The Hockey Show - Episode 711

The Hockey Show, Canada's only campus-produced radio show that strictly talks hockey, hits the airwaves with a lot to get done tonight as five people will be sent off Survivor: NHL Playoffs island. There will likely be some discussion regarding for whom these five are cheering now that their chosen teams have been eliminated, and I'd expect some funny comments from at least a few of the departing entrants. Beyond that, our hosts will squeeze in some hockey news after the exit interviews tonight on The Hockey Show at 5:30pm CT!

Tonight, Teebz and Jason bid farewell to Jared (Dallas), Elliot (Edmonton), Josh (Utah), Tom (Boston), and Barry (Tampa Bay) in exit interviews for those teams after their playoff runs ended. I'd expect some fun comments from all of these entrants as a number of "Stanley Cup favourites" bowed out early, so we'll see if we can get some fireworks out of these five contestants. Our hosts will also discuss the Barrie Colts' bizarre press conference, Victor Hedman's honesty, PWHL expansion, USHL expansion, Canada's absence from the Spengler Cup, and anything else we can squeeze into the hour! It's a busy show and we may not get everything in, but find out what we do discuss by tuning in tonight to 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 five more Survivor participants heading back to the mainland, dumb comments, refreshing honesty, expansion everywhere, idiotic decisions, and much more exclusively on 101.5 UMFM and on the UMFM.com web stream!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

A Needed Break

With playoffs in progress for some leagues and ending for other leagues, this is clearly one of the busiest times of the year in the hockey world. The NHL Draft Lottery just saw Toronto claim the top pick, there was a new expansion team announced in the PWHL, there will be a new name and logo for the AHL team in Hamilton announced soon, and there are stories from around the globe that should be examined. I'm not doing any of that tonight, though, because my life has been busy enough with the installation of a new fence at HBIC HQ. Officially, the backyard has been upgraded.

The above fence in the picture is not mine, but this new fence replaced one that was built by someone who has zero carpentry or engineering skills whatsoever. Add in an unprotected electrical line that run along the length of the fence stringer on one side just for fun and I had myself a disaster waiting to happen. Needless to say, I needed the fence replaced with something that not only improved the curb appeal and aestehtics of the house and yard, but also was structurally sound for both me and my next-door neighbours.

I realize that I have limitations when it comes to my ability to construct a fence. I don't know all the ins and outs of putting up a good fence despite my research into fence post anchors, depths required for those anchors, and the advantages and disavantages of vertical boards versus horizontal boards. I am not a carpenter nor a fence specialist, so I went the professional route for this fence.

The end result is that the new fence is stunning, and the company I hired installed it in three days! Something that likely would have taken me all summer to replace is now fully ready for patio parties, barbecues, and quiet evenings around the firepit, so I'll be leaving the company I chose a very positive review. The work done by their employees is second-to-none in terms of craftsmanship!

That being said, I cast no fault on them for my new problem, but I cannot find a suitable lock for the sliding gate on the back of the fence that is accessible from both sides in order to access the lane. There are many locks out there that will work from one side, but not many that are accessible on both sides. Magnetic locks are already out due to the winter temperatures and requiring a constant power source, and I don't really want to have a numerical keypad on the gate when it comes to a keyless option. A padlock would be fine.

That's the new task when it comes to this new fence: find adequate locking mechanisms for both the swinging gate at the front and the sliding gate at the back. I'm open to recommendations if you've experienced this same problem when it comes to locking a sliding/rolling gate, but my quest for some sort of lock that looks good and functions better continues. I know that, at the end of the day, it's likely going to be some sort of 90-degree hasp lock that will require me to move the padlock depending on whether I'm inside or outside the gate, but we'll see how thing shake out here.

With construction coming to an end tonight, it's been a busy and occasionally noisy few days around HBIC HQ, but it looks so much better than how it did before. I'm going to sit outside this evening, unwind a little, and admire the skill and craftsmanship that was put into this new fence. I don't have a Fortress of Solitude like Superman, but I can find some peace in my upgraded backyard when needed.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Do Not Suffer Quietly

I have nothing but complete and total respect for Victor Hedman after he announced today that he had been out of the lineup while focusing on his mental health. When an athlete as heralded and celebrated as Hedman speaks about how he needed to step away from the game that has brought him his celebrity status, it might be time to take a longer look at how hockey and sports in general takes a mental toll on those who play the game. We saw Linus Ullmark speak of the struggles he went through earlier this season, Robin Lehner has been struggling with his mental health for a while, and Ville Heinola spoke of hiring a mental health coach to help him this season. Clearly, this is a health issue that all professional sports leagues should be working to improve, and I commend Victor Hedman for speaking out today about his mental health situation.

Hedman spoke openly and honestly with reporters today as he spoke about his prolonged absence from the Lightning lineup, telling the assembled media that he's been seeing a therapist for years.

"It just helps to have someone to talk to. My therapist has no clue what hockey is. She's learning, but that's kind of nice, too," Hedman told reporters about his therapy sessions. "She's not focused on me as a hockey player, she's focused on me as a person. That's been great, and she's been a tremendous help. She's one of the big reasons that I'm standing here today and feeling the way I feel."

Seeking treatment for mental health issues is nothing new for hockey players, but being as open and honest about those struggles is a vast difference compared to the various ways that some dealt with their deteriorating mental health in the past. Coaches, fans, and media would question a player's "mental toughness" if one were to show ay sort of weakness, and players often remained silent and treated their struggles with mental health through dependencies that affected them and their loved ones. In short, mental health issues have always been present for elite-level hockey players, but, thankfully, things are changing since those days of yesteryear for those needing help.

A 2025 study titled Elite Ice Hockey Players’ Well-Being: A Scoping Review published in the National Library of Medicine written by Pierre-Luc Veillette, Stéphanie Girard, Jason D'Amours, Vincent Huard Pelletier, and Paule Miquelon looked at "the psychological factors contributing to elite ice hockey players' well-being". The study was based on published works that focused on "anxiety and depressive symptoms, motivational variables, and coping strategies at different career stages" of the hockey players described in those articles.

The findings by the authors showed that there are many factors that lead to elite male hockey players struggling with mental health. The study did identify that it was a poor representation of women's hockey as there weren't many articles which they could study, but everything from concussions and their long-term effects to lack of routine for retired players to negative experiences with coaches and parents led to negative thoughts and behaviours in hockey players.

Hedman, in his comments today, indicated that fellow players may be changing how mental health situations are viewed within the league.

"In the beginning it was more with my therapist. Guys were reaching out, and I really didn't have the energy to reach back at that point," Hedman said. "But it was a tremendous amount of support, not just from my teammates, but around the league as well. Tremendous support, and now we're just looking forward to what's ahead."

This aligns with the study above that noted that "athletes who seek social support during injuries tend to cope better during their rehabilitation process. Thus, strong support networks — including teammates, coaches, and family — are instrumental in fostering effective coping strategies". Hedman indicated that the support from teammates and players around the league helped him escape the darkness, and that's a great sign for how hockey may be changing for the better. No longer are players told to "tough it out". Instead, there's compassion and empathy when a player is asking for help.

"The mental part is just as important, if not more important, than the physical part," Hedman stated matter-of-factly about his time away from the Lightning. "This game has given me everything, but it takes a toll on you as well. So just don't sit around with your thoughts by yourself. Just reach out and get the help you need."

There are a pile of great resources for people who may not know where to turn as well. The Canadian Mental Health Association can be reached 24/7 by dialing or texting 9-8-8, there are many provincial resources that can help, the Kids Help Phone has info and resources for younger people seeking help, HeadsUpGuys has mental health resources specifically for men, Indigenous Peoples can get 24/7 help through Hope For Wellness, and the Women's Health Clinic offers assistance to women, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people. All of these organizations are incredible and I am grateful they are helping those who ask for help.

I urge anyone who is struggling with any sort of mental health issue - anxiety, depression, overwhelming emotions, or suicidal thoughts - to use the resources above to find some light. As Victor Hedman said, he began his journey with a therapist, but not everyone has the means to be able to get that kind of help. Using the free resources above is a good start in navigating any and all mental health issues one may be experiencing. You don't have to be an NHL player to do that.

Perhaps Victor Hedman said it best near the end of his press conference when he stated, "There's a lot of people out there that can help you, and that's what I found out. It's never too late either."

Full credit to Victor Hedman for being a leader by speaking out about his struggles today. If he can help one person get the help he or she needs with his message, he's done a good thing. And if NHL players are coming to one another's aid when they're struggling, there still is decency and good in a business that often shows little of either trait.

Knowing that NHL players are lifelong teammates who may play on different teams is one thing, but seeing those friendships come before logos or contracts when a player is asking restores a little faith in the game for me. In saying that, if you need help, don't suffer quietly. Be like Victor Hedman and ask for help. As he said, "There's a lot of people out there that can help you" and "It's never too late".

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Five-In-Five For All

For as much as I support U SPORTS hockey, it's hard to argue that the machine south of the border known as the NCAA isn't a system that churns out all sorts of talent. One can make a case that the University of Michigan, North Dakota, Boston College, and Boston University, and the University of Minnesota have been factories for hockey talent for years with the number of players they sent to the NHL, and a vast number of these players have been top picks in the NHL draft while playing long NHL careers. However, a change to the NCAA's eligibility setup may now change how players view NCAA offers to play college hockey.

The new eligibility rules would perceivably change how players treat college hockey opportunities. The newly-proposed rule reads,

"Permit student-athletes up to five years of eligibility beginning the regular academic year after they turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever happens earlier."

I can tell you that I graduated high school when I was 17 and started university the following September at the same age. Under the new rules, this would mean that I would have started an NCAA hockey career at 18 and it would have ended at age 23 regardless red shirt seasons or any season where I was injured. The exceptions to the five-year eligibility are few and far between under the new setup.

If I had chosen to go to junior hockey and play there, I would need to decide before turning 19 whether or not I was joining an NCAA program. If I play junior hockey until I was 20, I'd lose one year of eligibility since the new rules state that eligibility starts at age 19. Clearly, this is going to force a lot of decisions for both players and programs when it comes to recruiting and planning rosters for both junior hockey and NCAA teams. Nothing can ever be easy, right?

If there is a benefit to the start of eligibility, it would allow high school graduates a chance to take that gap year between high school and university. Many universities have looked at the benefits and drawbacks of the gap year, and there's even an association that promotes using the gap year. Personal anecdotes, government sites, and even Harvard University suggest taking the gap year for a number of reasons. This might be the best part of the new eligibility rule.

Where this rule presents a major problem for NCAA programs is transfers and professional players. Aidan de la Gorgendiere would have had to make a decision on NCAA hockey in 2020 after his second season with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades after 110 WHL games and 33 points. I'm not certain that many NCAA teams would have been seeking de la Gorgendiere, and the five-year length of time for his eligibility means his 2025-26 season with the University of Nebraska-Omaha may not have happened. Clearly, that wouldn't be good.

For current students, the good news is that the new eligibility rules will not apply to them. The bad news is that students coming into university programs will see it applied to them. What this means is that even if a player shows up and is red-shirted all season long, one season of eligibility will be used. The new rules are strict about five years of eligibility in a five-year period, so it doesn't matter if a player is good enough for a roster spot because the clock is running.

The flip side is that coaches don't have to worry about burning a year of eligibility by dressing a player for one game, so younger players may get a shot if teams struggle. If there are kids who stand out in practice, they can be dressed for games at any time. Coaches are no longer planning for the future when it comes to recruiting players.

There are still a pile of questions that need to be answered when it comes to certain situations for hockey eligibility, but this new eligibility rule instituted by the NCAA will affect all sports. With exceptions only being made for pregnancies, military service, and religious missions, it seems the NCAA is set on ensuring that eligibility for any sport ends at the age of 24 for all athletes in all sports.

It will be a new landscape in American university sports when this five-in-five rule is finalized. Whether it changes the sports being played at the NCAA level is unknown at the moment, but time will answer that question as we find out how NCAA men's and women's hockey programs works under the new eligibility rules.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!

Half As Many Entrants

The final game of the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs was concluded tonight as the Montreal Canadiens held on for a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, eliminating the Lightning as the eighth and final team gone from the first round. Of course, that means we'll have exit interviews on The Hockey Show as five more people join Ethan (Ottawa), Harv (Los Angeles), and Billy (Pittsburgh) back on the mainland after spending two weeks or less on Survivor: NHL Playoffs island! The remaining eight teams push forward!

Michaela is already on her way after Carolina took a 1-0 lead over Philadelphia, so Derek's going to need the Flyers to rally after being blanked 3-0 in the opener. Minnesota and Colorado will renew hostilities tonight as Dave and Tyler look to grab a lead in that series, Anaheim and Vegas will kick off their battle tomorrow with Colin and Matt looking for and edge, and Travis and Fiona will have to wait until May 6 before the Montreal-Buffalo series gets underway.

For those worried about these weird starts to series, Carolina and Philadelphia could be done by May 9 if Carolina were to sweep while Buffalo and Montreal will have only played two games. The NHL really needs to get this scheduling under control because there's no way any team should have played their first game of the second round when the first round hasn't ended. That's just ridiculous, but that's the NHL.

For those wondering about the challenge prizes, here's the recap:

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

I'm waiting on one person to choose a prize before the final prize of the first round can be handed out, but the three challenges that remain can still be won by any of the eight teams still alive. With four of the five winners still alive, could we see someone win multiple prizes? We've seen it before, so it could very well happen!

This week's episode of The Hockey Show will see Jared (Dallas), Elliot (Edmonton), Josh (Utah), Tom (Pittsburgh), and Barry (Tampa Bay) give their thoughts on how their teams failed them in the playoffs as these five competitors will deliver their exit interviews. Those should be fun as a few of the heavyweights who were thought to have a chance will now be working on their golf games until September.

Officially, Round Two is underway. Eight teams will be reduced to four when the dust settles, and we'll have four more exit interviews. Who will still be in contention at that point on Survivor: NHL Playoffs?

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!