November 21, 2023 - Davis Bunz, Defenseman

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
It's Corey klugear with you as youmake that great escape from work. We

(00:02):
thank you so much for tuning in. And it's a little bit different around
here because I know we usually doWheeling Naylor Wednesday, but since I won't
be on air tomorrow, we're doingit a day early here, and especially
since the one thing that we've learnedabout these players, routine is everything,
and with a game day on Wednesday, don't really want to mess around with
game day routines either. So andwe're actually and we're doing it a little
bit different around here because we haveour first defenseman joining us here, Davis

(00:26):
Funds, joining me here on theshow today. So Davis, first of
all, thanks so much for stoppingby. Yeah, thanks for having me.
I'm excited. And the other thingis there's been a little bit of
a switch up with the team andit's just kind of what goes along with
it. During the season. Youget players that get called up to the
next level, one of those playersbeing the captain. Just at Adamos So
you were named one of the alternatecaptains to begin the season to begin with,

(00:49):
but with you kind of assuming thosecaptain's duties for the time being just
to be thought of that highly,to be putting that put in a situation
like that, what does that meanto you? It's a great honor.
Honestly, going into the year,I knew I wanted to be a leader
for the group, but I neverhad imagined wearing a letter, especially with
an organization with like Wheeling. It'sa great honor. It's not something I

(01:14):
take lightly, and it's a treatevery time I get to pull the sweater
on and have an a on mychest. So to be just respected by
my teammates and coaches, I've beenreally appreciative of that, and I hope
I've been doing a good job forthem. And speaking of those kind of
ebbs and flows that happened throughout theseason with people getting called up, sent
down, signed, and everything likethat. So what does it take to

(01:34):
just manage those waters here for thetime being, yet while still trying to
be as successful as possible. Yeah, I think it's it's important. While
I know there's more responsibility not tothink too deep deeply into it and not
like change my mindset as if Ihave to be a different person. I
think that I'm wearing the letter fora reason, and I think that just

(01:56):
making sure that I'm there for everybody, make sure guys aren't getting two down
on themselves, picking them back upif the team needs like a talking to
in between periods, maybe that's myrole. And Domo's a great captain.
So we definitely miss them. Butit's big shoes to step into, literally,
because the shoes are I think asize fifteen. But no, I'm
excited for the challenge and I'm alwaysup for it, so I'm really looking

(02:21):
forward to it. So the pastweek, of course, you guys have
the school day game win in Toledothis past Wednesday, but then a bit
of a rough weekend out in Indiana. But what were some of the takeaways
from the weekend, Because Sunday itdefinitely looked like the adjustments that were made
definitely benefited, just came up alittle bit short. Yeah, I think
we're It's one of those things wherehockey's game inches and I feel like we're

(02:45):
right there. I think we outshotthem almost two to one. I think
a lot of it is just puttingthose chances away and having kind of that
killer instinct in front of the net, and when we have our opportunities to
score we need to make sure we'reaccomplishing that. We've had some great goaltending
for us, and so just makingsure that we're helping him out and we're
not making we're not making it wherethey have to get a shot out every

(03:07):
night if we're to win. SoI think it's just putting our chances away
and I don't think it's something thatwe need to necessarily be too worried about
because we've got some great goal scorerson the team and I think we have
scoring from all four lines. SoI think that this weekend I'm really excited
for. It's something we've been workingon, Like we worked on it today,

(03:27):
putting the puck away. So Ithink things will be looking really good
this weekend. Again. Defenseman DavisBuns joining me here on a wheeling nailor
Wednesday that's happening on a Tuesday.You just gotta love how Thanksgiving weekend just
changes up the skin and everything.So moving on to this week here,
Davis, because it's going to bea pretty busy weekend. Of course,
Tomorrow night is the big Thanksgiving Evegame. Toledo comes to our place this

(03:49):
time around. But then a littlebit different here this weekend because you're on
the road on Friday pretty early inthe afternoon at that and then you're back
home for Saturday and Sunday. Thisis actually going to be similar to something
you're going to be facing in acouple of weeks here. So what kind
of special approach do you take totry to try to manage yourself and make

(04:09):
sure you guys aren't running out ofgas by Sunday because this will be four
to four games of five days.Yeah, it's one of those things where
it's almost like whoever wins the recoverybattle i'll call it, is going to
be the better team come Saturday Sunday. For me personally, I know,
like after that game on Wednesday,I'll be jumping right in a nice tub
and getting stretched out and everything.And I think it's just staying on top

(04:32):
of the nutrition, making sure we'relistening to our trainers and not because sometimes
you get done with the game andyou're so tired and all you want to
do is just go lay down,but it's not necessarily the right thing for
you. So I think it's juststaying on top of it. We always
talk about being a pro and makingsure that you're taking care of your body.
So I think as long as wecan do that, I mean four

(04:53):
and four games and five days,that's it's a tough task, but I
think if we take the right approachto it, well we'll be good.
And then of course the game onSaturday against Iowa is the first is for
first or Fonders Night. And youguys were able to spend some time with
the Wheeling Fire Department a few daysto go correctw so walk us with the
experience with that. It was absolutelyincredible. It was a lot of fun.

(05:15):
I obviously you appreciate everything those guysdo already because they're out literally saving
lives, but to be able tosee what they do, how they go
about it, how professional they are, how challenging it is. We went
into a they smoked out a housefor us, fake smoke, obviously thankfully
for our lungs, but yeah,like you can't see a single thing,

(05:40):
and yet these guys like and forus, we knew that the house wasn't
falling down on top of us,but for them, that's very realistic possibility.
So all the stuff that they dofor the community, man, it's
it's really insane and it's touching,and you appreciate so much of what they
do, and then also appreciate whattheir families do because they're also at the

(06:00):
end of the day, they haveto put up with it too, and
like they got to be worried everytime their husband dad gets on a call.
So I really appreciate it and it'llbe a fun, fun night to
be able to celebrate them. Yes, so all the firefighters, police officers,
EMTs, all our first responders herein the valley, we thank you
for all you do and Saturday willbe your night to be celebrated if you
decide to stop by West Banco Arenato see the Nailors take on the Heartlanders.

(06:21):
Here. So a couple more quickquick questions for you, Bunsie before
I let you go, because Iasked Tanner this last week, and I
asked my listeners this a couple ofweeks ago. Of course, Thanksgiving coming
up on Thursday. I'll give youthe scenario here. You have your choice
of three sides to go with whatevermain you're going to be having for the
big feast. What three sides areyou choosing? Okay, this is that's

(06:43):
a tough question, all right,So number one, I think I would
be crazy or I'd either get yelledat if I didn't mention stuffing. That's
just a staple for me. Ijust I gotta have it. This one
might be a little controversial. Thesecond one, I'm gonna go with the
cranberryes fits telling me. I'm ahuge fan. I don't know what it
is that you can put it onthe turkey, maybe mixed in with stuffing

(07:04):
a little bit. I like thesauces. I'm a big sauce guy,
so I'll go with that. Andthen third one, it's hard not to
say mashed potatoes and gravy. Ifeel like I'd be ashamed if I left
it off my list, so I'llgive that at number three. Yeah,
that's almost similar to what Tanner hadbecause because he said potatoes, but more

(07:26):
like a cheesy potato than anything else. But he also said stuffing and the
cranberry sauce. Oh, he wentcranberry sauce too. Tanner went, I
won't turn down cranberry sauce. It'snot necessarily my go to, but I
won't turn it down if it's offeredto me. Yeah, exactly exactly.
And the other question that I willask you here, especially since I'm asking
my listeners this today, plain andsimple, what are you thankful for heading

(07:47):
into Thanksgiving? Thankful for my familyfirst and foremost. They're the most supportive
people in the world, and they'realways trying to come out here whenever they
can, and it always puts asmile on my face when I see him
in the stands, and honestly,just thankful for this opportunity and Wheeling like
it's not every day that you getto go to the rink, and I

(08:07):
know a lot of people don't havethat opportunity, but for us to be
able to go do something we loveand end up getting paid for it,
it's a really cool thing, andhonestly, I don't take it lately.
It's been an unbelievable experience and Ilook forward to keep on being able to
do it. So you can gosee Davis Buns and the rest of the
Wheeling Nailers at the rank known aswestbanko Arena Tomorrow night at seven ten against

(08:28):
the Toledo Walleye, then against Saturdaynight against Iowa at seven ten, and
then they'll meet up again with IowaSunday afternoon at four ten. Make sure
you're coming out and support these guysbecause they're up to some big things this
season and every last bit of supporthelps right here. So Davis, thanks
so much for spending some time withme here today. Happy Thanksgiving to you
and best of luck the rest ofthe way. Thank you very much.
I appreciate it. And again,just a quick little note about tomorrow night's

(08:50):
game. If you're not able tostop by Westbanco Arena, you can listen
to the game. It will justbe over on Fox Sports Wheeling because of
a special holiday program that'll be airingon Mix ninety seven three. So Tomorrow
night's game, if you can't makeit out to West Banco Arena, you
can listen to it on Fox SportsWheeling fourteen hundred AM and one oh three
point nine FM, and then aftertomorrow they'll be back on Mixed ninety seven

(09:11):
three. So lots to look forwardto this weekend. Hopefully you can come
on out and take in at leastone of the Nailors games, because definitely
have to submit things, as Isaid, so make sure you're coming out
and support them. More great musiccoming up after the break. We'll kick
it all off with Thomas Rhetz,so keep it here on ninety eight point seven WOVK