The Cam & Strick Podcast

Good things come in small packages, I guess you could say that about Brian Gionta. Seriously though, how does a 5'7" forward from New York grow up to become the Captain of the Montreal Canadiens? Dreams do come true. This guy was an unreal hockey player. A Stanley Cup winner who defied the odds to go on and play over 1,000 career NHL games.  Gionta has a great story about perseverance and always believing in yourself. He also has a boat, which for whatever reason gains you instant credibility with Cam Janssen. He's a winner, which he proved in college at Boston College University before turning pro and carving out a nice career in the NHL. Gionta has a great personality, which he demonstrates in this interview. He plays ball with Cam and Andy and provides great content and entertainment during this exclusive conversation. A Captain with two NHL teams and Captain of the USA Olympic team, Gionta shares an important lesson to all the boys and girls out there....always dream big!

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon sat down with Cam and Strick and answered some tough questions. There have been many rumors and opinions on how he's approached the Carolina organization since taking over the franchise, some fair and maybe the majority unfair. You can decide for yourself. He's made many decisions that have impacted the organization one way or another. From letting go of their longtime radio announcer, to firing GM Ron Francis who might be the most revered player in their history. Francis had his jersey retired by the organization and there were lots of opinions tossed around after he was fired. Dundon has no doubt been hands-on since taking over although he's probably backed off as the team has enjoyed some success on and off the ice. They've sold more tickets, generated way more interest, and likely made more money as a result. Is it a coincidence or should more teams look closely at his approach to running a professional hockey franchise in a non-traditional hockey market? He's helped energize Caniac nation and introduced a "Bunch of Jerks" to a number of fans who paid little attention in recent years. Get to know the Tom Dundon you may think you already know. 

Georges Laraque is widely considered the toughest player of his era. A bad man who was willing to take on all comers, no really, he never turned down a fight his entire career. The fact that he'd say good luck to his opponent prior to each fight is telling of the type of person he is. Laraque is a thoughtful, kind, deep-thinking type of personality. He says he actually hated fighting and says he was scared going into every fight. Actually, it makes no sense considering he never lost a fight, but it shows how sensitive of a personality he carries inside his monster frame. We talk race relations in hockey, definitely a wide-ranging discussion in our country right now, but a real discussion and one we must have. Laraque shares some stories of how he dealt with racism as a young boy and one instance in the NHL where the league had him wear a hidden mic in an effort to catch an opposing player say something that crosses the line. Underneath it all, Laraque enjoyed a long, successful career. He played with some Hall of Fame players, played in small markets as well as Montreal, one of the biggest hockey markets in the league. Few people do as much as Laraque has done away from the game. From spreading his Vegan beliefs to helping the elderly, to even dipping his toes in politics, Laraque is about as well-rounded of a person as you'll find in NHL circles. He also overcame a serious bout with Covid-19.  We promise, you'll be smarter and more educated after listening to this conversation with Cam and Strick. 

Alexei Kovalev, aka AK27, dropped by to chat with Cam and Strick. The former Stanley Cup Champion who played over 1,300 NHL games and registered over 1,000 career points has an incredible story to tell. He was the first Russian player ever to be drafted in the 1st round of the NHL draft and the 1st Russian to get his name on the Stanley Cup. What was it like growing up in Russia and how did he develop arguably the nastiest hands in the history of the NHL? Has he ever seen a player with better hands than him? Listen in to hear his answer. Kovalev played with some of the greatest players ever in Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, and Jaromir Jagr. Why did his point totals drop off in NY with the Rangers? He gives an honest answer, an answer that might surprise some people. Kovalev is considered one of the most talented players to ever play in the game, some former players believe he undoubtedly is. Should he have scored more? How did he handle the pressure of being a Captain in Montreal? He tells us and so much more in this incredible interview. 

Jarmo Kekalainen joined Cam and Strick to talk about his historic climb as a hockey executive. From a successful tenure managing teams in Finland to being among the top amateur scouts in the world, to breaking barriers and becoming the first European General Manager in the history of the NHL, Jarmo was put together quite the resume.  Kekalainen has an extensive draft history from his days in St. Louis that's carried over to his time as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets. What challenges does he face in Columbus? Was he expecting John Davidson to bolt for NY, and which draft puck is he most proud of? Did he have any chance of keeping Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky? Plus his thoughts on selecting Erik Johnson first overall back in 2006. A side of Jarmo Kekäläinen you'll rarely hear, check it out on the Cam and Strick Podcast. 

DP57 is like a little puppy St.louis hockey fans have seen grow up right before their very eyes. He's grown into a prize-winning show dog through his perseverance and love for the game that has him getting closer and closer to 1,000 games played. After being passed over the year before by every team, the Blues selected him late in the 1st round in 2007. Now he's in his third term with the Blues along with being an NHL All-Star and a Stanley Cup champion.  Why does he keep coming back? Does he really love St. Louis that much? How difficult was life as a 19-year-old trying to find your way in a city and county you know very little about? Where did he get his hands?  There were dark days which included missing 13 months and 97 NHL games with a concussion. Remember the Joe Thornton hit? We get into it. In fact, we get into a number of talking topics that will keep you locked into your chair for the entire interview.  Did he really have to ask to come to NHL training camp after the team just drafted him? Sit back and enjoy a conversation rarely heard from David Perron. 

Brad May may not be the biggest name we've had on, but this conversation could go down as one of the best. And don't discount the name Brad May either, this guy won a Stanley Cup, played in over 1,000 NHL games, and arguably scored the most famous goal in Buffalo Sabres history. Brad May dives into several topics, from his relationship with Brian Burke, to fighting in the game, to the infamous sucker punch from Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Moore that led to a lengthy suspension to Bertuzzi. On top of all this, May is a beauty and a great talker, no surprise he's got into broadcasting. Enjoy this conversation with the former 1st round draft pick. 

How far is too far? Parents and youth sports coaches ask this question all the time. Can pushing your kid to the max make them a better athlete? Patrick O'Sullivan was one of the best hockey players in the country growing up. On the outside, he was a talented scorer who had the potential to make it to the NHL. Inside it was a far different story. O'Sullivan endured years of physical and mental abuse, some might even call it torture, at the hands of his very own father. How does this happen? How does this end? Most importantly how much of this is going on without anyone even knowing? O'Sullivan needed security to protect him from his father at the 2003 NHL entry draft. Even though he had top-ten ability, O'Sullivan fell to the 2nd round before being selected by the Nashville Predators. This came on the heels of O'Sullivan finally fighting back after his dad literally pulled him off a team bus following a game in the Ontario Hockey League. A fight that would land O'Sullivan's dad in jail. Meanwhile, O'Sullivan made it to the NHL  suiting up with multiple teams. But how good could he have been and how much of his career was stolen away because of a terrifying upbringing? O'Sullivan has been out of hiding for several years now. He wrote a book, has done countless speaking engagements and told his story. Listen to it from O'Sullivan himself, hear it from him as he takes us through his childhood and a hockey career that included a World Junior Championship, an AHL rookie of the year, and an impressive OHL career. The conversation he has with Cam and Strick will leave you both riveted and heartbroken. He also touches on pst friendships with Dan Carcillo and what he thinks of former Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows.

Jeremy Roenick has had an interesting last few months. The former NHL superstar was enjoying a successful media career before in a blink of an eye, things changed. Roenick lost his gig with NBC Sports following comments he made with our boys over at Spitin' Chiclets. Roenick, now a free agent, opens up about his experience with NBC and how being fired has impacted his life. JR says he was blindsided by NBC's reaction and feels everything happens for a reason, but not without letting his true feelings be known. How is his relationship with his former NBC colleagues? What about Mike Milbury? JR tells all in this interview, the first of its kind since being let go. The conversation switches over to his friendship with Michael Jordan and JR gives us an inside look at what it was like to share the stage in Chicago with the most famous athlete of all time. From Wayne Gretzky recruiting JR to play junior hockey at the age of 14, to his successful playing career, to what's next on the horizon, Roenick opens up in this exclusive conversation. 

Eddie "the Eagle" Belfour...where do we start. This guy is an absolute legend. How intimidating was this guy? Without question one of the top goalies to ever play the game. A Hall of Famer, a Stanley Cup Winner, an Olympic Gold Medalist. His story is crazy, never drafted, and burst onto the NHL scene unlike any goalie in recent memory. In his first season, he won the Calder Trophy, the Vezina Trophy, and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy. Belfour opens the doors and lets us in. Who is he? Honestly, we wanted to know what he's all about. From the 1993 playoffs where he went crazy on the ice, to Mike Keenan, to his special relationship with Chris Chelios, Belfour is a man of few words...until now.