Calder's Calling

From the Peterborough Petes to the Belleville Senators, broadcaster David Foot has quite the resume in the hockey world! One sentiment rings clear though. Through it all, he is "just happy to be here!"

David joins Calder's Calling podcast hosts Deana Weinheimer and Corey Swartz to talk about his job with the Belleville Senator and his rise in the world of hockey broadcasting. Plus, we cover all of the latest stories in the American Hockey League (AHL).

First, the quick hits! The AHL and San Jose Barracuda mourn the loss of a figurehead in the front office. A beautiful night in downtown Charlotte, NC saw the hometown Charlotte Checkers defeat the Rochester Americans in the 2024 Outdoor Classic. A goalie with Ohio roots takes home AHL Player of the Week nods. Plus, suspensions, signings, and multiple milestones bookend this week's quick hits!

Deana and Corey then welcome David Foot to the show! From AHL All-Star nods and Bokondji Imama's suspension to the Belleville Senators' rise up the North Division, we pick David's brain on some of the biggest stories around the club.

Corey wraps up the show by comparing the Atlantic Division standings to... F-Zero 99? Tune in to find out why!

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

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Thumbnail photo credits: Belleville Senators

The American Hockey League (AHL) has announced the list of players set to compete in the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic! Fans across the league celebrate their team's awardees from the fan-favorite veterans, the oldest player in the league, upstart rookies, and beyond.

In this week's Calder's Calling podcast, Jay Forster, Corey Swartz, and Deana Weinheimer discuss this year's All-Star class and the latest news and highlights across the American Hockey League.

First, the quick hits! The All-Star venue for 2025 was announced to the team's newest team in Coachella Valley. New AHL contracts were awarded to Carsen Twarynski and Aaron Dell. Theme nights in Cleveland and Hershey warm hearts and set records. Tune in to find out all of the specifics and more!

The rest of the show is dedicated to the 2024 AHL All-Star class! Jay, Corey, and Deana share which players will represent their teams, who might have been snubbed, and their thoughts.

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

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Thumbnail photo credits: RJ Forbus, Brian Stone, and Rebecca DaSilva for AHL News Now

The calendar has moved into 2024, which means the Calder's Calling podcast is back! Deana Weinheimer and Corey Swartz are back with the latest news and highlights across the American Hockey League.

First, the quick hits! The AHL mourns the loss of a 14-year pro. All of the coaching slots for the All-Star Classic have been filled. Who made it this season? Artem Anisimov returns to the AHL and Coachella Valley tallies the first goal of 2024. What else stood out? Tune in to find out!

Then, we look over our stars for the week. From a red-hot (or chocolatey smooth) netminder to a forward setting franchise records for the Cleveland Monsters, Deana and Corey award their picks.

Corey leads us into a deep dive into what is going right in Hershey. Who is standing out? How does this team compare to past champions?

Deana closes out the show by turning her sights on the Belleville Senators. Are they a force to be reckoned with in the North Division? Is there recent success legit?

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

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Get your best available odds and take advantage of top offers for multiple sportsbooks through our link at signupexpert.com/ahl!

Thumbnail photo credits: Cleveland Monsters and Hershey Bears

With less than a week until Christmas, it is time to look back at the top AHL stories of 2023! This week Patrick Williams joins Corey Swartz, Jay Forster, and Deana Weinheimer on the Calder's Calling podcast.

First, the quick hits! Dylan Gambrell and Alex Steeves are leading the way for the Toronto Marlies- but only one can be the AHL Player of the Week? Who got the nod? A couple of Hershey Bears get well-deserved call-ups to Washington. In Cleveland, Justin Pearson gets his first pro goal and unleashes the Teddy Bears! Finally, we look at a suspension handed down to Logan Nijhoff of the Rockford IceHogs.

Then, we welcome Patrick Williams. When it comes to the AHL, no single person knows more than Patrick! He shares his favorite stories and insights into the last twelve months of AHL action.

To close out the back half of the show, your hosts end the inaugural/first edition of The Callies! What award did your team get?

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

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Get your best available odds and take advantage of top offers for multiple sportsbooks through our link at signupexpert.com/ahl!

In the Wild West of the American Hockey League's Pacific Division, only one team has the right to claim a kingdom: the Ontario Reign! This week their head coach Marco Sturm is joining Deana Weinheimer, Jay Forster, and Corey Swartz on the Calder's Calling podcast.

First, the quick hits! Clay Stevenson looks to be sticking around with the Hershey Bears (for a couple of seasons at least) and Tomas Suchanek is making waves in the hockey world. Also, we talk about the suspension handed down to Chicago Wolves head coach Bob Nardella.

In our three stars, Corey looks to the former Bears while Jay picks a high-producing rookie. Deana goes for a sloth. What? Well, you'll have to watch to find out more!

Jay then turns our sites to the stellar AHL rookie group across all positions. Which one will emerge victorious as the 2023-24 AHL Rookie of the Year? The decision might not be that clear-cut.

Deana then welcomes Ontario Reign head coach Marco Sturm to the show. Who were his coaching mentors? Why does he feel a solid mix of experience equals success for AHL teams? What are his thoughts on the German National Team? He discusses this and more!

Finally, Corey ponders if the San Diego Gulls are a team on the upswing or if their recent winning ways might not be what it seems on the surface.

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

Thumbnail photo credits: Ontario Reign

It's been another action-packed week for the AHL, as Jay Forster, Corey Swartz, and Zander Manning take a look at some quick hits, including suspensions, milestones, AHL firsts, and the breaking of a thirteen-game losing streak out in San Diego, before naming their stars of the week. 

This week Jay wants to look at how wild the Atlantic Division is and whether it's the Division to beat before Corey talks about who's hot, who's not, and who's on fraud-watch in the AHL.

Zander finishes things up with a conversation on the Chicago Wolves and whether things are turning around there, as they seem to be getting friendlier with the Carolina Hurricanes!

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

Thanksgiving has arrived in America. At the Calder's Calling Podcast- an AHL podcast, our hosts are giving thanks while also covering the last week in American Hockey League action!

Join your hosts Zander Manning and Deana Weinheimer as they give you only the tastiest bits of a full week in the AHL.

First- the quick hits! A fight leads to a three-game suspension for Iowa Wild forward Kale Kessy. What spurred the fight? Our hosts take a look. Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made AHL history this past week, becoming the first goaltender to ever.. well... you'll need to watch this on YouTube for the full context. Trust us, the celly is worth it.

Deana then leads us through a high-scoring (and injured) North Division with Toronto's Alex Steeves and Laval's Lias Anderson. Plus, two off-ice figureheads celebrated tenure milestones in the North. Learn more about Cleveland's Jasen Sokol and Belleville's Matt Mitchell. Finally, Zander compares and contrasts the Eastern and Western conferences and tells us about Chicago's Chris Terry and Chris' ALS All-Stars.

Know a deserving family in the Chicagoland area? Nominate them at: chicagowolves.com/community/community-outreach/chris-als-all-stars

Next are the hosts' two stars of the week. We have the sentimental with Zander's pick and explosive with Deana's this week!

Deana is up first with her segment, all about giving thanks. We all know the AHL is one of the best sports leagues out there. She polled the staff at AHL News Now to find out what about the AHL they are most thankful for. For a twist, she turned the list into a poem... that made Zander laugh so hard he had to mute? Tune in to find out why!

Finally, Zander looks at the bottleneck in the Eastern Conference standings. Who has what it takes to break away from the pack? What stats have us thinking a team's early success isn't sustainable? Do you agree? Sound off!

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

He's responsible for a call that has been immortalized within the Giant Center. Now he's visiting the Calder's Calling Podcast to chat about the Hershey Bears and his rise up the play by play ranks! This week, Calder's Calling is honored to welcome Bears play-by-play broadcast Zack Fisch.

Join your hosts Corey Swartz, Deana Weinheimer, Jakob Forster, and Zander Manning as they cover the last week in American Hockey League action.

First- the quick hits! A coaching change in the NHL sends Hartford head coach Kris Knoblauch to the Oilers while Steve Smith gains the interim tag. This happens just hours after one of their own celebrates a career milestone. A Hershey player collects a scoring milestone of his own while the Syracuse Crunch find domination in one very interesting (and scary) way! Wrapping up the quick hits part of the show, the Chicago Wolves and Colorado Eagles have some interesting trends in the early part of the season. We discuss.

Next are the hosts' three stars of the week. From the sentimental to clutch to downright impressive, Garrett Roe, Chris Fournier, and Leevi Merilainen take their time to shine!

Then Zack Fisch joins us for a lengthy talk about his journey to the AHL, surprises in the Atlantic Division, his views on the Bears' season to date, and his day with the cup. It's an interview you won't want to miss!

Deana then turns the focus in the net as six goaltenders combined for quite the feat this past Saturday.

Finally, Zander shares his opinions on the lack of callups between the Springfield Thunderbirds and St Louis Blues. Is is a good thing or a true anomaly in the league?

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

It's not often that a 24-year-old is on the verge of setting franchise scoring records. Our guest for episode five of Calder's Calling- an AHL podcast is primed to do just that! We are honored to welcome Cleveland Monsters forward Trey Fix-Wolansky to the show! Plus, the whole crew is back together as Corey Swartz, Deana Weinheimer, Jakub Forster, and Zander Manning cover the last week in American Hockey League action.

First- the quick hits! It's goalie takeover night as we discuss the play of Dustin Tokarski, Dennis Hildeby, and Jesper Wallstedt. Gerry Mayhew continues to impress in the American Hockey League- what did he do last week that caught our eye? Finally, we look at the Ontario Reign. Was last weekend a fluke or a sign of possible trouble in the kingdom?

Next, we unveil the three stars of the week! A former Calder's Calling guest impressed again- leading him to the top of Jakub's leaderboard.

Jakub shines the light on an outstanding AHL rookie class for the 2023-24 season. Who's hot, who is defying expectations, and which unsigned draft pick is on top of the pack? We discuss.

Then, Trey Fix-Wolansky joins the show in Deana's weekly segment. From changes to the Monsters' roster, the controversy surrounding Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Kent Johnson's recent loan to the AHL, his dream linemates, and specialty jerseys, he opens up to us about it all! Stick around for his pick for his favorite specialty jersey- it's amazing!

Corey keeps the conversation around the specialty jerseys going as the group shares their picks for the top theme nights and jerseys slated for the rest of the season.

Finally, Zander shares his opinions on the state of the coach's challenge in the AHL.

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

Content Warning- We do discuss the passing of former AHL forward Adam Johnson. While we do not show the video or discuss the injury in detail, we recognize this may be a sensitive subject for some people. Following our show notes are resources to find help if you need it.

Another exciting week of American Hockey League action is in the books! From the good, the bad, and the important news around the league and hockey world, we cover it.

For episode four of the Calder's Calling podcast, Jakob Forster, Deana Weinheimer, and Zander Manning start by remembering Adam Johnson, who spent several seasons in the AHL.

The hosts then turn to their power rankings. Why is the Laval Rocket filled with talent but not racking up wins? They share their theories.

Next, they chat about the awarding of the AHL Player of the Week to Raphael Lavoie out of the Bakersfield Condors. What gave him the edge over so many other clutch performances? Find out what we think!

Deana then leads you through the 2024 inductees to the AHL Hall of Fame.

Jakob then leads us through a discussion on player safety and what moves are being made to make hockey safer for all ages and levels. How does this impact the AHL? Who is already implementing newer safety gear? It's a critical discussion, and we get into it.

Then, Deana talks about an odd yet clutch style of play that the Grand Rapids Griffins have settled into.

Finally, Zander brings up the idea of more outdoor games in the AHL. How do you feel about that? Sound off in the comments!

Many thanks to our podcast sponsor, Document Doctors LLC!

For mental health resources:

In the UK- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/get-help

In Canada- https://www.mhrc.ca/mh-resources

In the US- https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/mental-health-resources/