that
we grabbed him on.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
He told He told me he told us last season
because I was looking through his stats and I was like,
wait what, and he he had said that. Yeah. One
of the coaches came to him and was like, listen,
we really we really need somebody on offense, you know,
can you can you try and play forward? And he
picked it up and apparently it's pretty good at it.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah, he's all right, Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Well we'll Chase in the.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Business man.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yeah, wait, we'll Chase. Thanks so much for joining us, man,
appreciate your time. I know you're getting a lot of
stuff ready for tomorrow, but we're excited here, excited here
in Abbotsford and looking forward to texting you during the
game and hopefully it's with the win on Thursday, or
win on Wednesday and a win on Thursday as well,
so we can get a quick two games sweep and
(33:15):
then head back home to Tucson and get ready for
home home ice advantage playoff run.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
Absolutely, thanks for yeah, putting up with me for the
last half hour.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
It's a pleasure, really grateful to be on the show.
And yeah, just had a great time with you guys.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
So any anytime, anytime there's another event where ten guests
cancel and you need me.
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Thanks Chase.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Thron Runners Happy Hour Playoff edition rolling on here as
the team takes on the Abbotsford Canucks tomorrow night at
the Abbotsford Center for game number one of the three
game playoff series.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
For round one.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Just having our media relations coordinator Chase Clemens on the show,
so if you want to check that out and just
missed it, this will be posted at Tucson Roadrunners dot
com slash Happy Hour for the podcast version as well.
Kim great to have Chase on, obviously very knowledgeable of
the team. Those were really hard, good stats that he had,
and that's a good points we had. We had really
(34:14):
good first periods all throughout the season. We even had
I think, to my knowledge, a four goal first period
in one of the games we've even played here in Abbotsford.
And then that was interesting that he said the Canucks
only have a plus seven in the first period as well,
but their second period is the best and our second
period is not so good, So that is kind of
it's scary. Once he said that, I was like, whoa, Okay,
(34:36):
that's that's a little scary, right, But I mean, again,
it's just just the way that these guys earned this
last spot in the very last game of the season,
especially that Bakersfield went on a good run at the
end of the year. It was it was just so intense,
and I remember and and I hate scoreboard watching as
(34:57):
much as like I don't want to do it, like
I hater ling on other teams, but when we were
when Condor started at six and we were playing at seven,
and we were watching the first period of the Condors
Henderson game, and this was on Saturday night and they
were already up five. Nothing in the fridge. It's like,
that's it. We know our destineam gotta win or we're
not getting in. Condors ended up winning eight to two
(35:18):
and we won seven to four, So it was an
attends end to the finish. Got tied with the bakers
Field but we talked about all season long we had
more regulation wins that gave us the tiebreaker, and now
it's just, uh, we're in what we were, Uh were
in the opposite of last year.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
We were the second seed.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
We had got a bunch of reinforcements back from the
NHL of the Arizona Coyotes going against the second the
seventh seed, and ended up losing two games. And now
we're the opposite right where Abbotsford got seven different players
back from the Vancouver Canucks as the second seed, hottest
team going into the playoffs. We're the hottest team going
into the playoffs last year, and now we're in a
(35:57):
complete opposite So it's it's if friends being that opposite
team now looking into this series. But again it's just
when the when it's up to these when it you
only have to win two of the three, I just
think it puts more pressure on the home team because
we saw that side beforehand from last season.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
We did see that side. Oh man, that was.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
So much.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Yeah, I hate to I hate to talk about, but
it's just how it happened, right, and ever since that happened,
now I have that mentality of well, that means that
any team who makes the playoffs can upset the first seed.
I mean even two years even two years ago, you've
made it to the playoffs with a losing record as
the seventh seed, went against the second seed Coachelle Valley Firebirds.
We took them to Game three and we just had
(36:41):
a bad first period in Game three and saw what
that happened. But there was a Coachella Valley in an
elimination game and they went all the way to the Cup.
Speaker 6 (36:48):
And that which was bunkers because that place is off
crazy to play in. It's so loud, so tough, it's
so tough.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
So ever since that that happened, I'm like it doesn't
matter now, like you made playoffs, and all it takes
is to just find your identity. And we've said it
all season long, Kim as well. When this team plays
to its identity, we can beat anyone. And it is
a reason why we've had success against Abbots for this season.
We match up against them really well. And I know
there are some in the building, not not from our
(37:20):
from our staff, but just you know overall people said like, oh, well,
be awesome for you guys to go to Ontario, California.
I'm like, well, but we match better against Abbotsford. So
in a sense, I'm kind of glad that we're here
because again, we had success in this building, we had
success against them, and it was the best situation that
we can be put in for first round of the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (37:38):
I think part of our brand though, is just being
very dramatic. So yep, I'm not gonna lie. We are
a dramatic team. I would not fastrised if this win
to Game three, Yeah, I'm not. I wouldn't be surprised
if that happened. If it was another nail bier where
we're just you know, everybody is biting their nails and
sweating and just like what it's gonna happen and scrambling,
(38:02):
you know, for that last that last win. So yeah,
if it is I have an ulcer. I have an
ulcer now thanks to this season. Yeah, I think like
such a roller coaster.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
And I think when it comes to these three game series,
when you're the seventh seed like us, and you know,
let's say you least get the first, I think tomorrow
and not obviously it's Game one. Of course, it's the
most important game of the series besides the Game three.
But I just think if you find a way to
put all the pressure on Abbotsford in which again Kim,
they ended the season as the hottest team, they haven't
(38:39):
had any adversity in a month. They didn't they didn't
lose a game and over a month that's that it's insane.
So if you find a way to put pressure on
Abbotsford when now they're in a situation that they're not
particularly used to, I think that's also can help us
out because we've been on we've been in pressure all
season long. We've been fighting for that final scene. We
(39:00):
finally got it at the end. So I think if
you find a way to get the pressure on abbots
for it and win that Game one, no matter what
happens Game two, and force the game three on Saturday.
That's also going to put the road Runners out of
an advantage because now Abbotsford all of a sudden going
into the season as the hottest team. It's like, oh crap,
our season can end at any moment. And then that's
when you start playing with that desperation and that can
(39:21):
either go good or can either go really bad, as
we've seen it for us this year as well.
Speaker 6 (39:26):
There's the saying, what is it pressure makes diamonds? I mean,
it's actual truth, right, And so the fact that that
Abbitsfurd hasn't had a lot of pressure recently, you know,
maybe they're sitting back a little bit. We don't know,
but we do know that the mental resiliency of the
(39:47):
road Runners is kindly it's kind of like the way
that I look at it is just kind of like
it's very finely honed to a like, to a very
sharp point, because these boys have been knocked back a
few times and somehow still came back just kicking inclining
and scratching and willing to work and do everything that
(40:10):
they need to do to put themselves in this spot
for success. You know, like that that doesn't go away,
you know, that mental resiliency and building up that that
reliance on not only yourself but the people standing next
to you. Mentally, it just creates tighter bonds, I think,
between everybody. So you know, we see this that the
(40:34):
the guys are tight. You know, they're they're in it
for each other. And yeah, we'll see, we'll see how
far we go. Who knows, like Mowana, how far I'll go?
Speaker 3 (40:48):
I kept, you just never know, like you, you just
never know. And and I'm just so happy that these
guys earned it, right, Like, everybody wants to just play
more hockey games, and for the time being, we have
earned two more and it's it's two big ones here
in Abasford for round one. And oh my gosh, someone
just flicked a puck near me.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
That was scary.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Guys are currently practicing right now, so I was hoping
they're not trying to hit me up here because I'm
at my broadcast with at the moment, but he had
going back to that, Kim. I also just feel great
for these guys who have earned a few more games.
And also, guys, do you know haven't been in the
playoffs for a while. Andrew Ragazino hasn't been in the
playoffs for these last few years. I believe it was
(41:30):
the twenty one twenty two season the last time Agazino
was in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Yeah, let me know. I'm just I'm just gonna double.
Speaker 6 (41:37):
Man is built for playoffs. What are you talking about?
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I know, but like to see him.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Yeah, but I'm like, I'm excited for, you know, a
guy like him who you know. So, yeah, it was
the twenty one twenty two season last time Andrew Ragazino
was in the playoffs with the Belleville Senators. But then
we have guys who have had tons of a playoff experience,
with Paganski going to the Cup a few years back,
Hunter Drew had some playoff runs with the with the
(42:02):
San Diego goals. Kylie Yamamoa has had plenty of NHL
playoff experience with the Emmitton Oilers, with you know, one
of the greatest hockey players of all time, Connor McDavid.
So yeah, that's just what also makes it exciting. We
have lots of guys with good playoff experience all across
different leagues, and I think that's also going to help
(42:22):
us out because these guys know what it's gonna be
like to have the pressure on here.
Speaker 6 (42:27):
I do have one note on the season, and you
can take this out later if you want to, if
you don't like what I say. But I was really
really hopeful that Cameron Hebeg was gonna get a call
up this season. I was. I was just so waiting
for it to happen. I I understand that he had
a job to do here and we obviously needed him. Yeah,
(42:49):
he was producing, producing, producing, But I just I kept
thinking like any day that I was going to see
a meteorly saying that that he had gotten the call up.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
And oh, I would have told you.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
I would have told you straight up, like I take
that off to maybe idea take this. I'm you you,
I would tell you because you've you know Cam longer
than I have. And yeah, kid, that's also a good point,
like I'm glad the season's adobia because how about the
storylines we had this year? Right, Cameron Hebig having his
best season yet in the AHL, after grinding all through
these years, becoming two hundred mister two hundred and eighty
(43:24):
with two so now he's played the most games played
in roadrunners history, earned the NHL contract, Curtis Douglas name
to Man of the Man of the Year, uh Igor
Sokolov welcomed his firstborn daughter into the world this season
as well. Paganski is expected in about a month, Pagansky
being named the captain and having his best season statistically
in his career, you know, as a captain, and Matthew
(43:47):
Wilalta's first NHL win. The list goes on, I can
keep you know, I'm shure you my fingers as I
was saying that, Yah, yeah, And I think that's what
also just makes it so rewarding that these guys did
make playoffs because of just all the fantastic story lines
that we saw this season.
Speaker 6 (44:03):
Again, and I know I say this over and over again,
but it's impossible to not draw parallels between what we've
gone through this season and an actual TV show like
if this, like tell me this wasn't scripted, Like if
we had had cameras following the team around this season,
I can't even imagine how many people would now be
(44:24):
into American League hockey, Like how is that not a thing?
Because of all of the incredibly amazing things that the
players have done along with you know, just the behind
the scenes and the lows and the highs and that
are we gonna make it? Are we not gonna make it?
Like the romances that all the boys in the boy
(44:44):
Fish Aquarium just doing all the things. And it's just
non stop drama, excitement, comedy, action, romance. It's just also
beautiful and it's just it's my favorite sport.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
Wrapping up this week's episode of this play off edition
of Roadrunners, Happy our Kim All comes down to tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
It's round one.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
HL Playoffs probably have the most craziest bracket format ever.
But if you folks want to check out the other matchups,
just go to DHL dot Com explains all of it.
But for your two Sound Roadrunners, we take on the
Atmosford Canucks in a best of three series starting tomorrow.
Next game will be Thursday, and then game three, if necessary,
will be on Saturday. We also have watch parties as
(45:28):
well at main event Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers and Barrio
Brewinco all throughout this week as well, so find out
more on those at two Soundroadrunners dot com and Kimbaida
roll here. Exciting hockey coming up, There's nothing better than
playoff hockey.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
Absolutely, Okay, I'm here, I'm focused. Absolutely nothing better than
playoff hockey. This is prime time. This is primetime. Yeah,
I'm always primetime. This is We're here, this is primetime.
And what I'm saying right now is fire it up,
fire it up, Tuson, let's go.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Let's go. We are excited. Let's do this.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
If the road Runners do come out with a win
in this series, they're gonna be back home hosting their
first playoff game of the year, and wide out. We'll
return to Tucson as well on May second versus the
Colorado Eagles, So keeping that in mind as well as
the Roadrunners could be doing that in these next two games,
with Game number one once again on Tomorrow and Wednesday night,
(46:27):
Thursday's Game two, and if necessary, Saturday, all at seven pm.
It's the first round of the Calor Cup Playoffs happening tomorrow.
It'll be right here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty am
or in AHL TV on Flow Sports. See you at
the watch parties, Well I won't see you there, but
I'll hope to see you there. Everybody support this team.
They have earned this. It's going to be awesome. First
(46:50):
round of playoffs starting this week. Have a great rest
of your night, everybody. Nothing better than playoff hockey.
It's five o'clock. Got yours hues day the two Sun
Roadrunners Heavy Out from Fox Sports fourteen fifty Am with
Jonathan shit Right.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We know the story, but you gotta tell the viewers
that starts. It's so funny.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's our usual Tuesday night.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
So I don't know.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Maybe we should start implementing some breakdance pregames during the
season and see how that goes.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Right here on Tucson Sports Day yet, Fox Sports fourteen
fifty am.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Fox Sports fourteen fifty am our usual Tuesday night get
together road Runners Happy Hour Playoff edition, as the Roadrunners
have entered the Calder Cup Playoffs as the very last seed,
going up against the Abbotsford Canucks tomorrow night here at
the Abbotsford Center.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Alongside me as always, Kim Coder, Robaz, and off the
top of the hour, we have our special guests this week.
You've heard him on the broadcast before, you've seen his
riding on the website, you've seen his press releases. Demand
behind the pen himself are metera relations and communications coordinator
Chase Clemens. Jase, we had you on Happy Hour long
ago on a game day you're running around. You were busy,
(01:12):
only got to talk to you for a bit, but again,
you've been all over the broadcast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You know.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
You've now just finished your first regular season in the
American Hockey League, getting everything ready tomorrow for our playoffs,
even though you're still in Tucson. How's it big going,
How was the first season as a whole? And how
excited are you for playoffs?
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, Johnny and Kim, thanks so much for having me
on today.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Yeah, end of the end of the regular season, but
hopefully we have a long postseason run here because I
just don't want this season to end.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
You know, since you know, I joined.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
The squad gosh September or so, right before the season,
it's just been an awesome roller coaster, mostly all highs.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
You know.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
I know that hasn't been the case for the team,
but it's just been such a blast. And yeah, easily
best job I've probably ever had.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
And you were part of the kind of whole shift
of everything, right, And if you folks listening right now,
don't know, this is kind of a crazy story, but
pretty much we were gonna bring Chase on as an intern,
and then Adrian left for the Utah Hockey Club. I
was promoted to the voice of the Roadrunners, and then
we brought Chase on from intern directly the full time
(02:27):
to be my media relations coordinator to handle a lot
of the PR and writing side. And then Chase, You're
still finishing school at the time as well, so you're
going back and forth for probably the first six weeks
of the season before you finally moved here and started
just you know, finally being able to put all the
attention onto the Roadrunners. What was that all like for
(02:47):
you to really get all those bounces together and to
go from probably the quickest promotion ever from intern for
a week to full time and one of the head
of heads of the PR team.
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Yeah, Yeah, I did a lot to earned that promotion.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
You know, I think I proved a lot in the
two days that we're in between getting hired on as
an intern and the whole time offer. Yeah, it's you know,
it feels like such a blur. I mean that was
only a few months ago. I finally finished school around Thanksgiving,
(03:24):
and yeah, I've been full, you know, having left Tucson
really other than for a few road trips since then.
But you know, it's definitely been a lot easier not
making that commute, and you know, I think it's it's
because of you and the rest of the team that
kind of made uh made it very doable to manage
(03:46):
school on top of the job.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, I just.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Basically I don't know how can I say it, just,
you know, not a whole lot of hours of sleep
or had during that first yeah two months of the
season or so well, not quite two months, six six weeks,
But you know, I was kind of used to it
before then interned with Sun Double Athletics while being a
(04:14):
grad student Arizona Cardinals ABC fifteen. So you know, throughout
my entire time in grad school at ASU, I was
applying myself and just doing everything I could over the
past year and change to you know, one day get
an opportunity like this, So you know, I think that
(04:35):
experience helped. Plus I was in the military before that,
so honestly, it was pretty easy in comparison in some ways.
Speaker 6 (04:44):
So Chase give us the two minute Chase Clemens lore,
if I'm stuck in an elevator with you and I'm like,
tell me who you are, give me where did you
come from? Where'd you grow up? When you get into hockey.
Was this the plan? Tell me everything?
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Sure? So so cal kid originally and then family relocated
to uh, Scottsdale, Arizona, kind of right before middle school.
So I grew up playing hockey in Scottsdale. Went to
Notre Dame Prep. So yeah, hockey's always been a huge passion.
Went to the University of Oregon from my undergrad got
(05:24):
my first degree that I'm not exactly using there.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
What was that?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
What was it?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Was? Advertising?
Speaker 6 (05:30):
Oh? Wow?
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Okay, similar similar I was working for an ad agency.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
For a little bit and I did not know that
about you.
Speaker 5 (05:39):
Quickly realize that that wasn't how I wanted to spend
my twenties.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
So not not Madmen style.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
No, no, yeah, fun fun industry. But I just think
at that age and that point in my life, I
kind of wanted to be i don't know, challenged in
a in a different way, and the military was was
kind of an interest. So joined the army. Did that
for about five years.
Speaker 6 (06:08):
And then wait, what did you do in the Army?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I was in the seventy fifth Ranger Regiment.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Okay, explain it to me, like I don't know anything
about the army, So yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
I guess I was an Army Ranger in second second
Ranger Battalion in Fort Lewis, Washington. Just an overall great
life experience, life changing experience. You know, made some of
the best friends of my life there and did some
of the crazy had some of the craziest experiences of
(06:46):
my life there.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
Wait, were you like infantry or did you have like
other you were infantry?
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Infantry?
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Yeah?
Speaker 6 (06:55):
Okay, okay, awesome, Sorry, keep going, keep going, I'm here, so.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Yeah, yeah, infantry, you know, deployed to uh Iraq, and
uh yeah, you know that afforded me tons of opportunities
to you know, kind of grow and I think developed
a lot of a lot of life life skills, you
(07:20):
know when going.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
To grad school.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Uh you know, A real reason why I did it
was because, you know, kicking down doors and you know,
blowing things up isn't jumping out airplanes isn't super applicable
to sports, b are, But I I just think that
the kind of you know, being focused on a team,
working as a team, and in sports like we do,
(07:45):
sometimes it's all day, all night kind of thing, you know,
deployment or something like ranger school, you're kind of working
off little sleep and every day for you know, a
long stretch of time, and that's you know, I think
a great life experience to have for transitioning to sports,
(08:08):
because that's kind of how it's been, you know, serving
this team.
Speaker 6 (08:11):
I talked to Johnny about this. I don't know how
many times I've mentioned how kind of militaristic it is
to work in professional sports.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
That's an understatement.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
Very much like a military tempo and kind of a mindset,
and they kind of make sense when you think about it.
The two of them, take the two of them like
side by side, very very different pay scales, but very
very similar operational tempos.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Yeah, yeah, and just sort of you know, being it's
you know, mission focused.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
It's not nine to five. It's kind of whenever the
job's done right and.
Speaker 6 (08:51):
You're all about the team right, and you could be
going somewhere you don't know where, you know, kind of
with very little notice, but but expect that you are
going to be working in multiple different places throughout your
employment and throughout your career and kind of like you know,
somebody at home with the home fires burning, because you're
(09:12):
out there and you're constantly like grinding away. That sort
of vibe like very similar.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
Couldn't couldn't agree more so, Yeah, I think it kind
of prepared me and uh yeah, you know, the scheduled
demands or whatever of you know, the season hasn't really
been anything that haven't been used to. And what I
love about it too, is just kind of working on
a close team with with you two, with with Bennett,
(09:42):
you know, having a chance to you know, serve the
players and coaches. It's you know, the the.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Communications team here.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
We kind of, I think, have a unique kind of
bond because the nature of our work that you know,
now other professions afford you, right, because you're not necessarily
working you know, fifteen hours a day together.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
So yeah, I think post military.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
You know, that was a big reason why I wanted
to get into sports, was because I kind of wanted,
you know.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Something like that.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
And wait, Johnny, wait, wait Johnny, before you ask this question,
let me ask something real quick. Your birthday.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Oh no, oh.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
No, it's it's actually coming up here pretty soon.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Oh it is when Melee. Oh, we gotta keep that
in mind.
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Okay, now go Johnny.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Okay, So, Jase, obviously, Kim and I know what your
day to day is on a game day, but maybe
the fans here listening on this show really don't know,
you know, what is your role entails on a game day?
And I know it's a little different for the away
games coming up tomorrow, but give us your kind of
whole day routine of a home game of how much
work is really put in to making sure everything is
(11:01):
set in ready to go?
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Sure?
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Well, yeah, usually wake up, quick, quick workout, you know,
like like the Army days. You know, got to get
it in early, set the day off right on the
right tone, and then I come into the office and
start printing everything for media, for scouts, for both coaching staffs,
(11:28):
and a lot of that is is our game notes.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
So for those who don't know, any sports team, whether.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Professional or you know in collegiate athletics so has a
you know, communications director that manages and keeps track of
every single stat you could you could think of throughout
(11:57):
the course of a season. And that kind of allows
U the communications team to offer you know, his historical context,
what the team is doing, things of that nature. Helps
keeps keeps track of player and franchise records, career.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Milestones, things of that nature.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
So I update that after every game not to skip
ahead to what I do for after a game. But
that's a huge, you know, aspect of my role here.
So long story short, you know, I provide that to
uh the coaches.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
How much they look at it, I don't know, I
know the play.
Speaker 5 (12:38):
I know some of the players like to uh, you know,
kill some time pregame looking at a couple of the coffees.
Speaker 4 (12:45):
I leave formed the player's lounge. Then I set up
the press box, uh for our off ice officials.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
For for you Johnny and Kim, for the visiting.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
Broadcaster as well. Give them everything they need.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
And we have a lot of scouts that tend to
our games, you know, and that number can vary from
a couple to fifteen, just.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Just depends how the stars aligned.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
So I like to give them, you know, that same
material lineups as well. And then I help set up
where both teams is Hockey Operations booths are so that
consists of you know, management and coaches up and down
(13:36):
each team's organization. So both teams can have you know,
front office folks from their NHL affiliates or sometimes it's
just their ahel affiliates and various coaches.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
And then I'm just kind of on hand for anything
they need, as well as the office officials.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
You know, I'm there to kind of troubleshoot any technically shoes.
Not that I can fix it, but uh, I'm kind
of the middleman, I guess you could say, to uh.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Get the right person to fix any problem.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
So yeah, long story short, well, long story long, A
lot of a lot of prep doing some of the
things I mentioned, and then in game writing the recap
and press release that I try to get out there
for people.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
To read as soon as possible after the game ends,
and then.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Assist with any media interviews that have that are happening
after the game. And sometimes it's just our own internal
team and sometimes we have various outside media games, so
I'll be there to you know, help facilitate that and uh,
you know, make sure the media gets to speak to
(14:53):
the players that they they.
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Want to and who we uh you know want them
to speak to.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
And then.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Basically on series where it's you know, we're playing back
to back, you know, it's time to get home, have
another cup of coffee, maybe some food too, and start
up dating the game notes from the game that just
happened and writing the preview for the next game.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
Lots of writing, But I had a question about scouts.
Have you do you always know in advance when they're
going to be there? Or has there ever been a
situation where somebody showed up and you were completely blindsided?
What's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
I'll I'll let Chase answer that question.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
There's there's been a few.
Speaker 5 (15:39):
There's been a few situations, but it's it's it's never
a problem.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
I think they're used to it.
Speaker 5 (15:45):
You know, some usually their team services team sort of
handles their travel for them and they'll reach out to me,
but I'm I'm.
Speaker 4 (15:57):
The one to sort of confirm with all the scouts.
Speaker 5 (16:01):
You know that we receive their credential request, so we
like to know who's coming that way, I know, you
know how much, how many lineups to prepare for them,
where to seat them, things of that nature. So it's
it's nice to have a heads up. And I would
(16:21):
say like ninety eight percent of the time we know
who's coming. But sometimes there there are surprises, whether it's
just an NHL GM that you didn't expect, or last
minute request.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
From from a team.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
You know it might be ten minutes before puck drop,
but it's it's no problem.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
You know, we we are.
Speaker 5 (16:43):
Happy to host as many that want to come because
you know, it's it's really important for other organizations.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
But sometimes things slip through.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
The cracks, whether they email Adrian's old address and we
don't get it a lot, but it's yeah, it's it's
no problem.
Speaker 6 (17:07):
Did you know, Chase that you're a Taurus?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
I have been told that. Okay, so you have mostly
by women. Women seem to always kind of keep track
of those things.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
It is a very telling indicator of what to expect
from you. So yeah, for sure, okay.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
So.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Exactly, Yeah, it's stubborn, right.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Oh yeah, it comes in there, but this is what
it says. Generally known for being loyal, dependable, and practical,
with a love for the finer things in life, they
are also known for their stubbornness and need for stability.
Is that accurate, Johnny? No, not you, Chase, Johnny? Is
(17:50):
this accurate?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Wait? Wait read that to me again.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Oh goodness. Loyal, dependable, practical with a love for the
finer things in life. Also known for stubborn and need
for stability.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's that's pretty that's pretty accurate. I mean
Chase's chases. Chase is definitely loyal to what we're trying
to do here in Tucson. I wouldn't say stubborn. He's
never really tried to, like not do something that doesn't
seem right, you know. So it's this the stubborn part, no,
but definitely the loyal and it's kind of would it
also say looking for the good things in life?
Speaker 6 (18:22):
I guess yeah, yes.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah, I like that.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Chase is a you know, it's a perfectionalist in a
good way. So yeah, i'd agree with that. That's good.
That's a good statement.
Speaker 6 (18:32):
What do you think, Chase?
Speaker 4 (18:35):
I think it's pretty spot on. I could be very.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Stubborn about certain things, not really work wise, because it's
it's you know, if you know, I'm I think I'm
just the.
Speaker 4 (18:47):
Sort of chain of command is ingrained in me.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
So if Johnny tells me to do something or anyone,
you know, I might offer, you know a couple of
alternative ways of executing it, but yeah, I'll follow my mark.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
So the stubbornness mainly comes in in your personal life
with your wife.
Speaker 5 (19:07):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's well, I would just say, like
I like things a certain way. I like my routine,
you know, like off day it's like, yeah, you know,
let's go to the gym at this certain time.
Speaker 4 (19:19):
You know, let's do something. I can be stubborn for sure.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
Do you this is a super random question that I
just thought about it. I haven't asked anybody this at
all ever. Do you have a player on the team
that you just really enjoy watching? Like I don't want
to say favorite player because they don't want to like
exclude people who aren't your favorite player, But like, for instance,
I love watching Cameron he Big play hockey. The hustle
(19:45):
in that kid is phenomenal, and then just like watching
his growth over the last what four or five seasons,
He's just so much fun. And I actually had a
friend came out to the game this weekend and knows
nothing about hockey and was like, who's number thirty? Now
he's electric, Like he's so much fun to watch, So
what are you thinking.
Speaker 5 (20:05):
About the way he's he's I love watching him skate
as well.
Speaker 4 (20:11):
He's so quick.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
If I had to pick one player, there's just something
about Hunter Drew's game that I love.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
True, I sometimes he just he if there's ever a scrum, he's.
Speaker 5 (20:27):
Usually in the middle of it, So you know, I
just really respect his physical game and how he stands
up for his teammates.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
But sometimes he just can take over a game.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
You know.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
He leads the team in unassisted goals, which we talked
about because he had his fourth one in the season finale.
He just has this wicked shot, you know, where he'll
just for whatever reason, on the right night when things
are clicking, he'll he can just dominate and just carry
the puck in the zone and just beat any gold
(21:00):
you know, with that rishot of his from the perimeter.
So just the way he mixes it up with other guys,
chirps other players, and.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Yeah, just kind of his leaderships.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It's interesting you say that, Chase.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
So last time we were here was December twentieth to
the twenty first. We won two games against Absford. Hunter
Drew had three goals in that series. And then the
last time we played Abbitsford when we swept him back
at home in February, Hunter Drew scored a goal in
that series too. He has four goals against Abbotsford this season,
actually tied with Cameron Hebick. So the two guys we
really said we liked the game lead our team in
(21:35):
goals against Abbitsford.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
So that that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Maybe it's a little sighn of what's to come in
these next three games. Chase, this is your first time
getting exposed to the chaos of American Hockey League playoffs.
I mean, I'm sure you've seen it from the outside,
but now you are in it of these crazy three
game first round series where we are the seventh seed
going up against the second. See we were in the
(21:58):
opposite of last year. We were the second team playing
the seventh. We knew how that went. Now we are
to complete underdogs into this series going against the red
hot team Abbotsford. What are you looking forward to for
these next couple of games and what do you think
this team can do and needs to do to get
an upset here?
Speaker 5 (22:16):
Yeah, I think the sky's the limit. You know, I
know two songs the seventh seed, but you know, the
Roadrunners uniquely know how little that means. Right after getting
swept by seventh seed Calgary last year, and then the
team has you know, had a lot of success up
in Abbotsford, you know, winning three or four games, So
(22:40):
I you know, I think the team is going in
really confident. What I'm interested in seeing is how they
match up against Abbotsford early because the team has had
success against Abbotsford. But the last time we played them
(23:01):
was when we swept them in late March. You know,
the Canucks went eighteen or yeah, eighteen, I think of
their final twenty games.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Or seventeen to two and one. So having quite matched
up against them.
Speaker 5 (23:19):
With the way their current roster has been playing and
is constructed, so you know, I'm really excited to see that.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
And you know, from our side.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
I think we've had a lot of success against Abbotsford
because of the team is really played to their identity,
you know, playing roadrunners hockey, kind of mucking up the game,
making the game emotional by getting under their skin.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
And our lineup is.
Speaker 5 (23:47):
I don't want to say, I don't want to say tougher,
but we have a bigger lineup and play with you
know a little bit more of a physical edge, and
that gets taken a whole other level.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
In the playoffs or the games a lot faster.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
So I think that's fascinating and I think one advantage
could be is, you know, we've been playing a lot
of do or die.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Games down the stretch.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
You know that game seventy two last weekend felt like
a playoff game, just with the effort plays you know,
the team was making, and with just how fast the
game was.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
And I know Abbotsford too, they didn't.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
They had to beat Ontario in their final game to
clinch the seed. But you know that wasn't their existential
you know, survival, right, They weren't gonna not make the playoffs.
So I think, you know, it's a bit of an
advantage on Tucson's end, you know, having played those games,
and you know, I think it will be really important
(24:52):
to get off to good starts. I think two songs
best goal differential is in the first period.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
I have to pull up my.
Speaker 5 (25:00):
Notes to get the exact number, but I think Tucson
is somewhere around plus fifteen in Abbotsford's plus seven something along. Yeah,
so slight edge in the first period. However, the Canucks,
you know, the middle frame is really where they shine.
They have north of a plus twenty five goal differential,
(25:23):
and I think Tucson is about negative twenty six gool differential.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
For whatever reason.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
The second period, you know, the game's just gotten away
from this team throughout the regular season. So I think
leaning into you know, fast starts. You know, Paganski and
Douglas I think rank up there on the team for
you know, getting us on.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
The board early and first period goals.
Speaker 5 (25:53):
So I think the way those guys come out will
be huge in the team in general.
Speaker 4 (25:58):
And then you know, just keeping that up in the
middle frame.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
What about you, I was waiting for Kim to go,
Kim'd you have something? No?
Speaker 6 (26:11):
No, no, you go I'm curious.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
No.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
I mean, yeah, Chase, I mean I completely agree. It's
just when you have that underdog mentality. And we've seen
this team be backed into a corner really these past
two months, right. I mean, once we went on that
eight game slide and we were out of the playoff picture,
it was like, we need to figure this out, and
we did. We got some big wins against Bakersfield, had
(26:34):
some huge home stands as well, including that sweep against Abbotsford,
and we were able to It took all seventy two games,
but we clinched the final seed. And I think the
mentality now is it doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't matter
what your record was, it doesn't matter how you got
into the playoffs. You're in the playoffs now, and now
you have an opportunity to not only get a huge upset,
(26:56):
but it could be the biggest upset of the entire
first round, right, I mean that we were the last
team to get in Abbotsford clinched a while back. The
Canucks finished as the hottest team in the entire AHL.
They went sixteen to one to zero to finish off
the season in the last seventeen games, including a thirteen
game winning streak, And then I'm tying it to last
(27:17):
year again because we were the hottest team going into
the playoffs and Calgary was the most struggling team.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
And it's different.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Weren't the most struggling team going in, But it's just
that mentality of anything can happen, especially when it's just
three games. You just have to win two of the
next three games and then bam, you're You're on to
the next round. And if we do get past the
first round of the cal To Cup Playoffs against Abbotsford,
we'll be hosting a game on May second against the
(27:43):
Colorado Eagles to bring back wide out Tucson back to
the twoson Arena. So there's still a lot in line
and there's still a chance the road runs can be
back at home for the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (27:53):
It's scary. It's scary times right now. But honestly, the
way that I'm looking at where we're at right now
is very much the postseason pressure is a privilege. We're
incredibly privileged to be where we're at right now. Like
you said, it took seventy two games to get where
we're at. But when you're in these high stakes situations,
(28:15):
you're here because you did the things right and you
earned the privilege to be in the high stakes situations.
So I am. I think Chase you said, you said Pogo,
and who who else we're going to be? You mentioned
another name that was going to be kind of pivotal
to kind of setting the vibe for tomorrow.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Well, just you know, fast stars have
been so key for this team's success this year. They've
played their best often in the first period, and then
big drivers of that are you know, the captain Austin mcganski.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
You know, he's he's.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
Just had a knack for putting Tucson on the board.
I forget how many times he's done it. I just
I just remember writing about it the last time it happened,
maybe a week or so ago, you know, it was
like a sixth time or something like that.
Speaker 6 (29:09):
Well, definitely that entire line, right, even just looking at
our last game on Saturday, Heaves and Pogo both had
multi point game and then Kyler had a point in
that game, Like that was just it was the bonkers game.
And then going back to to Hunter Drew who had
three points in that game. Like, like you said, a
(29:30):
lot a lot hinges on the very beginnings. And I
don't know, I think so many of our guys are
locker room guys also, and I think that that along
with being incredibly talented, they all just want to play
for each other and continue to just have success with
each other whatever, you know, whatever they got to do
(29:51):
to just keep playing hockey together. I think that's where
they're at mentally right now.
Speaker 4 (29:56):
I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
And there's a lot of guys who are, you know,
experiencing career best seasons, you know, Paganski, he Big, you know,
which we've talked about.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Curtis Douglas as well.
Speaker 5 (30:08):
It's his second best season in best with with.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
The road Runners. So yeah, I just there's a lot
of guys who just don't want this this ride to end.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
And I you know, I think fortunately for Tucson, you know,
their their top playmakers are kind of going into this
game one matchup, you know, with some momentum. Drew, you know,
he's had three multi point games and his his last
six or seven, and he's kind of repeating what he
(30:45):
did last year, right, had that point streak to end
the year and then.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
Got on the board and in the postseason.
Speaker 5 (30:52):
You know, Kyler, you know, was in Utah for about
a month and then comes back and gets five points
in his last three games.
Speaker 6 (31:01):
Still, it's like he has a phenomenal season with us
even though he wasn't with us.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
Also leading the game.
Speaker 3 (31:07):
We'd scoring for Tucson against the Abbotsford Canucks with Yep,
I want to say nine nine or eight eight or
nine points one goal in eight assists, I believe in
that stretch. So yeah, it's it's huge to have him back.
Everyone's constantly said that Yamamoto is a game changer, and
it's just something about having him back Volalta coming back
(31:28):
as well getting that huge win on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Yeah, Kim, you're right.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
We do have a lot of locker room guys, and
it's the locker room that in when working together and
playing our identity, we can beat anybody.
Speaker 6 (31:41):
I do have to say one of the most fun
parts of the season for me is when Hunter Drew
gets penalties because when he sits in the box, and
I know he's not supposed to get the penalties. Man
has not met a penalty he doesn't love. But when
he sits in the box, it's so entertaining because he
just chirps the entire time, even though it's just me
(32:01):
and the office officials that can hear him, it's he
is wildly hysterical. And then also Chase I don't know,
and Johnny I don't know if you guys know this,
but Hunter started on d did you guys know that?
And then he got to a point in his career
where some yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Yeah, he told us that our first few shows that
we grabbed him on.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
He told He told me he told us last season
because I was looking through his stats and I was like,
wait what, and he he had said that. Yeah. One
of the coaches came to him and was like, listen,
we really we really need somebody on offense, you know,
can you can you try and play forward? And he
picked it up and apparently it's pretty good at it.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Yeah, he's all right, Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Well we'll Chase in the.
Speaker 6 (32:53):
Business man.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
Yeah, wait, we'll Chase. Thanks so much for joining us, man,
appreciate your time. I know you're getting a lot of
stuff ready for tomorrow, but we're excited here, excited here
in Abbotsford and looking forward to texting you during the
game and hopefully it's with the win on Thursday, or
win on Wednesday and a win on Thursday as well,
so we can get a quick two games sweep and
(33:15):
then head back home to Tucson and get ready for
home home ice advantage playoff run.
Speaker 5 (33:21):
Absolutely, thanks for yeah, putting up with me for the
last half hour.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
It's a pleasure, really grateful to be on the show.
And yeah, just had a great time with you guys.
Speaker 5 (33:31):
So any anytime, anytime there's another event where ten guests
cancel and you need me.
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Thanks Chase.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Thron Runners Happy Hour Playoff edition rolling on here as
the team takes on the Abbotsford Canucks tomorrow night at
the Abbotsford Center for game number one of the three
game playoff series.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
For round one.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Just having our media relations coordinator Chase Clemens on the show,
so if you want to check that out and just
missed it, this will be posted at Tucson Roadrunners dot
com slash Happy Hour for the podcast version as well.
Kim great to have Chase on, obviously very knowledgeable of
the team. Those were really hard, good stats that he had,
and that's a good points we had. We had really
(34:14):
good first periods all throughout the season. We even had
I think, to my knowledge, a four goal first period
in one of the games we've even played here in Abbotsford.
And then that was interesting that he said the Canucks
only have a plus seven in the first period as well,
but their second period is the best and our second
period is not so good, So that is kind of
it's scary. Once he said that, I was like, whoa, Okay,
(34:36):
that's that's a little scary, right, But I mean, again,
it's just just the way that these guys earned this
last spot in the very last game of the season,
especially that Bakersfield went on a good run at the
end of the year. It was it was just so intense,
and I remember and and I hate scoreboard watching as
(34:57):
much as like I don't want to do it, like
I hater ling on other teams, but when we were
when Condor started at six and we were playing at seven,
and we were watching the first period of the Condors
Henderson game, and this was on Saturday night and they
were already up five. Nothing in the fridge. It's like,
that's it. We know our destineam gotta win or we're
not getting in. Condors ended up winning eight to two
(35:18):
and we won seven to four, So it was an
attends end to the finish. Got tied with the bakers
Field but we talked about all season long we had
more regulation wins that gave us the tiebreaker, and now
it's just, uh, we're in what we were, Uh were
in the opposite of last year.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
We were the second seed.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
We had got a bunch of reinforcements back from the
NHL of the Arizona Coyotes going against the second the
seventh seed, and ended up losing two games. And now
we're the opposite right where Abbotsford got seven different players
back from the Vancouver Canucks as the second seed, hottest
team going into the playoffs. We're the hottest team going
into the playoffs last year, and now we're in a
(35:57):
complete opposite So it's it's if friends being that opposite
team now looking into this series. But again it's just
when the when it's up to these when it you
only have to win two of the three, I just
think it puts more pressure on the home team because
we saw that side beforehand from last season.
Speaker 6 (36:14):
We did see that side. Oh man, that was.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
So much.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Yeah, I hate to I hate to talk about, but
it's just how it happened, right, and ever since that happened,
now I have that mentality of well, that means that
any team who makes the playoffs can upset the first seed.
I mean even two years even two years ago, you've
made it to the playoffs with a losing record as
the seventh seed, went against the second seed Coachelle Valley Firebirds.
We took them to Game three and we just had
(36:41):
a bad first period in Game three and saw what
that happened. But there was a Coachella Valley in an
elimination game and they went all the way to the Cup.
Speaker 6 (36:48):
And that which was bunkers because that place is off
crazy to play in. It's so loud, so tough, it's
so tough.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
So ever since that that happened, I'm like it doesn't
matter now, like you made playoffs, and all it takes
is to just find your identity. And we've said it
all season long, Kim as well. When this team plays
to its identity, we can beat anyone. And it is
a reason why we've had success against Abbots for this season.
We match up against them really well. And I know
there are some in the building, not not from our
(37:20):
from our staff, but just you know overall people said like, oh, well,
be awesome for you guys to go to Ontario, California.
I'm like, well, but we match better against Abbotsford. So
in a sense, I'm kind of glad that we're here
because again, we had success in this building, we had
success against them, and it was the best situation that
we can be put in for first round of the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (37:38):
I think part of our brand though, is just being
very dramatic. So yep, I'm not gonna lie. We are
a dramatic team. I would not fastrised if this win
to Game three, Yeah, I'm not. I wouldn't be surprised
if that happened. If it was another nail bier where
we're just you know, everybody is biting their nails and
sweating and just like what it's gonna happen and scrambling,
(38:02):
you know, for that last that last win. So yeah,
if it is I have an ulcer. I have an
ulcer now thanks to this season. Yeah, I think like
such a roller coaster.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
And I think when it comes to these three game series,
when you're the seventh seed like us, and you know,
let's say you least get the first, I think tomorrow
and not obviously it's Game one. Of course, it's the
most important game of the series besides the Game three.
But I just think if you find a way to
put all the pressure on Abbotsford in which again Kim,
they ended the season as the hottest team, they haven't
(38:39):
had any adversity in a month. They didn't they didn't
lose a game and over a month that's that it's insane.
So if you find a way to put pressure on
Abbotsford when now they're in a situation that they're not
particularly used to, I think that's also can help us
out because we've been on we've been in pressure all
season long. We've been fighting for that final scene. We
(39:00):
finally got it at the end. So I think if
you find a way to get the pressure on abbots
for it and win that Game one, no matter what
happens Game two, and force the game three on Saturday.
That's also going to put the road Runners out of
an advantage because now Abbotsford all of a sudden going
into the season as the hottest team. It's like, oh crap,
our season can end at any moment. And then that's
when you start playing with that desperation and that can
(39:21):
either go good or can either go really bad, as
we've seen it for us this year as well.
Speaker 6 (39:26):
There's the saying, what is it pressure makes diamonds? I mean,
it's actual truth, right, And so the fact that that
Abbitsfurd hasn't had a lot of pressure recently, you know,
maybe they're sitting back a little bit. We don't know,
but we do know that the mental resiliency of the
(39:47):
road Runners is kindly it's kind of like the way
that I look at it is just kind of like
it's very finely honed to a like, to a very
sharp point, because these boys have been knocked back a
few times and somehow still came back just kicking inclining
and scratching and willing to work and do everything that
(40:10):
they need to do to put themselves in this spot
for success. You know, like that that doesn't go away,
you know, that mental resiliency and building up that that
reliance on not only yourself but the people standing next
to you. Mentally, it just creates tighter bonds, I think,
between everybody. So you know, we see this that the
(40:34):
the guys are tight. You know, they're they're in it
for each other. And yeah, we'll see, we'll see how
far we go. Who knows, like Mowana, how far I'll go?
Speaker 3 (40:48):
I kept, you just never know, like you, you just
never know. And and I'm just so happy that these
guys earned it, right, Like, everybody wants to just play
more hockey games, and for the time being, we have
earned two more and it's it's two big ones here
in Abasford for round one. And oh my gosh, someone
just flicked a puck near me.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
That was scary.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Guys are currently practicing right now, so I was hoping
they're not trying to hit me up here because I'm
at my broadcast with at the moment, but he had
going back to that, Kim. I also just feel great
for these guys who have earned a few more games.
And also, guys, do you know haven't been in the
playoffs for a while. Andrew Ragazino hasn't been in the
playoffs for these last few years. I believe it was
(41:30):
the twenty one twenty two season the last time Agazino
was in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
Yeah, let me know. I'm just I'm just gonna double.
Speaker 6 (41:37):
Man is built for playoffs. What are you talking about?
Speaker 2 (41:39):
I know, but like to see him.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Yeah, but I'm like, I'm excited for, you know, a
guy like him who you know. So, yeah, it was
the twenty one twenty two season last time Andrew Ragazino
was in the playoffs with the Belleville Senators. But then
we have guys who have had tons of a playoff experience,
with Paganski going to the Cup a few years back,
Hunter Drew had some playoff runs with the with the
(42:02):
San Diego goals. Kylie Yamamoa has had plenty of NHL
playoff experience with the Emmitton Oilers, with you know, one
of the greatest hockey players of all time, Connor McDavid.
So yeah, that's just what also makes it exciting. We
have lots of guys with good playoff experience all across
different leagues, and I think that's also going to help
(42:22):
us out because these guys know what it's gonna be
like to have the pressure on here.
Speaker 6 (42:27):
I do have one note on the season, and you
can take this out later if you want to, if
you don't like what I say. But I was really
really hopeful that Cameron Hebeg was gonna get a call
up this season. I was. I was just so waiting
for it to happen. I I understand that he had
a job to do here and we obviously needed him. Yeah,
(42:49):
he was producing, producing, producing, But I just I kept
thinking like any day that I was going to see
a meteorly saying that that he had gotten the call up.
Speaker 2 (42:59):
And oh, I would have told you.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
I would have told you straight up, like I take
that off to maybe idea take this. I'm you you,
I would tell you because you've you know Cam longer
than I have. And yeah, kid, that's also a good point,
like I'm glad the season's adobia because how about the
storylines we had this year? Right, Cameron Hebig having his
best season yet in the AHL, after grinding all through
these years, becoming two hundred mister two hundred and eighty
(43:24):
with two so now he's played the most games played
in roadrunners history, earned the NHL contract, Curtis Douglas name
to Man of the Man of the Year, uh Igor
Sokolov welcomed his firstborn daughter into the world this season
as well. Paganski is expected in about a month, Pagansky
being named the captain and having his best season statistically
in his career, you know, as a captain, and Matthew
(43:47):
Wilalta's first NHL win. The list goes on, I can
keep you know, I'm shure you my fingers as I
was saying that, Yah, yeah, And I think that's what
also just makes it so rewarding that these guys did
make playoffs because of just all the fantastic story lines
that we saw this season.
Speaker 6 (44:03):
Again, and I know I say this over and over again,
but it's impossible to not draw parallels between what we've
gone through this season and an actual TV show like
if this, like tell me this wasn't scripted, Like if
we had had cameras following the team around this season,
I can't even imagine how many people would now be
(44:24):
into American League hockey, Like how is that not a thing?
Because of all of the incredibly amazing things that the
players have done along with you know, just the behind
the scenes and the lows and the highs and that
are we gonna make it? Are we not gonna make it?
Like the romances that all the boys in the boy
(44:44):
Fish Aquarium just doing all the things. And it's just
non stop drama, excitement, comedy, action, romance. It's just also
beautiful and it's just it's my favorite sport.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
Wrapping up this week's episode of this play off edition
of Roadrunners, Happy our Kim All comes down to tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (45:04):
It's round one.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
HL Playoffs probably have the most craziest bracket format ever.
But if you folks want to check out the other matchups,
just go to DHL dot Com explains all of it.
But for your two Sound Roadrunners, we take on the
Atmosford Canucks in a best of three series starting tomorrow.
Next game will be Thursday, and then game three, if necessary,
will be on Saturday. We also have watch parties as
(45:28):
well at main event Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers and Barrio
Brewinco all throughout this week as well, so find out
more on those at two Soundroadrunners dot com and Kimbaida
roll here. Exciting hockey coming up, There's nothing better than
playoff hockey.
Speaker 6 (45:43):
Absolutely, Okay, I'm here, I'm focused. Absolutely nothing better than
playoff hockey. This is prime time. This is primetime. Yeah,
I'm always primetime. This is We're here, this is primetime.
And what I'm saying right now is fire it up,
fire it up, Tuson, let's go.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
Let's go. We are excited. Let's do this.
Speaker 3 (46:07):
If the road Runners do come out with a win
in this series, they're gonna be back home hosting their
first playoff game of the year, and wide out. We'll
return to Tucson as well on May second versus the
Colorado Eagles, So keeping that in mind as well as
the Roadrunners could be doing that in these next two games,
with Game number one once again on Tomorrow and Wednesday night,
(46:27):
Thursday's Game two, and if necessary, Saturday, all at seven pm.
It's the first round of the Calor Cup Playoffs happening tomorrow.
It'll be right here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty am
or in AHL TV on Flow Sports. See you at
the watch parties, Well I won't see you there, but
I'll hope to see you there. Everybody support this team.
They have earned this. It's going to be awesome. First
(46:50):
round of playoffs starting this week. Have a great rest
of your night, everybody. Nothing better than playoff hockey.
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