In this episode of the Mike Squires & Friends podcast, we sit down with AJ Galante to dive into the incredible story of the Danbury Trashers, the notorious United Hockey League (UHL) team. AJ shares how, at just 17 years old, he became the president and general manager of the team, thanks to his father, James Galante, a mafia-connected trash kingpin. We explore the highs and lows of managing a pro hockey team, the influence of his father's connections, and the legacy of the Danbury Trashers. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Mike Squires & Friends is proudly sponsored by DistroKid.

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Crazy Merch:

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00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:32 - How AJ and Mike Met

00:05:24 - The Unexpected Success of Tiger King

00:08:04 - The Identity Crisis of Connecticut

00:10:44 - Blessed with Good Weather and Dad's Attention

00:13:18 - Overcoming Insecurities and Doing it Right

00:15:56 - Growing up with Social Media

00:18:36 - Being Authentic in the Industry

00:21:11 - Shorts Fashion Trends

00:23:51 - Learning to Skate and Getting Invested in Hockey

00:26:39 - Starting a Professional Hockey Team

00:29:23 - Unexpected Offer to Own a Hockey Team

00:31:56 - The Binding Handshake

00:34:49 - Behind the Scenes of the Documentary Production

00:37:37 - Pressure and Mental Toughness

00:40:16 - The Softer Younger Generation

00:42:53 - Life's Ups and Downs

00:45:24 - Drake Follows the Trashers

00:48:17 - Talking to Drake and Smashing Glass

00:51:00 - A Jersey for Drake

00:53:49 - Unexpected Surprise from Drake

00:56:35 - The Chaotic Power of Social Media

00:59:38 - The Balance between Money and Legacy

01:02:22 - Building a Great Team

01:05:07 - Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen

01:07:43 - The Collapse of the Team

01:10:21 - Reflecting on Tough Years

01:13:06 - Finding Passion in Boxing

01:15:59 - Navigating the tough years

01:18:51 - Learning from Failure

01:21:22 - Following the journey

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