Inside the SPHL Podcast

Welcome to the 45th episode of the probably pretty good Inside the SPHL Podcast with Matthew Harding and Mike Campos. In this episode, aired on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, the guys discuss several topics, including:

* The Quad City-to-SPHL rumors

* It's National Pi Day & the guys pay homage to Dr. Stephen Hawking

* Fayettteville is not exactly relishing the role of spoiler

* The FHL does something right (SHOCK!)

* Would the SPHL Challenge round model work in the NHL, AHL & ECHL

* Breaking down the playoff races in the SPHL

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You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Campos and Harding go into uncharted waters for the 44th episode of our trying-really-hard Inside the SPHL Podcast! On this special episode, recorded on Sunday, March 5th, we go across the Atlantic Ocean to catch up with a pair of former SPHL players.

If you're a fan of the Mississippi Surge, the Louisiana IceGators, or the Peoria Rivermen; the name Adam Stuart should ring some bells. The fan favorite spent six years in the SPHL, scoring 109 goals and 155 assists along with 497 penalty minutes. After last season, Stuart made the move overseas to France, a popular destination for SPHL ex-pats.

Joining Stuart on today's show was a goaltender who spent only two years in the SPHL, but made them count. Jordan Ruby won a Presidents Cup with the Macon Mayhem last year (coincidentally defeating Stuart's Rivermen) and earned MVP honors for last year's postseason.

This season, the two are teammates with des Albatros de Brest, a team playing in the FFHG Division 1 league, the second-highest of the four-tier system of pro hockey in France. Stuart and Ruby play in a league peppered with familiar names, such as teammate Cullen Bradshaw (Mississippi RiverKings). SPHL-ers also spending time with Brest this season including Christian Weidauer, Jeff Jones, Nick McParland, Kyle Shapiro, and Tayler Thompson.

Des Albatros won 20 of their 26 games during the regular season with a 15-5-0-6 record, and are currently gearing up for their first playoff series against former SPHL-ers Mark Corbett, Justin Hoomaian, and Corey Hale with La-Roche-sur-Yon. Ruby finished the season leading all Division 1 netminders in every major statistical category with a 20-6 record, four by way of shutout, a 2.16 GAA, a .907 SV%, and 553 total saves. Stuart was the third-highest scorer in Brest with 34 points (10G/24A), third in plus/minus at +24, while leading the team in penalty minutes with 42.

On Sunday's show, Campos and Harding catch up with Stuart and Ruby, covering a variety of topics including:

* The differences between playing hockey in France and the SPHL.

* Why France is such a popular destination for SPHL players.

* How American players deal with the language barrier when playing in France.

* Catching up on the current state of affairs in the SPHL.

* Memories and some great stories from their days playing in the SPHL.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, La. -- It's time for another episode of our gold-medal-winning Inside the SPHL Podcast! On this week's episode of the Harding and Campos bring on their teammate from this year's champion curling squad, and true voice of your Fayetteville Marksmen - Ben Garrod!

A name which Harding promptly butchered, forcing an impromptu reminder.

Photo: Matt Hardings Desk

Here's the rundown for our 43rd episode, recorded on February 28th, 2018:

* Marksmen owner Chuck Norris allegedly caught the flu, apparently from Harding. Campos was skeptical because Chuck Norris doesn't get a flu shot, the flu gets a Chuck Norris shot.

* Garrod, our first two-time guest this season, talks about what it's like to be the broadcast voice of a professional hockey team and the challenges of being a positive voice on social media during an off season.

* Fayetteville was the big seller before Monday's SPHL's trade deadline, dealing three players out in a trio of two-for-one swaps. We break down all three deals on our version of TradeCentre - TSN's popular show for the NHL trade deadline.

* The changes for the Marksmen extended behind the bench recently, with John Bierchen replacing Phil Esposito as the on-ice boss. We talk about the impact of Fayetteville's second coaching change this season.

* We preview this week's SPHL matchups, and more - including the Marksmen's St. Patrick's Day sweaters.

Image Credit: Fayetteville Marksmen

Next week's show will be a special Sunday afternoon episode, featuring former SPHL veteran from the Mississippi Surge, Louisiana IceGators, Peoria Rivermen - Adam Stuart. Stuart, currently playing in France with the Brest Albatross, will be joining us from overseas with his takes on living on the west coast of France and the differences in play between European and American leagues.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Campos and Harding are back and better than ever for our 42nd episode of the best thing since sliced bread - the Inside the SPHL Podcast! Recorded on February 22nd, 2018, the boys take to the virtual airwaves once more to talk all things SPHL and anything else which comes to mind.

We open up the show with the USA Women's Hockey Team - golden for the first time in 20 years after an epic gold-medal showdown with Canada and former Columbus Cottonmouths goaltender Shannon Szabados.

Campos took a road trip this weekend with this episode's namesake, Ben Saegert, and their respective families to catch some junior hockey in Shreveport and ECHL play in Allen. Happy Birthday, buddy - this episode's for you!

Other stuff we decided to talk about (for Ben, who coincidentally is now 42 years old) include:

* The Cornwall Nationals are no longer part of the Federal Hockey League.

* Phil Esposito is out as coach of the Fayetteville Marksmen and John Bierchen becomes the third Marksmen coach this season.

* The SPHL trade deadline is coming soon and the Marksmen are selling off and thinking long-term with two deals this week.

* The Pensacola Ice Flyers were without ice to skate on last week with the continuing issues with the ice plant in the Pensacola Bay Center. Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris addressed the situation with the fans this week.

* Apparently, the layoff and lack of ice didn't affect the Ice Flyers, schooling the Marksmen in front of the children for Fayetteville's education day game.

* The boys talk SPHL playoff races, magic numbers, and potential first-round matchups.

* Can the new SPHL playoff format work in the NBA? One writer thinks so.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, La. - After a week with Matthew Harding on the 7-day IR, we're back for our slightly-delayed 41st episode of our almost-playoff-bound Inside the SPHL Podcast! It's your weekly look at your favorite professional hockey league with a bit of nonsense thrown in.

This particular gem was recorded on Valentine's Day, where Harding and Mike Campos (For the record, Campos did his Valentine's Day stuff the day before... Harding has no excuse) talked about stuff and things.

* Harding reveals why he missed last week... and it's not for the weak of stomach.

* We're still really pleased with our last episode with Birmingham Bulls broadcaster Eli Gold.

* There's been plenty of road trips among Team Sin Bin: The Indianapolis trip, photographer Ed Bailey's six-game trip, and Campos' six-game "virtual road trip."

* After getting a detailed look at teams in action around the league, Campos gives his thoughts on who's hot and who's not and begin looking into postseason chances and predictions.

* The ECHL is getting a new commissioner. What are the odds Brian McKenna's replacement is SPHL President Jim Combs?

* The SPHL reached its 100th ECHL call-up of the season this week and so many Macon Mayhem players are with the Atlanta Gladiators, the ECHL team made an all-SPHL starting lineup - with Pensacola's Sean Bonar in net - on Tuesday night against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

* Admit it, you've been watching curling during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Campos and Harding talk about their favorite events which are unfortunately only popular once every four years.

* Lots of news from around the SPHL, including the Pensacola Bay Center woes and the trend of planned building renovations across the league's venues.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, LA -- The Inside the SPHL podcast turned 40 episodes old on Tuesday night! Harding and Campos we were joined on the podcast by the voice of the Birmingham Bulls, Eli Gold. The guys discuss a number of topics, including:

* History of hockey in Birmingham

* What kind of sports town is Birmingham

* Eli's lineage with hockey behind the mic

* How Eli prepares for the different sports he calls

* How Eli got the job to call Alabama Crimson Tide football

* Eli's 41-year career calling the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for the Motor Racing Network & some of his favorite places to watch races

* Thoughts on Barney Hall, the architect of MRN

* Birmingham Bulls hockey so far this season

* Get Eli's thoughts on the Challenge Round in the SPHL playoffs & we announce details for the Challenge Round Selection Show

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

Welcome to the 39th episode of the close-to-be-but-not-quite-there award-winning Inside the SPHL Podcast! In this edition, aired on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, the guys talk about several topics, including:

* A recap of our trip to Indianapolis for the ECHL All-Star Classic

* Campos' 44-hour trip home

* In-game updates from Huntsville/Evansville

* Are the Evansville Thunderbolts and Knoxville IceBears championship contenders?

* A recap of the SPHL All-Star Fan Vote; and yes people, the votes were real

* SPHL All-Star Team thoughts - locks and bubble players

* North team will be released Wednesday, South team Thursday

* Pick the ECHL Call-Up all-star team (guys on ECHL call-ups who were not selected as team finalists for the SPHL All-Star Team)

* An announcement about next week's guest...

Photo Courtesy: Gridiron Now

The voice of the Birmingham Bulls & Alabama Crimson Tide sports Eli Gold will join Harding and Campos for episode 40 of the podcast!

LAFAYETTE, LA -- After the holiday break, Campos and Harding are back for their first show of 2018! Our 38th episode was recorded on January 9th, 2018 and the boys are gearing up for all of January's All Star festivities.

* We catch up with Harding and see just how he spends his holidays.

* Campos brings up game updates from the night's Pensacola/Birmingham game.

* We go over Golden State Warriors (yeah, the basketball team) Head Coach Steve Kerr's comments about the decline of real sports journalism and the rise of substance-free entertainment.

* Campos plays a couple of minutes from TSN's Bob MacKenzie's podcast where he deals with an unruly "fan" in a masterful way. You can subscribe to the TSN Hockey BOBCast on Apple Podcasts or on your favorite Android podcast app.

* Fan voting opens for The Sin Bin's third annual SPHL All Star Team. Campos and Harding go over all of this year's finalists from Team North and Team South and pick their locks to make the final roster.

* Like everyone else in the SPHL, Campos is taking a quick callup to the ECHL. We talk about our plans for this weekend's ECHL All Star Classic in Indianapolis.

Our next episode will be a special episode of The Sin Bin's In The Corners Podcast, live from Indianapolis, on Sunday, January 14th at 4pm ET. Inside the SPHL will return on January 23rd where we begin making our final SPHL All Star selections.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, LA -- It's our final full podcast episode of 2017, and our 37th (in a row) overall. Welcome back to another almost-non-disastrous edition of our Inside the SPHL Podcast! Tonight's episode, a rare Thursday night show recorded on December 21st, 2017, finds one half of our dynamic duo out on the IR... meaning - horror of all horrors - Campos is running solo.

Fortunately, our guest tonight is Mississippi RiverKings broadcaster TJ Chillot, who really buys into our team concept. Kudos to TJ for hanging out with us on his birthday when he could be out getting some birthday brews with the boys. In tonight's episode:

* The Macon Mayhem just can't stop scoring, even on our show.

* Some big news in the league besides Macon's record-setting 19 goals against the same opponent on back-to-back nights.

* The Knoxville Ice Bears and Peoria Rivermen had a pretty wild team scrap after Saturday night's contest.

* What does the Fayetteville Marksmen do to bounce back after last weekend's disaster?

* We learn about how TJ got into the business, and what similarities there are between car sales and broadcasting.

* The SPHL's second in-season regime change happened in Roanoke. What changes to the Rail Yard Dawgs are in order from rookie coach Dan Bremner?

* TJ breaks down the RiverKings season so far.

* This week's SPHL three stars

* John Siemer (C-MAC)

* Shawn Bates (LW-HSV)

* Chase Nieuwendyk (C-EVV)

* A quick breakdown of the notable teams in this week's SPHL Writers Poll.

* TJ takes questions and birthday greetings from RiverKings fans.

* Our SPHL Christmas wishes.

Follow the Mississippi RiverKings:

On Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/mississippiriverkings/

On Twitter – https://www.twitter.com/riverkings

On the web – https://riverkings.com

You can follow TJ on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/tj_chillot

Next week, we run our "Best of" episode, featuring our favorite podcast moments from earlier this season.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!

LAFAYETTE, LA -- We've been excited about Justin Bradford's appearance on the podcast ever since we booked him six weeks ago. The founder of Penalty Box Radio, Bradford transitioned from the bleachers to the Nashville Predators' press box during the NHL lockout season of 2012-13 and has been gathering acclaim for his excellence in reporting and broadcasting ever since.

Penalty Box Radio has expanded from it's humble roots to a network of podcasts, radio shows and game broadcasts covering all levels of junior, collegiate, and professional hockey - including our ECHL podcast, In the Corners.

In our 36th episode, recorded on December 12th, Bradford joins Mike Campos and Matt Harding as we depart from our usual SPHL reporting and talk about what it's like to work in the big leagues.

* First, we talk about Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs coach Sam Ftorek's upcoming induction into the ECHL Hall of Fame.

* Harding gives his update on our upcoming trip to Indianapolis for the 2018 ECHL All-Star Classic.

* Yesterday, our humble little website received its one millionth view thanks to all of you awesome hockey fans.

* Remember David Leggio? The AHL goaltender who defused a breakaway by flipping the net over has taken his talents to Germany.

Afterwards, we put the show in Bradford's hands, and he does not disappoint.

* Justin talks about moving from Michigan to Tennessee as a child, and his transition from a Red Wings fan to the Predators.

* Starting Penalty Box Radio while dealing with the 2012-13 NHL lockout and how it expanded his hockey horizons.

* What it's like to cover an NHL game and describes the press area at Bridgestone Arena.

* Gives the inside story of what actually happened when the Vegas Golden Knights Twitter account accused the Nashville reporters "clapping" in the press area.

* We have an in-depth discussion on how the Predators' success and Stanley Cup Final run has grown the game in Nashville and throughout all levels of hockey.

* Talks about the friendship and heartbreaking loss of his Penalty Box Radio co-host, Benjamin "Big Ben" Butzbach.

Follow Penalty Box Radio:

On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/penaltyboxradio

On Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/penaltyboxradio

On the web - https://penaltyboxradio.com

You can follow Justin on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/justinbbradford

Next week on the podcast, we welcome Mississippi RiverKings broadcaster T.J. Chillot. Due to scheduling issues, our next episode will be on Thursday, December 21st at 8:00 pm CT.

You can catch future episodes of Inside the SPHL on our brand-new The Sin Bin app –available in the iTunes and Google Play stores — or through a variety of podcast sharing platforms. Click on your preferred platform on the right side of this page and be sure to subscribe!