In this episode, Brandon Caputo previews the Championship Series in the 2025 Ontario Hockey League Playoffs between the top seeded Western Conference champion London Knights and fourth seeded Eastern Conference Champion Oshawa Generals in a 2023-24 J. Ross Robertson Cup rematch.
To help with the analysis, Brandon welcomes aboard a pair of special guests to preview a revenge matchup in the OHL Championship between two storied CHL franchises'.
First, Associate General Manager of the London Knights Rob Simpson speaks on their third straight Wayne Gretzky Trophy, the high expectations as an undefeated team so far in the 2025 OHL Playoffs, development and core players getting one more crack at a Memorial Cup and back-to-back OHL Championships, key acquisitions and more!
Second, Vice President and General Manager of the Oshawa Generals Roger Hunt joins us to chat about the Generals tough road to get here after a turbulent first half coaching change, key acquisitions, buy-in in the playoffs as the lower seed in two of their three series, capturing a Bobby Orr Trophy for a second-straight season and looking for different results this time around after a sweep by London in the 2023-24 OHL Final.
Segments
Intro: 0:00
Part 1 - London Knights Associate GM Rob Simpson: 01:05
Part 2 - Oshawa Generals Vice President and GM Roger Hunt: 18:02
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To help with the analysis, Brandon welcomes aboard a pair of special guests to preview a revenge matchup in the OHL Championship between two storied CHL franchises'.
First, Associate General Manager of the London Knights Rob Simpson speaks on their third straight Wayne Gretzky Trophy, the high expectations as an undefeated team so far in the 2025 OHL Playoffs, development and core players getting one more crack at a Memorial Cup and back-to-back OHL Championships, key acquisitions and more!
Second, Vice President and General Manager of the Oshawa Generals Roger Hunt joins us to chat about the Generals tough road to get here after a turbulent first half coaching change, key acquisitions, buy-in in the playoffs as the lower seed in two of their three series, capturing a Bobby Orr Trophy for a second-straight season and looking for different results this time around after a sweep by London in the 2023-24 OHL Final.
Segments
Intro: 0:00
Part 1 - London Knights Associate GM Rob Simpson: 01:05
Part 2 - Oshawa Generals Vice President and GM Roger Hunt: 18:02
Armchair Merchandise Site: https://the-armchair-gms-sports-ne-shop.fourthwall.com/en-cad/ Use our code to save $15 off your first order: https://hockeystickmancanada.myshopify.com/?sref_id=wxgk4kp&utm_campaign=referral_program&utm_source=loyalty
== FOLLOW THE NETWORK ==
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
This is Jim Joker's voice of the Cakes to Fron. Next,
you're listening to OHL Overtime, an in depth interview show
highlighting the players, coaches and broadcasters from around the Ontario
Hockey League to make the league so great, as well
as in person coverage of events such as the OHL Playoffs,
OHL Championship Series, HL Combine and more, exclusively on the
(00:48):
Armchair GM Sports Network. Here's your program host, Brandon Computer.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Welcome back to our OHL Overtime OSHL Championship preview episode
here on the armchare GM Sports Network. I'm pleased to
be joined now by associate general manager for the London Nights.
That would be Rob Simpson. Rob, thanks so much for
joining us today. Congratulations on being able to get to
this point. And when I talked to you last season
after the championship victory for the Night's last season against Oshawa,
(01:27):
you talked about, you know, this group being so special
and now getting to your third straight to OSHL Championship.
I'm sure you and the staff are couldn't be much
happier with how things have gone so far.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, it's been a great season.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
So far for our team and pretty special for some
of these players like Sam Dickinson and Easton Cowen, benver Barkie,
Oliver Bonk, and I think Land and sim are the
guys that have been for all three runs all the
way along, which is pretty spectacular. It's tough to make
it to three five finals in a row and sometimes
(02:03):
you know, you get tired along the way or it
takes a lot of push for these guys that have
been in all three, So it's I think it shows
the character of those guys in our team overall that
we're able to to get back and have another chance
to win.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And you talked about the development and that that core
that you guys have built. It's sort of the you know,
the last dance for for a lot of those guys
that you mentioned that have grown up through the London
night system. Thirteen NHL Draft picks now on the team
and could be a few more with Medvedev and Bruce
Davic in the upcoming NHL draft, So you know, pretty
unheard of in the league. And I think you know,
(02:37):
there's this this expectation and stigma run the league that
London just always is going to compete but I don't
think it's that it's as easy as everybody thinks it
is that the London Knights are going to be, you know,
competing every single year. For you and the staff, what
has been sort of I guess the secret sauce as
far as being able to get to this point and
(02:57):
being competitive year in and year out, not really having
many years through a cycle in junior hockey where you
guys don't are competitive.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I think probably one of the biggest things that helps
us as our stability in our you know, in our
our core kind of management and coaching group. You know,
we've been together between our coaches and Mark and I
you know, for fourteen fifteen plus years now if you
take everybody Dylan and Rick and Dale and myself and Mark,
(03:27):
so you know, we've won Memorial Cups together, we won
championships together, and I think we're at that point where,
you know, we understand what each of us does really well,
but we don't do really well, and you know where
we slot in to help the whole process work. You know,
I would say that would be the you know, one
of the factors of the consistency. But I mean after that,
(03:49):
it really comes down to the players. You know, we've
been lucky enough to draft quality players with quality character
that want to win and want to perform every night
over those years. And you know, we can, we can
be together as long as we want. But if those
guys don't want to work with us, and they don't
want to compete, and they don't want to come to
practice every day to prepare and and you know, listen
(04:11):
and try to get better, then you know it's it's
it's not going to go very far. So we've been
lucky and fortunate with the players that come here to
you know, they buy into the system and you know
development that we want for them.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Twelve and oh so far in the playoffs, you know
that's unheard of. And and again you don't expect to
go into a playoffs and go all the way not
losing a game. But uh, you know, what is it about,
especially playing in front of the home home crowd there
at now Canada Life place in front of nine thousand
can be intimidating for other teams coming in there as well.
What can you say about you know, Knights Kingdom as
(04:44):
a whole and the support you guys get year in
and year out. That makes us all possible as well.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Yeah, I know it's cliche, but it's it really is
like our advantager, you know, our seventh attacker on the ice,
you know, or six a ack or I should say it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It really you know.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Pushes our player every single night to excel because you know,
the fans want to see quality hockey. They want they
expect us to win. And I think, you know, for
our players, it's easy to come in and be pumped
up or excited to play when you have nine thousand
fans and when you're when you're doing well like we
(05:24):
have in the playoffs this year and last year, there's
a buzz around the city. You know, the everybody's saying,
you know, good luck or congrats, and everybody knows.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
What's going on. So that kind of that kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know, focus on on the players. If if you're
a top end player, you want to you want to
entertain and you want to be in front of people
and you want to show how good you are. And
I think that helps when you have nine thousand fans
here and yon in the city rally behind you. So
we're we're really lucky and we're fortunate with the city
of London and how much they they support us, and
I know the players and staff and everybody here really
(05:58):
feel that.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And then going a little bit on, you talked about
the great core that you've built, but you did make
a few acquisitions and signees throughout the season that have really,
you know, helped shape your team into what it is
today with yourself and general manager Mark Hunter. Firstly, I
don't think you could expect anything more from Austin Elliott.
You pick him up from Barry for a fifth round
(06:20):
pick after he was claimed off of waivers from the
kam Loops Blazers in the Western Hockey League. He still
only has one loss on the season, Rob, you know,
pretty pretty incredible to think about. And you guys have
have done that last few years with Michael Simpson last
year picking him up as an overage goaltender, and now
with Austin Elliott with Medvedev behind him as well, who's
going to be a very solid goalie as well. But
(06:41):
what can you tell us about what you guys have
thought of Austin Elliott to coming to London.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Yeah, we've been, you know, extremely thrilled with his performance
and I would say his demeanor overall, he seems to
have a calming influence in the net and our players
to feel that he doesn't get too rattled. You know,
he doesn't get too high or low weather, gives up
a goal or or makes twenty saves in a row.
He just is consistent there. And you know, if you've
been a part of a team, you understand how important
(07:08):
that is.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It can just calm your team down.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
You know, if things start getting rattled, but your goalie
doesn't seem like, you know, it's chaos or out of control,
it really does does help a lot. And you know,
I think, you know Austin. The one thing we thought
was bringing in Austin is last year things didn't go
the way they want.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
You know, he wanted them to there.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yea, I was on a very good team and then
a younger goalie ended up taking his position when he
struggled a bit. And you know, we dug a lot
into his character as a person and felt that if
he came in he was going to seize the opportunity
because he'd been through some ups and downs in the
past and he was going to learn for a moment.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I think that's what he's done.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And I think from day one being here that was
his mindset, like, you know, Lexi's here, but I'm going
to make sure I keep my net. And you know,
he's been in this situation, He's played in front of
twelve thousand fans, So it was kind of the perfect
fit as far as what we were looking for, and
I think, you know, a situation that he could come
in and thrive in London.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Night's associate general manager, Rob Simpson's with us. A few
other acquisitions you made. You obviously gave up a fair
amount of draft capital for Cam Allen coming over from
the Guelf storm at the trade deadline. As well, you
also were able to get a couple of NC double
A commits with the ever changing landscape of junior hockey
where players are now able to keep their their NC
double A eligibility Blake Montgomery and Donnie Femus to name
(08:28):
a few. You know, how how key have those acquisitions
been as well for the overall depth of your club
and especially now with a guys like Denver Barkie out
of the lineup and with Jared Woolly missing a game
for suspension during the playoffs, Like how big were those additions?
Speaker 5 (08:43):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:44):
To make sure that you guys have the depth to
go all the way.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah, they've been great for us, those players, because in
the playoffs, you're gonna get injuries, you're gonna have games
that certain players aren't going to play as well, or
they're going to have off nights. So it just seems
like with our team so far to date, you know,
at points throughout the playoffs, you could point to, you know,
Blake being one of our best players on the ice game,
(09:07):
or you can point to Denver being the best player,
or you know, Femis Surral and cut stepping in.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You mentioned like Jared Willy being out for.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Suspension, and I, you know, I thought that that Cam
came in and played a higher in the lineup and
like consistent move pucks, played defense and gave us what
we needed there. So you know, adding those guys, you know,
won by trade and a couple by free agency, was
huge for our team because you go in these long
runs and you get into what we're going to face
(09:35):
here against Oshawa as well in the finals.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's your depth of your team is so important.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Because you know a lot of times your top lines
kind of might saw off because they're both lead, and
then it's it's your depth of your lineup that can
make the difference between winning a game or losing a game,
you know, and and these guys have come in and
showed that they can be difference makers as well.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about draft
eligible defenseman Henry Burstavi, which a guy that you know
was wide eyed last season, got a lot of on
the job experience going to the OHL Championship last year
as a as a rookie defenseman. And you've seen the
development of guys like Bonk and Dickinson ahead of him.
What have you seen from from Henry Bruce Davis And
why do you think that he's gonna be so coveted
(10:17):
in the upcoming NHL draft in June.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
He can play in any situation, to be honest with you,
is pretty phenomenal for a young seventeen year old defenseman.
He can play in our top four. He can you know,
he can move down the lineup. He can play on
the left side, he can play on the right side.
He can bring offense, He defends well. I mean last
series he really highlighted his defensive game. I mean, he
(10:42):
broke up so many two on ones or you know,
if if we made some mistakes with the pawk he
was he defensively shut down, you know, a lot of
plays last series. You see last year, you know, he
moved up the right wing and scored an ot winner,
So you know, the offense is there. So I think
his versustility in his game, he's got great in his game.
(11:04):
I think he's you know, been underneath with Bonk and
dikets In and seeing at how they conduct themselves every day.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
So that's a positive.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
And you know, when you have leadership on the back
end like that, it's only going to help a young
defenseman understand, you know, how to play in the league
and how to how to develop in the league for
you know, hopefully a future in the NHL.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
So I just think that, you know, we couldn't ask.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
For more from Henry because he's he's been great and
just a quality person as far as whatever you ask
of him from a staff or coaching staff, he does
and he's going to perform well in and that's something
that is pretty coveted nowadays.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And then lastly, got to ask you about this upcoming
series because Oshawa comes in and they've won eight in
a row, You've won twelve in a row. In the playoffs. Uh,
they've taken down two higher seeds in Barry and the
Branford Bulldogs, and then a tough first round matchup against
Brampton as well. You guys come in playing you know,
a really tough Kitchen Rangers team Erie Odders. I remember
(12:01):
being there beside you for those games. They're pretty rowdy
there at the that the Eerie Insurance Arena, and your
first round match up against a young Owen Sound Attack team.
So what are you guys expecting to see from the
Oshawa General's team. You obviously beat them in the finals
last year in a pretty quick series, so I'm sure
you're not taking anything for granted this time around and
going into every game like like you have to give
(12:23):
your best effort.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yeah, they're they're a very tough team.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I mean last year they were a younger team that
you might almost say they kind of did what we
did three years ago and we kind of made it
to the finals without anybody expecting us to. And this
year they're much different. They're a well built team. They have,
you know, NHL first rounders like we do. They acquired
some elite players in the league. Their back end is
(12:49):
strong and their goaltending is a attorney that's an oak
for ager as well, So you know it's going to
be a very difficult series. I think you have, you know,
two very good teams that are going to go head
to head and it's you know, we'll have to be
prepared because that was over a year ago that we
beat the Four Straights.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And they're a much different team.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And as you know, as you get older in the
league and get experienced, it makes a big difference. So
you know, I know a lot of people are talking
about our team, but we're preparing. We know this is
going to be the toughest series of all and we
respect them as a very very good team over on
that side.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And then last question for you here about the captain,
Denver Bark. He had twenty points in the nine playoff game.
Just talk about Denver's presence off the ice because obviously
him going down with that unfortunate injury in the in
the Kitchener series. How how have you seen him develop
and grow as a leader and how do you see
him being a presence at least at the start of
the series in an off ice capacity as he tries
(13:47):
to you know, motivate his guys out there.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yeah, his his development as a leaders has been nice
to watch and as the years went on. I mean,
when you first take a leadership role, you know, first
you have to bring the team together, and you have
to you know, have eventually where everybody's looking to you
as part of a group, and.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
We have a group of leadership in there.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But I've really seen him take more of a step
as far as the off ice and making sure the
team's together and and communicating with the other leaders and
the other players on the team and then being able
to communicate that to the staff anything they need or
where we're at with the team or how they're feeling.
So it's it's been interesting to watch that dynamic develop
(14:30):
because obviously him and you know, Easton and Oliver have
been in with the team since day one, and just
watching that dynamic come together has been pretty impressive. And
you know, even since he's been injured, just his presence
around the room and watching the guys really pull for him,
and you know, he's doing a lot of work to
come back in this series and have a chance to
(14:51):
come back in this series. But watching how much the
players around him care for him, I think shows how much.
He's shown that he cares for everybody else. Now that
he's injured, they're all, you know, really pulling for him.
So I think Denver is a real special person and
and you know we're hoping for good things for him
to be able to come back in the series.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Well amazing stuff. London Night's Associate general manager Rob Simpson. Rob,
thanks so much for taking the time on a busy
week for you guys over there. You know, best of
luck going into the finals and congratulations to you and
your staff on being able to reach the Oashow Championship
for a thirst straight year. I know it's not not
the final goal, but getting to the mem Cup and
raising that that would be obviously big for the for
(15:34):
the organization, But you know, best of luck and congratulations
so far.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
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local source for North American sports podcasting coverage, Buy sports fans,
(17:33):
for sports fans, And we're back on segment two of
(18:02):
today's OHL Overtime episode, previewing the OHL Championship between the
Oshawa Generals and the London Nights. On the first part,
we heard from London Night's Associate general manager, Rob Simpson,
and I'm pleased to be joined now on the call
with Oshawa General's Vice president and general manager mister Roger Hunt. Roger,
thanks so much for joining us. I'm sure it's an
exciting time for the Generals. Getting back to the old
(18:24):
championship two years in a row and raising two straight
Bobby Your trophies is not the easiest thing to do,
but I'm sure it's a pretty exciting time for everybody
around the Oshawa Generals organization.
Speaker 6 (18:35):
Yeah, thrilling actually to be able to compete for a
league championship, and with everything that we've gone through, with
the exciting news of the city, you know, reupping our
lease and knowing the General's future is secured here for
the next thirty years is an incredible thing to be
a part of. And I don't think I'll be here
(18:55):
when that leases up, but it's great to be a
part of it now. And as you said off the top,
it's it's great to be playing, you.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Know, winning another Bobby Orbit.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Now we want to focus on London Nights in the
LHL Championship.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Just quickly talk to me about the stability of the organization.
Obviously with Rock Otulio, how committed he is to to
making the Oshawa Generals. You said last year when we
spoke to you know, this is the Oshawa Generals. We're
we're you know, one of the top teams, one of
the best franchises in all the all the chl A
storied franchise, just like the London Knights that have won
multiple championships and compete year in and year out. So,
(19:30):
you know, last summer you yourself and Mike Kelly both
received extensions with the organization. Just talk about how important
that is for the stability of the organization. I know
you've had some some coaches move on and things like that,
but to have the same voices and pulling the rope
in the in the same direction. Just how important is
that for a franchise to be successful in the cycle
(19:50):
of junior hockey.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
Well, I think stability, the word you touched on, is
probably the biggest thing here. And hey, certainly the Oshawa
Generals are here because of people like Sherry Bass and
and you know, mister Humphries and various people that have
have had this organization to get to where it is,
and then Roco's taken it from strength to strength. You know,
(20:12):
his ownership, I think seventeen years he's owned the team.
Mike Kelly's been here. I believe that length of time.
I've been here for fifteen years now, so that stability and.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
That continuity, and you.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Know, we've had some success along the way, so we
feel as though how we do it is the way
to do it and we'll stick with that. Our scouting
staff has remained pretty much intact since since my time here,
so a lot of that behind the scenes continuity with
knowing what types of players that we like, We know
(20:46):
what type of players we think would be successful here.
As you said, coaches have moved on. A lot of
coaches have moved on, but up, you know, and no
better than certainly Dj Smith in the Nationale Hockey League,
Derek Laxtall has gone back now in American AUGLI. So
coach as will come and go, and coaching philosophies will
come and go. But what's happened here in the last
(21:08):
decade and a half is the core values and principles
of the organization have not changed or waiver day. So
that allows that, you know, again to go back to
your stability where it is something and we're driven and
we're motivated to win. That's what we want to do.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
And you talked about having players, management, coaching staff, equipment managers,
everybody that moves on to higher levels. I'm sure that's
important for the organization to develop people because it is
a developmental league at the end of the day for
everybody within it. You guys went through a little bit
of turbulence in the first half of the season, Roger,
you made a coaching change, brought in Brad Malone, first
(21:44):
time head coach, and then brought in Mario Pouliott, who
has so much experience winning two Memorial Cups in the QMJHL.
How pleased are you with the way Brad and Mario
and the rest of the coaching staff have kind of
rallied and got the team to really be playing their
best hockey in the second half of the year and
then more specifically winning eight in a row here in
the playoffs, taking out three strong teams and the Brampton
(22:05):
Steelheads and then the Barry Colts say and as well
the Branford Bulldogs. The last two you guys wore the
lower seed and didn't have homelice advantage.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I think Brad and his staff have done a
great job, you know, making the coaching change. When we did,
you know, before Christmas, Brad was around our team in
you know a lesser aspect of player development role a
little bit, but I think seeing his interaction with the players,
we knew he didn't have the experience he was coming
right from playing and then you know, seeing how he
(22:39):
took the team and he leaned on his assistants Mike
and Patty, and then when the opportunity came up that
Mario was available, that inexperience was something that you know,
it was evident, but not in the results or anything
like that, but new going forward, Hey, if you're going
(22:59):
to match up again, you know James Richmond, Marty Williamson
and Jay McKee and now ultimately Dale Hunter, we needed
to add someone ahead a little bit of that winning, winning.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Background and in the CCHL.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
So to get Mario to bring it in, I think
he was the final piece of the of that puzzle.
But you know, make no mistakes, it's Brad's team and
and he's our head coach right now, and he's doing
a fantastic job. But yeah, every every step of the
way he seems to have passed and the players have responded.
At the end of the day, you can have a
great coach, but the players don't play for him. It
(23:37):
doesn't work, So we're thrilled with how things have gone.
And latterly, as you said, Mario coming in it's just
probably been a real steadying influence for for a whole group.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Yeah, it seems like Brad really has the team buying
in and they certainly relate to him just being out
of the game himself and again going up against the
coach and Dale Hunter with a thousand plus wins in
the OHL. I'm sure that's the child and he's looking
forward to with Mario Puolliot as well. As you mentioned.
But Roger, you made a couple of acquisitions at the
beginning of the year. He brought in Kobe Barlow, gave
up some really good young pieces to be able to
(24:10):
do so. The Winnipig Jets first rounder took him a
little bit to get going, but it seems like he's
fitting quite well with your top end forwards. And then
as well getting Andrew Gibson from the Sue Greyhounds at
the trade deadline to really, you know, formulate that decor
that's been so valuable, especially here in the playoffs going
up against Branford and Barry too high powered offenses. How
(24:31):
pleased and how important were those two acquisitions for you
to have to make to be able to get this
team back to where it is.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Well, as you mentioned, Kobe being, you know, a first
round NHL pick, a proven goal scorer in the OHL.
You know, he Kobe's a guy. He didn't have one
good year, you know, he had three good years. And
you're right, I think the first six or seven games,
I don't even know if he had a point not
because he wasn't a good player. He just just wasn't
(24:59):
following for him. But we we really felt that he
would come good and he has and he's proven to
be the player that we thought we'd get.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
And as you said, we gave up a lot for him.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
But you know, there's not a lot of teams that
wouldn't do that all over again if they could be
here in the HL finals. So him being that addition,
and then as you said at the deadline with Gibbie,
just a guy with a lot of experience. You know,
he was on the world stage there at Christmas with
with Calum Ritchie with with Team Canada, so we knew
(25:32):
what his pedigree was like. Albeit he was in the
Western both of them in the Western Conference, but to
see Andrew and knowing that adding that experience back there
was something that was important, but too little. I don't
know if they're little moves, but you know, Simon Wang
and Noah Powell coming in full time, they were huge
(25:53):
parts to adding to a group. And at the end
of the day, no one that came in was was
brought into take over our team. We have our stars
and are our homegrown guys like you know, the Richie Susannicas,
the dan for the torrents Is, and it goes on
and on. They're they're the they're the spine of our team.
These guys are brought into enhance what we already had
(26:15):
and they've done a great job filling into those roles
and doing their jobs. So we're we're, uh, you know,
really happy with how everything turned out. And again we're
we're here because large part because of those additions that
came in and enhance the group we already had.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Oshawa General's Vice president general manager, Roger Hunt is with us. Roger,
I'd be missed if I didn't ask you about Ben Danford,
you know, being able to to get to see this
year a lot of pressure on him to begin with.
When you you You're a first round pick of the
Toronto Maple Leafs and you're just playing down the road
there in Oshawa. And he's going up against another first
rounder in Easton Cowen of the Leafs in this upcoming
(26:51):
OHL Championship. You know, everything's magnified. But especially when when
you have the Toronto Maple Leafs logo as your affiliation.
How do you think Ben's hand all the pressure, the
extra media attention, and especially now with the Leafs still
playing and now you guys are going to be playing
just down the road there, how do you think he's
handled everything as a leader on and off the ice
with the pressure, You.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Know, he's handled it like a pro. Like you know,
he's an assistant captain in the OHL at seventeen, he's
a captain in the OHL at eighteen, and he's handled
everything that's come his way. Being a first round draft
pick of the Leafs is not an easy thing in
southern Ontario and for him to you know, and Easton,
(27:32):
you know, I don't know Eastern Collin as a person,
but both those kids are under the microscope in the
OHL let alone having big brother down, you know, forty
minutes down the road Toronto, and the Toronto media looking
at you. So I suspect that the Toronto maybe beliefs
are very thrilled with both of those players. But Ben
has been He was a leader when he got here.
(27:54):
To be honest, he had leadership abilities when he was sixteen,
and like I said, you know he was to captain seventeen,
now a captain at eighteen. So he's handled everything that's
coming his way. I'm not surprised at that. He comes
from a great family. He's very grounded and we couldn't
ask for more from Ben and being our captain, so
(28:16):
he's handled it magnificently.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
And then lastly, just about this this upcoming matchup Roger,
you look at the London Nights. They've won twelve games
here in the playoffs, haven't lost a game, won fifty
four games in the regular season. They're the favorites, you know,
to win the chl as well. And you guys obviously
want to use that as motivation and fuel, knowing that
they celebrated than your ice last year and the series
(28:40):
didn't go as long as you would have liked to.
But you know what, maybe did you guys learn from
last season that you think the group this year is
going to go into with it and want to have,
you know, better results and be able to really show
that just like in the last two series where you
were the lower seed, that you can really take it
to a higher seed and prove to everybody that this
is the team you guys thought you would be.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Well, I think this team is making believer a believer
of me. You know. I remember back to the team
when we won.
Speaker 6 (29:07):
They weren't afraid of anybody, you know, not I'm not
talking physical, but mentally they were.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
They would take on all comers.
Speaker 6 (29:16):
And I think the fact that it's London again is
is that extra motivation?
Speaker 5 (29:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
It wouldn't matter what team it was of the Western
Conference if you're not motivated to try and win your
your four wins away from an OHL championship. And uh,
the fact that's London again, you know, does that give
you a little bit more motivation?
Speaker 5 (29:36):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (29:36):
I don't think it would be any different if it
was if it was windsor that we were playing or
Kitchen or whoever. But we're focused on ourselves. We're not
really worried about who that other team is. Like, So again,
this this group of players has grown together and again
speak to Ben Danford's leadership, the leaders of our team
have got got this group rolling along with the coach.
(30:00):
So to be matched up a line again is great,
but it doesn't matter. It'sn and it could be in
anybody and we're still motivated to try and win and
that's what that's what we're aiming to do.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Yeah, lastly, for you, I know, the uh, the n
C double A ruling has sort of changed things in
the Ontario Hockey League and and uh the CHL as
a whole. You know, the landscapes ever changing and getting
players to commit obviously is a big importance moving forward.
We don't really know what the this is going to
look like in the next two or three years, but
we did see in this past the HL Draft that
(30:33):
you know, half the second round was Americans, which we've
never really seen before. So how do you think that
this is going to impact things going forward? And do
you Obviously Oshawa's a destination for for a lot of
players given their storied history, But from a management perspective,
how much are you looking forward to the challenge of
you know, what's to come in the next couple of
years with the dynamic of younger players coming into the league,
(30:55):
but maybe players that are a little bit older might
be leaving to commit to colleges a little bit earlier.
Speaker 6 (31:01):
Well, I think, as you said, there's certain destinations in
the OHL, and we're one of them.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
I think it made it a real draft.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
A lot of times, real good American players were taken
considerably later in the draft than they would if it
wasn't like it is today. So this draft made you know,
you made mentioned to the amount of second round picks
you had to pick a player this year where you
felt he slotted in your draft because there's nothing there's
(31:29):
no restrictions on them now, even if and a lot
of American players their motivation is to play in NCAA.
That's what they've grown up to. Now they can play
in the CHL and then still fulfill their dream if
their dream is to play in the NCUBLEA. I think
we want to make sure we get guys that their
dreams to play in the NHL and how they get there,
we can provide a bit. I mean, our second round
(31:50):
pick from last year, Brooks Ragowski, is you know, a
Michigan native, and I'm sure he could could or will
get a scholarship to any school he wants. So I
really think this is a great option for all players
nor from North America to come into this league. It's
you know, we trumpeted as the greatest development in the
league there is, and you look at the NHL Draft,
(32:12):
you see kids going right from this league to the NHL.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
You look at a lot of.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
The stars that are in the NHL today, they came
through the CHL. So that those are just facts, you know,
you know, it's not a biased or anything. So I
think it is a great league for kids to develop,
whether you're from Canada or the United States. And I
think now with motivation for a player to get to
the NHL, they're going to come to the CHL.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Vice president of general manager of the Oshawa Generals, Roger Hunt. Roger,
thanks so much for jumping on with us a little
bit before the series gets going. Appreciate the analysis of,
you know, the war room that goes on with the
Generals and what's been made them so successful to be
able to win back to back Bobby Or Trophies and
go up against the London Nights and the HL Championship
two years in a row. It's going to be a
fun series to watch again. Congratulations. I know the job
(32:59):
isn't done, but it's a really hard thing to do, so, uh,
you know, good luck and uh you know, happy to
see the Generals back at this point.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
Again, well, thank you very much, and yeah, it's gonna
be a great series.
Speaker 6 (33:10):
And uh you know, Toronto May Belief fans, you've got
two great players, two great prospects to watch, so we'll
get to fill both buildings.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
So we're excited to get started.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
This is Jim Joker's voice of the Cakes to Fron. Next,
you're listening to OHL Overtime, an in depth interview show
highlighting the players, coaches and broadcasters from around the Ontario
Hockey League to make the league so great, as well
as in person coverage of events such as the OHL Playoffs,
OHL Championship Series, HL Combine and more, exclusively on the
(00:48):
Armchair GM Sports Network. Here's your program host, Brandon Computer.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Welcome back to our OHL Overtime OSHL Championship preview episode
here on the armchare GM Sports Network. I'm pleased to
be joined now by associate general manager for the London Nights.
That would be Rob Simpson. Rob, thanks so much for
joining us today. Congratulations on being able to get to
this point. And when I talked to you last season
after the championship victory for the Night's last season against Oshawa,
(01:27):
you talked about, you know, this group being so special
and now getting to your third straight to OSHL Championship.
I'm sure you and the staff are couldn't be much
happier with how things have gone so far.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, it's been a great season.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
So far for our team and pretty special for some
of these players like Sam Dickinson and Easton Cowen, benver Barkie,
Oliver Bonk, and I think Land and sim are the
guys that have been for all three runs all the
way along, which is pretty spectacular. It's tough to make
it to three five finals in a row and sometimes
(02:03):
you know, you get tired along the way or it
takes a lot of push for these guys that have
been in all three, So it's I think it shows
the character of those guys in our team overall that
we're able to to get back and have another chance
to win.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
And you talked about the development and that that core
that you guys have built. It's sort of the you know,
the last dance for for a lot of those guys
that you mentioned that have grown up through the London
night system. Thirteen NHL Draft picks now on the team
and could be a few more with Medvedev and Bruce
Davic in the upcoming NHL draft, So you know, pretty
unheard of in the league. And I think you know,
(02:37):
there's this this expectation and stigma run the league that
London just always is going to compete but I don't
think it's that it's as easy as everybody thinks it
is that the London Knights are going to be, you know,
competing every single year. For you and the staff, what
has been sort of I guess the secret sauce as
far as being able to get to this point and
(02:57):
being competitive year in and year out, not really having
many years through a cycle in junior hockey where you
guys don't are competitive.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I think probably one of the biggest things that helps
us as our stability in our you know, in our
our core kind of management and coaching group. You know,
we've been together between our coaches and Mark and I
you know, for fourteen fifteen plus years now if you
take everybody Dylan and Rick and Dale and myself and Mark,
(03:27):
so you know, we've won Memorial Cups together, we won
championships together, and I think we're at that point where,
you know, we understand what each of us does really well,
but we don't do really well, and you know where
we slot in to help the whole process work. You know,
I would say that would be the you know, one
of the factors of the consistency. But I mean after that,
(03:49):
it really comes down to the players. You know, we've
been lucky enough to draft quality players with quality character
that want to win and want to perform every night
over those years. And you know, we can, we can
be together as long as we want. But if those
guys don't want to work with us, and they don't
want to compete, and they don't want to come to
practice every day to prepare and and you know, listen
(04:11):
and try to get better, then you know it's it's
it's not going to go very far. So we've been
lucky and fortunate with the players that come here to
you know, they buy into the system and you know
development that we want for them.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Twelve and oh so far in the playoffs, you know
that's unheard of. And and again you don't expect to
go into a playoffs and go all the way not
losing a game. But uh, you know, what is it about,
especially playing in front of the home home crowd there
at now Canada Life place in front of nine thousand
can be intimidating for other teams coming in there as well.
What can you say about you know, Knights Kingdom as
(04:44):
a whole and the support you guys get year in
and year out. That makes us all possible as well.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
Yeah, I know it's cliche, but it's it really is
like our advantager, you know, our seventh attacker on the ice,
you know, or six a ack or I should say it.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
It really you know.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Pushes our player every single night to excel because you know,
the fans want to see quality hockey. They want they
expect us to win. And I think, you know, for
our players, it's easy to come in and be pumped
up or excited to play when you have nine thousand
fans and when you're when you're doing well like we
(05:24):
have in the playoffs this year and last year, there's
a buzz around the city. You know, the everybody's saying,
you know, good luck or congrats, and everybody knows.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
What's going on. So that kind of that kind of.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
You know, focus on on the players. If if you're
a top end player, you want to you want to
entertain and you want to be in front of people
and you want to show how good you are. And
I think that helps when you have nine thousand fans
here and yon in the city rally behind you. So
we're we're really lucky and we're fortunate with the city
of London and how much they they support us, and
I know the players and staff and everybody here really
(05:58):
feel that.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
And then going a little bit on, you talked about
the great core that you've built, but you did make
a few acquisitions and signees throughout the season that have really,
you know, helped shape your team into what it is
today with yourself and general manager Mark Hunter. Firstly, I
don't think you could expect anything more from Austin Elliott.
You pick him up from Barry for a fifth round
(06:20):
pick after he was claimed off of waivers from the
kam Loops Blazers in the Western Hockey League. He still
only has one loss on the season, Rob, you know,
pretty pretty incredible to think about. And you guys have
have done that last few years with Michael Simpson last
year picking him up as an overage goaltender, and now
with Austin Elliott with Medvedev behind him as well, who's
going to be a very solid goalie as well. But
(06:41):
what can you tell us about what you guys have
thought of Austin Elliott to coming to London.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Yeah, we've been, you know, extremely thrilled with his performance
and I would say his demeanor overall, he seems to
have a calming influence in the net and our players
to feel that he doesn't get too rattled. You know,
he doesn't get too high or low weather, gives up
a goal or or makes twenty saves in a row.
He just is consistent there. And you know, if you've
been a part of a team, you understand how important
(07:08):
that is.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
It can just calm your team down.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
You know, if things start getting rattled, but your goalie
doesn't seem like, you know, it's chaos or out of control,
it really does does help a lot. And you know,
I think, you know Austin. The one thing we thought
was bringing in Austin is last year things didn't go
the way they want.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
You know, he wanted them to there.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Yea, I was on a very good team and then
a younger goalie ended up taking his position when he
struggled a bit. And you know, we dug a lot
into his character as a person and felt that if
he came in he was going to seize the opportunity
because he'd been through some ups and downs in the
past and he was going to learn for a moment.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
I think that's what he's done.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
And I think from day one being here that was
his mindset, like, you know, Lexi's here, but I'm going
to make sure I keep my net. And you know,
he's been in this situation, He's played in front of
twelve thousand fans, So it was kind of the perfect
fit as far as what we were looking for, and
I think, you know, a situation that he could come
in and thrive in London.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Night's associate general manager, Rob Simpson's with us. A few
other acquisitions you made. You obviously gave up a fair
amount of draft capital for Cam Allen coming over from
the Guelf storm at the trade deadline. As well, you
also were able to get a couple of NC double
A commits with the ever changing landscape of junior hockey
where players are now able to keep their their NC
double A eligibility Blake Montgomery and Donnie Femus to name
(08:28):
a few. You know, how how key have those acquisitions
been as well for the overall depth of your club
and especially now with a guys like Denver Barkie out
of the lineup and with Jared Woolly missing a game
for suspension during the playoffs, Like how big were those additions?
Speaker 5 (08:43):
You know?
Speaker 1 (08:44):
To make sure that you guys have the depth to
go all the way.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Yeah, they've been great for us, those players, because in
the playoffs, you're gonna get injuries, you're gonna have games
that certain players aren't going to play as well, or
they're going to have off nights. So it just seems
like with our team so far to date, you know,
at points throughout the playoffs, you could point to, you know,
Blake being one of our best players on the ice game,
(09:07):
or you can point to Denver being the best player,
or you know, Femis Surral and cut stepping in.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You mentioned like Jared Willy being out for.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
Suspension, and I, you know, I thought that that Cam
came in and played a higher in the lineup and
like consistent move pucks, played defense and gave us what
we needed there. So you know, adding those guys, you know,
won by trade and a couple by free agency, was
huge for our team because you go in these long
runs and you get into what we're going to face
(09:35):
here against Oshawa as well in the finals.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's your depth of your team is so important.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Because you know a lot of times your top lines
kind of might saw off because they're both lead, and
then it's it's your depth of your lineup that can
make the difference between winning a game or losing a game,
you know, and and these guys have come in and
showed that they can be difference makers as well.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you about draft
eligible defenseman Henry Burstavi, which a guy that you know
was wide eyed last season, got a lot of on
the job experience going to the OHL Championship last year
as a as a rookie defenseman. And you've seen the
development of guys like Bonk and Dickinson ahead of him.
What have you seen from from Henry Bruce Davis And
why do you think that he's gonna be so coveted
(10:17):
in the upcoming NHL draft in June.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
He can play in any situation, to be honest with you,
is pretty phenomenal for a young seventeen year old defenseman.
He can play in our top four. He can you know,
he can move down the lineup. He can play on
the left side, he can play on the right side.
He can bring offense, He defends well. I mean last
series he really highlighted his defensive game. I mean, he
(10:42):
broke up so many two on ones or you know,
if if we made some mistakes with the pawk he
was he defensively shut down, you know, a lot of
plays last series. You see last year, you know, he
moved up the right wing and scored an ot winner,
So you know, the offense is there. So I think
his versustility in his game, he's got great in his game.
(11:04):
I think he's you know, been underneath with Bonk and
dikets In and seeing at how they conduct themselves every day.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
So that's a positive.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
And you know, when you have leadership on the back
end like that, it's only going to help a young
defenseman understand, you know, how to play in the league
and how to how to develop in the league for
you know, hopefully a future in the NHL.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
So I just think that, you know, we couldn't ask.
Speaker 4 (11:26):
For more from Henry because he's he's been great and
just a quality person as far as whatever you ask
of him from a staff or coaching staff, he does
and he's going to perform well in and that's something
that is pretty coveted nowadays.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
And then lastly, got to ask you about this upcoming
series because Oshawa comes in and they've won eight in
a row, You've won twelve in a row. In the playoffs. Uh,
they've taken down two higher seeds in Barry and the
Branford Bulldogs, and then a tough first round matchup against
Brampton as well. You guys come in playing you know,
a really tough Kitchen Rangers team Erie Odders. I remember
(12:01):
being there beside you for those games. They're pretty rowdy
there at the that the Eerie Insurance Arena, and your
first round match up against a young Owen Sound Attack team.
So what are you guys expecting to see from the
Oshawa General's team. You obviously beat them in the finals
last year in a pretty quick series, so I'm sure
you're not taking anything for granted this time around and
going into every game like like you have to give
(12:23):
your best effort.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yeah, they're they're a very tough team.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
I mean last year they were a younger team that
you might almost say they kind of did what we
did three years ago and we kind of made it
to the finals without anybody expecting us to. And this
year they're much different. They're a well built team. They have,
you know, NHL first rounders like we do. They acquired
some elite players in the league. Their back end is
(12:49):
strong and their goaltending is a attorney that's an oak
for ager as well, So you know it's going to
be a very difficult series. I think you have, you know,
two very good teams that are going to go head
to head and it's you know, we'll have to be
prepared because that was over a year ago that we
beat the Four Straights.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
And they're a much different team.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
And as you know, as you get older in the
league and get experienced, it makes a big difference. So
you know, I know a lot of people are talking
about our team, but we're preparing. We know this is
going to be the toughest series of all and we
respect them as a very very good team over on
that side.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And then last question for you here about the captain,
Denver Bark. He had twenty points in the nine playoff game.
Just talk about Denver's presence off the ice because obviously
him going down with that unfortunate injury in the in
the Kitchener series. How how have you seen him develop
and grow as a leader and how do you see
him being a presence at least at the start of
the series in an off ice capacity as he tries
(13:47):
to you know, motivate his guys out there.
Speaker 4 (13:49):
Yeah, his his development as a leaders has been nice
to watch and as the years went on. I mean,
when you first take a leadership role, you know, first
you have to bring the team together, and you have
to you know, have eventually where everybody's looking to you
as part of a group, and.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
We have a group of leadership in there.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But I've really seen him take more of a step
as far as the off ice and making sure the
team's together and and communicating with the other leaders and
the other players on the team and then being able
to communicate that to the staff anything they need or
where we're at with the team or how they're feeling.
So it's it's been interesting to watch that dynamic develop
(14:30):
because obviously him and you know, Easton and Oliver have
been in with the team since day one, and just
watching that dynamic come together has been pretty impressive. And
you know, even since he's been injured, just his presence
around the room and watching the guys really pull for him,
and you know, he's doing a lot of work to
come back in this series and have a chance to
(14:51):
come back in this series. But watching how much the
players around him care for him, I think shows how much.
He's shown that he cares for everybody else. Now that
he's injured, they're all, you know, really pulling for him.
So I think Denver is a real special person and
and you know we're hoping for good things for him
to be able to come back in the series.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Well amazing stuff. London Night's Associate general manager Rob Simpson. Rob,
thanks so much for taking the time on a busy
week for you guys over there. You know, best of
luck going into the finals and congratulations to you and
your staff on being able to reach the Oashow Championship
for a thirst straight year. I know it's not not
the final goal, but getting to the mem Cup and
raising that that would be obviously big for the for
(15:34):
the organization, But you know, best of luck and congratulations
so far.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
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Become an Armchair GM today with fourth Wall. You're listening
to the Armchair GM Sports Network, the NIGA region's best
local source for North American sports podcasting coverage, Buy sports fans,
(17:33):
for sports fans, And we're back on segment two of
(18:02):
today's OHL Overtime episode, previewing the OHL Championship between the
Oshawa Generals and the London Nights. On the first part,
we heard from London Night's Associate general manager, Rob Simpson,
and I'm pleased to be joined now on the call
with Oshawa General's Vice president and general manager mister Roger Hunt. Roger,
thanks so much for joining us. I'm sure it's an
exciting time for the Generals. Getting back to the old
(18:24):
championship two years in a row and raising two straight
Bobby Your trophies is not the easiest thing to do,
but I'm sure it's a pretty exciting time for everybody
around the Oshawa Generals organization.
Speaker 6 (18:35):
Yeah, thrilling actually to be able to compete for a
league championship, and with everything that we've gone through, with
the exciting news of the city, you know, reupping our
lease and knowing the General's future is secured here for
the next thirty years is an incredible thing to be
a part of. And I don't think I'll be here
(18:55):
when that leases up, but it's great to be a
part of it now. And as you said off the top,
it's it's great to be playing, you.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Know, winning another Bobby Orbit.
Speaker 6 (19:05):
Now we want to focus on London Nights in the
LHL Championship.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Just quickly talk to me about the stability of the organization.
Obviously with Rock Otulio, how committed he is to to
making the Oshawa Generals. You said last year when we
spoke to you know, this is the Oshawa Generals. We're
we're you know, one of the top teams, one of
the best franchises in all the all the chl A
storied franchise, just like the London Knights that have won
multiple championships and compete year in and year out. So,
(19:30):
you know, last summer you yourself and Mike Kelly both
received extensions with the organization. Just talk about how important
that is for the stability of the organization. I know
you've had some some coaches move on and things like that,
but to have the same voices and pulling the rope
in the in the same direction. Just how important is
that for a franchise to be successful in the cycle
(19:50):
of junior hockey.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
Well, I think stability, the word you touched on, is
probably the biggest thing here. And hey, certainly the Oshawa
Generals are here because of people like Sherry Bass and
and you know, mister Humphries and various people that have
have had this organization to get to where it is,
and then Roco's taken it from strength to strength. You know,
(20:12):
his ownership, I think seventeen years he's owned the team.
Mike Kelly's been here. I believe that length of time.
I've been here for fifteen years now, so that stability and.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
That continuity, and you.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Know, we've had some success along the way, so we
feel as though how we do it is the way
to do it and we'll stick with that. Our scouting
staff has remained pretty much intact since since my time here,
so a lot of that behind the scenes continuity with
knowing what types of players that we like, We know
(20:46):
what type of players we think would be successful here.
As you said, coaches have moved on. A lot of
coaches have moved on, but up, you know, and no
better than certainly Dj Smith in the Nationale Hockey League,
Derek Laxtall has gone back now in American AUGLI. So
coach as will come and go, and coaching philosophies will
come and go. But what's happened here in the last
(21:08):
decade and a half is the core values and principles
of the organization have not changed or waiver day. So
that allows that, you know, again to go back to
your stability where it is something and we're driven and
we're motivated to win. That's what we want to do.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
And you talked about having players, management, coaching staff, equipment managers,
everybody that moves on to higher levels. I'm sure that's
important for the organization to develop people because it is
a developmental league at the end of the day for
everybody within it. You guys went through a little bit
of turbulence in the first half of the season, Roger,
you made a coaching change, brought in Brad Malone, first
(21:44):
time head coach, and then brought in Mario Pouliott, who
has so much experience winning two Memorial Cups in the QMJHL.
How pleased are you with the way Brad and Mario
and the rest of the coaching staff have kind of
rallied and got the team to really be playing their
best hockey in the second half of the year and
then more specifically winning eight in a row here in
the playoffs, taking out three strong teams and the Brampton
(22:05):
Steelheads and then the Barry Colts say and as well
the Branford Bulldogs. The last two you guys wore the
lower seed and didn't have homelice advantage.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
Well, I think Brad and his staff have done a
great job, you know, making the coaching change. When we did,
you know, before Christmas, Brad was around our team in
you know a lesser aspect of player development role a
little bit, but I think seeing his interaction with the players,
we knew he didn't have the experience he was coming
right from playing and then you know, seeing how he
(22:39):
took the team and he leaned on his assistants Mike
and Patty, and then when the opportunity came up that
Mario was available, that inexperience was something that you know,
it was evident, but not in the results or anything
like that, but new going forward, Hey, if you're going
(22:59):
to match up again, you know James Richmond, Marty Williamson
and Jay McKee and now ultimately Dale Hunter, we needed
to add someone ahead a little bit of that winning, winning.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
Background and in the CCHL.
Speaker 6 (23:15):
So to get Mario to bring it in, I think
he was the final piece of the of that puzzle.
But you know, make no mistakes, it's Brad's team and
and he's our head coach right now, and he's doing
a fantastic job. But yeah, every every step of the
way he seems to have passed and the players have responded.
At the end of the day, you can have a
great coach, but the players don't play for him. It
(23:37):
doesn't work, So we're thrilled with how things have gone.
And latterly, as you said, Mario coming in it's just
probably been a real steadying influence for for a whole group.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Yeah, it seems like Brad really has the team buying
in and they certainly relate to him just being out
of the game himself and again going up against the
coach and Dale Hunter with a thousand plus wins in
the OHL. I'm sure that's the child and he's looking
forward to with Mario Puolliot as well. As you mentioned.
But Roger, you made a couple of acquisitions at the
beginning of the year. He brought in Kobe Barlow, gave
up some really good young pieces to be able to
(24:10):
do so. The Winnipig Jets first rounder took him a
little bit to get going, but it seems like he's
fitting quite well with your top end forwards. And then
as well getting Andrew Gibson from the Sue Greyhounds at
the trade deadline to really, you know, formulate that decor
that's been so valuable, especially here in the playoffs going
up against Branford and Barry too high powered offenses. How
(24:31):
pleased and how important were those two acquisitions for you
to have to make to be able to get this
team back to where it is.
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Well, as you mentioned, Kobe being, you know, a first
round NHL pick, a proven goal scorer in the OHL.
You know, he Kobe's a guy. He didn't have one
good year, you know, he had three good years. And
you're right, I think the first six or seven games,
I don't even know if he had a point not
because he wasn't a good player. He just just wasn't
(24:59):
following for him. But we we really felt that he
would come good and he has and he's proven to
be the player that we thought we'd get.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
And as you said, we gave up a lot for him.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
But you know, there's not a lot of teams that
wouldn't do that all over again if they could be
here in the HL finals. So him being that addition,
and then as you said at the deadline with Gibbie,
just a guy with a lot of experience. You know,
he was on the world stage there at Christmas with
with Calum Ritchie with with Team Canada, so we knew
(25:32):
what his pedigree was like. Albeit he was in the
Western both of them in the Western Conference, but to
see Andrew and knowing that adding that experience back there
was something that was important, but too little. I don't
know if they're little moves, but you know, Simon Wang
and Noah Powell coming in full time, they were huge
(25:53):
parts to adding to a group. And at the end
of the day, no one that came in was was
brought into take over our team. We have our stars
and are our homegrown guys like you know, the Richie Susannicas,
the dan for the torrents Is, and it goes on
and on. They're they're the they're the spine of our team.
These guys are brought into enhance what we already had
(26:15):
and they've done a great job filling into those roles
and doing their jobs. So we're we're, uh, you know,
really happy with how everything turned out. And again we're
we're here because large part because of those additions that
came in and enhance the group we already had.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
Oshawa General's Vice president general manager, Roger Hunt is with us. Roger,
I'd be missed if I didn't ask you about Ben Danford,
you know, being able to to get to see this
year a lot of pressure on him to begin with.
When you you You're a first round pick of the
Toronto Maple Leafs and you're just playing down the road
there in Oshawa. And he's going up against another first
rounder in Easton Cowen of the Leafs in this upcoming
(26:51):
OHL Championship. You know, everything's magnified. But especially when when
you have the Toronto Maple Leafs logo as your affiliation.
How do you think Ben's hand all the pressure, the
extra media attention, and especially now with the Leafs still
playing and now you guys are going to be playing
just down the road there, how do you think he's
handled everything as a leader on and off the ice
with the pressure, You.
Speaker 6 (27:12):
Know, he's handled it like a pro. Like you know,
he's an assistant captain in the OHL at seventeen, he's
a captain in the OHL at eighteen, and he's handled
everything that's come his way. Being a first round draft
pick of the Leafs is not an easy thing in
southern Ontario and for him to you know, and Easton,
(27:32):
you know, I don't know Eastern Collin as a person,
but both those kids are under the microscope in the
OHL let alone having big brother down, you know, forty
minutes down the road Toronto, and the Toronto media looking
at you. So I suspect that the Toronto maybe beliefs
are very thrilled with both of those players. But Ben
has been He was a leader when he got here.
(27:54):
To be honest, he had leadership abilities when he was sixteen,
and like I said, you know he was to captain seventeen,
now a captain at eighteen. So he's handled everything that's
coming his way. I'm not surprised at that. He comes
from a great family. He's very grounded and we couldn't
ask for more from Ben and being our captain, so
(28:16):
he's handled it magnificently.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
And then lastly, just about this this upcoming matchup Roger,
you look at the London Nights. They've won twelve games
here in the playoffs, haven't lost a game, won fifty
four games in the regular season. They're the favorites, you know,
to win the chl as well. And you guys obviously
want to use that as motivation and fuel, knowing that
they celebrated than your ice last year and the series
(28:40):
didn't go as long as you would have liked to.
But you know what, maybe did you guys learn from
last season that you think the group this year is
going to go into with it and want to have,
you know, better results and be able to really show
that just like in the last two series where you
were the lower seed, that you can really take it
to a higher seed and prove to everybody that this
is the team you guys thought you would be.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
Well, I think this team is making believer a believer
of me. You know. I remember back to the team
when we won.
Speaker 6 (29:07):
They weren't afraid of anybody, you know, not I'm not
talking physical, but mentally they were.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
They would take on all comers.
Speaker 6 (29:16):
And I think the fact that it's London again is
is that extra motivation?
Speaker 5 (29:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
It wouldn't matter what team it was of the Western
Conference if you're not motivated to try and win your
your four wins away from an OHL championship. And uh,
the fact that's London again, you know, does that give
you a little bit more motivation?
Speaker 5 (29:36):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (29:36):
I don't think it would be any different if it
was if it was windsor that we were playing or
Kitchen or whoever. But we're focused on ourselves. We're not
really worried about who that other team is. Like, So again,
this this group of players has grown together and again
speak to Ben Danford's leadership, the leaders of our team
have got got this group rolling along with the coach.
(30:00):
So to be matched up a line again is great,
but it doesn't matter. It'sn and it could be in
anybody and we're still motivated to try and win and
that's what that's what we're aiming to do.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Yeah, lastly, for you, I know, the uh, the n
C double A ruling has sort of changed things in
the Ontario Hockey League and and uh the CHL as
a whole. You know, the landscapes ever changing and getting
players to commit obviously is a big importance moving forward.
We don't really know what the this is going to
look like in the next two or three years, but
we did see in this past the HL Draft that
(30:33):
you know, half the second round was Americans, which we've
never really seen before. So how do you think that
this is going to impact things going forward? And do
you Obviously Oshawa's a destination for for a lot of
players given their storied history, But from a management perspective,
how much are you looking forward to the challenge of
you know, what's to come in the next couple of
years with the dynamic of younger players coming into the league,
(30:55):
but maybe players that are a little bit older might
be leaving to commit to colleges a little bit earlier.
Speaker 6 (31:01):
Well, I think, as you said, there's certain destinations in
the OHL, and we're one of them.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
I think it made it a real draft.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
A lot of times, real good American players were taken
considerably later in the draft than they would if it
wasn't like it is today. So this draft made you know,
you made mentioned to the amount of second round picks
you had to pick a player this year where you
felt he slotted in your draft because there's nothing there's
(31:29):
no restrictions on them now, even if and a lot
of American players their motivation is to play in NCAA.
That's what they've grown up to. Now they can play
in the CHL and then still fulfill their dream if
their dream is to play in the NCUBLEA. I think
we want to make sure we get guys that their
dreams to play in the NHL and how they get there,
we can provide a bit. I mean, our second round
(31:50):
pick from last year, Brooks Ragowski, is you know, a
Michigan native, and I'm sure he could could or will
get a scholarship to any school he wants. So I
really think this is a great option for all players
nor from North America to come into this league. It's
you know, we trumpeted as the greatest development in the
league there is, and you look at the NHL Draft,
(32:12):
you see kids going right from this league to the NHL.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
You look at a lot of.
Speaker 6 (32:15):
The stars that are in the NHL today, they came
through the CHL. So that those are just facts, you know,
you know, it's not a biased or anything. So I
think it is a great league for kids to develop,
whether you're from Canada or the United States. And I
think now with motivation for a player to get to
the NHL, they're going to come to the CHL.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Vice president of general manager of the Oshawa Generals, Roger Hunt. Roger,
thanks so much for jumping on with us a little
bit before the series gets going. Appreciate the analysis of,
you know, the war room that goes on with the
Generals and what's been made them so successful to be
able to win back to back Bobby Or Trophies and
go up against the London Nights and the HL Championship
two years in a row. It's going to be a
fun series to watch again. Congratulations. I know the job
(32:59):
isn't done, but it's a really hard thing to do, so, uh,
you know, good luck and uh you know, happy to
see the Generals back at this point.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
Again, well, thank you very much, and yeah, it's gonna
be a great series.
Speaker 6 (33:10):
And uh you know, Toronto May Belief fans, you've got
two great players, two great prospects to watch, so we'll
get to fill both buildings.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
So we're excited to get started.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.
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