Fire & Ice Podcast
A Coachella Valley Firebirds podcast.
Fire & Ice Podcast
The Desert Sun's Fire & Ice Podcast - A Visit with Cooper Marody (March 26, 2026)
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With the regular season finish line in sight, the Firebirds have found flight at just the right time. A key reason? Trade deadline acquisition Cooper Marody. Join in as the seasoned forward discusses his dual talents for hockey pucks and guitar plucks, and stay tuned for a "Desert Shootout" segment with reporter Andrew John.
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Its origins hatched in Slavic folklore. The mythical Firebird's journey westward has only enhanced its evermore. Finding sanctuary amid sands both timeless and perpetual, the allure of the bird's plumage radiant, eyes hypnotic, talents just, and song enchanting prove a presence magical for those who respect its powers, and a harbinger door for those who seek to tame its flight. In Tales of Your Times by Gone, the Firebird protects its nest, the hue of its brilliant feathers, a guiding blow of belief, of renewal, of light, of home. A narrative rooted in myth. Such powers, such imaginations are today realized with a tale of light and freeze. For the Firebird and those who embrace a journey, it is a tale of seasons reborn. A fable actualized by the forge of steelblade and wooden implement, a legend which grows by roaring and score. It is a story of fire and ice.
SPEAKER_03Greetings, friends and firebirds fans, and welcome to the Desert Zones Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort, company from All Desert California, Nikke Coco, Big Boy Blocker Away from Birds Home Ice of Aperture Arena. I'm your host, Judd Spicer, fourth season of Cello Valley Firebirds Hockey, fourth season in turn of fire and ice. And if you're just tuning in for the first time, this season fight can spread while you're doing so at just the right time for your loving games to go into season and the voice fighting some serious smoke, fighting some serious heat on the ice. Have the pleasure of discussing as much in this episode with a veteran presence in the American League, but a fresh face to the Coachello Valley Cooper Morodi Frontliner. Going to be joining me here momentarily on this episode of the Fire and Ice podcast. Gotta see Cooper, got to meet Cooper briefly after the uh recent press conference. Birds 5-2 win this past Wednesday over Calgary. But I held back my questions in lieu of saving all the good ones for this episode's visit. Look forward to this impending chat with Cooper Morodi in the interim. Let's look at those that make this show go. Partner in Crime this season, new partner in crime, the Desert Sun newspaper. They're not new. They've been informing our valley since 1927, near yonder a hundred years. Get all your Firebirds coverage, get all your local news, entertainment, sports, weather. It's all found at DesertSun.com. Or hey, just go get yourself a physical newspaper. After the visit with Cooper Moroni, by the way, Desert Shootout segment, epilogue style in this episode with Andrew John, reporter for the Desert Sun. And you know, you know by now we're almost in April friends. You know how the Desert Shootout segment goes. Rapid fire, set them up, knock them down real fast. Look forward to this upcoming visit with Andrew John. Desert Willow Golf Resort, also right here in sunny Palm Desert, California, home to both the Mountain View and Fire Cliff courses, respectively. Get those tea times online today at Desert Willow.com when you're on the website, swinging around, poking around, chipping around. Be sure to check out the awesome and on-site Palm Desert Golf Academy for all your swing, instruction, tutelage needs. So many accolades with Desert Willow. It is in peak and prime shape right now, friends. I think among the accolades, I might have told you this, but it's worthy of repeat. Recently named by golf pass readers in the Golfers Choice 2026 Awards, one of the top 50 in the country, and a five-star rating from those ardent readers. You know, I love a good putt-to-puck segue, dude. It's just a mile and a half away from the birds barn of Acrocher Arena. I love a good desert day. You tee it up over at DW, Mountain View, Firecliff. Maybe you get there super early and you play 36, skate it on downcook, right over to Varner. Again, just a mile and a half away, taking the birds game at night at Acrochure Arena. All right, dudes, that's going to slide us right into this episode's Firebirds Freeze Frame segment. And you know, we got a great new sponsor for this segment this season. Because Ice Action isn't limited to Acrochure Arena alone. Hockey fans, you want to seek out some pregame drinks, post-game toasts, you need only look up to the high desert where our Firebirds friends at both the 29 Palms Beer Company and the Ground Squirrel. That's G-R-N D SQRL. They're both serving up some awesome meats and incredible beers in downtown 29 Palms. Ground Squirrel, as I've told you, sports an awesome gaster pub style scratch made menu. I might suggest those pepperberry drywall rub of wings to get your evening started, get your meal started. And you match that with the rotating list of unique craft beers that they've got there right on site. Those seeking a potent power play, then you skate it right on down the street to the 29 Palms Beer Company. They're brewing up their own phenomenal beers right on site. And wait, listen, this is important. They are televising every Coachella Valley Firebirds game, whether it be home or away. Hey, you're a desert local, you're seeking a fun new scene, or you're one of the myriad desert guests that we're enjoying here in the peak season. You're up there exploring Joshua Tree, maybe kicking around like a cowboy in Pioneer Town. Hey, you might be celebrating a birds win, drowning your sorrows after a tough loss. Either way, you lace up the hospitality in 29 Palmas where both the ground squirrel and the 29 Palmas Beer Company, those are proving your high desert hockey homes. Alright, dudes, onto this Firebirds of Freeze Frame. Before, of course, we chat with newcomer Cooper Moroti. And as mentioned at the outset, because I was excited, I was excited by the press conference after this 5-2 win over Calgary, Calgary, rather. Wow, the Wranglers have really sucked low. Sorry, I gotta get that little dig in, but it's true. Nonetheless, while the Wranglers can't blasso much these days, our birds are flying totally high. They came into this post-game presser, dare I say, with a little twinkle, a little sparkle in their eye, and deservedly so. The fellows have won three straight, and moreover, they won seven of the past eight. Across the past 10 games, the birds are eight and two. That ties them for the best P-10 with a couple other teams, Henderson among them, is the best record across the past 10 in the entire American Hockey League. That power play, which has been a little slumpy and a little funky, I think it was 13 straight games, uh, dipped the boys uh metrically into a sub-16 percentage in the AHL, uh, kind of sinking down, I think 25th place. That has showed some signs of life as well, in no small part to this episode's guest, by the way, I might add. That 35-21 and 5 record for the birds, now fourth. If the season ended today, we would finish in fourth in the Pacific Division, which of course would give us a first-round home playoff series. Nonetheless, still 11 to go. Strength of schedule for those keeping score at home for that remaining 11. Strength of schedule for opponents 0.575. Uh, like the last show we did, they were like second toughest schedule remaining in the entire Western Conference. Now it's tied for sixth, so that is measured out a little bit. Per that upcoming schedule, Birdsback uh added this weekend at Acreshore Arena, this Saturday, March 28th, versus the high-scoring San Jose Barracuda, currently in third place in the Pacific Division. That is first responders night, puck drop at 6 p.m. Turn it right around, flip it to this Sunday, March 29th. San Jose stays in town for a 3 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon. Uh, if the birds were to continue this hot streak and sweep, by the way, they could uh get within a point of that third place standing held currently by the Barracuda. Uh this Wednesday, or next Wednesday, I should say, April 1st, no fooling. Birds stay at home, face the Ontario Rain Squad, which we recently swept. That is next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. start time. Birds then hit to row to face defending champion, albeit Lowly Abbotsford. That is next Friday and Saturday, April 3rd and 4, respectively. Both of those games will be 7 p.m. starts. Per those doing the skating on the ice, a few things about transactions, a few things about the world, and some of it is sobering, I might add. Yanni Newman is now back with the birds, going to talk a little bit more about Yanni here momentarily. Well, Oscar Fisker Molgard, OFM, they call him in the business. He's been playing great of late. Got a deserved call up to the Seattle Kraken. That was just yesterday, uh, or at least earlier this week for those tuning in subsequently. Per Yanni Newman, he's been playing great as well. Again, a little bit more on Yanni's numbers here shortly. Some sad news to report. Uh, Ryan Winterton, a Firebirds favorite. He has played the entirety of this season, of course, with the Big Daddy Club up in Seattle. Tragic loss. Lost his bro uh this week at a mere 25 years old. R.I.P. to Jacob Winterton, who played a couple of seasons. And what I want to say was the OHL sincere respect if I uh got that wrong, but I think that is correct. He passed this week again at just 25 years old. Ryan understandably had a current leave of absence for these personal reasons away from Seattle. Per Seattle, might I add, um, haven't been playing as well as the Firebirds of late. And just something to keep track of, something we've learned about the American League, something to certainly keep tabs on. When the Parent Club doesn't do that well, not that we're rooting for anybody to fail, but yay, we are a little selfish here in yonder desert, here in the American League. They don't make the playoffs, that makes our team better. The aforementioned Ryan Winterton, along with Jacob Wellonson, along with now Oscar Fisker Molgard, would all be eligible to come back for the American League playoffs. Can you imagine those studs coming back to a team that has suddenly won seven of eight and now has currently home ice advantage for the playoffs? More on the players. All right, keep skating out here. Uh Logan Morrison continues impressively to lead the Firebirds in scoring this season. 56 points thus far, a team high 27 goals paired with 29 assists. That 56 total is good for eighth in the entire American League. Nipping at his skates, the Red Rocket Jagger Furkas with 55 points, 21 goals, and a team best 34 assists. He is currently 10th in the American League and scoring. Rookie Tyson Chugnoff, 39 points, 7 goals, match with 32 assists. He is tied for 6th in the entire league among all defensemen. The aforenoted Oscar Bolgard. I'm skipping the Fisker on that one. 32 points, 10 goals and 22 assists. He has done that, by the way, has Oscar in a mere 46 games. Leighton Road. Probably haven't talked about Leighton enough on the program this season. 31 points, 9 goals paired with 22 assists. But the Leighton has become one of those guys. I think he is a coach's favorite. Maybe he is the favorite. He is doing all the little things at an extremely high level. Playing hard, skating hard, loose pucks, boarding, probably still the fastest player on this team, having himself a great season, doing it a little quietly because the stat sheet isn't necessarily blowing up, but keep an eye on the Wiper Lake data of number 29 skating out there for CV again, having himself an excellent campaign. Ty Nelson also having a great year, 30 points from the blue line, nine goals match with 21 assists, and Yanni Newman, 29 points on the year thus far. He has done that in a mere 30 games. We welcome him back. We welcomed him back after he flew about seven and a half hours from Florida, probably the longest flight that you can have in the entire continental U.S. Flew seven and a half hours back, suited up for the Birds last night uh in the win over Calgary, had himself a couple goals, and goals, of course, nothing new to Yanni Newman. In uh uh just those 30 games I mentioned, he has scored 20 goals, including goals in his third uh 13 of the last 18, in which he is suited up for C V. For the Netminders, Nike Koko, 16-9-2 on the year with 3.14 goals against, save percentage of 0.901. The Swede, Victor Osman, having himself a fine season, 15, 12, and 3, 2.84 goals against, and a save percentage of 0.905, if I could read my own handwriting. Worthy of note that both of these guys really plant dollar blade. Each of our netbinders have won four of their respective past five starts. All right, dude, that wraps it up for the Fred Bird Freeze Frame segment. Again, thank you so much to our friends at both 29 Paul's beer company and the Ground Squirrel for sponsoring that Firebird Freeze Frame. All right, all that offered, all that preface, let's get to this episode's visit with newcomer to the Firebird Frontliner, Cooper Moreau. Alright, Firefoot's friends, as a preface. My guest of this episode is a 29-year-old native of Brighton, Michigan. After playing College Hock with Big Blue, now in his eighth season of professional hockey, that includes seven games in the National Hockey League, and 349 more in the AHL, during which time he's accounted for 110 goals, over 300 points in might AAF press with plus minus or plus 33. Back on March 12th, he was acquired from the Beehive Valley Phantoms, played in five games for the Birds. We won four of them, and he has accrued five assists in his past three. My pleasure to welcome not just to the desert, the Fire Nights podcast, frontliner Cooper Morodi. Hello, Cooper.
SPEAKER_04Hello, thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_03Thank you for your time, man. And again, on behalf of myself and everybody at the Coachella Valley, very enthused to have you here. When you got traded, what's your first reaction?
SPEAKER_04Well, I got the call from the general manager in Lehigh Valley, and uh it was right before the deadline. So um I assume he was calling me because of a trade, and uh I didn't quite know where until he told me, and I was very, very excited, honestly. Um, what a tremendous city to be in. Um, and what a great group of guys that I found out recently, and I couldn't be more excited to be here.
SPEAKER_03Your first question, if this wasn't offered off, offered up rather by your former boss, was it uh where am I being traded to, or for whom am I being traded?
SPEAKER_04I didn't didn't talk about the for whom part, um, but when I called him right back, he uh was saying um you know some nice things about uh enjoy the time being uh together. And uh he was talking for a little bit and I was like, oh my gosh, where is it gonna be? Where's it gonna be? And uh there's kind of a little bit of anticipation on that phone call. And then he when he said Coachella, I couldn't, I I was so excited. I and I knew uh my wife would be really excited as well. Um and uh it was a really cool, um, exciting experience, and I like I said, I couldn't be more happy to be here now.
SPEAKER_03I mean, your AHL time, your career in the American League has been a modicum consistency. You played eight years and you played for two teams. I mean, that is not the typical uh American Hockey League resume where you know we've been fortunate here, we've had guys on our team for three or sometimes four years, but there are no shortage of players that you know, it's like uh uh trading cards, you know? It's like welcome cards like I played here for a year, then you kind of flipped over, now they got a different sweater for two years. So for you in any way going to a different team, especially in March, were you a little cheapish or did you think it was strange? I mean, we we have never had an AHL centric, an AHL straight trade on this team that has happened with so few games left in the season. So is there anything that made you feel like, oh, I've I've basically been in two places, Bakersfield, which we'll get to, and Lehigh Valley, and now I'm getting traded. Does that make you feel strange in any way?
SPEAKER_04No, I think it was something I was really excited about, to be honest with you. Um It was something that you know I I was hoping for to get a great opportunity um on a new team and a fresh start. And uh, like you said, I have been fortunate enough to play with two great organizations and develop a lot of good chemistry and and friendships along the way with Bakersfield and Lehigh Valley. Um, but you know, I felt like it was time for a fresh start. And uh when uh Troy called me and said they're really excited to have me, um, I couldn't have been more excited. And um the coaching staff has been phenomenal, all the guys have been phenomenal. Um, and it feels like I've been here a lot longer than a week and a half, two weeks.
SPEAKER_03Uh of course, uh not everybody on the Firebird staff or roster is a stranger to Cooper Morodi. The last two uh years you played with J.R. Avon, who was traded as well, uh, here to the Coachello Valley. Was that your first call or was your first call after the GM to your wife?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, as soon as I hung up with Troy, uh the GM here, um, I called my wife and uh she was very excited to hear where because you you never really quite know where in the country or if it's in Canada or where it's gonna be. Um so she was just very excited to go to a nice California sun and and a great city and a great team. Um so yeah, I I I am familiar with JR. Um also the skills coach Matt Larkey, I worked with for several years in Michigan in the summer on on skills and in and skating and and you know plays with the pock and and all those kind of skills. So there's a uh familiarity with that as well. So um it's been a really smooth transition.
SPEAKER_03In your previous valley, I think we can call it, before you went from one valley to another, you and JR Avon, uh, were you buddies? Did you play on lines together? Were you tight? Were you close?
SPEAKER_04Um, we never really had an opportunity to play on a line together. Um, but you know, I I was very familiar with JR. Um, if you guys don't know it, um on the podcast, he's a phenomenal golfer as well. Um, so he's kind of a guy that you look and marvel over how good he is at at golf. So um it was funny when he first got traded here um earlier this season, I texted him and I was like, uh, you're gonna love playing out west, and uh it's gonna be great for your golf game because I know how much he loves he loves playing. So um it was very interesting that I thought about him going to Coachella, or obviously when he first got traded. And then I kind of said to myself, wow, that'd be an awesome place to play. And then, you know, fast forward six months later, it's me going there. So I couldn't again, I I keep reiterating that I'm there's excitement, and uh it couldn't be more uh more of the truth than that.
SPEAKER_02Have you ever been here before before you got here a couple weeks ago?
SPEAKER_04Um I briefly have driven through Palm Springs. I went to a wedding, I think, two summers ago in California in the Los Angeles area, and my wife and I were like, oh, Palm Springs is a pretty cool place. Like we've spent pretty much when we were in Bakersfield, we drove all around California, but we've we've never quite went to Palm Springs. So we said, uh, let's just, you know, we have a day, let's just drive out and see it. And we're like, gosh, this place is awesome. So um I missed it by a year when I was playing in Bakersfield. Um yeah.
SPEAKER_03I was gonna say, yeah, when you were with the condors, the firebirds didn't yet exist.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_03So I figured if you did make it here, it was either like you said, drive-thru, wedding, vacation, um, or stop for a day, something like that. Uh, but it seems like it made a good impression on you, and you're better half in that one day. Um the sense that we've got, and we forget this sometimes, both because you know, we're still just in our fourth year of hockey, but all these little tidbits and nuggets that coaches or administrators have brought up that for obvious reasons, this is a very desirable place. And I don't want to rip on 31 other AHL cities. There are many, many great places across the American League. But some places that you probably don't want to hang out in February, I can tell you that. So just from like kind of word on the street when you've heard from friends or playing competitors or colleagues, like this has become a place that players definitely want to pseudo.
SPEAKER_04Oh, absolutely. I think the division in whole is a great place to be. Um, there's so many amazing cities you go to on the road, but Coachella specifically, um, obviously I had a little bit of an idea of how nice the weather was and uh how nice of an area it was, but uh then you go and see the rink in person and you just see how amazing the facilities are and how well we're treated with the food and all this uh just all the extra curricular stuff and the the gym, um, all the staff is amazing. And I I kind of joke uh to some of the guys and and my wife that the rookies don't know how good they have it uh being here. They think it's the standard for the American Hockey League, and um you know it's it's not quite up to that standard. I I found that this uh rink and how we're treated here is NHL level, um, which you can't say for every single HL team. Um, but it it's it's funny because when I got traded, I was currently getting ready to play the next day in Syracuse. And uh it was it was snowing when I ran from the restaurant to the hotel to get my stuff to head out here, it was snowing. Um so I was very excited that it wouldn't be snowing in Coachella and I had beautiful weather, so it was great.
SPEAKER_03Uh when you come to a different team, uh a veteran presence like yourself, uh undoubtedly well versed on um how to handle yourself, how to associate with a locker room and new players. But what do you come in with? Do you come in with some humble? Do you come in pardon me, Cooper, keeping your head down a little bit, knowing that yeah, there are veterans on this team that have been around for a while, or do you come in like I need to make my presence known on and off the ice immediately so they know me and my personality?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I I think I'm a more um reserved type of guy. I'm not gonna be, you know, going to the locker room and and yelling and firing guys up with that. But my philosophy is that I, although I'm a veteran, I want to prove that um I can be a good player for the team and earn that respect with my teammates. And I think as I continue to do that with my play and just who I am as a person, I want to try to earn it every single day. And then I think as that continues to grow, I'll feel more like it's the right time to be more vocal. Um, but at the same time, from day one, I tried to, you know, really create good friendships and bonds right away. And I found that the best teams that I've been a part of are the teams where the guys are the closest. And it made it easy because it's already a really close group here and a lot of really great guys that um just welcome me in right away. Um, but there is a lot of younger, really talented, great up-and-coming players here. So I think that any experience that I have that I can share with them and help them in any way, um, I think can be beneficial. There's a lot of great veteran players when I first came into the league. Um you know, Brad Malone is a guy I can think of. He's currently coaching uh in Wilkesbury, but he was uh an older guy that really taught me a lot of what it means to be a pro and and come in each day ready to work and develop all the great habits. So um it's a great honor to be an older guy and and and help the younger guys really step into the league and help them get to the National Hockey League.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, Brad Malone, certainly a familiar face to Akashur Arena, um, somebody we've seen uh suit up uh in years past uh with I think a couple different teams if memory serves. Speaking of the Pacific division, now you got a little bit of a taste of it again across the past five games, aside from the obvious inclusion of Coachella Valley now in the Pacific, and it wasn't when you were in this division last. Are you sensing that this division is different in any way than when you last played for uh the condors?
SPEAKER_04Um I wouldn't say a whole lot different. I think um both sides in in both conferences have great teams, and there's great players throughout the entirety of the AHL. Um, I think the biggest difference comes from away from the rink, to be honest with you. The cities you're going to and and and the weather and whatnot um is definitely different, but there's a there's good players coming in every year, and uh, I think the league is great, and both sides, both confidence, like I alluded to, have great teams and great players. Um, so I can't really say there's a huge difference in in any way. Um, but um I guess the biggest difference is Coachella is a new team out here in the West, and I'm very excited that I'm on it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, just we you know, we could we're kind of exist in a bit of a bubble. I mean, aside from I think two series, two two-game series, the rest of our schedule this year all against the Pacific Division. Um, we played Hershey, obviously, in the finals twice. Last year, I think we had a series with Chicago. We had the all-star game here last year. I think that expresses the entirety of our experience of even seeing a team from the east. Um, just vibe-wise between these two conferences, is there more of an old school sense with the the arenas, the barns, I don't know, the attitudes in the east than playing in the west? Is it a distinct difference, Cooper?
SPEAKER_04I wouldn't say distinct difference. I think you know you're in a little bit of a different mindset when you're going to, I won't mention any teams, but you know, a really cold older city um where there's not a nice place to sit on the patio for dinner or something like that. There's a little bit of more grit to that, I would say for sure. Um, and obviously being exposed to the sunlight and the vitamin D. And um, I think you're just naturally in an even more happier mood. Um, so other than that, I wouldn't say there's anything too too different, to be honest with you. But um, I will say that the sun has been phenomenal.
SPEAKER_03Uh one thing that has not been phenomenal, um, part of the segue, but we've seen rapid improvement. We had 13 consecutive games recently without a power play goal. Um, when you were first acquired, yet before you had suited up, I think it was the day that you arrived here, you did not suit up, and then you guys went on the road. Asked Derek Laxdall uh pretty much on the spot in a post-game uh if one of the reasons that you specifically were brought here was to play on that unit because it was obvious that we needed help. Like, look, we got a playoff team, we have all these good facets and aspects and all this talent, all these veterans. But this is a sore spot when you're getting under 16% on the man advantage and come the playoffs. Obviously, you're gonna need some of those goals. Were you told when you were acquired, whether it be by Troy or by Coach Laxdall, maybe Coach Sonny, because he runs the power play? Like, look, we need your help and expertise. You've had a great career playing on the power play. Um, expect to jump into this unit right away.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, there were some discussions with the coaching staff that when I was acquired beforehand, uh, there's a little bit of struggling on the power play, and um really wanted to me to be an impact and in um and improve it. I've been fortunate enough to have been a part of a lot of good power plays in in my career and um have a lot of games with good experience and uh play with a lot of good players on the power play. So it's it's it's an aspect of the game that I really enjoy and I think I have a good skill set with. Um and if you want to succeed in the playoffs, you're gonna want to have a pretty good power play. Um, so I think it's something that's really important for our team. And like you alluded to, there's a lot of great uh amazing assets on this team and um amazing things that we do well. And I think if we can really rein in the power play and continue to um get it on the right track, uh, we're gonna be really dangerous. So it's something that I really take a lot of pride in and want to help in any way I can.
SPEAKER_03Was it something maybe this is part of your process? Perhaps it not, it's not, but when you were informed of this, did you study any tape? Did you watch any game film to see what things perhaps were not working on that unit? Uh, despite a lot of talented guys moving in and out of this power play, it just was not clicking. 13 games is that's a long time uh to not get a goal there. Did you watch any tape? And you're like, yeah, this is where I see something where I can really help out.
SPEAKER_04There's nothing really specific. I I think watching and just having the initial discussions with the coaching staff, but um I know that there's certain things that I can do well and and help the team with on the power play. So I'm just just trying to be myself, and and also I think it's important to the coaches can say and give you a bunch of information, but at the end of the day, it's got to come from the unit and the players out on the ice if it's running through uh things after practice, if it's bringing all the players together on the whiteboard and and talking about hey, this is gonna be open, let's work on this. It's got to come from the players, and the best power plays that I've been a part of are when the coaches give us uh uh a basic structure and we make it our own. So that's kind of what I want to try to do here and and help in any way I can and build that chemistry.
SPEAKER_03What you did last night, and this is more comment than question, Cooper. Assisted on the first two goals, the second goal we saw, and when you you broke Maiden, this was that was your accoursure arena debut last night. We hadn't had an opportunity to see you in person. What I saw in that second goal that you assisted to Ty Nelson, it was like, yeah, a lot of poise, uh, uh patience, a lot of poise with the the puck on your stick, a beautiful pass, and it led to a beautiful shot. And uh we took the lead, uh, if memory serves with that goal last night. And it was like, yeah, we didn't we didn't just get somebody to get somebody at the trade line deadline because we thought, okay, you know, maybe this will kind of fit in and help us a little bit. It was like, yeah, we got a piece that we obviously needed to add a little bit more of that confidence, a little bit more of that veteran puck movement and control in the offensive zone. That's exactly what we saw last night, and it was very exciting, man.
SPEAKER_04No, I appreciate that. Um there's some really good players on this team, and like you alluded to, that was a phenomenal shot by Nelly there. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_03Friends, you are tuning in to the Desert Suns Fire and Ice podcast presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. My guest is newly acquired Firebirds frontliner, Cooper Morodi. Cooper, gonna uh switch gears a bit and talk about uh you and I guess before talking about you off the ice, I have to ask, as you mentioned it in the postgame last night. You uh gave a smile and uh you referenced and showed gratitude and thanks to your better half. She drove, she is driven. I think you said with your dog from one valley to another, which essentially entross the entire country, maybe more than 3,000 miles, probably 3,500 or so, I would estimate. She's made it though, right? She's done the drive, the drive is over.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, she's made it safely, and uh I couldn't thank her enough. I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am today without her, and uh she's a trooper, that's for sure. To do that drive and um by herself and get our you know house packed up in in Pennsylvania and uh get get the little dogs over to here was uh was quite the task. So she's embraced the hockey life very well, and I couldn't be more grateful for her.
SPEAKER_03Did she have to pack up everything by herself?
SPEAKER_04Not quite everything. Uh we still have some stuff, but you know, getting making sure uh you know, certain kitchen things were brought and clothes and uh anything the dogs need and whatnot. It it was no short task.
SPEAKER_03So we have dogs, we're talking plural.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so their component combined weight is probably 25 pounds, and there's three of them, so they're just little fluffs.
SPEAKER_03You did specify when you said that little dogs. You said that uh last night after the win over Calgary. So all three of them together, 25 pounds, but that doesn't necessarily make it any less work. I mean, if you're traveling with three dogs, and if you're doing it in March, I don't know what the weather was like when she was doing this drive, but I trust maybe the first day you could run into some funky inclement conditions. Yeah, uh, how did she wrap it out? Did she take like four days and have to walk these dogs constantly?
SPEAKER_04It's definitely not an easy task, but um so she first drove from Pennsylvania to Michigan and dropped up some dropped off some of our stuff there at home. And then so it was a little bit of a detour. Then she drove Michigan to Nebraska. Um, and then the next day, stayed at a hotel, then the next day she went to Nebraska. And fortunately enough, we were in Colorado. So she drove to Colorado and then I joined her for the rest of the way. And it just worked out so perfectly. Uh, to where we had a little break between last game, so I could finish the drive with her. Um, so that made it a lot easier for all parties, and uh, it definitely took away a lot of worries of you know having her do the whole drive by herself.
SPEAKER_03As a dog owner and lover, I do need to ask, I mean, how often are you stopping when you got three dogs?
SPEAKER_04They're pretty good because they've done the cross-country journey before when we were in California prior. Um, so they actually were behaving pretty well, but I think it's a couple stops a day for sure.
SPEAKER_03Need to ask you about this. Some listeners will know, some will be informed for the first time. When Cooper Morodi does not have a hockey stick in his hand, he is wont to have a guitar in his hand or perhaps a microphone uh before his uh his face, and he does so with impressive acumen. Uh, those again not aware, uh, very, very talented musician. I went and listened to uh some of your songs, songs I could find uh online. I was reading about this even in uh old Michigan articles that you've been playing the guitar at a very high level, singing, songwriting. You've been doing all this for maybe a dozen years, Cooper?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, about uh I'd say a little over 10 years, I started playing guitar and and singing. And um, it's something I just enjoy to do, I enjoy doing in free time. Um, and fortunately for me, I've been able to speed up my learning curve because I have very talented friends in Nashville um that are way more talented at me than me in guitar playing and songwriting and all that. So they've definitely helped with that learning curve. Um interestingly enough, one of my friends actually got one of his songs done by Luke Combs that he wrote uh recently. So that was pretty cool to see that. But yeah, it's something that I I enjoy doing and um haven't really been super um on task with it in the last few years. Um have other things in in life that have taken my time and uh but it's something that is really fun to do in the in the summer, especially when you're just sitting outside or sitting by the fire in Michigan. Uh it's something that I enjoy for sure.
SPEAKER_03We'd say the kind of the pop country, the the the new millennium style of uh country music, that's the genre that you prefer?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I'd say so. It's it's one that I that I enjoy and can be fairly easily done with just an acoustic guitar because all of them are pretty much acoustic guitars.
SPEAKER_03So you play piano as well?
SPEAKER_04Um a little bit, not not too good, but I I have some ability with it.
SPEAKER_03You reference that not playing quite as much in recent years. That leads me to ask if in season, um are you practicing, are you songwriting, do you perhaps bring the guitar with you on the road ever?
SPEAKER_04Um I don't typically bring it on the road. Um, it's mostly a summer thing, I'd say. Um, I'm really, you know, hot I like to be hockey focused during the season, especially. And um, we're so busy with travel and and the ins and outs of the season that um I find it to be more of a summer thing for sure. Um yeah, so I haven't I don't have it with me in Coachella, so don't ask me to pull it out right now and give you a little song.
SPEAKER_03I was I was not going to put you. There was a there was a part of me that was tempted to put you on the spot, but I didn't want to put you on the spot. But in reading these old Michigan articles, I mean you'd play for your teammates. Um, I don't know, is that something that you've done in your AHL stops? You ever perform in those cities or for your teams?
SPEAKER_04Nothing really crazy, but there's some small parties or get-togethers that we've had as a team that they'd encourage me to do a little something. Um, so a little bit, but uh I it was something I really spent a lot of time with in college, to be honest with you. Um it really filled a void in in time, and it was something that you know, between classes and and playing that I don't know, I just really enjoyed doing, and um I had some really good buddies close by that were really talented, so I learned a lot from them then.
SPEAKER_03Are there parallels for you, Cooper, between playing hockey and making music?
SPEAKER_04Hmm, that's a great question. Um I don't know. I think when I was first learning guitar, it was very frustrating, to be honest, and it took a lot of failure and determination to continue with it. And you know, similarly with hockey when you first start, and um, even to this day, there's a lot of ups and downs and adversity with it. So I think anything worth doing in life, there's gonna be it's not gonna be easy, and it's something you have to, if you want to have success in, you have to continuously work at it. So I think if there's any parallels, it would be that.
SPEAKER_03Friends, if you want to hear um at least one song of Cooper Moroti, and I'm telling you, you know, they've been doing this show for four years. It's not uncommon to ask players or coaches what their hobbies might be, but when I listen to you sing or I watch some videos of other pieces being done on you about your singing, I mean you're you're legit. You have a great singing voice. Some of your lyrics no, I I'm not just throwing you flowers. I was genuinely impressed. I mean, the voice is really good, the lyrics are very impressive. Uh, I don't want to go too deep in the weeds, but on why you wrote the song Agape, it was a dedication. We've already had one reference to something terribly sad happening on this show, so I don't want to do it necessarily a second time, but that song will pop up, uh, agape, and you type in uh Cooper Morodi, do it on uh like YouTube machine or something like that. And I've no doubt that you too, friends, are gonna be impressed. Is this something that I can kind of sense? Like, yeah, you're focused, it's in the season, we're in the home stretch. You're playing really, really good, if not great hockey, you have for a long time, but at some point in your life, like, yeah, I might come back to this and I might do it in earnest and see where I can go with a music career.
SPEAKER_04You know, I I don't really think it's something that I would pursue uh professionally as a career, to be honest with you. Um, like you alluded to with the agape song, I I can touch on it briefly. It was written um per request in discussions with one of my teammates who who passed away his wife. Um, she knew I was into music and she kind of wanted a song that would give her a little peace and kind of uh encapsulate their relationship and their love. Um, so it was a tremendous honor to be able to work on that. And uh it's a really cool story and a cool song. Obviously, I'm biased because I was involved with it, but um, it was a tremendous honor to be asked to do something like that. And uh I took it to a couple of my friends in Nashville and we worked on it together and we were able to get it done pretty quickly, surprisingly. And uh it's something that was a tremendous honor for me because it helped give her and her family peace and dealing with the tragedy. And in the song, part of it, you hear his voice, and he's reading his her their uh his wedding vows to her. Um, so it's something that was an extremely emotional project and something that was an honor to be a part of.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and you can see that through through the lyrics, um, that friendship, that familiar familiarity, rather, that association, that care, that concern, that connection to uh sad to say, his widow and and what you wanted to do and what you achieved doing for her friends. Again, I encourage you to look this up. Uh, you're gonna I was choked up once the wet the wedding vow portion when you watch the video element and his voice comes in. It's it is tough to watch, but it is a beautifully written and uh and performed song. Um, Cooper, I'm gonna leave it at that for today, man. I know you guys got uh a rare day off uh from the ice. I want to let you enjoy the rest of uh your desert day as you and your wife and your three dogs hopefully go explore a little bit more of the Coachella Valley away from Acuchure Arena before it gets to uh triple digits. And fear not, it's not supposed it's not supposed to be this hot for like uh another three months, man. So it'll it'll cool down again. I know it used to take a little while to get. Used to that kind of sizzle, but uh it's gonna get idyllic here again in short time. Until then, man, hey, great to have you in the desert. So appreciative of your time, Cooper. And uh yeah, this is this was a great get of the trade deadline. It's gonna be a great asset as the birds finish these last 11. Thank you again for your time, man.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, thank you for having me, and I I appreciate all the the nice words and looking forward to getting to know you more.
SPEAKER_03Alright, firebirds friends. Wrapping up this episode as we are want to do. Epilogue style, desert shootout segment, five rapid fire questions with one of our Desert Sun experts. In this instance, gentlemen, I had an opportunity to sit and watch the went over Calvary with last night. It's been a minute. He was active covering other sports here in this uh spring season. But we welcome back to Acrochure Arena last night, and now back to the Desert Sun's Fire and Ice Podcast. Hello, Andrew John.
SPEAKER_01Hey Judd, glad to be here.
SPEAKER_03Glad to have you back, my friend. We duel with pens in lieu of pistols. The Desert Shido begins as wont to do with question number one of five. What or perhaps whom have you most been impressed by of late, Andrew?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, I wrote about this a little bit last night after the game. I was impressed with the way this team is able to continue scoring this late into the season, as uh, you know, defenses tend to tight up this time of the year. And uh, you know, they won seven of eight uh Firebirds, but uh six six of eight, they've scored at least four goals in those wins. So it's uh, you know, we talked a little bit about the last couple months how the defense was getting better and making strides, but really impressed with how the offense is still operating this late in the season.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, great point, man, and uh great stat. Thank you for digging that up. Moving fast, that's how we do it. Desert shootout. Uh memorable moment of late. Birds, of course, are on the road for a bit, so it could be something while they were away. Perhaps some of you saw uh a victory over Calgary at my state.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think it was kind of a combination of um we saw Yanni Newman get sent back to the Kraken, and then I um you know he he really didn't do much memorable, uh anything memorable uh with the Kraken, didn't really get much playing time, unfortunately. Didn't really get a chance to get on the ice, but I thought it was memorable. Uh something that'll probably stick with me for a little while is the fact that he suited up last night after flying across the country, you know, seven hours from Florida, and then scored two goals. And I think it would have been so so easy for a guy to just say, man, I've been traveling all day. I'm gonna sit this one out, play the two weekend games, but now he's suited up, and I thought, you know, that was that said a lot. It would definitely uh we've known that about Yanni for a long time. He's not a guy who typically goes through the motions, I don't think. I think he works hard. I thought that was a good indication that he's he's uh motivated and wants to play, wants to help his team uh win.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and that post-game presser, you could see a little of the uh fatigue, a little of the wear and tear, but couldn't see it during his time on the ice back in the bird sweater last night, two golds for Yanni in his return after Andrew, as he andrew mentioned, brief uh brief time again in Seattle. Something that you heard in the post-game presser perhaps last night. Best quote of late Andrew John.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I uh I thought that this was uh humorous, but uh when it was Edward Shawleigh referring to Cooper Moroti, his new teammate, as an old guy. And uh you know, it made me feel ancient if a 29-year-old uh American Hockey League player is an old guy. But you know, I think it speaks to just how young this group is, uh, that a guy who's 29 is is one of the older guys and and certainly a veteran. And uh, you know, reminds me that this group it really is so young and probably just still scratching the surface on what they're capable of as a group.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, maybe it translates a little different in uh in Czech. I don't know. Maybe old is like, you know, it's a sign of respect or something. I I don't know, but when you're 20 or whatever uh Edward Chalet is, I think he's 20. Yeah, I guess if you're almost 30, then you are an old guy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I can see that for sure. So so definitely no uh you know, no criticism of him for that. I just thought it was uh uh a uniquely honest moment from him. Uh you know, someone who doesn't say a whole lot, but uh he let that one out and and I thought that was funny.
SPEAKER_03Question four or five for Andrew John here in the desert shootout segment. Yeah, the birds, as you referenced, flying high of late, seven of eight. What's your biggest concern though, right now?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think the the probably the biggest concern for this group still is just a touch of inconsistency, which we're seeing with the a young group. Now, this last little stretch, they've been uh remarkably consistent. But there's there have been a couple games this month where you know they have allowed five goals. Uh that's obviously something you cannot do really this time of year. And if that happens once in a while, I think that's probably fine. Uh so it's really not too too alarming, you know, that they've allowed a couple big uh scoring outputs from the opposing team. But I would think that that's something to keep an eye on. So definitely something that I would watch for and and slightly concerning. Uh for a group when you get in the playoffs, you know, these these games are going to be really tight, one-goal games usually, um, and goals are gonna be harder to come by. So you got to really tighten that up on the defense.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and of course, one of those five-goal games against the San Jose of Barracuda, uh Coomer, which we'll welcome back to Across your Arena for a double dip this weekend. The only loss in the eight-game streak, and that was the 1030 in the morning game. So to me, that one's kind of there's a little asterisk next to that one when you're playing at 10:30 in the morning on the road. It counts, but in a way maybe not indicative of how we've been playing of late.
SPEAKER_01That's a fair point, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Question five of five, but I'm thinking that maybe after this segment for future episodes, you need to flip this seg uh this question upside down. Because throughout the course of the season, I have asked you and Chad Powers, what's cracking? Asking you who the next player will be called up uh to be called up into the NHL. Maybe now we could start, or we can wait until the next time for the next player that we might see brought back down to the Coachella Valley. Is it time to do that, Andrew? Or are we still what's cracking? Are there more guys to be brought up?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I don't I don't know if there is at this point. Um because it's especially with the Kraken, you know, if they're depending on how their season shakes out, and they might they might not be playing for a whole lot longer. But to answer your to answer your question on who who might be, if if they are calling uh a guy up, you know, I think with with Yanni getting just being up there uh with the with the Kraken, Oscar Mulgard currently there, Jacob Monson still there. I think um, you know, if they are gonna look for to bring a guy, you know, I I would like to see Logan Morrison get a shot, you know, with his 27th goal um of the season last night, really impressive. Guys typically who score a lot for the Firebirds haven't always gotten that opportunity. We saw Max McCormick led the team in goals, Cole Lind one year. Um so I mean that's not a given, but uh I think I've seen uh a lot of development from Logan this season. And while he doesn't probably have the upside of Oscar Mulgaard or Yanni Newman, um I think you know he's a guy who is playing with a lot of confidence right now and uh could could definitely contribute in some way to the kraken. But I think if we're talking about guys who might be sent back, you know, I think Oscar might be the guy uh since it's kind of like last one in, first one out type of thing, you know?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And you bring up uh a good point and one that um I didn't really flesh out. I mean, I did reference earlier in this program that yeah, if the Kraken were to have to make the playoffs, and as you and I discussed last night, we could be talking potentially Malanson, Winterton, Bolgard, all back here for our playoffs, but now it's making me think that, you know, if Seattle, if they got two or three games that are ultimately meaningless, then yeah, Logan Morrison, maybe Jagger Furkas could be in that conversation. A couple other guys undoubtedly worthy of uh getting, if nothing else, just a cup of coffee before that season's over because they're having such great years here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think it's good for if you want to develop guys, I think it's good to get them some of that exposure. And if you're talking about in meaningless, meaningless games, I mean, what what better time to do that if you know you can bring a guy up for a few games, get that exposure and help with their development, you know?
SPEAKER_03Andrew John, always a pleasure. It's rapid fire because we set them up and knock them down in the shootout. The time today was short, but I hope and trust I will see you back at the birds farm this weekend, where we we will have hours and hours to share all of this expertise.
SPEAKER_01All right, thanks, Judge.
SPEAKER_03Appreciate it. Alright, fireworks block. It's gonna wrap it up for another episode of the Desert Sumps Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. So thankful for all your time, your interest, your ears, your continued and ongoing support of this endeavor. Additional gratitude goes to this episode's guests. Bird's newcomer, Cooper Morodi. Great to visit with Cooper on this program, and uh undoubtedly a valuable and key addition to this Firebirds team as we trend toward the end of the regular season. Andrew John, always enjoy setting above, knocking down with Andrew, and sitting next to our little peanut gallery, of course, at Accursure Arena. Great to have Andrew back for the Desert Shootout segment. Desert Sun, of course, check out all their coverage of the Firebirds and everything local at DesertSun.com. So part uh proud rather partner with them and I'll look to which I contributed to for heck over a dozen years. Again, get all your local news and firebirds coverage online over at DesertSun.com. Desert Willow Golf Resort, right here in Sunny Palm Desert, California. Make those tea times today for either or both. The Mountain View Firecliff Courses. It's done online at Desert Willow.com. Truly one of the finest public golf facilities west of the old mist, friends. When you're on there poking around at desertwillow.com, be sure to check out the awesome and on-site Home Desert Golf Academy, by the way. Those looking to shave a few strokes off your game, looking to sharpen up a little bit. Hey, we could all use help, we could all get a little bit better. They're gonna help you do it at the on-site Home Desert Golf Academy over at Desert Willow Golf Resort. And our of course our friends yonder High Desert at both the Ground Squirrel and the 29 Palms Beer Company, where again they are televising every Firebirds game, home or away. Go check it out next time you head to the High Desert and uh feel free to tell them that Uncle Judy sent you. Alright, dudes, we'll see you this weekend. This bird stay at home, stay on the home sheet of the Acreshore Arena. Again, this Saturday and Sunday double dip home home versus a very good San Jose Barracuda, high-scoring Barracuda team. Birds with a chance to get within one mere standing point of San Jose if they were to continue this hot streak and sweep the Barracuda. Again, thank you everybody so much for tuning in. Amply appreciated. We will see you over at Acrochure Saturday night. Until then, and always be well.
