When it comes to grit, perseverance, reliance and attitude I think my guest Lance Pitlick has those bases covered. Lance was drafted in 1986 by the Minnesota North Stars but never got the opportunity to play in his hometown state after college.  Suffering a groin injury in his senior year with the Gophers limited his playing time. He found himself sitting as a free agent at the end of the season after the North Stars decided not to sign him.  As fate would have it, he was fortunate enough to...

My old buddy John Nelson stops by today to talk a little junior hockey and share perspectives on the state of the game. John is currently the Head Coach and Gm of the LaSalle Vipers in the GOJHL. Lots of discussion these days as there is a petition to give the GOJHL Junior A status. Lots of reasons why but you have to listen to hear why John and so many others are passionate about this status change and keeping local talent. As a player John was always ready to battle and although not the...

Gianluca Boldarin or Coach Bold as he is affectionately known, joins me again to discuss our perspectives on the development of young athletes, their mindset, their work ethic and their opportunities. This conversation becomes very passionate as you will hear and actually goes on for close to 2 hours. So this will be part 1 of our conversation and part 2 will be played next week. I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did having it. Lots of great nuggets of information if you are...

Drafted in the 8th round, 66th overall in 2017, and being a Canadian running-back who played USports in Canada, Sean Thomas Erlington defied the odds of making it to the CFL. Standing at 5'9" 217lbs Sean brought his "A-game" to Hamilton and cracked the starting line up. Sean grew up in Montreal and credits his dad for putting him into sports at a young age. As you'll hear, Sean loved sports and played multiple sports as a youth. He progressed in soccer but then transitioned into football in...

Talk about resilience, Taylor Cook has pushed her mind and her body to so many limits chasing her dreams of being a professional female goaltender. From her very honest roots in Brantford, Ontario and with no formal technical goaltending training until she was 18, Taylor pushed herself to continuously be better than she was the day before. Her journey has taken her all over the map as you will hear. She now calls Oslo, Norway home. She not only coaches girls hockey, plays on a women's...

Like many of us, Seanna is a Sports Parent. When she saw her seven-year-old son eating a bag of neon-orange, deep-fried corn chips at 8:00AM after hockey practice, she knew as a parent, and as a Nutritionist, that she could do better. She decided at that moment to make fuel not only healthy but CONVENIENT for players, and parents. Seanna has been working with children and families as a Holistic Nutritional Consultant for over a decade. As a Nutritionist and Mom of three athletic kids, she...

Many ex-athletes choose to live off a reputation of what they did as an athlete in their sport. Not Brent Sopel. You'll hear very quickly that his legacy is to be remembered as someone who changed the world. And he's not doing this because he played 1000+ professional hockey games over 18 years or because he won a Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Black Hawks... He is determined to leave his mark by creating awareness around dyslexia and mental health. Since retiring he has created the...

Wow, talk about a journey! From pro hockey player to convicted marijuana smuggler and then finding redemption and a cause from behind bars...literally! Ryan Phillips is on a mission to bring awareness to mental health and child trafficking. Ryan has peddled his way to happiness and also across a few countries, Cambodia and most recently Canada. Riding from coast to coast to spread the word of love and happiness and to share the struggles of those that suffer from mental health. Ryan has...

I'm bringing back my first repeat guest, Graeme Bonar. Graeme was the very first guest I had on my show over 13 months ago. As you'll hear, it was the first time and the last time I was able to record a podcast live in person. I'm so happy to reconnect via Zoom and catch up with my old friend. The world has become a very confusing place to be in for young athletes and we explore ways that they can keep busy and active with the implementation of new habits and routines. Graeme and I discuss...

Growing up in a suburb of Toronto as the youngest of 6 children and having a love for all sports, Joanne Noble truly has represented the city she was raised in on so many levels. She currently still lives in Etobicoke and also holds the position as President of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame. So what does the President of a hall of fame do...well you'll have to tune in to find out. She also tells an incredible story of her passion for tennis, hockey, golf and just being healthy and fit....

What do you get when Arizona and British Columbia meet in Minnesota? You get Project Hockey! Danny Heath from Glendale, AZ and Evan Karambelas from Fort Saint John, BC met up in Mankato, MN during the 2011-12 season where they were members of the Minnesota State Mavericks hockey team. Fast forward to today and the guys are 3 years into the development and distribution of their Project Hockey app. Already crossing borders into 12 countries they are finding success in their ability to deliver...

What an honor for me today to be able to record a podcast and interview with the OG Hockey Insider, Bob McKenzie. What a great individual and classy gentleman who took the time to share his story with me here. Bob was born in Toronto in August of 1956. he was always into sports and hockey in-particular. He shares his journey and his passion for the game of hockey which, like most, was a humble beginning. Writing for the The Sault Star up in Sault Saint Marie, Bob always had a dream of being a...

This is an episode of firsts for me...first time I'm not interviewing a hockey player, a football player or a male....Today I get the privilege to introduce you to Natalie Allport. The first female guest on my show. Natalie is a very interesting young lady with incredible passion and drive. She was a former Canadian National Team Snowboard member who turned her competitive side to Crossfit most recently. She is also the founder of 93/Agency which helps athletes, brands and business achieve...

What a great story and journey talking about battling high expectations and potential career uncertainty. Mark Visentin experienced the highs and lows of being on a world stage as a promising young junior player to missing 30 months in a row with back to back ankle injuries in his first few years as a pro. Mark was drafted in 2010 in the first round of the National Hockey League to the Arizona Coyotes. He represented Canada two times on the world stage at the World Junior Championships in...

Chris Heid was born in Langely, BC but calls Kamloops home. Growing up a Kamloops Blazer fan Chris wound up playing in the Western Hockey League for the Spokane Chiefs from 1998-2003. he was on a trajectory to lay in the National Hockey League. Having been drafted in 2001 in the 3rd round, 74th overall it seemed that Chris' plan was all falling into place. Signing his first NHL contract but being assigned to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League, Chris felt this was just a stop to...

If you look up a guy who doesn't take "No" for an answer you'll probably see Kevin Porter's picture. At 45 years old, Kevin juggles his job as a firefighter AND as a paramedic with his pursuit of playing pro hockey!! Is he busy, umm yeah, you could say that!! Kevin is a work horse and in better shape than most 25 year olds. He has a no quit attitude and he backs it up with resilience, hard work and commitment. After having to leave the game as a youth due to injuries and then suffering some...

Nathan Rourke was not your typical young Canadian boy chasing a hockey dream...from a young age all he thought about was football. His hero growing up was Brett Favre. Nathan was born in Vancouver but grew in Oakville and now finds himself back in Vancouver preparing for the opportunity when the CFL returns to play to make his professional debut as a BC Lion. Nathan was recently drafter 15th overall and was the highest drafter Canadian quarterback since Jesse Palmer in 2001. Nate shares his...

Have you ever wondered what the road travelled looks like for someone who sits in front of the cameras and brings the Sports News into your living room? Well today's guest opens his kimono to share some stories about just such a journey. Sam Cosentino from SportsNet drops by to shed a little light on the past NHL draft, some of the stories leading up to it, what it's like working with Brian Burke and a few funny, but true stories about Sam's humble beginnings as he pursued his passion of...

I'm joined today by an up and coming young prospect who was drafted in 2016, 75th overall in the 3rd round by the Carolina Hurricanes. Jack LaFontaine is a goaltender who grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. He has currently found himself a home in Minneapolis, MN as the starting goaltender for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, who are currently 10-0, with Jack starting 9 of those games and boasting a 1 GAA to lead the NCAA. Jack's journey to Minnesota wasn't a direct one, and as...

Well today I have a great show lined up with Kris Draper ... if by chance you're NOT sure who he is, let me share a few of his accomplishments as a hockey player; Drafted 62nd Overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1989 The only player to play and score in the NHL and the AHL before playing junior for the Ottawa 67's Won 2 Gold medals for Canada at the World Junior Championships back to back in 90 and 91 Won Gold with Canada at the World Hockey Championships in 2003 Won Gold with Canada...

It's only fitting as we end the year that I bring you guys a little insight into who has been instrumental in my journey. Ciarán Fox and I met back in June and we have met for an hour a week every week since then. I call him my brain coach, but he goes by the handle of @themindguyofficial.  He was formally trained as an occupation therapist but has also studied the power of neurology. He was a former rugby player originally from Ireland and now residing in the UK, Ciarán has worked with Nike...

Today's guest is one of only two guys who started both their playing career and coaching career in the ECHL only to rise through the ranks into the National Hockey League. Davis Payne who is now the assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators is one of those guys. Davis has a great hockey sense and a great sense of humour. You're gonna love his stories and his analogies. He shares both his journey as a player and as a coach. The highs of winning a Stanley Cup with the LA Kings and the lows of...

One of my oldest friends joins me to share his journey that has taken him all over the world as a player and then a coach and now back to Canada where he holds the reigns of one of the most storied franchises in junior hockey, The Peterborough Petes. The Petes have boasted famous coaches such as Scotty Bowman, Roger Neilson, Mike Keenan and Dick Todd. Rob Wilson steps in at the helm of a team that he also played for back in the late '80's. Rob has also seen playing time in the pro ranks in...

What an awesome guest I have on today...JR is a longtime friend and one of the most dedicated and loyal people to the game of hockey. To have the drive and passion to do what he does you have to be a constant student while you educate. JR certainly brings that to the table. Listen as he shares his progression from player, to player coach, to coach and now coach and GM. He currently leads the charge with the OHL's Mississauga Steelheads and credits his success to the supporting cast he has...