Episode 23 - Tristen Robins & Dennis Beyak

New year, new episode! Mitch and Les are kicking off 2021 with a jam-packed episode featuring a newly minted professional for the San Jose Sharks, and a legendary NHL broadcaster. Tristen Robins inked a three-year, entry-level deal on New Years Day, and joins Mitch and Les over the phone from Chandler, AZ. The Clear Lake, MB native is in the desert training in his first NHL training camp with other Sharks prospects, including Prince Albert Raiders forward Ozzy Wiesblatt. He discusses the finer details which went into putting pen to paper, the work-ethic which is required to compete at the professional level, and the COVID restrictions which are in place in Arizona. Following their chat with Robins, the guys welcome TSN play-by-play commentator Dennis Beyak onto the pod. Beyak is currently readjusting to life outside the bubble, most recently calling games at the World Juniors. He's also eying up Winnipeg Jets training camp, seeing he's the lead broadcaster for all regionally televised games, but it's his history with the Blades which makes his story special and unique. Beyak was one of the first broadcasters for the Saskatoon Blades, and also spent nine years as the team's assistant general manager through the 1980's. He played an instrumental role in bringing the Memorial Cup Championship to Saskatoon in 1989, and was on the front-lines of a 'golden era' of Blades hockey which included the likes of Wendel Clark, Kelly Chase, and Kevin "Killer" Kaminski. Beyak relives some of his fondest memories with the organization and shares stories involving many of his former players. Plus, he dives into the outcome of this year's World Juniors, and shares his thoughts on the development of some current and former Blades.