KRAKEN WEEKLY: Season done, Beniers, Eberle, Firebirds playoff primer (4/16)

The season finale, and Apr. 16 episode of Kraken Weekly, hosted by Mike Benton and joined by Everett Fitzhugh at 32 Bar and Grill. Guests include captain Jordan Eberle, center Matty Beniers, and Coachella Valley Firebirds broadcast voice Evan Pivnick. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ron's sight here at thirty two Bar and Grilla Cracking
Community ice Plex. Mike Betton with you. A lot to
cover here, a lot to come, including Captain Jordan Eberley
joining us here from inside the restaurant, also center Matti
Beaneer's Coachella Valley broadcast voice Evan Pivnik by phone. That
plus our mail bag as Zephyr, it fits you along
here for the ride in just a moment once again.

(00:22):
You can find this podcast on the iHeartRadio app. Find
Kjar at X at ninety three to three KJR, the
Crack and Audio Network at Crack and audio Net. I'm
on Twitter and also at X we should say there
at Benton Underscore mic pull question open up right now
that at X at Crack and Audio Net returning player
you think who has got a big year ahead? Mattie Beaneer's,

(00:44):
Shane Wright, Joey Decord or someone else. Vote now at
X at Kraken Audio Net. Well, this season finale wouldn't
be complete without revisiting some of the greatest eyghlights of
the entire year. Here you go with the calls courtesy
refits you and Alkoniski was charging hard now it's.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Done white sidewalks in shut.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Fins.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Darn the initial shot.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
He gets his own rebound, bangs it home. Her first
goal of the creaking season.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
It's a Montour white size shot. Tips Brandon Montor a.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Bomb from the blue line, redirect it in.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
He'll lead the handshake line.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
The Crackon have tied the game one one.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Left hit period number.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
One, where you get time like that to Montour, He's
gonna shoot the buck every single time.

Speaker 5 (01:41):
Steve.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Back to Stevenson.

Speaker 5 (01:42):
Here's side McGain Stevenson, good.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
John, Welcome to Seattle, Taylor Stevenson. His first goal as
a member of the Kracon. Here's been ears circle.

Speaker 3 (02:05):
What a snipe to.

Speaker 6 (02:06):
The Cans, sending in across Montour, Scor.

Speaker 7 (02:11):
Bring out the hats for Brandon Montour in for Jeams Schwartz,
trying to split the defense.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
He does.

Speaker 8 (02:17):
He shoots scaress Shaneen Schwartz splits the defense nineteen seconds
in and the Kracket take a one nothing lead here
in Carolina.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
Well, the Cracker win that face off and then get
it to the left side.

Speaker 3 (02:30):
Jeanie Schwirtz gets that puck. Here's tolving it in front.

Speaker 8 (02:33):
Sane right scors.

Speaker 3 (02:37):
Belly toven in from the right half wall.

Speaker 7 (02:40):
He caught right in shride and he tips the buck
passed Jonathan Quick numble Cocko shoots snoozs Cocko off the
face off, hammers it in his first goal as a
member of the Seattle krackt on the brakes of.

Speaker 3 (02:56):
The blue line. Now the ass get it.

Speaker 7 (02:58):
Here's a breakaway the car in big same Joey's a chord.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
With the club. You sooner turns it over here. Schwartz
in front, turn aside.

Speaker 8 (03:07):
Stares, stares, turn it swarts.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Forty eight seconds.

Speaker 9 (03:13):
To go in the third and the Kraken have tied.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
The game for four. Mumble his lad of the offensives
on Myers. Back to Millernier's sign mess up play. Ben's
done the game on his stick. Break away down the slot,
stood fence gets it done.

Speaker 7 (03:33):
In over time.

Speaker 8 (03:34):
Five four in Vancouver, bring on the final game.

Speaker 4 (03:38):
Barzel righty near circle, cuts it backhand on in a
nice bucker.

Speaker 7 (03:44):
Same fine Philip Rubauer, and that'll do it.

Speaker 3 (03:48):
Emily in front.

Speaker 7 (03:58):
Welcome to the National High League, Benny, No.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
Man recking are gonna go far side. Here's a montor
off the face off.

Speaker 7 (04:17):
Brandon montor five seconds ends over time, the kracking.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Within this one five four they complete the season sweet
but Montreal it's.

Speaker 7 (04:30):
Their ninth paul tycho come back.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
But this season all right, all those mounting up for
a great cause. And to remind you this season, Hearts plumbers,
electricians and hvank technicians will donate fifty dollars to Children's
Hospital for every cracking goal scored this season, Hurts pledging
twelve two hundred and fifty dollars the Children's Hospital with
two hundred and fifty goals on the season, Cracking fans,

(04:55):
thank you again for following all season long to see
how much we can raise Olden's Hospital, thanks to heart
Well thirty two Barn Grill is a place for food, fun,
fellowship and fits you about that play on words, ever
it fits you joining us right now for one last
cracking weekly for the intire season. Appropriate We do this

(05:18):
here on clean outday. We made the finish line. But man,
I feel empty already. I want more hockey. I can't
wait for next year already, what about you?

Speaker 4 (05:26):
I want some more diet coconeat I see the carafe
sitting over there, and it's taunting me with its.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
I prom you you're programming.

Speaker 4 (05:35):
No, man, listen, I hate this day so much. I
hate the end of the year when you're not playing.
I tell you all the time, I am such a
sore loser and I am not a gracious winner, losing
that game to the Kings who were about to go
on to the playoffs. And then you have Saint Louis
in here a couple of games ago. They're off to

(05:56):
the playoffs. You're lose in Vegas there. You know you're
seeing all these guys. This is the squid word meme, right,
you're sitting up in your room and watching your friends
play outside. But no, I mean I think this is
It's an annoying time of year. It's a frustrating time
of year. But I also feel like it's a hopeful
time of year because just in the two hours three

(06:18):
hours that we were here today, we heard so many
guys share so many messages about hope for the future
and playing for one another and what is being built
here in Seattle, in these walls.

Speaker 3 (06:33):
So it leaves you.

Speaker 4 (06:36):
Although the season left you with the bad taste in
your mouth, the guys all said the right things today.
They did the right things today, and I think it
leaves you in that regard with a good taste in
your mouth going into the summer.

Speaker 1 (06:49):
I want to go through Todd Lightwiki's whereas to Dave
Softy Maler and Dick Faine from yesterday and not to
get into this here, but it tells me one thing
when this is the only team in town who will
send a message to their fans that they listen and
they care so much here to the point of lowering
a large portion of ticket prices. Those price demands matter.

(07:12):
Families matter. Ask me, I've got a wife and two
kids who love coming to games. You as well as
Shelley and West. But here's Todd with Dick Vane's question yesterday.

Speaker 5 (07:20):
Well, Todd, these are expensive decisions that the franchise is making,
and so many franchises out there are just simply concerned
with one thing and that's that's the bottom line. Is
this relatively unprecedented in sports? And what's the process that
has to take place to go from an idea to
lower the ticket prices to actually making it a reality
with ownership?

Speaker 10 (07:41):
Yeah, what a great question. Well, first, this does all
start with ownership, and Samantha Holloway through the community knows some,
but they're going to get to know a lot better.
You know, she came into our world, is David Bonderman's daughter.
But she's been an incredible gift. And you know, she
was the one that said, hey, we need to do

(08:01):
more intense listening. And I think she might have coined
the phrase, you know, let's think about a reinvention of
the fan experience. We like a lot of what we're offering.
We love the broadcast. We think the game presentation is
as good as any in the league. You know, there's
work to be done on the team, and I'm happy
to talk about that. But you know, we started this

(08:22):
by and you don't just throw, you know, darts at
a wall. You do intense analytics, you look at where
gaps are, you study the secondary market. But then there's
something called the golden gut and doing right. And I
am so proud to work for an organization that has
done everything right. We never cut a corner when the

(08:44):
cost of the building went up. We didn't go back
to the city. The community work we've done in Memorial Stadium,
and if you want to talk about that, I'm happy
to do it. I don't know that the team's ever
taken on a project so ambitious like that, and we're
going to knock it down. And so there's so much
great about our ownership. And you know you've called me

(09:05):
you had a name for a leadership. I worked there.
At the end of the day, these are ownership decisions.
And I think what Sam looked at she said, Look,
if we want to really be a brilliant team, we've
got to grow a fandom. If we're going to do
things like create softer points in the entry into building
on ticket prices, we've also got to pay attention to

(09:28):
the people who've been here from day one.

Speaker 1 (09:29):
All right, that was cracking. CEO Todd Liwickie again with
Dave Softy Maler and Dick Faine heard yesterday and the
team's saying ninety percent of season ticket members will see
their ticket prices stay flat or go down. They'll get
twenty five percent off food and beverage throughout the arena. Yes,
beer is included with that. Season tickets now have the
option of a one year term. But Everett, there's more

(09:52):
to this. Ultimately, this isn't something that was created in
the last few weeks. This was in the works for
several months, and to me, it's a pretty refreshing tone
of listening to your own fans versus other teams. So
you maybe have heard of who keep hiking price the
season by season by season, regardless of what happened in
the standings. We're told on average two thousand brand new

(10:13):
fans visit Climate Pledge Arena each Kraken home game. That's astonishing.
That's important to build a fan base and make a
new hockey fan and turning this town into a stronger
hockey town, because that's what it's all about.

Speaker 4 (10:28):
Yeah, I know it is. And I think to the
from a larger broader view, I think hockey, our sports
is as this reputation, and I think it, unfortunately is
a well earned reputation of not being accessible, whether that
be financially, whether that be culturally, whether that be racially,

(10:50):
whatever it is, this is. This is not, historically has
not been an accessible sport. And one area where you
have control is financially. And you said, you know this
has been under in the works for several months. I mean, Mikey,
this is probably a couple of years.

Speaker 3 (11:06):
Yeah, in the works.

Speaker 4 (11:07):
I mean they've been listening to their fans in State one.
And I think the fact that once again the crack
At organization continues to not only lead with their words,
but leading by example. This team, this company doesn't just
walk or talk the talk, they walk the walk as well.
And I think this is going to be amazing to
see more kids at games, more families at games. I mean,

(11:29):
you and I both came through the minors and the
junior hockey, and you know those are made for families
and for kids. And some of the best moments I
remember in my career were kids games and seeing families
out and seeing the look on the kid's face when
he goes to his first game or whatever. When you
can get that family afford to a hockey game or
to an event and you're not having to decide between

(11:51):
groceries or or three hours of a rink, you know,
that's amazing.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
So we've always.

Speaker 4 (11:57):
As an organization, we've always wanted to to do right
by our fans. We listened to our fans, and this
is one of those areas where we listened. Sam Holloway
is the leader of that. She sits in these meetings herself.
What owner, what CEO of a team is sitting in
meetings with fans, Sam Holloway and tylight Wickie, they are

(12:20):
sitting there, they are listening. They want to do right
by their fans. They and now they're putting this plan
into action.

Speaker 1 (12:27):
If anybody has any questions of is this a hockey
town or not, I dare you to go back and
look the same night when the baseball team at opening night,
and I love this baseball team in town here as
well too, But on the same night where the Kraken
were on the brink of playoff elimination, they had nary
a seat empty, nary a seat empty for a game

(12:49):
against the Edmonton Oilers as well. That told me all
I had to know in all folks that you need
to know too.

Speaker 3 (12:56):
Yeah, and I tell.

Speaker 4 (12:57):
The story all the time, so you know, don't turn
off if you heard it before. But listen, I grew
up in hockey town, right. I've seen the Red Wings
win for Stanley Cups in my lifetime. I've seen the
Red Wings go to the playoffs twenty seven consecutive years
in my lifetime. The same passion that I remember from

(13:18):
growing up. I see here and you're growing, and you're
building a hockey culture and a hockey fan base and
You know what I love so much is that my
favorite part about working for this organization, not play by play,
not winning playoffs, whatever, My favorite, absolute favorite thing about

(13:39):
working here is the fact that we've seen people who
casually occasionally would go to a Silver Tips or tea
Birds game, maybe they would go to Vancouver, you know,
for for a Cannos game. They're now cracking season ticket holders.
They're standing outside waiting for autographs. They come to every event,
they come to every meet and greet. They have Maddie's

(14:00):
jersey and Monte's jersey, and Decord and Groovy's jersey. They
are invested in this team, and that has been so
great to see because you've seen the casual fans become
diehard fans, and you've seen the people who couldn't tell
you the difference between a goal and a touchdown. They
have no idea what the rules are they.

Speaker 1 (14:22):
We had one new fan of the meet and greet
last night asked us in baseball terms.

Speaker 4 (14:26):
Exactly what a gold Man exactly? So I love it.
There's no such thing as a dumb question. I love
meeting people who were you know, I've never seen hockey before.
I wore shorts to my first hockey game because I
was like, well, you know, I wore shorts to the
Mariners and Seahawks.

Speaker 3 (14:41):
Why not hockey. I didn't know it was that cold.
I love it.

Speaker 4 (14:44):
I love seeing what we've built and what we are
continuing to build here in the city.

Speaker 1 (14:52):
Before we get into what's ahead later on here in
this show, let's look back on a season that felt
to be fair short of what where the bar was. Yep,
the playoffs were in the conversation back in September, and
you got away the pros and cons on the good side,
Shane Wright's growth, Chandler Stevenson's solid year, Brandon on Tour
solid year, Joey Decord very solid year. Maddy Beniers showed

(15:16):
us some rebound and got to twenty goals. The offense
got an uptick. Then we saw Philip Grubauer struggle to
get to an eight to eight to oh SA percentage
all year. Jordan Eberley got hurt, freak injury. Defensively, there
were issues, the power play had a bumpy ride. This
team got an uptick and results after the trade deadline,
but it only equated to maybe a mid eighties point

(15:37):
type of season. So we heard from those, for instance,
Vince done this morning, and you'll hear later on from
Jordan Eberley on just how much this team experienced playing
from behind and how that was an issue. How are
we going to look back on the fourth season of
cracking history from what happened on the ice.

Speaker 4 (15:54):
Yeah, you know, this is a tough This is a
tough question to answer because I think there are a
lot of hard conversations and a lot of hard opinions
that are had and that need to be had exiting
this season. I go back to what Vince Dunn said.

(16:14):
He said, you know what I thought, personally, I had
a decent year, but I am extremely disappointed in the
way that I played. He's holding himself accountable. Philip Grubauer
and his closing comments, he said that, you know, in
response to the question of guys playing for him, he goes,
that's great, like they wanted to get me wins. But
at the end of the day, we win as a
team and we lose a team as a team.

Speaker 3 (16:36):
How many times when you see a team win games,
it's hey, we have to give credit to you know,
from the coach all the way down.

Speaker 4 (16:42):
The game plan was there, the power play did great goalie,
everybody roped, everybody rides. I think when you give the
same credit to your wins, you have to give the
same criticism to your losses. And I think, simply put,
this team wasn't good enough.

Speaker 3 (16:59):
There were a lot.

Speaker 4 (17:00):
Of areas that you mentioned the uptick in offense, and
you know pk and and Joey Decord played really well.

Speaker 3 (17:07):
Shane Wright individually, You've had a lot of good performances.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
But last year, this cracking team was the only top
ten in the NHL and defense to not make the playoffs.
They were ninth last year in goals against. This year
they finished twenty third, twenty fourth in defense. Offensively, you
went from twenty first to sixteenth, so you took an
uptick there. But I think what really is going to
stand out to me? Number one the power play, Number

(17:30):
two O twelve and oh and back to backs outs
in game twos of back to backs, OH twelve and
zero in game twos of back to backs outscored forty
nine to nineteen seventeen forty nine to seventeen in game
two of back to back. That is a stat that
I mean, you have to find a way to remedy

(17:51):
that next season. But I do think that while collectively
there probably were some disappointment everyone you just made Maddie, Joey,
Shane Wright, James Schwartz, Schwartz, the addition of Coppocaco, seeing
Yonnie Newman come into the fold. I think there were
a lot of individual peaks, a lot of individual strides

(18:16):
that happened this year that give me a ton of
hope going into the offseason and then ultimately September.

Speaker 1 (18:23):
Fan favorite no surprise. You mentioned this last night Brandon
on tour Joey Decord team MVP. He was a bedrock,
also the Three Stars Award winner, and then Jaden Schwartz,
the Guile Fielder Award winner, an a Jared McCann saying
he'll be out for six weeks getting a procedure, but
he finishes azure leading score with also three straight sixty

(18:44):
point seasons. I think it makes sense with some of
his limitations now that we know that there was an
injury at play this year, and again we know the
guy inside the shoulder pads because he said he wanted
to fight through this all year.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
And that's just the kind of guy he is.

Speaker 4 (19:01):
That's the kind of guy he is that's the kind
of guy that everybody in that locker room are. And
again Matty been Here's I asked him a question. I said,
how excited are you about the future. What's your promise?
You know what, what's your level of promise that you
have looking forward? And he goes, We've got a great
future because I love everybody in that locker room. Everybody
works hard, we love each other, and you could see

(19:23):
that and the fact that again you're out of it.
The games ultimately meant nothing at the end of the season,
but this team ended up eleven to eleven and one
in their last twenty three games. I think they were
minus seven on the goal differential, minus four on the
goal differential their last handful of games.

Speaker 3 (19:43):
You know, you saw this team fighting until the very end.

Speaker 4 (19:46):
It was a seven to two game, six to two
game last night against the La Kings, and the CRACKND
could have easily tied that game.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
I can't believe they almost tied it time. At one
point it was going to happen because they had an
N zone face.

Speaker 4 (19:58):
Absolutely, So, I do think that even though the team
was out of it for as long as they were,
you never saw the quit. You never saw the the
heads droop too low. You know, I thought Vince Dunn
made a very interesting point when he said one of
the areas that he would love to see cleaned up
is the fact that and I'm paraphrasing here, but when

(20:19):
a goal gets scored, when you find yourself down, you know,
we let ourselves get a little bit too low, and
we have to not let the lows become too low,
and the highs celebrate the highs. And I think there's
an area that we can improve on. But you know,
I do think that this team does have the makings

(20:39):
of something special because the people in that locker room,
they're they're gas meter, the gas meter, And I think
you can you know you know.

Speaker 1 (20:49):
What that act come back and look at it. Dave
Axtell had a great acronymic.

Speaker 3 (20:52):
Yes, you know, you know what.

Speaker 1 (20:54):
That actor can't say it on the air.

Speaker 4 (20:55):
You can't say you know what the acronym stands for
that gas meter is high with a lot of people
in that locker room.

Speaker 1 (21:02):
Before we get to Jordan Everley and Matty Evenier's next segment,
what did this season tell you about the kind of
your They're trending towards six months from now.

Speaker 3 (21:11):
I think for me, they're they're trending towards.

Speaker 4 (21:17):
Playoffs being an expectation, right, And you know, depending on
the pundits, And I need to be careful of how
I say this, because you know everyone will tell you
the worst thing that happened for the Seattle Kraken is
that they made the playoffs in year two, stunted their growth,
stunted their development. And listen, I am I'm bought in

(21:40):
on the Ron Francis train, right. I think when you
look at building and winning some of the best teams
in the NHL over the last twenty years, how they
do it slow and steading.

Speaker 3 (21:52):
I look at I look at Washington, I look at Pittsburgh,
I look at Colorado, all to Florida.

Speaker 4 (21:57):
Florida, They've drafted, they they've had to embrace the suck.

Speaker 3 (22:02):
But you know what, it's been five Chicago and the
mid teens, No.

Speaker 4 (22:08):
Nine that what sixteen Chicago won two three Cups and
went to another five. You you have to embrace the
suck at times in order to have success. So I
do think that having said all of that, the outlook
is now there are thirty seven prospects in this organization.

(22:31):
You have a number of players who are ready, I think,
to make the next step, whether it be from juniors
to the AHL, the AHL up to juniors in Berkeley
Catton's casel.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
We'll see.

Speaker 4 (22:44):
But I think now you're at a place where this
team is gonna say, all right, we had our mulligan,
We made the playoffs year two.

Speaker 3 (22:51):
Year three was a step back. Year four was a
bigger step back.

Speaker 4 (22:55):
And I do think that there are a lot of
folks in that room like that cannot and that will
not happen again.

Speaker 3 (23:01):
And I think it starts from the.

Speaker 4 (23:02):
Front office, to management, to behind the bench to the
thirteenth forward on the ice. I think everybody is now pulling,
not that they weren't before, but even more so now
everyone's rowing and pulling in that same direction.

Speaker 1 (23:15):
Well, what's their vision in all all of this? Here
we'll get two leaders inside thirty two Bar and Grill
to talk about it. Jordan Eberley, Matty Beniers and more
right around the corner here on Cracking Weekly on ninety
three to three KJRFM Ford Yannie Newman six points in
twelve NHL games. He is just two goals shy of
thirty here at the Ahl level with two games to play,

(23:39):
so still a chance at Coachelle Valley can catch second
place in the Pacific Division. They're three points back of
Abbotsford and Ontario. They've got fourth place in the division
all but locked up right now, just ahead of Calgary
and San Jose with two games here to play. So
before we get to Jordan Eberley and Matty Benier's inside

(24:00):
thirty two bar and grill right here, let's dive in
for more on their future. Well, the Coachella Valley Firebirds
are certainly going to be a hot topic of discussion
for those tied to the cracking and for those who
have their eyes on the cracking for this offseason, because
there could be more down the pipe come in the
cracking way, but that's a matter of a few months away.
But talking about this more is Evin Pepnick joining us

(24:22):
now broadcast voice for the Coachella Valley Firebirds, heard of
course on one of six nine the Eagle in the
Palm Desert region. Evan, First off, thank you again for
doing this and throughout the entire season we have certainly
appreciated your insight. Congratulations though on the Colder Cup playoffs.
Once again we knew that certainly the talent was there,
but where where are the feelings right now and what's

(24:45):
the insight as far as how deep this team can
go versus the past couple of years. As far as
a playoff runt coming up here once again, Oh, thanks for.

Speaker 11 (24:54):
Having me, Mike. And I think one of the things
that it's kind of been pretty interesting in the way
that the Firebirds have gone about their business, especially over
the last few years. The playoffs are are pretty much
the expectation for this team. You know, it's a team
that's coming off of back to back Western Conference championships,
so anything less than making the playoffs would have been
probably a big disappointment, right, So I think it was

(25:17):
just an item to check off for the Firebirds. And
you know what, it's obviously a different structure down in
the American Hockey League versus the NHL in terms of playoffs.
Seven of the ten teams in our division end up
making the postseason. So it's just a matter of getting
in and getting yourself in a position where you could
succeed in the playoffs, and I think the Firebirds have
done a great job of that. Coach Laxall and his

(25:38):
coaching staff had done a fantastic job of just kind
of sticking with it. I know it's kind of been
up and down over the last few weeks, about the
last month or so for the Firebirds, you know, call ups, injuries,
what have you. But I think they've done a very
good job and now getting some guys back following the
conclusion of the NHL regular season, I think it's going
to do the team.

Speaker 10 (25:58):
A lot of good.

Speaker 1 (25:59):
Yeah to the playoff format in just a bit, because
there is a unique component to this versus other traditional
playoff formats, as Evan Pinnock joining us right now here
on Cracking Weekly. But I want to get to Derek Laxtall.
It's his first season behind the bench as Firebirds head coach.
Of course he is not new to this across multiple

(26:19):
levels here. But what difference has he made to provide
continuity from the Dan Bilesman era now to present day.

Speaker 11 (26:28):
Well, I think it's the taking care of business aspects
of it. You know, you know Lax new and when
he took this job. This is a team that has
expectations and pretty high ones at that, you know, from
a fan base that really hasn't seen anything other than
going to a Calder Cup final. The last two years,
the expectations there for the team not only to make

(26:49):
the playoffs, but also make as a deep and long
and deep of a run as they possibly can. And
I think lax knew that the second he took the job.
And it's kind of the way he's carried himself and
kind of this coaching staff carry themselves all throughout the year.
And you know it, it has come down to, you know,
so many younger players making their mark in pro hockey.

(27:10):
And you know, Lac says it all the time. You
said it, I pretty much right after the All Star break, Heugh,
these these guys aren't rookies anymore. They played UH, they
played thirty plus thirty to fifty teams in the AHL.
So you know, you can't be saying rookie mistakes here
and there, because you know, guys are guys are experienced
up to this point. You know, we have two players
this year that are on UH. It looks like they're
gonna play every single game in the in the UH

(27:32):
in the regular season hopefully, and Logan Morrison and Tye Nelson.
So that's pretty cool for them, especially Nelson as a rookie.
So you know, it's it's exciting for the coaching staff
just to be able to be in this position. And again,
as I said before, having some folks come back from
the Crack and following the in the regular season, I
think having that veteran leadership is going to be big.

Speaker 1 (27:53):
I know that Yannie Newman arrived with plenty of expectation
and he certainly blew plenty of doors down in his
first stint in the NHL. He is going to be
an absolute weapon come playoff time for the Firebirds and
now sniffing thirty goals in his rookie season and hard
to believe he is just right now twenty years of age.

(28:16):
But for you, the best way to describe Yanni Newman's
growth and then his impact on this team evans what.

Speaker 10 (28:25):
Well.

Speaker 11 (28:25):
I don't know if there's one specific word I can use.
I think everyone has been so pleasantly surprised by what
we've seen with Yannie Newman. And you know, I know
that talking with Jeff Tambalini, director of player development for
the Crack, and you know he's constantly down in Cochilla Valley,
justin Rye as well, who's on Tambo's staff. So you
know what we've been hearing about Yannie Newman now for

(28:46):
the last couple of years. And you know, when a
guy's playing overseas and you're hearing about the success, right,
it kind of sounds a little more mythical than anything else.
Oh yeah, Newman is Newman. Kids scoring at a high
rate in league in Finland. He's going to be a
staid all right, we'll see that when he comes down,
you know, comes over to North America. And he joined
the Firebirds last year right at the tale end of

(29:07):
the regular season, very fresh, very new to UH, to
the United States, and really shy kid at the time.
And you know, if he scored a couple of goals
and okay, maybe he got something here, and then it
took him about a month to really settle in this season.
And once he settled in, this guy is as advertised,
if not more.

Speaker 3 (29:27):
And you know what I do.

Speaker 11 (29:29):
If you ask Jeff Hamblini, do you think Joanny Newman
would have played in the NHL for one game, let alone,
you know, wherever the twelve games that he played, I
don't think Jeff would have to said yes. But I
think everyone's very excited about what they had with Jannie
Newman and as he mentioned, just twenty years of age,
and the way he's playing too. It's not just the

(29:50):
fact that he's scoring goals. He's he's using his frame.
He's six five, twenty pounds or whatever he is. He's
a heavy body and he wore really hard out there,
and he's just hungry for it. And I think his
stand up in the NHL has only made him that
much more hungry for a spot in the National Hockey League,
which you know, he's very well competing for one. Come

(30:12):
training again next year.

Speaker 1 (30:13):
Oscar Moleguard arrived from Sweden and scored his first career
pro goal on Sunday. Second round draft pick of the
krakend Back in the twenty three draft, Evan, what's the
initial read on him so far?

Speaker 11 (30:26):
I love the way he plays. He looks like a
guy who's played in pro hockey in North America for
five to ten years. The way he the way he
sees things, it is, you know, he the way he
kind of has the hockey sense and the hockey IQ.
And that was kind of the big thing about Oscar

(30:46):
Moleguard is, you know what, he's a young kid. He's
only twenty years of age. He's played in the SHL
this year against top talent overseas in Sweden, but his
hockey IQ I think is off the charts, you know,
especially in our last couple of games. I think it
took him a little bit to kind of settle in
in his first two games with the Firebirds. But this
weekend series that we saw of Oscar Mulguard, he was

(31:09):
making no look passes on the power play and landing
the passes too, and then he finally got rewarded with
his first AHL goal, as he mentioned on Sunday, on
a great feed from Charlie Wright who was wide open
and Moguard made no mistake. And I think the way
that he carries himself on and off the ice, you know,
I got to spend a couple of minutes with him
and chat and he's just such a humble and kind kid.

(31:32):
And I think the crack and fans are gonna be
really excited about what they have in the future with
Oscar Mullguard. Just he seems like he is he steps
ahead at least mentally, where where probably other kids his
age kind of are.

Speaker 1 (31:47):
Evan Pevnik joining us here again, broadcast Voice of the
Coachella Valley Firebirds on Crack and Weekly. Evan, I couldn't
wait to get to this player, Nathan Vilnev. Nothing says
making him impression like dropping the mits into your first
game as a pro. And this happened against the San
Jose Barracuda. It's one thing to be jumping over the

(32:08):
boards with so much energy and you lay the body
in for a couple of hits as well. It's another
to take on an enforcer who's fourteen years older than
him and three inches taller and Scott Saberin. I mean,
what did that debut tell you about the player that
vill Nev can turn out to be? Evan?

Speaker 11 (32:27):
Well, I think they don't make players like Nathan ville
Neuff anymore like I feel like they used to. I mean,
you know, I remember watching him during the rookie face
up in LA, and you know, I got the opportunity
to call those call those two games, and he stood
out for sure, and that was against guys his age, right,
So you hear about everything he's doing in the OHL
and then all the havoc that he's causing, and then

(32:49):
you know you're expecting his AHL debut, and you know
you don't really expect me to get a ton of minutes.
He's playing in a fourth line role, what have you,
And you know, I'm sure the nerves are there. And
then the first shift he goes and hit two guys
at the same time in the corner, finishes all of
his checks and kind of just makes things happen, and
you're like, okay, well, you know, the eighteen year old
has some sprunk to him, and we'll see how it

(33:11):
kind of goes as the adrenaline, and then he.

Speaker 1 (33:13):
Fined Scott Saber was also fourteen years older than him,
and he's got about three inches on him too.

Speaker 11 (33:19):
Oh exactly. And I don't think anyone is expecting that
because if you if you watch the play again, so
Ian McKinnon, who's the Firebirds, kind of enforce your role.
He's on the line with ville Nuf and there's kind
of a little skirmish going on behind the net and
McKinnon looks over and all of a sudden he sees
ville Nuf dropping the gloves with Saburn, who is fourteen
years older then Ville nu. The look on McKinnon's face

(33:44):
was pretty funny, and then you know it didn't go
well for Nathan in the fight, but at the same
time he finishes pretty much getting his butt kicked, unfortunately.
But what I loved about it he got up and
he's going to go fire up his bench. On his
way to the penalty box, like he took some punches,
he skates to the valley box, but on his way there,

(34:04):
it's eighteen year old Nathan ville NUF in his first
game with the team, where he hasn't met most of
these guys before, and he's he's throwing his hands up
and telling them, let's go. Let's let's get some goals
here and let's try to get a win. So that
was really cool to see, and I think that just
shows what a special sort of player he is, and
it's going to be really exciting to watch as he
gets more pro experience. Still needs a year or two

(34:25):
in the OHL since he's only eighteen years of age,
but you know, it's going to be fun to see
what type of a player he develops into, especially as
you know he gains more experience in terms of fighting,
maybe gains a little more size as well, so he's
not the biggest guy out there, but he certainly acts
like it.

Speaker 1 (34:40):
That was a throwback moment and to just use the
word grit does not do a justice between Nathan Villneve
and Scott Sabern and that debut for Villanov as well.
Evan Peddick joining us here on Crack and Weekly as
we go into the playoffs. Here, Evan on the Ahl side,
I can't help but think of the role that Jagger
Furcus has in store for him, the role that Edward

(35:02):
Shawle has in store for him as well. Where have
you seen them take the biggest steps ever since day
one of the season.

Speaker 11 (35:11):
Well, Jagger Fercus, I think he's gotten into a mindset
where he can really trust his shot now in this league,
and I think it took him a little bit to
kind of get to his situational awareness a little bit more.
I think it might have. You know, you go go
from scoring seventy five goals in a league where you're

(35:32):
just light years ahead of everybody, and it takes a
little bit when you're in the American Hockey League and
people have seen that sort of show before you know.
He's picked up his fifteenth goal of the year on Sunday,
the absolutely nice shot coming down the wing, which is
great to see so we've seen shines of that off
season long where they'll get a shot off and go

(35:52):
top shelf and you're like, whoa, how.

Speaker 2 (35:54):
Did he do that?

Speaker 11 (35:55):
And he had an overtime winner a few weeks ago
in Chicago which was you know, he made that play
all by himself. So we've seen shades of the Jagger
Furcus offensive circus, if you will. On the Edward Charlie
side of things, he's a little bangs up and he
was out of the lineup on Sunday, But you know what,

(36:15):
he's a guy that when he gets everything all aligned,
he can make a difference. And you know what, we've
seen the clutch scene in him, you know, going back
to the World Juniors and how big of a moment
that was on that big, big stage getting a bronze
metal for his team. So we know he has it
in him. He has leadership qualities as well, but you know,
just a nineteen year old kid putting into a big situation. So,

(36:38):
you know what, I think everyone is playing their roles
really well right now, and you know what, it's the
playoffs and we'll see what type of animals that come
out of these guys once the postseason begins.

Speaker 1 (36:49):
Well, I know that certainly plenty of players can't wait
for the playoffs because of the reception that they're going
to receive. Out in the Palm Desert area, attendance has
been phenomenal as well regular season host season first couple
of years here. But as far as the format evan
for those who are still getting into this game as
new fans. Let's go through the AHL playoff format, because

(37:10):
it's a format unlike any other. You have a brief
best of three first round, you have teams who can
get buys into the division semi final. But one of
the challenges the Firebirds have to get through in a
format like this, where you have, for instance, the best
of three, anything can happen and can drastically alter a
playoff series no matter who they face.

Speaker 11 (37:32):
Yeah, it's definitely an interesting format to say the least.
So we have ten teams in the Pacific Division. Seven
of the ten make the playoffs. The top team in
the division gets to buy to the second round and
two through six, two through seven rather have to have
to duke it out in a best of three. So

(37:53):
teams two through four get whole nights, and then five, six,
and seven get to travel to play the respective seeds
up top, so that's the best of three series, and
anything can happen in a best of three series.

Speaker 3 (38:05):
You know.

Speaker 11 (38:05):
It kind of reminds me of the of the first
year for the Firebirds, a team that had one hundred
and three points and still had to play in a
in a basically a playing round in the best of
three against Tucson, and that series went the distance like
every other series for one did that year. But you know,
it just it makes it gives the opportunity for kind

(38:26):
of anything to happen. You know, if you're playing a
really good hockey that you know, the week of that
playing around, you could steal yourself a series if you're
a if you're a late seed. So you know what,
it makes her great competition. And it's interesting too because
not all the same divisions in the league have the
same amount of teams, So there are a couple of
teams that get buys, you know, the top two teams

(38:49):
in certain divisions with the right of the second round.
And you know what, it's it's definitely the way that
the HL doesn't and and it's definitely interesting. But I
think everyone just has to be ready and that's why
home ice is so important too, because there's a two
hundred and fifty mile radius where you know, they're all
pretty much every series except for maybe one, will be

(39:11):
all in one place for those three games. So the
fireworks see one point to clinch home ice for that
first round, and then they'll host either Stan Jose or Calgary.
So getting home ice as a two seed, as a
three seater, you know, as a four seed, it's just
so important.

Speaker 1 (39:28):
That's going to be so compelling based on those factors
and the prospects of the crack and potentially have coming
down the pipe here. And Evan appreciates you, wishing you
all the best here for your calls. You do fantastic
work back there. Certainly golf can wait. But hey, one
of these days I think that you're due to take
down Grand Fear. But we'll look forward to seeing it
when it can happen.

Speaker 11 (39:47):
All right, Yeah, I'm not gonna come anywhere golf games.
I was saying yesterday or saying the other day as
we were watching the Masters, I said, if I had
any shot, if I had any drive or hit the
ball close to where Rory did, I would be talking
about it for the next five years, So you know
I'm not gonna I'm not going to get anywhere close

(40:08):
to Grant's game.

Speaker 1 (40:09):
He certainly can fit though in a four man scramble.
Well we'll take him as a teammate to any date. Evan,
thank you so much. Man, appreciate you all right. Jordan
Everlely joining us here during locker clean now day, and Jordan,
first off, we can't thank you enough for your insights
for this entire season, for as tough as it was.
There's a lot of folks around this town and certainly
appreciate you and what you've done for four years here.

(40:30):
But when we think of a day like this, it's
it's often tough to take because everyone's just parting ways
here for a few months. What did this season tell
you about what you really appreciate about this team, this
city and where you get to call home now during
the season, I.

Speaker 12 (40:48):
Mean, it wasn't something I already knew Orson, I already
knew it. I mean, the fan base here is unbelievable.
They stick behind you. I mean, obviously this year didn't
go the way we wanted it to. I think any
time you're packing your lie lock up at this time
of the year we failed and you know we were
not in the playoffs. But the fan base here is unbelievable.
I've said that from day one, from season one when

(41:09):
they stuck behind us.

Speaker 6 (41:12):
You know, they're one of the sports fans here amazing.

Speaker 12 (41:14):
They're they're passionate, they're dedicated, and you know we appreciate
their support.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
When you came back from Menjuri and after being out
for forty games, that's a hard thing to take if
you're an athlete and being away from the guys. I
remember you mentioned the difference it makes from being a
leader or a captain, say by proxy, versus one where
you get to be in the actual room. Once again,
Now that this season is in the rear view mirror,
what does a healthy season next year mean to you?

Speaker 12 (41:42):
I mean, I'm at the age now where you know,
I want to win. I think it's all or nothing
for me and my last year of my contract. You know,
I don't expect to be in this situation in packing
my locker up in the start of April. I need
to win, so I've saw said along I'd love to
win here, that's what that's my first priority. I love

(42:04):
being a crack and I love this city, I love
this team. I believe that we still have a lot
of good pieces and should be in a playoff spot
right now based on that, you know, and I think
we're just gonna get better. So, you know, we need
to find a way to be more consistent. We need
to find a way to get off to a good
start a and have some belief and get the ball

(42:26):
rolling to get us to where we need to go.

Speaker 1 (42:28):
What does that good start look like? What does it
mean from the get go when you're playing and you
know what could be a tough game or even for instance,
you know saying at the back end of back to
backs and guys have got to you know, move on
and recharge and be a ready to go, say twenty
four hours later.

Speaker 12 (42:41):
Well, I look at the makeup of our team first
and foremost. I mean, I love obviously with Joey and
Ned and our decor. I think we have a lot
of good pieces up front. We're obviously missing that one
hundred point ninety point forward that's gonna game break, But
we don't have the luxury of guys having nights off.

Speaker 3 (42:56):
We all have to play well in order for us
to win. I think there's some.

Speaker 1 (43:03):
Solace and some.

Speaker 12 (43:05):
Positiveness that comes from the way we competed the last
month and a half and I hope that we can
carry that over and build off that into next season.

Speaker 1 (43:13):
Have you thought about much of what you want to
do beyond next season?

Speaker 12 (43:17):
I mean, I still have desire to play this game.
I think it's at a year by year basis, but
I still feel like I can compete and contribute, and
I mean my ultimate goal is to win. I want
to win a Stanley Cup. I think that's how you
get to the stage, that's what you want to do.
So I still feel like I can help and contribute

(43:37):
to do that and still have the fire and passion
to do it.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
How often do you go back and think of what
the playoffs sounded and felt like two years ago?

Speaker 11 (43:44):
Here?

Speaker 12 (43:44):
Oh lots, That's why you play. That's I mean the
big reason why I signed here. I love the atmosphere
and the passion that the fans have here, and this
would be an awesome place to win.

Speaker 1 (43:54):
John Hayden once said that there's one player among many
who caught his eye about a guy who gets it
from a youngster standpoint, and that's with respect to you,
know how he approaches, work ethic, and that's Matty Beniers.
What do you think the crack can have with them
and Shane Wright down the middle for what could be
years to come.

Speaker 12 (44:14):
Yeah, well, those guys are the cornerstone. They're they're the
they're gonna be the reason why we win or lose.
I mean, they're the prospects that I mean prospects. They're
I mean young, Matty's been this sleep now for four
years and Writer's rookie. But you know we need them
to take massive steps to you know, take over this team,
to you know, be a constant playoff contender. You know,

(44:34):
those guys need to you know, be the guys. And
they're they're taking steps. I mean obviously Writer had a
great year as a rookie year. And Maddie, you know,
scores twentieth last night. You know, Maddie for me, is
a kind of an old school, old soul.

Speaker 3 (44:48):
That that is lost.

Speaker 1 (44:50):
And you know, he he gets it.

Speaker 12 (44:52):
He cares so much about winning at such a young
age that it's it's contagious. And and Writer, I mean
obviously the steps he took his far our offensively and
he can see his confidence growing.

Speaker 6 (45:03):
I mean, it's just going to grow with more.

Speaker 1 (45:04):
How amusing was it to see Mattie take a knee
on knee hit the come right back and get a
power play goal.

Speaker 12 (45:09):
Yeah, No, that's that's his character. He's he's like you said,
he's kind of an old soul that way.

Speaker 1 (45:15):
Where do you want the culture to be heading into
this next season?

Speaker 12 (45:18):
I mean I want us to, you know, believe, like
the way we played the last month and a half,
I could feel the camaraderie, the guy's battling for one
another a little bit more, just build off that. I
think that continues to grow, will be in a good spot.

Speaker 1 (45:33):
As you move into this offseason here. What's that going
to mean? I think for your health the type of
injury that you had to get over and get through
and find ways to recover through it as well.

Speaker 12 (45:43):
Yeah, I mean I feel like I'm already back to
where I want to be. I think my goal now
is to get back to how I felt the start
of the year last year. I mean I'm pretty close,
but there's always mental parts of that. It is the
aggressiveness they lose that maybe a bit from a traumatic injury.
But I mean I I have I just need a
good off season of training. I still believe that I can.

(46:03):
Like I said, get back to that.

Speaker 1 (46:05):
That his wife hows family. How are the three kiddos, Now, yeah,
they're all good.

Speaker 6 (46:08):
They're excited to get home and see that a little
bit more so.

Speaker 1 (46:11):
What's the first dad duty then that you have to
cross off on your list?

Speaker 12 (46:14):
Uh well, let me think here, we're gonna take a
few days here in Seattle. Then I think we're gonna
go to Hawaii for a week just to compress a
little bit and get some sun.

Speaker 1 (46:24):
Are you more of a body stirping kind of guy,
a boarding kind of guy, or just laid back on
the beach kind of guy.

Speaker 12 (46:29):
I like getting out. If I can get the kids
out in the water, it'd be great. They love swimming,
so we'll be the pool wats.

Speaker 1 (46:35):
I will look forward to next season and what's around
the corner. But for now, can't thank you enough for everything, Jordan,
appreciate you.

Speaker 3 (46:40):
Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (46:41):
Well, that'll be fun. Hawaii never fails, always has, always
will be one of the most exotic places to completely unwind.
Great to have Jordan Everley joining us here. I would
love to learn more about that here though, from a
guy who is all so well traveled. That is now center.
Matty Benier is joining us here at thirty two bar
and before we finally say goodbye here for the off season, Maddie,

(47:02):
thanks again for doing this. Thank having what's your ideal
vacation spot.

Speaker 6 (47:07):
Ideal vacation spot Oho? You're talking Hawaii?

Speaker 1 (47:11):
I like a lot, So the cat is going to
be very very assuming family.

Speaker 13 (47:14):
Ideal vacation spot. I love Italy, so I'm gonna go
with Italy. We have, we went there last summer.

Speaker 3 (47:20):
We have some some.

Speaker 6 (47:22):
You know, second cousins that live there in Naples and Sicily.
Uh so I'll go with that.

Speaker 1 (47:27):
Is it more of the views? Are more of the
cuisine that you're after this summer?

Speaker 12 (47:31):
I love it.

Speaker 13 (47:32):
I love everything about it, the lifestyle, the people, the
views that the food just makes it rounds it all together.

Speaker 1 (47:39):
Well you you've earned this here through three years as
an NHL centerman and now getting ready for this next
off season. First off, thank you again for doing this
year with us. And at the stage some guys may say,
you know, what was a discovery and you're one about
this league is now maybe routine in year three?

Speaker 3 (47:56):
To you?

Speaker 1 (47:57):
What defines the day to day routine that the best
pros can create.

Speaker 13 (48:03):
I think it's just always having a mentality that you know,
you're trying to get better every every single day, you know,
whether it's in the season or offseason. You know, I
think it's that's what it's all about, is you know,
never being satisfied and and always pushing to be be better,
and you know, having that having that drive to want

(48:24):
to be the best. And I know, you know, I
can say that for myself and I could say it
pretty confidently for every guy in that room.

Speaker 11 (48:29):
You know.

Speaker 13 (48:29):
I think I think everyone has that, whether you're eighteen
coming in the league or you're you're thirty two and uh,
you know, on the back end of your career. But
it's it's a fun, fun way to be and it's
fun to be around guys that.

Speaker 6 (48:41):
Are like that.

Speaker 1 (48:42):
I remember back when you were a rookie and you
mentioned Bergeron as a player that you looked up to.
How much did you feel that your game grew, not
just offensively this season but across a two hundred foot scale.

Speaker 13 (48:55):
Yeah, I think my two weak games continues to grow
and I think now it's just continue to add more
and more production to that. But I really liked where
my two games two a game was at with you know,
being in good spots, playing well defensively, playing well defensively
against you know, obviously high caliber players and top lines.

(49:17):
So and it's fun for me. Fun for me to
play against those top guys on other teams and superstars
and you know, trying to grow out of the night
and and you know, put some goals in against them
and try to shut them down. So you know, it's
fun to take pride in that. And and now I
think for me it's just continued to grow that production
side of my game.

Speaker 1 (49:36):
Where did you feel that all of this came into
play with helping you get better at playing a shutdown
role against some of the top centers in this league?
Was a more on an intellectual scale or more on
a physical scale?

Speaker 13 (49:49):
I think it's both. I think the physical aspect of it.
I definitely came into this year a little bit bigger,
a little bit stronger, and was able to maintain that
wait and strength throughout the year a lot better than
I had in past years, you know, undoubtedly, uh So
that was that was great to you know, be able
to do that and getting that routine of you know,

(50:11):
making sure you're training throughout the year, the whole year,
and keeping that weight on eating well. Uh and then
like you said, intellectually, I think there's just something that
comes with, uh, the experience of playing two years before
that and being in your third year and uh, knowing
what spots to be in, knowing where guys want to
you know, get their chances, get their open looks, and
and just just being there and negating those plays. And

(50:34):
you see it a lot with a lot of these
great centermen, and you see you know, you Sawid bergeron
you see with the Coppuitars, the Barkhovs, those kind of
guys where you know, people will say it they're just
in the right spots all the time and and you
know they never really mess up, so it's very hard
to create against them in the O zone.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Maddy Ben here's joining us here on Crack and Weekly
our final episode here for the season and perception rain
that once Coppocaco got here, that was a game changer
for your line. And assuming that contract of course for
him gets locked in, how do you have envision life
with Coppocco as a linemate maybe for years to come.

Speaker 13 (51:09):
Uh, Yeah, he's an unbelievable player. Uh, an unbelievable guy.
I love playing with him. I love being around him,
you know, outside the rink and locker him on the ice,
you know, just add another fin in the locker room.

Speaker 3 (51:21):
I love it.

Speaker 6 (51:22):
But no, for for real, he's he's an outstanding player.
He holds on the bucks. He's he's so creative.

Speaker 13 (51:29):
He he can make unbelievable plays and you can also
put in the back of the net. So, uh, there's
so much, so much positive to his game. And I
love playing with him, and I feel like we were
able to build a lot of chemistry with you know,
just knowing where he is on the ice and knowing
where he wants me to be and and vice versa.
When I have the puck, he's able to get to
spots where you know, he knows where I want him

(51:50):
to go. So it's it's a lot of fun when
when the game starts being like that and you get
that kind of chemistry with someone and you can and
you can kind of play play that stal of game
where you're always moving and you're always anticipating and you
know where things, what the.

Speaker 6 (52:04):
Puck's gonna go.

Speaker 1 (52:05):
I can't help but notice you cracked the grin a
little bit talking about him when he was out of
here to this locker room. What do people not know
about his sense of humor that they have to know
to understand the player that he is.

Speaker 13 (52:16):
Yeah, yeah, he's he's a competitive guy. You know, he
he wants to win, and he wants to score goals,
and he wants to make plays. And that's a lot
of fun to be around a guy like that. And
we have a lot of guys in the locker room
like that, but you know, a guy of his caliber
and his ability to make plays and uh, you know,

(52:37):
the way he can hold on the bucks and dangle guys.
It's just it's fun to play with, it's fun to
be around. And like you said, he's he's got a
good sense of humor. He's a pretty pretty happy guy.

Speaker 12 (52:49):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (52:49):
The trips were flying around for Nations time by the way.

Speaker 6 (52:52):
Yeah, oh yeah, no, he's he's just he's just a
fun loving guys. He's super nice. He's great to be around.
You know, he's he's just a happy dude. And i'd
say that's similar to how I am so so that
you know, it kind of jells well in that sense.

Speaker 1 (53:06):
Adding an eighty or Jersey this year. What kind of
leader do you take pride in yourself to be now
and what kind of leader that that you want to
be as well in the future.

Speaker 13 (53:16):
Yeah, I think it's you know, just continuing to grow.
You know, you try to grow your game on the ice,
and it's the same thing with leadership. It's just continuing
to grow in that area, whether it's you know, talking
to the guys, being more vocal throughout the year, you know,
noticing when guys you know, maybe it's not going their
way and pulling them aside and having those one on
one conversations. Just it's a lot of you know, being

(53:39):
there for guys, trying to know when to talk, not
not trying to talk all the time. So there's a
lot of give and take. And I think it's just
practice and reps like it is with you know, shooting
the puck, right, But I think it's the ability to
you know, see a guy and help a guy when
they're in need, and then also you know, get the
team going when we need.

Speaker 1 (54:01):
We heard earlier today from a few leaders on how
much slow starts put this team from behind it some
points or for this season, how much do those games
and even the challenge of managing back to backs run
through your mind from this year.

Speaker 13 (54:15):
Yeah, it's a huge part of you know, having successes
is having those good starts, whether it's the start at
the beginning of the year, you know, coming out hot
in the gate. You see teams that came out hot
in the gate and maybe they didn't do so great
in the middle on the end of the year, but
because they had that great start, they built that identity
early and they were able to feed off that and

(54:37):
later parts of the year. And then in terms of
you know, just single games, I think obviously you want
to give yourself the best chance to win every single night,
and when you go down won two three goals at
the beginning of.

Speaker 6 (54:50):
The games, it's a hard climb back.

Speaker 13 (54:53):
And so in that sense, I think our start at
the beginning of the year and our starts in every
game is going to be a major focus for us,
you know, next year, for.

Speaker 1 (55:02):
The remaining months we have here until these guys come
back for this next season. What are you going to
miss about the guys and the kind of culture perhaps
you are growing around this team.

Speaker 13 (55:13):
Yeah, I'm you're gonna miss everyone. You know, you hang
out with guys basically every single second, especially when you're
on the road. But when you're home as well, you know,
you go to the rink, you're hanging out with them,
you see them all the the time. It's like a
family here, so you know, you miss you miss parts
of your family. When you go home, obviously you got
another family at home. You get to see them and

(55:33):
you get to see some old friends, and that's that's
all great and well. But you know, I think a
lot of guys in a locker room really do have
a lot of love for everyone, and so you know,
I know I was a little sad playing the last
game last night, and know a lot of guys were.

Speaker 6 (55:47):
So I think guys are sad to.

Speaker 13 (55:50):
Leave, but you know, determined to get into the offseason,
you know, get themselves better personally, and get ready to
come back better.

Speaker 1 (55:58):
Some sometimes guys say they want to to be dialed
and others want to just basically unplug. How much of
the Stanley Cup playoffs are you going to be watching?

Speaker 13 (56:07):
I'll watch you a good amount this year. I think,
like I said, a big focus for me is going
to be continued to grow my offensive side. And you know,
I think The best way to do that, and when
you're not playing is watching it and learning and watching
other guys watching the best do it.

Speaker 6 (56:24):
So I'll be watching a good amount.

Speaker 1 (56:26):
Looking forward to what's next for after some well deserved
months of downtime, relaxation and recharging as well. Maddie, thank
you very very much. We'll see you again.

Speaker 3 (56:33):
Sue, thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (56:34):
All right, great stuff from Evan Pivnik. More of that
conversation at length, by the way, going to be podcasted
on the iHeartRadio app via the Crack and Audio Network.
Also big thank you to Maddy Beniers and Jordan every
ever it fits you back with us here inside thirty
two bar and grill after this here on Cracking Weekly
on ninety three to three KJRFM, and from what we've

(56:55):
heard and what Ron Francis is pledging, oh you are
in store for a tree. Will have a lot of
this podcast and by the way, on the iHeartRadio app
again just search for the Crack and Audio Network. Gray
stuff first off from Jordan Eberley, Matty Beaniers, also Evan
Pivnik for a view on the Firebirds side. But to
our poll question here once again the veteran that you're

(57:16):
expecting the returning player you're expecting on this team to
have a major bump this next season, a massive year
ahead of them. Right now, sixty four percent of you
say Shane Wright. Sixty four percent of you say Shane Wright,
massive bump ahead for him this next season. Poll question
is still open right now. By the way, ad X

(57:38):
at Cracking Audio and them all right, Everett fits you
back with us once again here first off, ever at
your thoughts here on the poll, Matty baneers Shane Wright,
Joey Decord or someone else returning player with a massive
year ahead of them.

Speaker 4 (57:53):
You know, I think we've we've seen a lot from
Maddie this year. It was maybe not the start that
he wanted, but I thought it was the finished that
he needed. Joey Decord, I mean fifty five games, fifty
six games played this season, career high, twenty seven wins.
I mean, Joey Decord, he took a massive leap for me.
The obvious answer Shane Wright. And I remember talking to

(58:16):
someone earlier this year and they asked me and they said,
we will be more important to you Shane Wright getting
to fifty points this season or Shane Wright getting the
thirty goals and seventy.

Speaker 3 (58:29):
Points, eighty points next year.

Speaker 4 (58:31):
And I said, if Shane Wright can be a thirty
thirty guy, if he can be a thirty forty guy
next year. I know there's a lot of pressure put
on Shane, but Shane, I'm tell you he puts pressure
on himself. He wants to get better every day. And
I do think that Shane Wright, if he can make
that stratospherical leap.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
How about that word? Yeah, I think I made that up.
I don't know, but it's a word.

Speaker 13 (58:52):
Now.

Speaker 3 (58:52):
You did not you did not perfect.

Speaker 4 (58:53):
If he can make that stratospherical leap into his second
full season in the NHL, I mean, that's gonna really
set you up down the road for a lot of positives.

Speaker 1 (59:05):
Half stratospherical can this next season get If you see
the goaltending position taking shape again with its numbers, Goalie
one ain't Goali one B.

Speaker 4 (59:14):
You know, I mean, it's no, it's obvious right look
at the numbers. This is the best team the Kraken
have had on paper in their first four years. I
understand the free agency pickings may be a little bit
slim this year when you're looking at what this team
needs Ian Ferness loves to call it an aircraft carrier.
You need that minimum seventy eighty ninety point guy. There's Marner,

(59:39):
there's Bennett and Florida, there's Besser in Vancouver, there's Eelers
in Winnipeg. Maybe another guy or too, But then you're
looking at thirty four or five six seven year old guys.
So you know, I think that depending on the moves
that Ron makes, whether it be free agency wise, whether
it be utilizing a lot of draft capital that you have,

(01:00:02):
was it thirteen picks in the first or ten picks
in the first two rounds of the next three drafts.
Berkeley Catton back to back one hundred point seasons in
the WHL. He's gonna make his NHL debut in October
and we'll see how long he sticks around. But you know,
I think that goaltending wise, if you can get you know,

(01:00:23):
that position figured out on the backside of it, and
I think if your power play can improve, I think defensively,
you have to to shut lock things down.

Speaker 3 (01:00:33):
A little bit.

Speaker 4 (01:00:34):
I know that was a big area of opportunity all
year long, the defensive zone coverage and what that looked
like if you can tighten up those areas while finding
another fifty sixty point player, which is easier said than done.
Seventy point player easier said than done.

Speaker 3 (01:00:52):
I get it.

Speaker 4 (01:00:54):
That will along with the core you already have, that
will set this team up for a playoff run.

Speaker 1 (01:00:59):
Before we get to our mail bag prospects, Yannie Newman's
game told us not a matter of if, but when
he pops, I think six points. First twelve NHL games
told us a lot. Nathan Vildnev said hello in a
force fully pro debut. It took a few punches also
from veteran enforcers Scott Saberan Berkeley Catton you mentioned in

(01:01:21):
the WHL playoffs, like his Harizon Fire play in that
way right now, I mean shim in, But I mean
for Catton, the feel I get it wouldn't surprise me
if he's a full time guy next year.

Speaker 3 (01:01:31):
It wouldn't. It wouldn't for me.

Speaker 4 (01:01:33):
But I also think you have to be a little careful,
right I mean, we're so excited about the likes of
Berkeley Catton, and rightfully so. And top line centerman skilled
pure skilled players don't grow on trees. How many times
have we said that very rarely are you going to

(01:01:54):
find a McDavid, Matthews McKinnon. You're not gonna find them
on the waiver wire. You're not gonna find them in
free agency, you're through a trade. Very rarely do you
those are home grown players, right, and Berkeley Catton has
a chance to really be your first purely skilled home

(01:02:14):
grown star. You don't want to rush it now. I
think also too, you're gonna see where he's comfortable at,
how he transitions to this league.

Speaker 3 (01:02:22):
I think preseason is gonna be big for him.

Speaker 4 (01:02:24):
It wouldn't surprise me to see, barring something unforeseen, him
getting that first seven eight to nine games next year
and then going on from there. So you know, I
loved what I saw from Yonnie Newman. I thought his
first seven games were better than his last five.

Speaker 3 (01:02:42):
But again, welcome to the NHL.

Speaker 4 (01:02:44):
You know, in Coachella Valley, you're in the West and
you play on the weekends mostly, but now you're playing
NHL games and back to back cities with travel things
like that, so it's a little bit more difficult. But
I think, you know, Berkeley Catton for me, is probably
the prospects. He's the one that I'm most looking forward
to seeing where he slides in where he fits in

(01:03:06):
next year.

Speaker 1 (01:03:07):
We also mention Billy out of Binen making his debut
last night as well on getting a point in his
first NHL game.

Speaker 4 (01:03:12):
And I thought it looked good, you know, I thought
for what he is, what six' five to, fifteen you,
KNOW i, mean he puts on another fifteen, pounds and you,
know using that size he was. ADVANTAGE i thought, that you,
know he's never going to be a player that's gonna
wow you with his, offense but he's going to be
like A Jamie alexiak using his size to his. Advantage

(01:03:34):
but ALSO i think he's got a little bit more
of an, edge a little bit more vinegar to his,
game WHICH i.

Speaker 1 (01:03:39):
Like Todd lwicki's saying yesterday That Ron francis will be.
Back this is a job that they have to see.
Through and it feels like there's a few seeds planted
that are ready to explode out of the, ground so to.
Speak SO i mean all this cap, ROOM i, mean
we get one reaction here from FROM x saying From
Jim samanski's saying the crack and this year have to

(01:04:01):
acquire at least two scores and look at changing matters
at the backup goaltending. Position so for all, This, CAPROM
i take the names out for your own professional safety
year on, This where do you weigh their movement in
the trade, market free agency or offer sheet to try
to revamp this or even add something here from the.

(01:04:22):
Outside you know, what.

Speaker 3 (01:04:23):
That's a great.

Speaker 4 (01:04:24):
Question and you know what AND i say this not you,
know not to be rude or, difficult but you know
the crack and need to bona fide. Scores so there's
thirty one other, teams, right AND i think you know
that's what you're looking. At BUT i ALSO i feel
that for me full. STOP i mean you need last.

Speaker 3 (01:04:45):
Year going into the, season you needed to improve the.
Offense you did.

Speaker 4 (01:04:48):
That, Stevenson montor one up, front one on the back
end have BEEN i cannot say enough good things About
stevie And montor and what they've done this. Year BUT
i think Now i'm moving, forward you have to make
that next. Step you got a lot of really good offensive.
Depth jared McCann third straight sixty point, Season Jayden schwartz

(01:05:11):
his third twenty five goal season of his. Career Chandler
stevenson now you, know fourth straight fifty point. YEAR i
think now you have to go find the eighty point.
Guy you have to go find the thirty goal. Guy
that and whether that be through, trade whether that be
through offer, sheet whatever it, is free, agency all options

(01:05:32):
are on the. Table AND i think now you know
the krack and have a lot of five to seven
million dollar, players and again without mentioning any, names you
want to see the ten million dollar, player the twelve
million dollar. Player but also they have to be worth.
It Like i'm not gonna go Pay Mike ben thirteen million.
Bucks no, offense, buddy not paying me that, money, Right

(01:05:54):
i'm not gonna go pay my four flying, guy you.
Know BUT i think you need to go find that
top line.

Speaker 9 (01:06:00):
Player where's that, genie where's that, bottle where's that, genie
where's that? Boie i'll Take i'll take an eighth of.
That but, NO i think now you have to go
find that top, end top, skill which we. REACHED i just,
said they don't grow on. Trees easier said than. Done
and that's where some creativity From ron and the management

(01:06:21):
is going to have to come.

Speaker 1 (01:06:22):
In Question here From chris is our mailbag segment continues
is question is what's more Surprising Shane wright's scoring nineteen
goals Or Matty beaniir's only scoring. TWENTY i think for
me it's AND i don't want to go over the
top you're with this BECAUSE i think it's it's almost
a chicken and egg type of question. Here BUT i

(01:06:42):
think if we were to look At Shane wright getting fifteen,
goals you're. Satisfied AND i thought for a while he
was going to get to. Twenty but Yet Matty banier's
only scoring twenty has to be looked. IN i think
a very very careful lens in that are you asking
him to be a twenty goal guy and play two
hundred foot defense and take care of every both ends

(01:07:05):
of the, ice like he just said he did earlier
on this, show or are you asking for forty goals
out of? Him the forty goal guy is fit for
a different. Player he's much more of The copatar. Variety
as he, said love Watching patrice. Burseron so if he can,
get you, say for, instance around twenty twenty five, goals
but then keep atting more and more to his game

(01:07:27):
from a shutdown approach where he's going to be getting
big top minutes against some of the top guys in this.
League and then the leadership part of this as well,
too where guys are already testifying to his leadership. Abilities
that's a good get right.

Speaker 4 (01:07:41):
There that's a great Gut AND i think, too you,
know for, me the surprise really is JUST i thought
that for the year that the With maddie, STARTED i
loved his Finish and THEN i think For Shane, wright you,
know the, strides the leaps and the bounds that he
made this year we were. Immeasurable AND i think both
in their own right of the wanted more out of.
Themselves they wanted to be, better and they challenge themselves

(01:08:05):
all of the.

Speaker 3 (01:08:05):
Time BUT i do.

Speaker 4 (01:08:07):
Feel that both players and the strides that they did
make are are so important and so valuable for where
this team's.

Speaker 1 (01:08:16):
Going anybody else that you want to think that you
need need a chance to think from last, Night, yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:08:21):
MAN i mean WE i do it all the, time
and AND I i every YEAR i make, sure excuse
me THAT i send you, know folks in the and
the company and the. Org BUT i forgot last night
all the staff here at thirty Two bar And Grill
canon his team but also a CASEY i as. Well,
right you, know this place from six am to midnight

(01:08:41):
is slammed with with skaters and kids and hockey, players
and you know the folks At starbucks who are getting
our copies every.

Speaker 3 (01:08:47):
Day v mfah. CLINIC i think this.

Speaker 4 (01:08:49):
Place you, know the first three sheets of community ice
in the city Of, seattle proper was so. Valuable and
the staff in this in this place is so. Valuable,
yeah and they do not get the recognition and the
respect that they. Deserve so just everyone here AT caci
at thirty, two keep this place. Going you know what

(01:09:10):
seems like twenty four to. Seven those are the folks
THAT i wanted to make sure THAT i. GOT i
got across the thing because we all know. YOU i,
mean the season's all, over but for this place is not.
Goodbye but just see you.

Speaker 3 (01:09:20):
Later, absolutely we'll see you back in the.

Speaker 1 (01:09:22):
Summer looking forward to. It here we, have of COURSE
Nhl draft coverage coming. Up we'll get you more details as.
Well also as breaking news. Happens we'll be podcasting much
of this year with The overtime podcast via The crack
And Audio network on The iHeart radio. App there's a
Course Hot stove SEASON a lot to cover here as
we all of a sudden now we're officially one day

(01:09:43):
closer here to the fifth season Of crack And hockey
and the twenty twenty five in twenty SIX nhl. Season
but until, then we cannot thank you enough for joining us,
here and please we encourage it to enjoy The Stanley
cup playoffs plus also The Coachella Valley firebirds. Run plus
also keep in tune with OUR ehl affiliate as, well
The Kansas City mavericks as they move on in The

(01:10:04):
Kelly cup. Playoffs here for THE echl, side, WELL i
wanted to reiterate once again as we said last, night
we wouldn't be in a good spot without the thanks
to so many here who make our experiences, happen these broadcasts.
Happen and, again first, op big thank you To cracking
powers that be at the, top beginning with ownership In Samantha,
holloway who is of course a linchpin for this, organization

(01:10:27):
has always been as well executives Including Todd, Leiwiki victor De,
Bonus Rob, Lanman Chris, Brumwell Katie, townsend all. Staff As
everett mentioned across the, board team, Staff Climate Pledge arena
thirty Two bar And Grill Cracking Community Ice plucks as
well on The crack AND pr staff, side a big
help each and every time organizing our thoughts our notes

(01:10:51):
with help on that end as. Well plus Interviews Kyle,
Shohara Diira, Anderson Gracie olsen for the crew as well
at ninety three three, Kgrfmdditionally Rich, Moore jessemon, McIntyre, Terry
ryan Anders, Hurst Mitch, Bli Chris, Kid, Jackson felts and
others are WONDERFUL tv friends for lending their voices here
to our coverage as. Well to you the fans each

(01:11:13):
night for lending me your voice as well for each,
pregame intermission post. Game it matters you matter as well this. Show,
additionally big thank you as well to our twenty six
affiliates across the audio network m, last but not least,
PROFESSIONALLY a big thank you here to the GUYS i
call rock stars here in the. Booth they're not just,
colleagues they are friends and they are a gold that's

(01:11:33):
evergett fits you and Al kiniski, especially a big thank
you to their welcoming with me into the play by
play chair for Seven craken games this. Season as we
sorted out the, scheduling it was an absolute experience in
a moment That i'll never ever, forget certainly here that will.

Speaker 3 (01:11:50):
Do it here for this.

Speaker 1 (01:11:51):
Show big thank you again To Captain Jordan, eberley to
Center Matty beneer's TO Ahl Coachella valley broadcast Voice Evan.
Pivne keep in tune once, again coming up THE Nhl,
draft coming up free. Agency when breaking news, happens we
got you covered a course via The crack An Audio
network podcast heard on The iHeartRadio App talk soon. Again

(01:12:14):
have a great. Summer big thanks again to our. Staff
you're a thirty two bar and Grill forever it fits.
You I'm Mike. Benton thanks again for hanging out right
here On Cracking weekly on ninety three to THREE kjrfm