Hockey Press Pass

Overcoming a dangerous bout with Meningitis in Intensive Care to return to the NHL with the Blues, play great, and win the Masterton Trophy. Being the second player named Jamie from his junior team to hear his name called at the NHL Draft (oops). Playing for Al Arbour and getting the nod to go into games after Ron Hextall got Game Misconducts. Transitioning from popular teammate to successful broadcaster. The goalie market at this year’s NHL trade deadline. We discuss all of this and a whole lot more with Jamie McLennan of TSN.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producers: Lou Pellegrino, Pat Boyle

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

After Pat and Chris break down the latest Islanders loss and Lou Lamoriello’s comments about roster decisions before the trade deadline, ex-NYI dman and current Blues analyst Jamie Rivers joins the show. Jamie previews Saturday’s tilt at UBS against St. Louis, talks about Vladimir Tarasenko and Pavel Buchnevich, and shares memories of his time with the Islanders, including a classic about a team-endorsed beer-drinking session late in the evening before a game in Toronto.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

As we enter a crucial time for the sport coming off the Olympics and powerhouse viewership numbers for the gold medal game between Canada and the U.S., it was time to speak with Kristina Rutherford, the gifted features writer for Sportsnet. In addition to the usual Hockey Press Pass inquiries of our guest about the NHL, her career, process and advice for aspiring journalists, Kristina and Chris discuss the current climate in women’s sports and what’s next for women’s professional hockey in North America.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

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

In Chris’s opinion, no one has covered the NHL team beat better over the last quarter-century than Michael Russo. In this interview you’ll get an idea of why Mike is so good, as his love for the game and journalism comes through. Mike covers everything, from the impact the Islanders made on him while growing up on Long Island, to his approach to serving fans as a reporter, to maintaining relationships and working through hurdles with players and coaches, to his time covering the Florida Panthers and now the Minnesota Wild.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

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

After an impressive victory by the Islanders over Boston, Pat Boyle and Chris Botta decide it’s all perfectly okay to be on two tracks: Barry Trotz and his players will stay focused on trying to win the next game and the one after that, and Lou Lamoriello and his hockey ops department will monitor the trade market. On the latter, Chris shares what he’s learned and what he believes could be the return from trades of several Islanders, from a No. 1 goaltender in Semyon Varlamov, to respected vets Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise, to younger players Anthony Beauvillier and Scott Mayfield, and even one veteran who may surprise you.

Hosts: Pat Boyle and Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café

Stick-Taps:Hello Fresh – America’s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.dot/presspass16 and use code presspass16 for up to 16 free meals + 3 free gifts.

Before ESPN got the NHL back, Emily Kaplan wrote nonstop for ESPN.com. Now you can find Emily everywhere on ESPN platforms – on game telecasts, on “The Point,” co-hosting the podcast “In The Crease,” not to mention her frequent appearances on “Around the Horn.” Get to know a lot more about this brilliant and relentless journalist in this wide-ranging interview with Chris Botta. This episode is sponsored in part by Hello Fresh – America’s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.dot/presspass16 and use code presspass16 for up to 16 free meals + 3 free gifts.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

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

Jiggs McDonald has called some of the most memorable moments in NHL history, from his time with the Islanders, Panthers and the early days of the Atlanta Flames and Los Angeles Kings. In this conversation with Chris, the Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster shares stories about working with Bill Torrey, Al Arbour, and his boothmate, Ed Westfall. He also shares tips on the craft of play-by-play, picks some underrated Islanders dynasty members, and tells us what he thinks of the new TV voice of his old team – Brendan Burke.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Cafe

With Trevor Zegras dazzling at NHL All-Star Weekend with his trick shots, and as the development of Oliver Wahlstrom under Barry Trotz continues to be a hot topic around Islanders Country, Rob Schremp was the perfect person to speak with this week. As a former first-round pick, leading scorer in the OHL, and a magician with the puck whom one teammate says “may have been ahead of his time,” Schremp has a lot of insights into the coach-prospect dynamic from his own unique and challenging career.

Guest Producer & Engineer: Lou Pellegrino (thanks, Lou!)

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: Main Street Board Game Cafe

Former Islanders defenseman and current RDS analyst Bruno Gervais joins Chris to share his view on the current plight of the NYI, his admiration for Noah Dobson, and his concern about the potential for hasty trades. Bruno also provides a lot of insight into his time with the unstructured Islanders, some of his notable teammates, and the legacy of Clark Gillies.

In an episode dedicated to the memory of beloved Hockey Hall of Fame forward Clark Gillies, Justin Bourne joins Hockey Press Pass to talk about making the transition from Division I and AHL/ECHL player to analyst. Along the way, he recalls his participation in an Islanders training camp, discusses his views on the Maple Leafs, NYI, and John Tavares, and reminisces about how Bob Bourne Hall of Fame Night at Nassau Coliseum led to Justin reconnecting with his future wife, the former Brianna Gillies. This interview was recorded ten days before the passing of Clark Gillies, Justin’s father-in-law. The Gillies and Bourne families are forever in our thoughts.

Host: Chris Botta

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Cafe