Bottle Rocket with Alena Sycheva

On Episode 16 of Bottle Rocket, we are honoured to have Neil Smith, one of the most influential general managers in modern NHL history and the architect of the 1994 New York Rangers, who ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought.

Neil takes us inside the mindset behind his legendary “Big Deal Neil” reputation, explaining why blockbuster trades worked then and what really separates contenders from pretenders.

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In Episode 15 of Bottle Rocket, we are joined by Steve Simmons, longtime Toronto sports columnist and one of the most well-known voices covering the Maple Leafs.

Steve shares his perspective on where this Leafs team stands, what’s really holding them back, whether they’re playing to win or playing not to lose and how much responsibility falls on coaching versus the core players. 

Beyond Toronto, Steve shares his thoughts on the wider NHL picture, including why he believes the Colorado Avalanche could be a serious Stanley Cup contender this season.

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In this episode of Bottle Rocket with Alena Sycheva, we are joined by Matthew Blittner, one of the most prolific hockey authors and historians of our era. A five-time hockey author, Devils writer for Sportsology.com and co-host of the Blue Line Blast Podcast, Blittner brings decades of insight into the NHL.

We discuss the state of the league, parity, the challenges facing the Rangers, Devils and Islanders, the impact of injuries, media evolution, and what fans often miss when watching the game. Plus, Blittner shares his thoughts on today’s players, league leadership, and who he believes will win the Stanley Cup.

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In Episode 13 of Bottle Rocket, we’re joined by award-winning sports historian and archivist Paul Patskou and four-time New York Emmy Award winner George Falkowski. We break down the latest hockey news, talk media coverage and storytelling in the game. 

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From MSG to movie sets, Sean Avery has never been afraid to bet on himself. In this episode, he breaks down his journey from one of the NHL’s most polarizing Rangers to a dedicated actor building a new path in film. Avery talks preparation, discipline, storytelling, and the surprising ways hockey shaped his work in front of the camera.

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Two-time Stanley Cup champion Bobby Holík joins us for a really honest, down-to-earth conversation about his career, the Devils days, coaching influences, and what it actually takes to win.

A smart, thoughtful episode with one of the most interesting voices in the game.

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In Episode 10, we sit down with bestselling author Greg Prato, the mind behind “Dynasty” and “Hapless Islanders”, to dive into the wild, chaotic, and legendary history of the New York Islanders.

From Cup-winning glory to the league’s most lovable disasters, Greg brings insights, humour and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

This is a must-listen for hockey historians, Islanders fans and anyone who loves the game’s hidden chapters.

Buy Greg Prato’s books here:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Greg-Prato/author/B002MJ4CXI/allbooks

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This week on Bottle Rocket, we sit down with the one-and-only Len Gould — the man preserving hockey history one impossible-to-find clip at a time.

Len has been tracking down rare hockey footage since 1987, helping 120+ families, players, and legends recover moments they thought were lost forever.

From 1939 Garden crowd explosions to long-lost Stan Fischler interviews, Len shares how he finds these treasures, the families he’s helped, and the stories behind the footage.

In this episode, we also share EXCLUSIVE clips that Len personally sent to Bottle Rocket — available nowhere else.

Featuring:

• The Alex Shibicky 1939 Garden goal

• A lost Bobby Nystrom interview (with Stan!)

• Bill Mikkelson vs Bobby Orr (in colour!)

• A vintage Chico & Diane Resch feature

…and more surprises.

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📍 New shows drop every Tuesday

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In Episode 8 of Bottle Rocket, Alena, Mave, and Jerry sit down with hockey broadcasting veteran Vic Morren — producer, storyteller, and co-host of NHL Wraparound with Neil Smith.

Vic opens up about his experiences working alongside Neil, interviewing legends like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, and witnessing the evolution of hockey media from ESPN to today’s digital era.

Not your typical hockey podcast — it’s laughs, insight and pure passion for the game.

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In this episode of Bottle Rocket, Alena, Mave, and Jerry are joined by the self-proclaimed biggest Leafs fan—Mark Nussbaum. We dive into all things Toronto Maple Leafs: current struggles, flashes of brilliance, goaltending talk, physicality (or lack thereof), and where this team’s headed. From Stolie’s New Jersey roots to Nylander’s day-to-day status, we leave no puck unturned. Mark brings the passion, the chirps and a whole lot of Leaf love.

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📍 New shows drop every Tuesday

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