Week 25: Prowler Playoff Preview

Port Huron Prowlers head coach/GM Matt Graham steps back into the pod. Matt and @swancommander discuss the Prowlers journey thus far and discuss some major signings.

The conversation continues in the Discord — join free here: https://discord.gg/7UVWaJyR4d

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 1:13

What's going on, everyone? Welcome back to another episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass. I'm your host, Eric Swanik, Swan Commander on social media. We have another playoff preview episode for you. This time we will be joined by Matt Graham, the head coach and general manager of the Port Euron Prowlers. Let's get into it. What's going on, Matt? Welcome back to the podcast. How's everything going?

SPEAKER_02 1:38

Good. It's been a it's been a while, huh?

SPEAKER_01 1:40

I know, I know, I know. Um, yeah, you weren't on. Well, yeah, it's been since summer.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Yeah, I think, yeah, just be right before the season we did the team preview, and uh it seems like the season's just flown by, to be honest. So I know, I know.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

And then we had Reed Cooper on uh probably about a few months ago now, and yeah, no, glad to glad to have you back.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

Yeah, glad to be back.

SPEAKER_01 1:59

Yeah, for sure. So headed into playoffs, you guys are sitting in second place, should finish in second place, I would think. Um, what's uh what's going on in Port Euron?

SPEAKER_02 2:09

Yeah, it was exciting. Uh we actually locked up uh you know second place last weekend, so we have home ice in the first round. Um, that was a uh a goal of ours uh from from the summer to uh you know have home ice advantage or uh at least for the first round, finish in one of the top two spots um and give ourselves the best chance of uh you know moving deeper into the playoffs than we did last year.

SPEAKER_01 2:30

Yeah, for sure. And how how big is it to finish in that spot and to you know, like obviously, you know, the during the summer series, the old everybody was always saying how Bighamton was a team to beat. And is it nice to not have to play them the first round? Not necessarily you know being afraid of them or anything, but just by not having to play them in the first round, it gives the opportunity for an upset in the first round. Maybe somebody else knocks them out, who knows?

SPEAKER_02 2:54

Yeah, I mean, it's uh it I think you know you have to if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, right? So uh, you know, we know uh along our journey to uh to a championship, we're uh we're gonna have to beat some pretty good teams. Um, and it's uh it's only gonna get better as you go deeper into the playoffs for sure, too, right? So um, you know, we've uh we've been preparing for this all year. We've been uh you know trying to uh go day by day um and just take things one day at a time. And uh, you know, we'll uh we'll you know attack Blue Ridge or Topeka or whoever's uh in the first round, and then uh you know, whoever's in our way in the second round will uh we'll move on to them and we'll put a game plan together and uh you know uh you know give ourselves the best opportunity to beat them as well. So whether it's Binghamton or uh whoever, you know, uh it's uh yeah, it's just uh stepping stone along the way, really.

SPEAKER_01 3:42

Yeah, absolutely. Let's let's talk about the journey. So um, you know, obviously first year under the new ownership and everything, you guys have had a lot of a lot of goals, a lot of plans. It looks like a lot of them have been met. Why don't you talk a little bit about the journey? Um, you know, from from the opening and training camp to how you guys, you know, got there today, um, you know, or got here today and kind of what's been um different from other, you know, from past years, maybe you know, just kind of yeah, just take take us through the journey.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

Yeah, I think uh the vision of the whole thing is uh is the biggest difference for sure, right? So um, you know, we started out this uh this summer, um, early in the summer, not knowing what was going on. Uh, you know, and then Ken came in um and uh he really gave us all the tools that are needed to be successful here in this market. Um, he gave us uh you know the resources that we need to uh to have success, uh whether it was you know off the ice or on the ice, like uh right now, for example, um I'm sitting in uh our brand new team store. So uh this is a uh an area of the arena that was unused before. Um and now you know we have a uh a walk-in experience where people can come in uh and touch the new merch and they can try things on. Um and it's not just looking through a window as like it was before, right? So um this is just one of the many things. Um the biggest like changes, like you know, off the ice, uh, you know, the uh the projectors, those are awesome. Those have been utilized as well too. Uh every game we have a story that goes on um and it kind of just builds and uh elaborates as like the season progresses, right? Kind of uh kind of with the journey of the team. Um we've utilized that. We've had uh you know other community uh members utilize that as well too. So it's been a a resource not just for us, but for you know, um, you know, other events and stuff that come into the arena uh as well. Um, you know, the the stability of everything uh has taken a lot of stress off everyone, I would say. Um whether it's you know myself or Polly or Johnny or or Will. Um, you know, the the fact that we uh we can focus more on the things um that are you know important for us to be successful, right? So like Will has a lot on his plate still, but uh Will can make sure that his broadcast is the best broadcast in the league, right? Um, you know, Pauly, Johnny, and myself can focus on the players and uh uh the uh the the concepts and things and the development of what we want to do, and we can make sure that we're you know constantly taking strides in that department, um, and then you know winning hockey games as well, too, which has been uh, you know, like I said, this is uh the first time. Will actually said this the other day on the broadcast, but it's the first time uh since 2017-18 that uh you know we've broken over a hundred points. So that's something that we you know we're uh proud of as well, too. And uh yeah, huge accomplishment.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

So yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I was gonna mention that before the 100 points, like that's huge. Um yeah, I mean, I imagine that's gotta be um, you know, a breath of fresh air, being able to just focus more on the actual hockey part and that kind of stuff, and you know, just like what kind of the new mentality, you know, that uh you know, that new ownership brings, you know, a different mentality. Um, yeah, I imagine it's gotta be uh, you know, nice to be able to focus more on the on those things, like you said.

SPEAKER_02 6:44

Yeah, 100%. I think uh, you know, we were just kind of like bogged down with a bunch of different stuff uh, you know, over the past like few years where you know we had to make sure that uh you know everything uh was ready, or if not, then like at some point the organization could have just like like failed, you know. So it was like uh it was a lot of stress and a lot of pressure. Um, you know, uh and and now like I said, I mean, like it's not just like the resources, but like it's the people that we have involved now too. Like our staff is you know doubled. Um, you know, we have a lot of extra help and we have a lot of extra uh departments that are uh fulfilling uh you know other areas of the business that uh, you know, uh, like I said, that it needs to be filled to to have success. So it's uh it's been a learning experience for sure too. I mean, like I think we're we're kind of you know learning as we grow. Um and I think uh you know it's exciting because uh it's just building for the future. And you know, I think uh you know, if this year was like uh as as you know great as it was, I think like you know, next year is gonna be even better and we're gonna continue to take strides forward.

SPEAKER_01 7:43

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. Like, and you're like obviously as the league grows, the organization's got to grow with it. And you know, it's obviously like that's what you guys have been doing. What's been the difference? Like, you know, you say like you've had more time to be able to, you know, focus on you know the hockey part and that kind of stuff. What's been some of the difference that you've been able to do on that side in terms of like whether it's like practice prep or more game film or more you know game prep or whatnot? Like, what's been some of the differences where it's been like, oh, this is awesome we get to do this this year, and it's we're seeing a uh direct translation into the you know the players that maybe the fans don't don't realize.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

Yeah, I think uh, you know, I mean, like you said, like practice prep, game prep, uh a lot more time to you know break down video, um, use it for development for the players as well. Too. Um, yeah, you know, I think about like back to last year, um, and you know, we were kind of all dabbling in like uh every area of the broadcast, or not the broadcast, every area of the organization. And uh there was weeks that I was like, Pauly, if you don't go out and make corporate sale, like I don't know how we're gonna we're gonna go on beyond next week. So, you know, we had to, you know, drop everything and do whatever we had to do to make sure that we could, you know, continue to exist. And uh, you know, now there's uh, you know, as you can see as well, too, and I'm sure you'll touch on this in a bit or whatnot, but uh uh, you know, now we've had even more time to recruit as well, too. So we've uh been able to, you know, bring in uh, you know, even better players. Um we've been able to spend more time with the players we do have. And uh I think you know, seeing uh seeing those guys grow uh throughout the the course of the season and uh you know seeing our vision come to come to life of like the culture we've put together here and uh the mentality that we have uh it's just been you know really awesome because uh it wouldn't have been able to be done with uh with without that uh extra time that we've been able to put into it for sure.

SPEAKER_01 9:29

Yeah, absolutely. And that's like what you mentioned, like years past and stuff, like with that corporate sale example. Like that's that's so much pressure like that. I don't think people at home realize like you know how much pressure some you know sometimes people are under. And I've been in that situation before at the junior level where it's like kind of like, hey, we don't know how we're gonna pay for the bus this weekend. It's like anybody you get it, somebody's gotta do something. Like, you know, it is it's a lot of pressure, but I think that's also like a testament to you and the other staff. You guys always found a way to get it done. I mean, the organization's been there for you know, you guys have always, you know, you've always gotten a job done. And you know, it's awesome to see like what you know now that again, like with the stability, like what you could do, you know, now with this extra, you know, stability and the extra time to actually put towards the hockey. You mentioned the recruiting, you guys just had a couple of um or three, you know, massive signings, um, you know, right from Division I N CAA, like those guys, you know, I imagine are gonna help, you know, a good amount. Um, why don't you talk a little bit about that? Like how you got them, what uh what you expect them to bring and um just kind of the impact they'll have going going forward, which and it was a genius move by the way. Like we can get into that in a second, but uh yeah, like why don't you talk a little bit about how it came to be?

SPEAKER_02 10:39

Yeah, it's uh you know, it's it's something we've always utilized. Uh not trying to give away all our secrets or whatnot, but uh it's something we've always utilized at the end of the season, is trying to bring in high-level college guys who uh uh you know can help bolster our roster um and you know help us uh you know go on a long playoff run. You know, I think uh you've seen it over the last few years, you know. If you I I think back, um, you know, we added a couple years ago, we added Connor Foley, who was a hundred-point scorer out of Division III, um, you know, Chase McCardle, I think that same year as well, too, who's a presence, physical presence back on the blue line. Uh, and then, you know, the the next year we were able to, you know, grab players like uh, you know, and I want to forget anyone, but like Brett Lockhart and uh Jeremy Rancourt, uh, those guys were huge for you know taking us to the next step, uh coming out of like a great organization like Plymouth State. Um, you know, and then uh last year uh we were able to grab, was it four or five guys from uh Trine University who uh you know actually competed in the the national tournament last year, uh and then you know got all those guys in here. Um and Bobby Price, uh one of those guys that we got was uh you know, our leading score in the playoffs last year, right? So um as a staff this offseason, we talked about you know what we were gonna do, you know, come college deadline time, um, you know, and I you know, I I challenged uh you know Chris Paul and I said, hey, I think this is the year that we need to, you know, bring in Division I hockey players. Um, you know, I think uh the league has been slowly making strides in the right direction. If you look at like teams like Monroe, Athens, um, they've grabbed guys from the ECHL and uh or PD even, right? And uh those guys have become season-long regular players here, right? Uh this league is starting to be become recognized as a league that's a uh one of the prominent leagues in the US, and it's uh it's growing and taking steps in the right direction. Uh if you look at a team like Benghamton, right? They've uh they found a way to grab full-time SP players uh the last couple seasons and uh you know make them full-time uh you know FPHL players. So I mean it's uh it's definitely a tactic that's been being used. Um we just kind of had like a different thought process of how we wanted to go about it, how we were gonna get these good players, um, you know, how we could uh you know find guys. And uh these are guys that uh you know uh might not have gotten opportunities in the ECHL, but they they sure as hell are you know very close to ECHL players. So we uh you know we we made it our mission to go out and grab them. And uh yeah, like uh a guy like Grayson Dietrich uh you know comes in, scores four goals uh in his first game. Um, you know, he uh he was a guy that was more of a depth player at uh at Niagara University. And that's uh that's Paulie's alma mater too, alma mater too. So there's a connection there, obviously. Um so you know, we were able to uh you know, he Paul was able to spend a lot of time on him and uh you know talk uh talk to him and get him to you know commit to coming. Um and then uh you know, Johnny Larkin back uh the on the point, he's uh a guy that spent three years at Ohio State University. Uh and then you know, senior year transferred to Mercy Hearst for some more playing time and better opportunity. Um and we were able to uh you know like connect with him, and he was a guy that uh you know was uh was excited about this opportunity as well, too. Um, you know, I don't want to forget, but we know uh Ganyon as well out of uh Ferdonia State. We added him uh a few weeks ago. He wasn't able to commit full time, so it was kind of a uh a thing where we would use him as needed. Um and then uh you know, jammer as well, too. You know, uh Adrian uh ACHA Division I uh you know, good program always uh in the national tournament. Um, you know, we're able to grab that guy as well, too. And he's uh you know, he fought last game, opening draw, and he's uh he's a big physical guy who he's making an impact as well, too. Um and I don't want to forget about the last one, but uh, you know, uh Ryan Anderson or Ryan Ryan Alexander, uh, you know, he's uh out of Colorado College. Um, you know, obviously a perennial great program, right? Uh yeah. And they're uh they're a top program in the state or in the country. Uh played three years at ASU. Um he's a guy that when we uh when we connected with him, uh he's just uh an awesome dude. He's a great personality, he's a funny, funny as hell. He uh he's uh good guy in the locker room, uh, and like an unbelievable hockey player. Uh so he's got great instincts. Uh he's uh you know smart player who uh you know uh adds adds to our lineup as well, too, obviously, right? So uh excited to get all those guys. Um, you know, it's uh like I said, it was our mission to you know add high-end players uh at the end. And uh, you know, we were able to do so this year.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

Yeah, I think it was very smart. Like, you know, because one of the things we've you know, it's been kind of a consistent topic on um, you know, this show the last couple months, leading into the final stretch and playoffs, is about how it's so important for the team to get hot at the right time. And I think that's really smart that you guys took that into the recruiting, where okay, where are we gonna focus our you know, recruiting efforts and resources and whatnot? Okay, you like we want to identify that hey, we want to put a lot of these efforts into the end of the season and getting the right guys in here and make sure that we're hot, come you know, come playoff time. It's uh like again, like there's multiple ways to skin a cat, and I think this was a very smart way to do it.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Yeah, you know, it's it's not to be uh like forgotten about too, but like, you know, the guys that we added in the summer as well, too. Like those guys, uh, you know, getting Nick Favaro in trade, uh, you know, adding Connor Bazell, guys like that, and then the guys that we recruited as well, you know, getting Bobby Price back from uh the SPHL, uh Timmy Oregon, uh, you know, all these guys, um, you know, having Jamie Bussell return, uh, Ben Brockway is like the last one of the uh the organization, like you know, these guys are are the ones that like set the stage for this too, right? So it's great to have uh, you know, such a close uh knit, tight group of guys that uh you know all have the same common goal. They everyone here just wants to win, right? So, you know, we're uh you know, we're we're excited to to add guys of like this caliber, and uh, you know, everyone's just pulling the rope the same way. So it's uh it's been awesome to see. And it's uh, you know, it's those guys that really laid the foundation for this too.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Oh, absolutely. Like everybody's like, you know, everybody obviously plays a role and is a part. And I think it's just like an interesting, um, you know, just the way that that you're that you guys are managing the team and like, okay, when the pull, what strings, right? Like nobody's gonna win a championship in November, right? It's like, all right, we don't have to win the cup in November. We got to get ourselves to this point, and we're gonna pull this string, get ourselves to that point, pull this string. And you guys have, you know, and those those players that you just previously mentioned got you to the point where you're at now where it's like, okay, we're gonna pull that final string and really make a run for it. And I think it's uh yeah, like everybody plays like a crucial part. And you know, like those guys definitely, you know, yeah, like crucial. Can't forget about them for sure.

SPEAKER_02 17:04

Yeah, it was crazy too to think about like last year in the playoffs. Like we played six games, right? So we played three games in the first series against Stanbury, one in game three, uh, and then you know, obviously beat Binghamton here at home in game one, and then you know, lost the next two. But we had every single rostered player play in that playoff series. So like it's it's crazy because like if injuries and like different matchups and things like that, like it's uh yeah, it's it it playoffs are a crazy time. So uh you need to have as many guys as you can.

SPEAKER_01 17:32

Yeah, absolutely. And it's it's like and like you need the depth too. Like, I think if you talk to any, you know, any championship team, any coach, like like there's something special, like where you just know it when the depth is clicking, it's like, all right, we have a chance to do something special here. Like you usually can't win without you know, without the the depth on the roster. So like, yeah, like everybody is so you know, so so important. I think, and I think it was uh one of the Florida Panther uh teams that said like that their depth they believe was the reason that they won the Stanley Cup, like that they don't win it without them. And yeah, like it it like it's so true. Like everybody plays such a crucial, everybody's a piece to the puzzle, and the puzzle doesn't exist uh without every piece.

SPEAKER_02 18:14

Yeah, it's it's crazy. I mean, like you think about like uh like last year, like you know, even in the playoffs with uh you know our goaltenders, like we had uh you know uh Reed Cooper, uh Studd, right? Uh and then we had uh Valteri Nousiinen and they altered uh alternated games uh that year. And then you got like uh Yoshi, who was uh our third guy all year, and he was like great backup, and like he uh he played a prominent role as well, too. I think you see teams like uh you know uh Binghamton uh trying to add other goaltenders to the fold, uh, you know, whether it's because uh you know they have the opportunity to or they're they're unsure about like what they have, but uh yeah, it's uh it it's it's it's awesome. And I think uh you know it's it just speaks to that, right? All these teams are trying to add depth here uh down the stretch for sure.

SPEAKER_01 19:00

Yeah, because like I mean, like we said, I think you need it to win, you know, to win championships, and especially like you said, like with with injuries and whatnot. Um but yeah, I mean, how how hard is it like with so with some of the college uh guys coming into the league? Um, obviously players that you guys have probably never seen before, haven't seen a lot of before. How much emphasis, and like without giving away too much, like how much emphasis do you like do you put on learning about those players or checking into them, like maybe seeing what their tendencies are or whatnot, especially maybe the goalie position. You see somebody pick up a goalie, it's like, all right, do we, you know, how much time do you spend learning about that guy that is like pretty much a brand new face to almost everybody in the league?

SPEAKER_02 19:40

Yeah, I think uh, I mean, obviously our pre-scouts and stuff take care of that. But uh, you know, when it comes to you know our own recruiting and stuff, we we spend weeks uh watching guys on video. Uh we do our due diligence, we watch them, we uh, you know, that's one of the things that Paulie does a really good job at too is like connecting with them um and knowing their game inside and out, right? Before you before you talk to them as well, too. So, I mean, there's there's a lot of time spent uh calling these guys and uh you know researching them uh to make sure that we know we're bringing in the right people uh that are like-minded and uh you know have uh have aligned goals with us as well, too. So there's uh a ton of video that's watched. Uh we know everything about these players before we bring them in. Um and uh that's why, you know, that's why fit ends so well uh once they do get here. Um when it comes to other teams, obviously uh you know want to see who they're adding as well too. And uh, you know, we watch video on them uh weekly to prepare and uh excuse me. Um we uh we do our due diligence on them as well, too.

SPEAKER_01 20:39

Yeah, for sure. Um and what was I gonna ask you? I just had something, I just had something else for you. Um I forget where I was going to see. You were saying watch a video. Oh, yeah. So like in terms like, all right, so that's a great point. You mentioned knowing these guys inside and out before you bring them in. So everything we're talking about, about you know, bringing guys in at the deadline and how they could be, you know, a great boost and a compliment to what's already been built and what's already been working all year long. Like that's a double-edged sword because if that's wrong, it could go real wrong at the complete wrong times. Like, I think that's a very interesting point with how you, you know, in terms of like being sure that okay, this is the guy, he's gonna fit what we like. Um, you know, in terms of playing style, he's gonna fit our dressing room, personality, everything. Because it's you're like everybody kind of sees like the upside to this, but there's so much work that goes into it on your end to make sure that hey, like this is gonna work because if this doesn't work, boy, could this be bad.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

Yeah, and that's been the great part of our great part about like having uh new ownership too, is like like I said earlier on, we're able to spend time watching these guys. Uh Paul A, Johnny, myself, we spend uh hours uh watching uh watching these guys on video, uh trying to see, you know, where they fit in exactly, what kind of impact they can make, and you know, can they can they play against like this particular opponent or or you know, what situation will they thrive in? And how do we how do we make sure that they're successful when they get here too? And then talking to, you know, like obviously uh you know previous coaches and things like that about like what kind of people they are, uh, or other players as well, too, um, trying to you know figure out and make sure it's a good fit.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Yeah, absolutely. I think that, you know, like like you guys there, and this is something I wanted to mention earlier, like you guys there in Port Euron. You guys have a very distinct team identity, right? Like everybody knows what a port Euron team is like. Like you got, you know, you guys are tough, you're tough you know, tough customer to play against. You can't ever take a night off against Port Euron. Um, which I think is cool with all these changes that we've mentioned, and with the new ownership and with the you know, moving forward, like progressing as the league's progressing. You guys have maintained your identity, like you've been able to kind of take that same port Euron brand of hockey that the fans know and love and just keep that moving into the future as everything else around it is evolving.

SPEAKER_02 22:52

Yeah, it's uh it that's you know, then that was important too to Ken when he came in and met with us. Um, he was, you know, he was very uh direct with us about hey, uh what I want to do is I want to give you guys the resources to to continue to build this and to be successful. I'm not trying to uh change like the Port Huron brand or style of hockey. Um, you know, we we've had success, like we've been building this for years, right? So like you know, we've been if I look back three, four, five years ago, uh, you know, we have uh you know similar playing style and similar types of players, and uh, you know, the foundation of all that um is built on guys like you know Dan Chartrend, who's in the SP now, uh, you know, Tucker Scantalbury, who, you know, obviously uh is having a lot of success in Monroe. Um and then you know, they they've kind of laid the the foundation for you know uh the guys that are here now, like Ben Brockway and uh you know the the high energy guys and the leaders in the room. Like when you look at like you know Buck and uh Reed Cooper and you know Favs, all these guys, uh, you know, it's uh it's it's it's you know it's those guys that uh you know created this brand of hockey, and now we have a bunch of guys buying in, right? Vinny DeCumbus has been here for for four or five years, and he gets scrappier and scrappier every game that we watch now, too. So it's like it's been awesome to see, and uh, you know, it's uh it the the players end up like you know uh evolving into the identity that uh that the team is.

SPEAKER_01 24:16

Yeah, yeah, it's all it's awesome. What's the biggest thing that you're looking forward to with playoffs? Like obviously when playoff time rolls around, it's like you know, everybody gets like giddy, like it's Christmas time. Um, yeah, like what's the biggest thing? Like just you personally, though, like what's your favorite thing about playoff time?

SPEAKER_02 24:30

Yeah, I think the intensity of it for sure. Um, it's uh you know, they're short series, so uh, you know, you got to be dialed in. Um, you know, I'm trying to it's it's it's exciting for sure. Uh it's nerve-wracking. Um, you know, I just want to, you know, I I think everyone in here, you know, uh is on the same page and we we're just keeping our eye on the mission and uh yeah, trying to trying to make sure that you know we we you know are best prepared to have success when uh when that Wednesday rolls around for uh for game one.

SPEAKER_01 24:59

Yeah, what's your how about like favorite playoff memory?

SPEAKER_02 25:03

Favorite playoff memory? Uh I don't know. It I can date myself, but I can go back to uh this is a long time ago, and I won't give all the specifics of it. But uh in two, so I won a championship in Slovakia. That was a uh a great playoff memory. Uh, you know, we had a seven-game series uh all the way through. Um, so that was awesome. Um, but uh my favorite playoff memory in this league is probably you know the year before I went over there was 2013. Um, and uh we uh we ended up it was four teams in the league at the time. Uh and you know they made uh two play three to see who goes to the finals. So we uh we're in Watertown, New York, and we had to uh you know move all of our stuff out of our apartment, and then we uh ended up having to drive down to Dayton, Ohio and play uh best of three series down there. And I uh I don't think anyone thought we were gonna win a game uh because they only had the hotels booked for one night. Um we ended up losing game one, we win game two, uh, and then they had to scramble to find us hotels at a uh a Motel 6. And uh we ended up going there, and I don't think we had enough rooms because we had guys sleeping on the bus that night. Um, but yeah, like the odds are sacked against us. Danbury and Dayton were the the the top two teams in the league. Um, you know, we had to play, you know, guys like uh Ahmed Mafuz and then Joe Pace was on uh Dayton at the time. Um who else? I don't know. I mean guys like Chris McCarthy were on my team. Uh Brent Clark was the uh the the player coach at the time. Okay. So uh yeah, it's uh and then so we lose game three, and then uh it was just funny because we were dropping guys off because there's nowhere to go back to. So we're dropping guys off at airports along the way or bus stops, and uh that was it. There's no goodbye to the guys. It was just like, hey, if you make it all the way back, you're probably gonna be one of the only ones that are back there.

SPEAKER_01 26:45

So that's crazy. Yeah, that's crazy. That's crazy. That's that's awesome. Do you guys have any um any unique anything going on in the locker room? Like I know some teams will have uh you know, like uh, you know, picture to cup or whatever that they put a piece on every win they get. You guys have anything going on in the in the room?

SPEAKER_02 27:03

Yeah, we have uh we have a uh like a board that we put pucks in. Um and some of the leaders uh a few years ago made that fets, and then uh uh Buck and I think B Way had a piece in that, maybe Tuxer Shards, I don't remember. But uh so we have one of those that we put the uh the wind pucks in. Uh and then I guess the funny thing that we do is after every win, uh we uh we plant the flag in the middle of the locker room. So that's a joke from the end of the last year that's kind of uh you know carried on with tradition. And uh yeah, it's been uh been something we've just like you know embraced.

SPEAKER_01 27:34

Yeah. Who who plants it? You guys pick like a player in the game? Is it like yeah, player of the game?

SPEAKER_02 27:39

Yeah, the boy uh the boys will select a player of the game, and then he uh he gets to plant the flag.

SPEAKER_01 27:43

So yeah, that that's awesome. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 27:46

They won't let us do it on the ice, so we gotta do it in the room, you know?

SPEAKER_01 27:48

Yeah, no, you gotta do it, you gotta do it somewhere, right? I mean, it's uh that's like one of the best things is like some of those like some of those like little traditions that normally like people like nobody else really knows about, right? Like obviously we're you know letting the fans in on this one and everything, but like that's like part of the best part of the game is like those little traditions that like even something so little, like I'll bet you you guys are going crazy when that plot flag is planted in the middle of the room every night, right? Like just something little that's just so much fun for the team.

SPEAKER_02 28:16

Yeah, it's uh it yeah, the guys really like uh rally around it and it gets them excited and whatnot. But uh yeah, I think uh Aiden, uh our videographer, he's done a really great job of capturing behind the scenes stuff, and that's something that we wouldn't have had in the past either. But uh he's made some like post-game videos and some highlight reels and stuff like that where you get locker room content and things like that. And that's been great for fans as well, too. I think uh he posts them all on our our Facebook and our uh our Instagram page. But uh yeah, he's done a really great job with that too. Um, you know, we uh Pauly after uh a game in Watertown, I guess like they called the cops, and uh so then one of our fans, like Paulie said in the locker room, he's like, it wouldn't be a prowlers win if the cops didn't come, right? So then uh we come back home last weekend and someone's got a uh someone's got a sign that says it wouldn't be a prowlers win if the cops weren't there. And it's like just funny to see that stuff because like they've had access to it now because they see things like that. Uh it makes them feel like closer to the team as well, too, right? So it's uh absolutely it's awesome all around and uh like as an organization, I think like everyone's done a great job, like even going like now, like talking about the videographer on this, like you know, this podcast.

SPEAKER_01 29:18

So yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Anything you want to end off with?

SPEAKER_02 29:23

No, not really, just uh excited. I think uh it's exciting to see where uh you know where the league has gone and like what we've uh what we've been able to do with it, uh the strides over the you know the past, you know, it's like I said, I I've been part of it or involved since 2013 off and on. Um, and just like over the last like four or five years to see where we're at now and like what it's come from is uh is really exciting. And I think if we can continue to make steps in the right direction, whether it's like you know, uh organizationally, like how we have, uh, or you know, adding like high-level players and stuff like that, um, it's only gonna do uh you know more good things for the league and continue to elevate it. So it's uh it's been awesome to see. And then like, you know, the the media coverage and like the things like uh you know, like FBHL Beyond the Glass, like things like that, uh, you know, have obviously been awesome for it as well, too. I haven't tuned into every episode, but uh yeah, they uh you know when they pop up every Wednesday, it's like you know, it it gives fans something else and more content that they're you know they're craving. So it's uh it's been good. And like you, you you've done a great job with this as well, too.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

So well, I appreciate it, Matt. Thank you. Um, but yeah, no, that's awesome. I'm excited to see what's next for the league. Excited to see what's next for you guys, and congratulations on everything you've achieved and good luck the rest of the way.

SPEAKER_02 30:34

Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for coming on, Matt. Playoffs are almost here. Let's do our proof of attendance token code. The proof of attendance token code for watching this episode is Prowlers. Enter the code at swanhockey.io on the podcast page, and you will be eligible to receive your proof of attendance token for watching this episode. Codes must be entered by 9 p.m. Eastern the night that this show airs Wednesday night. Our magic number is five. Collect five or more of these tokens, and you will have access to the member only chat inside Club Fed in the Swan Hockey Discord server. That's gonna do it for this episode. Until next time, I'll see you guys soon.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

Thank you for being the best part of this episode of FPHL Beyond the Glass by Swan Hockey. We will see you soon. We will see you soon.