Are Windsor and Brantford The Clear Favourites Early This OHL Season? - OHL Overtime - The Armchair GM's Sports Network

Episode Transcript
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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 and 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, OHL Combine and more exclusively on the

(00:48):
Armchair GM Sports Network. Here's your program host, Brandon Computer.

Speaker 3 (01:01):
Welcome back to another episode of OHL Overtime right here
on the Armchair GM Sports and every thank you to
those that are tuned in on our YouTube channel today.
In video, make sure to hit like kit subscriber, smash
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very much for doing so.

Speaker 4 (01:17):
As well.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
You can give us a follow on x at Armchair
GM pod aswells on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for our
short reels and content. Please to be joined today first
for the first of two guests with the two teams
that definitely look like they're on pace to possibly rematch
in the Ohl Championship. Although it's early, still the beginning
of October. You don't want to get too ahead of ourselves.

(01:38):
But a very please to be joined by one of
the radio broadcasters on AM eight hundred CKLW four, the
Windsor Spitfires. That would be the one and the only,
the best smile on the Ontario Hockey League, Manny Peva. Manny,
thanks a lot for coming on today. I've been dying
for a Windsor pizza. I'm unfortunately not gonna be able
to bake the trip to Windsor for the Ice Dogs
game there this week actually, well tonight actually by the

(02:00):
time this comes out. But you know, maybe we'll see
each other in the playoffs. But they really appreciate you
coming on, and you can go ahead and sort of
plug everything that you're doing over there with the Spits,
because I know you do a lot for covering that team.

Speaker 5 (02:13):
Brandon, it's a pleasure to be on with you. You're
one of the good guys in the Ontario Hockey League,
one of the young up and comers. I don't care
what Colin says about you, You're all right. Anytime you
come back down to Windsor. There's always a Windsor style
pizza waiting for you with your name on it. You
can come down this week, next week, next month, next year,

(02:37):
and I guarantee that there'll be a pizza waiting for you. Hey,
Steve Bell, the legend here in Windsor. I'm thrilled to
be doing the games with them again on AM eight hundred.
Should be an exciting season for the Windsor Spitfires and
we're really jacked up about it. You can also follow
the Windsor Spitfires on YouTube and on your social media.

(02:59):
You may see if you win us that I do
with some of the executives, some of the coaches, some
of the players, some of the gms. There's only one GM,
and Bill Bowler has done a fantastic job setting up
this team for success.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Absolutely, and I always love tuning into games on the
radio listening to you and Steve Bell, another great colleague
in the Ontario Hockey League. Always a great time tuning
in and being able to catch up with you guys,
even though it is only is once a year down
here when you guys come to the Meridian Center. But
as far as today's episode, Manny, we're gonna just quickly

(03:32):
touch on some of the exciting things in Windsor. Obviously
last season was an exciting season as well for the team,
but not going as they would have liked in the
second round, and you know one went away from facing
the London Nights in the Western Conference Final. But you
know what, do you think that that group learned that
they come in with such higher maybe even higher expectations
this season with some sort of pretty much the same group.

(03:54):
I know Iliot Protis is not a part of the
group anymore, and that's a lot of points to and
a lot of things that he brought to the ice.
But why do you think maybe this team is more
so set up than last year's.

Speaker 5 (04:05):
Yeah, I think the biggest takeaway that this team learned
and there are a number of returning players on this roster.
I'd count fifteen returning players on the roster. I think
the biggest thing that they took away from this Brandon
is it's hard to win in the Ontario Hockey League
and you can't take things for granted. They got up

(04:27):
three nothing on the Kitchener Rangers in that second round series,
then got decimated by injuries and even moto some players
were trying to play with Moto in that playoff series
against the Rangers, and they couldn't put Kitchener away and
the Rangers went on to win that series in face
London in the Western Conference Finals. So they learned you

(04:49):
got to put teams away when you can A and
B that you can't take for granted that everything's going
to be hanky dory. Injuries are going to happen, especially
in the playoffs. And see, it's really hard to win
in the playoffs in the Ontario Hockey League. But the
fact that Windsor has built up that experience, I think

(05:12):
that's why everyone is so on the band wagon, shall
we say, with the Windsor Spitfires and their fortunes for
the upcoming season.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
Yeah, when you touch on sort of the expectation and
things like that. Obviously, ranked on the CHL Top ten
the OHL Power Rankings, they're near the top of that
board as well. And with that that expectation, you know
there you have to meet them right and right now.
Windsor's ranked number two on the CHL Top ten. I
believe their ranked number one on the the OHL Power Rankings,

(05:44):
which I can pull up in a second as well,
but how do you think that this group is sort
of handling all that early on expectation, all the early noise,
all the you know, the the pressure and the eyes
on them early on in the season as they're they're
still trying to you know, get their feet under them
for that first month is never easy. But do you
think this group is sort of handling all the noise?

Speaker 5 (06:03):
Yeah? I think because it is such a veteran group, Brandon,
they could care less about the rankings, to be quite
honest with you, because they've been there and done that.
They've been in the CHL top ten before, and I've
seen their seasons end earlier than they expected. They have
been among the top four teams in the OHL Power rankings,

(06:24):
and I've seen their seasons end prematurely as well. So
I think what this group does a really good job
of staying focused in the present. And we've seen that
in the first five hockey games of the season as
the coaching staff Greg Walters and his staff have done
a really good job of keeping the players even kill.

(06:46):
But they've gotten off to this great start without their
key players. They're five to oher without Liam green Tree,
without aj Spellacy, without Jack Nesbit, and that's given the
young guys a little bit more time to get adapted
to a lot of minutes and hockey games top line
rules in some cases, and players like Ethan Garden, J

(07:10):
c Lemieux and Ethan Belchez have responded. And I think
that's going to help Winsor as the season progresses.

Speaker 3 (07:19):
And you talk about the first little bit of games there,
Manny for the season, and you mentioned those guys are
all of the guys back from NHL camps that the
team is expecting at the moment.

Speaker 5 (07:30):
Everyone except Liam green Tree. So AJ Spellacy was returned
on Monday. Jack Nesbitt was returned last Friday. Didn't get
in on the action on the weekend, but Windsor still
won those hockey games. Good debate about whether Liam green
Tree will stick around. I's gotten a couple of points

(07:51):
for the LA Kings and exhibition games and NHL preseason,
so a good question about whether he comes back or
whether he plays nine games with the Kings to start
the NHL season. Granted, boy, they could really use Liam
green Tree in the lineup. After all, he had forty
nine goals, one hundred and nineteen points last season for

(08:14):
the last two years running, he's been Windsor's Red Tilson
Award nominee for Most Outstanding Player, and good money that
he'll be the third consecutive nominee for the Windsor Spitfires
this season. And I'll tell you this, Brandon. Even though
I don't expect ilia Protes to return with his fifty

(08:34):
goals and one hundred and twenty four points, some of
the players, some of the executives, I should say, around
the Windsor Spitfires are holding out hope that the Washington
Capitals will send him back to Windsor. I don't know
when that will be, but I think if we're looking

(08:54):
from the outside in, we'll have a really good answer
by the end of October. I don't expect that he'll
crack the Capitals lineup. So how is he used in
the Hershey lineup? Will they put him in their top
six in the AHL? And if he's in the bottom six,
the Capitals may send them back to Winsor. And boy,

(09:15):
would that be a huge lift for the Spitfires club.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
What an addition that would be, sort of without even
having to give up anything, right many you get those
guys back that the NHL organization feels that, you know,
playing them at a bottom six HL role maybe not
be best for their development. Maybe send them back to
the junior team and have them go on a deep
playoff run, which obviously Windsor has all the aspirations to do.
And with with Liam Greenrie as well, they got a

(09:41):
stats up on the screen, just an incredible you know season,
as you know, more than anybody else, he's one of
the unanimous choices for most valuable player in the league
if he does come back or when he does come
back to the Ontario Hockey League up there with with
LA right now, but sort of, I guess Winsor's one
of those teams that deals with this regularly, right many

(10:02):
Like that's you know, when you're a franchise that is
able to churn out so many great NHL players, that's
the double.

Speaker 1 (10:09):
Edged sport, right Like, it's a great thing to.

Speaker 3 (10:11):
Have where you have such great players, but then at
the same time you also know that they're the property
of other, you know, tournaments and teams, and that these
sort of situations are something that you have to navigate.
More so when you're a really competitive team year in
a year out.

Speaker 5 (10:27):
Yeah, I do want to touch on that, but just
look at the stats of Liam Greentree as a rookie.
This Oshawa native put up twenty five goals as a
rookie in the Ontario Hockey League and he was a
second round pick in the Ontario Hockey League. And all
this kid does, he's got a pro shot. His compete

(10:49):
level second to none. Excuse me. He drives the net well,
can create his own offense, and oh yeah, he's defensively responsible.
He can play the PK, he back checks, and his
size at six three two sixteen, he can play any
which way you want. You want to be physical, he
can handle it. You want to play running good offense

(11:11):
suits his game just about fine. You want to be
tight checking, he can adapt to that too. That's why
I think Liam Greentree will get a taste of NHL
regular season action this year before he gets sent down
to the windsor Spitfires. Now, your point, Brandon is very
well taken. And Bill Buller, the GM and Vice president

(11:33):
of Hockey Operations, we'll say the right things. We're here
to develop players for the next level. But if you
look at the history of the Windsor Spitfires, the recent
history They've had a number of players leave ahead of
their anticipated departure, shall we say, going back to Jean
Luke Footie, he could have returned to Windsor the Colorado

(11:58):
Avalanche said no, we'll try, and he's been an AHL player.
Wyatt Johnston, we all know his story. The Dallas Stars
put him in the NHL as an eighteen year old,
and this kid has thrived. But imagine if he returned
to the OHL and what he could do next. Shane Wright.

(12:22):
Winsor made a deal with Kingston for Shane Wright during
that abbreviated season and he didn't play enough games that
twenty twenty five threshold to play twenty five game threshold
to play in the NHL. They never accomplished that in
the OHL, but they made an exemption and therefore he

(12:45):
went to Seattle. Now we might have Ilia Protus do
the exact same thing. He can return to the OHL,
but the Capitals may wish him to play, if not
the NHL the AHL. So Winsor's done a really good
job of developing players that they can get to the

(13:05):
next level even before their schedule they're anticipated to. But
on the other flip side of the coin, boy, they
their progress. The team's progress has been really hurt by
these early.

Speaker 3 (13:18):
Departures, right, And I guess my question to that is,
with the new NCAA eligibility and players being able to go,
you know, both routes now and not having to pick
and choose, is winsor sort of one of those teams
that has an easier time because of the Michigan border
right there, because they're able to maybe recruit better because

(13:40):
of you know, the history of the franchise and just
being a competitive team from year in and year out. Like,
are you already seeing sort of some of the signings
that they've done in the offseason to sort of be
able to build from within from those college free agents
or signees that wouldn't have been able to have the
opportunity to come to Windsor before.

Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (13:59):
I think it's a numberumber of factors, Brandon. I think,
if we really think about it, the proximity certainly plays
a role, especially for these American warn players. They can
get home that much quicker, or their parents can come
watch a game that much easier. But it's other things
as well. The Spitfires are a first run organization from

(14:22):
ownership down, and I think that matters. The facilities are
highly regarded here in WINS and when we talk about
the new rules that the OHL is trying to adopt
and the standard for players and the renovations that are
taking place at different facilities around the Ontario Hockey League,

(14:46):
Windsor checks a lot of those boxes already. And the
fourth thing, which I think you're getting to is the
fact that they've been able to develop players to get
them to the next level. And we've talked about some
of those players who have left early, and then we've
got other NHL Draft eligible players to as well. Jack
Nesben a first rounder, A j. Spellacy a third rounder

(15:10):
to the Black Ox, and of course Liam Greentree a
first rounder to the LA Kings. And I think that
tradition will continue with Ethan Belchez this year. So I
think Windsor's got an excellent resume with regards to developing
players to get them to the next level. And I
think that's why Jonathan Brown, who is a free agent

(15:30):
defenseman that joined the Spitfires in the offseason and excellent
looking defenseman, great skater, high hockey IQ. He can compete.
He was a free agent he could have signed with anyone.
He chose the spitfires because of all those reasons that
we talked about. There's another player, Caden Harvey. He was

(15:52):
a Windsor draft pick. But I think a the NCAA
rules changes, but also b Wins, there is history and
all those things that we talked about, from development to facilities,
to ownership to players standards, that all plays a factor
to attract these highly regarded and highly skilled nc double

(16:13):
A eligible players back into the Ontario.

Speaker 3 (16:15):
And when you win back to back championships in eight
nine and then nine to ten, you know, those things
resonate for many years. And I know Winsor you know
went to the finals a few years ago against the
Bulldogs back when they were in Hamilton when Mark Savard
was the coach, and obviously last season as well. But
when you go into a season like this where there's
a lot of high expectation, that can also lure those

(16:36):
players in as well. While we still have you, Manny,
I want to touch on a few players for a
few minutes here, and you mentioned Ethan Belchez obviously going
to be a guy that is going to be ranked
high on many draft boards for the twenty twenty six
NHL Draft in June. A lot of e is going
to be on him, you know, well deserved as a
former first overall pick in this league. Whereas number sixty

(16:57):
one because of Rick Nash, a big, powerful winger, plays
that same sort of style there and as you mentioned,
a guy that missed some time at the end of
last season. So what have you thought of Belchez coming
into his draft year now for this twenty five to
twenty six season, the second year in the Ontario Hockey League,
and you know what is your sort of sealing and
expectation for number sixty one and WINSORR this year?

Speaker 5 (17:21):
Yeah, I think Ethan Belchez is poised to be the
next star in the Ontario Hockey League. He's a points
a game player right now. Two goals, five points in
five games. But it's just some of the other things
that he does on the ice that doesn't necessarily translate
into points that has scout salivating over his play. And
I've talked to some of these NHL scouts early on

(17:42):
in the season and boy, their eyes are wide open
and they're chomping at the bit to try to get
a chance to drop this guy. For example, last week
on hole mice. He he made a play along the
boards where he fought off to players, outworked them, out,

(18:03):
competed him for the puck, and then made a cross
ice pass into the opposing into the other circle in
the zone that set up a beautiful scoring chance for
the Windsors' Bidfires. And you know, just looking at the
scouts after he made that play and they're like, wow,
So he competes, told him he competes, he's physical, he

(18:26):
wins battle along the boards, and then a tape to
tape pass to try to set up his linemate for
success and get a goal. Like that's outstanding stuff. I
know he's worked on his skating. I know he's also
worked on his defensive play. I think what really helped
him is appearing and leading Team Canada at the Helenka

(18:48):
Gretzky Tournament, where he co led the team in points
in that tournament. He already had that action because that
training camp he looked heads and tails above some of
the other players who were in that camp for the
Windsor Spitfires and in the exhibition games as well. I
think Ethan Belchez is off to a tremendous start this

(19:10):
year and he's poised to be the next star in
the Aways.

Speaker 3 (19:13):
He shot that big presence right many like, he's a
big frame and he's hard to miss out there. So
looking to improve obviously from a fifty six game season
last year, showing that he can play a full season
and hopefully a deep playoff run here with the Spitfires.
And we'll be talking a lot more about Ethan belch
as I'm sure all season long, as you mentioned, the
salivating those scouts out there hoping that they can they

(19:35):
can get their hands on this guy in next year's
an NHL entry draft. Quickly on goaltender Joey Costanzo. Obviously,
he's been with the Spits for quite a while now
after that trade with Niagara. Was a highly sought after
goalie prospect not twenty twenty one draft, and really took
him a bit to start to get going. And then
he's been the starter for Windsor here last year or

(19:56):
two one goaltender of the Week last week as well.
So have you seen in the development of Joey Costanzo
now in his overage season which is hard for me
to think about because I remember when he was drafted
to Niagara and you know, just a young kid at
that point. It's making me, you know, feel old as well.
But regardless of that, what have you thought of the
goaltender for the Winter Spitfires, Joey Costanzo.

Speaker 5 (20:18):
Yeah, I think I even saw a change last year
where he had more confidence last year, and then this
year he's continued that confidence in a bit of that
swagger too as well. It's funny because I asked him
last weekend, I'm like, you feel like the old guy
in the room, and he's like, yeah, especially since we
don't have everyone back from NHL camp at that time,

(20:41):
Christofaro and Kennedy were still missing, and of course green
Tree and Spellaca and Nespit as well. Like he's looking
around the room and he sees a bunch of young guys.
I know from experience, that makes you feel old. But
Joey's he's elevated his game, not only on the ice,

(21:02):
but the mental side of the game too. And you know, Brandon,
that's so important for goaltenders and that really was a
huge factor last year where he had thirty four wins,
second only to Jackson Parsons. He had four shutouts last year,
again second only to Parsons, and he's basically started this
season where he left off. He did appear in fifty

(21:24):
one games last year. That's a high number. And I
think we did see him get fatigued in the second
part of the regular season last year, not so much
the playoffs, but the second part of the season. And
I wonder, with Michael Newlove in the fold for the
winsor Spitfires and they think he's a very talented goaltender

(21:46):
who will get drafted this year by an NHL team,
I wonder if they try to bring his workload down
a little bit and sort of have him ready for
the postseason or those really tight games when they come
around when they're battling for a top spot our homelice
advantage in the season. But Joey Costanzo often a great start,

(22:08):
And you.

Speaker 3 (22:08):
Spoke about Michael Newlove, a guy that maybe Windsor fans
aren't familiar Ohl fans aren't familiar with now, but possibly
down the road is going to be a guy that
will be a household name. You look at sort of
the player stats I got on the screen there for
the Spits that that I've gotten off to a hot
start obviously, you know, with the amount of goals for
that they've been able to put in the net has

(22:29):
been been pretty incredible. I know Cole Davis one Player
of the Week last week as well. So many give
give our listeners and viewers. Maybe a couple of names
you know to watch, oh four on the spitfires that
aren't the Liam Green Trees and Ethan Belchez of the world.

Speaker 5 (22:44):
Yeah, so Windsor's number one line right now it consists
of Ethan belch As, J. C Lemieux and Ethan Garden,
all young kids who have playing top line minutes this
so far this season in the Ontario Hockey League. So
when I said before, I think it'll help Windsor further
down the line. Those kids are prime examples of that.

(23:08):
I really like Johnny McLaughlin. He was Winsor's first round pick.
He's got two goals in three points in five games.
Carson Woodhall on the back end, Anthony Christafarow gets a
lot of press. Even Wyat Kennedy may get a lot
of press. I mentioned Jonathan Brown as well. I think
he's a very good, young looking defenseman. But I think

(23:29):
Carson Woodall is one of those guys that flies under
the radar. But yet when you see him play. He
makes such smart decisions on the ice. He may have
one of the best first passes out of his own end.
He skates so well, and he's got seven assists already
in five hockey games. Another kid I'll mention is Carter Hicks.

(23:52):
He is draft eligible this year. His compete level has increased,
which is great from a defenseman point of view. He's
behind a few other guys on the depth chart, but
he's got some offensive upside with some great skating ability
as well. And because Windsor's defense is so deep, I

(24:13):
think that's what's going to be the key to success
for Windsor. We talked about Joey Costanzo, and we talked
about some of the other players who could put the
puck in the net. But because the depth on Windsors
bloom line is legitimately seven players deep, I think this
is going to be a tough team to score against.
And we've seen that so far this season. They've only

(24:35):
allowed four goals in five hockey games. So you know
what they say. Offense is exciting, Defense wins you championships,
and the Spitfires are off to a good start. Greg Walters,
his coaching staff Chris Newberry, Casey Torres. They've preached defense
and the players.

Speaker 4 (24:52):
Are most goals for and least goals against.

Speaker 3 (24:54):
That's a recipe for success.

Speaker 5 (24:59):
Boy is it ever?

Speaker 3 (25:01):
First place in the Western Conference. And last thing I'll say, Manny,
is this is a big week for the Spitfires. Obviously,
Saturday's game against the Branford Bulldogs is going to be
maybe a little bit of a taste of what we
could possibly see, you know, sometime.

Speaker 4 (25:12):
In May down the road.

Speaker 3 (25:14):
But with Niagara tonight as well, another team that's looking
to take a big step. So a big week as
far as the teams that Windsor is gonna face, as
far as some measuring stick games for other teams, because
it seems seems like Windsor right now is the hunted
and sort of the benchmark that teams are trying to
have their best games against. So for them having these
high expectations now as they go forward into October and

(25:36):
getting through the first month of the season, what is
sort of as the guys start to trickle back from
NHL camps and the lineup for Greg Walters is going
to be, you know, more filled out with some of
those top end guys you know, what is just your
early first half outlook here as we go forward with
the Spits.

Speaker 5 (25:53):
Yeah, you know, I know the OHL's got that countdown
to sixty eight, you know, and I think there's three
teams that are still in the fold, so to speak.
But nobody's going to go sixty eight to zero. And
I think what you just said, Brandon, these are great
tests for the windsor Spitfires, and maybe they will come

(26:15):
back down to earth in one of those games. But
I don't see a problem with that. You can't get
too high, and if you need to get a lesson
along the way, so be it. But I think the
coaching staff for the Spitfires do a really good job
of keeping the team and the players in the present.
So when they do face Niagara, they won't look ahead

(26:37):
to the Bulldogs. They will focus on that game against
the Ice Dogs. And they know that Frankie Vola, the
former Spitfires director of scouting, is a part of that
Niagara franchise now and the Bulldogs. They'll focus on the Bulldogs.
These players know that Branford's going to be one of
the teams to beat not only in the OHL, but

(26:57):
the entire CHL for that matter, one of the best teams,
so they know that and they know that that contest
is going to be great. But this season is positioning
itself for yet another Windsor Kitchener battle in the Western
Conference playoffs, just like Windsor has battled Kitchener the last

(27:18):
two times they have been in the postseason. And could
we see a repeat of the OHL Final from three
years ago when Hamilton and Windsor battled to a Game
seven in the OHL Final? One team now when Bradford
the others still in Windsor. But boy, wouldn't that be
exciting and the storylines they would be epic.

Speaker 4 (27:40):
Even with some different teams.

Speaker 3 (27:41):
Seems like some unfinished business and maybe destiny for them
to face the Rangers and the Bulldogs on route to that.
It would definitely be interesting. But always amazing stuff here
from Manny Peva, one of the radio broadcasters on AM
eight hundred TKLW four the Windsor Spitfires been covering the
league for a long time.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
It does an amazing job.

Speaker 3 (28:00):
With Steve Bella on the radio call, many thanks so
much for taking the time to join us today and
look forward, They're definitely going to be checking in with
you throughout the season as our windsor correspondent, because this
is a team everybody wants to hear about. So look
forward to chatting with you again sometime this year.

Speaker 5 (28:16):
I look forward to it, and I know you're going
to have call in here on the show. I don't
know what second rate opinions or information he's going to share,
but good luck to him to try to live up
to this segment. Great to see.

Speaker 3 (28:29):
It'll be right back here with the Branford Bulldogs perspective
from Colin Ward on the Bulldogs Audio Network. So stay
right here, but right back on. Oh'll overtime right here
on the Armchair GM Sports Network.

Speaker 6 (28:39):
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Speaker 4 (30:27):
Hi, this is Larry and the Lot.

Speaker 2 (30:28):
You are listening to OHL Overtime.

Speaker 3 (30:48):
And welcome back to part two of today's OHL Overtime
episode right here on the Armchair GM Sports Network. Thank
you for those that are tuned in live on our
YouTube channel and those that are listening on your favorite
on demand audio platform. Please make sure a hit like
kid subscribe, smash that Belt's the update with all of
our coverage here on the network as well as on Facebook,
Instagram and TikTok for all of our short reels and content.

(31:09):
Please be back on the second part of today's show.
Gonna talk some Branford Bulldogs, talk to some windsor spitfires
in the first part of today's episode, and the other
team that has a lot of high expectations on the
top ten of the cochl Power rankings and near the
top of the OHL Power rankings as well.

Speaker 4 (31:25):
Please to welcome on today.

Speaker 3 (31:26):
Co host of the podcast and the Bulldogs Audio Network
and been covering the Bulldogs over the last five years.
That would be the Colin Ward for his Ohio State
Buck Guys. Colin also does a great job as the
co host of the Ohl and sixty podcast, running each
and every week here on the network as well. Colin,
appreciate you coming on today and willing to give us
some Bulldogs insight.

Speaker 4 (31:46):
Yeah, no problem, Thanks for Anon for having me. I mean,
first off, we've been so excited to be on the
network here for the last month now, it's been already,
i mean it's been a quick month already and it's
been a blast, love everything about it, so it should
be fun. It's been a fun starting Branford. There's a
lot of expectations and there's a lot of excitement in
the community. Quite frankly, I mean, anytime you're in a

(32:07):
community like Branford and you have a quality team, I
mean this is the first time. I mean we saw
it with the Red Sox and the IBL a while
about a while back when they were get in the
two thousands, like thirteen when they were nasty, and you
saw the excitement there with the Red Sox. Now you're
seeing it in Branford with the Bulldogs. I mean every
night you got three thousand, no problem, right, it's three
thousand strong every time you go in to Civic in

(32:28):
the plays like it's in ten thousand seed arena at
TD Civic Center. So it's exciting and it's definitely fun.
It's an honor to cover for the Bulldogs. It's been
a blast, and I think that it's always it's always cool,
like when you have a good team, like it's a
respectful year. I mean, I've been lucky enough, like it's
been such a good organization and we've had such good
people to work with and you know when you usually

(32:50):
and it's been a competitive five years now with the club.
I mean first year, you know there's no HL Championship.
The following year they just sell and the team over
performs of what everyone else had them predicted. You come
to Branford and you win, and that's and well not win,
but you know you have a quality team. You play,
have a team that overachieved in an overraging Matteo Drowback

(33:13):
who was so good that season. Right, you look at
the number like you look at this team last year
with Nick clarda is scoring seventy goals and then this
year all the excitement. It's definitely cool. It's been it's
been a blast. And I mean, don't work with jamiee
every day too after games is incredible. I mean there's nobody,
there's no coach in the in the entire hockey league

(33:33):
that's better to work with than Jamieckee. I mean, that
guy's the best. And I think everybody in this Bulldog's
organization will go to war for Jamickee. He's the best.
In the Hymen family as well. I mean Spencer Hymen
when he's done so far in this offseason, you see
the care, you see how much time he puts into
the organization. I think the city of Branford and the
fans are really appreciative of that, because we did with

(33:53):
the new arena announcement, you know, with the least and
with the least in Bramford, with the mad house with
last year in the posts he's with the cars in
the front of the arena. You know, it's a mad house.
And I think that Spencer Hymen and Spencer's been great.
He's been great to work with. Those guys are those
guys are beauties and they're great to work with. I
mean every day you want to do your batch just
for those guys.

Speaker 3 (34:13):
And when you talk about the stability, obviously, uh, the
passing of the torch from the Steous regime to the
Matt Turik regime to the Spencer Hyman regime, and obviously
Michael Landlauer as the owner and and helping the team
get to Branford as well, and that stability with Jay
McKee as the head coach over over the last little while,
Like just how important has that been for not only

(34:35):
the franchise's stability but now with the the elevated eligibility
with the NC Double A and the way that the
Bulldogs are able to trade up and the impoor draft
and the getting guys to commit and want to come
to Branford as a destination. One of the best destinations
right now is you can see with all the players
that they've been able to get and that's you know,
and they're still trying to build a new a new
arena as well. So can you speak to how much

(34:58):
everything is played into them being able to have an
easier time getting players to want to come to Branford
to be a part of the Bulldogs.

Speaker 4 (35:06):
Well, I think. And first off, Brandon, that's a cool question.
I really like that question. But the with the Bulldogs organization,
I mean, and obviously the current landscape of the CHL,
it's kind of almost written in stone right now what
this with. Every CHL person that covers the league, anyone
with the CHL wide knows what's going on right now,

(35:26):
and that's the n C double A agreement, right What's
what's going on, what's gonna happen. There's teams that a benefit,
there's teams that will not work with the NC double A.
The Branford Bulldogs, I mean, I even know I've publicly
posted about it with my chats with Spencer Hymen, that
the Branford Bulger are gonna work with the NC double A.
I mean Zach Hyman. Spencer Hymen spent time at the
University of Michigan. Sorry for any Michigan fans listening to this,

(35:50):
and h Spencer knows about the bluck guys, so that's
all good. If he's listening to this. I won't get
in trouble for that. Go box the Ohio State University.
But I think that those guys, I mean, they've worked
well with the NC double A they have good connections
in the NC DOUBLEA, their credible sources for the NC
double A. You got to use those. You'd be crazy
not to use those, right, So you gotta do it's
best for yourselves, and that's what's best for the Branford Bulldogs, right.

(36:11):
The best of the Branford Bulldogs is continue to work
with the NC double A. We saw that so far
the first half of the season. I mean Caleb Manhultra,
Cooper Dennis, I mean ultra rookie of the week already
a five point effort in one game. I mean he
could have been Player of the Week for that matter,
with just five points in one game. You think of
the Bulldogs have one game with that draft eligible line
with him, Cooper Dennis and made O'Donnell like the opportunity

(36:34):
for him to get points and Nefferron on the power
play as well was pretty good. So you look at
think about those guys Atison Angle who commit who came.
It makes it a lot easier for teams that are
gonna work with the NC double A. I mean Bulldogs
have had a lot of n C double A scouts
at games, not just watching Bulldogs, watching the other teams
as well, the Bulldogs will continue to work with the
NC Double A. Getting a media pass and credentials for

(36:54):
at TD Civic Center is always going to be a
thing for NC Double A scouts in this new landscape,
the Bulldogs had benefited from that. But on the flip side,
the Ranford Bulldogs would also want players to be there
for multiple seasons, not just a one and done thing.
You want term, you want two to three seasons. At
least a guy comes in at sixteen, they don't leave
till you're nineteen years old. You know, like things like that.

(37:17):
They look about last year, for example, the Bulldogs Cole Brown.
Cole Brown commission order dain this year would have been
his overage year. Okay, we understand that. With the Branford
bulldoge year, that's understandable decision. We understand that it's tough. Obviously,
we'd like to have a good person. Cole Brown's a
good person. He's really good for the organization. A lot
of guys in the room like them. But with the
way things go in the new landscape, Okay, that happened,

(37:38):
But how how do you get their replacements? Well, you
get as an angle, you get Cooper Dennis, right, you
get Kleb Mahultra. You're getting a lot of commitments out
of it. So on the flip side, the Bulldogs have
really benefited from it. And hey, think about the ads
that they have made this summer. There was a ton.
There was a ton. It wasn't a week where and Brandon,
I know you just you know this from Niagara. There
wasn't a week where the Bulldogs didn't make an addition.

(37:59):
It felt like it was all the time. It kept us,
it kept us on our toes and it was exciting.
But it's cool. It's exciting to see. And I think
that when you get those quality ads without having to
give up a lot of picks. Ither think the Sam
mch Ad I mean Rhdor Boltons, the seventh, but you
think about the you think about the ads that they made,
I mean a lot of them. They didn't have to
give anything up, so it was huge and that's kind

(38:21):
of the point that is massive for the Bulldogs and
to the import draft. It's actually funny, Marn. I mean
Adam Bannock made his regular season debut for the Bulldogs
on Saturday night. Oh my gosh. I mean, the raving
skill speaks for itself. When you watch them play, and
I know I was glowing to you before and you're
probably like, oh my gosh, it shut up about the
Bulldogs for a second here. And but Adam Bannock, I mean,

(38:44):
you see it on your screen right now on YouTube.
I mean four points in the one game that through
the legs goal was nasty, but the power play at
time and I talked about it on the dodcast this week,
talked about it on Rough Thoughts after the game. It
almost feels like a two to on oh when him
and Jacobrien are on a break on a two on two.
If at the two on two, it feels like it's

(39:04):
a two on oh and him and Jacobrien are together,
it doesn't feel fair. It feels like it's a five
on four power play. When they're on the ice together
five on five with American acker, that's like and I
know that's a small sample size, but the excitement in
the in trigger about Adam a knock. The first step
is is a ten out of ten first step. Any
scout would rave about his first step. I mean he's gone,

(39:28):
He's zero to sixty real quick, and that's kind of
and that's exciting, you know, to be able to skate
at that high level and be strong on the puck,
not getting knocked off pucks. He's a he's a first
round pick that went one oh two because of his size.
You see the size there right on there on your
YouTube screen five foot eight one sixty three for use
listening on your podcast systems five eight one sixty three, right,

(39:50):
Like not a big guy, but the skill speaks for itself.
He's a type of player you look at you look
at his numb you don't look at it. If you
don't look at his numbers. You just look at his
body and you look at him A five eighty one
sixty three. This guy's what is that? But then you
look at his points. Then you have to watch him
and play in person. You watch him play and your
jaws rots the first time he's on the ice, you

(40:11):
know who he is and it's like Wow, I think
the sky's the limit for Adam knock and the entiro
hockey guy. I really do. I'm I think that's my
most exciting player for the Bulldogs. And the short story
here from Saturday against the Sudbury Walls. He steps on
the ice at the first period's over looks good right
and obviously you see the goal later on in the third.

(40:32):
After the second, I sent general manager Spencer him and
a text message saying, thank you for making the Adam
Bnock trade. It's worth everything. That's how I mean. I
usually don't do that, but you know, he's he's he's
been incredible. I mean even in the preseason, the game
against Niagara that he played in, he looked really good.
But I'm really excited to see what fans get to

(40:54):
see when they get to consume Adam Bannock playing hockey.
That's what he was meant to do. And I'm really
excited for your h the fans to get to see
him around the Interiro Hockey League to play hockey because
he's exciting. And then obviously vlad Vladimir Dramaski going late
in the first round of the import drafts, while getting
that commitment was huge. At seventeen, Vlad's a beauty. Like

(41:16):
everything Vlad does is at an elite level. The first week,
the first weekend was kind of tough. You could see
the transition. I mean, and everyone sees this around the league, right.
You see guys that come into the Intil Hockey League,
they're seventeen years old. It's hard to make that adjustment.
At times. He's been he was great. He's been great.

(41:36):
Last week against Sudbury looked good. The game against Kitchener
he kind of struggled a little bit. The game was
a little fast for him. That's just gonna happen naturally,
right when you're a young player trying to figure it out.
You're away from home for the first time and trying
to figure that out is tough. But Vlad's great, great talker,
great interview, very good speaker. He's a mini Tamash Hamra,

(41:57):
mini version seventeen years old. He's the smile, the eat
a bowl of rainbows and go to the rank every day,
the exact same, the checkmate, the perfect checkmate for Branford
after unique jan me Shack and then you go now
with the checks you're at zech obviously uh Drewski and
uh with Bannock. But no, it's a it was a

(42:20):
really good import draft for the Bulldogs for sure.

Speaker 3 (42:23):
And I'm just gonna quickly pull up last year's play
player stats calling because when people looked at it, you know,
how they how are they going to replace Nick Lartis's
seventy one goals Patrick Thomas, Cole Brown, Like everybody was
wondering how this Bulldogs team was gonna fare with some
of those top end guys going away. You still have
JK O'Brien, you know, top ten pick in the NHL Draft,
signed by the Seattle Krack and gonna most likely be

(42:44):
contending for the hl's Most Outstanding Player this season. But
it's been a lot of those other signings, like you
mentioned the Adam Bannak and these other guys being able
to come in. Did the Caleb Malhotras maybe taking a
big step, you know, to you what you've seen so
far with the team. I know it's only been a
small sample size, but you know who are some of
those names that are are really elevating and taking that

(43:05):
stefp forward and sort of filling those shoes of those
those big time players that obviously moved on to bigger
things in the pros and in college.

Speaker 4 (43:13):
Well, first off, Patty Thomas, I mean Patrick Thomas was
a lifeline Bulldog, you know, most underrated Bulldog. I would
say Patrick Thomas. Everything he brought to the table day
in and day out for the Bulldogs, I mean every
situation was he was successful in for the Bulldogs. He
had a big face off. He was the guy. It's
hard to replace that, you know, but it's my committee.

(43:34):
Nick Clarda scores seventy goals. How do you can You
don't replace seventy goals in the season. How do you
do it? You do it by committee. And I think
that's the one thing with the Bulldogs talking with j
Mickee on the daily after game postgame, and you hear
every time coach J Mickee mentioned that there is no
first line right now for the Bulldogs. There really isn't.

(43:54):
You have the draft eligible line in Caleb Ahultra Cooper
Dennis Ain't O'Donnell in. Those three have been spectaclar together,
which would be your quote unquote third line. On Saturday
in her second game against the third game this season
against Sudbury Wolves, that was her third line over the boards.
If you're gonna look at that like, there's a lot
of depth to this team. So the depth scoring you

(44:15):
would think would be a little better than last year's
with getting stronger, getting creating more depth with the NC
double A signing. So that's one way to replace more points. Dude,
you made all the you got all those signings, you
got a lot of luck in the off season, right,
you got a lot of NC double a luck Edison
angle on the back end. I mean a quiet, quiet,
multi point night on Saturday. But you can see the

(44:37):
steel potential that Winnipeg has. He has decent size in
his game. You can to see that he has every
potential to be an elite defenseman. How do you run
the power play? Though? And the Branford Bulldogs, there's a
lot of potential there. There's a long lister that we
went over this on the podcast Brandon where there's legit.

(44:58):
Adam Irachek, Vladimir Drewski's been running the power play. Owen Protts.
Why not Owen Protts the deadlift king in Montreal. I'm
not going in the Bulldogs gym post game with Owen Protts.
I'm in Alex silly. That's what I learned from his
training camp in Montreal. I mean, the kid's a freak.
And then you look at Lucas Moore, who's been a

(45:19):
lifeline Bulldog as well, and you see what he did
in the preseason in the first couple of games running
the power play for the Bulldogs. Scoring a goal on
the power play in Kitchener like you look at that potential, right,
there's a big line. Cam Hanki ran the power play
for Haliburton and the OJ last season had a decent
year points wise running the power play. David Buckman's a
first round pick. Patrick Babin ran the power play last

(45:41):
year in the g O the Now, g O the
Go in the Development League with the Branford Titans. Right,
so they've had a lot of success. And when you
look on your YouTube page right now, you're watching on YouTube,
you look at the defense court and you're thinking the
depth a college commit could be a scratch won every
three games in Cam Hanki and he looked pretty damn
good in these and any Bulldog fans that are listening

(46:02):
to this could probably agree. He looked good. That's how
deep this team is. There's a lot of excitement about that.
And I think that's the biggest strong shoot with the Bulldogs.
That's why I think the points are gonna come from
everywhere in this lineup. And that's kind of the most
intriguing part to see what the potential can be. Last year,
the one the one negative last year with the Bulldogs
and that I want to point out Brandon was and

(46:23):
I want to make sure this fourth line, the identity
line I call it right now gets their flowers because
they're gonna be a crucial spot to opening up the ice.
But last year, when I think when teams played the
Branford Bulldogs, getting into the depth part of playing the
Bulldogs wasn't hard for other teams. I don't think it
was a hard night for the Oshawa Generals, for instance,

(46:46):
to play the Bulldogs fourth line. If they did the matchup,
I really don't think it was a hard night. This year,
it's a hard night. Lane Gallagher came into Camp Brandon
and I'm telling you he's a man, and I think
he's I think he's earned every right to stay as
a fourth line center. I really do. He's hard on
the forour check. He was tough on the forour check
at night one or in the first three games. He

(47:08):
really dictated the place as AH eight as well. Right,
and you look at the size six one, that's that's
a power forward in a perfect perfect size matchup for
your fourth line center along with the massive Parker Holmes.
Who Parker Holmes obviously, I think he gonna play his
way up the line up a little bit. Obviously in
a draft pick on the Chicago Blackhawks. You're gonna get

(47:29):
your touches, right, You're gonna get your lucks with the
naturally natural of being drafted, You're gonna get your chances.
So I believe he's gonna get chances to Parker Holmes,
but six four twenty eight, like you know what I'm
getting here with the fourth line being size and then
Thunderbolt Ryder Bolton five ten, one ninety five. But he

(47:49):
five ten, but he plays like he's seven foot Alexander
Karmanov style, like he's a big He plays big. And
the one thing I respect about Ryder Bolton is he
will not back down from anyone. He will not back
down from a hard four check. You will not back
down from a tough disagreement physically in middle of the ice.
You know every time, you know what you're gonna get
from Rider Bolton. Love it or hate it, you love

(48:11):
to have him on your team. And I think right
now you Bulldogs fans have loved to have Rider Bolton
on their team. The guy has been incredible in the room.
Guys love him. I mean when he went to Columbus,
guys are looking over their shoulder after forty minutes you're like, oh,
where's Ryder? Kind of miss him, you know. The personality's infectious.
He brings the team together. He's a locker room DJ.
He starts with the rap, goes in with the E

(48:33):
D M and the what up Euros? You know the
Euros like that right, and then you go right into
the right, into the old school rock and roll right,
and he just fits Branford to a t. He saw
lashing the postseason with the London Knights when he had
the mohawk going like that in the Madhouse is It's
like a match made in heaven. Bachelor and Paradise should
do a feature on that. But I just think that though.

(48:55):
I just think that fourth line they got to get
their props so far. I know it's early with those guys,
I mean, and they really give space. They create a
lot of freedom for those guys that are in the
top nine that get their opportunities, you know, to get
the space. But that's the one thing from last year
to this year this year, there is a fourth line
with an identity in Branford, and it is the identity

(49:18):
line they're going to hit. I mean, Ryder Bolton's had
a shot a game he's had scoring chances. In every
game he's had one scoring chance. They're gonna have their
chances and they're gonna dictate the four check. And I
think that's kind of the huge I think that's the
biggest difference between last year's team and this year's team.
I know they got to replace a lot of goals,
but that's gonna come a committee, and we've saw that
so far in the small sample size, we have saw that.

(49:40):
But I believe that the biggest turnaround from last year's
team with the Branford Bulldogs right now is the fourth
line having the identity being hard to play against. Because
let's be honest, and there's gonna be games around. Anyone
listening to this, who is a team, whoever cheer for
their respected team, is gonna know there's games in November.
There's games in December that are tough to get up for,

(50:01):
you know, like especially near the Christmas break. Right, world
Juniors guys are gone to World Juniors, and I believe
the Bulldog's gonna have a lot of guys gone for
a World Junior camp. You would think Mark man Acker,
Jacob brian Get invites her team Canada and then they
Obviously the Checkmates, probably three of them are gonna get
a chance, and the Bannock for sure with your a
check and proossibly Vlad with the if he plays well enough. Right,

(50:23):
you never know. So that's the one thing at that
Dog Days when guy, when you limp into the Christmas
break right, you just got to get there. That's where
those lines are huge, where you can have the identity,
you can play with a purpose, and I think that's
what the Bulldogs do really well. And I think that's
one of the coolest things about this year's team, to
have an identity on the fourth line that brings energy

(50:44):
and trust me, they get me excited. They create a
lot of energy for rough thoughts postgame. It's exciting.

Speaker 3 (50:49):
I don't think there's a team that you can say
that has more depth and more you know, possibilities with
the NHL talent and things like that. Sam mcqu is
another guy they added as well as a as an overrager.
So there's a lot to like from the Branford Bulldogs
and and sort of the way that their lineup's gonna,
you know, uh, sort of shape out and as you mentioned,
when World Juniors are still gonna have to have guys
step up, and I think they're one of the teams

(51:09):
I think has enough depth to be able to overcome,
you know, those luxuries of having guys play at those
big tournaments. And that was my next thing I wanted
to quickly touch on Colin, is the goaltending situation David
e gov and and Ryerson leanders there. What have you
seen from those two guys and and what do you
think in in the Bulldog's net.

Speaker 4 (51:29):
Yeah, we'll start with David Earoff on your YouTube page.
I mean David Eoff. I thought David eGov last year
did every earned every opportunity to be able to start
to be a starting goaltender anywhere. I really did, I
thought David Groov and And the one thing is with
backup goaltenders and backup it's a one A, one B situation.

(51:51):
With the Bulldogs, there's no starter, there's no backup. You
never really and it's always been a one it's always
been every other game thing with Jay McKee, other than
when mittels back the first year and Branford a couple
of seasons ago where you rode them a little bit
with a young David egroof getting settled into the Enterio
Hockey League. But David e Groff last year, every situation
you go into was a tough situation for Ego. He

(52:13):
got the seconds of back to back, sometimes the thirds
of the three and three because leaners will start the
first two and then Hegrov will get the third. That's
that's a tough spot to be in as a goaltender
who gets those second situations, I'll call it in the
interio hockey he gets hard. You get a lot of
bad nights. You think about the Michigan trip, you think
about the Sue Sudbury North Bay trip that you do

(52:33):
that three and three, it's hard do think with the
Bulldogs with their travel. Let's be honest. You'll have a
game on a Friday night and then it'll be Saturday
in Kingston or vice versa. Right Like, it's a tough
trip in the division that the Bulldogs are in. And
I think that David Egrov performed so well last year
in my opinion, in those opportunities when he got opportunities.
And that's why I'm always been on the Ego train
always and I always will be. And David e Groff's

(52:54):
a really good person. All the fans love him. It's
kind of cool. You know, he gets a puck every game,
He's giving pucks away to kids in the crowd, like
he's a fan favorite David Egaroff and Branford and this
guy deserves every opportunity to be a guy. And I
think he's gonna have an opportunity here to have big
games for Branford this year when he gets his chances.
I think he will perform very well at I'll and

(53:15):
I think the one thing with David e Groff is
you know what you're gonna get right now. You know
what you got out of him, and that's kind of huge.
Every other night, every other game, you know what you're
gonna get from David Egoff. And Ryerson Leanders obviously the
seventh round pick out of Buffalo two nineteen overall twenty
twenty two, already his draft here and back with Mississauga
at the time. Obviously Brampton now thirty second pick overall

(53:36):
in the second round by Mississauga. But Ryerson Leanders, I
mean every opportunity to be the guy. There were times
last year where they're Inconsistency was a thing with Ryerson Leanders, right,
Like there were games where you know it probably wants
those back. But Ryerson Leanders has every opportunity to compete.
He get he makes the Bulldogs better in front of him.
He as a calming presence, he's technically sounds, he's oh,

(54:00):
he's usually squea temper out of position, which is one
thing about Ryers Leners that I really respect. He's a
guy that's very composed. He's very good in the net,
feels the net well. So that's that's huge to your goal.
And let's be honest, the potential for Ryerson Leanders, it's
kind of a dark horse for goaltender of the year
in the Enteril Hockey League. You see it around, it's like, yeah,
he's gonna have an opportunity and his shots are gonna
be limited as well. You would think the rest the

(54:21):
Bulldogs are better. You would think that they're gonna get
less chance. You think you're gonna give up less shots
at per game as you did last year. Analytically, it
kind of makes sense that he would be a little
bit better this year for Ryers Leners, and I think
that Leader's gonna be the guy and that I'm excited
to see what he can do. It's a it's kind
of your last chance in front of the Buffalo's eyes
with the Sabers. If you think about that, Brandon for As,

(54:41):
I know your Sabers guy, and like when you think
about that, like it's kind of a show performance throughout
the year. Like last year he had forty eight starts,
it's kind of forty eight perform auditions this year to
show Buffalo that hey, I'm worthy, I'm worthy of a shot,
and I want a chance to turn pro with the
Buffalo Sabers. Right, So maybe it's his opportunity to show
that the Buffalo Sabers is year, because let's be honest,

(55:01):
Buffalo's got deep goaltending in the system. So we'll see
what happens. But I think Ryerson Laniers has a great
opportunity here to show Buffalo as well, not just not
just Bulldogs fans in the Entail Hockey League, that that
team success will lead to personal success for Ryerson Lanier's
And I think that's a I think that's the the
big thing for Ryerson Leaners this year. The opportunity for

(55:23):
that his personal personal success to grow with this Bulldogs
team success is going to be huge.

Speaker 3 (55:29):
For him, and he talked about at the Sabers prospect
challenge that he's so excited about coming back to Branford
and everything that the Hymens have done since coming there.
You know, it's a it's been first class and with
him and David igiov as the two headed monster in
the net, uh, I think that that's why the Bulldogs
are where they are right now as far as getting
off to it's a pretty good start and then why

(55:50):
everybody has them as the one of the top teams
to watch all season long, and not only the OHL
but in the CHL as well. So as we're wrapping
up here, Colin, and a lot of exciting things, you
know for Branford where they want to go in the
next couple of seasons with all those draft picks and
possibly the twenty thirty Memorial Cup bit is something that
they've talked about possibly wanting to get in on as well.

(56:11):
Involved and a new arena in Branford as well is
probably coming down the pipeline as well. So a lot
of exciting things around the organization. So sort of what
is your outlook, you know, for this season and as
we go forward here obviously in the future years, you know,
we can touch on that later. But it seems like
it's a very exciting time in Bramford with what the

(56:32):
Hymen's and the sort of plan that they're trying to
build with this organization.

Speaker 4 (56:37):
Yeah, I think right now, in the short terms, in
the short term thing of it all, enjoy this lineup
coming together. There's gonna be moves. There's going to be
little tweaks here that are gonna happen. I don't know.
I don't think it's gonna come as a surprise, but
I think there's going to be moves that are going
to happen. There's going to be little lineup decisions they
are going to have to be made, which is very

(56:58):
intriguing for the short term, and enjoy the process. Enjoy
what the Bulldogs have right now. Enjoy the creation of
this team and how it works. I mean, let's be honest,
for fifteen twenty games, you gotta see what you got.
And the bull Dogs are gonna, I believe, maybe a
couple of little tiny moves, but you're gonna You're gonna
kind of see what they have and then we'll see
what happened. You hope you have the opportunity to play

(57:19):
in long term success and obviously long term success and
the outside noise because inside these walls a civic center. Brandon,
I'll tell you right now, egos the enemy, Jay McKee
shuts it down a sap. It's like, I know, like
that's probably cheap. That's probably Cheese's biggest pet peeve right
now when he gets questions about the power rankings and

(57:41):
there's no egos the enemy in Branford and started. That
starts with Jay McKee. And I think that the Bulldogs
want every opportunity to be able to earn that respect.
And I know it's appreciative, but I think with the Bulldogs,
I think you gotta continue to ride this, enjoy this process,
enjoy this team being built, take your time, make every
decision that and think about every decision what's right for

(58:02):
the team to get better right now. And I think
that the overall success. Yeah, the potential is great. It
is even though he goes the enemy. There's a lot
of potential. When you see the roster on paper, when
you see the Eastern Conference being what it is and
you see the Western Conference being what it is, and
you see where the Bulldogs kind of match up on paper,
I mean, yeah, you can be pretty confident but you
gotta play it out. You got to see you gotta

(58:24):
see what happens here, and you gotta continue to get
better and get every opportunity for guys to develop in
the system right now early on in the year, and
I think if everything continues to go the way that
Bulldogs want it to go, it should be a successful year.
But it's definitely gonna be aaron It's a tough year.
This year's a lot of good teams and it's gonna
be exciting to see how the Bulldogs can overcome some
of these teams. I mean Saturday Night, right for example,

(58:46):
is the first measuring stick game of the year for
the Bulldogs in a way, playing the Winster Spitfires for
the only time at TD Civics Center this year. Like,
those types of games are gonna be hard for the Bulldogs.
You're gonna see what you got. And I think this
week you're gonna see what the Bulldogs happen laying Peterborough
on Friday Night and let's be honest, divisional game. The
piazz are gonna be a tough team to play against
this year. I think there's no easy games with Peterborough.

(59:07):
And we talked about this on the dodcast this week,
where it feels like every time the Peterborough Petz and
the Branford Bulldogs play, they're they're never really quote unquote
going for it in the same year, but they're always
tough games. And you go back to twenty twenty two
and it felt like a UFC match with Arbor Jack
some of the Arbor Jackeye stories from that from that
first round matchup and Jay McKee. A lot of fireworks

(59:29):
in that series, and it was one of the toughest
physical series for the Bulldogs in that playoff run. And
I think that that's kind of what you're gonna get
from Peterborough. It was a tough game one in the
home opener with the Peterborough Peach. That's gonna be a
tough game on Friday night Saturday, obviously a measuring stick game.
But I think with the Bulldogs, you just want to
continue to trend up. I want to continue to trend
in the right direction, stick to the process, have a
good room and they should be fine. It's gonna be

(59:50):
exciting to get out of your checking the lineup on
Friday night. Then I think that that's huge to see
this team come together right now you're gonna have five
to ten games here over the next couple of weekends
to really see what you got and then the excitement
should start. So it should be It's kind of exciting
for sure to have that opportunity to have the praise
that they've gotten.

Speaker 3 (01:00:10):
One hundred percent small sample size, but like what we've
seen so far, and again, maybe we see a rematch
from the Bulldogs and Spitfires in the OHL Championship from
just a few years ago.

Speaker 4 (01:00:20):
Wouldn't that be something? Yeah, that'd be awesome. I mean,
Winsor's a great spot to get pizza, so, uh, it'd
be great. I would not. I mean, anytime you could
get to cover and go to the Interior Hockey Finals
is an honor, and I mean it's about it's it's
a lot of luck. It's a lot of luck in
very lucky year one to be able to go to
the OHL finals. I mean, pretty, it's pretty it's that's

(01:00:41):
very lucky. Not a lot of people get to do that.
So it was very very honored for that, and I
think then it should be fun anywhere would be cool.
But yeah, Winsor, the the pizza's worth it. The pizza
is worth it to go the night before and obviously
that's that'd be great.

Speaker 3 (01:00:55):
And your buddy Manny Peva gave you a nice little
rib right before he left the show today to put
all in good fun and all in good love, and
I know is his His Eagles are playing your Broncos
this week, so yeah, it's against the Bulldog. Is gonna
be a big, big weekend for you guys rivalrywise.

Speaker 4 (01:01:11):
Yeah, Saturday Sunday. Oh, and he's probably I'm not gonna say,
he's probably a Team up North fan take damn put
an accent it for Michigan if you know what I'm saying.
He's probably a Wolverines fan Urban Meyer never say that
team's name, but he's probably that so good thing that
wasn't on Saturday too, it would be a hate week
for us. But no, man he's great. Definitely someone I

(01:01:34):
look up to in the industry. He's I remember we
in the on Taro Hockey Finals now, which is five
years ago, this may already, which is wild to think
about that trip by brand and the windsor that's that's incredible.
But Manny, Manny is one of the first people I
met in the Antario Hockey League came on the podcast
obviously in the LHL at sixty. Man he's a beauty. Uh,

(01:01:56):
kind of the concierg of Windsor for us too whenever
we're there giving us the pizza rankings. Now, I think
I could give him a pizza ranking. My girlfriend Liza
in her connections to Windsor with her family, so we've
had I've kind of found some pizza spots. So I
can't wait to I can't wait. I wish she was
there on Saturday at Tdent Civic Center, but I can't

(01:02:19):
wait to get the Windsor this year and talk to
Manny about and catch up on our pizza ratings and
about the uh the Buckeyes beating the Wolverines and maybe
the Broncos having a big upset after this season turned
around on Sunday against the Eagles. Just keep it close,
Just keep it close, because they can fly all they want,
but everyone knows Broncos country. Let's ride.

Speaker 3 (01:02:42):
Throwing the Russell Wilson in after that.

Speaker 4 (01:02:44):
But no, it's a bolt mix. Now, we got we
got all the way to ractoon in the stadium.

Speaker 3 (01:02:48):
The co host on the of the dogcast on the
Bulldogs Audio Network and also is rough thoughts postgame thoughts
as well that you can check out in Also uh
co host of the Ohl and sixty podcast here on
the network every single week, cal And appreciate you coming
on and giving us some time as your other Bulldogs
correspondent this season, and I'm sure we'll be checking in
with you again throughout the year.

Speaker 4 (01:03:08):
Yeah, no, thanks, Brandon, appreciate it. So all it's an
easy it's an easy come on it. It's just talking
to a buddy, so it's kind of nice. It's easy,
and I can talk about the Bulldogs for like hours
on hours, so it's he it's a it's a blast
and I can't wait. And thanks for the shot over
rough thoughts, nerve wracking talk getting used to talking to myself,
but let's be honest, anyone in the radio wants to

(01:03:28):
has to get used to talking to themselves, so it's
kind of it's kind of fun, half fun half after game.
As you know, Brandon, there's a lot of textro out games.
When you're in Niagara Bulldogs are playing Ice Dogs, you're playing,
We're talking about how your game's going, how our game's going.
I get pretty energetic after games, so they should be fun.
I get the and I get to shoot the breeze
with the fans, and I think that's the best part.
Like Branford, we have so many good fans in Branford,

(01:03:51):
and I think that's it's It's honestly so cool to
be able to share my opinion with Bulldog fans because
they think the game the same way as I do.
So it's very lucky to be able to talk with
Bulldog fans as well. So it'll be cool. Definitely, can't wait.
Maybe we'll have you on for the Niagara game next Thursday.
That'd be fun. Give your thoughts on the Bulldogs, one
thoughts on the one thought on the Bulldogs this year

(01:04:12):
for rough thoughts, just off the top of your head.
So maybe we'll do that next Thursday at Meridian Center.
Can't wait to be there. You guys are always good host.

Speaker 3 (01:04:20):
Depending on the result, that could be definitely interesting. But
Brandford Bulldogs and the winsor Spitfires two teams look poised
to make a deep playoff run and possibly meet the
Ohl Championship. We've still got many weeks to go here,
only two weeks in, and we don't want to go
too far ahead of ourselves. But the two teams that
a lot of people are keeping their eyes on in
the Ontario Hocke League this season. So that's gonna wrap

(01:04:42):
it up for OBHL Overtime episode right here on the
armshair GM Sports Lever. Thank you very much to Manny
Pava and Colin Ward is this week's guest for coming
on and giving analysis from these two respective clubs. Thank
you those that tuned in on our video version of
our podcast and those that listen to your favorite on
demand audio platform. We give us a follow on x
Armchair GM Pod as well as a Facebook, Instagram and
TikTok for all of our short reels and content. So

(01:05:05):
for calling award at Manny pave on today's show, my
name is Brandon Phutto. We'll talk to you again very soon.

Speaker 1 (01:05:10):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.

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Are Windsor and Brantford The Clear Favourites Early This OHL Season? - OHL Overtime

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Are Windsor and Brantford The Clear Favourites Early This OHL Season? - OHL Overtime