Dump & Chase Podcast
Since 2019, the Dump & Chase Podcast has been the Unofficial Fan Podcast of the 2023 USHL Clark Cup Champion Youngstown Phantoms. Hosted by season ticket holders Sam Olmstead, Justin Irwin, and Dan Conley, the show gives weekly insight and analysis into Phantoms games, roster moves, and much more. The show also features interviews with Phantoms Staff, Coaches and Players. Check it out today!
Dump & Chase Podcast
Ryan Ward: The Exit Interview
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This isn't goodbye, just goodbye for now. We welcome Ryan, Jessica, Ollie & Teddy to the show to talk about what Youngstown has meant to them, as well as Ryan's thoughts as he joins the AHL's Providence Bruins as an Assistant Coach. From all of us, to Ryan and the Ward Family, thank you!
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This recording is the sole view of the members of the Dump & Chase Podcast. This is a non-commercial fan production. We are not affiliated with or compensated by the Youngstown Phantoms, the United States Hockey League, or any league, club, or team.
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Hello, fan fans, and welcome to this very special edition of the Dumpin' Chase podcast. My name is Sam Olmstead, and joining me as always is Justin Irwin. Providence, you can't get there from here. And Dan er no, Dan Conley's not here. Wow. See, just going into old habits here. Dan is on assignment once again. Uh, will not be joining us for this. Uh, he will be piping in. Uh, well, we it's always nice when one of your co-hosts can phone it in on one of these episodes. And that's what we got him doing later.
SPEAKER_03Um I thought I phoned it in on all of them.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. 240-something episodes now. All right. So, as I said, a very special episode. Uh, we got the news at the beginning of this week uh that our uh leader here for the past four years, now the former head coach of the Youngstown Phantoms, Ryan Ward, uh, will be leaving us uh accepting a position as an assistant coach with the uh Providence Bruins in the AHL. So without any further ado at all, we are joined not only by Ryan Ward, but by the entire family, Jess Ollie and uh the other one there today. I had it in my head beforehand and it just fell right out. Sorry, Teddy. All right, Ryan, how are you doing, bud?
SPEAKER_02Good, good. Thanks for uh having us on here. It was um like we talked about earlier, it's um the last one for now. And uh, I think for us, um obviously a great four years and excited for the next chapter, but also um just a massive feeling of of gratitude for being able to be the coach of the Phantoms. And there's so many people to be thankful for, including you guys and the wonderful job that that you've that you've done, and and I think the wonderful relationship we've had over the last four years. So I think you know, for me, it's sitting here with a with, like I said, a a massive, um a massive feeling of gratitude just for Youngstown, for the organization, for the players, for the staff, for the billets, for my family, um, just over over the moon here with what we've accomplished and what we have to look forward to. So uh appreciate one last ride here. Again, we'll we won't say good uh it's it's the last one, we'll say it's the last one for now.
SPEAKER_05Now it's it and I th I was thinking today as far as like what I wanted to ask you about, and you know, kind of thinking of our history together. And um the the what the word I wanted to come up with, it it it starts with the that I wanted to call you, it starts with a D and rhymes with prick. Um yeah, that I I'm sure you're not the only one. I I think sometimes then because I think back to when you first started, and and we've talked about this before. That that first month was a little rough for you. Yeah. And uh after the first month, I I you know, I was just like, I think this guy hates me. And then fast forward to four years later, and I and I'm sitting here reminiscing kind of through that history and thinking about what I want to talk to, and I actually felt myself getting choked up over it. So, you know, thank you for that roller coaster ride over the last four years. I just wondering starting to touch them all in your emotions, yeah. Um so and you know, and a lot's been made of this, and you know, you've told us the story, you know, early on when you've been on here. Providence the Bruins is like basically where you got your start. The back, you know, back at the beginning of your journey was with the Providence Bruins. So, I mean, obviously, this is a very full circle moment for you uh coming back to them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, honestly, it it's it's totally full circle. And to be honest with you, it's it's kind of where I grew up. I mean, I I spent from when I was honestly September 2001, right after 9-11. I was a freshman in high school when they started their season. They asked me if I wanted to be a stick boy, and um, it was actually just ex just pure luck. Um, and then from there, you know, it's it's kind of where I grew up from from 12 to 18 years old. I I basically grew up in that locker room. And um, you know, we had uh Bill Armstrong was uh who's now the the Utah Mammoth GM, he was the first head coach I worked for. Mike Sullivan uh came in and um was the the next head coach. Uh and then Scott Gordon was the coach for the two the two two years or three years after that. So it's funny, like without any of those moments, like without any of of that happening, I would have never met Scott. Um obviously Scott brought me to the New York Islanders after college, and that really that's why we're sitting here today. Um, and it's funny, like you uh I don't know if you've ever seen the movie The Adjustment Bureau. Have you ever seen that movie? Heard of it with Matt Damon. Okay. Well, anyway, these people that basically um control everybody's fate on Earth. Um, they have these little books, and if someone gets off course, they try to put them back on anyway. That doesn't matter, but without you know, any of of that happening, um, we're not sitting here today. So it's really funny to think of you know how lucky how lucky you get. And um to be going back there now as a coach is uh totally full circle. And um, you know, there's a a lot uh I don't think my 13-year-old self would ever be would ever think would be sitting here today. So super proud, um super excited, um, and certainly uh grateful um for the opportunity because uh a lot of people obviously don't don't get that chance.
SPEAKER_03Um so for the the family sitting here, um what has this been like for you? I mean, when the the news hit you, what's the what's the emotions?
SPEAKER_06I think initially we were super excited. This is something that Ryan has always dreamed of getting back to Providence, and it's where families are. And then after you kind of celebrate, we we usually sit down and kind of talk about okay, what does this mean for our family? Are we gonna move? Are we gonna be apart? And uh we kind of have those discussions, and yeah, I think there's a little bit of excitement and a little bit of anxiousness just because of the change that's about to come for our family, but um we're excited to be with our families more back on the East Coast.
SPEAKER_02What about you, Teddy? What do you think?
SPEAKER_00I'm excited, but I just don't want to move.
SPEAKER_02What about you, Like?
SPEAKER_00I don't know. I'm excited, I think it's it's a big step, especially like towards like the NHL and pro. Um also yeah, it's like glad to, you know, be back like closer to home, even though we're not moving, but like seeing, you know, um like our grandparents more and like more of our family. But also um like sad leaving Youngstown.
SPEAKER_03And he's already tried to put you on the Bruins bench, I think. Yeah, the Boston Bruins Bench.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, and so the uh our family's gonna we're actually gonna stay living in Canfield. So we're gonna, you know, I'll be back and the kids will come visit and um or the family will come visit and um we'll spend our you know next summer here in Ohio and um I think it's just a testament to this place to be honest with you. Like Ohio's such a you know, I went to school here, and when I went to school at Bowling Green, um Ohio always felt like home. And coming back to Youngstown, I had no idea. I I honestly probably didn't even wouldn't even be able to tell you where Youngstown is on the map. And then when we got here, it's just it's a testament to like the tight-knit community that we have here in the Youngstown area. The people are so wonderful, and being part of this community is something that has been so special to us. The kids have so many friends, and our family has so many different friends. Um, this the the whole town, the schools, the sports. Um, it's been wonderful, and and they they don't want to leave quite yet, so we're gonna play it by year. And um, but yeah, so we're we're we're always gonna be phantoms, and we're uh certainly still gonna call Canfield home.
SPEAKER_05Now you get the call, you you get the call from uh Boston or Providence, you know, Providence or whoever it was. I mean, what what what's going through your head when you know that kind of offer you know comes to you?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, well, it was actually we were in Maine at my father-in-law's house. We had two weddings last weekend um in Newport, and so we went to Maine for a week, and um, you know, it's actually a funny story. I I accepted a job at Harvard. Um so just to kind of set the record straight here, I accepted a job at Harvard with Rob Rassey, who was a former Youngstown Phantom assistant coach and player. Um, and when we were driving, um we got a call, I got a call from the New York Rangers, and they wanted to interview me for assistant coach at Hartford. So I ended up driving through the night on Thursday, Friday morning. I interviewed with the Rangers. Uh, the Rangers offered me um, you know, we we had talks about a job for for Hartford. And anyway, whatever. And then, you know, Tuesday, I was sitting there by the lake and um we had kind of talked as a family and made a decision, you know, to go to to Harvard. I I just said, you know what, I'm just gonna take a few hours. And Don Sweeney and I ended up talking that day completely out of the blue. Um, it was it was honestly completely out of the blue. Um, and then um Don and I chatted on on Tuesday. Um, I talked to Don the next day, and then Wednesday everything kind of came together. So it was a whirlwind. Like it was such a whirlwind. And for all of us, it was a stressful week. And, you know, just when when everything came together with Boston to coach in Providence, um, it was something that it just was the right thing. It was totally, you know, I'm I'm a Bruin, like it is what it is. Like I grew up a Bruins fan. Um, I worked for like I I started in Providence, and to be honest with you, there's so many different connections within the organization um that it just felt right. And it it was something that was was an awesome opportunity and um everything about it was was perfect. So um it was a whirlwind, but it was it was uh it was something that we couldn't pass up.
SPEAKER_05Uh how did how did Coop react? Uh did did he get a hold of you when uh this news came out?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so Coop sent me Coop sent me a text that and I don't even know what this means, but Coop sent me a text that said, Type shit goat.
SPEAKER_05So that's I'm I'm laughing because I don't know what it means.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, and that was that's the best thing about Coop, and he's like, Yeah, you know, we we talk on the phone and obviously we were both super excited he's gonna be coming through the system. And you know, Coop's a wonderful kid and uh was a great fan of and hopefully um yeah, I mean obviously he's going to North Dakota and we'll see what happens, but um, but yeah, we're we're I'm excited to at the opportunity or the potential to maybe be back with Coop.
SPEAKER_05Um I mean and we always talk, you know, we always talk to players about, you know, kind of making the jump from like youth to juniors or making the jump from, you know, the null to you know the USHL, you know, and a lot of you know, especially coming from youth where they say, Oh, well, you know, you're playing with kids the same age, now we're playing with kids four years older than us. Um, what do you think as far as you know, now you're gonna be going from coaching teenagers into you know, coaching grown adults that you know does doesn't take a month and a half to grow a playoff beard?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know, it's funny. Like I've I've I've been in the AHL, um, I've been in the NHL, so it's not like uh it's something that's super familiar to me. Um obviously it's um it's a different challenge, but but coaching is coaching. And um I think that the principles of coaching, communication, and and you know, what and making sure that uh you have a plan to get each player better and um the the ability to connect with your players, um, that stuff is is infinitely important regardless of the level you're at. So um to me it it it really you know doesn't change. Like I'm gonna be coaching against Shane La Chance. And um, you know, I think like when these guys have all come through junior and and now they're pros, and it it I don't think that I don't think that much of the the mission changes. I think it it just um the the root of coaching and and making sure that you know for me like every player I've ever coached, whatever level it's been, you want to see them succeed more than you want to see yourself succeed. And I think that's really important. And um, to me, I'm not gonna change who I am, I'm gonna be myself. And um, and and I certainly wanna now my job is to to make sure that our guys that leave Providence are ready to play Boston for Boston. Just like my job and our job here in Youngstown was to make sure that when our players left Youngstown, they were ready to play at their college team or at their pro team. Nothing really changes, it's just more um realigning with with the goals of the organization and what Marco Sturm wants in Boston and um what those guys need from our players that come up from Providence. So it really doesn't change. Um, you know, you it's a little bit probably uh it's a a little bit easier in the sense of um these guys have been through junior, they've been through college, they understand the monotony of what you have to do to be successful. So um it's it's probably a little bit more polished, but it's um it's it's also the same exact thing that we're trying to do here.
SPEAKER_03Now, speaking uh of guys inside the um Boston um pipeline, you know, uh their previous assistant head coach, Trent Whitfield, he after 10 seasons, now he's getting moved up to um bench boss. Uh have you spoken with him?
SPEAKER_02Um Yeah, so so it's funny. Um Witter and I go go way back. Um we used to run we used to run uh camps in the summer in in Rhode Island um when we lived in Rhode Island. So Trent and I have known each other for about 10 years and we've always made uh you know stayed in contact. And um I think we were both really excited um to learn that you know we were gonna be on the same staff. And um Trent is a is a wonderful human being. He works extremely hard. He's a he's a great person. Um he's got a great personality. Um he knows exactly how to balance um you know being a coach versus having relationships. He and he's the thing about Trent is he's been through he's been through all of these situations, right? Like he's been cut from the NHL, he's played in the NHL, um, he's worked his butt off from you know to from assistant to be a head coach. And um he has so much uh like so much knowledge, and I'm excited to learn from Trent. And I'm I'm really excited about the chemistry that we're gonna have on our coaching staff. And even I talked to Ryan Bork, who is the other assistant coach who coached at the NTDP a couple years ago, and and obviously, you know, like I already can tell um that the staff's gonna be awesome. Um, we're gonna have great chemistry, and um, the biggest thing for us is having the energy and enthusiasm to make our players better and and set the culture and uh make sure that that Providence is a destination and and we're we're helping the players in Providence reach their ultimate goals of playing in the NHL.
SPEAKER_05All right. Um I'm I'm gonna have a couple of philosophical questions for you here, but before we get to that, uh we we did get one question from Dan. Like Dan, like I said, he phoned this one in. And we we have a history of playing you audio questions, so we certainly didn't want to skip out on it this uh time here. Uh so yeah, this is from Dan.
SPEAKER_01Hey, Wardo, congratulations on the new gig. Very happy for you and your family. Thank you very much for everything you did, including leaving uh gigantic shoes for the next person to fill when they come in here. Question for you Who was the first non-family member that you called to tell the news when you accepted the Providence job?
SPEAKER_02Oh man, non-family member. So, like outside of my immediate family, correct? Yes. Um Scott Gordon, I called I called Flash because um obviously, you know, that's where it all started. And there's actually a really funny story. Um, when I was a stick boy, I almost got in a lot of trouble um because I was at the rink around 3 30 in the morning waiting for the Philadelphia Phantoms to come in uh so I could do their laundry. Um and uh and I there was a security golf cart, and um myself and one other person decided to take the golf cart on the ice and um and we drove it all around the ice and did like you know, we were like kind of kind of drifting or whatever it is, and uh the the president of the team at the time um pulled up the surveillance video from that night and went to Scott and said, uh, hey, we can't have this. This is like huge liability. And and Flash's first words were, Hey, uh, make sure you ask him if there's a golf cart that you can take from uh the ice to the office.
SPEAKER_05I I I I love that while telling that story, both Teddy and Ollie kind of got these looks on their faces, like, oh, we haven't thought of that one yet.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I know though, yeah. I'm sure I'll have to deal with that.
SPEAKER_05I'm I'm saying you're thinking there there was a golf cart at Cavelli Center, so Yeah. Oh yeah. But you you probably didn't wouldn't need to take a golf cart from the ice to the locker room at Cavelli, so no, and if God forbid they ever hit anything, the whole thing would probably fall down. Uh you know, four years in Youngstown. What what what what is Ryan Ward taking to Providence that he didn't know four years ago?
SPEAKER_02Uh I think um I don't know. I I think that when we came here four years ago, you're excited about the job, you have all these big plans, um, and quite honestly, you have no idea if anything you're saying is gonna happen is gonna happen. And I think that the biggest thing I learned is when there's when there's a belief and a vision and a tireless work ethic and a really uh a a lot of really good people, um, the sky's the limit. You know, I remember sitting in my first draft and calling agents and asking players if, you know, asking agents if their players wanted to tender in Youngstown. And uh it was really difficult. It was difficult. I remember flying to Minnesota to to recruit Will Whitelaw, and I had to sit down and um and and lay out our vision for the program and the team, and and Will was making a decision on if he wanted to come to Youngstown or not. And ultimately he did, and Will and I still talk weekly. Way what he calls me way too much, but I love the kid. Um But I think that the biggest thing is is really it's nothing more than the the assurance and the confidence for me that that you can do really special things with people that believe in what they're doing, with people that work really hard and people that are really, really good people. And we've been fortunate here in Youngstown to have four seasons of unbelievable players. We've had a staff that has largely stayed together for the entire time. Uh, we've had a management staff that's been completely aligned with what we're trying to do. We've had ownership that have given us the resources to do special things. And I've had a wonderful family behind me, uh, beside me uh the whole time. And I think when you when you have that, those situations, anything can happen. And I think you know, the the biggest thing you take away is that you know, as a coach, um you can have the confidence that you're a decent coach and that with the right people beside you and and a belief and a vision that you can accomplish a lot of really special things.
SPEAKER_03Okay, on the flip side, um you're going out, there will be somebody uh taking your place. Any words of advice, wisdom, or anything in general you'd like to say to them?
SPEAKER_02No, I think listen, Jason does a great job. He's gonna find a great coach to come in here, and I think that this this place is now a destination, and man, it's a wonderful place, and I think the next coach is gonna have a great experience and and be able to take what we've done even further. And um, I think that's that's something for our fans to look forward to, our players to look forward to. Um, and it's something that certainly is is gonna be special for the next coach. And um the staff is all in place and you know everything's kind of teed up. So um I think the the next person can can really take it and run with it and um hopefully their playoff record in next year is better than mine in the last three years.
SPEAKER_05Um, so Jess, uh, you know, you've had, you know, a front row seat for, you know, Ryan's career. Um, you know, the ups and downs and everything else. Um what how are you feeling? I mean, certainly, you know, and I mean, you know, and you said you guys are going to be staying in Canfield, but um, you know, as far as you know, Ryan with the Phantoms, you have that kind of era ending and now this new one beginning in Providence. And you've been through these transitions before, obviously. Um, you know, how, you know, how are at this point, how are you feeling about this one?
SPEAKER_06I'm just so proud of Ryan. I feel like our family has made so many sacrifices. Um, we've moved eight times in 12 years. There's been a lot of missed birthdays and holidays and not only time apart from each other, but also our extended family who is mostly on the East Coast. We don't get to see them as much as we'd like to. And when he got the job offer of Providence, it made all of that feel worth it. Like there's a purpose to why we're doing this. Um, so I'm just so happy for him and for our family. And I feel like this is just the next step to bigger and better things.
SPEAKER_03I guess for uh Teddy and Ollie, your dad just made a huge jump. Are you guys gonna brag just a little bit about it?
SPEAKER_00Um, a lot of my friends, uh, when I went to the football practice yesterday, after we had just gotten back from our um vacation, most of them were all asking, like, are you moving? Like like they like were kind of like confused, like like some of them were like asking me like like what the like difference in the leagues were and like just like questions about his jobs now. Um and it was I don't know, I mean it was kind of cool, like like just like seeing them like kind of like I don't know, like realize that I can't really like think of a word to describe it, but like just like cool how they like realize like what it's all like worth.
SPEAKER_05There you go. It is is it a little weird sometimes, maybe where your dad has a job that you know he changes jobs and the local news reports on it? Cause I mean I changed jobs a couple years ago. The news didn't come and interview me about it.
SPEAKER_02I will tell you one thing that was really funny. Teddy, what did you say? What did you say when uh when we woke up that day? Do you remember?
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, can we be Bruins fans?
SPEAKER_02So Teddy Teddy's always been a Bruins fan, and uh we woke up on Wednesday morning, and he woke up and came out and said, Can we be Bruins fans again? Because I obviously was with St. Louis in San Antonio the year that they beat the Bruins in the Stanley Cup. So I was rooting for the Blues, obviously, and these two were rooting for the Bruins.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and we you know, and we've said before, because like me, Dan, and Justin, we're all Penguins fans. So, you know, Fowler being in Montreal, that was a little bit tricky for us, you know, and you know, and I had told Fowler, I'm like, it I it's gonna be really hard for us to root for Montreal. So, you know, anytime you play Pittsburgh, I hope you play great and I hope you lose one to nothing. So um, yeah, being in boss us being penguins fans and you being Boston, I I feel like it's gonna, you know, kind of be the same thing there. You know, if you if if the time ever comes you make it up to the big team, uh you're there's gonna be some con internal conflicts uh with that for sure.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, the the funniest thing about working in hockey, especially like when you work with younger players that move up, and and people ask me all the time, like who's your favorite hockey team? And and obviously it's the Bruins. Um, but um, you know, before I was with the Bruins, um, I would when I was in junior or whatever, you always say that you're you're kind of not a fan of a team, but a fan of the people. Um, and I think I think you know, you always see that, right? Like I've now, especially like getting old, but you see so many, you know, you've coached against or you've coached so many people that are now playing pro or you've worked with people that are in different organizations, and um, those people all help shape your life, and you're certainly uh when you're playing them, you want to beat, beat the hell out of them. But um, when you're not, you're always rooting for the people because you know the people and how special they are and how special this game is. So um, you know, it's it is a a kind of funny little paradox there.
SPEAKER_05Now, I'm I want to ask you, and I I know this is a question that could have a 10-minute answer just because you wouldn't want to leave anyone out. Um, so I'll I'll I'll ask it this way. Um after all this time in Youngstown, what what do you feel like is gonna be like one of the quirkier things about Youngstown you're gonna miss?
SPEAKER_02Oh yeah, that's that's great. Um I don't know. I'll miss uh I mean again, I'm I'm gonna be back here, so but but on a day-to-day basis, like I think you'll you'll miss the deep freeze parking lot with the million potholes. Um uh I'll miss the Kensington patio. Um, you miss Aquapazo, um you know, the Stonebridge stuffed chicken. I think uh honestly like driving in driving into the Caveli Center in the morning at at 7 50 in the morning when the sun's rising and you're coming down the valley and you see the Cavelli Center sitting there and um knowing that that's you know on a Friday morning where that's where you're gonna spend probably the next 16 hours of your day and feeling really excited about it. Um I'll miss the people, I'll miss the I'll miss you know, seeing the fans and and you know, having our billet families yell at me about curfew and um you know, all those little things that you know, I'm you know, seeing seeing you guys, seeing the staff, the the sleeper bus trips where you leave at 10 p.m. on a Wednesday and you drive through the night and you gotta get up and practice in Dubuque, Iowa. Um like all those things you you miss that stuff. Like you miss the the little things that that you you take for granted. And um, you know, there's so many great things about about this place. And luckily for us, like we'll we'll be here still and get to experience some of those, but um, some of them you won't. And um, you know, certainly for me, um, we've met some great friends and um so many people that I love to work with every day. And you know, I'll I'll it'll be tough not going to the Canfield wrestling matches and uh junior phantoms hockey games and Canfield football Friday nights, stuff like that, but it's uh before the season starts, running the concession stand. Um, but no, all that little stuff that when you become part of a community that you know you're not gonna have the opportunity to walk out your door and do every every every day, um, you certainly miss that stuff.
SPEAKER_05Um I'm I'm gonna add one more. Well, I'm gonna ask if one more can be added. Uh, what about uh screwing with Dan by telling him that you watch uh soccer videos on YouTube to learn hockey strategy?
SPEAKER_02Well, that's actually true. I mean, you know the story about that game in Des Moines, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I mean, we we actually almost won that game. Yeah. Um we watched, we literally watched soccer video that morning. Um as a team.
SPEAKER_05But but but not for the four or five hours that you told Dan that you were doing. Yeah, no. I mean we haven't let we haven't we haven't let him forget about that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean we I will say though, a lot of the practice drills we do to start practice are from soccer.
SPEAKER_03All right. Now you mentioned some of the the long trips. I mean, you mentioned that Des Moines trip, that was a special one. Um is there any particular arena you're not gonna miss playing in?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm not gonna miss playing in Dubuque. I'm not gonna miss I'm not gonna miss playing in Tri-City. Um I will miss playing in Green Bay. I will definitely not miss the opening video in Cedar Rapids. Um, could be the weirdest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. Um But yeah, I mean listen, there are so many great little great little I will not miss Madison. That place was a that place was a like that was a dump. Like that was the coach's office was the size of your kitchen table. Like it it was so bad. Um, but they're moving to a new rank, a lot of positivity with that. But their old rank was oh, it was so bad. But yeah, I mean all of those little towns, like you actually are really fortunate to travel to parts of the United States that you'll never you would never travel to otherwise, for the most part. And I think that's what is uh the nostalgia of of junior hockey.
SPEAKER_05Now, I I I won't ask you to do this of the day where we're I'm gonna try to get this out pretty quick, but the day we recorded this, you put out actually a fairly uh lengthy uh statement to the uh fans in Youngstown. So I I guess just real quick here, um, if if there's like any final things you'd want to say. Because like I I know you already put out a big long statement, but um if if there's anything else you would like to add to that here.
SPEAKER_02No, I just I think I sent a a sp uh uh private message to our billet families because they our billet families mean so much to to the organization and to to me. Like we've completely kind of changed our billeting program and um without our billets, like it it it just could never happen. And our billets are so wonderful, they do a great job of accepting these kids into their home gracefully and and making them part of the the their family, like their own family. Um but I think the the one thing like our staff, like Amber, Tommy, Rushy, Scooter, uh Cal, Andy Contoy, Steven Smith, um Red, uh Denny, you know, working with Brad Patterson. I've been I've been so fortunate, Talon Price, like I've been so fortunate to have people that I genuinely love and care about to work with, and that is not normal. Like that's not a normal thing. Like you these people have done airport runs at six o'clock in the morning to pick up, you know, Marty Missiak and um it, you know, to pick up what whoever, like, you know, they're they do so many things that go way above and beyond their job description. And it was a family, you know, we all were a family outside of you know our normal families, and to have the opportunity to work with them was something that I'll never take for granted. They're always gonna be part of my life. Um, it was such a wonderful ride. And trying to convince Tommy Malloy to take the strength code job and telling him he had to live with me in a house when we've never even met, and that first year living with Amber and Denny and Tommy um while these guys stayed in Illinois um was amazing. And and you know, being away from your family to have a family like that that you can spend time with is you know, the they're they've just been unbelievable. And and I can't thank them enough for the support um that they've given me. And then, you know, obviously our players, like I, you know, I touched on it in that message, but I I can't begin to explain to you the effect that our players have had on me as a coach. Like they the amount of effort that they've put into making this program what it is. I mean, it's all about them, and I say it all the time, but without players, none of us would have a job. And they've done such an unbelievable job of building a culture here. The captains that we've had in this organization are I mean, I I've been so lucky to have the best captains, and um, you know, those every single player that has come through here that is stuck with it in Youngstown. Um, I mean, they'll just I I'm so fortunate as a coach to have had those people. And um, you know, I I I could go on for hours about you know what people have meant to me and our family. And um, we have so many good stories. There was a great story about Adam Patilla around seven in the morning. And I mean, there's so many great stories um that we've that we've had here in Youngstown. And um, if Adam listens to this, he'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
SPEAKER_06But um I think it's still on our ring camera.
SPEAKER_02It might still be on our ring camera. Um, but anyway, there's there's just there's so much that you can get into. And um, I'm looking forward to being a fan of the Phantoms, and I'll follow every every game, uh, probably for the rest of my life. And uh, you know, it's an emotional time and and um but a but a time to be celebrated. We've done wonderful things here, and sharing a Clark Cup championship with with everyone here in Youngstown is something we'll certainly never forget, right? Um, and uh, you know, I just want to say thank you to everybody again. And um, the next coach is is gonna be a great coach, and I hope the fans and the billets. The one thing is the embrace, like the embrace that that our fans and uh and our staff showed me when I got this job. I was a nobody, like not that I'm anybody now, but you know, I Desi gave me a chance to to to take over this team and Mari and Bruce and and Ryan and you know it was probably not a popular decision back then because no one really knew who I was. And um the embrace that I felt from the whole community is something that I'll never forget. And certainly Jason Deskins like that guy is he's like my brother, and I love that guy um with everything I got. And I, you know, we tried to work really hard together, and I thought we had a great relationship, and um, you know, he's someone that that'll they'll be my best friend forever. And I know he was my boss, but it it went way deeper than that. And I love that guy and his family, you know, so it's a very special place, and I'm excited that um I'm excited to see the next step and the person take it further than I could ever take it. And um, we're definitely excited about joining the Bruins. So um it's been a great ride. And uh like I said earlier, hopefully this isn't uh the last one, it's the last one for now. And I certainly thank you guys for all the nights that we we spent together.
SPEAKER_05We said, you know, we we said for a long time, you know, Brad Patterson was the guy who had been around, you know, since the beginning, and the and the guy that, you know, was the guy that really built the foundation of the Phantoms. Um, you know, you came in here, you know, you you built the house on top of that foundation and you gave it character and several other bad analogies I could come up with here. Um but you know, we you know, we got to celebrate a Clark Cup with you. Uh, you know, we got to celebrate on the field of Cleveland Browns Stadium with you, uh, which is more than the Cleveland Browns could ever say. Um I'm not gonna go there. I'm a Patriots fan. We're we've done all right. Oh, Justin's a Browns fan. I am going there.
SPEAKER_03Um so so not only not only do I feel sad here, but I also hate Bill Bilichek.
SPEAKER_05Um, but no, yeah, uh certainly on behalf of us, you know, and I'm I'm certain we would speak for everybody when we say, you know, thank you for these last four years. Thank you for everything you've brought to Youngstown. Um, you know, and again, like you said, you know, that this isn't goodbye forever, it's just goodbye for now. Um, you know, and I and I told you when I texted you, you know, open invitation. You're welcome back anytime. Um, Jess, we've been saying for three years we were gonna get you on this show in some way, shape, or form. And if Dan doesn't start showing up to some of this stuff, you're gonna be our new co-host.
SPEAKER_02Hey, let's take that out of it.
SPEAKER_06Just let you have my numbers and just let me know.
SPEAKER_05Um, but yeah, Ryan, uh, I mean, there are a thousand different ways I could say it, but just uh thank you. Yeah, you know, and you know, good luck.
SPEAKER_03I was gonna say good luck, but I don't think he's gonna need it.
SPEAKER_02Oh no, you always need good luck, trust me.
SPEAKER_06We just want to say thank you for welcoming our entire family, the fans and our friends here. Everybody has just been so amazing, and it's a big part of why the kids and I don't want to move to Providence right now. And we're just so thankful for the four years that Ryan got to coach here, and it'll it's a it's a very important chapter of our lives.
SPEAKER_02So Teddy, what do you got?
SPEAKER_00Thank you.
SPEAKER_05Um are you gonna try to make any inroads for uh Ollie and Teddy and the uh uh scouting department out in Boston?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean that's gonna be up to them. We'll see. Hopefully, Teddy's playing one day, and um, yeah, we'll see. We'll see what these guys get up their sleeves.
SPEAKER_05But now do any thought do they still do stick boys in Providence, or is it just like one of the equipment guys now?
SPEAKER_02Or well, judging based on my education, I'm not sure I would let my kids do that, but um No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Yeah, they'll be kicking around, I'm sure they're they've grown up in a locker room, and for better or worse, it looks like that's where they're gonna they're gonna stay. So all right. Any f any final words for you, Ollie?
SPEAKER_05No, I think back in time on the show, this guy is gonna get comfortable. I know one more that's friend of the show status, so that's right.
SPEAKER_00Um, I think we'll always be fanners.
SPEAKER_05Love that. There you go. Um, so yeah, Ryan, Jess, Ollie, Teddy. See, I got it this time. Um yeah, thank you guys so much. Uh, you know, Ryan, good luck in Providence. I mean, uh assistant coach of the Providence Ruins is nothing to sneeze at. So no. Congratulations on getting to put that on your business card and good luck to who good luck uh as far as the fight over your parking spot. Yeah, thanks guys, and uh we'll we'll see you down the road. All right, so with that, uh, we're gonna call it a day. Um, we will hopefully be coming back here soon. Um, and at that point, we will be talking with the new coach of the Youngstown Phantoms um insert name here. So until that time, uh thanks for tuning in, and we'll talk to you later.
