March 14, 2025 • 46 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Co-Host Kim Cota-Robles have Assistant Captain Travis Barron on the show as they talk about his fourth season with Tucson, the new Captains core and how he got the nickname Bear. Johnny and Kim then preview Tucson's four-game homestand and the First Responders Night and St. Patrick's Day game coming up on the weekend.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's five o'clock dot yours hues day, don The's two
Sun Roadrunners have you out from Fox Sports fourteen fifty
AF Jonathan Shit right, we.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Know the story, but you gotta tell the viewers that starts.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
It's so funny.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's our usual Tuesday night together.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
So I don't know, maybe we should start implementing some
breakdance pre games 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 2 (00:29):
Fox Sports fourteen fifty AM, our usual Tuesday night get together,
Roadrunners Happy are for our game day edition. Jonathan Shaeffer
always joining me, Kim Coda, Robliz and off the top
of the hour are very special guests this week. Assistant
Captain Number twenty six, Travis Paren Travis, how's it going man,
Thanks for joining us on this game day and how
(00:50):
the boys looking for tonight's matchup against Ontario?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, thanks for having me. We're good, We're ready to roll.
We're excited.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah. So we've talked to a lot of guys this
sea and about you know, their game day routines, and
a lot of people have different ones. Guys play Super Bowl,
guys kind of just go into the corner and you know,
getting their own mindsets, and then some guys just are
kind of chill and relax the whole time. What's your
game day routine? Like, had morning skate today with the
team meeting, and then what the rest of your day
looks like? You know, go into the arena and getting
(01:19):
ready for the game.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah, you know, go to the rink, do my thing
with the team there, and then come home. Depends on
who's home, my fiance or my parents. My parents are
actually in town, so they helped out with the cooking.
If no one's there, I'll cook, or my fans who
will cook. So I got the luxury of having a
home cooked meal from from my mom today, So it's
(01:44):
nice and I'll eat that, chill, hang out, nothing crazy. Then,
you know, lay down for a little bit. Early game today,
so we'll leave a little bit earlier than usual. But
nothing crazy. I'm not one of those superstitious guys who
you know, got to do something crazy every day.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Is kind of go with the flow.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So your parents are in town. How long have they
been in town for?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, they've been here. They've been here a while.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
You know, it's been a long a long, snowy, brutal
winter back home in Canada form so they're coming down
here to enjoy, enjoy, not snow blowing or shoveling the
driveway or whatever whatever it is. So they've been here
for a while. It's a three week trip in total,
so a long.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
One anywhere that you've you've taken them these past few
weeks that you know, they might not be accustomed to
seeing where they're at usually.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I mean, over the years, we've kind of we've kind
of dinged everything out. We've done a lot of things
here in Tucson. My dad's a big golfer, so going golfing,
and then we're talking about going somewhere on Thursday with
my mom and well that's I don't know, we don't
know yet. We'll figure it out. But we're staying busy.
Weather's nice.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So they get sit by the pool and enjoy them
joy themselves.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
So Travis, really quick, a couple of things that you
just said. Number one, you have a fiance, which I
don't think you had a fiance. Last name we talked,
you had a girlfriend.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So congratulations, this happened in the summer. Thank you. Yeah, Well,
last time we spoke. I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
I don't think it was done yet, but yeah, got
it done in August and here we are.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So it is exciting.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
That's amazing. Do you guys know when the wedding is
going to be? Have you figured that all out yet?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
You know?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
We've we are taking our time with it.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
It's funny you ask, though, because Thursday, Thursday or Friday
we are going to.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Be having a sort.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Of formal sit down about it. So that's when we're
going to get the ball rolling.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Wow. Serious, Wow, a formal sit down? Okay, all right, awesome, Well,
good luck with that. And then also I couldn't find
notes from when we talked to you last season? Did
you skate out of I mean happy hour last season?
Because I could only find the last discussion with you
from twenty twenty three? Maybe is that possible?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah? Maybe I did.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I think maybe I don't know. I could tell you.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Yeah, I googled it, so I was just trying to
figure it out. But yeah, because I feel like I
have so much that I want to ask you know. Also,
if you're going to take your mom somewhere, have you
guys gone to what is it called Carlsbad Carlsbad Caverns.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
No it is.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I'm trying to think. Okay, I'm going to google it,
because there's this It's way on the opposite end of town.
It's way out on the southeast side of town. But
it's this huge, amazing, intricate cave system. It's really really fascinating,
like it goes, it goes like center of the Earth
kind of thing. Wow, colossal cave, that's what it's.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I like that.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
And it's really cool down there too. It's not that
it's hot right now, but it's a really really cool
down there. So actually, I was gonna my first question
was going to be to ask you about your family.
I don't know that we've ever talked before about your
mom and dad and you do you have any siblings
and kind of what your life was like growing up.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah. I got mom and dad, brother, sister. I'm the youngest,
so my brother's ten years old, myself, my sister's two
years older. I grew up in Canada, big hockey household.
Sort of all we did. I used to my mom
was a rock star, driving my older brother to to hockey.
(05:40):
I always used to follow along and that's where I
kind of love started to love the game. And then
my sister started doing dance, and as the youngest, I
had to take along. I kind of did that a
little bit with my sister, sort of everything they kind
of did. I kind of just followed along and enjoyed
a little bit myself until I got old enough to
(06:01):
start playing hockey, and you know, it's kind of my
turn to be the athlete of the family. So it
was a busy household. We had fun just to you know,
I don't know if you guys had it. Obviously you didn't,
but we used to do backyard rinks growing on. So
I used to build the backyard rink. I know, wow,
(06:23):
I was asking that.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Anyways, that's that's a big Canadian thing.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
So every year we do that, and the family used
to skate around and have a lot of fun. So
I was I was really lucky with with how my
parents you know, treated us and the childhood we had.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
So so because your brother played hockey, you played hockey.
And then because your sister danced, did you also dance?
Are you a dancer?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I sure did.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I was a short stint, but my mom figured, you know,
kill two birds with one stone by bringing the daughter
to dance, and might as well put the one we're
going to car with us, might as well put him
in a class too.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So did that? I don't think it lasted very long.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
I actually have a would you rather question? That it
was going to be for the very end after you
had kind of settled into this, But since you brought
up dance, this is why would you rather question? Would
you rather be missing your two front teeth and have
absolutely no like flipper or way to like mask that
you're missing your two front teeth or you physically forced
to dance every time Hot to Go by Chapel Roan
(07:25):
was played in any capacity.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Yeah, that's a tricky one.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Right now.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And everywhere.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Yeah, I'd probably still take the two front teeth out.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I don't like dancing.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You should definitely at least you might be semi ready
for the wedding when the dance floor opens up as well.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Take some lessons.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're ready. So you're in your fourth
season out with the Roadrunners assistant captain again, and you
know what what in seasons? You know, you've seen so
many different groups of teams, and you know, last season's
seasons when we really kind of turned around the entire
team with the season we had. And this year we've
seen some slides, but we're starting to find our game again.
What can you compare this team to seasons pass of
(08:14):
just the unity that we've had together and all the
adversity that we've gone through together as well.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yeah, we've taken some big steps since since the first
year I've been here. Just this the uh, the winning environment,
just learning how to cope with with each other and
and and learning valuable lessons over the years. We've had
the same coaching staff who've been there since day one.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
It's it's been it's been great.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I mean, you take you look rewind four years ago,
we're the last place team in the league, and then
you know last season we finished second and disappointing end.
And and I think this year, I think we're still
a special team. I think we still have way more
approved than than what we've done. Like you said, though,
we're kind of getting the ball rolling and heading the
(09:06):
right direction, especially in these last these last couple of weeks,
we were taking some steps. So it's it's time to
start winning some games. So let's too what we're made
of here. I'm excited, the team's excited. I think we
have I think we have a really good a really
good club.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, and it's crazy to think that at one point
this season we're on an eight game losing streak, right,
and now we've we figured it out post All Star?
You know what did what did this team have to
really get go through to start, you know, finding the
wins again? Of course we had a lot of injuries
and just we're kind of figuring stuff out, and it's
it's still funny now we look back at it's like,
what what losing streak?
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Right?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Like, this team is has figured it out. So what
did this team really have to go through to start
finding the wins again and start really getting our groove back?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, it's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen everywhere you go,
the highs and the lows. Obviously we didn't want any
part of that, but in a way it kind of
did bring us closer together. When when teams are struggling
like that, you kind of got to you kind of
gotta go away from the everyday norm and and uh.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I don't know how to explain this.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You kind of come closer together with conflict or you know, struggles,
it always seems to bring people together in a weird way.
So it's just kind of getting you know, when times
are tough like that, you get to know your teammates
more personally and and uh, you know, you support each
other on and off the ice.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
So I think just I think just uh, you know,
meshing as.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
One and and really understanding each other and kind of
feeling those feelings. It's it's a big it's a big
thing for a team. Obviously, you didn't want it to
last for eight games. Maybe it was three or four
would have been way better, obviously, but you know, you
learn so much from each other and it's sort of
a blessing in disguise for the team. It is what
(10:58):
it is, and we learned, and I think hopefully we
go on an eight game streak.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
The other way, you know, you.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Bond through adversity, right, I think most people know what
that feels like, especially in a job when you all
have to come together and make something happen, no matter
what the job is. It's almost like y'all have shared
PTSD from going through the hard stuff together. So I
(11:26):
get you. I noticed that one of the things that
we talked about with you last time. Adrian and Brett
talked with you about how you are what they call
the three dimensional player and that you're an amazing forward,
You're amazing also on defense, and then you have this
very physical game and your penalty minutes for the last
(11:50):
I want to say, maybe like five seasons have been
like reflected how physical you're willing to get to make
things happen for the team. This season has been a
lot different. You're still you're still you're still you know,
tumbling tumbling out there with some guys, but it's definitely
not as much as it has been in the past
couple of seasons. What do you attribute that to any,
(12:13):
any thoughts or any Is that intentional?
Speaker 6 (12:16):
No, it's not intentional. It's it's one of those things
that you know, the game's physical.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
I love, Uh, obviously, I love that part of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
I just feel as if, you know, I don't know
what I like to sure, am I upset that I'm
not Now. I got a lot of guys who who
have that role in them more than I do, if
that makes sense. We have we have, really we have
a really tough team. So if there's ever gonna be
an altercation or or a fight.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I'm there. However, it's it feels like it's.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Got to go down the total pole a little bit further.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
To get to me.
Speaker 6 (12:51):
Nowadays. It's just, you know, guys are doing.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
A really good job protecting our teammates, and I think
collectively everyone should have that part of their game. But
we're very lucky that we have really tough players who
make that job easier on a lot of different players
like myself.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
All right, And I'm not saying I don't I don't
want to do it anymore. I really do.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
I wouldn't, I wouldn't back down for it, but I
just feel like the opportunity is a little further away
when you know we have such a tough team. You know,
people don't really act out as they would against other
teams compared to us because they know they'd have to
answer to some tough players.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
Yeah, that makes sense. One do you have a favorite
pasta shape?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
RIGATONI.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
That's been the answer I think more than once that
when we've asked this question. Do you guys get served
RIGATONI a lot? Oh?
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Really, I feel like it's rare, But I don't know.
I've always just liked it. It's simple mh for me.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
I guess you don't have to justify it. I am
just super curious. Who's your who's your road roommate right now? Oh?
Is he really okay? So I don't know that we've
talked to anybody who has been Pogo's roommate. Can you
if if Pogo were a dog, what kind of dog
would he be? And you can't say Golden retriever because
(14:20):
I feel like that's the go to answer.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
He'd be like a.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
German shepherd, maybe a really family dog, but he could
also be a killer, you know, something.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Like yeah, yeah, for sure. I feel like he's I
don't want to say a serious person. But when he's
locked on, like he's very locked on, and he's he's
a very he seems like a very good leader.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yeah he is.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
He's very like the most friendly human ever. But when
he's he's very serious. He takes his job very professionally.
And that's exactly how I would have described me as
very perfec professional and something I really value about him.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
How is the entire Captain's score of you? Ben McCartney,
Kevin Kannan and Agasino and Pogo. You know, it's it's
tough in this league, right because the captains changed, can
change every season. And Putganski for himself, I mean, what
he's worked hard for to get to this point to
be a captain for us. It's quite remarkable being gone
to PTO last season and then signing the contract with
(15:23):
US this year and then now being our captain. What
have you liked about this captain's corps this season? Again?
You know, going through the slide that we went through,
you guys probably had to lead us a lot to
really get through that, and now that we're rolling, it's, uh,
you guys are leading us through thick and thin.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, I mean everyone sort of brings their own sort
of element.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
You know, I don't really want to go one by
one through everybody, but I think collectively we've done a
good job, you know, handling some stuff that like you
like we talked earlier that that losing streak and winning
games and losing games, and helping the young guys, trying
to just help them adapt to the professional lifestyle and and.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Try and just better them every day.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
I think the youngest have done a great job, and
then our older guys have been around a long time
so that they got some some tips and lifestyle, you know,
advice that goes a long way for for even you know,
an older guy like myself or or Pogo. I still
think we we we appreciate what they bring and how
they handle themselves and how they handle themselves in a
(16:27):
day to day on and on and off the ice.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
So I think our leadership group is great.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
And we've done a good job, I I think, so
I appreciate you also noticing that. So hopefully we can
continue to do that and and it keeps going from here.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
A question that's going around social media right now, not
related to anything hockey, nothing, Pogo. When you take a shower,
do you wash your legs? Have you guys heard this question? Yeah,
because a lot of people but I hope people do.
A lot of people don't, especially.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Men, especially the teammates that you've maybe hopefully asked that too,
because we were we were our legs for hours on a.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Day, you know.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Yeah, you guys come with a very distinctive hockey aroma.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Yeah I will.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Yeah, So did you say do you do wash your legs?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Oh? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (17:21):
Okay, all right, there's other professional athletes to have answered
and they're like, well, it depends on what shower I'm
taking during the day, Like if it's after a workout, yes,
but it's my wake up shower.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
No, I yeah, I washed my legs.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Probably that's a new one. Yes, it is of the
that's a new.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
One, Dravis. If you had a door in your house
that went anywhere in the world, anywhere in the galaxy
that you wanted to go, where would that be?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Either to a beach or a golf course, Like first tea.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
I guess, is there a beachy golf course that's like
number one for you?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
I couldn't pick a specific course, but yeah, anywhere like that.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
I love the beach. I love golf.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So okay, all right, how You've had a prolific career,
You've been playing hockey for a long time. How do
you define success for yourself? What does that look like
for you?
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Honestly, at the point where I'm at, I feel like
in my careers is enjoying it every day still and
being a good teammate and helping your team win. I
think that's the biggest thing for me is just you know,
you do it, you do it for so long you
still have to enjoy it, which I do every day.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I have so much fun at the rink, I really do.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
And I think that's helping your team and helping your
friends or whatever the case is like thin that. I
think that's success, you know, making someone's stay better or
helping your team.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I love that anymore.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Johnny has a question, Well I can wait. I know
you have a question.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I should have. I should have asked this in the
beginning of the show. So Bear, your your nickname's Bear,
and I think we've touched on in the past of
how you got that nickname, but just kind of retell
that story of how you got the nickname Bear. I
think you also have a giant beards at too on
one of your arms as well, So kind of give
us that backstart of your nickname.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Yeah, I mean baron bear goes hand in hand.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
My dad, you know, hockey player as well, called him Bear.
Then I went to little Bear when I kind of
got to an age where me and my dad are
in the same room or whatever. But then if it
comes down to it, my dad's still big Bear, and
be a little bear, just Bear.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Have you ever have you ever seen the show The
Bear on on Hulu?
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I never have no, okay, okay, that's.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
A good one too. I don't know. They have a
lot of Bear themes in it, so I thought you
you'd see it anytime. But good show to watch if
you like cooking. Good show.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Okay, you do.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
You watch TV? Bear? Or are you on social media?
Are you somebody who like digests a lot of culture?
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Yeah, I'm not very active on social media, like when
I'm at home versus on the road. Like, when I'm
at home, I'll throw on TV. We like watching sports.
Whatever my fiance likes to watch. I'll watch it and
then I'll get sick of it. Then I'll put on
my show and she'll get sick of it. So it's
(20:40):
we're kind of go back and forth on what we
watch and on the road.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I don't TikTok when I'm at home, but when I'm on.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
The road, I'll scroll for a little bit to kill
some time on our days off when I'm not just
going on What.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Does your FYP look like? I have so many questions?
Is it mainly hockey?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
No?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Oh yeah, it's a lot. Is there some hockey? Golf?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Just like just a guy's just a guy's guys TikTok
page heading off golf food?
Speaker 5 (21:10):
Are there animals? Is that part of it at all?
For you?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
No?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Okay, just curious. What was my last question? I had
one last question for you? What was it going to
ask you? And it wasn't serious at all. Johnny helped
me out, even though you don't have no clue?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
No, I don't know. Uh you usually ask I don't
know what? What do you usually close out shows by Kim?
And I'm trying to think.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I'm trying to think too. I was going to ask
if you were a mysical creature, what mysical creature would
you want to be? But then I thought I had
thought of something else. But do you want to answer
that one?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I don't even know what a mythical creature.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Is, like like a troll or a werewolf, or a vampire.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
Or one of those half men half horse thing.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
A mermaan, yes, like a griffin, Yeah, a half man
half horse. I can't remember what those were called.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Oh my gosh, it's not the top of my tongue.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
Oh uh, I'm looking at a picture of it. Hold on, Nope,
it's just a picture. It doesn't tell it doesn't say
what it is. Oh, I like a pegasus, but it's
not Pegasus.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Well we'll just call it half man, half Horse. We'll
just stick with it for now. We'll just stick with that. Well, Travis,
thanks so much for joining us again. Man, really appreciate
us giving your time on this game day. Good luck
tonight and let's uh, let's show this team that we
are a playoff team and let's keep it going.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
All right, appreciate you guys. Thank you, We'll see you tonight.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Good luck the big conversation this week.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
All right, thank you, Joe, just getting Assistant Captain Travis Baron,
also known as Bear. If you just missed that interview,
go to two Sound roadrunners dot com slash Happyard to
listen to the podcast version. After this show ends. We
have a game tonight against the Ontario Ray. Before we
get to that, Kim just finished off a three game
(22:58):
road trip. You're sick whole time? How are you feeling?
I should have asked you that when we started, but
we had, Travis, how are you feeling? Are you gonna
You're gonna be here tonight? Right? You're gonna be here? Yes,
Pa announcing, So you're feeling good to go?
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I am not one hundred percent, but I am well
on my way. It took me a minute. I was
sick for so long it didn't make any sense. But
I'm feeling better, Johnny. Thank you for asking and appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It sucks. It sucks being sick when you work in sports,
because it's like no one cares, like you what you're
gonna do, like not show up, you know, like unless
you're I feel like, unless you have a flu and
you're you're you're absolutely puking everywhere, It's like you got
to go out there. And we've had players who have
had to play sick. I've called games really really sick,
(23:46):
especially on those road trips. I don't know if fans
ever noticed, but there are a lot of games where
I've been very sick. And it's funny because as a kid,
I got sick so much, and then a few years
go by in college and I just stopped getting sick
all the time. And now this year I've just been
hit hard a bunch. So uh, it sucks. I feel
for you. Appreciate you, uh making it out tonight, because yeah,
(24:08):
in this industry, Kim, uh, nobody cares. I've even talked
to Steve Poppin about it because I told I told
my it was our Gem Show trip when Bakersfield. I
got really sick. He told Anyr Boucie because he's just
asked me like, oh, how's it going. I'm like, I
am not feeling good man, And then later on he's
talking to Steve and he asked me. He's like, oh,
how you feeling. I'm like a little better today, and
(24:29):
Steve's like, what you're sick. I'm like yeah, He's like,
well good, well, no one cares. And it's just like wow,
well as in like you know, he's got I was
feeling good, but at the same time it's like no
one cares, like you gotta work, you know, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Very much.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
It really sucks.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Yes, yes, we pressed on and no matter what, and
looking forward to tonight, how was the trip?
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Triple's good? I mean to someone two and one? Uh
do you know? Split the series up in in Bakersfield.
Got a four to one win against the Ontario Rain.
Now we play them again tonight, and you know, it's
just it's just getting those points, Kim, That's all that
matters at this at this area. And yeah, I think
you would rather much have maybe lose the first game
to Ontario and then Sweet Baker's Field for the points wise,
(25:11):
But you know, I think with Ontario losing the games
like they're losing right now going into this series, if
if things go our way, Kim, we could still be
potentially in line for for a home seat. It's gonna
take a lot, but it's not out of the waters
just yet. And I like what Travis Baron said early
on in the show we interviewed him. I mean, he said,
he let's we want to show we want we are
(25:33):
legit team. Like he's excited like that, and that's good
coming from your assistant captain that he's really confident of
what we can do down to stretch. I mean, we're
five to one one and oh in our last seven
games eight four one one since the All Star break,
we have dished out that eight game losing skin. Now
into the past, we've forgotten about it and we're fully
healthy again, knock on wood, and it's it's really all
(25:55):
happening for us at the perfect time, and we're catching
Ontario at a very good time as well. As they've
lost their last five games in a row and Kim,
they've only averaged one point two goals four per game.
They're scoring less than two goals a game. In this
losing streak, they've been shut out twice. I don't know
what it is. They traded one of their you know,
not their best player, but they traded one of their players,
(26:18):
Tyler Madden. And my prediction is he was a big
locker room guy and he did have the most points
for the team. But it'd be like if us if
we traded Travis Barrett, and it would affect our locker
room so much, you know, yeah, tremendously right, And I
think that's what happened to Ontario. They lost a very
likable player. Again, don't know anything. This is just my guess.
(26:39):
They lost a very likable player and it's affected the
team because they've literally lost these games since training them away.
And they also do not have their backup goaltender in
Eric Portello. He's injured, so they're running with Phoenix Copley
a lot, and he is more of a veteran goalie.
He's thirty three years old, he's been the league a
long time, but there's a lot of games for him.
He's not a Matthew Lota, right. So those are just
(27:02):
my theories. That good theory. Why maybe why Ontario struggling,
but it doesn't mean doesn't guarantee wins for us. It's
still gonna be a tough series, but it's just you
just feel like this, this is really confident for us,
and this is a good spot.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
I think you and I see probably more than other people,
what a difference one personality, adding or or losing one
personality in the locker room can make to the entire franchise.
So I mean, I I hope, I hope that that's
(27:38):
I'm curious if that's honestly what they're dealing with. Either way,
it works out for us and we get Kyler Kyler
Yamamoto back this week from his suspension. And I think
one of the things that we've talked about before, and
(27:59):
Travis I've talked about it a little bit too, is
finding the identity. The guy's finding their identity and really
being confident and consistent. And I think those are the
two things.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
That are really.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Having more of an impact than anything else. Is being
going out there and knowing we are that team. You know,
we are this. Like Travis was saying too, he doesn't
have to fight because there are so many other people
in the lineup who can do that job when he's had,
you know, when he's had to be that person for
(28:34):
us for so long. I know there's all these other
people on the team who can do that, and I
think that frees him up to you know, to make
plays happen and to really kind of focus and hone
his game a little bit. And then so again coming
back to the confidence and that consistency once you find
(28:55):
your role and then and then it like kind of
spreads out, that energy kind of spreads outward until everybody
on the team finds their role and feels comfortable and
is doing the job that they're paid to do and
that they feel comfortable doing. That's when I think you
start to see the dividends payoff. And that's where I
think we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Yeah, that was a good question, Kim about the fighting,
Right So I just pulled up the fight card from
last season. Baron had four total, Curtis Douglas led the
way with ten, Onnybuci with eight, McCartney at six, and
then Baron had four. This season. Now, Travis Baron has
been in one just one fight this season, but leading
the way for US. No shocker here with Anibouchie at seven,
(29:39):
Curtis Douglas is at seven, under Drew's been in the mix,
Maverick Lambreu has two, but after that it's Baron McCartney
cannot in looking in zuber All with one. So definitely
a lot less fights this season for two soon, But
it doesn't mean that we're still not playing the Tucson way, right.
We grind teams out, we give them a hard time
when they get Matti v or Dylan Wells who's back,
(30:02):
and uh, it's it's definitely not that. But it's just
a little bit different now this year. And yeah, that's
a good point for Bear where you know, he he
knows that he has teammates are gonna stand up for
others where he doesn't feel like he needs to get
into it, and he will if he has to. But yeah,
that was that was a really good point to where
you know it it's a little different for Tucson this season.
The fights are a lot less, But I think when
(30:23):
you still have Curtis Douglas and Montana on Yo Bucci,
you you don't really need to get in a fight
because they're gonna do it themselves.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
And I think I think one of the things that
we we should talk about too, is just kind of
the balance of the team in that we have young
guys like Maverick Lamaroux and Maxie Zuber who are still
learning and who are still kind of trying to, you know,
figure out who they are as hockey players, especially on
this level. But then you have guys like Andrew Egazino
(30:52):
and Kevin Connaughton. They know who they are and they
are so just even and very kind of focused. Oh,
I had a great question for Travis about Kevin. I
was gonna ask him if if Kevin called him and
asked him to babysit his kids overnight, whether he would
(31:13):
say yes or come up with the excuse.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
That is a good question.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Whoever we interview next, that's that's gonna be a question.
But I now, I'm really curious about what Travis's answer
would because Travis is one of those He's one of
those guys who's been with the team, you know, for
so many seasons. He's a fan favorite. But he's still
a young guy, you know, and he's still got so
much in front of him. But comes to the locker room,
(31:42):
comes to the arena with just a world of knowledge
and and so much leadership. He's one of those guys
who who is in that in that gap between the
ages and Knots and and Mavin Maxi. Right, So the balance,
(32:05):
I think is what we're what we're starting to see
kind of level out and the guys figure out where
they are, you know, kind of on the spectrum of
who they need to be on the team.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, because like even you know, we saw most of
the balance and well maybe not really all of it,
but when we won those six games in a row, Kim,
we even said then this was all before the holiday break.
We were even saying like, yeah, we're winning these games,
but we still haven't seen this team play at its
full potential, right, Yeah, And then it wouldn't say fell
(32:39):
part complete because we turned it around. But you know,
then we went on the slide, slowly got back to
it and the All Start break, after the All Star break,
and now we've seen it and we're really starting to
see the balance now. Sammy Walker's been a huge addition
as well. Ben McCartney's starting to find a score sheet
on that new now that new revamped power play unit.
Having a Goback has been huge as well, and you know,
(33:04):
doing LUTs has found the back of the net twice
now in the second half of the season for the
first two goals of his career. Lipkin and Hunter Drew
are coming off of multiple point games off of that
road trip as well. Thelalta has been playing out of
this world in his past four starts, allowing less than
a two goals against average. And it's really all fizzling
out into together right now. And again back to where
(33:27):
parents said earlier, I mean, you know, this team is
still has a lot to learn, of course, but with
with seventeen games left, ten home, seven on the road,
it is very as much every game is going to
feel like a playoff one. So this team is going
to get really tested. And this team it's pretty much
a you know, are we a playoff team or are
we going to barely sneak in and get thumped in
(33:50):
the first round. And it's this stretch right now is
really gonna potentially prove that.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Yeah. And I think one of the things that we
need to talk about also is the fact that Jackson
Stauber got called up. He's in Utah right now, and
Dylan Wells is here, and I think Dylan Wells is
one of those locker room guys for this team that
he absolutely brings something intangible. He's a great goalie. He's
(34:16):
a fantastic goalie. And I think I've said this before.
I can't remember, but I know that I've actually said
it to him that if he was, you know, in
any other organization, he would probably be playing at this
level and not in the EHL because he's in a
you know, he's at at this level, I think. But
(34:38):
more than that, he just brings this really great positive
energy that just seems to bring lots of good things
to Mattie Volalta's head. And Maddie just seems to perform really,
really well when Dylan is sitting behind him. So I
think that that's gonna have of a tremendous impact on
(35:02):
us this in the foreseeable future until until Jackson comes back.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Yeah, it's all about the situation, right, And you know,
Jackson Stobber is an awesome goaltender as well, still a
great player to have in the locker room. You know,
comes off as a quiet guy, but when once you
get to know him, you know why he was brought here,
you know, to to help Matthew Bolalta and battle for
that crease because at the end of the day, it's
still a competition for playing time. As much as we
(35:29):
want both of these guys to have success, that's why
they push each other. They push each other because they're like,
I'm gonna take your spot, and it's like, no, I'm
gonna take your spot, you know, And it's about the situation, right,
So UTAs is still pushing for the playoffs. Connor Ingram
is in the NHL assistance Program just because of his
family loss, his mother passing away earlier this season, you know,
(35:51):
just stepping away from hockey to focus on his mental health,
which is awesome for the NHL to have those kind
of resources. So we wish him the best of luck.
Prayers to him and his family as they grow through
this tough time. But you know, and now it creates opportunities.
So Jackson Stopper called up to the Utah Hockey Club,
and one could argue maybe Maddie should have been the
one to get called up because he's playing playing so
(36:11):
good at the late, But at the end of the day,
it's Stopper who has more playing time in the NHL.
He has more NHL experience. He got the first shutout
in Utah hockey club history. He has good numbers, a
two point two to three goals against average in a
nine to twenty five stay percentage in the NHL this season,
so I think, you know, calling him up with the
right choice. He's not gonna get as much playing time unfortunately,
(36:34):
but he will be called upon when he's needed. And yeah, Kim,
I don't know what it is, but when Matthew Villalta
just starts game and game and game a row in
a row, he plays so much better because he just
feeds off the previous game from beforehand. And I wouldn't
be shocked if we do see Dan Wells maybe in
this series or especially in this weekend against San Jose. Yeah,
(36:55):
because Vlalta is coming off that Saturday game. He played great,
but he faced over forty shots two days off, and
now you're back in action tonight and then we have
a game tomorrow, so we might see Dylan Well's play again.
And Wells is two and o this season. He's two
and o with the road Runners. He's won his two starts.
And I was talking with our video coach Brad Krakowitz.
You know just about you know playing for goaltenders, right,
(37:17):
and we know how great Matthew Vollalta is. He's a
guy that you would want to go out there and
play for, right, And I think Dylan Wells is the
same thing, especially when these guys don't get a lot
of playing time, and you know, when they are a
net it's like, come on, guys, like this guy's getting
his first start in this long tonight, let's let's go
get a win. Because Wells hasn't played the game in
the Ah else since December, right, So I think it's
(37:39):
just that Dylan Well's effect Maddie's in tonight. We'll see about,
you know what the situation comes tomorrow. Who we want
to start. But it's a good opportunity for everybody, you know.
Good luck to Jackson's stobber. Good luck to Krovo Malca,
who will be taking the rains now for the Utah
Hockey Club as both these teams are are fighting for
the playoffs. Really long. I'm sorry, was.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
No, no, no, no, that was so it was so
much good stuff in there. It was so so much
good stuff in there, And I honestly I did not
know that about Connor Ingram, so I'm glad that you
shared that. Yeah, so many personalities. I would not want
to have Bill Armstrong John Ferguson. That would not be
a good job for me, because it's to me, it's
(38:23):
you know, trying to weigh you know, keeping Jackson down
here and sending Mattie up. Who's but if you send
Maddie up, you know, he's kind of sitting there, you know,
like and then and then the dynamics of the locker
room and then what that looks like and then how
that all changes everything and yeah, that that that, to
me has got to be such a difficult job. Again,
we need a drive to survive reality show at the
(38:46):
Ahl level because there's just so much drama and so
many dynamics, and we need to have Brad Krokowitz on
the show. How has that man not been on this show?
Because he is so much fun to talk hocky with.
He is so his hockey i Q is so so high,
and he just you can give. I feel like you
could just ask him one question and and then you're
(39:06):
off to the races. Like he wouldn't He wouldn't even
need to be formulating anything.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Well maybe that is a potential next week, guess Kim,
I think you just got our next guest and on
the show he got he challenged. He was part. He
was a big part of that road trip to Kim
and we'll we'll ask him more about it. But to
quick story it, he is in charge of, you know,
calling for challenges too, if the coaches go in the
into the video room and ask him. I kind of
gave a little preview of down on the broadcast. But
(39:31):
long story short, Bakers held thought they scored a goal.
It was deemed a kick in because Brad Krakowitz, who
is on that trip, he doesn't travel all the time,
but it was on that trip told Zach Startini, hey,
we should challenge this. It was a kick in. We
challenged it and then we won it. So he has
won for one on challenges this season. Last time he
(39:51):
tried to do a challenge, the iPad wasn't working a replace,
so we didn't count that as a challenge attempt for one.
Congratulations to Brad and yeah, he's it would be fantastic
have him on the show. He's a full hockey guy
as well, and he's also a big viable part to
this team.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
So yeahs incredible.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
It's rolling on here Kim, Great locker room vibes and uh,
just exciting hockey coming up.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
That's a job. I would love Brad's job. I mean
he's in the room. He's in the room for everything
that happens. So and God, there have been times in
the game where I've like been sitting there and I've
looked across the way at like Steve and Storret's and
been like, challenge it. Challenge it, you know, like do something.
But to actually be able to get in touch with
(40:36):
them and be like no, you know, like I said, yeah,
you need to.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Do yeah, because he sees the video of what happens
and he tells him like, no, I don't challenge that,
and he he has to be dialed in Kim, like
he he can't just not be paying attention all of
a sudden because something happens and he's like, what just happened,
And it's like you're the one watching the video And
he doesn't even get to watch the hockey like live.
He has to watch through a video in our coach office,
(41:00):
so he's not even getting to see it all hacked
happen live. And he's also he's also told us too,
or he's told me in the past that his video
is so delayed, so he will hear the goal happen
from our horn and the crowds cheering, and he's like,
oh my gosh, we just scored. I wonder what happened,
and it's like, A, I don't know how long it's delayed. Well,
we'll find out more. Maybe that is our next guest
(41:22):
next week. That'd be an awesome person to have on
the show, So maybe we'll try to ramp that up
as well when we come back here to Roadrunners Game Night,
Game Night Edition, Roadrunners Game Night with Roadrunners Warm Up
starting up soon as well. Kim, We've covered a lot
on this show, talking to Travis Baron earlier this week,
(41:42):
talking about just the locker room vibes, goaltending changes. We'd
even cover Aku Ratu's trade to the Chicago Blackhawks with
everything that's been going on, talking about, you know, big
guys in the locker room. Aurochu traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
We get a fifth round pick in return, also trading
away Shay Weber's rights even though he hasn't been in
(42:03):
the league for the past few years, and then the
rights of Victor Soderstrom as well, who's playing in Europe.
At this time, we still had his rights to the
North American Pro Hockey of EH on the NHL, so
we are kind of wonky trade Aku Rota was part
of it, and uh, we just wish him the best
of luck.
Speaker 5 (42:21):
Absolutely Aku, like you said, big locker room guy, very
very steady, steady guy considering how young he is, but
just a phenomenal presence. Whether he was actually producing goals
or not, he was definitely so pivotal, so pivotal this team.
And I'm glad that the team seems to have been
(42:44):
able to kind of compartmentalize a little bit and and
and shake off how much that must have affected them
emotionally to lose Aku, but absolutely all the best. Gonna
miss it. We don't have any more of fins on
the team right now. I think was that was that
he was our last one.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Yeah, he was with Miko Mantika down with the Allen
Americans at the moment Karachu traded. We had Usoval Macki
uh for a few periods, but unfortunately he has torn
his acl so he's out for the rest of the
regular season, uh and for the rest of the season
in total. So he's back with Utah rehabbing. So yeah,
(43:26):
no more, no more Finland players on the team. At
the moment we had three and now they are all gone.
But there's a chance that Mitika could be called back
up to US as he's developing quite well with the
aut Americans, just with that whole situation as well. So Kim,
we are ready to roll tonight, big big four game,
homestand coming up four games and what six days is
(43:49):
what it is. So yeah, it's it's a lot of
hockey coming up for us. We just came back from
the road trip. It was a break for everybody, but
not us. And we'll just continue on here trying to
keep that Ontario losing streak going and we'll try to
continue on here.
Speaker 5 (44:02):
Do we have anything special happening? I know that this
weekend is we have the Saint Patrick's Day game happening
on Sunday and Saturday is which game? Oh, it's the
First Responders game is Saturday. Plus we have fire and
police playing against each other in the game before the
Roads game. So if you have a ticket to the game,
come early and you can see police and fire. That
(44:24):
is so much fun. That game is a lot more
physical than you would think it would be. And I
think Fire has has the series right now, They've got it, but.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
They won last year.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
And also at the Saint Patrick's Day game this Sunday,
we have a pregame tailgate starting from around.
Speaker 5 (44:45):
I think it's three thirty, three forty five something like that.
I know you're looking at it right now, but I
wanted to say also a plug for tonight's game versus
the Rain that starts at six thirty tonight is Hospitality
and Service Industry Night and Raw rab Matina, our marketing VP,
was on last week talking about, you know, throwing it
(45:06):
out to the service industry, let us take care of
you tonight because they're always so busy taking care of
everybody else.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, they are coming from someone who worked at Chili's
for four years. I've been through that life as well.
So yeah, one more time. This upcoming weekend, we have
First Responders Night. On Saturday, we have the Tucson Fire
Department and Tucson Police Department hockey game at four point thirty.
Your ticket will get you into that game. You just
have to scan out if you want to go out
(45:34):
and get some dinner before the Roadrunners game. And then
we have our Saint Patrick's Day game coming up on
Sunday as well a pregame tailgate from two pm the
PM at the TCC where we have out of kilds
playing green beer, food, festive activities. First, a thousand fans
into the arena, get a Saint Patrick's Date T shirt,
and we have our Saint Patrick's Date jerseys as well,
(45:56):
sponsored by Fox eleven and a post game jersey auction
as well. So what's happening this homestand we will see
you tonight at the Tucson Arena. This has been Roadrunners
Happy Hour Roadrunners warm Up starting in about fifteen minutes
or so, hosted by me as always, and we will
see you then right here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty
am
It's five o'clock dot yours hues day, don The's two
Sun Roadrunners have you out from Fox Sports fourteen fifty
AF Jonathan Shit right, we.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Know the story, but you gotta tell the viewers that starts.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
It's so funny.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
It's our usual Tuesday night together.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
So I don't know, maybe we should start implementing some
breakdance pre games 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 2 (00:29):
Fox Sports fourteen fifty AM, our usual Tuesday night get together,
Roadrunners Happy are for our game day edition. Jonathan Shaeffer
always joining me, Kim Coda, Robliz and off the top
of the hour are very special guests this week. Assistant
Captain Number twenty six, Travis Paren Travis, how's it going man,
Thanks for joining us on this game day and how
(00:50):
the boys looking for tonight's matchup against Ontario?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, thanks for having me. We're good, We're ready to roll.
We're excited.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah. So we've talked to a lot of guys this
sea and about you know, their game day routines, and
a lot of people have different ones. Guys play Super Bowl,
guys kind of just go into the corner and you know,
getting their own mindsets, and then some guys just are
kind of chill and relax the whole time. What's your
game day routine? Like, had morning skate today with the
team meeting, and then what the rest of your day
looks like? You know, go into the arena and getting
(01:19):
ready for the game.
Speaker 4 (01:21):
Yeah, you know, go to the rink, do my thing
with the team there, and then come home. Depends on
who's home, my fiance or my parents. My parents are
actually in town, so they helped out with the cooking.
If no one's there, I'll cook, or my fans who
will cook. So I got the luxury of having a
home cooked meal from from my mom today, So it's
(01:44):
nice and I'll eat that, chill, hang out, nothing crazy. Then,
you know, lay down for a little bit. Early game today,
so we'll leave a little bit earlier than usual. But
nothing crazy. I'm not one of those superstitious guys who
you know, got to do something crazy every day.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Is kind of go with the flow.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So your parents are in town. How long have they
been in town for?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, they've been here. They've been here a while.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
You know, it's been a long a long, snowy, brutal
winter back home in Canada form so they're coming down
here to enjoy, enjoy, not snow blowing or shoveling the
driveway or whatever whatever it is. So they've been here
for a while. It's a three week trip in total,
so a long.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
One anywhere that you've you've taken them these past few
weeks that you know, they might not be accustomed to
seeing where they're at usually.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
I mean, over the years, we've kind of we've kind
of dinged everything out. We've done a lot of things
here in Tucson. My dad's a big golfer, so going golfing,
and then we're talking about going somewhere on Thursday with
my mom and well that's I don't know, we don't
know yet. We'll figure it out. But we're staying busy.
Weather's nice.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
So they get sit by the pool and enjoy them
joy themselves.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
So Travis, really quick, a couple of things that you
just said. Number one, you have a fiance, which I
don't think you had a fiance. Last name we talked,
you had a girlfriend.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
So congratulations, this happened in the summer. Thank you. Yeah, Well,
last time we spoke. I don't think. I don't think.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
I don't think it was done yet, but yeah, got
it done in August and here we are.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So it is exciting.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
That's amazing. Do you guys know when the wedding is
going to be? Have you figured that all out yet?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
You know?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
We've we are taking our time with it.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
It's funny you ask, though, because Thursday, Thursday or Friday
we are going to.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Be having a sort.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Of formal sit down about it. So that's when we're
going to get the ball rolling.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
Wow. Serious, Wow, a formal sit down? Okay, all right, awesome, Well,
good luck with that. And then also I couldn't find
notes from when we talked to you last season? Did
you skate out of I mean happy hour last season?
Because I could only find the last discussion with you
from twenty twenty three? Maybe is that possible?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah? Maybe I did.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I think maybe I don't know. I could tell you.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
Yeah, I googled it, so I was just trying to
figure it out. But yeah, because I feel like I
have so much that I want to ask you know. Also,
if you're going to take your mom somewhere, have you
guys gone to what is it called Carlsbad Carlsbad Caverns.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
No it is.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I'm trying to think. Okay, I'm going to google it,
because there's this It's way on the opposite end of town.
It's way out on the southeast side of town. But
it's this huge, amazing, intricate cave system. It's really really fascinating,
like it goes, it goes like center of the Earth
kind of thing. Wow, colossal cave, that's what it's.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
I like that.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
And it's really cool down there too. It's not that
it's hot right now, but it's a really really cool
down there. So actually, I was gonna my first question
was going to be to ask you about your family.
I don't know that we've ever talked before about your
mom and dad and you do you have any siblings
and kind of what your life was like growing up.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yeah. I got mom and dad, brother, sister. I'm the youngest,
so my brother's ten years old, myself, my sister's two
years older. I grew up in Canada, big hockey household.
Sort of all we did. I used to my mom
was a rock star, driving my older brother to to hockey.
(05:40):
I always used to follow along and that's where I
kind of love started to love the game. And then
my sister started doing dance, and as the youngest, I
had to take along. I kind of did that a
little bit with my sister, sort of everything they kind
of did. I kind of just followed along and enjoyed
a little bit myself until I got old enough to
(06:01):
start playing hockey, and you know, it's kind of my
turn to be the athlete of the family. So it
was a busy household. We had fun just to you know,
I don't know if you guys had it. Obviously you didn't,
but we used to do backyard rinks growing on. So
I used to build the backyard rink. I know, wow,
(06:23):
I was asking that.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Anyways, that's that's a big Canadian thing.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
So every year we do that, and the family used
to skate around and have a lot of fun. So
I was I was really lucky with with how my
parents you know, treated us and the childhood we had.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
So so because your brother played hockey, you played hockey.
And then because your sister danced, did you also dance?
Are you a dancer?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I sure did.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I was a short stint, but my mom figured, you know,
kill two birds with one stone by bringing the daughter
to dance, and might as well put the one we're
going to car with us, might as well put him
in a class too.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So did that? I don't think it lasted very long.
Speaker 5 (07:03):
I actually have a would you rather question? That it
was going to be for the very end after you
had kind of settled into this, But since you brought
up dance, this is why would you rather question? Would
you rather be missing your two front teeth and have
absolutely no like flipper or way to like mask that
you're missing your two front teeth or you physically forced
to dance every time Hot to Go by Chapel Roan
(07:25):
was played in any capacity.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
Yeah, that's a tricky one.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Right now.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And everywhere.
Speaker 6 (07:34):
Yeah, I'd probably still take the two front teeth out.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I don't like dancing.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You should definitely at least you might be semi ready
for the wedding when the dance floor opens up as well.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Take some lessons.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're ready. So you're in your fourth
season out with the Roadrunners assistant captain again, and you
know what what in seasons? You know, you've seen so
many different groups of teams, and you know, last season's
seasons when we really kind of turned around the entire
team with the season we had. And this year we've
seen some slides, but we're starting to find our game again.
What can you compare this team to seasons pass of
(08:14):
just the unity that we've had together and all the
adversity that we've gone through together as well.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Yeah, we've taken some big steps since since the first
year I've been here. Just this the uh, the winning environment,
just learning how to cope with with each other and
and and learning valuable lessons over the years. We've had
the same coaching staff who've been there since day one.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
It's it's been it's been great.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I mean, you take you look rewind four years ago,
we're the last place team in the league, and then
you know last season we finished second and disappointing end.
And and I think this year, I think we're still
a special team. I think we still have way more
approved than than what we've done. Like you said, though,
we're kind of getting the ball rolling and heading the
(09:06):
right direction, especially in these last these last couple of weeks,
we were taking some steps. So it's it's time to
start winning some games. So let's too what we're made
of here. I'm excited, the team's excited. I think we
have I think we have a really good a really
good club.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Yeah, and it's crazy to think that at one point
this season we're on an eight game losing streak, right,
and now we've we figured it out post All Star?
You know what did what did this team have to
really get go through to start, you know, finding the
wins again? Of course we had a lot of injuries
and just we're kind of figuring stuff out, and it's
it's still funny now we look back at it's like,
what what losing streak?
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Right?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Like, this team is has figured it out. So what
did this team really have to go through to start
finding the wins again and start really getting our groove back?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, it's gonna happen, and it's gonna happen everywhere you go,
the highs and the lows. Obviously we didn't want any
part of that, but in a way it kind of
did bring us closer together. When when teams are struggling
like that, you kind of got to you kind of
gotta go away from the everyday norm and and uh.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
I don't know how to explain this.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You kind of come closer together with conflict or you know, struggles,
it always seems to bring people together in a weird way.
So it's just kind of getting you know, when times
are tough like that, you get to know your teammates
more personally and and uh, you know, you support each
other on and off the ice.
Speaker 6 (10:32):
So I think just I think just uh, you know,
meshing as.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
One and and really understanding each other and kind of
feeling those feelings. It's it's a big it's a big
thing for a team. Obviously, you didn't want it to
last for eight games. Maybe it was three or four
would have been way better, obviously, but you know, you
learn so much from each other and it's sort of
a blessing in disguise for the team. It is what
(10:58):
it is, and we learned, and I think hopefully we
go on an eight game streak.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
The other way, you know, you.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Bond through adversity, right, I think most people know what
that feels like, especially in a job when you all
have to come together and make something happen, no matter
what the job is. It's almost like y'all have shared
PTSD from going through the hard stuff together. So I
(11:26):
get you. I noticed that one of the things that
we talked about with you last time. Adrian and Brett
talked with you about how you are what they call
the three dimensional player and that you're an amazing forward,
You're amazing also on defense, and then you have this
very physical game and your penalty minutes for the last
(11:50):
I want to say, maybe like five seasons have been
like reflected how physical you're willing to get to make
things happen for the team. This season has been a
lot different. You're still you're still you're still you know,
tumbling tumbling out there with some guys, but it's definitely
not as much as it has been in the past
couple of seasons. What do you attribute that to any,
(12:13):
any thoughts or any Is that intentional?
Speaker 6 (12:16):
No, it's not intentional. It's it's one of those things
that you know, the game's physical.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
I love, Uh, obviously, I love that part of the game.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
I just feel as if, you know, I don't know
what I like to sure, am I upset that I'm
not Now. I got a lot of guys who who
have that role in them more than I do, if
that makes sense. We have we have, really we have
a really tough team. So if there's ever gonna be
an altercation or or a fight.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I'm there. However, it's it feels like it's.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Got to go down the total pole a little bit further.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
To get to me.
Speaker 6 (12:51):
Nowadays. It's just, you know, guys are doing.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
A really good job protecting our teammates, and I think
collectively everyone should have that part of their game. But
we're very lucky that we have really tough players who
make that job easier on a lot of different players
like myself.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
All right, And I'm not saying I don't I don't
want to do it anymore. I really do.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
I wouldn't, I wouldn't back down for it, but I
just feel like the opportunity is a little further away
when you know we have such a tough team. You know,
people don't really act out as they would against other
teams compared to us because they know they'd have to
answer to some tough players.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
Yeah, that makes sense. One do you have a favorite
pasta shape?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
RIGATONI.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
That's been the answer I think more than once that
when we've asked this question. Do you guys get served
RIGATONI a lot? Oh?
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Really, I feel like it's rare, But I don't know.
I've always just liked it. It's simple mh for me.
Speaker 5 (13:59):
I guess you don't have to justify it. I am
just super curious. Who's your who's your road roommate right now? Oh?
Is he really okay? So I don't know that we've
talked to anybody who has been Pogo's roommate. Can you
if if Pogo were a dog, what kind of dog
would he be? And you can't say Golden retriever because
(14:20):
I feel like that's the go to answer.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
He'd be like a.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
German shepherd, maybe a really family dog, but he could
also be a killer, you know, something.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Like yeah, yeah, for sure. I feel like he's I
don't want to say a serious person. But when he's
locked on, like he's very locked on, and he's he's
a very he seems like a very good leader.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
Yeah he is.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
He's very like the most friendly human ever. But when
he's he's very serious. He takes his job very professionally.
And that's exactly how I would have described me as
very perfec professional and something I really value about him.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
How is the entire Captain's score of you? Ben McCartney,
Kevin Kannan and Agasino and Pogo. You know, it's it's
tough in this league, right because the captains changed, can
change every season. And Putganski for himself, I mean, what
he's worked hard for to get to this point to
be a captain for us. It's quite remarkable being gone
to PTO last season and then signing the contract with
(15:23):
US this year and then now being our captain. What
have you liked about this captain's corps this season? Again?
You know, going through the slide that we went through,
you guys probably had to lead us a lot to
really get through that, and now that we're rolling, it's, uh,
you guys are leading us through thick and thin.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, I mean everyone sort of brings their own sort
of element.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
You know, I don't really want to go one by
one through everybody, but I think collectively we've done a
good job, you know, handling some stuff that like you
like we talked earlier that that losing streak and winning
games and losing games, and helping the young guys, trying
to just help them adapt to the professional lifestyle and and.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Try and just better them every day.
Speaker 4 (16:05):
I think the youngest have done a great job, and
then our older guys have been around a long time
so that they got some some tips and lifestyle, you know,
advice that goes a long way for for even you know,
an older guy like myself or or Pogo. I still
think we we we appreciate what they bring and how
they handle themselves and how they handle themselves in a
(16:27):
day to day on and on and off the ice.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
So I think our leadership group is great.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
And we've done a good job, I I think, so
I appreciate you also noticing that. So hopefully we can
continue to do that and and it keeps going from here.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
A question that's going around social media right now, not
related to anything hockey, nothing, Pogo. When you take a shower,
do you wash your legs? Have you guys heard this question? Yeah,
because a lot of people but I hope people do.
A lot of people don't, especially.
Speaker 4 (17:02):
Men, especially the teammates that you've maybe hopefully asked that too,
because we were we were our legs for hours on a.
Speaker 3 (17:09):
Day, you know.
Speaker 5 (17:11):
Yeah, you guys come with a very distinctive hockey aroma.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Yeah I will.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Yeah, So did you say do you do wash your legs?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
Oh? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (17:21):
Okay, all right, there's other professional athletes to have answered
and they're like, well, it depends on what shower I'm
taking during the day, Like if it's after a workout, yes,
but it's my wake up shower.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
No, I yeah, I washed my legs.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Probably that's a new one. Yes, it is of the
that's a new.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
One, Dravis. If you had a door in your house
that went anywhere in the world, anywhere in the galaxy
that you wanted to go, where would that be?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Either to a beach or a golf course, Like first tea.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
I guess, is there a beachy golf course that's like
number one for you?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
I couldn't pick a specific course, but yeah, anywhere like that.
Speaker 3 (18:12):
I love the beach. I love golf.
Speaker 5 (18:13):
So okay, all right, how You've had a prolific career,
You've been playing hockey for a long time. How do
you define success for yourself? What does that look like
for you?
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Honestly, at the point where I'm at, I feel like
in my careers is enjoying it every day still and
being a good teammate and helping your team win. I
think that's the biggest thing for me is just you know,
you do it, you do it for so long you
still have to enjoy it, which I do every day.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
I have so much fun at the rink, I really do.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
And I think that's helping your team and helping your
friends or whatever the case is like thin that. I
think that's success, you know, making someone's stay better or
helping your team.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
I love that anymore.
Speaker 5 (19:09):
Johnny has a question, Well I can wait. I know
you have a question.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
I should have. I should have asked this in the
beginning of the show. So Bear, your your nickname's Bear,
and I think we've touched on in the past of
how you got that nickname, but just kind of retell
that story of how you got the nickname Bear. I
think you also have a giant beards at too on
one of your arms as well, So kind of give
us that backstart of your nickname.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Yeah, I mean baron bear goes hand in hand.
Speaker 4 (19:34):
My dad, you know, hockey player as well, called him Bear.
Then I went to little Bear when I kind of
got to an age where me and my dad are
in the same room or whatever. But then if it
comes down to it, my dad's still big Bear, and
be a little bear, just Bear.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Have you ever have you ever seen the show The
Bear on on Hulu?
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I never have no, okay, okay, that's.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
A good one too. I don't know. They have a
lot of Bear themes in it, so I thought you
you'd see it anytime. But good show to watch if
you like cooking. Good show.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Okay, you do.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
You watch TV? Bear? Or are you on social media?
Are you somebody who like digests a lot of culture?
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Yeah, I'm not very active on social media, like when
I'm at home versus on the road. Like, when I'm
at home, I'll throw on TV. We like watching sports.
Whatever my fiance likes to watch. I'll watch it and
then I'll get sick of it. Then I'll put on
my show and she'll get sick of it. So it's
(20:40):
we're kind of go back and forth on what we
watch and on the road.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I don't TikTok when I'm at home, but when I'm on.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
The road, I'll scroll for a little bit to kill
some time on our days off when I'm not just
going on What.
Speaker 5 (20:54):
Does your FYP look like? I have so many questions?
Is it mainly hockey?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
No?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Oh yeah, it's a lot. Is there some hockey? Golf?
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Just like just a guy's just a guy's guys TikTok
page heading off golf food?
Speaker 5 (21:10):
Are there animals? Is that part of it at all?
For you?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
No?
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Okay, just curious. What was my last question? I had
one last question for you? What was it going to
ask you? And it wasn't serious at all. Johnny helped
me out, even though you don't have no clue?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
No, I don't know. Uh you usually ask I don't
know what? What do you usually close out shows by Kim?
And I'm trying to think.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I'm trying to think too. I was going to ask
if you were a mysical creature, what mysical creature would
you want to be? But then I thought I had
thought of something else. But do you want to answer
that one?
Speaker 3 (21:47):
I don't even know what a mythical creature.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
Is, like like a troll or a werewolf, or a vampire.
Speaker 6 (21:53):
Or one of those half men half horse thing.
Speaker 5 (21:57):
A mermaan, yes, like a griffin, Yeah, a half man
half horse. I can't remember what those were called.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Oh my gosh, it's not the top of my tongue.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
Oh uh, I'm looking at a picture of it. Hold on, Nope,
it's just a picture. It doesn't tell it doesn't say
what it is. Oh, I like a pegasus, but it's
not Pegasus.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Well we'll just call it half man, half Horse. We'll
just stick with it for now. We'll just stick with that. Well, Travis,
thanks so much for joining us again. Man, really appreciate
us giving your time on this game day. Good luck
tonight and let's uh, let's show this team that we
are a playoff team and let's keep it going.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
All right, appreciate you guys. Thank you, We'll see you tonight.
Speaker 5 (22:36):
Good luck the big conversation this week.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
All right, thank you, Joe, just getting Assistant Captain Travis Baron,
also known as Bear. If you just missed that interview,
go to two Sound roadrunners dot com slash Happyard to
listen to the podcast version. After this show ends. We
have a game tonight against the Ontario Ray. Before we
get to that, Kim just finished off a three game
(22:58):
road trip. You're sick whole time? How are you feeling?
I should have asked you that when we started, but
we had, Travis, how are you feeling? Are you gonna
You're gonna be here tonight? Right? You're gonna be here? Yes,
Pa announcing, So you're feeling good to go?
Speaker 5 (23:11):
I am not one hundred percent, but I am well
on my way. It took me a minute. I was
sick for so long it didn't make any sense. But
I'm feeling better, Johnny. Thank you for asking and appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
It sucks. It sucks being sick when you work in sports,
because it's like no one cares, like you what you're
gonna do, like not show up, you know, like unless
you're I feel like, unless you have a flu and
you're you're you're absolutely puking everywhere, It's like you got
to go out there. And we've had players who have
had to play sick. I've called games really really sick,
(23:46):
especially on those road trips. I don't know if fans
ever noticed, but there are a lot of games where
I've been very sick. And it's funny because as a kid,
I got sick so much, and then a few years
go by in college and I just stopped getting sick
all the time. And now this year I've just been
hit hard a bunch. So uh, it sucks. I feel
for you. Appreciate you, uh making it out tonight, because yeah,
(24:08):
in this industry, Kim, uh, nobody cares. I've even talked
to Steve Poppin about it because I told I told
my it was our Gem Show trip when Bakersfield. I
got really sick. He told Anyr Boucie because he's just
asked me like, oh, how's it going. I'm like, I
am not feeling good man, And then later on he's
talking to Steve and he asked me. He's like, oh,
how you feeling. I'm like a little better today, and
(24:29):
Steve's like, what you're sick. I'm like yeah, He's like,
well good, well, no one cares. And it's just like wow,
well as in like you know, he's got I was
feeling good, but at the same time it's like no
one cares, like you gotta work, you know, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:41):
Very much.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
It really sucks.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Yes, yes, we pressed on and no matter what, and
looking forward to tonight, how was the trip?
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Triple's good? I mean to someone two and one? Uh
do you know? Split the series up in in Bakersfield.
Got a four to one win against the Ontario Rain.
Now we play them again tonight, and you know, it's
just it's just getting those points, Kim, That's all that
matters at this at this area. And yeah, I think
you would rather much have maybe lose the first game
to Ontario and then Sweet Baker's Field for the points wise,
(25:11):
But you know, I think with Ontario losing the games
like they're losing right now going into this series, if
if things go our way, Kim, we could still be
potentially in line for for a home seat. It's gonna
take a lot, but it's not out of the waters
just yet. And I like what Travis Baron said early
on in the show we interviewed him. I mean, he said,
he let's we want to show we want we are
(25:33):
legit team. Like he's excited like that, and that's good
coming from your assistant captain that he's really confident of
what we can do down to stretch. I mean, we're
five to one one and oh in our last seven
games eight four one one since the All Star break,
we have dished out that eight game losing skin. Now
into the past, we've forgotten about it and we're fully
healthy again, knock on wood, and it's it's really all
(25:55):
happening for us at the perfect time, and we're catching
Ontario at a very good time as well. As they've
lost their last five games in a row and Kim,
they've only averaged one point two goals four per game.
They're scoring less than two goals a game. In this
losing streak, they've been shut out twice. I don't know
what it is. They traded one of their you know,
not their best player, but they traded one of their players,
(26:18):
Tyler Madden. And my prediction is he was a big
locker room guy and he did have the most points
for the team. But it'd be like if us if
we traded Travis Barrett, and it would affect our locker
room so much, you know, yeah, tremendously right, And I
think that's what happened to Ontario. They lost a very
likable player. Again, don't know anything. This is just my guess.
(26:39):
They lost a very likable player and it's affected the
team because they've literally lost these games since training them away.
And they also do not have their backup goaltender in
Eric Portello. He's injured, so they're running with Phoenix Copley
a lot, and he is more of a veteran goalie.
He's thirty three years old, he's been the league a
long time, but there's a lot of games for him.
He's not a Matthew Lota, right. So those are just
(27:02):
my theories. That good theory. Why maybe why Ontario struggling,
but it doesn't mean doesn't guarantee wins for us. It's
still gonna be a tough series, but it's just you
just feel like this, this is really confident for us,
and this is a good spot.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
I think you and I see probably more than other people,
what a difference one personality, adding or or losing one
personality in the locker room can make to the entire franchise.
So I mean, I I hope, I hope that that's
(27:38):
I'm curious if that's honestly what they're dealing with. Either way,
it works out for us and we get Kyler Kyler
Yamamoto back this week from his suspension. And I think
one of the things that we've talked about before, and
(27:59):
Travis I've talked about it a little bit too, is
finding the identity. The guy's finding their identity and really
being confident and consistent. And I think those are the
two things.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
That are really.
Speaker 5 (28:13):
Having more of an impact than anything else. Is being
going out there and knowing we are that team. You know,
we are this. Like Travis was saying too, he doesn't
have to fight because there are so many other people
in the lineup who can do that job when he's had,
you know, when he's had to be that person for
(28:34):
us for so long. I know there's all these other
people on the team who can do that, and I
think that frees him up to you know, to make
plays happen and to really kind of focus and hone
his game a little bit. And then so again coming
back to the confidence and that consistency once you find
(28:55):
your role and then and then it like kind of
spreads out, that energy kind of spreads outward until everybody
on the team finds their role and feels comfortable and
is doing the job that they're paid to do and
that they feel comfortable doing. That's when I think you
start to see the dividends payoff. And that's where I
think we're at right now.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Yeah, that was a good question, Kim about the fighting,
Right So I just pulled up the fight card from
last season. Baron had four total, Curtis Douglas led the
way with ten, Onnybuci with eight, McCartney at six, and
then Baron had four. This season. Now, Travis Baron has
been in one just one fight this season, but leading
the way for US. No shocker here with Anibouchie at seven,
(29:39):
Curtis Douglas is at seven, under Drew's been in the mix,
Maverick Lambreu has two, but after that it's Baron McCartney
cannot in looking in zuber All with one. So definitely
a lot less fights this season for two soon, But
it doesn't mean that we're still not playing the Tucson way, right.
We grind teams out, we give them a hard time
when they get Matti v or Dylan Wells who's back,
(30:02):
and uh, it's it's definitely not that. But it's just
a little bit different now this year. And yeah, that's
a good point for Bear where you know, he he
knows that he has teammates are gonna stand up for
others where he doesn't feel like he needs to get
into it, and he will if he has to. But yeah,
that was that was a really good point to where
you know it it's a little different for Tucson this season.
The fights are a lot less, But I think when
(30:23):
you still have Curtis Douglas and Montana on Yo Bucci,
you you don't really need to get in a fight
because they're gonna do it themselves.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
And I think I think one of the things that
we we should talk about too, is just kind of
the balance of the team in that we have young
guys like Maverick Lamaroux and Maxie Zuber who are still
learning and who are still kind of trying to, you know,
figure out who they are as hockey players, especially on
this level. But then you have guys like Andrew Egazino
(30:52):
and Kevin Connaughton. They know who they are and they
are so just even and very kind of focused. Oh,
I had a great question for Travis about Kevin. I
was gonna ask him if if Kevin called him and
asked him to babysit his kids overnight, whether he would
(31:13):
say yes or come up with the excuse.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
That is a good question.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
Whoever we interview next, that's that's gonna be a question.
But I now, I'm really curious about what Travis's answer
would because Travis is one of those He's one of
those guys who's been with the team, you know, for
so many seasons. He's a fan favorite. But he's still
a young guy, you know, and he's still got so
much in front of him. But comes to the locker room,
(31:42):
comes to the arena with just a world of knowledge
and and so much leadership. He's one of those guys
who who is in that in that gap between the
ages and Knots and and Mavin Maxi. Right, So the balance,
(32:05):
I think is what we're what we're starting to see
kind of level out and the guys figure out where
they are, you know, kind of on the spectrum of
who they need to be on the team.
Speaker 2 (32:19):
Yeah, because like even you know, we saw most of
the balance and well maybe not really all of it,
but when we won those six games in a row, Kim,
we even said then this was all before the holiday break.
We were even saying like, yeah, we're winning these games,
but we still haven't seen this team play at its
full potential, right, Yeah, And then it wouldn't say fell
(32:39):
part complete because we turned it around. But you know,
then we went on the slide, slowly got back to
it and the All Start break, after the All Star break,
and now we've seen it and we're really starting to
see the balance now. Sammy Walker's been a huge addition
as well. Ben McCartney's starting to find a score sheet
on that new now that new revamped power play unit.
Having a Goback has been huge as well, and you know,
(33:04):
doing LUTs has found the back of the net twice
now in the second half of the season for the
first two goals of his career. Lipkin and Hunter Drew
are coming off of multiple point games off of that
road trip as well. Thelalta has been playing out of
this world in his past four starts, allowing less than
a two goals against average. And it's really all fizzling
out into together right now. And again back to where
(33:27):
parents said earlier, I mean, you know, this team is
still has a lot to learn, of course, but with
with seventeen games left, ten home, seven on the road,
it is very as much every game is going to
feel like a playoff one. So this team is going
to get really tested. And this team it's pretty much
a you know, are we a playoff team or are
we going to barely sneak in and get thumped in
(33:50):
the first round. And it's this stretch right now is
really gonna potentially prove that.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Yeah. And I think one of the things that we
need to talk about also is the fact that Jackson
Stauber got called up. He's in Utah right now, and
Dylan Wells is here, and I think Dylan Wells is
one of those locker room guys for this team that
he absolutely brings something intangible. He's a great goalie. He's
(34:16):
a fantastic goalie. And I think I've said this before.
I can't remember, but I know that I've actually said
it to him that if he was, you know, in
any other organization, he would probably be playing at this
level and not in the EHL because he's in a
you know, he's at at this level, I think. But
(34:38):
more than that, he just brings this really great positive
energy that just seems to bring lots of good things
to Mattie Volalta's head. And Maddie just seems to perform really,
really well when Dylan is sitting behind him. So I
think that that's gonna have of a tremendous impact on
(35:02):
us this in the foreseeable future until until Jackson comes back.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
Yeah, it's all about the situation, right, And you know,
Jackson Stobber is an awesome goaltender as well, still a
great player to have in the locker room. You know,
comes off as a quiet guy, but when once you
get to know him, you know why he was brought here,
you know, to to help Matthew Bolalta and battle for
that crease because at the end of the day, it's
still a competition for playing time. As much as we
(35:29):
want both of these guys to have success, that's why
they push each other. They push each other because they're like,
I'm gonna take your spot, and it's like, no, I'm
gonna take your spot, you know, And it's about the situation, right,
So UTAs is still pushing for the playoffs. Connor Ingram
is in the NHL assistance Program just because of his
family loss, his mother passing away earlier this season, you know,
(35:51):
just stepping away from hockey to focus on his mental health,
which is awesome for the NHL to have those kind
of resources. So we wish him the best of luck.
Prayers to him and his family as they grow through
this tough time. But you know, and now it creates opportunities.
So Jackson Stopper called up to the Utah Hockey Club,
and one could argue maybe Maddie should have been the
one to get called up because he's playing playing so
(36:11):
good at the late, But at the end of the day,
it's Stopper who has more playing time in the NHL.
He has more NHL experience. He got the first shutout
in Utah hockey club history. He has good numbers, a
two point two to three goals against average in a
nine to twenty five stay percentage in the NHL this season,
so I think, you know, calling him up with the
right choice. He's not gonna get as much playing time unfortunately,
(36:34):
but he will be called upon when he's needed. And yeah, Kim,
I don't know what it is, but when Matthew Villalta
just starts game and game and game a row in
a row, he plays so much better because he just
feeds off the previous game from beforehand. And I wouldn't
be shocked if we do see Dan Wells maybe in
this series or especially in this weekend against San Jose. Yeah,
(36:55):
because Vlalta is coming off that Saturday game. He played great,
but he faced over forty shots two days off, and
now you're back in action tonight and then we have
a game tomorrow, so we might see Dylan Well's play again.
And Wells is two and o this season. He's two
and o with the road Runners. He's won his two starts.
And I was talking with our video coach Brad Krakowitz.
You know just about you know playing for goaltenders, right,
(37:17):
and we know how great Matthew Vollalta is. He's a
guy that you would want to go out there and
play for, right, And I think Dylan Wells is the
same thing, especially when these guys don't get a lot
of playing time, and you know, when they are a
net it's like, come on, guys, like this guy's getting
his first start in this long tonight, let's let's go
get a win. Because Wells hasn't played the game in
the Ah else since December, right, So I think it's
(37:39):
just that Dylan Well's effect Maddie's in tonight. We'll see about,
you know what the situation comes tomorrow. Who we want
to start. But it's a good opportunity for everybody, you know.
Good luck to Jackson's stobber. Good luck to Krovo Malca,
who will be taking the rains now for the Utah
Hockey Club as both these teams are are fighting for
the playoffs. Really long. I'm sorry, was.
Speaker 5 (38:00):
No, no, no, no, that was so it was so
much good stuff in there. It was so so much
good stuff in there, And I honestly I did not
know that about Connor Ingram, so I'm glad that you
shared that. Yeah, so many personalities. I would not want
to have Bill Armstrong John Ferguson. That would not be
a good job for me, because it's to me, it's
(38:23):
you know, trying to weigh you know, keeping Jackson down
here and sending Mattie up. Who's but if you send
Maddie up, you know, he's kind of sitting there, you know,
like and then and then the dynamics of the locker
room and then what that looks like and then how
that all changes everything and yeah, that that that, to
me has got to be such a difficult job. Again,
we need a drive to survive reality show at the
(38:46):
Ahl level because there's just so much drama and so
many dynamics, and we need to have Brad Krokowitz on
the show. How has that man not been on this show?
Because he is so much fun to talk hocky with.
He is so his hockey i Q is so so high,
and he just you can give. I feel like you
could just ask him one question and and then you're
(39:06):
off to the races. Like he wouldn't He wouldn't even
need to be formulating anything.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Well maybe that is a potential next week, guess Kim,
I think you just got our next guest and on
the show he got he challenged. He was part. He
was a big part of that road trip to Kim
and we'll we'll ask him more about it. But to
quick story it, he is in charge of, you know,
calling for challenges too, if the coaches go in the
into the video room and ask him. I kind of
gave a little preview of down on the broadcast. But
(39:31):
long story short, Bakers held thought they scored a goal.
It was deemed a kick in because Brad Krakowitz, who
is on that trip, he doesn't travel all the time,
but it was on that trip told Zach Startini, hey,
we should challenge this. It was a kick in. We
challenged it and then we won it. So he has
won for one on challenges this season. Last time he
(39:51):
tried to do a challenge, the iPad wasn't working a replace,
so we didn't count that as a challenge attempt for one.
Congratulations to Brad and yeah, he's it would be fantastic
have him on the show. He's a full hockey guy
as well, and he's also a big viable part to
this team.
Speaker 5 (40:09):
So yeahs incredible.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
It's rolling on here Kim, Great locker room vibes and uh,
just exciting hockey coming up.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
That's a job. I would love Brad's job. I mean
he's in the room. He's in the room for everything
that happens. So and God, there have been times in
the game where I've like been sitting there and I've
looked across the way at like Steve and Storret's and
been like, challenge it. Challenge it, you know, like do something.
But to actually be able to get in touch with
(40:36):
them and be like no, you know, like I said, yeah,
you need to.
Speaker 2 (40:39):
Do yeah, because he sees the video of what happens
and he tells him like, no, I don't challenge that,
and he he has to be dialed in Kim, like
he he can't just not be paying attention all of
a sudden because something happens and he's like, what just happened,
And it's like you're the one watching the video And
he doesn't even get to watch the hockey like live.
He has to watch through a video in our coach office,
(41:00):
so he's not even getting to see it all hacked
happen live. And he's also he's also told us too,
or he's told me in the past that his video
is so delayed, so he will hear the goal happen
from our horn and the crowds cheering, and he's like,
oh my gosh, we just scored. I wonder what happened,
and it's like, A, I don't know how long it's delayed. Well,
we'll find out more. Maybe that is our next guest
(41:22):
next week. That'd be an awesome person to have on
the show, So maybe we'll try to ramp that up
as well when we come back here to Roadrunners Game Night,
Game Night Edition, Roadrunners Game Night with Roadrunners Warm Up
starting up soon as well. Kim, We've covered a lot
on this show, talking to Travis Baron earlier this week,
(41:42):
talking about just the locker room vibes, goaltending changes. We'd
even cover Aku Ratu's trade to the Chicago Blackhawks with
everything that's been going on, talking about, you know, big
guys in the locker room. Aurochu traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
We get a fifth round pick in return, also trading
away Shay Weber's rights even though he hasn't been in
(42:03):
the league for the past few years, and then the
rights of Victor Soderstrom as well, who's playing in Europe.
At this time, we still had his rights to the
North American Pro Hockey of EH on the NHL, so
we are kind of wonky trade Aku Rota was part
of it, and uh, we just wish him the best
of luck.
Speaker 5 (42:21):
Absolutely Aku, like you said, big locker room guy, very
very steady, steady guy considering how young he is, but
just a phenomenal presence. Whether he was actually producing goals
or not, he was definitely so pivotal, so pivotal this team.
And I'm glad that the team seems to have been
(42:44):
able to kind of compartmentalize a little bit and and
and shake off how much that must have affected them
emotionally to lose Aku, but absolutely all the best. Gonna
miss it. We don't have any more of fins on
the team right now. I think was that was that
he was our last one.
Speaker 2 (43:05):
Yeah, he was with Miko Mantika down with the Allen
Americans at the moment Karachu traded. We had Usoval Macki
uh for a few periods, but unfortunately he has torn
his acl so he's out for the rest of the
regular season, uh and for the rest of the season
in total. So he's back with Utah rehabbing. So yeah,
(43:26):
no more, no more Finland players on the team. At
the moment we had three and now they are all gone.
But there's a chance that Mitika could be called back
up to US as he's developing quite well with the
aut Americans, just with that whole situation as well. So Kim,
we are ready to roll tonight, big big four game,
homestand coming up four games and what six days is
(43:49):
what it is. So yeah, it's it's a lot of
hockey coming up for us. We just came back from
the road trip. It was a break for everybody, but
not us. And we'll just continue on here trying to
keep that Ontario losing streak going and we'll try to
continue on here.
Speaker 5 (44:02):
Do we have anything special happening? I know that this
weekend is we have the Saint Patrick's Day game happening
on Sunday and Saturday is which game? Oh, it's the
First Responders game is Saturday. Plus we have fire and
police playing against each other in the game before the
Roads game. So if you have a ticket to the game,
come early and you can see police and fire. That
(44:24):
is so much fun. That game is a lot more
physical than you would think it would be. And I
think Fire has has the series right now, They've got it, but.
Speaker 2 (44:35):
They won last year.
Speaker 3 (44:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:36):
And also at the Saint Patrick's Day game this Sunday,
we have a pregame tailgate starting from around.
Speaker 5 (44:45):
I think it's three thirty, three forty five something like that.
I know you're looking at it right now, but I
wanted to say also a plug for tonight's game versus
the Rain that starts at six thirty tonight is Hospitality
and Service Industry Night and Raw rab Matina, our marketing VP,
was on last week talking about, you know, throwing it
(45:06):
out to the service industry, let us take care of
you tonight because they're always so busy taking care of
everybody else.
Speaker 2 (45:14):
Yeah, they are coming from someone who worked at Chili's
for four years. I've been through that life as well.
So yeah, one more time. This upcoming weekend, we have
First Responders Night. On Saturday, we have the Tucson Fire
Department and Tucson Police Department hockey game at four point thirty.
Your ticket will get you into that game. You just
have to scan out if you want to go out
(45:34):
and get some dinner before the Roadrunners game. And then
we have our Saint Patrick's Day game coming up on
Sunday as well a pregame tailgate from two pm the
PM at the TCC where we have out of kilds
playing green beer, food, festive activities. First, a thousand fans
into the arena, get a Saint Patrick's Date T shirt,
and we have our Saint Patrick's Date jerseys as well,
(45:56):
sponsored by Fox eleven and a post game jersey auction
as well. So what's happening this homestand we will see
you tonight at the Tucson Arena. This has been Roadrunners
Happy Hour Roadrunners warm Up starting in about fifteen minutes
or so, hosted by me as always, and we will
see you then right here on Fox Sports fourteen fifty
am
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