November 6, 2025 • 32 mins
An icy, spicy rivalry.
Team Canada vs. Team USA women’s hockey is one of the best rivalries in sports — it never disappoints. That’s why today’s episode of The GIST of It is a full-send women’s hockey masterpiece about the iconic Rivalry Series. Tune in to listen to co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula give their hottest takes on the spiciest series in women’s sports. Milk not included.
Show notes:
Join The GIST Plus
The GIST NWSL Playoffs Bracket Challenge
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🐦 X: @thegistpod
Team Canada vs. Team USA women’s hockey is one of the best rivalries in sports — it never disappoints. That’s why today’s episode of The GIST of It is a full-send women’s hockey masterpiece about the iconic Rivalry Series. Tune in to listen to co-hosts Steph Rotz and Lauren Tuiskula give their hottest takes on the spiciest series in women’s sports. Milk not included.
Show notes:
Join The GIST Plus
The GIST NWSL Playoffs Bracket Challenge
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hello, hellojisters, welcome or welcome back to another episode of
The Gist of It. Today is Thursday, November sixth we're
your co hosts. I am Lauren Tuscla filling in for
Ellen today.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Thank you so much for being here, Lauren, and I'm
Steph Rotz. Forgot to say that, Hello, Hie step. Today's
One Big Story is a good one for me personally.
It's a women's hockey special because the puck drops on
the first game of the Rivalry Series, and if you
don't know what that is, don't worry. We're going to
get into all of the details in this particular episode.
(00:37):
This is the annual showdown between Team USA and Team
Canada and it starts tonight. If you're listening to the
podcast the date it comes out, which is Thursday November
six at seven pm Eastern Time. And just in case
y'all forgot, the Winter Olipics are in February, so this
is an extra special edition of the Rivalry series as
the two teams USA and Canada try to finalize their
(00:59):
national ross ahead of these very exciting Olympics. So I'm
very excited to talk all about that today.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I'm so excited to be here with you. I feel
like usually when I fill in for l it's something
that's in more in my willhelse, I like get to talk
about baseball or something, but I just get to watch
you nerd out on women's hockey, and I feel really
lucky to be here with you for that. So we're
going to get to that before Steph starts waxing quadic.
I do want to call an audible of course, as
we start every podcast episode, and I want to talk
(01:26):
about another women's sport and WSL playoffs are coming up.
So if you're listening this on Thursday, the playoffs start
the following day. They start on Friday. And at the top,
we are doing a bracket for an WSL playoffs, So
go to the gisports dot com. We'll have the link
in the show notes and it closes at twelve pm
Eastern on Friday, So get those picks in. I just
(01:47):
want to put that at the top because we have
another we do with these brackets. They're so fun. It's
a fun way to get involved in the playoffs. Whether
you're a huge women's soccer fan or you're just new
to the sport, everyone can play. It's free, to play.
You can put three brackets in, so got to get
that plug at the top. But playoffs quarter finals begin tomorrow.
The storyline I'm watching most closely, and maybe this is
(02:07):
a tip for your bracket challenge, it's the Kansas City Current.
They are absolutely incredible this season. They clinched the first
end Busl Shield, which is awarded to the best regular
season team. They clinched that way back in September. They
had a twenty one, three and two record, so that's
win lost straw. They lost three games all year, right,
It's incredible. So they're the number one seed. They just
(02:28):
had the best season by a long shot in NDA
Buisil history. So they're the team. If if you need
some tips for your bracket, send the Kinsas Current through
deep into the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh my gosh, that's so exciting. One thing that I
do want to flag is that Racing Louisville is making
their first ever playoff appearance and they're the perennial so
close but yet so far squad. So I'm most so
excited that they get to push into the postseason this year.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, lots of good storylines. We will also be sending
out an end Bussel playoff preview on Friday, So again,
if you need some tips for your bracket to make
those picks beforehand, we'll have the full playoff preview, so
keep an eye on that. But we're super excited big
big women's sports weekend coming up.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I want to call one last audible too, Lauren, did
you just run a marathon?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I did? Yes, I did.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I okay. I feel like marathons have become so normalized
in the fact that I do feel like I'm hearing
of people running them more than I used to in
the past. But to me, they're still incredible. Like I
am always so shocked that there's enough people who want
to run the marathons to make run marathons happen. So
I'm always so impressed. So you ran the New York
City Marathon.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I did, I writ That's why I sound if I
sound a little stuffy. I came down with the cold,
but I came down with it after I crossed the
finish line, so we made it through. My body held
on until I got through. But you're right running I
feel like it's booming. We did a group chat on
run influencers and just the rise of running and running
social media, and New York was actually the largest marathon ever.
Fifty nine thousand people ran that. Maybe that's where I
(03:56):
got sick because I was with fifty nine thousand other
people running this thing. But it was super cool. It
was like New York City has a ton of hype
around it. I ran it was my second marathon. I
did Boston two years ago, and I'm from Boston, like
that was my hometown race. I wanted to do that
when all growing up. My dad ran it when he
was my age. But New York, like, the crowds were
(04:16):
just incredible, and everyone talks about the crowds. The crowds
and it truly exceeded the hype, Like it was just
noise and cheering and energy for twenty six point two miles.
It was so so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Do you truly feel like a professional athlete but like
being cheered on to that level? It's so you can say, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I don't like professional, it just feels like community and actually, yeah,
that's what it felt like. And the other cool thing
I this is I could just go on forever. But
it was like so special. But New York you run
through five different boroughs and each borough has like distinct
feel like in Brooklyn, it's just like a part. Brooklyn
was probably my favorite part of the race. That's the
first one. Well, you start in Staten Island, which is
(04:56):
very short. Brooklyn is like a long stretch and it's
just so hot, so much energy. The Bronx has its
own feel Queens Manhattan, like it all has a distinct
feel and you can feel each burrow and the energy
and it was Yeah, it was so cool. But I
think Brooklyn. Shout out to VICKI who's on our staff.
Vicky was in Brooklyn, and I think Brooklyn was probably
my favorite part of the race.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Ugh, I am so impressed by you. I asked that
because I don't think I've ever been in an environment
where like there are people cheering on in a large
volume from both sides, you know what I mean. So
that must be a really surreal moment.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
It was really surreal. It was a little bit overwhelming
at times too, where I'm like, oh, I just need.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Like I need to listen to my music, yeah something.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So there were some stretches where like, oh, like you
just kind of have to kind of check yourself and
be like okay, like I'm going I am going too
fast because this crowd is so energizing. But it was,
it was the best, and it really like pulls you
to the finish line and gets you to perform and
make it through the race.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Congratulations. I'm so impressed by you always, and I just
wanted to make sure that I shouted that out on
the pod since we have you here and it was
so recent that I just needed to make sure we
snack it. And so thank you for letting me call
an audible after you called it allible.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Of course, thanks Steph. Yeah, if anyone gets it, I
got it through the lottery, so you can apply to
the lottery to run these major marathons. So if you
ever have an inkling that you want to do it,
put your name out. If you get the lottery, you
can train anyone. Anyone can do it, like if you
stick to your training plan. So it was a surreal experience,
like you said, and I would highly stress Steph, get
out there. You can do it. I believe in you.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
When we launched the GIST back in twenty eighteen, we
wanted to make sports more inclusive, but over time we
heard from you that it wasn't just coverage. You wanted
it was also community. So enter the GIST Plus, our
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Our Rookie Tier gets you access to our supportive discord,
(06:53):
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or by following the link in the show notes and
be part of building a healthier sports Internet. All right, folks,
(07:22):
it's it's not just holiday season. We talked about gift
giving in the last episode. It's women's hockey season. I'm
so excited and it's just my absolute favorite time of
the year. When the women get back on the ice.
The puck drops on PWHL Action on November twenty first.
But there is something that we can look forward to,
what's happening tomorrow. If you know me, you know there's
(07:42):
nothing I love more than the Rivalry series. Then when
Team USA faces off against Team Canada.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
We love it here. It's like the just rivalry. I
feel like every time the Olympics come around, we say
we should do something tam USA versus Team Canada. But
we're all too nice and we're rooting for each other
teams except when it comes to women's hockey, women's soccer.
That's the only time we're like we're and I guess
men's hoki too, Maybe not. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I can leave the men behind, but the women, I can't.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
We go hard for them. So we should do something
maybe with this rivalry series, like we can. We can
cook up some little better wager that we have going on.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But this is guys are very creative, the writing team. Yeah,
I feel you guys can pull something through.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, I'll let you know. We can come up with
something fun. This is the sixth edition of the annual
exhibition series between Team Canada and Team USA. Like we
said at the top, it starts tonight at seven pm Eastern,
And also, like we said at the top, this is
the last time these teams will face off for the
last few times before the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics.
So lots to get excited about, lots to watch on
(08:43):
the ice, kind of set the stage of how it
all works. The Revelary Series. You might have heard of
it before. This year series will be just four games,
and that is partially due to scheduling conflicts with the
upcoming game. So in previous years it's been five games,
it's been seven games. This year it's just four. But again,
we have Olympics are on corner, plenty of hockey to watch.
The US will be hosting the first two games, so
(09:05):
tonight's we'll be in Cleveland, Ohio, and Saturdays in Steph's
favorite place, Buffalo, New York. I know you love it there.
Shout out to Buffalo. And then it'll send over to
Canada later next month. So we'll have the first two
games in the US. We'll have some PETERHL games in there.
There'll be an international break in mid December. We'll have
some games in Edmonton. So that's kind of just setting
(09:25):
the scene. We'll have games over the next couple months. Here.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I'm so excited. Let's get into why the Rivalry Series
exists in the first place and what the purpose of
it really is. So the Rivalry Series started back in
twenty eighteen, and you may remember there was no professional
women's hockey league, or rather, there was no cross border
professional hockey league that housed the top players in the world.
(09:49):
So the captain of both team or Marie Feleep planned
for Canada, Hillary Knight. They were not playing in a
professional league at this point in time, and so the
series was really created to feature these players outside of
a women's World championship and outside of an Olympic year.
So they really wanted to showcase these best players to
(10:12):
provide fans with this high level of women's hockey competition.
But also because the Team USA and Team Canada women's
hockey rivalry goes back so far, it is a deep,
deep rivalry, so it is also just good entertainment for
the fans, So there's just so much going on to showcase.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
That definitely, and another reason I was created was to
develop young players and prepare them for those tournaments. So
it gave some younger players a chance to ue for
national team opportunities, and as you said, they didn't have
that opportunity to compete in that cross border pro league
or be seen. So now it's the rivalry's uses is
an opportunity to prepare those younger players and see their stuff,
so that head up the Olympics ahead of the World championships,
(10:51):
they know what's out there and they know who to
pull up to the main roster.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Because the Olympics has a smaller roster as well typically
than the rivalry series Will or can So the US
this year are bringing thirty players, Canada is bringing twenty five,
but in the Olympics they will be bringing twenty three,
so that's part of that development as well.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Interesting, So that's something to watch. We'll talk about a
little bit of those players on the bubble, but that
competition that feeds into it. So they're competing against Team Canada,
Team USA, but they're also competing intraplayer inter team to
get those roster spots.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And because it's best on best too, and it's created
to increase fan engagement over the years. The games are
hosted in usually both countries throughout the series, so that
there is opportunity to get people out to these games
no matter where you live at some point in time,
so that you can see these teams regardless of having
to travel to the Women's Worlds or to the Olympics
(11:43):
wherever they are. So it really was trying to make
this matchup more accessible to the fan to help ultimately
grow the women's game, and I think that brings us
to the question of do we still need the rivalry
series now that we have the PWHL and we are
able to watch these players throughout a regular season and
(12:03):
playoff atmosphere. Like these players that we mentioned Hillary Night
memory fully planned, they are in a professional league now,
so the question has to be asked, do we still
need the rivalry series.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I'm so curious your take on this. I will just
provide some context and then I want to hear your thoughts.
Of course, so as you mentioned, we have the p Dohl.
Now these players, they're playing consistently. Peter hl season is
thirty games long, it's physical, it's a tough league. So
we have the rivalry series, but there's the risk of
injury and the international break. It's kind of a disruption
in that Peter Bohl calendar. We get a few games
(12:37):
in there, we get started, we get in a groove,
and then okay, it's international break and the best players
are going off to compete in the rivalry series. So
that's a layer here to consider as we're as we're
asking this question.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And of course, sure the Olympics are every four years,
but there is an annual Women's World Championship. So previously
that was held every April. They're now going to be
shifting it to November so that it doesn't disrupt the
PBHL calendar. But it comes back to that disruption of
this now professional league because international breaks have to either
be woven into it. They have to account for injury.
(13:10):
Like you said previously, last year there was a rivalry
series and I can't remember who got injured and couldn't
play on their PAHL team. But that's a huge thing
to keep in mind, is well these players continued to
be healthy, and of course it is an avenue for
development to see chemistry because while they're playing in the PAHL,
(13:31):
they're not necessarily playing on the same teams, and you
want to really tee up the best possible product for
those Olympic years. And of course the players love it.
They love to compete for their country. They want the opportunity.
It's another opportunity outside of the Women's World and the
Olympic calendar to actually wear your country jersey. So there's
all of these plus one hundred percent. I totally get
(13:53):
the history of it and the appeal of it. I
personally don't think it's needed anymore.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Whoa step saying we don't need more women's hockey's this
is like I'm simplifying it. I'm just that's crazy. I
didn't expect you to say that.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Don't clip that.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
I built that part. I'm putting words in your mouth.
That's just I'm I was surprised to hear that.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I think because I'm coming at it from a fan perspective.
From the fan perspective, I think continuing to do the
rivalry series at the frequency that it's held, obviously they've
scaled back over the years. They it used to be
I think six games and five and now it's down
to four, so I know that they're scaling it back.
I think that now that we have the PDHL, and
(14:33):
since we do have the Women's Worlds every year, that
the PDHL has to break either break for or do
it before the season starts, and we have the Olympics
every four years. I think by continuing to do the
rivalry series from the fan perspective, it almost waters down
that rivalry and it makes those the Women's World Championship
or the Olympics to the average viewer, because not everyone's
(14:56):
as obsessed as me and I realize that. I do
think that kind of makes those matchups less significant, but
that's my opinion. From the fan perspective, I do think
that it perhaps waters that down. But I can understand
from the organization perspective the player's perspective, that these are
(15:16):
really really valuable moments, and to take away those moments
and those opportunities from these players, I obviously wouldn't want
to do that to them either, but I'm so from
the fan, I think yes, From the actual organization.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
No, right, And maybe it's give those younger players just
get an opportunity somewhere else where they get like a
practice spot with the PAHL team and get to develop there.
Maybe there's a different avenue for them to have that
tryout and really get to shine. It's interesting you say that.
I wonder too. I'm thinking about, of course NHL Four Nations,
and there were players that Bruins Charlie McAvoy got hurt
(15:48):
during the Four Nations, But like it's the same thing.
The players want to compete for their country and they
often don't get to do that in ment hockey. So
maybe it's something like that where it's a Four Nations
during the All Star break for p WHL where we
still get to see those international rivalries come to play
more consistently. But like you're saying, it's not watering down
the rivalry series, it's not four games back to back
to back. Maybe that's a solution here too.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, because this reliance on the national teams for a
professional environment is so unique to women's hockey. We don't
have this in men's hockey. And I do think as
women's hockey continues to be professionalized in the same way
that we have the NHL, I do think that we
need to take a step back, or I think it
would be beneficial to take a step back and think,
(16:34):
how does the national team play into this, and how
do the actual how does the actual PWHL play into
player development, and what's that relationship going to be like
moving forward? And I think that those are conversations as
fans that we should start having because I think it
was I want to say, it was Sarah Nurse that
got injured last year and I'm a Toronto Scepters fan
and I couldn't get to see her play and that
was a huge loss for me. When I AnyWho, and
(16:56):
that's me being really, really selfish but it's cool.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
It's cool that we're in this place where it because
it started off as a necessity. It was the only
place to play. And now it's like, oh, we can
have this conversation because there are so many other opportunities
to play. So it's it's cool that we're at this
point in asking these questions.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
And it's tough because these because of the history of
women's hockey, these are the This is the dream, right
playing on being rostered on the national hockey team for
women's hockey is the dream, even if you are potentially
going to be able to also play in the PBHL,
because it's just been such a long tradition. So I
feel like it's an unpopular opinion and I feel like
(17:35):
it's one that could be considered a hot take because
it would be creating less women's talking opportunities. But I
do think that it could be just funneled into the
PAHL a little bit more or changed. But let's look
at the results. So the rivalry series results, Canada has
one four of the five series that have been completed
to date. So that's when you know I'm being honest,
(17:55):
because as a Canadian, I am being completely honest. With
how I feel about that. And they also did two
reverse sweeps in the process, so they were behind in
two of these series and then ended up doing a
reverse switechwise, which I think is just actually just great television.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, it's such a testament to this rivalry. That's like, oh,
team would say they're going to run away with this one,
and then all of a sudden, of course we get
those reverse sleeps. So yeah, it runs deep. This is
how it goes. It's always contentious, it's always going to
be intense, even if Canada's have the overall edge historically.
As you said, let's get into the rosters, because both
teams have. As we said, it's a tune up for
(18:32):
the Olympics. We're testing, we're seeing and it's about who's
going to make the roster. So both teams really have
a mix of veterans the names we know, Marieopulan and
Hillary Knight, the big names, Kendle, Coins Gofield, all of those.
But then there's some new covers. So I want to
ask you stuff about those newcomers, who are some young
players or one or two to watch on each team
that are trying to make a crack at making that
Olympic roster.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I am so excited about eighteen year old defender Chloe
Primorano for team She could be the youngest player to
make the Canadian Olympic squad if she makes it for Milan,
since Marie Feeley Pulan did it back in twenty ten.
And I think when we throw around these phrases like
generational talent, it puts a lot of pressure on the athlete,
(19:15):
and it does get thrown around quite a bit these days.
But she is so unique and how her teammates talk
about her is also so so highly. So she's been
rooming with Laura Stacey and Marie Pheeley Pulan during this
process for the rivalry series and I think last year
even maybe and MPP speaks so highly of her. She's
(19:39):
a defender, but she's a great goal scorer. She has
so much potential. She graduated high school early so that
she could go play in the NC Double A. She's
such a star. I'm really excited to see what she
does in this rivalry series and if she makes the roster.
So that's someone to watch that's young for Team Canada,
someone to watch that is in the PWHL already is
(20:00):
Hannah Miller. So, Hannah Miller was originally named to the
roster in the previous Women's Worlds, but because she played
for China once back in twenty twenty two, she was
ineligible to play for the Women's Worlds because it's a
sanctioned event with the International Hockey Federation the IIHF. But
the Rivalry series is not, so she can play for
(20:20):
this upcoming series no matter what. And then they're still
trying to work out if she can actually get rostered
for the Olympics. So I am interested to see how
she performs in this upcoming series, especially when there's a
kind of a will they won't they with how she'll
get if she can get on the roster in the
first place according to the rules with the ii ASIA.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Wow. Interesting, I feel like I want to just watch
a game. I want to watch all these games with you.
I want to like, we need to live text because
all your insights and the score baby, the lore ye
discord exactly. Just go to the JUSTS plus membership you'll
hear stuff and all her hot takes and all this
lore behind these players. So if you're yeah, that's a
great plug for the GIS plus if you want this
inside knowledge, get on there. Steff will be in the
(21:02):
discord talking. That's Team Canada. So a couple players to
watch there. Tell me about tam USA, my team. I
need to know who am I watching for in TMUSA.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Team USA is a much younger roster. I counted before
we started recording. So Team USA has sixteen members on
this roster who are either born in the year two
thousand or later, whereas Canada only has seven. So there's
a lot more nineties babies on Team Canada than on
Team USA. So Team USA does have an objectively younger roster.
(21:33):
They have thirteen Olympic bets in eight NC Double A players,
and I think Team Canada only has two NC DOUBLEA
players on the roster, so it is a younger team.
So there is that to keep in mind, and I
think that brings a little bit of excitement to the
Team USA roster. So someone to watch, I would say again,
another defender. I'm so biased to defenders here. Hannah Miller
(21:54):
is a forward, so there's that. But defender Leila Edwards.
She could become the first black woman to play hockey
for Team USA at the Olympics if she makes the
twenty twenty six roster. Something else that's fun with this
particular series for her too, though, is the game that's
happening at seven PM is a homecoming for her. So
she's from Cleveland. She will be playing this game in Cleveland,
(22:17):
and I think that that's a really special homecoming and
I think that will have a huge boost to her performance,
just knowing that all of her friends and family are
there to see her play with Team USA. And she
recently had a position change, so she played forward I
think up until around twenty twenty four, so this is
a recent change to go back to defender. And she
(22:37):
also injured her knee last month, but is back to
be young, to be young, to.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Be young, the bounce back. And she's made history before too.
She made her debut for the American national team during
the twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four rivalry series,
and she was the first black woman to play for
the national team when she did that, So she's no
stranger to making this history that that homecoming is so special.
I'm glad you called that out because it's it'll just
be so coold with her family in the stay in
that atmosphere, it'll be awesome to tune into before we wrap.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Can I name one more person?
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Oh? Yes, I will USA.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Just to be fair and not have my Canadian bias,
I would say goaltender Gwyneth Phillips for Team USA. Gwyneth
is in the PBWHL, so not the same in terms
of not I'm not naming another NCAA athlete, but Gwyneth
Phillips absolutely lights out performance for the Ottawa Charge in
the last playoffs and just really made herself a star,
(23:27):
whereas Aaron Frankel I think was like their go to
starter prior to that. And I would really love to
see what Gwyneth Phillips does with this rivalry series if
she gets to start. I'm just so excited to see
her development and to watch her play amazing.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
So those are all the players to watch. I do
have to ask you before we wrap the section, what's
your final prediction for the rivalry series?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Oh, Team Canada's gonna take it.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
What's right three to one sweep? I think it'll be.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I think it will be close. I think it'll be
it's four games right or uh, I know, I don't know,
will it count if it can be too tub? But
like ones one in overtime? Does that count?
Speaker 1 (24:07):
No? Not for me? Okay three one then three one? Okay,
what do you think I'm going to go to to
even split? And then it'll all get sorted out in
the Olympics when the final final scores. That's a better narrative.
So maybe I'll pack that. Yeah, amazing, Well, tune in.
We'll be following it on Newsletter two and on Socials
We'll have lots of coverage there. But definitely subscribe to
(24:29):
the Just Plus so you can get this insider conversation
from Steph.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Let's let's talk hockey. It's time for the last segment
of the podcast, our personal training SESSH. This is where
we would love to either answer hard hitting questions that
you have about anything or like truly anything in the
(24:54):
sports world, or where we would like to share one
of your hot takes, or just share something that you
want to share about sports world.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
It's really open. Anything come through the DMS, come through
Steph and El's DMS, come through the gyms. Everything is
fair game and if you'd like to be featured on
a future episode again, go to the DMS or we'd
love to hear your voice too. So call and leave
us a voicemail at one four three seven five six
four five five seven nine, or email us at pod
(25:21):
at the gisports dot com. All that will be in
the show notes too if you want to call in
and leave a voicemail or send us something over email.
But for today's personal training session, we're sharing a note
from Emma that she wrote into Steph. So Steph, do
you want to share Emma's message?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah? She wrote to me and Elle on Instagram. Thank
you so much Emma for sliding into our DM. So
Emma wrote, quote, it doesn't hurt the same. So actually
I'm going to reverse a bit here. So recently we
talked about the Blue Jays and the World Series in
our Tuesday podcast, and so Emma reached out to us
after that podcast was published and gave us her thoughts
about the World Series.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
So here it is quote it.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Doesn't hurt the same. But I was also rooting for
the Jays, and I do think a lot of people
not from LA were rooting for them too. I think
the Dodgers are great. I'm from mass and will always
be a MOOKI Bets fan, and I don't think the
US deserved to win the championship. Smiley face. I don't
know if you've seen this post at all, but this,
along with Ernie Clement post season interview, are real reasons
why people fell in love with the Jays this year.
(26:18):
I appreciate your podcast so much and have been listening
to every episode over the past three plus years. I
love sports, and I love hearing about them from a
female lens.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I'm a coach and.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Hearing my athletes talk not just about our sport, which
is softball, but everything else going on in the women's
sports world makes my heart so happy because that was
not happening five years ago when I was in college.
Thank you for all you do yellowheart emoji.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Thank you Emma, Emma. That is so sweet. Our community
is just the best, Like it's these messages they make
our day every single day. This was so sweet, and
I want to shout out Emma because she's a coach
at Williams College, which is my rival school from where
I went to college, and she's a softball coach, so
as much as women, this is our biggest rival. Shout
out to Emma for working in the NESCAG, working with
(27:04):
the next generation, and really inspiring that the next generation
of athletes. So shout out to Emma. Even though we're
rivals at the end of the day, do you know
her in person? Through just through the gist, not through
not in person?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Unfortunately, Dang, I was still close.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I know, we basically do because of that softball connection.
But I'll jump in here at I got to talk
about baseball, you got talk about women's sockey, We got
to talk about baseball a little bit. Because as a
also from Massachusetts like Emma, also a big Moviie Bets fan,
I and also as someone who was watching the World
Series as a hater because I am a fan of
(27:41):
the team in the Alis So I was kind of
rooting against the J's because I did my Ale East.
I know, I'm so sorry, only because my Ali's team
was not My Red Sox were not in the World Series,
and I was really jealous. I will admit it. I
was so jealous. I wanted my team to be there.
But there were all of these moments where I was like,
I have such a soft spot for this team, and
they were really so inspiring the way they played, all
(28:03):
the Vlatty storylines, Like there were so many storylines. I
was like, I am a hater to my core, but
I can't. This team is fun to root for, so
I am aligned with you, Emma. They were. It was
such a fun run and there were so many moments
that made you fall in love with the Jays, like
you just had to because of all these storylines that
she's shouting out and the stuff you guys talked about
on the Tuesday Pod and we're.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Talking about the rivalry series. Vlattie of the Jays, Groje
Junior wore a game jersey. I didn't realize it was
a game jersey until someone at work told me today.
So thank you so much, Steven to to to the
World Series. So I'm sorry, Yeah, I'm so overcome with emotions.
So Vlattie wore a Marie Filipe Pulan Team Canada jersey
(28:44):
to Game seven, and just like greatness and acknowledging greatness,
and also the team Canada was watching it. They were
like continuously shown on the broadcast at the Rogers SkyDome
and where the World Series was taking place in Toronto,
so they were there and he wore her jersey, and
I just think that speaks volume to the character that
(29:06):
is on the Jay's team and That's why I got
so emotional and fell so in love with this team.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Definitely, and they will definitely be back, like Lad's sticking around.
Shane Bieber just announced that he's coming back to Toronto.
So sometimes with baseball it's fluky and like their's are
no Diamondbacks a couple of years ago made a deep
run and now they're not gonna be did it for
a while. But I think the Jays will be contenders.
They have the pieces in place, so I think they'll
be back next year.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And that means a lot coming from your stuff. You're
not just saying this.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
To make me feel better, No, no, no, I think
they'll be in it for a wile unforunately for me
as a Red Sox fan. But yeah, it'll be competitive.
But thank you, Emma for this nice message. We really
appreciate it and totally agree with you. So shout out
to you again for working with the next generation of
athletes and coaching at the collegiate level. Perfect.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Thank you so much, Emma, And with that, at marks
the end of today's episode, thank you guys so much
for tuning in. We'll be back in your feed with
the new podcast on Tuesday. In the meantime, if you
enjoyed today's episode, we would love if you could rate, review, subscribe,
check out the show notes, and be featured on a
future episode in our Personal training Slash.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
This episode was edited by Savannah Held and produced by
Lisa Minutillo and Alessandra Puccio. Again, I'm Lauren Tescala and
I'm
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Steph Frutz, and we will chat with you again on Tuesday.
Hello, hellojisters, welcome or welcome back to another episode of
The Gist of It. Today is Thursday, November sixth we're
your co hosts. I am Lauren Tuscla filling in for
Ellen today.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Thank you so much for being here, Lauren, and I'm
Steph Rotz. Forgot to say that, Hello, Hie step. Today's
One Big Story is a good one for me personally.
It's a women's hockey special because the puck drops on
the first game of the Rivalry Series, and if you
don't know what that is, don't worry. We're going to
get into all of the details in this particular episode.
(00:37):
This is the annual showdown between Team USA and Team
Canada and it starts tonight. If you're listening to the
podcast the date it comes out, which is Thursday November
six at seven pm Eastern Time. And just in case
y'all forgot, the Winter Olipics are in February, so this
is an extra special edition of the Rivalry series as
the two teams USA and Canada try to finalize their
(00:59):
national ross ahead of these very exciting Olympics. So I'm
very excited to talk all about that today.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I'm so excited to be here with you. I feel
like usually when I fill in for l it's something
that's in more in my willhelse, I like get to talk
about baseball or something, but I just get to watch
you nerd out on women's hockey, and I feel really
lucky to be here with you for that. So we're
going to get to that before Steph starts waxing quadic.
I do want to call an audible of course, as
we start every podcast episode, and I want to talk
(01:26):
about another women's sport and WSL playoffs are coming up.
So if you're listening this on Thursday, the playoffs start
the following day. They start on Friday. And at the top,
we are doing a bracket for an WSL playoffs, So
go to the gisports dot com. We'll have the link
in the show notes and it closes at twelve pm
Eastern on Friday, So get those picks in. I just
(01:47):
want to put that at the top because we have
another we do with these brackets. They're so fun. It's
a fun way to get involved in the playoffs. Whether
you're a huge women's soccer fan or you're just new
to the sport, everyone can play. It's free, to play.
You can put three brackets in, so got to get
that plug at the top. But playoffs quarter finals begin tomorrow.
The storyline I'm watching most closely, and maybe this is
(02:07):
a tip for your bracket challenge, it's the Kansas City Current.
They are absolutely incredible this season. They clinched the first
end Busl Shield, which is awarded to the best regular
season team. They clinched that way back in September. They
had a twenty one, three and two record, so that's
win lost straw. They lost three games all year, right,
It's incredible. So they're the number one seed. They just
(02:28):
had the best season by a long shot in NDA
Buisil history. So they're the team. If if you need
some tips for your bracket, send the Kinsas Current through
deep into the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Oh my gosh, that's so exciting. One thing that I
do want to flag is that Racing Louisville is making
their first ever playoff appearance and they're the perennial so
close but yet so far squad. So I'm most so
excited that they get to push into the postseason this year.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Yeah, lots of good storylines. We will also be sending
out an end Bussel playoff preview on Friday, So again,
if you need some tips for your bracket to make
those picks beforehand, we'll have the full playoff preview, so
keep an eye on that. But we're super excited big
big women's sports weekend coming up.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
I want to call one last audible too, Lauren, did
you just run a marathon?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
I did? Yes, I did.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
I okay. I feel like marathons have become so normalized
in the fact that I do feel like I'm hearing
of people running them more than I used to in
the past. But to me, they're still incredible. Like I
am always so shocked that there's enough people who want
to run the marathons to make run marathons happen. So
I'm always so impressed. So you ran the New York
City Marathon.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I did, I writ That's why I sound if I
sound a little stuffy. I came down with the cold,
but I came down with it after I crossed the
finish line, so we made it through. My body held
on until I got through. But you're right running I
feel like it's booming. We did a group chat on
run influencers and just the rise of running and running
social media, and New York was actually the largest marathon ever.
Fifty nine thousand people ran that. Maybe that's where I
(03:56):
got sick because I was with fifty nine thousand other
people running this thing. But it was super cool. It
was like New York City has a ton of hype
around it. I ran it was my second marathon. I
did Boston two years ago, and I'm from Boston, like
that was my hometown race. I wanted to do that
when all growing up. My dad ran it when he
was my age. But New York, like, the crowds were
(04:16):
just incredible, and everyone talks about the crowds. The crowds
and it truly exceeded the hype, Like it was just
noise and cheering and energy for twenty six point two miles.
It was so so cool.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Do you truly feel like a professional athlete but like
being cheered on to that level? It's so you can say, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I don't like professional, it just feels like community and actually, yeah,
that's what it felt like. And the other cool thing
I this is I could just go on forever. But
it was like so special. But New York you run
through five different boroughs and each borough has like distinct
feel like in Brooklyn, it's just like a part. Brooklyn
was probably my favorite part of the race. That's the
first one. Well, you start in Staten Island, which is
(04:56):
very short. Brooklyn is like a long stretch and it's
just so hot, so much energy. The Bronx has its
own feel Queens Manhattan, like it all has a distinct
feel and you can feel each burrow and the energy
and it was Yeah, it was so cool. But I
think Brooklyn. Shout out to VICKI who's on our staff.
Vicky was in Brooklyn, and I think Brooklyn was probably
my favorite part of the race.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Ugh, I am so impressed by you. I asked that
because I don't think I've ever been in an environment
where like there are people cheering on in a large
volume from both sides, you know what I mean. So
that must be a really surreal moment.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
It was really surreal. It was a little bit overwhelming
at times too, where I'm like, oh, I just need.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Like I need to listen to my music, yeah something.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
So there were some stretches where like, oh, like you
just kind of have to kind of check yourself and
be like okay, like I'm going I am going too
fast because this crowd is so energizing. But it was,
it was the best, and it really like pulls you
to the finish line and gets you to perform and
make it through the race.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Congratulations. I'm so impressed by you always, and I just
wanted to make sure that I shouted that out on
the pod since we have you here and it was
so recent that I just needed to make sure we
snack it. And so thank you for letting me call
an audible after you called it allible.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Of course, thanks Steph. Yeah, if anyone gets it, I
got it through the lottery, so you can apply to
the lottery to run these major marathons. So if you
ever have an inkling that you want to do it,
put your name out. If you get the lottery, you
can train anyone. Anyone can do it, like if you
stick to your training plan. So it was a surreal experience,
like you said, and I would highly stress Steph, get
out there. You can do it. I believe in you.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
When we launched the GIST back in twenty eighteen, we
wanted to make sports more inclusive, but over time we
heard from you that it wasn't just coverage. You wanted
it was also community. So enter the GIST Plus, our
new membership program that brings fans together for smarter, kinder,
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Our Rookie Tier gets you access to our supportive discord,
(06:53):
a member's only newsletter, and exclusive discounts. The All Star
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perks that make your fandom that much sweeter. Join the
GIS Plus at theisports dot Com slash page slash Plus
or by following the link in the show notes and
be part of building a healthier sports Internet. All right, folks,
(07:22):
it's it's not just holiday season. We talked about gift
giving in the last episode. It's women's hockey season. I'm
so excited and it's just my absolute favorite time of
the year. When the women get back on the ice.
The puck drops on PWHL Action on November twenty first.
But there is something that we can look forward to,
what's happening tomorrow. If you know me, you know there's
(07:42):
nothing I love more than the Rivalry series. Then when
Team USA faces off against Team Canada.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
We love it here. It's like the just rivalry. I
feel like every time the Olympics come around, we say
we should do something tam USA versus Team Canada. But
we're all too nice and we're rooting for each other
teams except when it comes to women's hockey, women's soccer.
That's the only time we're like we're and I guess
men's hoki too, Maybe not. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
I can leave the men behind, but the women, I can't.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
We go hard for them. So we should do something
maybe with this rivalry series, like we can. We can
cook up some little better wager that we have going on.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
But this is guys are very creative, the writing team. Yeah,
I feel you guys can pull something through.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Okay, I'll let you know. We can come up with
something fun. This is the sixth edition of the annual
exhibition series between Team Canada and Team USA. Like we
said at the top, it starts tonight at seven pm Eastern,
And also, like we said at the top, this is
the last time these teams will face off for the
last few times before the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics.
So lots to get excited about, lots to watch on
(08:43):
the ice, kind of set the stage of how it
all works. The Revelary Series. You might have heard of
it before. This year series will be just four games,
and that is partially due to scheduling conflicts with the
upcoming game. So in previous years it's been five games,
it's been seven games. This year it's just four. But again,
we have Olympics are on corner, plenty of hockey to watch.
The US will be hosting the first two games, so
(09:05):
tonight's we'll be in Cleveland, Ohio, and Saturdays in Steph's
favorite place, Buffalo, New York. I know you love it there.
Shout out to Buffalo. And then it'll send over to
Canada later next month. So we'll have the first two
games in the US. We'll have some PETERHL games in there.
There'll be an international break in mid December. We'll have
some games in Edmonton. So that's kind of just setting
(09:25):
the scene. We'll have games over the next couple months. Here.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
I'm so excited. Let's get into why the Rivalry Series
exists in the first place and what the purpose of
it really is. So the Rivalry Series started back in
twenty eighteen, and you may remember there was no professional
women's hockey league, or rather, there was no cross border
professional hockey league that housed the top players in the world.
(09:49):
So the captain of both team or Marie Feleep planned
for Canada, Hillary Knight. They were not playing in a
professional league at this point in time, and so the
series was really created to feature these players outside of
a women's World championship and outside of an Olympic year.
So they really wanted to showcase these best players to
(10:12):
provide fans with this high level of women's hockey competition.
But also because the Team USA and Team Canada women's
hockey rivalry goes back so far, it is a deep,
deep rivalry, so it is also just good entertainment for
the fans, So there's just so much going on to showcase.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
That definitely, and another reason I was created was to
develop young players and prepare them for those tournaments. So
it gave some younger players a chance to ue for
national team opportunities, and as you said, they didn't have
that opportunity to compete in that cross border pro league
or be seen. So now it's the rivalry's uses is
an opportunity to prepare those younger players and see their stuff,
so that head up the Olympics ahead of the World championships,
(10:51):
they know what's out there and they know who to
pull up to the main roster.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Because the Olympics has a smaller roster as well typically
than the rivalry series Will or can So the US
this year are bringing thirty players, Canada is bringing twenty five,
but in the Olympics they will be bringing twenty three,
so that's part of that development as well.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Interesting, So that's something to watch. We'll talk about a
little bit of those players on the bubble, but that
competition that feeds into it. So they're competing against Team Canada,
Team USA, but they're also competing intraplayer inter team to
get those roster spots.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
And because it's best on best too, and it's created
to increase fan engagement over the years. The games are
hosted in usually both countries throughout the series, so that
there is opportunity to get people out to these games
no matter where you live at some point in time,
so that you can see these teams regardless of having
to travel to the Women's Worlds or to the Olympics
(11:43):
wherever they are. So it really was trying to make
this matchup more accessible to the fan to help ultimately
grow the women's game, and I think that brings us
to the question of do we still need the rivalry
series now that we have the PWHL and we are
able to watch these players throughout a regular season and
(12:03):
playoff atmosphere. Like these players that we mentioned Hillary Night
memory fully planned, they are in a professional league now,
so the question has to be asked, do we still
need the rivalry series.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I'm so curious your take on this. I will just
provide some context and then I want to hear your thoughts.
Of course, so as you mentioned, we have the p Dohl.
Now these players, they're playing consistently. Peter hl season is
thirty games long, it's physical, it's a tough league. So
we have the rivalry series, but there's the risk of
injury and the international break. It's kind of a disruption
in that Peter Bohl calendar. We get a few games
(12:37):
in there, we get started, we get in a groove,
and then okay, it's international break and the best players
are going off to compete in the rivalry series. So
that's a layer here to consider as we're as we're
asking this question.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
And of course, sure the Olympics are every four years,
but there is an annual Women's World Championship. So previously
that was held every April. They're now going to be
shifting it to November so that it doesn't disrupt the
PBHL calendar. But it comes back to that disruption of
this now professional league because international breaks have to either
be woven into it. They have to account for injury.
(13:10):
Like you said previously, last year there was a rivalry
series and I can't remember who got injured and couldn't
play on their PAHL team. But that's a huge thing
to keep in mind, is well these players continued to
be healthy, and of course it is an avenue for
development to see chemistry because while they're playing in the PAHL,
(13:31):
they're not necessarily playing on the same teams, and you
want to really tee up the best possible product for
those Olympic years. And of course the players love it.
They love to compete for their country. They want the opportunity.
It's another opportunity outside of the Women's World and the
Olympic calendar to actually wear your country jersey. So there's
all of these plus one hundred percent. I totally get
(13:53):
the history of it and the appeal of it. I
personally don't think it's needed anymore.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Whoa step saying we don't need more women's hockey's this
is like I'm simplifying it. I'm just that's crazy. I
didn't expect you to say that.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Don't clip that.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
I built that part. I'm putting words in your mouth.
That's just I'm I was surprised to hear that.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
I think because I'm coming at it from a fan perspective.
From the fan perspective, I think continuing to do the
rivalry series at the frequency that it's held, obviously they've
scaled back over the years. They it used to be
I think six games and five and now it's down
to four, so I know that they're scaling it back.
I think that now that we have the PDHL, and
(14:33):
since we do have the Women's Worlds every year, that
the PDHL has to break either break for or do
it before the season starts, and we have the Olympics
every four years. I think by continuing to do the
rivalry series from the fan perspective, it almost waters down
that rivalry and it makes those the Women's World Championship
or the Olympics to the average viewer, because not everyone's
(14:56):
as obsessed as me and I realize that. I do
think that kind of makes those matchups less significant, but
that's my opinion. From the fan perspective, I do think
that it perhaps waters that down. But I can understand
from the organization perspective the player's perspective, that these are
(15:16):
really really valuable moments, and to take away those moments
and those opportunities from these players, I obviously wouldn't want
to do that to them either, but I'm so from
the fan, I think yes, From the actual organization.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
No, right, And maybe it's give those younger players just
get an opportunity somewhere else where they get like a
practice spot with the PAHL team and get to develop there.
Maybe there's a different avenue for them to have that
tryout and really get to shine. It's interesting you say that.
I wonder too. I'm thinking about, of course NHL Four Nations,
and there were players that Bruins Charlie McAvoy got hurt
(15:48):
during the Four Nations, But like it's the same thing.
The players want to compete for their country and they
often don't get to do that in ment hockey. So
maybe it's something like that where it's a Four Nations
during the All Star break for p WHL where we
still get to see those international rivalries come to play
more consistently. But like you're saying, it's not watering down
the rivalry series, it's not four games back to back
to back. Maybe that's a solution here too.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Yeah, because this reliance on the national teams for a
professional environment is so unique to women's hockey. We don't
have this in men's hockey. And I do think as
women's hockey continues to be professionalized in the same way
that we have the NHL, I do think that we
need to take a step back, or I think it
would be beneficial to take a step back and think,
(16:34):
how does the national team play into this, and how
do the actual how does the actual PWHL play into
player development, and what's that relationship going to be like
moving forward? And I think that those are conversations as
fans that we should start having because I think it
was I want to say, it was Sarah Nurse that
got injured last year and I'm a Toronto Scepters fan
and I couldn't get to see her play and that
was a huge loss for me. When I AnyWho, and
(16:56):
that's me being really, really selfish but it's cool.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
It's cool that we're in this place where it because
it started off as a necessity. It was the only
place to play. And now it's like, oh, we can
have this conversation because there are so many other opportunities
to play. So it's it's cool that we're at this
point in asking these questions.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
And it's tough because these because of the history of
women's hockey, these are the This is the dream, right
playing on being rostered on the national hockey team for
women's hockey is the dream, even if you are potentially
going to be able to also play in the PBHL,
because it's just been such a long tradition. So I
feel like it's an unpopular opinion and I feel like
(17:35):
it's one that could be considered a hot take because
it would be creating less women's talking opportunities. But I
do think that it could be just funneled into the
PAHL a little bit more or changed. But let's look
at the results. So the rivalry series results, Canada has
one four of the five series that have been completed
to date. So that's when you know I'm being honest,
(17:55):
because as a Canadian, I am being completely honest. With
how I feel about that. And they also did two
reverse sweeps in the process, so they were behind in
two of these series and then ended up doing a
reverse switechwise, which I think is just actually just great television.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, it's such a testament to this rivalry. That's like, oh,
team would say they're going to run away with this one,
and then all of a sudden, of course we get
those reverse sleeps. So yeah, it runs deep. This is
how it goes. It's always contentious, it's always going to
be intense, even if Canada's have the overall edge historically.
As you said, let's get into the rosters, because both
teams have. As we said, it's a tune up for
(18:32):
the Olympics. We're testing, we're seeing and it's about who's
going to make the roster. So both teams really have
a mix of veterans the names we know, Marieopulan and
Hillary Knight, the big names, Kendle, Coins Gofield, all of those.
But then there's some new covers. So I want to
ask you stuff about those newcomers, who are some young
players or one or two to watch on each team
that are trying to make a crack at making that
Olympic roster.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I am so excited about eighteen year old defender Chloe
Primorano for team She could be the youngest player to
make the Canadian Olympic squad if she makes it for Milan,
since Marie Feeley Pulan did it back in twenty ten.
And I think when we throw around these phrases like
generational talent, it puts a lot of pressure on the athlete,
(19:15):
and it does get thrown around quite a bit these days.
But she is so unique and how her teammates talk
about her is also so so highly. So she's been
rooming with Laura Stacey and Marie Pheeley Pulan during this
process for the rivalry series and I think last year
even maybe and MPP speaks so highly of her. She's
(19:39):
a defender, but she's a great goal scorer. She has
so much potential. She graduated high school early so that
she could go play in the NC Double A. She's
such a star. I'm really excited to see what she
does in this rivalry series and if she makes the roster.
So that's someone to watch that's young for Team Canada,
someone to watch that is in the PWHL already is
(20:00):
Hannah Miller. So, Hannah Miller was originally named to the
roster in the previous Women's Worlds, but because she played
for China once back in twenty twenty two, she was
ineligible to play for the Women's Worlds because it's a
sanctioned event with the International Hockey Federation the IIHF. But
the Rivalry series is not, so she can play for
(20:20):
this upcoming series no matter what. And then they're still
trying to work out if she can actually get rostered
for the Olympics. So I am interested to see how
she performs in this upcoming series, especially when there's a
kind of a will they won't they with how she'll
get if she can get on the roster in the
first place according to the rules with the ii ASIA.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Wow. Interesting, I feel like I want to just watch
a game. I want to watch all these games with you.
I want to like, we need to live text because
all your insights and the score baby, the lore ye
discord exactly. Just go to the JUSTS plus membership you'll
hear stuff and all her hot takes and all this
lore behind these players. So if you're yeah, that's a
great plug for the GIS plus if you want this
inside knowledge, get on there. Steff will be in the
(21:02):
discord talking. That's Team Canada. So a couple players to
watch there. Tell me about tam USA, my team. I
need to know who am I watching for in TMUSA.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Team USA is a much younger roster. I counted before
we started recording. So Team USA has sixteen members on
this roster who are either born in the year two
thousand or later, whereas Canada only has seven. So there's
a lot more nineties babies on Team Canada than on
Team USA. So Team USA does have an objectively younger roster.
(21:33):
They have thirteen Olympic bets in eight NC Double A players,
and I think Team Canada only has two NC DOUBLEA
players on the roster, so it is a younger team.
So there is that to keep in mind, and I
think that brings a little bit of excitement to the
Team USA roster. So someone to watch, I would say again,
another defender. I'm so biased to defenders here. Hannah Miller
(21:54):
is a forward, so there's that. But defender Leila Edwards.
She could become the first black woman to play hockey
for Team USA at the Olympics if she makes the
twenty twenty six roster. Something else that's fun with this
particular series for her too, though, is the game that's
happening at seven PM is a homecoming for her. So
she's from Cleveland. She will be playing this game in Cleveland,
(22:17):
and I think that that's a really special homecoming and
I think that will have a huge boost to her performance,
just knowing that all of her friends and family are
there to see her play with Team USA. And she
recently had a position change, so she played forward I
think up until around twenty twenty four, so this is
a recent change to go back to defender. And she
(22:37):
also injured her knee last month, but is back to
be young, to be young, to.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
Be young, the bounce back. And she's made history before too.
She made her debut for the American national team during
the twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four rivalry series,
and she was the first black woman to play for
the national team when she did that, So she's no
stranger to making this history that that homecoming is so special.
I'm glad you called that out because it's it'll just
be so coold with her family in the stay in
that atmosphere, it'll be awesome to tune into before we wrap.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Can I name one more person?
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Oh? Yes, I will USA.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Just to be fair and not have my Canadian bias,
I would say goaltender Gwyneth Phillips for Team USA. Gwyneth
is in the PBWHL, so not the same in terms
of not I'm not naming another NCAA athlete, but Gwyneth
Phillips absolutely lights out performance for the Ottawa Charge in
the last playoffs and just really made herself a star,
(23:27):
whereas Aaron Frankel I think was like their go to
starter prior to that. And I would really love to
see what Gwyneth Phillips does with this rivalry series if
she gets to start. I'm just so excited to see
her development and to watch her play amazing.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
So those are all the players to watch. I do
have to ask you before we wrap the section, what's
your final prediction for the rivalry series?
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Oh, Team Canada's gonna take it.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
What's right three to one sweep? I think it'll be.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I think it will be close. I think it'll be
it's four games right or uh, I know, I don't know,
will it count if it can be too tub? But
like ones one in overtime? Does that count?
Speaker 1 (24:07):
No? Not for me? Okay three one then three one? Okay,
what do you think I'm going to go to to
even split? And then it'll all get sorted out in
the Olympics when the final final scores. That's a better narrative.
So maybe I'll pack that. Yeah, amazing, Well, tune in.
We'll be following it on Newsletter two and on Socials
We'll have lots of coverage there. But definitely subscribe to
(24:29):
the Just Plus so you can get this insider conversation
from Steph.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
Let's let's talk hockey. It's time for the last segment
of the podcast, our personal training SESSH. This is where
we would love to either answer hard hitting questions that
you have about anything or like truly anything in the
(24:54):
sports world, or where we would like to share one
of your hot takes, or just share something that you
want to share about sports world.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
It's really open. Anything come through the DMS, come through
Steph and El's DMS, come through the gyms. Everything is
fair game and if you'd like to be featured on
a future episode again, go to the DMS or we'd
love to hear your voice too. So call and leave
us a voicemail at one four three seven five six
four five five seven nine, or email us at pod
(25:21):
at the gisports dot com. All that will be in
the show notes too if you want to call in
and leave a voicemail or send us something over email.
But for today's personal training session, we're sharing a note
from Emma that she wrote into Steph. So Steph, do
you want to share Emma's message?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah? She wrote to me and Elle on Instagram. Thank
you so much Emma for sliding into our DM. So
Emma wrote, quote, it doesn't hurt the same. So actually
I'm going to reverse a bit here. So recently we
talked about the Blue Jays and the World Series in
our Tuesday podcast, and so Emma reached out to us
after that podcast was published and gave us her thoughts
about the World Series.
Speaker 1 (25:55):
So here it is quote it.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Doesn't hurt the same. But I was also rooting for
the Jays, and I do think a lot of people
not from LA were rooting for them too. I think
the Dodgers are great. I'm from mass and will always
be a MOOKI Bets fan, and I don't think the
US deserved to win the championship. Smiley face. I don't
know if you've seen this post at all, but this,
along with Ernie Clement post season interview, are real reasons
why people fell in love with the Jays this year.
(26:18):
I appreciate your podcast so much and have been listening
to every episode over the past three plus years. I
love sports, and I love hearing about them from a
female lens.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
I'm a coach and.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
Hearing my athletes talk not just about our sport, which
is softball, but everything else going on in the women's
sports world makes my heart so happy because that was
not happening five years ago when I was in college.
Thank you for all you do yellowheart emoji.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Thank you Emma, Emma. That is so sweet. Our community
is just the best, Like it's these messages they make
our day every single day. This was so sweet, and
I want to shout out Emma because she's a coach
at Williams College, which is my rival school from where
I went to college, and she's a softball coach, so
as much as women, this is our biggest rival. Shout
out to Emma for working in the NESCAG, working with
(27:04):
the next generation, and really inspiring that the next generation
of athletes. So shout out to Emma. Even though we're
rivals at the end of the day, do you know
her in person? Through just through the gist, not through
not in person?
Speaker 2 (27:15):
Unfortunately, Dang, I was still close.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
I know, we basically do because of that softball connection.
But I'll jump in here at I got to talk
about baseball, you got talk about women's sockey, We got
to talk about baseball a little bit. Because as a
also from Massachusetts like Emma, also a big Moviie Bets fan,
I and also as someone who was watching the World
Series as a hater because I am a fan of
(27:41):
the team in the Alis So I was kind of
rooting against the J's because I did my Ale East.
I know, I'm so sorry, only because my Ali's team
was not My Red Sox were not in the World Series,
and I was really jealous. I will admit it. I
was so jealous. I wanted my team to be there.
But there were all of these moments where I was like,
I have such a soft spot for this team, and
they were really so inspiring the way they played, all
(28:03):
the Vlatty storylines, Like there were so many storylines. I
was like, I am a hater to my core, but
I can't. This team is fun to root for, so
I am aligned with you, Emma. They were. It was
such a fun run and there were so many moments
that made you fall in love with the Jays, like
you just had to because of all these storylines that
she's shouting out and the stuff you guys talked about
on the Tuesday Pod and we're.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Talking about the rivalry series. Vlattie of the Jays, Groje
Junior wore a game jersey. I didn't realize it was
a game jersey until someone at work told me today.
So thank you so much, Steven to to to the
World Series. So I'm sorry, Yeah, I'm so overcome with emotions.
So Vlattie wore a Marie Filipe Pulan Team Canada jersey
(28:44):
to Game seven, and just like greatness and acknowledging greatness,
and also the team Canada was watching it. They were
like continuously shown on the broadcast at the Rogers SkyDome
and where the World Series was taking place in Toronto,
so they were there and he wore her jersey, and
I just think that speaks volume to the character that
(29:06):
is on the Jay's team and That's why I got
so emotional and fell so in love with this team.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
Definitely, and they will definitely be back, like Lad's sticking around.
Shane Bieber just announced that he's coming back to Toronto.
So sometimes with baseball it's fluky and like their's are
no Diamondbacks a couple of years ago made a deep
run and now they're not gonna be did it for
a while. But I think the Jays will be contenders.
They have the pieces in place, so I think they'll
be back next year.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
And that means a lot coming from your stuff. You're
not just saying this.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
To make me feel better, No, no, no, I think
they'll be in it for a wile unforunately for me
as a Red Sox fan. But yeah, it'll be competitive.
But thank you, Emma for this nice message. We really
appreciate it and totally agree with you. So shout out
to you again for working with the next generation of
athletes and coaching at the collegiate level. Perfect.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Thank you so much, Emma, And with that, at marks
the end of today's episode, thank you guys so much
for tuning in. We'll be back in your feed with
the new podcast on Tuesday. In the meantime, if you
enjoyed today's episode, we would love if you could rate, review, subscribe,
check out the show notes, and be featured on a
future episode in our Personal training Slash.
Speaker 1 (30:10):
This episode was edited by Savannah Held and produced by
Lisa Minutillo and Alessandra Puccio. Again, I'm Lauren Tescala and
I'm
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Steph Frutz, and we will chat with you again on Tuesday.
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