Episode Title: A Goalie’s Letter to Santa

Beer league goalies live in a different headspace. Warmups start and you’re already in your head. One screen you can’t see through, one weird bounce, one soft goal, and you’re doing therapy in real time behind a mask.

In this holiday episode, Mike sits down with Tom Buck for a goalie-to-goalie conversation that turns into something bigger.

Tom is a longtime audio and video creator and a former high school Digital Media teacher who’s built a welcoming community around cameras, mics, streaming, and podcasting. He’s also the kind of guy who brings calm, humor, and perspective to everything, including the chaos of the crease. 

Mike met Tom at Weekend Warriors Hockey Camp this summer, and the goalie chemistry was instant. This episode is framed as a “goalie wish list,” but it’s really about how beer league becomes family and why the position teaches you more about life than you expect.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• What “clear the crease” actually means

• Screens, blocked shots, and deflections that make zero sense

• Goalie interference and the realities of beer league officiating

• Power plays, puck handling panic, and why “time, time, time” matters

• Why a good bench changes how you play

• The adult side of hockey, connection, and the people you meet along the way

Tom Buck: www.himynameistom.com 

Weekend Warriors Hockey Camps: weekendwarriorshockey.com 

Beer League Players Association: blpa.com