Swedish Fish > Drama 🍬 | Hockey Moms Explain How Teams Become Family

We turned the show over to the real glue of every team… the moms.

And let’s just say — they delivered.

This episode dives into:

• the legendary Swedish Fish superstition that somehow became a thing 🍬
• how great teams turn into a true hockey family
• why drama can kill a season (and how to avoid it)
• what actually matters looking back from 18U
• and some very real (and hilarious) stories from the stands

It’s honest, funny, and a must-listen for anyone navigating youth hockey — especially if you want the experience to be something your kid (and you) actually enjoy.

👉 Bottom line: the teams that win long-term aren’t just talented… they’re connected.

🚨 CTA 

If you’ve ever:

• heard about a wild team superstition
• seen drama derail a season
• or been part of a real hockey family

👉 Hit SUBSCRIBE on YouTube (help us beat the algorithm… math is undefeated 😆)

👍 Like the episode
📲 Follow us on Instagram & X
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts

And if your team has a better superstition than Swedish Fish…
we need to hear about it.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:45

The black and the gray. Coming straight from practice. I like it. We're ice level. Yep. These are fantastic craft. We're like inside the glass. Inside the glass.

SPEAKER_02 0:54

And and a big episode because today we're talking with the hockey mops.

SPEAKER_03 1:02

Dun dun dun. Dun dun dun.

SPEAKER_02 1:08

Well, this brings me back from the beginning. I mean, this is kind of like going home.

SPEAKER_03 1:13

That's a great song. Do you know the band?

SPEAKER_02 1:15

From the beginning. Do you know the band?

SPEAKER_03 1:20

I want to say it's the guess who, but no, it's not the Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Lake and Palmer. Might be worth a might be worth a Spotify Google there. Can't be like stumped you.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

You did stomach. We played that song too. We played it a couple times. We haven't played, but yes. So this is like coming home because we're going back to I feel like last April when we were sitting at my house. Yeah. And we were talking about the idea of starting a youth hockey podcast, which we're now doing, and we brought a group of moms together.

SPEAKER_03 1:54

I think I crushed about a basket full of unleavened uh bread. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:02

My wife was at the beginning of Artisan and Order. If you aren't following her, follow her on Artisan and Order on Instagram. She makes fantastic bread making videos. She makes bread literally every single day. And she did deliver bread uh uh for that event. But that was our first foray into hearing what hockey moms were interested in. And here we are about a year later at the end of a hockey season. And it just seems fitting that we're having a discussion with a group of hockey moms, reflecting on last year's journeys.

SPEAKER_03 2:39

Well, well, full disclosure, if you've if you've seen the promo for this show, um it's uh it's passion. You know, some people would call it crazy, but it's passion. And uh I'll I also have to say that when we're talking to hockey moms who are part of the team that my oldest son played for. So technically I'm married to uh one of the one of their group. Um and I just could not be more excited and more uh um well, let's just say this this is this this episode's probably gonna go viral because I think the laughs are gonna be coming you know fast and furious. And um, you know, what we're really hoping to accomplish here is as you go through a hockey journey as a player, uh obviously as a coach, but really as a family, as your parents, you spend so much time with people who start off as either strangers or acquaintances. And this this group of ladies has a great perspective on how to go from being um parents of your kids' teammates to really a family. And I'm hoping that we take a lot of, we have a lot of laughs tonight and probably have some awkward, funny moments. But I'm hoping that there's a lot that younger families and younger parents can take from this to um put in perspective what this is all about. You know, we spend a lot of time together as you go on this hockey journey and um taking the opportunity to get to know uh the families that you're you're you're spending so much time with, you know, it makes the experience better for your players, better for your kids. And that's ultimately first and foremost. But as a parent, it's also just this awesome opportunity to to extend that family and um really create just a great dynamic for you and your family and your kids. So that's what I'm hoping for. Let's bring them on. So, Grant, bring them on in. This is the hockey moms here. Let's go. So um let's go around the horn here. Uh, you know, kind of introduce yourself, your team. I know all of you, but I our listeners and our viewers. But uh let's go around the horn here and start with Amanda.

SPEAKER_04 4:52

All right, I'm Amanda Rogers. Um, my son, should we say our son's name? Yeah, absolutely. All right, all right. Well, my son is Dewey Rogers, and he just finished his last year of club hockey um on Acton Central States, um, 18U. And it's been a wild ride. It's sad, sad it's over, but yeah.

SPEAKER_05 5:24

Next up, we have a very short attention span.

SPEAKER_03 5:29

That's okay. It might be the Swedish fish and all the sugar, right?

SPEAKER_05 5:32

It definitely is. Well, Tracy, why don't you go ahead and introduce yourself since you're uh um I am Tracy Brown and very loud because I just saw them look. Um, my son is Colin Brown, which if you are in St. Louis, you will know the history behind that. Um, one thing I could and I I still have a younger son who is in Central States as well. And Colin is behind us. We are in lounge 72. Um I've been in hockey for probably 10 years. And clearly, even after we lost Colin, I couldn't leave this team. It's that special.

SPEAKER_03 6:09

Next up, Beth.

SPEAKER_07 6:11

Uh Beth.

SPEAKER_03 6:13

Second time on the show, Beth Hassock.

SPEAKER_07 6:15

Second time. I'm not gonna cry this time, I don't think. My son is Aiden, and uh he has played for the Afghan Central States the last three years, and along with Dewey. This is his final year in new hockey. I don't know, we were trying to count it's 11 or 12 years, I don't remember.

SPEAKER_03 6:39

It's a lot. And then last but certainly not least.

SPEAKER_06 6:44

My name is Catherine Heitzenreeder, and my son's name is Caden Fulham. He also was on the Afton Central States 18 um U team and was his last year to play as well. Um, he's been playing for 12 years, and I still don't think I've accepted the fact that it's over.

SPEAKER_03 7:04

Yeah. And Catherine, everybody out there was part of that mom's group back in April, um, who went through or helped us you know launch the podcast. So it's kind of coming full circle. So thank you.

SPEAKER_02 7:16

I love it, Catherine. Thank you for joining us about a year later. I remember us being together back in the spring, and here we are again at the end of a hockey season. I cannot wait to hear about all the great stories that you ladies have to bring to the community.

SPEAKER_03 7:32

We will keep on PG. They'd be PG 13. We're not on the radio anymore. So well, let's get started off here. Um, you know, hockey, you know, part of the reason why we started this podcast was to try and accentuate the positives of all of that's great about youth hockey. And if you're on Instagram or TikTok or Twitter, sometimes you see a lot of negative and a lot of drama filled and mostly fueled by parents. So, you know, in your experience, like, and you can share some stories of past teams before you guys got together as a as a unit here. Is that exaggerated? And what fuels like what happens that gets these parents so like I don't know, uh crazy is probably not the right right word, but like crazy's the right word. Let's go, let's go with that. Fire away.

SPEAKER_05 8:28

Um, I don't think you know, all of us before we were together probably do have experiences and stories of parents just losing it. My personal experience is that I think there's parents that really think their kids are going from local hockey to the NHL from, you know, eight years old to 10 years old, they're gonna get drafted. Um, so they're constantly complaining about how much time their their kid gets on the ice. Um, and just by them doing that, I think it makes a competitive situation for a team instead of it making it a family. And that's where this team was different. We didn't have any of that.

SPEAKER_06 9:06

I think to your question, Jared, that alcohol is the reason, right? Like so many people partake before the games, during the games, and and sometimes that alcohol uh leads your emotions, so it can get you in a difficult situation.

SPEAKER_05 9:30

It's not all about it's your child. So I I understand wanting your child to have success, but I don't know, it shouldn't be at the expense of somebody else's child.

SPEAKER_04 9:41

You just have to let the coaches coach, let the players play, and you just show up and root them on.

SPEAKER_03 9:47

Like it's there's a viral moment for our for our listeners.

SPEAKER_07 9:54

I I have a little bit, I mean, I'm not saying our years before Afton weren't were ideal or not dramatic. There weren't some wasn't some drama, but I will say, and I had this, my husband and I had this exchange with the Afton coaches after the end of the year party, is that we you know we played for Kirkwood for I don't know, nine years, eight, nine years, and we we loved Kirkwood, and we tried to do it, we tried to do it when the pod system started, we tried to do that, and you know, to our disappointment, our child was not selected for for reasons unbeknownst to us. Let's just say that. Um, and purposely chose to stay at Kirkwood the Bantam major year because we had such a great group of parents and a great group of kids, and all those people chose to stay together the last year before you know, open whatever they call it, open open district, I don't know what it is, open district. And so when we moved to Afton, Aiden he desperately wanted to make this team because he didn't want to go to either of the other pods. And I was really nervous. I was really it, I was, you know, we were happy where we were, and I did not know what to expect, and I I can't say enough about the people I've met and the players that Aiden has played with who've become his best friends, and mom said we've become my best friends by making this this leap. Um, so we had, like I said, it wasn't completely without drama because you know, alcohol, but I would not say it was amongst our team, our parents of our own teams, parents of our other teams, perhaps. But um, you know, I was really we were really like, is this the right move? Like we were really happy where we were, and I I I honestly, and I told Bob and Scotty and J. Ray, like this was a case study, and things happen for a reason. Yep, because it led me to these people who are, you know, I feel will be my lifelong friends.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

So talk about that a little bit. Uh, lifelong friends, and uh you you you feel like you've you were meant to be, you were meant to meet these ladies. So what does your relationship look like now that your kids are done uh and have been through this journey? Uh will you get together? Will you get together once a week, uh what once a month and have an informal forum, or what what what ideas are being kicked around?

SPEAKER_04 12:45

I mean, it's still pretty fresh that our kids are we're still in denial. We're still in denial and we're you know, right? Yeah, it's senior year, there's a lot going on, you know, there's prompts, there's graduations and excuse me, and all that stuff, but I don't know, like what Beth said, like these these people that we met are not just a season of hockey friends, like these are lifelong friends that we've just clicked with. Like uh how when was it three years ago? We were four years. Four years. You and I four. I think some have been five, four, three, two, you know, yeah, it's like new this year. So you know, last not this past season, but the season before, my son was he chose to go and play for a different team. He played for the triple A blues for a season, and it was a very tough decision.

SPEAKER_03 13:44

Not a big deal, huh? Not a big deal, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:50

But he it was a very difficult decision for him to make that move, and it was because of the team of players that he was with, it was because of the coaching, and you know, I was slightly devastated because I wasn't gonna be with the same families anymore. Um, but because we were so close that was it 15U year? 15 U year, I still felt like I was part of the family last year when I wasn't even on the team. I'd just show up and they're like, oh, here's your spot. You sit right, you sit right here. I mean, that's yeah. I mean, I went to I I don't know. I don't know how to explain.

SPEAKER_05 14:36

No, we we've said it many times over. We don't know what happened or what blessing was bestowed upon us that it brought all these families together because it truly is unique. I mean, we've we all have come from different teams, we've all you know moved around and stuff like that, but this act in 08 and 07 this year is just been unbelievable. I mean, we still, I mean, there's probably not a day that goes by that I don't talk to one of the moms on the team from the team. It just a text, anything. I mean, something funny happens, and they're the first people I think of to send a text to.

SPEAKER_07 15:18

So I do remember first in 15 new year when our manager sent the spreadsheet, the roster, and it had I think it was the only year we got full roster with parents' names and phone numbers and home, home clubs. And I looked at it and I'm like, well, there's everywhere, everywhere. Like, I mean, there was Chesterfield, there was there was Merrimack, there was um Kirkwood, there was Rockets, there was St. Peter's. I don't know if there was St. Peter, but I mean it was like I don't think there was one single person from Afton. I mean, like, there's not a kid whose home rank is active. Home club is active. I mean, I was like, wow, they're and and I and coming from the outside in, I thought most of these kids had been together for a long time, and and that was really the first point where I was like, okay, you know, we might know a few people and they might know a few people, but it's not like my kid is coming into a group of 15 other kids that have played together.

SPEAKER_04 16:22

It's hard to use something new, yeah, especially at that age.

SPEAKER_02 16:27

Yeah, now I love this. So we have listeners from Alaska down to Florida, and if you could give them any tips around coming into a new environment as a team, uh, what would you tell uh those moms that are out there? Uh is it be open and or are there any um suggestions you have for uh moms that are coming into a new group that you think would be helpful for them?

SPEAKER_08 17:02

Grace the crazy crazy.

SPEAKER_05 17:06

Um I know a couple years ago, like we just decided there were a group of new moms, and so some of us that have been on there before, we just we had a big dinner and we invited all the new moms to it, and we kind of just talked about how close we were and that it was drama-free. And um, I kind of feel like the moms set the tone for the parents and the kids set the tone for the kids, and that's kind of all been led by Coach Bobby. I mean, I think he's he's the one who makes sure that the boys are all really bonded. Um, coach is okay with our level of crazy, so he just puts along with it.

SPEAKER_04 17:40

She doesn't have a choice, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 17:42

She doesn't have much of a choice. Um, but I think Catherine can probably, I mean, since this was her first year with us, yeah, she can probably describe whether or not we we try to be very welcoming because we know it is it is hard, it's intimidating, and like as a new parent, a new mom.

SPEAKER_04 18:03

I mean, a dad can walk a rank and be like, oh, hey Joe, hey, you know, what because I feel like dads know each other, they they know everybody, but when you're a mom, I me personally, I have a guard up because I don't know these people. I don't know, I mean, do they like to hang out in the lobby or do they go to bed at six o'clock? Like, do they bring snacks to games? Or you know, like I have all these questions. Um, but like what Tracy said, the other side of things is like it's expected for parents, new parents, to have a guard up and not know what like who to talk to, what to do with a new team, but it's up to those existing team members and families to make them feel welcome. And that's exactly what we try to do because we've all been in that position where it's it's just that awkward, like I'm the new girl type, you know. But again, Catherine, she was new this year, so yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:11

Well, kind of, I mean Catherine's new, yeah. I mean, it's it's interesting dynamic too, because you know, Catherine's still hangs out with the team.

SPEAKER_06 19:24

I I think they hit the nail on the head. Like it, I mean, not only were you all very welcoming, but it it it's more than just hi, my name is so and so, welcome to the team. It's you know, my son is so and so, they call him whatever, and and and give you all the details. I'm like, oh, okay, and my your son was at my house, and um somebody hugged your son.

SPEAKER_00 19:56

So edit that.

SPEAKER_05 19:59

That's a fantastic, but another mom hugging on the team.

SPEAKER_08 20:06

So we game we will say yes during this time.

SPEAKER_03 20:12

I think I might have heard that story, it might have been at a certain person's house in Creve Court, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_05 20:18

Last minute of play in this period who we think is going to fill the slots that you know potentially left, and we're just hearing names, none of us know who the kids are and stuff like that. So, a mom on our team, I guess her son had invited some people over, and we had heard of Catherine's son, but we didn't know who he was. And within what 10 minutes of her meeting her son, we got a text. She said, Oh my god, I met Pullham, I gave him a hug.

SPEAKER_03 20:49

Well, we got to take a quick break and pay a few bills. One of the somebody mentioned earlier about being competitive, and I want to dive into that a little bit um and talk about how uh if you could go back in time and look at your 12U parent self or your 10U parent self, what advice you could give. Um, because I've been around teams where that there has been finger pointing and there has been riffs. Um, but uh you guys have such a unique story and really a gift to give other hockey families. We want to dive into that. But we'll be right back here in about uh two or three minutes after we pay a few bills and do a quick live read. Um so stick around and uh you know we'll be right back.

SPEAKER_02 21:31

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SPEAKER_03 22:56

Real quick, folks, before we jump back in, if you're enjoying Too Many Men on the Mic, go ahead and 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 top right corner of 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 website, www.tominymen on the mic.com. That's the number two for great additional content, downloadable drills for coaches out there, and access to all of our social media channels. Now, back to the show. And we're back here with the hockey moms with Tracy, Beth, Catherine, and Amanda. Ladies, we you know ended our last segment talking about how you know welcoming and really creating this almost like this welcoming committee for new families that come on to the team. You know, we've all had experiences, you know, mostly Drew and I as the coaches. Um, so we've been a little detached from some of the moms and dads that we've coached, but there's been teams that we either we've been a part of or we've heard stories about, where you have parents kind of creating a dynamic where I think someone mentioned earlier competitiveness, you know, you know that they're probably talking to their players in the car ride home or they're pointing fingers at if things go a certain way or don't go the exact way that everybody wants. How do you how do you break through that? You know, and how do you, because as parents, our first and foremost passion is for our child and their success. Um, how do you give perspective to other to younger parents, especially who are coming into hockey and and recognize that, hey, this can be a joy for everybody. What are some things that you guys have done or have experienced? I'll shut up and listen.

SPEAKER_05 24:55

Well, I will say something that my husband has always said to whoever our coaches are, because usually, you know, you have that first meeting at the beginning of the year, the coach introduces himself, kind of tells how he's gonna, you know, run it for the year. And I know I've always heard over and over again that if you have any issues, give that you know, 24-hour wait to cooler heads prevail before you approach a coach. Um, my husband and myself, we've always had the we're not approaching the coach, let the coaches coach, end of story. If for whatever reason it doesn't click for us, we just go somewhere else next year. So we just always let it ride the way it's supposed to go. It's not they they don't need to hear our input. They took the job. A lot of times it is a thankless job. So our part as a parent is just to let you do it, and that's what I would tell people to do. Leave the coaches alone.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

Let it ride is a great Bachman Turner overdrive song. Uh, but I love uh what you just said right there, which is basically it's a one-year contract. You let the coaches first, and if it doesn't work out for your family, then you know that you have options, and then uh that that's a that's a great way to look at it.

SPEAKER_07 26:06

I think too, like as parents, we you know, as you said, we're focused on our own child, and we don't, you know, the coaches have such different perspective. They may be looking at for a forward that has a certain skill that might not be my kid, and so he doesn't make the team because of that, or they may be looking for a certain type of defenseman or whatnot. And we we don't have privy to what they're looking for to build their team. I mean, that's why the club has hired them. You have to trust the process. I know that's like another cliche, trust the process. Um, but I think in the end, they it it works out the way it's supposed to work out, and like I mean, I said before, my son's story is a case study, and things happen for a reason, and you know they know what they're looking for if you have an issue or if you have a question. I think if our coaches, especially, are certainly always open to um talking to parents, but I agree with Tracy. We always let our son talk to them directly if they had an issue. It wasn't our problem. I'm not there on the ice, I'm not hearing what they're hearing, I'm not seeing what they're seeing. I mean, I don't think I ever watched one practice in the last three years. So, I mean, they gotta they gotta learn to speak for themselves and take responsibility for you know their future. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 27:37

I think sometimes there is that um competitiveness though within the team where you have players that are um you know like pitted against each other. And like that's a a whole different conversation, right? Like, how do you coach your child to uh maneuver through that and give them the skills to come out on the end?

SPEAKER_03 28:05

Amanda, have you been a part of teams or incredible teams where uh where somebody where the parents have kind of been pointing fingers, you know? And I always say to people, you point one finger, there's three pointing back at you, that's anism. There you go.

SPEAKER_04 28:20

My thing is like I always said like however the parent acts is probably going to filter to the player, and if it filters to the player, then your kid is going to you know be a product of that kid's behavior, and it I don't know, I feel like when parents act insane and do the finger pointing, their kids hear that stuff. I mean, they're you know they're talking to their kids about that stuff, and then it puts the ideas in their kids' heads, like, oh well, I don't like how you know this is going, and I don't like this player, and I don't like, and it just it it's toxic. So I've always I'm always like, if if I see a parent acting like that, I shouldn't do this, but I'm already judging the kid because I'm like, oh my god, that kid is probably gonna be a little punk or something, but it hasn't always been the case, um, especially like the past three, four years or so. But when you're at that younger level, the yeah, the parents are insane.

SPEAKER_05 29:36

Yeah, it a lot of times when there is it's not that serious. No, when there's been a kid in the past when the boys were younger and there would be a kid that would be problematic, you'd meet the parents and it would all make sense. Yes, simple trees, but on the flip side, there are parents that are butt heads, but their kids are not, and they're wonderful human beings, and it's like thank god that you're not like yeah, and I don't know if some parents realize, and maybe this shouldn't be the case, but sometimes some parents that are so completely overbearing and trying to you know run the show for their kid, they're the reason their kid didn't get a spot because no one wants to deal with it 100%, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 30:27

That is absolutely a uh that's kind of an unwritten rule, yeah. Um, even at the NHL level.

SPEAKER_04 30:33

I mean, honestly, like when you're doing no coach wants that kind of baggage as a parent, right? Like in like, I mean, I'm not what do I know?

SPEAKER_07 30:47

As as a parent of especially a younger kid, be realistic. Yeah, we no none of these kids are gonna go play in the NHL. If they were, they would have been identified a long time ago. Yeah, um, you know, look realistically at your kids' skill level and put them in a position to be successful. It doesn't matter what level of hockey it is, um, whether it's central states or double A or C level, B level, C level, put them in a position where they can be successful and feel good about themselves and their skill level and have fun. I mean, it's really more than anything, have fun, play with kids that are good people and that you like, and you know, that's what it's all about. There it's all leading to the same place in the end.

SPEAKER_05 31:33

Yeah, we do have a early, yeah. All roads lead to early, so let's just have fun, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:42

So uh let me ask you, being on the backside of uh 18U now and uh in this journey with your children. What do you think youth hockey gave your kids that nothing else could have?

SPEAKER_08 32:01

Oh, that's early in the show for such a deep question.

SPEAKER_09 32:05

Well done, well played, sir. I'm just gonna lay that out there.

SPEAKER_07 32:08

Yeah, I mean, I would say resilience. I mean, my kid learned he had rejection and he had success. And uh you know, the rejection sometimes outweighs this the success, and you know, it teaches them a lot of things or life uh just in life skills, not just hockey. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

I I mean it it was rejection of not making a particular team, and then it was is it fair to say, then working hard to get to the next opportunity? How did that go?

SPEAKER_07 32:49

I think for my son it was rejection or not making a team not because of his skill level, but because of politics, perhaps um, that we all know exists in every sport, and you know that leading to a conscious decision by our family to make the choices I mentioned earlier, and ultimately having fun, and then in the end, proving he was able to make this level of a team and being successful at it.

SPEAKER_05 33:29

Um yeah, I mean, I think one of the best life lessons, I mean, I can there's a story with Colin that's really burned in my brain, and I think it happened at 16U. I know you were on the team, but you might have been your blues year, but we were playing against the Sabres, which for the 08s had always been a very strong nemesis, and um, we were up to one. Colin was a defenseman, you'll probably remember this. We were down to the last like maybe 10 seconds, and there was a face-off, and of course, the puck came to Colin and he had it in the corner, and he should have just held it, and he didn't, and he shot it away, and immediately a Sabers player got it, boom, scored immediately. So, with like seconds left, they tied it up. Colin was beside himself because there was nothing more excruciating for him than to feel like he let his teammates down, and we literally had to go home that night and play speeches from professional players who all had a bad day. We had to show him Tom Grady and Tim Tebow with tears streaming down his face because he just felt like he let down his teammates, and that's what he didn't want to do, but it taught him a lesson. You bounce back the next day, and you and you'd be better. And so, yeah, resilience is exactly what you have to get.

SPEAKER_04 34:56

Probably the biggest thing, yeah. I mean, I think of when we went to nationals, um, I I guess it was the first game. I don't know. We were down, um, and my son scored, or no, Rudy scored, and then my son scored the tying goal that actually put us into overtime. We went into overtime, and the puck got past him, son, and the other team scored, and we lost. And that I cried, he cried, everybody like we were devastated. However, next game, next time. Well, but the coach put it into perspective and said, He's the reason why we made it into overtime. And I'm like, Oh, I didn't even, I didn't even think about that. I was more heartbroken that he was heartbroken because of a mistake he made that lost the game. But I'm like, I wasn't thinking the positive side of things in the moment, and I'm like, okay, he has a point. So then I told him, I'm like, you're the reason why you guys got to that point anyway. If you wouldn't have scored your goal, the game would have been over a long time ago. But then the next game, he came out and what he scored like four goals, four goals, four or five goals. I mean, it was just like bam, bam, bam, and we're like, oh, okay. So he's serious. Um, but it was it was a rough night for him after that first game. Like he was just beside, like, just devastating.

SPEAKER_06 36:42

And it was his own pressure. It wasn't the pressure.

SPEAKER_04 36:44

No, no, it wasn't anybody else, but and this goes to show what kind of team this is. The boys all texted him and they were like, hey, shake it off. It's fine. Like, we're gonna, we're gonna go out, we're gonna win tomorrow. Like, just hearing that, I'm like, oh my god, like I'm thinking, okay, it was left on the ice, everybody's just moving on, whatever. But they all took it upon themselves to check on him and make sure that he was okay and that you know he still did great and yada yada yada. Like, but that resilience is probably the biggest thing, I think.

SPEAKER_07 37:25

Yeah, well, I feel like that kind of emotion among these kids, like it it really shows how much they care, how much they care about them, their own performance and how and what their coaches feel and their parents and their teammates. Like, if if any kid were to walk off the ice like, oh well, you know, like big deal, like they shouldn't they shouldn't be here at playing at this level. Like these boys are here and they want to win, and it's not all about winning, it's you know, it's about sportsmanship and teammates and all that other stuff, but it just shows it just shows that they they really care about the game and they care about each other, and they don't want to disappoint and no.

SPEAKER_05 38:09

I don't believe in the last four years being part of this team that I ever heard my son come home after a loss and say that it was someone's fault. He, I mean, this team always knew that from the first puck drop to the end of the game, it is a team effort, not any one play, any one goal besides the game.

SPEAKER_04 38:31

But you know why? Because of our coaching, our coaching staff, our coaching staff also sets the tone for the season, and we have the absolute best.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

Well, I think I I'll speak as a coach. Um, you're part right. Having parents that model the right type of behavior and camaraderie and passion for their kids makes the coach's job that much easier. And I think somebody said it earlier, you know, sometimes the parents weed the kids out, unfortunately. And I think that uh again, full transparency to the listeners at home. I'm a part of this team. Um and I I would just say that it's it's it's uh it's never easy to coach, it's never easy to parent, but it's a lot easier to coach great kids, and great kids are usually products of great parents. And so I would say to you all that that's you're as much as responsible for the way those kids treat and act with each other as the coaches. The coaches kind of calibrate everybody together and and set the expectation, but those kids behave the way they do because they've got great great parents, and so that's that's where I I'll speak for the coaches a little bit that they I know they all agree on that. They've said as much too.

SPEAKER_07 39:58

So um I do want to add something. Can I add something about our coaches just because yes, absolutely? Um you know, as you know, Jared, we we played against some teams that uh had some interesting coaches. Oh yes, and you know, I I feel grateful beyond grateful for our the co this coaching staff who I really feel loved all these boys, loves all these boys, not pastants, but presentants, loves all these boys and wants them all to succeed. And you know, watching other coaches and how they interact with their teammates really made me feel grateful for the last three years that our coaching staff treated our boys with respect and and as if they were their own kids and wanted the most successful team and as individuals and as a group. And I think that is also a difference that this team experienced that maybe some other teams don't always get the opportunity to experience.

SPEAKER_05 41:13

Exactly. Uh, the end-of-season party is the perfect example to have a coach get up there and give a speech about each kid individually and what their uniqueness brought to the team, and then tell each kid that he loved them and gave them a hug. You you you just don't see that, and you know it was hard to fall, and you know who meant it. And it's what keeps this team together.

SPEAKER_03 41:38

All right, you can't make the host cry. That's a rule. Um last minute of play in this part. Yeah, we must we must be pros at this. You know, one of the things that I wanted to also talk about, get your all's uh feedback on and in perspective. I'm sure your kids have played other sports. And I would love to understand if the relationships you have with parents in other sports, we don't have to name names, but how that might be there's some uniqueness to hockey and especially the the hockey journey that we go on that kind of creates this uh principle of that's a big word. That's a very good of like of these relationships that you all have built. And and do you have these similar relationships in other sports? Um, I'd love to hear about that. But we're gonna take a quick break here, pay another bill. So if you all, if you ladies can stick around, we will be right back. All right, okay. 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, hockey mom as well, and entrepreneur. 5B Designs is a woman-owned small business that brings purpose to custom apparel. Whether you're suiting up your youth hockey or high school hockey team or leveling up your company's branded swag, 5B delivers top-notch quality with a personal touch. Need team stores, no 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 5. And if you're watching on YouTube, feel free to go ahead and scan that QR code in the top right-hand corner of your screen and see what great gear and great service looks like. Just to get to the fun. We're back with too many men on the mic, and we're joined by the hockey moms, Tracy, Beth, Catherine, and Amanda having some great uh conversations and perspective. Um, ladies, thanks again as always for joining us. And uh, we're excited um to hear some more stories. You know, one of the questions that we left with, um, and it's just it's clear to Drew and I, and it has to be clear to our listeners at home, just the amount of uh depth of the relationships that you have all built with each other, you know, whether it's just this past year or over the last four or five years, um, I gotta believe your kids have played other sports, uh, whether it's baseball, basketball, soccer, um, even roller hockey. Have you guys been able to forge similar relationships? And if not, what's made hockey, youth hockey so unique?

SPEAKER_04 44:32

I'll shut up and listen. We were actually just chatting about it. Um, you know, Dewey played baseball for a long time as well. So we did the travel thing, we got along with the families, they were all great. Um but hockey was his number one sport, and uh it was a huge time commitment, and we spent more time with the hockey people than we did our own families most of the time. Um and you know, they're sports these days, competitive sports, they're all year-round. It's not just hockey. Um, baseball, they practice year-round and you know, all the things. But for some reason, hockey, it's the family together is it's it is a family, yeah. And I don't know, it's somebody helping her.

SPEAKER_06 45:35

No, but I don't know. I go ahead. I think it you know, it's like sitting in ice rings when they were little, you know, for all those years until they learned how to drive, and like you're just sitting there and you start talking to people and you're there for hours, or what feels like hours and hours on end, and and it's every weekend, and and you're always together, like Amanda said. So I I think you're it's just naturally going to happen, evolve into family. Yeah, family.

SPEAKER_05 46:11

Well, I also think it's there's a uniqueness to it, like you could probably almost talk to any parent of just say a you know, a 10-year-old boy and that, yeah, they probably played soccer, they probably played baseball. That's almost like a universal sport that some kid has played at some point. Hockey isn't that, it's it's very unique. There aren't as many kids in it. So um, when you meet another hockey person just to talk about getting up at 5 a.m. to go into a cold rink, you instantly know what that feels like. So I think it just the you minute like you bother that person, you know, the minute you say you're a hockey monk, they know all the things that go along with it, and it just it's a very tight failing from playing, you know, just learn to play up to the NHL. I mean, when we lost Colin, we had NHL players reach out to us just because it was hockey.

SPEAKER_04 47:02

I was just gonna say, so you know, when Colin uh was in the hospital, us hockey moms, like we didn't know what to do to help, but we sprung into action like it freaking quick and just it was all a blur. Um, but I was asked to make all these helmet stickers that said 72 strong, three strong, whatever. I mean, I was freaking these stickers out from my cricket in my craft room. My daughter was helping me, and people were reaching. You did, I know. But yeah, you were drove to my house, and this is what really like this is what really made me think how special the hockey community actually is, because I usually don't just you know let anybody just come to my house, you know, throw out my address and say, Yeah, come on over, I've got some stuff for you, you know, like that's creepy. But I literally had hundreds of people messaging me on Facebook, texting me, yada yada, they're like, I want this many stickers, I want this many stickers, and I'm like, okay, here's my address, here's my address. I took off work for like three straight days and made these stickers. And when I tell you these people that showed up to my house, that they were all hockey people. They knocked on my door, and I'm like, okay, here's your stickers, and I'm like, you know, what's your name? And they'd say, you know, what team they were from and what club they were from, and like, I mean, I got to these people that I complete strangers, and we were like hugging on my front doorstep and crying together, and like one mom was like, if there's anything we can do to help, like, I know you don't even know me, but I would love to help, you know, send food to the team or something. I'm just like, I mean, it gives me chills still to this day. Like, my daughter witnessed it, like it was absolutely remarkable how the community came together for Colin and the family, and it was all occupied.

SPEAKER_07 49:19

Now, and it wasn't just locally, I mean six after Colin was was across the world.

SPEAKER_04 49:25

I was mailing stickers to people all over the country. I I mean, I had people messaging me, Venmoing me like crazy. My Venmo was going off like this, and I'm like, oh my god, I'm gonna get flagged, I don't know what to do. I mean, just people were like, and it was all hockey people, all hockey people.

SPEAKER_05 49:46

It's still it's still like yes, I still get private messages, and this isn't to like name drop or anything, but literally when we were in the hospital, my husband's like his phone starts ringing, and it was Wayne Gretzky, and he just wanted his to put the phone up to Collins here. I mean, like that's I mean, how does how does that reach him? I mean, that's because that's this community.

SPEAKER_04 50:09

Yeah, and it's not just at the 18U level, it's not the 16U or the 15U, it's all levels of hockey, like I mean, of an NHL player, yeah, you know, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 50:22

Well, and the tragedy that the Browns went through and that our 16U team went through. Yeah, I mean, I think that changed the scope, the perspective of our team and our our parent community, and you know, even parents coming in, like I mean, Catherine and well um Caden never played with Colin, but I think she felt that that whole community and the support for Tracy this year. Um it just carries carries on. Yeah. Um, and that's unique to this, that's unique to this team as far as the the closeness of having experienced such a tragedy that no nobody wants to experience.

SPEAKER_05 51:06

No, but I think it it was a moment for all the boys to realize that life is short, this could happen to any of us, and it just made them so unbelievably close. Yeah, I mean, I know a lot of them used their hockey experience as part of their college essays, and they all got it.

SPEAKER_03 51:28

Yeah, yeah, yes, they did, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 51:32

So, so I I I've gotta ask, uh uh being on the back side of this and live living through this and having such a tight group of people, what advice would you give to a younger hockey parent? So think of you, you know, 15 years ago, and you're coming to the ice rink and you're thinking about uh trying my kid skates or if I know how to get my kids dressed, uh what are the things that matter and what are the things that don't matter?

SPEAKER_06 52:07

I think have fun, I I think we lose sight of that. That we get so caught up in the competitiveness and wanting to win that sometimes you lose that focus and it it goes by so fast, like you're in the middle of season, and then all of a sudden it's over, and it's over forever. Like so, and you look back and it's like wow, where did it go? So I think how fine, don't sweat the small stone.

SPEAKER_04 52:36

If it won't matter in five years, then it's not something to worry about.

SPEAKER_03 52:42

No, and you know what write that one down. That's another one that is.

SPEAKER_05 52:46

I mean, Colin started on a C team his, you know, when he was six or seven years old. When yeah, I mean, it's the fact that at eight or nine they're putting so much pressure for their kid to be a double-A kid, or I mean, it's just ridiculous. I mean, these kids aren't going to develop until they're you know 13, 14, 15. So just enjoy the ride, just have fun, watch your kid fall down, watch him. You know, we had one kid I remember on the team, you know, all the kids would be at one end, he'd be down the other end by himself doing circles. Enjoy it, enjoy it.

SPEAKER_04 53:20

If if you're more stressed out than your kid is on the ice, then I feel like you probably need to check yourself.

SPEAKER_07 53:29

Yeah. Well, I know we've heard those things like probably saw them on TikTok or Instagram, like, don't rip into your kid on the way home from a game on how they played, you know. Um, and to Catherine's point, and I think I I do feel like my son led this charge in our family, is he really wanted to play with his friends. And you know, he led he he drove that, you know. We talked many times about do you want to try out for triple A? Would you want to play juniors? And he's like, I want to play with my friends. Now, whether he would have made those teams, I don't know. Yeah, but that you know, his choice was I want to play with Dewey and Colin and you know, DJ and Max and K, you know, I want to play with these kids that I love. Um, because it was it's about competitiveness balancing out fun. You know, he didn't he wanted to be play on a competitive enough team, but he also wanted to have fun, and you see that fun on the ice and you see it off the ice. Yes. Um, you know, you see these kids, these lines when they put together the lines and they score and they connect passes, and it's like they they feel each other, and then you see them in the hotel lobby, and they're like so happy to be with each other, and it's not a click here and a click there. It's like you see them interacting with everyone on the team, and that's what made this team super special this year.

SPEAKER_05 55:07

You know, I just I won't say the name, but like I remember there was there was a player who was struggling to like score a goal for a number of games, you know, and then when he finally did, I mean, just the bench just exploded, and like those I mean parents, like everyone did. It was just it was just fantastic. And and Colin said the same thing, he wants to play at the highest level he can, but still have fun. He didn't want to go the the too serious of a route because at the end of the day, you know, you're you're all you're gonna have are the memories of playing this. I mean, they're not going to go into the NHL. I mean, let's be realistic. Um, so it was just, hey, this is this is what I want to do, and I want to do it with my friends.

SPEAKER_03 55:48

The knowledge and wisdom drops right now are kind of off the charts with the hockey mods.

SPEAKER_04 55:53

They're not just pretty faces, Jared.

SPEAKER_03 56:00

Well, you know, let's uh let's get a little let's let's if I had my tie on or a collar, I'd unbutton the collar right about now. Because I think it's time to ask a few a few questions about let's talk about some funny stories. Let's talk about that, and not just this past year, although there are some great great stories from this past year, but let's hear some funny stories that we can share that you can either be like, oh my gosh, this other team is crazy, and let's thank God we're not like that, or I'm crazy.

SPEAKER_08 56:30

Oh, the bad thing.

SPEAKER_03 56:31

Let's hear it. It's like I I see it about to happen. They're already big. We're gonna stop as I'll say it again, we're gonna shove them listening.

SPEAKER_05 56:40

Okay, well, I mean, we just we have so many memories. We just have so much fun. We do, we we we just have fun. There was, I think this was 15U year, and I think we're at Notre Dame, and we play this stupid, stupid game in the lobby. It's called Happy Salmon, and it's we changed it up, it's supposed to be PG 13 hand signals and stuff like that. Well, we made them very adult-like, and we were in Notre Dame, and I'm sure you've seen the like rest the I didn't know this was a wrestling move because I don't know anything about wrestling, but you kind of do the crotch chop, I guess that's what it's called, and so that they had become one of our little signature moves in playing Happy Salmon, and we're at Notre Dame, and one mom was on the other side of the rink, and she did it to us. So a couple of moms, yeah.

SPEAKER_08 57:36

We were this one, we were playing, we were playing copyware, yes, copyware, who just did a Michigan on us, and we ended up beating them.

SPEAKER_05 57:47

But prior to that, so the one mom did the crotch chop to us, we stood up in the stands and did it right back, and the refs were looking, they blew the whistle, got together, and were about to call a bench miner on us because they thought we were doing it too.

SPEAKER_04 58:04

And we're like, oh no, no, no. The ref looked up through the glass at us, and he did one of those don't do it again.

SPEAKER_05 58:10

No, and we thought oh he's gonna kill us, we just got him a bench miner. We're like, we weren't doing that to you, so yeah, that was one of our embarrassing moments, but also a lot of fun, a lot of fun, and then we gotta hear the Swedish fish.

SPEAKER_07 58:30

We have yeah, I'd have we're not even sure how it happened.

SPEAKER_03 58:35

All I know is I wasn't allowed to eat the Swedish fish because I was I wasn't either, no, I'm not, I don't believe in superstitions, then I became Persana non grata. So let's hear this.

SPEAKER_07 58:45

I have chair, I think you asked me for some and I said no.

SPEAKER_08 58:49

And then after the game, I gave you the rest of the bag because we had one, but I was like, no, no, no, no, you can't have any.

SPEAKER_05 58:55

I think it started our Philly trip, not not national, but our trip to Philly. For whatever reason, we were sitting very close to the glass, and we had a bag of Swedish fish, and we would score, and so we would stick it to the glass, and I think that's how it kind of started, and then it just turned into this crazy superstition where we had to put them on the glass prior to the game, and then all the moms just started doing strange stuff with them. One would rub her cheeks, Teresa.

SPEAKER_06 59:26

I would cast Lauren would hustle.

SPEAKER_03 59:34

She's free basing, she's free bass.

SPEAKER_05 59:40

And then the best part of it is for since I'm a realtor, I was showing somebody a house and their kid happened to play hockey, and we were just kind of talking about silly things that we do as moms, and I started to mention the Swedish fish, and she's like, Do you put them on the glass? And I'm like, Yeah, she's like, Well, we see those in the Swedish fish have gone viral, I guess, at this point.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:05

After moms have been here, I love it.

SPEAKER_07 1:00:07

Yeah, I used to take, I used to I used to think figure out how many goals I think we would score, and I put that many in my pocket. And she was right, most of the time, 95% of the time, yeah. I'd be like, okay, four.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:23

Yep. So it was it was a big matter of little things.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:28

And it and and how did that work out? Was it was it accurate?

SPEAKER_04 1:00:31

It it was I would say 95% of the time it worked, as but we also had the we also had the not only have the Swedish fish, but like we had certain clothes that we had to wear, we had a certain seating arrangement, and even like when our families came, like the you know, like parents and grandparents of like my parents, you know, other people, they knew that they weren't allowed to sit with us, and they'd be like, So where are we allowed to sit? And we're like, not here. We even had bags that say you can't sit with us.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:05

Yeah, my sister-in-law for the state championship game. She's like, We're gonna come to the game, but we won't talk to you. We won't. I'm like, it's okay, you can talk, but no, you can't sit with us. Oh, but then we also had things like if things were not going well, it's like Catherine would say to me, You need to stand up, because that was my thing. If things weren't going well, I'd stand up. So we were kind of bossy and telling people. But but it was for the kids, it wasn't for the kids.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:34

Oh, yeah, I remember we lost the the uh oh, I know where this is going. We lost the game against it the game before the state championship game.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:44

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:45

And Amanda looks right at me, she's like, What happened? You're the pro. What the heck happened? She's just like really me about this, and I'm like, I don't know, don't worry about it, they'll be back tomorrow.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:58

Yes, we did. We uh there was there were some things happening at that game that were out of the norm. People were sitting where they normally don't sit.

SPEAKER_07 1:02:07

There were people wearing weary wrong things. Oh, yeah, we all identify what we did wrong.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:12

Yes, we sent to what you have to do. We sent a message to the mom group me chat and said, Okay, get your ish together. This, like, you gotta wear them locked and loaded for the next game. Like, like, but we need to focus.

SPEAKER_07 1:02:29

Yeah, Amanda used to say, What was my was my right leg crossed over my left leg? Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:35

Like I have my right leg, and I have my phone. If I don't have my nails done, we lose. So I always have to have my nails, you know, tip top shape.

SPEAKER_09 1:02:46

Well, the show, the show appreciates you and your nails done for our successful show tonight.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:51

Hey, it worked. But I mean, the next game we annihilated them.

SPEAKER_07 1:02:56

And if Tracy wasn't there, she'd text us and say, You guys need to be.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:59

Oh, I would. I would, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:02

There was one time, um, because obviously with having another son play, I was with that son, and this team was, I don't know where you guys were in Chicago or something. And I actually got a phone call from a mom saying, I don't know what to do. We're losing. Do I stay or do I leave?

SPEAKER_08 1:03:22

Oh, because her son, when you're in a different race, yes.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:26

And I'm like, oh boy, and that was against TI. I think you said stay. I told her to stay.

SPEAKER_07 1:03:31

Yeah, you need to stay till the end of the period.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:33

Yeah, you said, and then we tied it up. Yeah, we know what we're doing, Jared.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:38

I I've seen it firsthand, and uh I am a I Kelly is like crazy. She she uh she won't believe when she hears this, but I've become a believer because I'm the most like I'm the most like non non-superstitious, which is weird for a hockey person, but I I very much but after you're not a goal. Well, no, well that's a whole other that's a whole that's a whole other level. That's a whole other level. Um so well anything, anything more we've got uh no, I I I think these are fantastic stories.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:15

I I do our pyramids in the lobby. I love the bond that uh that you have, and no doubt, uh I have to believe that this is just gonna continue on, and I can't wait to hear what kind of forum it's in or what kind of isn't you put it in. Is it uh third Thursdays of the month?

SPEAKER_08 1:04:37

Is it uh yeah, if we should all come out next week on the mic gig.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:43

Oh, there you go. Because we know we did have we did, I think Katherine was out at a gig with the 07 families. Um that's a fun night. And there's usually there's usually adult beverages at these gigs. Um there is so long for Swedish fish. Well, um ladies, thank you all so much. Personally, as a parent of a player on this team, um, and someone who uh had relationships with some of the kids on the I mean, I've coached some of those kids, but coming into a new team um with only a couple folks from last year, uh, I'll attest that the welcoming and the closeness and the relationships that I built with not just you all, but you know, your husbands and you know, the other moms and significant others is a testament to this group, and there's a reason why you're all together at this stage. And and hopefully, you know, folks who are listening who are earlier on their hockey journey, and when I say that not just as a player, but as a family, because it is it's a family journey. I mean, it's an expensive sport, it's a time consuming sport, and perspective is everything, it's not an investment, it's an experience. And and you all have done such a wonderful job. I can't thank you enough personally. I know Kelly feels the same way, and she's in some of those crazy pictures and videos. So before we go, one last thing from each of you. Just talk about the experience and what it means to you, you know, get like a heartfelt, you know, one sentence. Let's start with Catherine. Start with Catherine. Put Catherine on the spot.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:23

Wow. It's uh it's it's a new family. It's uh like we've said earlier, you spend more time with your hockey than you do your real family. And it I I'm still processing what it feels like to be on the other side of it. So I don't know, it's it's a journey, and hopefully a journey that doesn't end here.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:55

I'm just gonna call on you.

SPEAKER_07 1:06:58

Well, I will say um I am so grateful for the 11, 12 years that we've given to you, Talkie. I'm glad it it was expensive. Um there were lots of sacrifices made, not just financially, but time-wise and family driven. I feel like it is really um made an impact on Hayden and our family, and I know it's been a process to grasp that it's over. Um I I hope these people will be in my life forever. Yeah, and the boys will be in Aiden's life forever. Someday we'll be in the stands watching them play beer league. After they all go on their merry little way and then come back together.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:02

There you go. Tracy, what about you?

SPEAKER_05 1:08:05

Um, I would say yes, these women have become sisters to me. Um, I think I made a joke to somebody today, I can't remember who, that Afton's gonna come here one morning and open up the rink and they're gonna find me in my sleeping bag in the stands because I'm just not ready to ever give it up. So yeah, it's it's it's hard to let it go.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:28

And Amanda, you are the catalyst to get this episode going. Um I think her exact words were, what do I have to do to get on your show?

SPEAKER_08 1:08:38

There may have been some alcohol.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:43

Uh what about next week? Um but Amanda, what about you?

SPEAKER_04 1:08:49

I mean, I'll echo what everybody else said. Like I don't even remember what the original question was.

SPEAKER_08 1:08:57

What was the original question?

SPEAKER_04 1:08:59

One sentence of what wrap up, like what happens next week. Oh yeah, it's not gonna be one sentence, but it's family, and it's not just the people we met that have become our family. It truly is a family sport. Um, it's a commitment that not just us parents have to make, but it's the siblings that make a commitment as well. You should do a sibling podcast um next. Um yeah, like I never I mean, we are still friends with parents from the six you level. Um we've been friends since then. And it's it's bizarre and crazy to me to think that because my little four-year-old wanted to hop on some skates and he couldn't skate and was practicing and all that stuff. Like it's crazy to think where we are now, um, all these years later, all the friendships that we've made along the way, all the friendships he has made along the way. Um, he's grown as a person. He's made connections that he wouldn't have been able to make doing anything else. Um, and it's it's weird that it's over. I like they said, I mean, he could drive himself to practice. I didn't have to go to practice. He drove himself pretty much everywhere, right? But now I like get home from work and I'm like, I don't have anything to pack for this weekend. Or you know, I'm not going, I'm not washing my my un my mom uniform. Like, I'm just like, what do I what do I do? You know, it's it's very weird, it's still very new. Um I don't know what I'm gonna do with myself.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:00

Yeah, I said I'm gonna have to get a second job because if I get a job, then I have to have to make money, and then I have to get a hobby to someone cost me money.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:12

So you guys need to come up with a hockey mom. You need to come up with a hockey mom app that is specific to hockey moms and can you know, you know, take your experiences and and help other hockey moms, you know, and and dads, you know, along with you.

SPEAKER_07 1:11:30

I've already said that. I've already said that. I'm gonna have to adopt somebody else's kid. Or if I'm gonna be that creepy kit mom that shows up at the rink and they're gonna be like, who's that woman?

SPEAKER_03 1:11:43

Well, Drew and I both Drew and I both have uh uh freshmen in in high school who are still playing. So we'll talk about it.

SPEAKER_08 1:11:50

Don't don't be massive if we show up.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:57

Well, what's the cocktail of choice, by the way? That was the last thing. Cocktail of choice when you're uh mine is just okay.

SPEAKER_07 1:12:04

Catherine's drinking nothing.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:07

I just put a soda in mine tonight. I'm not allowed to drink it, games. Oh, bad luck. It's bad luck.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:17

The lobby is a different story. I don't know why. I would always drink in the hotel lobby a mall of the Roman pineapple juice. You know what? I don't know why, because I don't drink it. But it's January and we're at the Burr Ridge Marriott, and I gotta have one Burr Ridge Marriott.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:36

Burr Ridge Marriott.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:41

We are we're gonna have a hockey mom trip to Burr Ridge.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:46

We gotta make sure you take Tammy, you gotta make sure you take Tammy Aries with you on that. That's well, on that note, we mentioned Burr Ridge. I think we gotta call it a net a wrap. Thank you, ladies, so much. This has been, I hope you guys have enjoyed this. We can't uh can't tell you guys how much we appreciate this, and and you know, we're excited. Uh yeah, we're excited to uh to continue the relationship for this family as we uh as we as our kids go away to school and we find that we have nothing else to do but to get together and drink.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:17

I think you need to come back in six months. I think we need to do this uh twice a year.

SPEAKER_07 1:13:22

Eight part series. Eight part series.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:25

That's right. That's right. I mean, they're all podcast pros. How many of you listen to podcasts like whenever you're you know, there you go, there you go.

SPEAKER_09 1:13:32

So there it is.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:33

Well, ladies, thank you so much. We um really appreciate it. Have a wonderful rest of the night, rest of the week. And um remember, tell all your all these great hockey family folks to like, subscribe, follow on YouTube. And now that you are YouTube stars on this podcast, they absolutely have a reasonable listen.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:50

I'll post it on 72x.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:52

There you go.

SPEAKER_09 1:13:53

Thank you, ladies. Thanks, ladies, have a great evening.

SPEAKER_06 1:13:56

Thank you, bye-bye.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:01

So where where's Grant? Grant, get in here, Grant. Get in here, Grant. Get in, Grant. Hello, fellas.

SPEAKER_02 1:14:07

So, uh, what I want to know is have you had a Malibu in pineapple? That's what I want to say.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:15

I don't think I've ever had a Malibu and Pineapple, no.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:19

See, I knew I knew that was gonna be the answer. He's probably never had a lot of things, but have you ever so Grant's a baseball player? He is or former baseball player, you know, you played high-level baseball. I mean, did you probably weren't paying attention because this is only like a couple years ago that you were still in you know high school. Um, but did your did your families have this type of relationship? Was it was it this tight knit?

SPEAKER_01 1:14:45

No, not this tight knit. I think um baseball, especially it part of the reason I disliked club season at times was because things moved so much, you know. We I'd say from about late like fifth, sixth grade, you know, 12, 13U to like 14U, we were pretty tight knit, and then guys started moving and thought they had there was bigger and better on the other side for their club teams, and it wasn't the case, they didn't have fun. So I would say that when I got to high school is when I started to not enjoy club season as much because the teams weren't as tight knit, they weren't my buddies anymore playing on the team like they were during high school season.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:32

Yeah, so give us and so I want to know the profile. Give us the profile of Mr. Salzman and Mrs. Salzman. Was your daddy yeller or was he quiet? And tell us a little bit about mom.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:45

What was that like? Well, my dad coached me my whole life, so the only time he wasn't in the stain or wasn't on in the dugout was during high school season, and he was quiet then. He, you know, gave some claps, go grant when I'm up to bat, but that's about it, and same with my mom. No, no yelling, no pretty, pretty laid back, encouraging, but that's about it.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:14

Yeah, there were some parents though. There were some parents. Give us one, all right. You teased it, give us one. Come on.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:22

There was one guy that just he was a big guy, too. A dad, probably like 6'6, just a large man, and he would just kind of he would just like when his kid was pitching, would just stroll across the backstop, either yelling at the kid or yelling at the ump. There was, and it wasn't always encouragement at the kid either. It made him more nervous, it was it was bad. He as he got older, he the kid got older, he learned how to lay back a little bit, but it was too much pressure on the kid. And I think in baseball, like in hockey, you know, you have the boards, the skates are loud, like you can you can hear everything, but like I'll take from when I played football, like you can't hear anything, like you can you can block it out easier. Baseball, you can hear. I mean, the fans are especially at high school fields, 20 feet away from you. 10 like if they really want to be, they can be right on 10 feet away from you. You can't miss anything.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:22

Yeah, it's uh you would think that about hockey, and when you're on the ice playing, you're right, you can't hear from the skin. Yes, but you have a in fact, we at a game we were coaching very recently at a rink here locally in town. There were little kids, I think they were 10 or 12 you, and I walk in, and the first thing I see is a dad strolling down to the boards while the kids are in line. He knocks on the board, he tells his kid, he gives his kids some advice as if he was on the ice coaching with them. And I just wanted to say to him, hey, there's a big sign above this door that said coaches and players only down here. So it happens, and I've I've been around, I've had I've coached a kid whose dad was giving him like signs from the from the stands while he was on the bench.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:10

Oh, yeah, you see the kids on the ice that'll look up the stands, and it's yes, it's heartbreaking.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:15

And it's like, and especially when it's like this parent has no hockey experience whatsoever, and it's like what are you trying to tell this kid? Um, but I will say this. Um it does feel, and and you have your own experiences as well, but like the experiences I've had is is we've been very lucky to get on, you know, over the last four or five years with my older son's teams, just these teams that have just coalesced as a family and have kept it in perspective. And some of that could be they've gone through kind of the crazy and they've gone through the the they have the battle scars from you know tough teams when they were younger. And I think we've heard that tonight, it's this perspective, and um, you know, it's an expensive sport, and I think some parents look at this as you know as an investment, you know, very similar to like hey, I'm investing in this stock, and it's not an investment, it's an experience.

SPEAKER_02 1:19:13

Yeah, but I but I would also add that uh uh I I I love the uh make it fun, and these parents figured out a way to make it fun in their own way, uh putting Swedish fish on uh on the glass, uh having the right number of Swedish fish in their pockets for the goals to score. I mean, these are great stories. This is what makes youth sports, and in this case, youth hockey, right? Grant, you gotta listen to it, let it ride.

SPEAKER_09 1:19:46

And then you ain't seen nothing yet.

SPEAKER_02 1:19:48

And you ain't seen nothing.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:49

All right, those are the two. Um one more thing I kind of want to ask you guys um before we get out of here. They kind of were talking about with and I thought of this when you guys were asking me. They kind of talked about with you know, their coach of their club team, how they you know, they're peers, they're friends, that type of thing. I'm sure the coach goes and has a drink with them and talks in the lobby after, you know, and for like from my experience, the most unruly parents ever got at a coach during my playing 15 years of sports was high school football, varsity football, because the parents aren't peers at that point. They're you know, that coach is getting paid to coach. I'm not saying they're quite on the level of a college coach, you know, it's still they're not making a lot of money, but still, you know, it's they're not the peer where I feel like in club sports, parents don't really throw abuse out loud at the coach who knows what's being said behind closed doors. Have you guys, since you guys have coached high school and club, have you noticed that at all? Like that parents aren't gonna really say anything too negative, like from the stands about you, but maybe in high school they'll throw a little jab here or there just because it's a little different.

SPEAKER_02 1:21:05

Uh what's amazing to me is uh uh the spectrum. You have uh parents that will address you head on, which I prefer. Uh you have others that will do it behind uh closed doors, or you or you'll hear it second hand. So I would say it's a smattering. Um I don't know that I've ever been paid as a youth hockey coach ever. Uh I've always just felt like it's kind of paying it forward. Hockey's been great to me, and uh I'm I'm happy to pass it on to the next great generation of people. So I'm probably not a good person to ask for that one.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:45

Well, I I've been a paid coach, um, but I would also say that um there's I think I agree with your take on the spectrum piece. I think that there is a level of some passive aggressiveness that will kind of formulate in terms of some second guessing. Um it's really difficult as a coach, I think, to detach and say, okay, this parent is just looking out for their kids' best interest. Yeah. So you try to tell yourself that. Um, but I would say that for the most part, um we try to set a tone at the beginning of the season where we have a parent meeting and we say, hey, look, I'm happy to talk to parents. I don't want to talk to agents. And and that's really where you have to, and it especially as the kids get older, when they can in hockey specifically, when they can get themselves dressed and when they should be able to, you know, do their own things on yeah, you heard it. I know I did, I said I talked to parents, not agents. Um, because that you know, parents can advocate and they can say, hey, this is what's going on with Johnny or or Susie today. And that's important for us to know as coaches because that's that impacts how how we communicate. But when they start saying, like, well, you know, when I get a long missive from a parent saying how little Jimmy wants to be on the power play, or little, you know, or little you know, Susie feels that she could be doing more, it's like, really? Because you just wrote this email to me.

SPEAKER_02 1:23:18

I was just saying, if you could put it in song, you're gonna it it's gonna land a lot, a lot better with both of us. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:25

Okay, all right. I'll think of song to put it in, and I'll I'll find it to use for the analogy.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:32

There you go. Fantastic. Well, we're coming to the end of the first round of the playoffs here, and somebody was trolling the Edmonton Oilers pretty hardcore, and they uh they pulled out a W, so they're down 3-2, still could be put out. So, what's gonna happen there in that series, Grant? Come on.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:47

I'm not trolling them, I want them to win. I want them to make the Stanley Cup.

SPEAKER_03 1:23:52

No, that is absolute troll when you say not them to win so that they lose in the final. Yeah, that is that is correct.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:00

But that's the definition. I'm cheering for them as of now. Um, as we sit right here, Penguins Philly tied at zero almost at the end of overtime.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:14

I know that's that's this is Nick Crosby's a tough out game.

SPEAKER_02 1:24:18

And I'm just gonna say the longer that series goes on, one of two things that's gonna happen. Uh, either Philadelphia is gonna feel like now we know how to play playoff hockey, or Philadelphia is gonna say, we're about to just put the puck in the net and make this a one-game playoff. Yeah. Well, so this is gonna be interesting to see how this one turns out.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:44

I view these game sixes very similarly. I think that if Philly loses this game, Penguins win game seven. I think if Edmonton beats Anaheim in game six, Edmonton wins game seven. And I think if Boston beats Buffalo in game six, Boston wins game seven. Like, I think that's a good one. I don't want that one. I think absolutely. I just think for all these game sixes, like you said, Drew, don't let them extend. Because then you're gonna give the other team more hope. Like, look at Boston. They're they after they score, they're up on the boards, they're yelling at the fans. Like, I don't see them losing home at TD Garden, and now they know they can beat Buffalo at Buffalo. Like, I don't know. It's there, there's some interesting series.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:32

Montreal just won tonight. And if we're recording on Wednesday, so when you hear this, it'll be Montreal just won 3-2 tonight. That's a big one. They go back to the Bell Center for game six. Um, you know, the Minnesota-dallas series. I mean, Dallas had it in their they had they they had it in their grasp. They can't score five on five. Um I I don't think I I think Anaheim's closing it out tomorrow. I I believe they are. I think they are.

SPEAKER_02 1:26:00

They are a fun, fun team to watch.

SPEAKER_03 1:26:04

I think Edmonton had their big breakout game in game five to try and like to stave off elimination. Um, but I just think I think there's too much injuries going on with Edmonton, and I just think I think Anaheim, I think I think that I think they close it out tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:21

Tell me, was that a goal for the Ducks?

SPEAKER_03 1:26:24

Um, so yes, it was. I mean, you if you if you look at where that puck was and the whistle wasn't blown, now where I think the mistake was made was it wasn't called a goal on the ice. So they overturned the call on the ice and you know without making the call on the ice the correct way, but I do think it was the right call. I just think the way they got to it, um, if that makes any sense, was was wrong.

SPEAKER_01 1:26:53

There has to be a way that we don't need to have these questions. Like, there should be automated as soon as, like, I don't know, like I know with the NFL now they have the cameras and the technology to show exactly where the ball went. With soccer, the ref gets a buzz on his wrist as soon as the ball crosses the net. Like there have or crosses the line, there has to be a way to have goal line technology, whether on if there's cameras on the nets, cameras all around. Like, there's gotta be a way to in 2026 to not have a question mark.

SPEAKER_03 1:27:28

We used to have sensors in the puck and um, you know, the fox puck. Remember the fox puck, glow puck? This is before Grant's time. Um they tried to play with a sensor in the puck a few years ago, and the players complained that it it felt different on their stick, which I believe. Yeah. Um, but uh, you know, we used to have back in the day, we used to have goal judges in in the NHL. There was a guy that sat behind the net in the little green and red light, and the green light would come on if that guy thought the goal was in. He was an official that was not on the ice, essentially. And we got rid of that. I remember gold judges, as do you. I do too.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:03

I remember them. I'm old enough. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:06

Good. See? So he's older than you thought. All I know is Grant is bringing a lot of hockey insight to this that I am very next.

SPEAKER_02 1:28:15

Next for getting you on skates, buddy. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 1:28:17

I think the way to go with hockey is cameras. That's what the NFL does. Uh, you put enough cameras everywhere to like, and they're not they're super special cameras, they're not just what like broadcast cameras, they're like cameras with sensors that can almost draw the lines for you, where it is and where the puck is. I think that's the way to go.

SPEAKER_03 1:28:40

Yeah, I love the human error and the debate that we can rage on about. Like, it's true. I don't, I mean, not having a dog in the fight, the Bret Hull goal against Buffalo. I love that stuff. Like, I love being able to because it brings back memories and it helps bind us. But there you go. There you go. Well, I think that's a wrap for tonight. What a great episode.

SPEAKER_02 1:29:02

Fantastic. Uh, we had moms, we had stories. Uh, we're gonna have them back on, I have no doubt. Uh, we had uh uh Grant Isms along the way, and uh we had uh uh a little bit of uh Bachman Turner over and Emerson Lake Palmer and Emerson Lincoln Palmer. So uh I'm gonna claim victory on that. Yes, absolutely. Shoot the scores.

SPEAKER_03 1:29:30

Thanks everybody for listening. We'll see you next week. See you next week.