A New Position Created

I try not to be too cynical about hockey's hiring practices, but there are often times where it seems like certain people were hired just because someone wants to reward that person for loyalty. We can talk about the nepotism that exists with guys like Scotty and Stan Bowman working for the Blackhawks and Dick and Chris Patrick managing the Capitals, but there seems to be a lot of times where owners simply create a position out of the blue for a legendary player or loyal player who played for the team. That seemingly happened today over in Russia as the KHL's Shanghai Dragons has new members of their front office staff after some position changes went down.

Shanghai missed the playoffs this season after playing the campaign in St. Petersburg for the vast majority of their home games, so it was expected there would be changes. In fact, Shanghai finished in ninth-place in the Western Conference in the eleven-team conference, but they finished 25 points back of the final playoff spot held by Spartak Moscow. That's how bad Shanghai, Lada and, Sochi were this season!

As a result of this finish, Dragons general manager Igor Varitsky was shown the door by ownership. Despite having Adam Clendening, Kevin LaBanc, Alex Burmistrov, and Austin Wagner on their roster, the Dragons under head coaches Gerard Gallant and Mitch Love finished with a 21-35-12 record for 54 points. Clearly, the owners of the Dragons thought the roster wasn't good enough, so the architect of that roster was dismissed today with Varitsky being fired.

The vacancy lasted entirely until Varitsky cleaned out his office because the Dragons named Evgeny Artyukhin as the new general manager today. Artyukhin spent 199 games in the NHL with Tampa Bay, Anaheim, and Atlanta before returning to Russia and the KHL from 2010-22 where he played for eight different teams. He had been working as a European scout for the Vegas Golden Knights before this management position opened up, and Artyukhin will now return to the city where he played four seasons for SKA St. Petersburg.

If you're wondering what management experience Artyukhin has when it comes to contracts and running a team, the answer is absolutely none. Artyukhin retired in 2022 after splitting the season between Admiral Vladivostok and Nizhnekamsk Neftekhimik, so it's not like he's been working in front offices learning the hockey management trade or attending management and law school over the last four seasons.

His appointment, however, didn't raise as many eyebrows as the next one did because it seems the Shanghai Dragons are only hiring former SKA St. Petersburg players. There might be a reason for this as well.

According to the news on their website, the Dragons decided to appoint former NHL and KHL sniper Ilya Kovalchuk as President of the Shanghai Dragons! This would be the same Ilya Kovalchuk who officially retired from hockey last season after notable stints with the Atlanta Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, and SKA St. Petersburg. Appointing him as the president of a hockey team that hired a general manager with no experience should mean good things lie ahead for the Shanghai Dragons, right? What could possibly go wrong?

"This is a very exciting challenge for me," Kovalchuk wrote in the press release posted to the Dragons' website today. "I am grateful for the opportunity to become part of the Shanghai Dragons and to help build a competitive team that fans can be proud of."

I know this is the KHL so there won't be any reporters questioning Kovalchuk on how they plan on building this competitive team, but seeing Kovalchuk and Artyukhin hired by the Dragons - who play in St. Petersburg - shouldn't surprise anyone in knowing that oligarch Gennady Timchenko is one of the key people in SKA St. Petersburg's operations. He's currently estimated to be Russia's sixth-richest man.

The Chairman of the KHL's Board of Directors played a key role in Shanghai's move from Mytishchi Arena outside of Moscow to St. Petersburg, so it seems very convenient that two former SKA players with zero management experience were given lofty positions with the Dragons. I can honestly say it wasn't due to their vast hockey knowledge or experiences. I can't see them making Shanghai more competitive next season in any way with their lack of experience.

I don't write much about the KHL because most of the problems they have are self-inflicted, but hiring two guys who have no experience to put together a championship roster for a team that missed the playoffs by 25 points is simply ludicrous. I get that Kovalchuk and Artyukhin are likely pro-Kremlin in their political views which makes them ideal management candidates for Gennady Timchenko based on his political friends, but this egregious cronyism is just ridiculous.

Best of luck to the Shanghai Dragons. They're gonna need it.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

HBIC Summer Project Announcement

Every year on HBIC, I try to come up with a project that will incorporate summer into hockey a little more than usual. I've done a series on women who played both baseball and hockey, I cover a lot of hockey history throughout the summer, and I have covered field hockey at multiple Summer Olympiads, but this year's HBIC Summer Project will take me on the road. This project sadly won't involve The Tragically Hip, but it could be a lot of fun if I can make it work.

Throughout Manitoba, there are large statues in a number of communities. People often stop and take photos with these statues as they travel through Manitoba, but there are a vast number of them that should be documented and discussed. That's what I plan on doing this summer - hitting the road and exploring Manitoba on day trips to all these little towns and municipalities with iconic statues!

To make this a little more HBIC in its push, I'll also seek out the arena or local rink where players gather, and I'll document any significant hockey players who have come from those towns. I'm aware that not all of them will have well-known names, but I'll be looking for any and all hockey stories that involve the town and its citizens as well. I want to find these untold stories from places people should know!

Lastly, I'll be giving a local restaurant a bump as well as I will enjoy a meal in these eateries so you get an idea of where to stop if you want to retrace my steps. There are lots of mom-and-pop greasy spoons and hole-in-the-wall diners that deserve a little recognition for laying down roots in these communities, and I'll pay them my respects by dining at these establishments. Expect reviews of the meal and the food joint at the end of every one of these Summer Project articles!

Where did this idea come from, you ask?

Well, if you were around in the 1990s, "Another Roadside Attraction" was a concert series that toured across Canada that featured a ton of great artists and was headlined by The Tragically Hip. In 1997, it was just outside my backyard as the concert landed at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, and my backyard was just across the highway from the horse racing track. The Hip headlined as stated above, but they were joined by Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Los Lobos, Ron Sexsmith, Ashley MacIsaac, and Change of Heart. In short, it was an incredible concert.

If you're wondering, yes, all those linked songs were heard that day.

Back to the idea itself, I have been wanting to travel more in the summer. I love a good road trip, and this seemed like a great idea to get out and explore the province a little more. I may be limited by gas prices based on how things are going, but there's no time like the present to do a little exploring in my "backyard" here in Manitoba. By combining that with hockey and these iconic statues, I should have a lot "to write home about" when documenting my adventures!

I plan on starting this in May, so keep an eye on this blog for these updates. My hope is to have one town or municipality with a statue featured every week throughout the summer with weather and gas prices pending, but I'll do my best to get out to some of these amazing towns and talk about why you should be visiting them during your next Manitoba road trip. Buckle up because this will be fun!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Cannot Generate Emotion

How about that comeback tonight from the Buffalo Sabres? That was a heckuva rally in the third period with three goals in a 4:34 span that moved Buffalo from a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 lead in a game they won 4-3. News stories are already being written about it. Sportswriters are already hammering away at their keyboards... or so we believe. I say that because tonight's victory for Buffalo was fifteen years in the making, meaning that there should be a ton of passionate writers and bloggers talking about how much this victory means to the city of Buffalo, to themselves, and to the team. However, Steven Levy has me wondering how much writing is being done by people when it comes to these stories.

Levy is a longtime tech journalist who writes and publishes pieces for Wired. I find his pieces grounded in common sense and practical wisdom, but with an optimism that humanity and technology can work together. In his April 17 piece titled "AI Drafting My Stories? Over My Dead Body", Levy pulls back the curtain on how finance and tech writers are using AI more and more to generate the basis of their stories that are published. In the article, he writes,

"Last month, my colleague Maxwell Zeff wrote about writers who unapologetically generate at least some of their prose via unbylined AI collaborators. The star of his piece was Alex Heath, a tech reporter who said he routinely has AI write drafts based on his notes, interview transcripts, and emails. That same week, The Wall Street Journal profiled Fortune reporter Nick Lichtenberg, who explained to the paper that he leans heavily on AI to churn out his work. He has written 600 stories since July; on one day this past February, he had seven bylines."

Now you might be saying, "Teebz, these finance and tech reporters can do what they want because sports is different," but is it? Can AI-generated stories capture the passion, the exhilaration, and the emotion seen in Buffalo when the final horn sounded after fifteen years of heartbreak and disappointment? Can the human element be replicated by something that feels no emotions or has bias?

Levy writes, "Those relying on 'AI-assistance' claim that these stories are not replacing the work of stylists, but are put to use only in cases where the reader simply wants to consume information, be it a scoop or description of some development. All people want is the facts."

Facts are all fine and dandy when one is building a foundation for a story, but that is a terrible way to report about how a playoff victory came 5473 days after Buffalo's last playoff game and how much it meant so much to a city and its fanbase. AI cannot accurately convey those feelings because it hasn't lived through that heartbreak.

Give me the writers who have had to follow this team for a decade without playoff hockey. Give me fan accounts of how important this game and win was. Give me players' quotations and perspective on their victory. Give me all the stories that Buffalo has in seeing their team rally for a win when it seemed like Boston was in control.

Levy comes to this conclusion in his article, writing, "... because AI doesn’t live in the actual world, or have actual human experiences, no matter what it writes, or how clever it may be, or how much it takes on the voice of a singular flesh-and-blood writer, it can only play a partial role in human expression" which is absolutely true.

In no way can AI replicate the human emotional experience of being a Sabres fans and knowing how it feels to see this team rally from a 2-0 score to win the game in the third period. Yes, factually, it can talk about stats and numbers of how many times the Sabres have done that this season, but AI isn't sitting in the stands watching the Sabres make core memories for fans who have never witnessed a playoff game in Buffalo. That's where sportswriters play their role.

Let me be clear that I have not seen a Buffalo Sabres story about tonight's game that seems like it was generated by artificial intelligence. I chose that game as the example because of Buffalo's situation when it came to their fans' clear excitement over seeing a playoff game for the first time in fifteen years. Combine that with their incredible comeback and victory, and this game had all the right emotional markers that would make it impossible for AI to come close to describing the game in comparison to some great Buffalo reporters like Lance Lysowski and Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.

Maybe it's best to end this examination of AI-generated stories with the quotation with which Levy began his article. It reads, "Sportswriting legend Red Smith once said that writing a column is easy: 'All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.'" Hockey is a sport played by men and women who are falliable, quotable, emotional, and logical, and we need those perspectives to keep the game real. Your words bring the game to life every time you write.

If you're a sports reporter, the blood, sweat, and tears matter to the people who are reading your work. Don't give in to the easy solution of letting AI generate your content. As Steven Levy summed up nicely in the last paragraph of his article, "... we will all be impoverished by the loss of the human voice. Not to mention the soul."

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Luck Favours The Prepared

By now, everyone has heard the comments made by various Winnipeg Jets as they cleaned out their lockers, and it seemed like there general consensus that the Jets have to get younger and faster. Whether that happens will be seen in the future, but there was a good display of how old and slow plays against younger and faster tonight as the Minnesota Wild opened their series against the Dallas Stars by punching them square in the mouth via their 6-1 win. This game was over before the halfway point with Minnesota building a 4-0 lead, but what surprised me was how the Wild made the Stars look much slower on the ice comparatively.

In short, Dallas could be in real trouble in this series.

Of course, it's just one game and this series isn't anywhere close to being over, but the Minnesota Wild looked like they had been shot of a cannon comparably to Dallas. It's said that teams have to be good to lucky, and we saw Minnesota get a couple of goals in that fashion that had the Stars reeling. If the hockey gods were smiling on Minnesota today, it's likely because they won a ton of puck battles, they were first to a lot of loose pucks, and they kept Dallas on their heels with their forecheck and speed. This wasn't lost on the Stars.

"First 30 minutes, we didn't win enough battles," Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen told Taylor Baird of NHL.com. "They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that's why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger."

Dallas head coach Glen Gulutzan also made mention of losing battles.

"When you're not winning anything and you're not winning your races, you're not winning your 50-50s, you put yourself at risk for what happened," Gulutzan explained to the gathered reporters in the postgame press conference. "Deflections, a shot from the half-wall that goes off a guy and goes in, one from behind the net. Because you're in vulnerable spots because you're not winning battles. Like I said, to a man I think we can all be better in that area."

Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen tried to sum up what needs to happen in Game Two, saying, "Have to play a little harder, close the gaps a little quicker, and not give them that much time. I think those are the keys. It's a long series."

On the other side, Minnesota Wild head coach Jon Hynes spoke of his team's preparation as a key leading into this first playoff game.

"We prepped for a couple days coming into this one," Hynes said of his team after their Game One win. "Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward. For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they lost. It's not so much being satisfied where you're at or that's what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better."

If there are things that don't need to be improved in any major way, Minnesota's transition defence was on display for sixty minutes as they continually caused Dallas headaches. When Dallas came down the ice, there was zero room to manoeuver, resulting in turnovers and Dallas having to retreat. Speed, positioning, and understanding the assignment gave Dallas fits in getting down the ice today.

Minnesota moved the puck very well in all three zones, and they rarely struggled to find space on the ice. Dallas missed assignments, Dallas missed both stick- and bodychecks, and Dallas chased the puck far too often. How does Joel Eriksson Ek stand so open on the power-play in the middle of the slot twice, resulting in two goals? How does Kirill Kaprizov not get pasted into the boards every time he touches the puck? Dallas has to mind the details to win in this series!

Dallas will get set for Monday night's Game Two by focusing on the details that they clearly ignored today. I expect the Stars to finish checks, drive the Minnesota net more, and pay attention to defensive assignments. On the flip side, though, Minnesota will take today's game as the first step they need to get to the second round, continue to play at a high level, and focus on making Dallas's trip to St. Paul less fun by taking both games in Dallas. Game Two should be intense!

Like the St. Louis-Winnipeg series last year, whoever wins this series may come out worse for wear based on the bumps and bruises they'll sport. Minnesota is 25% of the way there with their big win tonight, but they still need three more against a team that has played in the Western Conference Final in the last two seasons. Expect a tougher Dallas team to clock-in on Monday for Game Two of this series!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Matchups Are Set

If you thought this was going to be an article about the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, you're on the right track. Officially, these are the first-round matchups for the Survivor: NHL Playoffs on The Hockey Show as sixteen people were registered last night. There are returning entrants from years past, there are new entrants this year, and there's even a celebrity by The Hockey Show's standards as Fiona Quinn makes her debut in the contest! In short, this should be a fun year for everyone with the games beginning tomorrow afternoon!

Here is a quick reminder of the challenges on Survivor: NHL Playoffs.

• First shutout recorded in the playoffs.
• First hat trick recorded in the playoffs.
• First goaltender point recorded in the playoffs.
• First team eliminated from the playoffs.
• First to advance from the second round to the third round.
• First team to score seven goals in one game in the playoffs.
• First upset of the playoffs.

These prizes will be awarded in chronological order. I cannot change what time games start or end, so if one of Carolina or Ottawa pitches a shutout in the opening game, that will take the "first shutout recorded" off the board regardless of what else happens tomorrow night. For all of the other challenges, the same timing rule applies.

There are hockey books, some UMFM gear, and other things to be won in these challenges, and we're hoping to give them all away before the end of the contest. Of course, the grand prizes for the two finalists are jerseys which represent a longtime rivalry as we're offering a 2018-21 Pittsburgh Penguins alternate jersey and a 2021-24 Washington Capitals alternate jersey for those finalists. If this is the last year of Crosby-vs-Ovechkin, these are good jerseys to have!

Sixteen teams locked down playoff sports a few days ago, and sixteen contestants locked down teams yesterday in Survivor: NHL Playoffs on The Hockey Show. The Ottawa Senators will be in Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes at 3pm ET tomorrow to get the playoffs started, and that's where the fun begins! Good luck, Survivors!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hockey Show - Episode 708

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, returns tonight with hockey's greatest radio contest in the history of the planet! Ok, maybe we're overselling that a wee bit, but tonight is the only night where you can enter Survivor: NHL Playoffs to be part of the fun! Sixteen teams have already clinched playoff spots with most of the matchups for the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs being set, sixteen entrants will get into the Survivor pool tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason will be looking for entrants who want into the 2026 edition of Survivor: NHL Playoffs! The rules and information you need about the contest is here, and tonight is when we get sixteen people to choose numbers to find out which team is assigned to each entrant! As numbers start to be removed from the board, the chances of landing a top-seeded team may increase or decrease depending on which teams remain so you're going to have to weigh the odds if you want one of the superpowers. What I can tell you is that if you call between 5:30pm and 6:30 CT at (204) 269-8636, your chances of getting into the Survivor: NHL Playoffs contest will never be better! Settle in, tune into the show, and get your phone out tonight for Survivor: NHL Playoffs on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to participate, you're still welcome to enter the contest! The UMFM website's online streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store. It's a solid app.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason take calls from sixteen people to get them registered for the 2026 edition of Survivor: NHL Playoffs heard on The Hockey Show exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

PODCAST: April 16, 2026: Episode 708

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Other Side Of The World

The goaltender to the left likely isn't going to be recognizable unless you're following the ECHL and SPHL closely. That goalie is Surrey, BC's Noah Giesbrecht, and he was trying to crack lineups in the professional leagues here in North America after finishing a solid university career that saw him play at three different schools including a U SPORTS school! One of the toughest things for any undrafted goalie to do is break into the ECHL with so few roster spots available, but Giesbrecht looked like he may get his shot with the Savannah Ghost Pirates after playing with the SPHL's Knoxville Ice Bears! That run with the Ghost Pirates ended early as he was released yesterday, but he found a new home very quickly for this summer!

Giesbrecht's hockey career saw him play in both the MJHL for two teams and the SJHL for Melfort Mustangs along with a cup of coffee in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. He put up very good numbers in 2019-20 with the MJHL's Portage Terriers, compiling a 12-4-0 record with a 1.86 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Those numbers attracted the attention of the OUA's University of Windsor Lancers, and Giesbrecht was off to play in southern Ontario!

After the COVID year in 2020-21, Giesbrecht was excellent with the Lancers as he went 7-1-0 with a 2.13 GAA and a .941 save percentage in the first half of the season before jumping south of the border as he enrolled at Ferris State where he joined the men's hockey team! In his time with the Bulldogs, Giesbrecht went 19-29-3 with a 3.35 GAA and an .898 save percentage. He'd play his final NCAA season with RPI where he was 11-19-0 with a 3.54 GAA and an .896 save percentage. Being undrafted, Giesbrecht looked to the ECHL as an option.

He spent more time on the bench than in a crease as two games with Tulsa and nine games with Savannah were the only opportunities he received this season. Combined with seven more games in Knoxville, Giesbrecht likely had his agent looking for other options as his 18 games of professional action didn't give him a lot to build on for next season. That's when another opportunity presented itself, and Giesbrecht took it as he'll pack his bags and head south!

Giesbrecht will suit up this summer - or, more accurately, this winter in Australia - for the AIHL's Melbourne Mustangs! The AIHL's opening games happen this weekend, and the Mustangs will be in action on Saturday as they host the Central Coast Rhinos. Giesbrecht gives them another solid goaltender along with Seb Woodlands and Tom Papas, and they may need the added experience as their opening night lineup apparently will not feature longtime star Ty Wishart! That could possibly change as there was no announcement of him retiring, so he could be back at some point. For whatever reason, though, the Mustangs will be without one of their best players to begin the 2026 AIHL season.

The AIHL will continue with their ten-team setup as the action last season proved exciting down the stretch with teams pushing for playoff spots. The Melbourne Ice enter the season as the defending champions after defeating the Canberra Brave for the Goodall Cup last season, so those teams will come into this season with targets on their backs. The Mustangs finished in sixth-place which pitted them against the Perth Thunder in a play-in game for the playoffs, but Perth took care of business by a 5-2 score. Clearly, the Mustangs want to return to glory, so improved goaltending will help that cause!

Noah Giesbrecht has played in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Michigan, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia in his hockey journey thus far, and he'll add the city of Melbourne, Australia on this leg of his hockey career! Where it goes from here is anyone's guess, but the summer of 2026 will see him in Mustangs' black and orange!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Who's The New Guy?

If you're looking at the goalie to the left and thinking you know him from his gear, that's Minnesota Wild netminder Jesper Wallstedt. It's Wallstedt's first full season in the NHL despite playing in five games prior to this campaign, but the young netminder has fared well with an 18-9-6 record, a 2.61 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage, and four shutouts. His wins and shutouts are a team record for a rookie goaltender, his save percentage is tied for first and his GAA ranks second. Tonight, though, it seems there was an imposter in net wearing his number despite this imposter looking awfully identical to the Swedish rookie goaltender. What am I talking about? Read on!

The Wild finished off their NHL regular season schedule tonight against the Anaheim Ducks at home at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. What wasn't normal, though, was the spelling of Jesper Wallstedt's name on the back of his jersey! Check it out below!

You may be looking at Wallstedt's name and thinking, "They spelled it how it sounds," but the Wild were playing at home. Their full equipment staff would be at the game, and not one of them noticed the spelling error. I don't know if Wallstedt was wearing it during warm-up, but you'd think someone on the ice would have noticed.

Apparently, no one did, though, and "Wallstead" started the game in his crease. I can say that with certainty because Anaheim scored a power-play goal at 10:27 of the first period with "Wallstead" still in net! Click the picture to enrlage the image, but no one had gone to get Jesper Wallstedt a properly named jersey during any of the stoppages of play. How long was this imposter "Wallstead" kid going to stand in the Minnesota crease?

That answer was one period as Jesper Wallstedt had the correct spelling of his name on his jersey to start the second period, so clearly somneone on the Wild's bench noticed. Again, it makes me wonder if Fanatics had sent the jersey with "Wallstead" on it or if someone new to the organization was sitting in front of the sewing machine making up name bars. Exactly how does this happen?

What I do know is that Wallstedt finished the game with 35 saves on 37 shots in the 3-2 win for Minnesota, pushing them to 104 points this season. If we're technically being correct, though, Jesper "Wallstead" made ten saves on eleven shots while Jesper Wallstedt made 25 saves on 26 shots. The Wallstedt-Wallstead team was named as the first star in the game, so we'll see how far Jesper "Wallstead" goes. Frankly, I don't see him playing another game for the Wild in his career, but he certainly had a memorable appearance tonight.

The Wild will face Dallas in the opening round of the playoffs. Jesper Wallstedt will be dressed and ready for at series and more while Jesper "Wallstead" won't even be in the building for those games.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Mercifully, It's Over

I don't usually throw out thank-yous to NHL teams, but the Los Angeles Kings deserve one tonight after winning their game against the Seattle Kraken. I'm not a Kings fan in any way, so this isn't some article that will extoll the players rising to the occasion to seize a playoff spot or anything. Instead, it's a thank-you article for finally putting the Winnipeg Jets out of their misery for what was a completely forgettable season in the Manitoba capital. Yes, a handful of players had outstanding seasons for the Jets, but the overall drop in points from last season should have Kevin Cheveldayoff feeling the fire. After all, he's the architect of this mess, so he's the one who should be raked over the coles. The only problem is that won't happen with how the Jets are run.

The Jets knew their fate before they took the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights, but it had been said many times by local media that this team refused to give up the season after the Olympic break because they still had pride and a chance to make the playoffs. Well, with the latter out of the way, the former seemed to die as well as the Jets sleepwalked their way to a 6-2 loss to Vegas, adding an exclamation point to their elimination. For a team so full of pride, closing out the season with wins doesn't seem to matter anymore.

So where do the Jets go from here when it comes to next season?

First, I'd expect Kevin Cheveldayoff to be at every Manitoba Moose playoff game so he can get a better sense of which of the Moose might be ready for the next level. The Moose will play the Milwaukee Admirals who have a strong track record of getting their players into the Nashville lineup, so it could also be a good scouting option for potential free agents for next season. Defenceman Jordan Oesterle is a player I'd like to see wear the antlers next season at the very worst.

That being said, if Cheveldayoff decides to conduct exit interviews with the Jets and then head to the lake until late June, I'd expect another status quo summer of the Jets missing out on dynamic players. At the very least, my hope would be that Cheveldayoff recognizes that he has a former 43-goal scorer in Samuel Fagemo, a high-energy player in Jaret Anderson-Dolan, and a solid veteran in Walker Duehr who deserve longer looks than just a cup of coffee at training camp. These three are low-risk, high-reward type players who could easily make the Jets' fourth line so much better.

Adding those players from the Moose would allow the Jets to walk away from aging, less productive players such as Gustav Nyqvist, Jonathan Toews, Vladimir Namestnikov, and Nino Niederreiter. By moving on from those forwards who are 33 years-old and older, the Jets could pivot to potentially looking at restricted free agent Jason Robertson or unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch as an immediate upgrade to their second line thanks to having additional cap room with some of the less productive players gone from the lineup.

There are a handful of secondary options out there as well, but the Jets shouldn't be afraid to take a run at a few restricted free agents either if they have the cap room. Going after someone like Mavrik Bourque would be a lot of fun, especially if the Jets could land Jason Robertson as well. Letting Cole Perfetti or Isak Rosen skate alongside those two would be fireworks, but it doesn't happen without effort and knowing your assets through scouting. Needless to say, Morgan Barron should get every shot at being the second-line center with some improved wingers based on what we saw from him this season.

Cheveldayoff should also be watching the three college captains he signed as Lucas Wahlin, Davis Burnside, and Lukas Gustafsson all were key contributors for their NCAA teams. Wahlin had 21 goals and 39 points in 36 games with St. Thomas, Burnside had 12 goals and 32 points in 37 games for Ohio State, and defender Lukas Gustafsson had six goals and 22 points in 36 games with Boston College. Having these three stick around for a season or two in the AHL should get them the skills and confidence they need to push for spots with the Jets.

On the blue line, I can't see much changing with Josh Morrissey, Dylan Samberg, and Dylan DeMelo. Elias Salomonsson made it very clear that he's an NHL defender this season, so that leaves two spots open with questions needing to be answered about Neal Pionk's defensive abilities. This is where the competition among the younger players should really escalate as players like Ville Heinola, Isaak Phillips, and Kale Clague should be in the mix. Tyrel Bauer can provide a physical element if needed, but Hadyn Fleury has to be pushed if the Jets want to take steps forward next season. Otherwise, this is academic.

Goaltending is locked down with Connor Hellebuyck aiming to play 200 games per year, and Eric Comrie seems to be more-than-happy to jump in where he can. Thomas Milic was named the Moose MVP for his work this season as he appears to be the heir apparent, and Domenic DiVincentiis looks like he'll get another season as a tandem alongside Milic. Both aren't ready to be starters in the NHL, but they're getting closer to being options if needed by the Jets.

The Jets talked about not wanting to take steps backwards this season, but that chatter quickly died once it was apparent that the current roster was nowhere close to the President's Trophy-winning roster. With the Jets having taken steps back, the franchise should be able to stop and re-assess what they have as assets, what they need to be competitive, and what they have to do acquire those pieces.

The foundation is still solid with Scheifele, Connor, Vilardi, Perfetti, Iafallo, Lowry, Barron, Morrissey, and Samberg. The Jets can build around those players with Isak Rosen, Brad Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Cole Koepke, and some of the players mentioned above earning roster spots while not breaking the budget. The Jets need to be faster, smarter, and younger, and they won't get it from the players who are already heading towards the twilights of their careers.

If Kevin Cheveldayoff wants to prove that he deserves his job, the work starts now to make the Jets better. Not at the beginning of June at the lake. Not in late June after the draft. Not in July and August after missing out on the biggest free agent names. If Chevy wants to see the Jets return to prominence, the Los Angeles Kings gave him a head start in doing so because, mercifully, this season is over.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

New Kids On The Block

This is not a post about musicians in jerseys nor will I be talking about the former boy band in any way today, but it is about the team to the left as Spain made their IIHF Women's World Championship Division-1B debut today in Puigcerdà, Spain in front of 223 fans. Spain has never played at this level of women's hockey in the country's history, so this was a historic day for the nation and the national team as they took the ice against Netherlands. No one is expecting them to win against more experienced nations, but Spain is at this event because they have proven they belong by winning lower IIHF tournaments! Can they win this one as well or remain at this level?

Things didn't start off well for the home team today against a strong Dutch team as two power-play goals had Netherlands up 3-0 before the first break. That score would balloon to 5-0 by the end of the second period, and Natherlands would skate to the 6-0 win when the final horn sounded behind Kayleigh Hamers' two goals and two assists. The 28 year-old SDE defender always seems to play well when wearing the Dutch colours, and today's effort only reinforced that. Spain will look to bounce back on Monday against Great Britain who beat Korea 3-2 in a shootout in game where Korea held a 2-0 lead.

I don't think people understand how important it is to see countries like Spain and Netherlands building their hockey programs to become bigger players on the world stage. Hockey fans often lament the fact that Canada and the US end up in the gold medal final at every major tournament despite the rivalry between the two countries, so having more countries getting better is massive for the sport. We know Sweden and Japan are on the rise once again, so that will help at the top level of women's hockey, but getting countries like Spain, Netherlands, Great Britain, Latvia, Korea, and Kazakhstan more experience will push the teams at higher levels to be better as well.

Back to the action in Puigcerdà, Spain earned the promotion to Division-1B after defeating Poland in their final game of the Division-2A tournament last year, ending that tournament with a 4-1 record. Spain replaced Slovenia who were relegated after finishing at the bottom of the 2025 Division-1B standings, so they're looking for a strong performance to remain in this group or potentially move higher. Dropping their first game is a setback, but Spain can rally and still finish strong in this tournament as Kazakhstan and Latvia haven't jumped out ahead of anyone either. Just getting a goal on the scorebord for Spain would be a big moment in program history, so they have some work to do against Great Britain tomorrow.

To me, having teams showing improvement and growth from places where ice hockey isn't close to being a popular sport on the levels of football (soccer), field hockey, or handball means that these programs are making the sport stronger and better overall. It doesn't matter if Spain can't compete with Canada or the US at this point in time because they have shown they can compete with other countries who are all working towards the same goal of being able to compete at that level one day. This isn't an overnight solution, but it's one that will play out over years as long as programs are supported and funded and there is room for growth. As the tide rises, the teams will all get better in time, leaving us with more competitive hockey.

I don't know Spain will win the tournament, but the Division-2A tournament starts tomorrow and one of Poland, Australia, Iceland, Slovenia, and Chinese Taipei will take the same step forward that Spain did last season. If that means bumping Spain back to the 2A tournament, so be it as only Spain can change that fate by winning games. What should be remembered, though, is that these five teams are looking to join the 1B tournament to prove that they belong among better teams thanks to their success in this year's tournament.

By having teams work to get better at every level, the IIHF will see countries catch the powerhouses. It might take decades for some of these teams to reach a IIHF Women's World Hockey Championship level, but the skill and talent is rising every year. Getting to see these women forge paths for the generations behind them is awesome!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

No One Should Be Surprised

With the Nashville Predators and the Los Angeles Kings winning their respective games today, the Winnipeg Jets needed the same result in their game against the Philadelphia Flyers if they wanted any legitimate chance at making the playoffs. Mathematically, the Jets wouldn't be eliminated from the race, but the required wins and losses to get in are at their maximums after tonight's woeful, uninspired 7-1 hammering at the hands of the Flyers. For a team that needed to be at its best to make the last week of the season matter, the Jets turned in one of their worst performances of the season. Like the sheep in wolf's clothing, no one should be surprised that the Jets are going to miss the playoffs. This is simply another game where they didn't bother to show up.

Let's go back to April 2 where the Jets were going into Dallas to play the Stars. They had won four of five games entering that contest including a solid 4-2 win over Colorado and a demon-exorcising 4-1 win over Vegas. The Jets were on a bit of a high as they landed in the Lone Star State, and the team was looking to take that next step.

"We just said to take care of our own business and that's what we're trying to do. We got ourselves here, but we can't take our foot off the gas," head coach Scott Arniel said following the overtime win in Chicago on March 31. "It doesn't get any easier in going into Dallas and then Columbus, so a lot of heavy lifting still to go. We have got to make sure that we continue to do those things that keep us in games and that gives us a chance to win."

A 22-save shutout for Jake Oettinger combined with Adam Erne and Arttu Hyry each having a goal and an assist was all that was needed for the Stars to brush the Jets aside by a 3-0 score. For a guy who had said how the Jets had to "take care of our own business" two days earlier, Scott Arniel sung a different tune following the Dallas game.

"I didn't like our first two periods. I know the first period, they got the couple ones on the power play and then we turned the puck over and gave them the second one. We didn't have enough compete, we didn't have enough guys getting our nose over the puck and being heavy on it. Our execution wasn't great,” Arniel said about the loss.

It's funny how things can change so dramatically in two days.

Tonight's game is sort of how the stretch run has played out for the Jets. A late goal against Nashville earned them a point, but a shootout loss on March 17 gave Nashville two points. They followed that effort up by going through the motions in a 6-1 hammering by Boston two nights later, and then dropped a 5-4 shootout loss to the Penguins in a game where the Jets held a 4-3 lead with eleven minutes to play. In games where the Jets needed two points to jump into the thick of the playoff race, they were unable to secure them.

Since March 1, the Jets are 5-5-2 against teams in a playoff position while posting a 7-1-1 record against teams out of the playoffs. The Jets are beating the teams they should beat, but they've struggled against teams in the dance. If the Jets had any hope of making noise in the playoffs, they had to be better than .500 against playoff-bound teams. They aren't, though, and that might be the most important thing about the Jets falling short: they don't beat good teams when they have to win. Isn't that what playoff hockey is all about?

There will be lots of video for the coaching staff to break down for Sunday's practice as they prepare for the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday. The Jets beat Vegas 4-1 in their last meeting in Winnipeg, but Vegas will likely come into Canada Life Centre fired up as they sit one point ahead of Edmonton for the Pacific Division crown. If they show up at the rink like they did tonight, the playoff dream ends.

Beyond that, the Jets have to win all three of their remaining games while hoping that the Kraken, Canucks, and Flames take care of the Kings and the Sharks and Ducks handle the Predators. There is no tomorrow if they don't take six points in the final games and get some help because the Kings and Predators can eliminate the Jets with any win in their final games. In layman's terms, the Jets need to dig deep over the remaining three games or they're golfing next week.

Frankly, no one should be surprised that it's come to this. This Jets team has been a sheep in wolf's clothing all season long, never really proving that they had the killer instinct needed to be considered as a contender. Tonight's effort put them on the brink of elimination, and it might just be time for these sheep to be put out to pasture.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Best Race In Hockey?

Everyone loves a good race for playoff spots in hockey. It doesn't matter what level of hockey as long as there's a compelling race that has more teams than needed in that race. That very thing is happening right now in the ECHL's Central Division as six of the seven teams in the division are battling for four playoff spots. Two teams have already clinched spots thanks to their leads over the division, leaving two spots for which those remaining four teams will compete. What should be understood is that none of the teams know where they may finish or who they may play thanks to these playoff races! Let's look at the ECHL Central Division!

Team: Toledo Walleye
Record: 40-16-12 (.676)
Games Remaining: 4

The Walleye currently occcupy first-place with 92 points, but they're hardly out of the woods. Yes, they have clinched a playoff spot, but they lost in overtime tonight, allowing the Fort Wayne Komets to pull into a tie for first-place. The two games against Fort Wayne coming up on April 12 and 16 will likely determine whether Toledo finishes atop the division or in second-place to start the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Remaining Schedule: @ Cincinnati (Apr 11), @ Fort Wayne (Apr 12), @ Fort Wayne (Apr 16), vs Wheeling (Apr 17).

Team: Fort Wayne Komets
Record: 41-16-10 (.687)
Games Remaining: 5

The Komets helped their chances of winning the division with a big win over Kalamazoo at home before these two teams move their battle to Kalamazoo tonight. The Komets have one game in-hand on Toledo on the schedule, so they control their own destiny as they sit with 92 points after having clinched a playoff spot in the Central Division last week. As stated above, they'll play Toledo twice, but they also have that extra game on Wednesday against the Indy Fuel in betweeen the two Toledo games. If Fort Wayne wants to win the division, they'll need to beat their arch-rivals twice this week.

Remaining Schedule: @ Kalamazoo (Apr 11), vs Toledo (Apr 12), vs Indy (Apr 15), vs Toledo (Apr 16), vs Kalamazoo (Apr 19).

Team: Indy Fuel
Record: 31-26-10 (.544)
Games Remaining: 4

Indy's 74 points has them in third-place right now, but they're not guaranteed anything yet. They need to beat Iowa tonight and tomorrow to improve their chances at clinching a playoff spot, and that showdown with Fort Wayne on Wednesday looms large when it comes to Indy's playoff chances. Again, beating Iowa twice this weekend could very well be the difference between playing in the playoffs and watching them from home based on who else is playing whom in the division. With a little help, Indy should get in.

Remaining Schedule: @ Iowa (Apr 11), @ Iowa (Apr 12), @ Fort Wayne (Apr 15), @ Wheeling (Apr 18).

Team: Cincinnati Cylones
Record: 35-29-4 (.544)
Games Remaining: 4

Cincinnati did themselves a big favour with their overtime win over Toledo tonight to push them to 74 points, but they can't lose focus with a rematch tomorrow against the Walleye and two teams chasing them in standings. The Cyclones' season may hang in the balance with three-straight games against Kalamazoo to close out the season, so the playoffs for Cincinnati start on Sunday. If they win that three-game series, they're likely playing in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Remaining Schedule: vs Toledo (Apr 11), @ Kalamazoo (Apr 12), vs Kalamazoo (Apr 17), vs Kalamazoo (Apr 18).

Team: Kalamazoo Wings
Record: 33-28-6 (.537)
Games Remaining: 5

Kalamazoo enters the weekend with 72 points as they sit outside the playoff picture. Two teams stand in the way of the K-Wings making the playoffs in Fort Wayne and Cincinnati, and both of them are needing wins of their own. Unofficially, the playoffs start on Saturday for the K-Wings whether they like it or not. They have to win the three-game set against Cincinnati and, at worst, split with Fort Wayne to have a chance at postseason glory. Winning four of five games would go a long way towards locking down playoff dates.

Remaining Schedule: vs Fort Wayne (Apr 11), vs Cincinnati (Apr 12), @ Cincinnati (Apr 17), @ Cincinnati (Apr 18), @ Fort Wayne (Apr 19).

Team: Bloomington Bison
Record: 33-29-5 (.530)
Games Remaining: 5

Bloomington enters the weekend with 71 points, but they're the only team who doesn't play a potential playoff team in the Central Division. As such, they need to win AND get some help if they want to leap past a few teams. The good news is that they have a three-game set against already-eliminated Iowa to end the season. The bad news is that they'll likely have to win four of five games to close out the season, and then hope that the scoreboard results from oher games go in their favour. The Bison could make it, but they need help.

Remaining Schedule: @ Greenville (Apr 11), @ Greenville (Apr 12), @ Iowa (Apr 15), vs Iowa (Apr 17), vs Iowa (Apr 18).

One of Toledo and Fort Wayne will win the Central Division, and both have home-ice advantage in the opening round locked down. The ECHL plays a 2-3-2 series to save money on travel, so both the Walleye and Komets will be looking for two wins at home before heading out on the road no matter who they play when the playoffs begin. Their opponents will be determined over this last week.

If you're asking me which two of the remaining four teams in the race will make it, there is no easy answer. Bloomington needs the most help, so they likely won't get in unless all the stars align for them. Indy seems like they can make it thanks to their games against Iowa, but the Heartlanders may relish this opportunity to ruin Indy's playoff hopes. If Iowa can rise to the occasion, Indy's chances get lower.

What can't be avoided is that one of Cincinnati and Kalamazoo will miss the playoffs thanks to that three-game series to close out the season. Cincinnati is 5-3-1 against Kalamazoo this season, so it appears that the Cyclones have the advantage. The stakes for these three games are much higher than they were in February, though, so those stats may mean nothing when the pressure's on. What's certain is that one of the Cyclones or K-Wings will not make the playoffs.

Playoff hockey always happens in April, but this year's race in the ECHL's Central Division for playoff spots means the playoffs have started early for six teams. Who finishes in what spot may come down to the final seconds of the final period of play, but that's how a race for playoff spots should end! We'll know who is in next Sunday!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hockey Show - Episode 707

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, returns to the studio tonight with a couple of outstanding guests as we continue to shine light on Manitoba's hockey scene! As you may know, we committed to giving Sledge Hockey Manitoba and Team Manitoba parahockey more coverage than they've ever received, and we'll continue that effort tonight by welcoming two players to the studio to talk about recent events with their team and the Sledge Hockey Manitoba teams in general! We'll get the news, info, and results of the tournaments for all the Sledge Hockey Manitoba teams tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason are... proud, honoured, privileged, humbled, and pleased to welcome two of Team Manitoba's dynamic youth core to the show as Isaac Vint and Henry Bergen will join us! Both players took part in the recent Cross Border Classic that UMFM had the honour of calling, and both Isaac and Henry were in Montreal and Calgary for recent tournaments as Team Manitoba gears up for Nationals!... going at it alone tonight as Isaac and Henry battle colds! Our hosts have updates about and results from the Manitoba Express junior and intermediate teams in their recent tournaments, and they discuss we'll get Isaac's and Henry's thoughts on the Jets battling for their playoff lives, talk about Survivor: NHL Playoffs which starts next week, and more! It's going to be a busy show down at the UMFM studio tonight, so get settled in for some hockey chatter tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT on one of 101.5 FM, Channel 718 on MTS TV, or via UMFM.com!

If you live outside Winnipeg and want to listen, we have options! The UMFM website's streaming player works well if you want to listen online. We also recommend Radio Garden if you need an easy-to-use online stream. If you're more of an app person, we recommend you use the TuneIn app found on the App Store or Google Play Store.

If you have questions, you can email all show queries and comments to hockeyshow@umfm.com! Tweet me anytime with questions you may have by hitting me up at @TeebzHBIC on Twitter! I'm here to listen to you, so make your voice heard! And because both Teebz and Jason are on the butterfly app where things are less noisy, you can find Teebz here and Jason here on Bluesky!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason chat with Isaac Vint and Henry Bergen about Team Manitoba, recent results, going to Nationals, scoring goals, throwing hits, having fun, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

PODCAST: April 9, 2026: Episode 707

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

A Change At The Top

If anyone wanted a job working in hockey, this might be the year that jobs can be had. We already know the Nashville Predators are hunting for a general manager to replace the outgoing Barry Trotz, the Toronto Maple Leafs need someone for their general manager position, and the New Jersey Devils are looking for someone for their GM office as well. As of today after another somewhat shocking announcement, there's another high-ranking hockey job that will be available at the end of the season, so let's go back to the job board to see who is hiring.

According to the announcement today, Seattle Kraken president Ron Francis has decided to step down from his position after the season concludes next week as the 63 year-old leaves the organization after seven seasons in Seattle. Francis started his Kraken career as the general manager in July 2019, overseeing all of the early franchise decisions including the expansion draft, hiring the first coaches, and helping the Kraken reach the playoffs in their second season.

Francis was promoted to hockey operations president last April after four seasons as the general manager, helping the Kraken to a 142-153-33 record over those five seasons. In just one of the four completed seasons did Seattle post a record better than .500, and they only made the playoffs once. Not surprisingly, both of those happened in 2022-23 when they made the playoffs as the first wild card team, shocking the Colorado Avalanche in seven games before falling to the Dallas Stars in seven games in Round Two.

"Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition for both Ron and the organization, and move in a new direction," Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said in a release highlighting Francis' contributions. He added, "We are grateful for his dedication and professionalism, and we wish Ron and his family the very best."

I'm not here to rain on Ron Francis, but he seemed to trade away more talent than he acquired as the GM of the Seattle Kraken. Outside of Kaapo Kaako, every player he traded for between 2021 and 2025 no longer plays for the Kraken. He acquired 21 draft picks in 13 trades, and none of the players selected with those picks have skated in the NHL. Seattle does have seven picks in the first two rounds over the next two drafts, so perhaps there will be better picks and an injection of youth into the Kraken lineup in the future.

The catch on this job vacancy, however, is that it seemingly has been filled as current GM Jason Botterill will remain in his role as general manager while adding the "executive vice president" title as he takes over the hockey operations for the Kraken. if you were prepping the résumé, the Kraken may not have the "Help Wanted" sign out.

I don't know if Francis will land with another franchise, and he may just want to take some time away from the game. He went from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Seattle Kraken in fairly quick fashion, so it might be time to recharge the batteries. Perhaps the Kraken were looking to make a change while seeking Francis's input, but it sounds like both sides determined that him stepping down was the right path for the franchise. The Kraken will move forward without him.

"It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years," Francis stated in the Kraken press release today. "I am proud of the culture we built, the people we brought together, and the milestones we achieved, including our historic first playoff run. I want to thank our entire ownership group, everyone throughout the organization, and our incredible fans for their unwavering support. This organization has a bright future, and I'm grateful to have been part of its beginning."

That bright future will now be carried forward by someone else as Ron Francis's vision for the Kraken has come to an end. Where he goes after cleaning out his office next week will be up to him, but his future certainly is wide open for anything he wants to do.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

When Life Imitates Art

I will fully admit that I don't watch enough Bob's Burgers to be an subject matter expert about the show, but I have seen episodes here and there that had some funny moments. One of those episodes is titled "An Incon-wheelie-ent Truth" from Season Eleven of the Fox Television animated series where the character to the left, known as "Wheelie Mammoth", was introduced. In the episode, the Belcher family visits a flea market where Bob and Linda are haunted by a lie they told the kids about what happened to their beloved stuffed animal, Wheelie Mammoth, as the comedy ensues. Again, the episode had its moments where there were chuckles, but I admit that I didn't expect to see a mammoth on wheels today. This is where Utah emerges from the shadows.

The Utah Mammoth are always looking for ways to draw new fans to their form of entertainment, and it appears they're going to be a popular ticket in April as they seem poised to make the playoffs for the first time since arriving in Salt Lake City. Winning hockey usually is the best way to draw a crowd, but the Mammoth went ahead and did something that I'm not sure had to be done, unveiling this today.

Ladies and gentleman, that is the their new Zammoth ice resurfacing machine! Yes, I already hate the name when Mamboni would have been infinitely better, but I get there are trademarks to respect despite the trademark conflicts the Mammoth have had thus far.

If you're wondering, the Zammoth is built from the same Zamboni that was used in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. You may be thinking about how the team plans to resurface the ice with those massive tusks sticking out of the front of the Zammoth, but you needn't worry as the Zammoth is there for fun only, taking up to eight fans on a lap before each home game and at the beginning of every intermission. The ice resurfacing will then be done by the new, modern ice resurfacing machines once the Zammoth gets off the ice.

This project was actually teased by the designers, Diesel Brothers, who had tweeted out that they were working on a half-million-dollar Zamboni for the Mammoth. With the final touches put on the Zammoth this week, the new resident at the Delta Center made its way onto the ice tonight during the Mammoth's game against the Edmonton Oilers! Feedback wasn't immediately available from fans, but social media was all over the place with reactions from fans!

"It's an opportunity for our fans to engage with the crowd," Chris Barney, president of revenue and commercial strategy for Smith Entertainment Group, said to Brogan Houston of Deseret News. "It puts them down on the ice where their heroes are playing. A lot of people don't get the opportunity to be down there on the ice. It's one more example of us trying to do that."

At the time of publishing, the Mammoth had yet to release information on how fans can sign up to ride the Zammoth, but those details will reportedly come shortly. The Zammoth joins the ice resurfacers in Florida and Columbus as those who drive fans around the ice, but those two machines actually resurface the ice. The Zammoth is just for fun, so we'll have to see how big the hit to the pocketbook will be if one wants to climb aboard the prehistoric pachyderm on wheels. For now, the Zammoth will be on display on the plaza at the Delta Center for fans to see it up close at no cost.

"I don't think it’s something that somebody shows up to a hockey game expecting (to see), but our goal has been to continue to surprise and delight our fans and give them ways to interact with the brand and the team," Barney said to Houston.

Count me in as not expecting to see that. Ever. Anywhere. But at least the Zammoth isn't on roller skates like the Wheelie Mammoth.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

A Whirlwind Of Change

I spent the weekend looking for some fun stories after a couple of newsworthy firings last week, and it seems that the whole hockey world is now either terminating people or having people step away from the game. Four significant hockey people over the last two days will be absent for the future, and it's hard to understand why the terminations had to happen as they did. I get there are likely reasons for the two men being fired, but the loss of the man and woman who have decided to take a step back are, in my view, bigger losses for the game. Let's get into hockey employment news tonight!

We'll start on Long Island where a four-game losing streak might have been the catalyst for the change that GM Mathieu Darche made as he fired head coach Patrick Roy, replacing him with Pete DeBoer. Roy has two years left on his contract, so it seems like this move was made out of necessity, and DeBoer signed a three-year deal that will also include the rest of this season as he and Darche will see their contracts expire at the same time. With the Islanders falling out of a playoff spot this weekend during this losing skid, it appears that Darche had seen enough to know that a change was needed.

Will DeBoer make the Islanders better? In the long-term, there's a chance that he can. I'm not sure they're going to reach third-place in the Atlantic as they likely need to win three of their four games while getting help to overtake Philadelphia, but they can jump into a wild card spot by Saturday if they beat both Toronto and Ottawa. From there, they'll have to play well to beat Montreal and Carolina, but an improved focus on the defensive side of the game - something DeBoer can bring - would go a long way for the Islanders' playoff hopes.

With the New Jersey Devils on the verge of missing the playoffs as they sit seven point back of the second wild card with five games to play, the architect of the Devils' roster was fired today. Tom Fitzgerald had held the general manager's position since 2020, but Devils managing partner David Blitzer felt that "it was time to move in a new direction". Twice in Fitzgerald's six seasons at the helm have the Devils made the playoffs, losing both appearances to the Carolina Hurricanes. While both sides agreed to part ways, the Devils will begin their GM search immediately to begin preparing for the NHL Entry Draft. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, could be a likely candidate for the GM role in Nashville if he wants other immediate options.

After losing Vic Rauter earlier in the week, I'm not sure sports broadcasting was prepared for Scott Oake's announcement yesterday. The longtime Hockey Night in Canada interviewer and broadcaster made the announcement that he would be retiring from broadcasting following the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, and it's hard to deny that the 74 year-old hasn't earned the right to walk away. Scott Oake is one of the people I tried to emulate with my interviews as he was factual, fair, and funny no matter who he was speaking with during his few minutes of questions. I don't know if Sportsnet will be able to replace him because he was so good at what he did. On top of that, he was simply an incredibly generous man both with his time and his graciousness. Scott Oake will be missed for his interviews, but he absolutely deserves a happy retirement!

And if there weren't enough hits taken by the hockey world today, the Ottawa Charge announced that head coach Carla MacLeod would be stepping away from the team to continue her medical treatments as she looks to emerge victorious against breast cancer. Assistant coach Haley Irwin will assume the role of interim head coach effective immediately, but it's pretty clear that everyone's thoughts will be with Carla as she undergoes another round of treatments. I have zero doubt that she's going to overcome this, so I want to wish her all the best as she continues to kick cancer's butt! If you know Carla, that's her attitude in this fight!

This is a woman whose presence in and around the game is second-to-none with her knowledge, her quips, and her smile. I'd go to the ends of the earth if she asked just because of how much fun I had in speaking with her on The Hockey Show, so I'm hoping that she's back sooner than later after these treatments. She's a gem, and hockey needs more people like her. We're all pulling for you, Carla!

Obviously, the last 36 hours have seen a whirlwind of change in the hockey world, and that's not even counting what happened on the ice. We saw a head coach fired, a head coach hired, a general manager and a team part ways, a broadcasting icon retire, and a head coach take a leave so she can be stronger. With seasons coming to a close, you expect these changes in the summer, not two weeks before the end of the season. However, that's hockey this year.

I'm not here to celebrate the two men who lost their jobs. That sucks, and there's no other way to say it. I am happy for Scott Oake, and my thoughts are with Carla MacLeod. These four people will likely find their way either back into the game or into a new chapter of life where they can be just as effective. I doubt this is the last we'll hear from any of them, but it's certainly been a crazy 36 hours of changes to say the least with all the announcements from teams.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

The Hardest-Working Goal

As a person who follows Canada West women's hockey very closely, it's always great to see a player get rewarded for the hard work she puts in playing the game. Earning a professional contract somewhere across the planet is a big accomplishment for any player, but keeping a roster spot year after year takes dedication and hard work to continue to be an asset to a team. The player pictured with the Montreal Victoire has done that since she decided to make the jump into the professional ranks, and Friday night may saw the culmination of a lot of hard work finally pay off for her. Having watched forward Kailtin Willoughby score a pile of goals for the Saskatchewan Huskies, she finally got one with the Victoire after years of hard work!

I really wanted to see Kaitlin score during the Victoire's stop in Winnipeg after all the big goals she scored in Winnipeg while playing against the Manitoba Bisons, but the Victoire could only light the lamp once last weekend. On Friday night, though, Willoughby broke out of her goal drought with two goals against the Ottawa Charge at Canadian Tire Centre, removing any doubt as to whether she belongs among the world's best. However, it's all the hard work that you don't know about that made this moment even better for what it means.

Before we go any further, let's get Willoughby's goal posted from TSN.

What you didn't see when Willoughby scored for the first time in 75 PWHL games were all the overnight shifts at hospitals and early morning training sessions after a long night of work as a nurse. In her final year at the University of Saskatchewan where she was earning her degree, Willoughby shuttled between Calgary and Saskatoon often as she was playing for the CWHL's Calgary Inferno, working at Calgary Foothills hospital, and attending classes in Saskatchewan!

"I was living in Saskatchewan, living in Calgary, finishing my nursing degree and flying back and forth," she told Kerry Gillespie of the Toronto Star in 2024. That was the reality for players in the CWHL.

She'd continue to work as a nurse as the CWHL folded into history while training alongside the players from the Inferno. That would turn into an opportunity to play in the PWHPA where she couldn't play every weekend, but she squeezed in as many games as she could to keep her professional hockey dreams alive. After all, paying the bills that come with life and hockey means she had to keep working.

"Life is definitely expensive... so just trying to be financially in a good spot once hockey's done," she told Gillespie.

A new path opened up for women's hockey, though, and it has changed how Willoughby has approached the game. No longer does she need to work to play, but she can now focus on working on her play as her full-time career. Finding a roster spot with the Toronto Sceptres in 2023 allowed her to move into a more casual nursing role in the offseason while she continues to chase a Walter Cup.

"Looking back, it was some crazy long days and hard work and sacrifice, but I wouldn't have it any other way to get to where I am right now," she said to Gillespie about playing with the Sceptres in 2024. "Living this dream life, like, it's still a job, but it doesn’t feel like it because it's the best job in the world."

Being a professional hockey player doesn't come without some hardships, though, as Willoughby would need to pack up her life and head east on March 13, 2025 when the Sceptres traded her to the Montreal Victoire at the PWHL trade deadline for defender Anna Kjellbin. After 43 games in Toronto with one assist to her name, she was on the move as Montreal added her as forward depth.

In seven games with the Victoire, she doubled her assist and point total with another assist, and she was an addition that Victoire general manager Danièle Sauvageau was happy to have made as the Victoire re-signed Willoughby in the offseason to a new deal.

"Upon her arrival last season, Kaitlin quickly developed chemistry with our existing players, both on and off the ice. She played valuable minutes with us at the end of the season and during the playoffs," Sauvageau told The Canadian Press.

Without having to work overnights at the hospital or squeeze in shifts between games thanks to her PWHL contract, Willoughby circled back and began to put the work in to focus on improving her game.

"You're now pouring all of your energy into the sport and the training, so you can give 100 per cent every day," she told Gillespie in 2024. "I'm turning 30 next year and I still feel like I haven't reached a plateau. I'm still seeing myself get better."

Clearly, she knows what she's talking about as Willoughby had three assists this season before Friday night to eclipse her career total in one season. Her play alongside Catherine Dubois and Alexandra Labelle on Montreal's "U SPORTS line" has been excellent as a checking unit, but these three women have been showing some jump in recent weeks as they push the offensive side of their talents.

Of course, Friday night saw Willoughby toss the 800-pound gorilla off her back as she scored her first PWHL goal against Ottawa before doubling her output with an empty-netter late in the game! That night saw Ottawa play in front of its largest crowd at 17,114 fans while the win marked Montreal's 50th PWHL win in franchise history and the 39-save shutout for Sandra Abstreiter was also the first of her career on what was a big night for the Victoire in Ottawa!

Upon returning to the bench, Willoughby got hugs from both head coach Kori Cheverie and assistant coach Caroline Ouellette as they've been witness to just how hard Willoughby works everyday at practice.

"It's not for lack of chances I've had throughout the years; but my teammates, my coaching staff, everyone has just continued to believe in me and keep my confidence up," Willoughby said to habseyesontheprize.com's Jared Book about her big night after the game. "The support I've had from my teammates just keeps me going. They're like – 'it's going to come Willow'. And eventually it did, and now the floodgates might be open for me."

My hope is that it does exactly that - open the floodgates for a woman whose U SPORTS career saw her dent twine 50 times in 132 games. She's an incredible player to watch, and seeing that smile after she scored her first PWHL goal felt like the old Kaitlin Willoughby that terrorized Canada West goalies was back again.

I've heard from several professional hockey players that making the roster isn't where the hard work ends, but that the hardest work comes in keeping that roster spot. Kaitlin Willoughby has travelled between cities to practice and play hockey, work as a nurse, and take classes, so it was clear that she knew how to work hard before ever being signed by the Sceptres and re-signed by the Victoire.

It may have taken 75 PWHL games, but the hours put into reaching that pinnacle for Kailtin Willoughby are countless. Her ear-to-ear smile during the celebration says that all of the hard work, hours away from family, and sacrifices that she made were worth it. It may have been the hardest goal she's ever had to work for, but that's the effort that Kaitlin Willloughby brings to the rink everyday.

Congratulations, Kaitlin, on your first and second PWHL goals!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!