Red, White, & Run Over w/ Cal Huston & Ryan Rucinski

The Phantoms take care of business against the NTDP U17s in their lone game of the weekend, and we break down the win with guests Cal Huston and Ryan Rucinski, and talk about the past few years and legacy going forward.

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This recording is the sole view of the members of the Dump & Chase Podcast.  This is a non-commercial fan production. We are not affiliated with or compensated by the Youngstown Phantoms, the United States Hockey League, or any league, club, or team.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:38

Hello, Phantom fans, and welcome to season eight, episode twenty-five of the Dumpin' Chase podcast. Coming up in this episode, we'll take a look back at the lone game for the Phantoms this past weekend with the NTDPU 17s, as well as look ahead to the final two games of the regular season with a trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We also have a crammed mailbag to get to for fan QA. And for our final edition of Phantom Files this season, we have a double header coming your way with defenseman Cal Houston and team captain Ryan Rusinski joining the show. My name is Sam Olmstead, and joining me as always is Dan Conley. Give them nothing, but take from them everything. And Justin Irwin. Oh, by the way, uh Justin will not be joining us for this episode. Uh, due to, in his words, he came down with a case of Roberto Luongo. If you go if you Google Roberto Luongo and Sick, uh, you'll get the picture. So, Dan, how are we doing?

SPEAKER_09 1:41

Doing well. Sam, you have any have one for yourself?

SPEAKER_05 1:44

I I never get to do this. Should not have Justin on the show more often. I can participate more.

SPEAKER_09 1:52

Now's your time to shine.

SPEAKER_05 1:53

There we go. Let's see here. Bye-bye, boys. Have fun storming the castle. Do you think they'll make it? It would take a miracle. Always have the Princess Bride to fall back on.

SPEAKER_09 2:05

Always. Such a good movie and quotable move, quotable movie.

SPEAKER_05 2:09

Um, so right off the bat, um, here on uh this past Sunday, uh, we hit our uh seventh anniversary of the show. Dan, happy seventh anniversary. Don't have Justin here to Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_09 2:21

I I will celebrate three of those years, but yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:25

Well, I I look at it this way. We made we made the uh the Metallica references before that how long was you know Jason uh Newstead the new guy in Metallica.

SPEAKER_09 2:33

Until he wasn't, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:34

Until he wasn't, um, for many, many years. Do you do you remember back and they even did the documentary? Uh Metallica did the documentary was called Some Kind of Monster.

SPEAKER_09 2:43

Oh, I absolutely remember that.

SPEAKER_05 2:45

And Robert Trujillo joined the band, and then like a week later, they were given the MTV icon award. And like he was like with the band and on stage, he'd only been in the band like a week, and he's like there, like accepting the icon award with Metallica.

SPEAKER_09 3:01

So if he could do it, I'll take it.

SPEAKER_05 3:03

I was gonna say if they if they if if if they if they could jump him in like that after a week, I th I think we can include you in the seven-year festivities.

SPEAKER_09 3:12

I mean, I've been a listener, I've been involved, not involved with it, but I went I was a listener for many years, not before that.

SPEAKER_05 3:18

So um, so something typically uh we do at the end of the episode, we're gonna do at the beginning of this episode, is previewing next week's episode.

SPEAKER_02 3:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 3:28

I mean, I imagine every uh this for many people, this may be the first time they've ever heard something like this. I just imagine everybody tunes out in the last five minutes or so.

SPEAKER_09 3:35

But see, Justin's not here, and our our program is gone haywire.

SPEAKER_05 3:41

There we go. Um, so uh just wanted to point out next week's episode, it it's gonna be kind of an oddball one. Uh the first half of the episode will be a, I guess like a regular season finale. Uh, you know, recapping what's going on, you know, what happened with these games in Cedar Rapids and how everything kind of fleshed out at the end of the season. Uh, the second half of that episode will basically be our first playoff preview episode.

SPEAKER_09 4:04

It's crazy we've already made it here.

SPEAKER_05 4:06

Um, but Youngstown will not be participating in the first round for good reasons, not like Waterloo reasons.

SPEAKER_09 4:12

Uh they're going through everything.

SPEAKER_05 4:16

Omaha's moving up in the world, so uh Waterloo's the new Omaha this season.

SPEAKER_09 4:19

Yeah, if you're looking up at Omaha, you know, you gotta do some deep digging there.

SPEAKER_05 4:22

Yeah. So uh for next week's episode, uh, we'll be previewing the first round matchups of the uh Clark Cup playoffs. Uh we will be uh carrying the water for the Eastern Conference. And as a special treat, as far as looking at the Western Conference, instead of us just listing off the head-to-head and a couple of random stats, we are actually uh welcoming back to the show Joel Norman, the voice of the Omaha Lancers. I see that's why they made the Waterloo joke instead. Yeah, can't can't install the team and then have the broadcaster come on the next week. Uh Joel Norman will be joining us next week uh to give us the Western Conference preview of the uh first round. So really looking forward to that.

SPEAKER_09 5:05

Yeah, I cannot wait to get that get his take on everything.

SPEAKER_05 5:08

So the Phantoms this last week, uh more uh more records in sight or have been set. But actually, right now, both Jack Wilson and Carter Murphy are tied with Andrew Strathman for most assists by a defenseman in a season with 35. So uh we so this last weekend, I mean, we could see this record get broke twice.

SPEAKER_09 5:28

You're right. I um guess when you think there aren't any more records to be broke, there's more records to be broke.

SPEAKER_05 5:37

I you know what I I want to see Jack break the record first, and then I want to see Carter go ahead of him and then see if we can get Jack to make a video for Carter, congratulating him.

SPEAKER_09 5:51

Hilarious. I hope Jack gets to hold on to it for a little bit. Let him go into the break for intermission, at least with it.

SPEAKER_05 5:58

Jack's gotten all these videos this year. I I think it would be hilarious. The like him to do what him break the record and then Carter passes him and then like like does a video for Carter congratulating him. I think that'd be great.

SPEAKER_09 6:09

Oh, anything less than that's gonna be disappointing now if you put that in my head.

SPEAKER_05 6:13

Um, Phantoms, uh, not shocking at all. Uh set a team record for most power play goals in a season. They are now at 67, uh, surpassing the record of 65 that was set by the uh 2014-2015 Phantoms. And we uh discussed with Matt Lipsack last week just what a what a wagon of a team that was.

SPEAKER_09 6:34

Right. It's it's we've been drawing similarities from all-time Phantoms teams all year. We're finally to the point in the season where it's all just kind of came come together and we can give a truthful. I think we can really figure out where they fall in the pecking order with that stuff. And this power play has been good from game one to game 60. And I hope from game 61 on for the rest of the year it continues to move at the pace it's moving at.

SPEAKER_05 6:57

Um, so next on the agenda uh here, uh, we're gonna go over a little bit. Uh coming down to the end of the season, of course, uh the big topic is uh the Anderson Cup. Um, and we're down to the point now. There were there was five teams in the mix there. We are down to two. Uh Youngstown and Sioux Falls. Um now, as of recording, uh Sioux Falls has 85 points with three games remaining. So their max points this season would be 91. Now Youngstown currently 89 points with two games remaining, their max is 93. The goofy thing with the Anderson Cup that if two teams end up tied for the Anderson Cup, the the the honor is shared. There's no tiebreaker or anything like that for it.

SPEAKER_09 7:46

How do they figure out home home ice advantage for the cup finals?

SPEAKER_05 7:50

That well, that doesn't go by the well, I mean, if you have one team winning the Anderson, then yeah, that would be the it would be by points. If there was a tie, then for that case, I imagine it would go to tiebreakers.

SPEAKER_09 8:01

Uh not like rock, paper, scissors.

SPEAKER_05 8:04

Yeah, flip a coin, draw a straw. Yes, I mean as far as the Anderson Cup being shared in the history of the Anderson Cup, that's only happened one time so far. And that was that that was way back, and you know it was way back, way back in 04-05. That was Cedar Rapids in Omaha.

SPEAKER_09 8:19

And uh Cedar Rapids probably the same coach back then.

SPEAKER_05 8:22

Yeah, it's I I I don't know how it works if you share the Anderson. I don't know if it's like a bad divorce agreement.

SPEAKER_09 8:29

Yeah, do you get like half the flag?

SPEAKER_05 8:31

Yes. We we get the cups on the weekdays, you get it every other weekend. Um I I don't know how that would work out.

SPEAKER_02 8:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 8:42

So right now Youngstown's in a position. Um, to guarantee, this is when we start talking about magic numbers again. To guarantee at least a tie for Youngstown, the magic number is two. For them to win it outright is three. Um, so Sioux Falls plays on Tuesday, so there's a possibility this game is going to be played before this episode even comes out.

SPEAKER_09 9:06

Right.

SPEAKER_05 9:07

Most likely that will be the case. I might be uh I might not even start editing until after that game's over. I might have to put a drop in here. And we're not laughing now. Hello, Phantom fans, future Sam here. Now, when we recorded this, we went through the different scenarios of how the Anderson Cup race would shake out depending on the result of the Sioux Falls Des Moines game on Tuesday night. As I sit here now, there is a result. Des Moines has beaten Sioux Falls 4-3 in what turned out to be a thrilling game, I hope you got to watch. So, with that, the Phantoms are guaranteed a share of the Anderson Cup, and there is only one scenario remaining. The magic number is one. Any point gained by the Phantoms in these last two games, or any point lost by Sioux Falls in their last two games, will mean Youngstown will have sole ownership of this season's Anderson Cup. Carry on. At this point, we'll take a look here real quick at the Eastern Conference standings. And this, and uh, and I'm gonna point out something along the way here. Um, Youngstown in first place, of course, with 89 points. Their seed is locked. Obviously, you know, they've won they've won the Eastern Conference regular season championship. Gotta make sure I throw in regular season. Apparently, that upsets some people.

SPEAKER_09 10:35

I I caught you did that right away, too.

SPEAKER_05 10:37

So, yeah, obviously Youngstown is locked into the number one seed. Um, Cedar Rapids currently in second place uh was 79 points. Basically, they can go anywhere from the two seed to the four seed. Uh Debuke in third right now was 78 points. Uh, so they have one game in hand to Cedar Rapids right now. Uh Debuke the same. They could go anywhere from the two to the four seed. Uh Green Bay in fourth place with 78 points. They can jump anywhere from the two seed down to the five seed. Muskegon, who is good lord, just a downfall in the past in the past couple of months.

SPEAKER_09 11:13

When did that downfall start, Sam?

SPEAKER_05 11:15

Um and we talked about this back after that, where I had made the comment, it'll be really interesting to see after that Muskegon series, kind of what was young, was that going to be a wake-up call for Youngstown? What was the trajector what was the trajectory of Youngstown going to be after that? You know, was that gonna be a wake-up moment? Were they gonna stumble after that? And kind of the same thing with Muskegon, and I am furiously looking through notes here because I wrote it down somewhere.

SPEAKER_09 11:46

They are six, seven, and one.

SPEAKER_05 11:47

Yes, they said since since then they are six, seven, and one. Yeah, so yeah, Youngstown in that stretch 10, 2, 0, and 1. So you know, I pointed out before it'll be interesting to see uh how Youngstown responds after that series, and I I think at this point it's safe to say it was a wake-up call.

SPEAKER_02 12:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 12:05

Youngstown had been cruising for a good long period of time there, and then Muskegon comes in for three games. Youngstown got punched in the mouth, and they responded.

SPEAKER_09 12:14

Yeah. What's Mike Dyson say? Everyone's got a plan to get punched in the mouth, and I think that punch didn't taste very good, and they learned from that.

SPEAKER_05 12:22

So yeah, Muskegon in fifth place with 74 points. Um, at this point, they could either end up as the uh four or five seed. And then uh Madison in sixth place with 67 points. They are the only other team in the conference right now where their seat is locked. If you go, this is the point I wanted to bring up. If you go to the Western Conference right now, um Sioux Falls in first place in the West, their seat is locked. Fargo is second place in the West, their seat is locked. Three, four, five, six are not settled yet. We are going into this last weekend with basically eight seeds up for grabs. I honestly cannot remember the last time that's been the case. Usually you come into the last weekend, you're talking maybe one or two spots in each conference. Everything's pretty much settled up. You're looking at one or two teams in each conference, that what happens that last weekend decides the final seeding. Uh Youngstown two through five, or I'm sorry, the Eastern Conference seeds two through five, and the Western Conference seeds three through six are not determined yet. That's all gonna take place this coming weekend.

SPEAKER_09 13:26

Yeah, the only thing that's determined from Eastern Conference is Cedar Rapids and Dubuque are guaranteed a home game, if not a bye. Um, I remember last year, didn't the Eastern Conference wasn't like one through four was up for grabs the last weekend of the season? And the Fathom is like one all three games. But yeah, I don't remember about the uh Western Conference. I think Lincoln pretty much had Western Conference locked up pretty soon, pretty early last year. But yeah, so you know it comes down the end of the season where a lot of times we're teams don't have much to play for. You don't know what kind of what kind of hockey you're gonna see, but this year, this last you know, this last weekend of the season, it's gonna be uh a lot of high-stakes hockey being played.

SPEAKER_05 14:01

Yeah, there is. It's it's it's gonna be one of yeah, one of the more interesting weekends we've had. Uh final weekends of the season we've had here in a long time.

SPEAKER_09 14:10

You know something, Sam? I this is something I love. I'm gonna bring up soccer. Uh people hopefully don't turn off because of this, but the English Premier League, they have 20 teams in their cut in their division one, and like the bottom three get relegated every every single year. So the last game of the season, they have all the teams play at the same exact time, and so there is no tanking that goes on because obviously the bottom three teams don't want to be finished at the bottom because they don't want to be relegated and make way less money. So the English Premier League plays all 20, so there's 10 games all at the same time, all on the same day. So people, as you're playing, you don't know who's gonna win the win the win the table, win the championship, and they don't know who's gonna get relegated. So you gotta go out there and play your game without knowing how anybody else is doing. It's pretty cool how they do that.

SPEAKER_05 14:53

So, with that, let's go ahead and jump into an abbreviated weekend recap.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

It's the weekend recap.

SPEAKER_05 15:05

So this past Friday and Friday alone, the Phantoms take a trip to Plymouth, Michigan for one game with the National Team Development Program U-17 squad. Uh, the Phantoms picking up a 6-2 win in this game. And I just want to point out that I had using statistics, I actually predicted this score last week.

SPEAKER_09 15:24

A lot of times they say you can get numbers to say anything you want them to say. You got them to say what the score is gonna be. So good job.

SPEAKER_05 15:30

Because I said the the average score of a U17 game this season is them losing six to two. So thank you, statistics, for making me right. We we always we always say that any it most of the stuff we say on here are based on what the statistics are as of the time of recording.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

Right.

SPEAKER_05 15:50

That may be the first time that projecting out using statistics actually worked out for me. So I mean, yeah, I mean it's a it's a typical U-17 game, especially the way it's gone this season. Typical starts of the game, that you know, the game's tied after one. Not not not a ton of back and forth between the two teams, um, but just kind of your typical, just kind of a slow start. Each team gets a goal in the first period. Uh, Braden Thompson in this game and going net front to get this one, which is even more astounding when you have someone who's a defenseman playing as a forward.

SPEAKER_09 16:21

We already had some in that front, so he went like in front of the net front. You went to the net front net front.

SPEAKER_05 16:27

So he he goes there to create, he go, he crashes the net to pick up his uh second goal as a forward this season. Um, so yeah, two games at forward, two goals. I mean, that's that's pretty good. I I feel like there might be a missed opportunity here.

SPEAKER_09 16:41

I think uh going off your statistics that you talked about to predict this game, uh two games forward, two goals. I think that's uh one to uh you know, there's always if this defensive thing doesn't work out, Braden, you can always fall back to be a forward.

SPEAKER_05 16:54

Yeah. And I and I'll tell you what was crazy to me was uh the Logan Anderson goal. And it and I mean it was it was so blinking you'll miss it. Uh pucks by pucks behind the net, uh, whichever USA goaltender was in net at the time, goes to play the puck behind the net. Cooper Simpson creates a turnover and just it was created the turnover, got it to Anderson in the front of the net and the pucks in the back of the net. And I mean, it's less than half a second.

SPEAKER_09 17:19

Yeah, it had to be like an 80-mile-an-hour pass.

SPEAKER_05 17:21

It was so bang, bang, bang. Yeah, you know what I mean? And it was like I had to go back and look at it so many times because like live, I didn't like live, I couldn't follow it.

SPEAKER_09 17:30

I I think before the game, we uh I think I said CN Logan playing on a line with uh Rizzo and and Cooper, how he was gonna look and what he was gonna be able to do on there. And I'll tell you what, I think he found himself with more chances than he's ever found himself with in a game. And I think if he was to play with that line more often, there were chances that Cooper and Rusinski were giving him, which I don't think he was ready for because he hasn't really normally the lines he's playing with, you're they're grinding, just working up, getting offensive pressure. This line here, this is the line that you know generates the offense. So he wasn't really ready with that. He was ready for the 80-mile-an-hour pass from Cooper Simpson. That's that was crazy. That was probably the hardest chance he had the whole entire night.

SPEAKER_05 18:07

Oh my gosh. Um, then we then we got to see the uh five defensemen on the power play there towards the end of the game. Yeah, it's got it's kind of like an end of the season treat for us.

SPEAKER_09 18:16

Yeah, it's it's it's cool that the coaching staff does it, everyone loves it. It just shows they're having fun, they trust one another, and but they're still and they're still competitive. It's not like a throwaway, they still did well on the on the power play unit with the five defensemen. That was that was great.

SPEAKER_05 18:32

I don't I don't I don't know if that says more for Youngstown or says less for the 17s. I just don't look into it too much, but yeah, it's uh I mean my god, Jackson Adams was that close. If they if they would have put if he would have been able to put that in, because that that was off the deflection, right? Like he was trying to deflect it. Yeah, I mean if he would have put that in, I think that entire bench may have jumped onto the ice to celebrate that one.

SPEAKER_09 19:00

I feel like we're kind of robbed of experience. I think when they did it last year, it was at home. Yeah, so we got to see the bench's reaction, we have to tell the players like how happy they were. We don't really we really didn't get to see that, but obviously they were all super, super stoked for them to go out there and try to do that.

SPEAKER_05 19:12

Well, that and when you're at the arena and it happens, it it kind of takes a second for it to sink in.

SPEAKER_09 19:17

Yeah, you're like, there's one, there's two.

SPEAKER_05 19:20

Like, wait, why why is Cal playing down in the corner? And then, like, it's just you start working your way around, you're like, wait a minute.

SPEAKER_09 19:25

Yeah, no, it's like, why is Cal taking a face off? And you're like, Oh, wait, wait, he should be taking a face off. But he unfortunately lost one.

SPEAKER_05 19:32

Yeah, he messed that. Yeah, had had that good face-off percentage going. Messed it all up on Friday. But no, you know, and it was like we said last week, they didn't they they didn't need to, you know, pull an Omaha. And I just I'm just saying that just to point it out again. They didn't need to pull an Omaha and you know, put a 10 spot on him.

SPEAKER_02 19:49

Right.

SPEAKER_05 19:50

Um, they did not need to go crazy in this game. Just do what you needed to do to win this game, and that's exactly what they did.

SPEAKER_09 19:56

Yeah, they um the first like you said, the first period, 17 sets and fighting them, second, third period, there wasn't much left in them. And uh they got another healthy. Everyone got a little bit, you know, they spread around the offensive um play, spread around the power play. I think they check marked almost every single box to get it check marked off and still got away with the win. So and in consensus measure too, getting it that way.

SPEAKER_05 20:19

No, but I and I think I brought it up on the live chat too. Uh these games, these these five games with the 17s, the first period, Youngstown outscored them eight to five. So they were a plus three in the first period. Uh the second period, they outscored him 18 to 2. So that jumps to a plus 16. And then in the third period, they outscored him 15 to 3, so that was a plus 12. So explain. Yeah, a lot. Yeah, overall outscored the 17s this year 41 to 10.

SPEAKER_09 20:46

Yeah, they um they did well.

SPEAKER_05 20:50

Yes, they did. Um, but yeah, at the end of the day, they do what they did what they needed to do. Uh, nobody came out of it with a suspension. Finger fingers crossed, you know, good. That's what that's what we'll see. Like game, we'll see games like that in a big weekend. And it's like, okay, nobody come out of this injured, nobody come out of this injured. So uh fingers fingers crossed, as far as we know, we're still good going into this final weekend.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

Right. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:15

So I mean, yeah, it's this is the problem. We get that see in past seasons, this this is the last weekend of the season, and we're sitting here going, okay, what else can we say about the N T D P uh the N T DP program? And it's I you know, and it the one the the one observation I really made was that when you look at the 17s, there is a lot of individual talent on that team. As far as them playing like a team, they're still far away from that. And I I saw I saw a lot of cases, especially the first and second period, of like you 17 players just kind of going into business for themselves.

SPEAKER_09 21:48

Yeah, they've always they're always been quick, they've always been quick to counterattack, but they've always lacked in the defensive area. And that has to do with maturity of play style, you know, physical ability. Their goal is never really have good stats, but they get peppered with shots every single game.

SPEAKER_02 22:03

So yeah.

SPEAKER_09 22:04

And we and we see the 18s right now are playing really good. And you know, there's a big step between 17 and 18 year seasons. And uh every year I think the 17s like when they come in, like, oh, this is a really highly titled class, they're gonna be much better this year. They somehow go the other way. They somehow go the other way every year.

SPEAKER_05 22:19

Yeah. But that I mean, in years past, it was uh I mean, obviously the 17s would obviously struggle at the beginning of the season, but it like kind of like the halfway point, they would start to pick it up. And I I mean, how many years ago was it the first time that uh USA you know made it to the playoffs? Uh the the first time that Youngstown played Fargo, we beat the 17s in the Eastern Conference Championship to get to the finals. And they I mean it was uh you know, they would develop into a very good team by the end of the season, and now it feels like we don't really see it with that roster until kind of halfway through the 18th season.

SPEAKER_09 22:56

Right. And you you ask yourself, is it players are not going to the program as as you know, the prospects aren't going there, or are the rest of the teams catching up and getting better? And I think the answer is a little bit of both.

SPEAKER_05 23:06

So with that, it is now time for the Dumpin' Chase podcast three stars of the week. So kicking it off with the third star.

SPEAKER_09 23:12

Our third star is Jack Hextall. He had one goal and one assist on the weekend.

SPEAKER_05 23:17

And since I was gonna say, since we're down to a two-man group, the second star of the weekend.

SPEAKER_09 23:21

That's all that brings us to Cooper Simpson, our second star of the week. He had also had a goal and assist on the weekend.

SPEAKER_05 23:27

And our first star of the week goes to our guest here, coming up in a little bit, Ryan Rusinski. One goal, one assist with the uh game-winning goal on the power play. So, with that, we're gonna take a quick break. Phantom Files part one with Cal Houston is coming up next, right here on the Dump and Chase podcast.

SPEAKER_06 23:54

I'm Tim and I'm Dan and Chris. This is Pitchmen, the Steel Valley Soccer Podcast.

SPEAKER_04 24:01

We cover all things high school soccer in the Poning Valley.

SPEAKER_06 24:04

Catch our episodes on Spotify or visit our website for the skill in the back of the net.

SPEAKER_04 24:10

The teams Mitchell with the shot! Go!

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And the soundboard is the best next.

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For more information, go to steelvalysoccer.com.

unknown 24:22

That's boot.

SPEAKER_05 24:29

And we are back with the Dump and Chase podcast. So for part one of this week's edition of Phantom Files, we welcome back to the show a native of Boardman, Ohio, who is wrapping up his second season with the Phantoms. He is making his sixth appearance on the podcast. And because of that, I have written paragraphs of intros for him over the years. So I will spare him this time and quite simply say, please welcome our first guest this week, Phantoms Defenseman Cal Houston. Cal, uh, sixth appearance. Welcome back, bud.

SPEAKER_11 25:00

As always, thank you guys for having me.

SPEAKER_05 25:02

So I went back and looked. When it comes to my text messages, I'm a pack rat. Um, I hardly ever delete anything. So I was able to go back and look. It was uh June 1st, 2022. Uh, was the first time I interviewed you. Um, after you were drafted, it was kind of an organizational meeting happening at Deep Freeze. Um, we were able to get you to come down. Uh does it feel like four years?

SPEAKER_11 25:27

Not really, no. Um, it feels like that was two months ago at that first app, and everything's really been flying by.

SPEAKER_05 25:34

It's just I I think back and it I like I visual like the first the first I met you, you were coming up the steps to that upper area, which I guess now is like a workout room. Yeah, you're yeah, the first time I met you, you were coming up the steps, and in my head, you might as well have had like a SpongeBob backpack and like a giant lollipop in your hand. Just like like, oh, who is this kid coming up? And then yeah, four years later, man. You know, and we've talked we've talked so much over the years. Because I I believe your first um the season after you were drafted, you were still with Penz Elite that season, and then the next season you were in Maryland. Yeah, and we just kept talking about like just you know, waiting for that day when you finally come up to the Phantoms and you know, you get to skate, you know, you you know, you're in the starting lineup, you get to skate out on the ice, your name's announced, you're uh for a while saying Youngstown, Ohio. It's uh they actually changed recently to Boardman. Was that your request, or did everybody just kind of finally get that right?

SPEAKER_11 26:30

No, I think they finally just uh switched it to Boardman. I was fine. I'm fine with either or.

SPEAKER_05 26:36

Now, see, I I l grew up and lived down in Calcutta, so everybody was always like, oh, so you're from East Liverpool, and it's like no. I was always very adamant to make sure that people knew there was a difference between the two.

SPEAKER_11 26:49

So Yeah, if I had to pick, I would prefer to hear Youngstown, but Boardman's okay.

SPEAKER_09 26:54

Yeah, as somebody who's from Austin Town, I get why you wouldn't want it to be known that you're from Boardman.

SPEAKER_05 26:59

I get so right off the bat, I I did want to congrat I've been holding on to this for a few weeks now. I did want to congratulate you. Um, here a few weeks back at Cavelli, you had the uh goal against Madison. Um, I just wanted to congratulate you because neither was that shot deflected or was it reviewed afterwards. So I mean, you had to really be pumped that you were just able to score a goal and skate back to the bench with no worries.

SPEAKER_11 27:24

Yeah, definitely. That was nice. Um, and some of the guys are actually joking with me about it because all the other ones, there's there's been a bit of a hassle with it, but it was good to just score on the bench and have the game keep going.

SPEAKER_05 27:36

Because I I know you scored it and we were sitting there and we kept looking at the refs, like, all right, are they gonna take a look at this? Because we just know what your history is.

SPEAKER_11 27:44

Yeah, I know me too.

SPEAKER_05 27:45

And once once they got everybody lined up to drop the puck at center, it was like, all right, we're good.

SPEAKER_11 27:50

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 27:51

It's his goal. So uh, and uh another thing here just this past weekend, your guys' uh lone game with the 17s, and you guys did this last year, um, if I remember correctly, the uh five defensemen power on the uh power play. Um, how do you feel that went?

SPEAKER_11 28:06

Uh I mean, I thought it was pretty good, honestly. I wasn't too focused. Uh, I hate to say it, but as I was skating out there, I was just giving it to all the USA kids, like letting them know we got 5D out here. Um, so I wasn't too focused once that puck dropped. But uh once it got cleared back down, I was kind of locked in and ready to go. But I thought we did a good job. Um, had a couple good looks. Uh it would have been nice to score one, but obviously that's always fun when you hit a 5D out there and everyone on the bench is loving it. So yeah.

SPEAKER_05 28:37

What is that something that was planned in advance, or are you just are you guys just on the bench and Ward's like, all right, you five get out there?

SPEAKER_11 28:44

Um so it was kind of planned last year. We called it the bomb a clot unit. Um so obviously it was the same thing, 5D. And then I think when we got that power play, Guter went over to Wardo and told him, hey, put the bombaclot unit out there. Um so this year it's not as uh specific, it just kind of 5D go out. Um whereas last year we had a set unit with set spots um in a couple plays, but uh this year it's a little bit all over the place. But like I said, it's still great to get out there with 5D.

SPEAKER_05 29:13

Is there any point here that you're afraid you're gonna lose Braden Thompson to the forward group?

SPEAKER_11 29:17

Or uh we always joke with him about that because he's played two games at forward and he scored twice. So we we tell him, hey, BT, it might might be a sign you just gotta play forward. Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_05 29:29

So uh talking about uh Maryland and everything else, um, you know, you know, your journey through junior hockey mirrors uh you know your teammate, Owen Leepak. Um I mean, so over the last three years, I mean, what has it meant to you? Um, you know, you two, you know, both of you starting in Maryland, um, you know, and then both coming to Youngstown at the same time, spending the last couple of years in Youngstown. I mean, what has that meant to the two of you?

SPEAKER_11 29:50

Yeah, I mean, it's truly meant a lot. I think Owen and I have uh created a great bond, um, especially in Maryland. Uh, we were kind of in similar situations. We thought maybe we should have been on the Phantoms that year, and we both got sent down. So we kind of got to bond over that and just coming here made things even stronger. And we talk a lot um at the rink and stuff. Just hockey, not hockey. I know he's always gonna be in my corner as as I'm always gonna be in his corner. But yeah, it's been great to watch him grow as a person and a player.

SPEAKER_09 30:21

Uh speaking of Owen, um I forget he would set it to us, but do you change his music on away games when he's starting?

SPEAKER_11 30:28

We heard in Maryland uh I sit behind him on the bus. We would sit up front with the coaches because obviously the rookies don't get to go in the back. Uh so he was he was the second seat, I was the third seat right behind him, and on game days he doesn't look at his phone. So he just hand the phone over the seat. I wouldn't have to say anything, I just click next to get right back to him. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

That's wild.

SPEAKER_07 30:53

If I was seeing that story regularly, I would just think that's just like a BS story, but it's obviously not.

SPEAKER_11 30:58

Yeah, it's it's legit.

SPEAKER_05 31:00

Uh how how many times did that have to happen before you're finally just like, you know what, I'm okay with this?

SPEAKER_11 31:05

Um, I think I was okay with it uh from the start, because obviously, as everyone knows, goalies are a little bit off.

SPEAKER_02 31:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_11 31:11

So I was like, hey, especially in Maryland, I was like, hey, if this if he gets the job done and this is what helps him, I'll do it every time.

SPEAKER_09 31:17

So anybody ever recommend like a stylist where he wouldn't literally be touching his phone, but like something in the object would be touching it.

SPEAKER_11 31:24

Uh I don't think so, really. He like he won't even look at it at all. It's it's so he tells Siri to or he asks Siri what time it is to set timers. Um it's it's kind of weird.

SPEAKER_05 31:37

So is it like is it like after the game's over?

SPEAKER_11 31:39

Is he like right back on his phone or uh not right back on it, but that that's the time when obviously he's allowed to go on it. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_05 31:48

If I mean if I were you guys, I would just be sending him real screwy stuff all day long. Just just so he would have all of it to look at when he finally got back on it that night.

SPEAKER_11 31:56

Yeah. That'd be funny.

SPEAKER_09 31:58

All right, so uh a little bit of self-reflection here. Where do you think your area of biggest improvement has been hockey-wise, over your junior career?

SPEAKER_11 32:06

I think my defending, honestly, I think um going into Maryland, making a jump to junior hockey was tough, especially playing in the knall. Um, I know it's the east, not like the south or anything, but it's still hard. You're playing against big guys, hard guys every game. So I kind of had had to learn how to use my feet. Whereas in used hockey, I kind of just relied on my stick. I wouldn't have to work a ton, but um in Maryland I'd use my feet a lot um because I wasn't a big guy, and then coming to Youngstown, same thing. They their sticks get better. Um, they're still bigger, faster, stronger guys. So I think defending has been a huge improvement for me. I think that's probably the highlight of my game right now. I like to view myself as an elite defender. Um, and with that being said, I'd say my offensive game too, uh, my Maryland night a little bit uh more of a leash there, coming in as a newer guy, and I got a lot of room to work. And then coming here, like I said, everyone's sticks are so good, it's it's hard to make plays. Um, but I think this year especially, I've been given a good leash from Guter and Ward O to try and make things happen and make some plays. And I think it's it's worked out for me.

SPEAKER_05 33:09

Um, so something we've seen a lot from you this year, um, on the especially on the penalty kill, uh, you know, we'll see you a lot of times, uh, you know, net front. Um, the puck comes down low, you'll just lay down flat on your stomach. Um, how much does your mother hate you doing that?

SPEAKER_11 33:25

Um, she doesn't really make comments about it, uh, but uh it kind of makes me nervous sometimes because uh last year in practice, right before playoffs started against Muskegon, uh working on PP and PK. So same thing, I'm laying down at the net front and it's to my left. The puck goes down to the goal line on my left. So I lay down, the goal line guy passed it to the bumper, and the bumper was landing resendez. So I'm head down looking this way, and I see the puck go up, I look up, he takes a one-time or drills me right in the neck. So, like, and I had a big puck mark right there along the neck. Luckily, I was okay, but since that happened, I sits in the back of my head whenever I lay down, and then actually we were in Green Bay a couple weeks ago for the dad's trip. I laid down, they ripped it right back up to the half wall. Um, and one of the Green Bay guys, Carcone took like an offside one tier catch and shoot and drilled me right in the chest. So uh that sits in the back of my head, but uh she's okay with it.

SPEAKER_05 34:23

That that she's told you. Yeah, if they once you're done, she'll tell you the truth. Yeah, this will be this will be a confession later on down the road. All right, hockey players are notorious for getting dressed up for game days when they arrive.

SPEAKER_09 34:35

Uh I'm not talking about like special Jays where you like you wear like something special for you know, whatever Christmas, but look, does anything go into your attire that you select when you go to the game?

SPEAKER_11 34:45

Um not really, no. I've kind of been moving away a bit from the suit and tie, like more of the relaxed look, I guess, in a sense. Like um obviously still wearing tress shoes and some dress pants, but uh throwing on like a quarter zip or throwing on a cre a crew neck with uh with a collard shirt underneath. Um I think that's kind of what I've been going for. I got this nice little jumpsuit that I pull out here and there. Uh, but I've been trying to stay away from the original suit and tie.

SPEAKER_09 35:14

Do you like double anything up? Say if you have a great game and you win, do you wear like something similar from the next game, or is she just just uh not really.

SPEAKER_11 35:21

No, I like to mix and match and change things up. I wouldn't say I'm too superstitious with uh what I wear, but with other things I definitely am.

SPEAKER_09 35:30

Over years you've worn many like special jerseys. Many of them stick out in mind that you'd like more than others.

SPEAKER_11 35:35

Um I'd say this thing Patty's uh ones from last year were probably my top three, and then this year the bill of appreciation ones um with all the names on them. And I I thought those colors were great. I like that creamish color. I thought the purple on that was great. Um so I'd say those two uh I was a big fan of.

SPEAKER_09 35:54

I'd say the fans agree with you because those went for some mucho money after the.

SPEAKER_11 35:57

Yeah, I did definitely.

SPEAKER_09 35:59

Um when you when you're playing at a wave barns, um what's like your least favorite? They all have their own goal horn and like post celebration of some place, turn off the lights when the goal is scored. What's your least favorite that you've experienced?

SPEAKER_11 36:12

Prize City 100%. They have the lights, so as soon as you get scored on, it kind of dims down and the lights start going crazy and they just blare in your eyes on the bench. That's definitely the most annoying.

SPEAKER_05 36:25

Is it like um good? Oh no, I was just gonna ask. I mean the j just in general, I mean I mean, not not just that you're the away team, but like the teams that'll do the blackouts as soon as the goal is scored. Like, I mean, does that I mean does that kind of bother you as like now, you know, especially if there's a case of there might be something janky to this goal that they've gotta go look at. You know what I mean? The lights are out.

SPEAKER_11 36:49

Yeah, I mean not really, no, because um you get to skate back to the bench and you just hope Wardo's not looking at you when the lights are off. So that I might kinda like that because you know if if something doesn't go your way and you get scored on your as you're skating back, he's gonna be eyeing you down. So the the darkness kind of helps.

SPEAKER_08 37:12

Does it hurt worse when he just stares at you that is as opposed to yelling at you?

SPEAKER_07 37:16

Oh yeah, that's the worst.

SPEAKER_05 37:18

I'm not I'm not mad at you, I'm just disappointed.

SPEAKER_08 37:24

Um yeah, we Frozen 4 is coming up here. Any predictions on who's gonna take it?

SPEAKER_11 37:29

Um I gotta go North Dakota, I'd say. Um NCHC team, so obviously same conference as Miami, and then obviously Stratty um has a big part of that team, so I'd I'd say North Dakota.

SPEAKER_07 37:42

Thank you for not saying Michigan.

unknown 37:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 37:45

You know, not not not looking ahead so much. I mean, you get you guys, you know, have taken the Eastern Conference this season, you will, you know, be in the playoffs this year. Um, you know, your first, you know, you were drafted, your first year in the Phantoms organization is, you know, when the Phantoms, you know, won their first cup here a few years back. Think thinking back on like what that whole thing was like uh back then, and then like what what are you looking forward to? Um, expect you know, coming into the playoffs like this year, just kind of you know, being somebody who was on the sidelines the last time around.

SPEAKER_11 38:16

Yeah, obviously super excited. I think we definitely have something to prove. Um last year we definitely didn't show our best against Muskege, and that's not how we wanted to go out at all. So I think I'm just really excited to get things going. As soon as that puck hits the ice, I know it's gonna be a close check-in game no matter who we play. Um, and like you said, it's good to it's good to be in the game and not um on the sidelines compared to where I was when they're they won the Clark Cup. So I'm just excited, honestly.

SPEAKER_05 38:43

So we have been joined by Phantom's defenseman Cal Houston. Um, Cal, I apologize. I'm gonna get a tiny bit sappy here. Um it it it it has been uh four years now with you here. I I I think you know, when people talk about like you know, legacies and everything else and kind of what they leave behind, you are somebody I feel like, you know, and you've talked about in the past, you know, you learned how to skate, you learned how to play hockey at deep freeze, you know, and when you were going through those programs and everything else, there really wasn't, you know, somebody local for the coaches to point to and be like, you know, look at this guy. He started here doing what you're doing. Um, I think that is going to be such a massive benefit going forward, you know, for people like Brad Patterson and, you know, the other coaches at Deep Freeze and just the work they've been doing with the Phantoms Youth Program there. Um, that now they'll have they will have a Cal Houston to point to and say, this is somebody who learned how to skate here. This is somebody who looked, you know, who learned how to play hockey here, and look what they're doing now. That I, you know, I think that's gonna be such a benefit to the kids to have somebody like you to be presented as an example of especially when they're starting out, you know, that that a kid from this area can get to where you're at now when we haven't when we when we haven't really seen it in the past.

SPEAKER_11 40:05

Yeah, and I think uh it would be good to just give the the younger guys like a little bit of hope, a little bit of courage that um, like you said, it can be done. Um so obviously it's cool to be the first one, but uh I know there's there's hopefully many more coming here. And like you said, I hope I can be a role model of them and someone they look up to. And um, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:26

All right, Cal. Um, so for the sixth time now, uh thank you for coming on here. You know, uh good luck this weekend with Cedar Rapids, a couple of big games. I know you guys are, you know, wanting to wrap up the Anderson this weekend. Um, just kind of add to the add to the collection. It's it's not the be all end all. There's still, you know, more to go after that. But uh uh yeah, so good luck this weekend in Cedar Rapids. Uh, you know, thank you for coming on. Stay healthy. And uh only a few more weeks now we'll get to see you back at Cavelli Center.

SPEAKER_11 40:55

For sure, definitely. Um, as always, I appreciate you guys having me.

SPEAKER_05 40:59

All right, so we are going to take a quick break. Phantom Files Part 2 with Captain Ryan Rusinski is coming up next, right here on the Dump and Chase podcast.

SPEAKER_00 41:19

We at the Dump and Chase Podcast believe that all kids who want to play hockey should have the ability to, regardless of financial barriers. That's why we support Black Bear Youth Hockey Foundation.

SPEAKER_09 41:29

Through individual grants and sponsored programming, the foundation's goal is to increase youth hockey participation and ease the financial stress that many families undertake to afford equipment in ice time. Youth hockey cultivates friendships, teamwork, and a lifetime of memories.

SPEAKER_00 41:42

For scholarship information, or if you would like to make a donation, visit Blackbear Youth Hockey Foundation.com.

SPEAKER_05 41:55

And we're back with the Dump and Chase podcast. So for part two of this week's edition of Phantom Files, we welcome back to the show a Broadview Heights, Ohio native who is winding down his third season in a Phantom sweater. The difference this season is that he is wearing the C on his chest as the 17th captain in Phantom's history. He has led this team to a second straight Eastern Conference regular season championship and is days away from maybe knock on wood, adding an Anderson Cup to his resume. Now it is tradition on this show that we refer to as the Captain's Honor the to be our first and last in-season guest every year. And we are continuing that now as we welcome Phantoms Forward and Ohio State commit number 56, Ryan Rosinski. Uh Rizzo, welcome back, bud.

SPEAKER_10 42:42

Yeah, thanks for having me. Happy to be back.

SPEAKER_05 42:45

Um, I I will say I I feel like I can tell you this now. Uh, you know, three years at main camp come leading into your uh first season in Youngstown, you know, we'll typically go around main camp and like conversations with, you know, coaches and team officials and everything else, and we'll we'll try to get a little bit of information on you guys, like where they where, you know, how they see you and everything like that. Three years ago, bringing up your name, I think the most common thing we were told is in a couple years, this kid's gonna be wearing a C. Um, I mean I mean, does that surprise you that kind of you you were pegged for that so early on in your Phantom's career?

SPEAKER_10 43:20

Yeah, I mean it's it's really cool to hear. Um obviously I came into this organization as a as a young kid. Um and I can't thank, you know, the whole staff and just community of Youngstown for for helping me and you know grow into the player and person I am today. So just a huge thanks for all their belief in me and um just super, super happy that uh I was able to come come into this organization at a young age and you know, three years later just look where I am now and how much I've grown. So it's it's really cool.

SPEAKER_05 43:50

Sam's not lying about that, Ryan. He he really did say that. Yeah, we're we're we're not blowing smoke here. I I swear that was that was the most common thing that was said about you. uh three years ago. Um now when the Phantoms last won the Claire Cup, uh, you were, you know, you were on the affiliate list for the team. That does it now maybe possibly feel like it could be a full circle moment, you know, now that you have coming down to the end of this season going to the playoffs, that now you have an the an opportunity uh to lead this team to another one?

SPEAKER_10 44:21

Yeah, I think it's uh super cool and we got a super special group this year. Um you know seeing those guys who did it, I think what was it, four years ago now. And then just my last two seasons being here in playoffs and we fell a little short. It's just that extra motivation and you know I think we got the group to do it. So we just got to go out every night and you know not take any game for granted and prove what we could do because we know how good we are when we're at our best.

SPEAKER_05 44:45

Now we had uh we had Jack Wilson on the show here uh a couple weeks ago we had asked him about kind of the consistency of this year's team um you know you've been around for a little while now obviously you know you you know in seasons past you guys kind of go through slow starts at the beginning of the season and then by the time you get in between like Thanksgiving and uh Christmas when you guys really pick it up you guys have I mean just winning playing well I mean it's just been consistent from the beginning of the season to now I mean does that feel like that to you compared to years past?

SPEAKER_10 45:18

Yeah I mean for sure um but uh as it's like any team you get ups and downs throughout a season um but I think we've been good at just kind of you know flushing the bad things and just sticking to our game and you know we got a really good group this year a lot of good talented players and um everyone's been playing well so um yeah being consistent is is been a huge help for us um obviously you can't be perfect every night so there's there are ups and downs but um if we can stay as consistent as possible that's our goal.

SPEAKER_09 45:48

Yeah speaking of consistency um the power play this year for the fans has been very consistent.

SPEAKER_10 45:53

Why do you think that is you know I I think we just got a lot of good players a lot of smart players and um we just we have a lot of uh we we can make we can make a lot of different plays and um you know just all the guys out there just kind of do their own thing uh but then they use each other as well so I think it's really cool just to see us kind of read off each other and make other other plays that aren't technically like written up or that we that we have like drawn up but we just kind of read off each other and I think the chemistry has just been built from the start of the season to where we are now.

SPEAKER_05 46:25

So I wanted to ask you um I I saw this kid on uh social media recently his name is Kyle Rusinsky uh scored a scored a big uh triple overtime goal for clean it uh cleveland St.

SPEAKER_10 46:36

Ignatius recently uh I mean what can you tell me about this kid yeah no he's great uh it was it was really cool just to see him you know get that triple overtime winner to send his team to the States he's loving it at St. Natius they had a great organization there and yeah I was just super happy for him to see see him score that and just be with all his buddies there in the state finals. Went to the game actually in the finals I fell short but just a cool experience to see the Ohio High school hockey and um how how much it's grown.

SPEAKER_05 47:06

I I get I guess the benefit to you being local ish to Youngstown um and you know we we've seen this a lot where you're able to make it uh both to your brother and your sister's games um you know even with what you have going on Youngstown I mean how much has that meant to you uh still you know get getting to go to these games and getting to you know be a part of it.

SPEAKER_10 47:25

Yeah it's been super cool. I'm super fortunate you know be so close to home and just even obviously going to see them play and just hang out with them or just go home for dinner on a day off. Like it's just it's really convenient for me and super special to be able to stay this close to home.

SPEAKER_05 47:40

I mean there's been we we've seen videos and pictures and everything else of the uh the the infamous uh Rusinsky backyard rink um but but between all of you you know and including your dad like I what are those games like back there?

SPEAKER_10 47:56

Yeah I mean I actually didn't make it out there this year just with the everything going on but um all the years past it's it's just such a such a blast just to be out there with you know my family or have some friends over and um some games do get a little competitive out there but uh it's always fun and just get to enjoy time with the family out there. Um it's a cool spot. Like how how how competitive do the family games get um I mean it's not too crazy but I know when me and my brother were younger we would always get after it throwing each other over the boards and stuff. So there's a few uh few few big hits over the boards back from back from the day but um kind of matured a little bit since then. Have you had to play like an official game with your brother on like on the ice um back when we were like really young we played a few games together um but not anytime recent but there was a time actually super young I played with my brother and both cousins the Duke brothers um I think Dylan was a little too old but we just threw him in the net um and then Tyler and me and my little brother played up so uh it was a cool experience but uh that was actually at the the monsters arena so that we were super young but still got some pictures from the then so it was it was cool.

SPEAKER_09 49:17

Now Saman asked you about your brother with playing for St. Ignatius you know the the St.

SPEAKER_07 49:22

Ignatius lost to Gilmore Academy in the finals and funnily enough Gilmore Academy lost one game all year and that was the St.

SPEAKER_10 49:28

Ignatius early in the year reason I'm asking about it Gilmore Academy with me coaching high school soccer here in Ohio they were renowned for having one of the best programs in soccer turns out Gilmore Academy was like number one in the nation as far according to Max preps why you know you said Ohio's making a pretty big surgeon in high school hockey why do you think that is I think just the sport's grown so much um and obviously with just I think just the whole sport in general um it's it's just growing it's a fast growing sport a lot of people are liking it and um it's just getting way more attention and it's way easier to to access it at a young age for for a lot of more more kids than it has been before I feel like yeah Vita told me five years ago that people were sending their kids to a place in Northeast Ohio to play hockey from all over the country and all over the world out of laughing your face but it's happening now.

SPEAKER_05 50:19

Yeah it's cool to see um so we had you know at the beginning of the season the uh the uh season ticket holder pickup party uh me and Justin had talked to you um then um you know you being named the captain and everything like that wearing the C at the beginning of the season versus you know wearing it now at the end of the season what what do you feel like the biggest lessons you have learned in that leadership role as this season has gone on?

SPEAKER_10 50:44

Um you know just how much guys look up to you and kind of take after you so I think the biggest thing is just make sure I'm doing my best every single day to you know lead by example and kind of help guys lead them in the right direction if if they got any questions or yeah need any help with anything I think just kind of setting the standard um and just helping guys you know follow in the in the right path is what's really cool and helping all these young guys um because I remember just as a as a young player when I first joined the league and had a lot of help from Captain Strathton that year and learned a lot from him and and uh Colson and I think it's just cool to have have a leader where you could just look up to and that's kind of what I've tried to you know be for some of the younger guys coming in. Now is there anything with you wearing at sea that um any roles that you have to take on that you didn't know that you didn't think about shit that you learned I mean not really off the top of my head but you know it comes with a it comes with a lot um but I think it's just a huge honor um just to be able to you know represent the team and um just have that have that on my on my jersey it's a huge honor and especially um being on the Youngstown jersey I I couldn't I wouldn't want to be anywhere else and I just can't thank this organization enough.

SPEAKER_05 52:01

So as a captain on this team do you feel like maybe a mistake was made on in not slotting Braden Thompson in as a forward more often oh I don't know that's a great question but I think he got two games up there and you know he scored both so I yeah I'm saying his his goal per games as a forward is pretty good so yeah it's yeah I don't know but he's he's done a good job getting up there in the nept run and bearing some rebounds so it's it was cool to see and I all you guys loved it.

SPEAKER_10 52:32

I'm sure if you see the reactions on the bench it's everyone's jumping around more than uh I don't know some other goals but yeah it was it was it was really cool to see see him get some goals up front a little funny as well.

SPEAKER_05 52:44

So we asked Cal about this um you know you guys had done it last year you did it again here um against the U17s where you run a power play unit out with five defensemen um you know and we've talked to defensemen about this as a forward who usually is on the first unit uh what is that like for you sitting on the bench and watching them out there uh running the power play oh we thought it was awesome it was it was so funny but it was they actually had some good chances almost scored I think Adams Jackson Adams almost almost got one in there and um I felt bad for Cal though he uh he had a hundred percent face-off percentage before that draw on the power play night and like lost it so uh he was a little upset about that and um but yeah it's it was so funny and it's good to see those guys get out there too. Um you know as somebody who I I mean I would call essentially like the face-off specialist on the team I mean how would you rate Cal as far as like his form and everything else? You know I mean I can't really talk too much about it because he was 100% so um if I uh if I gave him any pointers I don't know if he would uh accept them yet but he did lose one so maybe tell him to get a little lower next time so uh we had a run here uh a few weeks back where uh we had uh three of the draft eligible players on the show uh Toby Osh uh Jarz and Hexie you know as somebody who went through this process last year like how have you kind of been helping them you know as they're going through it this year you know looking I mean obviously everything going on in season and you want to focus on that but kind of having that in the back of your head uh you know that that's coming up this summer yeah I mean just try not to like overthink overthink it or think too much about it.

SPEAKER_10 54:29

Um but all the all three of those guys are super mature and super good players and they kind of they kind of know and you know maneuver maneuver around that um themselves and um I'm here to help if if they have any questions but um I think they got it all covered and I'm super happy to for that day to come and hopefully see their names get uh get drawn up on the board there.

SPEAKER_05 54:51

So now how has it been uh this season where you know obviously you're in Youngstown you have coach ward um I'm sure there's a lot of communication with Ohio State and then at the same time I imagine there's a lot of communication uh with Buffalo as well um so I mean how has that been kind of juggling that all season?

SPEAKER_10 55:09

Yeah I think it's really cool. They've been uh I think it's really cool I'll just they reach out every week uh talk to you know Buffalo a lot um they've been super supportive and you know give me um just a phone call every week so I think it's it's really cool that they check in like that as much as they do and talk to Ohio State a lot as well. So um they're both uh both a huge part of you know my future and just good to get those relationships built early.

SPEAKER_09 55:35

You know if you um something I just thought of yeah when it when a team brings in new players midseason do you have a role as team captain and welcoming in do you are you the first to talk to him do you reach out to him right away what like what do you do?

SPEAKER_10 55:48

I mean it's not like set but you know I I try to you know welcome everyone um make them feel right at home right away and the rest of the guys are a huge help too like everyone's super super um welcoming to all the new guys and new players uh that we that we get so um you know I try to do my do my best and reach out right away and you know welcome them but I everyone else does the same so I think it's really cool that everyone's so welcoming around um just new players and new guys we get uh part of the organization.

SPEAKER_05 56:19

Now I asked Calvin as well but frozen four is upon us what's your predictions for that oh uh oh boy I don't know yeah I don't know if I could uh answer that but my cousin is on Michigan um so I hope he does well I don't know if I'm rooting for them to win but uh yeah no comment I'm picking up what you're putting down I mean if if you want to say it you can say it if you need to get a hold of us in a few months and be like can you take that out I'll I'll say it now but in a few months if you can just take that part out I'd appreciate it. No I'll just leave it at that I hope my cousin does well and I hope uh I hope Ozzy and you know the Wisconsin boys them and uh hope Stratty you know all all those guys that are from Youngstown as well so yeah Wisconsin's got Wisconsin's got a pretty good little uh youngstown connection there Botrol Osburn all of them so I think it's just really excited just to watch the final four and see how it plays out to really uh have a have a team that I really want to win so so yeah Rizzo uh just before we uh let you go here I just wanted to say um you know we've as fans that we've been blessed with especially in recent history we've been blessed with a lot of great captains when you talk about you know Shane Lachance and Andrew Straffman um you know Colson Hanrahan and now to you and again you know like we told you talking to so many people saying you know when your time came you were going to be that guy and getting to watch you over the last few years uh I mean it was it was probably the easiest prediction we had ever made because we we will kind of do this between ourselves you know who's wearing the C this year. I think I think this year was the easiest prediction we ever had and saying that it was going to be you. From the standpoint of the fans uh I mean I just want to tell you you have worn that letter very well this year.

SPEAKER_10 58:11

I appreciate it so much and that's what I try to do. So hopefully we can uh just bring the Clark Cut back home to youngstown too.

SPEAKER_05 58:18

Yeah we don't we we're we're starting to wrap things up here um you know you know hopefully you get you know you guys chasing the Anderson this week uh good luck in Cedar Rapids it's it's gonna be weird not having a home game for the last weekend of the season but we're dealing with it uh you know and then another couple weeks after that so we're really looking forward to you guys getting back here to Cavelli. So until then again good luck stay healthy that you know again thank you for your time in Youngstown everything you've done and uh let's finish this out in a good way.

SPEAKER_10 58:48

Yep I agree. So I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_05 58:50

All right so we have been joined by Phantom's captain Ryan Russinski. So we're gonna step aside for a quick break. The fan QA is coming up next right here with the Dump and Chase podcast.

SPEAKER_04 59:14

Are you tired of switching apps just to catch your favorite shows and live events? Say hello to the iMedia One Network app, the one-stop destination for streaming and everything that matters from national sports to exclusive local content from Custom Resort Radio, Custom Resort Radio 2 and 70 sports cast are now all in one place at anytime, anywhere. Download the free iMedia One Network app on iOS and Android and unlock the future of sports audio in the palm of your hands iMedia One Network, your sports app in the valve and welcome back to the Dumpin' Chase podcast.

SPEAKER_05 59:52

So now uh I I'm not sure if this is gonna be our final fan QA of the year we've playoffs coming up we've we we still have a lot of decisions to make how we're gonna do this going forward. Don't make me sad Sam so I in case this is the last one this season uh Dan really soak it in. Luckily we got a lot of questions here to soak in so I've everybody really took it to heart when I mentioned how these questions make you so happy people really took it to heart.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:21

I'm I do love it.

SPEAKER_05 1:00:22

We we got filled up this week so uh starting out with the first question uh no name attached that last Brody Berard fight was a great one I fully agree.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:33

Uh what was the best on ice fight you have seen for me I had to look it up who we fought against but I think I've talked to you about it before this is I I didn't see this in person. I saw it on TV when it happened there's a man by the name of Ronald Petrovicki who used to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins and he fought Chris Newberry if you want to find the video it's on YouTube where he knocked Newberry out on his feet hit the ground smacked his head off I guess pretty brutal but Ronald Petrovicki knocked him out with an ice punch right to his chin and that dude was out for quite a long time. So that's the one that sticks in my mind the most than anything else.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:08

I would say NHL fight and not so much because of the quality of the fight but the backstory to the fight would have been uh Keith and Wayne Primo not not only watching that fight years ago but then uh Keith Primo who is uh in the uh black bear slash phantoms organization um actually got to ask him about it uh years ago when he was at Cavelli Center. Um and I I I think hearing his parents' response uh their parents' response to that fight uh just enhanced it for me uh that much more uh short cliff notes to that dad thought it was hilarious mom was not happy at all that's simply how it works out um USHL fight and it wasn't even technically a USHL game it was and I mean I know we've talked about this before but it was uh kind of an exhibition game that was played against one of three possible null teams I can't remember which one it was at deep freeze and that was uh the uh Connor Milimach fight uh Connor is the son of Clint Milimach the head coach of the uh Maryland Black Bears who's having an incredible season by the way uh congratulations to everything Maryland has done this year. I believe they're first overall in the null they are uh they've set points records uh Ryan Franks who spent a little bit of time with the Phantoms at the beginning of the season uh is now their like all-time like goal scorer in a season and he missed a chunk of the season and was still able to set that record. I mean yeah they're just if you're Black Bear right now there's a lot of things going right for you. I'm doing well uh through these levels. Um but no Connor Milimock at deep freeze and again and I got to get on Justin to find this video again uh he does have it somewhere where basically uh whoever the other team was this kid went to fight Connor Milimock and basically the started the fight by jumping up and trying to go for a like a Superman punch. Like left his skates and tried to go for a Superman punch completely whiffed on it and Connor Millimok just grabbed him and it was like three or four punches like as he was going down to the ice just kept wailing away on and it was the fight was over in no time but it was very intense.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:03:21

Because I mean this kid is fought this kid probably got hit four times as he was falling to the ice and these were haymakers being thrown so I mean as far as like like a like a USHO fight or like one I've seen in person that one like forever will probably be my top. Um so the next question again no name attached to this with the frozen four upon us who's going to win and are there many phantoms alumni still in the tournament uh so we'll go through the alumni first uh these games are what on April 9th I believe um so you have Michigan and Denver uh no but no former phantoms on Michigan's roster thank god uh so I am spared from having to root for anybody on that roster so uh Denver does have former Phantom Tori Pittner on the roster there and then you have Wisconsin and North Dakota uh Wisconsin with a bevy of former Phantoms on that roster Luke Osburn Adam Patella Ryan Botterell and then North Dakota of course uh we've heard it's flat and windy there I see I seem to recall that when I think North Dakota now I think flat and windy that's the first thing I think of as well and I think of John telling us that of course uh Phantoms legend Andrew Strathman uh playing for North Dakota this season uh so still a handful of phantoms in it dan I'll let you go first so what what's what's your prediction I know we talked to talked to Cal and talked to uh Ryan about this what's your prediction yeah it's it's one of these weird things where Denver I think they have like the best coach not in the NHL and David Carl Denver during the regular season they were okay then for whatever reason they go to the tournament they they really turn it on um with that being said it's gonna kill me to say this but I'm pretty sure that Michigan I think they get the most talented team but doesn't always mean that the most talented team wins but I think it's gonna be Michigan and probably North Dakota in the finals I think Jan Spunhart the goaltender he played for Dubuque last year I think he's playing very well for North Dakota but it wouldn't surprise me at all if Wisconsin makes it they're playing well but I think it's gonna be North Dakota Michigan in the finals and I think Michigan's going to come out on top so yeah you got about well one one third of my prediction not quite as well researched as yours but uh just from what I've watched I I I think I think Michigan's gonna take Denver I think Wisconsin's gonna take North Dakota okay and I'm I'm gonna go with the spoiler here I think Wisconsin would take it.

SPEAKER_09 1:05:50

That'd be great.

SPEAKER_05 1:05:51

I have a hard time picking Michigan in anything I think I think it's gonna be an I I think it's gonna be an all Big Ten final and looking at the two teams I mean, obviously, I never would pick Michigan to begin with, but even looking at this objectively, I think Wisconsin would have a shot here.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:12

I think Wisconsin's just riding a ton of momentum right now. And when you're this late in the playoffs, that's huge.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:18

They're playing their best hockey at the right time. And that picture that they that uh Luke Osborne's mom posted of Luke, Ryan Bottero, and Adam Batilla. But they were only it was like a few years ago, those three were here, but those guys look like grown freaking men. I know.

unknown 1:06:33

I can't.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:34

I mean, they are men, and they are grown, but I just like three years ago, two years ago, whatever it was, those guys look like a lifetime ago.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:42

Yeah, and speaking of which, how about uh shout out to Kathy Osbourne? Uh miss have miss having the Osbourns in Youngstown.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:06:50

Um, good people. Apparently, they're apparently they're doing pretty well up in uh Wisconsin right now. So all right, uh, so the next question, Brian asks, what was your first car that you had?

SPEAKER_09 1:07:02

My first car was a 1994 Dodge Intrepid Forest Green color. Um, I loved it. Had a ton of miles on it, but it was one of those back in the back in the time where you could actually work on a car because there was so much space in that underneath the hood. But the car was worth about a thousand dollars. I had about two thousand dollars worth of audio equipment in there, and I had Rockford Fosgate, speakers, an amp in the back, I had a clarion uh deck in there. And remember, it used to have like remember song catchers where um you'd play a song through your iPod, it'll remember it and it would save it in there. So I used to be able to just save my playlist to that, and I thought that was pretty cool back in the day, but that's what I drove.

SPEAKER_05 1:07:39

My my first vehicle was a uh 1988 Chevy Corsica, and I I don't know if it was worth a thousand dollars. I don't know what the price of a pound of rust was back then. In theory, uh the car was supposed to be white. Honestly, I don't know how it drove for like the two years that I had and that's one of the have you ever gone back and like looked at a picture, like looked up like your first car or an old car, and you look at a picture of it, and you're like, How did I drive that thing? I just saw like and not like end up in a fiery crash on a highway somewhere.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:14

Like, how I don't have any complaints about mine. Mine was really a solid car. I um I actually saw one, I think the model changed like in '96 for Intrepids, and I saw one at Roley Brothers in town here the other day, and I like and it was the same color as mine. It wasn't mine because mine got wrecked, but it brought back memories. I'll say that. I love that thing.

SPEAKER_05 1:08:35

If if if I would have put$2,000 worth of stereo equipment in mine, I would have been driving somewhere and then carrying pieces of my car home. Not in the car, I would have been walking, just whatever I could carry is what I would have is what of that car would have made it home if I would have put a$2,000 stereo system in the back of it.

SPEAKER_09 1:08:54

Or is it anybody who didn't hear me coming from a while away? I I listened to my music loud with the bass sold. I had two 12-12-inch subwoofers in the back.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:02

So so that's oh, so you were one of those ones like, why is the alignment always going out in this thing?

unknown 1:09:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:09:07

That's where I learned it because I did all that myself. That's where I learned you have to that uh your subwoofers must be programmed to be different uh frequencies. If they're both the same one, they don't reverberate off each other. And I I learned a lot doing that, but I loved it.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:22

Back ends always wobbling around when I drive. What's going on?

SPEAKER_09 1:09:25

Yeah, that's why people sit in the trunk.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:29

Um, the uh next question here, no name attached. What is your Starbucks order?

SPEAKER_09 1:09:35

A monster. I I don't like coffee. Maybe when I get older, I'll like coffee. I think I've ordered Starbucks. I think I got a pink drink one time, as much as I don't want to admit that, but I don't like coffee. I guess maybe when I get older I will, but it's monster for me.

SPEAKER_05 1:09:50

The the question the the one question you get asked when Justin isn't here, the only coffee drinker of the three of us. I'm not a coffee drinker. I've only ever been in a Starbucks once, and that was with Justin at main camp, and I watched him whatever he ordered. So I've I don't have a Starbucks order, but I have watched Justin order from Starbucks. That's that's my Starbucks. That's the only time in my life I've ever been in a Starbucks.

SPEAKER_09 1:10:15

Yeah, I get a cake pop when my when my family goes there. Everyone else gets coffee. I get a cake pop.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:20

So so I guess because the two of us will swerve this question around a little bit. What what is your uh caffeine drink of choice?

SPEAKER_09 1:10:26

It's Monster Zero Sugar Original.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:28

Okay. I've I've never I like I can't stand I've tried many times because I feel like there's like in this club that I'm just not a part of because I don't drink coffee. I've tried many times over the year. I love the smell of coffee, love the smell of coffee. I cannot stand the taste of it.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:45

Right.

SPEAKER_05 1:10:45

I've many attempts throughout my life, I've tried to become a coffee drinker and I can't do it.

SPEAKER_09 1:10:50

Yeah, I I do have a caveat. I went to Mexico um a couple years ago with our best friends and one of those all-inclusive things, and they had coffee down there, but it was like espresso coffee, and I had it for like breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the end of our meal. It was like tequila and that, but uh that was really good. I guess like espresso is stronger, so to me, coffee just tastes like bitter water to me. Yeah, and I really don't want a whole bunch of sugar in what I'm drinking and stuff, but uh I've been chasing that dragon ever since I had that, so yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:20

I I I'm also a well, I mean, I drink monster, I don't have like the decals on my car and no, I like clothing, clothing with clothing with a logo on it, or collect the tabs or anything like that. Um no, I I go back and forth between the uh ultra sunrise, which is like the orange citrus or the uh strawberry dreams. Okay, although they just came out all these are zero sugar, of course. Um, they just came out with a new one here, Punk Punch. Punk punch is great, it's really good.

SPEAKER_09 1:11:50

Lando Norris also has one too. I don't think I like it. I think all the ultras taste better. It's not because you're zero sugar, I think they all literally do taste better than the red than a regular ones to see.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:58

That's the thing. I've never had the regular.

SPEAKER_09 1:12:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:01

Back back when Red Bull be like first became a thing. I went through like a convenience store drive-thru, and they were like, Oh, this guy was here, and he left us all these energy drinks, and we're supposed to like give them out to people. So, and it was like a Red Bull-sized can. I'd never had an energy drink before. I opened it, I tasted it, it tasted like liquid gummy worm. There was so much sugar in this drink, it tasted like somebody liquefied a gummy worm. And I like, I just I never did energy drinks, and it wasn't until I like actually somebody bought it for me or something, but it was like it was the uh strawberry dreams, the zero sugar monster.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:38

Right.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:38

And I tried that, and I'm like, oh, this isn't bad at all. And it's zero sugar.

SPEAKER_09 1:12:42

Yeah, but I when I go to the beach every year, everybody I go to the beach with all drinks coffee in the morning. Well, I'll be sitting like on the front deck, they'll be drinking their coffee, and I'll you'll hear the it's just something about cold carbonation for me in the morning that I love.

SPEAKER_05 1:12:59

And and and because and because like when monster first came out, there was like a culture to it that was associated with it. That you know, when when when you're just a dad in your 40s going to work and like on your desk you have a can of like a pink can of monster sitting on your desk. Yeah, I I feel like I get judged for that.

SPEAKER_09 1:13:19

Yeah, that guy goes home and punch, he punches things when he goes home.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:25

Um this next one we got uh this is the first of two uh from our old friend Aliyah. She is asking uh her first question, what is our favorite goal from this season so far?

SPEAKER_09 1:13:37

Now we both originally picked the same goal, so I went to a different one.

SPEAKER_05 1:13:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 1:13:41

And I think this person here is a human highlight reel. Cooper Simpson all he does is score highlight reel goals. But I went to the Chicago game for the series, the first series at home against Chicago. He had a play where he had a toe drag to get around the defender. You know, you sent him on skates and he sent one. I think he went five-hole on the goalie. So he went from like end wall, beat a guy one-on-one, toe dragged it over, and beat the goalie. It was pretty impressive, I thought.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:07

Um, I went with, and this was this was the one you originally picked when we were sharing what our answers were. Phantoms' first goal of the season this year, um, at the fall classic against Tri-City, uh, Cooper's goal in that Cooper's uh goal in that game, first goal of the season for the Phantoms. Um, you have you have Rizzo with the turnover at the point. Tri-City was trying to clear the puck out of the zone. Rizzo caused a turnover, found Cooper right in between right in between the circles. And he towed, he towed dragged to his right to get around one defender, and then he was one-on-one with the goaltender and then pulled it all the way back to his left to tuck it in. And even with the goaltender stretching to the left, Cooper still had like all the space in the world to bury that puck. And it was like, and you look back on that goal, and that was such foreshadowing for what this season became.

SPEAKER_09 1:14:57

Yeah, that was such a this is why the the fans paid the price they paid to get me to come here. Draft capital and people will spend.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:05

That was that was yeah, that was a massive trade. You're not talking about money, that was a massive trade. Yeah, it's just I mean, I meant yeah, yeah, somebody's gonna hear that the wrong way. Um, yeah, ton of, yeah, ton of draft capital on that trade to bring him in. Um but yeah, it's just not only his his ability to score big goals and make ridiculous things look very easy, but just that chemistry between him and Ryan Rusinski.

SPEAKER_09 1:15:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:15:33

Like throughout this season. I mean, that that goal, I think, f more than any other foreshadowed what this season was gonna be when we're sitting here at the end of it looking back on it. I think that you know that goal was huge when you look back on it.

SPEAKER_09 1:15:48

I'm sure there's another goal we forgot that we can't think of right now, but Dan, there's probably goals on Friday that I've forgotten already. It's who are you?

SPEAKER_05 1:15:57

Yeah, I told you, getting older, the memory goes. My short-term memory is garbage anymore. Isn't that right, Dave? Yes. Um, aliyah's second question. Uh, what is our favorite NHL team? And you can that this this is where you find out that Aaliyah is a more recent listener to the show. Um, Aaliyah, uh, all three of us, our favorite team is the Penguins.

SPEAKER_09 1:16:23

Yep. Lifelong Penguins fans.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:26

Maybe you were hoping we would say the San Jose Sharks, uh, with your uh love of Macklin Celebrini. That's not the case for us.

SPEAKER_09 1:16:33

Justin Macklin Celebrini.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:35

We like Macklin Celebrini, but not that much. Uh, Justin, definitely so for Kiefer Sherwood.

SPEAKER_09 1:16:40

Oh, yeah, he give um he give you run for your money on that one.

SPEAKER_05 1:16:45

I think he might he might be looking at sharks jerseys now. I don't know. Uh, but no, for all three of us, it is the penguins. And our final question here, uh, this comes from Joshua. He wants to know which player or players, plural, uh, surprised you the most this year with their play.

SPEAKER_09 1:17:01

Now, for me, I mean, it's it's you look like Cooper Simpson, Ryan, Ryan Rosinski, Jack Hextahl, Evan Jardine. We expected them to have big years this year. Um, I even throw my alacomic in there, but for me, Jack Wilson, you know, he came into this this year, basically had a wasted year last year with him being injured. Um we knew he was good, but we did not expect him, at least personally, did not expect him just to be the stud. I I believe he's the best defenseman in the league. I think uh Carter Murphy has a little bit to say about that too, but I think we knew it was there. I just did not expect him to come back and have the just be the guy on the point, the quarterback on the blue line. And um, it's weird how things work out. Like we I think I said before, if he didn't get injured, he wouldn't be back. And since he did come back, he really took full advantage of the next year in the juniors he got and has really prepared himself to take the next step in his career.

SPEAKER_05 1:17:52

Yeah, so I I don't know surprised would be the word to me. If you say surprised, you you're starting out the season thinking, oh, this guy's gonna be garbage and ends up being good. To me, that's kind of what that is. So I don't think surprised is the word I would use. I again not use not using the word surprise, like Cal Houston. I mean, not gonna put up a ton of points on the scoreboard, but throughout the course of the year developed into like one of the top shutdown defensemen in this league.

SPEAKER_09 1:18:18

Yeah. And he's a great uh breakout defenseman too. Yeah, he's got good puck skills on the right side.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:24

He's you know, he's somebody I would, you know, and again, not surprised, but pleasantly surprised, we'll put it that way. I mean, we we we knew, you know, Cal coming into his final year, we knew, you know, we knew Cal was good. What he is developed into, I think, is like far and away what people thought he would.

SPEAKER_02 1:18:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:18:42

And, you know, and good on him for it. I mean, it's uh everybody has told us the amount of work he's put in this season. Um, again, staying with the defense, I would say Carter Murphy. Carter is, and and I'm not I'm not insulting him, I'm not digging him in any way when I say this. Uh at the beginning of the season, Carter Murphy was very 50-50 for me. 50 uh half the time it was my god, did you just see what Carter did? And the other half was Carter, what the hell are you doing? When kind of trying to add new aspects to his game and everything else, and then like what the beginning of the season was, and then just watching his development throughout this year. And like I said, it we were focusing so much on Jack Wilson and like these records that he was coming up on and everything else that we just kind of failed to look a little further down those lists. Carter Murphy was climbing right up those lists as well throughout this season, like right along with Jack.

SPEAKER_09 1:19:44

Yeah, I think I told you in between here, most of Carter's assists and points came from five-on-five play.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 1:19:50

So that's that's something there.

SPEAKER_05 1:19:52

You know, usually you see him on the second unit on the power play in times when uh, you know, Jack Wilson was not in the lineup and Carter would fill that role. He was excellent in filling that role. And like I said, just kind of seeing him, watching him trying to put these things together at the beginning of the season, and then just watching throughout the course of the season how he put these things together and where he's at now as a player. You know, that there, you know, there's gonna be nights you're gonna see him on that top defensive unit, or you're gonna see him like on that second unit. You know, you're not Carter Murphy is not somebody you're gonna see buried down, you know, at the bottom. And you know, and I, you know, and how many conversations did we have last year that basically said like Carter Murphy is not someone who should be a healthy scratch? You know, how many times did we hear that from people last year? And now you look at it this year when he puts everything together, um, I've honestly I think has been incredible.

SPEAKER_09 1:20:45

Yeah, I think sometimes you got to wait for your time, wait for your turn. And uh, he sat and watched and soaked it all in last year, and he really just taken advantage of all the all the spots he's been put in, rightfully so.

SPEAKER_05 1:20:57

All right. So, as we've said, uh, however much of a chunk of this season we've been doing this, uh, thank you everyone for the questions. Um, like I said, it's we haven't we still haven't really decided what we're doing kind of playoff format wise. So this this may be it for the season. I guess we'll kind of find out as the week goes on. Um I'm sorry, Dan. So with that out of the way, uh let's go ahead and jump into the weekend preview.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:24

Weekend preview.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:30

We're almost done.

SPEAKER_05 1:21:33

So this Friday and Saturday, the Phantoms will finish out the 2025-2026 regular season with two games in Iowa with the Cedar Rapids Rough Riders. Uh, these will be um obviously the final, but these will be the uh fourth and fifth games against Cedar Rapids this season. Uh so far in three games, Youngstown leading the season series two to one. Uh these teams played way back on October 10th and 11th. Uh Youngstown losing the first game 5-2, winning the second game five to three. Um, and of course, the story with Cedar Rapids coming into this weekend, uh, Cedar Rapids in their last 17 games are 15-0-1-1. And they have scored first in their last 13 games straight.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:16

So there's the key.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:18

Yeah. So kind of going through this streak, and Dan, if you just kind of I'll kind of list through the teams in this streak if you just kind of want to give like a really quick reaction to each one.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:28

Okay, so uh they beat Waterloo.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:31

Ooh.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:31

Uh Sioux City.

SPEAKER_02 1:22:33

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:34

Lost in Chicago in overtime. They uh beat Dubuque.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:41

They uh swept the uh three games with the U-17s.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:45

Who hasn't?

SPEAKER_05 1:22:46

Uh lost to Sioux City in a shootout. So kind of kind of evens out the uh win against Sioux City earlier in this streak. Uh again, beat Waterloo.

SPEAKER_09 1:22:56

Yeah, I think the way you said again.

SPEAKER_05 1:22:58

Um beat Green Bay twice, although I will point out that those two games were in the middle of a six-game losing streak for Green Bay. All right. Uh beat Des Moines. All right, beat Tri-City twice.

SPEAKER_09 1:23:12

I feel a I feel a theme coming here, beat Des Moines twice, and and beat Waterloo. All right. I see what you're going at here.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:21

Um certainly I mean, going on this streak, I mean there there's a lot to be said for it. I mean, well done to them. Um look a little bit harder at the numbers. The average win percentage uh for Cedar Rapids opponents over these last 17 games, that is 420. I was a 420 win percentage, um, the average of the teams they've played during this streak. Um, Youngstown over the last 17 games, the average win percentage of the teams they faced was 528.

SPEAKER_09 1:23:54

I think that boils down to the fact they played a lot of Western Conference teams, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_05 1:23:57

Yeah. That's a vastly different uh kind of getting the uh Sioux Falls and Fargo bump there with the amount of games they play against the Western Conference. Now, will that factor in anything this weekend? Who's to say?

SPEAKER_09 1:24:12

Right. I remember last year, the uh I think it's it for Cedar Rapids, it's probably a good thing they're closing out the season against the Phantoms because I remember the Phantoms last year. They closed out the season against like the 17s in Chicago, two teams that were out of the playoffs, I do believe, or whoever it was, they were two two series in a row uh of games that didn't really mean a whole lot. So they didn't really get tested in any put in deep waters. And you know, sometimes you get you gotta find out about you gotta lose to find out about your team. And Cedar Rapids here, I think, with this schedule. Obviously, they gotta they can only beat the teams they're playing. Yep, but sometimes these games like this get stacked on top of one another, and you get in get in the rut of getting away with things you can't get away with against better teams.

SPEAKER_05 1:24:51

Yeah. And and and you know, typically in seasons past, and you know, and we have said, you know, you play these games with Cedar Rapids, these Mark Carlson coach teams, you know, they're gonna be heavy hitting, they're gonna be defensive, they're gonna be low scoring. That actually really has not been the case this season. No, uh, these games, these games this season have actually been a lot higher scoring than we've ever seen.

SPEAKER_09 1:25:13

Yeah, and the thing that sticks out to me the most is the Ryan Cameron, he he's a highly touted goaltender, committed to BC, and they have 190 goals against this year. And that's that is that's a surprising stat, like you said. That's not a uh Cedar Rapids-esque um stat there.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:31

Yeah. So Cedar Rapids coming in well, coming into the weekend, currently, as of recording, their record is 35-16, 3-6, giving them 79 points and currently second in the Eastern Conference. Um, again, like we pointed out earlier, uh Dubuque uh has a game in hand on Cedar Rapids, only trail them by one point. And Dubuque is playing Waterloo on Wednesday.

SPEAKER_09 1:25:55

Good for them.

SPEAKER_05 1:25:56

So uh again, like I said, how is it it feels like Waterloo is playing like all of these teams somehow in the last like week of the season?

SPEAKER_09 1:26:03

I can't how many games do they have left?

SPEAKER_05 1:26:06

So obviously, by the time that game's played on Wednesday, uh the you know rankings in the Eastern Conference could change. Uh Youngstown coming into the weekend with a record of 42, 13, 3-2, giving them 89 points, of course, first place in the Eastern Conference. Uh Cedar Rapids is led by Harvard commit Justin Graff, 23 goals, 32 assists in 52 games this season. And they are led in goal by Boston College commit Ryan Cameron, who is 24-10-2-3 on the season with a 2.92 goals against average and a.882 save percentage. Uh is it just me or does those numbers don't feel like they should match up?

SPEAKER_09 1:26:44

No, that's 882 is not very high, and 292 is pretty darn high, but 24, 10, 2, and 3 is it's like you stuck someone else's numbers in front of them.

SPEAKER_05 1:26:56

That's yeah, that's that's like Chicago steel goaltending like five, six years ago.

SPEAKER_09 1:27:04

Uh Justin Graft is a is a very good player. His brother, I think people probably know, and his brother is Colin Graft, he plays for the Shannon San Jose Sharks. He was that free agent pickup from Quinnipiac several years ago. So he's he's got some good jeans in his in his going through them. Um, if you look at the rest of the Cedar Rapids stat uh stats, there's really nothing that stands out, you know. Number old pal Grant Young, the former uh Phantom play doing having a pretty decent season for him. But as a whole, they they don't have anything that's bad. They just looks like they're pretty much average all across the lines. They you know they they still do uh play that Mark Carlson's um style of heavy heavy hockey, but like you said, they're scoring, but they're they're getting scoring from all their lines. So Justin Graf is leading that. Um I will say their uh their tender sight signing, Braden and Skuderi. I think as of late, he's been playing much better, yeah. Like most as most tenders do. Yeah, he's got He's playing at a point per game over the past 10 games. He's got 10 points in the last 10 games. So he's playing better as well. So like I said, they're getting scoring from all four lines. And um, they're kind of putting everything together at the right time. We'll see if it continues against a a team of the caliber at the Phantom Zar.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:15

Yeah, and like you mentioned before, usually Youngstown ending out the season with like Chicago's and uh you know like the U17s and stuff like that. Um, I I think I think with Youngstown having the week off after this, well, week off as far as not having games on the you know the next weekend, um, they're not gonna have the week off, that's for certain.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:28:37

Yeah, it's uh honestly, it's we've said a lot about the AI scheduling, and I don't think obviously AI is not gonna predict that Cedar Rapids is gonna go on the run that they're gonna go on at the end of this season. But when it's all said and done, I think this actually works out. I like that this is going to be a test for Youngstown coming into this weekend.

SPEAKER_09 1:28:56

Right. Which which is not something we'd have thought in the beginning of the year. No, beginning of the year that we'd have you wouldn't we would have never bet that this is gonna kind of determine who gets the Anderson Cup and who gets second place in the conference.

SPEAKER_05 1:29:08

You know what I mean? And it yeah, it's Youngstown's going for the Anderson, they've got the first round by. I mean, this is gonna be the last real competition for them before the playoffs start. And it's I I really like the fact that this is gonna be a test for them. And it's you know, any game with Cedar Rapids is going to be a tough game. We've seen that time and time again over the years. Um, I th I think with this added, you know, caveat that Cedar Rapids is you know playing with so much confidence and so much momentum right now. Ver I mean, very I mean, and obviously Cedar Rapids is playing for a two-seed. I mean, it's not fully in their hands, depends on what Dubuque's gonna do, but I mean that it's we're gonna see playoff hockey this weekend. Yeah, and um and how many how many times do we get to say that at the end of the season? Because typically it's the 17s, right?

SPEAKER_09 1:30:01

I Cedar Rapids means had like the quietest rise out of any team in the USHL. They just all of a sudden they were there. Like I think we said last week they're within striking distance of a of a bye, and they go out and sweep this past weekend and just slowly been climbing and beating the teams. And and I I think if to your point, this is probably the best case scenario of an ending of a season for the Phantoms, especially with that week. Just echoing the same thing you said, I completely agree with you.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:27

All right, so both of these games, uh, puck drop is 8 05. That is local time here. Uh, and the games will be available on Flow Sports. Uh, so Dan, uh a Justinless episode for us. Uh, we've come down to the end.

SPEAKER_09 1:30:44

Didn't think it was much harder than I thought it was gonna be.

SPEAKER_05 1:30:47

And we uh we we definitely found out how much of a role of a timekeeper that Justin plays because we are finishing this way later than we typically would.

SPEAKER_09 1:30:57

We're like four hours in. We're we're over four, like four and like be four and a half hours by the time we're all said and done recording this.

SPEAKER_05 1:31:04

Two two interviews tonight and all all these extra things and everything else. Uh jam-pack QA. Uh, we we packed it all in here.

SPEAKER_09 1:31:12

Yeah, we were just able to shoot the breeze for a long time.

SPEAKER_05 1:31:15

We might. If if Justin would have tried to join in tonight, this may have killed him. Or he would have left an hour ago and it would be you and me finishing it.

SPEAKER_09 1:31:25

He would have he would have conveniently forgot about segment six again.

SPEAKER_05 1:31:31

All right. So next week, again, we will be recapping these two games with Cedar Rapids, and we will dive into what the first round of the USHL playoffs look like. Again, we will be joined by the voice of the Omaha Lancers, Joel Norman, uh, who will be coming on to talk about uh what's going on in round one in the West. So you can catch this show on wherever you listen to your favorite podcast, be it Apple, be it uh Spotify, uh wherever you listen to your favorite shows, you can find us. You can find us on social media on Instagram and Facebook. So, Dan, uh before we get out of here, any final thoughts?

SPEAKER_09 1:32:08

You know, something that's I'm gonna talk about something that's completely different. Something is happening this Wednesday. Hopefully, the weather's gonna allow it to happen. And that's NASA sending Artemis 2 up into space. It's gonna go around the moon a couple of times. First time we've sent anybody there since what, like 1970, something like 50 some years.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:26

72, 73, somewhere in there.

SPEAKER_09 1:32:28

Yeah, so I'm super excited. I hope the weather allows it to happen. They've been pushing it back for a long time. So hopefully we'll make a lot of name naysayers kind of e-crow, and I cannot wait to see what they uh uncover by go doing it, doing some laps around the moon.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:41

So um, I I I was the nerd when I was a kid that I had like a uh poster that was like two feet wide, two feet tall of the moon. And it was actually a very like high definition image of the moon for what high definition was back then.

SPEAKER_02 1:32:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:32:59

That I had on my wall. I then I even did the uh the uh glow in the dark stars that you would stick to the ceiling of your bedroom, and it it would give you the constellation map so you can make the constellations and stuff. So yeah, I've I've I've always been a big space geek. So yeah, really hopefully they get the launch on Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to that.

SPEAKER_09 1:33:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:19

Yeah, you weren't kidding, nothing to do with what we've been talking about. Alrighty, so as always, hockey is a sport played on ice with sticks in a puck, and our podcast is the thing you just listened to. See ya.

SPEAKER_09 1:33:32

I track planes. I won't be able to track the space shuttle. I it kind of upsets me.

SPEAKER_05 1:33:38

I'll I'll I'll watch when they do the uh launches. Like now like NASA TV on YouTube will have like the live stream of like the launches and stuff. I'll sit there and watch, even though like once it launches. Basically once the screen turns black because they're far enough away from Earth, it gets really boring for about 45 minutes. Yeah. They do a 15-minute countdown because like the the spacecraft is gonna like turn left like 15 degrees, and they'll do a 15-minute countdown for that turn.

SPEAKER_09 1:34:07

Yeah. It's like what you wonder why all space shuttles turn to the east? It's like they have to match they have to match the rotation of the spin of the ball.

SPEAKER_05 1:34:17

There's times I almost hope nobody listens to the end of these episodes because sorry, flat earthers, you're not getting any love here.

SPEAKER_06 1:34:27

Not at all.

unknown 1:34:30

Welcome to the goal.