Huge news this week as the NCAA Division 1 Council approved a rule change that will make CHL players eligible to play NCAA hockey next season. The changes were quick, with Kitchener Rangers goalie Jackson Parson becoming the first OHL player to make an NCAA commitment. Meanwhile, Providence-commit Mason Roy departed the OJHL's Burlington Cougars to make his OHL debut - both will join us on the podcast this week.

Our media interviews include Leigh Cunningham, veteran radio voice of the Sarnia Sting. Also, a young voice, David Bowen, talks about the family influences that helped lead him to the broadcast booth. And our Media Room Roundtable will weigh-in on the potential implications - good & bad - with the NCAA news.

The Owen Sound Attack's winless skid hits 8 games as the Attack drop back-to-back home losses to the Saginaw Spirit and London Knights.

Owen Sound will have three more games this week at the friendly Bayshore as part of a 5-game home stand for the team.

This week, we're joined by Attack Radio play-by-play announcer on 560 CFOS, Matt Hermiz. Matt will also join our first-ever Media Room Roundtable, also featuring Greg Cowan (Owen Sound Sun Times) and Adrien Mousseau (RogersTV).

We'll chat with Attack assistant coach Brandon Shaw to get his thoughts on how the team is handling the skid, plus two Attack defenders - Braedyn Rogers and David Bedkowski - will also join us!

If there's a theme this episode, it's communication. We're joined by three Directors of Communications, Greg Hoddinott from the Owen Sound Attack, and his counterparts in Flint & Saginaw (who also do Play-by-Play), Brian Gardner and Dillon Clark. We catch up with Nick Kennedy, host of Attack Rap on RogersTV and Chuck Bastie, from Chuck's World of Infinite Mojo podcast and learn more about his Hometown Helpers program with the Attack.

A Windsor theme to the pod this week as the Attack face the Spitfires at the Bayshore before heading to Windsor Thursday....

Spitfires' and former Owen Sound broadcaster Manny Paiva joins us to talk about the quick turnaround in Windsor...Adrien Mousseau from our local RogersTV broadcasts talks about how officiating hockey helps doing colour-commentary...Two players join us, including Attack assistant captain Landen Hookey and Spirtfires' rookie sensation Ethan Belchetz. We'll also get an update from coach Scott Wray on the continued development of his young team.

The Owen Sound Attack head into Thanksgiving with major tests from the London Knights, Niagara Ice Dogs and the hungry Peterborough Petes.

This week, we welcome Knights' radio play-by-play voice Mike Stubbs from 980 CFPL, as well as Petes' radio play-by-play voice Stew Kernan. 

We're also joined by second-year Attack foraward, Jake Crawford and assistant coach Reagan O'Grady.

The Owen Sound Attack begin a new chapter in team history as Captain Colby Barlow is traded to the Oshawa Generals and Konner Smith becomes the new leader. Attack GM Dale DeGray is here to talk about the deal.

The new commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League, Bryan Crawford, makes a visit to the Scenic City and shares what he's learning so far in his new role. 

We're joined by two new members of the Attack Leadership: Konner Smith and Carter George, who talk about their new roles with the team...and our broadcaster interview this week is with Kitchener Rangers radio play-by-play guy (and host of the OHL Weekly Podcast), Mike Farwell.

The Owen Sound Attack begin the season by dropping both games of a home-&-home series with the Guelph Storm.

Despite the losses, morale remains high in Owen Sound as a young team and a new coaching staff continue to find their way...

This week, we welcome Attack assistant coach Brandon Shaw, forward Sam McCue, and broadcasters Spencer Byers (RogersTV, Grey County) and Ryan Drury (RogersTV, Guelph). 

An absolutly PACKED episode to start the new season!

Guests include:

Greg Cowan - Owen Sound Sun Times

Pierce Mbuyi - Attack rookie forward

Mark McKelvie - Attack Play-by-play, RogersTV

Dale DeGray - Attack General Manager

Scott Wray - Attack Head Coach

An introduction...

My name is J.C. Coutts and I'm the host of the Bear Tracker Weekly Podcast...

I've been a broadcaster for 25 years, working in radio and television accross Canada and it all started with hockey! My start came as a 16-year old, broadcasting Kemptville 73's games on TVCogeco in my hometown of Smiths Falls. From there, brodcasting has taken me around Ontario to places like Ottawa, Timmins, Peterborough, Sudbury, Wingham and Owen Sound - as well across Canada, living in Moncton, NB, Yellowknife, NWT and Grande Prairie, AB.