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AEHC Weekly
Join us every week as we take a behind the scenes look at the Airdrie Elite Hockey Committee and all the teams that fall underneath their umbrella. Featuring interviews, highlights and more!
AEHC Weekly
AEHC Weekly Episode 10: Joe Barton, Gracie Hann, Laila Veal
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Playoffs are in full swing in Airdrie! On this week's episode, we interview Avalanche forward Joe Barton as they prepare for their second-round match-up against the Calgary Royals. We also interview Gracie Hann and Laila Veal of the U18 AA Female Lightning, as they preparing for hosting provincials. We also have playoff action highlights as well as the weekly recap, the look ahead and the AEHC Three Stars of the week!
Welcome to AEHT Weekly, where we take a look at the week that was for the teams under the Airdrie Elite Hockey Committee Umbrella.
SPEAKER_02Haley comes away with the block stolen away by Camponi. Camponi scores! Hate Pony Club! Michael Campone breaks the goose egg! By Oxford Hitshot! Stop by gambling! Rebound! That's tough too! They got a left pad on it! It's snow and buckhart! Blocking right in! Snow the buckard! Walks his buckart score!
SPEAKER_00And now, the voice of Airdrie Hockey, Chris Klein.
SPEAKER_02Hey, what's going on, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of AEH C Weekly. I'm Chris Klein, and episode 10, we made it 10 double digits. It's a milestone episode. Thank you so much for all your support. Um, you're the reason why this podcast keeps on going, why we keep on pumping out episodes every single week, and it's all because of you. So I'm gonna take just a quick five seconds to make sure you like and subscribe, to make sure you do not miss an episode of AEHC Weekly. We're gonna roll out these episodes as long as teams are still in the playoffs. There's only two left standing in Airdrie Minor Hockey, the Airdrie Avalanche and the Airdrie U18 double A female lightning. We're gonna get into them a little bit later on, but first, a quick five seconds, four, a three, a two and one. Thank you so much for your support. Like I said, make sure you hit that like and subscribe button so you do not miss an episode. Lots to talk about in this week's episode as playoffs are in full swing. Some team seasons unfortunately came to an end, but let's take a look at what the week that was with the weekly recap. The Airdrie Jr. Extreme in Cochrane lost in their regional round. Robin first game, a tough 10-2 loss at the hands of the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Ryland Neely and Chris Alvarez with the goals in that one. 51 stops from Jeremy Sadak. And then in game two against Red Deer, a tough three to two loss there. Devin Steckley and Jackson Lumley with the goals. Also got two assists from Chris Alvarez. Cam Border stopped 66 shots. My goodness. Great job, Cam. And then their final game of the season is a four-to-one loss at the hands of the Southeast Tigers. Chris Alvarez with the only goal in that one. Both Cam Border and Jeremy Sadok combined to stop 28 shots. Heck of a season, boys. Looks like you guys had an absolute blast together as a team. Looking forward to seeing your careers continue to grow within our AEHC community. U16AA Lightning had a successful playoff. Unfortunately, it did not end the way that they wanted in the round, Rob, and they went undefeated. First, a huge 8-5 win over West Central Tigers. Isaac Hernandez Acosta. Zach Campbell with the hat trick. Who also got two goals, one assist from Jake Forsyth, and three assists from Ethan Bashard and William Shakarik. Jackson Schwant stopped 56 shots in that one. Then they won 6-3 against the Leftbridge Hurricanes. William Shakarik, one goal is two assists. Chase Droske, one goal and a helper there. Jake Forsyth, Liam Roy, and Emerson Borjore rounds up the scoring. Also, Carson McIntyre, can't forget about him. Jackson Schwant stopped 43 shots. And then it was a 3-3 tie against Red Deer. Jake Forsyth, Emerson Borjore, and Will Dortry with the goals in that one. Hudson Schneider stopped 32 shots. But in the playoffs, unfortunately, their season came to an end with a very tough, heartbreaking loss. 3-2 at the hands of the Wheatland Warriors, Urza Gibbons, and Devin Schill with the goals in that one. Hutchman Schneider stopped 27 shots. Looking forward, boys, to seeing you guys continue hockey careers in the AAA level next season with the Airdrie Avalanche. I know head coach Ben McMullen is very excited for this group of boys to come up and play for the Avalanche. Of course, Ben McMullen was announced as the head coach next season for the Airdre Avalanche. The AAA Airdre Avalanche won their series two games to nothing, sweeping the Calgary Bulls in game one. It was a big five-two win on the road. Matthew Moore, two goals and a helper in that one. Also got goals from Lucas Kempen, Joe Barton, Marcus Adam, Chuck, William George. Stopped 33 shots, including a player who ran them at the end of the game. And then in game two, it was a barn burner down at Ron Evanson Arena. Let's take a look at some of the highlights. Great opportunity for Airdrie to close it out on home ice here at Ron Evanson Arena as we are underway. Thanks for joining us on Flow Hockey. Quick way. Here comes Matthew Moore. Shot stopped by Chisum. Rebound. It's laying there. Adamchuck followed up. He scores! Marcus Adamchuck! God's dad's top channel! We're on a pizza peanut butter away from the kids! And what a start for the injury Avalanche! As Marcus Mattachuck will get his second of the postseason! And it's one to nothing with 1352 left to go. He'll play it to Foreman. Happy gets to Moore. Back to Foreman. Back to Ray El. To Lacey. One timer stop and just a rebound is score! Lucas Gabin! On the doorstep! Puts it all! And it's two to one as the power play. Click for the Avlin. Back to Solomon halfboards. Plays it in front, plex later. Top of the gambling! Rebell they have away at it! Kevin Gablin's gonna start fish! What a bad stack by Kevin Gablin! My goodness! What a stop! As he does the two-pad stack to rob the Calgary Balls! Why? Fleming and Gretzky's offense trying to look for more feeding in. He'll play it back to Ray N. Snipkin wants it. One timer! Stop by just a big score! My goodness, it stuck through! How did that get through? Zipkin! Groove! Zipkin puts it home! And it's now three to one for the Avalanche with 1134. Left to go in the third. Davis walks in. Broken away by Moore. Hill muscle and help just gate center. Shoots it into the score! Matthew Moore! Four to two! 58.1 seconds left to go! What a play by Matthew Moore! His third of the playoffs! As he's just holding the puck, and it's over to Snipkin. 30 seconds left to go. And Snipkin will send that puck down the ice into the empty net. That's two goals for Kruz Snipkin and start spreading the news. The Air Dream Avalanche will knock off the second place team in the South Division and move on. Final 10 seconds left to go. That's just sent all the way down the ice on Gamblin. He'll hold it, and that will do it. The Air Dream Avalanche are moving on to the second round of the playoffs. The Avalanche now take on the Calgary Royals in the next round of the playoffs. We'll get into a series preview in the week ahead. The U18 AA Female Lightning. It did not go as planned for them in the playoffs. They are still punching their ticket to provincials. Game one was a big 6-2 win against the Calgary Fire White. Let's take a look at some of the highlights. It's the road to provincials. Egry looking to earn their way in instead of just being in. As we are underway here at Ron Evanson Arena. Thanks for joining us on Flow Hockey. Great job by the Fire, just for checking on this shift. As finally it's able to grab to Kerwan, and she's away with speed. In over the line. Kerwan walks right in. Here's shots to rebound. They score! What a start for the airgreen lightning! As the rebound is put home! And it looks like it's going to be number 10. Sophie Juveny with her first under the playoffs. And then it's one to nothing for the Lightning with 7.15 left to go here in the first period. Interception on the play by Calder. She'll work behind the nuts, stolen away by Kerman in front. That shot. She scores! Roberts! What a play by Kerwan! And it's now two to nothing for the Lightning! She scored her first goal. She'll ring the puck all the way around. Macrill's there for the Lightning. Turns away from Gracie. Tries to play it up this near side boards. Has space and time. Tape to tape to Smith has Coates breaking. Here comes Ava Smith. Cuts right in. Has space. Drives wide. Smith in front. Poates has got it. Coates with a shot. She scores! Chelsea Coates snipes it in. And the Lightning will get back their lead with 1028 left to go. What a play by Ava Smith! Crisscrosses with Smith in front. Nice pass by Sick with a shot. Dip play! They score! The power play clicks! And then they'll regain their two-goal lead here! That's tough and home! Was Zink. Piper Znaker! First of the playoffs! And it's four to two for the Lightning with six 34 left to go here in the second period. Fucking Macreel in front. Look for Tiffany Coates! Puts it in! They score! As it bounces in off Smith! Gotta be good to be lucky and lucky to be good! As Justin Coates missed a wide open cage! Bounced off the chip pads of Ava Smith! And then that gets passed Herasena! And it's now five to two with 1033 left to go. Turn away by the lightning. Coates has got it. Walks the line. Herlock shot to play. They score! That's the top line. Gets it done once again. And the lead is now six to two with four fifty-seven left to go. And that goes off of an escape, but that's not going to matter. Final five here at Ron Evanson Arena. As that will do it, the Airdrie Lightning will take game one. Final score! 6-2 over the Calgary Fire. In game two, it was a heartbreaking 4-3 loss on the road in Calgary. Chelsea Colts, Piper Zank, and Emerson Caron with the goals. Karen Gilstopped 26 shots. And then a tough 3-2 loss in a shootout in a playoff game. I don't know who makes these rules, but I think this should have just been continuous OT. OT was certainly exciting. Both teams had power play opportunities, and OT couldn't finish the job. So Calgary Fire White won 3-2 in a shootout. Sophie Chubi and Jay Cheslock with the goals in that one, who also got 25 saves from Briel Catro. Next up for the Lightning is Provincials. We'll get into that when we take a look at the week ahead. But let's get into the interviews and let's start with Airdre Avalanche for Joe Barton. Enjoy the interview. Hey, what's going on? It's Chris Klein, ringside after practice, and I'm sitting here with number 22 of the Airdre Avalanche, Joe Barton. Joe, how's it going? Good yourself? Ah, not so bad. Intense practice out there, getting ready for your big playoff series against the Royals tomorrow. How are the boys feeling going into it? They're feeling good. We're all kind of bought in right now. So we're all pretty hyped up and uh ready to go in the series, try to sweep this. What do you guys need to do to take away from what makes the Royals successful? They're riding high. They knocked off the Calgary Flames, a team that you guys had a little bit of trouble with in the regular season. So, what do you guys need to do in order to, you know, beat the Royals and move on next round in the playoffs? Yeah, I think they're a pretty like skilled team, probably one of the hottest teams in the league right now. We try to shut down their top three line and uh just three guys shut them down. They're a skilled team, so just uh D zone first and uh yeah, just build from the D zone, go to the O zone and score some goals. This is your first year playing triple A. Uh, how's been the adjustment coming up to the triple A game uh from the double A game? It's been good. Obviously, I got a bunch of boys on my from my previous teams on AA, so it's been it's been fun, it's been a good adjustment, and uh yeah, it's been overall a really fun year. What aspect of your game have you found imp has improved from playing in triple A? Has it been your attention to detail? Has it been your speed? You were flying around there at practice. What's one area that you kind of improved on uh as the season's gone off? Yeah, definitely kind of my speed in the summer. I try to work as work on my speed as much as possible to adjust to triple A level or whatever. But um, I'd say improve my PK or me and Candy, Candy's sitting right here, but our PK is probably like low 90% just as a unit, so um, yeah, I just PK and overall like diesel awareness has been improved this season. What kind of uh personal goals did you set for yourself coming into this season? Triple A now, playing with the Avalanche. Uh, what kind of goals did you have coming into this season and have you achieved them? Um overall, I'll just try to be the best version of myself. Um obviously points is awesome, but I just try to be best version of myself. Um just put myself out there every day and uh try to work as hard as I can, be the hardest run guy on the ice. But for overall I points goal, I try to get 20 points a little short of that, but it was just been good. I've been I've improved a lot, so it's been good. Uh let's talk about this locker room here. A bunch of Yahoos on this team, but it looks like we have a lot of fun out here. Tal talk about how tight this locker room is uh and just how that's grown throughout the year. It's such a good group. It's it's so fun to come in the rank every day. And I would I put a lot of that on Ben. Ben has created a really good group here and uh made all of us tight. And um just the early morning workouts, everyday practicing, and um yeah, it's just been good. It's a great group. So let's start at the beginning. What got you into hockey? What was kind of your first memory playing hockey um that made you just fall in love with the game? Fun fact, I only started hockey at 10 years of age. I lived in the States until I was nine, played football in the States, then moved back here and started playing hockey at 10. My uh uncle played pretty high college hockey D1, and my dad played major junior soul. Yeah, it's been my dad and the whole family played hockey, but yeah, I didn't really get introduced hockey too early. So how was that transition? Ten years old going out there, were you in house leagues to start, or did you pick it up like really, really quickly? No, I played house house league for probably like three years, and then made uh higher tier travels and then got on a U-13 AA team and uh Yeah, and then made probably played double A for the rest of that and then made this team this year. What's your earliest hockey memory? Was talk to me about your first goal. What would do you remember the first goal you ever score? Walk me through it. Was it a snipe out there? Was it a Adrian Candelaria special, drive the net, bounce off your head? No, I think it was my first year hockey. I I know I was on a team called Tornadoes, I'm pretty sure. I have the pocket of me scoring. But yeah, I don't really remember the goal too much. Probably just on the ice, casual tap and Joe Warden goal. When the season wraps up, of course, hopefully we wrap up at Provincials with you guys hosting a banner. Uh, but what's one memory that's kind of if you're gonna remember looking back at your time playing uh Air Dre Avalanche hockey this year? Definitely the OT goals, everyone getting so hyped and that kind of stuff, the hotel rooms, um, the overnight trips and and these these bulls playoff games. It's been these playoff games after the win, and just just been so fun after playoff wins and overtime wins and all that kind of stuff. You wore a letter last year with the double A Lightning. Um obviously don't wear a letter this year, but that's okay. Do you still s feel yourself as a leader in that room? Do you speak up or are you kind of just a lead by example type guy? Yeah, for sure. I try to speak up when when it's like due time. Obviously let the leaders do their job and speak up first and then add on to that. But yeah, I try to pump pump the boys up as much as possible. I try to think of myself as kind of a glue guy and just getting the boys hyped and um yeah, just kind of take on that leadership aspect that I had last year and try to bring in bring it as much as I can in this year. You've played in the air dry community for the last three years here. What does it mean to put on that Avalanche jersey? Uh last year was the Lightning jersey, but what does it mean to play for this community, play for these fans out there, and play for your brothers out here on the ice? It's amazing. It's always been a goal of mine to play Air G AAA, because I don't know, it's just a good feeling coming in the rank. Everyone knows you on that run and stuff. And yeah, it's been obviously after playing double A for three years or whatever, and then making this team is kind of surreal. That has always kind of been my golden A Triple A, and um been doing good, been doing good this year, so it's it's been it's been really fun. So obviously, we don't want to look too far ahead into next season. Of course, we got a big playoff game, we're going for provincials, we're waiting, we're winning that banner this year. Uh, but what does next year look like? Obviously, staying in air dream, you're looking to play bisons, maybe Avalanche again. What kind of is the future here for Joe Barton? Definitely bison. I'll try to have a good really good summer, hardworking summer, try to make that bisons team. And um, yeah, if I make that team perfect, if not, then go play with Donny U18AA. Alrighty, so Joe, I'm gonna give you an opportunity to kind of get back at your teammates here a little bit. Of course, you've been named in a couple of interviews here, but I'm gonna give you an opportunity to get back. So I'm gonna give you a question. Just give me an answer and a reason why. Okay. So, first one, who has the worst musical taste on the team? Gotta say Jack or yeah, probably Jack. He listens to kind of odd music like the Beethoven, and um, some of his music's good though. Some old country in there, but it's the Beethoven I can't do. Uh, who talks the most trash on the team? Uh Huddy or Lucas? Just Huddy's always just talking, talking his stuff. And can't we back it up, but and then Lucas is always church and it's he backs up though good. He can score. So other than Lucas, who talks the most trash but is able to back it up? Obviously, we said we identified that Hudson can't back it up out there, but who can back it up out there with their trash talk? That's a tough one. Gotta say Candy. Candy's a pretty tough guy. He's uh he can fight, so if you ever get in a scrum with him, he's always winning that one. Who celebrates? I think we saw this a couple times with you even on the ice. But who celebrates the most during a drill like they just won the Stanley Cup Championship? Definitely Hottie. I mean, I I I like to celebrate too, but definitely, definitely Hottie just celebrates too much. Alright, who in the room controls the ox and should they be controlling? Lucas does. Yeah, he does a good job, he does a good job sometimes. Sometimes it's we're there, but sometimes it's good, sometimes it's I don't know, just too metal sometimes, but I want to practice when he's playing like heavy like heavy metal or heavy rap, gang rap at seven in the morning. I don't know, I'm not a big fan of that. Who on the team thinks they're Connor McDavid, but they're clearly not? Liam Lacey, no question. Why why Liam? Always saying he's Connor McDavid, always saying I'm better than Connor McDavid, always talking about Connor McDavid that he's Connor McDavid, but who on the team complains about the refs the loudest? Can't be a coach though. Gotta say Lucas. Gotta say I don't know, he's always complaining about the refs, but alright, who has the most disgusting gear on the team? Like, needs some Freeze on there, needs some needs uh needs a nice little spray because it just stinks. I don't know. I I mean my dry land gear, everyone says my dryling gear stinks, but I mean I've been kind of bad out myself there, but I don't know. No one no one gears really stinks that bad. Who on the team would get famous for something completely unrelated to hockey? So it could be a special talent, it could be get in trouble with the law or something like that. Who would be famous, known famously for something other than hockey? Candy for sumo wrestling. Yeah, I gotta get into this. Candy, you're a sumo wrestler out here. No, not really. Okay, Joe, a couple more. Who in the practice goes a little too hard? Who's a little bit too much of a hard oath out there on the ice that you need to tell them to take five to ten percent off? Um, I couldn't even tell your name. I mean, I I like when the guys work hard, so I don't know. Is it you? Probably not, no, probably not, no. Alright, last one there. Joe, thanks for joining us on AEH Weekly. But who do you not want guarding you in practice? They lay the lumber a little bit too much out there. Who who out there lays the lumber a little bit too much? But it it's good for competitiveness. You're saying like who would I want to like back me up in a fight? Sure, who would you want to back you up in a fight? Way to change the questions there, Joe. But who do you want to back you up in a fight there? Um, definitely candy. Definitely candy. Or Owen. Owen. Owen Foreman, really? Yeah, Owen would maul anyone on this team. Well, Joe, good luck tomorrow against the Royals when you listen to this. Game one tomorrow night in Calgary against Royals. Game two back here. Ron Ebbotson Arena. Joe, what do you got to say to the fans to make sure they pack the house? Pack Ron, bring every noisemaker you have. Bring everyone in, ever bring everyone out. All right, Joe, thanks for joining us. Thank you. Thanks to playoff Joe for sitting down with us after practice before his big series against Calgary Royals. He's a heck of a kid, heck of a hockey player as well. Good to see his development continue in the triple A level. Of course, he played double A the last couple years. Now he's a triple A hockey player. And let's keep the interviews going as we have a good one from the U18 double A female lightning. This one, once again, a fun one happened after practice. And I sat down with number four, Gracie Han, and number five, Layla Veal. Enjoy the interview. Hey, what's going on? It's Chris Klein, ringside after practice with two of the U18 A female lightning hockey players, Gracie Han and Layla Veal. How's it going, ladies?
SPEAKER_01Uh, it's going pretty good.
SPEAKER_02I'm pretty good. So, how was practice out there? I know it's the last one before playoffs. Uh, what's the vibes in the room right now before the big game tomorrow?
SPEAKER_01I think the vibes are Pretty high. We had a high energy practice, so that was awesome. Yeah, everyone's really excited and excited to give their all for a first playoff game.
SPEAKER_02So you guys have had a really, really good season. Just talk about how special this team is. What is it? Is it just you guys were able to come together? Is it coaching? Is it a little bit of both? Just talk talked about this first place finish and this bye heading into playoffs.
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's a little bit of both. Our team had really good chemistry off the hop, and we were also blessed with a really good coaching staff and female coaching staff, which is also really awesome. All the girls just came together. We're all like family to each other, we all support. And yeah, it's just been great.
SPEAKER_02So obviously, you guys finished first place, you guys beat out Red Deer. But what was uh some of the tra challenges that you guys had to do this season, and how were you guys able to overcome?
SPEAKER_01Um, I think just team first mentality was a big thing in our room. And when we got down a goal, like it wasn't the end of the world and to keep going. Uh I think our first periods, we always have to like start coming out strong. Gotta keep per persistent? Yeah. Is that the word? Yes. Um, yeah. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
SPEAKER_02All right. Was there a game or moment this year where you guys kind of felt like, man, we could win provincials this year? This might be the team to do it.
SPEAKER_01Um, I think that started right off the hop in trials, but a game that really stood out to me was our hockey fights cancer game. That one was really important. All our girls gave their all and we came out with a big win.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Layla, I'm gonna ask you a personal question. So your brother plays goalie or used to play goalie for the Thunder. Um, did you want to play goalie? Did you kind of want to steer away from that? Uh, just talk tell uh talk about that.
SPEAKER_01Uh no, I never really wanted to be goalie. I always like look up to him. Like he's one of my biggest role models, but I I never really wanted to get into the goalie thing.
SPEAKER_02Sure. And Gracie, let's uh let's start back at the beginning. What made you want to start playing hockey? Who got you into the sport? And it is there a moment that kind of stands out to you that you're like, man, like your first hockey moment that you always remember.
SPEAKER_01Um, yeah. So when we moved here, I was always going to my cousin's games and then I just wanted to play, and my stepdad really got me into it. And he took me on the ice and I started crying, and he said, Nope, you're gonna push through and you're gonna play. And that moment just really sticks out to me because if not, I probably wouldn't be playing.
SPEAKER_02How do you guys prepare mentally for big games? So what's going on, where do you guys go through? What's your daily routine before uh a big game like tomorrow for playoffs?
SPEAKER_01Uh we all just get together like our practice before our game, we all just get together, support each other, um, hype each other up and prepare us for the game. Yeah. Oh my goodness. Okay, I think we when we first come in, like we're kind of silly, goofy, getting hyped up, hyping all each other up. And then like when we realize it's like time to lock in and get going and figure your stuff out to prepare yourself best for your game, all the girls lock in and get going.
SPEAKER_02Layla, what's one player you kind of try to emulate your game after? Like, oh, try to copy your game. Sorry, my bad. Uh, what's one player, either NHL, female, a PG a PW, what's one player you want to emulate or try to copy game after?
SPEAKER_01Probably Conrad David. He's really fast and I like his style of play. And yeah, just look up to him.
SPEAKER_02Okay, Gracie, same question.
SPEAKER_01Um, I'd say Kale McCrive, especially this year. I've been really trying to jump in the play and get offensive and create some chances.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, has that been a focus on your game, Gracie? Especially you've had scored a couple points this year, a little bit more than normal, but is that something you wanted to focus on coming into this year? Was focusing more on your offensive game instead of this defensive side of the puck?
SPEAKER_01Um, not necessarily. I've always been a D first kind of player, but more just like setting up my team and helping the team out and contributing more.
SPEAKER_02What about you, uh, Layla? What do you how would you describe yourself as a player? If somebody never seen play seen you play hockey before, what kind of player are you out there on the ice?
SPEAKER_01I think I'm a pretty offensive player. I'm pretty fast, I think, and I always make good plays. Well, not always. Obviously, I make a few mistakes here and there, but yeah, I'm a pretty fast player. That's just how I play my game, I guess.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. What about you there, Gracie?
SPEAKER_01Um, I just say that I'd be a hard player to play against, especially in the D zone. I'm a little uh chippy when it comes to uh just slashing it on the ankles and just making their life not great on the ice.
SPEAKER_02Well, I'm not gonna lie, that's kind of how I played growing up as well. So I get it. I totally get it. Um, talk to me about putting on this Airdry jersey and playing for this community um in Airdrie. What does it mean just playing for this community and for your parents and uh for your coaches and your teammates?
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's pretty awesome. We also have a big affiliation with the younger girls, like the U-13s and the U-15s. So we all kind of group together and it's like one big family. We always got the little girls out on the ice, so that's pretty awesome. Yeah, it's such an honor because our community is great. Everyone supports us, and yeah, we always just have people there for us.
SPEAKER_02Alrighty. Uh, just a couple more questions. Got Calgary tomorrow. You swept them through the season series. What do they do well? What are you gonna do to make sure you come out with a series victory?
SPEAKER_01Um, I think one thing that they've had on SFU game is the neutral zone. So I think we really just need to clean up our neutral zone and tighten it up, especially it's not as bad. We're on the bigger ice today and on Saturday, so just shut them down before they even get into the defensive zone. I think we'll be good. Yeah, we gotta come out strong and not play down to their level because we know we know what our standards are and we know what theirs are. So we need to come out strong and not let our guard down.
SPEAKER_02And provincials, you guys are hosting end of the month. If you win this series, you're in provincials, which is kind of wild to me that you don't play anything else before provincials, but I don't make the schedule. How excited are you guys uh for provincials and hosting, possibly being able to win it on home ice?
SPEAKER_01Um, I think it's awesome, especially we're both third years getting this opportunity to play in provincials, and it's been a mindset since day one that we're going all the way and winning. Layla forgets the question. Provincials. Provincials.
SPEAKER_02All right, how excited are you guys that you guys are going to be able to play on home ice and potentially win provincials, but you gotta get there first. But what's your excitement level like heading into playoffs?
SPEAKER_01I'm so hyped, it's so awesome, especially uh what Gracie said, it's our third year. So hopefully we all come together and what it now I'm gonna give you an opportunity to kind of sewer your teammates out there.
SPEAKER_02So I'm gonna give you a question. You're gonna tell me a player, give me a number two, just so people know, and a reason why. Okay, so who on the ice talks the most trash?
SPEAKER_01Probably Piper Zank, number 15. Oh, good answer. A little chippy. Uh yeah, she's also really chippy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, okay, but who can back it up? Who talks the most trash, but they can back it up?
SPEAKER_01Charlie. Yeah, Chris Ya, number four.
SPEAKER_02You can say yourself. It's okay. We're not modest on this podcast. It's okay. All right, who celebrates, and I think we know the answer to this, but who celebrates like they won the Stanley Cup after scoring in a drill?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Ada Smith, number 13.
SPEAKER_02Saw that a couple times.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, she goes pretty crazy in practice when she scores.
SPEAKER_02Uh, who so you're controlling the ox, Gracie. What kind of playlists are you rocking here? Do you kind of just pick a playlist and go, or do you actually pick songs to be on the playlist?
SPEAKER_01Um, I have set playlists, it just depends on the night. Like, usually at practices we're ripping country music, or if I'm really feeling special, we'll get some house music going before the games. It's house music or soundcloud. I'm really on the SoundCloud recently. After the game playlist, I'm not too not sure if I like it. It's like sad music. It's yeah, it's sad country, even if we win. So yeah, but SoundCloud's been our go-to recently. It gets us so hyped.
SPEAKER_02Okay, who in practice do you not want guarding you? Maybe they're a little bit too rough out there, they hack you a little bit too much in practice. Like you guys are high spirited and stuff like that, but who goes a little bit too hard in practice?
SPEAKER_01Uh, number 12, Brynn McCreel, uh, Jackie Bicycle. Oh, really? Yes. Oh, I don't have to play again. Okay, well, I'm going Brynn McCreal, number 12, because she always just gets the slashes in there. She's broke a few of our nails this season.
SPEAKER_02No, no. Okay, who complains about the refs the loudest, but you can't pick a coach?
SPEAKER_01Really? Who gets pretty heated? Piper sick. Yeah, Piper gets pretty heated. We get pretty heated. Yeah. Yeah, both of us and Piper. Pretty heated.
SPEAKER_02What is the most, of course, family-friendly chirp that you've heard out on the ice that you could say on the podcast?
SPEAKER_01If you can't, that's fine, but um, well, girls usually just chirp about lashes or hair. Oh. But my uh probably wait. Yeah, my my new one is uh don't chirp a cupcake when you're still a muffin.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's a good one. I like that. That's a good one. Okay, who is most likely to become famous for something completely unrelated to hockey? So, for example, it could be the harmonica, it could be dancing, it could be they get in trouble, end up in jail. Who's gonna be the one that gets uh who would be the most famous?
SPEAKER_01Most famous? I think what do you think? I think like I think like Chelsea coates for like uh like homemaking, sourdough, cooking shots. Her sourdough is phenomenal.
SPEAKER_02Who on the team? If the team had a reality show, who would be the main character?
SPEAKER_01Who do you say? Um really Ava Smith, yeah. Chelsea cook. Yeah, I'd or us. I'd say us, yeah. Oh, yeah, there we go.
SPEAKER_02Okay, two more here. Uh who's the most superstitious player on the ice, or who has the weirdest pregame routine?
SPEAKER_01Lilla. And she has like Lilla gets really dialed in. Embrook. Yeah, I think. Embryelle. Yeah, so I'd say Lilla and Brooklyn are the most like zoned in, don't speak, do some weird stretches. Also, Gilly, when we're doing our dance, she doesn't like anything. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Oh, but and last one, who has the grossest equipment on the team?
SPEAKER_01Okay, you can't say me.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so Gracie got it a little bit from um Ava and Chelsea. So who on the or has an old piece of equipment that they just need to get rid of?
SPEAKER_01I would say are uh goaltender Kieran Gill. It's kind of smelly. Uh, so is Lila. Yeah, her brook buddy. And yeah, Holly, Holly's hands. Just those three. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Okay, well, ladies, good luck tomorrow. Hopefully, you guys can win provincials, and uh, thanks for taking time to conduct this interview.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for all the lightning.
SPEAKER_02Thanks to Gracie Han and Layla Veal for sitting down with me after practice. Once again, just another fun interview. They love playing with each other. You could feel just how tight-knit that group is, and that's just the culture that the coaching staff has instilled within this team. Should be successful in provincial. Speaking of provincials, let's take a look at the week ahead. Like I said, only two games in town for Airdrie hockey, and the Avalanche will kick off their series against the Calgary Royals on Thursday, game one in Calgary. Huck draw for that one is at six o'clock game two. Saturday, let's pack the barn, let's pack Ron Evanston Arena. It starts at seven o'clock. Game two, it was loud there against the Bulls. Let's get it even louder, let's get it even more full and cheer those boys on. Game three, if necessary, will beat Sunday for a matinee showdown at 2:30. Calgary Royals won the season series two games to one against the Airdrie Avalanche, and currently they have two of the top scores in playoffs. Steel Kuchan and Cohen Chaffs, they have a tough job to shut those two down. But make sure you come out and cheer on the boys. Like I said, first game is on Thursday. The U18 AA Female Lightning are on a little bit of a week-long break preparing for provincials, which start Thursday, March 26th, with Airdrie playing that first game against the Lloyd Minister Steelers. They will also take on the Calgary Fire White looking for a little bit of revenge there. Grand Prairie Storm and the Red Deer Chiefs. All the action is at Ron Evan Center Arena. You can catch all the action on Flow Hockey also for the Avalanche. I'll be on the call for game two for the Avalanche for Provincials. They hired somebody better, so you're gonna have somebody that's not gonna make your ears bleed out there for the female provincials. But that will do it. But before we wrap up, we gotta get to the three stars of the week. The AEHD, three stars, third star, gotta go Matthew Moore in his first round series. Three goals, two assists. Currently leading the Avalanche in playoff scoring. Second star Jake Forsythe, four goals, one assist in his playoff series for the U-16 AA Lightning. Looking forward to seeing him in Avalanche Colors next season. And first star Will Shikarik was the dishmaster in playoffs. One goal, five helpers. Great job to all gentlemen. Like I said, excited to see that U-16 group come up and play for the Avalanche next season. And that will do it for another episode of AEH T Weekly episode 10. Thank you so much for your support. And we'll see you next week. But until then, I'm Chris Klein, and we will catch you down the road.
SPEAKER_01Thanks for listening to AEH T Weekly. New episodes every week.