Trout Talk - Season 2 Epi 10 - Carson Rehkopf

Brendan Lang and Mike Karafilids discuss the Steelheads recent play as well as games coming up on the schedule. First year Steelheads forward Carson Rehkopf also joins the program to talk about his first season with the Brampton Steelheads.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:17):
Hello, and welcome to trout Talk here on Saga nine
sixty am or wherever you get your podcast on Brendan
Lang along with mikey Kay Mike Caravalitis, two broadcasters for
the Brampton Steelheads again here on trout Talk talking all
things Brampton Steelheads. And before we get into that, lots
of games recently and we got a big homestand coming
up for the steel Eds, so we're going to get

(00:37):
into that talk about those games coming up before we
do that, though, mikey Kay, thanks for being here. How
are you doing today?

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Oh? Doing really well, you know, just it was a
nice Thanksgiving with the family and whatnot, my sister Sauls.
So yeah, it was really really good. Nice to be
a family. We played some games and stuff after, you know,
with the kids and what not, little ones, and yeah,
it was really really nice. Went by really really fast
the day and that's that's about it pretty much. So

(01:06):
it was all family that weekend.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Was there enough stuffing?

Speaker 2 (01:11):
Ah, yes, yeah there was more than enough. I went
up like three times after so I went Yeah, I
went up like three times after that, Thank goodness, I was.
I was very happy about that.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yes, yeah, that's that's good to hear. They heard your
they heard your life tip, they heard everything about that.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
That's sure they get stuff.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah yeah, same for me though.
I think Thanksgiving was great. It's great to you know,
have everybody over and see everyone and see what's going
on all that kind of stuff. I just think it's
you asked me. Did you ask me last time what
my favorite holiday was? I can't remember if that was
last episode, but yeah, yeah, yeah, and I think I

(01:54):
said Christmas. I think maybe after this Thanksgiving, maybe that
one's up there and maybe that one's climbing the ladder
a little. It was it was a good good yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Thanks, it's good. You don't get it out. You know,
you don't have to worry about gifts, you don't have
to worry about stress with you know, what to get
this person, what to get that person on? Right, just
family getting together, everybody eating and having fun and joking
around or whatever. And that's it, right, that's I like that.
I like Christmas too, but I like them all.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
But yeah, oh yeah, of course, for sure, for sure.
Before we get to the hockey though, like there's some
football that involves our two teams. The Browns and the Bills.
You have a you have a trade being made with
Mariy Cooper, one of the Bills. What do you think
of a mark You'd be more familiar with this game

(02:42):
than I would enjoy.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
You're lucky. Yeah, absolutely, so you got our best wide receiver.
He wanted out pretty much right from the beginning, because yeah,
the team's in shambles right now. It's just it's just
not good one and five right now, right, So let's
just say I'll just say that for draft picks, enjoy him.
And I'm sure he's gonna bring you lots of joy

(03:05):
in Buffalo. And that's all I have to say about that.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
Okay, Well, I'm glad that. I think that's a pretty
good endorsement for him. So I'm pretty excited now to
see what he can do. Obviously, obviously playing with Allen
will be good, So looking at yeah, looking forward to that.
All right, let's get into the hockey now, like we
got some we had a couple of games that have
happened since we were on the air. First off, we

(03:28):
can start with the Windsor game that was in Brampton,
the Steelheads losing that one seven to five. Again, got
off to a really quick start, and they seem to
be doing here recently. Portmarton scores. I think it was
twenty eight seconds into the game. The game against Niagara,
he scored. Eighteen seconds into the game, Raycoff scored. I

(03:50):
think it was sixteen seconds into the game before that
against London. So they're getting off to fast starts, but
they weren't able to get it done against the Winsor Spitfires,
who have a hun of firepower on offense. And you
really saw that was was very evident in that game.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah they're quick, they're fast Windsor they got they could score.
Uh steel Leeds show they could score the shoe stel
Leeds show they could fight back. But every time they
fought back, I mean the Steelers took a lead in
that game, but yeah, Winsor just was able to capitalize.
I mean they had over fifty shots on Jacob Gibbons
and that was his first like start where he actually

(04:30):
looked a little bit more comfortable. I guess you could
say so in that game. You know what, in that game,
they're gonna need you know what, the steel They're gonna
need more secondary scoring. I'll say that they're gonna need
it because they can't just rely on one line with MacDonell,
Raycoff and MacDonell or excuse me, Raycoff, MacDonell and Macon Marton. Uh,

(04:52):
these are the guys are getting all the points. Right,
But against Windsor, I mean, you can't give up fifty
shots a game, and they did. They gave up fifty
shots a game against the very Colts the game after
that too. Can't keep them. Can't keep giving up fifty
shots a game expect to win all the time. Right,
So is it a time to panic? Absolutely not, absolutely not.

(05:14):
I mean I see all these people of writing all
these things and social media whatnot. Oh it's time to panic.
It's not time to panic. It's only seven games into
the season, right, Like, give me a break. You know
this team is so talented and whatnot. But Steele, I's
just got to find a way to not let the
not let the pushback come back to them. Right.

Speaker 1 (05:34):
So right, And I think your your point about the
depth scoring is is well taken. Jack Van Volsen and
and Spencer Silva scoring that game, but all five goals
you had one player from the top line that were
involved in it. Like even the two goals. You have
the goal by by Van Volsen and and Soba, but
again both of those goals assisted by at least one

(05:55):
of those guys that's on the top line. So I
think that is it's a great point that, yes they
scored five goals, but it was the top line doing
a lot of the heavy lifting between those three guys
and Macton, el Martone and Raykoff. So the depth scoring
is something that was great to start the year. I mean,
you think it came against Branford and they scored seven
goals and it was all seven different players all Dawn

(06:17):
the lineup. And then you know there's been a little
bit of bumps and bruises. WI you're gonna expect there's
gonna be some injuries throughout the throughout the year. But
getting into it, like you just said too, it's really
about playing well in front of the goalie and allowing
fifty shots and back to back games or close to
fifty shots in back to back games. It's just it's

(06:38):
gonna be tough regardless of who's in the net.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean Gibvens, you can't he can't stop
them all like and you know what he looked really
good in that very game. The second game. They ended
up losing that one four to two, and that was
the second game for that Dallan Dalan Wakeley of Barry,
who looked a very the former North Baby battalion looked
really really good in that game. But anyways, besides that, again,

(07:03):
you know, it was fifty shots on goal and Gibbons
looked really good. He was stopping shots, he was challenging.
There was the bright spot in that game was probably
Adam's lucky again. I mean, he's been pretty hot lately.
A goal and assist in that game, right, Other than that,
just got to keep working and get back to where
they were so and I'm confident they will of course.

(07:26):
I mean rated number two, ranked number two in the
CHL for a reason, right, so this team is loaded
and did not not to worry. Let's just say not
to worry.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
One hundred percent. And I even thought in the game
against Windsor Jacob Gibbons, I know he gives up I
guess six goals. One of them was an empty metter,
but I didn't really think he looked that bad in
that game either, Like he made some big saves when
he needed to. Again, he was just an onslaught. He
faced a lot of shots. But I think that the
first game against and I agree, there was definitely some

(07:57):
nerves that play into that. And then he has looked stronger.
And you know, obviously you don't want your your starting
guy and Ivan Covid to go down at any time,
whether that's suspension or injury, whatever it is. You don't
want to be missing time from your starting goalie. But
in the long run, you never know how this might
help Gibbons because he gets that opportunity to play regularly
early on in the season. Maybe you know, playing with

(08:19):
a new team, he's got new players in front of him,
give him that opportunity early on in the year, and
I think it's possible that that helps him down the
road well.

Speaker 2 (08:26):
And don't forget, this is the first time that he's
worked full time with a goalie Britch every day, right,
and James, we talked to James Richmond about that, so
that's gonna help him as well. He just looked he
he's just looking more comfortable or whatnot. So the thing
with him is about confidence, right, If his confident confidence
level is up, then he's gonna play well. If he
played again he played really well in his Berry, he

(08:47):
played well. He's winsor as well. And you know what
you nailed. You nailed it right there. I mean, the
more reps he gets now, I mean, you never know
down the road when they're gonna need him. You never know,
Jack Guivan Covid, maybe he's gonna get so excuse me,
you know, never know what's gonna happen with Jack on
the road. Hopefully not knock on wood. But then you're
gonna have a solid backup him exactly. Then you're gonna

(09:08):
have a solid backup. It's gonna come in and Jacob
Gibbons and do the job. And I full call. You know,
I could see why they have full confidence in him.
I'm telling you right now, the way he looked at Barry,
the way he was coming out and challenging shots and
making great saves, making some spectacular saves whatnot. So uh yeah,
I mean it's a good situation to have. And and

(09:29):
look he's looking more comfortable and Chris Beckford two is
going to help him big time, the goaltending coach for
the Steelheads.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
So let's move on to uh to a game at Barry.
Talk a little bit more about that one. You mentioned
it there four to two loss for the Steelheads and
Adams did, like, again he's course.

Speaker 2 (09:45):
In that one.

Speaker 1 (09:45):
And then he's got I think he's he's been really
good to start this year and he is one of
the deaf guys who has really performed I think throughout
the year. Yes, and and and again, I mean he
gets to go on now one Gibbons played well. But
but outside of that, what I a, what did you
kind of see in that game?

Speaker 2 (10:01):
Well, I mean, I mean, still, let's go after that
quick one. Well eight minutes in it was one nothing
and it is lucky on the breakaway but used his
speed there go and beat Hillo Brandt to the glove
side Knights back end. Am I gonna see like stopped
and then.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, you know it.

Speaker 2 (10:16):
It was beautiful. And then after that, yeah, then the
pushback and then you know, Barry was able to just
outwork the Steelheads of their own zone and that's what happened, right,
And they just kept pouring shots on goal and making
some good plays and whatnot, and they were the more
aggressive team and they were outworked Brampton and they came

(10:38):
back with four unanswered right to make it four to
one and then ze Besk he made it four to
two near the end of the game, right, but a
little bit too little, too late, I guess you could
say about Branton in that game. But they need to
get back to that style of out work and the
other team right now, and that's they didn't do that

(10:58):
against Barry. So I'm sure that'll be fine though this
week and coming up in nice week of practice, they're
gonna be just fine. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:07):
I mean again, I think there should be obviously no
panic throughout anybody around the team or at fan base
or whatever. I mean, it's very early in the year,
of course, and like you said, they're gonna be just fine.
This week coming up they have the Autawa sixty sevens
which will have been played on Friday, and then the
Saganaw Spirit that are coming to Brampton for a Saturday game.

(11:31):
Little brother matchup there, so we can talk a little
bit more about that at.

Speaker 2 (11:34):
The back end before looking for Yeah, that will.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
Be an exciting game for sure, and Michael Misa off
to a great start this year se in Saganaw, so
for sure that one will be an interesting game to
look at, no doubt. And now and talking about Bear,
we can go back to that just a second here,
And the first time the Sea Lads played them, they
obviously were a little shorthanded. They go and make the

(11:58):
trade for Dallen Wakely, they get back Bowie Cai, they
get back Riley Patterson. I mean, they look like a
pretty strong team. And then I think they're going to
be them and the steel Heads we had met. We
had predicted it that they'd be in the top four
in the Eastern Conference going into the year, and I
think I don't think that's changing. I think they're going
to be sticking around there.

Speaker 2 (12:17):
Well, here's the team too, don't forget. Here's the team
to the very coolt Yeah, they look really really strong,
but they made they made a lot of moves now
in the beginning, tons of moves. I mean, they picked
up Gardener, they picked up for Tucci, they picked up Wakely,
they picked up who else did they picked up? I mean,
I can't think of the top of my head now,

(12:37):
I think those three, those are the big three that
they picked up. Right, So do they have room to
work with with their draft picks, Yeah, they do, right,
but they I can't see them getting another big time
player in my opinion, looking after their draft covered where
the steel Heads have eight seconds to work with over

(12:58):
the next four years. And that's what you look at
to talk about this last podcast. Eight seconds, a bunch
of thirds, a bunch of fourths and whatnot. Right, So, uh,
when and if James Richmond's going to make some moves,
probably going to get some real, real high end Pact
players are going to come back the other way right

(13:18):
now for the for Brampton. Right So, I'm pretty confident
that they're going to make some moves. I mean, you
can't really keep eight seconds in the cupboard, and this
team especially so I mean when you pick up break
cough and you pick up Solva in the beginning of
the year, right So yeah, So, like I said, you
know that's a team Barry who picked up their players

(13:38):
in the beginning. I don't think they have much to
work with now when trade deadline comes. Do I think
the Steelers are going to be a better team than
Barry at the trade deadline even now? I think they are. Right.
It was just one of those down games. I mean,
you're going to do you can't win them all. You can't,
you can't, you can't be sixty eight No yea, this

(13:59):
is you know, if they're sixty eight, no, then they're
gonna win. You know, I don't think that's gonna happen, right,
So yeah, I mean the funny thing, yeah right, the.

Speaker 1 (14:10):
Funny thing about that. I remember us saying that to
to James Richmond and uh and he was like, what
do you mean you can't win them on? I think
I think he said, I played on a team one
one every game.

Speaker 2 (14:22):
Yeah, that's his attitude, right, Like he wants to win
every game. He hates to lose, right, so, and that's
what he always says. I hate losing. I hate losing.

Speaker 1 (14:33):
But no, you're right. I mean you're not gonna have
your a effort every time you go on the ice.

Speaker 2 (14:37):
So exactly happened, It's gonna happen. Look at two years ago,
Look at two years ago to Barry Colts, Barry Colts,
look at two year ago. The Peterborough Pets, Peterboro PiZZ
made all those moves two years ago, and all of
a sudden they went into a huge tailspin. What's going
on with the peet? What's going on with the Piete?
Oh no, they made all those moves. All they're going nowhere,

(14:58):
blah blah blah blah, law everybody. Then what happened. Then
they turned it on and then they started beating everybody
and made it one Nohl championship. But what not. You're
gonna go through these lulls, right, and I think it's
better to go through kind I mean, they've lost three
in a row. Yeah, but it's better to go through
something like this now. And even with Iman Covid suspended now,

(15:19):
so when I the Covid comes back, it's gonna get
the team a huge boost because we know how much
Jack gives the team a boost when he's in there
the goal and this team they're just gonna get better
and better and better. And they already are getting better
and better and better. So no problems, no problems here,
and you know, yeah, no problems.

Speaker 1 (15:40):
And one of the players who's been getting better and
was already great when he came here was Carson Raykop.
He's gonna be on the show after the break. I'm
Brendan Lang. That's mikey Kay. You're listening to trout Talk
here on Saga nine sixty am. And welcome back to
trout Talk here on Saga nine sixty am. I'm Brendan
Lang along with mikey k Mike carefully is two broadcasters

(16:02):
of the Brampton steel Heads, and now we have steel
Heads forward Carson Raykoff joining us on the show. Carson,
how are you doing today? Thanks for coming on?

Speaker 3 (16:11):
Yeah, I's been great. How are you guys?

Speaker 2 (16:13):
Great? With that?

Speaker 1 (16:14):
Good? Thanks for thanks for being here. So, so start
things off, you know, a couple of a couple of
losses here in a row for you guys, just kind
of talk about what the what the moon's been like
around the team and what practice has been like here
this past this past week.

Speaker 3 (16:31):
Yeah, I feel like the moon has been pretty good.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
I mean it's earlier this season, kind of new team,
new everything, so I think we're just trying to kind
of sort those rough spots. But yeah, I think that's
been good. We have alan hard this week, so ready
for the weekend.

Speaker 2 (16:43):
Good Carson. You know what one thing that I want
to talk about, I mean your line of of you Angus,
MacDonell and Port de Marton thirty eight thirty eight points,
sixteen goals a plus seven four power play goals. Okay,
rest of the team forty one points, fourteen goals a

(17:04):
plus two and two power play goals. So I want
to talk about your line. What has been working for
you guys. I mean, you guys are just all over
the place obviously. I mean you and Porter have this
big thing goal and so talk to me about that.

Speaker 4 (17:18):
Yeah, I think, I mean, I think it just works
out well. I think Goose is hard on pocks, plays
hard and has skill. I think all three of us
kind of like to get in the corners and play
heavy too, So I think it's pretty easy playing with
those guys. And I mean we're pretty close to off
the ice too, so it makes it a lot easier
on the ice to play with each other.

Speaker 1 (17:36):
Yeah, And talking about the off the ice aspect of it,
everybody we talked to just kind of raves about how
close the team is. Is that something that was pretty
apparent to you, like when you first showed up.

Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 4 (17:46):
I think we've done We've tried to do as many
things as we could together. I think just to kind
of build that early on. It gets the long season,
you guys, you kind of have to have at each
other's backs and there's gonna be ups and downs, arguments
and stuff.

Speaker 3 (17:58):
But it's important to kind to stay together for sure.

Speaker 2 (18:02):
So Carson, you were in Seattle camp. You know, we
all know that and whatnot. You had a great chance
in front of the goal. I remember watching the preseason
game against Sea Lobs there, I thought you were actually
gonna bury it. Yeah, talk to me about talk to
me about that feeling, you know, playing in front of
you know, fifteen thousand and sixteen thousand people whatever it
was in Vancouver.

Speaker 4 (18:20):
Yeah, it's awesome. Obviously it's still a next fishing game.
But I mean, just again those games is it's super nice.
It kind of brings you some confidence coming back.

Speaker 2 (18:27):
For sure.

Speaker 4 (18:27):
You play against National League guys, so you got to
kind of see what they do on a game day
and kind of be around that whole the whole process.
So it's super cool for sure.

Speaker 1 (18:36):
And of course being drafted by Seattle, like you just
talked about there, getting into some preseason games. When you
were growing up playing hockey, like, at what age did
you kind of realize, you know, there's you really got
a real shot at playing hockey for a living going
forward and in the NHL in the future.

Speaker 4 (18:52):
Yeah, I think you kind of always have to have
that motivation and confidence. I guess when you're younger to
kind of stay with it. But I feel like, I
don't know, once around maybe minor pee wee peewee, I
kind of grew and grew to my body have been
started to figure everything out and kind of got more
confident and confident kind of as time went on, for sure.

Speaker 2 (19:12):
So if you weren't in hockey, If you weren't in hockey,
I guarantee you you would probably be a cornerback in football.

Speaker 3 (19:21):
That's exactly what i'd be.

Speaker 2 (19:23):
What is that what you want to be?

Speaker 3 (19:25):
Yeah, I'd want to play football for sure. I love
I love football. I'm a huge football guys. So cornerback
receiver for sure.

Speaker 1 (19:32):
Did you ever did you ever play football in high school?

Speaker 2 (19:34):
Already?

Speaker 3 (19:35):
No, never allowed.

Speaker 2 (19:36):
We weren't allowed to play football. No.

Speaker 4 (19:39):
And I never really went to a high school that
like had like sports. I always went to like hockey
schools and stuff like that, So I didn't really have
that that kind of side of things.

Speaker 2 (19:47):
Oh stop secret school.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 2 (19:53):
Exactly. You know what we talked about this, he's a
so okay Brendan and I I want Brendan to get
in on this all right. So Carson thinks that Josh Allen, Yeah,
is better than Patrick Maholmes. Okay. We had Yeah, we
had quite the discussion about this, and we were going

(20:15):
back and forth a little bit, you know, in a
good way. What do you think about this, Brendan, I
want to know your thoughts on this. If you have
the big game, the big game.

Speaker 1 (20:23):
Wow, I feel like that's a different question.

Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (20:27):
I feel like if you minus all the accolades like
Super Bowls and stuff, and you like you're scouting two
quarterbacks from high school and like right now, you'd pick Alan.

Speaker 1 (20:35):
I think, I know, I think the physical tools are
on the side of Alan. I don't think, yeah, I
don't think that that's even really a question, like yeah, yeah, I.

Speaker 4 (20:46):
Feel like he's like Alan, like has only had digs
and I don't even think. I don't think that I'm
not high on digs. Like I feel like, I feel like,
I don't know, Like I feel like if if Allen
was brought up in like Andy Reid's system and like
had those guns that he's had, like Kelsey and those guys, like,
I feel like he would be doing the same thing.

Speaker 3 (21:03):
But obviously it's hard to say that because he's not
in that system, so I don't.

Speaker 4 (21:08):
Yeah, like I feel like I feel like now with
like Amari Cooper and stuff, like, I feel like people
will see like him really like take.

Speaker 2 (21:14):
Off, Enjoy, Enjoy, you off, team on Onto.

Speaker 3 (21:18):
I'm not I'm not a Bell's guy though. That's the
things I hate, I love, I love. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, So are you still following Aaron Hudgers then in
New York?

Speaker 4 (21:30):
I'm super happy for that, Like I don't, like, I
don't know. I think that's super cool. Like I love
I love Tay and I love Rogers, so like I
grew up watching them, so I'm super happy that they're
back together.

Speaker 3 (21:40):
But it's kind of scary. I don't know what's gonna happen.

Speaker 2 (21:43):
Mm, that is kind of scary. All right, So let's
go back to hockey then, Krston. Uh, I mean you're
coming from the coaching style you see a hocus to
James Richmond, Right, what is there any difference of coaching
styles between the two?

Speaker 4 (21:55):
Yeah, I feel like jar is a really good mix
of a players coach and obviously hard on us, Like
I think he's very I feel like he kind of
has that open door policy, like if you want to talk,
like I can go in there and talk to about
anything on an any day and it's kind of just
not weird, like I'm not like scared to go in
there or asking if he wants to talk kind of thing.
So it's super nice in that way. I think he

(22:15):
does a great job developing. Obviously, he kind of has
a track layer to getting guys to the NHL at
early age. So I think I'm just trying to learn
as much as I came from obviously as a player
development side from LA, So that's a that's pretty cool.
He's done that before, so he's obviously knows what he's
talking about. He's done a great job of it. So
it's been super easy.

Speaker 1 (22:33):
For me and Mike. He's talking about the head coaching side.
But also, you worked with a former Steel Edge coach
last year in Kitchener and Jeff here Zachos. Can you
we've had him on the show before before he went
over to kitchen Or So what was the what was
the experience like working with him?

Speaker 4 (22:48):
Yeah, I got super close to Cracks. I mean that's
one of I still talked to him a couple times
a week. I think he's on all his coaches. You
kind of get a connection with just because of how
much he cares about about his guys and wants to
see you guys do better. So I feel like we
did really well together. It's like we he still talk
to me about my games now. I still still checking
on the guys on like checking in on the kids

(23:09):
boys with him. So it's like I'll have that relationship
for a long time and he did a lot for me.

Speaker 2 (23:14):
It's it get a feel when you go back to
Kitchen for the first time, you're thinking about that.

Speaker 3 (23:18):
Yeah, I don't know, like I was.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
We were there for an exhibition game I didn't play,
but even just walking around and seeing all the fans,
and it's it's obviously a special spot for me. I
mean I played three years there, kind of grew up
there so in a sense from sixteen to sixteen and now,
so I feel like.

Speaker 3 (23:34):
That place is special.

Speaker 4 (23:34):
Obviously, it has a lot of history there and they
they care about their teams there, so yeah, it's gonna
be super cool and obviously looking forward to that.

Speaker 1 (23:42):
So what was kind of the reaction you had when
you first found out that you got traded. I mean,
I'm gonna assume it's the first time you've been traded
in your life, so that I had to be kind
of a different experience.

Speaker 3 (23:52):
Yeah, I feel like it was.

Speaker 4 (23:53):
It was something kind of figured that was going to
happen at some point. Obviously, we were good for three
years and I was just kind of the year to
kind of regroup. So obviously had a couple ideas. But
I'm super happy where I ended up, and it's been
it's been awesome so far.

Speaker 2 (24:08):
So so Carson, I wanted to ask you this too.
You've always wanted to ask you this. Actually, you were
number sixteen. That's actually my favorite number. I wear sixteen
whatever I play, So why why number sixteen?

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Yeah, I feel like I've been warning forever.

Speaker 4 (24:20):
It's my grandmother's birthday, so I kind of just got Oh,
that's kind of the only really real sentimental reason.

Speaker 3 (24:26):
But I mean, I've been wearing them forever and I've
kind of never swept so nice.

Speaker 2 (24:31):
That's that's nice. You know why your grandmother's birthday. That's
that's awesome. Yeah, I were number sixteen because of an
ex hockey player. That's the only reason. I don't even
think about it. I don't even know what anybody's Yeah,
so that's good for you. I don't even. I don't
even sometimes I forget when. If I ever forgot what
my wife's birthday was, she killed me.

Speaker 4 (24:50):
I'm not very good at birthdays either, So that's kind
of the one of the reason is because it's my number.

Speaker 2 (24:55):
Yeah, that's great number, great number.

Speaker 1 (24:57):
Yeah, it is a good number. I also wore an
every sack team when I played you too, Yes, yes
I did. I I were after Darcy Tucker. So that's uh, yeah,
there's a few sixteens anyways, away from the rank, Carson,
what do you uh, what do you get up to? Like,
what's kind of your way to escape hockey so to speak? Uh?

Speaker 3 (25:17):
Really just golf, hangover friends.

Speaker 4 (25:19):
I mean, you're so busy in the summer with training
when you get older, so it's kind of you don't
really have too much free time in a sense. But yeah,
just trying to spend as much time with my family
and friends as I can.

Speaker 2 (25:30):
So, Carson, I know, you know the teams, you know
we've lost, they've lost three in a world whatnot going
into this weekend. Uh, there's no panic with the team, right,
No practice was good and whatnot, So talk about that,
talk about you know, practice and it was an intense.

Speaker 4 (25:44):
You know, yeah, like obviously I think we've we have
good practices in general. I think there's no need to panic.
I mean, like I think the rankings were still I
think number two, and it's like it we're a good team.
Like at the end of the day, like this is
sixty eight games, heason, you're not going to go undefeated.
So obviously, like we've we've had a hard schedule, like
we've we've played good teams, like good on Like we

(26:06):
lost two games to two good teams where we think
that we could have won those games and we weren't
even playing our best hockey. So I think there's obviously
things we had to clean up, just typical stuff to
ease and whatnot, letting too many shots past, which is
definitely a problem that we need to fix. But yeah,
I mean, I mean we're we're ready for the week,
and I think we had a good weekend. A good
week would reset Thanksgiving kind of thing, is I think

(26:27):
it was important to kind of guys to get two
days off really kind of reset and kind of just
scratched out those three games from from my mind at
some point.

Speaker 1 (26:35):
So and you would mentioned there about the CHL rankings.
I think you're right still in second place. That's something
that you look at regularly, Like are you always aware
of where your team's being ranked or do you try
to not?

Speaker 3 (26:45):
Like I think it's it's on Instagram. I don't think
it really matters at all.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
But I think it's just one of those things like
we still have to remember we're we're a good team
and we got to play with that that kind of swagger,
and I think that's something that's important in this league.
I think when you're a good team, you got to
play like a good team. And I think it's it's
pretty it's it makes a lot easier to win games
and in state when you're staying confident and not kind
of down in your squad for sure.

Speaker 2 (27:06):
So besides, besides winning a championship, which we know that's
the goal, what is your personal goal?

Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, I feel like it's kind of like I don't
want to be that guy, but like I think when
you win, it's like everything kind of falls in place
for most guys. I think it's any team that wins,
you can look back, like a lot of guys could draft,
a lot of guys move on pro or camps and stuff.

Speaker 3 (27:27):
Like that.

Speaker 4 (27:27):
I think it's every if our whole team kind of
that's their goal. Personal I think it's it's all gonna
work out for us end of the day with whatever
we want to accomplish.

Speaker 2 (27:36):
Oh, you're going to be great in the media, My man.
You're already getting in the media right now. And I'll
tell you when you get to Seattle, they probably already
love you.

Speaker 3 (27:42):
So hopefully.

Speaker 1 (27:46):
What was your we talked a little bit about it.
What was your experience like in training camp this time around.

Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah, I feel like it's second training Camp's a bit different.

Speaker 4 (27:53):
I think you're a bit more comfortable and know what
to expect, kind of the tax on your body, how
to treat yourself and whatnot.

Speaker 3 (27:59):
But I think, yeah, I think just.

Speaker 4 (28:01):
Trying to kind of spend as much time as I
could with pro guys and kind of after practice stuff
like that. Just spend time with the coaches and just
learning things that maybe you don't learn as much in
junior around. Like obviously you're around NHL guys, so there's
stuff that they've seen. Everything, they've been in different leagues,
they've played ten plus a year some of those guys.
So I think just trying to really take as much

(28:21):
as I can from those guys and bring it back
and kind of expand.

Speaker 3 (28:24):
On the knowledge.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
Here a christ, So, how do you like your steak?

Speaker 3 (28:30):
I'm typical medium, rare okay, good.

Speaker 2 (28:34):
You didn't stay medium well like this guy up here?

Speaker 3 (28:36):
The no no crazy stuff like that.

Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah, I'm a medium well guy somebody else?

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Somebody? How do you eat rubber? I don't understand how
you can do you have?

Speaker 1 (28:45):
You have a teammate who also likes meeting well And
I can't think of who it is now he was
on my side, but I can't think of.

Speaker 3 (28:50):
I can't think it.

Speaker 4 (28:51):
But I know there's someone, but I can't think it's
a criminal.

Speaker 2 (28:57):
It should be in jail for real, they should be.
That's like it's like a two month lock up.

Speaker 3 (29:01):
That's like that's like catchup imposter or something like that.

Speaker 2 (29:03):
That's like yeah, yeah, yeah, different.

Speaker 1 (29:08):
Geez getting buried here.

Speaker 2 (29:12):
For you?

Speaker 1 (29:13):
For you. I just kind of want to go back to,
uh to your time in Seattle. Was there he's talking
with all the players there, But was there one guy
maybe that you showed up and you were like wow,
like it just looks different this guy when you when
you see him up close.

Speaker 3 (29:28):
I think it's kind of a different answer.

Speaker 4 (29:30):
Like I think I like a guy like Montor like
just want a cup last, I mean what like four
five months ago now, and he's like, it's probably the
hungriest guy there, which just kind of shows like what
it takes. Like obviously he was like a tailor on
that team, like he was a big reason why they won,
and obviously he got rewarded for that. So I think,
like even just like after practice, before practice, how serious

(29:53):
he takes his recovery. I mean they all do, but
like just the little things he does, the extra stuff
he does, and even like we're we put in an
extra bit sing game when he was he was like, like,
I think, just watching a guy like that and how
how he cares himself when I was here he takes
the game is something that I really looked up to.

Speaker 2 (30:08):
For sure, those are things you could take back to, right,
I mean those little things like that, you know what
I mean. So for sure, good for you, Carson. You're
you're the man, buddy. You just keep you, you keep
working hard, and Razor big things coming for you. I'll
tell you that right now.

Speaker 3 (30:25):
And You're I appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (30:26):
With the media. You're really good with the media. I
can see that. And football season. I hope the Bills
don't win another game because because they got my uh
my wide receiver, you can have them because my team
is disgusting with Deshaun Watson. But anyways, besides that, thanks
for joining us, buddy.

Speaker 3 (30:44):
I appreciate it. Nice talking to you guys.

Speaker 1 (30:46):
Guy. Thank you very much.

Speaker 3 (30:47):
Man Y Yeah, awesome.

Speaker 1 (30:51):
Right, and that was Carson Raykoff, steel Heads Forward, first
year forward with the steel Heads and uh making your
great impression of course so far this season. I'm Brendon Lang.
That's mikey Kay. We will be back right after this
on trout Talk here on SAGA nine sixty am. And
welcome back to trout Talk here on Saga nine sixty

(31:11):
am wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Brendan Lang along
with mikey Kay Mike Carefully's two broadcasters for the Brampton
Steele It's thank you for coming along with us again
on this Sunday afternoon on SAGA nine sixty am. Or
if you're listening anytime, thanks for listening, thanks for watching.
We just spoke to a first year steal at s forward,
Carson Raykoff, who was traded over in the off season

(31:32):
from the Kitchen Or Rangers. Mikey, what'd you take away
from that interview?

Speaker 2 (31:36):
Oh? Absolute maturity, Absolute maturity. You can see why he's
an assistant captain for the team right the way he
talks for sure, what not? You know what he you
know that you can tell by the way he talks
and he gets somebody's attention right away. That's do you
know what I mean? He's just one of those type
of guys, and these guys that scored fifty goals where
the Kitchen Arrangers proven goals score. I mean, he's mature.

(32:00):
That's aught to say. He's mature, and he's got a
great shot. Love his personality, perfect guy for the perfect
guy for this team, messages in right.

Speaker 1 (32:09):
Well, yeah, and maturity, I feel like, is the word
that we use a lot on this program after we
talk to the players. I think that's a it's a
pretty common way to describe who we're talking to. And
and I feel like, and again, this is also something
that I mean, I know I bring it up quite
a bit, but that goes back to how James Richmond
wants the team to be built, that it's from from
the players on the inside to out on the ice,

(32:30):
and obviously he's got great skill, but obviously he's he's
able to do it off the ice as well, and
it's really difficult. And I remember talking to him after
the first game of the season against Brentford after the
game after they won, and the kind of asking him
about just it's got to be pretty difficult to come
into a new situation and then be given an assistant

(32:50):
captain like Spencer soa be given that role of leading
people that he really don't know that well and that
you haven't been around.

Speaker 2 (32:57):
For that long. Yeah, I mean, that's it's a amazing
He just jumped right in, but he knew Portamarton, so
that kind of you know, kind of helped him too
when he came in. And you know, how easy is
it to get along to playing a line to get
to know Angus MacDonell Right, Yeah, another guy too. I

(33:17):
mean those are two great, great kids as well, and
great teammates and great live mates as well for him
and the rest of the team. I mean, and uh,
he's a guy can fit in anywhere. Really. I mean,
he's just got that personality, he's got that swager to
him as well. When you see this guy the way
he talks, the way he acts, it's a pro. I
think that's the word that uh number one word for him.

(33:40):
He's a true pro.

Speaker 1 (33:41):
Yeah, And I think that that rubs off on the
on the team as well. I remember talking to uh
Owen Cartwright, rookie defenseman for the Steelheads before he went
on the intermission with you and then there they build
it together, so U so Owen was so Oan was
telling me, you know, I mean, for for a guy
like like Owen Cartwright, who's a young guy in the league,
that's a great guy to be able to hang around

(34:02):
and learn from as a sixteen year old. That's got
to be a good kind of dynamic there to be
able to learn from that. And he was saying, you know,
it's it's just really cool to watch how he goes
about his business every day. And I think that that's
something that you look for in a leader on a team.

Speaker 2 (34:16):
You know, it's going to be really cool if you know,
we all know Carson ray Cooff is going to play
for a team candidate junior right Brennan and probably most
likely Porto Marteau. So how cool is it going to
be though, for Carson Raykoff after he comes back. The
first game, one of the first games are going to
be in Kitchener. Yeah, in front of that crowd. How

(34:37):
cool is that going to be for him? They're going
to give a standing ovation. It's probably going to be
for about five minutes. I mean, they still love him
down there, right So, but yeah, looking forward to seeing
what he could do this year. And he's already ripping
it up so far, so big part of this team.

Speaker 1 (34:54):
Yeah, and we actually didn't get a chance to talk
to him about it, but he played on the World
Junior team last year as well. Obviously not the the
result that the team Canada wanted, but still the experience
of being over there and playing in that uh sort
of you know that that tournament obviously is a big
thing for for any Canadian hockey player. Right after the tournament, Yeah, yeah, yeah,

(35:18):
definitely we know.

Speaker 2 (35:19):
What we're doing here at truck Talk.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
And uh and also to like you said, maybe his
teammate going with him will have to see, but uh,
but definitely a possibility. Definitely a possibility. All right, So
let's jump into something that actually we did talk a
little bit about when we were talking there to to
Carson raycoff Razor as he's thrown around the team about
the CHL rankings and uh again and he had mentioned it.

(35:45):
You know, it's something that you see but it's not
you know, the be all Entalls just kind of you know,
it shows like he said that they are still a
good team and despite the recent stretch, I mean, they
are still looked at as one of the best teams
in HL and and looked at as the second best
team in the CHL according to the rankings this year.
The Monk and Wildcats are in first. But still Steel
it's right up there at the top.

Speaker 2 (36:05):
Yeah, number two, number two right now ranked in the CHL.
And he he said it best too. And we've been
really touch on it. You know, the Steel's about a
tough schedule so far to yah, really tough, really really
tough to go in the area. Beat here, that's one, okay,
I don't want to beat the Branford Bulldogs your first game,
that's two. To go into Barry and win in Barry,

(36:27):
that's three, right, their fourth win, you know, to go
in you know, to lose to winsor that's a good team.

Speaker 1 (36:35):
Yeah, really good team. They're also in the top ten.

Speaker 2 (36:37):
There you go right to lose the Niagara that's a team.

Speaker 1 (36:40):
That's they're also in the top so far. Yeah, like
Niagara Ice Dogs.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
Yeah, eight in the top ten.

Speaker 1 (36:47):
Yes, really congratulations. I mean that's that is huge for
the seasons that they've had the past few years. To
have the start that they've had it this year and
be obviously recognized in that its gotta be But can
they keep it up? I mean, sure, and that's always
gonna be the question, and we'll find out as the
year goes, Sure we will. But I mean but still

(37:11):
to get out to the start that they've had, they
got it. They deserve a lot of credit for uh,
for what they've been able to do. Yeah, But going
back to what you were saying with the schedule, I mean,
and even it doesn't get that much easier either, Like
I mean, they're facing off against Ottawa again, a team
that is always good. It's always tough to play against
Sagan on Michael Misa and Zane Forrek and those guys

(37:31):
who of course are tough to play. And then and
then you gotta go uh and face the Barry Colts again.
The Barry Colts are a team that that is up
there in the ohl and tough to play against. They've
already played them twice one time not really the full
roster the next time, you know, it was it was
the full roster. Bear, We're going to see that again
in a couple of weeks.

Speaker 2 (37:49):
That's kind of yeah, you're absolutely, you know. And then
they start off the month, I mean, okay, they start
off the month at home against Sarnia, sorry, against North Bay,
right Bay No? Sorry? Sorry, yes, yeah, at home and
then Sarney on the road, Sarney at home again, sorry,
then Sarney at home and then north By on the road, right,
and then they get into going to Ottawa, going to Kingston,

(38:12):
going to Sagan on all that. So another it's gonna
be another tough month. I mean no, not to say,
you know, any you know, every game's tough, but steel
Steeheedds schedule, these first seven games have been really tough
so far compared to some of the other teams, just saying.

Speaker 1 (38:29):
Yeah, well, well let's look at the next two games.
Of course, by the time this airs on Sunday, the
games will have been played, but we can still kind
of talk a little bit about what you're looking for
in those games, of course, both games at home and
the steel Edds they played a lot of road games
here early on, so it's gonna be good to get
three in a row at home. The first ones against
the sixty sevens is we just mentioned there. So against

(38:49):
an Ottawa team, what are you looking for? Again? We
know the quick starts have been there, it's maybe just
sustaining it a little bit longer for the steel It
So what are you looking for in that game against Ottawa?

Speaker 2 (38:57):
So they got Luca Panelli up there. I'm looking forward
to seeing him, looking forward to seeing him. They got
a complete team. Uh you know, they got Dave Cameron
as their coach, of course, one of the best in
the business, the guy from Prince Edward Island. He's been
around a long long time and every time he's around,
his team's always going to be hard to play against.
And so that should be a good one on Friday,

(39:17):
and then on Saturday, of course against the Sagmaw Spirit.
The battle the Lisa brothers, right, can't get any better
than that, I'll tell you that right now. So Michael
Lisa playing against his brother Luke, and this is I
believe the third time they played against each other third time,
so and the first time actually the first time in Brampton.
They didn't play in Mississauga because he was hurt both

(39:38):
the time, so this is going to be the first time.
So looking forward to that, and I'm looking forward to
a couple Actually, I'll say it now and you heard
it here Steel like they're gonna win both these games
this weekend. They're gonna be two and no, they're gonna
they're gonna win.

Speaker 1 (39:50):
Yeah, yeah, and the final two games, I believe of
Ivan Covid suspension, So Gibbons is going to be in
the net. We know who's going to be there and again,
and we talked to build it a little bit in
the beginning of the show, but that that does instill
some confidence. He knows he's going to be in the
net for the next two games. There's no there's no
other direction that's going to be going. So he knows
he's going to be there. And he played so well

(40:10):
against Barry. I just think that he's going to be
able to carry that into these next two games.

Speaker 2 (40:16):
He's got the cat. He played with a lot of
confidence against the very cool and I'm with you on that.
I think he's going to carry that into these two
games coming up. Let Sagan as a team that works
hard too. Ottawall we already talked about as a team
that works hard as well. So, uh, if the Steelers
are going to win these two games, they have to
outwork them. They have to go back to the four lines,
just rolling the four lines as they did in the beginning,

(40:37):
which I'm confident they will against these two teams.

Speaker 1 (40:41):
Yeah, and and again. And that's a luxury that that
James Richmond likes to have and and he has had
for a lot of the season. Shirts it's maybe fallen
off a little bit in the past couple of games,
but being able to roll the four lines and just
being able to play everybody all right, I'm not going
to say equally, but but giving everybody the opportunity because
he knows that that they are going to be able
to seize the opportunity because they have at different points.

(41:04):
So that's huge that that he knows that he's going
to have four lines to be able to roll out there.
And you always know when you play Ottawa, at least
I always find it's always a physical matchup. When you
play Autawa, there's always a lot of physicality, and I
think that the steel Leads, obviously are are always prepared
for that.

Speaker 2 (41:22):
Yeah, two guys and not that team, you know. I
look back at the defense Henry News and Matthew Manch,
especially Matthew Mache every time he seems to play stel
EDGs and I don't know, something always seems to happen, right,
So a little rivalry going on, there's something to look
out for it for sure. Yeah, it's going to be intense.

Speaker 1 (41:41):
Will be. I remember Stevie leskovar through one of the
biggest hits I've seen against Ottawa, and it's slipping my
mind who it was that he hit last year, but uh,
but I clearly remembered. It was right on the near
side by the press box, right.

Speaker 2 (41:56):
At the blue line, yep.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
And it was one of the biggest collisions I ever
seen in my life. And I just really bothers me
that I can't think of who was But I can't.

Speaker 2 (42:04):
I can't think. I think I know what it is.
I can't think either. But he's done that to a
couple of people, Yes.

Speaker 1 (42:10):
Yes he has, and and everybody in Minnesota loves him.
After he got a chance in training camp, but he
was doing the same thing there in the rookie camp
and everything like that.

Speaker 2 (42:21):
Good for Stevie. He stuck around the longer any that
anyone thought, let's be let's be real, right, and he
made a huge impression over there with this physicality and whatnot,
the way he plays the game. Right. I think Jr.

Speaker 1 (42:33):
Said that he was the last junior guy to be
sent back from believable Minnesota camp. I mean, that is
just and that and that's is such a great story
because you know, he's an overager this year and I'm
sure he's got the late birthday, so it was his
second time through the draft and and he gets picked
and even talking to him, you know, he wasn't one
hundred percent sure he was going to be going anywhere.
And then he hears his name called and to be

(42:54):
able to make an impression that quick as a guy
who was drafted later in the draft, I mean, it's
just a great story. And and couldn't happen to a
better guy as well.

Speaker 2 (43:03):
Exactly good family as well. Comes from a good family,
Big Steve, right, So that's that's where he gets the
physicality from Big Steve. It's sixty six sixty seven something
like that. Right, So there you go call him.

Speaker 1 (43:15):
Big Steef for a reason. I think, yeah, he's tall,
he's tall dude anyway, big guy anyway. Yeah, but but yeah,
it's it's gonna be a physical matchup for sure, these
these past two games. And then when you look a
little bit past that, uh you're talking about again, it's
the Verry Colts coming to town. That one won't be

(43:36):
until next weekend or next Friday, twenty fifth, that game
against the Colts. I feel like there's not any anything
more that we can talk about about the Barrys because
they played against them so often.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
But yeah, don't forget suspended for two games when he
a couple of shots shouldn't have at the end of
the game. I know there was that was unnecessary.

Speaker 1 (44:00):
I know there was a little bit of back and
forth that entire game, but it did seem kind of
unnecessary at the end.

Speaker 2 (44:05):
No, I was even saying, I was even thinking too,
like why is he doing this? Like whatever. So anyway,
he got two games, so expect that game is going
to be really really intense and the game.

Speaker 1 (44:17):
Right, yeah, I was just about to say that's going
to be first game back as well, so he'll be
rare to go and he'll be he'll be ready. And
again it's anytime, anytime the steal let's go out. You
know it's gonna be physical, but yeah, that's uh. Those
games will definitely be be hard fought battles for sure,
and like you said, you know, hopefully you can come
away with two wins. And I think everybody has confidence
that they're going to be able to get it back

(44:38):
on track very quickly and that too. And weekend is yeah,
this weekend is a great, great time to do it,
all right. So those are the games coming up that
will have passed, so we'll know exactly what the record
is and hopefully it is two and oh when we
come on the air here on Sunday. But again, those
two games passing this weekend against the Ottawa sixty sevens

(44:59):
and then also against these segond of Spirit. All right,
so we got a couple of minutes left here before
we go, though, Mikey, have anything for us? You know,
we had the stuffing, we had the life tips in
that sense last time. Do you have anything else, maybe
something else that happened over Thanksgiving?

Speaker 2 (45:14):
What do you what do you have? Yeah? You know what?
Enjoy time with family, as much as you can. The
life's too short, that's all I'm gonna say. So, you know,
be grateful for what you have, you know, and be great.
Uh yeah, gratitude, be grateful for what you have. When
you when you're around your family, just make sure you

(45:35):
look around and say, you know what, this is my family,
right if you If you love your family, I'm saying
so our loved ones and whatnot. But just gratitude, be
grateful for what you have.

Speaker 1 (45:47):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think that's a great way to, uh,
to put it. And that's what thanksgivings all about. Of
course you're you're there and you're supposed to, you know,
give give thanks. That's what it is for everything that
you have. And yeah, exactly, And and we talked about
it at the beginning too, you know, getting everybody together,
seeing everyone having conversations all that. That's that's exactly what

(46:07):
it's about.

Speaker 2 (46:08):
It's not politics.

Speaker 1 (46:09):
Yeah, that's right. Keep the politics out of it. Came up.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
Right away, yes, laugh out of it a laugh, I
don't know, yes, today, so you just kind of sit
back and just kind of laugh a little bit. Yeah,
hear their point here, the point here, her point anyway.

Speaker 1 (46:33):
Yeah, yeah, no, it's always a good time. It's always
a good time to listen to that, all right, So
we will sign off here on trout Talk. Brendan Lang,
mikey k My Carefulitis. Thank you for coming along, whether
you're listening on Saga nine sixty, watching on YouTube, listening
wherever you get your podcasts. Again, thank you for coming along.
We will have a new episode for you next week,
so always look forward to that. I know we are

(46:56):
for sure, all right, signing off now here on trout Talk.
Thanks for listening on Sogging nine sixty AM, and I
have a great afternoon.