Beginner's Puck - A podcast for hockey fans new and old

The countdown to opening day continues. Deb and Erika discuss the real v. emotional toll of preseason, debate the merits of the NHL opening the season with European games (gotta grow that game! In Switzerland!). And touch on the those pesky RFA’s and who got that bread. Or that bridge. There’s a lot of b’s in the preseason. Of course we talk about Matthews. Both the ugly and the plain stupid, but pull ourselves out of spiral and end on a Cammi Granato note.

In this eps “What the Puck?” we discuss the difference between amateur and pro scouts and how Deb really wants to be a hockey ninja spy.

Finally we close with a “Behind the Glass” tidbit.

Have a hockey question, comment or observation? Hit us up on Twitter @Beginnerspuck or drop us an email at [email protected].

Preseason and Scouts

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

Granato is the bomb

Hey kids, hockey is (almost) back! Join us as we kick off Beginner’s Puck Season 3 and talk training camps, the shakedown of our home team rosters and take the Wayback Machine to the Stanley Cup finals and summer trades. We also discuss the chaos surrounding the current batch of unsigned RFA’s and what to do when your fave team opens its doors to a player you absolutely, positively cannot STAND OMG.

We also play the hockey version of Tinder and tell you who’s getting our swipe right for the 2019-2020 season.

And speaking of training camps, in this episode’s “What the Puck?” we explain the difference between a Camp Invite and a PTO.

Finally, Erika closes us out with a hockey tidbit in which we both love our mascots a whole lot. I mean, who doesn’t love a Murder Cat and a Sassy Demon Hell Spawn?

Smell that? It’s the odor of sweaty hockey gear and possibility. Let’s get this season started!!

Have a question about hockey? Want to comment on the episode? Drop us a tweet or email us at [email protected].

BP Season 3: PTOs and Camp Invitees

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

Evgeni Malkin interview in The Athletic

The Downfall of Paul Fenton in The Athletic

(Unfortunately these stories are behind a paywall but if you’ve ever been on the fence about subscribing to The Athletic, these stories are worth the price and they usually have great introductory offers.)

We’re back with a pre-Stanley Cup episode because even when your heart is broken, it’s still hockey, amirite? Erika and Deb talk about the chaotic end of the 2018-2019 season, how to find the fannish fire when every single #&@^#% team you love is currently playing golf, what’s coming next in hockeylandia and how we just know one team is going to break our hearts next year and sign #&@^#% Voynov.

In our #WhatThePuck segment we explain the flurry of signings of NCAA players and how it affects their ELC/trade value.

Our hockey tidbit this ep is the adorable NHL Fan Choice Awards.

Have a question, comment or just want to cry about hockey? Hit us up on twitter or email us at [email protected]!

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

NHL Fan Choice Awards

No time for a full-on podcast, but Erika has more exciting hockey talk to share with Deb!

Hockey Voicemail!

Host Erika Ensign.

No time for a full-on podcast, but Erika just can’t wait to spew some hockey talk at Deb!

Hockey Voicemail!

Host Erika Ensign.

Deb and Erika are back and have a lot to say about Erika’s new-found passion for the Florida Panthers (you do you, girlfriend), recent games they’ve attended, the post-deadline trade fall-out (RIP Zuccarello), the REAL March Madness of playoff runs, Deb’s Duchene issues and the fan reaction to the (disproved) homophobic slur uttered at the TORvTBL game this week.

In a new “What the Puck?” Deb dives into the creation and mission of “You Can Play” and how it differs from the NHL’s “Hockey is For Everyone” initative.

Finally, Erika talks about those Bunch of Jerksâ„¢ and their fantastic Storm Surge in this episode’s “Hockey Tidbit”.

BONUS! We announce our upcoming Member’s Only Bonus Episode. It’s going to be pretty cool. #teaser

Trades, You Can Play, Storm Surge

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

This is a super-sized, super special episode as we welcome Meg and Hannah from Balls and Sticks podcast to talk hockey, the NHL at large and sexy sexy stats. ! Basically, this is what happens when you put four people together who just really really like hockey. I’m not saying it gets rambly but I’m saying we could have talked a lot longer. A LOT. We had a ton of fun and we hope you have just as much fun listening. And check out our show notes for all sorts of links including where to find Meg, Hannah and the Balls and Sticks Podcast!

Have a question, comment or query about hockey? Hit us up on Twitter or drop us a line at [email protected]

Analytics

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish with Meghan Hall and Hannah Burry.

Meg on Twitter! - @meghanmhall

Additional information on analytics:

A Primer on Analytics.

Also a Primer on Analytics (Behind The Athletic Paywall)

(Keep watching this space - more analytic resources to be added!)

Thank all that is holy, hockey is back. Sure, the ASG break is fun for SOME of us (I’m looking at you, people in Canada, who had the GOOD All-Star Weekend broadcast) but the rest of us had to suffer through the not-fun bits to see our old faves and new faves including Kendall Coyne and Brianna Decker who Tore. It. Up. Deb & Erika break down the highlights and lowlights of All-Star Weekend and the resource disparity between men and women’s pro hockey, starting from development. We also touch on the new razzle-dazzle technology the NHL launching next year and the possible impact it will have on the league. We close our regular segment with the Muzzin trade and why it is a good thing (In Deb’s opinion).

In this episode’s “What the Puck” we talk about the importance of scouting and why having depth in your organization is critical.

Finally, we close on an adorable hockey tidbit: Hockey Puppers.

Have an opinion, question or thoughts about hockey? Hit us up on twitter @beginnerspuck or drop us an email at [email protected]

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

Let’s talk about the different opportunities offered to boys and girls who want to play elite hockey, m’kay?

We’re back from our (very extended) holiday hiatus and wow, life moves fast. Like, what the hell is up in Edmonton? Erika gives us the local perspective while Deb listens sympathetically. (Chiarelli, amirite?) We also talk about trade-deadline madness, the financial impact of making the playoffs and why can’t the ASG be fun? (We need a Storm Surge!) Speaking of surges - we touch on the unexpected Islanders and how delicious an Islanders/Maple Leaf playoff game would be. (Bitterness and spite - don’t discount these important motivators) Finally, we wrap up the regular segment with a bit of “weird and cute”. Weird being Jack Eichels incredibly detailed game day routine (#TeamGoFundMe for the “good” apples!); and the cute being the Dallas Stars incredible Make-A-Wish game played with the mighty EKG’s (and that goon Anderson McDuffie).

In this episode’s “What the Puck” be go back to basics and break down the “rush”. During which Erika proves she is a Fake Canadian and doesn’t even make one Rush joke. She is NOT today’s Tom Sawyer. But she does get her revenge by quizzing Deb in a rapid fire “Say What Now?”

As always, we close with a “Hockey Tidbit” in which Erika recounts a charming family anecdote about the time Daryl Sutter delivered a combine and was sassed by her nephew. Canadians, eh?

Have a question, comment or Daryl Sutter anecdote? Hit us up on Twitter @beginnerspuck or drop us an email at [email protected]!

Rush, Odd Man and Offensive

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.

Jack, I’m tired just reading this routine

Hockey Cliches “Getting Pucks In Deep” remix at 1:42

Today our cities may be at war, but for this episode Deb and Erika cozy up and discuss the changes in management and coaching brought to our fair cities, and if they’ve made any differences. (The Philadelphia Flyer fan half of this team threw hands AND snorted.) We also discuss the NHL’s 32nd team, the upcoming World Juniors Championship, and the age old dilemma of how to deal when a player you like is traded to a team you very much do NOT like. (ANGST)

And now the the Willy Nylander deal is settled (#blessed) we bemoan the oncoming months of Matthews/Marner speculation. (This is not AO3 so don’t look at that slash that way. Rude.) Which brings us to this week’s “What the Puck” - Offer Sheets! We give you the lowdown on what they are and if they are feasible in the modern NHL.

To close out this ep we give you the delightful Hockey Tidbit of the Montreal Canadiens “Twig for Twig” program. It’s a good one.

Have a question, comment or opinion? Hit us up on Twitter or send us an email at [email protected]

Hosts Erika Ensign and Deborah Stanish.