Troops Trio | Episode 15 - Hanging with Lairdo & Mikey at the Moose

The Troops Trio presented by Sports Illustrated Tickets & Happy Dad hard seltzers is back for episode 15 from the The Moose's with special guests Mike McIvor & Nolan Laird.

Hosted by Matt Sookram, Bob Coles and Ranjan Rupal, follow along as the trio delves into the week that was, the week ahead & the latest Troops news & updtaes.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:01

Hey battalion Asian. We have a live show all location.

SPEAKER_11 0:14

I don't know if that's enough trouble getting the point. Right. And that's that's it.

SPEAKER_03 0:39

Hey fans, it's episode 15. We are live on location at the Moose in downtown North Bay. And today's guests, we have Mike McKyver and Nolan Laird. Now, off to our hosts. We got Matt, Rajent, and Bob.

SPEAKER_06 0:55

Thank you, AJ. Troops Trio is also proudly sponsored by the City of North Bay, the Boat North Bay, the Clubhouse at Gateway Golf, the Fox and Fiddle, and the Moose Cookhouse, where we are live tonight. We thank our hosts for not only sponsoring the show, but for letting us take over the place for a little while. I'm joined as always by Bob and Renjin, and we want to thank the viewers as always for watching on the Battalion YouTube page. Make sure you hit that like and subscribe button and share this with everyone you know. And we're also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. We'll be joined a little bit later as well with not only our guests as AJ teed them up, but also with Battalion Head Coach Ryan Olahan, and we've got our Troops Trivia question later on. And we'll finish off with one minute to ceasefire. So let's jump into things, Bob. Rangin. It's been a while. How are you guys doing? Good.

SPEAKER_12 1:45

How are you? Can't complain. It's been like it seems like forever since we. Well, actually, we did a we did a show and then uh we had some technical malfunctions, so that was a good dry run, but here we are. Gerald has a lot of pressure on her today. Producer Gerald has enormous pressure to pull this off.

SPEAKER_06 2:01

Yeah, no, it's been good. Um Yeah, we haven't met since uh before the battalion went on that road trip. Um I think we last met before they were taking on Brantford, so yeah, it's been it's been a while, and the battalion are coming off a weekend where uh, you know, some some tough games. They got a big win over London, uh, but then they fell to Windsor, and then they fell in the last second of the game to the Niagara Ice Dogs. Just your guys' takes on uh on on the the weekend that was coming in.

SPEAKER_09 2:32

Well, the weekend uh just passed, of course, uh really a little snake bitten, I think, is the best way to describe. The team played fairly well. Um they were right in it against Windsor. Two good but it it just proved to me that on a younger team every shift is important. You don't know when that shift is gonna be the most important. And Thursday in Windsor, it was that I guess one shift late in the second period. Green tree scored a couple of quick goals, and the battalion got back into it, but they fell one goal short. Uh they looked great on Friday night in London. Um they played uh London with a very aggressive uh skating game and and uh and and and got the two points. And then really a heartbreaking loss, I'm sure at the watch party uh there was a lot of disappointment as as uh the battalion um fell late to the ice dogs, but again, a solid effort, and and it's just that last shift really cost them. But I think uh they played pretty well on the weekend and probably deserved more than than two points, but that's that's the way it went down.

SPEAKER_12 3:41

You know, those games against Windsor and London, and Kitchener is one of those teams as well where where the players really get up for those games in those big stadiums. And uh, you know, I think they did a good performance against Windsor and and obviously picked up two important points against London, uh, got it done an extra time. And I think there were there were points on the table against the Ice Dogs, and we're gonna see at the end of the season in the standings if the if those missed opportunity to at least get one point uh is gonna be looming large and the way the playoffs and home ice advantages break down.

SPEAKER_06 4:12

Yes, so Bobby had a chance to catch up with uh head coach Ryan Olihan specifically about the uh the weekend that was. So why don't we hear uh from head coach Ryan Olhan now on his comments? Producer Gerald, can we see and hear that clip now?

SPEAKER_09 4:27

Well, we're back with coffee with coach. It's been a while, uh five straight road games, a couple of weeks. Uh when they play Thursday, it'll be two weeks between home games for the fans. But let's talk about uh the the recent road trip. Um I thought it was a good road trip. It just you didn't get the results you wanted, right? I mean, solid game against Windsor, just losing uh by a goal, and then huge win on Friday in London, and then just uh a heartbreaking loss on Sunday, solid effort against Niagara. So how do you look at that when you you could have had more points, but you played well?

SPEAKER_00 5:06

Yeah, I I think first and foremost, you gotta make sure you're you're looking at how we're playing as a group compared to the week prior. We did like the consistency in which we played. Um, you know, playing a really good Windsor team on the road. They're one of the best teams on Home Ice. And I thought we really hung in there with them, and it even to the point where I thought we pushed them in the third period and almost tied that one up late. Um, and then the bounce back again, you know, no matter what, it's a tough building to play in and get a win in London. And the guys were able to again stick with it, and a little bit different scenario than the night before. We're able to get that last empty net goal, tie it up, and then uh you know have some good chances in overtime, and then ultimately the the shootout, which seems to be a good strength of ours, and and then feel for the guys on on Sunday. I mean, I've never seen it. Uh it's a first for me of losing in that fashion with literally 1.4 seconds to go on the clock. Uh, it was a little bit of a stun formation there. So we gotta regroup, you know. We uh when you go on the road for a couple weeks, it's really about getting your energy levels up. Uh a lot of guys are tired, including the coaching staffs. You know, we gotta we gotta find a way to energize ourselves here the next couple days, and I think we're looking forward to getting that back on home ice.

SPEAKER_09 6:33

That's tough when you lose that late in the game. You don't get a point out of it, and uh they at least deserved a point, I think, on Sunday. And then you got that five-hour bus ride. Uh that's a that's a tough, that's a tough pill to swallow, but but uh you know the there were some really good things, and and I think it was positive for the team uh because of what happened the previous weekend, losing the back-to-back games in the Sioux, disappointing losses, um the Greyhounds winning those going away, and they responded well with uh solid efforts in all three games. So I think uh you know they you don't want to focus on you know uh only getting two points. You also want to talk about how the team played three really good teams and they improved their play on the road trip. So uh and the good news is they only have one of those long road trips left this year. They got a lot of home games, so uh there's a lot to a lot of positives from the weekend.

SPEAKER_12 7:32

You know, there's two months left in the regular season. I I like how the players that John Wynne Stanley brought over at the trade deadline are contributing in big ways, Petrie and Gervais. And that's what I think we wanted on this team is some depth in the scoring department. Now we uh we have two months to get into playoff ready uh formation, and we're gonna have leaders like Procession and Laird leading the way they've been there, they've been through those playoff battles, and uh this team just has to coalesce and become a really hard team to play against, and then I think we're gonna have some some success in the playoffs. And that go ahead.

SPEAKER_09 8:07

I was just gonna agree with you on uh especially Petrae, Gervais, Barch. They you can see why they went out and got those guys. Um they've just given the team more depth, and especially against Western conference teams, too. You know, they've got the experience, and it really showed, I think, in the games against Windsor and London. Yeah, I agree with that.

SPEAKER_06 8:30

And uh the work starts now, though, as you said, two months to go until the playoffs. Now the fight for that home ice advantage really starts. You're five points behind the Peterborough Pete's, you do have a game in hand, but not only are you trying to chase a team, a team has just caught you in in that game against the Niagara Ice Hawks. Now that's why it was huge for them to get that extra point to win that shootout game against the London Knights to give themselves a little bit of breathing room between themselves and the Ice Dogs when the Ice Dogs grabbed it right back, and that's why each game now takes on that extra meaning.

SPEAKER_09 9:05

And don't go on, don't forget uh about Kingston either. You know, they're because they did just got two points on the weekend, Kingston, they didn't sort of pull away from Kingston. Um so they've got two games left against Kingston, two against Peterborough, two against Niagara, both at home. And so those games take on more added importance as the uh the teams jockey for positions because I think if you look down the road at the playoffs, Rengen, uh you know, the 3-6 matchup, you're gonna get Ottawa or Brantford. 2-7, you're getting Barry. So you really want to finish fourth or fifth, so you get that other team in the race uh in the first round, I would think. And uh so it's really important that they uh they they go for that home ice and uh and finish fifth or fourth and uh give them give themselves a you know, not a better matchup, but a d but a matchup they really deserve to get in that. Because you I don't know if you want to play uh Brantford or Barry in the first round.

SPEAKER_12 10:03

It gets tough, and you can't really predict your matchups or who they're gonna be. However, uh there's really only fourth fourth place is the max. I think you can't really expect to get much higher than fourth, and that's a home ice advantage in the first round, and I think that would be nice because this team made it to the first round last year. They lost a tough series against Brantford in the first round. But you get that home ice and you have a chance now to win a first round matchup, and then who knows what'll happen in the second round. Especially if the team, like I said, coalesces and starts playing as a five-man unit on the ice, committed to team defense, and you got uh goaltenders like uh McKyver and Listen and Nett, it doesn't matter who's back there in the playoffs, they both have shown consistency and you can build on that. Because playoff hockey's different, right? It's not run and gun, it's about grinding it, winning battles in the corner, and I think, like you said, those new guys, uh that they contribute in that way, and I can just imagine them in the playoffs, uh, especially with players with Memorial Cup experience. Uh, I think that will be a little bit infectious in terms of the way they practice and the way they play. I'm not too worried about you know a two and five record in their last seven games right now. However, I do believe that as we gear up for the next 60 days for playoff action, I think Ryan Vulana will have them ready.

SPEAKER_06 11:15

They also only have one Western Conference team to face in the regular season, and then after that, yeah, they they do have that lengthy road trip that starts February 16th in Brampton and goes right through to February 22nd against Ottawa, but that's a much easier pill to swallow than the one that they just did, you know, back to back in the Sioux, then Windsor, then London, then Niagara. That's a lot of kilometers. So the schedule eases up in terms of the opposition and in terms of the travel, and that should bode well for this team that uh I think, you know, go before the trip to the Sioux started, I really thought they were finding their legs. From January 4th to January 22nd, the battalion only lost one game. They went six and one in that stretch. And so I think if they can look at that and carry that into February, that's gonna go a long way to securing home ice advantage for them.

SPEAKER_09 12:06

It seems every year, you know, we we get more home games and road games down the stretch. I don't know if if that's what the battalion requests, or it just works out that way. And uh 20 games left and uh 12 at home, eight on the road, but after that uh week-long trip where they play Brampton, uh Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, all on the road, I think they have three home games in their last eleven. So it's it's really they can really take advantage of the home ice. So uh you know, take care of your business at home, maybe uh 500 on the road, and uh you're gonna be looking at uh fourth or fifth.

SPEAKER_12 12:46

Team is uh reasonably healthy right now, uh just a few bumps and bruises, and and I think it's it should come together. Uh and like you said, well you said one of us said one one one Western Conference team down the stretch, right? So it's all yeah, it's all four-point games from this point forward. And so uh meaningful games, and you have to win the games that you should be winning. And and I think that game that you're talking about, uh Brampton, those are the kind of games you need to be winning. First, you gotta put some games into the bank, pick up two points, not let the other team pick up a single point. You gotta win games in regulation uh if you want to make up ground.

SPEAKER_06 13:24

Yeah, it's a hectic schedule in February, like a lot of games jammed together, but it's a uh like I said, against teams that you want to be taking on, that you can use as a measuring stick, especially as you go in to this uh last stretch here of the season.

SPEAKER_09 13:38

And it also affects, you know, 20 games left. Um coaches start coaching a little bit differently, I think, in the last quarter of the year, where you know they're thinking everyone's thinking about those points, right? Everyone's thinking about those points and getting those points and and and so coaches say, okay, do I do I you know have guys on the bench more and shorten the bench a little in key parts of games? Do I do that more? How do I work my goalie rotation? Do I do I ride the hot hand? I mean, all those things um uh come into question because the points become the key. They're always important to get points, but I think when you get down to the last quarter of the year, points are everything. Yeah. Like as being part of the growth and process. But at this point now, I think points become more important as each game uh gets played.

SPEAKER_12 14:35

There's a lot of uh things that happen towards the end of a season, an OHL season. And it's audition time too for next year. It might be a bit early to say that, but players that want to come back as an OA player next year have to really start showing how they can contribute to this team during this really important next two months. So lots at stake for a lot of players on the roster, lots at stake for uh players who are this might be their final OHL season. And so they gotta find that messaging, find that inspiration in all of that, and uh really make a push to get around, win around in the playoffs, and and and hope for the best after that.

SPEAKER_06 15:10

Absolutely. Alright, we're gonna take a quick break. We want to thank our sponsors, Sports Illustrated Tickets, and Happy Dad Beverages, for bringing you this show, as well as our community sponsors, the City of North Bay, the Boat North Bay, the Clubhouse in Gateway Golf, the Fox and Fiddle, and the Moose Cookhouse, where we are live tonight. Head on to the Moose on Thursdays for their think and drink night. It's trivia, it's pints, it's a ton of fun at the Moots Cookhouse in downtown North Bay. And make sure you check out the battalion's social media channels to find out all the latest with Troops Trio. We've got Mike McKyver and Nolan Laird joining the show when we come back. This is Troops Trio, the official podcast of the North Bay Battalion. This is the Sports Illustrated Tickets Battalion defining moment of the week. From big plays on the ice to the fans and the stands who make every game special, sports illustrated tickets gets you closer to the moments that matter with seats to sports, concerts, and theater events around the globe. Visit SITickets.com or download the app today. Sports Illustrated Tickets, the official partner of the North Bay Battalion and the Truth Stream Podcast. Welcome back. We want to thank Sports Illustrated Tickets and Happy Dev Beverages for bringing you this show, as well as our community sponsors, the City of North Bay, the Boat North Bay, the Clubhouse at Gateway Golf, the Fox and Fiddle, and the Moose Cookhouse, where we are live tonight, and we are now joined by Battalion 4 Nolan Laird and goaltender Mike McClover. Guys, thanks so much for being here. Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_04 16:57

Yeah, welcome. Good to be back.

SPEAKER_06 16:59

Yeah, I was gonna say a couple of Troops Tree of alumni here. Uh great to have you guys back on the show. Gotta ask you uh first, Mike, how you feeling?

SPEAKER_04 17:07

Uh not bad. Uh you know, getting through uh, you know, it's uh sucks to be away from the team, but uh getting through it.

SPEAKER_05 17:16

And how are you feeling? Good? I'm feeling good, yeah. It was uh good uh we had a long road trip past two weekends, and it's good to be back in the mid.

SPEAKER_06 17:23

When those road trips come at this time of the year when you've already played some of these teams at home, you know it's going to be tough. Um what's it like for a veteran like yourself to try and keep the younger guys motivated when you're on those trips for so long, and it's just like tough team after tough team, wave after wave coming at you?

SPEAKER_05 17:46

Honestly, I think it was perfect timing. Uh it was right after the deadline, and road trips are the best way to be uh come together as a team. And to do it against uh big top ten CHL teams, it was, in my opinion, perfect timing to be able to go against those teams, uh test our game versus them. And I know a couple of them didn't go our way, but we thought uh we uh took the right uh foot forward.

SPEAKER_06 18:05

But is there anything sweeter than silencing Budweiser Garden with uh with a kidding?

SPEAKER_09 18:12

I gotta ask you uh about playing in London. Um it's so unlike any other arena in the league in terms of what they get, 9,000 into that building. It always seems packed, and people are I mean, there's a really good hockey hockey market in London, so I mean I know you get up for those games, but to have that many people, it's sort of like a mini NHL in there.

SPEAKER_05 18:38

Yeah, it's uh there it's crazy seeing that many people, but to be honest, like the rink is so big three thousand people at Mem Gardens is honestly like louder, especially in the playoffs. Like it's there's seeing all that many faces, yeah, it's pretty cool, but it's not anything louder than Mem Gardens, if I'm being completely honest.

SPEAKER_09 18:59

Wow, that's a nice thing.

SPEAKER_05 19:00

Mikey, what do you think?

SPEAKER_12 19:01

You played there.

SPEAKER_04 19:02

I I actually have not played there. I haven't had a start in London uh last year I was uh injured. So I wasn't able to uh I haven't played in London yet, no.

SPEAKER_12 19:11

I want to s ask, okay, so you say it's not a big deal, but you know that now after have a few uh repetitions through London and Windsor. That's a big crowd too, Kitchener. Uh what did the the first year players what what do you have to tell them what you know not to get freaked out when you step out of the tunnel?

SPEAKER_05 19:27

Um ours are pretty good. They're they all handle themselves very well. Um just you know, we usually get to the ranks the night before and everyone you can kind of get a look at the lay of the land, and there was some sort of university game going on at uh Budweiser the night before our game. So they're sending up for that and just seeing the jumbotron and everyone kinda got a lay of the land on that and they thought it was awesome and they just couldn't wait to get started.

SPEAKER_12 19:50

Alright, yeah, the young guys are pretty mature, right? You're you're talking about guys who are but they played in big moments, some of those kids, like Cam Warren has played at OHL Cup. So it's not really who's sitting in the stands, it's the intensity of what's going on on the ice and if you're ready for that.

SPEAKER_09 20:04

Uh just the the one of the things about hockey I find as a fan is you know, you work hard, you're looking for points, and then you have some of these tough moments, right? And then can you use what happened on the weekend? Not not specifically the Niagara game, but just the you guys played, you guys could have come home with six points with just a break here, a break there. I mean, you're right in it against Windsor, you won in London, you deserve more of the, you know, you deserved at least a point in in Niagara. So can you use that as motivation later in the year when a game gets tight uh and and you say, okay, we've learned from this, we know how to handle those those situations late in games or late in periods?

SPEAKER_05 20:49

Yeah, 100%. Uh in Windsor, uh I think it was 4-2, and then we kind of made a late push even in that game. Uh we didn't get the equalizer there, but even in the London game, came from behind once again, and then on Sunday, obviously it didn't really go our way with one second left. But I think just knowing that no matter our situation, going into a third period, if we uh bring our best game, we're gonna be able to battle with anyone in this league.

SPEAKER_09 21:10

And you guys are two veterans, so what uh anything you're gonna pass on to the younger guys uh you know, when you have these moments in games after you know, about so you learn from these experiences.

SPEAKER_04 21:23

Um yeah, like um you know, as an older guy, I think you know, I've been in a lot of games if I didn't seen different situations. So I think just I mean you never know what happens. Um, you know, my biggest thought about that was uh, you know, the playoffs uh two years ago. Uh I think we were down five one or four one versus Sudbury and uh you know we didn't get a single shot on net that second period and then ended up winning the that was game three, ended up winning in overtime. So I just think trust and process and uh you know Uh don't quit till uh the final buzzer.

SPEAKER_05 22:03

Even uh sorry, even add on that the next series versus Oshawa that same season, being down 3-0 and then coming back forcing a game seven, but obviously not getting it done. But just things like that is where you learn the most from.

SPEAKER_09 22:15

I was just gonna say if anyone knows about how things can change, it's uh it's Mike here. I mean, uh you know, you're you're backing up Dom and suddenly you're thrown into the fire and and you have that unbelievable playoff run that uh you know you got to game seven against Oshawa. So um and I think that's a lesson for the younger players too, right? Like your role can change overnight basically or shift to shift.

SPEAKER_04 22:41

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Um, you know, being being ready, especially come playoff time is is huge. And uh, you know, even you know, Romani went down on that series, and I'm sure someone else in the in the lineup got extra minutes and you know needed needed to fill that role. So yeah, just always being ready and uh you know you never know when your time's gonna be uh when it's gonna come about, so you have to be ready.

SPEAKER_12 23:07

A big road trip. Maybe you can tell us a bit about uh do you get practice time in depending on on how the road games are are allocated?

SPEAKER_05 23:16

Um not like sometimes. Uh say uh we went down the day early. Uh maybe the Thursday we would pre-game skate in that city. But uh mostly uh no, we wouldn't usually practice. Um I know we have a road trip coming up uh Peterborough to Kingston and Ottawa, and we have a day off on the Saturday. We had the exact same road trip a couple months ago, and we didn't practice on the Saturday, and then the Sunday game didn't really go our way, so I think we might switch it up and try and touch the ice there on Saturday, but uh not not too, not really.

SPEAKER_12 23:49

And in terms of prep, is uh is there still a video you study the videos and whatnot, even though you're on the road?

SPEAKER_05 23:55

Yep, yeah, we have a uh projector come in the room and we still go through our power play, penalty kill, 505, all that kind of stuff.

SPEAKER_12 24:01

Notice on the weekend pretty good on the PK. So uh you know, a perfect performance over the last three games. Uh as things are sort of coming along on the penalty killing side of things.

SPEAKER_05 24:10

Yeah, 100%. Uh we're kind of trusted in uh we have just like I said, the deadline passed, so there's new faces playing in those roles, and we're just all coming together now and it's starting to come.

SPEAKER_09 24:20

I can't believe how you guys must think this thing passes by playing junior hockey pretty fast, right? You're a you're a first-year guy, and now suddenly you know you're one of the veterans, you're one of the veterans, and you're imparting your wisdom, and it wasn't that long ago that you know you had the Ty Nelsons of the world uh uh imparting their wisdom to you. So uh does it seem that fast or or how how would you describe that that process?

SPEAKER_04 24:51

Yeah, uh for me it's definitely been that fast. Um you know, it f it feels like yesterday, you know, guys like Liam Arnsby and Dom and Paul Krasopoulos were here and you know we're making memories with that team, and you know, it's been a couple years now, but yeah, it's it's been a crazy ride for sure. It's gone by really fast, but you know, um don't know what the future holds. So, you know, we have a good team this year, so we're gonna, you know, make it as memorable as possible.

SPEAKER_09 25:22

I got a question too about Wyatt Kennedy comes. You played him last week. I uh we talked to him earlier, and he was indicating that there was some chirping going on between some of his old mates and his uh and the Spitz on uh last Thursday, but it'll be a totally different, of course, this week. Uh I'm sure the battalion will uh will welcome him and uh and then you get to go out and get a couple points. So, what was it like playing against Wyatt, um who's who was really one of the the top veterans here?

SPEAKER_05 25:54

Yeah, it was great. Um he was so good, uh me and Mikey, and he was just such a good team guy. That uh that trade really came out of nowhere last year at the deadline. It was a shock to a lot of us, and yeah, on uh Thursday it was so good to see him. A couple of us uh saw him warming up before the game. We had a good chat. It was our first time seeing him in almost a year, so it uh it was all uh fun before the game, but then as soon as the game started, uh he didn't hold back. There was still he was still doing his old cross checks, and yeah, it uh he wasn't letting back, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_09 26:22

He never gets any penalties. I checked the stats, right? Like he plays that kind of game that you just talked about, and he doesn't go to the box.

SPEAKER_12 26:30

I want to ask you some some we wouldn't have to worry about this too much about why Kennedy, but as a goalie, when you play against a former teammate, you do have a bit of a book on him and what he likes to do with the puck. I know why it's a big thing was shots from the blue line, but but maybe a forward, how do you approach that when you play against a player you played against before play as a teammate?

SPEAKER_04 26:50

For sure. Um definitely have a book on guys, you know, we're practicing every day, and you know, I think that um really important for me last year when we uh traded Rolms and Ovi and Wakes uh to Barry. And um like a funny story on that is we'll do like a shootout after uh every Wednesday uh practice, and you know, I've played with Rome for two years and uh we ended up going to shootout with Barry and when you know I want to say like 11 rounds or something like that, and then uh like I OV and I don't know if Wakes was playing that game, but I stopped O V and then you know I I did have a book on Rolms, um, but when I played versus him in that shootout, he completely changed it up. He didn't do his normal thing, and he was um ended up they didn't win that one, but uh he was the only guy that scored for them. So yeah, he it was mind games for sure with me and him that night.

SPEAKER_09 27:54

That's awesome. It's a great story, and uh it should be fun. I'm I'm sure the fans will welcome Wyatt um on Thursday night. But uh do you pick up anything from Windsor um going into this game? When you play a team like back to back so quickly, usually you tend it tends to be a couple of months against those Western teams, but it's been a week, right? Um anything you picked up in that game you think will uh don't want you to broadcast it, but um that may help you this week.

SPEAKER_05 28:26

Do you so should I say it or no?

SPEAKER_09 28:29

Generally, generally, generally not specifically to beep out the parts are watching the podcast on Thursday morning.

SPEAKER_05 28:39

Yeah, they're a super high skilled team. Uh they got a lot of high draft pick players, and I think if we just do our best job to shut those guys down and play our game, we'll have success.

SPEAKER_06 28:48

That's the right answer, for sure. Good, good answer.

SPEAKER_12 28:51

But when you when you pre-scout a team, and this probably has a uh more of a role in the playoffs when you're playing, say, Barry at home than you're playing him on the road, does the scouting change you know based on last change coaches last change and things like that? Is there any change in approach based on whether you're scouting a home game or a road game against the same team?

SPEAKER_05 29:09

Um to an extent. Uh I feel like we have a pretty deep team where it doesn't really matter uh kind of matchups, but to an extent there's definitely some matchups that you want to get on home ice or away ice, so but not not too deep into that.

SPEAKER_12 29:23

And speaking about matchups, it's not something that affects Mikey too much, but you probably have to be aware who the other team's putting on the ice for a face-off in your zone and and whether the the the matchup is favorable or not for your side.

SPEAKER_04 29:36

Yeah, absolutely. Um, you know, like examples as let's say we ice the puck and you know, uh maybe our guys are tired and they're throwing out their top line or whatever. So, you know, I'll try to think of a way to like, you know, if I can get a whistle, I will. Um but yeah, you know, I'm always always looking at uh, you know, handness of guys and you know who's on the ice for sure. And uh yeah, always I'm always aware.

SPEAKER_12 30:02

Yeah, if you want to get a whistle, make you know, freeze the puck or something like that.

SPEAKER_09 30:06

I'm always interested in don't give away any secrets, but I'm always interested in because some goalies they they don't want that whistle. They want to keep playing a corner, and then at certain times of the game they'll they'll freeze it either to give their guys a break or whatever. Um is that something you you work with um at all in terms of you know your mental approach to knowing when to keep the play going and when to freeze the part?

SPEAKER_04 30:35

Yeah, uh I think it's uh definitely uh situational. Um you know, if you had to ask me like on an average, like I I do, I would say I like to keep the play going, uh, you know, maybe catch a team on a change or whatever. Um but you know, let's say I'm you know pretty tired or we just kill the penalty, uh I'll definitely take the uh whistle when I can.

SPEAKER_06 30:59

Alright, but just before I let you go, Bob, you touched on uh how white canny does doesn't get any uh penalties. One of my favorite stats, and I had to bring this up because my son is here tonight, and every time we're in the car, he's reading the battalion communiques, and he always reminds me, Daddy, do you know who has the most game-winning goals on the team? This guy right here. Or Mr. The advice from the eight-year-old is he should just shoot when they need to win the game. Keep it simple. Keep it simple, exactly.

SPEAKER_09 31:35

Why isn't he on the show instead of gonna? I don't know. Yeah, because we haven't heard that stand all year.

SPEAKER_06 31:40

I know, it's against that, isn't it? Mike Nolan, thank you so much for joining us. An absolute pleasure to have you guys here. Good luck this weekend. We're going to take a quick break, and when we come back, we've got the troops, trio, trivia, question, and AJ will join us as well. This is Troops Trio, the official podcast of the North Bay Battalion.

SPEAKER_11 32:35

It is critical that our athletes are as prepared to succeed in the classroom as they are on the ice. Academic advisors coordinate scheduling, monitor success, and provide academic support where required. Additionally, all OHL players are provided access to paper, a web-based 24-7 tutoring platform where our players can access tutoring support for any class from anywhere. Education is at the core of the Ontario Hockey League value, and each player has access to world-class resources that ensure that they are prepared to succeed academically.

SPEAKER_01 33:12

Wow, I can't believe we're in here. Does Justin know you're doing this?

SPEAKER_06 33:18

Look at this beauty. He inducted himself. You can do that? Or you can't do that?

SPEAKER_01 33:34

I'm sorry, but I don't speak French, but that's not the reason I cheer for the lead.

SPEAKER_07 33:47

My OHL is a place to talk. So talk today has a number of elements. First and foremost, we support the players. We provide mental health and awareness training and suicide prevention training to them. And we have a coach that's in every one of our branches that supports an OHL team. And in years to come, these individuals that are playing in the OHL now will be great mental health champions.

SPEAKER_06 34:10

We want to thank Sports Illustrated Tickets and Happy Dead Beverages for bringing you this show as well as our community sponsors, the City of North Bay, the Boat North Bay, the Clubhouse at Gateway Golf, the Fox and Fiddle, and the Moose Cookhouse, where we are live tonight. Head to the Moose on Thursdays for their think and drink night. It's trivia, it's pints, it's a ton of fun. It's at the Moose Cookhouse in downtown North Bay. And make sure you tune in to the Battalion social media channels to find out all the latest with Troops Trio. And don't forget, you can send your comments and questions to our email at Troopstrio at battalionhockey.com. Here is this week's trivia question. Which North Bay Battalion scored the game-winning goal back in 2014 to send the troops to the OHL Finals? Put your answer in the comments section using the hashtag Troopstrio Trivia for your chance to win this week's prize. Again, what North Bay Battalion scored the game-winning goal back in 2014 to send the troops to the OHL Finals. Probably Nolan Laird. If this was 2024, maybe, but 2014? Bob knows.

SPEAKER_09 35:24

Yeah, I know.

SPEAKER_06 35:25

One of your son knows. He probably knows.

SPEAKER_03 35:28

No, he was uh first initial J, I think, eh?

SPEAKER_06 35:31

Oh, everyone, AJ's here, by the way.

SPEAKER_12 35:33

AJ. Hey, AJ.

SPEAKER_03 35:35

Hey guys, how are you? I missed you the last couple weeks.

SPEAKER_12 35:38

We stomped all of our. I'd like to say I missed you, but that's not very nice, Bob.

SPEAKER_03 35:44

Sorry. What did you guys do? What were you guys up to?

SPEAKER_09 35:48

I was watching the battalion play. Uh actually, is what I did. Hey, so they were busy watching their games and and lots of hockey, but uh anxiously waiting. My wife, so I'm glad I'm out of, she's glad I'm out of the house.

SPEAKER_03 36:02

Well, I the because of the Olympics, there's a lot of hockey on right now, eh? Like every night the Leech. The Oilers have been playing, that's my team. The Oilers have been playing um every other night. So and then the Raptors, the la the last couple weeks has been amazing for sports now.

SPEAKER_06 36:19

We were uh we we were down at the Raptors game on Sunday. Took him to see the uh Raptors in the Utah Jazz game. I asked him what his favorite part was. He goes, the fire coming out of the net at the beginning. I'm like, yeah. Yes. They do an awesome pregame uh the Raptors, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:34

Their pregame show is uh is pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_06 36:36

So what happens if fire comes out of the hoops? Fire comes out of the net, fireworks go off, the uh the LED show on the on the floor is the game.

SPEAKER_03 36:45

Like the parking thing.

SPEAKER_12 36:48

Yeah, yeah, it's awesome. So maybe you know Adam Dennis can get some pyro going for the if Steve Batonti had his way, there'd be pyro uh way more often at the battalion.

SPEAKER_03 36:59

Well, you know what we did get? I don't know if you guys noticed it uh on the on the interview earlier with uh Uli and uh Bob. We got new lights in the ring. Fort Long Year Memorial Gardens. Did you you know what? And it's good when you walk in there, it is gonna be noticeable. In a good way, though. Like it it I always said that we had it, we had such a yellow tinge, but nobody really like you sort of don't notice it.

SPEAKER_06 37:22

You notice it if you're taking a picture of TV, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:25

And if you took a picture, you're always kind of like, why does that look so weird? And now that the uh it's it is pure white in the air.

SPEAKER_06 37:32

When did they get installed?

SPEAKER_03 37:34

Uh like what say that again?

SPEAKER_06 37:36

When did they finish getting installed?

SPEAKER_03 37:39

Uh so it would have been I did uh I think they started last Monday, and then I did a game on Saturday there for uh for the Lakers or the Junior Lakers, and it was weird because they only they still were missing some lights, so it was like white, white, white, and then it looks like a you know what a dog does in the snow. That's what it looked like. I I can that's the only thing I can say, you know, like to actually explain it to you, and that's what it looked like. Okay, then when I went on Sunday, it they're they're completed.

SPEAKER_06 38:08

Okay, yeah, because uh my son actually had a practice on Sunday at the gardens, and uh as they finished um you know uh flushing the ice, I was like, why does it look so much brighter in here? Yes, and it's it's like, oh, it's Sunday morning, it's just a bright, beautiful day.

SPEAKER_09 38:26

Well, the team got back from the road trip around 11 o'clock, and the coaches walked in, and I guess there was a recly game or something going on there, and they couldn't believe it. Like they couldn't believe it.

SPEAKER_06 38:37

So it's uh even the recley gets the good lights. Yeah, you know what it is.

SPEAKER_09 38:40

So the ice, uh the lights were were very bright as they as they uh got back from the road trip.

SPEAKER_03 38:47

Well, being in the ring now, because I've been there since the beginning, so that's 13, 14 years now, and you it's just the way it is, right? And so when I walked in too on Saturday, just for the half done, I was kind of like, whoa, and then and then you because then you're not too sure really how it's gonna be like, but once you once you start seeing the uniforms and everything is crisp, like just looking out there. So I think the fans are uh are really gonna enjoy it, and uh it's gonna look good on Coachico. It's gonna good look our photographers, everybody is gonna like it. I know Gerald, producer Gerald, is all pumped because uh they don't have to they don't have to fool around with the white balance every two seconds now.

SPEAKER_12 39:21

So no, you're right. And actually in the NHL, even there are some rings that are really bright. I think the Toronto has a really bright rink, perfect for TV, but then you go to San Jose 1030 game at the SAP Center. It's just yeah, it's dark. She's shadows and all that kind of stuff. Like you're watching it on a VCR. You're right about that. And of course, Bob, back in the day when you're watching uh uh Dit Clapper and guys like that.

SPEAKER_08 39:46

I'm not that old.

SPEAKER_03 39:48

You had a beta machine though, right? Or was it VCR? VHS.

SPEAKER_09 39:52

I went through beta. I went through both. I went through beta. And then I went, and then I couldn't believe they went to uh VHS.

SPEAKER_03 40:00

He's actually was real to real guy.

SPEAKER_09 40:04

I got a beta machine, and then I got a machine and did both and did beta.

SPEAKER_03 40:09

And that would have been VHS too much salary back then.

SPEAKER_09 40:12

Those are the door where the VHS was gonna last. Yeah. So you got those machines which had both, and then you got rid of, and then you bought your total VHS.

SPEAKER_03 40:22

And then the VHS won the won the battle, eh? With the beta.

SPEAKER_12 40:25

I'm gonna go on a limb here. Isn't it wouldn't people always say that beta was better technology? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:30

I remember my grandfather, and it was like super expensive, like crazy expensive. And uh, and then it was obsolete. It went from like you know lasted for two years.

SPEAKER_12 40:42

You remember laser discs? Yeah, yeah, the big the big thing that I don't know what it was, glass or something like that. I didn't know what those were. But that was that was supposed to be the ultimate.

SPEAKER_09 40:49

They were after VHS, the laser discs. Yeah, yeah. And they didn't last either.

SPEAKER_12 40:54

No, no, no, but it was something. Now that we've lost our complete hunger segment. Yeah, what are those old guys?

SPEAKER_06 41:04

Get off of it. All right, what do you got for us, AJ?

SPEAKER_03 41:07

Uh what do I got for you?

SPEAKER_06 41:08

Well, I just start from the lighting. That's it. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 41:12

It's just lighting. Um, you know, good news, we are back at Axon this Thursday. Windsor Smith fires. It's uh CMHA uh talk today uh night. Um so uh that's always a good cause. And then uh we're on the road for a home and home against Barry uh Saturday, and then we're uh back at the Gardens on Sunday um for Red Path Mining Day. It's also uh McDonald's Battalion Kids Club. So if uh kids haven't uh registered yet, they can do so um in the North Concourse. Um and then you know what other things that uh we got going on? Troops very busy in the community uh this week. You know, you know what? It's it's uh it's like it's when it rains, it snows kind of like they're just kind of like out, out, out, out. Um and uh tomorrow they're gonna be uh so Wednesday when this airs, they will be at the food bank uh sorting, helping sorting the shelves. Um and then Wednesday night they're gonna head to Out Loud for a meet and greet, 5 to 6. They're gonna be playing some EA hockey um with the kids.

SPEAKER_06 42:05

And then I think they just call it Chell.

SPEAKER_03 42:07

What's that?

SPEAKER_06 42:08

They just call it Chell.

SPEAKER_03 42:09

Oh, really?

SPEAKER_06 42:10

That's all Lairdo! You play Chell? Yeah, see?

SPEAKER_03 42:15

Alright, well, what are we talking about? You're in with the young ones, I'm not.

SPEAKER_12 42:18

What are we talking about now?

SPEAKER_03 42:19

Hockey, you know, like EA sports, hockey, you know? On the PlayStation. Come on. I got an Xbox. So and then uh, yeah, and then the last thing to talk about is we're raising some money. We got a hockey fights cancer night coming up on February the 26th. Um, to donate to our team page, you go to battalionhockey.com. If you go to the fanzone tabs, you go, you'll see where it uh hockey fights cancer. And this year we're trying to raise $10,000. So uh if somebody's uh got a few extra bucks, we'd be uh happy to take your donation.

SPEAKER_06 42:50

That's open now.

SPEAKER_03 42:51

Uh yes, I went on the website today, so you can uh you can go on there and it is live.

SPEAKER_12 42:56

Pink jerseys?

SPEAKER_03 42:57

I'm not I'm not sure. There is some. I know that there is uh hockey fights cancer uh stuff coming up. I was just looking over at Steve, but he didn't see me. Um we got sh we have jerseys for hockey fights cancer this year? No, there's the answer. No, so good cause.

SPEAKER_09 43:13

The uh just the amount of times the players go out in the community, and it's so encouraging for these for these organizations to welcome the players, whether it's at schools, food bank, whatever the case may be. And the players just do a great job and and the kids love it. Uh they're in Matowa, I think, at an event last week. And um, you know, don't forget these young young men just they represent the city so well, they represent the hockey team so well.

SPEAKER_03 43:44

And you're right, they're very busy, you know. Like people don't realize they practice pretty much I think seven days a week they're not playing, right? So they don't practice Mondays, but every other time they're on the ice, and then they've got community events, plus they got their old they got school, social life. So these these These guys are really, really busy, and I think busy's good though. Keep them busy. And you know what? If anybody does have an event and you want to get the players involved, all they gotta do is contact Haley or Tepi at uh infobitalionhockey.com, and she can uh hook up uh meet and greets and all kinds of different events for uh in the community.

SPEAKER_06 44:18

Love it. Alright, that's good. You're good. Awesome. All right, thank you so much, AJ. We're gonna take a quick break, and when we come back, we'll hear more from Coach Ryan Olahan. We'll get his thoughts on the weekend coming up, and we'll finish everything up with one minute to ceasefire. This is Troops Trio, the official podcast of the North Bay Battalion.

SPEAKER_13 44:39

Why are you gonna replace the North Play the Giants? Why are you playing the winter now? Um Why are the game coming up on the third day, but much like the winter since you're trying to play at the end of the last season?

SPEAKER_10 44:57

Um Yeah, no, it's been great. Uh it was a big change uh when the time came, but uh they they were really welcoming and uh um knew a couple guys coming in here, so it was a pretty easy transition and and it's it's been good, yeah. Yeah, no, I mean uh every game uh this time of year really, really matters. Um and you know, I think it's just uh over the years figuring out uh what what it's gonna take to get us all the way, and and you know, we got a lot of really good pieces and and and a team that's built uh to go a long way. So it's it's really exciting. Yeah, I mean it's it's a long road trip, tough one, you know, three games in four days, but I think it's just sticking to what we've been doing. Um nothing should change too much. I mean, uh it can be tiring being on the road and away from home that long, but um, we've done it a couple times now and we have a pretty mature group. Um I think we know uh just to keep it simple and um reserve our energy for those uh those long road trips. Yeah, it was it was really nice to see the guys. It was a pretty pretty kind of surreal moment, you know. I hadn't seen them in in a long time or played against them, so it it was cool to compete against them and uh nice to see some familiar faces on the other side. But yeah, it was it was a great game. Um good battle right to the end. Yeah, a little bit. I mean, once once the game gets going, you know, it you kind of just drown it out, but uh in between whistles there was a little bit of a little bit of chirping back and forth, so that that was pretty fun.

SPEAKER_14 46:57

Um I'm sure the crowd's gonna give you a great hand on uh on Thursday night, but uh if you're looking forward to Vactor Hunts.

SPEAKER_10 47:07

Yeah, yeah, it'll be it'll be really exciting. Um played a lot a lot in that building, and uh, I know there'll be uh lots of energy in there, but it it'll be exciting uh just to be back there and uh to take it all in. Um probably for the last time. So uh and just to see some uh some friends and and family from there, you know, it'll be really exciting to see my billets as well. Um but yeah, super excited.

SPEAKER_14 47:32

So what's it gonna take for you guys to get to?

SPEAKER_10 47:34

Yeah, I mean I I think uh we saw what type of team they were last Thursday, and and I think it's just a matter of sticking to our game plan and understanding what what they're gonna throw at us. Um and just uh like I said, playing simple. We know it's a long road trip and um you know, first time in that uh playing in that rink for a couple of the younger guys. So um I think it's it's just uh just all part of it, and I think the younger guys or the older guys, sorry, uh can be there to just uh kind of get the younger guys comfortable with it, and uh yeah, should be a good one. Um yeah, no, I I mean I think they like I said, they they really welcomed me very well and um allowed me to continue playing my game within their system, um also while uh expanding on other parts of my game. Um but yeah, no, it's it's been great. They um yeah, they just they've really been supportive and and helped me to continue grow as a hockey player.

SPEAKER_14 49:02

And uh welcome Thursday night.

SPEAKER_10 49:04

Thanks, really appreciate it. Looking forward to it as well.

SPEAKER_06 49:07

All right, we want to thank Wyatt Kennedy for uh joining Bob Coles for that interview. Great to catch up with a former uh former North Bay Battalion.

SPEAKER_09 49:16

And you know, I had to double check on that that he hadn't played uh in North Bay since being dealt, but Windsor hasn't been here since about almost a year and a half, so it'll be uh be an interesting scene for Wyatt this week.

SPEAKER_12 49:29

It's one of those things why you you trade your players, the players that you love, and into the other conference so you don't have to face them and and you don't give them a chance to run up the score on you. Not that Wyatt Kennedy's gonna run up the score on anybody, but uh I think uh we get a chance to see what he can do. And he he's showed a few times that he can uh drop a bomb from the blue line and got a big hard heavy shot, so we'll see what uh Wyatt can come up with. But a good kid, well liked by his teammates and the fans here.

SPEAKER_06 49:55

And he will be coming into town on Thursday with the rest of the Windsor Spitfires to Bore Long Year Memorial Garden. That will be followed by a home and home on Saturday and Sunday against the Barry Colts. And Bob, you had a chance to catch up with uh head coach Ryan Holand to get your to get his thoughts on uh on these upcoming games.

SPEAKER_09 50:15

Yeah, the the deal is tough road trip on the weekend against three good teams, and well, it doesn't get any easier. You got Windsor fighting for the best record in the West, you got a home and home with Barry. Um always and Barry's having a great year leading the Central, gonna be the number two seed at worst when the playoffs start. So another tough week. Let's hear what coach had to say, producer Gerald. Let's talk about the lighting behind you. The team's practicing right now in preparation for Thursday's game. Um brighter out there right now.

SPEAKER_00 50:47

Yeah, we came back on Sunday. Uh we probably got back here at about 11 o'clock, and I noticed that there was a game going on. Uh so I took a peek to see what the the new lighting was like, and I was shocked to see what the difference is back here. So uh pretty cool. I mean, um it's bright, energizes everybody. See what the fans will think about it on Thursday, but it's sure gonna be bright in here.

SPEAKER_09 51:12

Let's talk about Thursday, Wyatt Kennedy's first game back, uh former battalion defenseman. I'm sure he'll want to put on a good show. Um back to back, really uh week to week against Windsor, and then the home and home with Barry. So Saturday night in Barry, Sunday afternoon here. So it doesn't get any easier.

SPEAKER_00 51:30

No, it doesn't. It's another tough week of games here coming at us. Uh some really good opponents. I think it does help. Uh, we've seen this a little bit, especially with Erie. Uh, that's one situation I can think of where when you play a Western Conference team, it's kind of nice to play them in back-to-back weeks because we're familiar, we're fresh. Uh there's there's different things that you put so much into the pre-scout that you know it can kind of carry over into two games, and you know, that's with face-offs and special teams and things like that. So we should be well prepared for Thursday. Um, again, like you said, Wyatt's coming back in here. We got a chance to see him after the game. He looks great, he's doing well. Uh, hopefully, it's uh not as well for him this Thursday in terms of the team. And and then, yeah, it's a home and home against Barry. Uh divisional game, divisional opponent, team that's leading our division. And uh the back to back there, it's again a little mini playoff situation. So uh looking forward to get after it. Uh like I said, resting up here, using this Tuesday-Wednesday to go a little bit lighter on the guys to make sure we're rested and got all our energy levels ready for Thursday.

SPEAKER_09 52:40

Well, it should be an interesting week for sure, as uh uh you know, especially the home and home with Barry. We talked about the Windsor game and uh familiar friends um meeting each other, but you know, the the home and home against Barry. I don't know if I know it's not a rivalry week. We've had the rivalry week, right? But it seems like a rivalry week, especially against Barry on the weekend, Saturday night, not much of a break. Sunday afternoon, two o'clock at the Gardens. So um uh I think that'll be a fun weekend for the battalion. And maybe some of the fans will go to Barry for Saturday's game, and then I know there will be some Barry fans in the building on Sunday afternoon.

SPEAKER_12 53:21

This is a really tough weekend. Uh both teams have been in the CHL top ten. Uh Windsor disappeared from the top ten. Their last appearance was, I think, the the second week of January, and then they sort of vanished. They had a few losses. But they're right there, right? They're probably number 11 or something like that. Barry's number nine, so this is a tough three games for North Bay. Barry's still playing for a lot. They've got a lot they want to accomplish. They would like to reel in Ottawa if they can and take over top spot in the conference. And we're fighting for position in the middle of the pack, hoping to try to reel in Peterborough, who's now five points ahead of North Bay. Um, but I really like Ryan's hat. We can tell. You just right you just reach for the nearest one, and we thank Happy Dad for uh in the quartermaster shop, the the the battalion gift shop, because that was a that was the best battalion hat I've seen in 12 years.

SPEAKER_09 54:14

Wow.

SPEAKER_12 54:15

I hear those are exclusive hats, though.

SPEAKER_06 54:18

Team issue? Probably. Okay, well, I know. But we'll get them next year. You know a guy who knows a guy. I do know a guy who knows a guy. You're gonna be the coach of the team to get that. Not the TV voice.

SPEAKER_12 54:29

Rewind this podcast and check out the hat, you'll know what I'm talking about.

SPEAKER_06 54:32

Well, we're actually gonna hear from Ryan one more time, actually. Because Bob, uh you also touched on um the back half of this season and and how they're approaching the back half of the season now.

SPEAKER_09 54:43

Yeah, I think we can have a start to have those conversations and debates uh where teams are and where they're going and and uh what the final quarter of the year is gonna look like, especially for the battalion. So let's hear coach on that. Watch the hat. Every game's important, but as you get as you get into the final quarter of the season after this week, you'll have one quarter left, so 17 games to go. So does that affect sort of your your lines and your lineup decisions, uh how much ice time guys get, who to play in goal on a on a busy weekend? How when does that start become more important as you head down the stretch here?

SPEAKER_00 55:21

I I think we're you know, the second half of this season, you you really want to put as many wins together as possible. Um and not saying that you're always not trying to win the games, but you know, in terms of do you need to shorten the bench, do we need to do certain things? That all comes into play depending on your schedule and if you're playing back to back and what your energy levels are like. Um but I will say, you know, in terms of how things are so important right this time, so there's always a time in the year where when you go on the OHL website and you click standings and it goes to the divisions, well, then there's a certain date where you click standings and now it just goes to conference. And that just happened this past week. So it's every point's crucial. You see how tight things are in our conference in that mid-pack. I mean, we want to climb, uh we want to try to get as high as possible in that situation, and we've got to start stacking some weekends together.

SPEAKER_09 56:17

Well, that's interesting to hear about that because I noticed that too, and I thought it was just me, but apparently that's done with a with a particular intention in mind from the league, right?

SPEAKER_00 56:27

You know what? I'm what am I here? So um, 15 years, 16 years as a as a coach in the league, plus another three as uh as a player. Every year it's been the same. You click it, I think it must be February 1st, but you click and it goes right to conference. That means the playoffs are right around the corner.

SPEAKER_09 56:49

Okay, thanks, coach. Have a great week and uh and uh enjoy the hockey.

SPEAKER_08 56:54

Okay, thanks, Bob.

SPEAKER_09 56:55

Head coach of the battalion, Ryan Olahan. Yeah, I uh I it's a funny story about what he just said because I was doing the same thing. So, you know, whenever there's games in the OHL, I check the standings, right? And up until last week it was division, and then I'd say, well, uh, I get irritable and say, Oh, I gotta now click the conference. And then one day, they must have heard me because the conference came up first. But they do that intentionally because those those conference races become really important in the last quarter of the year.

SPEAKER_06 57:25

Well, and like you pointed out, Range, the the Barry Colts are only five points back of being the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Bulldogs have 75. Ottawa has more than them, but because of the way the the conference standings are with the two division uh um leaders taking the top two spots, Ottawa has 73 points, but yeah, Barry is right there.

SPEAKER_12 57:46

Yeah, and they have an opportunity being in a division, you know, with a lot of divisional games against the Sudbury's and the the Bramptons where they can make up ground, and I'm sure they're looking at North Bay as a team that that they can uh chew through and make into turn into cannon fodder, but uh I'd like to think that our team gets up for those Barry games and uh we'll want to take some points away from them and maybe throw a wrench into their plans of of taking over the conference.

SPEAKER_09 58:11

I think it's our biggest rival, Barry, not Sudbury. I know that's sacrilege, but uh but uh it's the biggest rival because of the fact that uh it doesn't matter what the teams are doing um or who's having the better year when they play each other, uh you know, both teams expect to win, and so you usually get some great entertaining games, and uh I think we'll have a couple this weekend.

SPEAKER_12 58:36

I'm actually caught off guard by how well Barry has done this year. I I really thought last year was their year, and then they lose Wakely and and Romanio events diesel. I thought they're gonna have a reset year, but they've come back really strong. And and of course Ottawa, you were talking about them earlier, they they're just right out of left field. Just great goaltending, league leading goaltending and defensive structure. Um and just goes to show you that sometimes teams do defy uh where they're supposed to be. And you're seemingly supposed to be a reboot, but no, they went to the they went and acquired players from the States and they uh did some good drafting, good goaltending, of course, in both those organizations, and so now they're at the top of the top of the conference.

SPEAKER_09 59:16

Yeah, Barry's had outstanding goaltending all year. I mean Rebecca and uh Jazzwall as well. So uh and I'm sure they'll get both of them this weekend. And of course they have two world junior players, three world junior players hemming from Finland, uh Baudouin, uh HSN. So they're but they're deep and they're a veteran team. So um so Barry, uh not a lot of people are talking about Barry around the league, right? It's it's always it's been Ottawa and Brantford, but Barry's right there.

SPEAKER_12 59:44

It's about you know they always say that your best guys have be gotta be your best guys. So for North Bay, you're looking at procession going head to head against Baudouin. Uh you're looking at uh guys like Lairdow, uh goaltending. Uh Bronson Ride's got to step on be a big man in that in that series. Our best guys have got to be our best guys against Barry in a back-to-back.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:04

They've played them tight this year, though. Uh North Bay are 2-1 against Barry. They beat Barry, they actually swept, as you alluded to, rivalry weekend. The battalion swept that back in October, though. Uh they beat Barry 4-3 on October 18th in Barry. They beat North uh they beat Barry 3-2 in a shootout in North Bay. And then their last meeting on December 28th was a 3-1 finish with the Barry Colts taking that one, but I believe it was 2-1 with an MT net goal. So really tight games already uh this season between these two teams, and I don't expect that to really change going into this weekend.

SPEAKER_12 1:00:42

Barry has fortified a little bit. They picked up Ben Wilmot from London. A really good addition for the Colts. It's about how teams match up. And you know, you you can uh you can just be a team that's a thorn to play against, and and if North Bay plays the way they can, and I think uh Laird talked about that. Uh they play their style, and they're not gonna be a very fun team to play against when you have the physicality of of guys up and down the roster, and especially uh Enright on the back end uh exerting his will on players and uh reversing their direction behind the net with big hits. Kuna Pasky even. You know, this is a time of year where a young kid like Kunapaski can step up and really uh send a message about what kind of player he's gonna be on this team, and and I've seen that from him throughout the throughout the whole season.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:29

Absolutely. Yeah, it should be a good uh matchup this weekend after they uh take on the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday. Alright, before we go, it's time to play One Minute to Ceasefire. Producer Gerald, let's get those topics on the board. There they are. Five topics, one minute for each topic. Is AJ here? Are you just gonna give us a big Yes, please? Thank you. All right, we got a timer going? Okay, here we go. Topic number one. This has been the most grueling 10-game stretch of the season for North Bay, and in their first seven games, they're two and five in those games. Have the battalion underachieved?

SPEAKER_09 1:02:10

No, I don't think they've underachieved. I don't think they've overachieved either. They're probably doing uh as expected. You would have loved the split in the zoo. Um and they just I I think they had a couple of tough breaks in Windsor and and Niagara, but uh I you know uh that could change depending on how they do this week. But uh yeah, I I think they're do they probably they're probably where they're they've had to play some of the tougher teams in the league and uh and uh you know they haven't gotten the points they need, but they are where they are.

SPEAKER_12 1:02:43

I think that it is a bit of an underachievement. I think it's just some bad breaks. Uh those late goals were a killer. You can kind of see it in the in the body language of Ryan Ulihan in that interview. He felt like the the players deserved a better fate. But they're two and five so far in seven games. Well I in the you know the previous show we thought they I thought they needed to go six and four in this stretch. But it reminds me of the Blue Jays when they weren't the top team in the in the East and they would have ten games, they would have three against New York, and three against Boston, and then four against the Orioles, and it would be like murderers row. It's a tough stretch to get through.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:16

With eight goals in his last ten games, is Liram Amandowski becoming the team's biggest offensive threat.

SPEAKER_09 1:03:23

I would say yes. I mean they asked him the the other day they asked him the other day about why is he scoring more uh compared to last year, and he said, I'm shooting the puck more. He's got a great shot. And I think he has to utilize that that ability. He's got a great shot, and uh just keep shooting and uh the puck's gonna go in the net because when you know he gets he hits some really powerful shots.

SPEAKER_12 1:03:53

Uh he's drafted by Minnesota Wild, and their director of uh of uh scouting calls him a heat-seeking missile. So the th the only thing you need to know about Liram Amadowski is the toughest stretch of the season, and he's the hottest scorer on the team. And so he's a playoff performer. Right? He delivers when the going gets tough. Amadowski gets going and uh eight goals in ten games or something like that when the team needs that offense most. That says that tells you what kind of player he is.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:20

Yeah, he's got the team leading goals going into this weekend with 18. Switching gears, the Olympics are coming up. We uh all obviously will be glued to the hockey tournament portion of the Winter Games, but what is everyone's second favorite sport to watch?

SPEAKER_09 1:04:36

For me, it's speed skating. And I don't I like I like the speed skating. Whether it's long or the short form, the races, it's like NASCAR on skates. It's crazy. You don't know what's gonna happen, everyone falls down, it's bizarre. And uh you know, and I love the timing races too, so uh speed skating.

SPEAKER_12 1:04:58

I like how the Olympics introduces the uh those experimental sports, is that what they're called? Or the uh test sports or whatever demonstration sports. Demonstration sports. And so the the I think the ice fishing is gonna be great. And I and I think I think Canada can do really well in that.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:12

All right, I am gonna be interested to watch the bobsled this year because Jamaica is back in the Olympics. So cool running too is coming up, right? And they uh are competing in the four man, um, and they got a couple other teams in different bobsleigh events, so that's what I will be watching for is uh if Canada can't win it, I want Jamaica to take home the gold in the bobsled. All right. Topic four, Wyatt Kennedy returning to Memorial Gardens for the first time as a member of the Windsor Spitfires. Will Battalion fans treat Kennedy the way Lease fans treated Mitch Marner when he returned to the ACC with the Golden Knights?

SPEAKER_09 1:05:52

Not a chance. Not a chance. People like Wyatt Kennedy's game, very understated game, very fit.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:00

And people just generally like Wyatt Kennedy. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:04

You know, and uh so yeah. And the team traded him. He didn't ask to be traded or anything. So yeah, he'll be welcome with open arms on Thursday night.

SPEAKER_12 1:06:12

I used to think that it was you know, if you loved a player that you couldn't possibly boo him. But then I watched the Montreal Canadians and and and they trade a player away and he comes back and they boo him, even though they they loved him. They boo Philip Denot because he played for Los Angeles. I think we should boo him with you know with with like just because he would love that. He would he would just look up at the fans and he would laugh knowing who he is. But we should uh uh they booed Mitch Marner at at to in Toronto. I think we should boo Wyatt Kennedy with all due respect.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:44

This is coming from a guy who wanted a player suspended for 15 minutes. That's right.

SPEAKER_12 1:06:49

He fought with a fan. That was interesting. He shouldn't be playing this weekend.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:57

And speaking of trades, Sandis Bill Manis sniped a beauty of a goal for the Florida Panthers the other day. I think uh producer Gerald has it. Um he's got two goals and four points in his first 12 NHL games. Was Sandis the best trade deadline acquisition in battalion history?

SPEAKER_09 1:07:16

I would say yes, because that trade got the LeBron brothers as well. And the battalion sent a bunch of draft picks to uh Sarnia. Uh there were other key players, I mean Kużawinski, uh Ben Thompson, although that wasn't a deadline trade. Kyle McDonald was another one I've I recall, but yeah, that was uh that was uh probably the biggest and he and he was an unbelievable goal scorer in the playoffs that uh that year, so yeah, I would agree.

SPEAKER_12 1:07:43

I I think it is. When we acquire players from the Western Conference, uh unless you're you're John Wynne Stanley or Adam Dennison you're actually watching these players a lot, the the casual fan doesn't get to see the Western Conference players that much, and so when Vilmanis comes over, he comes over from Sarnia, yeah, he had some decent numbers over there, but he was electrifying. And I'm pretty you were asking about uh the Winter Olympics. He's gonna be playing for Latvia. Latvia. And so, you know, I want Canada gold medal, Latvia silver.

SPEAKER_06 1:08:12

28 goals, 39 points in 30 games after the trade for Vilmanis. That's pretty darn good.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:21

And uh he may be in Florida for a while.

SPEAKER_06 1:08:23

I think he will be. All right, that's gonna wrap up today's show. We don't thank Sports Illustrated Tickets and Happy Dad Beverages for bringing you this show and those hats, uh, as well as our community sponsors, the City of North Bay, the Boat North Bay, the Clubhouse at Gateway Golf, the Fox and Fiddle, and a huge thank you to the Moose Cookhouse for hosting us tonight. Make sure you check out the Battalion's social media channels to find out all the latest with Troops Trio. And hey, if you're enjoying the show on YouTube, why not join us for a live taping? Stay tuned to the social media channels to find out where Troops Trio will be next. Super Bowl picks.

SPEAKER_09 1:09:03

Okay. I'm gonna pick uh I'm gonna pick New England.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:09

Seattle. I'm going with Seattle. They got Marshawn Lynch, right? Is he starting? No, he's not starting.

SPEAKER_09 1:09:18

I'll stay with Seattle, dude. Where's the game being played, by the way? At the home of the 49ers. That's why I don't want to see Seattle win.

SPEAKER_06 1:09:26

Uh, don't forget you can send your comments and questions to our email, TrueTrio at battalionhockey.com. We thank Nolan Laird and Mike McGiver for joining us, as well as head coach Ryan Olhan for taking the time out to chat as well. We thank our camera operator Marley, our show coordinator Owen, producer Gerald, our hype man, AJ Jacobin, and executive producer Steve Patati. For pop coles and Runger Ruppel, I'm Matthew Sucrum, and this has been Troops Trio.