Devils Insider Summer Series - Episode 8 - Signings Galore

On this edition of Devils Insider Summer Series... 

Tom Caron: New Devil Tom Caron joins the show to chat about his career so far, coming to Cardiff, and gives us a little insight into what Jimmy Oligny is like at home (01:00)  

Ben Davies: Ahead of his thirteenth season in red, Ben Davies is back in Cardiff and chats about his time away with GB earlier in the summer, and all things Devils ahead of another campaign (26:00) 

Josh MacDonald: After another 30 goal season MacDonald has signed on for his third season in Cardiff, he chats with us about the redemption of winning the playoffs, and what to expect this coming year (48:35)

Kristoff Kontos: The Devils top scorer and reigning forward of the year is back for his second season in Cardiff, and we sit down to discuss a stellar year, back-to-back playoff titles, and how having a baby helped change his outlook on the game (1:08:10) 

Remember to follow the Cardiff Devils on all social platforms for your latest news, updates and content from around the club 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Today's podcast is brought to you by Minerva Hearing. Hear the cheers, protect your ears. Shemai Paul Ba Kroisar. Hello, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of Devil's Insider the Summer series. Dan Rodak alongside Gareth Hewitt and Neil Francis. And guys, I'm actually alongside you this time. I'm really excited to be back in Cardiff. We've all had a little bit of time away. And we're back now for another couple of recordings. And guys, it's it's good to see you.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

It is very good to see uh you uh gents as well. And I'm so glad to be back in an ice rink. Uh a man of my courage does not do well in it. So uh of enjoying the cooldown, really.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Yeah, uh Franny, you've been enjoying some heat as well over the last week.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Yeah, just got back from holiday in the early hours of this morning. So uh yeah, you know, if I'm a bit slow on things, that that's my excuse. But uh no, it's um the fact that uh the band is back together face to face must mean that uh hockey season is around the corner.

SPEAKER_02 0:53

Oh, we are very, very nearly there. We've got uh a podcast for you today, and then we've got another one that'll be going up later in the week where we'll be chatting through all the remaining signings for the Devils this off season. There's been plenty of them to get through, so we will waste no time. The first one I want to talk about today, and it's a big one. It's a new face here in Cardiff, and that is Thomas Caron. And it's a guy I'm really excited about. Franny, this is a this is a great player who comes with a good CV.

SPEAKER_01 1:16

Yeah, I'm really excited about him too. Um it's funny, I mean, the reaction when you I mean, I always look at fans' reaction. I've got an interest in that just to kind of judge what our customers effectively are feeling about the the signings, and you know, it's I I can see where people go, well, he's not the proven goalscorer that we kind of had on our shopping list. Uh, and I see that, but then you look at a guy who's 25 years old, has played a significant amount of games in the American League, and then you know, two half seasons in Liga in Finland, and we know how uh how what a good league that is, um, and just all the attributes that that this guy has got. It for me, it's hard not to be excited about him.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

What kind of game are we going to expect from Tom when he gets here? Just tell us a little bit about him as a player.

SPEAKER_01 2:06

Yeah, I mean, this is a guy I first actually looked at two years ago uh when he ended up going to Finland. Uh, and when I saw him, because again, I mean he he wasn't he's not a guy that has had those you know 60, 70 point seasons that you look for. But then when I watched him, I was like, this guy has all the tools, you know. He is um he's a great skater. He's a great skater, and then you realize he's you know six foot two, six foot three. Uh he's he's a big unit as well. So you know he he can play a physical game, but he's he's a very good skater. Um one of the areas that uh we as a recruitment group wanted to address this year was that we felt we as a team got kept to the outside a little bit um too easily, and we we struggled to penetrate against the strong decor. And with when when you look at um Caron playing, he loves to drag pucks to the net and make things happen, and that was really kind of exciting for us when we saw that. You know, he drops that shoulder, he's got that six foot three, 210 whatever pound frame, uh, and dragging pucks to the net, but then he's also got some really delicate skill. I mean, you look at the highlight video that we threw out, saw his penalty shots, the patience on those, um, some of the other ones where he's just got a very lightning quick um shot, and and uh that we we felt we were missing that last year. That big body who can get inside when teams are trying to keep to the outside. And I think that that's what uh Tom is gonna bring in abundance.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Gaz, one of the one of the headlines on this signing, one of the one of the noteworthy things I think worth mentioning is is of course that he was in Manitoba at the same time as Jimmy Alini. And and then we know how well Jimmy got on here in Cardiff in his first season. And uh we had a little bit of an inside man, I think, on the on the signing of Coron in terms of convincing him to come here.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

If he's good enough for Jimmy, he's good enough for me, then that's uh I'll uh I'll run the rule over that. Um, yeah, really uh really excited about this one. Uh my type of player that the player I enjoy watching the most, that those sort of power forward uh who like to crash and bang, but have got a little bit of skill as well. I'm thinking, you know, Max Bebreer, Ivan Matulik, that sort of mould. Um yeah, just I think that they are the sort of players I would pay my money to see. Um coming in as well, I sense that he's had a few different roles. I think back to when we signed Tyler Michelle, and if you looked at his stats, you would never have thought that he'd have the kind of impact on the on the scoreboard and power play, etc., that he did. And I guess similar sort of vibes from this, that he's got a chance now to get more responsibility uh in this team, and I'm excited to see if he can grasp that with both hands.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Yeah, and Gaz, the other thing that um excites me about him, and and we'll you'll hear his interview very shortly, uh, is how excited and how much he wanted to come to Cardiff. Um, I'll go back to the point that I referenced that you know, when I guess fans are looking at the elite prospects of players we sign, everybody wants to see a 30-goal season, you know, in their in their pocket. And um Tom doesn't have that because he's been playing at a very high level. And then it's hard when you go down to the East Coast, then as a kind of up and down player to get an established spot where you can put up those kind of numbers. Um, but a bit of, I mean, we are called Dowel Insider, so I'll give you a bit of inside. One of the guys that we were speaking to this year, and we felt quite confident we were gonna get we were gonna get was Chase Gresach. Uh, and you look at Chase Grassock, and I think had we signed him, then the fans would have gone, right? There's 32 goal scorer in Coventry, that's the guy that we wanted, brilliant. Um, at that time, Gresach's priority was to try and go to Sweden, um, and that's what he was looking for. So that kind of was a bit off-putting for us, is that he wasn't saying, I want to come and join the Devils. And then when Karan came up around the same time that Gresach was looking towards Sweden and how desperate he was to come and join the Devils, I mean, he wanted to come to the Elite League, but it wasn't just the elite league, he wanted to come to the Devils, and obviously there's the Alini connection that you mentioned there. Um, and with the skill set that he's got, if you compare resumes before the season in Coventry for Gresark, then Karan's is you know, is is significantly higher in terms of the games played in the American League, uh, and obviously the games in Finland than Gresark's is. And you know, I I don't want to make I don't want this to be taken out of context as this is what he's gonna do, but you look at a guy like Mitchell Balmas, who's league MVP and done so well in Sheffield, um, you know, there's sort of similarities in terms of the American League numbers and and whatever that they've put up, and uh it was Balmas hadn't been given the opportunity as a you know a go-to guy on a team until he came to to Sheffield pretty much, and look how well he's done. So, again, I'm gonna caveat it with say I'm not saying you know this is the new Mitchell Balmas because he's not, he's Tom Carran, but I just want to give a kind of a little bit of background about you know, when you read resumes or you read elite prospects, then there's a bit more to it than that, and you know, that's why um you know Tom O, myself, Nicholas, Todd, we all spend so much time watching hours and hours of games of the guys to say, have have you got the attributes to not only play in the elite league, but to be a Cardiff Devils player? And I think Tom Caron does.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Well, Franny, you mentioned that he he spoke a little bit about that in his interview, and and he really does does get into that. So uh I caught up with him a little bit earlier this summer when he uh had a moment to chat to me. And uh it's a good interview, so enjoy this one. Ladies and gents, a huge welcome on Devil's Insider to a new signing in Cardiff for the 26-27 season. Tom Caron joins the Cardiff Devils. Tom, thank you so much for joining me. How are you doing, buddy?

SPEAKER_04 8:19

I'm pretty good. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 8:21

How does it feel to be a Cardiff Devil for the upcoming season?

SPEAKER_04 8:24

It feels pretty good, to be honest. Uh, when I was looking to to kind of go to the UK league, it was uh it was pretty much Cardiff and nobody else. Um so I'm pretty happy that everything kind of worked out uh pretty good.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

Tell me a little bit about how the move came about. You know, uh you're a guy who I know speaking to to the management and to coaching, they they're very excited to have you in Cardiff. So so talk to me about how how you ended up here.

SPEAKER_04 8:51

Yeah, um, it was pretty uh it was pretty easy, um, to be honest. Once uh once I kind of figured out that uh the Finland uh Finland situation was kind of like uh in the past. Uh I was looking at my uh options and um the UK League was uh was pretty interesting to me and uh like I said it was carded first nothing. Um I'm sure uh I'm sure you know about uh Jimmy Olin and uh myself's uh uh connection from the past years. Um so a lot to talk with uh Jimmy um told me nothing but good things. So that was uh that was just a bonus. Um so then I just uh just stuck talking to Neil and uh Paul a little bit and uh everything went uh pretty smoothly. And I couldn't I couldn't be more happy to come to Cardiff, to be honest. Uh I heard nothing but good things. So uh me and my family are pretty excited to come down to Cardiff.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

Yeah, I think the devil's uh lucky they've got an extra little agent in in Jimmy Alini, who who I'm sure did some some talking. Talk to me a little bit about you you guys' relationship. Like you say, you you've played together in the past, and uh and am I right in saying that that you lived together for a little while?

SPEAKER_04 10:05

Yes, we did. Uh my I want to say my second pro year, uh I got a shoulder surgery uh at the beginning of training camp. And uh Jimmy and his family was uh really uh really um just excited to invite me to come over to to kind of like rehab my shoulder and uh Mary and the kids just uh open arms uh like one of them. And uh I see them for about uh I want to say a month. Um so I was just uh I was just the the fourth child kind of in a sense. Uh and then um, you know, me and Ginny were actually um from the same area kind of uh we grew up kind of like he's well, he's obviously a little uh older than me, but uh we kind of grew up around uh the same people and uh we used to work out kind of like at the same place during the summer, so we kind of knew each other a little bit. And then uh when I decided to sign in Manitoba in the American League, um Jimmy was there, so it was kind of like uh nice to have familiar faces uh to start the the the pro career. Um so we just build uh build a really good chemistry together. Um Jimmy also had a pretty big injury at that time, so we kind of like re-hab uh together. So we spent a lot of time together uh at home or at the rink. So we kind of like build a different chemistry. I want to say that that the rest of my teammate at a time. Um so just to be able to kind of like get that chemistry back in a sense uh years later. Um I'm really excited and uh we just we just been chatting and we're just really excited to to get uh to get to work and uh hopefully to win uh to win a lot of uh championship this year.

SPEAKER_02 11:59

You you've got to tell me because because Jimmy is Mr. Perfect in Cardiff. There must be something about him. He must be a terrible cook or leave dishes everywhere. There's got to be something about that guy.

SPEAKER_04 12:09

Uh I want to say, well, he's good on the barbecue, but other than that, I don't know if he cooks a lot. Uh he doesn't like vegetables at all. So that's uh that's a pretty big thing. Uh oh Jim. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:23

Yeah, we'll have to get him on the barbecue at some point in Cardiff and get into some cooking. Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about your career a bit before now you joined the devils. And and straight out of Junior, you went and played with the Moose in Manitoba. And and and that's a big jump to make is obviously a great league. What kind of experience was that?

SPEAKER_04 12:40

Uh well, like you said, uh it was a pretty big, uh, pretty big jump for me coming from Junior, and then you know, you have to you have to kind of like figure it out your own apartment, you kind of like start living by yourself. Uh, you make you make more money than when you used to make in junior, which is pretty much nothing. Um, so I want to say the the biggest the biggest adjustment was pretty much off the ice. Um, you know, you just you kind of like just get pitch in like the adult world in a sense. Um obviously hockey side, uh everything is just faster, and you're you know, you it's just like another level, but I thought it I thought it caught it, it thought it get me um just just a better person and obviously a better um hockey player, and I couldn't be more happy. You know, uh I met my uh girlfriend here, and uh that's just been home for me, um Manitoba for the last couple years there, so uh pretty excited about it, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 13:40

And and then my last question that includes Jimmy, because I know we could talk a lot about him, everybody loves him here in Cardiff, but uh he he of course he he was a captain for you over in in Manitoba. He's uh he's wore the A in Cardiff this year as well. What's what made him such a good leader, you know, on the Ice Hand off here when you were over there?

SPEAKER_04 13:57

Well, talking about Jimmy, the first thing that comes to my mind is just his experience, yes. Um, you know, I don't really I don't really know another hockey player with that much experience with you know almost 500 games in the American Hockey League, which is really, really, really hard to do at uh at uh at this age and like you know with just the process, such a such a development league. But Jimmy was he's just he's just such a good human being. Um it's just being so fun to be in around him. Um and you know, just occuised for him. He's he's not the he's not the guy who's gonna like you know like say like it's for example, like you have to do this, this, this, but he's just such a res like he's just he's he's gonna cheer you up even when things are going maybe sideways a little bit, which is which is what you need uh as the leader. Uh he's always positive, he's always gonna work his uh uh his ass off if uh if if I can say that. Uh I'm sure you guys um you guys saw what kind of hockey player he is. Uh he's always he's gonna at night after night, you know what you're gonna get from uh from uh Jimmy. So I think at a at a time when I was a young guy, um you can just learn from a veteran like that. And um that's probably why he was the captain for uh as long as he's been, and he's uh he was a really good leader. Yep.

SPEAKER_02 15:27

After your time in in Manitoba, you played in uh a few different East Coast teams, and then you moved to Finland, like you like you made reference to earlier. And and and what did you make of your time in Finland? What made it mo motivated you to go out to the to the Finnish league?

SPEAKER_04 15:41

Well, um, yeah, I kind of bounced around a little bit after my time in Manitoba. And uh when I was uh when I was in with Idaho uh at the time, that's uh that's a team in the East Coast League uh I had a pretty good uh um I had a pretty good half season like uh till like Christmas and then I got that uh that kind of like um chance to go play uh in the liga, which for me at the time I didn't really know um much about the uh Europe in general for me was really like North America and trying to just like reach as high as possible. But when I kind of like learned a little bit about the Liga, uh I kind of learned that it was uh it was a really good league. And um so I just thought for me maybe it would be a good fit and a good experience. And uh it was good. It was good. Um it just it kind of get me uh get me my my my my feet wet in uh in the Europe kind of kind of league a little bit and um yeah it was a really good experience.

SPEAKER_02 16:42

What did you find was was different between the the game over in North America and then and then in Finland?

SPEAKER_04 16:49

Um well it's really structure, I want to say. That's for me that was the biggest thing defensively. I'm like now now that I know more about the like Europe leagues, I know that all the like Scandinavian like league, which is like Sweden, Finland, it's really like you have to be structure, you have to be good defensively, or you're not really gonna get your chance. Um so that was the big adjustment for me. Obviously, the ice like the ice is kind of like a little bigger, also. So the first couple games, it was kind of like you know, it took me a couple games to figure it out. Um, but for me, just really structured, kind of like the pace of the game was also really fast. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

And and you know, you you ended up going back there for a second stint, and and and was it a case of of having done it once already? You you relished that chance? That was something when it came about that you kind of took that chance with both hands.

SPEAKER_04 17:51

Yeah, um, well, to be honest with you, I was supposed to go back um after that first time that I came, uh, that I went to Finland, sorry. And I'm not gonna go into the details, but for for some family reason, uh we had to stay in North America, so that's why I kind of like you know, signed with another uh East Coast team here. Um but then once everything was kind of like sorted out, um, we were just ready to go back, and uh my agent just reached out to them and uh I just went back to be honest. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

Let's talk now about your move to Cardiff, and and everyone's very excited to see you here. Uh have you have you spoken much with the guys about what you know about the league and and about Cardiff as a place, you know, now we're gearing up for a new season.

SPEAKER_04 18:37

Um I didn't really spoke that much with the guys, to be honest. I talked with Jimmy, obviously. Uh I know uh Nolan Yeremko also a little bit. So uh that's uh that's another uh that's another guy to I talk a little bit. Um also know from last year, Cedric LeCroix. I know he's not coming back, but I kind of like uh sent him a couple text messages to see what was his experience in Cardiff and what's the league is uh in general, and just they all say this just it's a great league. Uh Cardiff is an awesome place to be. The fans are awesome. Uh we get treated really well. So it was just uh it was just a no-brainer for me, to be honest, to come uh to come to Cardiff. And like I said before, uh I'm really excited to come down to Cardiff and just uh uh get to work.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

What kind of game can the Devils fans expect from you when you get here? What will you bring to the team?

SPEAKER_04 19:34

Um I want to say I'm a I'm a pretty good power forward uh who likes to bring some offense. Uh I like I like having the puck in the in the uh offensive zone, you know, trying to like make plays and everything. Uh I'm a pretty good skater, so that's also uh that's also huge for me to just you know just um like pick up some speed in the in the neutral zone. Um I like, you know, on a physical guy, I want to say my size is uh is also a good uh a good tool to have in my toolbox. Um so the devil fans can just expect uh expect me to be uh to be all in pretty much uh every game and hopefully uh hopefully like I said, just help the team uh win some championships.

SPEAKER_02 20:22

Um I'm sure you've been told already, but uh obviously the the league title here, the regular season is is the one that's important in in Cardiff. And and is that uh something that excites you, something you you've you've never really played in that format of league before?

SPEAKER_04 20:35

For sure, for sure. Um to be honest, when I when I when I first signed with the Devils, I didn't even know about the like different kind of like trophies that you could uh possibly win in a season. And then when I like I said when I started talking to Jimmy and uh those guys a little bit, I kind of like figured out that was not just uh just like a classic format with like a regular season and playoff and everything. And um it's just super excited, I feel to be honest. It it kind of like brings you back to like when you're like a kid and you like you play for something and you're like excited to you know to like play for something. And uh obviously the season is uh is the biggest one. And um I'm just uh I know you guys won last year the the playoffs, so it's kind of like it finished really well, and I'm sure that I'm sure we're gonna wanna you know just start how the team finished last year. Um, and we're just gonna do everything in our power to bring as many championships as possible to Cardiff.

SPEAKER_02 21:36

Well, Tom, that that's a message I think all Devils fans will be very, very glad to hear. And uh I know they're very excited to see you. So congratulations again on signing here in Cardiff. And uh, we're very excited to have you back. Oh, have you here and and Jimmy for having you back.

SPEAKER_04 21:49

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 21:51

Big thank you to Tom for joining the podcast. It was wonderful to sit down with him and have a bit of a chat about the upcoming time in Cardiff. Gaz, when you've lived with Jimmy Alini. Uh I think that's another thing to say. And you've rehabbed an injury with Jimmy Alini. You trust his opinion, and if he tells you to come to Cardiff and you get on with him that well, I think it's uh it's it's wise words to listen to.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Are we sure that Jimmy Alini is his dad? Because he sounds a lot like him when he when he talks. I think he's really he really did get taken under his wing, didn't he, back in uh Manitoba? It was uh it was fun to hear. And you know, you I you you I did get sort of early vibes when I listened to him talk, but the way he sort of talked about the game. I loved when he he honed in on how much he loves to get in those scoring areas and he loves that he he wants to get a scoring touch and he wants to make plays in the offensive zone. I know I kind of build him up as a power forward before this, but I love that he's honed in on that as something that he enjoys because he will get more time in the elite league in those areas than maybe he has in in Liga. So uh yeah, again, much like we were saying, it's it's really exciting to see what he's gonna be able to do with this extra time and this extra responsibility.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

He feels like a guy who who is uh really excited about the prospect of being a top-end player, a top six guy, a guy who's gonna get a lot of minutes, and and that feels like it's it's an opportunity that he looked at and thought, actually, I want to go there and prove that I am kind of I can fit in there.

SPEAKER_00 23:13

Yeah, absolutely. And sometimes you can sign guys with those big CVs who think that that spot is owed to them because of previous you know achievements and previous seasons, and then it doesn't quite work out when things don't go their way and whatnot. But I totally agree. I I want a team that is competitive, I want a team that looks at the top spots on the roster and says, That one I want to be mine because the only way he's gonna get it is by putting in that work. So uh yeah, I I'll I back him. He seems to back himself, and that's a great first step.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Franny, I've spoken a little bit on previous insiders this summer about the Devils maybe dragging the average age down of the squad. And he obviously, as we said, is 25 and comes in with bags of experience, but he is he has got a few years extra on his side, and that and that is another benefit.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Yeah, I mean it definitely was one of the objectives because the you know, as we've talked about and you'll hear in the interviews, the the league is the is the big prize, the 54-game playoff series, and it's very hard, particularly in the forwards on the legs for older guys, no matter who you are, um it is very hard. And and I think that you know, we did need some younger legs in there, and to sign a guy of this calibre with the American League games, the Liga games at 25 years old, with you know, he's still on the way up. And when you've got a coach like Paul Thompson who's got a track record of bringing the best out of players and moulding them into his kind of style, you know, you want guys that can play into Tom O's systems. Uh, you have to work hard, you have to be able to skate, you have to finish your hit, you have to get to the dirty areas. Um, you know, a 25-year-old with the experience that Tom has got coming into this environment, an environment that he's excited to be in. Um, I think it's uh it's a mouthwater and prospect.

SPEAKER_02 25:03

The last thing I'll mention on this, Gaz, is is he seems like a very Tom seems like a very good balance of size and build and heaviness, but also he brings that skill on the side as well. And and and finding the nice balance between the two is really important.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

It is, especially uh in the elite when you've got those extra minutes and you you're expected to you know maybe jump in and different facets of things, you know. You you may have a chance to get on that penalty kill as a big body, and if he works as hard as he says is you seems absolutely sort of nailed on as you're prototypical, standing in front of net presence on the power play. So you do need that fuller range and to be that top player. It's not just a a role that you're going to be given and that's it for for you know the rest of the season. You're gonna have opportunity where you have to step in and make a difference. And yeah, you know, we we've talked about it all, haven't we? There didn't seem to be a box that that hasn't been ticked. Uh most exciting part of the offseason when you've got a guy like this coming in that you can't wait to see on the ice in a couple of weeks' time.

SPEAKER_02 26:02

Yeah, we're very, very excited to see Tom in Cardiff. We're gonna move on. We're moving on from a guy in his first year in Cardiff to a man who is starting his 13th season here in Cardiff Come, August, and that is Ben Davis, a stalwart of the Devil's organization. He's back for another year after in his second stint, 13 years, of course, overall, and then two stints in that time. And another great re-signing, an important re-signing, guys, and and and Gaz, one who, you know, when when you look through the list of you your wish list over the summer, it's a guy that you can trust to turn up, perform, and do his job when he comes.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

You certainly can. I um I managed to speak to him uh at the awards night after playoff weekend, and I said to him, in that semifinal, when he picked up that pack and lifted his head up and saw a pony, I knew it was going to be a goal. I trusted uh Ben Davis of all people once he got our head up to make that perfect pass and get us on uh our way. And that he's a big game guy, isn't he? Ben Davis. He you know, time and time again, he uh comes up with with big moments, and then you've got that consistency both on and off the ice uh uh with him as well, which is so important. I've preached so much over this summer series about if you're gonna win the league, you need guys in the room from day one who know how this club ticks, who knows how the league ticks, who knows how to get through those big games, and you've got Ben Davis there as a perfect sounding board uh for a lot of the new guys uh and a lot of the returning guys actually uh to go to. So delighted to have him back.

SPEAKER_02 27:29

Franny, uh, we we spoke a little bit earlier in the summer about this, and and so we won't spend too long on it because we I do talk to Ben about it in his interview, but he but he got the Scott Matzker award uh award tonight, and it was well deserved. Well, but it wasn't just last season that he's shown the attitude that he did last year, and it well, it's never just that, it's obviously part of a bigger picture and it's a bigger part of his character. And and so yes, he he won that award, but this is this is an important guy in terms of the the build-up of this organization off the ice as well.

SPEAKER_01 27:55

Yeah, Gaz mentioned some you know keywords there: the consistency, the reliability, the trust. Uh, you know, he earned Paul Thompson's trust last year, first time Paul Thompson's coach Ben Davis, and he earned his trust to go out there and be one of his number one penalty killers, you know, to go out there as a shutdown um line and to play responsibly. Uh, and he did that. But yeah, he's got that upside as well. I mean, we know the the famous GB goals that that he's got, um, that pass in the uh you know to Carnegie Pony. I mean, just incredible, like those big moments, and he can bring that as well. So, you know, it's a nice balance, you know, to have there. Um the experience that he's got, uh, you know, knows what it's all about. And you know, it's an interesting dynamic this year. I mean, I think everybody sort of reading between the lines is seeing um a fourth line consisting of one of, or sorry, three of Ben Davis, Sam Duggan, Jake Sacrettini, Bailey Howard to start with. There's nothing to say that you know one or two of those could jump up the lines or whatever. Um, so you've got the the two guys that are still yet to earn that trust in terms of Bailey and Jake, and you know, we really hope that they do that. And then you've got the reliability of Ben Davis and Sam Duggan, um, the guys that have earned the trust already. And I think that's going to be really crucial in terms of that kind of um block uh component of our team this year.

SPEAKER_02 29:29

Yeah, very much so. And and and he is a good base and a good spot to work from. And and I sat down with him a few weeks ago to chat through him being back in Cardiff a little bit as well about his GB time away with GB. And uh, here it is, the interview now for you. A big welcome on Devil's Insider to another re-signing for the Devils. It's a hometown hero back in Cardiff for another year. Ben Davis as a devil once again. Ben, thank you so much for chatting to me. How does it feel to be a devil?

SPEAKER_03 29:54

Yeah, I know it's fantastic. I obviously want to play for the Cardiff Devils, like uh like you say there. I grew up in Cardiff, so I uh I had uh dreams then of playing for the Cardiff Devils and been lucky enough now to to win a trophy or two or a few playoffs with the with the team. So um yeah, I wanted to come back on board and hopefully win some more silverware this year.

SPEAKER_02 30:17

Believe it or not, it's your 13th season with the Devils. You know, we've like you say, you've won trophies, you had testimonials. It it it's it's does it ever sink in quite how brilliant of a career you've had in red?

SPEAKER_03 30:26

Yeah, it's uh if I if I look back now, it it kind of flies by. I'm sure people who have played before can uh kind of say the same thing. But yeah, it kind of flies by, and then you look back and you think, man, that was that was a decent time ago. But uh I think yeah, when I started with a team, it was maybe like oh seven, oh eight, and obviously I was I was very young then and just trying to learn off some of the the more experienced players, and and now, like you say, I've been with a team a number of years and and and had a a few years where I've been at other clubs and experienced that also. So yeah, it's um it's something when I when I do end up retiring and and not not playing anymore, I'll I'll be able to look back on and I'm sure I'll be very proud of that. But um, yeah, just trying to trying to keep as fit as I can and uh perform to my best ability every every year, really, right now.

SPEAKER_02 31:16

Yeah, we'll uh we'll chat about you being back in a little moment, but um, in terms of the summer so far, you you've it's been pretty busy for you. You had some GB duty and and and what have you been filling your time with outside of that?

SPEAKER_03 31:25

Yeah, obviously since uh uh we we won the playoffs, we the British boys, a few of us have um been away. We went obviously a camp in Nottingham for a few weeks and then over to Italy and Switzerland for the world championship. So I think we only got back maybe um what would it have been right at the end of May. So yeah, it sorted some stuff out around and uh spent some time with the family, and then we we went to West Wales and North Wales for um a week or so, so that that that was a great trip, really, just to get away the the the four of us and the dog. And uh yeah, so that was that was fun. And back here we got a few bits going on now uh for a few weeks and then maybe a summer holiday and and get ready for the the season because it's gonna be coming around quickly.

SPEAKER_02 32:11

Oh, it really will. Since we mentioned GB, we'll we'll chat quickly about that. Um obviously timeout in Switzerland, a long old stint to be away. How how did you find it? Oh, you know, obviously tricky results, but it it's always good to be playing to play in that in that top division.

SPEAKER_03 32:24

Yeah, yeah, it was uh something I I don't take for granted to be able to play in uh that top division and play for GB first and foremost. I I've been lucky enough to to do that a number of times and and be in uh a few of those, well, I think five top-tier world championships I've played in now. So yeah, Switzerland was it was a great experience. Obviously, the results didn't go our way, but yeah, it was it was on a personal note, it's it's tough being away from the family for four weeks, I think, maybe a little bit longer. My wife's at home with uh the two kids and the dog and are my sisters and like my parents are helping out. So that side of things was was difficult, and I'm I'm glad to be back and spend some time with them now during the summertime. But um, yeah, it was it was a good time away, obviously. We had some time after playoffs to celebrate. Uh it was a big result for us, and and and then yeah, away for a few weeks with camp and yeah, world championships.

SPEAKER_02 33:20

I've spoken to a few of the GB lads for for the Devils now about about that time away, about where the national team's at at the moment, and and it definitely felt like this tournament was quite a transitional one. Like you say, that there was there was younger guys coming through, you see Bailey Hayward, Liam Steele coming into the lineup, and it it is that transitional time, so there are exciting and positive elements to it, despite obviously not staying in that top division.

SPEAKER_03 33:42

Yeah, I think um we we we obviously want to keep everyone plays for GB, and over the past few years we've been lucky enough to have some good results, and we're we're very proud uh to put that jersey on and represent the the nation. But yeah, we had a lot of uh new guys this year that hadn't played for GB or played in that top division, so it was definitely a a bit of a transitional period. And the boys that stepped in to be honest had that done fantastic. You named two of them there, but they there was there was a ton of boys that hadn't played for GB before and and done really well, and I'm sure will be be taking the the national team on to the next level. So um yeah, it it it was a bit of a transitional tea time if if I'm honest. And obviously Dowdy and and Bounzi uh are no longer and tets are no longer playing with with GB, but hopefully there's a there's a few of us left that can kind of keep that transition going and moving forward and see how things progress.

SPEAKER_02 34:41

Yeah, I mean uh we'll we'll mention Bailey obviously with the with the card of connection and and not that he you know needs a a big brother kind of role necessarily, but do you feel a little bit like that with him where you know when you with the guy that you see throughout the season then getting his GB called up? Do you feel a little maybe not responsibility, but you you want to like look after him and make sure he he gets on alright? Yeah, try to.

SPEAKER_03 35:02

But uh no, um I I was going for Bailey w when he was obviously um he he'd have a another great season and he was on the the reserve list initially, and uh I I I hope that obviously you don't hope no one doesn't go kind of thing, but I I hope to have him on the team because he's another Welshman as well. So that would that would have been awesome on my side, and obviously that's what happened in the end, and he he he had a great tournament. He put d done well when he was out there and what what positions he was at, and yeah, I thought I'm sure he'll look back and it was a great experience for him too. And I I I'm sure that won't be the last time he's putting uh the the GB jersey on. So um, yeah, it's an exciting time for him.

SPEAKER_02 35:44

Yeah, it really is, you know, and and and it kind of in a strange way parallels a little bit your career in terms of you you you get that GB call up and and it it does help your game, doesn't it? And when you get then back to Cardiff to be able to play, it's gonna be a benefit to him in the long run.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

Absolutely, yeah. You just give him some confidence. Like and he's been on a uh a big stage here and like performed and and and done really well. And uh yeah, I'm sure he'll bring that to putting that onto the Devil's jersey next year and have a good game in and like week in, week out, and that's just it's a different dynamic then. Obviously, GB's a short tournament that Cardiff's gonna be 50 60 odd games next year, and he's gonna have to learn and and learn off everyone to to perform day in and day out. And obviously he's done that with Bristol, but I think Cardiff's a different uh a different uh challenge. So yeah, I'm excited for him and hopefully we'll we'll help him along. And uh as as players have done with me previously, I'd uh try and do the same with him.

SPEAKER_02 36:50

Yeah, let's chat a little bit about next season and obviously being back in Cardiff and and and you re-signed and the Devils go into to next season as the playoff champions. And as we just reflect quickly on on that playoff title, how good of a of an end to the season was it to win that playoffs?

SPEAKER_03 37:05

Yeah, that was awesome. Like um obviously we were we uh felt like I think from probably a few weeks, maybe a month or so before the end of the season that we were like putting it together some good results, and I think on our day we we we were a very, very strong team. And uh yeah, which just proved that I think we kind of obviously didn't lose many games down the stretch and were pretty dominant in all aspects of the the game, so it was uh it was awesome. You never know going into the playoffs though how the structure is with the league, and have two hard games against Coventry, really like uh they're they're unpredictable. They they beat us a few times during the year as well, and some cup games too. But um, yeah, that was awesome to be able to to win that. That doesn't happen every day, like I say, that's only the second time for me with a putting a Cardiff jersey on that I I I've I've won. And um, yeah, it was awesome. I had my family there too, so and my my little boys, so that was that was that was really good uh to win with them and uh be able to celebrate and have some pictures and and yeah, it's uh it was a nice way to uh finish the Cardiff campaign, definitely.

SPEAKER_02 38:18

Of course, also at awards night, you you you won the Scott Matzker Awards and it was a very emotional win. And and for for the people who weren't there on the night, just tell me through the the emotions you had around that, and of course you you played with Scott, so the it kind of makes it extra special for you as well.

SPEAKER_03 38:32

Yeah, absolutely. Like um Richie and I were lucky enough to to play with Matzker and uh know him as a as a person, as a player, and and and as a family, family man. So that was um a special award for me to win, and I I I I see his name every year on and the award and think of uh what a what a person he was really. So that that meant a lot to be able to uh get that award. But yeah, my my my my family uh Kai Kai was born with a um a condition that kind of needed addressing straight away and we he he went through uh a long operation at the start of the the season, so I was kind of trying to balance a few bits as well. And my wife was um held up basically in hospital caring for him the whole time. And uh it was it was a difficult time for us um as a family, like uh a big family too, because everyone kind of helped out with the dog, the ocean and everything like that. But yeah, he kind of um had a difficult operation at two weeks old, and right now he's he he's um recovered, and we're just kind of taking yeah, like uh going through every every so often to to check everything's above board. But yeah, he's um fitting well, he's he's doing well now, and um he's 10 months old, so he's he's trying to walk around. And we got the two of them juggling right now. So uh it's it's fun and I'm excited to see him grow up and him obviously Oshan. People are at the games see how much he uh loves hockey and he loves being down in the changing room with the boys, and it's exciting. Hopefully, I can kind of get Kai in and around that a little bit this year as well, because there's there's other guys that have got babies, boys, girls at that similar age, so it's it's uh it's nice to see uh a family atmosphere around there, and everyone was awesome. All the boys were awesome with me, bringing Osh into the room last year, got him involved in stuff. So yeah, I'm uh excited to involve them uh in everything next year, and uh yeah, I I I would say it was an emotional time at the start of the season, but um the the team, the organization, uh Tomo, uh Nicholas, the boys, everyone was really good at uh helping helping me through it, and uh uh and obviously my my wife my wife as well. So um yeah, it was good. And obviously winning that award was was special.

SPEAKER_02 41:05

Yeah, mate. Well, uh huge congrats on the award, but also yeah, we were all so glad to hear that that that Kyle and Oshan are both doing well, and everyone's everyone's doing well after after what obviously was a tough time. And uh yeah, we'll we'll we'll look ahead now with the new season, and then of course now we talk about you being back. And and are you excited to to pick up where the guys left off at the end of last year?

SPEAKER_03 41:24

Yeah, I'm I I'm massively excited. Like uh I I've I've had two weeks off now, and I'm already kind of uh excited to get going again uh in the gym, and then it'll be uh another two or three weeks, maybe, and I'll be back on the ice. Uh so yeah, as as a team, I think uh I think we'll probably be there'll be some familiar faces. Uh everyone knows uh the systems and and and everything like that. And for the new guys that are coming in, it'll be a case of getting to know everyone, making sure everyone's good with it and everything we got on board and and really working towards our our goals for the season. So um yeah, I'm excited. I think I think I finished last season off pretty well, and I I I I I like to think that I'm gonna be a consistent player, game in, game out, and and play my role as as best as possible. So yeah, I'm gonna be working on um having another great season come August time.

SPEAKER_02 42:22

Yeah, uh Joey Martin spoke when I spoke to him uh in his interview, he talked about that playoff win being kind of it built for a couple of years to get to that point for the Devils, and then they were getting there, and that's what made it very satisfying. Is it a couple of near misses and eventually building it to it, they got it over the line. And and it feels like that's kind of the same approach that you guys are taking with the league title. There's been, you know, last couple of seasons were tough, you finished second just this year, won the playoffs, and and building up to that and and trying to make a run of that is is now kind of what you guys are gonna go for.

SPEAKER_03 42:52

Oh, yeah, I'd be lying if I say it it's it's not our goal every year to kind of win w win the league. Um, but yeah, for whatever reason, sometimes uh that's not the case, whether that be injuries, consistency, um yeah, that there's a there's an awful lot of factors that come in through the year, but we are we uh there's a there's a if you want a core group of guys in in the club that really, really want to be winning everything. And uh I I I'm one of those guys and I I I'm gonna do everything in my power to to put the club in in the best position I can game in, game out, and do what I I know I can do for the team. And I I I try and play my role as best as possible.

SPEAKER_02 43:38

Uh the last thing I want to ask you about in terms of of next season is um the Devils have signed Jake Sacratini, and and of course that name is synonymous with Cardiff. And you growing up a Devils fan and kind of growing into into the Devil system through the juniors, you will of course have known who Vezio Sacratini was. So is it gonna be a bit funny seeing now you know Jake as a teammate?

SPEAKER_03 43:58

Yeah, like I I I don't know. Jake uh personally, but I I've I've heard good things uh about him, uh like as a person and as a player. So I'm excited to get to know him. But uh yeah, when I was younger, obviously I was watching Vezio play, and uh I I wouldn't say I got to know him much, but I I I knew I I'd had brief conversations what when I was going down to the games and stuff, so it'd be excited to see him again. And uh yeah, I I'm I'm excited to see him back, and hopefully Vezio comes to some of the games and and get to know Jiggs. So yeah, I mean I'm excited for that.

SPEAKER_02 44:34

Well, Ben, back for another year, number 13. Let's see if it's gonna be uh lucky instead of unlucky for you. And uh, congratulations again, mate. Thanks, Dan. Massive thanks to Ben for chatting to me. Guys, I'm I'm I always look at Ben Davison, and there's there's guys who like you who've been coming to the hockey for for many years now and remember him as a very young buck breaking into the devil system. And and now, as he mentions in that interview, he is a veteran presence, he is uh almost a guiding light for some of these younger guys. And you think of Jake Sacrutini, Bailey Hayward, guys who were kind of breaking into the devil system, what he was doing 15 years ago now, and he seems quite excited to pass the torch and bring them through.

SPEAKER_00 45:13

I almost fell off my chair when you said 13 seasons as a devil. That's uh because to me, still that breakthrough British kid who's who's gonna, you know, achieve all he achieved. Um, but yeah, I think you know it goes back to my my point before the interview, I think, is uh that sounding board for guys who not just need to learn uh you know how to get a spot on the roster, but learn how to be a professional as well, because that's all encompassing, it's not just what you do when you get your your shifts on the ice to make an impression, it's what you do away from the rink in the gym, it's the way you conduct yourself on you know when you go to school visits and things, you know, all these things that you know when you've got a guy like Ben Davis who's done all this and has done it to an exemplary level, uh, it's really important because if they learn from people like Ben Davis, Mark Richardson, Sandegan, they're learning the right lessons, which will only benefit the club going forward.

SPEAKER_02 46:08

Franny, when you build a brick core, which of course Ben has been part of for a very long time now, and and and the there might be a temptation sometimes when you hit a point to tear it all down and start again and go with a completely fresh group of guys. And and it's important, isn't it, to keep guys like Ben Davis around because that continuity and having guys who understand what it's all about will only aid then the younger guys.

SPEAKER_01 46:28

Yeah, it's that kind of evolution, not revolution, isn't it? So the Britcore is evolving. So, you know, we've lost an experienced Brett in Brett Pellini. Um, but we're bringing through two great prospects in Bailey Hayward and Jake Saccartini, um, balanced with that experience and and the maturity of Ben Davis and Sam Duggan. So yeah, I mean it's I think it is important that um you have continuity in a team, uh, and I think that continuity is is kind of a key thing into the whole building of this devil's team this year, and um just going off on a tangent. I mean, my I um you know, I love the Gary Navel podcast uh with uh Ian Wright and Roy Keane. And uh when they were out in the World Cup, they had Tom Brady, you know, the greatest of all time American football. And you know, he said it's it's consistency that wins you championships. And if you can keep a group together that kind of know the ins and outs of each other, you got a way better chance. And I think that is kind of almost the message of our group, and you know, excuse the pun, better the devil you know. But I I really hope that is going to be a big foundation towards our success this year, and having that familiarity, guys like Ben Davis, and you mentioned Richie and the like, um, then yeah, it's uh it kind of just helps keep the ethos of the club very much at the forefront of mind.

SPEAKER_02 48:00

As well, guys. I'm I'm I'm personally very excited, I'm sure you are as well, to to commentate because Ben Davis is good for a few stunners throughout the year in terms of goals.

SPEAKER_00 48:07

Oh, he's great for a short-handed goal. Whenever there's a penalty kill, there's always a little part of me that thinks this is this is on, but yeah, I can I can feel it. That that one play that him and Capone seem to repeat for about four weeks in a row. They only got the one goal from it, but boy, did they try hard to get uh all four. But yeah, he's uh he's got a real highlight reel, hasn't he, of uh of a big moment. So uh here's to many more that we get to call this year.

SPEAKER_02 48:33

Here is to many, many more worldie scored by Ben Davis. Absolutely. Thank you to Ben for sitting down with us. We're gonna now chat about another re-signing for the Devils, and that is Josh McDonald. He's back for his third season as a devil. It's another important re-signing in terms of goal scoring, in terms of point producing and attacking output for the devils. Guys, I'm excited to see Josh McDonald back, mainly because of what we saw in the last 15-20 games of last season, because it seemed like and it felt like J Mac was back to his best.

SPEAKER_00 49:00

Yes, it did, and you know, this is gonna sound uh maybe a bit harsh, but I you know, I don't think it was any secret that that for the first couple of months, maybe uh Josh wasn't getting that scoring touch that you'd expect from him. And then you sit at the end of the year and you look and you go, 31 goals and there's still uh a few weeks, a couple of months there that uh if you uh do get Josh coming in where he left off, how many more can you put on that? And we talked about elite prospects, uh stats, and the way you look at things. If you looked at someone getting 31 goals last year and he was brand new coming into this team, you'd be absolutely ecstatic. And that's why Josh Radon is still here because they are not easy to find. Um, and I feel as well that towards the end of last year, you you uh uh you could see a bit of a snarl developing on his face that maybe he hadn't been there before, where he was really wanting it and really kind of uh wanting that. I talked a lot about responsibility. I felt like Josh McDonald wanted a bit more responsibility in those crunch moments at the end of games, and Tom will sent him out in those last 90 seconds quite a lot, which I think speaks volumes as well. So 31 goals and a hangry Josh McDonald, yes, please.

SPEAKER_02 50:15

Yeah, funny. It feels strange to say that there was you know, you signed the guy who's been your top point scorer for two seasons in a row, and and people not that they weren't expecting it, but they were a little bit surprised about it, and and and that feels funny to say.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

Yeah, and I think it was maybe from that start of the season. Um it it was just one of those patches where nothing would go in for him. And you know, yeah, I really feel for players when that happens because goal scoring is such a confidence thing, and um, when you're measured on it, like Josh McDonald is, and it's not happening, then you put massive pressure on yourself. As well as that, he was a new dad, as well as that he was in university last year doing his master's, so there's a lot on his shoulders, and all and he's not scoring the goals that he's used to scoring all his career, and you know, he he looked like a man under pressure, but you know, where character comes through is when you weather the storm and you come out the other side, and then the Josh McDonald of old returned, and you know, one of the former players going down that hot stretch um that we saw, and you know, he had a great, great playoff series, didn't he? And uh, you know, he's as dangerous as ever, and like say 31 goals, not to be sniffed at at all. Um, and you know, we're looking for another season like that from Josh.

SPEAKER_02 51:33

Confidence is a massive thing for for for hockey players in general, and you feel for for guys who do the role that that Josh does. And and guys, I felt once he got that confidence back last year, and and it was probably early spring when we when we kind of saw it kick into gear, and there was a confidence in his game, and then all of a sudden I felt confident that every time he had a breakaway, he was probably gonna score, which you you maybe couldn't say at the start of the year. But when you look at that and and the confidence and how that plays a role, all of a sudden it starts to make sense why he was so good at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_00 52:02

Yeah, and and the power play got better. And I, you know, don't think it's any shock or surprise or coincidence that you know it got better as as he got better as well. So he was he was a big part uh of that with with big power play goals um as well. Uh I think it's important going to the new season, we talk about continuity that him and Joey Martin still have this kind of understanding uh as well. Uh you know, I think Joey enjoys play playing with Josh and vice versa. I mean, how could you not enjoy playing uh with those guys? But uh, you know, over Joey's career, it's it's been a difficult spot to kind of find a registered partner with him all the time because uh sometimes maybe he's been a little bit further ahead in our mindset. Yeah, it hasn't quite Josh uh gelled, but with Josh it has, and uh I would expect them to be together going in uh to the uh preseason games and to the early season. And I I really can't wait to see those two rekindle that kind of look. And again, if uh Josh picks up where he lets off, uh sky's the limit.

SPEAKER_02 53:04

This guy is very much the limit. I sat down with Josh a couple of weeks ago and had a little bit of a chat with him, and he seems ever so determined and ready for the new season. Ladies and gents, a huge welcome on Devil's Insider. Another returney back for his third season in Devil's Colors is Josh McDonald. Josh, thank you so much for chatting to me. Congratulations, how do you feel?

SPEAKER_05 53:24

Thank you very much. I feel great. Um honestly, I I it was kind of a no-brainer uh to sign back in Cardiff. We uh myself and and my wife, you know, we we love it. It's it's a great, great city. Um, you know, the organization as a whole is is fantastic. You know, I love the I love the hockey, I love the fans, I love the teammates. Um you know, we we we found a found a bit of a home in Cardiff um over the last couple of years. And uh yeah, we're just we're really excited to be to be coming back.

SPEAKER_02 53:58

Yeah, it definitely feels like Cardiff has become your home. And you know, you since you've been here, you you've had your first kid as well, which is very exciting. And then there seems to be a good community feel about the devils and and and guys do keep coming back for for more year after year.

SPEAKER_05 54:11

Yeah, I mean that's kind of the the census, right? And you know, there's a few guys on the team, actually, more than a few guys on the team that have have had kids in Cardiff as well. So um, you know, that always that always helps, you know, when kind of the guys and the the partners are in the same boat. Um, you know, it kind of builds like a little bit of a, like you said, community, um, you know, team building, whether it's on and off the ice. I think that's uh that's a big part of what Cardiff has to offer. And um, yeah, we're just happy to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_02 54:42

How's your summer been going so far? You know, we're we're a little bit removed now from from the the the the craziness, I guess, of the end of last season. Uh have you managed to uh get away, enjoy, relax, and and what have you been up to?

SPEAKER_05 54:54

Yeah, yeah, so far so good. Um pretty quiet to be honest, um, which is which is nice. I mean, obviously ending things the way we did this season this season was fantastic. Um, you know, heading into the summer as a as a champion is is always a good feeling. And uh, you know, we definitely we definitely partied hard at the end of the season. Uh we earned it, I think. And um yeah, no, and it's uh it's been great to be home. Um just looking forward to kind of taking it easy a little bit, you know, resetting the mind, resetting the body, um, getting to spend some time with friends and family. And uh yeah, just kind of step away from the game for for as long as it as you need, and then um hopefully come back in uh in August feeling uh refreshed.

SPEAKER_02 55:40

Yeah, I mean I I personally owe you uh some thanks because at awards night you you turned around the bar and pointed at a bunch of guys and say, Do any of you want to drink? Do you want to drink? And I was like, Yeah, sure, why not? So uh I owe you some thanks for that one. But um, I mean you can never over celebrate a win, and I think that's uh that's a really important thing, is you guys, you know, the unit you were, you you really went for it.

SPEAKER_05 55:59

Yeah, we we definitely took advantage of of uh of the win, that's for sure. Um it was a lot of fun, honestly. Those few first few days was fantastic. I mean, you know, we could just let loose. Um, you know, we we worked so hard this season. I think uh I think we you know we blew off a lot of steam at the end of the season just in in the right way, which was which was a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_02 56:22

You have uh obviously won the Continental Cup here in Cardiff, but this was the first domestic one for you as well. And and and what kind of experience was it maybe differently to that Continental Cup than to this year when you won the playoffs?

SPEAKER_05 56:33

Yeah, I mean I think you know the Continental Cup is obviously its its own challenge. You know, you're you're playing against different teams around different countries. Um so it's it's definitely got its own challenge. But um, yeah, I mean, being able to to get the win um in the Final Four playoff weekend was was fantastic. I mean, it meant a lot to to the guys that that were on the team last year. Obviously, the the heartbreaker there in double overtime. Um, you know, I think guys had a bit of a we wanted to kind of get that one back for sure. And, you know, for the for the guys coming in this year, I know they had a you know very exciting time, you know, they've never seen a format like this before. Um, so it was definitely a cool experience for them. And I think they they earned it. You know, we we earned it as a collective group. And uh yeah, it was it was fantastic. I mean, like I said, you can just see the uh the facial, the emotions, you know, the expressions on everybody at the end of that that game. It was, you know, it's it felt really good.

SPEAKER_02 57:33

Yeah, take me through. I'm gonna just cast your mind back to uh that moment that your empty net goal winning. As you watched that puck go over the line, what what's going through your head? What are you thinking? It was chaos down there.

SPEAKER_05 57:44

Yeah, I mean, honestly, I I just kind of took a shot and I I honestly believe that the puck just kind of bounced in the in the right direction. Um and it was just a sigh of relief. Um, you know, there was still a minute and a half, I think, to go in the game, so it wasn't completely over yet, but I think being going up two goals there was definitely a great feeling. I mean, I just had a lot of emotions behind that one. It was like I said, just after last season, you know, you just really want to really want to get the win. And, you know, fortunate enough that Puck went in. And obviously seeing the bench, seeing the the crowd go crazy, it was a great feeling.

SPEAKER_02 58:23

It was part of as well of a of a wider run of great form to end the season for the Devils. You know, you've got you guys won 11 of the last 12, the hockey was fantastic, and and and what kind of experience was it going from a point where you you missed that league title, but then working up towards them winning the playoffs?

SPEAKER_05 58:39

Yeah, so obviously, you know, not being able to to kind of get the the league title was was definitely disappointing. Um, you know, I thought I think it was going into the Belfast weekend, we were, you know, still in the hunt a bit. You know, we definitely needed to win both those games. Um, you know, it was definitely disappointing to come out even, but I mean, you know, they're a good team, it's tough to play in that that that rink. So um, you know, after that, I think, you know, we were gonna need a lot of help to kind of win the league. And then, you know, it started to kind of drift away from us, unfortunately. But then we just kind of shifted our our focus. Um, you know, we wanted to execute the rest of the season, um, you know, Cardiff Devils hockey way. And, you know, that was our our that was our goal. You know, we wanted to finish as high as we possibly could. Um, you know, for the reason being that you you never know what's going to happen in the the aggregate playoff, right? So we were fortunate enough to to be the top seed heading into that playoff weekend, and it uh it paid off.

SPEAKER_02 59:41

I mean, you your fun personally as well in that time was was incredible. I've just looking down at my notes now. There's only three games in the last 19 where you didn't put at least a point on the board and and the power play kicked in, you got five power play goals on that. So it definitely felt like it's but it felt like your game the the first part of last season as well, before you got that injury. And and then how was it kind of developing that game through the year and sticking with it and then getting to a point where yeah, you you really kind of flourished towards the end?

SPEAKER_05 1:00:06

Yeah, um, you know, it's it's definitely a good feeling. Anytime you can contribute offensively. Um, you know, that's as a player, that's kind of what I try to bring to the table. Um, and you know, fortunate enough, the last two months or you know, however long, 19 games, like you said, was you know, I was able to kind of do that. Um, you know, like you said, the power play was was definitely starting to to to gel and we found our rhythm, which was, you know, definitely a good feeling. Um, especially down the stretch. That's kind of when you when you need it the most, um, heading into the the playoffs or the playoff weekend. Um, and it really, really paid off for everybody. But yeah, I think just you know, getting that confidence, you know, sometimes, you know, throughout the season you're gonna go through slumps, you're gonna go through highs and lows. And uh yeah, it's just, you know, sometimes getting that that one or two goals to kind of get your confidence back really uh really helps things.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:59

And as we look into next season now, you know, that the there's definitely gonna be a level of excitement, I think, not only amongst the fan base, but amongst the players because you guys have a good springboard now and a good opportunity to take the end of last year and and grow and continue to kind of evolve as a team.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:13

Yeah, for sure. I think um, you know, winning that playoff championship this this year was definitely a great feeling. And, you know, I know a lot of guys, you know, guys that are coming back or guys that are still still here are gonna be you know chasing the next couple trophies, right? Like we wanna we want more of that. Obviously, it's a great feeling and it's very rewarding, right? You put all this time and energy and effort into you know working hard day in and day out, and you know, when it finally pays off, it's it's a great feeling. So I think guys' mindsets this summer are you know or coming into the season, I think are gonna be uh are are gonna be on probably all three championships this year.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:55

Yeah, and you've used a phrase I really like actually. You've said, you know, playing Cardiff Devils hockey. You you mentioned it, and I think, you know, what does that mean to you? What is Cardiff Devil's hockey to you, but also how how do we see that kind of yeah, evolve into next season and go after those trophies?

SPEAKER_05 1:02:10

Yeah, I just think uh the Cardiff Devils is just a team that you know is kind of relentless, right? Like we're we're very fast, you know, we're we're physical, we can put the puck in the net, um, we can make you know big hits, we can make big saves, um, all those just little things. I mean, it's it's pretty standard. I feel like most teams try to do that, but you know, I think last year, you know, we were able to kind of do that night in and night out. I mean, there was definitely a few times where we weren't able to do that, unfortunately. But uh yeah, I think as long as everybody's on the same page, everyone's playing hard, playing fast, not giving up, you know, that's that's kind of the recipe for success. And you know, if you do that as much as possible throughout the year, then you know, we should definitely be successful. And that's that's what that's our goal.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:03

Well, Josh, uh you you sound pretty excited to to get back to it. You must be excited as well to see those guys and and maybe not pick up where you left off at the end of last season in terms of the party and but get back on the ice.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:14

Definitely, definitely. Yeah, I'll be uh keeping in touch with a lot of the guys this summer. So uh we'll have lots to talk about and um hopefully we can reenact last year and uh celebrate again.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:25

Oh, we hope so, we hope so. Well, Josh, thank you so much for jumping on the podcast. We really appreciate it. And yeah, congratulations again on re-signing for a third year. Thank you very much. Big thank you to Josh for jumping on a call and chatting to him. It was great to catch up with him. And and Gaz, we we spoke a little bit before we heard from him about the fact he's a confidence player, but also there was a little bit of that interview, and there's a there's a grit and there's a snarl to his to the way he's speaking about the year. And I think I think he actually feels he's got a bit of a point to prove because he maybe knows that you know, despite the numbers last season that there was space for improvement, and and I think he's ready for that.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:58

Yeah, and how great is that uh to hear from him when he did have a good end to the season and he did pick up a trophy. Usually it's guys who are coming back and feel that they didn't end showing their best, then they want to kind of put that right. To want to continue to improve things and continue to get better just speaks to his character.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:20

I've always felt funny that that Josh speaks very well in in interviews and he and he's very he he kind of toes the line very well. He's a very sort of linear player in that sense. What you see is what you get with him. But the creativity for the Devils is gonna be massive because we talked about how you know there's been a lot of made of of the elite prospects views of people and seeing who we've been signing over the offseason, and then like I said, you know, you sign a guy who last season put up 31 goals in the year. All of a sudden, if it's not Josh McDonald who's names at the top of that, people think, oh, that's great. But he has a huge part to play in how this top six is gonna evolve throughout the year.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:55

Yeah, and I think what we'll find is it's more of a top nine than a top six. Uh, I think you know, everybody's guessing about the the makeup of the team, and you know, is Karan signed as a first liner, as a third liner? You ask Brian Parker and whatever line Joey Martin's on is the first line. And um I mean I think what you'll you'll find from the structure, and I know I'm going off on a tangent on the question here, but um I think what you'll find is the devils will have three lines that on any given night, any of those lines could win you the game, and that's what that's what I'm hoping anyway. Rather than traditionally, we've probably had a top six, then secondary scoring on the third line, and then your kind of uh um you know your workhorse's the energy line on the fourth line. I think it'll be more of a top nine than a top six this year. So whichever line Josh McDonald slots into on that, it's a goal scoring threat, isn't it? So that could be one, it could be two, it could be three. Does that come a little

SPEAKER_02 1:06:00

Bit from the fact that at the start of last season we look back, and and Ryan Barra, who was on the third line at the time, was having to pick up a lot from the fact those top two lines weren't clicking. And is that maybe a lesson learned by you guys and the coaching staff?

SPEAKER_01 1:06:12

I think that was probably an adjustment to the style of play. Um, the players that were getting rewarded early on were the ones going to those dirty areas, like your Ryan Barrows and your Olafshevsky's, etc. Um, and it it was the the ones that you normally associate with a more of a kind of I don't know grinding mentality were actually the ones that were were winning games with the with the goal scoring. And I think that was a kind of learning curve for the team in terms of it doesn't matter who you are, in what role, in what position, you first and foremost have to work. You've got to put a shift in. Not saying that guys weren't doing it, but you know, maybe guys were used to being a bit more pigeon-holed in a role. Um, where I think a Paul Thompson team it's the sum of the parts. So I think there was an adjustment there from players having played for for different coaches before that had a certain role on a team, that all of a sudden they were being asked to do uh the the whole sort of thing, and and that's when the Devils team last year were untouchable, is when everybody was playing in that way, and we saw it in spells at the start. We obviously fell away from it at one point, and you know, we talked about getting younger legs because um it's hard to play that way, it's relentless to play that way week in, week out. So hopefully a few younger legs help us play that way week in, week out. But to be fair, you know, even the guys with the older legs, when it came to those last whatever 12, 13 games, um, 14 games at the end of the season, everybody got back to playing that way again. It was once again a machine.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:05

It was indeed. And and and I'm glad you've brought up guys who were untouchable at the end of last season. I'm glad you brought up guys who were dead inform at the end of last season because uh while we're gonna move on from chatting about Josh McDonald and the creativity in goal scoring, it's the creativity in creating the goals that is the name of the game for our final chat tonight, and that is another re-signing for the Devils, and it is the top scorer and the forward of the year for last year, Christoph Kontos, and uh a man who was bang informed. It felt like for most of last year, but uh in particular that end of the season, guys.

SPEAKER_00 1:08:33

Yeah, I felt sorry for him at the beginning of last season because I could see him making plays that were not quite coming off, and the the ideas I could see, the picture that was in his mind and uh and what was gonna click, and I was always confident that it was gonna fall in into place, and it did, uh thank goodness. Um, and then by the end of the year, then uh he was the guy driving us forward, uh the match winner, that the the guy who you just uh were so sure was gonna make things happen, whether that was uh you know his many, many assists. So I actually thought he started to enjoy being a goal scorer a little bit towards the end of the year as well, and was maybe looking more to get into that goal scoring. I think of that goal he scored in the uh first leg of the playoff quarter finals. That that's not a position that maybe he was getting into at the beginning of the year. But that confidence and that uh ability and that way that he he took on the role in the team meant that he wanted to be uh in those positions by the end of the year, and but became much more well-rounded at uh player than even I thought possible. So uh definitely more than earned his uh his return. And uh again, much like uh I I said about Josh Donald, if he can pick up where he left off, then uh oh boy, we're in for an exciting start this season.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:50

We are, and I think it's actually important to mention that you know when the the re-signing announcement went out, we we we spoke a little bit about the fact that he maybe took a moment to to transition into this team, and I think one of the owners said that after a betting in period, uh he was great, and I mean he was already very good. But you look at the numbers, you know, nine points in ten challenge cup games to start the season, and then fifty-three and fifty-two in the league. So, Franny, like it maybe feels unfair to say he did start slow, but if that's slow, and by the way he was playing by the end of the season, it's it's another exciting element to the Devil's roster for this year.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:22

Yeah, and like again, I think this it was a case of the adjustment in terms of the style of playing. Um, I think Conti is one of the most gifted hockey players you will see in this league. He really is. I mean, his vision is unbelievable, his range of passing, you know, he's got that long range as well, hasn't he, in terms of his reach. Um, and he can just, you know, do things that other players, quite frankly, can't do. Um he's a very assured guy as well, so he wants the puck, he wants to dictate the game. And I think maybe at the start he was uh slowing the game down a little bit too much. He was getting it, he was stationary, he you know, he was it was he wanted the puck to come through him, which is the right thing to do because he's got so much talent, uh but it was slowing it down a little bit, and I think Tomo, as Tomo got to work on him, was you've got so much you can do things that others can't do at higher speeds. So he got him to play a little bit quicker and you know, move the puck a bit quicker, get it back, and then you can make another play, and everything was opening up for him. And then you know, by sort of mid point of the season, I mean, I I don't know if there was a better guy in the league. I mean, he really was just absolutely on fire, and you know, whoever we he was playing with was you know delighted because they were racking up the points, and uh, you know, again we talk about the power play, you know, when it got going, he was a massive part of that on the half wall, just making things happen. And um, yeah, I mean, he's like I say, he's he he does things that other players quite simply cannot do. And um interesting in the interview uh that he mentions about uh returning to a team for the first time in a long time. Um, so he's obviously comfortable here, which is great, and and you know, he's a he's a super guy, and his wife is absolutely lovely, and you know, they seem to have found a home in Cardiff. Um and I think he'll really embrace coming back to the familiarity of uh the same uh the same city, but a very, very similar team to the one that we had last year with you know a few different uh players in it. Um and you know, hopefully, like you say, guys, I hope you can just carry on going the way he was because you know there's no team in the league that wants to be playing against a non-song Christoph Kontos.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:49

I'm glad you brought up the interview, Franny, because yeah, I did sit down with Christoph a little bit earlier this summer, and it's a fascinating little chat. So enjoy. A huge welcome on Devil's Insider to another re-signing for the Devils this summer, and it's the top point scorer from last season. Christoph Kontos is back in Cardiff. Thank you so much for joining me. How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_06 1:13:08

Good, thank you so much for having me. Uh, excited to be back and looking forward to next season for sure.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:13

How's your off season been? It's uh we were a little bit wild away from the season starting. I'm sure there's uh plenty of stuff to get up with, but um, how have you been enjoying your time since you've left Cardiff?

SPEAKER_06 1:13:22

Yeah, it's been good. It's uh the weather hasn't been as good as it was in Cardiff when we left, but uh it's been busy. Like I said before, we lots of family and friends were uh trying to see and and maximize that time. So you know, before we go back in in August.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:37

Good to hear, and and and and you'll be glad to know that it's rained pretty much ever since you left as well. So we're already finally getting some some good weather here. But um good to hear. Yeah, let's chat a little bit about last season before we talk about you re-signing. And and and and of course, if the season ended, it's just difficult not to mention it with the devils winning the playoffs. And uh, I think a congratulations in order because there aren't many players who win back-to-back playoff titles. There are fewer still who do it with two different teams, you being one of them. And uh and yeah, so congrats on that. And and what was the experience like the second time around in winning it with the Devils?

SPEAKER_06 1:14:06

Uh I mean, anytime you can win a championship, it's you know, it's one of the best ceilings in the world. And you know, like you said, I'm I'm fortunate to have done it twice with two different teams, so got to experience it a lot of different you know, personalities and different guys uh on each team, but uh they get better every time, right? I mean, to to win a second one and you know, and the way we did it and uh just to get hot the way we did at the end of the year, and then everything kind of just seemed to go right for us. It was just you know an awesome experience.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:34

Yeah, you you mentioned that kind of run into the end of the season. I know Mark Richardson not long after the the final buzzer went, basically said, you know, you guys looked at it as not just those four or six games, it was it was the whole month leading me up, so you were playing that playoff hockey, and and that really worked for you guys.

SPEAKER_06 1:14:49

Yeah, I think we kind of we took an approach that you know, if we wanted to do something special, and I think it was around the beginning of March where we kind of had a bit of a a skid there where we weren't we weren't great and and we were losing games. And I think it w it came down to us not you know winning the league. And I think we kind of took a lull after that. But you know, Tomo came in and said, if you guys want to do something special, you gotta start right now. You gotta look at it as if we're you know starting a regular playoff series like you would in any other league, and we gotta kind of go from there and try and win the whole thing, right? So that was that was our mindset, and it it really helped us um, you know, take advantage of the time we had remaining to kind of polish everything and and get ready for the for the big playoff, you know, doubleheader weekend, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:15:32

Yeah, exactly. I mean, you you do you talk about that run. You you you particularly during that, you you you got absolutely on an absolute tear, you know, 21 points in your last 15 games. What worked for you so well personally in that time?

SPEAKER_06 1:15:43

It's hard to say. I think, like I said, we changed our mindset a little bit. Um, you know, I my son was born at the beginning of March, so you know, I came back from that. And you know, hockey doesn't seem as important when you've got a little guy at home and you know and your wife at home, you know, battling. So, you know, for me, everything kind of clicked all at once. The team really got hot, our power play got hot, and I think that's uh you know, a big uh big reason for you know for my personal success. And I and I think you know, I have you know them to obviously, you know, thank and and to put a lot of credit towards them as well.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:14

It's interesting you bring up having a baby, actually. You know, uh some guys struggle with that stuff when when it first happens, you know, the the adjustment, other guys, you know, like yourself, it kind of motivates them and it gives you a bit of a fresh lease of life. And so first of all, how how is being a dad? I hope you're joining it. And and second of all, how yeah, how much of an impact did that have looking kind of at the wider picture as well for you?

SPEAKER_06 1:16:34

Yeah, it's been amazing. I mean, I'm I'm so thankful that you know everybody's healthy and and happy. And you know, my wife has done you know so much to make, especially during that time, to make things easy for me. And I was lucky, you know, she was she was uh with her mom as well. So they supported me and made sure that I could do everything I needed to do to be the best player I could be. And you know, I'm just so thankful that you know everything has gone really uh well so far and and you know everything continues hopefully to go well.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:00

Yeah. Yeah, good to hear it. Yeah, it's uh it's it's good to hear. And and in that in that period at the end of the year, I think, you know, not only were the devils very locked in, but it also felt it like they were having a lot of fun. The hockey seemed fun, it seemed like you were all enjoying it. And again, is that kind of another thing that tied into the success you had?

SPEAKER_06 1:17:16

Yeah, it's like I said, the you know, I think when we knew we kind of weren't gonna win the league, and not to say that we were, you know, relieved or anything like that, but there was a bit of maybe pressure that was lifted because at that point, you know, you're kind of just playing for that last, you know, stretch of hockey. And I think one, that motivated us, but two, we were just a lot, you know, we looked at it as it was kind of a reset. We're just gonna start you know fresh, we're gonna try and maximize the time we had uh leading up to the playoffs, and we're and we're gonna do everything we can, you know, to make sure we're ready for it. So I think that reset kind of gave us that opportunity to um, you know, work on some things, but also kind of change our mindset going into the playoff weekend, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:18:00

I mean, I talk about fun as well after the playoff weekend. You guys uh you guys really celebrated that one hard, and uh that must have been a pretty enjoyable experience.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:07

Yeah, what's the thing? You you know, you work hard, you you play hard. So I think uh, you know, we had a lot of guys that, you know, I would lucky the year before to win my first, you know, professional hockey championship, but other guys hadn't, and they've been in the league for a number of years, and you know, to see them win and to be a part of that, and you know, it was such a special group too. You know, that's part of the reason why we wanted to come back was just how much fun we had um throughout the year, but also that kind of that you know, two, three weeks leading up to the playoff weekend and the two weeks following. So, you know, it kind of was a no no-brainer decision for us.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:38

And we got awards night the night after that playoffs, and that that was a that was a busy evening to say the least. But um, you you did, you you you got the top scorer in the forward of the year award, and and you must be incredibly proud to have won those two as well.

SPEAKER_06 1:18:50

Yeah, I mean, anytime you can be recognized by, you know, whether it's the fans, your your coaches, your peers, it's you know, it's an honor. And, you know, I'm uh like I said, I give a lot of credit to, you know, both my family for helping me, you know, be in the best position I could possibly, but also the teammates I had around me and the guys that, you know, help, you know, one, start putting the puck in the net. And two, you know, we started playing, you know, a lot more, you know, free. And that and that, you know, gave me an opportunity to play my best hockey. And I think, you know, that's it says a lot about the group we have.

SPEAKER_02 1:19:18

And of course, you know, we look at leadership qualities. Well, whoever it was who was looking after Connor Capone that weekend and and for the week after, I'm I'm glad that they were there.

SPEAKER_06 1:19:27

Yeah, I think we all had to help out with him, but he he had the best time ever. And uh, you know, he's such a great guy. And we, you know, like I said, we had a bunch of guys that were in the same situation that, you know, they had never won before, and it was just so awesome to see and and be a part of, you know, that, or guys who hadn't won in a very long time. So, you know, that kind of stuff, you know, you become a brotherhood for the rest of your life. And, you know, in 30 years we'll look back and we'll remember how amazing of a time we had together, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:19:51

Exactly. Yeah, and and and we'll look ahead now, you know. Like I say, you're back in Cardiff for another year and uh everything resets now, and it kind of you you go back to to zero and and you get going for a new season, and that's a good motivation as well, isn't it?

SPEAKER_06 1:20:03

I think so. And I think that you know, it's always nice to have a championship leading into um or a past championship leading up into the next season, but I think we also have to, you know, put our focus on those three new championships you have to look, you know, try to go for. And you know, I as as great as it is to win the playoff weekend, our sights are on winning at least, you know, the league. And that's that's I think every team has that mindset going into the into the you know season. So I think uh as this new group unfolds, hopefully we can make a really good push to the start of the year and be consistent all the way through and and hopefully come up with a championship, right?

SPEAKER_02 1:20:38

Exactly. And and a big part of that is is is creating the chemistry and creating the bond with with with new line mates. And you know, we don't know exactly who's back for the devils yet, but there was a lot of lines moving around last year, and it meant that you guys had to build chemistry on the fly. And one guy, obviously, you you formed really good chemistry with the end of the year was Cole Sanford. That was a really good partnership. But are you are you excited to build these relationships again and even with the new guys you come in, sort of get an understanding and start again from that point?

SPEAKER_06 1:21:03

Yeah, I think so. It's always kind of a learning curve. I mean, this is the first time, you know, in a number of years that I've re-signed with the same team or been on the same team, you know, following years. So coming into a group where you you kind of know guys' styles of play, you know, the personalities, you know, the dressing room that we're gonna have, you know, your coaches, uh, his his uh coaching style, that that really helps, you know, for me to be able to come in and not have to kind of feel things out as much as I did last year. And and hopefully uh we can get off to even you know better chemistry and better combinations to start.

SPEAKER_02 1:21:35

Well, Christoph, the the the goals are there, the targets are there, and uh and I'm glad you've enjoyed your off season so far. Like I say, congratulations. It's great to have you back for another season, and uh, we're looking forward to having you back.

SPEAKER_06 1:21:45

Yeah, thank you so much. We're really excited to come back. We appreciate it.

SPEAKER_02 1:21:49

Massive thanks to Christoph for chatting to me. I really appreciate him taking the time out of his day. And Gaz, the the we spoke about a range of things with him, and and and Franny mentioned it before we listened to that interview. And being back in Cardiff for another season, and it being the first place he's kind of stuck with for a second year and and and i i uh over the last few seasons is is really you can tell that it means a lot to him and that he's excited to embrace that.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:13

Yeah, and uh I I often think it it does add maybe you know a couple of percentage points on to guys' performance when they're happy and comfortable, and they don't have to worry about things away from the ice, you know, you're not looking for your next sort of storage unit to go and move all your stuff in, you're not looking you know for for flights to your new home or even your your next job, you're just content and happy. And I often think about what he said at awards night when he collected his award, and I think it was you that asked him where did this uh sort of form come from? And he uh quite candidly said when when his child was born, he kind of looked at his priorities in life and kind of went, Do you know what it hockey's supposed to kind of be fun? And I uh I wonder was he putting a lot of pressure on himself before that time, you know, to to really be the difference maker? And then all of a sudden he realized he can just be the difference maker and have fun and all of these things in life he can have. So yeah, just delighted for him that it that he sounds so happy to be back and uh highlight real guy again, another one. Uh I just love uh you can tell when he's got the puck sometimes that he can see the picture on the ice, the big picture of what wants to happen. And when you're behind the mic and you're looking at it from where we look at that, and you can see the play develop, and you think he's gonna do something magic here. And he was, and I'm sure he will.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:35

He will. I'm glad you brought up, and then obviously he spoke a little bit about having having his first kid, and and Franny, that can go, it's obviously a massive change for for a lot of these guys who are so so you know routine-oriented, and it is a massive part of them. And and having a first child, especially can it can change that. It adds a whole element to their lives, and some guys struggle, some guys, in Conti's case, got on really well with it. And and and so when that does arise and those situations do come along, it's good to see a guy just let it go and be relaxed and enjoy the hockey.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:08

Yeah, I mean, uh us as a management team, we were relieved when we saw how Conte uh Conti took off after he had his uh after they had their kid because normally it does go the other way, the sleepness nights kick in and and on all that kind of stuff. So we do dread it a bit when you know there's uh a baby due in the season, we're like, oh no, is that gonna be a dip in form? Um, but Conti bucked the trend there and uh yeah, it just dad's strength took over, it all came in, and he ja yeah, he he just it's almost like he found his inner peace, didn't he? And his contentment as a family with him and uh Caitlin and the baby. Um and uh yeah, he was uh yeah, yeah, he he just became even better, didn't he? After the birth of his child.

SPEAKER_02 1:24:56

Another thing he mentioned in that interview, which I thought was really interesting, because I talked about how he formed a really good partnership with Cole Sanford. And and at the time of us sitting down now, we know that Sanny is not gonna be in Cardiff this coming season, he'll be moving on to Guildford. But Cantos made a very good point when he was chatting and said, you know, he's he's excited to come back and play with whoever he's paired up with, whoever he's on a line with. And and I think that's a really good outlook that he he didn't look at it and go, Well, I want Sanny back because that worked really well. He wants to make it work with whoever he ends up on a line with.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:22

Yeah, and I think there's lots of people that are gonna be, you know, putting their hands up to try and get on a line with Contas. Um, I mean, there's other players that went through big sort of purple patches in scoring playing alongside him. Some you know, some of the players had their most productive moments playing alongside him. That says a lot about you know the the vision and the and the passing ability of of Contas. And um what I also like about him is that you have to honour the pass because he's so good at passing, but he's got quite a deceptive and underrated shot, I think. And you know, he he did start to use that more as the season went on when you know D-Men were almost cheating on the pass, he would just rifle it over their shoulder and uh and put it in the net himself. So yeah, I mean he's um whoever you pair him with, you know they're gonna be going extra hard to get to those scoring areas because they know he can get it right on your tape, and that's really motivating when you're uh a line mate of such a great passer like Contas.

SPEAKER_00 1:26:24

Yeah, I think it was also a great sort of symbiotic relationship he had with some of the more sort of grinding style players. He had a a couple of uh weeks there with Riley Brandt, where Brandt's scoring exploded, but uh he helped Ryan Barrow as well for a time uh towards the beginning of the year, where again Barrow's scoring kind of uh went through. And uh but what I actually think it did as well, I think it instilled a little bit of extra work ethic in in Christoph Konos as well. And uh I think towards the end of the year you've seen him almost with relish get into the corners a little bit that maybe we didn't see so much of uh at the start of the year. And I don't think that's because he doesn't have that in his locker. I just think that's just not the thing he was asked to do. But by the end of the year, it was the thing he was wanting to do. And this is a a theme that keeps coming up with all of these re-signings that we're talking about this year. It's the wanting to do things, it's the wanting to improve, it's the wanting to get better, and that is what is exciting me so much about this roster, this offseason.

SPEAKER_02 1:27:23

A lot to be excited about. There's four signings and interviews for you. There we're gonna be back a little bit later this week with the rest of the off-season signings, a bit of the news, and plenty more to chat about. So we will catch you then. But for that, for tonight, that's all for this afternoon. If we say whenever you're listening, that's all. And uh, thank you to Tom Carranta, Ben Davis, to Josh McDonald, and to Christoph Kontos for joining us. Thank you to you guys for listening in to the podcast today. We really appreciate it. And guys, we'll be back much sooner than you think. Goodbye. Thank you very much once again to our sponsor, Minerva Hearing, for today's podcast. And remember, Minerva Hearing, hear the cheers, protect your ears.