Improversation

Mike Lasko is back and oh boy did he have some spicy hot takes! Speaking of hot - his new house and soon to be (fingers crossed) new studio!

Seems to never be a dull moment in the hockey world and the drama continues! The Oilers Entertainment Group proposal to the city of Edmonton leaked online. Are they a front-runner for a hub city for the NHL? Is Toronto still in the mix? What about Vancouver?

Speaking of Toronto, Steve Simmons came under fire this week after releasing news that Auston Matthews tested positive for COVID-19. Should Simmons be stripped of his press pass? Is hockey twitter mad at the wrong person? Lets dive into these controversial waters and find out!

Speaking of controversial waters - the Buffalo Freaking Sabres are at it again! The team has fired a lot more than their front office staff, all the way down to the I.T guy...only to hire him back...Ottawa 2.0? You be the judge.

The NHL's official website released their Top 16 Centres In The Playoff Qualifier List. Did they get it right? Is it even worth debating over because it is too ambiguous?

This episode is jam packed with debates, hot takes, passionate diatribes, and even wagers. On a more happy note, the boys are excited for their upcoming Canada Day episode where they will discuss the country's greatest achievements in International play and their upcoming interview with former Kitchener Ranger Captain, Ben Fanelli!

A lot of great content is coming!

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And then there were two!

Just kidding, Mikey was too busy being an adult and moving into his new house (and potentially our new studio?) so, Gio and The Cack bring it back to the old days where the two talk shop!

A lot again has happened this week! Gio talks about his appearance on the Slumpbuster Podcast Hockey Roundtable episode - how it was going well until the trivia portion of the eppy. Cack shares his despair about how it ended.

Eichel protec, Eichel attac, but most importantly, he didn't want GM Botterill bac. The guys discuss how the Buffalo Sabres let go of their GM just three weeks after giving him a vote of confidence. We feel for you, Melody!

Speaking of changing their tune, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau now is "open" to Canadian cities being potential hub cities for the NHL when they resume play. But is the NHL really going to send the Western Conference teams to the East and their Eastern Conference teams to the west?

The Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes already have one confirmed COVID case each. What does this mean for the NHL to go full steam ahead in their plans for a mid-July start?

The NHL released a Top-16 Goalie List on their official website. Who should have been on there, who was ranked too high, the boys debate and discuss.

Jimothy Dolan finally released a statement on the events that have been taking place in the United States...three weeks later. Was it even good? Well, tune in and find out because...it's a head scratcher.

Finally, we have had great luck with guests and we have another guest we are excited about - Ben Fanelli, former player of the Kitchener Rangers and now activist. We discuss Ben's impact of the game and tease his interview.

A lot of excitement generating on the FaceOff Hockey Podcast! So pick up a stick, and get those pucks deep!

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Well, another week, another pod, still no sports. "Sigh"

This week the boys discussed lots of topics.

FaceOff’s very own John Lano (Gio) will be making his widely anticipated debut on our brother podcast, The Slumpbuster Podcast! Very exciting chance to get our friends down south into the greatest sport in the world... unless you’re Max Kellerman.

The boys discuss Max’s spicy take (ALMOST AS HOT AS MIKE KASSIAN’S!) blasphemously proclaiming that hockey is not a top 4 sport in the USA. Take a lap pal.

The boys get into the details behind the Hockey Diversity Alliance, signed off by Akim Aliu, Evander Kane, Trevor Daley, Wayne Simmonds, Chris Stewart, Joel Ward and Matt Dumba, who all came together to create a program that will work towards eliminating racial discrimination and biases in the sport of hockey. Something that has been long overdue. Well done Gents.

The controversial topic of the return of hockey was discussed, specifically the playoff format, each team’s chances at winning Lord Stanley’s Cup, and the awards that will be gifted out to those who deserve them (hopefully).

Playoffs are as follows: 16 teams will play in a best-of-5 series to determine which of them advance to the playoffs. Once the victors are determined, teams will then be reseeded to determine their opponents in the next round, which consists of a best-of-7 nitty, gritty, hard hitting, fast skating series. The playoffs we all know and love. Except Cack, who tirelessly explains how he doesn’t want hockey to return for some reason.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are apparently the new favourites to win the Stanley Cup, according to some analytics dude probably. We all know how that worked out last year, shout out the Columbus Blue Jackets... SWEEP!

CACK goes off on Eugene Melnyk and James Dolan, as their lack of leadership and integrity further sets their organizations back behind all others and fulfills their position as some of the most underperforming, laughable organizations in the industry. We expected nothing less gentlemen!

Finally, the boys gave their picks on who should win the NHL awards. Unanimously, the boys chose Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers for the Hart and Connor Hellebuyck if the Winnipeg Jets for the Vezina. The Norris trophy winner was a toss up between Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators and John Carlson of the Washington Capitals. We all had our opinions. Tune in to hear them!

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SOOO...a lot has happened this week. The boys tried to find the positives. They found one when a listener of the show, Kelly, watched Miracle for the first time and fell in love with it. She not only watched it once but, watched it a second time. 

She was messaging Cack during the recording while watching the interview with Patrick O'Brien Demsey (SHAMELESS PLUG).

While North America has been in a state of flux over the last week, the boys get a further look into the state of flux that is the NHL's playoff format that is set to commence in July (we think). They also try to make sense of the lottery system the league has put into place which has left many scratching their heads! 

The boys also debate on which Canadian team has the best odds of making a deep run for the playoffs. Is it the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, or the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

The utter misery of Buffalo Sabres fans. Oh, and Jack Eichel.

They then cap off this fun episode with a clever game of FaceUp! Mikey tries to trick Gio with a few curveballs while Cack tries to stay awake. 

SHAMELESS PLUG: Once again, FaceOff Hockey Podcast has partnered with the Slumpbuster Podcast. Next week, Gio will be joining them along with a few friends to talk puck in a round table discussion so stay tuned for that.

As always, beauties, get those pucks in deep.

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After coming off of a high from last week’s episode with Patrick O’Brien Demsey, the boys take a more relaxed approach in this week’s episode. The boys talked about:

- The Match with Tiger, Phil, Tom and Peyton & the Bundesliga

- Gio’s heatstroke didn’t stop him from getting into a heated discussion about the NHL proposed playoff format.

- Cack gives a very well articulated sermon on the risks involved with the return of the NHL.

- Mikey Kassian sits back and strokes his beard as the other boys get into the thick of it: Should the NHL return to play and if so, how?

- The potential matchups. What series catch our eye? Can Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens upset Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Will Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl upset the modern era dynasty in the Chicago Blackhawks with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews? Will the Maple Leafs avoid the Boston Bruins if they get through the Columbus Blue Jackets?

- We finally get back to our list of favourite players in each NHL franchise. We ran down from the Ottawa Senators to the Winnipeg Jets.

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It happened. THE. BEST. PODCAST. EVER. 

The boys live out a childhood dream where they got the opportunity to speak with PATRICK O'BRIEN DEMSEY who played MIKE ERUZIONE AKA "RIZZO" in the sports movie classic 'Miracle On Ice'

Patrick talks about life before Miracle - how he was studying art and graphic design in Massachusetts, and got the audition of a lifetime for the movie.

He also goes into his journey in playing the American Captain; the audition process and what life was like behind the scenes.

Patrick also shows the boys cool memorabilia including the 2004 ESPY Award for Best Sports Film as well as the jersey he wore in the film!

The boys also ask questions that have puzzled them for years including: what the bag skate scene in Norway was like, the equipment used in the film, and is that really him on the DVD Box Cover? (FANTASTIC NOTE ON THAT STORY)

This episode also divulges into Patrick's life after the film - his life in Los Angeles and what the sports and hockey scene is like there, his recent run-ins with Kurt Russell and the real Mike Eruzione, as well as the many times he is mistaken for Patrick Dempsey aka "McDreamy".

And in classic FaceOff fashion, the episode concludes with a game of Player/Not A Player BUT THIS TIME, Patrick and his lovely wife, Kristen Ariza, go head-to-head!

This is an episode for the ages, you beauties! Tune in and as always GET PUCKS DEEP!

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WHAT. AN. EPISODE. THIS. WEEK. 

The episodes keep getting better you beauties and what a ride this one is!   

- A lot of news with the Brendan Leipsic situation involving his leaked Instagram DM's. Does Brett Hull add more fuel to fire with his comments? 

- The AHL decides to cancel the rest of their season and playoffs. What does this mean for the NHL? Also, NHL Bill Daly comments on proposed in-game changes. Are they horrible or are they horrible? 

- The boys do a re-draft on the 2002 NHL entry draft and it comes down to Rick Nash vs. Duncan Keith. Who would you take 1st overall today? 

- In FaceUP this week, all three co-hosts get to a chance to play. See if they can guess Phil Kessel, Joe Thornton, and Ed Jovanovski! 

- We answer YOUR questions that you sent us via our Instagram page @faceoffpuckpod! 

- AND HUGE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! The Cack and Mike surprised Gio for his birthday in the form of Miracle's own, Patrick O'Brien Demsey! AND IT GETS EVEN BETTER!   

Tune in to find out and as always, get pucks deep!  

Listen to us on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other platforms!  

Like, rate and subscribe our YouTube channel - FaceOff Hockey Podcast  

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @faceoffpuckpod  

Email us at [email protected]

The best moments from the first 20 episodes of the FaceOff Hockey Podcast. Hey there, hi there, ho there! To commemorate our 20th episode of FaceOff Hockey Podcast, the boys compiled the best moments (so far) from the show. 

Scorching hot takes from Mike Lasko claiming Ken Dryden as the best goaltender of all time to Nazem Kadri, the future Hall of Famer, the podcast is slowly growing and we thank you for that!  

Enjoy this video as the boys geek out about Wayne Gretzky's Hall of Fame coin, Cack mixing up Mike Modano as a kid from Minnesota, ripping the Toronto Maple Leafs, referring to Gary Bettman's press conferences as 'Word Salad', Mike forgetting Pavel Bure was a player, and even more ripping on the Leafs because of David Ayres, sending Gio into a fit of rage! THEY LOST TO THE MAINTENANCE GUY! Did Max Pacioretty decapitate Max Pacioretty? Was Nik Antropov a first overall pick? Does Colin Campbell really pronounce his name that way, and if so...why? 

All that and more coming your way!

Let's keep it going, you beauties!

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On this weeks episode the boys talked to Kyle Grimard of The London Knights organization in the Ontario Hockey League. Kyle is the in-game host and tv host of Knights TV on YouTube. The boys also discussed:

- MIKE SHAVED HIS HEAD (finally).

- New NHL playoff proposal: A new format has come to the table that a majority of NHL GM's are in favour of. The Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks would get in but, the New York Rangers would not. 

- The Toronto Maple Leafs all-time team by TSN: The boys talked about how Doug Gilmour and Darryl Sittler were left off the team selection.

- The best centre ice team: When Edmonton's all-time team was released, the boys noticed Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Connor McDavid and Craig MacTavish were the 4 centre's and it sparked debate. Is there another team with a better group of 4? The Pittsburgh Penguins quickly came up.

- The redraft of 2011 by the NHL: Last week the NHL released their redraft of 2011. Jordan Binnington came in at #5 and the boys were quick to roast a couple more picks in their top 10.

- FaceUp: Let's see how fast The Cack could call out Rick Nash and Henrik Zetterberg.

- and MORE!

*Recorded May 4, 2020

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Finally some real hockey news. This week the boys discussed:

- The NHL coming back (Probably)

- 2022 Canada & USA Olympic Rosters (Hopefully)

- Favourite players for teams 11-20 (Alphabetical)

- The 2001 redraft (Glue Guy Draft)

- and MORE!

Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts!

Like, rate and subscribe our YouTube channel - FaceOff Hockey Podcast

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @faceoffpuckpod

Email us at [email protected]