He Quit Hockey… Then Came Back Better 😂 | Blake Warren’s Wild Journey (Mites → Varsity)

Blake Warren (Rockwood Summit) joins 2 Many Men on the Mic for a high-energy episode filled with hilarious stories, honest perspective, and real lessons from his hockey journey.

From stepping away from hockey for a year to coming back stronger, Blake shares how playing multiple sports — including football and track — helped shape his game and mindset. 

The conversation covers everything from locker room culture and wild tournament stories to leadership, adversity, and what actually matters in youth hockey.

If you’re a player, parent, or coach, this episode blends humor and insight in a way that’s both entertaining and real.

🎧 Available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Mid April, too many men on the mic for the show.

SPEAKER_05 1:05

Free tax day? Is it free tax day? Post tax day. Post tax day.

SPEAKER_06 1:10

Post tax day. One of the greatest days of the year, because now you're done.

SPEAKER_05 1:13

Now you're done. Hopefully you're done. Hopefully you're done. You want to be done. Um you don't want any of those long letter numeric forms coming in the mail. You don't want those letters. No more of those long numeric forms coming in the mail.

SPEAKER_06 1:28

From a three-letter agency.

SPEAKER_05 1:30

That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_06 1:31

And the blues, I have to say, uh are not making the playoffs, which I didn't think they were going to make the playoffs, but you know, you always hold that hope. And we're a little bit of a tease. We did this last year where we kind of found our legs. Uh Jordan Kyrie is famous for showing up and being a superstar in the last 10 games of the season. So uh we had a little bit of that, but we fell just a little bit short, but that's okay. We got number five, we got number six, actually number six, depending on what happens here the next couple days. Yeah, yeah. Uh 16 and 31. Some might say that uh that's a good position to be in. Some others might say put all your chips, push them into the middle, and go for broke, and maybe go for number one or number two or number three. So it'll be interesting to see. We're gonna have to wait until uh you know, early summer-ish before we're able to see what that looks like. How about the wings?

SPEAKER_05 2:27

Well, while you were making a push towards the end of the year, the wings are going the opposite direction.

SPEAKER_06 2:33

This is a team that you were holding an anchor.

SPEAKER_05 2:36

Oh my god, they were in first place on January 24th, and then they went 9, 14, and 4. Um, you know a lot of bag skates. I think I I don't know. It's hard to put your finger on this, um, but this is the how many years of CD Live and Five. No, he's been in there, uh he's been there seven seven years. Um, this is the third year in a row where they had a March swoon, April demise. Um probably the worst of the of the last three, though. They were in first place at the end of January. I don't think any team that was in first place other than the wings at the end of January is not in the playoffs. Can you say that? Not like double negative. I don't know, because everything about the damn wings is negative. Pardon my French. Um but I I mean, yeah, you go out and get Justin Falk, thanks, blues. Um, and and he was he was fine, but when you're only scoring 2.29, not that I'm keeping track, goals per game since you know, since February 1st, um you're just not going to win very many games. And and you look at the list of the games that they just they had leads, gave up leads, and either lost in regulation or lost in OT. Uh Columbus, Vegas, Dallas, uh, Minnesota, um uh what was there's uh Florida. I mean these are I mean they left probably I think eight points on the table um between regulation losses when they had leads with less than three minutes left in the game, or overtime losses. And um do you have a first rounder? No, we traded it to you for Justin Ball. You're welcome. Um at this point, you know, the wings don't need any more young players, they have 11 point 11.2 million in cap space, just about. Um, they've got pieces to move. It's a pretty shallow free agent pool. Um, you know, now that our tami Panarin re-signed with uh signing trade deal with the uh LA, I mean, I don't think that there's much to really go with. I mean, no offense to to Leo Carlson, but you know, we don't need Leo Carlson. We're not gonna get Logan Cooley. There's no way he's not getting re signed by Utah. Those and those are RFAs. So, you know, that's the other thing, too. Iserman doesn't do offer sheets. I'm like, you know what? Your job's on the line. I would offer sheet every I would Fantilly, Robertson, Cooley, Lane Hudson, offer sheet them all. I don't care. Fantilly for sure. Yeah, but then like uh you know, the best free agent out there, maybe Adrian Kempe, but I think they've I think LA's gonna do everything they can to resign him. Alex Tuck, maybe I don't know. I mean what he loves Buffalo. It was for all, yeah. But we need a we as if you know I'm out there skating with them. The Detroit Red Wings need a second line center, not named Andrew Cop or JT Comper or uh Michael Rasmussen. But I digress.

SPEAKER_06 5:51

We're here to talk you talking. So you talking. So let's uh uh let's let's shift to positive a little right turn and uh let's bring on our first three-time guest of the two mini mic show. He's that on your was that on your bingo card that this guest is gonna be our first three-time guest, never, but he is uh uh incredibly entertaining, and uh for that reason, many others. Uh let's bring him on.

SPEAKER_05 6:20

We're bringing on uh the recently uh graduated or soon to graduate Rockwood Summit senior hockey player Blake Warren. Blake, what's going on? Welcome, welcome back to Too Many Men on the Mike.

SPEAKER_06 6:34

First three-time member.

SPEAKER_05 6:38

Third time on the show. Did you know?

SPEAKER_03 6:40

I I would I just had a jaw-dropping moment hearing that. I'm honored to be the first, I'm honored to be the first three-time guest, guys. I'm honored. Thanks for having me on.

SPEAKER_06 6:49

You know what? We're gonna we're gonna be like SNL. You're gonna get a five-timer jacket, and uh then you'll be able to wear that on the fifth time in.

SPEAKER_05 6:57

Well, if you play your cards right, you might get a guest host uh gig. Or we'll do a little spin-off show, you know, one mini men on the mic or something for Blake Along. Blake, thanks for coming.

SPEAKER_03 7:10

Can't change the two mini men on the mic, it's such an iconic name.

SPEAKER_05 7:13

Can't change well you yeah, you like you know, are you subscribed to the YouTube channel? The answer is yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 7:18

I'm subscribed, and I'm uh I don't know what it's called on uh Spotify, but it's in my library. It's uh uh subscribe following, following on Spotify.

SPEAKER_05 7:26

Following there you go. Well, Blake, man. Um obviously we love having you on. You were so memorable when you came on into our round table and our pregame for the game of the week when we were doing the mid-states game of the week. Um, we're shifting to more of that uh player focus here as we go into the off season. And coach and I were like, you know, who's a great player to come on and talk about his journey from the time he was playing mini mite hockey, all through youth hockey, some other sports, took a couple detours, maybe some time off. Yeah, we may have a couple stories or two to to ask you about. Um, but uh thanks as always for joining um the show. Start us off though, man. How did you get into hockey? You know, and talk a little bit about that, the program you were with, and who was the who was the uh catalyst? There's a word that got you into uh into hockey as a as a little guy.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

Well well, first of all, I want to say I might be the first five times uh guest on Too Many Men on the Might because I'm actually a junior. So oh that's right, that's right, that's right. You are junior, yeah. No offense taken.

SPEAKER_04 8:34

No, no, you're gonna have to be six times.

SPEAKER_03 8:37

Yeah, so I might edit that guy next to the hockey journey. Isn't over, right? It's just getting started.

SPEAKER_02 8:43

But let's talk about it.

SPEAKER_03 8:46

I yeah, I first got into hockey. Um, my dad played hockey in high school for a short stint. He played with the Limburg Flyers, he was on the Limburg Flyers. Um, played for play Yeah, I know, all right. Terrible jerseys. Um played for four played for four years there, but nothing, nothing other than that. And then my older brother was playing when I was about six or seven. He was in eight you. And you know how it is when you're at that age, you just want to be like your bigger brother. So that's how I first got into hockey and to learn to play, watching my brother play.

SPEAKER_05 9:18

What organization you were with after?

SPEAKER_03 9:21

Oh, yeah, we were we were with Afton. We were with Afton pretty much the whole way up until I stopped playing club.

SPEAKER_06 9:28

Yeah, it still looked the same back then. Yeah, right?

SPEAKER_02 9:33

Has their logo ever changed?

SPEAKER_05 9:35

Just the colors, just the colors. They've got a little darker blue every once in a while.

SPEAKER_06 9:39

Locker rooms haven't changed one shade darker, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:42

One shade darker. I and uh I don't know if they've changed the grease off the fryers for the uh breakfast sandwiches, that's why they're so good.

SPEAKER_03 9:49

Oh my gosh, so good.

SPEAKER_05 9:51

Well, well, talk a little bit about that. You know, you're starting off as a as a as an 8U, 6U player. Um, you know, there's a lot of kids that they don't like the equipment, they don't like being on the ice. Why did you take to it? Why was it like you were like, hey, I want to do this. This is fun. Talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_03 10:11

You know, I feel like just growing up in a hockey house and you know, being around a hockey culture, which I feel like we need to do better as a hockey community, is push that hockey culture. I just saw it from a young age and saw my brother do it and saw you know people around me talking about it, and it kind of got hyped up to the point where it's like, like, I want to be a part of this, you know, like I don't want to be left out, you know. And it just you know came down to you know, when I was in second, first grade learning how to play, playing eight you, you know, going to school and tell my friends about hockey, you know. Not not necessarily black bragging because none of my friends played hockey, but you know, something different that they didn't do, and it was like, you know, look at me, I played hockey, you know.

SPEAKER_06 10:54

What position did your older brother play?

SPEAKER_03 10:57

He's he's been uh a center all of his life, center left wing, forward at that young of an age, but forward, I guess, at that young of an age.

SPEAKER_06 11:06

Yeah, does he still play? Is he still playing playing men's now?

SPEAKER_03 11:10

Yeah, he played he played junior notes this year, but I he's he's done, he's done now. Yeah, he had a short stamp with the junior blues, yes.

SPEAKER_06 11:18

Oh, yeah, you're never done. You just go into men's hockey.

SPEAKER_03 11:22

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 11:23

That's kind of what you talk about. Culture. What'd you say? That's what you mean. That's kind of part of what you mean by culture. I mean, I love that you said that as uh you know, as a 16-17-year-old, you know, young man talking about culture um as to why you like hockey. Tell us a little bit more about what you mean by that because that's that's something that that feels like there's a take there.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Just there there's a spe there's it's it's hard it's hard to know the culture before you get into hockey, right? But playing football and playing track, there's a special bond you create while playing hockey that's different from other sports. There's this this this sense of brotherhood that you create while playing hockey that you carry into men's league with you know all the older men, you know. There's just this this type of culture, this type of connection in the hockey world that's hard to explain unless you're no you're out there playing and you're a part of it or been a part of it.

SPEAKER_06 12:25

Well, you brought up football and you brought up track, so uh you you've had a foray into both then.

SPEAKER_03 12:31

Yes, I have. Hockey's not actually my main sport, even though I love it to death. We'll never stop loving hockey. But tracks actually well, track was my second love, but my main love now, you know.

SPEAKER_06 12:44

What are your races? Where are your races? What's your what are your go-to races?

SPEAKER_03 12:48

So, do do you guys know what the decathlon is? Oh, yes, oh yeah, yeah, that's that's what I'm trying to do.

SPEAKER_05 12:54

Dan and Dave back when we were younger. Dan, Dan and Dave. I mean, before he was born, but they had the two guys. He was, but after him in the 90s, it was Dan and Dave, and they did like the Nike thing. Oh, yeah. So talk about the dude. So you're doing javelin, you're doing um so doing it all, man.

SPEAKER_03 13:15

So in high school, my man will that's 10 events and one.

SPEAKER_05 13:19

10 events in one, right?

SPEAKER_03 13:21

It is yes, 10 events and one. How you guys know?

SPEAKER_05 13:26

I mean, I'm just catching up on my Greek DECA.

SPEAKER_03 13:30

No, but in uh in high school, I'll usually stick to the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles, and the javelin, and then I'll throw in a relay every meet because in high school you're limited to four four events per um per track meet. Um, last year was great. I really got into track last year. I set a few freshman sophomore records for my school, and that's you know, that's when I really started to take it seriously, like training every day, you know, just going hard in the off season, which actually led to because I was training track all through hockey season and all through football. I was just training track, lifting, sprinting, doing all the 10 events. I ended up with a stress fracture in my back during the hockey season, which was insane to play through. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 14:14

So, what'd you play in football?

SPEAKER_03 14:17

I'm a receiver tight end, so I'll I'll do some receiving and then it'll split me and do some blocking, kind of like a utility guy.

SPEAKER_06 14:24

So I have to believe all of that movement. 10 events, I know you're limited to four, but still four events and track, you're playing both sides of the ball in football. I have to believe that only makes you a better hockey player, right? And and when you when you get on the ice after playing football and running track, do you feel light?

SPEAKER_03 14:48

Yeah, and vice versa, by the way, too. Playing hockey makes you a better athlete for your other sports too. So vice versa, too. Yeah, put playing track and playing football has made me such that's what I credit like my hockey growth and because like freshman year, because I didn't play my eighth grade year, I originally clicked quick club to go to football, but playing football and track, like I'll always I'll always till I die encourage hockey guys to play more than one sport, like don't just be a hockey man because playing football and playing track just made me so more so more so much more quick on my feet, so much more faster. And I was able to utilize those skills in hockey to just improve my game so much and change my play style.

SPEAKER_05 15:28

That quick twitch, yeah, man. Well, it's funny you mentioned football because uh I had a little little little text back and forth with one of your teammates, uh Wyatt Schneider, who's a huge who also you know, multi-sport athlete, huge baseball player, great baseball player, great, great athlete, great baseball player, great athlete. Um, and he mentioned that you know your football mentality, whenever you know the guys would always try and be on your team in the 1v1, the 2v2s, the 3v3s, because you were just gooning people out there on the ice. So talk a little bit about that, you know, as it as it makes you you know, you embrace that physicality. Talk a little bit about uh about that aspect of uh playing multiple sports and bringing that to hockey and vice versa.

SPEAKER_03 16:15

Yeah, so obviously, you know, in football there's a extreme, you know, weightlifting the oh, you know, big man culture, you know, just get those traps going, man. Just just a total like dude culture in football. So so like I said, in eighth grade, I didn't play hockey, I went to football, so that's when I started to you know get that oh I'm a dude, you know, type of type of message.

SPEAKER_05 16:39

You did the dude up, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 16:41

So and then I went into freshman year and played another round of football. So this is now two seasons of football without hockey. And then I'm like, you know what? My my brother's playing hockey, I've played hockey all my life. Like, I gotta, I gotta join up with my brother, I gotta play with my brother. That's the reason I first played. But then stepping back onto the ice freshman year, I'm like, I've kind of lost some skill. Like, what do I have? And the only thing I had was my total, like, I'm 6'2, you know, 190, I'm bigger than anybody else. I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna go out there and beat everybody up because that's the only thing I can do. So my my role freshman year, obviously I progressed past that, but my role freshman year is just I was a fourth line guy. I was gonna called you a bully, man. My role every every time I went out there freshman year was just to put someone on the ground, try to put as many people on the ground as I can, you know, get snow in the goalie's eyes, you know, do whatever I can to get that, you know, competitive advantage.

SPEAKER_06 17:41

Oh, I'm sure the first line was loving you coming in on the backside of your shift. They're like, okay, great. They took out all the took out all the bodies, and uh now we can just go out and score.

SPEAKER_05 17:52

Everybody's running and hiding because Blake the bully's out here. Right. Well, you know, it's funny you mentioned that because certainly your freshman year, you weren't you weren't lighting up the scoreboard or your but as you progress, I mean 18 points in 19 games your next year, and then 28 points in 19 games this year. So if you didn't if if you kind of forgot your skill, I think you found it. So talk a little bit about you know what what were you doing um to help with that skill besides playing other sports away from the ice?

SPEAKER_03 18:26

Well, first of all, in the offseason, I would get in. Do you guys know Coach Rodi by chance?

SPEAKER_05 18:31

Oh no, I know Sean really talking to him a couple weeks ago.

SPEAKER_03 18:36

Yeah, me and my brother would get him get in with him over the offseason, and then Summit also has a thing over the summer, a summit run high school thing that we skate three times over three three times a week over the summer together as a team, and the middle school guys will come up. So I did that every summer, and I just met like man, every time I went out there, I it was just intent on getting better in something, you know. I didn't just show up there just because I had to go, because you know, oh, I gotta go to practice. It was like, what can I do today to get better? You know, how can I how can you know I get better at a skill that I can incorporate into my game? So just really like focusing, pinpointing something in practice and focusing on something and then applying that to a game, that's what really made me better. And also my mentality really shifted from freshman year, like freshman year. I was like the defensive guy, you know, going out and hitting people with the puck. This this year I kind of took that, I kind of took that playstyle and like adapted it almost to where like no, like my mentality was not I'm gonna knock everybody down. It's like nobody's gonna take the puck from me. Like, I'm gonna get the puck down low and I'm gonna just keep it for 15 seconds and wait for a play to open up because nobody can take the puck from me. So just that mentality shift with the new acquired skills that had gain back or gain, just that really elevated my game. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_06 19:51

So uh when you were playing football as a receiver, uh were you uh uh were you kicking on your uh your sprinting skills there? Because you're I mean you're decathely. Were you just no it was it was it smoke as soon as you got the ball? And no, not none of those cornerbacks and safeties could catch you. Or are you a possession receiver, man?

SPEAKER_05 20:09

You're a pole receiver, right?

SPEAKER_03 20:12

So yeah, funny enough, I've never like I'm I'm not to brag, not to brag, not to brag, but like I'm even though it doesn't look like it on skates, too. Like I look slow on skates, but like I'm fast. So even though I'm fast in football, like I feel like I started late to where I never really learned how to like you know bounce off attack or you know, juke out someone in open field.

SPEAKER_06 20:34

So I was you didn't have to, you just run away.

SPEAKER_03 20:37

Oh, yeah, I was I was always that go up and get it guy and then just run north as long as I can in football.

SPEAKER_06 20:43

Last minute of play in this period. So, how does that translate over to hockey? I have to believe then with that kind of speed and that mentality and just breakaway, you're probably a nightmare on the forecheck, then, right? You're you're forechecking hard and you're first on puck.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

And and playing defense in football, it's it taught me so well how to like angle the puck and and hockey and use the boards to your advantage because the boards, what it essentially is, is like a sideline in football, and you know, in football, they teach this whole technique about like using the sideline as a second man, like it's you and the sideline against the the dude with the ball. So learning that through football just really helped my defensive game with hockey on just learning how to angle people and learning how to get the puck away from them.

SPEAKER_06 21:25

That's fantastic. We should do that off ice with kids. I love how you said that. Uh, think of the think of the sideline as boards, and we should take kids off ice and just put them on a football field and give them that that same analogy. Well done, Blake.

SPEAKER_05 21:40

Well, Blake, we're gonna take a quick break here, pay a couple bills. Um, when we come back, we want to dive into some uh some funny stories and some things about hockey that you know makes you you, you know, what you took from the game and what you what you put into it. So we'll be right back here with Blake Warren with too many men on the mic.

SPEAKER_06 21:57

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SPEAKER_05 22:35

Real quick before we jump back in, if you're enjoying Too Many Men on the Mic, hit like and subscribe on your YouTube channel. It's a quick click for you, but it helps us grow the show and keep bringing you great hockey conversations. You can also follow us on Instagram by scanning the QR code on your top right of your screen if you're watching us on YouTube, or go Too Many Men Podcast. That's the word TWO to follow us on Instagram. You can also check us out on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts, or go directly to our website, too many men on the mic dot com with the number two. Those small things from you help us keep delivering new guests, downloadable coaching content, and more from the rink. All right, back to the show. We're back here. Too many men on the mic, Coach Jared, Coach Drew with Blake Warren, Rockwood Summit junior hockey player. Just finished up his junior year. To cath football receiver, football, you know, and and you know, all around bully on the ice from what we're hearing.

SPEAKER_06 23:41

So I was thinking about this on break. Do you wear the same number when you're playing football as you do when you play hockey?

SPEAKER_02 23:49

No, but I wish I did.

unknown 23:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 23:52

And and and and if you're a receiver, I mean, are you are you 88, Michael Irvin? What are you?

SPEAKER_03 23:58

I am actually number 88. Good guess, coach. Good guess, coach.

SPEAKER_05 24:03

But you can't be 88 for hockey, can't be Patty Kane and hockey. Actually, you'd be more like Eric Lindros.

SPEAKER_02 24:09

Well, I guess I could have. I don't know.

SPEAKER_05 24:10

Eric Lindross man. Do you even know who Eric Lindross is?

SPEAKER_02 24:16

No, but I'll know who Patrick Kane is.

SPEAKER_06 24:18

Well, look, Patrick Kane is Austina. I'll add, I'll add this. Uh, the the only member of the greatest show on turf that is not in the football hall of fame is Torrey Holt, number 88. So well done.

SPEAKER_05 24:31

All right, Tori Holt. Again, greatest show on turf. You know, do you know what that is?

SPEAKER_03 24:36

Uh Los Angeles Rams. All right. Come on, guys. Come on. I know a little bit, guys. Los Angeles Rams, though.

SPEAKER_05 24:45

Oh, I called them the LA Rams. Come on.

SPEAKER_03 24:50

You guys know what I mean. St. Louis, St. Louis Rams.

SPEAKER_05 24:52

Absolutely, absolutely. Um, you know, I love the the conversation and and just the the learnings that you've taken from these other sports to help propel your hockey and vice versa. Um you know, you mentioned this brotherhood of hockey, you know, talk about talking about the locker room. Um, what are some funny moments over the years that that you've had where you're just like, I'm I may not remember if I scored a goal that season, but I'm gonna remember this story, or I'm gonna remember this kid or the things that the coach was saying. Talk a little bit about some of those funny stories. And I've got one to I've got one to prime the pump from from your dad if uh if if if that's okay. You can tell the story. Sure, because I'm trying to I'm trying to do that. Something about playing Shinny thinking a kid's dead and just leaving.

SPEAKER_03 25:39

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_05 25:43

I I mean obviously, obviously there was no death involved here. Details.

SPEAKER_03 25:48

Nobody, nobody injured, nobody injured in the making, but um yeah. Like this when this happened, this is back, I think it was Pee-wee, so checking wasn't even allowed. So our Shinny games were like a hundred times more physical than like the actual tournament games we would play later that day. So I remember just we were in like a ballroom of a hotel. Um play playing Shiny. Um, and again, you know, game starts off calm, you know, we're all trying to dangle, score sick goals, and then you know, someone crosses the line and you know throws a punch or cross checks, and then from there, the rest of the game it's just you know, you're not looking to score, you're looking to hurt somebody. So oh gosh. Uh so I just remember I just remember, I can't remember who did it, but all of a sudden, do you guys know Drew Ambercombie by chance or heard of him?

SPEAKER_05 26:50

I know who Drew Abercrombie. I know I know who he is, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 26:53

Yeah, so all of a sudden I look over and he's he's shouting, like everybody's just fighting. The the balls, the ball's right by the net, but nobody's worried about the ball. I just look over and Drew Abercrombie's like, my neck, my neck, and he's just laying on the ground. Nobody thinks to help of help him, everybody's just everybody just dips the other way down the ballroom and like out the hallway. Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_05 27:17

Wasn't me, it wasn't me.

SPEAKER_03 27:18

Yeah, and no, and when we got out, like it wasn't concerned about like should we get should we get help, or everybody was just claiming their innocence was like, No, it wasn't me. No, I didn't do it, you did it.

SPEAKER_05 27:29

Did you guys get banned from that hotel?

SPEAKER_03 27:31

Oh, we've had a few close calls, but close calls, but we've never gotten banned from anywhere. But y'all, I'm sure y'all have similar stories of having close calls with hotels.

SPEAKER_06 27:42

Well, yeah, yeah. I'll just chime in with a very short story. Uh, one of my sons, uh, we had a cop show up because somebody that was on the floor uh called down, I I think called at the desk, tried to get their attention, and then eventually uh ran out of patience, called the cops. The cops came up and I looked at the cop and I'm like, Are you kidding me? A cop to referee a shinny game. But but I like your story better because uh that's uh uh that that brings back youthful memories for me when we used to play shinny hockey, and then you start and you're you're looking at the puck and then you stop looking at the puck.

SPEAKER_05 28:22

Well, there's always shenanigans. I I I can remember um a couple of my buddies when I was in high school, we would spend the night at my friend's house and get up super early in the morning to go to this skate at Jack Adams Arena in like a pretty rough part of Detroit. So we'd get up at like 4 30 in the morning to go at you grew up in Detroit, yeah. Well, yeah, I grew up in Detroit, man. Yeah, yeah. I did not know that. That's now you do.

SPEAKER_06 28:48

Come on, lay some lay some eight mile out there.

SPEAKER_05 28:50

Yeah, right. Well, so, anyways, so the thing we would do is is we had this van. This kid's dad had this van, like this, like the Scooby-Doo van. And we would have windows, um, it had little circle windows in the back. And anyways, so the key was is we would go to Jack Adams, we would skate for an hour and a half, and then we would leave. We'd always have to get gas because the gas mileage on this thing was terrible, and there's like five guys in the back of it.

SPEAKER_06 29:18

She got like four miles per per gallon.

SPEAKER_05 29:20

Well, we would go to this same gas station. The key would be to always try and leave someone there, and I'm in there, I'm like getting a candy bar or something, they pull away and I'm running down Libernoy Avenue. Don't leave me, don't leave me, and then they would stop, you get closer, they'd go. So it's stuff like that, you know, things like that that you remember. Where they're yelling, run for us, run. Oh, this was actually right around the time of that movie, too. So they probably they're probably saying some other things, but yeah, so those type of stories. Um, and then obviously coaching and being around sometimes. The funny stories about the parents that we won't talk about on this podcast.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

Yeah. Oh, I have a lot of stories too that yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:02

Well, let's hear them, man. Let's hear them.

SPEAKER_03 30:05

Well, I'm saying I don't know if they're change the name to protect the innocent. They're not R-rated, but I don't know if they're necessarily PG.

SPEAKER_06 30:11

Yeah, they could they could be fictitious names.

SPEAKER_05 30:13

Yeah, we could change the names to protect the innocent as long as nobody's uh I'll get into some more squirt memories.

SPEAKER_03 30:18

That's like more our our generation. Like um, again, you guys didn't have the luxury of this. You guys probably had the Nintendo or whatever it was called back then, but you know, bringing the bringing the Xboxes and bringing you know the PlayStations to the hotel and having you know NHL tournaments or playing Fortnite, you know, all bunking up in one person's room. You know, that's another uh memory I'll take memories I'll take with me.

SPEAKER_05 30:44

I got a funny story about place about Xbox. Um, so I was coaching a team where Vladimir Teresenko was the one of the dads, his stepson was our goalie, and he went on one trip with us. It was the year he had his shoulder one first year he had a shoulder injury, so he came with us on the trip. And so my son Brendan, there's a couple other kids are in his room playing NHL. So he sits down and he's he lose, he beats like everybody, and he loses to Brendan. He would not let Brendan go to bed. So Brendan had to stay past Kerfee until he beat him. But that talks about the compete level of an NHL player. He wasn't gonna let some 10-year-old beat NHL. But well, let's talk. You know, I know you took some you took it sounds like a year off of hockey. You know, you stopped playing club hockey, you focused on that high school experience, which I really want to dive into because um, you know, we had a conversation last week about mid-states and how there's like this huge opportunity for mid-states to to to take another step in terms of a great organization and a great destination for kids. You know, you've play with kids that play triple A, Central States, um, and then play high school with you. What's the vibe there? Do you you know what's it like playing high school hockey? And what do those kids say it's like? Talk about that expand on that brotherhood, man. What's it like?

SPEAKER_03 32:07

Well, first of all, you bring up players I playlist. I want to talk about this eight you team I play with. So get this on one on one eight you team. I played with Carson Andrews, yeah, Cam Wilson, and Chase Blanchard. I think one of them, I think Carson's in the USA development program, he's in the OHL or something. I forget where Cam Wilson's at.

SPEAKER_05 32:28

I know he's Blanchard's Blanchard. Did he just get tendered?

SPEAKER_03 32:32

No, yeah, Blanchard and Blanchard just got tendered. He yeah, yeah. Shout out to Chase Blanchard. I I love that dude.

SPEAKER_05 32:39

How about uh how how were those uh shiny games?

SPEAKER_03 32:42

Oh man, compet and all you know how all three of those, like when you get when you're that level of a hockey player, like you know how competitive you are. Just just straight competing at eight years old over a shiny game, just very competitive.

SPEAKER_06 32:55

I gotta believe Carson Andrew was big even when he was eight years old.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

Oh, he was freaking, he was freaking huge. You did not want to mess with that dude. And that's coming from me, who's always like been bigger for my age, like you just didn't want to want to set him off the wrong way.

SPEAKER_05 33:11

So talk talk a little bit about the you know who's that funniest teammate? You know, what are some of the worst dressed guy on the team, you know, and then talk about what what was it like when you were a rookie on that on that high school team, you know, and what are some of the things that uh that you had to go through? Let's go down memory lane here with Blake.

SPEAKER_03 33:29

I think I was probably the worst dress my freshman year, because I I came back and like I forgot everything about hockey, bro. I had my tongues out, no clear tape, no clear tape, helmet all loose, crooked silas.

SPEAKER_05 33:46

No, but wrapping your laces around your ankles, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:50

Oh, another great player I played with. Uh my freshman year, uh Brandon Catalano. I'm sure you got you guys. Um they they that group when I was a freshman just always pushed me, like I said, to just be that energy guy, which was great, you know, because being that energy guy, you know, I had a lot of pilling minutes. I think I might have set a record for it. But those guys, those guys never really got on me about it, you know. They were always very supportive of like, you know, you know, you're doing your job in a different way, and like we support you, just keep doing what you're doing, you know.

SPEAKER_05 34:26

You had more pimps, you had more, you had more pims and games played. Dude, way more way more like way more. It was bad.

SPEAKER_06 34:37

Well, and you just mentioned you some of the older guys pushed you to be kind of that energy guy. So here you are, you're gonna be uh stepping into the fall, you're senior. Uh so how how can you help some players that maybe need the most help? And uh how do you approach that as a leader, uh as part of your squad?

SPEAKER_03 35:02

I think I wanted to touch on this too. For uh like my not my mission, not like my purpose, but like one of my goals is to bring high school hockey to like where it is like high school football. Like, I want that culture for hockey. So I just like I've already talked to young guys on the team, you know, just about pushing to get better. And I just I tell them my story about like, hey, like you're never out. Like, I I freaking had maybe five, what was it, five points my freshman year, you know, and now I'm a 28-point scorer, and just using other players on those example, using me as an example, just like like how like how do you want to be remembered like when you're gone, you know? Like, what do you want your legacy to be at Summit Hockey? And what do we we want our legacy to be as a team? Like, do we want to always be that team that was, you know, just you know, so close to winning to getting the job done, or do we want to be that team that like got it done? So just really motivating those guys in this set in that sense.

SPEAKER_05 36:06

Well, well, let's talk, let's focus on that on that gap. You know, did you stop playing club hockey because of the time commitment and just wasn't meshing with being able to play football? Um, was it something that maybe the the club hockey coaches were like, hey, one or the other? You know, why was that? Because you mentioned your brother and him being such a great influence on you. Talk about making that decision when you're a 12, 13 year old. Um, that could not have been easy.

SPEAKER_03 36:35

Yeah, definitely a hard decision and great question. Um, so the year before I quit, that was like the COVID year of hockey, which was super just super strange. Um you guys were around it. It was just you know, traveling to cities to find games. And I was I was in sent I was on Eagles that year, so I was playing Central States, but the Central States League just got shut down. So we would just travel and like find random games. It and we made we you know, we made it the best we could, you know. Shout out to the coaches and everybody that made it the best they could, but it was just a super weird year, and looking back upon it, I think maybe like I quit because I wasn't feeling like a you know, like a diehard passion for the game, like I wasn't really passionate about it, you know. Like going to practice, I was like, uh, I got practice, you know, going to game, I was just like, oh, I have a game. So I think I I quit just to try something new and like get that old excitement back, which in turn I'm glad I quit because when I came back, I just I have like a even though it's not my main sport and I know I'm gonna be done after this last year, like I have a burning passion for hockey now because I took that year off.

SPEAKER_05 37:44

Well, you're gonna play men's league, buddy. You know that.

SPEAKER_03 37:47

Nah, come on, come on.

SPEAKER_05 37:48

You're gonna be the S team.

SPEAKER_03 37:50

What sooner or later I'll be in men's league. Everybody knows.

SPEAKER_06 37:55

So are you uh are are you going to play football then this uh in the fall and in summer?

SPEAKER_03 38:02

Um I'm not sure yet because like I said, I had that fracture on my back, right? And that actually put me out for this track season, which was super it was super upsetting, but I eventually got over it. Um but I don't I don't know. And because I don't know where I'll be at from like a contact sport standpoint with my back being fractured, and how's how's that gonna heal?

SPEAKER_06 38:23

So so do you think do you think there's a balance between like it's great to play different sports, but at the same time, if you combine all those, maybe it's a little bit too much of a load. There's is there a balance between uh having different sports to help you be better at other sports, but also making sure you got the right load?

SPEAKER_03 38:51

No, I I get your question 100%. I have opinion on this. I think when you're young, like elementary school, middle school age, you should just be doing as much as you can. You know, get the experience, get the experience of doing everything, experience everything you can at a young age. But looking back upon it, I don't think I don't think I would have played football and hockey both in high school, just not from a standpoint of the experiences have been great, like I've had so many memories from playing both. But your coaches give you enough room for both because I there's some old and the coaches, my head coach for football has been super flexible, and same with hockey, they've they've been super flexible and supportive of me. So shout out to them for always being super flexible and supportive. But just from like a body, like it is it is hard on the body, especially if you're lifting and I'm doing tricky. Sorry, a different aspect to it, to it is uh all the knocks on the head. Um and to parents who are concerned about that with hockey, I I playing both football and hockey, I would say football is definitely more dangerous. Um not that not that to scare anyway anyone away from playing football, but to anyone who's scared of playing hockey for getting injured, I want to say that I've never like gotten hurt playing hockey. Besides my stress fracture, which happened over time and wasn't like because of hockey. Sorry, I'm getting a bunch of notifications.

SPEAKER_04 40:30

No worries, no worries.

SPEAKER_03 40:31

But yeah, I just I just think too to maybe your freshman year, you should try everything you can, but then there's a certain point where it becomes bad for the body, and you gotta find out what you're passionate about, man, and you gotta go with that.

SPEAKER_05 40:46

Do you run indoor track too? Do you run indoor track as well, or do you just outdoor?

SPEAKER_03 41:00

But to parents, I would just advise like don't don't be worried about contact sports at obviously I wouldn't I wouldn't put you know my my son or daughter in contact football, you know, at a super young age. That's something I would avoid. But I wouldn't I wouldn't be avoid a contact sport, especially like hockey. Like I just wouldn't do both like me, because taking the knocks on the head from both, it's it's definitely like not something I feel right now, but something I'm definitely worried of in the future. Not not something I regret, like you know, hey, we're all gonna, you know, we're all gonna die anyway.

SPEAKER_05 41:40

To be frank. All right, we just took a real big left turn here on the show.

SPEAKER_03 41:44

We went from a kid dying and shitty, apparently, to it's the it's just it's really it's I wouldn't say neither sport is really gonna wear and tear on you too much, but it's the combined of doing both for such a long period of time that really hits you down.

SPEAKER_05 42:00

The demands on sports in general, even from you know, you know, whether you're playing uh AAU basketball, youth soccer, youth hockey, pop warner football, it is it's just different. And you know, they talk about you know Wayne Gretzky used to say, hey, when he was a kid, he put his skates up and played baseball. And like there was no overlap, there was no, you know, 365-day sports. Um, but uh we're not here to solve all that. We're here to talk about Blake Warren and um last minute of play in this period. We're uh we're heading into the third period here. So if Blake, you could still hang around for another uh another segment. We'd love to you know talk a little bit more about your journey.

SPEAKER_06 42:45

I want to know, I want to know what Blake's nickname is.

SPEAKER_05 42:48

Absolutely, yeah. So we'll get all that and uh we'll talk about some funny anecdotes, some funny stories, and then you know, a preview of this upcoming year, and and we'll maybe have Blake come in and talk a little bit about the NHL playoffs with us. Fantastic. All right, we'll be right back. Well, that segment of Too Many Men on the Mic was brought to you by 5B Designs, St. Louis hockey families and business leaders. If you need custom gear that stands out and stands for something, it's time to meet 5B Designs. Founded by Shannon Brahini, a proud St. Louis mom and entrepreneur, 5B Designs is a woman-owned small business that brings purpose to custom apparel. Whether you're suiting up your youth or high school hockey team or leveling up your company's branded swag, 5B delivers top-notch quality with a personal touch. You need a team store, not a problem. Corporate polos or event giveaways, they've got you covered. 5B makes it easy with fast turnaround, flexible service, and designs your players or employees will love to wear. Check them out at stores.inksoft.com forward slash 5B Designs. That's the word five. And if you are watching on our YouTube feed, go ahead and scan the QR code on your screen and see what great gear and great service looks like. And folks, real quick before we jump back in, if you're enjoying Too Many Men on the Mike, hit like and subscribe on our YouTube channel. It's a quick click for you, but it helps us grow the show and keep bringing you great hockey conversations. You can also follow us on Instagram by scanning the QR code on your screen. And be sure to download, follow, and rate the podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts. Or go directly to our Instagram at Too Many Man Podcast. That's the word to TWO. Or our website, too many menonthemic.com with the number two in the URL. Thanks for following, watching, and subscribing the show. And now back to the show.

SPEAKER_06 44:40

We're back with Blake Warren, athlete superstar, football player, hockey player, track athlete. Bo Jackson.

SPEAKER_04 44:48

Bo Bo Jackson.

SPEAKER_05 44:49

It is. Yeah, he is. He is like although Bo didn't, although Wingretzky was like, no. Bo, you don't know hockey.

SPEAKER_06 44:57

Blake, I want to know uh what's your nickname on your hockey team? B beans. I did not have that on my bingo card.

SPEAKER_04 45:12

B beans. Okay, explain. We need to know this story.

SPEAKER_03 45:17

So this is a super long, it's such an odd story, but that's how most nicknames come about. So my gamer tag on Fortnite used to be, or not Fortnite, PlayStation used to be XD Gotteny Beans. And this is such an odd story. Yeah, it starts as a PlayStation name. So then one time we we were playing Fortnite, we dropped Tilt Hit, which is like the hot spot, you know, where you usually die at. And as soon as I land, as soon as I touch the ground, I die. And when you die, it plays like a little sound. So my friend just went, he just he just goes real loud. He just goes, damn beans, just real loud, and everybody just started cracking up, and it was just hysterical in the moment. But then everybody just started saying that, and then it evolved into a nickname. Everybody started calling me Beans, you know, because of that iconic moment on Fortnite, and then it just gravitated to the whole school and the hockey team, and now it's B Beans, and everybody's called me B Beans.

SPEAKER_05 46:14

I love it. And in stuff like that, you know, you hear that on the bench. I gotta believe you're you're cracking up on the ice if you hear that. You do the guys try you, you strike me as the guy on the team that like either get the guys going or you know, like I can just hear like you know, whether it's Schneid Wyatt or or some or some of the other guys like chirping you a little bit from the bench, you know, talk a little bit about that dynamic, you know, as you bring this to the you know, your personality, which is larger than life personality, that's gotta be great for your team. And and obviously Rockwood's had great success the last two years. So talk a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_03 46:54

Um, well, yeah, I obviously, as y'all can tell, it's something I take pride in. It's okay to be an oddball, but like I'm definitely an oddball. There's some you know different traits about me, but you know, I feel like everybody's an oddball in their own way. But freshman year, you know, it was hard being the new guy, you know, being a little different and bringing a different personality to the team that at first wasn't accepted, but over time when people you know grow to know you and you know, grow to accept your personality, you know, it was just it was just great for everybody to you know grow with me and just accept my personality, you know, as time went on.

SPEAKER_05 47:34

So I gotta know, I mean, you are I I talked to a couple of guys you know from other schools, and the first thing they said was his TikToks, it's TikToks. So talk a little bit about especially with the hockey TikToks when you're talking to the other, you know, you're kind of calling off the other teams, and we may have to put one of these up. I'm in your TikTok right now.

SPEAKER_04 47:58

You're in my tick tock, just get the grip, dance if y'all put BTA.

SPEAKER_05 48:04

Oh wow, I got running track. Uh so like talk a little bit about your TikTok and just how much you're having fun with that and and and what you mean, what what do you get from the other teams when they see you out there? Because we know those those those kids in the stands. They if you're playing Lindbergh or if you're playing Eureka or if you're playing, you know, one of those teams, they'd be like, Okay, Blake Warren's out there. What's the chance?

SPEAKER_03 48:31

Yeah, like I said, like freshman year, like it wasn't really accepted, you know, because like I'm the new guy, but like now, like I had teammates, which I thought was so cool. I like teammates, like, oh make a TikTok with me, Blake, you know, make it TikTok with me. But um yeah, it became I didn't expect it to like get this big, but like it became like such a troll thing. Like other teams would talk about it on the ice, they would they would like call me TikTok boy on the ice and my dad.

SPEAKER_05 49:03

So I gotta I gotta understand what this is all about here, man. Let's see it.

SPEAKER_02 49:17

Just yeah, that's that's actually before game out.

SPEAKER_06 49:30

So uh how's uh how does that work for the girls? Is it uh the girls like your TikTok collection?

SPEAKER_03 49:36

Um I don't know, but I do know the the boys always give me trouble for it with with a friendly way though. But funny, like my dad teaches at Lafayette, like it was like it was like the talk at like Lafayette, like, oh I've seen your son on TikTok, I see your son on TikTok all the time.

SPEAKER_05 49:54

The first thing, so so it's funny. I was I told I told my son who's a who's a senior at Ledou, Brendan, and he's just like, Oh yeah, I I got his TikTok right here. He starts going through it, and he's just like he trolls every team, and it's hilarious. Yeah, just spicy.

SPEAKER_03 50:10

Oh man, yeah, but yeah, during the season, I would just that was just my thing, you know. Just had a bunch of energy before the game, you know, and just letting loose, you know, dancing before the game, getting the dances out. I love it, uploading on TikTok.

SPEAKER_06 50:24

What so what's the soundtrack in the locker room? Tell me uh what what what's the first dance to get you going?

SPEAKER_03 50:31

Oh, that's a good one. We we can really dance to anything, me and why it it just became a thing.

SPEAKER_05 50:41

Like like when any song he's playing, it could be to any song, he'll just look at me and just do my fingertipping showers, go like this at me during any song, like we'll get down to anything, me and why um so you talked about that brotherhood when you talk to your football teammates and and the folks that you run track with, um how do you explain what that locker room culture's like? And um, I'm sure there maybe like hey, how do you bring that to your to your other other sports?

SPEAKER_03 51:18

Yeah, man. I mean, it's again like I said, like playing playing hockey, it's just it's way different. Like first of all, it's a different like team aspect. Like I feel like hockey's like the most team aspect, because first of all, it's a shorter, it's a shorter roster than track or football. So you're dealing with a shorter amount of guys, so therefore you can just grow bonds with guys quicker and easier because it's less guys, you know, it's more tight knit. So um yeah, like and track, like I've just tried to bring bring that to track because during track, like so many people look at it as it as like an individual sport, because you know, oh I'm doing my individual event. But like I've tried to I've tried to you know bring that like team, like like we're going to war, type of mentality that we have in hockey. Like, I've tried to bring that to track, like hey, even though we all have our individual events, like there's still a team score to this, like we're going to war for each other. Like when you're running, like run for your teammate, you know, like get that extra point for your team, you know.

SPEAKER_06 52:21

So you go over the pole vaulters that are laying on their back while you're running running hurdles and going, get up, yeah, get up, dude.

SPEAKER_03 52:29

Let's go. Like, come on, like, I'm out here running for you. You're out here jumping for me. Like, we're all like a like a joint brotherhood, like we're doing this for each other just as much as we're doing this for ourselves.

SPEAKER_05 52:40

So let's hit let's hit a couple things. Um, you know, we'll start off with the adversity first. Uh the toughest thing that you had to go through in hockey. Um, you know, it could be youth hockey, it could be high school hockey, but the toughest thing that you had to go through, and what did you learn from it?

SPEAKER_03 52:58

Oh man. During I'll say during my sophomore year. This this is an exclusive story, guys. During my sophomore year, but I'll open up about it. During my sophomore year, it was it was a breaking news, folks. Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news. During it was during the preseason tournament, my sophomore year. And again, like I said, playing like playing high school football, like I've seen the culture there. Again, hockey has a different like type of brotherhood, type of tight knit, but like the the the culture in football, it's like it's just so serious in football, like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, like all we do is football. So I tried like my freshman sophomore year, like I've been trying to like push that culture onto the hockey team. So during a preseason tournament, it was we had a game the night after homecoming, and yeah, so I can you guys can imagine. And I'm like, and I don't I don't really get into mo most uh a lot of that stuff, but you know, it was after homecoming, so a lot of dudes you know showed up, you know, showed up they're a little they're a little tired, they're a little they weren't ready to play their A game if you're catching my drip. So yeah, um before the game, I'm kind of irritated because I'm like, like, really, like we have a even though it's a preseason tournament, like it's a playoff game. Like, I'm trying to win this tournament, and you guys are gonna show up, you know, like that was my mentality at the time. And um during the game, we ended up getting our you know, yeah, we ended up getting our behinds kicked, like anybody expected. But during the game, I was I was kind of people were getting on me a little bit. I forget for what, but then I started to yell at them, which I shouldn't have done. But then I started to yell at them, and it was like a lot of banging heads during the game to where on the point, the second intermission, like I was you know how we had the team huddle at the intermission. I was late to it, and I was kind of skating, taking a minute of my own. And I got into uh argument with my coach, and he's like, he's like, get over here. I'm like, I'm like, I am, I'm just taking a second for myself. And he's like, Do you need to go to the locker room? I'm like, Yeah, I think I'm doing like I'm about to lose my cool. So I end up going to the locker room, uh, walking out on the team during the game, which was not a smart decision looking back on it, but that's what I did in the moment. And then right as I'm getting done from taking a shower and loading up my gear, the team walks in, the game gets done, and the team walks in. So that was awkward, as you can imagine, and they're all yelling stuff at me, and I'm yelling stuff at them. And then uh story wrapped up. We get home. My brother's the captain, because this is a senior year myself more here. And I'm like, Carter, like, I'm not playing, like I can't do it if y'all are doing this. Da da da da da. Um I eventually ended up, you know, you know, making up with the coaches and all the players, you know, saying sorry, they said sorry to me. A lesson, like a lesson I really took from that is like not everything, although like I'm super competitive and always want to win, like, not everything in life like has to always be so serious. Like, something my mom said to me that really stuck with me is like when you laugh together, like then you can cry together. And like what that means to me is like you're not like looking back on it, you're not gonna remember you know how many points you scored or how many games you win. It's always gonna be like the memories that you guys shared, which is what I just kind of got that my junior year is like like I don't care that I had 28 points or like we made it back to the wick, like it's all the memories, humble brag, humble brag. Humble brag, but yeah, seriously, like it's not it's not the points you score, the games you win, like it's all the fun memories you make on the way during the process. So that's kind of a memory I learned. Uh, like I've I've applied to my everyday life is just to be present in the moment and know like those big moments of winning the big games and winning the big competition, like those will come, but like right now you have to be present in the moment with with whoever you're with.

SPEAKER_06 56:59

Well, speaking of competitive games, did you happen to watch uh the NCAA, uh Division I uh Frozen Four this past Thursday and Saturday?

SPEAKER_03 57:09

So listen, I'm not even I'm not even like I don't watch hockey like that, but something I did do this season, I went to almost every mid-states playoff game, which I enjoyed so much. Oh my gosh. MICDS Parker West was a good one. That was a phenomenal game. Like, I think I almost enjoy watching high school hockey more than I do playing it, which is insane to say. But but like I said, it's the memories with the guys, like our whole our almost our whole team would go to these games and just watch and just have a blast watching these games together.

SPEAKER_05 57:42

So well, let's talk about a great moment. Share with us the best goal, like walk us through your best goal.

SPEAKER_03 57:50

Uh best goal swag wise, or like moment.

SPEAKER_05 57:54

Um, take that back.

SPEAKER_03 57:56

Swag wise. No, no, no. I don't have any swaggy goals, it's all down low, banging at the goal.

SPEAKER_05 58:03

My best goal moment. Let's go.

SPEAKER_03 58:05

Oh and I want to hear about the selling. I gotta hear about the game. I said a lot of good goals. Man, okay. I I got two fresh freshman year um against Ledue. So I know I know you remember this one. It was against Ledou. Um, we had just tied them seven to seven in game one, which was a crazy game, like crazy game, one of my most favorite games. But the second game, um, I just got sat in the first game, like I got benched. So second game, I'm like, like, I gotta I gotta do something to help the team, or else like I'm not gonna be able to sleep at night. So my first shift of the game is I was on the power play unit. So we we uh we draw a penalty, and you know, I'm looking around, I'm getting excited. I'm like, Oh, I'm about to go out, I'm about to go out. So then the whistle blows. My coach looks at me, he says, Blake, I need to score an F and goal right now. I'm like, Okay, coach, off the draw. My brother takes the draw, he lifts the dude's sticks up. I just crash in off the draw, I pull it between the dude players' legs, and then without even looking up, I just I just slap it towards the net. I don't even know where it went in at, but all I saw is it went in and I went crazy, man. Because that was to take a 2-0 lead. We thought we had it sealed at the point, 2-0 in the first period, and I was out there with my brother and my cousin Wyatt, and it was just it was such a good goal, such a good moment.

SPEAKER_05 59:25

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_03 59:26

Yeah, we ended up losing that series in the four four-o mini-game, as I'm sure you guys remember. But but my second favorite goal, I think I talked about it when Dewey Rogers was on here, was against Oakville. I had the first, I had the first goal in that game, um, off a tip, but then it was we were down four to three with a minute left. This is like season on the line. Like, if we lose this game, we're in a bad position to where we could get knocked out. So we get a we get a power play. I go out there, times ticking like 50 seconds. We're passing the puck, passing the puck, trying to get something open. Um, then it gets tied up in the corner. My teammate Evan Duroti kicks it out to Connor Stark, and he just throws it on net, and all of a sudden it trickles out behind the goalie. And I just kind of jump and dive at it and just tap it in. Goes in 4-4 tie game, and again, we just went insane, like crazy moment. Those are my probably my two like best goals in the moment, just crazy moments to with the season on the line, crazy stuff like that.

SPEAKER_06 1:00:27

Well, you got one more year in you. What are you looking forward to this year?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:31

Oh man, um, I would say um getting to play with my brother as the coach because my brother's gonna be coaching now. Oh, that's cool. Isn't that crazy? So, yeah. Um, my brother, I didn't get to play because obviously he graduated, so I play with him my freshman sophomore year, but this is kind of like a full circle moment because I'll begin to play with him like my last year is his first year coaching. So I'll get to I started with him and I finished with him, you know, type of thing.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:02

That's awesome. That's that is phenomenal. Well, well, Blake, uh you know, this has just been great. Um, thank you so much for sharing your journey. Um, just some incredible uh insight and stories for other players who are coming up in this great game, parents and coaches alike. Um, speaking as a coach, uh, I'd love to have 18 of you on my team. 18 guys that play like you with that type of intensity. Um, I might lose all my hair and grave, but I think I think a team full of Blake Warren is gonna be a team that's gonna play hard, compete, and and be in the mix for championships.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:40

Yes, I appreciate that coach.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:42

I know we'll be talking throughout the season.

SPEAKER_06 1:01:45

Blake, thanks. I love your stories about playing different sports. Uh, that's great. Keep promoting that, keep telling kids to do that. And uh uh, you're an all-around athlete in the class act. Thanks for coming on the show again.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:58

Thank you, guys. Thanks for having me again. Always a pleasure.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:01

Keep doing the TikToks, get yourself healed up, and uh, we'll be talking.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:04

All right, all right, we'll do, coach. Thank you guys.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:07

See you guys, see you.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:11

I'm still just like that sinking in.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:14

Do you don't remember Dan and Day?

SPEAKER_06 1:02:16

No, I don't remember Dan and Day, but I remember the catholics and I remember Bruce Jenner and 80s Fox. That's right. I mean, think of all the things that you have to be good at. Uh, you know, and all the movements. I mean, you gotta throw a javelin, you gotta swing around in a circle and launch a shot put, you gotta run hurdles.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:37

The hurdles would be the I mean, that would be too that'd be too high of a hurdle for me. Um I just think it's so refreshing though. You have a young man who um has a phenomenal perspective. Oh, he's got a great attitude, like great attitude, great perspective. He he's and he's authentic.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:58

He is himself. He is himself. I I don't I don't smell any uh nope in all this.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:04

I can't even say that, but yes, he is he is himself, and I just I I I just have this feeling we're gonna be crossing paths with him again as the C goes on.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:14

I think we should have his brother and him back on, maybe like mid-season, mid to late season, so then we can hear his brother's perspective on coaching him. Uh, I bet there'll be some good stories.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:28

I'm sure there will be.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:29

I maybe like right before the playoff.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:31

Yeah, because I think by that time, uh, you know, they'll have had enough time to because you know it's gonna be tough. I mean, if you think it's tough coaching your son, imagine if you were coaching your younger brother. I couldn't know.

SPEAKER_06 1:03:45

How many times is he gonna bench him?

SPEAKER_05 1:03:47

Yeah, I mean, I I I gotta believe his brothers, they're gonna make his brother coach the defense or something. Oh, yeah. You can't talk to him, but um well, what a what a great uh uh great first of hopefully many of these player profiles that we do. Um he's gonna be tough one to live up to though.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:06

So yeah, the bar's high. So uh, but we'll find them. Uh they're out there. Lots of kids with personality, multi-sport kids, and uh and we'll bring them onto the show. But uh yeah, the bar is high.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:17

Well, I think you know, we obviously have some things going on in the world of hockey. You mentioned the NCA, the frozen four.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:24

Shout out to DU. I mean, I know it's a sore topic.

SPEAKER_05 1:04:27

Yeah, you know what? Let's talk about it. Let's just go ahead and talk about it.

SPEAKER_06 1:04:30

It is what it is. The DU is just a uh boy, they just hang around. They're that they're that team that just hangs around. And if you've watched pro hockey, if you've watched high school hockey, if you've watched college, I mean basically any level hockey, it's one of those teams where you you'll run into where if you just let them hang around, and then you can just kind of feel the tide turning. Where the second over, you know, for me it was when they got back in the game at the end of the third and tied it up against Michigan, DU Michigan. So it was the semifinal game, not the final final game.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:12

Yeah, I might have been sitting next to you during that game.

SPEAKER_06 1:05:14

And then, you know, when the first overtime went through and Michigan hadn't put it away, I was thinking this is trouble. Well, I told you just hanging around, and then and then they, you know, they got like what seven shots on goal, I think, in the championship game. Maybe they maybe they had a couple more, but they got outshot, yeah. And same kind of thing. That goaltender just hang around, and they've got an outstanding goaltender, and there's lots of ways to beat teams, and they're that team that just man, they'll just hang around and then bite you.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:46

That goaltender um faced well over almost 60 shots against Michigan, and I don't think that they had 27 in double overtime. So I told you if Michigan didn't win it in the first seven minutes, you know that that's gonna the you know that du is winning this game and well in in that program i mean that coach has got to be on an NHL Raider tell me that that guy's not gonna get picked up and maybe go to an uh at least a an AHL team we'd like them uh maybe even the big show yeah I I think you know du's been in the mix now for the better part of a decade um they're they're putting just a great culture there the coach just you know gets the most out of the talent that he gets he doesn't smile a lot he's no he really doesn't he's very he really doesn't he's like between stoic and pissed off well you know there's a fine line there's a fine line but you know what it you know can't can't argue his can't argue with success he's probably a lot I mean he's you know he's probably a lot um he's probably a different different guy behind the scenes I don't think his nickname is Beans probably not beans probably not beans well you know we've also got NHL playoffs starting and uh you know first round is the best round best round it's it's kind of it's the closest thing I think it's the closest thing to the first weekend of the basketball tournament do you watch every game I do I do I do try to watch every single game and and as we look here at uh you know we look here at the at the eastern conference standings you know all the team the the dance the dance card is pretty much set you're gonna have Carolina playing the uh the Ottawa Senators you're gonna have uh the Flyers making the playoffs I mean and they get to play Buffalo wow yeah two teams that have not been in the playoffs for quite some time yep you're but Carolina's gonna play Ottawa you're gonna have Buffalo playing Boston oh Buffalo Boston yeah Buffalo Boston and then like you got a battle for Pennsylvania with between Pitt and Philly Philly again a team that Detroit beat twice in the last month not that and then Tampa Montreal you know shout out to Montreal two years in a row I mean you gotta say uh Rick Tocket's got to be part of that right absolutely because Tortorella had that team last year they were kind of sitting on the playoff edge they weren't able to make it and then Tacket comes in and they did it well then yeah Porter Martin helps too yeah it doesn't he that that kid holy cow you talk about you know a kid that you know comes in and just asserts his dominance I mean he was he was a man um you know he got his first goal and first assist and uh he hasn't looked back that kid's gonna be a force absolutely a force um and then we look over to the West and you know you see the West uh pretty much the dance card is set it's just we don't know who gets to play Colorado well right now it's LA but I think that there could still be a flip-flop LA and the mammoth could flip flop I actually think there's still a chance for Anaheim to be a wild card um because there's still you know they still have a couple games left to play but the question on this is like who is going to survive that Dallas Minnesota series and can Edmonton is this the year where Edmonton takes a big step back similar to Florida because they're not gonna have heim and they're not gonna have dry sidle still don't have a goalie still don't have a goalie um you know but they do have the the best player in the world um and no dry sidle no dry sidle though at least for I mean I wouldn't be surprised if they figure out a way to get the the magic sprinkle the magic dust on dry sidle and he and he shows up in game three but uh you know Edmonton I mean that whole Pacific team the you know who's who's gonna be I kind of feel like in first place yeah the Pacific's pretty weak yeah you know you got you got the heavyweights and and I would put Minnesota in there with a heavy don't don't slow up on Minnesota because they 100 that is a loaded team well I think I think they're they've had um since they made the Quinn Hughes deal and since they've got all their guys back I mean uh they've got boldy caprizov quinn hughes fade I mean faber I mean and you know which goal you're gonna throw in their goaltendings and great um you know in Dallas until Dallas does it they haven't done it there's an ism until Dallas does it they just haven't done it so um and I don't know I mean Colorado I mean Colorado's just been kind of steady eddy since you know since before the Olympic break you know they've got the pressure you know it's great to finish first but then there's expectations it reminds me of when the Blues won the president's trophy and then lost in the first round uh against uh either LA or San Jose I can't remember the playoffs are littered with president's trophy casualties I mean look in Tampa when they were president's trophy winner losing in the first round to Columbus Boston losing in the first round I can't tell you how many times Detroit won the president's trophy and got bounced in the first round but I could I can do a whole show on it if you'd like I'd take a president's trophy right now put us in the playoffs um the capitals the capitals win the president's trophy a couple years ago and and I think they squeaked by the first round and got you know got beat pretty bad by uh Carolina and Carolina that's the other team when is Carolina going to do it like when are they going to do it I I mean this is I it should be their year.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:32

I mean the east is pretty clean of the usual suspects right now uh but I don't know maybe this is the year Rob the Bod brings it home.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:42

It could be one of those situations where they're kind of like the Red Wings of the early 90s where they they get there but they can never get over the hump and then they brought in Scottie Bowman.

SPEAKER_06 1:11:50

And look Rob Rindemore I mean he's an unbelievable coach he's an unbelievable unbelievable player he's been there now for like like including his coaching time he's been there for almost 20 years I think coaching and playing and so it's like at some point it's like maybe it's I mean I don't know but but who do you really fear they also need a goalie too do you really fear on that team you don't and that's the thing is they don't have a shutdown goalie they're they're they're kind of like Edmonton uh and that they've got a lot of offensive skill but yeah they just don't have goaltending and as we just were saying about uh Denver uh goaltending is uh pretty important but when do the playoffs start uh Saturday and Sunday fantastic yeah it's gonna be it's gonna be it's gonna be a great two weeks I know what I'm doing you know we've got the the weather's great patio's open sitting out at night till till uh till the western western conference games are done and we'll do those but you know it's gonna be fun fun um great great great next week of hockey even without our teams in it yeah and we'll come back and talk about it next week but uh if you are uh bored and looking for something to do this weekend certainly on Saturday you might want to turn that tube on and dial in and watch some really good hockey in the first round Blake Warren was a great guest let's put a pen in it coach uh and uh we'll see you next week shooty scores