March 24, 2025 • 47 mins
In this episode of Trout Talk Mike Karafilidis and Brendan Lang discuss the Steelheads final few games of the regular season and look at different playoff matchups. Brampton second year forward Kieran Witkowski also comes on the show and talks about the year coming to an end and the postseason ahead.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The views expressed in the following program are those of
the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Saga nine sixty AM or its management.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hello, welcome to you trout Talk here on Saga nine
sixty Am. I'm Brendan Lang along with Mikey k Mike Carefulitis.
Thank you so much for coming along with us here
on Saga nine sixty on this Sunday afternoon or any
time when you're listening or watching to the podcast. Here
once again to broadcasters for the Brampton Steelheads. He you're
talking about steeets hockey and we'll have a guest coming
up in a little bit. But first, it's been a
(00:45):
little bit since we've been on the air. So Mikey,
how how have you been doing here recently?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, there, buddy, so way she goes. I mean, I've
been getting over cold here. It's been about a week
and a half for the life for me. But field
a lot better. It's the probably a lot the best
I've ever felt in about a week and a half.
They've just been at the rink, busy. March break is
done with the family and whatnot. So but that's about
it with me.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, it's a. It's a busy time of year, of course,
like you said, you know, especially with you with your
with your son and March break and all that. I'm
sure there was a lot of good time with the
family there.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yes, yes, lots of bowling and bowling and stuff like that.
And uh, he's getting a lot better with his skating.
He's they taught to skate backwards and thanks. He's doing Yeah,
he's doing very well. He's adapting well to the environment
and stuff. And he's always willing to learn, which is
a good thing. And he's a good listener, which we
always preach to him all the time. So he's doing
(01:40):
well with that. It's been all about family and and whatnot,
and uh, getting over this colder buddy. So that's about it.
That's the way she goes.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, that's the way she goes. Good to hear that
everything's going well with with that and everything. For me,
it's it's been pretty much the same, you know. Not
a whole lot going on. The weather's getting nicer. I
was actually it was like I want to get outside,
maybe play some golf, but it hasn't happened yet. The
ground's still way too wet with all the smell that
that melted. So still probably not going to get out
(02:09):
maybe a couple more weeks, but it's it's looking a
whole lot better recently, so at least we know the
warm weather's coming. It's it's getting a little bit better.
And you know what springtime, that's when you know playoff
hockey's just around the corner.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's coming out.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yes, that's right. I remember talking to James Richmond maybe
a couple of years ago and him saying like, at
this time of year, everything smells better, everything tastes better.
He's just so excited for the playoffs and the warmer weather,
and that's that's yeah. So definitely we're excited for the
playoffs as well. And it seems like the Steelers are
excited for the playoffs too because they've been they've been
(02:43):
playing some good hockey. We'll we'll jump into, you know,
kind of what we've what we've missed. We won't go
all the way back because again, we didn't have an
episode last week, so there'll be too many games to cover,
but we'll start out here. I guess where we can
start is, let's go with the Sudbury game against or
against Sudbury in Brampton. The steel EDGs did lose that
(03:05):
one eight to six high scoring affair, and then after
that they got on a little bit of a run.
But just quickly we can go over that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Sudbury. Yeah, yeah, that's like, you know what, it was
one of those games. It was just I guess you
could say it was eight to six, not very well
played defensively. I guess you could say both sides of
both sides of the puck, Sudbury took advantage. I mean, well,
guess start with the steel Ends, you know, getting off
of that two nothing lead in the first period. Then
(03:34):
Sudbury came back to make it three to two. It's
too bad, Brandon Giless. We got pulled in that game.
Jack guy van Kovic did come in in that game.
It was close until the second period, and then the
second period, you know, the wheels kind of fell off
a little bit of the off the Brampton Steelheads and
the Wolves were able to with their pretty good potent offense,
jump on the steel Heads and take a seven to
(03:55):
three lead at one point in that game. So but
you know, kudos make it coming back to make it
seven to six, and then the Wolves ended up winning it.
Eight to six. But I'll tell you, if it wasn't
for the for the second period, I think the Steelings
would have won that game handily in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah, no, I think you're right. And James Richardino talking
about that game too. It was really just kind of
the beginning of that second period where it got lost
for them. But I think you're right. Outside of that
probably would have been a better result for them. Quickly,
we'll go over one more game and then we'll take
a break and get to our guests. Then we have
the Peterborough game six to three. The steel Leads win
that one in Peterborough, that's a back to back two.
They play that one on Wednesday, midweek game in Peterborough.
(04:34):
That's a that's a big win for them there.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, I'm sure it was there, buddy. It was not
a good start in the beginning, not a good start.
I mean Peterborough got off. I think the shots on
goal were at one point thirteen to three in favor
of the Peterborough Pets, and then all of a sudden,
the steel Leags they scored the they scored the first
goal of portomartone. Then after that they decided to turn
(04:59):
it they took well, they turn on a notch, turned
it up a notch and they ended up winning that
game six to three. But uh, you got to come
out of the in those kind of games, and they're
gonna play the Peterborough Pizza again. You got to come
out right from the beginning with the pedal to the metal.
You can't you can't wait, and that's all I got
to say. But they did come up with that victory.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, that was a big one for Martona, of course,
coming back from suspension those two games, going back to
his hometown and Peterborough getting that first goal and then
like you said, it really kind of turned on from
there and I think they were actually eleven nothing at.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Once, even Stevie.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Leskovar getting his first of the year.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah, that's right, coming back, coming back to coming back
to Peterborough, absolutely dominating the game back there. Yeah, I mean,
hitting guys, getting the puck, hitting guys. We'll talk about
that later. How his team has come up to another
notch as concern.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, he's been great. Eight and lane at two goals
in that game as well. When he got moved up
to the the second line there with three coffin Karmeers.
That's right, and he started. He's really been on a
run here recently, so we'll get into all of that
in the back half. Will also talk about the other
two games that we that we haven't covered here, the
one against Barry and then of course the one against
Niagara this past weekend. But we're gonna take a break now.
(06:10):
On the other side here, Wikowski is going to be
on the show. I'm Brendan Lang. That's mikey K. You're
listening to trout Talk here on Saga nine sixty am.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
No Radio, no problem. Stream is live on Saga nine
sixty am dot c A.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And welcome back to trout Talk here on Saga nine
sixty am. I'm Brandan Lang along with mikey K. Carefully.
Thank you so much for coming along with us here
on Saga nine sixty am. Now i'd like to welcome
on to the show steel Heads Forward, Keered Witkowski, Karen,
thank you so much for coming on.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Man, how are you doing that? Thanks a lot of
guys for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Oh, you know, you just brightened up my day with
that smile there like that, right, I always smiling? So
how are you doing my friend.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I'm great, thank you. How are you, guys?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Very very good?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Not too bad, not too bad. I'm sure the smile
is kind of running through the entire team right now.
You guys are playing some pretty good hockey.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Yeah, I feel like it's it's infecting everyone.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Everyone's all happier on the rink, just ready to get
going in playoffs soon.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
All right, So what's the mindset right now? You guys
are coming off a couple wins, The confidence is there?
Talk about that moving forward?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I think the biggest thing for us to just keep
playing the way we've been playing. Like I feel like
this back half, we're just elevating our game, and if
we keep elevating, then we'll be we'll be sent for
playoffs and doesn't matter who we play in the first round,
steamroll them like that?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, you go like that prediction.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yes, you got to put that out into the world.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
You know, you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Some different some different kind of ups and downs the
season obviously, guys playing your best hockey recently. How much
does it help? You know, the older guys on the team,
I mean Martin and the captain mac toonell, bringing in
somebody like Connor Smith, like how much does that help?
How much do those guys help to kind of settle
things down maybe when it wasn't going the right way.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, those guys play huge factors. I mean they're big
voices in the room, so like if stuff isn't going
our way, like they can always get us back on track.
Like obviously they're very influential in the room, and they
prove it on the ice as well. So like having
those guys on the team like it's a big like
it's it. They're a big part of this team and
I know that with them and then with all the guys,
(08:49):
we can go really far this year because I think
we have got the squad to do it.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And I don't see anyone coming close to us.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And that's the key right there, he just said. I mean,
I like the cop the confidence right now, The way
you guys are playing is unbelievable with the confidence level.
So where does that come from? Talk about that?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
I think that just comes from like our work ethic.
I mean, like our team works our butt off every
single day and obviously the results have been showing. And
obviously with wins comes confidence, and especially recently like with
the the a lot of wins we've had that everyone's
starting to gain that confidence that jam going into playoffs,
and I think the biggest part is if we keep
(09:31):
that confidence throughout all four lines, all three lines of
D and both goalies and where we're unstoppable because we
are our own biggest threat and I know that if
we come together.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
As a team, then we can do everything this year.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And you talk about the hard work as a team
and for your game specifically, like what was it maybe
in the off season or throughout this year that you've
kind of been working on specifically, or maybe off the ice,
that is you tried to maybe take up another notch
I ge us here in recent games.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Well, obviously this year with our team, we have a
lot of high end players, so it's hard obviously to
play that first second line role and be a goal
scorer because honestly, not everyone's a goal scorer. So for me,
I was just trying to fine point the things I'm
good at and being an identity player because yeah, maybe
on nights the first two lines aren't going, it's the
third and fourth you have to rely on. And it's
all about just like having energy because that like infects
(10:24):
the whole team.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
If you have energy lay ahead.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I just feel like with me, like this summer, it's
just about really knowing who I am as a player
and just really fine pointing those things, so like being
a hard four checker, being good in the D zone,
doing all those little things so it can help the
greater picture of the team.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
So yeah, i'd say that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
What was your diet like in the summer? What was
your I mean what did you do for your skating
as well? I mean have you been working with Speedy
Gonzales on your just curious? First of all, that's my
first question. And talk and talk about the diet as well,
because you've gotten bigger, you've gotten stronger, and you've gotten faster,
So talk about exactly. I want to know exactly what
you get in the off season. Then the minute by minute,
(11:06):
I want to know.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You trying to get on the program.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Mikey, I need something. I need something as soon as
the season's done. I'm telling you it's strict, man, because
I'm starting to feel like, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Like like like, but what do you call it? What's
that bear? That ain w Rooper bear. That's walking. That's
what I feel like right now when I'm walking, So
tell me what you do in the off season.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Though, yeah, yeah, So to answer your question, like about
my skating, so I my skating coach Don Braid. I
skate with her almost every day in the summer for
I'd say basically two months, and it's all about just
like fine pointing things on my stride and leading into
getting faster just by technique.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
And then it's a process. During the summer, it's all
about technique first.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Then you gain your speed and I feel like it's
help like a crazy ton. And then my diet is
just as much as I possibly can just try to
put on weight. Obviously you burn it off on the
ice and in the gym, but for me, it's just
get protein in me, get carbs, and just try to
bulk up because obviously, not being the biggest guy, you
need to be strong so guys can't throw you off
(12:12):
the pocket. I feel like I've done a pretty good
job of that, and the same thing's gonna happen next summer.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
That leable when.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
You were talking about your your identity, you know, like
being a hard four checker and all that stuff and
just finding kind of your role. How much does the
coaching staff, like Stefan Thorne and James Richmond help in
that regard.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
They help a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I mean, like doing video with them talking about my game,
Like like my biggest thing is I want their feedback
and what they need from me, because obviously, like i'd
want to be, but like right now, I'm not like
a fifty goal scorer, So I just want to be
a guy who can they can rely on every single night,
especially like coming up with playoffs in these big games.
(12:52):
Like I want to be a guy who they know,
like every single night, this guy's on his game, like
he's not changing.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
We know what we're gonna get from him.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
And it's just like they've helped me a lot just
by teaching me little things like what I can add
to my game.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
That will positively contribute to the team.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
And yeah, they've done a huge job in the development
this year of my game.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
So pretty much you know telling you this is your roley,
this is your identity, and you guys are all and
that's the key. You're buying into this and that's.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
The key exactly, That's the key in the whole room.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
We all have to buy in and we all have
to know what kind of player we are, because if
we don't, then it kind of trumbles.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Then another guy doesn't know, and so on and so on.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
But I think that a lot of guys on our team,
I probably everyone knows who they are as a player,
and I feel like if you stick to your role
in your identity, then you go pretty far.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Love that.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, And we're talking a lot about the like the
playoffs coming up, and you got an experience in your
rookie season to play in the playoffs last year, So
I mean, like, what can you draw from that to
kind of help you through through this one.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Well, the biggest thing is I think everyone on our
team now has playoff experience, so we know what's coming. Obviously,
it's a it's a very different type of game. It's faster,
it's more physical, like the little things matter, and just
by like our team just like we know what we
know what we need to do, Like we know the systems,
we know how other teams in the East play, we
(14:18):
know how everyone in the league plays. And I feel
like if we're we're a strong, physical team the way
we are we move the puck well, if we if
we skate hard, we play fast, and feel like we
do all those things and just have a high paced
game with a lot of heart. I feel like no
one will stop us because just of all the guys
we have, and the coach and staff obviously, and the
(14:39):
total buying ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I would love to get a picture of Karen Mkowski
from last year to where he is right now, a
picture of him. How about you've grown as a human
Never mind muscularity and you're in the way you've been
skating and whatnot, but how much you've grown maturity wise,
talking talking to us, talking to the media, what not.
Uh did you have any media classes or anything? No,
(15:04):
not at all, just earlyer because you're so good. I mean,
but last year you're just kind of you know, yeah,
you kind of had the three four you know, word answers.
But now you're your doubtance. Somebody must have been helping,
you know, or.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
You know, it's just just myself.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
You guys anything want all the viewers to know what's
going on in the room.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean sometimes I think the media
training can kind of take that out of you a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yeah, I feel like take the personality out of guys.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah, right, it does take the personality. Then you're like
a robot.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Like viewers want to Viewers want to know, like who
you are as a person, not like obviously you see
with some NHL guys are kind of robotic with their
answers like oh, I know, like the fans love people
with personality, and I feel like that's a big part
in the game is and obviously people knowing like our
whole team, we're a bunch of characters.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
So yeah, certainly are that's for Suyeah.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
So with with that, with that personality, like what about
off the ice, away from the from the rink, what's uh,
what are you getting up to? Whether that's in the
summer or order in the year.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Well, I think obviously in the summer.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I mean, Mikey knows this because I'm always harpening in
his year about it, like I yes, yeah, well I
love going out on the course like with my buddy.
It's like it's it's one of my favorite times. And
then like during the season off the ice, I'm a
big football fan obviously with the old flag in the background.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Sorry about Miles Garretty ain't coming to Buffalo, I know.
I mean you threw me that little shot in Sunburn
and say he's coming. I said, I said, yeah, we'll see.
I said, yeah, that, Thank goodness he resign. But anyway, yeah,
and you were gonna you were gonna get mad at
me if I didn't cheer. If I cheered against the Bills.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
I remember, I remember it against that.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
I remember we were watching. I remember we were watching
the Bills Chief game on the bus and I guess
and I was just destroyed about Oh yeah, but I
think everybody was anyway. Yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm a
big sports fan overall, Like I love watching everything. Obviously,
in the summer, I love getting out on the course,
hanging out with buddies.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Have a cottage, so I try to get up there
as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But and obviously just I love the train and kind
of perfect my craft, so obviously dialing it into in
the summer on hockey.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Still, Karrien, you've got a little brother too, that's coming
up in the hl uh uh entry draft that's going
to be coming up. I mean, how exciting is that
for you and your family.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
It's very exciting because like right now I'm seeing like
the process he's going through, and obviously I went through
the same thing two years ago, and it's good to
give him advice, like what he needs to do. Like
he's kind of an opposite player of me. He's a big,
tough guy, like yeah, and he's got he's got a
good scoring touch, So I mean he'll be a good
(17:53):
fit on any team. And hopefully he can come to
Missy or Branton sorry, because I'd love to. I love
to uh be a brother duo on an Ohl tam. Yeah,
it's exciting, So I'm excited for him. Obviously, the drafts
in less than a month, so we'll see how things go.
And they need to get through to the Ohl Cup
right now so they control their own destiny.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
So it's exciting.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yeah, and and we've seen you know, Jared Harding Finn
Harding playing together, Like that's got to be pretty cool.
If you have you allowed yourself to kind of think
about that, like like what that would be.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Like, Like obviously this year I thought about it because
he's he's a really good player, So like I don't
know where he's gonna go, but like hopefully that our
coaching staff, our scouting staff, like maybe well he'll take
a chance on him, because obviously I know the type
of player he is, and I know what he can do,
and I feel like, yeah, like seeing like the Harding
brothers obviously just a lot of other brother duos in
(18:48):
the league. I feel like that would be really cool
for me and my family to they don't have to
do all the driving, just one ring.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
That's that's come true. Man. Yeah, but you know, I
circle back a little bit here. So Aiden Lane comes
to the team. You guys played together, of course with
the Marles and whatnot. Now when you guys, when Aidan
Lane first came to the team, you know, for a
little bit for in those call ups and whatnot, but
before it was full time. Now, you guys seem to
have a really good chemistry and talking with Dan Lane
(19:17):
interviewing him, first person he mentioned was you. First person
he mentioned was you. He said, the one guy I
had the most chemistry with in the beginning was Kiering
with Kowski and you could totally see it. But man,
talk about playing with this.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Guy, yeah he later, he's unbelievable, like in our minor
missed days, Like he's probably one of the most skilled
players I've ever played with, Like his puck control, like
him entire it's unbelievable. And yeah, obviously, like when he
told me he had the opportunity to come and play
here during a SAX season, I was like, I was
super fired up and would love to get a chance
(19:50):
to play with him because of all the success we
had on the Marles back in the day and now
that he's full time with us for the rest of
the year, Like, it's awesome. Like, obviously, him coming late,
I'm showing him the ropes a little bit and like
talking to him about the little things ins and outs.
But obviously he's a huge part to this team and
I think he's a really great add on this late
in the season who can help contribute in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
So I'm happy he's here.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
And yeah, unbelievable, unbelievable how he fits in, How he
just fits in like a glove with you guys. Yeah,
so yeah, that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah, he's been a great addition as being kind of
like the maybe only connection point that that he has
with the team, Like how do you kind of go about,
you know, getting him integrated into the team and stuff
because he is coming so late in the year.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yeah, Well, when he was coming in as a call
up like during the year with all those injuries, like obviously,
like he got to know everyone, so everyone was familiar
with him, and obviously everyone know.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
He could play too, because during that time.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
He was scoring, he was doing everything. So I feel
like when he came back, he was familiar, he was
more familiar. He knew all the guys, like he knew
what our coaches wanted, you know, the system. So like, yeah,
like talking him like he's he's really happy and he's
loving it here. So I think with him, yeah, we could,
we could do a lot. And I'm super glad again
that he's here.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You know, Like he scored a goal against the nagg R.
I stopped there and I was very happy for you,
of course. Yeah oh yeah, oh man, But you know,
so take me through that goal though, I mean he
just threw it on goal, you know, because it went
off the skate obviously. I mean there's like five hundred
people in fighting all obviously, but take me through that goal.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Yeah. So, uh, Connor Smith did a good dump, like
a little.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Flip that their d really couldn't read then, and me
and me and Gabor kind of went at that das bullhorned.
So he just like he backed right up, and obviously
I was lucky enough to get the puck, and I,
to be honest, I saw Gabe go back door and
I'm like, all right, I'm throwing this one to him
because I'm on my back end.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
And then I threw it.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I see it at the stick and I'm coming around
the net and I see a trickle and I'm like, oh,
I just scored for me and me and Gabe were
big day were joking about it on the bench. He's like,
you know, I could have tapped that in right and.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
No, yeah, nor the replay. That was your goal all the.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Way he has.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
He's over here to go with thes up here. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, it's good yell. And it's been a it's been
a little bit, so I'm pretty happy.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But that that's great.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, And you just talked about playing with playing with
Gape Shirot. You know, I've asked this. We've had von
Richter and Sebeski in the past two episodes, and I
kind of asked them similar questions. But you guys have
been all up and down the lineup, like it's not
that often that you're playing with the same guys, So
so how do you kind of you know, get integrated
with playing with different guys all the time on the eyes.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Obviously it's tough, but we all know what kind of
players we are, and especially this year, like we basically
played with everyone on our team with all the injuries
and suspensions and all that stuff. So I feel like
whatever the lineup is for playoffs, like we've played with
the two other linemates we have before. Oh, it's nothing new,
and we're all very familiar with each other, so I
(23:03):
don't think there's any issue there with our chemistry.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
That's that's amazing. So last thing for me, how much
steak do you eat a week? I just want to know.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I'd say I actually had a last night, but I'd
say probably two three times a week?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Yeah, big big ones, big ones, Yeah, like New York Surloins.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Yeah, stripline like once in a month, maybe a rabbi fancy.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah, I can't wait. I feel like going down. I
feel like going down the butcher against some right now.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Yeah, all the guys on the team, we love going
to the keg. So a big steak, guys, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
That's a great. How do you eat it?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
What's what? What?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
How's he cooked?
Speaker 5 (23:47):
Medium? Rare? All old? For me? I feel like not.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Like Brendan, what do you?
Speaker 5 (23:52):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
What do you I'm a medium, well guy, it's like
sacrilegious to say that to people who eat steak a lot.
But you may.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
As well just put a piece of I tell them
all the time. Start eating.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Yeah, I'm telling you it's it's more tender. It's not
chewing to cheer you that know, it's not.
Speaker 7 (24:12):
He reminds me of my wife when I when I
when I have to cook the steak to I cook
mine whatever, and I give my son some right Karen,
but hers it has to be hers well done.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And I, oh yeah, and I have to stand in
the barbecue forever, forever, forever. Mind I was waiting. I'm
waiting my stick. I'm like, oh my god, so fine.
And then I'll have to take it off. And she's
really picky and I have to put it. She looks
at it, she has to cut it. If it's not
good enough, I have to put it. No it's not. No,
Oh my god, the real.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
Man fair enough.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I'll take that one. Uh the last one for me.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You talked quickly about it there about being a Bills fan.
We see the flag in the back for people that
are listening and can't see if there's there's a Bills
flag right, So I'm a Bills fan as well. What
have you thought about the offseason so far.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
I think that Joey Bosas signing was huge. He's a
guy that.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
We really need because we need to stop the the
QB rush and I feel like having him in there.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Like he'll stop the mahomes to stop with Lamar Jackson, like,
I think we're good.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
I feel like obviously like my old thing is and
we always talk about it in the room because everyone's
different types of fans And to tell you, guys a story,
like a bunch of us during the year when the
Bills were playing against Baltimore, we all went down and
made the trip and solid game.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
I think we had a lot of new Bills fans
after that trip. Yeah, it's a good time.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
But but yeah, like I feel like if we have
Josh Allen as a quarterback, then we're winning no matter what.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
And hopefully we can get over the hump this year.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I feel like, hopefully we can re sign James Cook,
hopefully you can maybe pick up like another defensive part.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
But I feel like it would be good.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I thought the past rush was the
biggest thing. Joey Bosa is gonna yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
Exactly, that's right.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I agree with you Bill's fans. Okay, I got one
more question. I got one thing for you, all right,
I totally So you're going here playing against Ryerson, Leander
is coming up. Yeah, what's the feeling like? You know,
you guys, you know, talk about it.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, one and we'll score a lot, That's what I think.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
All right, we'll end it on that one.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Again.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
That's that's putting the good word out.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Into the world. I think, exactly, yeah out there. Yeah.
So obviously he's a goalie. But with our team, we're
gonna light them up tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
It's gonna be good. It's gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Yeah, Yeah, it'll be fun. Karen, thank you so much
for coming on. Man, really do appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Good luck to rest of you guys. Yeah, I have
a great nice so somebody.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
But I was here in Wikowski here on the saga
nine sixty a m on the trout Talk. I'm Brendan Lang,
Mikey kay with me, my carefullets, we're gonna take a break.
We're gonna come back on the other side. Recap that interview,
talk about games coming up, talk about the standings, everything
that's going down to the wire here in the ohl season,
coming up to the playoffs. So we'll take a break.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Right now.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
You're listening to trep Talk on SOGGA nine sixty.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
A stream US live at SAGA nine sixty am dot c.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
A And welcome back to trip Talk here on SAGA
nine sixty am. Thank you so much for coming along
(27:56):
with us. Brendan Lang along with Mikey k Mike care
Felitas too, broadcasters under and Steels and Mikey just had
Karen Waikowski on the past side there on trout talk.
Really great to talk to you. And you can tell
the confidence is there in this team right now.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
I take the key, the key right there. You set
it the confidence, but everybody's buying in. He just said
it right there, the buying in and at if you
say that near the end of the season, and especially
the way the guy's been playing, you can see it.
And you can see the maturity from this young man,
the way he's matured from last year to this year.
The way on the ice, Uh, he's not afraid of anybody.
(28:34):
He'll take caught on anyone, anytime, any place. I mean hitting,
he doesn't care. I remember Elias big A licen on
Uh yeah, on Barry, I mean earlier, remember earlier on
this year, he's the come on you know, like and
he did whatever knocked him off his feet, which is
tough to do. So but we're like the maturity this can.
(28:54):
I like the way he said everybody's buying in.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, it's it's the right time of year for everybody
to be buying in. And and I like that you
said too, you know, talking to the media and stuff like,
you can see the development of character as well, year
over year two. And you know, coming in is a
and he got to play as a sixteen year old,
right like right out of being drafted. You know, he
comes in, he gets to play for the steel Heads
and play in the OHL and you know, sometimes that
can be tough. You know, you got media, you've never
(29:17):
done it before and all that kind of stuff. But
but no, he was definitely definitely a difference for sure.
And you can see that with a lot of guys
and just the character development you know year over here it.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Comes from yeah, and that culture, and that comes from
the culture of these guys and we've seen. We see
it all the time, the way that how much they
they bond, they can get along together. The culture staff
is so good with them. The staff is so good
with them. They're good to the staff. I mean, it's
all about culture, right, and that's how the kids grow.
And that's that's there's a perfect example right there, Karen Mkowski.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, that's right. And and the culture too, of course
growing off the ice like we just talked about, but
but growth on the ice as well is it's going
to be created by that culture too. And you know,
having everybody together and as you mentioned, you know, buying
in and as Karen mentioned as well, buying into to
what the coaches want to do and how the team
wants to play. And obviously they're buying it at the
right time and they're and they're playing some some quality hockey.
(30:15):
So you can tell there's confidence there and they should
be because it's coming down to the wire and this
is the time of the year that you want to
that you want to have that confidence as high as possible.
So we'll quickly go over the two games that we
didn't get to in the first segment. If you did
miss the first segment, here today we talked about two games.
We started out with the Subury game steel Is losing
eight to six, and then the game in Peterborough they
(30:36):
win six to three. That was on Wednesday of last week.
And then on Friday you have the Barry Colts who
have had a really good year. They went for it
at the deadline, of course, making a bunch of trades.
Steele has played I think one of their best games
of the entire season, winning now on four to one.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
They were absolutely dominant. It kind of kind of in
the first period, you know, it's kind of I think
both teams are trying to find their identity is more,
somebody was trying not to make a mistake. It seemed
like back and forth. And then I think maybe ten
minutes maybe ten minutes into the first period, things kind
of kind of turned around a little bit towards Steelhead's
way and they started to get a lot of shots in.
(31:13):
Ben Herevik was absolutely phenomenal. That shit, the shots all
go where what fifty one to like fifteen or something
like that. Whatever it was. Yeah, Herabic was good, Mark,
the whole team was good. Connor Smith has turned it
up to another level back there. The whole d was fantastic.
Angus MacDonell was good. You know, congratulations to him. We
(31:35):
didn't mentioned signing his ELC of course with the Dallas
Star as well deserved. So now that's two players signed, right,
him and Finn Hardy. Just to say Finn Hardy, he
was dynamited in that game, but total team effort. Ivan
Covid was good when he had to be. Didn't have
a lot of shots, but he was good when he
had to be.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
And that's kind it is one percent. And going back
to the point that you made about Ivan Covid, because
remember Jr. Was talking about and he said that there
were a few goals that he wasn't too happy about
in the Peterborough game, and he was saying like that
was when we were up six to one, like it
doesn't matter, Like I mean that you can't beat yourself
up about those and that kind of you know, goes
into that there. It's like when he needed to make
(32:13):
a big save, even though he wasn't tested a bunch,
he was there and he made the stops. I mean,
they don't win the game without some of the saves
that he made, So like that's obviously a huge development
is kind of getting him back in the rhythm. Gillespie
had been playing well there too, but Jack's going to
be the guy, you know, going into the playoffs, so
to kind of get that rhythm going obviously, that's that's
huge for the team. But he did play well in
(32:35):
that game against Barry and you said it, Ben Herevick
was outstanding twelve in.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Yeah, past to have gone.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
On, Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. Big win in that game,
of course, four to one, as we as we mentioned
right there, And one thing I also want to point
out because we're going to talk about the Niagara game
here in just a moment, but you had said the
shots and they were fifty one to twenty two in
that game in favor of a Bampton, and then in
the Niagara game it was forty four to ten in
(33:03):
favor of Brampton. So that's a good sign as well.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean you're all playing they all
played the Barry Colts and yeah, okay, but yeah they're
missing missing Tristan Bertucci, but that's the only guy they're missing.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Yeah, yeah, Well, and then I mean, to me, that's right.
They outplayed them for sure, and then they outplayed the
Ice Dogs as well in that Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Oh my goodness, I mean they were they just came
out of the they like a shot out of a cannon.
And again, I want to go back. I want to
go back to that line that was newly formed with
Lucas Karmiras, Aiden Lane and Carson ray Cooff. And that
line was formed in the middle I mentioned before, in
(33:47):
the middle of the Peterborough game, probably about in the
second period. So the Baskie was on that line with
Carmeras and ray Cooff and James Richmond decided to put
Lane up there and kind of dropped Sebesky. But I
think it's benefited both these both players. Actually, if you
ask me so now, the Beski against and Angry, he
(34:07):
was on the third line, right, uh. But yeah, that
line it stood was was unbelievable in that game against
the Jada Lane getting another goal and assist a beautiful
backhand er. And how about how about the Connor Smith goal.
Holy moly, at one time, I mean I thought I
(34:29):
thought that was going to go right through the glass.
I mean that was just like what that was an
NHL caliber one timer. And I don't think any goal
you had a chance at that it was just like bo,
that's it. Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It was amazing, amazing shot, amazing goal, and an amazing
game overall for Connor. It was a three assists in
the goal, like that's i mean, his best offensive performance
as a Steeler. But you had mentioned it.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
I mean, his.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Play is just it's it's just picked up so much
over even the past like five games. And and they
you know, they call him the sheriff and and that's
exactly what it's like back the sheriff everything. I mean,
he just calms everything down on the ice and he
is gonna be such a big piece going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
How about how about Parker von Richter Brandon plus six
plus six yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Yeah, those two guys playing together too, Like they've been
outstanding as well since they've started playing together. They were
kind of playing together at the beginning, they moved around.
Now they're back together and and it's been it's been
a great bear.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's been a blessing in disguise. Yeah, everybody now so
now everybody's just picking up their game. But those yeah,
great game, great o overall team game gigs Niagara and
uh yeah good win.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yeah, very very good win, a very convincing win against
the Ice Dog. So so we'll take Yeah, well we'll
quickly go over these two games because remember and this
airs on Sunday. The Kingston Products are actually going to
be coming up right after this airs on Saga nine
sixty am. But we'll quickly go over the Branford Bulldogs
game that's gonna be happening tomorrow at the time of
(36:11):
recording this. So you asked, you asked Karen mcgaski about it.
He said that they're gonna light up Ryerson Landers. Very
is very direct with that one, very confident. But Branford's
a really good team. So it's it's it's gonna be
a good game there, especially in Branford.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Yeah, you're playing against her. I mean, Ryoceo Leeder is
gonna be pumped up as well, the play against his
old squad of course, right, I mean, of course you're
gonna say that, and ryoson Landers is probably saying, hey,
I'm gonna shut these guys down. Right, Hey, this is
where Ryose and Landers. He knows a lot of these guys.
He probably still talks a lot of these guys, right,
they were good friends before and whatnot. And it's just
a friendly rivalry and you gotta like that for Kim mccusky. Hey, yeah,
(36:50):
we're gonna light them up and whatnot. But Ryerson's a
good kid. We all know that, right. But here's the
key against the Bulldogs. If they could be physical with Larnis,
and that's the key. You cannot give them two steps.
If you're physical and you play the right way in
your own zone, get on their defense. I think the
(37:12):
steal should be successful. I really do.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, No, I agree with that for sure. I mean
you look at guys like, I mean, it's just two names,
but I mean Nick Lartis, O'Brien, Eric van Acher like upfront.
I mean, they got a lot of guys who can create.
But as you said, if you don't give them time
and space, it's going to make it difficult at them.
I mean, I think that's kind of what playoff hockey
is is you take away the time and space, you
take away the breathing room. And the Steelers have been
(37:36):
doing that well against a lot of their opponents here recently. Absolutely,
that's something that for sure is going to be a
big point of emphasis in that game. As we sit
right now looking at this the Branford Bulldogs are in
first place, three points ahead of Kingston and five points
ahead of the Austwa Generals with eighty nine points right now,
so we'll see how that shakes out towards the end
(37:58):
of the season. After that, on Friday, the steel Let's
have Peterborough once again. You don't have to really get
into that one too much because they just played Peterborough
so kind of similar things. We want to see from
that in that game for sure, and then the final
game of the regular season. Mikey, I can't believe we're
at the end of the regular season believing we were
talking about it at the rink. It feels like we
(38:19):
were just there for the preseason like it's it's it's crazy,
it really does. But anyways, coming up after this on
Saga nine sixty am is the Kingston front Necks in Brampton.
I just mentioned where Kingston is sitting right now in
the standings. They're in third place with eighty six points.
It's possible though that they can move into fourth and
play the Steelheads like there's you know, there's there's still
(38:41):
some implications I think for this final game of the year.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
It's crazy, it's crazy like I mean, as Generals, they
got it. They got three more games left. The Kingston
front Knocks got three more games left. If I'm right,
Let's look through Oshawa's remaining games and then we can
kind of talk about it a little bit here, right, So, Brenda,
do you want to pull that up there?
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Yeah, let's let's let's.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Pull up the remaining games for each team and then
we can kind of uh see where they're going to go.
All right, excuse me everybody for my cough by the way.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Yeah, So again, the kind of the teams, the teams
that we kind of want to look at are are
the Oswa Generals. Of course right now would be the
Steelheads matchup if the playoffs were to start tomorrow. Kingston
also we will definitely take a look at as well.
We can even take a look at at Branford schedule
as well.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Their final three games.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Yeah yeah, yeah. So so Oshawa's final three games, they
got North Bay and Sudbury that's up north, so those
are tough games for the Generals. And then and then
they have Peterborough uh coming up tonight when this airs
against the Peterborough Peats in Aushawa. So that's their final
game of the year.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Yeah, okay, so you got those three tough road trip
for the Gens, but they've got to go three and oh,
they got to go three and oh to get that,
not to get to move up in the standings right now,
otherwise it's gonna be still as the General's first round.
So tough one though, it's gonna be tough. I know Kingston,
I'm pretty sure they got. I'm not sure that. I
think they got Peterborough obviously, Brampton and yes, Branford. So
(40:18):
Branford needs these games. They want to finish first in
the standings right now. And then right behind him is
the Barry Colts right for three points, I believe. So yeah,
these games, okay, yeah, you could see people can say, well,
they don't mean much for the Steelheads, you know, these
last three games and whatnot. I think they do. I
think they do. So it's gonna be interesting to see
(40:41):
who comes out with that fourth and final or the
fourth spot, because yeah, we'll see what happens there with
the third and fourth, especially with man Branford two. You
never know, they could drop right. Well, that's pretty much
they're they're in that second spot.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
They're number Yeah, I think that's probably where they finished.
But I'm saying, like Kingston plays Peterborough and obviously this
is like, you know, kind of galaxy braining in a
little bit, But like Kingston plays Peterborough. There the steel
Heads play Branford. If Kingston were to win and the
steel Heads were to be Branford, it's only a one
point difference. Brandford got to play Kingston. That could decide
the top seed, like it could flip. Yeah, So I
(41:17):
mean there's a lot going on here down and down
the stretch. Let's actually let's actually take a quick look
at Branford as well. I want to see who they
who they finish off the season.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Against Branford's overachieving this year.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
I mean it's it's tough to say that they are
because at this point of the season, if it was
a month, two months into the year, you could say
maybe they are. But when you get through the tires,
when you get through an entire season, I think it's
hard to say that you've overachieved. Like when you've played
the entire year at that I think that's tough to
say that you've been overachieving.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
I just wish and I'm gonna say that I mean
with all the injuries, and then this is when the
Steelheads played the Branford Bulldogs with during when the steel
Heads have the injury, when the guys were at World Juniors.
I mean they're playing with EPs against the Branford Bulldogs
and against the Kingston Frontmax pretty much except for that one.
That's except for the last game when the steel has
(42:09):
blew them out, right, So just to say, I wish
that the whole team was there against Branford that those
games and against the Kingston maybe the Steelings might be
up in the standing. It doesn't matter now, but I'm
just I've just that in there.
Speaker 2 (42:22):
Of course, No, it would have been nice for the
team to be healthy for the entire season, but wasn't
the case. So he got to got to play with
the cards. You were delta at this point in the year.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Branford.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
So they as we've mentioned Brampton of course they have
they have Kingston as well, and they finish off with
Ottawa at home, which Ottawa is going to be battling too,
so they're not going to be you know, rolling over
in that game because they want to make the playoffs, right,
So uh yeah, lots of again, lots of things can
still happen in the in the standings. Looking at the
bottom of it as well, just two points separating North
Bay and Ottawa going down right with with three games left,
(42:56):
and obviously those are great, really big games for those
two teams. But quickly before we sign off here today,
let's talk about the steel Heads and Kingston on the
Sunday game coming up. Right out of the trout talk
what are we looking for in that game, because you
know what, Kingston's Kingston's a really good team. They're coached
really well, and they've got a great structure. So there's definitely,
(43:19):
you know, parts to that team that are going to
be really difficult for Brenton.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
They're probably gonna be mad, I'll tell you that, yeah,
because last time these two teams played it was a
six nothing win. I believe there was six nothing for
the Steelheads and something like that. So they're gonna be mad.
They're gonna be angry, They're gonna come out angry. They're
gonna have Joey Willis back in the lineup. I believe
they had a full lineup against the steel EDGs except
for Joey Willis. Last time these two teams played so
(43:43):
but what the Steelheads did they were physical with their defense.
They're physical with them. They were able to get a
lot of shots on goal, probably see Charlie Shankle in
that game. It's gonna be a big one for Kingston,
and guess what, it's gonna be a big one for
the steel Ends as well. Steelds aren't gonna roll over
and say, oh, we're gonna you know, especially games Richmond,
you know him, right, He's not gonna lay down and say, Okay,
(44:04):
you're arrested, you're arrested. You know, you guys are playing
and we're gonna beat these guys, simple as that. I
think it's gonna be a hard nold battle. Stay tuned, Yeah,
I think that'd be a really good bout.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
It's it's gonna feel like a playoff game. I feel
like the last two weeks all the games have kind
of felt like playoff games. But but that one, for sure,
will will feel that way. It's gonna be it's gonna
be a physical battle. You look at the season series
so far, and of course, as you said, you know,
there were times where the Steelers were playing with you know,
a lot of aps and a lot of injuries, but
Kingston was the first matchup eight to two. Kingston won,
(44:37):
the second one on New Year's Day that was four
to three in favor of Kingston, and then six Kingston
won the last one.
Speaker 3 (44:43):
Yeah, I don't forget that eight to two games, that
eighty two game. That game was Port de Marton was
suspended in that game and that's when all the injuries
were happening and whatnot, and everybody wasn't backed yet to
being one hundred percent uh in that game. And then
the second game that was the game with all the peace.
I mean, that's how close. It was so hard to play,
it was that close, and then when everybody was back
(45:05):
in the line, the steel Heads dominated them. So it's
gonna be a great It's gonna be a great bottle. Yep.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Definitely looking forward to the final stretch here and looking
forward to the playoffs as well. We're gonna have, of course,
an episode before the playoffs start too, so we'll be
able to preview what's going to go on with the
steel Heads and what's going to go on around the
league in the playoffs. Really really exciting times awesome.
Speaker 4 (45:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
We'll make our protion as well, Yeah, we will yeah, we'll.
Speaker 3 (45:30):
Make We'll try. I mean, I know my predictions the
beginning of you it didn't go so well.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Yeah, we we were off on those ones a little bit.
We'll wear that one. We'll wear that, but hopefully maybe
our playoff predictions will be a little bit better. All right,
signing off now, Mikey, anything you want to add at
the end of the show today, Get sleep, Get sleep, yes, try.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
Get sleep, stay stay awake, stay awake, and and eat
your protein. Eat your protein like Karen Mkowski and you
can be still you could be a big as him.
Eat sticks three times a week because boy boy, he's
matur just to say, but eat your protein, get your sleep,
and take your vitamins. Like Caul Colgan says, I don't
(46:13):
know if you said that. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
I'm not a wrestling guy. I can't tell you if
you said that. But yeah, still U still good things
to remember, whoever said it, whether it was whoever it was,
but all right, signing signing off right now again. Coming
up right after this, it's the Kingston Fraud next and
the Brampton steel Heads final game of the regular season.
(46:38):
Then it really starts in the playoffs. So looking forward,
to that. Myself and mikey k will be on the
call for that game. We'll get right over to the
arena after this and we'll be that. We got any
helicopters landing right now, We've got.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
To George guts In mobile out there, so we're gonna
head over.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
All right. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank
you to Kieren Mikowski for coming on the program. Thanks
Mike you for being here, of course, Mike caret Alitis,
Brendan Lang, thank you for listening. And you are listening
to trout Talk here on SAGA nine sixty am, and
enjoy the game coming up.
Speaker 1 (47:13):
News, no radio, no problem. Stream us live on SAGA
nine sixty am dot ca A
The views expressed in the following program are those of
the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of
Saga nine sixty AM or its management.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hello, welcome to you trout Talk here on Saga nine
sixty Am. I'm Brendan Lang along with Mikey k Mike Carefulitis.
Thank you so much for coming along with us here
on Saga nine sixty on this Sunday afternoon or any
time when you're listening or watching to the podcast. Here
once again to broadcasters for the Brampton Steelheads. He you're
talking about steeets hockey and we'll have a guest coming
up in a little bit. But first, it's been a
(00:45):
little bit since we've been on the air. So Mikey,
how how have you been doing here recently?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, there, buddy, so way she goes. I mean, I've
been getting over cold here. It's been about a week
and a half for the life for me. But field
a lot better. It's the probably a lot the best
I've ever felt in about a week and a half.
They've just been at the rink, busy. March break is
done with the family and whatnot. So but that's about
it with me.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, it's a. It's a busy time of year, of course,
like you said, you know, especially with you with your
with your son and March break and all that. I'm
sure there was a lot of good time with the
family there.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yes, yes, lots of bowling and bowling and stuff like that.
And uh, he's getting a lot better with his skating.
He's they taught to skate backwards and thanks. He's doing Yeah,
he's doing very well. He's adapting well to the environment
and stuff. And he's always willing to learn, which is
a good thing. And he's a good listener, which we
always preach to him all the time. So he's doing
(01:40):
well with that. It's been all about family and and whatnot,
and uh, getting over this colder buddy. So that's about it.
That's the way she goes.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, that's the way she goes. Good to hear that
everything's going well with with that and everything. For me,
it's it's been pretty much the same, you know. Not
a whole lot going on. The weather's getting nicer. I
was actually it was like I want to get outside,
maybe play some golf, but it hasn't happened yet. The
ground's still way too wet with all the smell that
that melted. So still probably not going to get out
(02:09):
maybe a couple more weeks, but it's it's looking a
whole lot better recently, so at least we know the
warm weather's coming. It's it's getting a little bit better.
And you know what springtime, that's when you know playoff
hockey's just around the corner.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
It's coming out.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yes, that's right. I remember talking to James Richmond maybe
a couple of years ago and him saying like, at
this time of year, everything smells better, everything tastes better.
He's just so excited for the playoffs and the warmer weather,
and that's that's yeah. So definitely we're excited for the
playoffs as well. And it seems like the Steelers are
excited for the playoffs too because they've been they've been
(02:43):
playing some good hockey. We'll we'll jump into, you know,
kind of what we've what we've missed. We won't go
all the way back because again, we didn't have an
episode last week, so there'll be too many games to cover,
but we'll start out here. I guess where we can
start is, let's go with the Sudbury game against or
against Sudbury in Brampton. The steel EDGs did lose that
(03:05):
one eight to six high scoring affair, and then after
that they got on a little bit of a run.
But just quickly we can go over that.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Sudbury. Yeah, yeah, that's like, you know what, it was
one of those games. It was just I guess you
could say it was eight to six, not very well
played defensively. I guess you could say both sides of
both sides of the puck, Sudbury took advantage. I mean, well,
guess start with the steel Ends, you know, getting off
of that two nothing lead in the first period. Then
(03:34):
Sudbury came back to make it three to two. It's
too bad, Brandon Giless. We got pulled in that game.
Jack guy van Kovic did come in in that game.
It was close until the second period, and then the
second period, you know, the wheels kind of fell off
a little bit of the off the Brampton Steelheads and
the Wolves were able to with their pretty good potent offense,
jump on the steel Heads and take a seven to
(03:55):
three lead at one point in that game. So but
you know, kudos make it coming back to make it
seven to six, and then the Wolves ended up winning it.
Eight to six. But I'll tell you, if it wasn't
for the for the second period, I think the Steelings
would have won that game handily in my opinion.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah, no, I think you're right. And James Richardino talking
about that game too. It was really just kind of
the beginning of that second period where it got lost
for them. But I think you're right. Outside of that
probably would have been a better result for them. Quickly,
we'll go over one more game and then we'll take
a break and get to our guests. Then we have
the Peterborough game six to three. The steel Leads win
that one in Peterborough, that's a back to back two.
They play that one on Wednesday, midweek game in Peterborough.
(04:34):
That's a that's a big win for them there.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, I'm sure it was there, buddy. It was not
a good start in the beginning, not a good start.
I mean Peterborough got off. I think the shots on
goal were at one point thirteen to three in favor
of the Peterborough Pets, and then all of a sudden,
the steel Leags they scored the they scored the first
goal of portomartone. Then after that they decided to turn
(04:59):
it they took well, they turn on a notch, turned
it up a notch and they ended up winning that
game six to three. But uh, you got to come
out of the in those kind of games, and they're
gonna play the Peterborough Pizza again. You got to come
out right from the beginning with the pedal to the metal.
You can't you can't wait, and that's all I got
to say. But they did come up with that victory.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, that was a big one for Martona, of course,
coming back from suspension those two games, going back to
his hometown and Peterborough getting that first goal and then
like you said, it really kind of turned on from
there and I think they were actually eleven nothing at.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Once, even Stevie.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Leskovar getting his first of the year.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah, that's right, coming back, coming back to coming back
to Peterborough, absolutely dominating the game back there. Yeah, I mean,
hitting guys, getting the puck, hitting guys. We'll talk about
that later. How his team has come up to another
notch as concern.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Yeah, he's been great. Eight and lane at two goals
in that game as well. When he got moved up
to the the second line there with three coffin Karmeers.
That's right, and he started. He's really been on a
run here recently, so we'll get into all of that
in the back half. Will also talk about the other
two games that we that we haven't covered here, the
one against Barry and then of course the one against
Niagara this past weekend. But we're gonna take a break now.
(06:10):
On the other side here, Wikowski is going to be
on the show. I'm Brendan Lang. That's mikey K. You're
listening to trout Talk here on Saga nine sixty am.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
No Radio, no problem. Stream is live on Saga nine
sixty am dot c A.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
And welcome back to trout Talk here on Saga nine
sixty am. I'm Brandan Lang along with mikey K. Carefully.
Thank you so much for coming along with us here
on Saga nine sixty am. Now i'd like to welcome
on to the show steel Heads Forward, Keered Witkowski, Karen,
thank you so much for coming on.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Man, how are you doing that? Thanks a lot of
guys for having me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Oh, you know, you just brightened up my day with
that smile there like that, right, I always smiling? So
how are you doing my friend.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I'm great, thank you. How are you, guys?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Very very good?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Not too bad, not too bad. I'm sure the smile
is kind of running through the entire team right now.
You guys are playing some pretty good hockey.
Speaker 5 (07:32):
Yeah, I feel like it's it's infecting everyone.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
Everyone's all happier on the rink, just ready to get
going in playoffs soon.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
All right, So what's the mindset right now? You guys
are coming off a couple wins, The confidence is there?
Talk about that moving forward?
Speaker 4 (07:47):
I think the biggest thing for us to just keep
playing the way we've been playing. Like I feel like
this back half, we're just elevating our game, and if
we keep elevating, then we'll be we'll be sent for
playoffs and doesn't matter who we play in the first round,
steamroll them like that?
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, you go like that prediction.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yes, you got to put that out into the world.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
You know, you guys.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Some different some different kind of ups and downs the
season obviously, guys playing your best hockey recently. How much
does it help? You know, the older guys on the team,
I mean Martin and the captain mac toonell, bringing in
somebody like Connor Smith, like how much does that help?
How much do those guys help to kind of settle
things down maybe when it wasn't going the right way.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Yeah, those guys play huge factors. I mean they're big
voices in the room, so like if stuff isn't going
our way, like they can always get us back on track.
Like obviously they're very influential in the room, and they
prove it on the ice as well. So like having
those guys on the team like it's a big like
it's it. They're a big part of this team and
I know that with them and then with all the guys,
(08:49):
we can go really far this year because I think
we have got the squad to do it.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And I don't see anyone coming close to us.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
And that's the key right there, he just said. I mean,
I like the cop the confidence right now, The way
you guys are playing is unbelievable with the confidence level.
So where does that come from? Talk about that?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
I think that just comes from like our work ethic.
I mean, like our team works our butt off every
single day and obviously the results have been showing. And
obviously with wins comes confidence, and especially recently like with
the the a lot of wins we've had that everyone's
starting to gain that confidence that jam going into playoffs,
and I think the biggest part is if we keep
(09:31):
that confidence throughout all four lines, all three lines of
D and both goalies and where we're unstoppable because we
are our own biggest threat and I know that if
we come together.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
As a team, then we can do everything this year.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And you talk about the hard work as a team
and for your game specifically, like what was it maybe
in the off season or throughout this year that you've
kind of been working on specifically, or maybe off the ice,
that is you tried to maybe take up another notch
I ge us here in recent games.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
Well, obviously this year with our team, we have a
lot of high end players, so it's hard obviously to
play that first second line role and be a goal
scorer because honestly, not everyone's a goal scorer. So for me,
I was just trying to fine point the things I'm
good at and being an identity player because yeah, maybe
on nights the first two lines aren't going, it's the
third and fourth you have to rely on. And it's
all about just like having energy because that like infects
(10:24):
the whole team.
Speaker 5 (10:25):
If you have energy lay ahead.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I just feel like with me, like this summer, it's
just about really knowing who I am as a player
and just really fine pointing those things, so like being
a hard four checker, being good in the D zone,
doing all those little things so it can help the
greater picture of the team.
Speaker 5 (10:40):
So yeah, i'd say that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
What was your diet like in the summer? What was
your I mean what did you do for your skating
as well? I mean have you been working with Speedy
Gonzales on your just curious? First of all, that's my
first question. And talk and talk about the diet as well,
because you've gotten bigger, you've gotten stronger, and you've gotten faster,
So talk about exactly. I want to know exactly what
you get in the off season. Then the minute by minute,
(11:06):
I want to know.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You trying to get on the program.
Speaker 6 (11:08):
Mikey, I need something. I need something as soon as
the season's done. I'm telling you it's strict, man, because
I'm starting to feel like, oh.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Like like like, but what do you call it? What's
that bear? That ain w Rooper bear. That's walking. That's
what I feel like right now when I'm walking, So
tell me what you do in the off season.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
Though, yeah, yeah, So to answer your question, like about
my skating, so I my skating coach Don Braid. I
skate with her almost every day in the summer for
I'd say basically two months, and it's all about just
like fine pointing things on my stride and leading into
getting faster just by technique.
Speaker 5 (11:46):
And then it's a process. During the summer, it's all
about technique first.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
Then you gain your speed and I feel like it's
help like a crazy ton. And then my diet is
just as much as I possibly can just try to
put on weight. Obviously you burn it off on the
ice and in the gym, but for me, it's just
get protein in me, get carbs, and just try to
bulk up because obviously, not being the biggest guy, you
need to be strong so guys can't throw you off
(12:12):
the pocket. I feel like I've done a pretty good
job of that, and the same thing's gonna happen next summer.
Speaker 3 (12:18):
That leable when.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
You were talking about your your identity, you know, like
being a hard four checker and all that stuff and
just finding kind of your role. How much does the
coaching staff, like Stefan Thorne and James Richmond help in
that regard.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
They help a lot.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I mean, like doing video with them talking about my game,
Like like my biggest thing is I want their feedback
and what they need from me, because obviously, like i'd
want to be, but like right now, I'm not like
a fifty goal scorer, So I just want to be
a guy who can they can rely on every single night,
especially like coming up with playoffs in these big games.
(12:52):
Like I want to be a guy who they know,
like every single night, this guy's on his game, like
he's not changing.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
We know what we're gonna get from him.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
And it's just like they've helped me a lot just
by teaching me little things like what I can add
to my game.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
That will positively contribute to the team.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
And yeah, they've done a huge job in the development
this year of my game.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
So pretty much you know telling you this is your roley,
this is your identity, and you guys are all and
that's the key. You're buying into this and that's.
Speaker 5 (13:20):
The key exactly, That's the key in the whole room.
Speaker 4 (13:23):
We all have to buy in and we all have
to know what kind of player we are, because if
we don't, then it kind of trumbles.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Then another guy doesn't know, and so on and so on.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
But I think that a lot of guys on our team,
I probably everyone knows who they are as a player,
and I feel like if you stick to your role
in your identity, then you go pretty far.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
Love that.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Yeah, And we're talking a lot about the like the
playoffs coming up, and you got an experience in your
rookie season to play in the playoffs last year, So
I mean, like, what can you draw from that to
kind of help you through through this one.
Speaker 4 (13:57):
Well, the biggest thing is I think everyone on our
team now has playoff experience, so we know what's coming. Obviously,
it's a it's a very different type of game. It's faster,
it's more physical, like the little things matter, and just
by like our team just like we know what we
know what we need to do, Like we know the systems,
we know how other teams in the East play, we
(14:18):
know how everyone in the league plays. And I feel
like if we're we're a strong, physical team the way
we are we move the puck well, if we if
we skate hard, we play fast, and feel like we
do all those things and just have a high paced
game with a lot of heart. I feel like no
one will stop us because just of all the guys
we have, and the coach and staff obviously, and the
(14:39):
total buying ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
I would love to get a picture of Karen Mkowski
from last year to where he is right now, a
picture of him. How about you've grown as a human
Never mind muscularity and you're in the way you've been
skating and whatnot, but how much you've grown maturity wise,
talking talking to us, talking to the media, what not.
Uh did you have any media classes or anything? No,
(15:04):
not at all, just earlyer because you're so good. I mean,
but last year you're just kind of you know, yeah,
you kind of had the three four you know, word answers.
But now you're your doubtance. Somebody must have been helping,
you know, or.
Speaker 5 (15:20):
You know, it's just just myself.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
You guys anything want all the viewers to know what's
going on in the room.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean sometimes I think the media
training can kind of take that out of you a
little bit.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Yeah, I feel like take the personality out of guys.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah, right, it does take the personality. Then you're like
a robot.
Speaker 4 (15:41):
Like viewers want to Viewers want to know, like who
you are as a person, not like obviously you see
with some NHL guys are kind of robotic with their
answers like oh, I know, like the fans love people
with personality, and I feel like that's a big part
in the game is and obviously people knowing like our
whole team, we're a bunch of characters.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
So yeah, certainly are that's for Suyeah.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
So with with that, with that personality, like what about
off the ice, away from the from the rink, what's uh,
what are you getting up to? Whether that's in the
summer or order in the year.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
Well, I think obviously in the summer.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
I mean, Mikey knows this because I'm always harpening in
his year about it, like I yes, yeah, well I
love going out on the course like with my buddy.
It's like it's it's one of my favorite times. And
then like during the season off the ice, I'm a
big football fan obviously with the old flag in the background.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
Sorry about Miles Garretty ain't coming to Buffalo, I know.
I mean you threw me that little shot in Sunburn
and say he's coming. I said, I said, yeah, we'll see.
I said, yeah, that, Thank goodness he resign. But anyway, yeah,
and you were gonna you were gonna get mad at
me if I didn't cheer. If I cheered against the Bills.
Speaker 5 (16:50):
I remember, I remember it against that.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
I remember we were watching. I remember we were watching
the Bills Chief game on the bus and I guess
and I was just destroyed about Oh yeah, but I
think everybody was anyway. Yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm a
big sports fan overall, Like I love watching everything. Obviously,
in the summer, I love getting out on the course,
hanging out with buddies.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
Have a cottage, so I try to get up there
as much as possible.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But and obviously just I love the train and kind
of perfect my craft, so obviously dialing it into in
the summer on hockey.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Still, Karrien, you've got a little brother too, that's coming
up in the hl uh uh entry draft that's going
to be coming up. I mean, how exciting is that
for you and your family.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
It's very exciting because like right now I'm seeing like
the process he's going through, and obviously I went through
the same thing two years ago, and it's good to
give him advice, like what he needs to do. Like
he's kind of an opposite player of me. He's a big,
tough guy, like yeah, and he's got he's got a
good scoring touch, So I mean he'll be a good
(17:53):
fit on any team. And hopefully he can come to
Missy or Branton sorry, because I'd love to. I love
to uh be a brother duo on an Ohl tam. Yeah,
it's exciting, So I'm excited for him. Obviously, the drafts
in less than a month, so we'll see how things go.
And they need to get through to the Ohl Cup
right now so they control their own destiny.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
So it's exciting.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Yeah, that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yeah, and and we've seen you know, Jared Harding Finn
Harding playing together, Like that's got to be pretty cool.
If you have you allowed yourself to kind of think
about that, like like what that would be.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Like, Like obviously this year I thought about it because
he's he's a really good player, So like I don't
know where he's gonna go, but like hopefully that our
coaching staff, our scouting staff, like maybe well he'll take
a chance on him, because obviously I know the type
of player he is, and I know what he can do,
and I feel like, yeah, like seeing like the Harding
brothers obviously just a lot of other brother duos in
(18:48):
the league. I feel like that would be really cool
for me and my family to they don't have to
do all the driving, just one ring.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
That's that's come true. Man. Yeah, but you know, I
circle back a little bit here. So Aiden Lane comes
to the team. You guys played together, of course with
the Marles and whatnot. Now when you guys, when Aidan
Lane first came to the team, you know, for a
little bit for in those call ups and whatnot, but
before it was full time. Now, you guys seem to
have a really good chemistry and talking with Dan Lane
(19:17):
interviewing him, first person he mentioned was you. First person
he mentioned was you. He said, the one guy I
had the most chemistry with in the beginning was Kiering
with Kowski and you could totally see it. But man,
talk about playing with this.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Guy, yeah he later, he's unbelievable, like in our minor
missed days, Like he's probably one of the most skilled
players I've ever played with, Like his puck control, like
him entire it's unbelievable. And yeah, obviously, like when he
told me he had the opportunity to come and play
here during a SAX season, I was like, I was
super fired up and would love to get a chance
(19:50):
to play with him because of all the success we
had on the Marles back in the day and now
that he's full time with us for the rest of
the year, Like, it's awesome. Like, obviously, him coming late,
I'm showing him the ropes a little bit and like
talking to him about the little things ins and outs.
But obviously he's a huge part to this team and
I think he's a really great add on this late
in the season who can help contribute in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
So I'm happy he's here.
Speaker 3 (20:15):
And yeah, unbelievable, unbelievable how he fits in, How he
just fits in like a glove with you guys. Yeah,
so yeah, that's that's great.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah, he's been a great addition as being kind of
like the maybe only connection point that that he has
with the team, Like how do you kind of go about,
you know, getting him integrated into the team and stuff
because he is coming so late in the year.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Yeah, Well, when he was coming in as a call
up like during the year with all those injuries, like obviously,
like he got to know everyone, so everyone was familiar
with him, and obviously everyone know.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
He could play too, because during that time.
Speaker 4 (20:48):
He was scoring, he was doing everything. So I feel
like when he came back, he was familiar, he was
more familiar. He knew all the guys, like he knew
what our coaches wanted, you know, the system. So like, yeah,
like talking him like he's he's really happy and he's
loving it here. So I think with him, yeah, we could,
we could do a lot. And I'm super glad again
that he's here.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
You know, Like he scored a goal against the nagg R.
I stopped there and I was very happy for you,
of course. Yeah oh yeah, oh man, But you know,
so take me through that goal though, I mean he
just threw it on goal, you know, because it went
off the skate obviously. I mean there's like five hundred
people in fighting all obviously, but take me through that goal.
Speaker 5 (21:28):
Yeah. So, uh, Connor Smith did a good dump, like
a little.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
Flip that their d really couldn't read then, and me
and me and Gabor kind of went at that das bullhorned.
So he just like he backed right up, and obviously
I was lucky enough to get the puck, and I,
to be honest, I saw Gabe go back door and
I'm like, all right, I'm throwing this one to him
because I'm on my back end.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
And then I threw it.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
I see it at the stick and I'm coming around
the net and I see a trickle and I'm like, oh,
I just scored for me and me and Gabe were
big day were joking about it on the bench. He's like,
you know, I could have tapped that in right and.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
No, yeah, nor the replay. That was your goal all the.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Way he has.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
He's over here to go with thes up here. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, it's good yell. And it's been a it's been
a little bit, so I'm pretty happy.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
But that that's great.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
Yeah, And you just talked about playing with playing with
Gape Shirot. You know, I've asked this. We've had von
Richter and Sebeski in the past two episodes, and I
kind of asked them similar questions. But you guys have
been all up and down the lineup, like it's not
that often that you're playing with the same guys, So
so how do you kind of you know, get integrated
with playing with different guys all the time on the eyes.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Obviously it's tough, but we all know what kind of
players we are, and especially this year, like we basically
played with everyone on our team with all the injuries
and suspensions and all that stuff. So I feel like
whatever the lineup is for playoffs, like we've played with
the two other linemates we have before. Oh, it's nothing new,
and we're all very familiar with each other, so I
(23:03):
don't think there's any issue there with our chemistry.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
That's that's amazing. So last thing for me, how much
steak do you eat a week? I just want to know.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
I'd say I actually had a last night, but I'd
say probably two three times a week?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (23:21):
Yeah, big big ones, big ones, Yeah, like New York Surloins.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Yeah, stripline like once in a month, maybe a rabbi fancy.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Yeah, I can't wait. I feel like going down. I
feel like going down the butcher against some right now.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
Yeah, all the guys on the team, we love going
to the keg. So a big steak, guys, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
That's a great. How do you eat it?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
What's what? What?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
How's he cooked?
Speaker 5 (23:47):
Medium? Rare? All old? For me? I feel like not.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Like Brendan, what do you?
Speaker 5 (23:52):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (23:53):
What do you I'm a medium, well guy, it's like
sacrilegious to say that to people who eat steak a lot.
But you may.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
As well just put a piece of I tell them
all the time. Start eating.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Yeah, I'm telling you it's it's more tender. It's not
chewing to cheer you that know, it's not.
Speaker 7 (24:12):
He reminds me of my wife when I when I
when I have to cook the steak to I cook
mine whatever, and I give my son some right Karen,
but hers it has to be hers well done.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And I, oh yeah, and I have to stand in
the barbecue forever, forever, forever. Mind I was waiting. I'm
waiting my stick. I'm like, oh my god, so fine.
And then I'll have to take it off. And she's
really picky and I have to put it. She looks
at it, she has to cut it. If it's not
good enough, I have to put it. No it's not. No,
Oh my god, the real.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
Man fair enough.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I'll take that one. Uh the last one for me.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You talked quickly about it there about being a Bills fan.
We see the flag in the back for people that
are listening and can't see if there's there's a Bills
flag right, So I'm a Bills fan as well. What
have you thought about the offseason so far.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
I think that Joey Bosas signing was huge. He's a
guy that.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
We really need because we need to stop the the
QB rush and I feel like having him in there.
Speaker 5 (25:19):
Like he'll stop the mahomes to stop with Lamar Jackson, like,
I think we're good.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
I feel like obviously like my old thing is and
we always talk about it in the room because everyone's
different types of fans And to tell you, guys a story,
like a bunch of us during the year when the
Bills were playing against Baltimore, we all went down and
made the trip and solid game.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
I think we had a lot of new Bills fans
after that trip. Yeah, it's a good time.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
But but yeah, like I feel like if we have
Josh Allen as a quarterback, then we're winning no matter what.
Speaker 5 (25:51):
And hopefully we can get over the hump this year.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I feel like, hopefully we can re sign James Cook,
hopefully you can maybe pick up like another defensive part.
Speaker 5 (25:59):
But I feel like it would be good.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I thought the past rush was the
biggest thing. Joey Bosa is gonna yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
Exactly, that's right.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I agree with you Bill's fans. Okay, I got one
more question. I got one thing for you, all right,
I totally So you're going here playing against Ryerson, Leander
is coming up. Yeah, what's the feeling like? You know,
you guys, you know, talk about it.
Speaker 5 (26:21):
Yeah, one and we'll score a lot, That's what I think.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
All right, we'll end it on that one.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Again.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
That's that's putting the good word out.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Into the world. I think, exactly, yeah out there. Yeah.
So obviously he's a goalie. But with our team, we're
gonna light them up tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (26:40):
It's gonna be good. It's gonna be good.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
Yeah, Yeah, it'll be fun. Karen, thank you so much
for coming on. Man, really do appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
Good luck to rest of you guys. Yeah, I have
a great nice so somebody.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
But I was here in Wikowski here on the saga
nine sixty a m on the trout Talk. I'm Brendan Lang,
Mikey kay with me, my carefullets, we're gonna take a break.
We're gonna come back on the other side. Recap that interview,
talk about games coming up, talk about the standings, everything
that's going down to the wire here in the ohl season,
coming up to the playoffs. So we'll take a break.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Right now.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
You're listening to trep Talk on SOGGA nine sixty.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
A stream US live at SAGA nine sixty am dot c.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
A And welcome back to trip Talk here on SAGA
nine sixty am. Thank you so much for coming along
(27:56):
with us. Brendan Lang along with Mikey k Mike care
Felitas too, broadcasters under and Steels and Mikey just had
Karen Waikowski on the past side there on trout talk.
Really great to talk to you. And you can tell
the confidence is there in this team right now.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
I take the key, the key right there. You set
it the confidence, but everybody's buying in. He just said
it right there, the buying in and at if you
say that near the end of the season, and especially
the way the guy's been playing, you can see it.
And you can see the maturity from this young man,
the way he's matured from last year to this year.
The way on the ice, Uh, he's not afraid of anybody.
(28:34):
He'll take caught on anyone, anytime, any place. I mean hitting,
he doesn't care. I remember Elias big A licen on
Uh yeah, on Barry, I mean earlier, remember earlier on
this year, he's the come on you know, like and
he did whatever knocked him off his feet, which is
tough to do. So but we're like the maturity this can.
(28:54):
I like the way he said everybody's buying in.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, it's it's the right time of year for everybody
to be buying in. And and I like that you
said too, you know, talking to the media and stuff like,
you can see the development of character as well, year
over year two. And you know, coming in is a
and he got to play as a sixteen year old,
right like right out of being drafted. You know, he
comes in, he gets to play for the steel Heads
and play in the OHL and you know, sometimes that
can be tough. You know, you got media, you've never
(29:17):
done it before and all that kind of stuff. But
but no, he was definitely definitely a difference for sure.
And you can see that with a lot of guys
and just the character development you know year over here it.
Speaker 3 (29:29):
Comes from yeah, and that culture, and that comes from
the culture of these guys and we've seen. We see
it all the time, the way that how much they
they bond, they can get along together. The culture staff
is so good with them. The staff is so good
with them. They're good to the staff. I mean, it's
all about culture, right, and that's how the kids grow.
And that's that's there's a perfect example right there, Karen Mkowski.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah, that's right. And and the culture too, of course
growing off the ice like we just talked about, but
but growth on the ice as well is it's going
to be created by that culture too. And you know,
having everybody together and as you mentioned, you know, buying
in and as Karen mentioned as well, buying into to
what the coaches want to do and how the team
wants to play. And obviously they're buying it at the
right time and they're and they're playing some some quality hockey.
(30:15):
So you can tell there's confidence there and they should
be because it's coming down to the wire and this
is the time of the year that you want to
that you want to have that confidence as high as possible.
So we'll quickly go over the two games that we
didn't get to in the first segment. If you did
miss the first segment, here today we talked about two games.
We started out with the Subury game steel Is losing
eight to six, and then the game in Peterborough they
(30:36):
win six to three. That was on Wednesday of last week.
And then on Friday you have the Barry Colts who
have had a really good year. They went for it
at the deadline, of course, making a bunch of trades.
Steele has played I think one of their best games
of the entire season, winning now on four to one.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
They were absolutely dominant. It kind of kind of in
the first period, you know, it's kind of I think
both teams are trying to find their identity is more,
somebody was trying not to make a mistake. It seemed
like back and forth. And then I think maybe ten
minutes maybe ten minutes into the first period, things kind
of kind of turned around a little bit towards Steelhead's
way and they started to get a lot of shots in.
(31:13):
Ben Herevik was absolutely phenomenal. That shit, the shots all
go where what fifty one to like fifteen or something
like that. Whatever it was. Yeah, Herabic was good, Mark,
the whole team was good. Connor Smith has turned it
up to another level back there. The whole d was fantastic.
Angus MacDonell was good. You know, congratulations to him. We
(31:35):
didn't mentioned signing his ELC of course with the Dallas
Star as well deserved. So now that's two players signed, right,
him and Finn Hardy. Just to say Finn Hardy, he
was dynamited in that game, but total team effort. Ivan
Covid was good when he had to be. Didn't have
a lot of shots, but he was good when he
had to be.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
And that's kind it is one percent. And going back
to the point that you made about Ivan Covid, because
remember Jr. Was talking about and he said that there
were a few goals that he wasn't too happy about
in the Peterborough game, and he was saying like that
was when we were up six to one, like it
doesn't matter, Like I mean that you can't beat yourself
up about those and that kind of you know, goes
into that there. It's like when he needed to make
(32:13):
a big save, even though he wasn't tested a bunch,
he was there and he made the stops. I mean,
they don't win the game without some of the saves
that he made, So like that's obviously a huge development
is kind of getting him back in the rhythm. Gillespie
had been playing well there too, but Jack's going to
be the guy, you know, going into the playoffs, so
to kind of get that rhythm going obviously, that's that's
huge for the team. But he did play well in
(32:35):
that game against Barry and you said it, Ben Herevick
was outstanding twelve in.
Speaker 3 (32:41):
Yeah, past to have gone.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
On, Yeah, yeah, one hundred percent. Big win in that game,
of course, four to one, as we as we mentioned
right there, And one thing I also want to point
out because we're going to talk about the Niagara game
here in just a moment, but you had said the
shots and they were fifty one to twenty two in
that game in favor of a Bampton, and then in
the Niagara game it was forty four to ten in
(33:03):
favor of Brampton. So that's a good sign as well.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Yeah. Well, yeah, I mean you're all playing they all
played the Barry Colts and yeah, okay, but yeah they're
missing missing Tristan Bertucci, but that's the only guy they're missing.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Yeah, yeah, Well, and then I mean, to me, that's right.
They outplayed them for sure, and then they outplayed the
Ice Dogs as well in that Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Oh my goodness, I mean they were they just came
out of the they like a shot out of a cannon.
And again, I want to go back. I want to
go back to that line that was newly formed with
Lucas Karmiras, Aiden Lane and Carson ray Cooff. And that
line was formed in the middle I mentioned before, in
(33:47):
the middle of the Peterborough game, probably about in the
second period. So the Baskie was on that line with
Carmeras and ray Cooff and James Richmond decided to put
Lane up there and kind of dropped Sebesky. But I
think it's benefited both these both players. Actually, if you
ask me so now, the Beski against and Angry, he
(34:07):
was on the third line, right, uh. But yeah, that
line it stood was was unbelievable in that game against
the Jada Lane getting another goal and assist a beautiful
backhand er. And how about how about the Connor Smith goal.
Holy moly, at one time, I mean I thought I
(34:29):
thought that was going to go right through the glass.
I mean that was just like what that was an
NHL caliber one timer. And I don't think any goal
you had a chance at that it was just like bo,
that's it. Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
It was amazing, amazing shot, amazing goal, and an amazing
game overall for Connor. It was a three assists in
the goal, like that's i mean, his best offensive performance
as a Steeler. But you had mentioned it.
Speaker 5 (34:57):
I mean, his.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Play is just it's it's just picked up so much
over even the past like five games. And and they
you know, they call him the sheriff and and that's
exactly what it's like back the sheriff everything. I mean,
he just calms everything down on the ice and he
is gonna be such a big piece going into the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
How about how about Parker von Richter Brandon plus six
plus six yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
Yeah, those two guys playing together too, Like they've been
outstanding as well since they've started playing together. They were
kind of playing together at the beginning, they moved around.
Now they're back together and and it's been it's been
a great bear.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's been a blessing in disguise. Yeah, everybody now so
now everybody's just picking up their game. But those yeah,
great game, great o overall team game gigs Niagara and
uh yeah good win.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Yeah, very very good win, a very convincing win against
the Ice Dog. So so we'll take Yeah, well we'll
quickly go over these two games because remember and this
airs on Sunday. The Kingston Products are actually going to
be coming up right after this airs on Saga nine
sixty am. But we'll quickly go over the Branford Bulldogs
game that's gonna be happening tomorrow at the time of
(36:11):
recording this. So you asked, you asked Karen mcgaski about it.
He said that they're gonna light up Ryerson Landers. Very
is very direct with that one, very confident. But Branford's
a really good team. So it's it's it's gonna be
a good game there, especially in Branford.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Yeah, you're playing against her. I mean, Ryoceo Leeder is
gonna be pumped up as well, the play against his
old squad of course, right, I mean, of course you're
gonna say that, and ryoson Landers is probably saying, hey,
I'm gonna shut these guys down. Right, Hey, this is
where Ryose and Landers. He knows a lot of these guys.
He probably still talks a lot of these guys, right,
they were good friends before and whatnot. And it's just
a friendly rivalry and you gotta like that for Kim mccusky. Hey, yeah,
(36:50):
we're gonna light them up and whatnot. But Ryerson's a
good kid. We all know that, right. But here's the
key against the Bulldogs. If they could be physical with Larnis,
and that's the key. You cannot give them two steps.
If you're physical and you play the right way in
your own zone, get on their defense. I think the
(37:12):
steal should be successful. I really do.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, No, I agree with that for sure. I mean
you look at guys like, I mean, it's just two names,
but I mean Nick Lartis, O'Brien, Eric van Acher like upfront.
I mean, they got a lot of guys who can create.
But as you said, if you don't give them time
and space, it's going to make it difficult at them.
I mean, I think that's kind of what playoff hockey
is is you take away the time and space, you
take away the breathing room. And the Steelers have been
(37:36):
doing that well against a lot of their opponents here recently. Absolutely,
that's something that for sure is going to be a
big point of emphasis in that game. As we sit
right now looking at this the Branford Bulldogs are in
first place, three points ahead of Kingston and five points
ahead of the Austwa Generals with eighty nine points right now,
so we'll see how that shakes out towards the end
(37:58):
of the season. After that, on Friday, the steel Let's
have Peterborough once again. You don't have to really get
into that one too much because they just played Peterborough
so kind of similar things. We want to see from
that in that game for sure, and then the final
game of the regular season. Mikey, I can't believe we're
at the end of the regular season believing we were
talking about it at the rink. It feels like we
(38:19):
were just there for the preseason like it's it's it's crazy,
it really does. But anyways, coming up after this on
Saga nine sixty am is the Kingston front Necks in Brampton.
I just mentioned where Kingston is sitting right now in
the standings. They're in third place with eighty six points.
It's possible though that they can move into fourth and
play the Steelheads like there's you know, there's there's still
(38:41):
some implications I think for this final game of the year.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
It's crazy, it's crazy like I mean, as Generals, they
got it. They got three more games left. The Kingston
front Knocks got three more games left. If I'm right,
Let's look through Oshawa's remaining games and then we can
kind of talk about it a little bit here, right, So, Brenda,
do you want to pull that up there?
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Yeah, let's let's let's.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
Pull up the remaining games for each team and then
we can kind of uh see where they're going to go.
All right, excuse me everybody for my cough by the way.
Speaker 2 (39:16):
Yeah, So again, the kind of the teams, the teams
that we kind of want to look at are are
the Oswa Generals. Of course right now would be the
Steelheads matchup if the playoffs were to start tomorrow. Kingston
also we will definitely take a look at as well.
We can even take a look at at Branford schedule
as well.
Speaker 3 (39:35):
Their final three games.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
Yeah yeah, yeah. So so Oshawa's final three games, they
got North Bay and Sudbury that's up north, so those
are tough games for the Generals. And then and then
they have Peterborough uh coming up tonight when this airs
against the Peterborough Peats in Aushawa. So that's their final
game of the year.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Yeah, okay, so you got those three tough road trip
for the Gens, but they've got to go three and oh,
they got to go three and oh to get that,
not to get to move up in the standings right now,
otherwise it's gonna be still as the General's first round.
So tough one though, it's gonna be tough. I know Kingston,
I'm pretty sure they got. I'm not sure that. I
think they got Peterborough obviously, Brampton and yes, Branford. So
(40:18):
Branford needs these games. They want to finish first in
the standings right now. And then right behind him is
the Barry Colts right for three points, I believe. So yeah,
these games, okay, yeah, you could see people can say, well,
they don't mean much for the Steelheads, you know, these
last three games and whatnot. I think they do. I
think they do. So it's gonna be interesting to see
(40:41):
who comes out with that fourth and final or the
fourth spot, because yeah, we'll see what happens there with
the third and fourth, especially with man Branford two. You
never know, they could drop right. Well, that's pretty much
they're they're in that second spot.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
They're number Yeah, I think that's probably where they finished.
But I'm saying, like Kingston plays Peterborough and obviously this
is like, you know, kind of galaxy braining in a
little bit, But like Kingston plays Peterborough. There the steel
Heads play Branford. If Kingston were to win and the
steel Heads were to be Branford, it's only a one
point difference. Brandford got to play Kingston. That could decide
the top seed, like it could flip. Yeah, So I
(41:17):
mean there's a lot going on here down and down
the stretch. Let's actually let's actually take a quick look
at Branford as well. I want to see who they
who they finish off the season.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
Against Branford's overachieving this year.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
I mean it's it's tough to say that they are
because at this point of the season, if it was
a month, two months into the year, you could say
maybe they are. But when you get through the tires,
when you get through an entire season, I think it's
hard to say that you've overachieved. Like when you've played
the entire year at that I think that's tough to
say that you've been overachieving.
Speaker 3 (41:49):
I just wish and I'm gonna say that I mean
with all the injuries, and then this is when the
Steelheads played the Branford Bulldogs with during when the steel
Heads have the injury, when the guys were at World Juniors.
I mean they're playing with EPs against the Branford Bulldogs
and against the Kingston Frontmax pretty much except for that one.
That's except for the last game when the steel has
(42:09):
blew them out, right, So just to say, I wish
that the whole team was there against Branford that those
games and against the Kingston maybe the Steelings might be
up in the standing. It doesn't matter now, but I'm
just I've just that in there.
Speaker 2 (42:22):
Of course, No, it would have been nice for the
team to be healthy for the entire season, but wasn't
the case. So he got to got to play with
the cards. You were delta at this point in the year.
Speaker 3 (42:33):
Branford.
Speaker 2 (42:33):
So they as we've mentioned Brampton of course they have
they have Kingston as well, and they finish off with
Ottawa at home, which Ottawa is going to be battling too,
so they're not going to be you know, rolling over
in that game because they want to make the playoffs, right,
So uh yeah, lots of again, lots of things can
still happen in the in the standings. Looking at the
bottom of it as well, just two points separating North
Bay and Ottawa going down right with with three games left,
(42:56):
and obviously those are great, really big games for those
two teams. But quickly before we sign off here today,
let's talk about the steel Heads and Kingston on the
Sunday game coming up. Right out of the trout talk
what are we looking for in that game, because you
know what, Kingston's Kingston's a really good team. They're coached
really well, and they've got a great structure. So there's definitely,
(43:19):
you know, parts to that team that are going to
be really difficult for Brenton.
Speaker 3 (43:22):
They're probably gonna be mad, I'll tell you that, yeah,
because last time these two teams played it was a
six nothing win. I believe there was six nothing for
the Steelheads and something like that. So they're gonna be mad.
They're gonna be angry, They're gonna come out angry. They're
gonna have Joey Willis back in the lineup. I believe
they had a full lineup against the steel EDGs except
for Joey Willis. Last time these two teams played so
(43:43):
but what the Steelheads did they were physical with their defense.
They're physical with them. They were able to get a
lot of shots on goal, probably see Charlie Shankle in
that game. It's gonna be a big one for Kingston,
and guess what, it's gonna be a big one for
the steel Ends as well. Steelds aren't gonna roll over
and say, oh, we're gonna you know, especially games Richmond,
you know him, right, He's not gonna lay down and say, Okay,
(44:04):
you're arrested, you're arrested. You know, you guys are playing
and we're gonna beat these guys, simple as that. I
think it's gonna be a hard nold battle. Stay tuned, Yeah,
I think that'd be a really good bout.
Speaker 2 (44:16):
It's it's gonna feel like a playoff game. I feel
like the last two weeks all the games have kind
of felt like playoff games. But but that one, for sure,
will will feel that way. It's gonna be it's gonna
be a physical battle. You look at the season series
so far, and of course, as you said, you know,
there were times where the Steelers were playing with you know,
a lot of aps and a lot of injuries, but
Kingston was the first matchup eight to two. Kingston won,
(44:37):
the second one on New Year's Day that was four
to three in favor of Kingston, and then six Kingston
won the last one.
Speaker 3 (44:43):
Yeah, I don't forget that eight to two games, that
eighty two game. That game was Port de Marton was
suspended in that game and that's when all the injuries
were happening and whatnot, and everybody wasn't backed yet to
being one hundred percent uh in that game. And then
the second game that was the game with all the peace.
I mean, that's how close. It was so hard to play,
it was that close, and then when everybody was back
(45:05):
in the line, the steel Heads dominated them. So it's
gonna be a great It's gonna be a great bottle. Yep.
Speaker 2 (45:12):
Definitely looking forward to the final stretch here and looking
forward to the playoffs as well. We're gonna have, of course,
an episode before the playoffs start too, so we'll be
able to preview what's going to go on with the
steel Heads and what's going to go on around the
league in the playoffs. Really really exciting times awesome.
Speaker 4 (45:27):
Man.
Speaker 2 (45:27):
We'll make our protion as well, Yeah, we will yeah, we'll.
Speaker 3 (45:30):
Make We'll try. I mean, I know my predictions the
beginning of you it didn't go so well.
Speaker 2 (45:35):
Yeah, we we were off on those ones a little bit.
We'll wear that one. We'll wear that, but hopefully maybe
our playoff predictions will be a little bit better. All right,
signing off now, Mikey, anything you want to add at
the end of the show today, Get sleep, Get sleep, yes, try.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
Get sleep, stay stay awake, stay awake, and and eat
your protein. Eat your protein like Karen Mkowski and you
can be still you could be a big as him.
Eat sticks three times a week because boy boy, he's
matur just to say, but eat your protein, get your sleep,
and take your vitamins. Like Caul Colgan says, I don't
(46:13):
know if you said that. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
I'm not a wrestling guy. I can't tell you if
you said that. But yeah, still U still good things
to remember, whoever said it, whether it was whoever it was,
but all right, signing signing off right now again. Coming
up right after this, it's the Kingston Fraud next and
the Brampton steel Heads final game of the regular season.
(46:38):
Then it really starts in the playoffs. So looking forward,
to that. Myself and mikey k will be on the
call for that game. We'll get right over to the
arena after this and we'll be that. We got any
helicopters landing right now, We've got.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
To George guts In mobile out there, so we're gonna
head over.
Speaker 2 (46:58):
All right. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank
you to Kieren Mikowski for coming on the program. Thanks
Mike you for being here, of course, Mike caret Alitis,
Brendan Lang, thank you for listening. And you are listening
to trout Talk here on SAGA nine sixty am, and
enjoy the game coming up.
Speaker 1 (47:13):
News, no radio, no problem. Stream us live on SAGA
nine sixty am dot ca A
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