Rink Stories

Where Bob asks Digit everything you wanted to know about the past and future of the Premier Hockey Federation, on and off the ice.
Digit Murphy is the President of the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation (née  National Women's Hockey League). One of the most distinguished figures in the history of women’s hockey, she was a CWHL Championship coach, won 318 games in 22 seasons as the head coach at Brown University, and, as a 5-6 forward out of Cranston RI, #9 is still the 4th greatest scorer in Cornell Big Red women’s hockey history, with 213 career points.
In this fast-moving conversation, Digit discusses: the rebranding of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) as Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), the long road to awarding the Isobel Cup in 2021, the up-and-down debut season of the Toronto Six, off-ice controversies, and the upcoming PHF season.
Plus, Wrist Shots, Where Was Bob Last Week, Way Back, Hockey Haiku, and other fun and funny stuff.
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the the Ken Klein, the Bill Henry Trio, MC Hopf, the Mo'Nobs, and Bob's Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Check out the Toronto Six 
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
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Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a DICK. THIS is Rink Stories.

Where Bob, Tony and Matt wonder aloud about a world without touch-up offsides, icing the puck while shorthanded, and finishing the check.
Tony Scott is a 6-0 left winger out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the proprietor of the Youth Hockey Hub, and our most popular guest ever. YHH does it all: Hockey tournaments, podcasts, team rankings, blogs, and so much more.
As we approach the new youth/juniors/college seasons, here is a much-need rundown of compelling topics of the day: What has it been like running hockey tournaments during the pandemic? What do you make of the new USA Hockey rules? What can we expect as new new D1 college programs come onboard at St Thomas University and Augustana University? What are the implications for younger players given the bloated NCAA transfer portal? Do teams with more salad play better hockey? And, what is Minnesota enough for Bob?
Plus our usual fun and funny stuff.
Follow https://twitter.com/YouthHockeyHub
Check out  https://www.youthhockeyhub.com/
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the the Ken Klein, the Bill Henry Trio, MC Hopf, the Mo'Nobs, and Bob's Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram
Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a DICK. THIS is Rink Stories.

As we are having a summer, Matt has mixed together a thread of connected excerpts, giving us new insights into the world of puck. Fresh interviews resume with the next episode.

Meanwhile, here's inspiration to go back to the episodes you missed, such as:
#1 - Kasabuski
#5 - Matthew Jasper, creator of the book Home Ice
#8 - John Messuri, Head Coach at Arlington (MA) HS
#13 - Karen Given of NPR's Only A Game
#17 - Cara Morey, Head Coach of Princeton University Women's Hockey
#22 - Kirsten Krull, Ice Side Reporter
#25 - Rebecca Morse,  NWHL All-Star Defender
#30 - Steve Seftel, Author of Shattered Ice
#31 - Digit Murphy, President of the Toronto Six
#33 - Pete Perram, (erstwhile) coach of the Buffalo Beauts
#36 - Gabriel Foley, NHL draft prognosticator
#37 - Joe Bertagna, long-time Hockey East Commissioner
#40 - The Hockey Mom Panel
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the the Bill Henry Trio, MC Hopf, Mo'Nobs, and Bob's Lounge.

If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram

Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

Where producer Matt assembles our favorite takes (and outtakes) from the first 42 episodes. From the silly to the serious to the sublime, what were these guys thinking?

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the Mo'Nobs.

If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram

Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

Craig Barnett, a  6-foot goaltender out of Oakville, Ontario, wears many hats. He is at once the Executive Director of American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), Director of NCAA Compliance and Education for the North American Hockey League (NAHL), and Director of the NJ Titans Academy.
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If you are a youngster with aspirations to continue hockey beyond high school, or the parent of such a player, this is the episode for you. Recorded in late May, Craig Barnett keeps one eye on the Leafs playoff game as he speaks with us about: What is the profile of a typical ACHA player? What are the different Tiers of junior hockey in the United States? What is the deal with these hockey academies? Why do hockey players typically take a "gap year" (or two or three) before starting college? Why do hockey birthdays matter? What is Craig's connection to Arlington MA?

Plus our usual fun and funny stuff, including a recap of Matt's pilgrimage to Kasabuski Arena and HockeyTown USA in Saugus MA, which, after only finding locked doors, turned into beer and chicken wings at the nearby Hooters on Route 1.

Included are snippets from these past episodes:

• #8 & #10 - John Messuri, Head Coach of the Arlington (MA) HS Spyponders
• #37 & #38 - Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East Commissioner
• #39 -  NWHL Playoff Press Conference with Toronto Six Coach Digit Murphy
• #40 - The Hockey Mom Panel

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music by Ken Klein. Additional music from the Mo'Nobs.

If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram

Work hard. Have fun. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

Matt Murray is a  6-1 goaltender out of St. Albert, Alberta, Canada. On April 8th, his stellar performance in the national semifinal game helped propel the UMass Minutemen to  their first Frozen Four championship.
In this intimate conversation, Bob and Matt discuss: What went down behind the scenes after four of your players had to sit out the semifinal game against UMD?  Did you know that Cornell hosted UMass for three outdoor games on Beebe Lake in the 1920s? Who has the best hockey hair on the Minutemen?  Plus, some time in the film room breaking down key plays from the Frozen Four.

Hear excerpts from earlier episodes:
#31 - Digit Murphy, President and Head Coach of the NWHL's Toronto Six
#37 & #38 - Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East Commissioner
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf and is a Remsen Ave Production. Artwork by Ken Klein. Incidental music by Ken Klein, the Mo’Nobs, and Bob’s Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram 
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Work hard. Stay safe. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

Where  Bob and Matt get some new perspectives on bad parent behavior and dealing with hockey stink
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Just in time for Mother's Day, we present the long-awaited hockey mom panel.  On this show we meet:  Jody Anderson, from Roseau MN, the author of Hockey Moms Aren’t Crazy...Well, Maybe Just a Little Bit and a 78 and a 85 hockey mom; Dana O’Connor, from Kingston MN, hockey mom for an 06 and an 09; Kelly O'Connell Taverna of Stillwater MN, an 02 and 03 hockey mom; and Monica Winter, an 05 goalie mom out of Marblehead MA.
In this wide-ranging conversation, the ladies answer some questions never before posed on Rink Stories: If someone were to visit you, what would be the first indication that they are entering a hockey home? What's your problem with soccer people? What pro tips do you have for controlling stinky hockey gear? Plus a few surprising Wrist Shots responses and excerpts from these earlier episodes:

• #5 & #6 - Matthew Jasper, creator of the book Home Ice
• #13 - Karen Given, host of NPR's Only a Game
• #22 - Kirsten Krull, in-arena host for the Minnesota Wild
• #29 - Ken Klein, The Official Artist of Rink Stories
• #36 - Gabriel Foley of Last Word on Hockey
• #37 & #38 - Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East Commissioner

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf and is a Remsen Ave Production. Artwork by Ken Klein. Incidental music by Ken Klein, the Mo’Nobs, and Bob’s Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram 
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Work hard. Stay safe. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

On March 27,  the NWHL crowned an Isobel Cup champion for the first time in 24 months. And what a ride it was: We laughed; we cried; we had COVID interruptus; and, yes, we saw some awesome hockey.
 
Listen in as Pete Perram shares a first-hand portrait of life in the Lake Placid Bubble for the dapperest head coach in the League. Given an oh-too-early tournament exit by the Buffalo Beauts, the erstwhile skipper was free and eager to provide a considered St. Patty’s Day prognostication for the remaining contenders at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston, and we share the outcome, all in one episode. Meanwhile, Bob bumbled into the the media scrum, and his question about a rumored kerfuffle elicited quizzical glares from two of the most distinguished figures in this game we call hockey.
Plus, our usual fun and funny stuff, including highlights from these Rink Stories episodes:

• #10 - John Messuri, Head Hockey Coach of Arlington (MA) HS Spyponders
• #13 - Karen Given, host of NPR's Only a Game
• #16 - Mark Allred of Black N Gold Hockey
• #36 - Gabriel Foley of Last Word on Hockey
• #37 & #38 - Joe Bertagna, former Hockey East Commissioner

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf and is a Remsen Ave Production. Artwork by Ken Klein. Incidental music by Ken Klein, the Mo’Nobs, and Bob’s Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, following, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram 
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Work hard. Stay safe. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

In Part 2 of this double album, Coach Bertagna delivers hockey wisdom for the ages. (Part 1: Storyteller was Episode #37.)
Joe Bertagna was Hockey East Commissioner for 23 years. His latest book, co-authored with Darren Hersh, is Revisiting Goaltending: A Complementing Guide to Today’s Teaching. Please welcome this 5-9 goaltender out of Arlington MA.
To get goalie lessons or one of Joe's books, visit https://bertagnagoaltending.com/ 
Plus, highlights from these Rink Stories episodes:

• #2 - Excerpts from Ken Dryden's book, The Game
• #9 - Doyle Somerby, AHL defenseman
• #13 - Karen Given, erstwhile host of NPR's Only a Game
• #22 - Kirsten Krull, Ice Side Reporter
• #25 - Rebecca Morse (Moose), Metropolitan Riveters defender
• #30 - Steve Seftel, author of Shattered Ice
• #36 - Gabriel Foley of Last Word on Hockey

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf and is a Remsen Ave Production. Artwork by Ken Klein. Incidental music by Ken Klein, the Mo’Nobs, and Bob’s Lounge
If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends
Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram
Check out our new YouTube channel
Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found
Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram 
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Work hard. Stay safe. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.

Joe Bertagna was Hockey East Commissioner for 23 years. His latest book, co-authored with Darren Hersh, is Revisiting Goaltending: A Complementing Guide to Today’s Teaching. Please welcome this 5-9 goaltender out Arlington MA.

In his 50-year career as a player, coach, and college sports administrator, Joe has accrued an impressive array of stories and name-drops that would be the envy of any hockey person. Bill Cleary? Ryan O'Neal? Digit Murphy? Ken Dryden? Scotty Bowman? And many more. 

Plus, Rink Stories name-drops via highlights from these episodes:

• #2 - Ken Dryden's book, The Game
• #8 - John Messuri, Head Coach of Arlington (MA) HS Spy Ponders Hockey
• #17 - Cara Morey, Head Coach of Princeton Tigers Women's Hockey
• #13 - Karen Given host of NPR's Only A Game
• #31 - Digit Murphy, President and Head Coach of the Toronto Six

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To get goalie lessons or one of Joe's books, visit https://bertagnagoaltending.com/ 

The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf and is a Remsen Ave Production. Artwork by Ken Klein. Incidental music by Ken Klein, the Mo’Nobs, and Bob’s Lounge

If you like this podcast, please help us out by subscribing, rating, reviewing, and telling your friends

Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram

Check out our new YouTube channel

Matt's new podcast, Throwin' One Back, is available wherever podcasts are found

Follow Matt on Twitter and Instagram 

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Work hard. Stay safe. Don't be a dick. THIS is Rink Stories.