Rink Stories

Where Bob and blackngoldhockey.com founder Mark Allred talk Bruins, the Amesbury Maples, the Maples Crossing 2021 opening, and McDavid vs Eichel. 
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In this episode, Bob’s conversation with Mark covers a lot of ground: Mark’s bold prediction for the Bruins, how Black N Gold’s army of reporters will cover the NHL, devastating losses, scouting prospects, McDavid vs Eichel (vs Segiun?), the amazing history of the Amesbury Maples, and the 2021 opening of Maples Crossing, the 6-rink facility in Amesbury.
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Mark Allred is the Founder/CEO/Editor-In-Chief at blackngoldhockey.com, a fan site with copious information about the Boston Bruins, the Providence Bruins, hockey prospects, and the history of the game. He is also 185+ episodes in as the host of the weekly Black N' Gold Hockey Podcast.
Plus, our Rink Stories correspondent from the Toronto NHL Hub delivers his first report.
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Artwork and music this time by the Mo’Nobs, TFIC and Bob’s Lounge.
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Stay tuned for a *throwin’ one back*  excerpt at the end of this episode from the guys who bring you Rink Stories. Podcast coming soon. 

Where Bob discusses the state of women’s hockey with Hayley Moore

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Hayley Moore is the current President of the Boston Pride of the National Women’s Hockey League. A 5-7 forward out of Wakefield Massachusetts, she was a two-year captain and a top 10 all-time career scorer at Brown University.

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In this wide-ranging conversation, Bob and Hayley discuss: her involvement as the first GM of the Boston Pride and as Deputy Commissioner of the NWHL; her philosophy as a youth and HS coach; the evolving developmental path for female players; the greatest moments in NWHL history; her formative years playing at Hockeytown USA and Kasabuski; the history of Brown vs Cornell, and the future of women’s hockey.

Plus, a very special Rink Stories announcement.

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Music this week from the Mo’Nobs, TFIC, and Bob’s Lounge.

Look for the throwin' one back podcast, hosted by Matt Hopf, debuting this week, wherever you find podcasts.

Where Bob and Matt provide their hot takes on hubs, bubbles, and other silliness.
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So, we started talking about the NHL Hubs, the NBA Bubble, and bringing sports back. How will these playoffs work? Which league has the best subplots? Which leagues will actually finish their seasons? What eventuality will cause Bob to eat his Cornell hat?  Plus, an excerpt from a recent article by Bill Littlefield, original host of WBUR’s Only a Game.
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Musical themes adapted from the work of Ken Klein, The Mo’Nobs, TFIC, and Bob Winter.

If you’ve read this far, you really should Subscribe, Rate and Review this show. Like, right now. Please. 

Where Bob discusses The Spanish flu and how it affected the 1919 Stanley Cup final and where Karen Given sits on the continuum of sports fandom - executive producer and host of Only A Game

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Now she is the Executive Producer and host of WBUR’s Only A Game, the NPR sports show. You can hear WBUR’s Only A Game  every Saturday,  at 7 am and 7 pm on 90.9 WBUR-FM in Boston. Storyteller, teacher, editor, sound designer, reporter, and a two-time winner of the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Reporting.

In this episode, Bob and Karen discuss where Karen sits on the continuum of "serious sports fan and steadfast sports avoider," starting out in radio, her time at Car Talk, and three hockey stories you should know from recent installments of Only A Game. The Spanish flu and how it affected the 1919 Stanley Cup final is the first story. Before all that, Matt chides Bob for being a ball of nerves in the presence of a true radio professional. It's a fun episode with true hockey stories from the archives of Only a Game.

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Music is adapted from the work of Ken Klein, The Mo'Nobs, and Bob Winter.

Please subscribe, rate and review.

Where Bob discusses many things with Tony Scott, the man behind the Youth Hockey Hub.
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Minneapolis native Tony Scott is the proprietor of the Youth Hockey Hub, which since 2010 has been a wonderland of information about Minnesota hockey. They put on approximately 18 youth hockey tournaments per year, including their signature event, Squirtacular. Additionally, he does a daily (!) podcast called YHH Hockey Podcasts, team rankings and blogging.

Tony regales Bob and Matt with tales of crappy rinks, tournaments, fights, video production, books, blogs, his competition, the best states for hockey, the problem with Massachusetts hockey, getting kicked out of a game, and much much more. We did not talk about the Cornell Big Red's #1 men's hockey team or its #1 women's hockey team.

Buy Tony's book, The Jersey Project. Listen to his podcast, YHH Hockey Podcasts.

Buy Matthew Jasper's book, Home Ice.
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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Musical performances by Ken Klein and the Mo'Nobs. Follow @RinkStories on Instagram and Twitter.

Where Bob speaks with Dartmouth College junior defenseman Harrison Markell.

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Musical performances by Ken Klein, Bob Winter, and the Mo’Nobs. 

Follow @RinkStories on Instagram and Twitter.

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In this episode, Bob welcomes Harrison Markell, a junior defenseman for the Dartmouth Big Green. They speak about Harrison's journey from learn to skate in Andover MA to ECAC hockey in Hanover NH. Prior to Dartmouth, he was a 3-year player for the Junior Bruins, where in his final year, he was an assistant captain and the top defenseman in the NCDC. In his high school years, he was an all-ISL player with the MIddlesex School in Concord MA. And before that, he was part of a stacked 97 Valley Junior Warriors squad that in 2010 advanced all the way to the USA Hockey semi-finals. 

In addition to his own amazing adventure as a player, Harrison has been fortunate to play against and with some of the best kids in his age group. Bob slavishly evokes a lot of name-dropping and shares a fair amount of Dartmouth (and Cornell) hockey history.

Full disclosure: Bob knows Harrison's dad since Cornell days, and there are a few issues to discuss there. 

Where Bob continues his conversation with Arlington HS Coach Messuri about his playing days and other subjects.

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Music themes adapted from performances by Ken Klein, Bob Winter and the Mo'Nobs.

Follow @RinkStories on Instagram and Twitter.

***Sounds best in headphones***

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In the second of two parts, Bob continues his conversation with Head Coach John Messuri of Arlington (MA) HS. Here, we learn: What was it like to play in Johnstown PA at the rink where they filmed Slap Shot? How real is the stuff that happened in Slap Shot?  Who's more of a celebrity: a Princeton Tiger or a Johnstown Chief? How was it spending 12 hours at lunch with Gordie Howe? What are some keys to raising a good hockey player?

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Please return to Episode 8 to hear the first part of this interview, where Coach Messuri discussed the unfortunate conclusion to the 2020 hockey season.

Where Bob speaks with Cleveland Monster defenseman Doyle Somerby. 

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Musical performances by Ken Klein, Bob Winter, and the Mo’Nobs. 

Follow @RinkStories on Instagram and Twitter.

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In this episode, Bob converses with Marblehead native Doyle Somerby, a 25 year old defenseman who just completed his third year in the AHL as a member of the Cleveland Monsters. Originally drafted by the Islanders in the 5th round of the 2012 draft, he is now the property of the Columbus Blue Jackets, He was a 4-year player at Boston University, including captain his senior year. 

Doyle gives us a glimpse into all phases of his hockey career and answers questions about: His record in AHL fights, youth hockey memories, arriving at BU just as Jack Parker departed, playing in the NCAA final at The Garden, sharing an arena with King James, maintaining fitness during the quarantine, and his perfect record against the Cornell Big Red.  

Where Bob is joined by Arlington (MA) HS Head Coach John Messuri to break down the anticlimactic thud that was the end of the 2020 high school hockey season.

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Music adapted from works by Ken Klein, Bob Winter and the Mo'Nobs.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, follow, rate, review, comment and share with like-minded friends. Follow @RinkStories on Twitter and Instagram. 

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In the first of a two-part conversation, Bob welcomes Arlington HS Head Coach John Messuri to talk about this year's MIAA Super 8 Tournament. What was he thinking when he found out the final game was cancelled? How did he tell the kids? What could the MIAA have done differently? What made this Arlington team so special? How does his public school team hold its own in an area dominated by the Catholic schools? Why does Massachusetts increasingly lag behind Minnesota in producing college hockey players? And other stuff.

John Messuri is the head ice hockey coach at Arlington High School, where his squad is a 2-time and current Massachusetts D1A Super 8 champion. Prior to coaching at Arlington, he was a 2-time D1 state championship coach at Winchester HS. As a player, John was a standout at Princeton University, capturing the 1986 ECAC Rookie of the Year and 1988 Ivy League Player of the Year, He is still still the leading scorer in Princeton Tiger history with 178 points (60G, 118A). 

Where Bob discusses hockey with Scott Lowe of My Hockey Rankings and DMV Prospects

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The Rink Stories podcast is produced by Matt Hopf. Theme and background music adapted from work by Ken Klein and the Mo'Nobs. Keyboard performance of "Far Above Cayuga's Waters" by Bob Winter. 

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In this episode, Bob welcomes Scott Lowe, and they discuss such burning questions as: How does the NCAA tournament simulation work on My Hockey Rankings? How should parents look after their player's post-youth hockey career? What does DMV mean? What is the hockey scene like in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area? How is DMV lacrosse like Massachusetts hockey? Who is the greatest Washington Capital of them all?  

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Scott Lowe is the owner/operator of DMV Prospects, which promotes aspiring young elite players in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He organizes tournaments and camps to get the area's best players together, and he works with players to make the transition from youth and high school to higher levels of hockey. He also curates a ton of content for MyHockeyRankings.com, which compiles comparative rankings for hockey teams all over the country. These rankings are used to seed tournaments, and of course, generate a ton of lively conversation among insane hockey people.

Scott can be reached via Twitter @DMVHockey or [email protected].