Hockey Press Pass

For the Season One finale of Hockey Press Pass, we were proud to be joined by John Buccigross for this discussion on the NHL's return to ESPN, his approach to play-by-play, the work of colleagues John Tortorella, A.J. Mleczko Griswold, Kevin Weekes and Ryan Callahan, the next steps for women's hockey, his approach to nutrition, and so much more. On behalf of the Hockey Press Pass and Islanders Forecheck team, thanks to all of our guests this season and also to the listeners for the fantastic response to the show. We'll see you down the road.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village

Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

Should referees be made available to answer questions from reporters after controversial calls? How have the refs enforced the new standard for crosschecking? What should fans expect from the refs in the upcoming playoffs? Will the success of female officials in the AHL this season result in history being made in the NHL in 2022-23? Former NHL ref turned Daily Faceoff rules analyst Tim Peel tackles every question, tells us about his love of the job, favorite colleagues, and advice to officiating prospects, and surprises us with a revelation about his childhood in this candid conversation.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village

Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

This episode is the finale of a two-parter in which Chris answers some of the questions you've sent during the season about his time in the media and as a PR executive with the Islanders and in the National Women's Hockey League.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer/co-host: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village

Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

This episode is the first of a two-parter in which Chris answers some of the questions you've sent during the season about his time as the Islanders' VP of Communications.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer/co-host: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village

Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

Kevin Kurz, who took over the Islanders' beat for The Athletic in the middle of this season, made the atypical jump a decade ago from the PR staff of the Flyers to covering the NHL. Kurz is a skilled, dedicated and diligent reporter with a distinctive voice in his articles and Twitter posts. Over 35 minutes, we get to learn more about his career, process, and approach, and his early views on the Islanders. After the interview, Lou Pellegrino relays a listener's question about Chris's favorite coaches. The discussion leads to Chris sharing a personal story about a moment involving Al Arbour.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

On the day the NYI announce long-term injuries for Cal Clutterbuck and Scott Mayfield, Brian Compton of NHL Dot Com joins the show to help us interpret Lou Lamoriello's direct comments about the need for "hockey trades" in the offseason. In addition, Chris gets to a series of your questions about Barry Trotz, the fisherman jersey and aspects of his time working for his hometown hockey team.

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer & Co-Host: Lou Pellegrino

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

As the Closing Bell rang on the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, Chris and Lou discussed the Islanders' lack of deals, the contract extensions for bottom-six veterans Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise, and why attention turns to Jakub Chychrun, Filip Forsberg, other unknowns, and hopes for the offseason. But as a PR colleague of Chris always says, "Hope is not a strategy."

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer & Co-Host: Lou Pellegrino

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

With the NHL Trade Deadline near, Chris Botta and guest producer/co-host Lou Pellegrino got together Saturday morning to try and deliver the kind of pre-deadline show you’d expect from Hockey Press Pass/Islanders Forecheck. The show opens with former NHL goaltender and current Sabres analyst Martin Biron providing his viewpoints on goalies available at the deadline, including Semyon Varlamov. Later on, the hosts debate the merits of moving certain Islanders before 3 p.m. Monday, and Lou asks Chris about his experiences as the Islanders’ PR guy at the trade deadline.

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

Thanks to the generosity and class of Brendan Burke, this episode has it all: an inside look at his preparation for his next game; the crucial and challenging years in the minors while wondering if he’d ever get the call to the NHL; the job interviews and process leading up to a contract offer to do Islanders play-by-play; the dynamic in the booth with Butch Goring and Darren Pang; keys to staying sharp (and rested) while traveling across North America in his work for the NHL on TNT. There’s a lot here for hockey fans, broadcasting aficionados, and aspiring announcers to learn from enjoy.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

Stick Taps: Blair Cofield, Sean Dennison

After Pat and Chris ponder the impact of the Islanders’ recent impressive wins over Columbus and St. Louis, Michael Grabner joins the show to add his perspective from a very unique NHL playing career. Michael shares what it’s like “in the room” in the days leading up to the trade deadline, how it feels to be traded (at the deadline and, by the Islanders, during training camp), his view on whether the current team needs to undergo major changes, what he remembers about his time on Long Island, and – as they say in these podcast write-ups – much, much more.

Hosts: Chris Botta, Pat Boyle

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café