Tongues Out! The Hockey Show

We hit the jackpot this week! Somehow, amidst all the chaos that seems to be Winnipeg Jets Training Camp, we are joined by Murat Ates of The Athletic Winnipeg, where he works as a beat writer for the Jets. I have no idea how he found the time to talk to us!

Before talking hockey, Murat explains how he got his start in journalism and how he began covering the Jets. We take the temperature at Bell MTS Iceplex so far, discussing everything from the supposed stubbornness of Paul Maurice, to the great leadership of Blake Wheeler during the Patrik Laine situation. The Jets defensemen are also a hot topic, and Murat goes in depth on how a personnel change might not be the worst thing amongst the blue liners, and he also expresses his excitement for our youngest defensemen still in camp, 18-year old Ville Heinola. Is there any benefit to keeping him with the big club?

After speaking to Murat for close to 30 minutes, Everyone’s favourite co-host parachutes into the episode, and we go on to break down the entire Western Conference with our extremely accurate and unbiased predictions. Do the Jets stand a chance in the completely stacked Central Division? How will Canada’s teams fair in the weaker Pacific? We’ve got it all for you right here!

Enjoy the episode, and don’t forget to check out Murat Ates’s great work at www.theathletic.com ! Thanks for listening, and share this episode with a friend!

The 40th edition of Tongues Out features none other than Local ‘Ditch-Kid’ and 'Beer league Wizard’ Ryan Morgan! Ryan talks glowingly about former Jet Kyle Wellwood, and recalls growing up on the rinks in Westdale here in Winnipeg. His story about one of the biggest goals he ever scored as a kid should hit home with all the kids who grew up playing hockey from a young age.

As the conversation continues, our guest stays and helps break down the Josh Morrissey signing, and of course the crew share their opinion on Blake Wheeler’s interview on TSN from the previous day.

Phil Kessel is also a good guy, evident by the story released in the Players Tribune by Golden Knights Defenseman Shea Theodore, who openly shares about a diagnosis he received at the World Championships in Slovakia this spring.

In a small serving of WHL talk, Timmy also has a VERY hot take on the ticket prices for WHL games here in Winnipeg.

Intertwining the big news, Briggsy recalls a story of Timmy being pushed into a pool with five or six cel phones in his pocket. You know the pod wouldn’t be complete without a ridiculous story like that, right?

The season is right around the corner, and there are no shortage of topics to talk about. Big thanks to Ryan Morgan, who stuck around for what has now become the longest (and possibly the funniest) episode in Tongues Out history.

The gents return for their unofficial second season after a four month summer hiatus, so it’s catchup time! With WHL training camp already under way, Timmy gets you primed for the inaugural ‘Dub’ season in Winnipeg. Is Kevin Cheveldayoff back from the cottage yet ? What will Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine command in salary? As they are two of the premier names remaining unsigned in RFA-land. Late in the episode, we are pleased to be joined by a former teammate-turned-standup-comedian Scott Gray for a short, fun chat, recalling Scott’s dazzling skill on the ice, how he found comedy in his new hometown of Brandon, MB. Briggsy does his best ‘pissed off’ Torts impression, and hits Timmy with a brand new segment inspired by his three year old. The guys show little rust, restoring faith that Tongues Out is the place to go to get the best(or worst) opinions and news on the game today!

It’s our first birthday! Hard to believe we’ve survived an entire year. We must be meant to be, eh? Timmy returns from a week in Halifax, where he’s got plenty of sick stories regarding his Memorial Cup Experience, including important topics like Tim’s love for seafood and beers. Tim flexes his CHL knowledge throughout the first half of the episode before we break down the entertaining Stanley Cup Finals. From Backes to Binnington, to Bobby Orr, there are no shortage of storylines! We turn our attention to the party in Finland, and recap the World Hockey Championships. We then take a quick trip around the league before ending off yet another long and entertaining episode. Here’s to another year!

Welcome to a very special Friday night episode! Your favourite hosts re-unite and it’s clear they missed each other. We dive into the middle of round two, and Timmy is friggin’ pumped the Islanders got swept after what they did to his poor Penguins. Jordan Binnington looks more rattled than Timmy in a beer league game.... and that’s not exactly a good thing for the Blues. We touch on every series, offering up some of the best opinions in the business! Briggsy recalls a story of a guy intentionally shooting him in the nuts during a game back in junior as well. Congrats are in order for the Portage Terriers, for winning the Anavet Cup, and the MMJHL Final was an apparent thriller between Pembina Valley and the local St. James Canucks squad. Enjoy our first weekend edition of the show !

Friend of the show Derek Blanchard subs In for Timmy tonight, and there’s no shortage of things to talk about. We hit the Stanley Cup Playoffs head on, and try to decide if teams like the Jackets, Islanders and Stars are simply flashes in the pan. The fighting debate re ignites after the Svechnikov and Ovechkin scrap, and Cale Makar parachutes in to the Flames/Avs series. Are the Jets and Blues in the midst of a series for the ages? We hit on every series, leaving no stone unturned. Speaking of Stone, Vegas got a good one, eh? Are they headed back to the cup? Enjoy the episode!

Timmy is feeling a bit under the weather, but the boys at Tongues Out aren’t just handsome fellas; they’re dedicated. We’ve got more coaching casualties for ya, we discuss teams odds in Tuesday’s draft lottery. We obviously give you our professional opinion on how the Stanley Cup playoffs will play out. Briggsy takes a break mid episode after his kid (allegedly) hears Timmy pick The Avs to upset the Flames, as he melts down before his bedtime. It’s Whiteout Season, and the boys can’t wait to get in the building! Enjoy our shortest episode yet!

Former NHL Defenseman and Winnipeg native Derek Meech joins the podcast for Episode 34. What an episode we’ve got for you here!

Derek takes the time to reflect on his journey to the NHL from the frozen streets of Winnipeg, where his dream began, like so many others. He recalls a hilarious story of how he found out he was drafted, and shares another another about his first NHL training camp in Detroit, surrounded by absolute legends.

He would finally stick with Detroit in 2007-08, winning the Stanley Cup, and would go on to play over 100 games with the club before signing as a free agent with the reborn Winnipeg Jets in the summer of 2011. He would only skate in 18 games wearing the jersey of his childhood team, however, he would suffer multiple knee injuries and endure a lockout as well. He remembers many of the incoming Atlanta Thrashers first impressions of the city, as some had difficulty adjusting to the winters.

Timmy slides in for the second half of the episode, taking ‘Meecher' back in time to his Memorial Cup winning days, reminiscing of his days in a Red Deer Rebels uniform. Timmy and his dad would often drive up the road to Brandon to watch their clashes with the Wheat Kings.

Meech would partner up with Dion Phaneuf for the majority of his time in Red Deer as well, happily feeding Dion ‘One-Tees’ from the blueline. The two would be chosen to represent Canada at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Finland.

There are many other fun stories, including ones about former coaches Mike Babcock and Claude Noel, and past teammates such as Darren Helm, Nicklas Kronwall, Dominik Hasek, and Cam Ward.

A massive thank you to Derek for lending his voice to the podcast. Enjoy the episode!

We are very pleased to welcome Tim Nanassy to the show this week. Tim is a Physiotherapist and the owner of Sport and Spine Physical Therapy Centre here in Winnipeg.

Tim is as passionate of a Physiotherapist you will ever find, and it’s evident throughout the episode. We touch on his athletic background, which includes everything from wrestling to table tennis, before diving into the world of ‘Physio’.

Tim’s practice takes an ‘Evidence-based approach’ when it comes to assessing an injury or patient. We unpack together my personal experience with a foot condition called Plantar Fasciitis, how it is generally assessed today, including his take on orthotic use, and spending more time barefoot. (Warning: it’s the opposite of what i’ve believed my entire life!) During an assessment, his clinic will also look to other areas either ‘upstream or downstream’ that may be contributing to the injury or condition. Could nutrition or sedentary lifestyle also be playing a factor in your injury as well? Tim doesn’t miss a beat.

“Never chase the pain” is something i’ve learned from Tim, and it’s a mistake i’ve made ever since spraining my ankle back in 2016. Sport and Spine has turned my life around (physically), i’ve become informed, and the least we can do for his practice is to get the word out, and inform you as well!

Tim hails from London, Ontario, and is a mega-fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs. We’re a hockey podcast, so this episode doesn’t come without a good chunk of hockey talk. Don’t mention Patrik Laine and Auston Matthews in the same sentence to him, either!

Enjoy the show! For more info, be sure to check out @sportandspinephysio on instagram, or online at www.sportandspinephysio.com

Ben Fanelli was in control of his own destiny. Drafted to the Kitchener Rangers, he was playing in the OHL as an under-ager at 16 years old, inching closer to his dream of playing in the NHL. In just his 7th OHL game, in October of 2009, Ben was on the receiving end of one of the most devastating hockey hits in recent memory. As a result of the hit, not only was his brain bleeding in multiple places, but his skull was fractured. He awoke in the hospital the day after the incident to doctors telling him he would never play again.

An open book, Ben takes a trip back in time to discuss the hit, his rehabilitation, and ultimately his two year journey back to playing for Kitchener again during the 2011-12 season, even serving as captain during his final season. He credits his community and the Rangers organization for their critical roles in helping him return to sport after enduring the darkest days of his life.

We have a very honest discussion regarding advances in concussion research, and Ben helps bridge the gap between the 'regular joe' and professional athletes in regards to returning to sport, seeking out self-help resources available, and even having conversation with ourselves regarding our physical and mental health.

The conversation continues with Tyler opening up to Ben about his own struggles to find purpose in life after hockey, and how unprepared he was, like a lot of athletes are, for life after the game.

The episode wraps up with Ben reflecting on his time as a Kitchener Ranger, speaking highly of former coaches Steve Spott and Mike Van Ryn, along with former teammates and friends such as Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Murphy, Tobias Reider, John Gibson, and of course.... Ben's best pal and Winnipeg's own 'Golden Boy' Mark Scheifele! (The Scheifele stories are hilarious!)

This is an episode you won't want to miss, as Ben's story is one that needs to be heard, whether you're the parent of a young athlete, an athlete struggling to recover, or someone transitioning out of the game.

Ben Fanelli is the founder of 'EMPWR', "A charitable movement created to advance the recovery of concussion injuries. We exist to support people getting back to sport and back to themselves- faster, better, stronger." for more information, visit www.empwr.ca