March 31, 2025 • 49 mins
Voice of the Roadrunners Jonathon Schaffer and Arizona Daily Star's James Kelley recap the five-game road trip for the team that now is outside looking in the playoffs at the eighth seed. They preview a big homestand for the unit against the Calgary Wranglers and Bakersfield Condors, two teams they are playing catchup against in the playoff standings and hear from Forward Hunter Drew on how the team can get back to the winning ways.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the Roadrunners Jonathan Shafer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water. It's pretty odd.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
And your new best friend my best friend, Arizona Daily
Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking, so let's
join them right here on your twoson Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
The intensity continues on here.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
With just eight games left to go of the twenty
twenty four twenty five regular season, six of them being
at the Tucson Arena, just two more on the road.
We are back coming tomorrow for a four game home
stand with the Calgary Wranglers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Welcome
to this week's Insider podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Alongside me as always Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. We
(00:53):
still have a good amount to go with eight games
left to go on the season, We're gonna be hearing
from a four hundred drew on these upcoming games. After
the recent loss against the Bakersfield Condors, road Runners entering
the week now outside looking in of the AHL's playoff
picture after a one and four five game road trip,
losing the last game against the Bakersfield Condors three to
(01:17):
two on Saturday night. It was a game with which
the Condors now take the seventh seed, rolling into the week,
but still plenty of opportunity for the Roadrunners to be
bound with a series against the Calgary Wranglers coming up,
who are still on their big free fall, and then
the Bakersfield Condors coming up this week. And so, James,
even though you feel the pressure is really on now
(01:38):
for this team, right after a pretty rough road trip overall,
you know, just getting the one win out of the
five total contests to go one and four, losing that
last game against the Bakersfield Condors, and now you're outside
looking in and you have a chance to get back
in it as quick as possible. You're just one point
out now for the Roadrunners. But as we always say,
(02:00):
every point counts up to this spot of the season,
there's only eight games remaining, and you're starting to really feel,
nowt this, uh, this is gonna really come down to
the wire.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Yeah, it's really It's kind of almost cliche the way
guys always say, like, oh well, this game is basically
the playoffs, or this game is the playoffs for us
A teen in the season, which in a way it
really is, because all the games are important, really, but
this is really the game on the point where it's like, yeah,
these are totally like the playoffs because they have the
they have Cavalry, who's just a few spots ahead of
(02:31):
them now because you talked about how they've been slumping
a bit. And then after that, you know, they have
that that two game series starting on Tuesday, and then
they have the huge series against bakers Field coming up,
so it's almost like a three game series heading into
the playoffs to decide who, you know, who get who
gets that last playoff spot. And obviously it's not totally
deciding because after after this home stand, there's still four
(02:53):
more games for the road Owners and a few more
games for Bakersfield. But it just really it's just really
a crucial series coming down this wretch and it's been
It was a really interesting road trip for the runners,
and in terms of you only get one win, but
it was against a brutal schedule if you look at it,
I mean they played first place Colorado, then second place Ontario,
(03:13):
and then they have the the I don't want to
say trap game because but almost trap game against San
Diego because that was Sandwich impun in the games between
Ontario and then.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
But San Diego's teams have played really well and they're
catching up and now they're back into the playoff picture
a bit. They're still still a bit behind Tucsons and
obviously a bit behind Bakersfield, but that was a tough
game for the Runners to go and play. And then
obviously they have the game where Bakersfield's almost playing for
their libbies because had they lost that game, they would
be down by three points and they would be have
(03:46):
to really be chasing and they don't have the tiebreaker,
so I do have a game in hand on Tucson,
but still obviously it's been forever like that, but had
had Bakersfield lost that game, then they would really been
be been behind the eight ball. So it's it's a
really crucial series. Husmstack, I'm not for the Runners and
ocrucial series come against Bakersfield, but Mu's overlook the Calgary series.
(04:06):
So that's that's a big series too.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Yeah, and it's still opportunity for the road Runners, right. Uh,
Calgary is in a complete, uh free fall at the moment.
They really have been since the kind of since the
All Star break back in January, and uh, to be honest,
I don't have the exact numbers on me. I'm going
to try to find that out of how bad they
really have been since January. I'll be doing that on
(04:32):
our Tucson Roadrunners road Ahead blog that you can go
to two soon roadrunners dot Com. That should be out
hopefully by this evening on this Monday. Uh, we're gonna
try to get that out before the games come up.
But uh, from the standings, looking at the you know
standings on the Pacific Division, Calgary's on a three game
losing streak. They're two seven oh to one the last
ten games, and they just continue to be absolutely, uh
(04:55):
just you know wrecked allowing golds wise, like they continue
to destroy ruggle with with the goaltending.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And it's funny.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
At one point the Wranglers had one of the best
goalies in the league in Devin Cooley, and now Cooley
has also completely kind of just just fallen off. And
looking at the schedule of the Wranglers as of recently, again,
they really struggled in the recent month of March. They
allowed eight goals against the Abbotsford Canucks to start off
(05:25):
the month, six to Coachella Valley.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Eight again to Coachella Valley.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
They lost six to five to the Manitoba Moose. Uh,
they lost three to two or they won three two
against Manitoba to respond, but then Abbotsford wanted five to
four in a shootouts. Then they blanked them one nothing,
three to one Coachella Valley. They won that game uh
and then lost four to two. But then they just
(05:50):
recently lost eight to two against the Bagsfield Condors on Friday,
March eight. That was the game that really put twoson
into pressure mode kind of going into that Saturday game.
And then they lost three to one against the San
Diego Goals. So a pretty rough month for them. And
again it's not saying these are guaranteed wins for Tucson,
but you were catching a team on their worst stretch
(06:14):
of this entire season. They went from first all the
way down to sixth place. And you know, again it's
all hypotheticals, right, but you know, if the Roadrunners able
to get some wins against them Condors, maybe start getting
some wins, maybe we start seeing Calgary potentially falling out
of the playoff race. So anything is still possible in
(06:35):
these next eight games for the Roadrunners, for the Wranglers
as well with eight games, so this is also a
really big series James to you know, of course trying
to surpass Bakersfield, but now you're trying to catch up
to Calgary to maybe see a potential full shift between
those three teams.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
Yeah, it's really interesting how they've kind of been fit
falling since they were obviously at the at the calendar
year their first place and they're first face by a
bit because part of a part of that's because they
had so many games and they played so many more
games and people behind them. But usually typically when a
team comes in and they're they're they're on a little
bit of losing streak or something, I kind of rolled
(07:13):
my eyes, like, oh, yeah, okay, they're probably due based
on how this division plays plays out, how good a
division is, I think, well, they're they're due to get
some wins. But with the Calgary they're kind of really
kind of slumping and really kind of at this point
where they're they lost three in a row and are
two seven oh to one their last ten and they're
just they're just kind of they handed to be careful.
(07:36):
These are big games for them, obviously, but big games
for everyone at this point in season. But these are
big games for them to try and see if they
hold off Bakersfield, hold off Twuson. Right now they're five
points head of Bakersfield, six points head to Tucson. But
now they're kind of slipping and slipping and they gotta
these are crucial games for them too, but to stay
back in to stay back in the playoffs and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
So it's just it's just a get and getting to
be really interesting.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Yeah, And so just pulling up the stats again, Devin
Cooley was arguably the best goalie in the entire league.
At some point he had really about a two goals
against average sapercenters was really high. Now, James, he has
a two point nine to one goals against average and
nine oh six say percents. Again, I'm gonna get really
into the stats of this to not just fully poke
(08:21):
at Calgary maybe a little bit just because of what
happened last year, but at the same time, there's a
reason why they're just crumbling like this. Then they've lost
a lot of their their big forwards as well with
you know, Dryden Hunt is not with the team right now,
Adam Klapka's is not with the team. They they lost
Walker Doer to waivers from the Calgary Wranglers. Jacob Peltier
(08:43):
is not with the team, like they lost a lot
of their big names. And that seems to happen to
them every single season. Right They start off so hot
that the best team in the league. You're thinking like, okay,
now it's the catching up to the Calgary game, and
then all of a sudden they fall off. So two
seasons in a row, James, now that the Wranglers have
went from first place all the way to at least
the sixth or seventh seed, and they could still drop
(09:04):
to the seventh seed bearing whatever happens in these next
eight games for each of our teams. But you know,
this is a maybe the you know, we started talking
about maybe playing them in the first round, and though
that might not be possible anymore, just with how the
standings are, you still have a chance to try to
just still enact your revenge here, especially in front of
the home crowd for some midweek games, you know, against
(09:26):
the Wranglers, to try to find a way. Oh maybe,
just maybe you push them out of the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Who knows.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
You know, it's it's all still coming down to the wire.
But for Tucson you still got to control what you
can control. And now we're once again right behind the
Bakersfield Condors. It's the first time we've lost that seventh
seed since February. We were able to get it back
during that Gem Show trip after snapping that eight game
losing streak that was including a win against the Condors,
(09:52):
and then we got the seventh seed back in Henderson
when we beat the Silver Knights, and then the Condors
I think lost in an overtime game or something and
it was enough for us to get a point. Yeah,
they lost in a shootout against the Coachell Valley Firebirds
because I Merl was watching that after and then we
had that. We had the seventh seed for months since,
but now we have lost it again, so, you know,
(10:12):
pressures on for us, but we've been Luckily for us,
we've been really good at home as of recent as well.
We're coming off a two and two home stand a
few weeks back when we played the uh Ontario Rain
and the San Jose Barracuda. Before that home stand, we
had three oh one and oh home stand when we
beat the Rockford ice hok twice as well near the
(10:35):
end of it, and then we were able to sweet
the Abbots for Canucks. So two Son's actually been pretty
good at home and this home stand and we say
it all the time, it's the biggest home stand of
the season, James, because after this you only get two
games on a road, two games at home, and that's it.
So with that being said, this this is a big
stretch for us, and we're really gonna try to, you know,
double down here and string of some wins together.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Yeah, obviously we don't know who's gonna who's gonna be
on the Roaders roster, and soy, we don't know who's
gonna be on the Colorado roster an the season. But
when the Roaders finished off the season in their last
last two games against Colorado, it's gonna be a really
weird situation because usually in that situation, you see a
team like that right now there in first and they've
been doing well, you think like, oh, well, they're gonna
(11:18):
rest players for the next round or something, or you know,
for the playoffs. But in that case, maybe they're not
going to because they have the buye. So that's a
crucial series coming out, just giving ahead, So this is
something that so you look ahead to that, and then
they obviously have the road trip to Rockford after this
homestand so you look ahead a little bit to the
those last four games are the runners. This makes this
(11:40):
homestound much more important, that much more important because obviously
it's a big pig to try and get points against
Calgary and big to get points against Bakersfield. But you
look ahead and it's gonna be kind of brutal that
last series, That's what I'm thinking, because they're they're probably
not gonna rest on Colorado. You know, who knows who
they're gonna bring up, Who who're gonna get from the
eyeliner and I think or if they get anyone for
(12:01):
the playoffs, But you don't know what their roster is
gonna look like because they're gonna you know, we don't
know what their situation is. But you have to kind
of think that they're not going to want to They're
not going to rest players for for that in that series.
They're gonna want to get as many points as possible.
Kind of and keep players fresh, so that that's gonna
(12:21):
be a huge serious for runers looking ahead in terms
of how difficult that is. So that makes the series
this kind of more even strength battles against Calgary and
bakers Felt that much more important because you're looking ahead,
you want to get as many points as possible, and
and looking looking ahead to Bakersfield schedule, obviously they they
end up at this point, they end up with an
(12:42):
easier schedule than with Tucson. They they after the Tucson
series that they they host or they traveled to Henderson
and then they host San Diego and then they have
coach ol value them as heard, and they close off
the season the home and home against Henderson. So that's
Henderson last place. At that point, they might be kind of,
you know, not mailing in, but not not as intensive
(13:04):
series as two Sons games two Sons games against Carolado.
So at this point, if you look ahead at Bakersfield,
they have that game in hand and they have an
easier schedule. So that makes this this home set that
much more important for tu soon.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Yeah, and thankfully, and this is gonna maybe sound crazy,
and this might be a crazy take, but I think
maybe you would rather play teams in a think of
it of a playoff RaSE than teams that aren't, because
those teams tend to play spoiler James. I mean, San
Diego goals just spoiled us, right, and they think they're
they're still alive. I've talked I talked to some of
their staff members and they're saying like.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Oh, we can still make it.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
It's a tough stretch, but I mean it's not out
of the full equation, but they're they're they're gonna need
a lot to go their way to to make the playoffs.
And I talked with Steve Pavin that pregame show and
he said, this was a Game seven for San Diego
and all of a sudden. Now San Diego wins two
games in a row with that big win against the
Calgary Ranguis as well. So I mean they're only three
points back of two on and they're four points back
(14:02):
of the Condors, so, uh, they are still a little
bit alive.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Again, they need a lot to go their way.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
But if they just keep winning games, San Diego, it
sa all the sudden in the mix too. So you have,
now what is it for four teams battling for the
final two seeds of the Pacific Division race. Now it
has been so much more intense than what we saw
last year. Again, last year, we kind of already knew
who the seven teams were that'd make the playoffs, and
we kind of already found that out probably a month
(14:30):
month left of the entire season, maybe even more, like
we just kind of knew, like the goals Barracuda and
Silver Knights are out and these two three, these seven
teams are gonna be in. It just depended on where
who was gonna finish with what record, right, But now
this year it's wranglers can fall out of it. They
can have the worst landslide ever that we've seen in hockey,
(14:51):
going from first place maybe to a potential out of
playoff spot. You have the Roadrunners who have been back
and forth all season long. You really have to find
a way to get it in these next eight games.
You have the Condors who are only surviving because they
take all of their opponents to overtime. Let's be real here,
that's the only reason they are alive. They take everybody
(15:12):
to overtime. They've gone points based off of that. Then
you have San Diego, who's kind of the opposite of
the Wranglers, right, they're on the worst teams in the
Pacific Division, made some moves, they got a good goaltender
at that trade deadline, and now maybe they can go
for a playoff runt for that seven seats. So it
has been it has been a wild weete ride all year.
We continue to say that we're gonna keep saying that
(15:34):
as the season winds down. I mean, James, at this point,
what three three more episodes of regular season Insider podcast
because we have this week next week when we go
to Rockford, and then the final week against Colorado. So
three more episodes of Roadrunners Insider Podcast, regular season edition,
and that's it. It's for us too, you know right,
it's like there's only three weeks up in the season.
(15:55):
Doesn't feel like that because we have eight games remaining
and so much more to still do. But other than that,
it's a it's a complete dog fight right now, and
it's gonna get crazy. It might take that final game
against Colorado and fan appreciation for the Roadrunners to clinch
It very could be, but this weekend against the Condors
is much more huge, Like that is gonna be you
(16:17):
take that as a playoff series, like that is a
playoff series and if this team really wants to make
the postseason, that's gonna show who wants it more.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Yeah, it felt like 'p see with the weather last week,
which when it was roundly ninety ninety whatever degrees, ninety
three degrees on Wednesdays, it felt like, oh, this is
season's ending, the hockey seasons ending because it's getting so
hot randomly.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
But now with the.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Weather calling on a bit, maybe not so much, but
it's just you're looking at the schedules like, wow, there's
just so few games left, and you know, looking at
San Diego game, I was, I was just really on
the broadcast, you mentioned how close you know this is
their they're playing for their season, and I thought that man, like, oh, well,
they're just so far back.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
They have to win, you know, other worlds.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
They got eliminated, but they're surprised how closely were because
for the whole season we're written off San Diego.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
And it was.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Pretty early on that Tucson won the that one that
season series and pinch that you know, I Border Cup,
right leaf Border Cup.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
So I had been a while ago.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So that was like San Diego, that's kind of you know,
maybe a trap game or whatever, kind of okay sandwich
between the Ontario and the bigger shell game. But then
looked it was like, well, Sandy was really a good
team in their right and maybe they had the kind
of good mojo going on with their in their throwback years.
Leaves and crowds really into it, really excited, and obviously
for Tucson it was it was a brutal, brutal kind
(17:33):
of road trip. That end of that road trip, you know,
talked about topic was team to play those teams, but
it was also a tough situation where you had to
where they had to play obviously in southern southern California
and San Diego and then to drive up to Biggers Field,
which is you know, central California, maybe a little bit
southern California. But did to go and turn around to
play the next game against that that big game against Bakersfield.
So that that was really interesting, really interesting scheduling. You
(17:56):
see that more obviously the East where they played teams different,
They don't the two game series they.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Played, they switched like that.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
But that's get interesting for the owners to play to
play a couple of games back to back like that,
and I'm tough traveling.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I have to say, yeah, it really is that. It
was not easy, James.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I mean you you finished off a game in San
Diego and you you have to bust overnight to Bakersfield
and you have a game the very next day.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
You're you're tired, you're exhausted, and that's just for me.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Think about how these players are feeling, right, they just
played a game and not to do it all again, right,
and it's tough. And again, it was a good game
against Bakersfield. It wasn't bad by any means. I mean,
it took a one nothing lead, Condors tied it, then
they took their own lead, and we tied it up,
and uh just couldn't get that couldn't get that last
one in.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
The third period. And Wells had a good game.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
I mean he he made thirty seven saves all in
all in the matchups, so you know, it was a
it was a tough tough couple starts for for Wells
or excuse me, it made thirty nine saves in that game,
not thirty seven, so he was near the forty. He
faced forty two shots in total and It's some just
some tough start for Wells, right, you know, the Sunday game,
losing that one five to three, allowed a tough one
(19:04):
at the end to which the road Runners couldn't make
the full comeback. And then a game against San Diego
in which honestly the only allowed twenty two shots for
the team, but just a couple came coming from the
point that he couldn't you know, lowkey getting to the
nets that went through him. And then the game against
Bakersfield where we thought maybe Jackson Stopber was gonna get
(19:25):
them nid the not excuse me. And then Dylan Wells
is in net again against his former team and he
allows that tough one at the end where he couldn't
cover it up and it got under him and could
jule Us scored and it was looked at potentially too
for you know, goal interference, and it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
So it was just one of those road trips where
you had good games.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
You had close games with each of these opponents, you know,
maybe not San Diego, but it was close for a
bit until the goals kind of ran with it. We
ran away with it at the end, and you're just thinking,
like what what do we have to do to win
games here? You know, but that's why you have home
stands too, right, you know you have these long road
trips because everyone's got to have long road tips as
part of a season. But then also you get opportunities
(20:05):
to play four games at home. Yes, it's a lot
of games, you know, Tuesday, Wednesday and then Saturday Sunday
four games and know what about six days or so.
But when they're against two opponents that you are now chasing,
gets so fun. That's gonna what's gonna make it so exciting.
And uh, you know, for you fans out there who
(20:25):
haven't been to a game yet or who are thinking
about going, these are games you want to go to
because these are going to be really big games for
the road runners, uh, if they want to try making
the playoffs here.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Yeah, and going back to the biggest field game, that
was real interesting that you brought up Peloton Walls with
he's playing well in terms of stats, but also I
think it brought up last week, but again it happened.
There's there's a few big saves where he made where
he was making those manful also type saves where Odylan
last year he had always been a guy who put
up good numbers and plays solid in the net. But
(20:58):
diff was between him and Mattle was kind of one
of the big different with that that Matt was always
making these Pickchautter saves and saves that Steve would say,
Steve Bowen would say that those were saves that inspire
the rest of your team, that he makes these crazy
diving saves or whatever. And Dylls are making it up
to those saves too lately. And that's just been been
been fun to see. And he you talked about that
that that last goal, that that game winning.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Golf for.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Making sure that that they that they snuck in there
those those second second one of those and last week
that he's had where he just couldn't see it and
his scored it was it just felt like bad luck
that bag shows they have to score on that one,
and then more bad luck for Roders at the end
where they weren't able to pull him with that much
time left. So it was just kind of a weird,
weird we're ending to the home sid to the road trip,
(21:43):
I mean, And it was interesting that that the first
goal that you know, Sammy Arkers scored the first goal,
but the first goal the Bakers. This guy was from
cam Deneen, who it was. Obviously he's a former road unner,
played a lot of games. We're to talk about cam
ebig and then getting his record, but you look at
Campdenen and he played. He played a ton of games
for Tucson, and I looked up because I was like,
(22:05):
that's kind of weird trade that they got, you know,
in a sense if you look at it purely, just
purely from Tucson perspective, that trade for Camdenen and Michael Keshlering,
not just those two, but though there's two for us.
For Tucson was kind of the main part of the trade.
But it is kind of funny that for Tucson. It's
kind of oh that that wasn't a good trade for
Tucson because I'm Kesseling. Obviously he only played sixteen games
(22:26):
for tu Soon before going to NHL and just being
becoming a fixture for the UA Hockey club. But then
I'm Camdenen played two undred seven games for tu Son,
So it's kind of like, oh, you know, you trained
these two defensemen and then u Kesslering comes comes tou
Soon and quickly goes to Arizona and then he comes,
(22:46):
he comes back for the playoffs, and then he comes
he's with two song briefly, and then he comes in
the last year, and then he goes back up to Arizona.
It has been just a fixture for for you to
hockey club for for this for the season. So it's
just it's is funny kind of looking at it like
that if you're look at it just from Tucson, not
from Utah, and obviously that's not out the front off
(23:07):
looks at it. They're trying to about players I think
tel But if you're look at for TUSA, I'm like, oh,
well they lost defensively because because Kem Deleen's still turning
it up and really well with.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
With with biggers Field.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
But for Tucson, like, oh, kiss Ring's gone for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
So it's kind of funny less sense.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, I know, that is a very interesting take, James.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
The trade that was made what a couple of seasons ago,
I think it was, was it the twenty two twenty
three season, I'm guessing right before before I came along.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
And yeah, that that's said it.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
That is interesting to kind of just see how these
trades shape out eventually where Cam Deneen has been Bakersfield's
best defenseman, scored a scored a huge goal against US
for bag you stield the tie it and then now
you've got Michael Kestering who's tearing it up with the
Utah Hockey Club as well. So really nice kind of
visiting those trades. Speaking of trade, Sammy Walker got a
goal to on on the Saturday night loss against the Condors.
(24:01):
It was his seventh of the season with the Roadrunners,
his ninth overall, and uh, James, what a what an asset?
He has continued to be uh for this team, right,
He's really, uh tried to help the Roadrunners as much
as possible to really you know, make this playoff push
coming to the team during that during the gem Show trip.
He has eighteen points in twenty three games with the
(24:22):
Roadrunners after having just eleven and thirty games with the.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
UH with the Iowa Wild as well.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
So, you know, trades a trades U would continue to
kind of be a big thing for the Roadrunners and
the you know, the affiliation as a whole, with you know,
Michael Keshering having his breakout season last year with the
Arizona Coyotes, and staying with the Utah Hockey Club this
year and then the Roadrunners, you know, getting Sammy Walker
in the you know All Star Break trade and how
(24:48):
big he has been for this lineup moving forward.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You know, getting Mikail.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Sergachev for the Utah Hockey Club as well, and that
kind of blockbuster like trade and where he's gonna be
a you know, a huge part part of the success
for the Utah Hockey Club for the new for future,
and you know, as always, we'll see what's what's to
come in the off season as well, like Igor Sokolov
getting traded here during the off season, he's leading the
team in goals with Cameron hebe got twenty one.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
And so it it's this front office as a whole
has done really good jobs of these trades really in
these past few years. And it seems that they they
always said like I can't guess of a recent trade
that hasn't worked out for this whole affiliation.
Speaker 5 (25:28):
Yeah, and you're kind of going to the Bigersfield Series,
You're kind of thinking like who's where they're gonna goes from.
I mean, they do still have a lot of what weapons,
but when you have your leading square get moved up
in Kyler moto, you're kind of thinking, uh, well, where
they're gonna get goes from? And then immediately well on
immediately with seven fifty two in the first but pretty
(25:48):
pretty really long siding, awkward scores and kind of certifies
that says, I, Yet, you've got they're gonna they're gonna
do alright, you know, in terms of it's it's a
big loss obviously too for the road Unders who's Kyler,
But unfortunately for them, they have a lot of forwards
that are that are doing.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Well right now.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
You know him and I had Zino and he were
Sokolov and even Cam he was kind of in terms
of stats not not scoring what he's been scoring lately,
but he's a guy who can kind of fill that
void where Kyler has been back with Utah, and it
deserved move in terms of he's been playing well lately.
And he's also a guy who he just took his
(26:24):
talent and so yeah, he looks like a n HL guy.
So he moved up, and obviously they switched goaltenders with
That was one thing I didn't think about last week
when I was talking about like, oh yeah, I think
that Jackson is going to be in the NHL for
the rest of the season. But what happened earlier in
the week was Jackson's saber. He and Matt Velota basically
got switched after Matt had that great, great game against
(26:44):
Ontario where he got the he got another shutout and
his what was it, his two on Earth gamer?
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I think, yeah, Welta, I got a shut out in
his two hundred game played.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
I guess his former teed the Ontario raid.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah to it.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
So it was a great, great, great story for that
to on Earth HL game against his former team they
played a lot of games with and they still, at
least based on the fans reactions on social media, they
still love him there. So he still got those He
got that big shutout in a huge, huge game gaming
that series, and not just because you want to, you know,
stop the bleeding and at least get one one win,
(27:19):
get some points in the road trip. But it was
huge in the sense that if they do make the playoffs,
you're kind of expecting them to play Ontario. I mean,
if they do make the playoffs, they probably the seven seed,
and the way Car was playing, looks like Antario's gonna
be the two seed, although they did Ontario to beat them,
but just beat them last night. But you're thinking that
Carlo is gonna pike that. And so that's a crucial
series because as a crucial win because you look at
(27:43):
season series that they didn't do well in the season
series against Ontario, but they did win the last two
road games and that and obviously the first round is
all on the road, and so even you know, even
look back at the last two home games against Ontario,
they dropped those two for two and where they it
was those heartbreaking games where they gave up three unanswered goals,
and that's just that's a situation where yeah, they did
(28:06):
lose that painfully, but he looked back and well, maybe
the puck goes a different way. Maybe don't kill three
goals in a row. So they've actually been playing well
in my mind against Ontario. Obviously they have those two
wins on the road, and they have those two wins, uh,
and then those two tough losses at home. So you
look down terror series. I'm looking on Terror game. I
keeps saying serious, down Terror game. It was just a
(28:26):
huge win for not only that but for the team
as a whole. So that was great to see. And
so Matt Earns that call up to the NHL. It's
it's good to see him get get back up in
NHL because he he he really earned last year and
then he played a couple of games last year for the
Coots for to make his NHL debut and then he
got that spot back and back with you to Hockey
Club to give you look at Fla Malco. He's been
(28:49):
just playing just a ton of games. So hopefully I
can give him more a rest and give Matt Matt
some more time in the NHL. So that was really interesting,
an interesting a lot of moves last week.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Yeah, and kind of just like you know, and again,
we love call ups. We love these guys getting called
up to teams. This is why they're here, right to
get to the NHL. But it's tough when for ann
Ahl team, and again this happens to every single team
across the league, right, it's nothing new, But it's tough
when you lose not only your top score, but you
lose your your top goaltender of Volalta And not saying
(29:24):
Stobber is not the top goalie of the team is
just because Valta's played so many games for us. I
mean he's played you know, well over if I want
to say forty games this season off the top of
my head. But Valalta's he's been the guy for us
once again for the second year in a row. You know,
he's he's to become a main stable. He's played in
forty one games this season. James mentioned earlier hit the
(29:46):
two hundred game play got a shutout in that game
against his former team. As oh, it's such a such
a great storyline for Tucson, especially when Yavamoda was the
one who was called up before that game, and then
Valota was called up the following Friday for the against
for the Utah Hockey Club against San Diego and then
well started the rest of the series or the rest
of the road trip, and you know it. Vololto is
(30:08):
a locker room guy. He's a we know who he is.
You fans out there know who he is. So it's
it's tough losing the personality like that you can stay
the same with with Josh done, you know, not having
him for most of the season, but rightfully so again
because he's been so he's been playing fantastic, not only
with us, but with the Utah Hockey Club as well,
so it can always just be a little tough. And yeah,
Vimelcas started seventeen games in a row and you're thinking, when.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Is our guy gonna get a start?
Speaker 4 (30:33):
You know, like it's Staburn never got to start when
he was up with the Utah Hockey Club and he
was up there for a while. So obviously Utah is
still very much battling for a playoff spot. It's a
it's getting a little bit more tough because the Saint
Louis Blues won't stop losing games. But at the same time,
you do wonder when is Voalalta going to get that
start again. He's only started in one NHL game of
(30:55):
his career, he's only appeared in two, so that is
another interesting aspect to keep an eye on. Other Interestingly enough,
Kyli Yabamodo scored his first goal of the NHL season
on the five two win for the Utah Hockey Club
last night, So congratulations to Yabamoto and getting a back
on the scoring sheet for that game as well. It
was a big, huge win fort the Utah Hockey Club
(31:15):
and as for the standings wise in the NHL playoff race,
Utah's at seventy eight points, thirty three to twenty one,
thirty three to twenty nine and twelve record a five
twenty seven winning percentage. But the thing is, it's just
been so hard to keep up with Saint Louis at
a forty twenty eight and seven record. At eighty seven points,
they're six points ahead of the next team, Vancouver, seven
(31:38):
points ahead of Calgary, and then nine points ahead of
the of the Utah Hockey Club. So I'm not saying
it it's over by any means, but it's just it's
getting tough. It's really getting down to the stretch to
where will Utah maybe start saying, oh, maybe it's just
not going to be this year, and they start, you know,
(31:59):
calling up some of our guys, like maybe Cameron Hebit
gets a not just for the season that he has had,
soa Kolov gets a bid, well also gets a start.
Like we're we're it's gonna be interesting, and you know
for us, we're we're still fighting for the playoffs. But
at the end of the day, you still want these
guys to get their opportunities, right, like that's why they're here.
So it's it's gonna be interesting to see, you know,
(32:20):
what which each side of Alex to do, because yeah,
we're still very much alive for the playoffs. Utah is
alive as well, but you know, eventually it's it might
not be that for for them, and it still might
be for us.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
So we'll see what happens. It's all hypotheticals.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Don't know anything, don't have any insider information on that
of who's going up who's going down in these final
stages of the season. But uh, still just excited to see, uh,
who are gonna see in the in the Utah uniforms
by the end of the year.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Yeah, there's other guys that you just mentioned it. There's
other guys who are good cantings to get called up
if they if they want to spell some guys or
if they want to give some guys more experience that they.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
Do ultimately eliminated.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
So it is just just a fun situation to look
at that and see who's gonna get that call up.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I mean you have to kind of.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Think that if they do that, they do call up
a forward, then another forward the camp he Big would
be one of those guys you're looking at. He's not lately,
he's not been scoring. You know, he's on begetting a
lot of points. He's in a little bit of a
slum for him. But they did uh change his contract
obviously where.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Going in the season or during the season.
Speaker 5 (33:23):
Up until that point, he had an HL contract and
then they they they re signed him. They signed him
to Antol. They signed him to two a deal so
it's easier for them. The call up so then came
up and down and he did have to clear waivers,
so that was kind of kind of nerve racking. But
he's the guy who he's the guy who has had
a great story this year in terms of he's having
(33:44):
a career year in terms of stats, but it's also
he also broke the record the Dyson Mayo had for
for a while and what most games played for the
run erunners. So that's that's really exciting to see because
he's the he's the guy who you talked about great
loudco room guys like that. He's one of those guys
that his name is the Mayor because.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
He's just so.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
So social, so so positive, so so fun to be around,
and he's a guy who's so active not only with
their road unners in the room, there.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
But also active in the community.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
So he's kind of that prototypical roadrunner and it would
be great to see him get up to that angelity
does get the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Yeah, that would be that would be a cherry on
top to the fantastic season he has had. So Yeah, Cameron,
hebig is every game he plays up to this point,
he's going to continue to rise up that record of
most games played as a Roadrunner. He is at number
two hundred and eighty one, and he'll be hitting two
eighty three tomorrow as well.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
On Tuesday.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Let's get to Let's get to our one and only
interview of this show. Just catching up quickly with Ford
Hunter Drew after the three two loss in Bakersfield on
Saturday nights. You know, these guys know James like they
know that it is it is time to really determine
if we are a playoff team or not. They know
that this is not over by any means. They know
that there's opportunity this week against the Wranglers and especially
(35:04):
against the Bakersfield Condors as well. And honestly, James, a
lot of those games on the road did feel like
playoff like games, like with the series against Colorado with
that crowd, that huge crowd getting into the game, the gauntlet,
kind of gritty game that we win, that we got
against Ontario on Wednesday, the game against San Diego in
(35:24):
which the goals are still barely scrapping for their season,
and that game was closed up until the end of it.
And then of course that game against Bakersfield that was
too too going into the third period and we just
couldn't get that last one at the end with that
with that crowd kind of being pretty big as well.
So everyone feels like a playoff one up to this point.
And I caught up with Hundre Drew after Saturday's game
just to talk about what it's gonna be like coming
(35:46):
back home and trying to get back on the winning
call and really, uh, you know, just get the points
when they're really starting the matter the most.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
With eight games remaining, I'm.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Hunter a tough loss for us, but we know this
isn't is an overb by enemies.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
We got these guys next weekend.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Just how do we come back home and kind of
rely on that too soon Crown to get us back
into the swing of things for a huge home stand.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Yeah, we just got to know the moment and know
what we're in for here for the next you know,
four games at home and and obviously, like you said,
use the crowdoor advantage and then go from there.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Yeah, and this one really felt like a playoff l like
game where you're just takeaways overall, and the game that
really went back and forth here.
Speaker 6 (36:22):
Yeah, I thought we had a lot of good moments.
You know, we got a little bit of penalty trouble,
but for the most part of the PK was pretty good.
And you know, guys are moving and and you know,
doing what they can and sometimes you just don't win
these games.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
But we had a good.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Chance next weekend against these guys and we'll go from there.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Thanks Hunter.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Yeah, James said that was also a big key for
that Roadrunners, for the Roadrunners team, you know, just that
PK that overall had a pretty good week, pretty goodroad
trip as a whole as well. You use that for
momentum going into this, uh, this home stand. The power
play still be good. There's still been so much good
of this team that it's it's it's tough that the
record we have. You feel like this team is so
(37:00):
talented with the bodies that we have with Andrew Ragazino
getting another multiple point game. Ben McCartney's had a really
good second half of the season. We know why Keimer,
Niebeg and you your Soaklove are capable of what our
defense has been doing with Zuper and Ardam due to
you know these kids, right, Julian Lutz really finding his
way too.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
It's there's so much talent on this team, and.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
You really feel like you want these guys to just
have playoff experience as well. You want these guys to
really be in these big matchups under the lights. But
as we always say, it's gonna be a lot of
big playoff preview light games this upcoming week back at home.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Yeah, honestly, I mean you watch the team play. And
this is from the guy who's not paid by the league.
I'm paid by the team. But honestly, you look at
this team and I'm really surprised that they're not They're
not hiring the standings, they're not comfortably in the playoffs,
they're not fighting for home playoffs stop.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Because you look at him play.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
And they even when they lose, they play well and
they play hard. You we always talk about this where
they go down fighting, they go down. I'm swinging even
when they lose, and even when they went they went one,
one and four and their road tip. But other than
the San Diego game, which kind of got a little
out hand in the third, but mostly it was a
close game. Other than that that they've been them close games.
(38:13):
They've been you know them and routed or anything. And
the Bakershield game is a really close game. They only
lost by one, and that was a game where it
was back and forth really and you kind of felt
like it's just kind of their runners were kind of
bad luck, you know, maybe and in the last ten minutes,
we're not even to get that game time goal. But
(38:33):
they're they're a team that you look at them and
they're just I'm just surprised that they're not. They're not
highing standings. You're just based on how they play and
how they they do obviously have some issues. They wouldn't
be have the record they have now, but they wouldn't
have that kind of inconsistency where they often they they'll
still split a series when they when they should get
(38:54):
that sweep, where they get swept when they should get
a split or something or you know whatever. So that's
why they kind of been dropping points and are at
the position they are. But it's a team that you
look at them and there's just they have so many weapons,
they have so many so much talent. So it is
a bit surprising that they that they are comfortable in
the playoffs right though, just just based on how good
they are, but based on the eye tests and everything.
(39:16):
But it's a you know, you talked about how big
a series it is, it's how big a homestand that is.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
It's one that.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
And I felt that too when I was looking at
the especially the Bakersfield game, where it really felt like
it was it was a playoff, playoff game. And you
look at it when they have Bakersfield come back into town,
it's almost like they're having a three game series against them,
a three game playoff series. So maybe maybe if you're fan,
you kind of treat it like the playoff game in
terms of, you know, you can wear white for whatever
game you want to, but may have to look at
(39:44):
mini white out where you you do wear white, and
it feels like a playoff game because because they're playing
such an intense it's so intense playing against Bakersfield and
they're coming back and it's such a crucial in terms
of the sand news and then to play against on
Bakersfield and obviously playing Calgary who had the upper hand
on two songs where they they actually swept on the
(40:06):
Runners last year in the playoffs and that was in Tucson,
so that's a bit shocking. So there's kind of that
revenge series against Calgary, and it's one of those situations
where if you look at how they played well this
how they played against Calgary this year, it's been a
really weird, really weird season series because they they're they're
set sweeping each other. This is the fourth series and
they're playing now where Runners swept them in one series
(40:30):
and in two series Calgary swept to songs, so they
for too soon, they have to get back and get
that sweep in order to even out the season series.
With four sweeps total and two wins for two series
wins reached a side, so kind of doing it look
at that, and obviously you look get to the biggest
field game on bigger shield games. It's it's just a
huge series because in terms of playoffs, in terms of
(40:51):
standings and everything, so it's just gonna be interesting.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Homestown Yeah, all interesting uh coming up here. As you know,
it's a it's a on dogfight. So this is the
Condor schedule for the month of April, and we'll go
over the road Runner schedule for the month of April.
So Condors, they're playing the Abbotsford Canucks Tomorrow night six
thirty pm Pacific Standard time, so we are Abbotsford fans tomorrow,
(41:16):
and then they have least Saturday and Sunday, so they
only have three games this week. We have four, and
then Wednesday, April ninth against Anderson Silver Knights. Friday April eleventh,
they played the San Diego Goal Saturday April twelfth, then
they go to their home for that game.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Then they have to go to Coachell Valley.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
So they're also kind of in those that tough you
know NHL likes schedule where you have two different teams
in two different days and they play a third team
in a different day on Wednesday, April sixteen against Abbotsford
again and then the flip flop against Anderson Silver Nights.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
So that's the rest of their schedule.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
As for the rest of our schedule in the month
of April, of course, we have the Calgary Wranglers this
Tuesday and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday against the Bakersfield Condors,
and then we go to Rockford for our last two
games of the away schedule on April eleventh, in April twelfth,
and then April eighteenth and April nineteenth a Saturday and
Sunday against the Eagles. So this is really the last
(42:08):
kind of four game and six day stretch that the
Roadrunners have. And then you have four games over two weeks, so.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
The rest will be coming soon. It's not rest time yet.
Speaker 4 (42:17):
It's not rest time at all obviously, but it's not
time to really step back yet. You have to go
into this homestand full throttle, running through a big wall.
You gotta get wins here because you know, if you
lose a couple more in a row. James and Bakersfield
is able to get some wins in a row, especially
when we are playing the Wranglers and Condors up next,
it can either be a really bad spot for Tucson
(42:39):
or we can an off this week in a really
good spot. So it's this is this is big, like,
this is a huge four game stretch.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
This is a big week.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
This can really determine if this team is playoff worthier.
Speaker 6 (42:51):
Now.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
Of course it might take unto the very last game
against the Colorado Eagles for fan Appreciation Night, but this
this is the final stretch. Also coming this weekend, we
have a some really good promotions coming up. We have
Country Night on Saturday or pardon oh yes, on Saturday,
April fifth. I get flipped with the Friday Saturday Saturday
Sunday matches, but Saturday, April fifth against the biggest field
(43:13):
Condors for Country Night. First fifteen hundred fans will receive
a Roadrunners cowboy hat courtesy of Williams and Associates. Plus
there's a pregame tailgate at Barrio Brewing featuring live music,
games and plenty of great beer from Barrio Brewing Company.
And then we have autimism Acceptance tonight April six against
the Condors. Again, all we asked you for you fans
(43:33):
to do kindly is to not bring any cowboys at
the games. So it's just a welcoming environment for everybody.
So big promotions coming up this weekend. And yeah, James,
there's not many home games left. There's a solely six
more eight more games six at home, which is also
huge for Tucson. That's a big advantage for the Roadrunners.
Just two more on the road for us. So you know,
(43:53):
we'll see what happens if we make playoffs, and we'll
see what happens in the playoffs. But you know, you
just don't want to take these home games for granted,
and the team needs all the support they can possibly get.
Speaker 5 (44:03):
Yeah, even though the Runners did drop that last game
against Colorado and Colorado all they did drop games together Colorado,
but I mean Bakersfield, and then they finished their road
trip one and four, and they're kind of in terms
of last ten games their stuffing a bit. They do
have to if you're kind of looking at it from
a neutral's perspective, they do have and then they rex
Fields gaving hand, you have to think that the Runners
(44:25):
do have the kind of the if you look at
the that percentage where you know, winning percentage or whatever
Protecteds are gonna win the game. They have like an
esp and stuff like that, you would you could expect
the Runners too, are expected to make the playoffs. With
they have this four game homestand and they have two
more home home games, and they have their road trip
is against It's a bit bit of a travel to
(44:46):
go to Rockford to go to Illinois, but they're they're
a team from a weaker division obviously, and then they're
team that's not as good in terms of record as
to so on. So they did get that split into
so but that's a series that they should do well.
But you look at it, their owners do. If they
do take care of business, they should make the playoffs.
(45:07):
But it's gonna be like you and Kim said last
week on the Uh you know on the Happy Hour
that this is just dramatic, just so so much. You know,
there's so much drama going on, so so so interesting.
The schedule makers they were kind of brilliant with they're
making this with the when they have when they have
(45:28):
Bakersfield and they have Pakersfield again, and they have they
close off the season Colorado and then they have that
trip to Rockford to kind of mix things up, and
that that's a series that you're probably gonna expect Jackson
get a lot of time in. And that's that's where
he was just playing where he came over from Jackson,
I mean to keep over from Jackson. He came over
from Rockford and he was played for Chicago a couple
(45:48):
you know, played for Chicago a few games a NHL,
so it's it's gonna be really interesting end of the season.
And you look at you talked about from emotions. One
of the cool ones is that the I like they
have The Runners have putting a lot of effort this
year into putting fun in midweek game on promotions. They
have the for the game on Tuesday, it's as Ladies Nights,
so they have kind of cool, cool option where you
(46:10):
can buy what's it called a sparkle bag or whatever.
So that's kind of cool that they're having games like that.
They had the last Holmesland they had the Service Industry Night,
which is cool to represent to honor those people who
do a lot for us, you know, and then we
don't usually get honored in terms of people in the
service industry, so that's fun. So they have a lot
of fun promotions like that, or during the MIDWEK games
(46:33):
and midweek games, they are always tough, you know, it's
tough for you know, families to go to those games obviously,
you know mean having uh a late game potentially a
late game, you know, on a weeknight. So they put
a lot of effort it seems like this year to
put in to try and get some fans there, trying
to give people options that have different, different kind of
looks in those nights.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
So that's kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
Yeah, there's still all great promotions on the board. Go
to Tucson Roadrunners dot com to find out out, you know,
the promotions coming up this week to look more into
it if you want buy the tickets. And then we
have the last two games against the Colorado League Eagles
later on this month as well. So yeah, James, these
are big next four games. I know we keep saying that,
we constantly say every game is big, because it is.
(47:16):
But I think just what happened at the end of
that road trip, not being able to get have a
good road trip overall, going one for four or one
and four, it puts you in the pressure and you
have a chance to catch up to the Wranglers a
little bit, and you have a chance to get back
that seventh seed against the biggest field Condors as well.
So we'll see you all folks at the twoson Arena
(47:39):
later this week starting tomorrow against the Wranglers.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
Looking forward to seeing all there.
Speaker 4 (47:42):
The team needs all the support they can get right now,
So please come to the twoson Arena and support your
Tucson Roadrunners.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
Really in the.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
Thick of it of the playoff push now with just
eight games remaining on the calendar, six at home, which
is actually a big advantage for the Roadrunners, just two
more on the road as well. So yeah, we're excited,
we're ready for it, and we'll get rolling on here
against the Calgar Wranglers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Have a
great rest of your day, everybody. We'll see you later
on this week at the two Soon Arena. We'll built
(48:10):
things out with Roadrunners rock. Let's go Tucson. The playoff
bush continues.
Speaker 5 (48:15):
Come after one of our house.
Speaker 1 (48:17):
You cann't need a lot more friends.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
We've seen newsgape before.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
We don't how the story ends tonight. We're rising up tonight.
You go down.
Speaker 7 (48:29):
You try to run up on us, We're going on down.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
Get all the bus, go back to where it came from.
Speaker 7 (48:37):
Getting on the bus, Drop five file away, hang up
your skates, drop your glowns, put your twos away.
Speaker 1 (48:47):
You got beat down tonight.
Speaker 7 (48:49):
That's the two sent way road Runners. Ron ro Rata,
Fra Robot and Froslet's think to say
Speaker 2 (49:12):
M
When you want more road Runners, We've got more road Runners.
This is the Tucson Roadrunners Insider Podcast with a voice
of the Roadrunners Jonathan Shafer.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What advice do you have for me?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
Drink a lot of water. It's pretty odd.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
And your new best friend my best friend, Arizona Daily
Stars James Kelly. The guys are already talking, so let's
join them right here on your twoson Roadrunners Insider Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
The intensity continues on here.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
With just eight games left to go of the twenty
twenty four twenty five regular season, six of them being
at the Tucson Arena, just two more on the road.
We are back coming tomorrow for a four game home
stand with the Calgary Wranglers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Welcome
to this week's Insider podcast. My name is Jonathan Schaeffer.
Alongside me as always Arizona Daily Stars James Kelly. We
(00:53):
still have a good amount to go with eight games
left to go on the season, We're gonna be hearing
from a four hundred drew on these upcoming games. After
the recent loss against the Bakersfield Condors, road Runners entering
the week now outside looking in of the AHL's playoff
picture after a one and four five game road trip,
losing the last game against the Bakersfield Condors three to
(01:17):
two on Saturday night. It was a game with which
the Condors now take the seventh seed, rolling into the week,
but still plenty of opportunity for the Roadrunners to be
bound with a series against the Calgary Wranglers coming up,
who are still on their big free fall, and then
the Bakersfield Condors coming up this week. And so, James,
even though you feel the pressure is really on now
(01:38):
for this team, right after a pretty rough road trip overall,
you know, just getting the one win out of the
five total contests to go one and four, losing that
last game against the Bakersfield Condors, and now you're outside
looking in and you have a chance to get back
in it as quick as possible. You're just one point
out now for the Roadrunners. But as we always say,
(02:00):
every point counts up to this spot of the season,
there's only eight games remaining, and you're starting to really feel,
nowt this, uh, this is gonna really come down to
the wire.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Yeah, it's really It's kind of almost cliche the way
guys always say, like, oh well, this game is basically
the playoffs, or this game is the playoffs for us
A teen in the season, which in a way it
really is, because all the games are important, really, but
this is really the game on the point where it's like, yeah,
these are totally like the playoffs because they have the
they have Cavalry, who's just a few spots ahead of
(02:31):
them now because you talked about how they've been slumping
a bit. And then after that, you know, they have
that that two game series starting on Tuesday, and then
they have the huge series against bakers Field coming up,
so it's almost like a three game series heading into
the playoffs to decide who, you know, who get who
gets that last playoff spot. And obviously it's not totally
deciding because after after this home stand, there's still four
(02:53):
more games for the road Owners and a few more
games for Bakersfield. But it just really it's just really
a crucial series coming down this wretch and it's been
It was a really interesting road trip for the runners,
and in terms of you only get one win, but
it was against a brutal schedule if you look at it,
I mean they played first place Colorado, then second place Ontario,
(03:13):
and then they have the the I don't want to
say trap game because but almost trap game against San
Diego because that was Sandwich impun in the games between
Ontario and then.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Bakersfield.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
But San Diego's teams have played really well and they're
catching up and now they're back into the playoff picture
a bit. They're still still a bit behind Tucsons and
obviously a bit behind Bakersfield, but that was a tough
game for the Runners to go and play. And then
obviously they have the game where Bakersfield's almost playing for
their libbies because had they lost that game, they would
be down by three points and they would be have
(03:46):
to really be chasing and they don't have the tiebreaker,
so I do have a game in hand on Tucson,
but still obviously it's been forever like that, but had
had Bakersfield lost that game, then they would really been
be been behind the eight ball. So it's it's a
really crucial series. Husmstack, I'm not for the Runners and
ocrucial series come against Bakersfield, but Mu's overlook the Calgary series.
(04:06):
So that's that's a big series too.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
Yeah, and it's still opportunity for the road Runners, right. Uh,
Calgary is in a complete, uh free fall at the moment.
They really have been since the kind of since the
All Star break back in January, and uh, to be honest,
I don't have the exact numbers on me. I'm going
to try to find that out of how bad they
really have been since January. I'll be doing that on
(04:32):
our Tucson Roadrunners road Ahead blog that you can go
to two soon roadrunners dot Com. That should be out
hopefully by this evening on this Monday. Uh, we're gonna
try to get that out before the games come up.
But uh, from the standings, looking at the you know
standings on the Pacific Division, Calgary's on a three game
losing streak. They're two seven oh to one the last
ten games, and they just continue to be absolutely, uh
(04:55):
just you know wrecked allowing golds wise, like they continue
to destroy ruggle with with the goaltending.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
And it's funny.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
At one point the Wranglers had one of the best
goalies in the league in Devin Cooley, and now Cooley
has also completely kind of just just fallen off. And
looking at the schedule of the Wranglers as of recently, again,
they really struggled in the recent month of March. They
allowed eight goals against the Abbotsford Canucks to start off
(05:25):
the month, six to Coachella Valley.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Eight again to Coachella Valley.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
They lost six to five to the Manitoba Moose. Uh,
they lost three to two or they won three two
against Manitoba to respond, but then Abbotsford wanted five to
four in a shootouts. Then they blanked them one nothing,
three to one Coachella Valley. They won that game uh
and then lost four to two. But then they just
(05:50):
recently lost eight to two against the Bagsfield Condors on Friday,
March eight. That was the game that really put twoson
into pressure mode kind of going into that Saturday game.
And then they lost three to one against the San
Diego Goals. So a pretty rough month for them. And
again it's not saying these are guaranteed wins for Tucson,
but you were catching a team on their worst stretch
(06:14):
of this entire season. They went from first all the
way down to sixth place. And you know, again it's
all hypotheticals, right, but you know, if the Roadrunners able
to get some wins against them Condors, maybe start getting
some wins, maybe we start seeing Calgary potentially falling out
of the playoff race. So anything is still possible in
(06:35):
these next eight games for the Roadrunners, for the Wranglers
as well with eight games, so this is also a
really big series James to you know, of course trying
to surpass Bakersfield, but now you're trying to catch up
to Calgary to maybe see a potential full shift between
those three teams.
Speaker 5 (06:52):
Yeah, it's really interesting how they've kind of been fit
falling since they were obviously at the at the calendar
year their first place and they're first face by a
bit because part of a part of that's because they
had so many games and they played so many more
games and people behind them. But usually typically when a
team comes in and they're they're they're on a little
bit of losing streak or something, I kind of rolled
(07:13):
my eyes, like, oh, yeah, okay, they're probably due based
on how this division plays plays out, how good a
division is, I think, well, they're they're due to get
some wins. But with the Calgary they're kind of really
kind of slumping and really kind of at this point
where they're they lost three in a row and are
two seven oh to one their last ten and they're
just they're just kind of they handed to be careful.
(07:36):
These are big games for them, obviously, but big games
for everyone at this point in season. But these are
big games for them to try and see if they
hold off Bakersfield, hold off Twuson. Right now they're five
points head of Bakersfield, six points head to Tucson. But
now they're kind of slipping and slipping and they gotta
these are crucial games for them too, but to stay
back in to stay back in the playoffs and everything.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
So it's just it's just a get and getting to
be really interesting.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Yeah, And so just pulling up the stats again, Devin
Cooley was arguably the best goalie in the entire league.
At some point he had really about a two goals
against average sapercenters was really high. Now, James, he has
a two point nine to one goals against average and
nine oh six say percents. Again, I'm gonna get really
into the stats of this to not just fully poke
(08:21):
at Calgary maybe a little bit just because of what
happened last year, but at the same time, there's a
reason why they're just crumbling like this. Then they've lost
a lot of their their big forwards as well with
you know, Dryden Hunt is not with the team right now,
Adam Klapka's is not with the team. They they lost
Walker Doer to waivers from the Calgary Wranglers. Jacob Peltier
(08:43):
is not with the team, like they lost a lot
of their big names. And that seems to happen to
them every single season. Right They start off so hot
that the best team in the league. You're thinking like, okay,
now it's the catching up to the Calgary game, and
then all of a sudden they fall off. So two
seasons in a row, James, now that the Wranglers have
went from first place all the way to at least
the sixth or seventh seed, and they could still drop
(09:04):
to the seventh seed bearing whatever happens in these next
eight games for each of our teams. But you know,
this is a maybe the you know, we started talking
about maybe playing them in the first round, and though
that might not be possible anymore, just with how the
standings are, you still have a chance to try to
just still enact your revenge here, especially in front of
the home crowd for some midweek games, you know, against
(09:26):
the Wranglers, to try to find a way. Oh maybe,
just maybe you push them out of the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Who knows.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
You know, it's it's all still coming down to the wire.
But for Tucson you still got to control what you
can control. And now we're once again right behind the
Bakersfield Condors. It's the first time we've lost that seventh
seed since February. We were able to get it back
during that Gem Show trip after snapping that eight game
losing streak that was including a win against the Condors,
(09:52):
and then we got the seventh seed back in Henderson
when we beat the Silver Knights, and then the Condors
I think lost in an overtime game or something and
it was enough for us to get a point. Yeah,
they lost in a shootout against the Coachell Valley Firebirds
because I Merl was watching that after and then we
had that. We had the seventh seed for months since,
but now we have lost it again, so, you know,
(10:12):
pressures on for us, but we've been Luckily for us,
we've been really good at home as of recent as well.
We're coming off a two and two home stand a
few weeks back when we played the uh Ontario Rain
and the San Jose Barracuda. Before that home stand, we
had three oh one and oh home stand when we
beat the Rockford ice hok twice as well near the
(10:35):
end of it, and then we were able to sweet
the Abbots for Canucks. So two Son's actually been pretty
good at home and this home stand and we say
it all the time, it's the biggest home stand of
the season, James, because after this you only get two
games on a road, two games at home, and that's it.
So with that being said, this this is a big
stretch for us, and we're really gonna try to, you know,
double down here and string of some wins together.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
Yeah, obviously we don't know who's gonna who's gonna be
on the Roaders roster, and soy, we don't know who's
gonna be on the Colorado roster an the season. But
when the Roaders finished off the season in their last
last two games against Colorado, it's gonna be a really
weird situation because usually in that situation, you see a
team like that right now there in first and they've
been doing well, you think like, oh, well, they're gonna
(11:18):
rest players for the next round or something, or you know,
for the playoffs. But in that case, maybe they're not
going to because they have the buye. So that's a
crucial series coming out, just giving ahead, So this is
something that so you look ahead to that, and then
they obviously have the road trip to Rockford after this
homestand so you look ahead a little bit to the
those last four games are the runners. This makes this
(11:40):
homestound much more important, that much more important because obviously
it's a big pig to try and get points against
Calgary and big to get points against Bakersfield. But you
look ahead and it's gonna be kind of brutal that
last series, That's what I'm thinking, because they're they're probably
not gonna rest on Colorado. You know, who knows who
they're gonna bring up, Who who're gonna get from the
eyeliner and I think or if they get anyone for
(12:01):
the playoffs, But you don't know what their roster is
gonna look like because they're gonna you know, we don't
know what their situation is. But you have to kind
of think that they're not going to want to They're
not going to rest players for for that in that series.
They're gonna want to get as many points as possible.
Kind of and keep players fresh, so that that's gonna
(12:21):
be a huge serious for runers looking ahead in terms
of how difficult that is. So that makes the series
this kind of more even strength battles against Calgary and
bakers Felt that much more important because you're looking ahead,
you want to get as many points as possible, and
and looking looking ahead to Bakersfield schedule, obviously they they
end up at this point, they end up with an
(12:42):
easier schedule than with Tucson. They they after the Tucson
series that they they host or they traveled to Henderson
and then they host San Diego and then they have
coach ol value them as heard, and they close off
the season the home and home against Henderson. So that's
Henderson last place. At that point, they might be kind of,
you know, not mailing in, but not not as intensive
(13:04):
series as two Sons games two Sons games against Carolado.
So at this point, if you look ahead at Bakersfield,
they have that game in hand and they have an
easier schedule. So that makes this this home set that
much more important for tu soon.
Speaker 4 (13:17):
Yeah, and thankfully, and this is gonna maybe sound crazy,
and this might be a crazy take, but I think
maybe you would rather play teams in a think of
it of a playoff RaSE than teams that aren't, because
those teams tend to play spoiler James. I mean, San
Diego goals just spoiled us, right, and they think they're
they're still alive. I've talked I talked to some of
their staff members and they're saying like.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Oh, we can still make it.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
It's a tough stretch, but I mean it's not out
of the full equation, but they're they're they're gonna need
a lot to go their way to to make the playoffs.
And I talked with Steve Pavin that pregame show and
he said, this was a Game seven for San Diego
and all of a sudden. Now San Diego wins two
games in a row with that big win against the
Calgary Ranguis as well. So I mean they're only three
points back of two on and they're four points back
(14:02):
of the Condors, so, uh, they are still a little
bit alive.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Again, they need a lot to go their way.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
But if they just keep winning games, San Diego, it
sa all the sudden in the mix too. So you have,
now what is it for four teams battling for the
final two seeds of the Pacific Division race. Now it
has been so much more intense than what we saw
last year. Again, last year, we kind of already knew
who the seven teams were that'd make the playoffs, and
we kind of already found that out probably a month
(14:30):
month left of the entire season, maybe even more, like
we just kind of knew, like the goals Barracuda and
Silver Knights are out and these two three, these seven
teams are gonna be in. It just depended on where
who was gonna finish with what record, right, But now
this year it's wranglers can fall out of it. They
can have the worst landslide ever that we've seen in hockey,
(14:51):
going from first place maybe to a potential out of
playoff spot. You have the Roadrunners who have been back
and forth all season long. You really have to find
a way to get it in these next eight games.
You have the Condors who are only surviving because they
take all of their opponents to overtime. Let's be real here,
that's the only reason they are alive. They take everybody
(15:12):
to overtime. They've gone points based off of that. Then
you have San Diego, who's kind of the opposite of
the Wranglers, right, they're on the worst teams in the
Pacific Division, made some moves, they got a good goaltender
at that trade deadline, and now maybe they can go
for a playoff runt for that seven seats. So it
has been it has been a wild weete ride all year.
We continue to say that we're gonna keep saying that
(15:34):
as the season winds down. I mean, James, at this point,
what three three more episodes of regular season Insider podcast
because we have this week next week when we go
to Rockford, and then the final week against Colorado. So
three more episodes of Roadrunners Insider Podcast, regular season edition,
and that's it. It's for us too, you know right,
it's like there's only three weeks up in the season.
(15:55):
Doesn't feel like that because we have eight games remaining
and so much more to still do. But other than that,
it's a it's a complete dog fight right now, and
it's gonna get crazy. It might take that final game
against Colorado and fan appreciation for the Roadrunners to clinch
It very could be, but this weekend against the Condors
is much more huge, Like that is gonna be you
(16:17):
take that as a playoff series, like that is a
playoff series and if this team really wants to make
the postseason, that's gonna show who wants it more.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Yeah, it felt like 'p see with the weather last week,
which when it was roundly ninety ninety whatever degrees, ninety
three degrees on Wednesdays, it felt like, oh, this is
season's ending, the hockey seasons ending because it's getting so
hot randomly.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
But now with the.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
Weather calling on a bit, maybe not so much, but
it's just you're looking at the schedules like, wow, there's
just so few games left, and you know, looking at
San Diego game, I was, I was just really on
the broadcast, you mentioned how close you know this is
their they're playing for their season, and I thought that man, like, oh, well,
they're just so far back.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
They have to win, you know, other worlds.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
They got eliminated, but they're surprised how closely were because
for the whole season we're written off San Diego.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
And it was.
Speaker 5 (17:04):
Pretty early on that Tucson won the that one that
season series and pinch that you know, I Border Cup,
right leaf Border Cup.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
So I had been a while ago.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
So that was like San Diego, that's kind of you know,
maybe a trap game or whatever, kind of okay sandwich
between the Ontario and the bigger shell game. But then
looked it was like, well, Sandy was really a good
team in their right and maybe they had the kind
of good mojo going on with their in their throwback years.
Leaves and crowds really into it, really excited, and obviously
for Tucson it was it was a brutal, brutal kind
(17:33):
of road trip. That end of that road trip, you know,
talked about topic was team to play those teams, but
it was also a tough situation where you had to
where they had to play obviously in southern southern California
and San Diego and then to drive up to Biggers Field,
which is you know, central California, maybe a little bit
southern California. But did to go and turn around to
play the next game against that that big game against Bakersfield.
So that that was really interesting, really interesting scheduling. You
(17:56):
see that more obviously the East where they played teams different,
They don't the two game series they.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
Played, they switched like that.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
But that's get interesting for the owners to play to
play a couple of games back to back like that,
and I'm tough traveling.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
I have to say, yeah, it really is that. It
was not easy, James.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
I mean you you finished off a game in San
Diego and you you have to bust overnight to Bakersfield
and you have a game the very next day.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
You're you're tired, you're exhausted, and that's just for me.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Think about how these players are feeling, right, they just
played a game and not to do it all again, right,
and it's tough. And again, it was a good game
against Bakersfield. It wasn't bad by any means. I mean,
it took a one nothing lead, Condors tied it, then
they took their own lead, and we tied it up,
and uh just couldn't get that couldn't get that last
one in.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
The third period. And Wells had a good game.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
I mean he he made thirty seven saves all in
all in the matchups, so you know, it was a
it was a tough tough couple starts for for Wells
or excuse me, it made thirty nine saves in that game,
not thirty seven, so he was near the forty. He
faced forty two shots in total and It's some just
some tough start for Wells, right, you know, the Sunday game,
losing that one five to three, allowed a tough one
(19:04):
at the end to which the road Runners couldn't make
the full comeback. And then a game against San Diego
in which honestly the only allowed twenty two shots for
the team, but just a couple came coming from the
point that he couldn't you know, lowkey getting to the
nets that went through him. And then the game against
Bakersfield where we thought maybe Jackson Stopber was gonna get
(19:25):
them nid the not excuse me. And then Dylan Wells
is in net again against his former team and he
allows that tough one at the end where he couldn't
cover it up and it got under him and could
jule Us scored and it was looked at potentially too
for you know, goal interference, and it wasn't.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
So it was just one of those road trips where
you had good games.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
You had close games with each of these opponents, you know,
maybe not San Diego, but it was close for a
bit until the goals kind of ran with it. We
ran away with it at the end, and you're just thinking,
like what what do we have to do to win
games here? You know, but that's why you have home
stands too, right, you know you have these long road
trips because everyone's got to have long road tips as
part of a season. But then also you get opportunities
(20:05):
to play four games at home. Yes, it's a lot
of games, you know, Tuesday, Wednesday and then Saturday Sunday
four games and know what about six days or so.
But when they're against two opponents that you are now chasing,
gets so fun. That's gonna what's gonna make it so exciting.
And uh, you know, for you fans out there who
(20:25):
haven't been to a game yet or who are thinking
about going, these are games you want to go to
because these are going to be really big games for
the road runners, uh, if they want to try making
the playoffs here.
Speaker 5 (20:35):
Yeah, and going back to the biggest field game, that
was real interesting that you brought up Peloton Walls with
he's playing well in terms of stats, but also I
think it brought up last week, but again it happened.
There's there's a few big saves where he made where
he was making those manful also type saves where Odylan
last year he had always been a guy who put
up good numbers and plays solid in the net. But
(20:58):
diff was between him and Mattle was kind of one
of the big different with that that Matt was always
making these Pickchautter saves and saves that Steve would say,
Steve Bowen would say that those were saves that inspire
the rest of your team, that he makes these crazy
diving saves or whatever. And Dylls are making it up
to those saves too lately. And that's just been been
been fun to see. And he you talked about that
that that last goal, that that game winning.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Golf for.
Speaker 5 (21:21):
Making sure that that they that they snuck in there
those those second second one of those and last week
that he's had where he just couldn't see it and
his scored it was it just felt like bad luck
that bag shows they have to score on that one,
and then more bad luck for Roders at the end
where they weren't able to pull him with that much
time left. So it was just kind of a weird,
weird we're ending to the home sid to the road trip,
(21:43):
I mean, And it was interesting that that the first
goal that you know, Sammy Arkers scored the first goal,
but the first goal the Bakers. This guy was from
cam Deneen, who it was. Obviously he's a former road unner,
played a lot of games. We're to talk about cam
ebig and then getting his record, but you look at
Campdenen and he played. He played a ton of games
for Tucson, and I looked up because I was like,
(22:05):
that's kind of weird trade that they got, you know,
in a sense if you look at it purely, just
purely from Tucson perspective, that trade for Camdenen and Michael Keshlering,
not just those two, but though there's two for us.
For Tucson was kind of the main part of the trade.
But it is kind of funny that for Tucson. It's
kind of oh that that wasn't a good trade for
Tucson because I'm Kesseling. Obviously he only played sixteen games
(22:26):
for tu Soon before going to NHL and just being
becoming a fixture for the UA Hockey club. But then
I'm Camdenen played two undred seven games for tu Son,
So it's kind of like, oh, you know, you trained
these two defensemen and then u Kesslering comes comes tou
Soon and quickly goes to Arizona and then he comes,
(22:46):
he comes back for the playoffs, and then he comes
he's with two song briefly, and then he comes in
the last year, and then he goes back up to Arizona.
It has been just a fixture for for you to
hockey club for for this for the season. So it's
just it's is funny kind of looking at it like
that if you're look at it just from Tucson, not
from Utah, and obviously that's not out the front off
(23:07):
looks at it. They're trying to about players I think
tel But if you're look at for TUSA, I'm like, oh,
well they lost defensively because because Kem Deleen's still turning
it up and really well with.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
With with biggers Field.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
But for Tucson, like, oh, kiss Ring's gone for a
long time.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
So it's kind of funny less sense.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Yeah, I know, that is a very interesting take, James.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
The trade that was made what a couple of seasons ago,
I think it was, was it the twenty two twenty
three season, I'm guessing right before before I came along.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
And yeah, that that's said it.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
That is interesting to kind of just see how these
trades shape out eventually where Cam Deneen has been Bakersfield's
best defenseman, scored a scored a huge goal against US
for bag you stield the tie it and then now
you've got Michael Kestering who's tearing it up with the
Utah Hockey Club as well. So really nice kind of
visiting those trades. Speaking of trade, Sammy Walker got a
goal to on on the Saturday night loss against the Condors.
(24:01):
It was his seventh of the season with the Roadrunners,
his ninth overall, and uh, James, what a what an asset?
He has continued to be uh for this team, right,
He's really, uh tried to help the Roadrunners as much
as possible to really you know, make this playoff push
coming to the team during that during the gem Show trip.
He has eighteen points in twenty three games with the
(24:22):
Roadrunners after having just eleven and thirty games with the.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
UH with the Iowa Wild as well.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
So, you know, trades a trades U would continue to
kind of be a big thing for the Roadrunners and
the you know, the affiliation as a whole, with you know,
Michael Keshering having his breakout season last year with the
Arizona Coyotes, and staying with the Utah Hockey Club this
year and then the Roadrunners, you know, getting Sammy Walker
in the you know All Star Break trade and how
(24:48):
big he has been for this lineup moving forward.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
You know, getting Mikail.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Sergachev for the Utah Hockey Club as well, and that
kind of blockbuster like trade and where he's gonna be
a you know, a huge part part of the success
for the Utah Hockey Club for the new for future,
and you know, as always, we'll see what's what's to
come in the off season as well, like Igor Sokolov
getting traded here during the off season, he's leading the
team in goals with Cameron hebe got twenty one.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (25:13):
And so it it's this front office as a whole
has done really good jobs of these trades really in
these past few years. And it seems that they they
always said like I can't guess of a recent trade
that hasn't worked out for this whole affiliation.
Speaker 5 (25:28):
Yeah, and you're kind of going to the Bigersfield Series,
You're kind of thinking like who's where they're gonna goes from.
I mean, they do still have a lot of what weapons,
but when you have your leading square get moved up
in Kyler moto, you're kind of thinking, uh, well, where
they're gonna get goes from? And then immediately well on
immediately with seven fifty two in the first but pretty
(25:48):
pretty really long siding, awkward scores and kind of certifies
that says, I, Yet, you've got they're gonna they're gonna
do alright, you know, in terms of it's it's a
big loss obviously too for the road Unders who's Kyler,
But unfortunately for them, they have a lot of forwards
that are that are doing.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Well right now.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
You know him and I had Zino and he were
Sokolov and even Cam he was kind of in terms
of stats not not scoring what he's been scoring lately,
but he's a guy who can kind of fill that
void where Kyler has been back with Utah, and it
deserved move in terms of he's been playing well lately.
And he's also a guy who he just took his
(26:24):
talent and so yeah, he looks like a n HL guy.
So he moved up, and obviously they switched goaltenders with
That was one thing I didn't think about last week
when I was talking about like, oh yeah, I think
that Jackson is going to be in the NHL for
the rest of the season. But what happened earlier in
the week was Jackson's saber. He and Matt Velota basically
got switched after Matt had that great, great game against
(26:44):
Ontario where he got the he got another shutout and
his what was it, his two on Earth gamer?
Speaker 4 (26:49):
I think, yeah, Welta, I got a shut out in
his two hundred game played.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
I guess his former teed the Ontario raid.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah to it.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
So it was a great, great, great story for that
to on Earth HL game against his former team they
played a lot of games with and they still, at
least based on the fans reactions on social media, they
still love him there. So he still got those He
got that big shutout in a huge, huge game gaming
that series, and not just because you want to, you know,
stop the bleeding and at least get one one win,
(27:19):
get some points in the road trip. But it was
huge in the sense that if they do make the playoffs,
you're kind of expecting them to play Ontario. I mean,
if they do make the playoffs, they probably the seven seed,
and the way Car was playing, looks like Antario's gonna
be the two seed, although they did Ontario to beat them,
but just beat them last night. But you're thinking that
Carlo is gonna pike that. And so that's a crucial
series because as a crucial win because you look at
(27:43):
season series that they didn't do well in the season
series against Ontario, but they did win the last two
road games and that and obviously the first round is
all on the road, and so even you know, even
look back at the last two home games against Ontario,
they dropped those two for two and where they it
was those heartbreaking games where they gave up three unanswered goals,
and that's just that's a situation where yeah, they did
(28:06):
lose that painfully, but he looked back and well, maybe
the puck goes a different way. Maybe don't kill three
goals in a row. So they've actually been playing well
in my mind against Ontario. Obviously they have those two
wins on the road, and they have those two wins, uh,
and then those two tough losses at home. So you
look down terror series. I'm looking on Terror game. I
keeps saying serious, down Terror game. It was just a
(28:26):
huge win for not only that but for the team
as a whole. So that was great to see. And
so Matt Earns that call up to the NHL. It's
it's good to see him get get back up in
NHL because he he he really earned last year and
then he played a couple of games last year for the
Coots for to make his NHL debut and then he
got that spot back and back with you to Hockey
Club to give you look at Fla Malco. He's been
(28:49):
just playing just a ton of games. So hopefully I
can give him more a rest and give Matt Matt
some more time in the NHL. So that was really interesting,
an interesting a lot of moves last week.
Speaker 4 (29:02):
Yeah, and kind of just like you know, and again,
we love call ups. We love these guys getting called
up to teams. This is why they're here, right to
get to the NHL. But it's tough when for ann
Ahl team, and again this happens to every single team
across the league, right, it's nothing new, But it's tough
when you lose not only your top score, but you
lose your your top goaltender of Volalta And not saying
(29:24):
Stobber is not the top goalie of the team is
just because Valta's played so many games for us. I
mean he's played you know, well over if I want
to say forty games this season off the top of
my head. But Valalta's he's been the guy for us
once again for the second year in a row. You know,
he's he's to become a main stable. He's played in
forty one games this season. James mentioned earlier hit the
(29:46):
two hundred game play got a shutout in that game
against his former team. As oh, it's such a such
a great storyline for Tucson, especially when Yavamoda was the
one who was called up before that game, and then
Valota was called up the following Friday for the against
for the Utah Hockey Club against San Diego and then
well started the rest of the series or the rest
of the road trip, and you know it. Vololto is
(30:08):
a locker room guy. He's a we know who he is.
You fans out there know who he is. So it's
it's tough losing the personality like that you can stay
the same with with Josh done, you know, not having
him for most of the season, but rightfully so again
because he's been so he's been playing fantastic, not only
with us, but with the Utah Hockey Club as well,
so it can always just be a little tough. And yeah,
Vimelcas started seventeen games in a row and you're thinking, when.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Is our guy gonna get a start?
Speaker 4 (30:33):
You know, like it's Staburn never got to start when
he was up with the Utah Hockey Club and he
was up there for a while. So obviously Utah is
still very much battling for a playoff spot. It's a
it's getting a little bit more tough because the Saint
Louis Blues won't stop losing games. But at the same time,
you do wonder when is Voalalta going to get that
start again. He's only started in one NHL game of
(30:55):
his career, he's only appeared in two, so that is
another interesting aspect to keep an eye on. Other Interestingly enough,
Kyli Yabamodo scored his first goal of the NHL season
on the five two win for the Utah Hockey Club
last night, So congratulations to Yabamoto and getting a back
on the scoring sheet for that game as well. It
was a big, huge win fort the Utah Hockey Club
(31:15):
and as for the standings wise in the NHL playoff race,
Utah's at seventy eight points, thirty three to twenty one,
thirty three to twenty nine and twelve record a five
twenty seven winning percentage. But the thing is, it's just
been so hard to keep up with Saint Louis at
a forty twenty eight and seven record. At eighty seven points,
they're six points ahead of the next team, Vancouver, seven
(31:38):
points ahead of Calgary, and then nine points ahead of
the of the Utah Hockey Club. So I'm not saying
it it's over by any means, but it's just it's
getting tough. It's really getting down to the stretch to
where will Utah maybe start saying, oh, maybe it's just
not going to be this year, and they start, you know,
(31:59):
calling up some of our guys, like maybe Cameron Hebit
gets a not just for the season that he has had,
soa Kolov gets a bid, well also gets a start.
Like we're we're it's gonna be interesting, and you know
for us, we're we're still fighting for the playoffs. But
at the end of the day, you still want these
guys to get their opportunities, right, like that's why they're here.
So it's it's gonna be interesting to see, you know,
(32:20):
what which each side of Alex to do, because yeah,
we're still very much alive for the playoffs. Utah is
alive as well, but you know, eventually it's it might
not be that for for them, and it still might
be for us.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
So we'll see what happens. It's all hypotheticals.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
Don't know anything, don't have any insider information on that
of who's going up who's going down in these final
stages of the season. But uh, still just excited to see, uh,
who are gonna see in the in the Utah uniforms
by the end of the year.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Yeah, there's other guys that you just mentioned it. There's
other guys who are good cantings to get called up
if they if they want to spell some guys or
if they want to give some guys more experience that they.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
Do ultimately eliminated.
Speaker 5 (33:00):
So it is just just a fun situation to look
at that and see who's gonna get that call up.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I mean you have to kind of.
Speaker 5 (33:06):
Think that if they do that, they do call up
a forward, then another forward the camp he Big would
be one of those guys you're looking at. He's not lately,
he's not been scoring. You know, he's on begetting a
lot of points. He's in a little bit of a
slum for him. But they did uh change his contract
obviously where.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Going in the season or during the season.
Speaker 5 (33:23):
Up until that point, he had an HL contract and
then they they they re signed him. They signed him
to Antol. They signed him to two a deal so
it's easier for them. The call up so then came
up and down and he did have to clear waivers,
so that was kind of kind of nerve racking. But
he's the guy who he's the guy who has had
a great story this year in terms of he's having
(33:44):
a career year in terms of stats, but it's also
he also broke the record the Dyson Mayo had for
for a while and what most games played for the
run erunners. So that's that's really exciting to see because
he's the he's the guy who you talked about great
loudco room guys like that. He's one of those guys
that his name is the Mayor because.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
He's just so.
Speaker 5 (34:05):
So social, so so positive, so so fun to be around,
and he's a guy who's so active not only with
their road unners in the room, there.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
But also active in the community.
Speaker 5 (34:14):
So he's kind of that prototypical roadrunner and it would
be great to see him get up to that angelity
does get the opportunity.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
Yeah, that would be that would be a cherry on
top to the fantastic season he has had. So Yeah, Cameron,
hebig is every game he plays up to this point,
he's going to continue to rise up that record of
most games played as a Roadrunner. He is at number
two hundred and eighty one, and he'll be hitting two
eighty three tomorrow as well.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
On Tuesday.
Speaker 4 (34:40):
Let's get to Let's get to our one and only
interview of this show. Just catching up quickly with Ford
Hunter Drew after the three two loss in Bakersfield on
Saturday nights. You know, these guys know James like they
know that it is it is time to really determine
if we are a playoff team or not. They know
that this is not over by any means. They know
that there's opportunity this week against the Wranglers and especially
(35:04):
against the Bakersfield Condors as well. And honestly, James, a
lot of those games on the road did feel like
playoff like games, like with the series against Colorado with
that crowd, that huge crowd getting into the game, the gauntlet,
kind of gritty game that we win, that we got
against Ontario on Wednesday, the game against San Diego in
(35:24):
which the goals are still barely scrapping for their season,
and that game was closed up until the end of it.
And then of course that game against Bakersfield that was
too too going into the third period and we just
couldn't get that last one at the end with that
with that crowd kind of being pretty big as well.
So everyone feels like a playoff one up to this point.
And I caught up with Hundre Drew after Saturday's game
just to talk about what it's gonna be like coming
(35:46):
back home and trying to get back on the winning
call and really, uh, you know, just get the points
when they're really starting the matter the most.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
With eight games remaining, I'm.
Speaker 4 (35:55):
Hunter a tough loss for us, but we know this
isn't is an overb by enemies.
Speaker 2 (35:59):
We got these guys next weekend.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Just how do we come back home and kind of
rely on that too soon Crown to get us back
into the swing of things for a huge home stand.
Speaker 6 (36:07):
Yeah, we just got to know the moment and know
what we're in for here for the next you know,
four games at home and and obviously, like you said,
use the crowdoor advantage and then go from there.
Speaker 4 (36:16):
Yeah, and this one really felt like a playoff l like
game where you're just takeaways overall, and the game that
really went back and forth here.
Speaker 6 (36:22):
Yeah, I thought we had a lot of good moments.
You know, we got a little bit of penalty trouble,
but for the most part of the PK was pretty good.
And you know, guys are moving and and you know,
doing what they can and sometimes you just don't win
these games.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
But we had a good.
Speaker 6 (36:35):
Chance next weekend against these guys and we'll go from there.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Thanks Hunter.
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Yeah, James said that was also a big key for
that Roadrunners, for the Roadrunners team, you know, just that
PK that overall had a pretty good week, pretty goodroad
trip as a whole as well. You use that for
momentum going into this, uh, this home stand. The power
play still be good. There's still been so much good
of this team that it's it's it's tough that the
record we have. You feel like this team is so
(37:00):
talented with the bodies that we have with Andrew Ragazino
getting another multiple point game. Ben McCartney's had a really
good second half of the season. We know why Keimer,
Niebeg and you your Soaklove are capable of what our
defense has been doing with Zuper and Ardam due to
you know these kids, right, Julian Lutz really finding his
way too.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
It's there's so much talent on this team, and.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
You really feel like you want these guys to just
have playoff experience as well. You want these guys to
really be in these big matchups under the lights. But
as we always say, it's gonna be a lot of
big playoff preview light games this upcoming week back at home.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
Yeah, honestly, I mean you watch the team play. And
this is from the guy who's not paid by the league.
I'm paid by the team. But honestly, you look at
this team and I'm really surprised that they're not They're
not hiring the standings, they're not comfortably in the playoffs,
they're not fighting for home playoffs stop.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Because you look at him play.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
And they even when they lose, they play well and
they play hard. You we always talk about this where
they go down fighting, they go down. I'm swinging even
when they lose, and even when they went they went one,
one and four and their road tip. But other than
the San Diego game, which kind of got a little
out hand in the third, but mostly it was a
close game. Other than that that they've been them close games.
(38:13):
They've been you know them and routed or anything. And
the Bakershield game is a really close game. They only
lost by one, and that was a game where it
was back and forth really and you kind of felt
like it's just kind of their runners were kind of
bad luck, you know, maybe and in the last ten minutes,
we're not even to get that game time goal. But
(38:33):
they're they're a team that you look at them and
they're just I'm just surprised that they're not. They're not
highing standings. You're just based on how they play and
how they they do obviously have some issues. They wouldn't
be have the record they have now, but they wouldn't
have that kind of inconsistency where they often they they'll
still split a series when they when they should get
(38:54):
that sweep, where they get swept when they should get
a split or something or you know whatever. So that's
why they kind of been dropping points and are at
the position they are. But it's a team that you
look at them and there's just they have so many weapons,
they have so many so much talent. So it is
a bit surprising that they that they are comfortable in
the playoffs right though, just just based on how good
they are, but based on the eye tests and everything.
(39:16):
But it's a you know, you talked about how big
a series it is, it's how big a homestand that is.
Speaker 3 (39:22):
It's one that.
Speaker 5 (39:24):
And I felt that too when I was looking at
the especially the Bakersfield game, where it really felt like
it was it was a playoff, playoff game. And you
look at it when they have Bakersfield come back into town,
it's almost like they're having a three game series against them,
a three game playoff series. So maybe maybe if you're fan,
you kind of treat it like the playoff game in
terms of, you know, you can wear white for whatever
game you want to, but may have to look at
(39:44):
mini white out where you you do wear white, and
it feels like a playoff game because because they're playing
such an intense it's so intense playing against Bakersfield and
they're coming back and it's such a crucial in terms
of the sand news and then to play against on
Bakersfield and obviously playing Calgary who had the upper hand
on two songs where they they actually swept on the
(40:06):
Runners last year in the playoffs and that was in Tucson,
so that's a bit shocking. So there's kind of that
revenge series against Calgary, and it's one of those situations
where if you look at how they played well this
how they played against Calgary this year, it's been a
really weird, really weird season series because they they're they're
set sweeping each other. This is the fourth series and
they're playing now where Runners swept them in one series
(40:30):
and in two series Calgary swept to songs, so they
for too soon, they have to get back and get
that sweep in order to even out the season series.
With four sweeps total and two wins for two series
wins reached a side, so kind of doing it look
at that, and obviously you look get to the biggest
field game on bigger shield games. It's it's just a
huge series because in terms of playoffs, in terms of
(40:51):
standings and everything, so it's just gonna be interesting.
Speaker 4 (40:54):
Homestown Yeah, all interesting uh coming up here. As you know,
it's a it's a on dogfight. So this is the
Condor schedule for the month of April, and we'll go
over the road Runner schedule for the month of April.
So Condors, they're playing the Abbotsford Canucks Tomorrow night six
thirty pm Pacific Standard time, so we are Abbotsford fans tomorrow,
(41:16):
and then they have least Saturday and Sunday, so they
only have three games this week. We have four, and
then Wednesday, April ninth against Anderson Silver Knights. Friday April eleventh,
they played the San Diego Goal Saturday April twelfth, then
they go to their home for that game.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Then they have to go to Coachell Valley.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
So they're also kind of in those that tough you
know NHL likes schedule where you have two different teams
in two different days and they play a third team
in a different day on Wednesday, April sixteen against Abbotsford
again and then the flip flop against Anderson Silver Nights.
Speaker 2 (41:46):
So that's the rest of their schedule.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
As for the rest of our schedule in the month
of April, of course, we have the Calgary Wranglers this
Tuesday and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday against the Bakersfield Condors,
and then we go to Rockford for our last two
games of the away schedule on April eleventh, in April twelfth,
and then April eighteenth and April nineteenth a Saturday and
Sunday against the Eagles. So this is really the last
(42:08):
kind of four game and six day stretch that the
Roadrunners have. And then you have four games over two weeks, so.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
The rest will be coming soon. It's not rest time yet.
Speaker 4 (42:17):
It's not rest time at all obviously, but it's not
time to really step back yet. You have to go
into this homestand full throttle, running through a big wall.
You gotta get wins here because you know, if you
lose a couple more in a row. James and Bakersfield
is able to get some wins in a row, especially
when we are playing the Wranglers and Condors up next,
it can either be a really bad spot for Tucson
(42:39):
or we can an off this week in a really
good spot. So it's this is this is big, like,
this is a huge four game stretch.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
This is a big week.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
This can really determine if this team is playoff worthier.
Speaker 6 (42:51):
Now.
Speaker 4 (42:51):
Of course it might take unto the very last game
against the Colorado Eagles for fan Appreciation Night, but this
this is the final stretch. Also coming this weekend, we
have a some really good promotions coming up. We have
Country Night on Saturday or pardon oh yes, on Saturday,
April fifth. I get flipped with the Friday Saturday Saturday
Sunday matches, but Saturday, April fifth against the biggest field
(43:13):
Condors for Country Night. First fifteen hundred fans will receive
a Roadrunners cowboy hat courtesy of Williams and Associates. Plus
there's a pregame tailgate at Barrio Brewing featuring live music,
games and plenty of great beer from Barrio Brewing Company.
And then we have autimism Acceptance tonight April six against
the Condors. Again, all we asked you for you fans
(43:33):
to do kindly is to not bring any cowboys at
the games. So it's just a welcoming environment for everybody.
So big promotions coming up this weekend. And yeah, James,
there's not many home games left. There's a solely six
more eight more games six at home, which is also
huge for Tucson. That's a big advantage for the Roadrunners.
Just two more on the road for us. So you know,
(43:53):
we'll see what happens if we make playoffs, and we'll
see what happens in the playoffs. But you know, you
just don't want to take these home games for granted,
and the team needs all the support they can possibly get.
Speaker 5 (44:03):
Yeah, even though the Runners did drop that last game
against Colorado and Colorado all they did drop games together Colorado,
but I mean Bakersfield, and then they finished their road
trip one and four, and they're kind of in terms
of last ten games their stuffing a bit. They do
have to if you're kind of looking at it from
a neutral's perspective, they do have and then they rex
Fields gaving hand, you have to think that the Runners
(44:25):
do have the kind of the if you look at
the that percentage where you know, winning percentage or whatever
Protecteds are gonna win the game. They have like an
esp and stuff like that, you would you could expect
the Runners too, are expected to make the playoffs. With
they have this four game homestand and they have two
more home home games, and they have their road trip
is against It's a bit bit of a travel to
(44:46):
go to Rockford to go to Illinois, but they're they're
a team from a weaker division obviously, and then they're
team that's not as good in terms of record as
to so on. So they did get that split into
so but that's a series that they should do well.
But you look at it, their owners do. If they
do take care of business, they should make the playoffs.
(45:07):
But it's gonna be like you and Kim said last
week on the Uh you know on the Happy Hour
that this is just dramatic, just so so much. You know,
there's so much drama going on, so so so interesting.
The schedule makers they were kind of brilliant with they're
making this with the when they have when they have
(45:28):
Bakersfield and they have Pakersfield again, and they have they
close off the season Colorado and then they have that
trip to Rockford to kind of mix things up, and
that that's a series that you're probably gonna expect Jackson
get a lot of time in. And that's that's where
he was just playing where he came over from Jackson,
I mean to keep over from Jackson. He came over
from Rockford and he was played for Chicago a couple
(45:48):
you know, played for Chicago a few games a NHL,
so it's it's gonna be really interesting end of the season.
And you look at you talked about from emotions. One
of the cool ones is that the I like they
have The Runners have putting a lot of effort this
year into putting fun in midweek game on promotions. They
have the for the game on Tuesday, it's as Ladies Nights,
so they have kind of cool, cool option where you
(46:10):
can buy what's it called a sparkle bag or whatever.
So that's kind of cool that they're having games like that.
They had the last Holmesland they had the Service Industry Night,
which is cool to represent to honor those people who
do a lot for us, you know, and then we
don't usually get honored in terms of people in the
service industry, so that's fun. So they have a lot
of fun promotions like that, or during the MIDWEK games
(46:33):
and midweek games, they are always tough, you know, it's
tough for you know, families to go to those games obviously,
you know mean having uh a late game potentially a
late game, you know, on a weeknight. So they put
a lot of effort it seems like this year to
put in to try and get some fans there, trying
to give people options that have different, different kind of
looks in those nights.
Speaker 3 (46:52):
So that's kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (46:55):
Yeah, there's still all great promotions on the board. Go
to Tucson Roadrunners dot com to find out out, you know,
the promotions coming up this week to look more into
it if you want buy the tickets. And then we
have the last two games against the Colorado League Eagles
later on this month as well. So yeah, James, these
are big next four games. I know we keep saying that,
we constantly say every game is big, because it is.
(47:16):
But I think just what happened at the end of
that road trip, not being able to get have a
good road trip overall, going one for four or one
and four, it puts you in the pressure and you
have a chance to catch up to the Wranglers a
little bit, and you have a chance to get back
that seventh seed against the biggest field Condors as well.
So we'll see you all folks at the twoson Arena
(47:39):
later this week starting tomorrow against the Wranglers.
Speaker 2 (47:41):
Looking forward to seeing all there.
Speaker 4 (47:42):
The team needs all the support they can get right now,
So please come to the twoson Arena and support your
Tucson Roadrunners.
Speaker 2 (47:49):
Really in the.
Speaker 4 (47:50):
Thick of it of the playoff push now with just
eight games remaining on the calendar, six at home, which
is actually a big advantage for the Roadrunners, just two
more on the road as well. So yeah, we're excited,
we're ready for it, and we'll get rolling on here
against the Calgar Wranglers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Have a
great rest of your day, everybody. We'll see you later
on this week at the two Soon Arena. We'll built
(48:10):
things out with Roadrunners rock. Let's go Tucson. The playoff
bush continues.
Speaker 5 (48:15):
Come after one of our house.
Speaker 1 (48:17):
You cann't need a lot more friends.
Speaker 2 (48:20):
We've seen newsgape before.
Speaker 1 (48:22):
We don't how the story ends tonight. We're rising up tonight.
You go down.
Speaker 7 (48:29):
You try to run up on us, We're going on down.
Speaker 1 (48:33):
Get all the bus, go back to where it came from.
Speaker 7 (48:37):
Getting on the bus, Drop five file away, hang up
your skates, drop your glowns, put your twos away.
Speaker 1 (48:47):
You got beat down tonight.
Speaker 7 (48:49):
That's the two sent way road Runners. Ron ro Rata,
Fra Robot and Froslet's think to say
Speaker 2 (49:12):
M
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!