Niagara IceDogs Find Their Bark Early in December - Dog Pound Podcast - The Armchair GM's Sports Network

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 (00:30):
This is Rod Mahood, your in game voice of the
Niagara Ice Dogs, and you're listening to the dog Pound Podcast.

Speaker 3 (00:37):
On the Armchair GM Sports.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Network, your podcast hourse for all game analysis, team interviews,
and up to date news regarding the Niagara Ice Dogs.

Speaker 4 (00:50):
Over Time, Ice Dogs, Wind the Brush a Pace, also Jima.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
It's a power play gol Ice Dogs.

Speaker 4 (01:01):
Heady Scar host seg Fer school as an ice Dog
Trump Stop Shipley Gritchie.

Speaker 5 (01:07):
Scar gets it to a kill.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Thomas Thomas has the ankle coming bat.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Welcome into another episode of the dog Pound Podcast, the
official podcast of your nag Or Ice Dogs. Proudly he
writes by Global Pet Foods, where pets are unnappily part
of the family and their three Great nag Or region locations.
Thank you those that are tuned in on our video
version on YouTube, make sure to hit like it, subscribe
and smash that belt. Stay up to date with all
of our video coverage here on the network. And thank
you to our loyal audio listeners on your favorite on
demand audio platform Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you're getting your

(01:43):
podcast phil from. We thank you for your support. As always,
Brandon Cambudo and Christian Simmons are with you to break
down the Ice Dogs two and oh week to begin
the month of December.

Speaker 3 (01:53):
Oh yeah, after what was a.

Speaker 1 (01:55):
Very rocky November to say the least, the Ice Dogs
getting in the Christmas here early in December. We're gonna
hear from Ice Dog's head coach Chris BArch as well
on the post game and goaltender Vladislav You're Malenko after
a solid two and zero performance from him in the
Ice Dog's net. This week, we're gonna go over weekly statistics.
We got some highlights to go over as well. But uh, Christian,

(02:17):
as we we start here, I know this is the
last setup for you. You're you've got some exciting stuff
going on for your video setup. But you know, great
start to the to the month of December. And we
talked about them needing to to find some positivity here
after all the things that they went through last month,
and now we're starting to see some of those parts
of the process that Chris BArch continues to talk about. Finally,

(02:40):
you know, the fruits of the labor are starting to show.

Speaker 3 (02:42):
That's it. Christmas is coming early. You can hear the
jingle bells. I can hear them. They're they're they're fainted
and in the distance, but I can hear them. They're coming,
and I it yeah holiday spirit. I'm already feeling uh,
feeling good, and I think this is exactly what they
needed to quick turn around. But yes, my setup is changing.

(03:02):
For those of you who watch on the video platform,
and notice that Jesus is visiting us in the top
left corner of my screen. He will be gone if
I can after this one for the next show. I
am currently in the process of building an office in
the basement and we're getting there, so hopefully a better
setup for next week. But yeah, Ice dogs win two

(03:24):
in a row, keep rolling here. No defeat December is
what we're gonna call it. Road to no defeat December.
They got a couple weeks left here, three, three weeks,
four weeks, I guess three or four weeks. And I
think this is a really important stretch of hockey for them,
and they couldn't have started any better. They had two

(03:47):
high compete level games. They came back in Brampton. They
also came back in the North Bay game. It was
two really entertaining hockey games and I'm excited to break
them down here for you guys.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
A few bits of housekeeping again, if you're watching the
video version you see on the top left corner there.
If you want to get in it's the holiday season.
Get in on the Dog Pound Podcast merch. We've got
armshair GM merch there. We've got all of our shows
there through Fourth Wall and again some great stuff there
over the holidays if you want to get some great
merch here from the network and as well, because the

(04:17):
Ice Dog's finally won a home game for the first
time since October thirty first, guys, you know what that means.
Plug the promo the dog Tree Baby exactly. So for
you guys listening and aren't watching, we have the Ice
Dog's home victory free dog Tree to any of the

(04:39):
three Niagara Region Global Pet Foods locations Scott Street and
Saint Catharine's Portage Road to Niagara Falls and Highway twenty
in fun Hill. Guys, you can go until the end
of the day today which is Monday at the time
recording this, and by the time this comes out, you
can go down to any of those locations get your
pupp free dog Tree courtesy of the dog Pound podcast
the Ice Dogs getting a victory on that Sunday after noon.

(05:03):
With that out of the way, Christian a little bit
of a programming alert for our fan base. Want to
keep them in the loop here. The next couple of
weeks are going to be a little bit different, but
that doesn't mean that the Dogtown Podcast is not going
to be still running weekly programming. I myself am going
to be going away for a few weeks to cover

(05:26):
another event, the Hockey Canada World Junior Camp coming here
to Niagara Falls. I'll be shifting my focus there as
well as some of the games that will be happening
in Kitchener in London. So Christian will be taking the
reins of this show for a few weeks, and we
look forward to seeing what he's going to be able
to do with the show. Maybe some guests, maybe not,

(05:47):
but really good opportunity for Christian and he's earned it
through what he's done the first half of the year.
So Christian, you know, I don't know if you have
any words on that, but really look forward to seeing
what you do with the show the next couple of
weeks and with something that we record at the rink yesterday.
That's going to be coming out towards Christmas as well.

Speaker 3 (06:03):
Yes, and to quickly speak on what we recorded yesterday,
I want to give a huge shout out to some
of our fans that were there live at the game yesterday.
Had an amazing response, very friendly with us, and we're
willing to engage in the content that we were creating.
You guys will see that coming up shortly. Don't want
to spoil anything. And as far as me taking over
the podcast, that's a dun dun du moment. Everybody be concerned.

(06:28):
It's going to be an interesting couple of weeks for sure,
but yeah, looking forward to it. Should be fun and
of course, Brandon a great opportunity to go cover the
World Junior's training camp, so be stay tuned for that
as well. You know that content coming on the Armchair
GM Sports Network, so keep a head up for that.
But yeah, I'm excited, should be hopefully if we continue

(06:50):
with the same trend, a couple more victories and victories
are easy to talk about for sure.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
So we'll see Christian on the podcast the next couple
of weeks and return some time around or right after Christmas.
So it was nice to be able to do a
postgame recap at the rink together yesterday.

Speaker 6 (07:07):
It was the last kind of game we'll be together
for a few weeks.

Speaker 1 (07:10):
But again, hopefully the Ice Dogs, as you mentioned, can
continue this upward trend. So Christian, let's get into it.
I'm gonna pull up a caption real quick here. Ice
Dog's off on the right foot two and oh December,
after what was you know, seven and two month of November. Again,
we're gonna get into statistics and everything like that, but
you could tell just how much of a wait this

(07:33):
weekend was lifted off their shoulders. The comeback victory and
Brampton the last wild last ten minutes scoring four unanswered
goals of winning that game for two.

Speaker 6 (07:41):
And then a grind.

Speaker 1 (07:42):
Out game yesterday against a North Bay battalion, a very
well coached team, a very structured team, down one nothing,
low scoring affair. Vladislavvier Malenko keeps a minute, they the
Ice Dogs get a goal, it's called back, they respond
right away, and then Riley Patterson's able to get the
overtime winner. But just a really character building weekend, and

(08:02):
especially within the division. You couldn't have asked much more yeah,
and for.

Speaker 3 (08:06):
Me, it's compete, compete, compete, compete. The way that they
played in those two games, you could tell there was
a new mission, there was a new weight on their
shoulders and they were starting to feel it, and the
hockey that we expected at the start of the season
and maybe throughout November really started to take form. We
saw how dangerous they can be, how relentless they can be.

(08:29):
The offensive ability of that top six started to shine
through the defensive side of the game. Maybe not so
much in Brampton, but against North Bay we really saw that.
Like they played what I would call the niagarais Dog's
brand of hockey for one hundred and twenty minutes and
they got rewarded for it. We've talked a lot on

(08:50):
this show, and so is Chris bartch Of course, we're
gonna hear it from him later about the process, about
the equation and what it looks like when these plays
are playing to their potential and to the standard that's
being set by the coaching staff and by the management team.
That's what it looks like. You got, you got superstars

(09:11):
who can score four goals in ten minutes. That's what
we saw in Brampton, you got resiliency and leadership. That's
what we saw on home ice yesterday against North Bay
when they get the goal called back and they come back.
For me, I look at these two as, these two wins,
as massive steps forward because of what we saw. It

(09:32):
wasn't like, you know, they won games in you know,
convincing fashion, or you know they played some weaker teams
and absolutely beat the brakes off of them. It was
two games that were tight and competitive. The first one
three nothing they were. They came back, they came back.

(09:52):
They fought hard for that victory, and it didn't come easy.
I mean, you start a third period down by two goals,
that's a you know, that's a kiss of death for
a lot of teams at a lot of different levels.
And they they fought right back. They won the third period.
They were able to capitalize on their opportunities, and they
played with real purpose. And then in North Bay, you know,

(10:13):
to have a goal called back in the way that
they did. And then even throughout the game, if you
had a chance to watch it, maybe you will agree
with me, maybe you won't. There was maybe a few
questionable calls. They spent the entirety of the first period,
killing penalties, they give up the first goal. In the second,
they have their goal called back. Like talk about staring

(10:34):
adversity right in the face, and they didn't. They didn't
flinch for a second. They came right back the end
of that second period, they tied it up, and of
course we all know how it went in overtime with
Riley Patterson's beauty. But just character wins and the kind
of hockey you want to see from a team that

(10:55):
just came off a nine game losing streak in November.
They started to December right, and they couldn't have done
a better job across one hundred and twenty minutes. I mean,
they probably could have won, you know, five nothing in
both of those games, but I don't think we would
be as happy with the way that they earned the
two points. It's the way that they did it. For me,

(11:16):
I'm easy. It didn't come easy. They earned it, and
that's the best way to win. The best way to
win is when you come back. Comeback wins are sweet, man.
They taste so good and I got that taste in
my mouth right now and I'm loving it.

Speaker 6 (11:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (11:32):
And the ice dogs that you can see on the
video version are up to sixth place, tied with Brampton
but technically ahead of them in the Eastern Conference with
those two big divisional wins, and now sit five points
back at the North Bay Battalion for fifth within the
division as well. But again, doesn't get any easier this
week when you got the defending Memorial Cup champion London
Knights coming in. I know they're not quite the same

(11:54):
team that they were last year, but never an easy victory.

Speaker 6 (11:56):
There's gonna be.

Speaker 1 (11:57):
Lots of storylines to talk about in that one. Max
Cree three, returning, Liam Spencer and Noah Reid playing against
their former London Nights teammates. So Thursday night should be
electric down there at the Meridian Center. You've got a
big divisional matchup against Barry on Saturday on the road,
and then you've got to come back home for a
Sunday afternoon game against the North Bay Battalion once again

(12:17):
for a rematch there. So six big points available to
the Ice Dogs this week within the not only the conference,
but the league.

Speaker 3 (12:25):
Absolutely, and that's exactly what I was thinking too. You
take those two games, you beat Brampton, you beat North Bay.
You set yourself up here for a run over the
next couple of weeks, if you can find a way
to beat Barry and North Bay again, all of a sudden,
it's a totally different look in that Eastern Conference standings
right now ten points behind Barry, five points sorry behind

(12:48):
North Bay. You take a couple points away from those
guys all of a sudden, in a couple of weeks time,
you're in a totally different spot. And I think those
two wins were massive. All of a sudden, you know,
you're moving up the Eastern Conference leaderboards instead of being
you know, down there at the bottom, you know, in
the eighth or the seventh or the eighth or the
ninth spot, You're you're starting to climb. So just a

(13:09):
massive couple of wins. Hopefully they can carry it into
as you mentioned, a couple of really important games, and
I think that's exactly what they're gonna need. You know,
when when you got to face a team like London,
you gotta have some wind at your back. You know,
you can't be running into the wind. You don't want
to have, you know, losses hanging over your head. You
want to go in there feeling good. And I think

(13:32):
they put themselves in a great spot, you know, with
all the adversity that they had to overcome this weekend
to slay some of the demons that they're going to
have to face against the London Knights. Of course, you know,
just a storybook game. I mean, you know you could,
you could write a poem and sell it, you know
on Amazon that that game is going to be incredible

(13:53):
And unfortunately we're not going to be there live, but
well your pregame hit will be good. We'll do the
pretty Oh yeah, that'll be a good one. You guys
gonna have to sit down to listen to that thing.
It's gonna be unreal. Sparks will be flying at the
Meridian Center on that on that London game. But you know,
like you said, really important games after that. It's not
just this three week stretch. They got Peterborough, they got Flint,

(14:15):
they got Sarnia Brampton twice, Oshawan winsor for the rest
of the month. Those are important games as well. You know,
Flint is a team that keeps winning. Peterborough a team
that you just lost to. You kind of want to
get that one back. And then North Bay Berry divisional
matchups important points to retain in that Eastern Conference and
then London that of course Spark's gonna be flying. So

(14:38):
a really important month and they started on the right
foot for sure.

Speaker 1 (14:42):
Let's get into some of these these highlights from the
weekend here Christians do it. To wrap up the first
segment today, the highlights, I'm gonna go over our first
the game against the Brampton Steelheads, so I'm gonna pull
up some goals and again I think the audio is
gonna play, so again apologies there, but it was the
first goal by Ethan Zada here took Brendan Lang and

(15:06):
Zach Bodenstein on the call, shadow to them, but.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
A great job on the broadcast, by.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
The way, Zach Bodenstein the friend of the show, so
always great to catch up with them up in Brampton.
And the turnover there cause behind the net, I mean,
I'm sure Zach Bowen is obviously gonna want that back.
But a great job by Ryerson Edgard to my boy
that turnover. And then they get it out front and
Ethan Zoda, first of all, an incredible story in and
of itself. His jersey was left back in Niagara. He

(15:32):
wears Sean Doherty's number in warm ups who was not playing,
and then they have to stitch on to an eighty
one jersey who was formerly Metoe Spaith before he was released,
now playing in the BHL. They had to put Zada's
name plate on it. So for all the and ethan Zada,
it's a home game for him in Brampton, So his
friends and family are looking for him no Number twelve,
but they're at number eighty one and can't storybook anything

(15:55):
better than that. For ethan Zada to be able to
snap along a goal. Maybe I thought maybe he was
just gonna wear number eighty one permanently, but he was
wearing number twelve again.

Speaker 6 (16:05):
But just a crazy story.

Speaker 3 (16:07):
Yeah, crazy story. Maybe he's got a stick with the
number eighty one, you know. I mean, if he's gonna
keep scoring like that, and if they're gonna play the
way they did with him wearing that number, you know,
we could get into a pretty heated debate later in
the season if things aren't going well, we're gonna have
him go back to eighty one. But great play here,
like all around, all three guys on the ice. Of course,
Ryerson Edgar's handiwork down low. I mean I could cry

(16:31):
watching that like the way that he's able to look
at you just still work with the stick. That's a
mature play from a sixteen year old, you know, the
immediate instinct is to go for the puck, to maybe
play the body. He went for the opponent's stick. It's
an incredibly smart play from Ryerson. Kevin he in a
great spot supporting Ryerson down low follows up the play

(16:53):
and of course Ethan Zada again high forward third man
in make sure you put yourself a spot to score.
He drifts in unchecked and he buries it three forwards,
all in perfect position, and they get rewarded for it.
But of course, just a great play download by Ryerson
Edgar and a great jersey selection from Ethan Zoda. Shout

(17:14):
out to the equipment manager, you know, whoever made that
decision made the right one and their line was buzzing
in Brampton. They were buzzing again against North Bay. They
had a great weekend.

Speaker 1 (17:24):
Yeah, shout out to equipment manager Josh for being able
to stitch that Zoda nameplate right on the back of
that jersey, you know, really quickly. So shout out to
those guys. They never get enough love for. Oh my god,
they do, but.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
They deserve a lot more recognition than they get. I
was even talking to Josh the other day yesterday, and
I know he listens to the show, so we'll give
him a shout out. But he was there yesterday from
six thirty am to ten pm or like, no, it
would have been more like seven or eight. Like just
what a guy. He does stuff that never gets recognized,

(17:57):
and you know, I want to just quickly give him
a shout out because they know he listens. So this's, oh, Josh,
you're a superhero in in the Meridian Center. But we'll
continue here with the highlights. This goal, I just I
love to see it. Robrick working up that far wall,
finds a soft spot in the high slot and then
he rips it and just the emotion.

Speaker 6 (18:16):
On the way in.

Speaker 1 (18:17):
But it was it was really Robrick that created the goal.
But it hit Edgar on the way in, right, excuse me, sorry,
this was this was his goal.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
No, this one was his goal. It was the other
one that hit Edgar on the way in. And yeah,
but I mean Edgar deserves that. I mean what a
game he had. But yeah, Robrick, just that's Roebrick. That's
Roebrick right there. That's vintage Rollbrick, you know, working up
the wall, and that's that's something that you see from
you know, talented players, is they know where to go

(18:45):
in the offensive zone. He works up the wall, notices
a pick right there, uses it. You can see it there.
Liam Spencer just catches his defender, maybe a little bit
of a hook. You know. It didn't got lucky there,
It wasn't called. But Roebrick finds that soft spot and
he rips it home. Great job out front too. I'm
not sure who that was that was screening the goalie.
I think it was Riley Patterson out front causing all

(19:07):
kinds of havoc. Look look there, so you got Patterson
out front alongside Reid I think is the tandem and
they create just enough confusion in front of the goaltender
to allow Robrick to rip that one home. So a
little bit of a full play. It's not just Robrick,
it's the screen from Spencer, it's the screening out front.
Just again, an engaged team. They looked engaged in Brampton.

(19:30):
Everybody was playing. There were no passengers and that's the
way you got to be when you're looking to win
hockey games, and at this level in the Ontario Hockey League.
But again, just just a great goal.

Speaker 1 (19:40):
And when when Ryan Robrick, when he when he has
assertiveness like that and just rips the puck, that's what happens.
And that was the game winning goal in Brampton. The
goal before that was the Ryers and Edgar goal that
Roebrick took. The shot it hit Edgar in.

Speaker 6 (19:54):
Front of.

Speaker 1 (19:56):
And here it is and I hate it, which switches
things around for me. Here we go, so Edgar's gonna
end up at the front of the net here for
you guys listening in audio, you guys can go back
and watch the highlights of this. But Roebrick kind of
just cuts down from the left circle there and just
fires one then and it does hit Edgar on the
way in. But for Roebrick again, a great game for

(20:19):
him and he's looked really good since coming back from
the CHL event. So for him to be able to
set up the game tying goal and then get the
game winning goal and then Patterson sealed it with an
empty net or late. This was just great to see
because the Ice Dogs had no goals until seven minutes
and three seconds left. In the third period, they scored
four goals and love it won this game. I'm telling

(20:42):
you what a way to end a nine game losing streak, right, Like,
would you want it to happen any other way?

Speaker 3 (20:46):
I know, I well, yes, to be fair, like, I mean,
the first period, we're not going to talk about it
too much, but they did not have a great start
to this hockey game.

Speaker 1 (20:58):
It was just hard for them to complete like normal passes,
like it was just crisp.

Speaker 3 (21:03):
But we're not going to talk about that. They won
the game, and the comeback is all time. But of
course you'd rather win ten nothing. Like of course, if
if you know, everybody gets love, everybody gets on the
score sheet, and we bury Brampton ten nothing, I'm not
gonna be unhappy with that. I'd take that. But it's

(21:23):
just the way it makes you feel, you know, the
comeback that again, that that sweet taste in your mouth
of almost like you know, just being able to respond.
It's a passionate victory. And these are the kinds of
things that change seasons. You know, you get a little
bit of a taste in your mouth, you taste blood,

(21:45):
and then you fall in love with that feeling. And
I'm hoping the Ice Dogs have that feeling now following
what are two very impressive comeback victories, they have a
little bit of a fire under their ass for lack
of a better return. They are fine, and I'm hoping
that's the feeling they have. I know it's the feeling
that I have. I'm I'm fired up. I'm not even

(22:05):
playing and so I would say maybe you know, no, no, no, no.
I I again wouldn't want them to win any other way.
I think it was storybook weekend. Couldn't have started December better.
And to Ryan Roebrick, the point about him coming back
from the top prospects challenge, I'm telling you, man secretariat,
I'm telling you.

Speaker 1 (22:25):
He's The people were a big fan of that.

Speaker 6 (22:28):
That reference last week.

Speaker 3 (22:30):
He's he's rounding turn two, all right. The first fifteen
games were turn one. He's rounding turn two, He's entering
the last half of his race, and that's when he
turns it on, all right. And he's looked really good
since he came back. I thought he had a pretty
respectable game last night as well. Was in the right spots.

(22:51):
You could see the effort, you could see the engagement,
so I think, you know, if he keeps playing the
way that he is, you know this team is going
to get And of course there's other guys. I mean,
leave out Patterson, hes On to Edgar, who have all
been fantastic this weekend. But I thought Rowbrick again, you know,
we'll give him, you know, a shout out. He's played

(23:12):
great over the last couple of games.

Speaker 1 (23:14):
Let's get into the highlights in the North Bay game
and we will quickly go over that first goal by
North Bay to get them the lead there, Christian and
again that one. I think a couple of guys would
want to have this play back if Clerk on the
call is always great stuff from him.

Speaker 6 (23:32):
Here was the North.

Speaker 1 (23:33):
Bay goal to open it up, just as as a
penalty was expiring for the Ice Dogs. Again just kind
of leaving a guy out front there, and Debretza makes
no mistake to give them the lead there midway through
the second again low scoring game. We talked about it
last night on the recap. Seven to fifty three left
in the second period, the first goal this game goes in.
You know, both teams really weren't giving up too much

(23:53):
and the Ice Dogs were doing a really good job
and your Malenko kept them them in both these games
for the most part. But again, if you'll see the
overhead view, you know that I think that's one that
the Ice Dogs and you kind of talked about it
that sometimes they get lost just kind of puck watching
and leaving a guy open.

Speaker 6 (24:10):
And that's sort of what happens.

Speaker 3 (24:12):
It was also more of a the end of a
power play, you know, watching it back now, I'm starting
to remember more about the goal. The power play was
expiring and Edgar was coming out of the box and
his assignment was Debronxive out front. He made a very
valiant effort to come back. You'll see it here on
the replay, not that shot because the way it was cut,

(24:33):
it's almost impossible to see. Sorry, if you're listening an audio.
This is again you know, you're kind of lost in
the woods here. But you watch the replay here, Edgar
comes out of the box and you can see him
blazing in in the high slot. He's trying to catch
up with the Proxivity, just just doesn't get there in time.
So it's an unlucky bounce. You know, you got three guys,
it's a three on three on the wall. That's a

(24:55):
toss up right that buck could go up the wall,
it could bounce into the corner. It ends up taking
that balance. Edgar knew exactly where he needed to be.
He just didn't get there in time. And that's not
his fault. You know, he busted his butt back to
the front of the net and it just didn't didn't
work out. So it's a bounce. It's part of hockey,
you know, sometimes the other team has to score two.

(25:15):
But for me, it was the response.

Speaker 1 (25:18):
And I will say quickly the reason that Edgar was
in the box. He was serving a penalty for Liam Spencer,
who stuck up for Blake Barnes after getting leveled by
Shamar Moses a lot on the boards there. But again,
I think that's something that Chris Barks will take ten
times at Liam Spencer in that spot. Is a veteran
steps steps up for a rookie and Blake Barnes there
and obviously he gets the instigator there. But I don't

(25:39):
think you'd you'd want to have it any other way.
You're sticking up for a teammate and that goes a
long way in the room, even in a zero zero game.
I don't think that anybody was upset with that.

Speaker 3 (25:47):
Yes, and this is I've been begging for this fight. Somebody.
If you're you're a nine game losing streak, wake up
the boys. Start the first piard, run somebody over and
then get dragged into a fight. Get like, send a message,
you know, wake up the team. And I've seen over
the last one hundred and twenty minutes just a totally

(26:09):
different looking team, Like if you were going to tell
me that in November somebody got ran over and Liam
Spencer grabbed him immediately. They no hesitation. It just seems
like a different team. I love to see them playing
with that kind of attitude, that in your face attitude,
like you're not gonna want to play against us. And
I loved it. I loved every second of that Liam

(26:30):
Spencer fight. I think it was the right decision. It
fired up the boys. And look what happened after. You know,
granted they gave up the goal, you know, effectively on
the penalty kill, but you know they responded right after it,
and you could see the way they were playing. They
were playing with energy. They played with a ton of
energy yesterday and Liam Spencer has to be credited for
at least some of.

Speaker 1 (26:49):
That for sure, and then we had the Kevin he
goal the game time, the game tying goal here after
the Ice Dogs had their first goal waved off the
Ethan Zada goal as Kevin He cut down the right
wing and they said that it was goaltender interference with
Listen before Zada was able to put the rebound in.
The Ice Dogs respond here in a really nice touch

(27:10):
pass by Ryerson Edgar down low to Kevin He out
front and he makes no mistake in the captain you know,
give it there.

Speaker 3 (27:16):
A little bit wondering if they were going.

Speaker 1 (27:18):
To take that one back, but great to see the
Ice Dogs and near the end of the second period,
forty seconds left in period number two, they get this
game tied.

Speaker 6 (27:26):
Christian. This was a massive goal in a very.

Speaker 3 (27:29):
Love goal and just the way they were playing like
they gave up that goal to North Bay and they
didn't stop. They were hungry. North Bay could even get
out of their own zone like this is a this
is a goal here where this line held the puck
in for probably about the fifth time in a row.

(27:50):
They were hungry on pucks, they were creating turnovers, they
were all over the place, and I love the reaction
from Kevin. He yeah, give it to him, let him know,
like play with fire, and they played with fire. They
like in that second period. I love it. I love
every second of it. And you know, just you know,

(28:10):
Kevin played that's just such a lead.

Speaker 1 (28:12):
Edgar by the way off the boards when the North
Bay tried to get it out a very errant pass,
trying to get it out of their own zone, and
look at the way Edgar picks it.

Speaker 6 (28:20):
Up off the off the half wall. They look at that.

Speaker 3 (28:22):
Yeah, no, and then the touch position, the great shot
from keV, and that's that's what we come to expect.
Kev's a goal scorer, he knows how to bury those.
And then just yeah, John after I love it. I
love every second of it. I think it's exactly what
you want to see. And for Chris Bart, like this
is his kind of hockey. This is what I expect

(28:43):
from this team. When when when I found out Chris
Bart was gonna be coaching then Rice talks, I was like,
they are going to be one of the most hated
teams in the Ontario Hockey League. They're gonna play with
that edge. This is the first time I've seen some
of that edge from this team, and maybe they're coming together,
maybe they're starting to bring, you know, build some of
that chemistry. Maybe that nine game losing streak was exactly

(29:05):
what they needed. Like they're fired up, they are fired
on the bone right now and they are playing with
purpose and I loved it. I loved every second of it.

Speaker 1 (29:15):
Then, lastly, Christian, we've got the overtime winner from Riley Patterson.
We might as well listen to Steve Clark's call on
this one.

Speaker 3 (29:21):
It's got a lane Pasco gas tank, money in the bank, Riley.

Speaker 2 (29:29):
Patterson, he's the man and he's wanted it over time
for Niagra.

Speaker 3 (29:34):
Yeah, you're gassing to take money in the bank, baby,
I love it. I love it from Stevie, that's an
all time call. But this is what we've expected from Patty,
like he does this on a nightly basis, Like it's.

Speaker 1 (29:47):
Gonna create the law himself. Kept the puck skated down
the entire way. No help, Yeah, no, biggie right, Like
why Robrick on his wing there to be able to defender,
has to watch him obviously. Of course he just cuts
down the right wing and goes short side on Listen
and Riley Patterson to me, like, we don't even have
to wait for the second segment. Christian Riley Patterson gets

(30:07):
our our dog biscuit.

Speaker 3 (30:09):
This week.

Speaker 6 (30:09):
He was dynamic.

Speaker 1 (30:11):
He now leads the team in points, tied for the
team and goals, and it seems like anytime that they
have a big moment, Riley Patterson is the guy that's
been stepping up for them as of late and showing
why that they brought him over from the Barry Colts.

Speaker 3 (30:24):
Absolutely, and and he's been so good, way better than
I thought he was gonna be. Like just a quick
disclaimer like when he we traded for him, Yeah, Vancouver
cannucts pick you know to to guy like right, and yeah,
a little bit concerning he's been unreal. It's been electric.

(30:46):
He's got a sneaky good shot, one of those shots
that and it's not even a hard shot. He is
a pinpoint accuracy, like he can come down and bury
it like this is a you know, a smart plays
well notices that the goaltender is catching with his right
goes what would typically be glove's side up and over

(31:07):
the blocker on that short side. So he's been unreal,
you know, just the passing the maturity of his game,
the way he moves, dynamic all over the ice, great hands.
Just he's been fantastic for them, and you know he
deserves that one hundred percent. My dog Biscuit as well,
just storybook didn't need any help at all. Win the
face off and go down and bury it.

Speaker 1 (31:29):
Literally like him up on the face off one. It
carried the puck all the way down the ice and
buried it. So great week for the Ice Dogs capped
off with a home overtime victory against the North Bay
Battalion and a much needed uplifting weekend for them with
not only within the division, but the league as well,
for them to finally get that that stench off of

(31:50):
what was a really tough month of November. So we're
gonna take a quick commercial break, we're gonna come back.
We're gonna talk about the weekly statistics a little bit.
We're here from Mice Dog's head coach Chris BArch as
well as goaltender Vladyslavir and Malanko after his two and
zero performance and then at this weekend. So Sara here,
we're right back on the Dog Pound Podcast, the official
podcast of your Niagara icetogs.

Speaker 7 (32:11):
Did you know that the Global Pet food stores in
the Niagara region are all independently owned by members of
the local community. We believe that pets are truly part
of the family and are a source of joy in
everyday homes around the world. Yet that living loving experience
usually doesn't happen all on its own, but takes extra
effort to create and maintain. And we want you to
know that the owners and staff at Global Pet Foods

(32:33):
are always there to help you keep it going anyway
we can because we believe. Proud show sponsor of the
Dog Pound Podcast, the official podcast of the Niagara Ice Dogs,
we hope to see you at one of the following
locations across Niagara thirty six forty three Portage Road in
Niagara Falls, one sixty Highway twenty in font Hill, as
well as four hundred Scott Street and Saint Catharine's Global
Pet Foods, where pets are undeniably part of the family.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
Wild Bill's Auto Repair is your local center for auto
maintenance and repair in the Niger region. Since twenty twelve,
wild Bill's Auto Repair and Body Shop has been helping
customers stay safe and confident on the road knowing their
vehicles in top running condition through their services. Located at
seventy eight sixty eight oak Wood Tribe in Niagara Falls.
The grune started as a tribute to the owner's father,
William Robert Hunter, who passed away. Continuing the same community

(33:24):
spirits and high level of service which customers came to
expect from them back at the Hunter's Auto Repair. Their
multi word winning autoshop has earned the trust of the
Niger community with its fair treatment of all customers, who
can feel confident they'll get the trustworthy advice and repairs
during their visit.

Speaker 4 (33:38):
Their experienced crew loves meeting new.

Speaker 5 (33:40):
People and looks forward to forming an lasting partnership for
the care of your cars. To find out more, order
book service contact them today nine to five three five
eight seventy eight sixty eight or wild Bills Auto dot
caa wild Bill's Auto Repair helping customers stay safe and
confidence on the road since twenty twelve.

Speaker 7 (34:00):
Are you currently looking for work in the Niagara region.
If so, you owe it to yourself to check out
the services provided by the Niagara Employment Help Center located
at sixty one hundred Thoroldstone Road in Niagara Falls. There
are many free services include a fully staffed resource area
open to the public, resume and cover letter writing, local
labor market information, job search strategies, assistance with clarifying employment,

(34:22):
training and career goals, employment counseling and job search support,
and better Jobs Ontario information and registration assistance. Check out
their website at EHC dot on dot CAA or call
nine oh five three five eight is zero zero two
to one for more information. The Niagara Employment Help Center
helping people find work since nineteen eighty three.

Speaker 4 (34:42):
This Employment Ontario program is funded by the Government of Ontario.
GNAL Flooring is Niagro's specialty florin and design company. They
take great pride and provide a lead customer service and
support with a beautiful showroom, great pricing, and a wide
variety of truly unique products. DNL Flooring is your specialty
flooring and decorbate shop. All of their products are environmentally

(35:02):
friendly and responsibly produced, so you can feel good about
your flooring choices. Their goal is to build authentic relationships
based on honesty and integrity that they foster with respect
and authenticity, offering a unique and wide range of quality
products presented by a knowledgeable Impatient team. They simplify the
process to make your life easier and to make your

(35:23):
home more beautiful. Visit them at forty four twenty four
Montrose Road in Niagara Falls, or find out more at
jail flooring dot com.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
If you think you can get a better.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
Deal anywhere else, you don't know Jack at jmail Flooring.

Speaker 6 (35:39):
Hey, this is Ryan Straul missus Carteriver Hegy.

Speaker 8 (35:41):
This is Brendon Perlini's Phil Thomasino.

Speaker 3 (35:43):
You're listening to.

Speaker 8 (35:43):
The dog Pound Podcast, the official podcast of the Niagara
Ice Dog.

Speaker 1 (36:02):
Welcome back to part two of today's Dog Pound Podcast
episode right here on the Armchair GM Sports Network. Thank
you everybody this's tuned in on our video version on YouTube.
Make sure to hit like kid, subscribe, smash that bells.
The update with all of our video coverage here on
the network, and thank you to our loyal audio listeners.
I know it's difficult when we go over the highlights,
but we tried to give you as much narration as

(36:22):
we can. Make sure to give us a follow on
x at dog Pound Podcast. The update with all of
our coverage and our polls for our shows, and as
well as on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by searching the
arm shaired GM Sports Network for our of our short
reels and content. Brandiko put on Christian Simmons. Back with you, Christian,
let's let's start things off here with the weekly statistics.
We're gonna hear from Ice Dog's head coach Chris BArch

(36:44):
and the goal tender Vladislv. You're Malnko in just a
little bit here, so pulling up this graphic that I
make every single week for the show, The Weekly Statistics Graphic,
as always, is brought to you by Jay and Ol Flooring,
And here it is popping up on the screen for
you guys on narrate it for the audio listeners. Ice
Dog's four to three victory and Brampton two to one
in North Bay. The shots on goal for the Ice

(37:05):
Dogs this week were fifty eight, opponent was sixty two.
Power play was one of seven, So again a little
bit concerning with that that we've kind of talked about
a lot this year. I'm sure Christians got a thought
on it here when I finish up zero for four
and the power play for the opponent. So again, the
Ice Dogs were four for four on the penalty killers.
As a result, and the opponent for the Ice Dogs

(37:27):
was six or seven on the penalty kill face offs
one Ice Dog sixty three and they only lost forty five,
So a really good week on the dot as far
as the player statistics go. And I have to read
this because I can't read it on the screen. It's
too small right now.

Speaker 3 (37:41):
With no way.

Speaker 1 (37:43):
It will be I think, no if it's in full
screen right now, I have to all screen so I
can't read it. But it'll be in full screen for
you guys, don't worry. But Riley Patterson two goals and
an assist, as we mentioned Ryerson Nigger a gold and assist,
Kevin He a goal and assist, Ryan Roebrick a goal
and assist as well. On the faceoff dot, Riley Patterson

(38:04):
was nineteen of twenty seven and his he led the
team with seven danger scoring chances on ten shots. Ryan
Roebrick was second with six on ten. Ray Smith actually
was five of seven When it comes to high danger
shots and shots in general, so he continues to shoot

(38:24):
the puck on that third line. Kevin he as well
with eight shots total, two of them were high danger
scoring chances. As far as the faceoff dot Ethan Zada
was eighteen of thirty three so Christian and Ladislav vir
Malanka was fifty nine of sixty two in the net
for a nine to fifty one save percentage.

Speaker 6 (38:42):
Only gave up three goals three goals total. I don't
know why I.

Speaker 1 (38:45):
Said four to three. It was a four to two
game for Niagara. Brampton did not get a third goal,
so four two and two to one Christian. That was
the weekly statistics in a nutshell, what do you what
are your thoughts and takeaways of it?

Speaker 5 (38:57):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (38:57):
Your moo grade. Patterson, he Roebrick, great weekend. Gallianov again
in the faceoff dot he's been great. Thought he had
a good game against North Bay as well. Zada just
an absolute weapon in the faceoff dot. We know that
scored the goal, had the dangerous opportunities. Yeah, a lot
to like. Love the penalty kill. Love that we went
for for four. That's exactly what you want to see.

(39:20):
It's a testament to the way they played though they
were hungry. And you know, a great metric of how
badly you want to win the game is are you
killing penalties? Are you blocking shots? Are you in position?
Are you working hard when the puck is two hundred
feet away from where you would usually be scoring goals.
That's the real testament. And they did it one hundred

(39:42):
percent of the time this weekend. Four for four in
the penalty kills exactly what you want to see. Of course,
the power play continues to be a struggle. And you know,
I don't know. I talked about this on the last show.
It's time to mix it up, That's what I think.
I think the five forward unit could probably take them,

(40:02):
maybe a break or just maybe put some other forwards
out there. I don't know. I mean it worked, you
know with the one that went off Ryers and Eggar
like that. You know, they went one for seven. But
as a whole, the power play continues to struggle. We've
talked about it. It's the breakings. They gotta be able
to get in his zone. And when they get in
his zone, get in the zone, get in the zone

(40:24):
like they scored in Brimpton because they were in the zone.
Like and well, I'm not gonna harp on it too much.
It was a great weekend, so but that for me
is always gonna be a concern. But I will take one.
You're not gonna play perfect hockey every weekend. You're gonna
win games, but you're gonna have problems. Every team makes
mistakes in sixty minutes of hockey, so that's to be expected.

(40:49):
But for sure the power play, you know, you'd like
to see these numbers, you know, kind of change a
little bit down there at the bottom. Kingston is officially
the worst power play in the Ontario Hockey League. In
Niagre is much better, just one ze point four percent
higher at fourteen percent, So looking for that to turn around.
But again, solid weekend, two game winning streak. They put

(41:11):
it together nicely, had massive contributors. Patterson continues to dazzle.
Your Malenko was incredible this weekend as well, so I
would say he's probably my honorable mention when we're talking
about the dog biscuits. I think he was incredible, stood
incredibly tall, made lots of great saves. We'll hear from
him later too on his uh just stop the puck.

(41:34):
Probably my best quote of the year. You guys will
you'll hear that. But yeah, great weekend. I think the
whole cast, you know, everybody played well top to bottom,
all four lines, and defensively they were much better. They
gave up less goals. It was three goals in two
games instead of their average of about four or five.

(41:56):
You know, they've been you know, kind of typic throughout
this season, uh, struggling defensively, and I think they were
a lot better at that this weekend as well. So
all around, you know, the they had a you know,
a weekend where they took steps in all of the
different areas where they were kind of lacking. They played great.
They played hard, physical, able to kill some penalties, defensively, sound,

(42:21):
and what's not to love.

Speaker 1 (42:23):
Yeah, I mean we've harped on the power play enough
over the over the the whatever three months of the
end of the season, Christian and I know fans were
asking about that, but again, just some things situational wise
and structure wise. When they enter the zone, then what
do they do. You know, we could break down the
entire power play unit in the five forwards, but again
they're still trying to it's a work in progress there

(42:44):
to continual work in progress. Again, it's not gonna happen overnight.
But if this five forward thing is really what they're
looking for, who knows, maybe Frankie Vila is going to
make a trade in the next month, and you know
a guy they're going to have a defender back there
that can be the power play quarterback. I'm not sure,
but just designed roles for everybody in the power they're
still trying to find the best way for that. And
they're trying to find the best way once they enter
the zone, how do they get set up? And we

(43:05):
were talking about that watching it yesterday. But again, we've
been talking about it enough. I just I feel like
we have a powerplay counter on this show and I
just really don't want to talk about it anymore.

Speaker 3 (43:13):
No, Yeah, we're good. I think, like again, everybody knows
what the problem is. The coaching staff knows what the
problem is. They're working on it. These guys are professionals,
they know what they're doing. It's they're gonna figure it out.
But not a huge concern. When you win two games
in the way that they did, the power play can
kind of just you can forget about it one for

(43:35):
seven weekends. It's not as big of.

Speaker 1 (43:36):
A deal, right, And Christian, I know that you had
been clamoring for last week we did our monthly recap
show about switching the line up a little bit, and
I guess your quick thoughts and that we did say,
see Hayden Reid jump up there with Riley Patterson and
Ryan Robrick, that the he'z outa Edgar line's been mostly
the same. But for a guy like Hayden Reed, a
grinder type player, to be able to compliment Riley Patterson

(43:58):
and Ryan Robrick on the on that unit, that was
something that you had been asking for and they had
a little bit of success there with that line after
changing things.

Speaker 3 (44:07):
Up, Yeah, and just having a different look and bringing
different skill sets to play with players that have complementary
skill sets. Reid brings that gritty, grinding nature. He's in
the corners and he'll dig pucks out for a guy
like Riley Patterson and Ryan Robrick, and it's certainly worked
this weekend. Of course, it's hard to break up a

(44:28):
line like Kevin he and Ethan Zoda with Ryers and
Beggar when they continue to play the way that they have.
But the bottom line for me, I love the way
that they constructed this fourth line. Three guys that are
consistently in and out of the lineup with juddanov, Cole,
Cooksy and Monks. I think they did a great job
of kind of bringing in, you know, a different look

(44:48):
and some guys that are maybe hungry to play, and
you saw that everybody was had some bite. Yeah, and
that's what you want to see. So happy with the
way they put together the lineup, Happy that it looked different,
Happy that they looked engaged, Happy that you know, they're
starting to play with a little bit of chemistry. And
maybe this is just the start of, you know, a

(45:11):
winning streak, and maybe that's the lineup that they keep
going back to. You know, we'll see, you know, I
thought Judd Knopft also had you know, moments of you know,
speed and cooks. He is a kind of a sneaky
smart player where you know, he does all little things
really well. And you know, I think you know that
that bottom six is is a little bit better than
we give them credit for at times, and we saw

(45:32):
a little bit of it this weekend. Of course, we
want some more scoring. We've been again, we've been lacking
on the depth scoring. But I was just excited to
see something different, not just on the score sheet, but
on the lineup card as well.

Speaker 6 (45:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (45:46):
And Ray Smith, you could tell he was so engaged.
He's been playing very well as of late. Again, the
points have him been coming, but he's got a lot.
I think he's got deceptive speed for a guy his
size and more of a grinder type player. Against his
former team yesterday, he had a couple opportunities we almost
buried it. So oh yeah Smith again, I'm not shocked
that he had five danger scoring chances this weekend because

(46:08):
he was he was very engaged out there. And again
that third line, they had a couple of a couple
of really good shifts, had some opportunities to score, and
that's what they need to do, to continue to put
themselves in opportunities to contribute on the score sheet because
we need more contributions from the bottom six scoring. So
I feel like yesterday was was a step in the
right direction for those guys as well. And throwing a
guy like Noah Reid down there, an NHL drafted prospect

(46:29):
and and a guy that has a lot of experience,
I think he's helped guys like Gallianov and Smith in
that role absolutely.

Speaker 3 (46:35):
And yeah, I've I've been really high on rate Smith
this year. I think he's played great. I love his
style of game, physical plays with an edge, likes to
get under your skin. And that's exactly what he was doing.
And you know he didn't really get into a fight yesterday,
but he was. You can send he's in it straight
in the middle of everything. And that's that's.

Speaker 1 (46:55):
The hand that every every dish at the buffet, you
know what I mean. Ray Smith has got it. Got
a hand or a finger in every single thing that's
on the buffet table.

Speaker 3 (47:03):
Yeah, and he's got a key to every single room
on the cruise. This guy's he's he's like, he's in
your kitchen, man, he's in your kitchen. He's got a
key to every house, you know what I mean. He's
he's all over the place and he's I love it,
Like he gets in your head. He plays physical and
he makes that line so dangerous because he's got a
little bit of a shot to him as well. He's

(47:24):
got an offensive side of his game that, as you mentioned,
is a little bit underrated. You don't see a ton,
but it's there, and I think the goals are gonna come.
Like he's there, he's knocking on the door. He had
a couple of really good looks, had a buck that
bounced right to his tape yesterday, almost scored I like,
I don't know how the goaltender made a stop on it. It
was you know, it was trending, you know, low blocker,

(47:46):
and he's looked really good. I I'll just I'll finish
with that. He's gonna I see him being one of
their bottom six scoring leaders as we kind of get
deeper in the season here.

Speaker 6 (47:57):
Grays and Tiller still out with that suspension, but he
should be.

Speaker 1 (48:00):
He will be back for Sunday's game against the North
Bay Battalion, so getting their overage defender back in the lineup.
Blake Barnes has been in there. Any quick thoughts on
him being able to get a little bit more consistent
playing time and he's starting to feel a little bit
more comfortable, it seems like, especially with a partner like
Liam Spencer.

Speaker 3 (48:15):
Yeah, And I think he played great, Like you know,
he brings that offensive side of his game. He's got chump,
he's got great hands, good vision, and I think he's
still learning how to play at this level. It's definitely
adjustment when you come from the USHL a little bit
of a different league. It's faster, there's a little bit
more skill here, and guys can get on you. And

(48:35):
I think he's still developing to that side of the game,
maybe the defensive side, but his offensive instincts are off
the charts, and I love to see him get some
time on the power play, which he did he was
on the second unit. He's very dynamic and obviously the
guys like having him around. You know, we saw Leam
Spencer's stand up for his deep partner as well, so

(48:56):
I thought he played great. He came in, he felled
a void and it's exciting to see what could be
next year, you know, to have somebody like that. You know,
we're hoping for a power play quarterback. You know, maybe
he's it.

Speaker 6 (49:10):
Maybe we'll have to wait and see.

Speaker 1 (49:11):
But again, has been now getting into more consistent playing time,
as Chris Barks has been saying about a lot of
his decoor first time full time ohlers at this level.
Speaking a head coach, Chris Barks, We're gonna get to
him right now as always with our post game chat
brought to you by Wild Bills out of Repair, helping
customers stay safe and confident on the road. In Nagrison's
twenty twelve an honors Late William Robert Hunter, here's what

(49:33):
the Ice Dogs head coach had to say following his
team's two and oh weekend and victory in overtime against
the North Bay Battalion.

Speaker 9 (49:42):
Slow start, but you really came on there. What do
you think to turn things around today?

Speaker 8 (49:49):
Again, it's the process. You're going to hear the same
things as you did during during our loss or a loss,
as you will.

Speaker 3 (49:59):
Do a wink.

Speaker 8 (50:01):
They know what the standard is, they know what needs
to be done, they know the work that needs to
be put in, They know the process. If they don't
adhere to it, then we are on the short end
of stick. If they adhere to it, then they are rewarded.
And again it's a nice barometer for them because therefore
we as coaches, we don't have to speak all that
much because they know you know it themselves.

Speaker 3 (50:23):
Absolutely. Yeah, you goaltend to play great today?

Speaker 9 (50:25):
And how big is that to have a bulletend to
come up and keep you in a game like that?

Speaker 8 (50:29):
Yeah, you look at the NHL hullabuck, you lose your
goaltender if you're not. If you don't have a goaltender
that is playing, you know, well above average, you're in
trouble most nights. So you need a goaltender to have
success and your moas you know, come up real big
tonight and a real big third period against Brampton, and
again you know there is a support staff in front

(50:50):
of them. That's you know, trying to make life as
easy as possible. But again it's probably the toughest position
on the ice because you've got nobody behind you when
that fuck goes in there.

Speaker 9 (50:58):
Sure nice come back When a kitchener followed by this,
do you feel better after a couple of wins like that.

Speaker 3 (51:04):
Or do you just say you know what, it's game
to game type of thing.

Speaker 8 (51:06):
Yeah, Branton, I think I would have liked the kitchen
come back. No, no, no, I would have liked it.

Speaker 3 (51:11):
I would have liked it.

Speaker 8 (51:13):
Hey, everybody can get fixated on different elements. This is
a sixty eight game season. This is a seventh six
to seven month venture. No different than a marriage. There's
ups and downs. It's not easy. It's not easy raising kids.

(51:34):
It's not easy, you know, being the best husband you
can be or the best wife you can be. It
is an up and down element, and you know, you
see who you really are through the adversity component. So
for me, hey, yeah, we walked away with a win
and now we move forward. They can enjoy a day off.
We start preparing for London on Thursday. For sure.

Speaker 9 (51:56):
To talk to Liam Spencer today, you've got to a fight.
How much has he met to this team this year?
Give you a little bit of stability back there?

Speaker 8 (52:02):
Yeah, you know what, it brings a lot of attributes,
you know, going through London and they're mem Cup run
big man. You know, it's nice to see him play
do his size tonight and again just you know, they
care about each other. I think when you have that
element and players you know, genuinely care for each other,
it shows on the ice through actions and then it

(52:24):
shows at the end through through the scoreboard.

Speaker 3 (52:26):
For sure.

Speaker 8 (52:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (52:27):
And while he played for Lily, he didn't play a
whole lot. He's playing more here.

Speaker 3 (52:30):
So do you kind of say, you know, we.

Speaker 9 (52:32):
Need more out of him because because this is really
like kind of real first year as a defense from
playing this much right, Well.

Speaker 8 (52:39):
I would say we don't need to tell him. I
think just the minutes speak for themselves. So if they
keep getting put back out the door, and you know,
I mean that they're doing something right.

Speaker 1 (52:48):
Coach penalty hill, penalty kill was really good tonight. Can
you speak to that unit and you know they're under
fire a little bit there, but they kept in it
and they've been keeping in it for most of the year.

Speaker 8 (52:57):
Yeah, you know, I think John and you get to
see my associate coach, he that's under his umbrella.

Speaker 3 (53:05):
I know he was.

Speaker 8 (53:06):
You know, it wasn't overly pleased and Kitchen her he
was a perfect night in Brampton because we didn't have
any pks, but tonight, you know, I think we put
a lot of work in during the week, watching video
and seeing what their tendancies are is and our tendencies are.
And he had the group well prepared tonight.

Speaker 1 (53:23):
And talk about having that goal called back and then
responding right away. Was that same line Kevin Heathan Zada
creating that that goal after it got called back to
tie the game. Just talk about the wave of those
emotions and being able to come back and get that
game evened up in a in a low scoring affair
where you know one or two, you know we're gonna
be tough to come by.

Speaker 8 (53:42):
Yeah, you know, he speaks to them with respect to
you know, if it doesn't work the first time, then
try the second, and no different than you know, you
want all these guys to be Navy seals. You know,
they missed that first shot, they better, they better take
advantage of the second opportunity. And you know, again it
was a great mindset recess and they you know, went
out there and impacted and did the job they needed

(54:05):
to be done.

Speaker 1 (54:05):
And then lastly, two divisional games this weekend to four
points you come away with after what you went through
in November. How good is it to get December off
on a good foot, two big wins in the division
and get you guys kind of rolling here?

Speaker 8 (54:16):
Yeah, you know what again, we live in today, so
it was nice getting two points. We got a big
contest against London coming up here on Thursday. I'm sure
there'll be a lot of visitor fans will be nice
for a lot of you know, local Ice Dog supporters
to come out and battle them. But yeah, no, it's
again a daily investment. It's a nice to see them

(54:36):
get the return with the work they put in.

Speaker 1 (54:39):
There was Ice Dog's head coach Chris BArch on the
wild those auto repair post game Christian, what were your
takeaways from what he said yesterday?

Speaker 3 (54:46):
Love everything that he had to say there a couple
of takeaways for me, talking about the adversity and staying
in the moment. You know, we've talked about this on
our show as well. Today mentioned it in the first
segment of you know what it takes for good teams
to make adjustments from bad stretches of hockey to good
stretches of hockey. And it's the character, it's the process

(55:08):
responding to that adversity, getting those comeback wins. And he
mentioned it in that interview there about this being a journey.
It's a six to seven month venture and sometimes you
got to leave you know, the past in the past.
Yesterday's gone. You know, it's over. It doesn't matter what
happened in November. You know, those are nine games you're
never gonna get back. What matters is now. And I

(55:30):
think they played really well this weekend, focusing on the present.
In the third period in Brampton, we saw it. They
did not worry about what happened in the first two periods.
They came out ready to play. In the second half
of that third period they found a way back. Same
thing goes for North Bay. Got down early, had to
kill some penalties, bounces not going their way. Maybe some

(55:52):
questionable calls from the official had the goal come back,
they didn't stop. They were Navy seals to Chris Barch's
point the way he describes that, and I think that's
the way they're gonna have to be if they want
to continue this season and get back to where we
know they can be, where the OHL Power rankings had
them at the start of the season. They got to

(56:12):
be hungry, they got to be relentless. They gotta be
Navy seals. Hoorah, who rah nigriis dogs. That's the Uh,
that's the plan, man. But I love everything that he says. Again,
it's all process with him, and uh, you know that's
on his arm or something, same answer every week from
this guy. I love it though, and it's consistent. That

(56:36):
for me is is what I love about it me.
You know, he brings consistency to that locker room. He
talked a little bit about the guys knowing what to expect.
Nothing changes. It's the same expectations and if they bring it,
they get rewarded. If they don't, to Chris Barch's words,
they get, you know, the shorter end of the stick.
So I think, you know, the expectations are there. The

(56:58):
ice Dogs responded this weekend, they lived up to those
They played one hundred and twenty minutes of great hockey
and I think Chris is incredibly happy with that.

Speaker 1 (57:06):
Yeah, and Liam Spencer got elevated to the top deep
pair as a result. Right, So Bill Patriss was asking
a lot about Liam Spencer. It did a piece on him,
and we'll give him a show owt BP Sports Niagara
dot com. But yeah, Liam Spencer, I think it was
a guy that he talked about last week that he's
still learning to play a full time role and I
think you know, guys like him, Blake barn Sebastian dell

(57:28):
Lha first time. You know, at this level, that whole
decor is really going through a learning curve all together
at the same time. So you can start to see
that come together like we did yesterday, a very low
scoring game and that decorp being able to bend but
not break exactly.

Speaker 3 (57:43):
And once they start to play like that consistency or consistently,
we can see the potential. You know, we've been talking
about it for weeks that you know, the defensive issue
is an issue, and it was not an issue this weekend.
It was one of their strengths. They killed four penalties,
They played great defensively. Giving up three goals in two
games is up there with probably some of the elite

(58:04):
in the Ontario Hockey League. That's It's a great defensive
weekend against a North Bay team that is well, you know,
has a ton of skill with you know, Ethan Prusciation
on the other side, and you know they got talent
and to hold a team like that to just one
goal in a low scoring affair, you know, it's a
testament to the work that John Judsi has been doing,
not just on the PK but with the defensive corps.

(58:27):
I think they're making strides. They're getting there. They're playing
some pretty respectable hockey to.

Speaker 1 (58:32):
Get to or Ice Dog's player interview tonight, and that
is with goaltender Vladislav your Malenko after his two to
zero performance. As always is brought to you by the
Niagar Dentri Clinic, creating Natro Smiles in the Naga region
for over twenty five years. Here's what the import goaltender
had to say following his big performance in the net
for the Ice Dogs this weekend. Well, your most big

(58:53):
four points this weekend for you personally two wins in
the net. Just how comfortable are you feeling now in
Niagara with these guys feeling great?

Speaker 10 (59:01):
I think these two games, uh very important for us.
We have a big loser series before. Right now we
break it. It's very important for us. Uh, exact same
way for our next games.

Speaker 11 (59:15):
Uh.

Speaker 10 (59:16):
We play very competitive hockey these two games. Uh in Brempton,
we'll lose to nothing after a second and four goals
and sir period, it's great. Uh today I think very
competitive game. Yeah, I feel it, but we win. Great
feeling when this, Uh, we enjoy how we can like, yeah, how.

Speaker 1 (59:37):
Are you adjusting to the North American style to play
and you know, adjusting to Niagara and everything that comes
with being here in Canada? Like how how comfortable does
Niagara feel on and off the ice for you right now?

Speaker 10 (59:49):
So we're in it's very comfortable. I think a great city.
I like it.

Speaker 8 (59:53):
Great. People's just enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (59:58):
Talk about your your mindset playing the puck. It seems
like you're very active back there and aggressive with playing
the puck. Where does that come from?

Speaker 10 (01:00:07):
Just just to help my teammates start place?

Speaker 3 (01:00:10):
Like not from more?

Speaker 1 (01:00:11):
That's my job And you're very good at it. Were
you a player at all before you became a goalie?
Is that why you're so good at stick handling? Like, like,
did you ever switch from player to goalie?

Speaker 3 (01:00:23):
I say not?

Speaker 10 (01:00:26):
Right now, every goalie showed to play the back. Yeah,
just make a place for your teammates, help them.

Speaker 3 (01:00:34):
Nothing more.

Speaker 1 (01:00:35):
And in tonight's game, specifically, a lot of big saves
keep your team in it goes to overtime. What are
your nerves going through that in a low scoring game
and knowing that you know you had to keep your
team in it all the way to the end they
get the goal that or you get the goal to
tie it. And even in last game too, ten minutes left,
they scored four goals. So for you to be able
to keep your team in it, and in those those
big pressure moments, how much do you sort of rise
to that occasion.

Speaker 10 (01:00:55):
Try to stay in game, stop the back play for
the end? Yeah, that's all.

Speaker 1 (01:01:03):
I think.

Speaker 11 (01:01:05):
We're talking about the losing streak, and obviously that hurts everybody.
But how much extra pressure do goaltenders feel when a
team's not doing so well?

Speaker 10 (01:01:16):
Uh? I think, uh, every game it's the opportunity, Like
you play hockey. You don't care about what happens, so nice.
You make your job. Stop the park, that's all I think.
Prepares for every game, nothing, nothing crazy, Okay.

Speaker 11 (01:01:35):
So basically in other words, you're you don't think about
the last loss, but making the next save.

Speaker 10 (01:01:41):
Uh, just stop the puck, okay, every shot? Yeah, dialed in.

Speaker 6 (01:01:49):
There was Ladyslas on the Niagar Denture clinic post game.
Stop the puck.

Speaker 1 (01:01:55):
I will say, for the Belarussian import, I'm impressed by
his English so far. I think it's better than what
we might have given him credit for, which is sort
of maybe why we stayed away from him the first
month or so to get comfortable. But it was really
good to finally have our first chat with with Vladyslavia Malenco.
And seems like his mindset is dialed in at all
times and just stopped.

Speaker 3 (01:02:16):
The puck, dialed in, stay focused, you know. He talked
a little bit about what it means to go to
overtime and to stay present in the moment. He just
stops pucks, man, and that's what he did this weekend.
He stopped pucks with consistency, you know. And I think
he talked a little bit about you know, the internal
strategy that the Ice Dogs have when it comes to

(01:02:36):
the series. Chris Barts has this this way that he
metrics his games and the way that he tries to
have the guy's focus. It's seven game stretches, and you know,
for them, they talk a little bit a lot in
that room about tying serieses or taking leads in serieses,
and right now they are one game away from tying

(01:03:00):
and it's great to hear him talking about that. It's
real for them in that room. It's not just game
twenty eight on the schedule, it's game four of the
series that they're playing. And that, for me, I'd love
to hear from your Malenko totally dialed in in the net.
Outside of it, the strategy to coaching is getting through
to him. You saw it this weekend. I mean he

(01:03:20):
was dialed in and boy did he just stop the puck.
He was pretty good at that. And he loves playing
the puck too. He said that he thinks every goalie
should should learn how to play the puck. So we
see him be ultra aggressive out there, and I know
sometimes he gives you a heart attack watching him many
Oh yeah, I'll be shaking in my boots on some
of the plays. But it's great. Like you said, it

(01:03:43):
kick starts the breakout. It gives the guys a jump
and they know that they can start working up ice
when the puck goes back to him. It creates a
CounterPunch ability and a quick breakout that you know other
teams would be concerned about. So I love it, like
there's value there. It just it obviously has to be
an unsafely.

Speaker 1 (01:04:00):
Right and there was a little bit of a miscommunication
on the first Brampton goal with him in Blake Barnes
on that exchange, but again it is what it is,
and those are two guys that are still, you know,
working through it. But again they came away with the
four points this weekend of vladislavvior Maalenko was a big
part of that, stopping fifty nine of sixty two for
the ice Dogs, and you know, just really rising to
the occasion. And the eighteen year old bella Russian, seems

(01:04:23):
like he's fitting in quite nicely here on and off
the ice here in the Niagara region and playing in
the North American style, So really good to see there.

Speaker 6 (01:04:30):
Christian. Final thoughts as we wrap up the show today.

Speaker 3 (01:04:33):
Go ice Dogs. Final thoughts not not a whole out
a lot else to add. I think we covered most
of it. Really Excited for the weeks to come again,
some really important games. They got two divisional matchups, they
got a cross conference matchup against London that's obviously a
really important game for a lot of reasons. It's a
measuring stick game. See how you stack up. And of

(01:04:55):
course you welcome back some pretty well known faces and
names around them and center in Max Creek and Brady Wasslin.
So I think it's exciting also to see, you know,
how does that trade age? You know, I think, and
that's what we're gonna be, you know, talking about this
next week. Is you know who won the trade? I
think it's it's a it's a big, big game. And

(01:05:16):
then of course Barry and North Bay again two very
important games for you know, recollecting some points that you
may have dropped in November and start to climb the
Eastern Conference table. These are some important couple of weeks.
They set the foundation this weekend. They played some great hockey,
playing with purpose, playing with fire, and I'm excited to

(01:05:37):
see where things go over the next couple of weeks.

Speaker 1 (01:05:40):
A couple of big divisional games back to back again
with Barry and North Bay and a late start and
Berry and then an early start against North Bay back
at home too. Yes, the Ice Dogs are gonna be
going through it. They're gonna need that rest day on
Friday for sure after playing London on Thursday. But that's
gonna wrap it up for another episode of the Dog
Palm Podcast, the official podcast of your nig or Ice
Dog's probably brought you by Global pe Foods or Pets

(01:06:00):
are Unnappy part of the family their three great Niagara
region locations. Look forward to Christian's episode next week, and
hopefully when I return to this show in a few weeks,
I will be talking about more Ice Dog's positive results
here in the month of December. Thank you those that
tuned in on the video version on YouTube and those
for listening on your favorite on demand audio platform.

Speaker 6 (01:06:18):
Poor Christian Simmons. My name is Brandon Puddo.

Speaker 1 (01:06:20):
That's it for another episode of the Dog Pound Podcast,
the official podcast of your Niager Ice Dog.

Speaker 6 (01:06:25):
Well, talk to you guys again very soon.

Speaker 1 (01:06:26):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network

All Episodes

Niagara IceDogs Find Their Bark Early in December - Dog Pound Podcast

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Dateline NBC

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Niagara IceDogs Find Their Bark Early in December - Dog Pound Podcast