December 30, 2025 • 43 mins
Common Man Progrum HOUR 1 --Montage -- Blakemore’s Breakaways– Halvy
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Cuban.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Dad.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Oh, I don't even get the common man, open man.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That's a bummer.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Welcome to the Day Before The Day Before the Final
day of twenty twenty five. Kevin Falmas, along with Brett
Blakemore in for the common Man, Dan Cole and Brandon
Maleski Old Tennabee off doing dad things. I'm sure somewhere
across the great state of hockey. And what a time
to be a hockey fan. Brett Blake Moore, how are
you doing, my friend?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
What a rousing victory in Vegas for your Minnesota wild unbelieved.
That was the most convincing win since the qu'es trade.
I mean that was dominating.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You might be right, there's been a there's been some
good ones this season. The game against Colorado on Black Friday,
that was awesome. That was the first fist pump by
yesper Valstad as he shuts out both Nathan McKennon and Cale.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Mccarr Radio damn mirror explode. Made them angry.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
They didn't like it, but we sure did going to
Winnipeg and beating them, even though that's not as great
of a victory as it looks now, but still you
had lost to them for ninth straight going back four years.
So you go into Winnipeg, you beat them to you
beat Dallas, you thump them, put five on Jake Ottinger
and the Stars.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
But you're right to start to this road trip.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
The win in Winnipeg this time around to start the
road trip wasn't the prettiest, but man would have finished.
And then they go to Vegas last night and beat
up on a hurting Vegas Golden Knights team, and you know,
they won two in a row to start the road trip,
and they get a chance to finish off twenty twenty
five at least that portion of the schedule tomorrow at
the Shark Tank in San Jose. So yeah, I say,
(01:46):
it's it's pretty good time to be a Wild fan
these days.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That's really good.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
And the lines I think are not to burn every
single one of my breakaways. But I just love the
way that the depth scoring. I mean, hat tip to Johansson, who, yeah,
has been savaged in this town any of time. I
think he's mashed his point total from last season already.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
It's crazy. You know what, the last two years he
scored eleven.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Last night he scored his twelfth and four point outing
you might be one of those that have to eat
some croll. That's fine, They're going to Marcus Johansson even
on a one year deal.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
What is Bill Garon thinking? Is he on dope? Well,
apparently he knew what he was doing.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Now, I've always said I if the play changes, I'll
change the material accordingly.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And he's playing.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Well, now I'll say this, and this goes for everybody.
If it dries up come playoff time, we'll hear about.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
That as well.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Yeah, but again, as we say, the players have the
last word, and right now the last word is word dominant.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This is what I'm thinking. It's too bad because this
has been a nice little run. If Brandon was here,
he probably would have made one of those cool montages.
Like I'm a diehard listener to The common Man Show.
I know a lot of his bits, a lot of
his terminology. Some of it goes over my head, but
a lot of it hits me between the eyes. And
how good would it have been to have a montage
(03:03):
to open up the show today to salute the Minnesota
well third place in the Western Conference.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Who would have.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Thought that was possible after dropping nine to twelve in
the month of October.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But they've resurrected their season.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
They pulled off a couple of the trade for Quinnys
obviously was great, signing career Capriceo off to a long
term deal into the season and now riding the waves
since November first, they've been unbelievable twenty one, four and
three since they got out of that dismal October. Since
November one, it's been amazing. So we should have done
is put together a montage.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So let me do this.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Hang on, I've actually found a cool website and you
can go there, and I think radio producers use this,
and I guarantee you Brandon Moleuski is used.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Hang on, let me just check.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, this is the one that I think I'm looking for.
It's to put montages together on the fly. And let's see,
it's asking for a couple of different category. We want
it in the style of common man on kfan. I
always musa spell KFN my fat fingers. Okay, so kfan,
we want it in the form of a montage. Now,
(04:10):
this is where it's gonna get tricky, because they've on
the fly. They've got to put in wild radio highlights
featuring Joe O'Donnell and Tom Reid, plenty to choose from.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
We're already forty games into the season. There we go.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
We want it emotional. That's one thing that I think
Common and tenn Tobe do great. They make it emotional.
So we'll add that category in and let's see what
we got.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Fire that up. If you can't turn on this computer,
I have no idea if this will suck. Turn on
that one.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Hey, yep, it might be good. It's buffering, all right,
I think it's ready. You fire it off in there,
and let's see what we got. This is a montage
to the first half of the Minnesota Wild season. I
have no idea what this is going to sound like,
So cross your fingers. It could be awful, could be wonderful.
Him to be alive if you put your I hope
John Hines somewhere somehow here's about that and can play
(04:59):
it for that Why crew tomorrow at the Shark Tank
before they go into that matinee against the San Jose Sharks.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What do you think I mean, I've got tears in
my eyes. Are you sure he didn't just hire tennab
to do that? Are you do you think he would
do anything for me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I'd bend over backwards for everyone in this build, but
he would not.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
He's, like I said, being a dad doing dad things.
Probably at a golf simulator, if I had to guess,
or probably in a hockey rink with one of his
eighty four kids.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
But that was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Saul and Blaine, you guys rock have a happy New
Year's always love Kenny Rodgers goat guy says, welcome tena
AIB and this one from the seven to six three
area code. I just pulled over my car, hugged a stranger,
and then I took it easy on a Packers fan.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Let's go all caps exclamation point. I'm not sure what
to make of that one.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Well, I'm with you, you know what, Packer fans, we
need to be nicey. This is gonna be a tough
week for you. You're going into the playoffs with a
limp because the Vikings are not taking it easy on
you this coming week.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Let me tell you us Bank Stadium, there's going to
be a house of horrors for you.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Dave Sinecon and all you cheese heads out there across
the Great State of hockey, You've come to the wrong
place if you're looking to get fat and happy at
our expense.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The Vikings are going into the off.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Season with a big old w, but you could be
going into the night with a pair of tickets to
an upcoming Minnesota Wild home game.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
This is what I'm asking, Brett Blakemer. I know the
answer for you.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
You're firmly on the bandwagon, correct on the Wild.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Bad Mags.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
It couldn't be more How were you feeling four hundred
some days ago when the Wild were bounced in the
first round of the playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Were you on the bandwagon? Then?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I would say that I was feeling a bowl loosening
level of existential dread.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
I think that's what I was feeling.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I think everyone was kind of in the same boat.
You didn't know what was going to happen in the offseason.
You had the question mark hanging over your head with
Carill capriceof how would they respond after getting bounced in
the first round. And now you look at what's happened
to this team over the first forty games of this season,
including last night where they go to Vegas and get
a measure of revenge on the Golden others, I get
(07:07):
carried away.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I mean the Vegas Golden Knights ended their season last year.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The Wild beat him twice in a regular season game,
including last night at Teamobile Arena.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
But that said, are you on the bandwagon? This is
what I want.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I want your texts and I want your talkbacks all
throughout the course of the program. If you are on
the bandwagon, what drove you to that point? What was
your breaking point?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Okay, I believe again. Was it one of the two
seven game.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Win streaks that they put together in the first forty games.
Was it the re signing of Carill capriceof to a
long term deal, having him say, yep, I want to
be here for the long haul. Was it going out
there and signing or trading for I should say, Quinn Hughes,
a generational talent out there on the blue line, a
difference maker in so many different ways. Or is it
the emergence of one of these young kids a Danilla
(07:54):
you're off last night playing on the top line with
Caprisov and Zuccarello. Is that the emergence of the great
Wall of St. Paul, Yespervalsta what makes you a believer?
Once again? Now almost to the midway point of this
Minnesota Wild season. Put it in form either on that
free iHeartRadio app use the talkback or text us and
I've got tickets to give away to an upcoming Minnesota
(08:16):
Wild home game.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
A great time to get inside the building.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
The problem is you got to wait another couple of weeks,
week and a half, whatever it is that's left on
this road trip. The World Juniors are in town, so
there's certainly stuff going on at Grand Casino Arena. It
ain't the Minnesota while, but they will be back soon,
and we've got tickets for you. If you can convince
me why you are on the bandwagon or are you
still hesitant? That too could be a talkback. What's holding
(08:39):
you back? Why are you not a believer? You have
to see a first round victory to make you believe
in Bill Garon and what he's doing here for the
Wild and the state of hockey.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
That too can be a valid answer.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Put it in a written form either text us at
six four six eighty six, or you can use that
free iHeart radio app and use the talkback feature where
giving away tickets multiple in over the course of the
next couple of hours leading up to three o'clock, we're
also going to talk a ton of hockey. The World
Juniors are going on in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Awesome
(09:12):
tournament has lived up to the hype to this point.
I'm very jealous of Zach Halverson and Mark Parrish. They've
been calling all the play by play action for Team
USA on your radio, whether it be for the Flagship
tomorrow night, they'll be on there.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I think they're on there last night. As a matter
of fact, they will be tomorrow too.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Once the extended Minnesota wild post game finally wraps up.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
That it just goes on and on. But when that's.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Finally done, Halvey will have Sweden against the Americans, and
if Team USA can get the win out of that one,
they guarantee themselves a top two spot in quarterfinal action
as they make their way towards the Metal rounds later
this week. What else, and then, of course the while
going on, So go ahead, get we got Russell coming
up at about two o'clock, we got Halvey at the
(09:58):
bottom of the hour. We got to our guy John
Morosi from NHL Network joining us at the bottom of
next hour as well. But when we continue, you know what,
let's bust out Brett Blakemore's Breakaways. That's next fill in
for common Man on the film Kafan.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Welcome some great shows to Grand Casino Arena next year.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Rascal Flats will be there January twenty third, a Rick
Church February seventh.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Take us on sale now.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Get complete details on upcoming shows on our concert page
KFA dot com.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Keyword calendar motala keyword what keyword calendar? Hotell.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Hey, it's a Nate from Columbia Heights. And what's really
got me behind the wild is the wall from Saint
Paul with Bulstead, but then also gust us In and
then our two defensemen, Favor and Hughes.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Now, I really think.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
We have a one two three knockout punch now that
can really get us out of the first round. But
I am from Minnesota, so I do have a little
bit of Hes to see when it comes to the playoffs.
But I would love to see them succeed beyond the
first round.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Says you're welcome. Talkbacks blowing up.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Text line blowing up as well from Dan Cole at
the nine to five to two area code I'm always
on the bandwagon until I'm not.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Zero chance.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That's actually Dan Cole, another one of the six to
one to two area code on the bandwagon since we
started getting that great defense slash goaltending from the sixty
five to one area code. I've been on the bandwagon
ever since. Billy g has been leading it. This man
wants to bring a cup here more than anything, and
he's showing it by not being afraid to make the
necessary moves. Best general manager in the league, everything feels.
(11:40):
Another one calls us a skatriots from the three to
two zero area code. From the sixty five to one
area code. What's the name of the Montage website? Again,
I think that's from Maleski. He might be listening. He's
looking for a shortcut. Do your job, Brandon. I'm not
giving you any shortcuts. Are helping you do your job faster.
You just put in the work like you always do,
and you'll do a great job. You'll be out of
(12:01):
that interim label before we know it. Everything's very positive
thus far. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that
third place in the Central Division and considering how the
season started to how it's going. You would think that
there'd be a lot of positivity, but is there someone
out there that isn't quite on the bandwagon yet? What
do you need to see? That's what we want to
(12:22):
hear from you. Six four six eight six. You can
text that in or use that free iHeartRadio app. We'll
weave those in to the show between now and three o'clock.
In as we mentioned, I'll give away a couple of
tickets this hour, a couple more next hours, so keep
them coming. We'll get to as many of them as
we possibly can. The best part about Common not being here, well,
(12:42):
there's a number of reasons. I don't have to smell
tuna emanating from his tupperware in this chair. I don't
have to get my butt kicked by program passwords, which
is usually why I'm here so you people can make
fun of me. But the other reason is because he
leaves that wheel of topic unattended. I know that it's
not golf season, and that's why he He hasn't used
it in forever. We used it during Beyond the Pond.
(13:03):
We busted that thing out just a couple of maybe
about a month ago.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It took some maintenance. He's sitting there he had. He
has not moved it since I used it last.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I want to see if they fix it, because I
guarantee you they have not. They're not even going to
look at it until next spring, I guarantee it. So
let's spin the wheel of topic and let's see if
it's still working the way it should be. Had a
great round in Arizona. We could talk about that again,
but the second time, if.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Golf comes up, then we have to do it. It's
the wheel of topic. Minnesota wild Wow, they don't does
anybody work around here? How can it still be set
up like that? Well, that's that's too bad.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I mean, we spun the wheel of stuff boat, we
spun the wheel of topic, and we just got to
do what it says. So if we're gonna talk Minnesota while,
we may as well do it right. Let's bust out
Brett Bligmore's breakaways.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
It's time for Blake for breakaway.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Remember I got shafted um beyond the Pond, didn't even
do it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Hey, I want to get through the open first.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Well, great boy, someone called me burstage for stepping over
the montage that was created organically. I'm sorry, So I
didn't want to step out over Brett Blakemore's Breakaways. You
did get snuffed last week, there's no doubt, but you
cannot argue with the guest lineup we've had in the
month of November and even into December. I guess we
(14:32):
started at the end of November. So when we've been
on the air, myself and Pat mcletty, you buy our side.
We love getting Brett Blakemore's Breakaways, but we've had John Mayasich,
we had Zach Parizi. Last week, we had Tony Grenado
and Phil Housley. I mean, when you talk about a
star studded lineup, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's been great.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Last week in particular, it was one big guest after another,
so it was tough. But I promise you this is
my wish and my lasting This is what I promise,
is what I should say. Saturday ten am to noon
went beyond the pond. Next takes these airwaves. I promise
in that two hour window we will have the return
(15:12):
of Brett Blakemore's Breakaways because it's so good and this
will be a good example of what we missed out
last week and what we should look forward to this
coming Saturday.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
We'll go here.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I put out a poll yesterday on x and really
this could be a breakaway every single time I do
the segment. Okay, so I said game one of the
playoffs is tonight? Who do you start?
Speaker 6 (15:34):
In?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Net?
Speaker 4 (15:36):
And is a very scientific poll because a everything on
Twitter is reality and not nearly a warped reality. And
two only fifty three people voted on it, so this
is absolutely scientific.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
But okay, so how do you want me to go
by the Do you want to reveal your results? Do
you want to want me to give you my opinion
or do you want to give your opinion?
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yes, I want you to tell me who you would
and then who do you think won the pole?
Speaker 3 (16:03):
A month ago I would have said yes, Pervalstad, and
I don't know that I would have batted an eye
though the tear that kid was on the Great Wall
of Saint Paul was playing large and he was showing
he's the real deal. I think he should be knocking
on the door of the Swedish Olympic team, and he's
been doing some amazing things. But let's not forget who
the number one goaltender is for the Minnesota Wild right now.
(16:24):
I'm not talking about the future. I'm talking about right now.
Philip Gustifson is that guy. Thirteen eight and four on
the season, but he's six to one one in his
last seven starts, nine to one and three in his
last thirteen. Philip Gustofson has regained the throne as the
number one goaltender for the Minnesota Wild right now. In
the future, yes, Pervalstead, right now, if the playoffs start tonight,
(16:46):
I want Philip Gustofson between the pipes with.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
They're arousing sixty four percent of the vote, the Great
Wall of Saint Paul leads people want yeah, and it's
declared that's the most scientific poll. Yep, humanly imaginable.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
And no one wanted Max Brosemore two. Oh wow, cheap shot.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Take that guard you way back from the dirty swine
whatever it's called.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
No, I'm just saying why everyone likes the backup and that,
and that's fine, and there's nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
There's so wrong answer.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
It's like one of the debates I like having with Nicoletti,
who's the better player right now? Do you want McKinnon
or do you want McDavid. There's not a wrong answer.
And it's the same thing with these two guys, Gustafson,
Volston both great options. You asked me what I would
do tonight if the playoffs were starting and you're going
in Round one against the Dallas Oars.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
I want Philip Gustofson. We only have like a minute left,
so I have to get this one in. I had
a few other talkers, but we only have a minute.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
We gotta get to We have to straddle. Oh, he
could be a little bit late.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
All right, Well he's wrecking my New Year's Eve. I'm
gonna wreck his JAB four New Year's Eve. He's on
my time now.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
I really want to get this in. And I know
you hate why I bring this up here. That's why
it's about the future. We thirty line up. By the way, again,
that was this season that I was talking about. I
went to the World Junior's game. I missed the entire
first period thanks to the road still being icy to
drive ten miles an out of the whole way there.
Not bitter about it all earlier. Good I was working. Sorry,
(18:12):
committed the bit. Good News says the US didn't start
playing until the second period.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Anyways, Wow, not a rip.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
I was very happy about that. Actually, it was fantastic.
Nothing gets me going more than sports nationalism. There's just
something about it that just gets your blood pumping. The
goal song for the US is Freebird.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
It's awesome.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
It's unbelievable, and like the Slovakian goal song, it was fitting.
It was weird, but it was It sounded like something
you would hear as you're about to die playing a
squid game.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
But that's that's okay.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
But Ours America's gohal song is a ripping guitar solo
to Freebird, which then goes to say, can we not
get rid of Shout? It's so bad? It's it's completely subjective.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
There is no.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Opinion.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
I hate when people say it's objectively well, technically, nothing's
objectively bad. It's totally subjective. Shout stinks. Bring back, I
mean remember, I mean that's a b Yeah, that's a
good one.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Let's go crazy. Was okay, but the Vikings have that
they don't need to do that for me.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Back in the day, it was a gary glitter rock
and roll Part two. You can't do that for obvious reasons.
You think Epstein's a bad dude. Yeah, so kick that
one to the curve. But that's that goes back to
my glory. I mean, I don't know. I don't think
about it that much.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
I know you don't. It drives me crazy, and.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I know you're not alone in that thought, but man,
I don't know. I I do like the Freebird though. Man,
every time they score, it's it's outstanding the way. Hell,
he's calling it great on the radio. He's doing a
great job with the play by play as well, but
he's letting him breathe, and we've got some highlights.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
We can play some of those.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But after they score, they have the horn and then
you hear the free Bird rocking out in the background.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
He just he scores six to five, blah blah, bah blah.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And then he lets a breeze so you can hear
the Freebird in the background. It's outstanding, the great job.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I think it just proves that you can put cooler
things after the goal. Like it's not doesn't have to
And I get savior text. The players voted on it
three years ago. I understand it's.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Just not good. It's just not give me one more.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Speaking of Team USA, and this can lead into Halvey.
I wasn't trying to rip them when saying they didn't
play until the second period. But I do feel like
in general they've been playing with their food a little
bit more than they should.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
They are a good team. They are skilled that I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I was watching people for check around the net, which
is a big no no, but they're so fast they
can do it because they just.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Have that amount of speed.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
I feel like they're just they're playing around a little
too much and they could put these teams to bed.
The second game was closer than it needed to be
as well. This one was closer than it needed to be.
Do you think they're playing with their food a little
too much?
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I think this is kind of like an All Star team,
you know, the way they can whip that puck around
and the way they can fire it from all angles
and the fancy passes. I think they're just you know,
getting comfortable with each other. I just don't think they're
first of all, I don't think they're as good as
they were the past two seasons. And someone can correct
me if you think I'm wrong. I just think that
the last two World Juniors they were a little bit
(21:12):
more stacked than this current setup. But that's not to
say that this team isn't stacked enough to get a
third consecutive gold. Can they do it? That's like asking
can the Wild win the Stanley Cup? Sure, if they
got to get past Colorado, they got to get past Dallas,
they got to get past Florida, you.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Know, any of the other big names out there.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
And that's the same thing here for the Americans in
the World Juniors, They're gonna have to deal with Sweden,
They're probably gonna have to deal with Canada and any
of the other top fources from those nations that are
they're representing their countries, be it at Grand Casino Arena
or at three Am Arena at Mariucci.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
But it's such a fun tournament to watch for those
of you. What was it like the game that you
went to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I know that weather wasn't great, but at least from
a fans standpoint, I the one that I watched from
in there.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
It wasn't Slovakia. It was the game before that, Switzerland.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I think it was where I was sitting up there
doing the Wild broadcast at the same time next to
Hellvy and.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Perish, and it wasn't full.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I mean, the top level wasn't jam packed, but there
were a lot of bodies in there, and the atmosphere
was outstanding.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Every time they scored, it was just electric.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
It was absolutely I've always you know, Miracle is a
movie that I could rewrite from memory. I've seen it
so many times and just hearing. I've never been to
a events where you get that with your heart. You
say yeah, and it, you know, means not just like
you're doing it after the national anth or anything like
it's a it means something. Yeah, it was unbelievable. I
(22:39):
loved it so much. I love sports nationalism. There's a
when the Ka Chuck brothers fought the Canadians, I could have.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Ran through a wall. It was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
And that's the best part about the four nations leading
into the World Juniors.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
All this is the appetizer.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
We in your appetite for the main event, which is
coming up in a rapid fire moment. And we'll get
into this with Russo at the top of the r
Of course, we're gonna talk Minnesota while and what Bill
Garin's going to do to add pieces to this already
pretty darn good lineup. But what's gonna happen with the
Olympics and Team Usa. I think they're unveiling on Friday.
Team Canada's unveiling their lineup tomorrow or their roster, so
(23:17):
lots of things to get into.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
There's some guys on the bubble.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Are the Wild going to have a conglomeration of you know,
they're gonna have a ton of Americans. They're gonna have
three Americans for sure. I think they're going to have
more than a few Swedes as well. And then you
got some other you know, prospects out there doing some
good stuff. They're going to Oh yeah, I know that's
the bummer, and that's for bigger reasons than a stupid
hockey tournament.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
But it would be fun to see. Uh, some of those.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Big going to get hurt. That's good. Well, unless he
gets hurt Ice Fishing.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Didn't el Nino get hurt on an airplane once he
was hanging off the wing. I mean, people do stupid
stuff with idle time. I don't think Coroll caprice Off's
that guy. But he'll get an opportunity to rest during
the Olympic break and that'll be good for him, hopefully
good for the Wild coming down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Let's take a break and then when we continue.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
I want to remind you keep sending in those talkbacks and.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Text us at six four six eighty six.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Couldn't be any easier going to award random tickets to
a listener that tells us why you are or not
on the bandwagon through forty games of this Minnesota Wild season.
What needs to get you to come on over or
what was it that clinched it for you?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Why you are a believer?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Now with Bill garon the Minnesota Wild and all things
great about the state of hockey, we'll get to those
and your texts soon.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
By Halby's joining us next. He's the play by play
voice of the World Juniors. I'm Kate f a N.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Fan.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
We're your home for giving away tickets. Fall that's giving
away Wild tickets, but we've got your shot at tickets
this weekend's border battle all week long. By showing us
your purple preset, Here's what you do. You go to
kfan on the iHeartRadio app. You set it as your preset,
screenshot it and post it to your socials with the
hashtag KF Purple Preset. Make sure you follow in tag
k F a N as well winners DM This Friday,
(25:05):
get full Rules kfa N dot Com Keyword Contest kfa
N dot Com Keyword Contests.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
Riiker Lee the Michigan State Spartan gives it over, gets
it back, Left Side Circle.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Factor, Shi Store Love Sellers on.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
The power Play and at six to four, tm USA.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Sent along back into us A N. They'll return the favor.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
It's back in the deep tive xplayers and t USA
okay really Takestown Team Slovakia the Final Store us A
six Slovakia five.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
The Voice of Hell They Zach Halverson, Mark Pearrish with
all the play by play action to this point on
the radio and your audio home for the world Junior's
Cafe in and Cafe and the Plus.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
You guys are having way too.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Much fun in that Al Shaver press box following the
exploits of a Team USA squad that's gone out to
a three and oh start in the preliminary rounds.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
How much fun are you having?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Hell? They Yeah, we had a moment during one of
the media timeouts yesterday or I just looked over at
Mark and I said, how fun is this? I mean,
it's it's it's a dream come true. Just an incredible
atmosphere down there and then obviously the hockey. It's so good.
It's it's it's living up to this, this year long
(26:38):
wait for this to finally be here. It is here.
It is fun, free, bird is flowing, and uh, it's
it's such a such a great chance and great opportunity
to to be able to call these games at Mark
and even you as well, Ben your fall nuts.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Yeah, we'll be on with you tomorrow after that that
exhaustingly long postgame show that the Wild make Me put on,
following hopefully a win over the.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Shark over the Sharks at the Shark Tank.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
But then we'll get John Hines on, We'll probably do
eight player interviews, and then finally we'll throw it upstairs
to Halvey to bring us all the play by play
action of what should be. I mean, this is setting
up for I know everyone looks forward to USA Canada,
but this is pretty darn good. A New Year's Eve
battle between the Americans and the Swedes. I'd have to
(27:26):
imagine you're excited to call that one.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Yeah, you know, Sweden's had a very similar run here.
Through the preliminary run, they've you know, had the big
victory over Germany and then the couple of close battles
with Switzerland and in Slovakia as well, so you know
this is going to be certainly Timysay's toughest challenge yet.
And obviously there is the history between Sweden in US,
(27:52):
and it's just I mean the fact that you have
it on New Year's Eve where I mean downtown Saint
Paul's gonna be rocking. It's it's you know, it's one
of those cans. Or if you can, if you can
make it out there, certainly do so. Take a car
available world, use them into six dot com, go through
that official portal there there and get your get your
(28:13):
butt down to Grand getson Arena tomorrow night if you can.
Obviously would love you, love for you to join us
on on camp in. But uh, I'm very very much
excited to see, uh, you know what this team can do.
And it's been you know, they had moments where you're
shaking your head and you're worried, and then they come
back and they they really do impress and and they
(28:37):
get that they've gotten the wind that they needed to get.
But again, Sweden I think be certainly the toughest tests
and it's probably going to have that test that going
into a quarterfinal round where things will only continue to
get more difficult.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Yeah, that's the excitement about this tournament. It just ramps
up as it goes on. You get through the round robin,
you let the cards the fall where they may, and
then you get into the the metal rounds and the quarterfinals.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Like you said, start on Friday.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
It looks like the Americans have the five o'clock game
on Friday in around number one and now the question
or in the quarterfinals. Now the question is who will
they face as the number one or number two seeds,
So that remains to be seen. The big thing they
can do is help themselves tomorrow with a win over Sweden.
I've had an opportunity to hear a good chunk of
(29:24):
the play by play that both you and Mark Parrish
are providing to the listeners. Did you guys have a
conversation prior to the tournament? I mean, you both are
season professionals. You know what you're doing. But was it
a thing where you guys talked about it in advance
to let the free bird breathe a little bit coming
out of a goal, or is it just something that
happened organically?
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Oh no, I mean Mark Parrish. He's a pro, and
he's called many games, and I think he knows the
right time to win, you know, when it is his
turn to come in and analyze. And he is so
good with the analyzing of of the the goals and
everything else. So we didn't really have an actual and
(30:07):
in fact, I will say this too, is we we've
been talking about this for the better part of a
year on our Wednesday and Friday mornings when he comes
into the Power Trip, and I don't think we we
got anything, you know, too specific. But what's what's been
cool is is just kind of how natural it has been.
I think that does come from you know, being on
the radio with him for for for multiple years. And
(30:29):
actually we had called games back in the day with
the high school hockey tournament, so we do have some history.
But no, it's it's it's been really natural working with
Mark and and you know, he's about as excited and
energetic as I've ever seen. Obviously, he is a Team
USA guy through and through, played in this tournament, played
(30:52):
in the Olympics or that Red, White, and Blue, strong
and uh and now he's he's you know, living vicariously.
I think through the guys down there on the ice
and loving every second of it. So it's all passion,
it's all just you know, being there and just again
being so so grateful that we get to do this
(31:13):
on a night casis now and just can't wait. I
can't wait to get back at it tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yeah, you talk about Mark Parrish, and I was talking
to Brett about some of the guys we've had on
Beyond the Pond over the course of the last month
leading up to this event. And Parish as diehard team
USA as they come and rooting for the Red, White
and Blue, of course. But go back to John Mansich,
a guy that played in the sixties. You know, he's
put he can't believe that this tournament is finally in
Minnesota again. Zach PARIZI we talked to him, Phil Howsley
(31:43):
last week. Tony Garnado was well doing some fine work
there on the TV side. There's something special about this tournament,
no doubt. Give me the strength and the weaknesses of
this USA squad. I watch them and it feels like
an all star team, But at the same time they're
not clicking like one just yet.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Is there too much talent?
Speaker 3 (32:03):
If that's even possible, or what's standing in their way
of going and putting up a three peat.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Well, that's that's certainly I think clicking is the right term.
I mean, they just they've got so much challenge. It's
just that the challenges of course harnessing it. And you know,
every one of these guys are you know, their best
player basically on whatever team they came from to to
come out here and play, and so it's you know,
it's it's a little tough to to you know, go
(32:31):
from being the guy to being just one of the guys.
And you know, we're seeing that, I think in real time.
You know, we said especially against Slovakia, where you know,
it started out a little shaky. You know, they came
out flying and they were they were moving the puck
and they were you know, got some great scoring opportunities
in the first couple of minutes. But then again it
(32:51):
just it sort of unraveled into this you know, everybody
trying to maybe do it themselves or you know, make
you know, be way to fancy with it. And that's
that's a problem throughout the tournament as everybody's trying to
make this high right highlight reel geek and and and
not just just moving the part properly and and a
(33:12):
lot of times the tam USA is paying for that
by you know, giving up a breakaway or an odd
man rush the other way. But I think the third
period in particular yesterday was about as encouraging as we've
seen all year. They obviously give up the one goal
late in the third, by thewis had two goals uh
to close that thing out. Especially even in the second
(33:34):
half of that that second period as well, they seem
to find a way to really harness all that talent.
You know, we're seeing guys like Chase reed or stepping
up in the wake of Cole Hudson, who uh, you know,
went at just a terrible injury on Saturday and was
able to Uh. We were very lucky that we found
(33:56):
out that after the game that he eventually did make
it back with the team and now he's day day.
But you know, scary moments there. That's a big loss.
But you said, guys like you know, Chase are stepping up,
and you know some of the some other you know
greats uh, you know guys are are stepping up as well.
I mean, we look at Adam kleeber Minnesota Dluth. He's
(34:17):
been a solid force in that blue line right now,
and so it's it's everybody's again having to pitch in
to make up for the lost talent, but then also
recognize that tail are also still very, very talented and
figure out a way to use that, you know, properly,
and uh, you know we we always talk about special
(34:38):
teams too. That's another thing that that seemed to again
get better as the last three games have not on,
especially last night against Slovakia, and they will need to
have those special teams clicking on all cylinders here, firing
on all cylinders coming up against Sweden, Dan whoever they
play Friday, and hopefully the next two after.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
That, Yeah, for sure, and you'll hear all that action
either here on k F A N or KFA the
Plus led by Zach Halverson most likely, and hopefully with
Mark Parrish. If he's not available, then you're stuck with
me and we'll have a lot of fun as sitting
up there in the al shape press box calling the
action through January fifth, as long as the Americans are
still battling for a medal, give me a name that
(35:23):
you didn't expect that you've watched thus far in the
tournament that you really enjoyed watching that maybe you didn't
know as much about coming into the tournament, but three
games deep you know this name pretty well.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Now you know. It's really hard because obviously all these
names are so so familiar. So I don't want to,
you know, insult anybody too much, but I will say,
I mean, Will he knew how good he was coming in,
and it's not a major surprise, but to have, you know,
three game winners through three games played in the World
(35:56):
Junior Championship is all the more just of I mean,
he is I believe a plus five and through through
three games as well, he's coming up in the moment.
He's again not always, not always flashy, but when he
is the puck he is he's dangerous. I think a J.
Spellacy was a key part to the success of Team
(36:18):
USA yesterday. He worked so hard in the opensive zone,
you know, for some turnovers, made some plays happen, was
able to get a goal himself. But see, I would
say a J Spellacy maybe in the less flashier side.
But even again, even knowing what he what what you
know his his reputation has been Will Zeller's you know,
(36:39):
Maple grow Native really representing the state of hockey well
on the international stage, you know, getting the goals when necessary,
and I have has a wonderful shot, just one of
the many obviously great shots on this team USA squad.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
All right, one last question for you, and I don't
think this is a dumb question. Actually, the way you've
answered a previous question like this before to get into
the preposterous statement tournament, we know that you'd rather call
a high school game and the boys State High School
Hockey Tournament than a Stanley Cup final. That's what I
think was entered into the PST tournament not all that
(37:18):
long ago. So how does this compare to the State
high School Hockey Tournament, which.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
I know you love and you live and breathe it.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
And if White Bear ever gets out of the first round, boy,
you're just gonna have one heck of a fine day
up there on white Bear Lake. But this is international hockey, healthy,
You're representing a country, not just your little community. How
does the World Juniors compare to the boys State High
School Hockey Tournament.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
It's it's so, it's so, I don't know. I've been
trying to answer that question myself, and it's it's it's
so different and it's such a good way. This is,
this is on a whole new level. I mean, this
is the speed of the game, the skill. Obviously you
know we're only just beginning here on this. I I
(38:05):
will tell you this, I don't think it's going to
be anywhere close in terms of of thrill between this
and the nice Hockey tournament this week with with game
tomorrow night and then hopefully beyond, So I think that,
you know, with all that on the line, I think
this might edge out the high school hockey tournament on
a on an individual game basis and and certainly on
(38:28):
an individual tournament basis. I don't know if I had
still have fun regardless if I'm calling this tournament, even
if I'm in Sweden or wherever this tournament is, but
the fact that it is on uh, you know, on
the American soil, but stand up hockey soil, and being
able to celebrate this, this great tournament that you know,
(38:48):
I remember waking up in the morning at four o'clock
in the morning to watch it on you know, NHL
network because it was you know, across the pond, and
and you know the fact that you know, you could
watch this all your life and to see this thing finally,
you know, in this building. I mean, I was watching
highlights last night on TV and I'm like, it's just
(39:09):
so cool to see this, this this event here and
then they have the opportunity to call it. It's It's
been a very very special week and I hope it
continues to be that way, and hopefully we have a
few more opportunities coming up.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That's on the international stage.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
And take me to high school then, real quick, is
this the year finally for White Bear?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Tell me this is their year? Are they stacked for success?
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I think you know, they've as goot a shot as
they've ever had. You know, they took kill Mury to
a one goal loss, but they've had some some really
good wins and really good tides. It's been an up
and down year, but.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
We don't celebrate moral victories healthy.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
But we'll get them back in February or March or
wherever they whenever they play again, hopefully in that section
final and Morgan is to call in Saint Paul.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
That's what accounts Helvey, Thank you for doing this. Can't
wait to work by your side. On New Year's Eve
tomorrow once that exhaust of long postgame show, can it
finally wraps up as the Wild take on the San
Jose Sharks. Hopefully we can wrap it up in under
an hour and we'll get to you sometime probably during
the third period of that game against Sweden.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I'm just kidding. We'll get to you by the second
for sure.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I can't wait. Kevin, then help you. Hope you join us.
It's gonna be fun, all right there.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
He is Helvey, the voice of the world juniors here
on the fan and KF and plus I give Helvy
as much grief as anyone, maybe outside of the guys
on the Power Trip. But he is doing a fantastic job,
so easy to listen to. Hopefully had fun listening to
him and Perish in the first three games. It looks
like it's me and him tomorrow and then we'll see
(40:49):
what happens as the tournament rolls on this weekend. Hopefully
Perish back in that l Shaver or Press Boys, because
he's a natural two man. He should be calling that game,
especially when it's the Red, White and Blue he belongs
to behind the mic, So hopefully we can do that.
I want to get to a break, give me one
or two more talkbacks before we get to Russo at
the end of the two o'clock hour.
Speaker 8 (41:08):
Hey boys, Absolutely, I'm on the bandwagon. However, I have
two concerns. Number one Colorado, Number two Dallas. We need
to figure out how to consistently get past those two clubs.
Black Friday was awesome, However, that needs to be the
norm and not the anomaly. Hughes needs to be the
answer to that. Hopefully that is Knock on ice, Let's
(41:29):
go wild.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Knock on ice, good touch, keep those talkbacks coming again.
We're asking you, are you a believer? Not to bring
in the monkeys, but are you a believer? Are you
still skeptical? What made you jump back on the bandwagon
after a tough ousting in the first round of the
playoffs last year to Vegas? What brought you back over
to the dark side? Or are you still skeptical? Do
you need more? Despite fifty four points in the first
(41:53):
forty games and two potential fifty goal scorers on this roster,
two guys in the top three in the top five
of goal scoring in the National Hockey League, Yes, pravalstad
Dinolo eurov there's all sorts of great things to hang
your hat on. What is it that you need to
see still to bring you back onto the bandwagon for
the Minnesota Wild?
Speaker 2 (42:12):
One more talk back.
Speaker 9 (42:15):
Hi, This is Kippen wood Berry, totally excited about the
Wild and totally on the bandwagon. Great goaltending, top scoring
Hughes rounds out the defense.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
All looks good.
Speaker 9 (42:27):
All we need now is a powerhouse center like Tage
Thompson or Ryan O'Reilly go wild.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
I think that's on a lot of people's wish lists.
We'll see what Russo says about that and more. He'll
join us after the break. By the way, going back
to your conversation about the goal song, Brett, this is
a great example. Eric and circle pines shout terrible goal
song one hundred percent. Meanwhile, the very next text from
the six to five to one area code blakemore is insane.
We love shout every time we go to the game,
(42:57):
so it's subjective one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
In my opinion, it's terrible. Yeah, don't let it ruin
your day.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
Hopefully we hear it a lot because that means they're
scoring some goals and who knows what happens in the future.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
I do know this much.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
On the other side of break, everyone's favorite blogger will
join us right here on the fan.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
It's Michael Russo next.
Cuban.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Dad.
Speaker 3 (00:10):
Oh, I don't even get the common man, open man.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
That's a bummer.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Welcome to the Day Before The Day Before the Final
day of twenty twenty five. Kevin Falmas, along with Brett
Blakemore in for the common Man, Dan Cole and Brandon
Maleski Old Tennabee off doing dad things. I'm sure somewhere
across the great state of hockey. And what a time
to be a hockey fan. Brett Blake Moore, how are
you doing, my friend?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I'm doing well.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
What a rousing victory in Vegas for your Minnesota wild unbelieved.
That was the most convincing win since the qu'es trade.
I mean that was dominating.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
You might be right, there's been a there's been some
good ones this season. The game against Colorado on Black Friday,
that was awesome. That was the first fist pump by
yesper Valstad as he shuts out both Nathan McKennon and Cale.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Mccarr Radio damn mirror explode. Made them angry.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
They didn't like it, but we sure did going to
Winnipeg and beating them, even though that's not as great
of a victory as it looks now, but still you
had lost to them for ninth straight going back four years.
So you go into Winnipeg, you beat them to you
beat Dallas, you thump them, put five on Jake Ottinger
and the Stars.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
But you're right to start to this road trip.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
The win in Winnipeg this time around to start the
road trip wasn't the prettiest, but man would have finished.
And then they go to Vegas last night and beat
up on a hurting Vegas Golden Knights team, and you know,
they won two in a row to start the road trip,
and they get a chance to finish off twenty twenty
five at least that portion of the schedule tomorrow at
the Shark Tank in San Jose. So yeah, I say,
(01:46):
it's it's pretty good time to be a Wild fan
these days.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
That's really good.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
And the lines I think are not to burn every
single one of my breakaways. But I just love the
way that the depth scoring. I mean, hat tip to Johansson, who, yeah,
has been savaged in this town any of time. I
think he's mashed his point total from last season already.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
It's crazy. You know what, the last two years he
scored eleven.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Last night he scored his twelfth and four point outing
you might be one of those that have to eat
some croll. That's fine, They're going to Marcus Johansson even
on a one year deal.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
What is Bill Garon thinking? Is he on dope? Well,
apparently he knew what he was doing.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Now, I've always said I if the play changes, I'll
change the material accordingly.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
And he's playing.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Well, now I'll say this, and this goes for everybody.
If it dries up come playoff time, we'll hear about.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
That as well.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Yeah, but again, as we say, the players have the
last word, and right now the last word is word dominant.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
This is what I'm thinking. It's too bad because this
has been a nice little run. If Brandon was here,
he probably would have made one of those cool montages.
Like I'm a diehard listener to The common Man Show.
I know a lot of his bits, a lot of
his terminology. Some of it goes over my head, but
a lot of it hits me between the eyes. And
how good would it have been to have a montage
(03:03):
to open up the show today to salute the Minnesota
well third place in the Western Conference.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Who would have.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Thought that was possible after dropping nine to twelve in
the month of October.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
But they've resurrected their season.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
They pulled off a couple of the trade for Quinnys
obviously was great, signing career Capriceo off to a long
term deal into the season and now riding the waves
since November first, they've been unbelievable twenty one, four and
three since they got out of that dismal October. Since
November one, it's been amazing. So we should have done
is put together a montage.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
So let me do this.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Hang on, I've actually found a cool website and you
can go there, and I think radio producers use this,
and I guarantee you Brandon Moleuski is used.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Hang on, let me just check.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, this is the one that I think I'm looking for.
It's to put montages together on the fly. And let's see,
it's asking for a couple of different category. We want
it in the style of common man on kfan. I
always musa spell KFN my fat fingers. Okay, so kfan,
we want it in the form of a montage. Now,
(04:10):
this is where it's gonna get tricky, because they've on
the fly. They've got to put in wild radio highlights
featuring Joe O'Donnell and Tom Reid, plenty to choose from.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
We're already forty games into the season. There we go.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
We want it emotional. That's one thing that I think
Common and tenn Tobe do great. They make it emotional.
So we'll add that category in and let's see what
we got.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Fire that up. If you can't turn on this computer,
I have no idea if this will suck. Turn on
that one.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Hey, yep, it might be good. It's buffering, all right,
I think it's ready. You fire it off in there,
and let's see what we got. This is a montage
to the first half of the Minnesota Wild season. I
have no idea what this is going to sound like,
So cross your fingers. It could be awful, could be wonderful.
Him to be alive if you put your I hope
John Hines somewhere somehow here's about that and can play
(04:59):
it for that Why crew tomorrow at the Shark Tank
before they go into that matinee against the San Jose Sharks.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What do you think I mean, I've got tears in
my eyes. Are you sure he didn't just hire tennab
to do that? Are you do you think he would
do anything for me.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
I'd bend over backwards for everyone in this build, but
he would not.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Are you kidding?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
He's, like I said, being a dad doing dad things.
Probably at a golf simulator, if I had to guess,
or probably in a hockey rink with one of his
eighty four kids.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
But that was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Saul and Blaine, you guys rock have a happy New
Year's always love Kenny Rodgers goat guy says, welcome tena
AIB and this one from the seven to six three
area code. I just pulled over my car, hugged a stranger,
and then I took it easy on a Packers fan.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Let's go all caps exclamation point. I'm not sure what
to make of that one.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Well, I'm with you, you know what, Packer fans, we
need to be nicey. This is gonna be a tough
week for you. You're going into the playoffs with a
limp because the Vikings are not taking it easy on
you this coming week.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Let me tell you us Bank Stadium, there's going to
be a house of horrors for you.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Dave Sinecon and all you cheese heads out there across
the Great State of hockey, You've come to the wrong
place if you're looking to get fat and happy at
our expense.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
The Vikings are going into the off.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Season with a big old w, but you could be
going into the night with a pair of tickets to
an upcoming Minnesota Wild home game.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
This is what I'm asking, Brett Blakemer. I know the
answer for you.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
You're firmly on the bandwagon, correct on the Wild.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Bad Mags.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
It couldn't be more How were you feeling four hundred
some days ago when the Wild were bounced in the
first round of the playoffs by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Were you on the bandwagon? Then?
Speaker 4 (06:40):
I would say that I was feeling a bowl loosening
level of existential dread.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
I think that's what I was feeling.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
I think everyone was kind of in the same boat.
You didn't know what was going to happen in the offseason.
You had the question mark hanging over your head with
Carill capriceof how would they respond after getting bounced in
the first round. And now you look at what's happened
to this team over the first forty games of this season,
including last night where they go to Vegas and get
a measure of revenge on the Golden others, I get
(07:07):
carried away.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
I mean the Vegas Golden Knights ended their season last year.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The Wild beat him twice in a regular season game,
including last night at Teamobile Arena.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
But that said, are you on the bandwagon? This is
what I want.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
I want your texts and I want your talkbacks all
throughout the course of the program. If you are on
the bandwagon, what drove you to that point? What was
your breaking point?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Is that?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Okay, I believe again. Was it one of the two
seven game.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Win streaks that they put together in the first forty games.
Was it the re signing of Carill capriceof to a
long term deal, having him say, yep, I want to
be here for the long haul. Was it going out
there and signing or trading for I should say, Quinn Hughes,
a generational talent out there on the blue line, a
difference maker in so many different ways. Or is it
the emergence of one of these young kids a Danilla
(07:54):
you're off last night playing on the top line with
Caprisov and Zuccarello. Is that the emergence of the great
Wall of St. Paul, Yespervalsta what makes you a believer?
Once again? Now almost to the midway point of this
Minnesota Wild season. Put it in form either on that
free iHeartRadio app use the talkback or text us and
I've got tickets to give away to an upcoming Minnesota
(08:16):
Wild home game.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
A great time to get inside the building.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
The problem is you got to wait another couple of weeks,
week and a half, whatever it is that's left on
this road trip. The World Juniors are in town, so
there's certainly stuff going on at Grand Casino Arena. It
ain't the Minnesota while, but they will be back soon,
and we've got tickets for you. If you can convince
me why you are on the bandwagon or are you
still hesitant? That too could be a talkback. What's holding
(08:39):
you back? Why are you not a believer? You have
to see a first round victory to make you believe
in Bill Garon and what he's doing here for the
Wild and the state of hockey.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
That too can be a valid answer.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Put it in a written form either text us at
six four six eighty six, or you can use that
free iHeart radio app and use the talkback feature where
giving away tickets multiple in over the course of the
next couple of hours leading up to three o'clock, we're
also going to talk a ton of hockey. The World
Juniors are going on in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Awesome
(09:12):
tournament has lived up to the hype to this point.
I'm very jealous of Zach Halverson and Mark Parrish. They've
been calling all the play by play action for Team
USA on your radio, whether it be for the Flagship
tomorrow night, they'll be on there.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I think they're on there last night. As a matter
of fact, they will be tomorrow too.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Once the extended Minnesota wild post game finally wraps up.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
That it just goes on and on. But when that's.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Finally done, Halvey will have Sweden against the Americans, and
if Team USA can get the win out of that one,
they guarantee themselves a top two spot in quarterfinal action
as they make their way towards the Metal rounds later
this week. What else, and then, of course the while
going on, So go ahead, get we got Russell coming
up at about two o'clock, we got Halvey at the
(09:58):
bottom of the hour. We got to our guy John
Morosi from NHL Network joining us at the bottom of
next hour as well. But when we continue, you know what,
let's bust out Brett Blakemore's Breakaways. That's next fill in
for common Man on the film Kafan.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Welcome some great shows to Grand Casino Arena next year.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Rascal Flats will be there January twenty third, a Rick
Church February seventh.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Take us on sale now.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
Get complete details on upcoming shows on our concert page
KFA dot com.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Keyword calendar motala keyword what keyword calendar? Hotell.
Speaker 6 (10:42):
Hey, it's a Nate from Columbia Heights. And what's really
got me behind the wild is the wall from Saint
Paul with Bulstead, but then also gust us In and
then our two defensemen, Favor and Hughes.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Now, I really think.
Speaker 6 (10:53):
We have a one two three knockout punch now that
can really get us out of the first round. But
I am from Minnesota, so I do have a little
bit of Hes to see when it comes to the playoffs.
But I would love to see them succeed beyond the
first round.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Says you're welcome. Talkbacks blowing up.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
Text line blowing up as well from Dan Cole at
the nine to five to two area code I'm always
on the bandwagon until I'm not.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Zero chance.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
That's actually Dan Cole, another one of the six to
one to two area code on the bandwagon since we
started getting that great defense slash goaltending from the sixty
five to one area code. I've been on the bandwagon
ever since. Billy g has been leading it. This man
wants to bring a cup here more than anything, and
he's showing it by not being afraid to make the
necessary moves. Best general manager in the league, everything feels.
(11:40):
Another one calls us a skatriots from the three to
two zero area code. From the sixty five to one
area code. What's the name of the Montage website? Again,
I think that's from Maleski. He might be listening. He's
looking for a shortcut. Do your job, Brandon. I'm not
giving you any shortcuts. Are helping you do your job faster.
You just put in the work like you always do,
and you'll do a great job. You'll be out of
(12:01):
that interim label before we know it. Everything's very positive
thus far. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that
third place in the Central Division and considering how the
season started to how it's going. You would think that
there'd be a lot of positivity, but is there someone
out there that isn't quite on the bandwagon yet? What
do you need to see? That's what we want to
(12:22):
hear from you. Six four six eight six. You can
text that in or use that free iHeartRadio app. We'll
weave those in to the show between now and three o'clock.
In as we mentioned, I'll give away a couple of
tickets this hour, a couple more next hours, so keep
them coming. We'll get to as many of them as
we possibly can. The best part about Common not being here, well,
(12:42):
there's a number of reasons. I don't have to smell
tuna emanating from his tupperware in this chair. I don't
have to get my butt kicked by program passwords, which
is usually why I'm here so you people can make
fun of me. But the other reason is because he
leaves that wheel of topic unattended. I know that it's
not golf season, and that's why he He hasn't used
it in forever. We used it during Beyond the Pond.
(13:03):
We busted that thing out just a couple of maybe
about a month ago.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
It took some maintenance. He's sitting there he had. He
has not moved it since I used it last.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
I want to see if they fix it, because I
guarantee you they have not. They're not even going to
look at it until next spring, I guarantee it. So
let's spin the wheel of topic and let's see if
it's still working the way it should be. Had a
great round in Arizona. We could talk about that again,
but the second time, if.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Golf comes up, then we have to do it. It's
the wheel of topic. Minnesota wild Wow, they don't does
anybody work around here? How can it still be set
up like that? Well, that's that's too bad.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
I mean, we spun the wheel of stuff boat, we
spun the wheel of topic, and we just got to
do what it says. So if we're gonna talk Minnesota while,
we may as well do it right. Let's bust out
Brett Bligmore's breakaways.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
It's time for Blake for breakaway.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
Remember I got shafted um beyond the Pond, didn't even
do it.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Hey, I want to get through the open first.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Well, great boy, someone called me burstage for stepping over
the montage that was created organically. I'm sorry, So I
didn't want to step out over Brett Blakemore's Breakaways. You
did get snuffed last week, there's no doubt, but you
cannot argue with the guest lineup we've had in the
month of November and even into December. I guess we
(14:32):
started at the end of November. So when we've been
on the air, myself and Pat mcletty, you buy our side.
We love getting Brett Blakemore's Breakaways, but we've had John Mayasich,
we had Zach Parizi. Last week, we had Tony Grenado
and Phil Housley. I mean, when you talk about a
star studded lineup, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
It's been great.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Last week in particular, it was one big guest after another,
so it was tough. But I promise you this is
my wish and my lasting This is what I promise,
is what I should say. Saturday ten am to noon
went beyond the pond. Next takes these airwaves. I promise
in that two hour window we will have the return
(15:12):
of Brett Blakemore's Breakaways because it's so good and this
will be a good example of what we missed out
last week and what we should look forward to this
coming Saturday.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
We'll go here.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
I put out a poll yesterday on x and really
this could be a breakaway every single time I do
the segment. Okay, so I said game one of the
playoffs is tonight? Who do you start?
Speaker 6 (15:34):
In?
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Net?
Speaker 4 (15:36):
And is a very scientific poll because a everything on
Twitter is reality and not nearly a warped reality. And
two only fifty three people voted on it, so this
is absolutely scientific.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
But okay, so how do you want me to go
by the Do you want to reveal your results? Do
you want to want me to give you my opinion
or do you want to give your opinion?
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Yes, I want you to tell me who you would
and then who do you think won the pole?
Speaker 3 (16:03):
A month ago I would have said yes, Pervalstad, and
I don't know that I would have batted an eye
though the tear that kid was on the Great Wall
of Saint Paul was playing large and he was showing
he's the real deal. I think he should be knocking
on the door of the Swedish Olympic team, and he's
been doing some amazing things. But let's not forget who
the number one goaltender is for the Minnesota Wild right now.
(16:24):
I'm not talking about the future. I'm talking about right now.
Philip Gustifson is that guy. Thirteen eight and four on
the season, but he's six to one one in his
last seven starts, nine to one and three in his
last thirteen. Philip Gustofson has regained the throne as the
number one goaltender for the Minnesota Wild right now. In
the future, yes, Pervalstead, right now, if the playoffs start tonight,
(16:46):
I want Philip Gustofson between the pipes with.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
They're arousing sixty four percent of the vote, the Great
Wall of Saint Paul leads people want yeah, and it's
declared that's the most scientific poll. Yep, humanly imaginable.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
And no one wanted Max Brosemore two. Oh wow, cheap shot.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Take that guard you way back from the dirty swine
whatever it's called.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Man.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
No, I'm just saying why everyone likes the backup and that,
and that's fine, and there's nothing wrong.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
There's so wrong answer.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
It's like one of the debates I like having with Nicoletti,
who's the better player right now? Do you want McKinnon
or do you want McDavid. There's not a wrong answer.
And it's the same thing with these two guys, Gustafson,
Volston both great options. You asked me what I would
do tonight if the playoffs were starting and you're going
in Round one against the Dallas Oars.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
I want Philip Gustofson. We only have like a minute left,
so I have to get this one in. I had
a few other talkers, but we only have a minute.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
We gotta get to We have to straddle. Oh, he
could be a little bit late.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
All right, Well he's wrecking my New Year's Eve. I'm
gonna wreck his JAB four New Year's Eve. He's on
my time now.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
I really want to get this in. And I know
you hate why I bring this up here. That's why
it's about the future. We thirty line up. By the way, again,
that was this season that I was talking about. I
went to the World Junior's game. I missed the entire
first period thanks to the road still being icy to
drive ten miles an out of the whole way there.
Not bitter about it all earlier. Good I was working. Sorry,
(18:12):
committed the bit. Good News says the US didn't start
playing until the second period.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Anyways, Wow, not a rip.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
I was very happy about that. Actually, it was fantastic.
Nothing gets me going more than sports nationalism. There's just
something about it that just gets your blood pumping. The
goal song for the US is Freebird.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
It's awesome.
Speaker 4 (18:31):
It's unbelievable, and like the Slovakian goal song, it was fitting.
It was weird, but it was It sounded like something
you would hear as you're about to die playing a
squid game.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
But that's that's okay.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
But Ours America's gohal song is a ripping guitar solo
to Freebird, which then goes to say, can we not
get rid of Shout? It's so bad? It's it's completely subjective.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
There is no.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Opinion.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
I hate when people say it's objectively well, technically, nothing's
objectively bad. It's totally subjective. Shout stinks. Bring back, I
mean remember, I mean that's a b Yeah, that's a
good one.
Speaker 2 (19:14):
Let's go crazy. Was okay, but the Vikings have that
they don't need to do that for me.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Back in the day, it was a gary glitter rock
and roll Part two. You can't do that for obvious reasons.
You think Epstein's a bad dude. Yeah, so kick that
one to the curve. But that's that goes back to
my glory. I mean, I don't know. I don't think
about it that much.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
I know you don't. It drives me crazy, and.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I know you're not alone in that thought, but man,
I don't know. I I do like the Freebird though. Man,
every time they score, it's it's outstanding the way. Hell,
he's calling it great on the radio. He's doing a
great job with the play by play as well, but
he's letting him breathe, and we've got some highlights.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
We can play some of those.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
But after they score, they have the horn and then
you hear the free Bird rocking out in the background.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
He just he scores six to five, blah blah, bah blah.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
And then he lets a breeze so you can hear
the Freebird in the background. It's outstanding, the great job.
Speaker 4 (20:05):
I think it just proves that you can put cooler
things after the goal. Like it's not doesn't have to
And I get savior text. The players voted on it
three years ago. I understand it's.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Just not good. It's just not give me one more.
Speaker 4 (20:19):
Speaking of Team USA, and this can lead into Halvey.
I wasn't trying to rip them when saying they didn't
play until the second period. But I do feel like
in general they've been playing with their food a little
bit more than they should.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
They are a good team. They are skilled that I mean.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
I was watching people for check around the net, which
is a big no no, but they're so fast they
can do it because they just.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Have that amount of speed.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
I feel like they're just they're playing around a little
too much and they could put these teams to bed.
The second game was closer than it needed to be
as well. This one was closer than it needed to be.
Do you think they're playing with their food a little
too much?
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I think this is kind of like an All Star team,
you know, the way they can whip that puck around
and the way they can fire it from all angles
and the fancy passes. I think they're just you know,
getting comfortable with each other. I just don't think they're
first of all, I don't think they're as good as
they were the past two seasons. And someone can correct
me if you think I'm wrong. I just think that
the last two World Juniors they were a little bit
(21:12):
more stacked than this current setup. But that's not to
say that this team isn't stacked enough to get a
third consecutive gold. Can they do it? That's like asking
can the Wild win the Stanley Cup? Sure, if they
got to get past Colorado, they got to get past Dallas,
they got to get past Florida, you.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Know, any of the other big names out there.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
And that's the same thing here for the Americans in
the World Juniors, They're gonna have to deal with Sweden,
They're probably gonna have to deal with Canada and any
of the other top fources from those nations that are
they're representing their countries, be it at Grand Casino Arena
or at three Am Arena at Mariucci.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
But it's such a fun tournament to watch for those
of you. What was it like the game that you
went to.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I know that weather wasn't great, but at least from
a fans standpoint, I the one that I watched from
in there.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
It wasn't Slovakia. It was the game before that, Switzerland.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I think it was where I was sitting up there
doing the Wild broadcast at the same time next to
Hellvy and.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Perish, and it wasn't full.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
I mean, the top level wasn't jam packed, but there
were a lot of bodies in there, and the atmosphere
was outstanding.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Every time they scored, it was just electric.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
It was absolutely I've always you know, Miracle is a
movie that I could rewrite from memory. I've seen it
so many times and just hearing. I've never been to
a events where you get that with your heart. You
say yeah, and it, you know, means not just like
you're doing it after the national anth or anything like
it's a it means something. Yeah, it was unbelievable. I
(22:39):
loved it so much. I love sports nationalism. There's a
when the Ka Chuck brothers fought the Canadians, I could have.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Ran through a wall. It was unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
And that's the best part about the four nations leading
into the World Juniors.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
All this is the appetizer.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
We in your appetite for the main event, which is
coming up in a rapid fire moment. And we'll get
into this with Russo at the top of the r
Of course, we're gonna talk Minnesota while and what Bill
Garin's going to do to add pieces to this already
pretty darn good lineup. But what's gonna happen with the
Olympics and Team Usa. I think they're unveiling on Friday.
Team Canada's unveiling their lineup tomorrow or their roster, so
(23:17):
lots of things to get into.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
There's some guys on the bubble.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Are the Wild going to have a conglomeration of you know,
they're gonna have a ton of Americans. They're gonna have
three Americans for sure. I think they're going to have
more than a few Swedes as well. And then you
got some other you know, prospects out there doing some
good stuff. They're going to Oh yeah, I know that's
the bummer, and that's for bigger reasons than a stupid
hockey tournament.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
But it would be fun to see. Uh, some of those.
Speaker 4 (23:41):
Big going to get hurt. That's good. Well, unless he
gets hurt Ice Fishing.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Didn't el Nino get hurt on an airplane once he
was hanging off the wing. I mean, people do stupid
stuff with idle time. I don't think Coroll caprice Off's
that guy. But he'll get an opportunity to rest during
the Olympic break and that'll be good for him, hopefully
good for the Wild coming down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Let's take a break and then when we continue.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
I want to remind you keep sending in those talkbacks and.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Text us at six four six eighty six.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
Couldn't be any easier going to award random tickets to
a listener that tells us why you are or not
on the bandwagon through forty games of this Minnesota Wild season.
What needs to get you to come on over or
what was it that clinched it for you?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Why you are a believer?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Now with Bill garon the Minnesota Wild and all things
great about the state of hockey, we'll get to those
and your texts soon.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
By Halby's joining us next. He's the play by play
voice of the World Juniors. I'm Kate f a N.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Fan.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
We're your home for giving away tickets. Fall that's giving
away Wild tickets, but we've got your shot at tickets
this weekend's border battle all week long. By showing us
your purple preset, Here's what you do. You go to
kfan on the iHeartRadio app. You set it as your preset,
screenshot it and post it to your socials with the
hashtag KF Purple Preset. Make sure you follow in tag
k F a N as well winners DM This Friday,
(25:05):
get full Rules kfa N dot Com Keyword Contest kfa
N dot Com Keyword Contests.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
Riiker Lee the Michigan State Spartan gives it over, gets
it back, Left Side Circle.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Factor, Shi Store Love Sellers on.
Speaker 5 (25:21):
The power Play and at six to four, tm USA.
Speaker 2 (25:35):
Sent along back into us A N. They'll return the favor.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
It's back in the deep tive xplayers and t USA
okay really Takestown Team Slovakia the Final Store us A
six Slovakia five.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
The Voice of Hell They Zach Halverson, Mark Pearrish with
all the play by play action to this point on
the radio and your audio home for the world Junior's
Cafe in and Cafe and the Plus.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
You guys are having way too.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Much fun in that Al Shaver press box following the
exploits of a Team USA squad that's gone out to
a three and oh start in the preliminary rounds.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
How much fun are you having?
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Hell? They Yeah, we had a moment during one of
the media timeouts yesterday or I just looked over at
Mark and I said, how fun is this? I mean,
it's it's it's a dream come true. Just an incredible
atmosphere down there and then obviously the hockey. It's so good.
It's it's it's living up to this, this year long
(26:38):
wait for this to finally be here. It is here.
It is fun, free, bird is flowing, and uh, it's
it's such a such a great chance and great opportunity
to to be able to call these games at Mark
and even you as well, Ben your fall nuts.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
Yeah, we'll be on with you tomorrow after that that
exhaustingly long postgame show that the Wild make Me put on,
following hopefully a win over the.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Shark over the Sharks at the Shark Tank.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
But then we'll get John Hines on, We'll probably do
eight player interviews, and then finally we'll throw it upstairs
to Halvey to bring us all the play by play
action of what should be. I mean, this is setting
up for I know everyone looks forward to USA Canada,
but this is pretty darn good. A New Year's Eve
battle between the Americans and the Swedes. I'd have to
(27:26):
imagine you're excited to call that one.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Yeah, you know, Sweden's had a very similar run here.
Through the preliminary run, they've you know, had the big
victory over Germany and then the couple of close battles
with Switzerland and in Slovakia as well, so you know
this is going to be certainly Timysay's toughest challenge yet.
And obviously there is the history between Sweden in US,
(27:52):
and it's just I mean the fact that you have
it on New Year's Eve where I mean downtown Saint
Paul's gonna be rocking. It's it's you know, it's one
of those cans. Or if you can, if you can
make it out there, certainly do so. Take a car
available world, use them into six dot com, go through
that official portal there there and get your get your
(28:13):
butt down to Grand getson Arena tomorrow night if you can.
Obviously would love you, love for you to join us
on on camp in. But uh, I'm very very much
excited to see, uh, you know what this team can do.
And it's been you know, they had moments where you're
shaking your head and you're worried, and then they come
back and they they really do impress and and they
(28:37):
get that they've gotten the wind that they needed to get.
But again, Sweden I think be certainly the toughest tests
and it's probably going to have that test that going
into a quarterfinal round where things will only continue to
get more difficult.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
Yeah, that's the excitement about this tournament. It just ramps
up as it goes on. You get through the round robin,
you let the cards the fall where they may, and
then you get into the the metal rounds and the quarterfinals.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Like you said, start on Friday.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
It looks like the Americans have the five o'clock game
on Friday in around number one and now the question
or in the quarterfinals. Now the question is who will
they face as the number one or number two seeds,
So that remains to be seen. The big thing they
can do is help themselves tomorrow with a win over Sweden.
I've had an opportunity to hear a good chunk of
(29:24):
the play by play that both you and Mark Parrish
are providing to the listeners. Did you guys have a
conversation prior to the tournament? I mean, you both are
season professionals. You know what you're doing. But was it
a thing where you guys talked about it in advance
to let the free bird breathe a little bit coming
out of a goal, or is it just something that
happened organically?
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Oh no, I mean Mark Parrish. He's a pro, and
he's called many games, and I think he knows the
right time to win, you know, when it is his
turn to come in and analyze. And he is so
good with the analyzing of of the the goals and
everything else. So we didn't really have an actual and
(30:07):
in fact, I will say this too, is we we've
been talking about this for the better part of a
year on our Wednesday and Friday mornings when he comes
into the Power Trip, and I don't think we we
got anything, you know, too specific. But what's what's been
cool is is just kind of how natural it has been.
I think that does come from you know, being on
the radio with him for for for multiple years. And
(30:29):
actually we had called games back in the day with
the high school hockey tournament, so we do have some history.
But no, it's it's it's been really natural working with
Mark and and you know, he's about as excited and
energetic as I've ever seen. Obviously, he is a Team
USA guy through and through, played in this tournament, played
(30:52):
in the Olympics or that Red, White, and Blue, strong
and uh and now he's he's you know, living vicariously.
I think through the guys down there on the ice
and loving every second of it. So it's all passion,
it's all just you know, being there and just again
being so so grateful that we get to do this
(31:13):
on a night casis now and just can't wait. I
can't wait to get back at it tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yeah, you talk about Mark Parrish, and I was talking
to Brett about some of the guys we've had on
Beyond the Pond over the course of the last month
leading up to this event. And Parish as diehard team
USA as they come and rooting for the Red, White
and Blue, of course. But go back to John Mansich,
a guy that played in the sixties. You know, he's
put he can't believe that this tournament is finally in
Minnesota again. Zach PARIZI we talked to him, Phil Howsley
(31:43):
last week. Tony Garnado was well doing some fine work
there on the TV side. There's something special about this tournament,
no doubt. Give me the strength and the weaknesses of
this USA squad. I watch them and it feels like
an all star team, But at the same time they're
not clicking like one just yet.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Is there too much talent?
Speaker 3 (32:03):
If that's even possible, or what's standing in their way
of going and putting up a three peat.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Well, that's that's certainly I think clicking is the right term.
I mean, they just they've got so much challenge. It's
just that the challenges of course harnessing it. And you know,
every one of these guys are you know, their best
player basically on whatever team they came from to to
come out here and play, and so it's you know,
it's it's a little tough to to you know, go
(32:31):
from being the guy to being just one of the guys.
And you know, we're seeing that, I think in real time.
You know, we said especially against Slovakia, where you know,
it started out a little shaky. You know, they came
out flying and they were they were moving the puck
and they were you know, got some great scoring opportunities
in the first couple of minutes. But then again it
(32:51):
just it sort of unraveled into this you know, everybody
trying to maybe do it themselves or you know, make
you know, be way to fancy with it. And that's
that's a problem throughout the tournament as everybody's trying to
make this high right highlight reel geek and and and
not just just moving the part properly and and a
(33:12):
lot of times the tam USA is paying for that
by you know, giving up a breakaway or an odd
man rush the other way. But I think the third
period in particular yesterday was about as encouraging as we've
seen all year. They obviously give up the one goal
late in the third, by thewis had two goals uh
to close that thing out. Especially even in the second
(33:34):
half of that that second period as well, they seem
to find a way to really harness all that talent.
You know, we're seeing guys like Chase reed or stepping
up in the wake of Cole Hudson, who uh, you know,
went at just a terrible injury on Saturday and was
able to Uh. We were very lucky that we found
(33:56):
out that after the game that he eventually did make
it back with the team and now he's day day.
But you know, scary moments there. That's a big loss.
But you said, guys like you know, Chase are stepping up,
and you know some of the some other you know
greats uh, you know guys are are stepping up as well.
I mean, we look at Adam kleeber Minnesota Dluth. He's
(34:17):
been a solid force in that blue line right now,
and so it's it's everybody's again having to pitch in
to make up for the lost talent, but then also
recognize that tail are also still very, very talented and
figure out a way to use that, you know, properly,
and uh, you know we we always talk about special
(34:38):
teams too. That's another thing that that seemed to again
get better as the last three games have not on,
especially last night against Slovakia, and they will need to
have those special teams clicking on all cylinders here, firing
on all cylinders coming up against Sweden, Dan whoever they
play Friday, and hopefully the next two after.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
That, Yeah, for sure, and you'll hear all that action
either here on k F A N or KFA the
Plus led by Zach Halverson most likely, and hopefully with
Mark Parrish. If he's not available, then you're stuck with
me and we'll have a lot of fun as sitting
up there in the al shape press box calling the
action through January fifth, as long as the Americans are
still battling for a medal, give me a name that
(35:23):
you didn't expect that you've watched thus far in the
tournament that you really enjoyed watching that maybe you didn't
know as much about coming into the tournament, but three
games deep you know this name pretty well.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Now you know. It's really hard because obviously all these
names are so so familiar. So I don't want to,
you know, insult anybody too much, but I will say,
I mean, Will he knew how good he was coming in,
and it's not a major surprise, but to have, you know,
three game winners through three games played in the World
(35:56):
Junior Championship is all the more just of I mean,
he is I believe a plus five and through through
three games as well, he's coming up in the moment.
He's again not always, not always flashy, but when he
is the puck he is he's dangerous. I think a J.
Spellacy was a key part to the success of Team
(36:18):
USA yesterday. He worked so hard in the opensive zone,
you know, for some turnovers, made some plays happen, was
able to get a goal himself. But see, I would
say a J Spellacy maybe in the less flashier side.
But even again, even knowing what he what what you
know his his reputation has been Will Zeller's you know,
(36:39):
Maple grow Native really representing the state of hockey well
on the international stage, you know, getting the goals when necessary,
and I have has a wonderful shot, just one of
the many obviously great shots on this team USA squad.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
All right, one last question for you, and I don't
think this is a dumb question. Actually, the way you've
answered a previous question like this before to get into
the preposterous statement tournament, we know that you'd rather call
a high school game and the boys State High School
Hockey Tournament than a Stanley Cup final. That's what I
think was entered into the PST tournament not all that
(37:18):
long ago. So how does this compare to the State
high School Hockey Tournament, which.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
I know you love and you live and breathe it.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
And if White Bear ever gets out of the first round, boy,
you're just gonna have one heck of a fine day
up there on white Bear Lake. But this is international hockey, healthy,
You're representing a country, not just your little community. How
does the World Juniors compare to the boys State High
School Hockey Tournament.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
It's it's so, it's so, I don't know. I've been
trying to answer that question myself, and it's it's it's
so different and it's such a good way. This is,
this is on a whole new level. I mean, this
is the speed of the game, the skill. Obviously you
know we're only just beginning here on this. I I
(38:05):
will tell you this, I don't think it's going to
be anywhere close in terms of of thrill between this
and the nice Hockey tournament this week with with game
tomorrow night and then hopefully beyond, So I think that,
you know, with all that on the line, I think
this might edge out the high school hockey tournament on
a on an individual game basis and and certainly on
(38:28):
an individual tournament basis. I don't know if I had
still have fun regardless if I'm calling this tournament, even
if I'm in Sweden or wherever this tournament is, but
the fact that it is on uh, you know, on
the American soil, but stand up hockey soil, and being
able to celebrate this, this great tournament that you know,
(38:48):
I remember waking up in the morning at four o'clock
in the morning to watch it on you know, NHL
network because it was you know, across the pond, and
and you know the fact that you know, you could
watch this all your life and to see this thing finally,
you know, in this building. I mean, I was watching
highlights last night on TV and I'm like, it's just
(39:09):
so cool to see this, this this event here and
then they have the opportunity to call it. It's It's
been a very very special week and I hope it
continues to be that way, and hopefully we have a
few more opportunities coming up.
Speaker 2 (39:25):
That's on the international stage.
Speaker 3 (39:27):
And take me to high school then, real quick, is
this the year finally for White Bear?
Speaker 2 (39:31):
Tell me this is their year? Are they stacked for success?
Speaker 1 (39:35):
I think you know, they've as goot a shot as
they've ever had. You know, they took kill Mury to
a one goal loss, but they've had some some really
good wins and really good tides. It's been an up
and down year, but.
Speaker 2 (39:47):
We don't celebrate moral victories healthy.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
But we'll get them back in February or March or
wherever they whenever they play again, hopefully in that section
final and Morgan is to call in Saint Paul.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
That's what accounts Helvey, Thank you for doing this. Can't
wait to work by your side. On New Year's Eve
tomorrow once that exhaust of long postgame show, can it
finally wraps up as the Wild take on the San
Jose Sharks. Hopefully we can wrap it up in under
an hour and we'll get to you sometime probably during
the third period of that game against Sweden.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I'm just kidding. We'll get to you by the second
for sure.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I can't wait. Kevin, then help you. Hope you join us.
It's gonna be fun, all right there.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
He is Helvey, the voice of the world juniors here
on the fan and KF and plus I give Helvy
as much grief as anyone, maybe outside of the guys
on the Power Trip. But he is doing a fantastic job,
so easy to listen to. Hopefully had fun listening to
him and Perish in the first three games. It looks
like it's me and him tomorrow and then we'll see
(40:49):
what happens as the tournament rolls on this weekend. Hopefully
Perish back in that l Shaver or Press Boys, because
he's a natural two man. He should be calling that game,
especially when it's the Red, White and Blue he belongs
to behind the mic, So hopefully we can do that.
I want to get to a break, give me one
or two more talkbacks before we get to Russo at
the end of the two o'clock hour.
Speaker 8 (41:08):
Hey boys, Absolutely, I'm on the bandwagon. However, I have
two concerns. Number one Colorado, Number two Dallas. We need
to figure out how to consistently get past those two clubs.
Black Friday was awesome, However, that needs to be the
norm and not the anomaly. Hughes needs to be the
answer to that. Hopefully that is Knock on ice, Let's
(41:29):
go wild.
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Knock on ice, good touch, keep those talkbacks coming again.
We're asking you, are you a believer? Not to bring
in the monkeys, but are you a believer? Are you
still skeptical? What made you jump back on the bandwagon
after a tough ousting in the first round of the
playoffs last year to Vegas? What brought you back over
to the dark side? Or are you still skeptical? Do
you need more? Despite fifty four points in the first
(41:53):
forty games and two potential fifty goal scorers on this roster,
two guys in the top three in the top five
of goal scoring in the National Hockey League, Yes, pravalstad
Dinolo eurov there's all sorts of great things to hang
your hat on. What is it that you need to
see still to bring you back onto the bandwagon for
the Minnesota Wild?
Speaker 2 (42:12):
One more talk back.
Speaker 9 (42:15):
Hi, This is Kippen wood Berry, totally excited about the
Wild and totally on the bandwagon. Great goaltending, top scoring
Hughes rounds out the defense.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
All looks good.
Speaker 9 (42:27):
All we need now is a powerhouse center like Tage
Thompson or Ryan O'Reilly go wild.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (42:35):
I think that's on a lot of people's wish lists.
We'll see what Russo says about that and more. He'll
join us after the break. By the way, going back
to your conversation about the goal song, Brett, this is
a great example. Eric and circle pines shout terrible goal
song one hundred percent. Meanwhile, the very next text from
the six to five to one area code blakemore is insane.
We love shout every time we go to the game,
(42:57):
so it's subjective one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
In my opinion, it's terrible. Yeah, don't let it ruin
your day.
Speaker 3 (43:03):
Hopefully we hear it a lot because that means they're
scoring some goals and who knows what happens in the future.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
I do know this much.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
On the other side of break, everyone's favorite blogger will
join us right here on the fan.
Speaker 2 (43:14):
It's Michael Russo next.
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