Chillin' Marner, Soo’s Tough Travel & Football Playoff Push | The Game Sports Podcast

[00:00:06] Speaker A: Booyah. And it's time for the Game sports podcast. It's your host, David McCaig Jr. Going first to one of my co hosts joining this evening here on the top shelf segment, Brendan McCarthy, all the way in Ajax to GTA area. Brendan, my friend, how's it going? [00:00:19] Speaker B: I'm doing well, boys. It's good to be back with you. I gotta say I took some heat from our previous social post. I, I, if you haven't noticed, I've been using a phone compared to my co host here, Par and McKay and I was very much zoomed in. I don't know if you guys remember that show the Proud family, when they would always zoom in on that like large man. I felt like I was that guy or I was like Thanos or something. [00:00:45] Speaker C: I was, I thought you were giving me the vibe of the guy from Home Improvement who's like peeking over the fence and you can only see his eyes. [00:00:53] Speaker B: Yeah, I was like, this guy's massive. He's like, that's his iPad. He's a giant. No, but good to be back with you boys. [00:01:00] Speaker A: Yeah, good. It's obviously good time. It's, we obviously. This is pre recorded version of the Game sports podcast and Par, you and I met on this show is actually how you and I became friends. Was you jumping on as a co host on the show back when we were participating in a different stream service? I guess you can say I won't. There's no names. You don't. There's no free ads on this show. It's not happening. [00:01:24] Speaker C: Why would you even be advertising? [00:01:26] Speaker A: That's so true. Long story. Brennan has no idea what that is. We'll loop you in after my friend. The only Alex Parr man. Love the stash. [00:01:37] Speaker C: One, it was an accident. [00:01:39] Speaker A: Two, still love the Daily Bugle and the Jays hat that you wear. You, you're always full of surprises each week, dude. [00:01:44] Speaker C: Like, yeah, I should have taken it as an omen when I messed up shaving my beard before the packers playoff game. That it was probably the end of the playoffs and the beard at the same time and I didn't put that together. I accidentally messed it up. So this was all I could, this was all I had left. [00:01:59] Speaker A: So that's a poppy vibes going here. [00:02:02] Speaker C: I, I don't, I, I'm not a mustache guy. You know Miles Teller had his mustache in that one movie and every white guy ever was just like, oh, I can do that. I can be Miles Teller. No, you can't do that. And now mustaches are everywhere. That's not my vibe. This is all I got left right now though. [00:02:19] Speaker A: I. I like the look. I like it. [00:02:21] Speaker C: Thanks, Dave. [00:02:22] Speaker A: I love it. And I'm hoping to have a different color back here. My background last week, as I mentioned, your daily Bugle background. I'm gonna have to take down this jersey too over here. But that's for the in the pocket segment for sure. We're talking hockey, which obviously you see in this segment being called top shelf and makes sense. Well, I hope it does to you. So we got lots to get into fellas, in just short period of time and we'll see if time is. We said that's our improvement this year is the goal with the Gamespace podcast. We'll see if that happens. The Joys of pre recording Brennan, I want to go to you first because when it came to talking about stuff this week, the item that you brought up first that seemed to be on your list was comments about Mitch Marner. Now I just want to stress to everybody that obviously on the ANT Sports podcast we talk all, we talk all teams and obviously in its entirety. But when the Leafs have a comment or something comes out, the Leafs are always in the heimlight of it. The highlight spot, the light, the spotlight of it as I trying to figure out what English word to say. So there is some thing that we can bring up with Mitch Marner. So giving you the four, Brennan, take it away. [00:03:24] Speaker B: Yeah, I understand it's, it's extremely challenging to play in a market like Toronto, but Mitch Marner has been in Toronto long enough to understand that what you say is going to be dissected in its entirety because of what city you're playing in. And yes, I know he's not good with the media and yes, the least are still atop the Atlantic. They've struggled the last two games. But it's just mind boggling how this guy, and he's extremely well liked. He's extremely well liked and he's a phenomenal hockey player. But you are contractually obligated to answer to the media on a regular basis. And this isn't the first time he's rubbed people the wrong way. He said and referred to himself as a God after losing to the Bruins in seven. And it's unfortunate because you guys know the fan base in Toronto, it's just nuts, right? And they follow every story, every player to a tee. So I think really what pissed off fans, they're not worried that they're gonna drop because they're a great regular season hockey Team. We know that, but I think just owning it sometimes, you know, I listen to interviews across the league with Nathan McKinnon, J.T. miller. Brady could shock. Like when it's a shit game, they will acknowledge it and they will be the first to say, hey, we didn't play well tonight. Our performance isn't what it should be. It starts with me and we need to figure it out. He, Mitch Marner is a leader on that Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club. He's arguably the best player on that hockey club. And for him to just kind of pout, I find he's very pouty. It's not going to sit well, Mitch. It's not going to sit well at all. So clean it up because I guarantee you, you will be beloved if you just change the way your demeanor is around the media because it's really, really tough to watch. I don't know about you guys, but it's extremely nauseated to watch him with the media par. [00:05:39] Speaker A: You can go first. [00:05:41] Speaker C: Mitch Marner could come to my door and uppercut me all he wants and tell me I'm a loser and smell bad if he was winning. I don't, I don't have the time and the, the effort to drain myself over this activity that's supposed to be like a fun thing for me over something somebody said in the middle of January during games that don't really matter. And people say, well, you can't lose that game. You're going to. Good teams are going to lose. Games are supposed to win all the time. And then like, it's just this team is so draining. I remember sitting here last year in December when a bad loss happening, something. I'm sure Marner said something stupid. And everybody forgets that come May. It's like just being a Leafs fan is so exhausting. And like this right here, the fact that we're even having this conversation is a prime example of why if I'm playing hockey, you're not only gonna tax me higher than anywhere else, you're also gonna just like me. Trying to come up to the media and have some semblance of positivity is now gonna get me through the ringer. Like, oh man, I just, I can't. The Steve Simmons, the Athletic lately, just everybody, they lose one game after a five game winning streak and it's always the Leafs goaltending good enough. Oh, man. Like, I can't do it anymore. I can't. [00:07:03] Speaker B: I think it's just the response though part, right? That's all people want to. That's all people want is to just recognize you were bad. He always seems to be like, Mitch Marner against the city. It's like, brother, kids adore you and people love, you know, putting their hard earned money towards going to watch you play. But when you're bad, accept it. You're not going to go 82 and oh, and that's all people want to see. It's always been that attitude amongst Matthews and Marner. It's just like, oh, well, we don't care what you guys have to say. I remember he said that when they were up. Sorry, when they were, when they were down 30 against the Cats in round two, two years ago. He's like, we don't care what you. [00:07:42] Speaker A: Guys have to say. [00:07:43] Speaker B: I'm like, okay, yes. [00:07:46] Speaker C: Let me bring you, let me phrase it in this light. Would you say Mitch Marner and Austin Matthews attitude is worse than the narratives, the media spin? Which one would you say is worse? [00:07:59] Speaker B: That's a great question, right? [00:08:01] Speaker C: Is it not just is your attitude. [00:08:04] Speaker B: Worse than how they're perceived by the media? You mean. [00:08:07] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean like, like that athletic article. Literally after they lost that five game losing streak, the first article they put out was, is the Leafs goaltending good enough? [00:08:16] Speaker A: It's just Stolars and Walls say percentage. Like that's a ludicrous. [00:08:19] Speaker C: You lose one game after a five game losing streak and that's immediately what you want to go to. It's just like this entire culture of losing. [00:08:27] Speaker B: I agree that everything is blown up after, you know, the smallest of blemishes occur, but it's just how you respond. Like when you have Chris Tan, a vet, and your own coach saying, we were flat, we got to be better. And then Mitch being like, oh, it's great. [00:08:44] Speaker D: I thought we had plays. [00:08:45] Speaker B: You lost 3, 0 and the team you were facing only got into the city six hours before puck drop. [00:08:52] Speaker A: And if people want to know, it's to say quote unquote, you can search it. But to give you a quick summary quote unquote from Mitch, I liked it. I thought we played well. I really did. In the last couple of games, we have been giving up plays to teams that aren't missing on them. I thought we were good and five men tied tight in our zone. We went through the neutral zone as a unit. When we didn't do that, that is when breakdowns happened and they generated a lot of offense out of it. This is what we need to be better at. We will look at it and fix it so the Point that people are really targeting is that I liked it. I thought we played well. I really did. Those are the, those are the first point of the statement that people are saying, well, no, you didn't. You lost to a team that has been struggling and a team that you should beat and a team that this. And yes, I like Par's example. Everything in Leafland, you can win 10 in a row, but you lose that one game, sell the farm or oh my goodness, we gotta trade this guy. This guy's comments, it's really heavily observed. But this is the thing. You're the hockey mecca of the world. That's what you sign up for in Toronto. That's what you sign up for in Montreal. Like, that's what you sign up for in these teams that are passionate. I think Toronto fans are a little bit more fragile, aggressive, upset, whatever term you say, because they haven't won. The trauma police have it in over 55 years, okay? They haven't won since 1967. And there's nothing alive that hasn't seen a cup. There's be people that hasn't seen things in color. There's, there's been there. I'm 33 years old and I haven't seen past the third round. I've seen the conference finals as a fan. I've seen some playoff runs which were great in the late 90s when I was literally a child. Like I was young. Like, there's, there's just this notion that this is an organization that is so heavily full of the spotlight. But look at it. The, the, the, the, the mannerisms in the, in the hockey rake. It's a business field. Feel like you're on a business meeting in there. The atmosphere isn't where they should be. It's because this has been so accepted in this hockey media and this hockey mecca of the world that, yeah, it's a great place to play. You're the center of the universe. You're a God. If you win, you get a statue. The team that does win will have a statue. So I'm telling you right now that all that pressure, okay, the players feel it and people get fed up by it. Marner is fed up by it. You can see it in his personality. Matthews, oh, he's wearing the sea. He better not be fed up by it because he's going to be the center of attention for that. But all in all, this is a hockey, an organization that has been on the spotlight extra because they're supposed to succeed, they're supposed to do well, and they don't play when it matters. And this is why it gets highlighted for Mitch, because he is so nonchalant. No matter what he's doing on the ice. He's not that guy that it holds that accountability and he's that guy who thinks on the other side of it with his freaking wallet before he thinks with his heart. Look, look at Crosby. Look at these guys that have won. These guys have the recipe and know how to win. Mitch doesn't. He's worried about Mitch. [00:11:52] Speaker B: Let me. [00:11:53] Speaker C: That's. [00:11:54] Speaker B: That's great. [00:11:55] Speaker C: Go ahead, go ahead. [00:11:56] Speaker B: Everything that, everything that you said is great and well said, Dave. But all I'll say, simply put, the, the pressure and you know all these articles you mentioned the athletic par, like if their attitude changed. And that's something you can switch. It's not something like just accept it. You can say, like you read Mitch's quote after the loss of the Canucks. You can say, I thought we played well. Ultimately we lost though, and we need to touch up some things and look at tape and rebound and we'll be ready to go against Dallas. Now we're recording this pre Dallas game on January 14th. Mitch could come out and get three assists tonight, right? That's the mystery of the lease, which I think also haunts Leaf fans is in a crucial, pivotal win or go home situation. Does a performance against the Canuck show up and does the response afterwards creep back in? And they say that because remember when they lost to the Bruins, they no one took ownership. Nobody. So I think the attitude in front of the camera has to change. [00:13:03] Speaker C: I think I'm just an outlier because if you were to ask anybody, like, give me a typical hockey interview, Dave, keep it short and sweet for me here. Dave, you were out there in the second period. You took a bad penalty. What's it going to take to bounce back? [00:13:15] Speaker A: Honestly, it was certainly an undisciplined play by me and I have to be smarter in that situation. I had to think of team first and I can't let my emotions get better at me. I'm going to go on the third period and try to try to rebound from that and help my team get the win. [00:13:27] Speaker C: Cool, right? Such a typical hockey answer. It's just like the guy's not even doing it. It's just muscle memory because nobody cares. Hockey players aren't allowed to show their personality and now we just don't like something somebody said. So, oh no, the world's ending. We don't even care what these guys have to say. 99 of the time, but, oh, you better say the right thing or else. But otherwise we don't really care because you're just gonna say, puck, Steve Puck's heart to the net. Listen to coach's game plan. Yeah. Four lines banging. Yeah. [00:13:56] Speaker A: My media train. Just kidding. You know what? Honestly, just for sake of time, great topic to discuss, but I think this is just heavily highlighted because you're in Toronto and it's Mitch Marner. Mitch Marner is someone who's on the center of conversation this year. A lot more because he's in a contract year and there's been story going in, so there's a lot of the things you're trying to pick to say. And there's been no accountability in that locker room. And I know Berube, I don't know, Bar, but I can see from Berube's approach, I'm sure he had a little. [00:14:24] Speaker D: Chat with Marner, right? [00:14:25] Speaker A: Like a little on the side. I'm sure Keith would have said something like, oh, I didn't know Mitch said. [00:14:30] Speaker C: He would have said, have fun. [00:14:32] Speaker A: Yeah, like, yeah, yeah, exactly. But I think there's. That's the thing too. In Toronto, you got to keep things in the team. You got to any kind of discipline or any kind of conversation. Berube did his answer, and I'm sure he had a comment about Mitch. I can't recall. I'm sure he said, okay, he would just shrug it off. That's. That's where you got to keep it with them. But the team does have to come back and. And play the next game or if it's the playoffs, whatever it is, they have to play with some. That heart and that accountability and own up to when they're not playing well. Okay, that's. [00:15:01] Speaker B: You got to think. [00:15:02] Speaker A: I get it. [00:15:03] Speaker B: You've got it. You got to think. Ruby pulled him into the office and said, mitch, right? Like, be better. Right? And he's been told he's great his whole life. And finally now he has a coach who will just, you know, shoot from the hip and say, you weren't good. And your comments in the media. I don't game. You're watching Mitch. Maybe your line clicked the odd time, but look at the scoreboard. And, you know, if I was a fan, I would have asked for a refund. Period. So moving on, folks. [00:15:31] Speaker A: So the next thing we'll say, quick, I know John Klingberg wants to come back to the National Hockey League. We won't get into too much time here because we don't know what's going to happen the next couple of days, but it seems like he wants to be come back into the NHL. Edmonton's been a suit of rumors for suitability. So as the Toronto Maple Leafs again have circled into that which they have a lot of depth of defense, I don't really see the necessary need. I know it's always good to have depth, but if they're going to upgrade more on defense, I'd rather look at someone who is more defensive minded. I know Klingberg has really evolved to more of that two way offensive defenseman, but he's going to get some interest. He's somebody who could do well on a power play, someone who could do well if healthy. But any reaction about John Klingberg potentially coming back where he had a brief stint in Toronto? Part. [00:16:12] Speaker C: If it was me, I would just enjoy my all inclusive stay on the island and probably just enjoy my, and just enjoy my drinks and kick my feet up and let the water, you know, go on my toes and just enjoy it and soak that sun in. But I mean if he wants to come back, I don't know who's to tell him that he can't do it until he proves that he can't do it. [00:16:34] Speaker B: I mean, what is he making just over 4mil to stay away effectively? [00:16:39] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, hey, if somebody wants to, yeah, you know what, you can pay me 25% of that and I'll go out to an island for you. So I'll just leave that offer out there. [00:16:46] Speaker B: So I think I read today that I think the Senators and Oilers are interested. I have a strange feeling that the Oilers might just be like, yeah, you want to play in the bottom pair. Like they have a history of going after ex Leaf defenseman a la Cody Cece they love. [00:17:02] Speaker A: If you're a former Leaf, you go to Edmonton, you're there. But if I'm John Klingberg, I take this approach. Look at a team that needs that quarterback on a power play. No matter what the place is, no matter what it is. Try to set yourself up for success to be show that you can still play. If you go to a team that you're going to be buried in the bottom pair, you're not going to be able to be that defenseman that you're looking to come back and be at 100% and who you were pre Toronto. So I feel like Toronto isn't the fit. I feel like going to a team that may need him the most to really quarterback would be a good fit. You Know what? Maybe that is San Jose, maybe that is Nashville. Maybe that is somewhere where he can just get more ice time to show his worth. That's what I think I'd like to see with John Klingberg, to be honest. [00:17:44] Speaker B: And if you look at the past guys who were basically shipped to Robadel Island, Stefan Roboda, Joffrey Lupel, they never came back. I remember when a report came out, Joffrey Lupel wanted to come back. Now he was like, he's the most in shape guy on the team. He looks incredible. He wants to make a comeback. They don't make a comeback. And honestly, as Par said, if you're just paying me to stay away, I'll stay away. So I'd be shocked. And the LE brought this guy back. If anyone I think were to snag him, it might be Edmonton, but we'll see. [00:18:14] Speaker A: That might happen after this recording. So if it does, that's why we talk about things on here too that, that we mentioned just in general points that it doesn't make sense. I think for him just to go somewhere to try to win, he should bounce back for himself. Okay, I know we, I know we wanted to talk about the Outdoor Games, the Winter Classic, but for keeping time's sake, we have to get into a couple blind rankings, into a couple discussions here. [00:18:37] Speaker B: Let's do it. [00:18:37] Speaker A: And I want to make sure that we allow the time for that. So next week I know we really focus on Mitch Marner and I said that we talk about all teams. But you know what, we really got hung up on the Mitch Marner conversation today, which is good. But next week we'll make sure we dive into the Winter Classic and Outdoor Games. We have a big reaction and we, we definitely like to have listeners engagement into that. But today we're going to table that and be our teaser for next week. So we're going to do something that we missed out on but that we didn't do last week on last week's episode. And there's going to be a blind ranking. There's going to be kind of just overall quizzes for each other. Par is going to ask me and Brennan something. Brandon's gonna ask me and Par something. Then I'm gonna ask Alex and Brennan something. We're just gonna go around the horn for three sets of different quiz type questions and answer them for you, for you to interact on. And I'm gonna go first. I kind of feel in the, the vibe. Why to go? No, not to me. Not to me. I know I Said I was go. No, I'm gonna. [00:19:31] Speaker B: Dave's World. We're just paying rent. [00:19:33] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. We're just showing up early because he's always late. [00:19:37] Speaker A: That's it. But I'm actually go to Brennan first. What I meant to say is I'm going to go to Brennan first. I'm feeling that. Feeling you to go first. [00:19:43] Speaker B: Brennan. [00:19:44] Speaker A: That's where my mind is right now. [00:19:46] Speaker B: I'm actually pretty giddy to. To give you my ranking. So I'm doing current NHL enforcers for you to rank five of them. Okay. There's a bunch, but I actually had to, you know, go back and forth, add, subtract. But I think this list is pretty good. So ranking current NHL enforcers. Number one. [00:20:07] Speaker A: Okay. [00:20:08] Speaker C: We're doing it together. [00:20:09] Speaker B: You guys will do order, right? You guys will do the order together, right? This is just random. Okay, number one, Curtis McDermott on the new Jersey Devils. [00:20:20] Speaker A: To be honest, park, because we're going to talk about this. To be honest, I. I actually wrote a list because I totally misunderstood my own instructions to this game and wrote five down for myself. [00:20:32] Speaker C: Are you kidding me? Are you for real, dude? [00:20:36] Speaker B: He's basically saying buzz off. [00:20:40] Speaker A: So we won't go with my list, but. [00:20:42] Speaker C: Go, go. Was Curtis McDermott on the list? [00:20:45] Speaker A: Yes. Yeah. [00:20:46] Speaker C: Where'd you have him? [00:20:47] Speaker B: Oh, my God. [00:20:48] Speaker A: I had him at 4. [00:20:50] Speaker C: You know what, Dave? We're. It's your world. We're just paying rent. [00:20:52] Speaker B: You guys are breaking up. You're breaking up, man. [00:20:55] Speaker E: Put him. [00:20:55] Speaker C: Put him at four. I was thinking. I was thinking. [00:20:57] Speaker B: Fellowship has ended. The fellowship has departed. [00:21:00] Speaker A: He's a guy who isn't afraid to drop the gloves. Okay. And what's. Ultimately, he's just someone that when it comes to mind, he is someone that would go out there and stand up to the other guys. And I'm sure you're going to mention on this and just came to mind, there's a very limited few where back in the day it would be hard for me to name the top five. Five. So I think four. Par. [00:21:20] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:21:20] Speaker B: So four. [00:21:21] Speaker C: Love it. [00:21:22] Speaker B: Okay. [00:21:22] Speaker D: Four. [00:21:23] Speaker B: Okay. Matt Rempe. [00:21:24] Speaker C: Depends. Is he even in the NHL? I know he is right now, to be honest. [00:21:29] Speaker B: Yeah, I was gonna do. Go ahead. [00:21:32] Speaker A: He wasn't on my list, but. Yeah, but, but he is on this, on the test, right? So we gotta rank so par. If you. [00:21:40] Speaker B: I was gonna do like a minimum 10 games in the show this year, but I'm like, ah, he gets so much know, attention. So he's good pick. [00:21:47] Speaker A: That's a good. [00:21:48] Speaker B: Not Remy. [00:21:49] Speaker C: I'm gonna say. I'm gonna say three. [00:21:53] Speaker A: Okay. [00:21:54] Speaker C: But if he was around more, I could see that being higher. [00:21:58] Speaker B: Okay, so locking in three. [00:22:00] Speaker A: Yeah. He's not a one. I'm not saying he's one, but if he played more, I know that for being as big and strong as he is, he would beat the. Out of a lot of guys. Okay, so he would be. [00:22:11] Speaker B: So four and three. [00:22:12] Speaker A: So three. [00:22:12] Speaker D: I think he. [00:22:13] Speaker C: You think he would be one? [00:22:15] Speaker A: Would be one, yes. Even over Ryan Reeves. I don't care what anyone says. [00:22:19] Speaker C: Nick Delorier. [00:22:22] Speaker A: Like, he's on. He was on my list, too. [00:22:24] Speaker B: Yeah, he's in. [00:22:25] Speaker A: He's. [00:22:26] Speaker B: He's on the ir. And I believe Delorean has played less games than Rempe this year. Funnily. [00:22:30] Speaker D: Wow. [00:22:30] Speaker B: He's been. He's been hurt. I think so, but I'm not 100. [00:22:33] Speaker E: Sure. [00:22:34] Speaker A: But I agree with three with par for rampe. Three. [00:22:36] Speaker B: Okay, so McDermott four, and then Remy Slotin at three. Matthew Olivier on the Blue Jackets. [00:22:43] Speaker C: That guy's been throwing them this year. [00:22:46] Speaker A: He. [00:22:46] Speaker B: I believe he was successful against Remy last winter. [00:22:50] Speaker C: He was. [00:22:51] Speaker A: It was a good bout. [00:22:51] Speaker B: It was definitely a good bout. [00:22:53] Speaker C: Rempe doesn't always win his fights. He fights a lot. [00:22:55] Speaker B: No, keep in mind, keep in mind, Matthew olivier is like 6:1, and Remy's like 7:5. So true. [00:23:04] Speaker A: So think of this, though. Par. I'm trying to think future things. He's going to have. He's got. I know he can't answer this, but he's probably going to have Delorier or Reeves on that list. He's got. [00:23:13] Speaker C: I think he's gonna have Delorier anymore. [00:23:14] Speaker B: You don't think you guys are missing a sheriff? Okay, where do you put. [00:23:18] Speaker A: Where do you put Olivier, Jack Guy? Or is he gonna have Jack? [00:23:21] Speaker C: No, Arbor Jack. I can go down at 6, so. [00:23:25] Speaker D: Wow. [00:23:26] Speaker A: I think Olivier, because I. This is me preparing. [00:23:29] Speaker C: But he. [00:23:29] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, okay. [00:23:31] Speaker C: Sure. I love it. Five. [00:23:32] Speaker A: Where? Five. Okay. [00:23:34] Speaker B: Yeah. Rebo Uno. [00:23:38] Speaker C: So here's the thing is, like, I want to say one, because guys aren't even challenging him anymore. Like, he doesn't even get asked to dance anymore. [00:23:45] Speaker B: He said today he's like, I need one. [00:23:47] Speaker D: Like, badly. [00:23:48] Speaker B: Like, I need a fight. [00:23:50] Speaker A: He's a force to be reckoned with when he fights. And no one. Yeah. And no one is fighting him. And when he's. And you see it when he's on the ice that he protects who's out there. Okay. Because it's Different. It's a different Aurora. [00:24:01] Speaker B: Everyone plays bigger for sure. [00:24:03] Speaker A: Exactly. I say one. And that's not a leaf bias. That is just a one. Because he is, in my opinion. [00:24:08] Speaker C: I am such a lover of Ryan Reeves's game for eight minutes a night. That's the kind of guy I want out there. And I've said that on record so many times. Eight minutes a night. I don't care. He gets. He goes and bangs in the offensive zone and gets them an offensive draw and gets off the ice. Great. Love it. Leave it at number one. Eight minutes a night. Come on. [00:24:26] Speaker A: One. Yeah. [00:24:27] Speaker B: So that means the Sheriff Arbor jockey is at number two. Weak. [00:24:35] Speaker A: I should have put Olivier up there with. Damn it. [00:24:38] Speaker C: That guy, Arbor Jack guy. Give him two more years and he's going to be blowing the dust off his Costco shirt and getting back to work. Okay, so, wow, he got a contract. [00:24:49] Speaker B: He got a little bit of term though, did he not? [00:24:52] Speaker C: I don't know what his contract is. [00:24:54] Speaker B: No, he got some term. [00:24:55] Speaker A: Maybe he'll see this clip and he's gonna say, par. I want you in a fight. [00:24:59] Speaker B: I was just looking up, guys. Matt Renfy has played seven games in the show this year and Delorier is also at seven games this year. [00:25:08] Speaker A: DeLore's better. He's a. DeLorean's tough, man. [00:25:11] Speaker B: He's a tough customer, dude. [00:25:13] Speaker A: Very tough. If he like, he. Yeah, that's a good list. I like that. I. I'm a little mad about Jackeye, but that's fine. [00:25:19] Speaker B: So you guys, just to put a bow on it, you have Revo one, Jack I two, Rempe, three, McDermott four, and then Olivier, five. [00:25:33] Speaker D: That's a good list. [00:25:34] Speaker B: And of course, there's other like dude like Tanner Janeau. Yeah, obviously Nick Delorier, the guy on Florida this year, he's a stud in terms of fighting. Jonah Gadjevic. Yes. And throw him in. [00:25:48] Speaker A: So throwing it, too, on Calgary, you almost need. [00:25:51] Speaker B: We almost need 10. You almost need it. But again, time, right? So. [00:25:55] Speaker A: All right, part. Next one's you. I'll go last. [00:25:57] Speaker C: I want to incite rage in Canadian fan bases, so I picked. I picked five young talents on Canadian teams. I want you to rank them based on how good you think they are right now and include what you think they can project to be. So all of it encompassing blind ranking and number one, we're going to start off with your eyes, Slavkovski. [00:26:20] Speaker B: And they're five, right? [00:26:21] Speaker C: There's five of them. They're all from a Canadian team. They're all relatively young, like, rookie season, second season kind of vibe. [00:26:28] Speaker A: Okay. Brennan, I don't think Savakowski is living up to the hype at all. And I don't think he's number. He's not one. There's not. He's not a one. I don't think he's even a two. But he's. [00:26:38] Speaker B: Damn it, let's go four. [00:26:39] Speaker A: Yeah. He's not a five. He's a four. I'm happy. The four or three. So I'll go with a four. I'll agree. Four. [00:26:44] Speaker C: Next up, Dustin Wolf. [00:26:46] Speaker A: Oh, still not enough yet, Kyle. And it's five. [00:26:49] Speaker B: Five. [00:26:50] Speaker C: Really? Okay. Matthew Nies. [00:26:54] Speaker A: Love me, but not gonna be biased. I'm not gonna be biased. [00:26:57] Speaker C: You're very biased. You put Revo at one and now you're gonna put knives at one. Two. [00:27:02] Speaker A: No, I'm gonna. I was thinking. Okay, very nice. But anyway, I had to do it. You have to. You have to do it. You gotta do it. [00:27:08] Speaker B: Oh, no, no, no. I. I think I. I think I know what par is doing here. Let's get. Let's. Let's do. Are you saying three? I thought you were gonna go for. [00:27:15] Speaker A: One, two or three. [00:27:16] Speaker B: Let's go, let's go, let's go. Three. [00:27:19] Speaker A: Three. Okay, okay, okay. I can handle three. Yeah. [00:27:22] Speaker C: Cole Perfetti. [00:27:25] Speaker B: Gotta be two. [00:27:26] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:26] Speaker B: Damn. I'd love to swap two and three. [00:27:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:29] Speaker E: Too. [00:27:29] Speaker C: And that leaves Jake Sanderson at number one. [00:27:34] Speaker B: Yeah, he's just done one. I like that. [00:27:36] Speaker A: I like that, San. And a defenseman too. Like, you have a good young D. You don't need 7,000 points. Okay. Just get the job done back there. It doesn't freaking matter. Yeah, I've talked about that on this pod at no end. [00:27:47] Speaker C: There was no more fun than I've ever had in an NHL arena. That when the Sanderson contract first got signed, I was just like, oh, some guy was wearing a Sanderson jersey next to me. Like, you guys paid way too much for that guy, eh? [00:27:57] Speaker D: Holy. [00:27:58] Speaker C: Did I start a fight. That guy was so mad on behalf of Jake Sanderson. [00:28:03] Speaker A: So mad. [00:28:04] Speaker C: Okay, let's recap quick. Young Canadian talent on Canadian teams. I should say Jake Sanderson, 1. Cold Perfetti, 2. Matthew Nyes, 3. Your I Slavkowski, 4. And Dustin Wolf at 5. [00:28:17] Speaker A: I'd probably love it. 3. I'd probably swap 3 and 2, but I love that list. [00:28:21] Speaker D: I think I agree. [00:28:22] Speaker B: Yeah. Why don't we save yours? We're pretty heavy. [00:28:28] Speaker C: Dave. How. Your call, Dave. We're in Your world. [00:28:33] Speaker B: Yeah, true. [00:28:34] Speaker A: We said we're gonna do it. We're doing it. [00:28:36] Speaker B: All right. [00:28:36] Speaker A: Goal horns. Not doing five. Doing three. [00:28:40] Speaker B: Oh, Gohorns love it. [00:28:41] Speaker A: Top three goal horns, past or present? It doesn't matter now. It could mean the past if you think of one that, you know, that goes off in your head. Okay, top three goal horns. No blind ranking since it's three. Yeah. [00:28:56] Speaker B: Three respectively for par and I. Three respectively. [00:28:58] Speaker A: Yes. List your three. [00:29:01] Speaker B: So I was actually listening to a goal horn today. It fires me up on my way to work. I'm gonna put. I'm gonna put. Yeah, it's kind of weird. And you're gonna. Oh, I swear to God. And it's funny because it's like, you know, it's. It's a team that might shock you, Boston. But I won't. I won't give it away yet. So number three, I'll do the, like, early 2000s Canadiens Vertigo, and they're like, kind of train horn at number three. Number two. [00:29:34] Speaker D: I. [00:29:35] Speaker B: We were talking off air that Holland Oaks is synonymous with losing, but, I mean, I thought it was honestly kind of catchy, and I. I actually loved it. [00:29:46] Speaker D: So. [00:29:46] Speaker B: Give me that at number two. [00:29:48] Speaker A: Okay. [00:29:48] Speaker B: And number one, Zombie nation Boston Bruins. Yeah. Fires me up. [00:29:52] Speaker C: Yeah, It's a really good one. That one's burned into my brain. There's been so many times where I've. [00:29:57] Speaker B: Been, like, I've synonymous with meltdowns. [00:30:01] Speaker C: Yeah. Well, like, I have the NHL like, soundtrack Spotify playlist saved on my phone, so if I just hit random to go through that one is one I have to force. Force myself to skip sometimes. Great tune, but I don't want to cry. As part of my morning commute, I was saying to the guys like mine. [00:30:18] Speaker B: I got fired up, man. Oh, yeah. I don't know why. [00:30:20] Speaker D: I'm. [00:30:21] Speaker B: I'm psychotic, I guess. [00:30:22] Speaker C: But my hockey fandom, like, does not go as far as goal horns. Like, I know, like, the Leafs one, and people don't like that. I know the guy this year has been, like, hitting the button a few more times. Like, instead of just a long, like. [00:30:33] Speaker B: I hate that. [00:30:34] Speaker E: I love it. [00:30:35] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:30:36] Speaker C: I have some down. [00:30:38] Speaker B: Hold it down for, like, a good five. Mississippi. Let's just take. He's just going like this. [00:30:44] Speaker C: I like it. [00:30:45] Speaker B: I like it. [00:30:46] Speaker C: He's having fun. He's getting fired up. Trigger finger. I love it. I love it. I don't know, guys. Like, I'm gonna go. The train horn. 3:18 Wheeler. Transport at 2, and a boat horn at 1 because they're all the same there. [00:31:03] Speaker B: No mail and list. [00:31:05] Speaker D: What a list. [00:31:06] Speaker C: Cuz I'm not sitting there going, oh, yeah, that horn had some good bass to it, but I think this train had a little bit more treble. Well, guess what, Dave? You know what? We may be living in your world, but I got my own house here soon. If he's the captain, we're never showing up for a game on time. At least we'll be there halfway through. [00:31:25] Speaker A: The second Tuesday roast because par couldn't get the answer done. I'll do mine because I'll be nice. Number three, Chicago blackhawks. [00:31:33] Speaker C: Sure. [00:31:34] Speaker A: Number two, Pittsburgh Penguins goal horn isn't number one, Vancouver Canucks. I actually like their goal horn and their song after because their fans really get into it. If you don't know what it is, check it out. Might be a weird list, but I'm not putting. Even though I love Boston song, I will not put that on the list. I will not cost him do it. But it would be my number one. That's the goal horns that I will name. [00:31:59] Speaker C: How do you guys know these things? How do you guys know these goal horns? [00:32:03] Speaker A: I think playing hockey help a little bit too. I think that. [00:32:07] Speaker C: Oh, I forgot you were in the show and you got to listen to all of these, so. [00:32:10] Speaker A: Yeah, I played in the 2013 game. [00:32:12] Speaker C: Seven collapse, buddy, you don't even play an NHL 25, let alone playing in the show. [00:32:17] Speaker A: I gotta let you and Dane catch up to my goal scoring ability. [00:32:20] Speaker C: Dude, Dane can't score a goal to save his life, dude. It's. It's crazy. [00:32:25] Speaker A: He can't. He can't. If you guys don't. Before we get too off topic. Okay, well, fellas, this is seven minutes over my expected time. If you read my text. If you read my text. So we're gonna wrap it up there, fellas. When we get back next week, though, I'm excited to talk about that outdoor game stuff because I think it's gonna create a little discussion because I think. You know what? I'll table it. This has been the top shelf segment nonetheless. Brennan, thank you for taking the time. It's been fun. I'd love. And I love these blind rankings. Love these quizzes. These discussions get people going. If you're not prepared like par and just come up with a random answer. [00:32:58] Speaker C: Nobody know. Nobody cares about goal horns except nerds. Okay. [00:33:05] Speaker A: I'm a nerd. [00:33:05] Speaker B: Come on, man. I'm a nerd. We're going to call you male of in park. [00:33:09] Speaker C: I love it. I love it. I'll go back to work. I'll go. I'll go hang out at the CP headquarters. I don't care. I'm in Ottawa. Go right down over there. [00:33:17] Speaker A: Thank you. As always, man, it's. It's fun. [00:33:19] Speaker C: Hey, hey, don't forget, if you want an alliteration, you're going to refer to me as purolator par. Okay? So if you want to address me, you address me correctly. [00:33:27] Speaker A: Sire purator par. Okay? [00:33:31] Speaker B: Pur. [00:33:32] Speaker A: All right. Good with me, fellas. It's been good. We had a we. Oh, one thing I will say too, we didn't do our redraft this week, but again, we'll do that next week. Okay? 1998 is what we will do next week. So we had those picks. We don't have the time. We'll have to tease it for you and get you next week. So again, thank you very much to Brandon. Thank you very much to Alex. Here on the top shelf segment, Dave McCaig. You're going to take a few moments as Par changes his name at the bottom. If you catch it on video, I saw it. We're going to come back. We got more here on the Game Sports podcast. Don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the Game Sports podcast. Is your host, David McCaig Jr. Getting into our Chuck A Puck segment? If you're on video, you get to see the official Sue Greyhounds puck. I can't chuck it, but I will drop it there. Great. At center ice for you. I am joined by co host of Chuck A Puck with yours truly, the one, the only, Jordan Trudeau. Trudes, my friend. Great to see you again this week, pal. [00:34:28] Speaker F: Yeah, quick turnaround. We are recording Friday and then we're back at it just Wednesday of this week. Yeah. Glad to be back. [00:34:36] Speaker A: Yeah. The consistent content, a little bit late last week, the holidays. [00:34:39] Speaker D: Right. [00:34:40] Speaker A: We're a little slow moving last week. [00:34:42] Speaker F: Deadline to trade. [00:34:43] Speaker A: Deadline. And then we had to recover from that world Junior disaster. There was just. There's a lot to touch on. Right. And if this is your first time listening to Chukapuck to give everyone a reminder because obviously we do content. That's the national. We do regional, local, regional, national perspective. But this is based with the Ontario Hockey League, obviously that we touch on, but primarily focused with our local team. Where we're located, the Sioux Saint Marie Greyhous, the heart of the Great Lakes. If you know, you know, give it a search. The Sue Greyhounds. Look. Yeah, they. I'm. There's a lot of history to this franchise. So if you are tuning in from outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Wayne Gretzky played for this team. Joel Thornton played for this team. And if you're, if you're a Leaf fan, you know that Kyle Dubas was the GM of the Sue Greyhounds. It took a lot of greyhounds. Okay? So just think of it in that light, okay? This team, in this city, this community is a very strong hockey town. And obviously the Hounds have that support. And this is a season for the Hounds where it's a little bit different. Obviously, it's a rebuilding, rebuilding year. And the trade deadline was really busy. We talked about that last week. We gave our grades. We post that on social media, make sure you interact with that. But the. On Chuck a puck, we talk Sue Greyhounds primarily with some ohl focus where the news is hot. And there is some news outside of suit greyhounds that we'll get into on the segment. But first truths, get into the weekly update here on Chocapac about the Sioux greyhounds. Where are we at on today? What happened last week? What's happening this week? Let's give the listeners our update. [00:36:13] Speaker F: Okay, sounds good. Just before the update, small shout out. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Keegan Gill in the other. Last night. He. Or the other night he was, he was at. He was out for supper with his father Gibb, who's in town, is billet dad Mike, and another Bill parent, Brent. So they actually, they actually waved me over and we had a, we had a really cool conversation. So just want to say, like all of you that are listening, it's. It sounds like, you know, our content is reaching the right people and it's. And it's positive and, you know, it's. It's one thing to have the opportunity to be able to sit here and talk about, you know, the Pat, like our passion and the team that we, Dave and I both grew up watching. But it's. It's another to hear it's reaching the players and the parents of the players and lots of different fans is just really cool. So. [00:37:03] Speaker A: Yeah, and we appreciate that. [00:37:05] Speaker F: Yeah, and we appreciate it too. Like, it was, it was. It was so cool. It was such an honor. So don't hesitate, feel free. Reach out. Yeah, we love that interaction. That's kind of what we wanted. [00:37:18] Speaker A: That's what we want. And if you want to be a guest on this show too, which, you know, maybe we're trying to work out different guests, but you can certainly reach out. We want the fans of the guest. We're not just looking at organization with the players and management. Yes, we're looking into that. But we want the involvement with the fans, with the community where the passion that the butts that sit in the seats of this team and hear that feedback and if you see us in public, you know, that's cool treatment to us. Trudeau. It's, it's like we've seen you on this podcast and it makes the work that we're doing feel that additional or that extra rewarding. So we appreciate hearing that. So as Trude says, interact, like, follow, subscribe, do that. We appreciate it. [00:37:58] Speaker F: Huge. Thank you. Yeah. So back to back losses this home this past weekend. The Greyhounds, they, so they head out on their longest road trip of the season this weekend. Peterborough on Thursday, January 16, Kingston on Friday and Ottawa on Sunday. And so I made sure that before I went through this Google Maps, as my friend, I made sure to get it right. So they will be spending over 20 hours on a bus traveling over 1860 kilometers this all in this upcoming weekend. So hopefully they can take some home, win some. Sorry, not some home wins, some wins on the road here. [00:38:40] Speaker A: Coming up, road games are the best. Truth. Like, like I. Everyone loves being at home, but the way you get to bond with your team, there's nothing like doing that on the road. And major junior hockey it is. [00:38:51] Speaker F: You're on a bus for over 20 hours. Like, that's really. I, like, I think that's one of the reasons why this team is always so close year after year. Right? Like they travel more than anybody. And I'm gonna, we're gonna talk about that in a little bit. But I think that's why like you're seeing when a, when a player like Charlie Shankle or and a player like Andrew Gibson leaves, it's, it's so like emotional for everybody because of all that time they spend together on that bus. [00:39:20] Speaker A: So the games, the card games that they play, you know, the bonding, the movies that you watch, the, the restaurant eating. And I'm sure there's check, you know, like foot check. They do the little, the pranks to each other when they're eating. Okay, that happens. And it's not hazing. Just everyone knows it's fine. We make somebody saying or it's all team bonding. Okay? It's all team bonding. And this team has it none, not unlike no other with the travel. And it's, it's a tight knit group for that reason. And I think it's challenging being on the road and traveling that much. You get bus legs just like you would get jet lag if you're in the National Hockey League. But getting that bus leg, you have it, but they stop routinely. They have a. These guys are grooming to be professional hockey players or have that aspiration to. So the travel is different once you go up in the higher levels, but. But they have the different preparedness, they have the different standards. They, they know how to erase. I've never been a believer a bus leg unless you did a full bus for 24 hours and you never got out of the seat for 24 hours. They do stop, they do move. But the bonding is. Is fantastic. And I think this is. Those are the moments in major Junior that you have to try, that you really have to try to enjoy is that bonding with your team in the trips, because that's where the memories are made in the. Is playing the games. But you. The time on the bus, the memories you share, the card games that you play, you know, or if you have a video council going on, if they have that on the bus, whatever it is, you bond and that's fantastic. A lot of travel, though, for the Hounds. Good point. Shoots a lot of travel. [00:40:47] Speaker F: Charlie Shankel. Charlie got quite the send off. [00:40:52] Speaker A: I missed the game. I. I missed the game. I was upset, but I. I heard. I need to hear it from you, though. I want to hear it. [00:40:59] Speaker F: Well, you know what the coolest thing about it was, is that like the. The anthem hadn't even sounded yet, I think. Yeah, like, it was like they were rolling out the red carpet for the anthem. And it was in that kind of like little lull where both teams are on, like they've came on the ice. But then like, we're waiting for the anthem, so everyone's just kind of quiet and it just sat like the whole building just erupted like in a Charlie chant. And like you could tell, like, like he must have been real. Like he must have been get emotional. Like it was such a powerful moment, like for everybody there. I never really experienced anything like that, I don't think in the last 10 years of going to Greyhound games, like, it was so cool. And then they even stopped mid, like, mid halfway through the first period. They had a video for Charlie. They played a video and well done. Everybody stopped and looked at it. And I especially noticed too, the Kingston players also stood up and participated in the standing ovation for their new teammates with. With which I thought was really, really cool as well. So, like, to see how a player like that is so respected among the league is just I think it probably just speaks wonders. Sure speaks to his character. [00:42:16] Speaker A: So 100. [00:42:17] Speaker F: That was really cool and really cool. And you know what? He didn't have the. He, he didn't have a classic Charlie Shanko game. But oh my goodness, like what, what was going through his, his head the whole time? Like, that's had to have been a tough, tough time to try and zone in and focus on playing a hockey game. [00:42:37] Speaker A: You get traded that week, you're back where you played. You're. You're trying to mentally prepare, right. You're. You get that ovation at the beginning of the game. I'm sure throughout. I heard throughout the whole game they were kind of always continuing. Right. So you're hearing that you're feeling, you're feeling tickled because of it. Yeah, I'll use that word. The emotional. You get the goosebumps. Okay. That goalies hear that. Players can sit here all day and say that. They block it out. [00:43:00] Speaker D: No, no, no. [00:43:01] Speaker A: Especially if you have the whole arena stated and chant in your name. You hear that? And it goes here. Okay, but that's, that's something that Charlie should say. You know, what will take away his whole life, no matter what the career path is for him after this year, if it's pros, if it's your European pro, wherever he goes pro, or if he doesn't and he, and, and he goes a different route and he just plays a couple more years somewhere then gets into a career, whatever it is, he will always have that in his memory. I still expect Charlie to play a little bit more past the ohl. [00:43:32] Speaker D: There's got to be a team. [00:43:32] Speaker A: They'll definitely pick him up 100%. [00:43:35] Speaker F: But. [00:43:35] Speaker A: And his character, that just speaks on it, like you said, and it also speaks on our community. I love hearing that from the community that they did. I know the Facebook page are saying, hey, let's pump them up. Let's cheer him. And it was actually happening. Thumbs up to the Hounds organization, Kingston to the, to the fans. Of course. I love seeing that. And thumbs up to Charlie for being able to go through that because there is. That plays with your mind in a good way. And what a. What a good send off for him. [00:44:00] Speaker D: Yeah. [00:44:00] Speaker E: Oh, yeah. [00:44:01] Speaker F: And once he settles in, he'll. He'll be really solid there for Kingston. [00:44:04] Speaker A: Oh yeah, he will be. Oh yeah, he will be. [00:44:06] Speaker F: Andrew Gibson got. I think you believe he got a winning goal the other night. [00:44:10] Speaker A: Overtime winner. Overtime winner. Or I don't know, was it overtime? [00:44:15] Speaker F: I watched the video, but I don't Think it was three on three. [00:44:18] Speaker B: I think it was one day. [00:44:19] Speaker F: So. But still he's settling in as. [00:44:21] Speaker E: As well. [00:44:22] Speaker F: So that's. It's good for them to see success. Yeah. So speak about the travel a little bit. [00:44:27] Speaker A: Yes, yes. [00:44:29] Speaker F: So like I mentioned before, former players, any. If former players or current players listening will. Will know about this. So maybe for the interest of fans who may not be aware, but the closest opponent for the Greyhounds is three and a half hours away. So the closest road game is that far. Sudbury and Saginaw are the closest. Both around four hours compared to a team like Hamilton or Guelph who has multiple opponents within the hour range. So those teams could go in a weekend without even spending a day in a hotel. Right. They just travel an hour, go to the game, play, go home play, go home and sleep in their own bed. So with the Greyhounds, it's very different. Every second weekend is a travel weekend. Spending the weekend, multiple hotels, getting into the opponent's town maybe at 1 or 2am after you've played a game in a different city, having to get up the next day, play. Play the next day. So it's like a huge grind. And I just wanted to mention it because it's their biggest road trip of the season. They do only do this once a year. And so like huge respect for the boys, the coaching staff to go out each night and give it their best while traveling. Traveling a lot of kilometers and X amount of kilometers. And I also wanted to mention a couple other, you know, staff members that have a huge part in the process as well. Jerry Liscom Jr. Which a lot of fans will recognize him as the radio announcer. He actually does a lot of like, work dealing with the hotels and planning the itinerary and like food, getting. Getting food for the, for the guys. So like he does a lot. The equipment manager. When I worked for the Greyhounds, it was Simon Payette. They have a new, new one. I believe his name's Nike Simpson. I remember not seeing Simon for a whole like two days because he'd just be at the rink the whole time just getting stuff ready. And then Julian Cooper, the athletic therapist. They play a huge role in getting the guys ready and prepared, all in different ways, same as the coaching staff. But no doubt we would not have the entertainment without the staff, especially the staff too, that you, you see, you don't see behind the scenes. So just a little glimpse and into some of the behind the scenes stuff there a little more appreciation to. Yeah, everything. [00:47:01] Speaker A: I appreciate that. Shout out. Truth because they not. They get recognition more like people do know that that's done, but they don't get. Sorry. The recognition as much as they deserve. But it's starting to be a bit more noticed in the world of hockey for teams I'm noticing. But it still can be better because they. The equipment, everything in behind the scenes, those are the heroes for the team, for the players. And the players will second that. I'll tell you right now, you talk to any player, they'll say how much they appreciate everyone that helps get them prepared. Okay. Because as much as they're getting prepared and being the player and being the face that's on that on front that wears that jersey, there's people behind the scenes that are really, really helping them get it done. And someone like Jerry Lyncom Jr. I'll give a quick little thing here. I've known Jerry for years just from my days of playing, but through my years of radio, through connections of Sovereign Communications, ESPN 1400 with the Sports podcast connected through the the late Scott Nason with the game. So there's a lot there that I know he's been doing for years and people hear him on the radio. But there's more definitely behind the scenes and he knows that. He's been very patient with working with the game on the media passes side of things. So I definitely give a little extra shout out to Jerry for that. So he's definitely great. The top. I know we don't have too much time troops because just time overall. And we do a better job with time on this show than we do with other segments. So I'll make sure I stick to that. But two things that we'll get into very quickly. Saw prospects at the day of recording. We're recording January 15th on this day. We def. We record between Tuesday and Thursday with uploading Tuesday, Wednesday. [00:48:30] Speaker D: Sorry. [00:48:31] Speaker A: With uploading the Thursday and before this. Before this while we're doing the show that's before puck drop for the top prospects game. It's tonight at 7, I believe if I'm correct, January 15th at 7 is the game. Is the date I have up on the. On the chl. I'm good. Okay, good. [00:48:50] Speaker F: But there's a lot of tune in because we're. We want to like we'll be too late. [00:48:56] Speaker A: But yeah, it's gonna. You got. You got Martin there, you got Hayes there. Just shout out to the two hounds that are there. But there's overall a lot of good talent that game. Porter Martone, you got Jack, Ivan Kovic and that there's. There's names I'm not listing but there's. There's a. There's Michael Misa I think's another one that in there. There. [00:49:13] Speaker F: There's is the captain of the Eastern Conference. He's a solid player for the Brampton Bulldogs. [00:49:19] Speaker A: Yeah yeah. So there's good. [00:49:21] Speaker F: Be a good game. A lot of attendance. [00:49:24] Speaker A: We're gonna miss you're. We're gonna not be able to get. By the time you listen to the show you're definitely gonna have already heard what happened in the game and everything that's. That has gone on. So we're not gonna dive into that. But two. Two shout outs to two Hounds Leather Hayes and Martin. Martin is a pro is. Yeah that and Martin is a pro Haze is too that I've heard nothing good about. [00:49:43] Speaker F: Haynes as well injured like like Hayes is just coming back so this will be actually be his first game back. But like that's a tough first game. [00:49:50] Speaker A: Back off very tough but also good. But also a good game back. [00:49:54] Speaker F: Yeah so like just please don't. [00:49:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:49:58] Speaker F: So like yeah. This poor team just can't get over injuries this season. I can't believe it. [00:50:02] Speaker A: It's one of those years. [00:50:03] Speaker F: Everybody's healthy and stays healthy soon. [00:50:05] Speaker A: Yeah. And hopefully everyone enjoys the game and enjoyed the game. Now that you're listening to it after not just the game sports podcast. The the Connor McDavid OHL top prospects. [00:50:15] Speaker F: Yeah that's cool. [00:50:16] Speaker A: That. That's very cool. Who just had his. His banner retired in Erie as well. Shout out to Connor McDavid too. Seven years old and that banner is horrendous though. That banner. That banner sucks. I don't. I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Erie. I'm not a fan of that banner. It's not the best looking banner. I'm sorry. Guess great should be done. Awesome. Yes Banner quality. Yikes. Okay I'm not. I'm not there. I'm not feeling it that maybe that's a look. [00:50:44] Speaker F: I haven't seen it get a look. [00:50:46] Speaker A: And then I'm expecting a text and we'll touch on it next week. If we remember last. Last thing that we got to give a shout out for. I think this is a good thumbs up to give to to end the segment for Chuck a puck. Rory Kearns former Suse Marie Greyhound 6 round pick of the Calgary frames. 174th overall in the 2020 draft. Former 118 point guy with the Hounds went from 23 points from to 59 points to 118. [00:51:10] Speaker D: Okay. [00:51:10] Speaker A: This guy's growth in the Ontario Hockey League was unbelievable. And it was known after that last year that he's going to make a good impression into the American Hockey League, into Calgary. But at this day of recording, he's played two games and he has two assists with a plus three rating. And it's, it's great to see. I like Guy in that plus minus. Not a lot of people do, but he's done a very good job so far in his couple games. But overall as a pro he's done very well. He's a point of game Guy with the Calgary Wranglers in the American Hockey League. He's definitely earned his keep to go up. And kudos to Rory Karen Trudeau. [00:51:43] Speaker F: Kudos to Rory Karens. I remember when he came up and I think it was his second year, he got a little bit more playing time and I was like chatting with fans and I'm like, yeah, he's, he's got a pro shot. Like yep, he must score 40 goals and I think he did. So yeah, he, like, I'm not surprised that he's continued to produce. I would be surprised if he continues to produce at the NHL level. We'll see. But it looks like his, his production hasn't ceased at all. Like he's a point per game in the AHL and I mean that's why the Greyhounds are here, right? And that's why the major junior hockey exists. You look at a guy like Rory Cairns who's a fourth round pick. Oh, and here he goes. He was second in the league in scoring and then he goes on to have quite the great start to his professional career. So you know, props to everyone involved in his development and you know, good luck to him in the NHL. Hopefully he stays there and hopefully he produces. [00:52:46] Speaker A: I think his best fit. People may not like, like this take, but I think I see him as a top nine forward I think would be his best fit where he has the opportunity to maybe hit some second unit. But also PK, he could be a good two way guy who can put up 15, 20 goals a season. I see that potential as a 20 goal guy who could be effective in the lineup. I think 20 people think that might be a little high. I, I don't think it is. I think he, he's been showing that he can grow each year and he's only 22 years old and he's 5 11, 190, decent size. Okay. It's not like he's 5 7, 140. Okay. Like he's got a Decent size to him. He's gonna be, I think, a good NHLer and somebody that he's, he's joining Calgary at a very good time. The team is. Okay. It's not, it's not in the best condition. Okay. The flame is not burning like it should be. So I think someone like Rory can help get that flame burning. Okay. I'll leave it at that. No pun intended. Trudes, I know we want a little extra sort of, I know you got to get going to play a little floor hockey, you mentioned. So I appreciate you taking the time as always. We'll be back here next week for another edition of Chucka Puck. My friend, do you have any final thoughts before I send you off? [00:53:51] Speaker F: Go Hounds, go. [00:53:52] Speaker A: Love it. [00:53:53] Speaker D: Love it. [00:53:53] Speaker A: Make sure you like, follow and subscribe and everything. The game. I'm going to talk about more of that at the end of the show, of course, but I'm in particular pointing to Chuck A Puck like again, we appreciate the shoutouts and the notices in public here in Sault Ste. Marie when it comes to the Chukkapuck segment. So please keep that coming and interact. And next week we got, as always, an action packed agenda every week with Chuck A Puck here on the game. We're gonna take a break. We come back, we got some football in the pocket. Wild, wild card weekend that just passed in the National Football League and we got NCAA championship around the corner too. So lots of football to get into. So don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the Game Sports Podcast. Dave McKay continuing to host you this evening in a different attire for the. [00:54:33] Speaker D: Third segment, if you notice. [00:54:34] Speaker A: Good for you. [00:54:35] Speaker D: I am joined by the one, the only, Justin Heik. My friend. How are you? [00:54:42] Speaker E: It's good to be back. Good, good. Got a lot of good football to talk about this week. Honestly, it's been great. Like, I mean, we, I don't know, we've said this a couple times now, but it's not often the college games are, you know, kind of taking center stage over some of the NFL games. [00:55:00] Speaker D: Right? [00:55:01] Speaker E: A couple stinkers in the NFL side of things last weekend. But no, we got, we got some good stuff to talk about here and. [00:55:08] Speaker D: We should get into it 100% in the pocket, which is sponsored by SportsCenter Bar & Grill, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario's best sports bar over a handful of years in a row. Best wings just under that look. Great sports atmosphere if you're in Sault Ste. Marie or if you're from out of town and you do enter Sault Ste. Marie, go check out SportsCenter and go watch any sport game is up there. If you got football, you got hockey, you got baseball, tennis, doesn't matter what the game is that night, what the sport is that night that that you want to watch or that is just to be watched, you can watch it at Sports Center Bar and Grill. Just a great atmosphere and a great team there, great staff, great ownership, very supportive of the Game Sports Podcast when it was originally called the Game Sports Show. We had our first live recording there in our suit for our first Sioux Ontario show there in 2016 and it's 2025. Unbelievable. And obviously since COVID we haven't been doing live, live live recordings on locations. We have adapted and switched and done things through pre recording, video and in offices. But of course Sports center and the Game Sports Podcaster, a family still strong and have been since day one. So Sports Center Bar and Grill sh Ontario's best sports bar. And they're that for a reason. The Game Sports Podcast. Obviously, Justin, we have been doing in the Pocket for eight years. Okay, like obviously there's been, if you do the math, next year is going to be 9, the year after that's going to be 10. There's been a, obviously a slight delay when we started and when we officially started doing in the Pocket, but we've been doing it for eight seasons strong. Obviously you've been there since the start. EJ has also been there from the start and he still is just everyone knows, I know he's been away for the remainder of this year, but it's obviously he's been a part of it and we've had some people who are still part of the staff, Justin, but on a casual basis. Jamie Antonello, Matt Primo, Dustin Grandin. And look, you know, I look back and we. All these shows that we've talked about, all the shows that we've done, the, the phone on the cup, the three and a half hour in the Pocket segment on Potomatic. Look, if you find that episode, please tag us. [00:57:10] Speaker A: Look, there's been a lot of fun. [00:57:12] Speaker D: Stuff here on the Game, but there's in the Pocket has been our longest running segments even beyond hockey, so obviously some we take great pride in. And Justin, when it's playoff time, we always say this. Each year time has flown by, right? We I just like you think about a week one, we were all excited, right? And football's back and look, we're now hitting the divisional round and we're hitting the national championship for ncaa. It's unbelievable. How fast the football season goes overall, but it's been a great season of football. I know we say that a lot on each year, but truly this year has been better than, I think, a lot of recent years for football. I really think it's been entertaining, especially from college. And Justin, going right to college, the, the national championship didn't end up the way that I predict it or that you even predict it. There's a team that's not in there that I thought would be in there, but Notre Dame was not a surprise for myself getting there. I feel like that was a team that just can just tell going in there. But you know what? Georgia getting beat, it's been a lot of upsets. And on the front of those upsets have been Ohio State. And that's because Ohio State somehow woke out of bed before this playoff run. [00:58:27] Speaker A: And they're like, oh, yeah, that is. [00:58:29] Speaker D: How we play football. [00:58:30] Speaker A: It's like they kept it in the. [00:58:32] Speaker D: Tank all year, waited, and it just wanted to win, get seated wherever, and. [00:58:37] Speaker A: They said, we're just going to turn. [00:58:38] Speaker D: Up in the playoffs. [00:58:39] Speaker A: And the team that we've been seeing. [00:58:41] Speaker D: On the field, especially against Oregon, Justin, that was an absolute shellacking. [00:58:45] Speaker A: Okay? [00:58:46] Speaker D: That was not a one against an eight seed. That was a one seed against a non seed, okay? That's how bad that shellackian was in that game, in my honest opinion. And throughout the entirety of the NCAA playoffs, Ohio State has looked unstoppable. Okay. And I think though, this college football national championship is going to be one hell of a football game, though I. [00:59:09] Speaker E: Think sometimes sports go any sport, not just football go exactly the way you think they're gonna go. Like the best teams win, you know, and those aren't sometimes the most exciting years. And then every once in a while, and I mean, I don't wanna, I'm not trying to build Ohio State up here too much with my terminology, but sometimes there's just like a team of destiny that comes along and you just, you, when you watch the games, you're like, there's something special here. I mean, like, there are some. No matter what, they're making something happen. And I mean, I know I've said this a couple weeks in a row now, but if you circle back to that loss to Michigan that pushed this Ohio State team over the level and like, look where they are. Like, they're an absolute steamroller. [00:59:56] Speaker D: It's, it's, it's wild. [00:59:58] Speaker A: They look too good. [00:59:59] Speaker E: Texas didn't. Like, they look like they had no idea what they were doing on Friday like that's and we all know that Texas, that was a very good Texas team and Ohio State just came out and like like you said just she'll act them like it's crazy. It looks like boys versus men against boys out there and and like on the other end of it this Notre Dame team is ran like an NFL squad. Like they are a very professional, clean looking football team. [01:00:25] Speaker D: Systematic very play the game the way that from a structure perspective, very, very. [01:00:31] Speaker E: Structured and like the and the players but on the other end of that too like very well coached. But the players are also like they're dialed in like they are buying everything this coaching staff is selling to them. So I like this is going to be a game, a game. [01:00:48] Speaker D: A game. A game with five underlines and I'll add the half on there as an underline and the small under hat that you get on Microsoft Word when you type it or you type in an email. That's how effective and eye catching this game is going to be. And there is a quote that I or title that I saw from BVM Sports. Okay not too much familiarity on this end with BVM sports. So I'm not sure being BVM Sports by any which means but something that caught my eye is Notre Dame tougher than Ohio State. And you brought up the point of us that systematic football. And it makes me wonder on the tougher side complimenting this headline from a mental perspective if the game gets deep or favored into Ohio State a little bit if Ohio State gets ahead early 14 nothing that's the tougher end. I think the heading means strength. I'm not looking, I'm not reading the. I'm not going to read it. I'm just looking pure headline right now. But if they're talking about mental strength which I'm sure they're not, I'm sure they're talking about tougher. I think that's where Notre Dame is going to have the advantage that other teams didn't. Against Ohio State you thought maybe Oregon was going to come back. But true fans and people that know sports which like ourselves I knew Ohio or Oregon was not coming back. It's Ohio State in that game. That game was done after the first quarter and you can tell by the mannerisms on the field by Oregon, Texas that you just Ohio State you knew was the better team. Notre Dame they have that mental toughness. I see and you mentioned structure and team the buy in. I think that's going to be a big part to that if Ohio State comes out guns ablazing in that first quarter, tougher in terms of strength. I get that point too, because Notre. [01:02:26] Speaker A: Dame, if you want to look at. [01:02:27] Speaker D: Size or you want to look at the way that the team plays, but everything that's been done this year, you got to this one game. It can all change in one game. The Ohio State Cinderella story, run signal, really Cinderella story. But they've been steamrolling. Notre Dame has been well as well. But what's going to come down in this game is who is tougher. And I think the toughness has to come from a mental perspective. Not strength, not system. It's who gets ahead. Don't get lost here in the first quarter. Down by two touchdowns, who gives a. You're going back out there and keep it up. And I feel like to contradict this headline, I think Ohio State is mentally tougher than Notre Dame because of what they've had to come through after losing and who they've beaten on the way. Justin, I interrupted you there, though, before that point. [01:03:14] Speaker E: To me, I mean, again, I'm all about the cliches this week, but like, this is kind of a chess match until it isn't. Like as soon as, like both these teams, like as soon as someone slips, they go for a kill shot and then they just keep going. And to what you said there, like, to the mental toughness, it's going to be like whoever slips, it's just going to be like if there's one boneheaded play or, you know, not even mental, but a fumble, like something like that's what's going to turn the tides in this game and swing it one way or the other. Otherwise I think they're going to be like offense, defense, special teams. I think they're equally matched on all fronts. [01:03:50] Speaker D: They are. And like, if this is a very. Speaking of cliches, this game is going to come down to two names. It's going to come down to Will Howard and Riley Leonard. It's from Notre Dame. But the swollen hand for Will Howard. All right, is that going to be a factor going into the game? That's where the mental toughness is going to come in. What's been happening, maybe it will affect. But ultimately it's going to come down to Riley Leonard and it's going to come down to Will Howard. And if I had to pick a favor right now, leading to my prediction for this football game, it's Ohio State, but in a very close game, in a very high scoring game, in one hell of A football game. But those are the two players. As cliche as you want to get, those are the two players that are going to make or break the game. I'm not going to talk about receivers. I'm not going to talk about running backs. Defense. Defense. Winning championships. No, I'm excited to see Will Howard and Riley Leonard duke it out. Hike. [01:04:41] Speaker A: Who you got to win? [01:04:42] Speaker D: I got Ohio State. [01:04:43] Speaker E: Yeah, I got Ohio State, too. No, there's not really much controversy or excitement to be had here. We're both picking Ohio State. [01:04:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:04:50] Speaker D: No, no, Ohio State. It's gonna be one hell of a football game. Will Howard against Riley Leonard. We will see. But overall, overall, Ohio State and Notre Dame. [01:04:58] Speaker A: Who do you got? [01:04:59] Speaker D: Comment below on who you think's got this game this week. It's gonna be one hell of a football game. I say that again for the 10th time. NFL, Justin. Okay. As we transition from the college side of things, we get into the NFL. Talk about last week in the wild card weekend, to be honest with you. Look, I'll say it first and get it out of the way. Steelers lost. The Ravens. I did predict that as a Steeler fan. Been a Steeler fan since I was. When I got into football when I was around 10 years old. Big Ben Roethlisberger fan. Was excited when they drafted him. Saw them win two Super Bowls, lose one Super Bowl. The Green Bay and a lot of chokes in the playoffs after that. And now the Steelers are. Haven't won playoffs since after 2017 with Mike Tomlin. But Mike Tomlin, in my eyes, is still the best coach in the National Football Football League. Bias? Sure, a bit. But I love Mike Tomlin. I think the reason why this team even got a sniff at the playoffs this year was because of him. And Russ Wilson decided to play like 2012 Russell Wilson for about six weeks and then came back down to reality. This is a team that was not where they were supposed to be or where people predicted them to be this year. And if you say that you did predict the Sterlers to be in the playoffs, I would ask you why. And I'm sure 90% of you would say because of their defense, because of how well that defense is and perhaps the running back depth. And maybe George Pickens going into this year. Maybe after this year you have different thoughts about George Pickens. But ultimately you compare them to the Ravens or you compare them to the Bengals, depending on what the Bengals did. I still saw the Steelers behind those two teams this year. [01:06:33] Speaker E: Yeah, Cincinnati deserved to be there over the Steelers. [01:06:36] Speaker A: And that's. [01:06:37] Speaker D: And I, as a Steeler fan, I will tell you, I agree. In that football game, Derek Henry is gross. Mark Jackson is gross. That team is gross. They're not the best team. That's. [01:06:48] Speaker A: They're not the team that's going to. [01:06:49] Speaker D: Come out of that, out of that conference. I'm telling you right now, it's going to be somebody else that's coming out of there. But between either two teams, in my opinion, one that everybody is going to roll their eyes at, but one that I truly think will be. But we're going to get there in a minute. We've already talked about that last week, if you want to guess and see what our predictions were. But the Ravens were the better football team. They are the better football team and they proved it. But as a Steeler fan, despite the last handful of weeks being losses, it was awesome to see another football, another playoff game. There's been success in the organization, but now there needs to be a look at what they want to do. [01:07:23] Speaker E: Okay. [01:07:23] Speaker D: Because this was supposed to be the year of grooming Justin Fields, looking at the future a little bit, get ready for next year or the year after. But now you made the playoffs. Now this defense is a year already into it and you have this defense for a couple years. You got to go into it now and I think you got to address the quarterback position. So if, if that's what you want to do or you got to ride it with Justin Fields. But ultimately sticking to the football playoff script, sorry, the better team won between the Ravens and Steelers, but I was just happy to see playoff football with Pittsburgh again this year despite the outcome. [01:07:54] Speaker A: Now the other crappy game was the. [01:07:56] Speaker D: Bills Broncos of the week, one that we predicted. Not even though one team in, it's very exciting, but 31 to to 7 in that game. The better team won, Justin. And if you want to have comments about the Broncos and Bills or Steelers and Ravens before we move on to. [01:08:11] Speaker E: The other games, I thought the first quarter of the Bills Broncos game was good. You know, the rest of the game not so great. I also was really upset that I was taking cheap shots and one of the highlight packages there. All of a sudden they're talking up Sean Payton and they just got to throw out the indie New Orleans super bowl onside kick after half. Come on, it's like 15 years ago and I'm catching strays in the middle unrelated game. So thanks, thanks CBS for that one. [01:08:40] Speaker D: Much appreciated. Justin appreciates that. [01:08:42] Speaker E: But no, I, I mean better team one the Only real shocker to me in that whole weekend was San Diego or not saying la la. The Chargers. [01:08:52] Speaker D: Yes, you. [01:08:53] Speaker E: I figured. I thought Houston's not that good, right? [01:08:57] Speaker A: What happened? [01:08:58] Speaker D: What's. [01:08:59] Speaker A: What? [01:08:59] Speaker D: Like. [01:09:00] Speaker A: Like, playoff her. [01:09:02] Speaker D: Hubert is like, get out of here, dude. Like, who. [01:09:04] Speaker A: Who are you? [01:09:05] Speaker E: Yeah, I don't. [01:09:06] Speaker D: Give me Aaron Rodgers instead. [01:09:08] Speaker E: Like, I'm not sure what happened there, but, I mean, hopefully the Chargers address some, you know, maybe some receiver help in the off season. [01:09:18] Speaker D: George Pickens. [01:09:20] Speaker E: No, nobody wants that. But, no, that was really the only big surprise for me. And now, yeah, rolling into this week, I think Houston's gonna get steamrolled by the Chiefs. [01:09:29] Speaker A: Steamrolled. [01:09:30] Speaker D: Telling you right now, steamrolled this week. [01:09:33] Speaker E: If they win that, like, I will probably have to eat a sock or something next week on the show. [01:09:39] Speaker D: I'll put a sock in my mouth. No, I won't. No, I won't put a sock in my mouth. But we'll figure out something because there's no chance in hell, as Vince McMahon would say. There's no chance. [01:09:47] Speaker E: I just. I don't. I don't see. I don't. I. No way that I play that game out of my head. Does Houston win that game? [01:09:56] Speaker D: Yep. I didn't think so either. That Vikings game was the same thing. I'm sorry? The Vikings Rams game was the same thing for me. I didn't think the Rams would let alone win the game, but hold them to single digits like Sam Darnold. No. [01:10:11] Speaker A: Was he. Did we just. Did we just get hyped about Sam Darnold this year? [01:10:15] Speaker D: And then he just came to show his true colors? Like, what did we see? [01:10:18] Speaker E: I learned. I learned something over the weekend in talking to several Vikings fans around town and people that I know that are Vikings fans. Very similar group to us, Leaf fans. Very pessimistic, like, oh, you know, congrats, you guys are in the playoffs this week. You know, like, looking like a pretty good team. Oh, no, it's over. What do you mean it's over? You're 14 and 2. What do you mean, it's over? And then the game happened on Monday night, and it's like, I understand. I see where you're coming from. I understand why you're the way you are. [01:10:53] Speaker D: And you got a receiving core that features Justin Jefferson, okay. Who had limited to under 60 yards in that game. You. [01:11:00] Speaker E: Your quarterback's getting his head smashed in on the ground. [01:11:03] Speaker D: Nine sacks. [01:11:04] Speaker E: Like, that was ridiculous. That offensive line looked like, like, public bathroom, toilet paper, sock lunch all day. [01:11:12] Speaker A: It's just like, oh here we go. [01:11:14] Speaker D: Oh, bad for him. [01:11:16] Speaker E: Like he just like Sam Darnold's running all over the place. He like spins out. No someone this way spins back the other way. No. Another guy here. And like the Rams have these young guys on their defensive line and they look like Aaron Donald and Aaron Donald's not there. So kudos to the Rams for their drafting and developing after literally trading away the farm to win a Super Bowl. [01:11:40] Speaker D: Literally. But it's worth it though. When you win, it's worth it. I'm sorry. I agree with trading the farm. [01:11:44] Speaker E: Go back and watch the start of that game when Matt Stafford's coming out to tunnel. You know the game is already over. [01:11:51] Speaker D: Lions fans wouldn't know just but the other two games, Buccaneers Commanders, packers and the Eagles. I know there's a lot of upset Packer fans and I'm sorry but I'm not surprised. The Eagles, I felt are the better playoff team. And what's my rationale to that experience I won't get. It might be a cliche. It might be a answer. I've a couple swears in now. I'm getting flagged all over the place right now but Eagles must be the Moscow Mule. But the Eagles and and packers game was not as exciting as I thought it would be either. But the Eagles came out hot. Green Bay didn't get any points until the third quarter. Man, this the defense on Philadelphia was well that game. And Jalen Hurts only threw 131 yards, hit a couple touchdowns, made through 131 yards yards and Jordan love three interceptions. Yeah, Saquon is him and Henry like my goodness battle it. I want to see them both in the trenches. But three ints from Love. Packer fans this week aren't showing him any love. The guys that I've been talking to having three ints. But that's. That's just the reactions I've been receiving from fans is that they were expecting more from Love. But still through 21212 yards it's not all him that they lost that game. [01:13:14] Speaker E: Yeah, you weren't. I don't know. I don't like the Eagles as much as I don't like the Chiefs on the other end of things. But there's almost one thing that's always going to happen is that the Chiefs are going to be annoying in the playoffs. And if the Eagles are going to be annoying in the playoffs, yep, they're not. I don't find that the Eagles a very exciting team to watch outside of the Running game, but they're built for playoff football. They got a defensive. I can kill the clock. [01:13:38] Speaker D: Yep. [01:13:40] Speaker E: So you know what I mean. I can be as mad as I want, but they are literally built to just win playoff football games. [01:13:47] Speaker D: And they proved that this week. And Green Bay is done. And I know my neighbor is a Green Bay fan. He's been quite quiet the last couple days. Had to make sure. [01:13:54] Speaker E: Hey, listen, I've been driving around with a cold sticker on my truck for the last couple years. So you'll have your day. People put a leaf sticker on your truck. I'm like. Because I already have. [01:14:05] Speaker A: What's worse? What's worse? [01:14:11] Speaker D: Last one. [01:14:11] Speaker A: I know we're going a little extra. [01:14:12] Speaker D: Before we get to next week, but Commanders Bucks, another good game. Liked it. [01:14:18] Speaker A: I liked it. [01:14:18] Speaker D: I like. The fourth quarter was very good. And I thought at the end, at the beginning of that quarter when Washington couldn't get it done on the one yard line, right? It's like. And then they go for it, right? And you don't get it. You're like, there's the game, right. You lose the momentum, team's gonna be down. And I'm crazy for thinking that because they just came out and said, no, no, no, we're not done. This game isn't over yet. And they get away with the win and squeak win. That's what Jaden. That's what Daniels is. And the commanders have been doing a. Multiple occurrences this year. That's what they've been demonstrating that they can do. They're not out of football games. [01:14:53] Speaker E: Shout out to Tampa though, too. That was a fun game to watch. [01:14:56] Speaker D: So good. So good of a football game. [01:14:58] Speaker A: Like that might be the best game of the week. [01:15:01] Speaker E: I felt bad for Baker, but man, that guy can play like he can, man. [01:15:05] Speaker A: He. [01:15:05] Speaker D: He left Cleveland, went to Carolina or whatever the hell and then he came over here and he found his fit, right? Just like I thought. Sam Darnold found his fit in Minnesota, but Baker's really found his fit in Tampa Bay. Like he's got his mojo there. [01:15:19] Speaker E: I heard someone call the city of Cleveland to today the fake on the lake. I'm not sure. Like, is that funny? I don't know. [01:15:27] Speaker A: I. I like it. [01:15:28] Speaker D: I'm curious to know more as to why is it just because it's. [01:15:32] Speaker A: If anyone. Do you know what it means? [01:15:33] Speaker D: More? Is there more? [01:15:35] Speaker E: I have no idea. It was just that I was listening to like AM sports radio and someone called in. They were a Pittsburgh fan and they were taking shots At Cleveland. [01:15:43] Speaker D: Yo, Pittsburgh fans don't take shots nowhere. Don't even kick Brown fans when they're down. Okay? Because I know we've been as a and I'm saying we as a fan. I'm taking off my host Mike here for a sec as a fan, despite the success this organization has had over 500 playoffs Super bowl rings don't kick teams when we're down because unless we get against begins fan together on an offensive perspective, we're going to waste a prime defense and we're going to have some pain. We're going to have some pain. So call the back Steeler fans. [01:16:15] Speaker A: But that's still funny. [01:16:16] Speaker D: If anyone knows what that means, comment below. [01:16:19] Speaker A: Sorry Justin. [01:16:20] Speaker D: A little bit extra there with this week. A lot of games to react on but we got this week we got four games on the docket and let me tell you, I'm ready. [01:16:28] Speaker A: I'm ready for Saturday at 4:30 and I'm going to be ready until Saturday at 6:30. [01:16:34] Speaker D: Okay. Because my favorite game of the week is the two night games of this weekend that I'm excited to watch. And if the Leafs aren't exciting to watch on Saturday, which I don't think they will be because the way has been the last week, I know where my eyes are going to be glued but I think I know where my eyes are going to be glued either way because the Lions are Saturday night and the Ravens Bills. That is. Give me some of that. Give me that. Okay. That is like I want a steak lobster. [01:17:01] Speaker A: That is it right there. And on Saturday night I'm at a. [01:17:04] Speaker D: Wedding dancing, doing the Rasputin on the dance floor. So I got Saturday night Rasputin dance. Then Sunday night I got my lobster and steak dinner. [01:17:11] Speaker A: I some good things to look forward to. [01:17:13] Speaker D: Okay. There's my things of the week. If you know, you know. Okay, just in the four games this week little review then I'll let you lead the review or the review the preview of it and then we can get into our pick them to predict this week. [01:17:28] Speaker E: All right, well I mean games we got Houston and Kansas City this week, Washington in Detroit, Rams at Philly and Baltimore at Buffalo. Baltimore, Buffalo 6:30 start time on Sunday. Just so everyone knows doesn't think. Yes, but I mean starting it off I'm taking Casey over Houston. Obviously I don't. I mean I've said my piece on that. I think Kansas City is going to roll with that one. Detroit over Washington. Absolutely no punts in this game. Game everyone every fourth down is being Gone, you know what I mean? Through 13. We're going for it. [01:18:05] Speaker D: 100. [01:18:06] Speaker E: And getting into the Sunday games, I got Rams over Philly just because again, I hate the Eagles. I gotta pick a team to hate and Kansas City hasn't done me any good hate in them the last few years. So the Eagles, you win. [01:18:19] Speaker D: Congratulations, Philly. [01:18:20] Speaker E: Yeah. Matt Stafford just gonna roll. Keep rolling. [01:18:23] Speaker D: Oh, that's hilarious. [01:18:24] Speaker E: Buffalo over the Ravens on Sunday night. As far as the scores go, I got Buffalo 37, Baltimore 34 and a tight one. And then I got Rams 28 and Philly 24. Most points this week, Buffalo. Fewest points this week, Houston. [01:18:41] Speaker D: Oh, we're pretty close. Pretty close on things, but following Justin's lead. Chiefs, Texans. Look, I said this last year. Are you ready for it? If you know, you know, Taylor Swift reference. Okay, people, Kansas City is going to win this football game. They're the better team. The experience. They ain't going to stop there. Okay? This is a team that's ready to go in the playoffs of poise. They're going to be wild at Arrowhead. It's. It's going to be. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a. A couple touchdown lead. Take the over. Take, take, take the over. My opinion, but we've had surprises before. But I am picking the Chiefs of the Texans. [01:19:16] Speaker A: Lions commanders. All right, Lions, here we go. All right. This is where your playoffs start. [01:19:21] Speaker D: Look, if you're selling your ticket and. [01:19:23] Speaker A: You'Re in Sault Ste. [01:19:24] Speaker D: Marie, get your money. Get your money, honey. Or go watch a game that's going to be absolutely epic to watch. [01:19:30] Speaker A: It is going to be a game. [01:19:31] Speaker D: That the Lions are going to win. I'm going to say the Lions are winning that football game and I'll say buy a couple touchdowns. I. But I still think it's going to be one heck of an entertaining football game because Jaden Daniels and the Commanders are never out of games. And the Lions, I think this is their year. I've said it. This is the Lions year. Eagles. Rams. [01:19:49] Speaker A: I don't hate the Eagles. There's other teams that I hate. But I am taking the Eagles over. [01:19:53] Speaker D: The Rams just because of someone named Saquon Barkley. And I know despite the Rams, you know, potential on defense, I think that offense is just going to be too much despite what eyes come out of the tunnel. What's Matt Stafford's look? I. I don't. I think I got Jalen hurts over and Barkley in that game. It's going to be the Eagles as Much as people may not like that, especially Green Bay fans, the Ravens, Bills. And the best game of the week this week. The best game. [01:20:17] Speaker A: Telling you right now. [01:20:19] Speaker D: Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. [01:20:21] Speaker A: Heck, this might be that game where. [01:20:22] Speaker D: It'S 4th and 21 and guys are going for it because you see Derrick Henry is going to run 30 yards. [01:20:27] Speaker A: They're going to do a fourth down. [01:20:28] Speaker D: Handoff at their own 30 yard line. That's what's going to happen in Baltimore. That's how crazy this team can be. But that's also crazy the Bills can be. But let me tell you, if there's one team that I think can take down Josh Allen after a week where he's had a week of rest, it is the Ravens. Okay? This is, this can be a. [01:20:45] Speaker A: This is going to be a tight. [01:20:46] Speaker D: Game and I'm picking the Bills because. [01:20:49] Speaker A: They'Re a team that I had a. [01:20:50] Speaker D: Prediction to, you know, really have a good run this playoff. If you would have listened to last week's and the playoff predictions, but Bill's. [01:20:57] Speaker A: Coming on top scores. [01:20:58] Speaker D: I got 42, 38 for the bills over the Ravens. We're very close on that, Justin. A very tight one. The next game we got 28, 14 Eagles over the Rams. The most points this week, believe it or not. [01:21:09] Speaker A: I know I said 42 points for. [01:21:10] Speaker D: The Bills, but I got the Lions. I'm not taking a Justin Heichel 52 to 14 like he did last year in his prediction. But I will say though, if you. [01:21:19] Speaker A: Just for Christopher points, I'm going to. [01:21:21] Speaker D: Say the Lions are going to get 48 this week. [01:21:23] Speaker E: Okay? [01:21:23] Speaker D: They're just gonna be too shy of 50. That's what's going to happen in the least points this week, the Texans, because they're going to run into the Mahomes. [01:21:30] Speaker A: Effect and Taylor Swift's gonna do some voodoo from the stands and they're gonna. [01:21:34] Speaker D: Get less than 10 points because that's exactly what's going to happen. There's gonna be a couple flags that are gonna. People are gonna mad at the rest. We all know what's gonna happen this week. So these points, the Texans, Justin, I took a lot of avenues of those picks. [01:21:46] Speaker A: I went. [01:21:47] Speaker E: You were cooking. Couple timelines. [01:21:50] Speaker A: Got this. [01:21:51] Speaker D: I had to take a sip my Moscow Mule because of that. Got a little dry there, but it's fun. I'm excited for football this weekend. Okay. I'm excited. [01:21:59] Speaker E: It's that time of year. I mean, you're into like the pretenders have been weeded out aside from Houston and you know we'll get rolling this weekend. [01:22:08] Speaker D: Love it. Love it. Justin, this is good. I know we went. This is probably about 10 minutes extra over. I like to announce that each time, but there's a lot to get into our next show. You know, we've really been stressing time constraints, but hey, we get going, we get excited. [01:22:21] Speaker A: We know we. [01:22:22] Speaker E: College has been too good not to talk about it. So. [01:22:25] Speaker D: So hasn't the NFL. So has the NFL, but college a bit more. Justin and I talked about that off air. There's been a little bit more excitement on that route this year. A little bit. But that's. We're not getting into that. It's a whole other topic. Justin. Until next week, ma'am. Next week when we come back, the divisional rounds won't be completed and we're going to be getting into the conference championships before we have a break from the in the pocket side of things before the Super bowl on February 9th. Next week we'll also have the national championship to give little recap too. So I'm expecting at least a 20 minute or segment next week as well. Just everyone knows because of reaction overall, just with all these games. But next week we're going to be talking to national championship winner and conference championships. Dude, that's going to be wild. [01:23:07] Speaker E: Yeah, it's. It's kind of crazy we're at this point in the year now. I mean it's. We've been watching it every week, so it's not a surprise that we're here. But it seems like time flies when you're having fun. I guess it's. [01:23:18] Speaker D: Yes, it is. [01:23:19] Speaker E: Like I said, this college season's been bananas and banana sandwich. Only looking forward to more next year and we're gonna have to slot in a little more time in the fall for, for college stock. [01:23:30] Speaker D: Yeah, 100% a little bit more. We're have to make the segment of in the pocket as much as top shelf is okay. And check Chucka Puck is getting that love too. [01:23:39] Speaker A: So they're in there saying, hey, we're here too. Okay, so we got to make room. [01:23:42] Speaker D: For all the segments that we do here on the game and we do it because we enjoy it and we appreciate, appreciate your feedback which can segue me into the of course the closing side again. Justin, thank you very much. Until next week, my friend. [01:23:55] Speaker E: Yeah, we'll. We'll see you here. Same bad time, same bad channel. [01:24:00] Speaker D: I love it. Love it. Game sports podcast. Follow us on Tick Tock, Instagram, Facebook, wherever you are. It's at the Game Sports Podcast also shout out to Spaces Spaces, which is presented through and and aired and and. [01:24:16] Speaker A: Shown through sue today. [01:24:17] Speaker D: And Village Media Space is very appreciative that they're now part of the Game Sports Podcast family and all that they're doing with that Spaces platform. It's expanded outside the sue now, so the Spaces is growing. Get on that train, especially if you're someone who's a content provider like myself, ourselves, Jeeves, ourselves here on the Game Sports Podcast. Also 91 Network like follow, subscribe on there. We've seen the subscribers go up there on 91 Network. Keep that coming. Keep the numbers going. We appreciate that. But either way, you can find us wherever you get your podcasts if you search the Game Sports Podcast. And we want you to interact. So don't hesitate to comment below or leave your feedback and don't hesitate to hit that share button. We want you to tell your friends. [01:24:57] Speaker A: Tell your mom, tell your dad, tell. [01:24:58] Speaker D: Your sister, tell your brother, tell your dog. We want you to listen to the Game Sports Podcast now. [01:25:03] Speaker A: Justin, again, thank you to you, thank you to Alex, thank you to Brennan. [01:25:06] Speaker D: And thank you to Jordan Trudeau for all of everything of this content this week. It's been fantastic as it is every week, not being biased. [01:25:14] Speaker A: And until next week, I'm here to remind you, keep your sticker on the. [01:25:17] Speaker D: Ice, swing your bats, catch touchdowns, drain your threes and shoot your shots. Booyah.