December 26, 2025 • 30 mins
David Mooradian and Patrick Moore sit down with the Voice of the Calgary Wranglers Sandra Prusina as they discuss Sandra's broadcasting career and how she got to be the only female broadcaster in the AHL. Also the Roadrunner's home opener match against the Calgary Wranglers
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From Roadrunners Weekly. This is Between the Benches. You're all
access breed. You have the week ahead. We'll look at
the road Runners upcoming opponents, get the inside storing and
here directly from the voices and players that know them best.
With your hosts David Moradi and then Patrick Moore and
this week's special guest, the voice of the Calgary Wranglers,
(00:23):
Sandra Prusina.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to another edition of Between the Benches, the two
Sound Roadrunners podcast. David Meridian joined by Patrick Moore. We're
gonna hear from Santra Prusina in just a few minutes.
She's the voice of the Calgary Wranglers, a very busy
broadcaster who does a great job for the team up
north in Calgary. They're coming down to Tucson this weekend,
seven o'clock on Saturday, seven o'clock on Sunday. We'll have
pregame coverage for you at six forty five on Fox
(00:47):
Sports fourteen fifty am and on HLTV on Flow Sports. Patrick,
how are you doing back at home for the holidays, relaxing,
keeping up on hockey. I'm sure. How's everything going. It's
going good, David, Hope.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Every hope, all the listeners, and you having a good
holiday so far. I've been keeping tabs a little bit,
been working a hockey camp currently right now. So yeah,
I would say pretty relaxed holiday. I don't know what
about you, David, what you been up to.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, well, I have a hard time relaxing. It's just
I don't know what my issue is. I always am
looking ahead to the next thing or whatever it may be.
But good to be back up here in the freezing cold,
and maybe I'll have a little bit more to relate
with Sandra with at this point. But it's been a
little bit chilly, not certainly, not like southern California where
you are or are faithful listeners in Tucson. But you know,
(01:36):
I'm doing okay. And we'd like to see the Roadrunners
do a little bit better. Losers of their last three especially,
it seems like Patrick Abbotsford really has been a thorn
in their side. Can you tell me from a player perspective,
you go into a matchupbus the better team is the favorite.
Can that be a little bit of a trick psychologically?
Because we've seen the Roadrunners do such a nice job
(01:56):
against the top opponents, the top teams in the Division,
but they play a team like Abbotsford. They're one and
four against the Canucks this year, one and three.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, I have to agree with you. As a player,
there would be teams that we play who were really
poor and really bad, just not very good, and you
just didn't know how the game was gonna go. You
didn't know if you were going to score in the
first five minutes or it would you would be down
one nothing going into the third period. So I think
I don't think it's more of a psychological thing. I
think it's just like bad luck or just bad balances
(02:30):
going their way. I feel like in HL it's a
lot different. You know, you can you can tell when
a team's bad, telling when team's good. I think Abbotsford's
finally picking up their stuff. Like I was watching their
the game on Saturday, and and they've been in one
goal games. Their commentary would say it almost like every
minute in the third period. They would be in one
goal games and they wouldn't have their luck of their way.
(02:51):
So I feel like they're finally finding their stry. And
I think this two soon again is still not having
that luck that they want. And yeah, I just that's
just kind of my assessment of the whole game, I
think it's kind of a psychological thing. I think it's
just more just bad luck.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And the other thing is the second game of that series. Look,
the Roadrunners out shot them twenty six to fifteen, right,
I mean it's not or twenty I think it was
twenty six to seventeen. Doesn't either way. There was a
game to be won there and they were only able
to get one buy in the third period. They lose
that one, two to one. The other game is two
to two going into the third. So, yeah, you're right,
I mean, the very competitive games, and this time it
goes for the Canucks. But again, you expect you're playing
(03:25):
a team that's had trouble closing, Right, There's two sides
to that coin. Yeah, they're competitive, they're playing one score games,
but they're losing them. So there's something structurally in that
team that struggles in close game situations, and the road
Runners weren't able to capitalize on that. Something I've noticed,
and this is a trend for both Calgary and Tucson.
We'll get to this movie. Talk to Sandra. Neither team
(03:45):
is spending a lot of time on the power play,
and we know that when you have the other team uncomfortable,
you're applying the pressure, you're going to generate powerplay opportunities. Now,
the issue for Calgary is they've been shorthanded so much
they lead the division in penalty minutes that, hey, how
are you going to get the other team uncomfortable when
you're the team in the box?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Very hard to be on the power play when you're
constantly killing it, and that's a slippery slope there. That's
certainly a domino thing. But the Roadrunners, believe it or not,
haven't been penalized that much of the season. Certainly nothing
relative to last year. But they just haven't had that
many looks on the power play. They're about twenty percent
when they get the chances. That's not the issue. There
just haven't been that many looks. So there could be
(04:23):
few and far between on the power play looks in
this matchup because both teams really struggle to draw the penalty.
So tells Patrick, what can a Roadrunner team do to
just get more five on four looks to get games
going by having some power plays. They're not drawing enough penalties.
How can they improve that?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think it's just you know, I mean, I've kind
of read into a little bit of Calgoriy and what
they've been doing, and they've been spending a lot of
their time in the box due to just you know,
offensive and sick in fractions and just a lot of
kind of issues with you know, misconnects and all that.
So they can get under the Calgari's skin because there's
a lot of guys for Calgary that are willing to
drop the gloves. So I feel like if they're able
(05:00):
to kind of get under skin, I feel like they
kind of work getting under Abbotsford skin just a little bit,
but not enough. I feel like Abbascerd was a bit
more disciplined. I feel like Kyrie isn't as much disciplined,
and that's just a certain side they play. So I
feel like if they're able to kind of, you know,
get in their head a little bit and outwork them,
the Calgary will definitely take a lot of penalties. I mean,
we saw Baker Shield. They took a lot of penalties
(05:22):
right before the crip bard before the holiday break. So
Tucson is going to be able to get some looks.
It's just when are they going to pick their chances.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So that's about that. Let's take a look at the
standings really quick. The Tucson Roadrunners twenty six games played
this season, four behind Calgary who have played thirty games.
The Wranglers currently sit in fourth place fourteen ten to
five and one for thirty four points. They are tied
with the Rain, but the Rain have played three less
games sixteen to nine to one and one. The Roadrunners
(05:51):
ninth place all by themselves, three points ahead of Abbotsford.
With twenty six games playing, the road Runners are ten
twelve and four, still looking for not only their first
shootout loss, but I think their first game to go
to a shootout. So that empty final category there. But
the Roadrunners can make some headway with a strong series
here against the Wranglers. They've got games in hand or
tied with pretty much every team in their division, so
(06:13):
they don't have to fight that kind of battle. Just
rack up a couple of wins and climb up the standings.
It is very congested from three to nine, within ten
points there from Ontario down to the Roadrunner, so there
is progress to be made any players. Patrick, as we
approached the halfway mark, let's put it this way. If
you had to award a mid season MVP. Who do
you have in mind?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Well, if Daniel Bitt was on the road inunners still,
if he was a strong contender, no question, I got
to give it a Ben McCartney got a power play
goal on Saturday past Lane Peterson for I believe it
was a fourth in all Garrace franchise history. And also
he hit the twenty five point mark for the third
(06:54):
time in his career, and he's really close and each
time he's done that, he's hit at least thirty thirty
five points right in those seasons. So I think I
would give it to him, is my pick. On what
about you, Well, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
If it's not McCartney, he big is going to be
a strong candidate. One of the newcomers that's really been
impressive though on the blue line is Simashev. Dimitri Simis.
Simashev really seems to be coming into his own. He
had a huge goal there in that wild win against Bakersfield,
and then he also had a lot of production against Abbotsford.
It seems like under Steve Podvin he's really found his
stride since the Mammoths sent him down to the road Runner.
(07:29):
So sim Mimaschev, not the winner of the MVP, but
maybe the Newcomer Award. I think he would be a candidate,
just someone to keep an eye on there on the
blue line. He's really added to their defense and I
look forward to seeing him continue to gel with that unit.
And we look forward to speaking with the voice of
the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Persina. She'll join us next right
here on Between the Benches a twoson Roadrunners podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It's time to go Between the Benches on road Runners Weekly.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Welcome back to Between the Benches, now joined by the
Voice of the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Prisina, her second time
on the show, and we thank her for her availability. Center.
Let's jump right in. I was taking a look at
the current goings of the Calgary Wranglers and maybe we've
got it easy down here in the desert. But you've
been pretty busy. A lot of games played, not just
in December but all season long, thirty games so far,
(08:16):
Tuson's only played twenty six. So how have you been
keeping up with it and how has it been such
a busy start to the season.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yeah, it's been very hectic, and I think about that
ten game road trip that the team was on, which
was an absolute gauntlet. It hadn't been done in Wrangler's history,
but the team came through relatively unscathed. And then back
home and the cozy confines of the Scotia Bank Saddle Doome,
and it has been just NonStop, and even though we're
having this Christmas break right now, still till the end
(08:44):
of the year and just bleeding into January more than
what are we at just under half a dozen games
home games left and then plus the two that are
played in Tucson. So this is a very, very busy
team these days.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And we're about to approach the halfway point in the season,
just a couple of more series to hit that mark.
How would you assess the satisfaction of the team kind
of hovering in the middle of the standings. What is
your read on how team officials, coaches, and players feel
about the start of the year for Calgary.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
I think if you were to ask head coach Frett Sutter,
he'd be pretty happy with the way that things have
been going, especially with the predicament and net and you
lose I've in Prasvitov and if you even just go
back to the start of the season, not really knowing
who your starting goalie was going to be because you
were counting on whatever was going to happen in Flames
training camp. So Devin Cooley ends up winning the backup
(09:37):
job to Dustin Wolf, and that means I've been Prosvetov
is your starter with the Wranglers, and unfortunately he got
hurt a couple of weeks in abbots a couple of
weeks ago in Abbotsford, so he's on the shelf probably
until January, mid January, late January the earliest. So essentially
you're handing your goaltending reigns to a couple of rookie
(09:59):
netminders and the fact that they've been able to keep
their head above water. Owen Say picking up his first
shutout Arsinny, Sergeyev grabbing his first AHL victory in his
first start. He made over fifty saves over the weekend.
It was ridiculous. But both of these young men looking
so poised, and they had this pedigree from strong NCAA careers,
(10:21):
so that I think was the biggest question mark going
into this season. It was never going to be about
leadership or work ethic or anything like that. And then
the other big domino. It was lined with the Flames,
and obviously it was well documented how they struggled out
of the gate. October and November were not kind to
the Calgary Flames. They needed a bit of a shakeup.
(10:43):
So the Wranglers you lose Jonkznetsov, who has been just
an absolute soldier, workhorse, minute muncher since he came to
the organization, So that was a huge hole to fill
on the Wranglers blue line. And then most recently, Hunter
Brustavitch gets called up. He's been off from the Wranglers.
(11:04):
I think we're going into three weeks now, so you've
got a fairly new blue line, and it's been really
cool to see how Nick Chichek has been able not
only to take on a leadership role, but really step
into top four minutes at Tienne Morin, who's also a
rookie just coming off his junior season over in the
queue and he looks really good after a quick stint
(11:26):
with Rapid City in the EHL. So I think those
have been the two big question marks. But at the
end of the day, Calgary is always known to play
a really good two hundred foot game and that's bled
into this season, which is where you see where they
sit in the standing.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So far, and going back to the goaltenders just for
a second, it's almost better when you have somebody that's new,
but they've been playing goalie probably their whole life, at
least for quite a few years. At a high level.
You'll let them face fifty shots, you throw them right
into the deep end and they kind of say, okay,
I can handle this, and that seems to be the
way it's gone, and Calgary is starting to find their footing,
much like the pro team the Flames you mentioned, at
(12:04):
a really tough start, but slowly but surely the ship
is turning around and they're working their way up the standings.
They're kind of almost in that middle cluster which we
also see in the Pacific Division. Here in the AH,
all the Flames are on the outside, but now they're
looking in. Let's pivot a little bit. One thing I
noticed four hundred and fifty five penalty minutes this year
for the Wranglers. That's first in the Pacific Division. What
(12:27):
do you think the causes of that? Is this an
over eager team or maybe just a little bit out
of position, A.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Little bit of both. I'd probably say people trying to
make up for maybe not having the assert physicality that
they've had over the past few years. With Alex Gallant,
he's really they call him the sheriff for a reason, right,
and he's he does not take lightly to people picking
on the rookies. And of all the seasons the Wranglers
(12:55):
have been here, this is the most we've seen in
terms of rookie numbers on this roster, and he just
does not like anybody taking liberties with some of these
guys Matt Veay, Grid and Idar Soune. The list goes on,
and he's dropped the gloves many many times this season,
and he wants to hold other teams accountable, so some
(13:18):
of it coming from that. So some of them obviously
are the fighting majors. And then there have been some misconducts.
And then there was a brew ha haa earlier this
season with Abbotsford that was a big one. And then
I remember there was another bench clearing brawl with Coachella Valley,
and I mean bench clearing. There was a fight, and
(13:40):
then Alex Glantz and Caden Hamill went to their respective
penalty box. Everybody's giving them stick taps and then five
fives whatever it was, and then as they were trying
to get back to the benches, words starting being exchanged
more pushing and shoving, so line brawls, bench clears. So
a lot of the penalty numbers inflate a little bit
(14:01):
because of that. But at the same time, I think
there are some opportunities to cut down on offensive zone,
stick in fractions, penalty calls, those little details when you're
being maybe a little bit too aggressive on the for check,
trying to overcompensate for things a little bit. But it
is the details, and a lot of these guys want
(14:22):
to be seen upon as leaders, right and being the one, Okay,
I'm going to make that hit. I'm going to make
that check, and sometimes it might be a little bit
too much, and unfortunately with the pims, that leads to
some issues with your special teams. And if you look
at the special teams right now for the Wranglers, they
aren't great. So if I were to nitpick about the
season as a whole, I'd probably say that is the
(14:44):
one facet of the Wranglers game that needs to improve.
As we get to the halfway point of the season
and things really start to ramp up and you start
to make those drives for playoff positioning.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
No, Sandra, I want to ask you about Martin fer
He just played his five hundredth game. He scored in
his five hundredth game, and his daughter was there when
they announced the lineups. What can you kind of tell
me about Martin Firk and what he's been He's brought
to the team and he's leading Scory his twenty seven
points in thirty games. So maybe if you elaborate a
little bit on Martin Firk and his production so far
this season.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Sure had a really good sit down chat with him
probably a week ago leading into his five hundredth AHL game,
and he's just at a point in his career there's
a lot of gratitude and I realized that's kind of kumbaya.
But he's thirty two years old. He's on pace for
his second best American Hockey League career, so that's in
(15:39):
line to a super season that he had with the
Ontario Rain and he just he's so comfortable here. So
Calgary is actually where his wife is from, and he
said his wife has followed him along his entire career.
Junior to pro. He was a little bit over in Europe,
and then finally he said to her, why don't we
start settling down where you're from and where your family's from.
(16:02):
And there's this just phenomenal comfort level with Martin, and
it's both on and off the ice. He's a leader
to these guys on the road. He's not necessarily the
dad of the group, but he knows that you need
those team dinners, and when you're playing poker or you're
playing cards, he's the guy that's driving all that conversation.
So he's I call him the glue of this team
(16:25):
right now. Clark Bishop, of course, a very very good leader,
and he wears the sea, and Martin does have a
letter on his jersey as well. But for him to
come into a situation where he probably realizes he's not
on the call up pecking order, he knows that he's
an ahller at this point, and he's not whining about
it by any means. He's just embraced the opportunity to
(16:47):
play in a comfortable environment but to be productive. And
it's really cool watching him. He rises at the biggest moments,
so you could see when a couple of weeks ago
it was an empty but he scored scored his four
hundredth Ahl point, and the passion that exuded from him
on an empty net goal, like it was just pure
(17:10):
passion that he had put up that milestone number. And
then on Sunday, in his five hundredth Ahl game, we
had a second annual Winter Wrangler Fest, which is essentially
a reverse Teddy Bear Toss. So when the Wranglers scored
the first goal, we're the Wranglers are the ones throwing
out the gifts to the fans in the stands, and
(17:33):
Martin was the one who scored that goal that activated
blasty clause and got all the gifts throwing into all
of like, and it wasn't just like the one hundred Bowl,
it was the two hundred Bowl too, and they were
dropping parachutes and it was really cool. It was a
very cool site to be seen. But he shows up
in big moments. He scored overtime winners, he scored game
(17:53):
tying goals. So he's just been such a good fit
for this group and I can't even begin to wonder
where the would actually be without him.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Right now, and we're joined by Sandra Persina here on
between the benches at Tucson Roadrunners podcast This weekend, the
Wranglers coming into the Desert for a two game series
on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be Peanuts Night, Sunday
teacher Appreciation Night, and Sandra on that theme, do you
have a favorite theme night? Maybe it's the one you
just mentioned that the Wranglers have, or just one game
(18:24):
where you're a little extra excited ahead of the arena.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Sunday was definitely it. If you heard the goal call,
that was probably probably the most passionate goal call I've
had throughout Wranglers. Maybe playoffs as side sing to the
half wall bumps it for Kiaren's.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
First start, last clause it's time to work your magic.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
So for regular season game, that would be the one.
It's been my favorite so far. But coming up actually
later this year, when Manitoba is in town, Calgary will
help the AHL celebrate its ninetieth anniversary and we're going
to some throwback jerseys which I can't totally spoil, but
it does lean into a previous market that Calgary's AHL
(19:15):
franchise was in and was very, very successful, So we're
I'm a big jersey fan. I love jerseys, just it's
something I'm super passionate about so anytime a new jersey
gets dished out, some new silks, it's really cool. But
this one, I think for people who are die hard
Flames fans over the years and have followed the minor
(19:37):
league team, they're going.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
To really like that.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So I'll just tease that a little bit. But it
does tie into the AHL's big anniversary.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Shifting gears here just a little bit. Any young players
you suspect the Flames have their eyes on, or that
have been really successful for the Wranglers this season, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I'm att vag Griddin. He'll be on the call up
list sooner rather than later. I wonder if it may
comes after the Olympic break, so to keep him in
his routine leading into the Olympic break for the NHL.
As you guys know, we don't have one. We just
have that short All Star break for the American Hockey League,
So let him cook with the AHL and then I
(20:14):
think I could see him definitely getting the call up.
Hunter Brustevitch was on my list previously if you would
have asked me. So it was good to see him
get there based on merit and the work that he's
put in and He's looked really good, I think at
an NHL level, just given the opportunity the Flames are
giving him. So I think from a forward standpoint. Matt
Bakerden and for.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Those listening here, But that didn't catch our previous podcast
a couple of months ago with Sandra. She informed us
that she is a talk radio host up in Calgary
five days a week. I believe on the airwaves. So
I know you're off here for the holidays for the
next couple of weeks, but if you don't mind, did
you have a show last Friday?
Speaker 4 (20:55):
I was actually off on Friday because the Wranglers played,
so I did not have one last Friday.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Thursday was the last one Thursday. So your most recent show,
take us in what you were covering then, and did
Philip Rivers happen to make the airwaves it all up
in Calgary, because it is pretty interesting to see a
forty four year old grandfather taking snaps under center.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Yeah, it's been mentioned in our newsroom actually, and it
was funny. We were all joking amongst ourselves, were like, well,
it's not over yet, right, Our professional dreams are not
over in the world of sports. But yeah, I was
watching the game just last night actually, and they showed
a clip of him looking up at his family in
the box, and that's pretty incredible. Was it Kit ten kit?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, it's a big kit, it's a big plan.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It's but yes, NFL does really well in Calgary, especially
those big storylines, and that's that was definitely one of
them for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Did you have a take on the Kansas City Chiefs
not going back to the playoffs? Pretty crazy when you
think about how dominant they've been and they were eliminated
last week, I mean, not even making it to the
week of the season.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Yeah, I can't say. I can't say I feel awful
about that. I'm one of those people that likes to
see the page turn in sports and see other people
get the opportunity. So this year, I think it's cool
the Seahawks are doing so well and I think the
door is opening for a lot of these other teams.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Right.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
So for Kansas City, he had a really good run.
I think the Travis Kelcey that was that was a
little frustrating where he didn't want to talk post game. Yeah,
I realized he has his own podcast and he wants
to drive listenership to what he does with his brothers,
but or his brother Sorry, but I just do feel
that you owe the media a little bit, even if
(22:41):
it's just two lines. Hey, listen, my buddy just got injured.
It's been a tough season. We'll talk a little bit later.
I just I didn't appreciate him just skirting any sort
of media duties, especially as one of the veterans and
faces of that league. So I can't say that I
feel that bad to see Kansas City out and that's
just the truth.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Well, so they're moving to Kansas now. They're not going
to be in Missouri anymore, David, is it going to
be in a couple of years right now?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Nine thirty one would be their first year in Kansas.
And the other thing you got to keep an eye
on here, Patrick, as a Jets fans, Andrew, you may
not be aware of this. One of the critics that
we get lots of criticisms, but one of the ones
that doesn't relate to our on the field play, and
it goes to the Giants too, is we don't actually
play in New York. The Bills fans like to stick
their chest out and say, oh, we're the only New
York team. You guys play in New Jersey. The Chicago
(23:29):
Bears are actually thinking about playing in Northwest Indiana, which
for selfish reasons, I'm rooting for that to happen, just
so that we're not the only team, especially in a
major market, playing in a neighboring state. So that's another
move to keep an eye on in both of those stadiums.
One more thought there and then we'll go back to hockey.
The Chiefs look like they're going to be playing indoors,
and there's a chance that the Bears would be indoors.
(23:51):
And you're talking about two really cold weather stadiums no
longer existing. Remember Minnesota, a couple of years ago, they
built a new place with a roof, So some of
those cold weather outdoor games could be removed from kind
of the season script, which could change things a little bit.
We're going to change gears a little bit here as well.
Let's go to the NHL very quickly, Sandra. Any team
(24:11):
that looks like you think can take down Colorado, and
if it's not Dallas, maybe one other team you're impressed with,
because obviously Colorado and Dallas they seem like they're on
a different level.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Well, listen, the Central Division is ridiculous. Yeah, you get
the Minnesota trades for Quinn Hughes, They're already stacked. Boldy
looks phenomenal Minnesota to me. It okay, this is a
whole other rent, But the NHL needs to go back
to one to eight seeding and play. Yeah, the play
(24:42):
the wild card is just not working for me these days?
How many times do we need to see Edmonton la.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I My dad's a Kings fan. I can't stress this
point off of being like, I missed the one to
eight format because you miss some of those teams that
you didn't expect that just got it yep. And then
now they're like, you know, I mean the Kings, I
believe are the only eight seed to ever win a
Stanley Cup. I missed that, and I feel like we're losing,
(25:09):
as what you said, we're losing kind of the whole.
It's just the same matches now. I think like maybe
if it was if the Kings at least won one
of those series, I've been like, fine, but it's the
same story over and over and over again.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
So now I have two things to add here, one
of which I'm going to agree with both of you.
I recall several years ago, and this happens almost every year.
You'll find a fan that maybe they're a little bit warped,
but the way they think is, hey, if we finish
third here in the division, we got to go play
a really tough two seeds. Sometimes the opposing division winner
feels more gettable and the fans would rather lose be
(25:44):
the number one wild card, play the lesser of the
two division winners. Then you play your way into that division.
And why would you want to if you're if you're Utah, right,
do you really want to finish third in the Central
and then you have to take on Dallas and Colorado
or you can jump over to the jump over to
the Pacific where things are a lot easier to get through,
and then you only got to beat one of them.
So your fans are in the regular season, they're almost
(26:05):
rooting against the team so that they get a wild
card spot. That is you never want that. You want
fans going into the building rooting for a win. That's
the really simple point.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
The only sympathy or the only soft spot I have
for it is I do think that divisional integrity is important.
I think that's what drives the NFL is you play
two divisional you play every divisional team twice, right, Winning
your division is a really big deal. And in basketball
the NBA, people don't even know what division their team
is in. It's completely irrelevant. They play one through eight,
(26:35):
and there's no such thing as a divisional rivalry in NBA.
They don't talk about that. There's storied rivalries, but there's
no divisional rivalry. So maybe if you do that, you
might lose that element a little bit. But I see
both sides, no question.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I think that the only subside I have to that
point was, and Sandra might remember this when it was
the Northwest Division with Calgary, Vancouver, Minnesota, Edmonton when they
were kind of re I've always thought like that that
like brings me back really good memories of how tied
that division was and the the kind of the I guess,
(27:09):
the gift of making the pass which you go win
your division. But I feel like it's good that they
change it every year. I think I would love to
see kind of a pole by the NHL from the
players who may be played in that aar. I don't
think there's a lot of them anymore, but I would
like to see like what you want to change the
playoff for it, But I think like there's been some
years where the playoff matches have been perfect and there's
(27:29):
some there kind of just it really depends on what
the matchups are and it depends on also like how
the series go.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
So it's really, yeah, this year is going to be
interesting in the East. And the reason I say that
is I look at the Panthers right and they're just
hovering at the wild card mark right now. But they'll
get Matthew could Chuck back and they'll start to get healthier.
I don't think they're going to get Barkoff back this year,
but basically a mood point because if they get into
(27:58):
the playoffs is a low C. I'll still look at
them as the favorite because they're two time defending Stanley
Cup champions. And then I look at the West right
now with the Central and Winnipeg right now hovering at
five hundred, which seemed unfeasible to us given the run
that they had last year with presidents and everything like that.
(28:20):
So I just I want to see the season play
out a little bit more so once we get to
the Olympic break. I just think the pictures won't be
as murky. I looked at the standings last night and
because somebody had said to me over the weekend, and
at that time the Flames were only three points out
of a wild card. I think it's five now as
(28:40):
we're speaking. But at the same time, you need to
jump a bunch of teams to be able to get
into that wildcard spot. So once things start to spread
out a little bit more, and this is a whole
other argument that we shouldn't have three point games. We
could probably go on a tangent about that too, that
everything needs to be decided right. So it's been an
(29:01):
interesting start to the season. The ebbs and flows, particularly
in this market, have been unbelievably low, and then right
now they're a little bit higher than i've seen, just
because Dustin Wolf is getting a little bit more comfortable
because they're giving him some more rest. Devn Cooley's getting
more starts, so the team is starting to even out
(29:25):
a little bit more. But then at the same time, okay,
you have what's happening in Vancouver. What is the team
three and one since trading Quinn Hughes, which I don't
think is a sustainable level right now, even though thatcher
Demko is playing out of his mind. So I just
wait till the end of January, let things breathe, and
then we can start to put who where when it
(29:46):
looks at that wild cards on both h question if.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
You need some clarity there, Sandra, We appreciate the time
so much. We were just joined by the voice of
the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Percina, always appreciative of our conversations,
looking forward to ones in the remainder of the season.
A reminder of the Wranglers coming down to the desert
seven o'clock on Saturday, seven o'clock on Sunday, Calgary and Tucson.
You can listen on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. You can
watch it on HLTV on Flow Sports. Thanks so much
(30:13):
for listening to between the benches.
From Roadrunners Weekly. This is Between the Benches. You're all
access breed. You have the week ahead. We'll look at
the road Runners upcoming opponents, get the inside storing and
here directly from the voices and players that know them best.
With your hosts David Moradi and then Patrick Moore and
this week's special guest, the voice of the Calgary Wranglers,
(00:23):
Sandra Prusina.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Welcome to another edition of Between the Benches, the two
Sound Roadrunners podcast. David Meridian joined by Patrick Moore. We're
gonna hear from Santra Prusina in just a few minutes.
She's the voice of the Calgary Wranglers, a very busy
broadcaster who does a great job for the team up
north in Calgary. They're coming down to Tucson this weekend,
seven o'clock on Saturday, seven o'clock on Sunday. We'll have
pregame coverage for you at six forty five on Fox
(00:47):
Sports fourteen fifty am and on HLTV on Flow Sports. Patrick,
how are you doing back at home for the holidays, relaxing,
keeping up on hockey. I'm sure. How's everything going. It's
going good, David, Hope.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Every hope, all the listeners, and you having a good
holiday so far. I've been keeping tabs a little bit,
been working a hockey camp currently right now. So yeah,
I would say pretty relaxed holiday. I don't know what
about you, David, what you been up to.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, well, I have a hard time relaxing. It's just
I don't know what my issue is. I always am
looking ahead to the next thing or whatever it may be.
But good to be back up here in the freezing cold,
and maybe I'll have a little bit more to relate
with Sandra with at this point. But it's been a
little bit chilly, not certainly, not like southern California where
you are or are faithful listeners in Tucson. But you know,
(01:36):
I'm doing okay. And we'd like to see the Roadrunners
do a little bit better. Losers of their last three especially,
it seems like Patrick Abbotsford really has been a thorn
in their side. Can you tell me from a player perspective,
you go into a matchupbus the better team is the favorite.
Can that be a little bit of a trick psychologically?
Because we've seen the Roadrunners do such a nice job
(01:56):
against the top opponents, the top teams in the Division,
but they play a team like Abbotsford. They're one and
four against the Canucks this year, one and three.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, I have to agree with you. As a player,
there would be teams that we play who were really
poor and really bad, just not very good, and you
just didn't know how the game was gonna go. You
didn't know if you were going to score in the
first five minutes or it would you would be down
one nothing going into the third period. So I think
I don't think it's more of a psychological thing. I
think it's just like bad luck or just bad balances
(02:30):
going their way. I feel like in HL it's a
lot different. You know, you can you can tell when
a team's bad, telling when team's good. I think Abbotsford's
finally picking up their stuff. Like I was watching their
the game on Saturday, and and they've been in one
goal games. Their commentary would say it almost like every
minute in the third period. They would be in one
goal games and they wouldn't have their luck of their way.
(02:51):
So I feel like they're finally finding their stry. And
I think this two soon again is still not having
that luck that they want. And yeah, I just that's
just kind of my assessment of the whole game, I
think it's kind of a psychological thing. I think it's
just more just bad luck.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And the other thing is the second game of that series. Look,
the Roadrunners out shot them twenty six to fifteen, right,
I mean it's not or twenty I think it was
twenty six to seventeen. Doesn't either way. There was a
game to be won there and they were only able
to get one buy in the third period. They lose
that one, two to one. The other game is two
to two going into the third. So, yeah, you're right,
I mean, the very competitive games, and this time it
goes for the Canucks. But again, you expect you're playing
(03:25):
a team that's had trouble closing, Right, There's two sides
to that coin. Yeah, they're competitive, they're playing one score games,
but they're losing them. So there's something structurally in that
team that struggles in close game situations, and the road
Runners weren't able to capitalize on that. Something I've noticed,
and this is a trend for both Calgary and Tucson.
We'll get to this movie. Talk to Sandra. Neither team
(03:45):
is spending a lot of time on the power play,
and we know that when you have the other team uncomfortable,
you're applying the pressure, you're going to generate powerplay opportunities. Now,
the issue for Calgary is they've been shorthanded so much
they lead the division in penalty minutes that, hey, how
are you going to get the other team uncomfortable when
you're the team in the box?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Right?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Very hard to be on the power play when you're
constantly killing it, and that's a slippery slope there. That's
certainly a domino thing. But the Roadrunners, believe it or not,
haven't been penalized that much of the season. Certainly nothing
relative to last year. But they just haven't had that
many looks on the power play. They're about twenty percent
when they get the chances. That's not the issue. There
just haven't been that many looks. So there could be
(04:23):
few and far between on the power play looks in
this matchup because both teams really struggle to draw the penalty.
So tells Patrick, what can a Roadrunner team do to
just get more five on four looks to get games
going by having some power plays. They're not drawing enough penalties.
How can they improve that?
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Well?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I think it's just you know, I mean, I've kind
of read into a little bit of Calgoriy and what
they've been doing, and they've been spending a lot of
their time in the box due to just you know,
offensive and sick in fractions and just a lot of
kind of issues with you know, misconnects and all that.
So they can get under the Calgari's skin because there's
a lot of guys for Calgary that are willing to
drop the gloves. So I feel like if they're able
(05:00):
to kind of get under skin, I feel like they
kind of work getting under Abbotsford skin just a little bit,
but not enough. I feel like Abbascerd was a bit
more disciplined. I feel like Kyrie isn't as much disciplined,
and that's just a certain side they play. So I
feel like if they're able to kind of, you know,
get in their head a little bit and outwork them,
the Calgary will definitely take a lot of penalties. I mean,
we saw Baker Shield. They took a lot of penalties
(05:22):
right before the crip bard before the holiday break. So
Tucson is going to be able to get some looks.
It's just when are they going to pick their chances.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
So that's about that. Let's take a look at the
standings really quick. The Tucson Roadrunners twenty six games played
this season, four behind Calgary who have played thirty games.
The Wranglers currently sit in fourth place fourteen ten to
five and one for thirty four points. They are tied
with the Rain, but the Rain have played three less
games sixteen to nine to one and one. The Roadrunners
(05:51):
ninth place all by themselves, three points ahead of Abbotsford.
With twenty six games playing, the road Runners are ten
twelve and four, still looking for not only their first
shootout loss, but I think their first game to go
to a shootout. So that empty final category there. But
the Roadrunners can make some headway with a strong series
here against the Wranglers. They've got games in hand or
tied with pretty much every team in their division, so
(06:13):
they don't have to fight that kind of battle. Just
rack up a couple of wins and climb up the standings.
It is very congested from three to nine, within ten
points there from Ontario down to the Roadrunner, so there
is progress to be made any players. Patrick, as we
approached the halfway mark, let's put it this way. If
you had to award a mid season MVP. Who do
you have in mind?
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Well, if Daniel Bitt was on the road inunners still,
if he was a strong contender, no question, I got
to give it a Ben McCartney got a power play
goal on Saturday past Lane Peterson for I believe it
was a fourth in all Garrace franchise history. And also
he hit the twenty five point mark for the third
(06:54):
time in his career, and he's really close and each
time he's done that, he's hit at least thirty thirty
five points right in those seasons. So I think I
would give it to him, is my pick. On what
about you, Well, I think.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
If it's not McCartney, he big is going to be
a strong candidate. One of the newcomers that's really been
impressive though on the blue line is Simashev. Dimitri Simis.
Simashev really seems to be coming into his own. He
had a huge goal there in that wild win against Bakersfield,
and then he also had a lot of production against Abbotsford.
It seems like under Steve Podvin he's really found his
stride since the Mammoths sent him down to the road Runner.
(07:29):
So sim Mimaschev, not the winner of the MVP, but
maybe the Newcomer Award. I think he would be a candidate,
just someone to keep an eye on there on the
blue line. He's really added to their defense and I
look forward to seeing him continue to gel with that unit.
And we look forward to speaking with the voice of
the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Persina. She'll join us next right
here on Between the Benches a twoson Roadrunners podcast.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
It's time to go Between the Benches on road Runners Weekly.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Welcome back to Between the Benches, now joined by the
Voice of the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Prisina, her second time
on the show, and we thank her for her availability. Center.
Let's jump right in. I was taking a look at
the current goings of the Calgary Wranglers and maybe we've
got it easy down here in the desert. But you've
been pretty busy. A lot of games played, not just
in December but all season long, thirty games so far,
(08:16):
Tuson's only played twenty six. So how have you been
keeping up with it and how has it been such
a busy start to the season.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yeah, it's been very hectic, and I think about that
ten game road trip that the team was on, which
was an absolute gauntlet. It hadn't been done in Wrangler's history,
but the team came through relatively unscathed. And then back
home and the cozy confines of the Scotia Bank Saddle Doome,
and it has been just NonStop, and even though we're
having this Christmas break right now, still till the end
(08:44):
of the year and just bleeding into January more than
what are we at just under half a dozen games
home games left and then plus the two that are
played in Tucson. So this is a very, very busy
team these days.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And we're about to approach the halfway point in the season,
just a couple of more series to hit that mark.
How would you assess the satisfaction of the team kind
of hovering in the middle of the standings. What is
your read on how team officials, coaches, and players feel
about the start of the year for Calgary.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
I think if you were to ask head coach Frett Sutter,
he'd be pretty happy with the way that things have
been going, especially with the predicament and net and you
lose I've in Prasvitov and if you even just go
back to the start of the season, not really knowing
who your starting goalie was going to be because you
were counting on whatever was going to happen in Flames
training camp. So Devin Cooley ends up winning the backup
(09:37):
job to Dustin Wolf, and that means I've been Prosvetov
is your starter with the Wranglers, and unfortunately he got
hurt a couple of weeks in abbots a couple of
weeks ago in Abbotsford, so he's on the shelf probably
until January, mid January, late January the earliest. So essentially
you're handing your goaltending reigns to a couple of rookie
(09:59):
netminders and the fact that they've been able to keep
their head above water. Owen Say picking up his first
shutout Arsinny, Sergeyev grabbing his first AHL victory in his
first start. He made over fifty saves over the weekend.
It was ridiculous. But both of these young men looking
so poised, and they had this pedigree from strong NCAA careers,
(10:21):
so that I think was the biggest question mark going
into this season. It was never going to be about
leadership or work ethic or anything like that. And then
the other big domino. It was lined with the Flames,
and obviously it was well documented how they struggled out
of the gate. October and November were not kind to
the Calgary Flames. They needed a bit of a shakeup.
(10:43):
So the Wranglers you lose Jonkznetsov, who has been just
an absolute soldier, workhorse, minute muncher since he came to
the organization, So that was a huge hole to fill
on the Wranglers blue line. And then most recently, Hunter
Brustavitch gets called up. He's been off from the Wranglers.
(11:04):
I think we're going into three weeks now, so you've
got a fairly new blue line, and it's been really
cool to see how Nick Chichek has been able not
only to take on a leadership role, but really step
into top four minutes at Tienne Morin, who's also a
rookie just coming off his junior season over in the
queue and he looks really good after a quick stint
(11:26):
with Rapid City in the EHL. So I think those
have been the two big question marks. But at the
end of the day, Calgary is always known to play
a really good two hundred foot game and that's bled
into this season, which is where you see where they
sit in the standing.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
So far, and going back to the goaltenders just for
a second, it's almost better when you have somebody that's new,
but they've been playing goalie probably their whole life, at
least for quite a few years. At a high level.
You'll let them face fifty shots, you throw them right
into the deep end and they kind of say, okay,
I can handle this, and that seems to be the
way it's gone, and Calgary is starting to find their footing,
much like the pro team the Flames you mentioned, at
(12:04):
a really tough start, but slowly but surely the ship
is turning around and they're working their way up the standings.
They're kind of almost in that middle cluster which we
also see in the Pacific Division. Here in the AH,
all the Flames are on the outside, but now they're
looking in. Let's pivot a little bit. One thing I
noticed four hundred and fifty five penalty minutes this year
for the Wranglers. That's first in the Pacific Division. What
(12:27):
do you think the causes of that? Is this an
over eager team or maybe just a little bit out
of position, A.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Little bit of both. I'd probably say people trying to
make up for maybe not having the assert physicality that
they've had over the past few years. With Alex Gallant,
he's really they call him the sheriff for a reason, right,
and he's he does not take lightly to people picking
on the rookies. And of all the seasons the Wranglers
(12:55):
have been here, this is the most we've seen in
terms of rookie numbers on this roster, and he just
does not like anybody taking liberties with some of these
guys Matt Veay, Grid and Idar Soune. The list goes on,
and he's dropped the gloves many many times this season,
and he wants to hold other teams accountable, so some
(13:18):
of it coming from that. So some of them obviously
are the fighting majors. And then there have been some misconducts.
And then there was a brew ha haa earlier this
season with Abbotsford that was a big one. And then
I remember there was another bench clearing brawl with Coachella Valley,
and I mean bench clearing. There was a fight, and
(13:40):
then Alex Glantz and Caden Hamill went to their respective
penalty box. Everybody's giving them stick taps and then five
fives whatever it was, and then as they were trying
to get back to the benches, words starting being exchanged
more pushing and shoving, so line brawls, bench clears. So
a lot of the penalty numbers inflate a little bit
(14:01):
because of that. But at the same time, I think
there are some opportunities to cut down on offensive zone,
stick in fractions, penalty calls, those little details when you're
being maybe a little bit too aggressive on the for check,
trying to overcompensate for things a little bit. But it
is the details, and a lot of these guys want
(14:22):
to be seen upon as leaders, right and being the one, Okay,
I'm going to make that hit. I'm going to make
that check, and sometimes it might be a little bit
too much, and unfortunately with the pims, that leads to
some issues with your special teams. And if you look
at the special teams right now for the Wranglers, they
aren't great. So if I were to nitpick about the
season as a whole, I'd probably say that is the
(14:44):
one facet of the Wranglers game that needs to improve.
As we get to the halfway point of the season
and things really start to ramp up and you start
to make those drives for playoff positioning.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
No, Sandra, I want to ask you about Martin fer
He just played his five hundredth game. He scored in
his five hundredth game, and his daughter was there when
they announced the lineups. What can you kind of tell
me about Martin Firk and what he's been He's brought
to the team and he's leading Scory his twenty seven
points in thirty games. So maybe if you elaborate a
little bit on Martin Firk and his production so far
this season.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Sure had a really good sit down chat with him
probably a week ago leading into his five hundredth AHL game,
and he's just at a point in his career there's
a lot of gratitude and I realized that's kind of kumbaya.
But he's thirty two years old. He's on pace for
his second best American Hockey League career, so that's in
(15:39):
line to a super season that he had with the
Ontario Rain and he just he's so comfortable here. So
Calgary is actually where his wife is from, and he
said his wife has followed him along his entire career.
Junior to pro. He was a little bit over in Europe,
and then finally he said to her, why don't we
start settling down where you're from and where your family's from.
(16:02):
And there's this just phenomenal comfort level with Martin, and
it's both on and off the ice. He's a leader
to these guys on the road. He's not necessarily the
dad of the group, but he knows that you need
those team dinners, and when you're playing poker or you're
playing cards, he's the guy that's driving all that conversation.
So he's I call him the glue of this team
(16:25):
right now. Clark Bishop, of course, a very very good leader,
and he wears the sea, and Martin does have a
letter on his jersey as well. But for him to
come into a situation where he probably realizes he's not
on the call up pecking order, he knows that he's
an ahller at this point, and he's not whining about
it by any means. He's just embraced the opportunity to
(16:47):
play in a comfortable environment but to be productive. And
it's really cool watching him. He rises at the biggest moments,
so you could see when a couple of weeks ago
it was an empty but he scored scored his four
hundredth Ahl point, and the passion that exuded from him
on an empty net goal, like it was just pure
(17:10):
passion that he had put up that milestone number. And
then on Sunday, in his five hundredth Ahl game, we
had a second annual Winter Wrangler Fest, which is essentially
a reverse Teddy Bear Toss. So when the Wranglers scored
the first goal, we're the Wranglers are the ones throwing
out the gifts to the fans in the stands, and
(17:33):
Martin was the one who scored that goal that activated
blasty clause and got all the gifts throwing into all
of like, and it wasn't just like the one hundred Bowl,
it was the two hundred Bowl too, and they were
dropping parachutes and it was really cool. It was a
very cool site to be seen. But he shows up
in big moments. He scored overtime winners, he scored game
(17:53):
tying goals. So he's just been such a good fit
for this group and I can't even begin to wonder
where the would actually be without him.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Right now, and we're joined by Sandra Persina here on
between the benches at Tucson Roadrunners podcast This weekend, the
Wranglers coming into the Desert for a two game series
on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be Peanuts Night, Sunday
teacher Appreciation Night, and Sandra on that theme, do you
have a favorite theme night? Maybe it's the one you
just mentioned that the Wranglers have, or just one game
(18:24):
where you're a little extra excited ahead of the arena.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
Sunday was definitely it. If you heard the goal call,
that was probably probably the most passionate goal call I've
had throughout Wranglers. Maybe playoffs as side sing to the
half wall bumps it for Kiaren's.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
First start, last clause it's time to work your magic.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
So for regular season game, that would be the one.
It's been my favorite so far. But coming up actually
later this year, when Manitoba is in town, Calgary will
help the AHL celebrate its ninetieth anniversary and we're going
to some throwback jerseys which I can't totally spoil, but
it does lean into a previous market that Calgary's AHL
(19:15):
franchise was in and was very, very successful, So we're
I'm a big jersey fan. I love jerseys, just it's
something I'm super passionate about so anytime a new jersey
gets dished out, some new silks, it's really cool. But
this one, I think for people who are die hard
Flames fans over the years and have followed the minor
(19:37):
league team, they're going.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
To really like that.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So I'll just tease that a little bit. But it
does tie into the AHL's big anniversary.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Shifting gears here just a little bit. Any young players
you suspect the Flames have their eyes on, or that
have been really successful for the Wranglers this season, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
I'm att vag Griddin. He'll be on the call up
list sooner rather than later. I wonder if it may
comes after the Olympic break, so to keep him in
his routine leading into the Olympic break for the NHL.
As you guys know, we don't have one. We just
have that short All Star break for the American Hockey League,
So let him cook with the AHL and then I
(20:14):
think I could see him definitely getting the call up.
Hunter Brustevitch was on my list previously if you would
have asked me. So it was good to see him
get there based on merit and the work that he's
put in and He's looked really good, I think at
an NHL level, just given the opportunity the Flames are
giving him. So I think from a forward standpoint. Matt
Bakerden and for.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Those listening here, But that didn't catch our previous podcast
a couple of months ago with Sandra. She informed us
that she is a talk radio host up in Calgary
five days a week. I believe on the airwaves. So
I know you're off here for the holidays for the
next couple of weeks, but if you don't mind, did
you have a show last Friday?
Speaker 4 (20:55):
I was actually off on Friday because the Wranglers played,
so I did not have one last Friday.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Thursday was the last one Thursday. So your most recent show,
take us in what you were covering then, and did
Philip Rivers happen to make the airwaves it all up
in Calgary, because it is pretty interesting to see a
forty four year old grandfather taking snaps under center.
Speaker 4 (21:15):
Yeah, it's been mentioned in our newsroom actually, and it
was funny. We were all joking amongst ourselves, were like, well,
it's not over yet, right, Our professional dreams are not
over in the world of sports. But yeah, I was
watching the game just last night actually, and they showed
a clip of him looking up at his family in
the box, and that's pretty incredible. Was it Kit ten kit?
Speaker 2 (21:38):
Yeah, it's a big kit, it's a big plan.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
It's but yes, NFL does really well in Calgary, especially
those big storylines, and that's that was definitely one of
them for sure.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
Did you have a take on the Kansas City Chiefs
not going back to the playoffs? Pretty crazy when you
think about how dominant they've been and they were eliminated
last week, I mean, not even making it to the
week of the season.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Yeah, I can't say. I can't say I feel awful
about that. I'm one of those people that likes to
see the page turn in sports and see other people
get the opportunity. So this year, I think it's cool
the Seahawks are doing so well and I think the
door is opening for a lot of these other teams.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Right.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
So for Kansas City, he had a really good run.
I think the Travis Kelcey that was that was a
little frustrating where he didn't want to talk post game. Yeah,
I realized he has his own podcast and he wants
to drive listenership to what he does with his brothers,
but or his brother Sorry, but I just do feel
that you owe the media a little bit, even if
(22:41):
it's just two lines. Hey, listen, my buddy just got injured.
It's been a tough season. We'll talk a little bit later.
I just I didn't appreciate him just skirting any sort
of media duties, especially as one of the veterans and
faces of that league. So I can't say that I
feel that bad to see Kansas City out and that's
just the truth.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
Well, so they're moving to Kansas now. They're not going
to be in Missouri anymore, David, is it going to
be in a couple of years right now?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Nine thirty one would be their first year in Kansas.
And the other thing you got to keep an eye
on here, Patrick, as a Jets fans, Andrew, you may
not be aware of this. One of the critics that
we get lots of criticisms, but one of the ones
that doesn't relate to our on the field play, and
it goes to the Giants too, is we don't actually
play in New York. The Bills fans like to stick
their chest out and say, oh, we're the only New
York team. You guys play in New Jersey. The Chicago
(23:29):
Bears are actually thinking about playing in Northwest Indiana, which
for selfish reasons, I'm rooting for that to happen, just
so that we're not the only team, especially in a
major market, playing in a neighboring state. So that's another
move to keep an eye on in both of those stadiums.
One more thought there and then we'll go back to hockey.
The Chiefs look like they're going to be playing indoors,
and there's a chance that the Bears would be indoors.
(23:51):
And you're talking about two really cold weather stadiums no
longer existing. Remember Minnesota, a couple of years ago, they
built a new place with a roof, So some of
those cold weather outdoor games could be removed from kind
of the season script, which could change things a little bit.
We're going to change gears a little bit here as well.
Let's go to the NHL very quickly, Sandra. Any team
(24:11):
that looks like you think can take down Colorado, and
if it's not Dallas, maybe one other team you're impressed with,
because obviously Colorado and Dallas they seem like they're on
a different level.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Well, listen, the Central Division is ridiculous. Yeah, you get
the Minnesota trades for Quinn Hughes, They're already stacked. Boldy
looks phenomenal Minnesota to me. It okay, this is a
whole other rent, But the NHL needs to go back
to one to eight seeding and play. Yeah, the play
(24:42):
the wild card is just not working for me these days?
How many times do we need to see Edmonton la.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I My dad's a Kings fan. I can't stress this
point off of being like, I missed the one to
eight format because you miss some of those teams that
you didn't expect that just got it yep. And then
now they're like, you know, I mean the Kings, I
believe are the only eight seed to ever win a
Stanley Cup. I missed that, and I feel like we're losing,
(25:09):
as what you said, we're losing kind of the whole.
It's just the same matches now. I think like maybe
if it was if the Kings at least won one
of those series, I've been like, fine, but it's the
same story over and over and over again.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
So now I have two things to add here, one
of which I'm going to agree with both of you.
I recall several years ago, and this happens almost every year.
You'll find a fan that maybe they're a little bit warped,
but the way they think is, hey, if we finish
third here in the division, we got to go play
a really tough two seeds. Sometimes the opposing division winner
feels more gettable and the fans would rather lose be
(25:44):
the number one wild card, play the lesser of the
two division winners. Then you play your way into that division.
And why would you want to if you're if you're Utah, right,
do you really want to finish third in the Central
and then you have to take on Dallas and Colorado
or you can jump over to the jump over to
the Pacific where things are a lot easier to get through,
and then you only got to beat one of them.
So your fans are in the regular season, they're almost
(26:05):
rooting against the team so that they get a wild
card spot. That is you never want that. You want
fans going into the building rooting for a win. That's
the really simple point.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Now.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
The only sympathy or the only soft spot I have
for it is I do think that divisional integrity is important.
I think that's what drives the NFL is you play
two divisional you play every divisional team twice, right, Winning
your division is a really big deal. And in basketball
the NBA, people don't even know what division their team
is in. It's completely irrelevant. They play one through eight,
(26:35):
and there's no such thing as a divisional rivalry in NBA.
They don't talk about that. There's storied rivalries, but there's
no divisional rivalry. So maybe if you do that, you
might lose that element a little bit. But I see
both sides, no question.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
I think that the only subside I have to that
point was, and Sandra might remember this when it was
the Northwest Division with Calgary, Vancouver, Minnesota, Edmonton when they
were kind of re I've always thought like that that
like brings me back really good memories of how tied
that division was and the the kind of the I guess,
(27:09):
the gift of making the pass which you go win
your division. But I feel like it's good that they
change it every year. I think I would love to
see kind of a pole by the NHL from the
players who may be played in that aar. I don't
think there's a lot of them anymore, but I would
like to see like what you want to change the
playoff for it, But I think like there's been some
years where the playoff matches have been perfect and there's
(27:29):
some there kind of just it really depends on what
the matchups are and it depends on also like how
the series go.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
So it's really, yeah, this year is going to be
interesting in the East. And the reason I say that
is I look at the Panthers right and they're just
hovering at the wild card mark right now. But they'll
get Matthew could Chuck back and they'll start to get healthier.
I don't think they're going to get Barkoff back this year,
but basically a mood point because if they get into
(27:58):
the playoffs is a low C. I'll still look at
them as the favorite because they're two time defending Stanley
Cup champions. And then I look at the West right
now with the Central and Winnipeg right now hovering at
five hundred, which seemed unfeasible to us given the run
that they had last year with presidents and everything like that.
(28:20):
So I just I want to see the season play
out a little bit more so once we get to
the Olympic break. I just think the pictures won't be
as murky. I looked at the standings last night and
because somebody had said to me over the weekend, and
at that time the Flames were only three points out
of a wild card. I think it's five now as
(28:40):
we're speaking. But at the same time, you need to
jump a bunch of teams to be able to get
into that wildcard spot. So once things start to spread
out a little bit more, and this is a whole
other argument that we shouldn't have three point games. We
could probably go on a tangent about that too, that
everything needs to be decided right. So it's been an
(29:01):
interesting start to the season. The ebbs and flows, particularly
in this market, have been unbelievably low, and then right
now they're a little bit higher than i've seen, just
because Dustin Wolf is getting a little bit more comfortable
because they're giving him some more rest. Devn Cooley's getting
more starts, so the team is starting to even out
(29:25):
a little bit more. But then at the same time, okay,
you have what's happening in Vancouver. What is the team
three and one since trading Quinn Hughes, which I don't
think is a sustainable level right now, even though thatcher
Demko is playing out of his mind. So I just
wait till the end of January, let things breathe, and
then we can start to put who where when it
(29:46):
looks at that wild cards on both h question if.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
You need some clarity there, Sandra, We appreciate the time
so much. We were just joined by the voice of
the Calgary Wrangler, Sandra Percina, always appreciative of our conversations,
looking forward to ones in the remainder of the season.
A reminder of the Wranglers coming down to the desert
seven o'clock on Saturday, seven o'clock on Sunday, Calgary and Tucson.
You can listen on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. You can
watch it on HLTV on Flow Sports. Thanks so much
(30:13):
for listening to between the benches.
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
The Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.