Second Place Sucks: World Juniors & Trade Deadline Preview - The OHL in 60 Podcast - 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 (01:00):
Welcome into another episode of the ohl in sixty podcast.
I'm Reese Maani along with Colin Ward. BC is in
the clouds running everything technically. Colin Ward has a big
smirk on his face. If you're joining us on YouTube
on the earmier GM Sports Network, thank you so much
for tuning in wherever you're listening again, whether it's on YouTube,

(01:20):
whether it's on your favorite podcast platform. We we always
appreciate it. And it's a it's been a week, to
say the least, there's been quite a bit that has
gone on both in the Ontario Hockey League world and
in Colin Ward's world. No major life events, but Colin

(01:42):
Ward was had a frustrating visit to the walk in
clinic this past week, and that leads us right into
our into the beginning of the show. We're not gonna
talk hockey for the first five minutes. We're gonna let
colin Ward have the floor in this week be Better segment.
It is brought to you by UH Headphones. Headphones, they're useful,

(02:08):
colin Ward, how to use them?

Speaker 3 (02:11):
Hey, this could be this could go majorly off. The
majorly off the real's plan, isn't it. This could go
off the rim. That's gonna go south in a hurry.
Welcome to Florida. No I so as many who know
who are Bulldog fans, listen rough thoughts. I've been going
through some chest stuff. I've had a CoV last week,

(02:34):
constantly a little bit of muting on my mic. You'll
see me off off the off the side off and
if you're watching on YouTube, subscribe hit the link by
some merch Still don't have any posters a recent eye
up there at the Armchair GM Sports Network, But I
don't know. Maybe our moms would like it for Christmas,
but mine would not. I think my mom would. I

(02:55):
would hope or hope Liza would mean Yeah, I hope
she would. I would hope so too. But yeah, no,
I meant so. I've been dealing with a cough, been
dealing with something in my chest to the last I
don't know, weeks, almost a month now. So I go
to the walking Yeah, yeah, you still do? You still

(03:17):
feel it a little bit.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
I've got more of a headache that's been more constant
than anything.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
And I never really had it in my head. Mind's
all been to my chest like it's it's been tough.
But like I go to the walking clinic, I'm all
up seconds, I'm like, I'm not having this bug me.
I'm complaining Eliza for the last week. I'm not having
this bugging me for Christmas and we're not doing this.
We want to go to like we got your family
Christmas party, we got Christmas is going on. I got

(03:44):
to be at one hundred percent on my aim. So
I go to the walk clinic. I struck my stuff
in there and I pop a squad strut your stuff,
walking my walk, talking my talk. I'm a talk so
but I like to think I'm a walker. So I
sit down, I'm checked in, I'm waiting my turn. This

(04:07):
person sitting down to the right, oh man down at
the end, and I can hear every single thing he's
watching on his phone. The game he's playing. I think
it was Temple Run, and I haven't played Temple Run
since great man, that's the people still play that. That's
I swear I heard that because you can hear the coins. Okay,
all right, Lenning, So yeah, playing playing Temple Run BC.

(04:31):
Big Temple Run. Guy. Back in the day, meet to
grade eight, I was the best player in my grade
eight class, probably boy, I challenge anybody that. But so
I hear everything he's playing. I'm hearing every video he's watching,
and I'm thinking about your tongue. A bite your tongue,
bite your tongue. But like, what are we doing? Use headphones?

(04:51):
You can get headphones easily, like and probably the Sears,
the probably had headphones. But I don't want to hear
every single video. So here I am thinking, well, I'm
gonna start playing video. I'm gonna start watching reels on
Instagram and start start watching the hockey highlights because the
Wings one the night before. I'm for for once in
a while, but I'm gonna start watching stuff. But obviously

(05:15):
wear headphones. That have to be better. You're in public,
you don't have to go out, and no one wants
to hear what your business is on your phone. I
know it's important to you, but probably nine out of
ten people elsewhere don't believe it or not, so put
headphones in consider it. It's a Christmas season, let's be
jolly and uh, let's move on with our days. But

(05:38):
all I'm all wound up today. We record the doodcast
earlier today. It's Monday. Obviously we're recording out tonight on Tuesday,
and it's a it's a crazy day, it's a while.
It was a wild weekend, and it's all good. Starting
to come back together. The puzzle pieces are starting to
come back. I haven't solved the puzzle in my life.
I got this one, all right.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Colin Ward's Be Better segment brought to you by headphones.
They allow you to listen to music without bothering other people.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
Headphones.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
We're wearing them right now, like.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Those in the city. Sorry, those in the city are
on like the Go train and stuff.

Speaker 2 (06:21):
The quiet zone up top top of the Go train cars,
the quiet zone. That's what it's got to be like.
But I was a doctor's office etiquette. That's doctor's office etiquette.
Is it not like to be quiet and have minimal conversation. Yeah,
that's the way I've always seen it, Like a doctor's office.
It's like the waiting room has always been low key

(06:44):
just because it is how quiet it is. Like I
just thought that was the norm, but I guess not
for some people.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Like and I always hate the doctor's office because I'm
always thinking, I always have a phobia in doctor's office.
I I'm gonna get sicker than I already am because
usually when you go there, because they have especially a
walking clinic, but everything going around like I think, oh no,
here we go. I'm gonna get word, you say, and
I but oh yeah, all right, it's been all right,

(07:11):
Well we'll be good.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
But here's what we have lined up for you today
on this week's edition of the Ohl and sixty podcast.
We've got a couple of headlines to run through. There's
a new captain in Sarnia, uh so we'll touch on that.
Colin Ward talked about the Eastern Conference and what each
team needs to do ahead of the trade deadline. Of course,
there is a trade freeze that goes into effect during
the World Juniors and during the holiday break, but when

(07:34):
we come back, there's what a week about a week,
just about a week or so that teams have to
make trades before the deadline. So we'll touch on the
Western Conference today and we'll get to the players of
the week. Of course, our our updated power rankings for
the Ohl and sixty podcast, and the last half of
the show is all about the World Juniors because I

(07:57):
will announce that based off of of our holiday schedules.
This will be the last show before Christmas. We will
we will be taking the next week off, but we'll
be back between Christmas and New Year's and hopefully be
previewing one heck of a New Year's Eve game for
Team Canada. So we'll we'll see how things shake out
in the first couple of days of the World Juniors

(08:19):
and then we'll have one for you in between Christmas
and New Year. So just kind of to give everybody
a heads up. We usually take that week off anyways,
but nice to announce it, let everyone know out there
that we will be not releasing a show next week.
So let's get right to it. Colin the Sarnia Sting
involved with a couple of things. Obviously this is a

(08:41):
little bit further back, but they make that trade with
Sue Saint Marie Lucas Fisher goes off for Solomon as
well as five picks. But they also announcing that mister
Diorio is the new captain of the Sarnia Sting and
they've they've been rolling a little bit again of late.

(09:02):
They've looked a lot better than they had in the
recent weeks slast month, and Dioriol has now got to
Sea on the black and yellow.

Speaker 3 (09:10):
Yeah no, and it's great. You know they made the commitment.
They take him high in the draft like they did.
They made the commitment, Dalles. You gotta make sure he's
your guy, right, so you you give their respect to
the guys when you draft them, right, you commit to
him and I think it's the right decision. What a
month for him too, though the Ooro has been everywhere.
You know that he's had the prospects of Dalid high
skilled player. It was always cool at the prospects challenged

(09:32):
you to hear the stories of him and Melhulture from
their junior from the U sixteen days as well. But
high skill, that high skilled athlete for them plays all aspects.
He's your captain. When you think of the sarniest thing
you think about Theorio Edwards, those are the guys you
think about. And I think that the Oio any given night,
he's a focal point for every other team as a

(09:53):
seventeen year old. NET to make that commitment early to
him and hopefully he sticks around and and he's a
new face of the Sting. Yeah yeah, a new new era.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
They've got a new bench boss, new captain, kind of
all fits at the at the same time, right, So, uh,
congratulations to Alessandro Diorrio on being named captain of the
Sarnia sting Ohl Alumni update. Former captain of the London Knights,
Jonathan Taylor has broken the East Coasts all time games

(10:24):
record eight eighty five this past Saturday.

Speaker 3 (10:29):
That's that's pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (10:31):
Yeah, you know the ECHL, you know, you hear a
lot of chatteral it's really not that good. It's just
guys that you know, they're good for pro hockey, but
they're not good for the NHL or AHL.

Speaker 3 (10:41):
And you know what.

Speaker 2 (10:43):
Salaries are, what travels like, you know what the East
Coast game what it is like. Yeah, that's a guy
that just playing because he loves hockey, right and and
the East Coast is still a high level. He's playing
against really good hockey players. You know, this is a
hell of an accomplishment. Not a lot of people stick
around the ECHL this long.

Speaker 3 (11:03):
Yeah, No, absolutely, he was one of my guys in
London and captain the nine to ten team in London.
It's like Justin Taylor growing up a Knights fan. He
was always a big fan of Justin Taylor in his game.
Congrats on the record. One of the most responsible players
you can have up run for you down the middle
obviously is the center. Former sixth round pick of the

(11:24):
Washington Capitals. I guess it was a six round pick
the draft of that team. I remember him, Daniel Erlich. Erlich,
I don't know if you guys remember him, but small,
small forward but could skate like the wind. I remember
watching him play, and he always played with nasm cadri
and I remember watching that team. I remember watching Erlich

(11:45):
skate up the up the wing. Yet Taylor is a
responsible center. Its nights teams in twenty ten. Those were
the after their big years and uh and before their
big years to come and then the kind of the
bridge between twelve and oh four oh five, and they
were loaded. But uh, definitely it was cool. I remember

(12:05):
Scott Harrington was a young player on that team. Zach
Ronaldo was on that team. That's pretty cool. That's neat too. Uh.
That's nice to see, uh Taylor break the record like that,
because when you're playing the East Coast, you're playing eight
hundred and eighty five games in the East Coast, You're
you're playing for the love of the game. Like you mentioned,
and you're playing like those are a lot of bus rides,
that's legit the dungle, Like you're like to play that long,

(12:29):
It is incredible.

Speaker 2 (12:32):
That's minor league baseball in hockey, THECL like the AHL.
You still get your plane ride every now and then.
You know, yeah, you take bus trips, but it's a
little bit more boogie than let's say, minor league baseball.
Whereas the East Coast that says more comparable And mean you.

Speaker 3 (12:47):
Look at all those years too with Kalamazoo and the
East Coast like to play that long in the same
spot too, Yeah, it's tough, Like to play like four
games with one team is tough in the East Coast,
Like that's hard to do when it happened in the
NHL rarely anymore, yeah, Like, and it's such a recycled league,
right like every year there's always coming up. Like I

(13:07):
always give the example about the Toronto Marleys with the
East Coast. The Marleys have always signed every single grade
OA in the Atarial Hockey League. They do that because
it's MLS E money. There's no there's no salary cap
down there, so you're signing guys to the max entry
level deal and it's all good, and all of a sudden,
guys are playing the East Coast this year, not so

(13:29):
much because the NC doublea eligibility. I'm only playing the ANHL,
like not playing the ANHL. I'm I'm going to college.
That's cut and you know, and then that gives you
a chance to for Taylor, that's incredible, Like he's gonna
play nine hot games in the ECHL, Like it'd be
under like, Okay, I don't want to give an opinion
on this, but it'd be unbelievable if you got a
thousand games in the East Coast. But I'm hoping this

(13:49):
gets you at least a couple of games in the AHL, right,
Like it'd be cool to see a little bit of
a call up and get that opportunity. But I'm unreal
to see eight hundred and eighty five games East Coast
game record or games record, yea, is unbelievable of them.

Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah, that's that's that's really cool. So congratulations to him
and his family. You can see the picture if you're
watching us on on YouTube. The whole family's there for
the photo, got the frame, jersey and everything, and yeah,
that's that's really cool.

Speaker 3 (14:19):
So congratulations to him. Last game in the last game
in the HL for Justin Taylor twenty nineteen, twenty twenty
alone to the AHL Utica comments comments played seven games?
Is that it? In the AHL? He's played a few,
He's played a few games. He played fifteen games in

(14:40):
ten eleven for Bridge Sport in the AHL. Uh played
seventeen eighteen, played two games in the AHL of Utica
and then nineteen twenty. That's it. What a career, eh
like to play that long and that's impressive, Like, yeah,
to play that long coast like that. Like the game.

(15:01):
The game can be hard on you, for sure, but
some days your good days for share and breaking records.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
Yeah, absolutely, all right, Colin, Let's let's get to not
necessarily predictions, but the Western Conference. And you know, you
went over the East last week and we're getting to
that point where we're about three ish weeks away from
the OHL trade deadline. You went over what the Eastern
Conference teams.

Speaker 3 (15:26):
Need to do.

Speaker 2 (15:27):
Let's let's hit the West and you know which order
do you prefer? Colin started from the bottom one, okay,
I went from the bottom two.

Speaker 3 (15:38):
Yeah, and then perfect didn't get the opportunity to really
go over so gradually, you know the answers until it
gets to that middle middle six. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
So that means we start off with the Sarniest Thing
currently sitting in tenth place in the Western Conference thirty
one games played, they are ten to seventeen to three
and one. They have twenty four points and a three
eighty seven win percentage. I've scored ninety two goals, they've
allowed one hundred and thirty. They're on a current three
game win streak, and they've won four of their last ten.

(16:10):
Twenty three point three percent on the power play, in
seventy five point eight percent on the penalty kill. Colin ward,
three ish weeks to go, what did the Sarniest Thing
need to do ahead of the trade deadline?

Speaker 3 (16:22):
Next season? Next? Next season is where you're looking right like,
you're looking to get better for this year, for sure,
but how do you get better for this year? You
think about next year, You're pushing for next season. You're
trying to see how can I build my lineup? What's
my lineup gonna look like next season? Put the pieces
together to really get a head start on next season
and see where you go in that West after what's
wins are going to be next year? What's Flint going

(16:42):
to be next year? What's that division going to be like? Right,
Sussein Marie? What are they going to be like next year?
So it kind of opens up a little bit next year.
Them saging on right now nine to ten in the West.
If I'm sorry, I'm looking for next season and I'm
trying to get a head start on these other teams,
especially three out of the out of the five who
I think at next year this time I could be
in their position. So I'm thinking I'm buying for the

(17:03):
next season, selling for the now, buying for the future.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yeah, I'm I'm I hope that playoffs are at least
in the realm of what the Sarnia Sting will talk about,
and I'm sure it will be that. This is probably
a stupid thing to say, uh, but the Sarnia Sting,
I would say, are desperately a franchise that needs to
get to the playoffs this year, at least one round.

(17:27):
I feel like they've got to get there for all
of their young guys to experience it. Right, you look
at Saganaw, They've had a pretty pretty long run in
the playoffs that included a Memorial Cup. The Euriatterers hasn't
been consistent postseason berths, but they've they've been there since
Sarnia has. You know, when you look at those bottom
three teams, I think Sarnia the big thing for them is, yeah,

(17:48):
one hundred percent, you got to look at next year
and see what you can have heading into next year,
because you don't know what everyone else is going to
be obviously, but but I think you got to get
in the playoffs for your young group and your young core.
You got to figure out a way to get in
the playoff. I think there's a couple priorities that you
have to focus on, one being next year as well as, hey,
let's make the playoffs this year. Let's not be the
team that misses.

Speaker 3 (18:09):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (18:09):
This would be a third straight year for the Sarnia Sting,
So I think that that that's big for them last year.

Speaker 3 (18:15):
Season ticket holders, do you want to miss the playoffs
that many years in a row?

Speaker 2 (18:18):
Yeah, yeah, exactly, Yeah, tough for SHS.

Speaker 3 (18:21):
Tough to be a season ticket holder when you have
season tickets for three seasons and you don't see postseason action,
that's tough.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
Yeah, yeah, next up the Saganaw Spirit, currently sitting in
ninth place in the Western Conference thirty one games played.
They are the final team in the Western Conference yet
to reach their tenth victory and get into double digits
in the win column. They are nine fifteen, three and
four for twenty five points. They have a four to
oh three points percentage. I think I said win percentage

(18:50):
for Sarney, it's point percentage. So they're at four oh three.
They've scored one hundred goals. They've allowed one hundred and
thirty three. They have currently lost five in a row
to six zero and two in their last ten. Twenty
point five percent on the power play, seventy three point
five percent on the penalty kill. Colin Ward, how do
you view the Saganaw Spirit heading into the deadline?

Speaker 3 (19:10):
You have assets that should be available on the block
right now. By all the sounds, it sounds like it
is a buyer's market. What's what's very much so like
I it sounds like if you're Saganaw obviously where you
are in the standings and impacts it. You look at
the standings where they are, you look at teams in
front of them. That's a lot of teams to pass,

(19:32):
to get a little cushion to be comfortable. I think
this is where they're gonna be. And I and I
think that with the Saganaw spirit, with that, you kind
of gotta sell. You have to, you have to build.
You watch your mem Cup highlights, watch your Zame Perac highlights,
watch your Michael highlights. And Michael Misa somehow comes back
after the World Juniors. I think you're still selling because

(19:54):
you got to get those picks and oh yeah, over
the top, especially after the Kingston deal last year with
Saganaw getting Hey to Kingston and those guys all the
picks that got in those deals, right, so you get
that deal again for Misa and so on and so
forth as a rent all. You got to do that.
So if I'm the Saga of Spirit, I'm saying it

(20:14):
was a great run. They did a great job. We've
said this multiple times. It's flint turn now in the
division in there in Michigan. It's a flint it's Flint's turn.
And it's all good for Saganaw. They had a great run.
But it's time to change. Turn the book, move on here,
get what we can get, continue to develop. They do
have young pieces there Saganaw, they do have young pieces

(20:36):
where I can see this. I can see next year
Saganaw's right in the mix with Sarnia, two teams that
could flip it in that division, especially with twins or
what's Flint, what's Sue Saint Marie next year. That's why
I could especially see the segon of Spirit as well
flip the script on the next season. Getting in the
playoffs is nice and they have these young guys there.

(20:57):
But also for for Saganaw, it's build the rung cor
the mesas of peraxit they had up with those matching
guys with blooms. They got to build it again. You
gotta rebuild and continue to put that Saganaw culture, that
structure that they have in place there to build and
then they will they will rebuild it and become a
great team again. Yep, Yeah, I absolutely agree.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
You were at the high when you win your Memorial Cup. Okay,
you're in the you're in the down phase. So it
start to you know, you begin that rebuilding process if
you're if you're the Saganaw Spirit. Next up the eighth
place erie Otters. Thirty two games played. They've got a
record of twelve, eighteen to one and one, good for
twenty six points and a four oh six points percentage.

(21:40):
They've scored eighty seven goals, they've allowed one hundred and nineteen.
They won their last game as well, above five hundred
in their last ten at five to four to oh
to one, eighteen point eight percent on the power play,
penalty kill at seventy six point nine uh eerie after
I'd say a pretty rough start, and I think I'm
fairly safe and saying that it probably was more than rough.

(22:02):
But they've they've sort of rebounded of late and you know,
they're currently sitting in a playoff spot. I think they're
part of the group of three with with Sagan and
Sarnia where you know there's a seven point gap difference
between eighth place and seventh place right now, and that's
the gwelf Storm who are who are in front of
the erie otters. You know, can they do it?

Speaker 3 (22:22):
Sure?

Speaker 2 (22:23):
It's December, let's be realistic, it is, They've still got time.
I think it's gonna be a three team race for
that eighth and final playoff spot. I think I think
Gwelph has pieces where they're they're a little bit better,
and I could see them finishing no lower than seventh.
But again, yeah, you're right, you're right, but I think

(22:45):
gwelf also, you have to get in the playoff. We'll
get to them in just a second though, But the
Erie Otters calling, what what do you see for them
for for the next three weeks?

Speaker 3 (22:53):
Well, how good is that Michael deck trade. I meant him,
Edwards and Frasco look unbelievable together on that top line
right now for the Otters, I mean they're they're playing
great hockey and that's all you need sometimes get in
the postseason. Right out of those three teams that we
just meant, I would read the best top lines Eerie
one concern you two sagan Off three top lines out

(23:16):
of those teams, and I think with with the Eerie Otters,
you have have the top talent. You're putting it together.
It feels like Eerie once ever since obviously the good
old days McDavid years, of the brinkeet Strom years like
those years. Ever since those, it feels like Erie has

(23:37):
one year out of seven where it's okay, this is
their window. They got a shorten that they gotta come
up with a plan. And like I say, if you
get to get offer on some of your veteran players,
you're gonna take it in the eighth spot. But for them,
I mean some nights they get a big city even nets.
Some nights they don't. Some Knights they give up a
couple of odd against some days they do. Like if

(23:59):
that's just the way it is right now, like for
the Otters, like right now they're playing good hockey, but
next week they could go on and two oh and three,
Like we don't know what you're gonna get from the Otters.
Like halfway through that game on Thursday night against Branford
and Bramford had all the Canadian guys playing the world
junior guys. They were rating the game. They were rating
the game. It wasn't for Brampton responding with two three

(24:21):
goals to their one goal. Every time it would been
a game like they scored the first goal of the game.
Here they were up like like they they show flashes,
which is frustrating, which is always frustrating for Otters fan
listening like this is always frustrating as a team. Like hey,
I'm a Red Wings fan, reach here a Red Wings fan.
Know this, every single year, get close to the trade deadline,

(24:43):
it's like, Okay, they're starting to play a good let's buy,
let's buy, let's do something, and then it's nothing or
then we're selling. Like it's the same thing every year.
I think for the Otters, if you come up with
a plan to get better for next season, make the
but make the playoffs this year, that's a success. That's
a success for me. And especially after last year when
they had that first round matchup where Pano Famous it

(25:05):
felt like won every single face off against the Saganaspirit
and that was that was their success. Right, you get
to play a lot of nights in round two, but
all in all for the Otters, build a team that
can get you in the postseason now, but be ready
to go for next season, to be in the top.
To give gwelf a game as of the Memcup post right,

(25:28):
like to give London a game as they have a
strong eight corps. Like give those teams games next season
and see where you're at.

Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, next up the number seven seed, the Gulf Storm.
Thirty two games played, they have a record of fifteen
fourteen to two and one with thirty three points a
point percentage of five to sixteen. They've scored one hundred
and nineteen goals. They've allowed one hundred and thirty two.
They are currently on a four game losing streak. They're
four to five ozho and one in their last ten,

(25:59):
twenty point five percent on the power play, eighty one
point six on the penalty kill. I think I know
what your answer is gonna be to this Collin because
they are hosting the Memorial Cup next year, but the
Golf Storm get as much seventeen and eighteen year old
talents as possible.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
I'm you've got that on your face. Yeah, I'm I'm
shipping every single player that's not gonna be back next year.
Any player that's for sure not gonna be back, it's
one hundred percent chance. So always nineteen year old that's
signed an entry double deal, they are gone. They are gone.

(26:38):
For anything that I can get for next season draft picks,
so I can go get elite players next year in
the offseason. As soon as the team seasons, then I
can be interested in acquiring somebody. When the trade window opens,
I get interested in acquiring somebody because I have the
picks to do so right away. If I'm the golf Storm,
I'm building a Memorial Cup contender next season. But I'm

(26:59):
making the playoffs this year and I don't want to
be an easy out because we all know this Memorial
Cup teams. Think about Saganaw the year before they hosted
the mem Cup. That team was good. They'd peed me
to cough trade them not a lot like that team
was good, knew he wasn't coming back. Got rid of them,
got assets exactly. They did that with Jelchenko. Congrats, by

(27:22):
the way to the Guelf Storm organization for making that move.
That is a tough move to make a staple in
the organization. That is a tough move to make. If
you're the Gelf Storm, it is you host the m
Cup and boom there it goes right, there's your decision.
It's a tough trade to make for the Storm. So
congrats on that deal. I know that is tough, but
it's a great, great deal for the Guelf Storm. Laying

(27:43):
gallahack of a player and I'm really excited to see
what he can do there. But if you're golf, you're
getting the best assets you can get players slash picks
that you can get to field a team. That's a
very tough out I'm doing the Saganaw build the Saganaw's spirit.
We're a tough, tough team to play against the year

(28:03):
before in the Memorial Cup. If I'm the Gulf Storm,
that's what I'm doing right now, and that's what i
want to do for the year. You imagine the gwelf
Storm right now playing the Kitchener Rangers yet the playoffs
and it today, I mean, the Kitchener Rangers could easily
be in fourth place by the break. Who knows, I'm
just saying that figure speechs. Don't judge our town, but
can you imagine a guelf Storm Kitchener Rangers playoff matchup?

(28:27):
That's gonna be a tough out either way. So I'm
excited to see what can happen. And I want the
gwelf Storm to build a team that could possibly fight
for winning around this season and just be respected going
in the next in the mem Cup, because we don't
want to clone a situation where what are they sixth
in the conference? Like we didn't want that situation either. Well,

(28:48):
you've piqued my interests, so I'm gonna look now, I
remember we dies on.

Speaker 2 (28:54):
That just to kind of check No, I mean, I'm
not gonna quote.

Speaker 3 (28:58):
I'm with you, like, why do they make this soul?
A couple of weeks ago it was looking good.

Speaker 2 (29:04):
Klowna fifth place right now thirty four points, which is
nineteen behind Everett who.

Speaker 3 (29:10):
Is currently in first. So that's your most Yeah, now.

Speaker 2 (29:19):
That that kind of has the making of we're gonna
be out in the first round. We're gonna fire our
coach and be back and rested and win up just
like in twenty twenty two. We know how that'll get
call and fired up. So I'm not gonna go any
further on it. Next up or the sixth place London
Ninths thirty two games played seventeen twelve, three and zero

(29:40):
for a total of thirty seven points. They have a
five to seventy eight points percentage. They've scored one hundred
and six goals, They've only allowed ninety five. They did
lose on Sunday to Branford to nothing. They have dropped
six of the last ten, twenty point four percent on
the power play, eighty four point nine percent on the
penalty kill. For the two time defending OHL champions. For

(30:03):
the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights, Colin Ward, what
do the next three weeks have in store for them.

Speaker 3 (30:11):
I think you call the London Knights. Now. I'm just
joking on that one, but I think for the Knights,
you continue to build your O eight group, You continue
to stack things up for next season, build that build
through that eight coring goaltending tandem next year, keep building
up what you have in place, and similar to GWELF,
they're gonna be a tough out this year no matter

(30:31):
who they played. London Nights Unfortunately, I don't think this
year's robbed at the tail end. I don't think their
last game has their captain Samu o'reiley on their roster.
I look at their roster right now and I think
sam o'reiley on. It makes absolutely no sense because I
think you gotta get any asset you can get for
Sam O'Reilly and continue to build your O eight cor

(30:52):
that you have. And I know London doesn't have a
lot of picks, but is draft picks is gonna be
as big as it once was with the ncublea agreement
the London Knights. We all know this. Every OHL fan
knows this. Listening to this. The London Knights can go
to the top USHL player next season, and who cares
about a first a second round pick? You have your

(31:13):
first round pick, so who cares about a second or
a third? That's probably a seventeen year old like that
is probably a more beneficial player to your lineup where
you are right now for next season than your second
round pick in this year's draft. No offense to the
minor hockey system. I love the U sixteen level, but
I just think that that's kind of the recality of
the new day Ohl. So my opinion is I think

(31:36):
that the Knights continue to build your O eight group.
I think they move their captain Samuel Riley, moved the
veteran players that won't be back next season for this
young core and continue to shape this mold that they
have building rates now in London because it's impressible to watch.
They have got a lot of good young kids.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, I agree, and well, and they know how to
develop them and not run them through a wall in
their rookie season to essentially learn the game. So next
up the fifth place Owen Sound Attack. Thirty four games
played for them, they're seventeen fourteen to oh and three.
They've also got thirty seven points on the season. Point
percentage of five forty four. They have scored one hundred

(32:16):
and thirty nine goals. They have alloted one hundred and
thirty four. They have lost four games in a row,
three six oh and one in their last ten, twenty
seven point one on the power play, seventy four point
eight percent on the penalty kill. Colin Ward, Uh, the
own sound attack, very talented hockey team.

Speaker 3 (32:34):
What do you see?

Speaker 1 (32:34):
Uh?

Speaker 3 (32:35):
What do you see them doing at the deadline? Sure
to the head, Well, Carter George is gone, you gotta
make that move. Now, I'm back pedaling on that. I
don't know. You have these guys in their commit to
NC DOUBLEA. They've had a lot of NC DOUBLEA commitments
in this past week, they in this past summer, they
had a lot of commitments where they are right now

(32:55):
in the standings and when their potential, especially with Carter
George's our goalie. You'll win a one, you win one
round or two for sure. I think you continue to
build off that for where you for sure have a round, win,
a series win, and you for sure build a team
that you're confident you can get to the second round
and go six seven games in the second round and

(33:16):
possibly go to the conference final. What you're thinking about
right now? For the Owen sound attack with the situation
being what it is NCAA commits, I know they suck,
but if I'm the only sound attacks, yes that I'm doing.
I'm continuing to build for this year to win possibly
compete for that conference championship against windsor Flint right now
in my opinion, so I.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
Have backtracking on George moving. Does that mean they should
move Kapowski or Bennett in your opinion? Or do they
keep going all three?

Speaker 3 (33:43):
No, you gotta make a decision on that. For the
development of the players and for the like older goaltenders,
you got to move one of them. You can't have
three goalies like that. That's that's not right to be
sitting in the stands like that. For sure. Maybe you
make a move. If a team has three goalies and
one's a young goaltender, maybe you make that move right,
Maybe make Maybe you make a kaprow's Ky deal and
you get a player, and you get a young goal

(34:04):
tender back to sit behind Carter George, and that's your
goalie for the future, and he may be a ship
two out of the three goal he's out right, you
get extra assets back in return for that, So maybe
you do that, But it all depends on where where
they are come three weeks from now. This is a
big week for them, right, they don't have Carter George
if the one sound Attack. Are going to see what
the team is without Carter George. You saw at the

(34:25):
beginning of the year, and now you're gonna see to
get what they are without Carter George. How how valuable
is Carter George the own sound attack. We know how
valuable he is. I think he's the biggest part of
their team wins and losses. I think when he's on,
you're not being the ones sound attack. I think in
the playoffs series, if he plays for five big games,
you're losing in four or five games. That's why. That's
how much I respect Carter George. And I think everyone's

(34:45):
gonna see it at the World Juniors, like BC has
been covering the World Juniors and like Carter George talk
has been incredible. Like I think that Carter George is
the backbone of the Owens sound attack, and at this
rate where the Owen sound Attack are, I want to
see him be a lifer in on one sound and
that's why I would I would think elsewhere. And plus
if you can go a look two for one. Let's

(35:07):
be honest, if they move Carter George, they are not
They're not going to move another goaltender. You don't have
that luxury to be able to do that. I think,
I think you gotta run the Bennett Kapowski system the
tan there, and I think I think if you move
one of Bennett and Kaprowski and you can get a
young goaltender back, you're absolutely have the capabilities of making
those guys gone, like both those guys acceptable to being traded. Like,

(35:31):
you absolutely have an opportunity to do that. Yeah, you
can get two for one instead of you get two
instead of one, Like that's that's nice, that's you get
the double assets. Yeah. Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (35:45):
Next up the fourth seeded Sue Greyhounds. Thirty two games played,
they are twenty ten to one and one for forty
two points a six fifty six points percentage. They scored
one hundred and twenty seven goals they've allowed ninety seven.
They are on a current five game win streak, seven
to one in their last ten, eighteen point eight percent
on the power play, seventy seven point seven percent on

(36:06):
the penalty kill. We saw the trade with Sarnia. Colin
more to come up in Sue.

Speaker 3 (36:11):
Is that it?

Speaker 2 (36:12):
What?

Speaker 3 (36:12):
Do you think they any more consistency in the net?
They really do. Like one week you'll see very good,
you'll see very good structure out of Miller. You'll see good,
you'll see positivity in his game. The next it'll be like, oh,
soon needs a goalie, yesterday Like there's no in between
with Sue. Did they need a goalieor they don't. I

(36:32):
think they need a goaltender to be successful in the playoffs.
I don't think they're gonna win with this current team.
I like their team with Martin, with Reed, getting Fisher.
I like their team. I said last week they have
a one A, one B situation on defense. That's huge,
step two stallwarts defenseman out there in Fisher in Reed,
he can give the minute, you can give forty minutes
to those guys. Yet no problem in the playoffs. So

(36:53):
they're gonna be able to log in for you. They've
proven that they're gonna show that. Now that's a that's
a that's a positive. That check you get. You get
some of these guys that are in c double a boundary.
Now to come back to the Greyhounds, you know the
cook rumors that you see, like those things like if
you get those well there's your goal scorer, Billy Box

(37:14):
with the check is goaltending. That's where you call the
Owen sound attack. But that's great, that's true. That's that's
where you make those phone calls like that, like one percent.
The Sue Greyhounds, when you look at their roster, Miller
has to be more consistent because if not, it's a
cold world and you never know what will happen. No

(37:35):
pun intended to Sue Saint Mary. It's probably really cold
there today. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (37:39):
Wow, I left work Sunday technically Monday morning, but Sunday
night minus twelve in Saint Catharine's minus.

Speaker 3 (37:48):
Thirteen when I was driving home. This as awful.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
The third seeded Winsor spit Fires are next. They've played
thirty three games there, twenty one, eight, three and one
for a total of forty six point six ninety seven
on the percentage. They've scored one hundred and twenty four goals,
they've allowed eighty four. They've dropped their last two, but
in the last ten they are five to four and one,
twenty seven point one percent on the power play, eighty
six point four percent on the penalty kill. Colin Ward

(38:18):
a team that a lot of people expect to win
the Wing Gretzky Trophy and be the Western Conference representative
in the OHL Championship. Currently sitting two points back of Flint.
They are five points ahead of Kitchener, but because Kitchener
leads their division, Kitcheners and second Winsors and third Windsor
I think needs to do something really, really badly, and

(38:40):
that's say they're a bad hockey team by any means.
They're two points at of first place. But it seems
like it's time for the Spitfires to make a move.

Speaker 3 (38:48):
Colin. Yeah, they got ankle socks on in the ballfield,
but they need high socks on day right now. Behind
the Flint Firebirds, the Winsor spit Fires, in my opinion,
need all the firepower they can get. They they gotta
go all in. This is it when you look at
their roster, this is this is their year. This is
their year to go for it. They have to make that.

(39:09):
They have to make that move. Though unfortunately they missed
out on the Danford moves. They missed out on the
Lachenko deal, so now they're getting those secondary guys. There's
gonna be very giddy elite players available, but they're not Like, Okay,
if Samuel Riley comes available and the Winters pep fires,
I'm all over that because he'd be the best guy
available in my opinion. If the London Nights choose to

(39:30):
do sell, I would there. I'd be all over that.
I find the Winters spit fires. You need that type
of talent, or I'd be awfully worried about the flint
Like what's Kitchener gonna do? What's Sue gonna do? Like
you know, like it's very it's it's easy to say
you're gonna go for it, but that's where you respect

(39:51):
the teams that when they go for it, Hey, we're
after in the cupboard. We're going for it, because if
you don't, if you don't do it. And by it's
not even Jane tenth yet. That's another thing. The ninth
tenth oh way deadline on the ninth, Like that's when
you're really gonna see like that's yeah, hot, realistic answer
three weeks from now. But I hope, I hope the

(40:11):
Windsorspiffires make a couple big moves like they have in
the past because they desperately need it. And you're seeing
that right now with the Firebirds in that in that division,
like you know, like I guess it's not gonna be
given to you this year, and hey, why should it be?
So makes the lead better agree it's gonna be I
think the Winterspitfires. You gotta go big name hunting and

(40:33):
get the best player available. It's unfortunately they missed. They
missed out on Lachenko, they missed out on Ben Danford.
Lose the best defensemen available and you lose the best
support we're available. So who's next? Yeah, yep. Number two.

Speaker 2 (40:46):
The Kistener Rangers, currently leading the Midwest Division thirty two
games played there nineteen to ten and three for a
total of forty one point six forty one percentage goals
four one hundred and seven they've allowed eighty nine. Did
win their last game of the weekend six three and one.
In their last ten twenty two point six on the
power play, seventy eight percent on the penalty kill.

Speaker 4 (41:09):
UH Josh Shant, Josh Brown, Josh and I hope you're
watching on UH you number two aren't in the Western Conference,
Josh Brown, but number one in the hearts the Kitchener Rangers.

Speaker 2 (41:28):
They don't have a Memorial Cup next year.

Speaker 3 (41:30):
At the odd let's go how much games? Let's go
this year.

Speaker 2 (41:34):
I was gonna say how much do things actually change?
But also like, does that put more emphasis on this year?
If they do change drastically?

Speaker 3 (41:43):
No, why not go this year?

Speaker 2 (41:46):
Because the way London's building up their young core, this
seems like this is Kitchener's opportunity when London is not London,
if that makes make sense.

Speaker 3 (41:56):
No, absolutely, absolutely, Like I truly believe the Rangers go
all in this year. They got Hey, it was either
this year or next year. Congratulations kitchen you get to
go for it this year and you don't have the
way of the year. I know it sucks not in
the Memorial Cot get all that extra stuff, but you
go for it this year. The decision was made, let's go.
You have that new facility, you have that new spectacular

(42:17):
media room by the way BC, you got to experience it.
Great spot. I called DIBs on that bulldog mural up
above the food area. Forget the food there, I just
want that mural. And I, uh, I cannot wait to
have that. Thanks for ye.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
Colin Ward doesn't go to media rooms for food. He
goes to see what he can take once buildings are
closed and they're selling stuff. That's why colin Ward goes.

Speaker 3 (42:42):
I just want that, if that thing ever comes available,
I want that. That'd be unbelievable, and BC puts in
the chat below two greyhounds. One was missing the logo.
I'm telling you, they're unbelievable on my barstool. I would
love that on my bar it matches my barbecue. It'd
be unbelievable. It'd be unreal. But uh No, the Rangers, Hey,
they made the CHL made your decision for you. I

(43:04):
think you go for it this year, Josh, if you're
listening to this, let us know what are the Rangers
gonna do? Like I got like, what would you do? Like,
what's gonna happen? What's the consensus? Like, what's what's it been,
what's the talk's been like in the building.

Speaker 2 (43:19):
I assume the biggest thing for me. The biggest thing
for me is the window still open for Hemming? Like
I know it sounds like it's closed, but is it?
Did they make it work on something things, Yeah, like
is there something you can figure out? Like, I'm sure
Mike McKenzie is, he's not dumb, he's he's probably still

(43:41):
doing some due diligence on that. I I haven't heard
anything that it's for sure. No, he's not coming. He's
never gonna be a kitchen a Ranger. I haven't heard
any of that. But I'm curious if there is still
a window of opportunity for that.

Speaker 3 (43:55):
Hey, you know what I'm doing. You know what I'm doing.
If that window isn't there. If that window isn't there,
and there's an opportunity to move, and I'm moving them,
but I'm going after who's the And like I say,
this is just my opinion. I know nothing about this.
Like I said, Josh, I just asked you for your opinion.
What's gonna happen? Because the Rangers are so intrigued. To me,
it's that one team. I don't really know what they'll

(44:17):
do because it felt like all year it was gonna
be next year, next year, next year, but then all
of a sudden, it feels like this year, you gotta
do it now. Right, So, if I'm general manager and
he's not coming, it's that's sailed. I am trying to
package him in a deal to acquire the captain of
our arrival from the London Knights. Care Cadri did it?

(44:41):
Steve Beson? Did it? Yep, it's happened before. It's not
unheard of. Yeah, that would be a perfect player for
the kitchen Ring. That would fit everything. But everyone, like,
everyone would like a strong sen who's gonna be one
biggest face off men for this team? Can the world Junior?

(45:04):
Everyone would like a strong center. I think that that
would be pretty intriguing. That would that would be the
best that would be if that happened. That would be
the talk that we talk about, that trade that we
talk about for ten minutes plus. If that happened. It
wouldn't it? Would it? Would you imagine Twitter?

Speaker 5 (45:24):
Man?

Speaker 3 (45:24):
Think you would? It would blow up if that happened,
Like that'd be unbelievable for the league. That'd be unbelievable
for the ohl that deal were to happen. That'd be
really cool for clicks or attention. You know, that'd be
cool for media. But I don't know, Like I feel
like if I if I was a general Andrew, I'd
be all over that because you gotta you don't want
that lingering on to next season. I know, once you're
drafted to NHL, teams make the decision, so but you know,

(45:49):
I just want a decision to be made. So I
just think, either do it or let's move the rights
and get better. Let's focus on what we can do.
So that's what I would do if I was a Rangers.

Speaker 2 (45:59):
And lastly, the number one seeded Flint Firebirds not only
in the West Division, but the Western Conference. As we speak,
thirty three games played twenty two, seven to two and
two for forty eight points and a seven to twenty
seven points percentage. They scored one hundred and twenty five goals.
They have allowed ninety four. Uh, they are three to zero,

(46:20):
one and one in their last five six one, one
and two in their last ten, power play twenty point
seven percent penalty kill eighty four point three. Here's my
poker chips. You can have them for the best players.
Is that the Flint Firebirds plan. They have picks. I
mean they have picks. I'm the Flint Firebirds.

Speaker 3 (46:41):
The way they gain they play that one fought that
one four where hey, you're gonna if you're gonna gain
the blue line on us. You're gonna have to stick
candle through all of us, right, like one for all, Like,
let's do it. I'm acquiring big defense. I want to
get big on the back end. I want to be big,
mean on the back end, because if you play a
system like that, those guys that are big defense, that

(47:03):
clog up even more space in a playoff series series
shrink all of a sudden from possibly thinking hey it's
a six to seven series to going four or five
right like in the Flint Firebirds. I tell you, if
Bakari is beneficial in that system, goaltender of the week again.
Like I really enjoy watching Flint Firebirds hockey, Like I

(47:25):
really do. Their fans come after me all the time,
and I know, uh not to get too bulldog centric.
I know we had a rough time in our Facebook
group after the when Flint came to town this year.
But I think the Flint Firebirds. If I'm the Firebirds,
I'm getting big defense and I'm winning games in my
own end and Aspinall's gonna have to score. These guys

(47:48):
are gonna have to score for me. But I'm I'm
gonna I'm gonna be very good defensively, I'm gonna be
one of the best teams defensively, and I'm saying I'm
thinking about matching up against the windsor spit Fires, against
the Spellacies, against the Green Tree Belchaz, Like, I'm matching
up against those guys and I'm taking my big mean
defenseman and we're going at it. Winsord did that, and

(48:08):
Winsy did that in twenty two, right, Parrot the Parrot
trade Like they went and't got big mean defense, and
you look what they did in the playoffs. Right. Those
those types of players wear you down in a seven
game series. They shrink series. And if I'm the Flint Firebirds,
they have a big roster. Literally, they have so many

(48:28):
guys that are big. I'm continuing that build on the
back end, and I'm gonna be the toughest team to
play against in my own end. I'm gonna recycle pucks
and it's gonna be great. And that's how you're gonna
win the playoffs. I'm build. I'm building my team to
win one nothing, two to one, three, two games, and
that's how it's gonna because when you come into the Dort,
you're in for a battle and that's what I'm doing.

(48:49):
If I'm the Firebirds. You come into the factory. Let's
go be ready to manufacture, all right.

Speaker 2 (48:57):
That is the thoughts on the Western Conference and what
those teams might or should do ahead of the trade
deadline on the ninth and tenth. Before we hit the
break and then Chatworld Juniors, we'll get to the players
of the week and then quickly to our power rankings
for this week. We'll start with the player of the
week and it'll be up in Sue Saint Marie Christopher Brown.

(49:20):
Three games for him, he had two goals and five
assists for a total of seven points and was also
a plus three. As the Sue Greyhounds currently sitting in
a home ice in the first round situation in the
Western Conference, we're gonna stay in that division for the
goalie of the week to flip Firebirds Mason Vacari two
to zero record with a one goals against average, a

(49:42):
safe percentage of nine to sixty seven, stopping fifty nine
shots in those two victories for the Firebirds. The rookie
of the week somebody not named Caleb Malhultra. It is
Robin Kuzma of the Kingston front Nacs in colors. I
guess three games play, two goals and three assists for
a total of five points. He was also a plus

(50:05):
four for the Kingston Frontenacs in those three games as
they rounded up their weekend with a shutout victory in Oshawa.
And then the prospect of the week, the team that
has only lost once in the GOHL. That's the Cambridge Readhawks.
It is Kaylin McQueen. He's a prospect of the Sue Greyhounds.
Played in a couple of games this past week. Three

(50:28):
games or three goals and five assists for a total
of eight points for mister McQueen. So congratulations to him.
Colin ward our power rankings before we hit a small
break and then come back and talk Hockey Canada and
World Juniors team number. I guess we'll read them off

(50:49):
first and then we'll go from there. So the power
rankings for this week from the Ontario Hockey League. Number sixteen,
it's the Sarnia Sting. They move up a spot into
the top sixteen. Don't move their number fifteen. Sudbury Wolves
up three spots to number fourteen, Kingston up three spots
to number thirteen. Twelve Storm drop a couple to twelve,

(51:09):
so do the Owen sound attack. They're down to number eleven.
The North Bay Battalion beneficiary beneficiaries of that. They are
up two spots to number ten. So is Peterborough up
to to number nine. London moves down one to number eight,
Kitchener down two to number seven. Bury up to to
number six. Flint I think should be higher, but we'll
get to that in just second. They're up one spot

(51:29):
to number five. Winsor down one spot to number four.
Cuse Marie up a spot to number three, and then
the two front runners do not move. Ottawa's number two
Branford is number one. Colin Ward, who is your number
five team in the Ontario Hockey League.

Speaker 3 (51:46):
I think the toughest decision this week for me other
than the walk in clinic with the either to confront
the non headphone wear or confront the headphone wears nine
four or five spot in this week's power ranking, because
that a tie since the first month of the season
and that streak's going to continue because they don't have

(52:06):
a tie this week. So hey, I did my in
the fifth play the fifth ranked team in the Biggest
power rankings, The Bigger Power rankings than these ones that
we're just Red Reese number five. They've won five games
in a row, but they are still not good enough
to be the fourth team the fourth spot in my

(52:28):
power ranking because the fourth team has also won five
in a row. The two Greyhounds are five for me
is in their last ten they'res seven to two Ozho
to one instead of nine and one. So the Sue
Greyhounds are five this week for me and my power rankings.

Speaker 2 (52:45):
They are five for me as well, calling I know
exactly who number four is because they're number four for
me too.

Speaker 3 (52:54):
On the screen now.

Speaker 2 (52:56):
Yeah, so so that's Sue number five both of us,
Bury number four for.

Speaker 3 (53:02):
Both of us, which means who's number three, mister Ward
three for me? The Flint Firebirds. I think I would love,
for the content purposes, just for the league, for the
Flint Firebirds to go into the Christmas Break as the
one seed in the Western Conference. That'd be pretty cool.
I mean, they could go in as the number one

(53:23):
seed in the OHL with the way id ask guys
out them in auto. I'm sure Ottawa has something to
say about that too, as Ottawa could be very well
as well next week at this time could be one
in the OHL as well. So to me, right now,
Flinn is the three spot, three to zero, one on
one in their last five little streak. They're on a
five game point streak. Flint to me is the third

(53:46):
best team in the entire Hockey League.

Speaker 2 (53:48):
Yep, yeah, I've got the Flint Firebirds there as well
Ottawa less games played, but more wins. They've also given
up uh just a few less, so I mean not
a ton. They've scored twenty good less goals, but they've
given up three less than Flint, so that's not a
wide margin, and they're not off by a wide margin
by any means. But my reasoning is Ottawa's got that

(54:09):
one extra win and one less game played, so that's
how big the difference is between Flint and Ottawa. So
Flint is number three for both of us. I've got
Ottawa at two.

Speaker 3 (54:18):
Who do you have it too? I think I know
the Answerawa, Yeah.

Speaker 2 (54:22):
And then number one, number one seed to Branford Bulldogs
twenty three to three, four and one for fifty one points.
Despite losing seven, they still shut out the London Nights
on Sunday to nothing. We will hit a break when
we come back. We've got some audio for you from

(54:43):
World Junior Camp in Niagara Falls, and we'll look ahead
to the Holiday Classic that takes place every single year.
It is one of the best times of the year
despite December twenty five, so we'll touch on the World
Juniors coming up next here on the Ohl and sixty podcast.

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Speaker 5 (56:42):
With fourth Wall, You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.

Speaker 2 (57:03):
Welcome back to the Ohl and sixty Podcast with Colin Ward.
I'm Reice Domani. BC is kind of peeking through the clouds.
His mic is on in case he needs to chime
in in case Colin and I miss something in this
next segment or we say something stupid, which is possible,
so so BC might chime in in this last segment here.

(57:25):
But it's gonna be all Team Canada and World Juniors
for fifteen twenty minutes or so. We're going over time,
but we usually do for the World Junior previews, so
that's okay, we'll get over it. I'm actually over it
right now. Holy crap, that was pretty quick. So we're
gonna pull up the lines here for anyone that's watching

(57:46):
us on the Armchair GM Sports Networks YouTube page. For
anyone that's listening to us on your favorite audio platform, well,
i'll kind of read everything out for you. So forward
group looks like this, McKenna, Bouduin, Marton Coots again, Age,
Barret Luchenko and Martin. It's Green Tree, de noyer and
O'Reilly and then Van Aker, O'Brien and Rechne Defense, Red Perek, Hison,

(58:12):
Bruniki Carol's Danford, Smith, ver Hoof, Verhoff, Jeez and Mackenzie
the last man, and then Ivankovic, George and obviously Ravensbergen
me said sounds like he's expected to arrive within the
next couple of days, next two, three, four days or so.
He's currently on his rehab assignment in the American Hockey

(58:35):
League coming off the injury with the San Jose Sharks,
so he's expected very very soon, which by our math,
which doesn't math very often, that means two forwards now
will be cut. Unlike when Hockey Canada introduced the roster,
they said it would be just one, but with van
Acker getting added math and math, that would equal to

(58:56):
guys getting cut defense. One defenseman's gonna get cut in
the one goaltender is gonna get cut, which I mean,
I'm gonna start with that colin two goaltenders. And it's
an international tournament. It's not in Canada, but it's in
North America, it's in Minnesota. So maybe that's why I'm

(59:17):
curious what you think about that.

Speaker 3 (59:20):
One set. Literally, this is a battle of seconds because
we were just that break and I didn't like it,
and right now and this current second I like the
idea of too, because being in North America, you gonna
place that situation easy. If you unfortunately have an injury,
you can make it very easy to get whatever the
third goalie is into the system and get them to

(59:42):
join your club no problem in the time being. But
I I think it's a good situation me personally with
the Hunters, they're gonna ride the hot hand. I don't
think there's going to be okay, this person plays a
game because it's laughed ya.

Speaker 6 (59:57):
No.

Speaker 3 (59:58):
I think the best goalie is going to play and
that's gonna be their guy. I think the pre tournament
games they're gonna laid out and say here we go, right,
Ivan Covid, you get a game, George, you get a game.
Ravensberg and you get a game. Here we go right
like that's our that's We'll get everybody an opportunity. But
the best goalie from that mix is gonna play every
game until they drop the ball. I think that's the

(01:00:21):
best approach you have to take with this team. When
you're in a short tournament like this, you gotta ride
the hot hands in net like you can't mess around
with goalies and in the minutes man like, if you're
the best, if you got a guy that's the best goalie,
you play them. Look what the Olympic team did when
Carry Price he played, Yeah, twenty ten Broders started. He didn't.
He wasn't better than Lauongo. So la Wongo went in

(01:00:43):
and played the rest of the tournament. That's what you're
gonna do. The Americans did it with Ryan Miller. Shout
out to your brother Rees, I know he's gonna like
that reference. But the Americans did it five hole, five hole.
They did it with Ryan Miller, Like, you know you're
gonna play the best goalie available in a short tournament
like this, it's easy to get regrets when you mess up.
Look at last year's team, right, Like, I think that

(01:01:05):
last year's team had all the skill on paper. Every
single can of the team is the best can of
the team we've ever saw. It always is going to
be like this. But how does it? How do they execute?
How do they mesh together? How is this group gelling together?
What's how much of a team is this unit? Is
it a team? Do we have the right leaders in charge?
One thousand percent? We do it with the Hunters. I

(01:01:27):
think with the goaltending situation. The best goalie plays every game.
That's how it's gotta be. Last year, last year we
had the laught of a game. We had that game.
How did that work out? It wasn't even Covid Faldy
played great in the game, but they lost. This year,
I think you're sticking with the game plan until it ends.
And whoever grabs the ball right now from camp on

(01:01:50):
is the guy. My my predictions, Carter Charge is the
number one goaltender for this team, without a doubt. I
think it is. Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 2 (01:01:57):
I think so as well to the defense. And you know,
there are some things swirling around Brandon. You can potentially
chime in here that Sam Dickinson might be a possibility.
I'm not one of those believers. I'm gonna be up front.
I don't think this serves Dickinson well to be a
part of this tournament. Again, if you have no issues

(01:02:19):
with him telling him that, hey, find a house, you're
a San Jose Shark, then I don't see him going
to to the World Juniors. I think they want to
keep him in the NHL. But but when you look
at some of these guys, I mean, specifically the oh
you've got reed perak huson Danford, Like, this is a
blue line like this is, this is, this is a

(01:02:42):
really good group of players and it's tough to really
pick who that odd man out is gonna be at
the end of camp.

Speaker 3 (01:02:50):
Sucks. It's the worst decision to make it like it.
It honestly sucks. Like I have, I have no clue.
I'll just say this. I would imagine the Ohl guys,
you say, Brandon, you can touch in on this as well,
like you mentioned off there, Danford looks good, Read looks good,
Prac obviously with his experience this season, and Hison looks good,

(01:03:12):
like I imagine, I would hope the Ohl guys you're
safe as an Ohl show here. But yeah, we'll see
what happens. But this is a tough, tough blue line
to play against. I like this team on paper, but
like I said, I like last year's team on paper,
and we saw what happened, So we'll see. But I really,
I really think that this decor is a prototypical Dale

(01:03:35):
Mark Hunter hockey team. Yeah, London's good there. Decore is
their decore right team Canada right now? Decor.

Speaker 1 (01:03:44):
You know, if there was any coach that could get
Sam Dickinson back, who would be Dale Hunter.

Speaker 3 (01:03:49):
Yeah, you're not wrong.

Speaker 1 (01:03:52):
Dickinson's last five games as far as ice time with
San Jose fourteen thirty one, fourteen forty nine, seventeen twelve, seven,
teen thirty eight, seventeen to me too, he's playing bottom
pair of minutes right now. But I still don't see it.

Speaker 2 (01:04:05):
I was gonna say that's for a rookie though, that's
still quite a bit of time.

Speaker 3 (01:04:09):
Seventeen.

Speaker 2 (01:04:09):
Yeah, yeah, so I'm with you. I don't see it.

Speaker 3 (01:04:15):
Again. I don't think it benefits the player. I don't.
So you get him the surfboard in the beach house,
let him go to the beach, keep him in the beach.
They do, all right. I don't know California. I've never
been in Santo Californians underreal, but San Jose it's closer
to San fran. Hopefully the Broncos are there for the

(01:04:36):
Super Bowl. Be nice super Bowl. I wanted to get that.
No Chiefs, Yeah, I love that, all right. I'll just
say this, no no no, no, no, no no no no.
We're not getting side trapped. I love it. We get

(01:04:58):
I love that Chiefs lose. Yankees chief. Oh my god,
love it, love it. Great day.

Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
We've we've got some audio for you here. So we're
gonna play the first clip. It's of Ben Danford and
here's what he had to say. Uh b C was
a part of this scrum. So so here's some thoughts
from Ben Danford at Hockey Canada camp.

Speaker 3 (01:05:25):
What's a meme that this is now here, this opportunity
is kind of right in front of you.

Speaker 6 (01:05:29):
Yeah, I mean, you know I got the phone call
to come here. It's huge honor, you know, something you
dream of, you know as a kid. You know, hopefully
you know I make the team and and go from there.
You know, it's gonna take some hard work and you
know obviously you know playing Sweden, you know a few
days and down the road and stuff. So you know
there's a big games for you know, guys to show
what they got. So yeah, just taking a day by

(01:05:50):
Aaron Al.

Speaker 7 (01:05:51):
Though, how have you thought about your season and where
your game's are going into the tournament?

Speaker 6 (01:05:55):
Yeah, no, I obviously you know the transition from Oshwa
to Branford, you know, bit different at first, changing teams
and changing scenery. You know, I've never went through a
trade before. But uh you know, Branford treat us you know,
unreal there. You know, we went a lot, so it's
it's really fun.

Speaker 3 (01:06:09):
Uh so.

Speaker 6 (01:06:10):
Uh but yeah, no, I thought, you know, my season,
you know, it's going in the right direction. I feel
like I'm getting better, you know, I'm starting to you know,
I feel like get more confident of the pack on
my stack on the offensive side of things, which is
good to see, and you know, just keep you know,
working on the foundation of my defensive side of you
no skills, So.

Speaker 7 (01:06:25):
Anything's surprising about the whole getting traded situation and what
you went through.

Speaker 6 (01:06:30):
Yeah, I mean, obviously Oshawa was in a rebuild. You know,
it was something that you know, I I had talked
about with them, you know going into the season. I
wasn't really aware of, you know, when it was gonna happen,
but I knew there, you know, was a good chance
that it was going to It was the best interest,
you know, for my development then, you know, for the
team to you know, get some young guys back and
some picks obviously, because we went on a couple of

(01:06:51):
you know, deep runs. But uh, yeah, I mean I
can't thank Oshawa enough for what they did. For me,
But you know, Brandford has been great so far.

Speaker 1 (01:06:57):
So then you're playing a lot of big games over
the last few years with Oshawa. You know there's deep
playoff runs and wearing it, wearing the Sea as well.
How important is it for you to bring sort of
that leadership and that experience of you playing in some
of these these big, high intensity, high moment games in
your career that you want to kind of show this group.

Speaker 6 (01:07:15):
Yeah, for sure, I think it's gonna be really useful.
Obviously we had a couple, you know, really deep runs,
like you said, and you know, there's some tough pills
to swallow there, you know, losing back to back finals
against London and and uh, you know it's almost like
you know, obviously there's fire belt top of me to
you know and Branford to you know, go all the
way and win it this year, but there's also you know,
I want to win, you know, in.

Speaker 3 (01:07:36):
All aspects of hockey. I want to win here.

Speaker 6 (01:07:39):
You know, sucks coming second place.

Speaker 3 (01:07:41):
So you know that's the goal of this year, is
you know, to win.

Speaker 1 (01:07:43):
What does it mean when you wear the Sea and
you come to a tournament with a lot of other
guys that also wear the seats for their group, Like,
how does that group cohesion go with the leadership and
sort of a leadership group not just one voice.

Speaker 6 (01:07:53):
Yeah, I think it just creates a great locker room.
Every guy down there is uh, great human beings. We
cluck really well already and uh yeah it should be good.

Speaker 3 (01:08:04):
Second place sucks. I love that. Hey this week show. Hey, yeah,
we gotta change that. We got to change that. Oh yeah,
that was awesome, Like and I thought about the sorry,

(01:08:28):
sorry sorry, I.

Speaker 2 (01:08:33):
Think that's what the big thing about that answer was
about the leadership And yeah, he was the captain of
the generals and and you know he's already wearing an
a with the Bulldogs. Like you know that that last
quote there kind of gave the the mindset of like
guys are checking their egos at the door. It's not
about each individual player, it's it's about the group. If

(01:08:55):
one guy tries to do it all himself, we're gonna lose.
That's what I took out of that. And I and
not to say that last year's team was like that
at all, but I think when you hear it coming
from a guy that's the first round pick in the
NHL that has worn the seed, that is wearing an
a already in his new building. You know that that
that might hit a little bit harter where you know, yeah,
you got check your your your ego at the door,

(01:09:18):
because if you don't, well you're one of those two
well one of those one defensemen that are gone or
two forwards that are gone if you don't do that one.

Speaker 3 (01:09:27):
I love that clip at the bent. I mean that's unreal,
Like that's your captain, Like that's a guy that's gonna
lead you into the fight, like you gotta you gott
Like if you're Dale Hunter, you're looking at your leadership
group like he's got to be one of the guys.
It's close to being a like wearing a letter on
this year's team when you hear quotes like that, the
way you handle the media, like you gotta have the

(01:09:49):
opportunity there.

Speaker 2 (01:09:50):
No, I think so, yeah, absolutely, Like has there been
any chatter at all there about letter? Is there anything
or consensus?

Speaker 3 (01:10:01):
Too early?

Speaker 2 (01:10:02):
It's probably a stupid question. But but has said even
been brought up?

Speaker 1 (01:10:07):
Not yet?

Speaker 3 (01:10:08):
Not yet? Yeah, I didn't think so, is there.

Speaker 1 (01:10:10):
Anybody's a lot of team That's why I asked like
about Yeah, no, I agree.

Speaker 3 (01:10:13):
You know, Brandon, is there anybody at practice in your opinion?
Is there anybody at practice right now though, that has
really stood out to you? Like I know the Danford
clip here that you guys just heard, Like, is there
anybody at practice that has really like stood out? Like, Hey,
this guy, like the way he's handling that media, like
at practice one hundred and ten percent afterort, like he's

(01:10:36):
involved vocally in the drills physically obviously, Like, is there
anybody in practice that's stood out to you in that moment?

Speaker 1 (01:10:43):
Well, it's hard because we haven't got to talk to
everybody yet. Yeah, you know, I would say guys like
Porter Martone, Yeah, Brady Marty, Bratty Martin. He got there late,
so that was kind of funny. We'll hear it a
little bit it but he got there late. But he's
uh coming in with Cole Bodwin has been impressive honestly too,

(01:11:08):
just because so I would say some of those guys
have stuck out. Obviously. The lightning rod right now is
Gavin McKenna because he really needs to have a good tournament,
but all the eyes are on him.

Speaker 3 (01:11:20):
Yeah, yeah, let's get to that forward group brand.

Speaker 2 (01:11:27):
If you don't mind throwing the lines up one more time,
just so viewers can can see them here, we can
kind of go off of it. But yeah, we talked
about I'd read off the forward group of course when
we started this segment. But just you know, we can
look at the Ohl guys. McKenna's got Bodwin and Martone
with him. You know, Marton obviously part of the enemy.
Now Michigan State to to Michigan, but Michigan's number one

(01:11:50):
in college hockey, so that sucks college hockey. Yeah, football, Yeah,
they're not a school, not a football school. Horns down,
Go fuck New Year, Leave Brandon. It's gonna be fun.
But Texas by twenty Yeah, that that one line bout
Dwen and Martine with McKenna joining them. You know, you

(01:12:12):
look at Luchenko centering Bear and Martin. We're gonna be
big fans of mister Bear.

Speaker 3 (01:12:17):
Colin Ward there, I'm gonna I'm gonna start texting Jet
past Bear the park.

Speaker 2 (01:12:29):
Of course, You've got green Tree and Riley on both
sides of of Denia, and then O'Brien and van Acker
are paired up, and you know we're we're not in
any position to to talk about who we thinkers is
gonna get cut, we think should get cut. Obviously, Misa
sounds like he's arriving in a couple of days or so,
so again that bumps up from one cut to two.

Speaker 3 (01:12:52):
But Luchenko's a returney.

Speaker 2 (01:12:54):
I think he's one guy we talked about him being
a lock for this team coming in, you know with
Martona attorney. Again he's not in the OHL, but Ohl alum,
he's probably gonna be on the team. The way you
talk Brandon about Dwen's uh a lock for the team,
Martin should be a lock for the team. You know, Colin,
what what do you make of the forwards? Because again

(01:13:16):
it's another stacked forward group. It's just about how they
mess together and how they play. It's deep, It's it's
very deep.

Speaker 3 (01:13:23):
And I'm and I'm and I'm for those on YouTube obviously,
those listening on the podcast networks that you're listening on
for your podcast shows reached ready to the lines. And
I think that when I look at the I look
at this line, I'm thinking, honestly, potentially at the end
of the tournament, we're talking about a person on the
fourth line right now, who's the most impactful player in

(01:13:44):
the tournament And Sunday Afternoon Mike Stubbs, the radio voice
of the London Knights. The voice of London Knights, I mean,
Mike's Gray grew up listening to Mike Stubbs, many of
you know as a Knights fan growing up. He gave
me oh yeah, And Mike is one of the most

(01:14:06):
professional people you can meet. Like, no one has a
bad thing to say about Mike Stubbs. And every time
I chat with Mike, usually it's twice a year when
the Bulldogs play in London or in Branford and Sunday
obviously London was in town in Branford and chatting with
Mike about Dale Hunter stories in this year's team was
one of Honestly, it was the coolest chat I got

(01:14:28):
to have this year with anybody in the OHL. I
I really appreciated that talk. Mike, thanks for your time.
I know he listens to the show regularly, gave his
feedback on last year's On last week's show, greatly appreciated Mike.
I think that he gave me the best I've ever
heard about Dale Hunter. And he talked about the last
time Dale Hunter was in the staff ran the bench

(01:14:51):
a team Canada. Obviously they went against Rush in the
gold medal game. It was the Akille Thomas game. It
was his coming out party. It was honestly the biggest
moment of his hockey career so far for Akil and
it was. It gives me chills just talking about it
right now, and that's why I'm taking my time, but
I want to do it justice on the story. But
the Russians have the Canadians on their heels. Russia's all

(01:15:12):
over Canada. Dale Hunter is scaling the bench, and I
hope you can ask Dale out this story. But Dale
Hunter is scaling the bench, looking at all his forwards,
looking at his bench, saying, what are we gonna do here?
Like we got to do something here. Someone's something here,
you know, like they're getting momentum. It's three three in
the gold medal game against the Russians. We gotta do something.

(01:15:33):
And Dale Hunter is a genius, no no crap calling.
He's a genius. And this is how this is the
coolest story I've ever heard in the OHL. And that's
why I have chills telling it. He's scaling his bench,
He's going down the bench. He sees Akil Thomas leaning
over the bench and go okay, kill is going. Akiel

(01:15:55):
scored a bunch of big goals against us in the
OHL when he played for Niagara. He's had success in
the OHL. He's had a lot of successful moments where
he's risen up and had big moments for the Ice
Dogs in the playoffs. So on, in big games you
need a big goal, he scores it. Kill. He goes
down and scores the game winning goal in the gold
medal game. I have chills right now telling that. That

(01:16:17):
is That is honestly the coolest story I have ever
heard about the World Juniors and Brandon. I hope you
can ask Dale about that because I know Ice Dodgs
fans listening to this are gonna love it. And I
hope you can ask Dale about that to elaborate on it,
because really appreciate Mike telling that story, because that was
pretty cool. Like, you know, you look down the lineup

(01:16:39):
and how Dale Hunter knows any given moment is different.
He's gonna ride the hot hand. He's not gonna have
guys that don't play in certain spots on the power
play playing certain what's on this year's power play like
last year's debile. He's not gonna have that. He know,
and he's gonna ride the hot hand. He knows that

(01:16:59):
if you're playing, you're gonna play, You're gonna get rewarded
in a tournament like this, And we poke on about
the goaltending in a tournament like this, the best players
are gonna play the big roles. Every single player has
played power play on their on their club team. Every
single player plays penalty kill. Every single player plays the
most minutes on the team on this current team. So

(01:17:20):
all the skill we talk about, guys like the best
players are gonna play any given night with the Hunters.
And I think that's the best part about this year's team.
And I really like Mike telling that story because we
had a great conversation on that on the World Juniors.
And I think with the Hunters going to clean up
on last year's mistakes is one with in Gardner McDougal.

(01:17:43):
There like this staff, This staff ain't a joke, Like
this staff is coming with is coming with revenge from
last year. Last year hurt Hockey Canada. You have a
full time general manager now in Hockey Canada. This is
something that you've been this has a sour tastes from
last year's tournament. Absolutely it does. You don't like and

(01:18:05):
obviously I don't want to reference it too much, but
it reminds me a lot of Ohio State losing to Michigan.
Ryan Day had to hear about it all year. You
don't think the general manager in Hockey Canada had to
hear about this all season, about losing the LAFT. Ye, yeah,
losing those games on us. You're not gonna lose to
those You shouldn't lose to those teams. You can play
the game nine out of ten times you win those games.

(01:18:25):
That's why this year I am pumped to see Hockey
Canada come out. I really am. There's you know, it's
a tough tournament. I would say right now, this is
the best World Junior Tournament since pre Russia. And obviously
I know why Russia is not in the tournament. I'm
not gonna beat on that bush. But you look at
the pools. Check is no joke. Finland's never a joke.

(01:18:49):
You look at Pool A, the US, Sweden, Slovakia steals
some games like legit, There's two to three teams in
each pool that could win. And I think the Canada
this year with the hunt. I am pumped to see
what this tournament is because it's it's it's no, it's
all thorough now, like there's no ponies out here now, like,

(01:19:09):
gets ready to go. We're at the big race. We're
at the heavyweights now with running the team. So let's go.

Speaker 2 (01:19:16):
Yeah, let's uh, let's get to the last piece of
audio we've got. Brady Martin also had spoken with the media,
so here's what he had to say.

Speaker 3 (01:19:24):
I was like getting here, I was took me a
long time, but I finally made it.

Speaker 7 (01:19:30):
So happy to be here.

Speaker 3 (01:19:31):
How long was the journey when he had it all up,
It took me about it day and a half.

Speaker 7 (01:19:37):
Yeah, I was not ideal, but I mean I am
here not I'm happy to be here. So just bad weather, yeah,
bad weather, flights getting canceled and yeah, I just delayed
hours and I just wasn't ideal.

Speaker 3 (01:19:48):
How are you in those situations?

Speaker 7 (01:19:50):
It was a little frustrating. I mean I didn't really
want to get up this morning at four in the morning,
but it's uh, it happened, So I mean hopped on
the flight and flew here, so you're still to see
this morning.

Speaker 3 (01:20:01):
Yeah, I was, Yeah, so what do you do to
pass the time? And during those delays? Much of TSN
DOTT videos.

Speaker 7 (01:20:07):
Or Yeah, I usually catch up on my hockey, you know,
I'll watch my prads for how they're doing it right,
But yeah, no, definitely just look at some hockey and
scroll on Instagram.

Speaker 3 (01:20:15):
Probably what was it over the leagues? Like, how did
you feel after a quick trigg around like that to
get on the ice?

Speaker 7 (01:20:21):
Yeah, I've I've been up for twelve hours straight and
I was up, been up since three am, So yeah,
I didn't feel great, but I mean it was nice
to get out there a quick rep.

Speaker 3 (01:20:30):
I think, what's your expectations? What do you think you
can bring to this year's worts and your team?

Speaker 7 (01:20:35):
I think just just my work ethic and compete level
is what what I bring every night. And I think
that's what, uh, what the.

Speaker 6 (01:20:41):
Team needs and your championship team meets.

Speaker 7 (01:20:43):
So I think that's what I'll bring every night.

Speaker 3 (01:20:45):
It was a game to start the season in Nashville. Yeah,
it was. It was really cool.

Speaker 7 (01:20:49):
I mean I got to play with some pretty good
players and yeah, I played on the first sign in
my first game, so it was really cool to play
in that and experience that, and yeah, it was hopefully
next year you gonna do the same thing.

Speaker 2 (01:21:02):
Brady Martin after awesome travel from the from the suit,
it sounds like Canadian Canadian air travel, ladies and gentlemen.
That is what it is summed up pretty much. But
you know Brady Martin again, it's unfortunately took this long
for him to get back to the OHL from the NHL,
but we're very happy he's back because we get to

(01:21:22):
watch him again on a daily basis. Because there's a
lot of people that really aren't tuned into Pred's games.
I'm gonna be quite honest, I don't think I know
one Nashville Predators fan in my group a social group
of people. So Brady Martin again, I think he's he's
someone that we don't have to have the discussion is
he gonna get cut because he'll he'll be on the team.

(01:21:45):
I've got no doubt about that. But it's prediction time, Colin.
Does Canada get back to the top, And we're not
gonna go like bracket by bracket, We're not We're not
gonna do that. I think more just along the lines
of how do we see Canada because it's a good
check you a team. The Swedes are always good, the

(01:22:07):
US is good, Like you said, Slovakia can steal games.
Finland is is never a joke. They're never a pushover.
Is this the year if Canada gets back to the
top if you can right now.

Speaker 3 (01:22:21):
Most pressure there for sure with the the brassets there,
I mean they've always they've always come through, right when
have they not won? I mean they're won for one.
The Hunters just coming off a mem Cup. Pretty cool
to do it in almost the same year, like that'd
be pretty neat to be able to do that. I'm
gonna say.

Speaker 2 (01:22:38):
Right now.

Speaker 3 (01:22:40):
If they win their group, yes, depends how they If
they don't win their group, no, I'll just leave it
at that because if they win their group, I think
they're looking at a really good chance. And then you
avoid Sweden and the US and the crossover until the semis,
and that's that's a good spot. Then you're playing for
a medal, right, you just gotta win that semi final game.

(01:23:01):
But you ran in to check again in the quarters.
We saw what happened last year. Did they win their group? Absolutely?

Speaker 2 (01:23:07):
If they don't win their group, no, well, and that's
what I wanted to kind of finish off with Canada
does play check Ya in their first game. Just a
PSA to everybody out there, do not panic if Canada
loses to check Ya. They're not losing to a weak team.
Check Ya is very good. They have a very good

(01:23:28):
roster of players. There is no reason to let the
sky fall because Canada loses to check Ya in game one.
I'm not saying it's going to happen. I'm hoping Canada wins,
but if they happen to lose, the Czechs are not
a bad team. They are actually really good, so it's
a bad thing if if Canada loses. Yeah, and then

(01:23:51):
Adam yorch against Canada. But but I just like I
wanted to finish off by saying that just because they
lose to check Ya, the tournament is not over. It
is game one and CHECKI is a good team, So like,
let's chill if they do, because they very well could.
I'm hoping they don't. I'm hoping Canada wipes the floor

(01:24:12):
with the checks No, I'm just kidding. I just want
to be a good game and I want Canada to win.
But if they happen to lose, Checkie is very good.
Let's not harp on the guys after game one.

Speaker 1 (01:24:22):
So absolutely player in the tournament?

Speaker 3 (01:24:26):
What's that brand? Check?

Speaker 1 (01:24:28):
He has got the best player in the tournament.

Speaker 3 (01:24:33):
So would that be I knew? Say that? What teams
he drafted?

Speaker 1 (01:24:40):
That guy he plays for the Seattle Thunderbirds, plays with
Braidon Coots.

Speaker 3 (01:24:45):
What teams he drafted by? Buffalo Sabers Damn shout shout
to Jay McKee Buffalo.

Speaker 1 (01:24:55):
Either six night, you gotta get theer I want it.
But yeah, Check has a really I'll drink that's all right?
Check you A line that the Bulldogs are sending is
like lethal.

Speaker 2 (01:25:08):
So yeah, yeah, Check Bannock and uh Dravetsky, Yeah they're
pretty good.

Speaker 3 (01:25:12):
And uh adam here Check's ready for it. I had
a great conversation about a month ago about that. He
made it know he's chewing oh against Canada and he
loves when they He loves every second of it because
Canada reacts the way they react every time you win.

Speaker 2 (01:25:24):
That's exactly I mean, I mean the Checks have kind
of replaced Russia as the European rival for for Canada, right,
you know it's obviously Sweden, Finland, you obviously have Canada
and the US. Canada Russia was obviously a big one.
But with Russia no more. No, I shouldn't say no more,
just not right now. It's the Checks like the Czechs

(01:25:45):
and Slovaks. Obviously that's a rivalry, but the Checks in
Canada better believe it. Like, yeah, I'm excited, that's game one.
I'm excited, that's game one. I think the schedule maker's
got that one right.

Speaker 3 (01:25:58):
Great Boxing day game, really good watching the game's most
underrated night of the tournament. Obviously this is the first one,
but there is a lot of buzz going into it.
But sometimes those games you look back at the end
around robins, like, hey, that was the biggest game in
the tournament. Like I like the Canna starting off with Jackie.
I think Checkia and Canada the two best teams in
their group. Yep, agreed. And now that I say, that's

(01:26:21):
gonna win the division and win the group and I'm
gonna look like a total fool, but that's the way
the Fins are. Yeah, I can't wait. I I honestly,
I am so excited for this tournament.

Speaker 2 (01:26:30):
Yeah, yeah, I can't wait. So for us, Like I said,
off the top of the show. This is our last
episode before Christmas, not before the New Year, but before Christmas,
so the World Juniors will have gotten underway by the
time we record our next episode. For everyone out there,
we we appreciate it as always. You know, whether you're
watching us on the Armchair GM Sports Network YouTube page.

(01:26:52):
And and by the way, for those full interviews for
for the Ohlers, you're on the YouTube page already, keep
scrolling down and look look on the page because those
full interviews are available for your viewing on the on
the arm chaw GM Sports Network YouTube page, So make
sure you do go check them out. But but thank
you to wherever you're watching, from wherever you're listening from.

(01:27:14):
It's always appreciated. And it's the best time of the
year right now because Christmas is coming up and the
World Juniors immediately follow it. Maybe after you spend all
your money on Boxing Day. I don't do that, but
some people might. We'll see, but when the deals are
are going on. But Boxing Day for us is World
Junior time, not shopping for deals time. So enjoy the

(01:27:36):
start of the tournament. Everyone, have a merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.
For Colin Ward for Brandon Caputo. I'm Reese Domani. You've
been listening to the Ohl and sixty podcast and we
will chat again in a couple of weeks.

Speaker 1 (01:27:51):
You're listening to The Armchair GM Sports Network.

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Second Place Sucks: World Juniors & Trade Deadline Preview - The OHL in 60 Podcast

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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;}Second Place Sucks: World Juniors & Trade Deadline Preview - The OHL in 60 Podcast