InGoal Radio Episode 322 features a tribute to Bernie Parent after the goaltending legend passed away at age 80.

Intro

Hasn't been a great time in the world of goaltending, and we are going to pay our respects today on this special episode of InGoal Radio, the podcast presented by The Hockey Shop. Thehockeyshop.com Source for Sports Langley. We've lost a trio of, hall of famers in a short time period in Ken Dryden, Eddie Giacomin, and now Bernie Parent. And today, we are going to bring you, an interview that we originally aired back in 2020, that David Hutchison and I, conducted with Bernie Parent and some great stories, inside that conversation with the legendary goaltender with the Philadelphia Flyers. I bring in the co founders of InGoal Magazine, David Hutchison and Kevin Woodley.

Gentlemen, it's been it's been one of those streaks, those runs of time where you're like, really? And and you're reminded about if you haven't talked to these gentlemen, you gotta source the information and put it in writing, put it in podcast form or interviews, while you can because we're moving on and father time is undefeated.

And so unexpectedly, you know, like, I understand even many of Dryden's friends didn't realize this was coming. And so a shock when things like this happen and it really, really rocks you when they're they're people that were part of your childhood, part of what introduced you to the game, and then ultimately lucky enough to meet a few of them. And, yeah, it's been a hard hard few weeks, harder than I expected it to be, honestly.

Woody, it's, in a way, it helps educate the younger fan base, those that have been born and grown into our our league and our our arena of goaltending, just how accomplished, these players were. Ken Dryden winning all those Stanley Cups, Bernie Parent, a small statured goaltender, Eddie Giacomin and his legendary performances with the with the New York Rangers.

Yeah. Makes me want to, make sure that we get more of them on the air. Not just because you're right. Like, a reminder of how great so many of these guys were, but also how different the game was. And yet in some ways, every time we catch up with them, there are elements that are always the same that haven't changed.

So it yeah. Maybe a bit of a reminder. I mean, we've had, you know, a lot of the greats on, over the years. Glenn Hall, Hutch was was able to go visit him at the farm. This interview with Bernie Parent.

But, you know, I I I think of Cesar Maniago last year and all the great stories that he had to tell about being there when plant put the the mask on for the first time. But, you know, almost feels like a bit of a sense of duty to record some of the the history of some of these great goaltenders here on the podcast, before we have moments like this. So, the notes have been made. The requests are going out. Expect to see a lot more of of the of the quote unquote older crew, hopefully appearing here at the InGoal Radio Podcast, in the in the coming year.

Bernie Parent was a legend in the greatest hockey city in the world in in Montreal. Eddie Giacomin was just a the face of the New York rangers for a period of time and and such a gentleman. And Bernie Parent, I daresay, transcended hockey. He is a he is not just a Flyers legend and hockey hall of famer, but he is a Philadelphia icon with the the greats of the eagles and the Phillies and the sixers and Rocky in in Philadelphia. He he belonged in that company.

You remember that? I think I remember the the mask over your right shoulder appearing on the cover of Time Magazine, Daren. Yes.

Yes.

And I think although it was YouTube that did the interview, listening to it and talking to other people who knew him since this tragic news, it is the warmth and the positivity and the willingness to share that with anyone that endeared him so much to the fan base in Philadelphia. I mean, a lot of stories from, you know, people that were fans of the flyers of running into him and just his willingness to engage in conversation and tell stories and the sincerity with which he did so comes through in this interview. And that wasn't just reserved for us because he was on the InGoal Radio Podcast. That's how he engaged with all of his fans. And I think that is a big part of the connection beyond the performances on the ice.

That is a big part of his connection with that community, at least talking to, like I said, a handful of people that that maybe don't live there now, but some that lived there in the past, some that still live there. They all seem to have a story of personal interaction and some just fans, not not anybody that was, you know, like on our side of the business or in the game or behind the scenes, just just hockey fans, just flyers fans. And they all seem to have a story about a personal interaction with Bernie Parent. And they all shared the same sort of memories of what he was like in those interactions. And I think that comes through in this interview, and I think that's just a large part of who he was.

I think for me, it's it's interesting that I respected him as a goaltender growing up. I I can't say I was a Flyers fan. I was a Buffalo Sabres fan when they when, Philadelphia beat them in the final. I respected Bernie as a goalie. I certainly was excited for the opportunity to meet him when we were able to interview him, but then I walked away with such respect for him as a person.

Sometimes you meet a goalie and you're excited because they're a goalie to you. This was, I think, the first one where where I just became a fan of him as a human being as a result of the interview, and and it changed my my perception of him. Not not that I had a different perception of him and as a person. I didn't really have one at all. I only knew him as a goalie, but, but I definitely walked away with a very different experience than than I've had with just about any other goalie.

I think Glenn Hall now was like that for me as well because it was a personal face to face.

What was that feeling?

I I don't know how to put it into words but I've had this feeling for the last week that I don't wanna overstate it and for it to sound absurd, but it's it's almost like we lost a grandparent in the family. You wanna feel close to him as a human being. Other guys you wanna feel close to because you're excited that they're a goaltender and you're a fan of them and it's only natural to be a little bit in awe of some of these characters for what they've accomplished on the ice. Where where Bernie, you just he's a human being you wanna be with for who he is. And and, and I think I had that same sort of feeling with with Glenn Hall.

But, yeah, it it's bizarre that a brief interview that we were privileged enough to conduct left me feeling like a member of the family is gone now.

Ken Dryden, just incredible accomplishments, but there was a status of Ken Dryden Huge. That that you put up. And with Bernie Parent, it was more of the you weren't talking to a hall of famer. You're you're talking to a guy that was just so happy just to discuss the game and tell stories and include you in the in the discussion and just diff different personalities and how we view them, but I'm I'm with you on that assessment of the grandfatherly type.

Can I share a story from and and and he's he's been prominent in our recent podcast? He's one of our favorite listeners, favorite subscribers, supporter of InGoal Magazine and InGoal Radio, Chris Matola sent me a note, about Bernie Parent. He sent first, he sent the image with the blazers, the orange and yellow, and the white Bauer skates and the orange and yellow helmet. And he said culturally from a goalie standpoint, you cannot imagine how every local goalie lost their minds when Parent rolled in either the new Bauer white shell skates and a painted mask with the blazers. Guys just calling each other on their rotary phones, did you hear?

It's it's just the way He's

a writer.

Is such a great storyteller too.

Like, you you hopefully, I conveyed that with the right amount of it just it had me smiling as he sent that message. And then and another guy, not the only one, but another of many who I talked to that were fans from that area. You know, they said it was not uncommon to run into Parent after he retired. Always happy to say hello or talk about hockey.

Feature Interview - Bernie Parent

I have a couple of stories that I'll share after the conversation that, we had with him, in 2020. Interactions, with Bernie and stories about Bernie, that I was told firsthand. But, let's, let's get to the interview first this week, brought to you by Sense Arena, Sense Arena VR. And let's, let everybody be able to enjoy this discussion that we had, five years ago, on InGoal Radio, the podcast, as, Sense Arena, NHL Sense Arena brings us these wonderful conversations.

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Number one for the Philadelphia Flyers, a hockey hall of famer, two time Stanley Cup champion, a two time Conn Smythe trophy winner, a journey that was, very unique to get to the National Hockey League. One that actually has a link to and connection to Ken Dryden, as, we mourn his passing, as well. We'll, tell you that story after we replay, bringing the conversation originally aired on InGoal Radio, the podcast back in 2020. Bernie Parent with Millard and David Hutchison. Anybody of the era knows Bernie Parent's game.

Any of the people that that came afterwards, know from the stats, but, let's all dive into the very beginning, Bernie. How did you become a hockey player? How did you become a goaltender?

Well, by Lord, that's going way back. I think Moses was alive then. That's a long time ago. They

Was he shooting on you? Yeah. Yeah. I I got to make a few stops. But anyway, I was about young young and just have seven kids living in Montreal.

Yeah. Yeah. I I got to make a few stops. But anyway, I was about young young and just have seven kids living in Montreal.

And and I I wanted to be a defenseman. Think about this. So when I was about 13, you know, you I had two brothers and the sisters, and and I finally got the skates, you know, all the way down. You know, it was my turn. And I wanted to be a defenseman, so I put the equipment on.

And then in those days, you, we played outdoor rinks. So you had to go around the rink once. And depending on your speed, then the coach would give you a position. So both the players did in fourteen, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen seconds. Now my turn came.

Wow. Let's get ready, boys. And I did mine in twenty one seconds. So the coach looked at me and said, Goaltender. That's how I became a goalie.

Now think about this. The first game I played because I had never played on on skates because we played in those days, people have to remember that the ice remained in the streets for three or four months in Montreal. They didn't have the chemical by then at at that time. So, I played the first game, and they scored 22 goals against me. So the coach looked at me and said, out of here.

Right? And And I knew I didn't have good balance. I decided to practice in the street with my buddies, put the skates on and play goal. Five weeks, think about this, five weeks later, a, I received a phone call from the from the coach, and this goaltender got hurt. So he said, you wanna give it one more chance?

I said, sure. And, we won the game, and bingo. Then I was on my way. How about that?

Doing the math there, Bernie, you didn't start skating until 13?

No. That's right. And and even in my prime, I couldn't skate. I had good balance. I had good balance.

As a matter of fact, you know, people keep saying goaltender has to be a good skater. Not really. You know, what you need, you need you need good balance. If you had good balance, then you have a good shot at it.

So how did it take the the next step from from 13 to the next couple of years getting on the radar to to place a little bit of junior?

Well, I played, then I I, ended up with the team. How I got there, I look back. I, don't really remember, but I got into the in with the, Rosemont hockey team in Montreal. And, and for and then played for them for two years, and we won the the, the championship the second year. Right?

And things were going well. We had a good team. Because let's face it. When you play well, it's because you have a good team. You know?

If you wanna have a good team, then it's very difficult to play well. And, and then and then when I was seventeen seventeen, 18, then I got drafted by the Bruins, the Boston Bruins. And, and then it was, you know, it was very exciting. You know? So so, and then I ended up in Niagara Falls.

That was cool.

Did you like playing goal, or was it just that that was your spot that you were assigned?

I loved it. I loved it. They you know, little that I knew at the time, that was my imagination, you know, working, anticipating the shots, left hand shot, right hand shot. But I I didn't have the the foundation to realize what I was doing, but this is in my mind, this is what I was doing. And I love, outthinking, I guess, a shooter, you know, making the saves.

Hope it making saves, you know, playing playing and goal is pretty good. You just stand there. You don't have to chase the puck all the time. You know? It's a beautiful thing.

It was cold outdoors.

Yep. Yep. It was cold. At Pembroke, my Mum. God bless her.

She would you know, in the outdoor breaks, it would pile up the snow along the boards so people would stand, you know, just above the board. And, she'd be there with her big fur coat, the hat, the boots on. Never missed a game. That was awesome.

Oh, wow. It took great courage to play then.

Yeah. Yep. Yeah. It's

The gear you were wearing and no helmets, and and where did that come from?

Well, you know what? The, the gear the, the equipment was supplied by, the township. You know? So you you know, you didn't have to buy it. It was Yeah.

It it was given given to you, you know, while you played. And, and, you know, look back. Was it good? I don't know. I guess it was.

I'm still alive, you know? So but it was a you know, I they here here we go, guys. When I was when I was before I went to Niagara Falls, we I'd make a lot of I'd miss a lot of days, school days, because I was on the ice practicing, and and this is that was my vision. And I think at the time I think at the time, my vision was was to play in the National Hockey League. And when you have a vision like this, then, you're willing to do anything.

You know? And I remember my mom taking me to the teacher at that time, and the teacher look at my mom, look at me, look at my mom and said, I'm sorry, but your son doesn't have a chance in life. Know? So true story. Oh, yeah.

And and then and then later on, you know, he was a fairly young guy. And then later on, he, I got a chance to show the two Stanley Cup, and I said, you know, it's a, like Einstein said so many times, imagination is more important than education. You know? You you

had to battle through a couple of things then between that little bit of news and then the coach cutting you after the first game and and being assigned. Like, you you you got through a couple of bumps.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. And and and think about this, when I got drafted by by Boston, then that was like I said, I was seven 18, and I had to go to Niagara Falls, you know, which was a And I couldn't speak English. And I remember, you know, picking up my suitcase, went to the train station by myself, and I went to Niagara Falls. And many times, you know, people people have asked me, why did you go to Niagara Falls?

You could have stayed home and could have done something else. And at that time, I said, was more powerful at that time, I said, because my vision was to play in the National Hockey League. And I shared this with young kids because when you have a vision like this, it it pushes you to go through a lot of things to reach to reach your goal.

Your hero growing up as a goaltender was?

Jacques Plante.

Yes.

Jacques Plante. I would get up watching him play, watch him play, every Saturday night, you know, at home and, was just awesome. And the beauty about about him was his sister lived next door to us in Montreal. Okay? And I remember once every summer, one time, he would visit his sister.

They had the big convertible, big car, and, he would come in. I'd be sitting in front of the window at my house, and I'd watch him. He would come out of the car. You had the big hat on, a cigar, and he'd walk. You know?

He would the way he would walk, you know, towards, just his sister, which is just incredible. You know? What a beautiful thing. And then think about this. You're talking about about how life, when you have a, a vision, life will provide you with great opportunities to make it happen.

And then when I got traded, two years with the flyers, I got traded to Toronto. And that's when Plante was there, was playing, and that was a blessing. He turned my career around.

How did he do that? Well,

they, first of all, I asked him because I watch him practice. I watch him play, and I said, my lord. You know? And he'd say, yeah. Right there.

You're watching him sitting on a bench. And, I said, man, you're so good. I said, can you teach me? He said, sure. So, you know, what I learned from him basic was I was at times, I was doing this, but I I wasn't aware that I was doing it.

If you have a left hand shot versus a right hand shot, how do you position yourself? How is position yourself where the puck is, not where the man is? Because the man will see the opening, but the puck won't. You know, if you play that way, it's a beautiful thing. And how your defenseman each defenseman, have five or six, how they play certain players, how they play a left hand shot, how they play a right hand shot.

It it then it helps you to anticipate better as far as making you move and be at the right place at the right time.

Did he help you technically as well?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. They you know, talking about talking about position, you know, was very, you know, very, very important how to know where you're at as far as where the net was concerned. And then on the left hand side, I was always filled the post with the left hand. And if I was on the right side, I would fill the post with the the button, you know, at the end of my stick, and it would give me an idea where I'm at and where the play is.

And that understanding of the game, which is just incredible.

It's it's remarkable that, it sounds like it was the first instruction you'd received, and you're in the National Hockey League at that point.

Yep. Yep. First time. First time. And, you know, when I played for Boston, those two years started in '65.

You know, we, you know, you have to remember, we were in last place those two years when I was there, and, we only had sixteens. And then the average of a hockey player the average age of a hockey player was, was older than, you know, more of, like, the late twenties, maybe 30. You know, you had the you had a lot of experience out there, so it was very, very difficult. And and think about this, the first year, you know, I went to training camp for Boston, and I was 20. And they sent me to Oklahoma, you know, the farm team.

And in front of me, they had Ed Johnston and Jerry Cheavers. So, you know, in those days, you could you couldn't negotiate like you do now. So if you're not lucky, you know, you, you could spend ten years in the minors not going anywhere. And that year, five weeks into a season, the two think about this. The two goalies got hurt at the same time.

So they called me, and then I set it up with the Bruins. How about that?

What would you do in the summer to prepare for a season as we sit here and get ready for a a season in a in a unique time?

Fish. You know? You know, if you look if you look at the players, you look at the games even not as far, you know, before I played, but even when we played, and you look at the speed, and you look at the players today, you know, there's no comparison. You know? I mean, we were good.

Don't misunderstand me. But the speed of the players today is just just incredible. So for us for us, what we did is we used a training camp to get in shape. How about that? You know, today they keep in shape the whole year round.

But the difference is, you know, in those days you make 25,000, today they make 25,000,000, You know? But Yeah. Helps you to stay in shape. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. You can afford a lot more fish after you're done instead of during the during

your career. No kidding.

Well, fishing has to help with your balance, which you said is the most important thing. I mean, standing up in that tippy boat, it's great training.

Yep. Yep. It is. It is. You know, I've I've always loved, offshore, you know, fishing, and, to be is, you know, think about this, guys.

When you go out the inland, you get in the ocean. On the other side, where land is is about 3,000 miles away. So it's a big lake. You know? And there's there's magic in that ocean.

It's a beautiful thing. Love it. That's my passion. I love it.

And magic on the on the frozen water as well. When you when you stepped on the ice, what were you thinking? What was your or did you have a thought process how you approached every game?

Well, it was that was pretty well the same because I've learned from cloud again, and it became by my approach, my philosophy is is is don't figure out what the player is going is going to shoot. You know? Position yourself, and and more likely he's going to hit you. You know, it's very, very important because the players you know, they're smart players, National Hockey League. They'll change their minds the last second, and then the you're in the wrong place, the wrong position, and, and then you have problems.

Chances are they're going to score. But if you depend just on your style, then you move along with whatever, the adjustment that you have to make, whatever the players players doing with the puck.

Why didn't you take your mask off when you skated to the to the net and back?

Well, yeah, listen. Look at

this face. You know? I

you know? Beautiful. Yeah. I I you know what? I have to I won't go in details, but I have to keep that mask on.

Yeah. Life was good. Yeah. Life was good.

Who was, who was the toughest player to face back in the day? Which which guys did you think about as they were coming down on you, whether it's practice or games?

Well, I, I'd say the game was good with the games. And, to me, was Bobby Hull. You know? Bobby Hull was clocked at a 120 miles an hour. Think about this.

Nobody has even well, some guys have done a 105, I think, or whatever, but nobody has has done a 120 miles an hour. And I remember him yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm 20 years old, 21.

And I I remember him coming across the blue line. And that's the beauty about about, when you're young like this, you don't have as much fear. You know? He would come you know, pick shoulders. Yeah.

And, would come across the blue line. And just between the blue line and the circle, he would wind up. And I looked at him, he looked at me, then everything became in slow motion. I was just it's just how powerful he was. Then he would then I would put my my catching glove in front of my face, and I'd say, god, let him score.

Are you? And and you know what? Quite a few times, he missed he missed the net, hit that last behind me, and then Hull had to make the save on the other at the other end. So so that's that was very dangerous. I'm very fortunate to be alive today.

That's for sure.

Were you were you nervous? Were you confident? How would you describe your your mental feeling during a game?

Well, during a game, you know, I learned again from Plante to to just concentrate on your system. You know? And and, of course, I would say against better teams, then you concentrate a little bit more, which doesn't make it right, but that's that's the way it was, you know, at the time. And and there was I you know what? It's a it was always my focus was always the night before the game.

I would spend well, maybe an hour and a half, two hours thinking about different players, you know, a different position, what they would do, you know, where it should be, what it should be doing, and what to anticipate and stuff like this. So I spent I I did my homework the night before. And then when the the game came, it all came back, and, it made the game much easier for me.

Were you a talker during the game?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's I I learned that from Plante again. It's very important.

Know, you the puck's in the corner and you have a defenseman chasing the forward, and I love it because a lot of guys are focused on that corner where the puck is. Well, I lean against the post, but I'm almost facing the front. You know? And, then had pretty well idea where, an open guy is who could be getting the puck. You know?

And, and then you communicate, shout to your defenseman because, you know, it's loud and that break. And then look behind you, somebody's open or whatever. You know? And it really made a big difference.

Yeah. What about cracking jokes and things like that? Because you're you're a pretty funny guy.

Well, yeah. Yeah. I think I think even in life, humor is very important, you know, and you become what you think about. You know? And I I I love to have fun in life.

You know? And And my philosophy is if something is not very funny, you let it come, don't fight it. Let it come, let it go through, and then start focusing on happy thoughts again. And that's what I did. On the ice, you know, we're we're friends.

Let's face it. And I shared this with kids all the time. You know? You don't win in life by yourself. You learn this in in in sports.

In my case, it was hockey. If you're going to win, you're going to win as a team. You know, it's very, very important. And then the world of business is the same way. So you learn you learn some good basic things in sports that help helps you in in the future, the business world.

Did you play whenever you wanted under Freddie, or was there a system in place there?

No. They I would play I think with Freddie, I would play, like, seventy, seventy two games. Right? And Bobby Taylor would play, I don't know, six games. The chief, we call him.

We were good friends. We were good friends. And but every time I went out to the dressing room, the players would say true story. Would say they called me Ben at the time. You know?

Ben. And they'd say, hey, Ben. How many goals tonight? Depending how I felt. Said maybe one or two.

Right? And then when Taylor played, they would ask him, how many how many goals you need tonight, chief? He said about seven.

That's that's that's Bobby for it.

Oh, yeah. It's a good man, good friend, Good people. Yeah.

What was, what was Freddie like as a head coach?

Freddie was good. First time I bet him when I got traded back to to, from Toronto to to Philly, Freddie was, came up to me and always adjusting his glasses. I don't if you recall. You know, it's always that way. And he looked at me.

I shook his hand, and he said, you know what? He said, I don't know anything about goaltending. You're on your own.

Yes. Awesome. That was cool.

Oh god. That was cool. But, you know, you're talk you you know you're talking about about them quickly, guys. When, and I tell the young kids too, people take chances, which is called I had a book that came out two years back, risk and fear. Yeah.

Now think about this. When I played I was with Toronto, this is when the World Hockey Association came in. Yeah? And and I at the end of the second season, I received a phone call from the World Hockey Association if I was interested in joining the, you know, the league, the WHA hockey league. And I said, let me think about it.

I thought about it, and I said after a while, I said, everything I had learned from ground, I said I said, if it doesn't work out, I'll come back to, Toronto. Why it didn't work out for different other different reasons? So, I came back and think about this. Risk that I took to go to the World Hockey Association versus the safety of Toronto National Hockey League, which had been in existence for, what, eighty years or a hundred years or whatever was a big risk. And, but then when I came back, the same day, traded me back to the flyers.

And then we end I ended up with the team that won two Stanley Cup the following two years. Think about this. If I would have played it safe, I would have never been been in Philly.

Or or Leaf fans would be celebrating.

That's that's that's a possibility. Yeah. You and I have you know, dude, we had some good players, some good friends on that team. Yeah.

And you're still working with the flyers today?

No. I'm not doing much now with us with the flyers. We, we, just my concentration is on fishing. So

Well,

you Yeah. So now I've I you know, but it gets to a point where and, also, you know, it's difficult to work with the goalies today, you know, for me anyway, because the way we played in those days. Today, I I think if you look at the equipment, and I'm so grateful we played when the equipment we had because you had more, mobility, you know, to, move your hands, your skates, your pads or whatever. Today and and you have to make the safes. And today, the equipment is so bulky, and they're great goalies.

Don't misunderstand me. You know, they're they're awesome, but but they play a different style. You know what? They drop because they don't have the luxury to move the legs around like we used to because the equipment's so bulky. But the difference is, a big difference that I see is in our days when you make the save, you have better chance to control the rebound.

When you drop to your knees, you're like you're blocking the shot. And when you block the shot, the rebound most of the time will end up in front of you. So it's a big adjustment. But like I said, it's it's a different time. And how how would I work with InGoalies in a situation like this?

It's it's better to to to say thank you very much for the opportunity, good old lord, that I had throughout my life and sign for somebody else to take over.

Bernie, I I get more impressed as the years go on when I watch the clips, you could make a skate save from 30 feet and and be so dialed in on it. I I just fascinated by it. So what what going into that?

Well, I get I get more impressed myself too when I see it. Well, you know what? When I had learned from flank again that, you know, as you you're playing goal, you always have for me, the way the way I played was to have more weight on my right leg than the left leg. Then it allows me to move left and to move right more better. Because if I if I stand, if I put a evenly, the weight on both feet, then it's very difficult to to make the move because, you know, you don't have the luxury to move side to side.

But if you just you just concentrate on putting more weight on one leg, then it opens up everything. The movement is much easier.

Were you tough?

Oh, was I tough? I was as tough as my players were. Then you were pretty tough.

That's a tough team.

I you know what? I got involved one time with with Dave Bell. Remember Dave? Yeah. Remember him?

Dave. Yeah. And he corked me pretty good. And I said, you know what? I learned a lesson very quickly.

I said, let the players do the do the fighting. And I had some good players to do with that, so that was the end of it. Yeah.

Random question for you. After one of your cups, and I can't remember whether it was the first or the second, you wore the patches of the Stanley Cup on the on the sweaters that next season. Oh, why did you do that? Then was that a team thing, or is that a league thing?

No. It was it was a team thing. Yeah. It was and

I'd love for them to do it now, so I'm just curious

Oh, yeah.

To do it.

Yeah. They you know what? It's a it it it's hey. First of all, you deserve it. You win the championship.

You win the Stanley Cup. You know what? It's a beautiful thing to to have. And in in addition to this and it's a good reminder also that every time you put that jersey on, you're a Stanley Cup winner, and it gets you ready for the following year. So, know, it's a it's you know what?

In hockey, especially in gold, it's such a it's such a head job. You know? It's very, very important. And if you stay healthy and you do your homework, then the and you have a good team, then good yeah. Most of the time, good things will happen.

What was the what was the hardest thing about playing goal in the seventies? What might a goaltender today be surprised about or find difficult?

Well, you know, in the old days, they I don't know. That's a good question. They you know, I would probably reverse their question to today, you know, today, the winter shooting, you know. Here's an example. If I play okay.

Let's say if I'm playing a right hand shot coming on the on the right side, just the middle of a circle, and he takes a shot. And if I if I'm playing him if I'm playing the puck because the defenseman, I had and, you know, we understood that when the guy comes downhill like this, you play the man, I'll play the puck. Mhmm. K? So so then more likely, I'll know where the puck is going to go, and I'll make the save.

But if you only have, like in the old days, if if I would give the shooter, let's say, four, five inches above my shoulders, yeah, on that side, nine out of 10 times, he would miss the net that hit me. Yeah. And in today's world, the way they're shooting is, my god, nine out of 10 times, they'll score. You know? They you know, they they're very good today.

I I watch those guys when they're playing the way they're skating, and the way his the game he's playing today, it's, you know, it's different. Quickly, we had two defensemen. K? And the defensemen had half of the ice. Okay?

Each circle belonged to them. Okay? And and if if the puck or the player went on the other side, a defenseman would stop and the other guy with the other defenseman would pick them up. Right? Mhmm.

But in today's world, you know, you don't have this anymore. You know? They're crisscrossing, and they're, you know, you're very difficult for a goalie to understand. That's why I I I, you know, I hey. I salute those guys today because it's not an easy job to play National Hockey League today.

They're good. The players are good, but the system is a big difference.

It sounded like Freddie had a pretty good system, though. I mean, I I got the the sense that he was ahead of ahead of the game at the time.

Well, yeah, Freddie Freddie was you know, he had two rules. You know? Number one is a the team team has a system and stick within the system. And number two, which is very important, if you had the chance to escape and create a two on one, then you didn't follow the number one rule. You went ahead and create that two on one to create a good opportunity.

And also in practice, I'll never forget defensively, we would spend about half hour every day on coming out of our zone. And we had four different ways to come out depending on how the team would forecheck us. And, I could I could have sat on my on my net, you know, with the gloves off and smoking a cigar and wouldn't wouldn't be afraid. That's how good we were because for a half hour, every practice, that's what that's what we practice. Yep.

Hey. Did you ever get that big hat and the convertible on the cigar that Jacques had?

No. No. No. Because because Plante is the king. Yeah.

You know? And and I came up underneath him, but Plante is the king. So he deserved the car and the hat.

Yeah. What was that appearance at the outdoor game like for you to walk back out there again with the the equipment on?

Oh, that was that was You know, that was awesome to, first of all, to get on the ice, and we practice a little bit. You know? But my gut, what was it? Ten years ago? You know?

And, and, you know, to step on the ice. And at the time, I did outdoors. We had, like, 45,000 people cheering. And, you know, that feeling that I had when I played it came right back. Can you believe that?

It came right back and said, wow. This is awesome. So so I I told the, you know, coach, I said, I'm going play five minutes, and that's it. K. Five minutes.

So, I'm watching the clock. We're playing you know? There's about ten seconds left in the game. I'm watching the clock, and I have a shutoff going. I have shutoff because they were coming to me, you know, with their shots.

And I looked I looked down again, and I said, my god. Here comes the guy on the breakaway. I said, did that last? Yes. I said, Lord, what you doing to me?

I got ten seconds to go. Right? He comes down and shot on my pads on purpose. Think about this. And, of course, you know, the crowd went crazy.

You know? Like, I I made a great save. And, it wasn't a great save. He shot on my pads. And I asked him after, as soon as we before the face off, I said, why did you do this?

Because I know. Right? And he said, my god. He said he said, there's no way I would have gotten out of Philly alive for god's sake about those organs.

You you know, seeing you out there and the mask is is so memorable, but it was a a simple mask. Like, the three stickers and and just but it was it was you. Was that was that you, like, just to have the three stickers?

Or Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, if you if you look at the, the first Stanley Cup when we won in '74, we only had, we only had the, and I'll show you here. I have a mask here behind me, if I could show you. There we go.

And now you have two stickers on this mask, okay? Now, 1974, when we beat the Bruins, I only had two stickers. And 1975, I had three. One on each side and one on top. Then the mask, there's a little quick story about this.

The mask was made in Toronto, so before practice, one day we're in Toronto for a couple of days, and this individual came in to set up the mask, and they have to mold it to your face. Okay? And then think about this, it's funny now, but it wasn't them. And then they put two straws in front of and your then they cover your eyes. They have to do the inside of your eyeball.

Right? And then a couple of times, players would come in and put their fingers on their straw. Think about this. Then I would pull the thing up, and it took about three hours to get the mask on, which it should have taken a half hour for god's sake. Oh, that was funny.

You know? Good guys. Yep.

As you look back on the career, Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe trophies, Vezina trophies, What are you proudest of? What do you what do you remember the most fondly?

Well, you know, a a you know, it's something you remember from from the beginning what we've talked about. You know. And I I, you know, I think about this sometimes and and what took me from a 14, 13 year old kid to be part of an organization and a team that won two Stanley Cups. And and, you know, let's face it. When you win trophies like this, you know, it's you're very I'm very proud to have my name on those trophies.

But, you know, you let's be realistic. You win in life with good people surrounding you. You know? If you don't have a good team, you don't win those trophies. You know?

It's very important. But if you have a good team, and I have to say, have a good goalie, they, you know, good things happen. So when I look at my life today, I look at, at, you know, how this thing happened is, I'm a good friend of the universe. Yeah. Very, very good friend.

And whatever you think about, whatever you're asking universe, it just ask very important here to share this. Ask the universe whatever you want once. That's all. And make it big. Universe is just like the ocean.

If you get a cup of water, you won't change the ocean. So whatever you you, you wanna have in life, you don't make it big and then drop it. And then how, when, and where will be shown to you at the right place at the right time. That's a beautiful way to live.

It is. I I I saw some video of you, visiting the children's hospital in Philadelphia.

Mhmm.

And and it made me wonder, you're outgoing with the children. You didn't even give them a pause to to want to talk to you. You just come and see me right now. Give me a hug. So open, so inviting.

Did did some of that harken back to your past when when maybe you were a youngster and didn't have the courage to go up to mister Plante as he arrived next door to his sister's house and you sort of didn't give the kids the opportunity to ever be too scared to talk to you, did you?

Yeah. Yeah. You know what? That's that's a you're right on with this. And, you know, with the children, you know, hospital, you know, the the young kids, it's a beautiful thing when you you come around and and you put a big smile on the on the young people like this.

You know? You you there's no money they can buy this in the world. And my wife, Jeannie, does a tremendous job at setting things up like this. And and, you know, it's just very difficult to explain, but it's a beautiful, so rewarding to hug a kid and see them smile. And, like I said, there's no money that could could could duplicate that.

It's a great feeling. So is, like, bringing in a tuna. Where how'd you get into the fishing?

They well, you know, when I was a kid, I used to fish in in Canada, lakes out North of Montreal. And and then when I came to Philly, then, I got introduced to the ocean. Yeah. And and and that was you know, right away, the first time I fish the ocean, I felt the magic in the ocean. That's a big body of water.

Yeah. And you see porpoises, you see whales, and, you know, you see mermaids, you know, you see all kinds. And but but, you know, you see you you know, it's such a beautiful such a beautiful, beautiful place to enjoy yourself. And, again, you know, I learned from from a pro, you know, when how to read the weather, which is very important, you know, and and the whole bit about the safety of the boat and stuff like this. So so it's it it it all comes down to every step that I take, whatever it's fishing now or different things in life.

There's always somebody who did it before, you know? And you find out who did it, what you're after, and who was successful at it, and then try to talk to them or duplicate them in some ways, and usually it turns out good.

Would you have would you have liked to have been part of the shootout in your No.

No. That was quick quick answer. The reason the re the reason I I I don't agree with this, you know, never will, is because you win as a team and you lose as a team. You know? And and then we go you play for sixty or seventy minutes or whatever as a team.

60 and then the three

on three. Three on three. You know? And then the one individual get lucky with the shot or whatever and and wins the game. I don't agree with that.

You win or you lose as a team.

Pretty active on social media, pal.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My, yeah, my wife does a tremendous, tremendous job. And and, you know, it's a it's a beautiful thing.

Again, it's a team effort. Yeah. And because let's face it, they all haven't played for a while. You know, it's been a while. And new generations came up.

And if you don't go out there and and, and present yourself or introduce yourself to the public, out of sight, out of mind. You know? So, so it's very, very important to stay active and she does a fantastic job. And you know what? And you know, she's my agent, right?

So she gets 40%. Now her mom gave her birth, so she gets 40%, and the dog gets 20, so I get nothing.

Who's who's who's your favorite goalie now, or post play?

Well, you know what? I lot of good goalies have come along, but we have, we have a fantastic young goalie today. A good combination. We have, Hart and Elliott. Okay?

There's about Yeah. There's about, what, ten, twelve years between them. Yeah. Something like this. And there's no competition, so guys help each other.

And you could see this kid this kid when I first met him. And what what is he? Six one, I think. A hundred seventy five pounds.

Oh, At least. Yeah.

And and I I I looked at him, and you could see in his in his eyes, you know, that he's a winning goalie. They're going to win the semi cup with him. Great goalie. Yep.

Elliott and Hart reminds me of you and and Plante in the in the age gap and then being able to help each other

that I'm better looking than Hart, but we won't go there. God. Life is good.

Were there guys in your day, other goaltenders that you, that you respected other than playing?

Oh, yeah. Yeah. And, when I played or, just watching.

Yeah.

Just watching?

Yeah. Not when you played either way.

Yeah. They well, when I was watching, you know, they had they had guys like Glenn Hall, you know, Terry and Glenn, the rangers. And, you know, they were they were friend. They were just just fantastic goalies. They played every night, you know, and they only had six teams.

And when I played, you know, when I played, you you know, we you had them you know, you had so so many, like, I mean, for an example, for the rangers. You know, I played all my career against them. And and, you know, to beat the rangers, to beat them, you had to beat your best. You know? So you're playing against great goalies, they bring the best out of you.

That's that's a beautiful thing.

Would you take anything from the guys that you played against, as you move along?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Because I always said, you know, I always believe that guys that play National Hockey League is because they have talent. You know? And everybody has this one little town that is above everybody else, whatever it is, the way they handle the stick or the you know, the way they play the angles and stuff like this.

And, and if you get something from each of those those players that you're playing against, then that adds up quite a bit to, your system.

You are rocking it.

Who are you closest with on those teams in Philly, and and are you still in touch

with them? They, I start the defenseman, you know, was very, you know, we joke, and we had good times. But when the game started, we, you know, was business. And, and then you have Schultz who, took care of, your problems if we had one. And, we had in our days, I believe, we had the greatest leader in Bobby Clarke, you know, that really made a big difference.

So so we if if you look at the puzzle here, we we had all the pieces very well to win the championship. And Yeah. Are you still in touch? Oh, yeah. Sure.

Yeah. I'll take them out fishing. And, also, we had you know what? I watched your games today. You know?

I watched your game last year, and then well, there's nobody in the stands, and I feel bad, you know, because I it's such a big it's a important factor as a player. Because you you're just like a performer on the stage. You know? When you go in the ice and you have 22,000 people cheering, you know what? That's you work hard the whole year to get in a good position to have the home ice advantage.

It makes a big difference. Now you're playing on an empty building, and it's it's gotta be very, very difficult for those guys to to overcome that. I I I know they are, but it's gonna take a lot of work to do it.

A couple of things before we let you go. Which ring are you wearing?

I'm wearing both. Hey. See? Seventy seventy four on the right hand and 75 left hand. Let me tell tell you something about this.

Bill Gates, you guys know heard of Bill Gates. Right? He's he's worth a 100,000,000,000. K? Can't buy these.

You have to earn it. But I always said, if Bill Gates wants to come up to me and give me 20,000,000 for each one, it's yours, baby. How

did you get Let's hope he's listening.

How did

you get into business? Was it was it a natural transition? Because you're pretty good, and and you've got a you've got a lot of different things going.

Well, you know, when when when I got I'd ended my career, ended by an eye injury, the flyers were so kind, you know, to give me a position with the team. And then I became the goaltender coach, you know, which is something I enjoy because I could apply, you know, share with their goalies what I had learned from Plante, and everything worked out well. And then slowly, I evolved in the the world of business with some, you know, some with the right people, some good people. And it's been a beautiful journey. You know?

It's a when you trust people, you go and and you associate yourself with the good people, good things happen.

Hutch, can I just jump in here to close off the interview? Is Jeannie around? Yes. Is she closed? Can she jump into the frame here?

Because we wanna thank her

and and

acknowledge Of course.

There you go. As well. There she is.

This is the first time we've done this.

Hi. How are you?

Jeannie, thank you.

Good call.

Hey. Thank you so much Hello. For for making sure that this happened. It's it's been just a pleasure.

Excuse me. Listen.

I I was listening to most of it. It sounded great. You guys are awesome.

Listen. Talking about talking about a good vision. That's pretty good here. Yes. What mermaids were you looking for?

Don't wake up, Bernie. Don't wake up.

Alright, guys.

Thank you, guys. Thank you so much, guys. Thanks for

having fun. Vico. Thank you, my friend.

We never did get to go fishing on the French Connection.

Oh my gosh. Talk about regrets

in life. Renamed the Italian French Connection with Gina.

Yep. Talk about regrets in life. And and the funny thing is people throw that stuff out and and I actually believe Bernie was genuine. If we showed up in Jersey, I think we'd have been fishing with him.

You were you were right on board for that.

Well, and I'm not I'm not a huge fisherman, but I'm on board with just being on board with Bernie. What a magical day that would have been. So maybe the two of us will have to go fishing somewhere and Kevin can be our grandfatherly figure for the day.

Here's something strange that I that I didn't even realize until we we learned the passing of of Bernie Parent and and put this together. But Ken Dryden, who we lost recently, and Bernie Parent were both originally property of the Boston Bruins in that time period. Is that not and and Boston ended up winning a couple of cups during this this time period, so they weren't just left without anything. But how about that for scouting or it wasn't a draft back then, but, being able to find talent.

Yeah. The the two that got away. Mean, praise them in the modern day for managing to pluck Tuka Rask away from the Toronto Maple

Leafs, but

but they lost Kendra Raiden and Bernie Parent before that. So let's let's look at the whole body of work for the Boston Bruins. Brilliant scouting. I'm not sure.

And there's a Toronto

connection. Ken

ran the Toronto Maple Leafs He

did.

As president, and Bernie was part of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that's where the crew turned under the mentorship of of Jacques Plante and was able to go back as went to the World Hockey Association and Miami Screaming Eagles, they went bankrupt. They moved to Philadelphia after the the Blazers experience. Bernie wanted to go back to the NHL, but didn't wanna play in Toronto. And they found a way to to deal him to his home in in the Philadelphia Flyers. And right away, after after that experience, he became the Bernie Parent that we talked about with the back to back Stanley Cups in three straight championship series.

His career cut short because of an accidental stick through the eye on the most innocent of place. You can find it on YouTube. It's it's not ghosts or anything like that. It was it was an accident. He was hurt and left the ice, but it was the most flukiest, goofiest situation, and and it cost him a lot of the sight to in his eye and ended his playing career.

And those masks didn't have big eye holes?

No. Although some some of them would file them out and make them even bigger and, but he didn't. The other Jacques Plante connection, of course, is that mask is was it a Jacques Plante fiber sport? It's certainly very close to it if it wasn't authentic. I think it was though.

And you can count on, one hand how many great goaltending the Philadelphia Flyers have received since Bernie Parent. They Pelle Lindbergh and that tragedy. Ron Hextall was great. Ron Hextall. But but but that's it's few and far between for the for the Philadelphia Flyers.

So here's the story. I was doing the expansion draft. I've I've told you guys this, but I'm I'm not sure whether it was on the air or not. I was doing the Vegas Golden Knight expansion draft. Before I worked here, I was still at Sports Net.

I was cohosting that at the NHL awards back in 2017, and they always have former players there to present awards. So we'll go present an award, name four or five players for the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, name an award. Bernie was helping present the Vezina Trophy. And because I'd been out on stage, he came up to me behind, the the the curtain and said, hey. I they want me to say crap.

I'm not gonna go out there and say crap. I'm not I'm like, what? So I look at a script, and it's a it's a playoff craps, like a

gambling joke. And I said, well, it's it's a gambling term, Bernie. And he's like, I'm not gonna say and he said the word, poop, but in in more graphic terms. I'm not gonna go up there and say that in front of all these people. And I'm standing with Bernie Parent, and my first favorite goaltender was Bernie Parent.

And I'm standing there, and he walks away. And I thought, screw this. I tapped him on the shoulder, grabbed him, and said, you got a second. And I flipped over my phone and took a selfie with him, and that's on my wall along with a signed jersey from Bernie Parent. And it's just it's all I've always loved it.

And and I'm so glad that I put the ceremony and the job and all that kind of stuff of what you're not supposed to do Mhmm. Aside and just said, I'm I'm getting a picture with Bernie Parent. The biggest smile on his face. And me, I smile like the happiest person in the world.

Love it. Great memory.

I love it. By talking through that. Means you haven't lost the passion for it. Right? Like, I know we're you know, it's always slippery slopes now and what lines you're supposed to do and media this and media that.

But, you know, when when it's one of your all time heroes and you have that opportunity, you take it.

And he talked to me first. That's why I thought, everything. So here's the other great story. Don't know what year it was, but at outdoor games, they used to have alumni games. Mhmm.

And this was the game in Philadelphia between the Flyers and the New York Rangers. And the alumni get this Eric Lindros was back in a Flyers uniform for this alumni game. Like, it was a big thing. A lot of the Flyers, Stanley Cup legends were there. And Bernie played, and I don't know.

He was late sixties, early seventies at this point. Bernie was starting for the flyers.

In the brown gear and the fiberglass mask.

Everything. Like, it was it was the goosebumps stuff. But before the game, mister Snyder went to the Flyers room or sorry. The mister Snyder went to the rangers dressing Room, and they've got all their legends there. I said, guys, thanks for coming.

Appreciate it. This is great buy in. Two great franchises. It's it's gonna be fun. You guys have had your battles in the past, but this is this is all about just putting on a show.

And just so you know, Bernie is starting and nobody scores on Bernie. And he walked out. And it would be great. Nick Kypreos, my buddy, was playing for in in that game for the New York Rangers, so he told me that directly. The best part is Ron Dugout comes down, and he lets loose with a good shot.

Yeah. And Bernie comes up with a save.

Right

on. And four or five minutes in, Bernie's Bernie goes to the to the bench, and he he did his thing. But mister Snyder, Bernie Parent starting, and nobody scores up Bernie. I love it. Respect.

Total respect. Even though Duge I'm not sure Duge would have got out of there. Mister Snyder would have been chasing him all the way down the corner.

Yeah. But he's but he's burning. It wasn't going in. It wasn't going in.

Come on.

You're right. Yeah. Yeah. You're right. Skate saves, man.

That guy can I've never seen classic videos of a guy that was better at making skate saves. And they we had John Davidson on 100% hockey reminiscing about Eddie and Ken and Bernie. And he said the last of the the true stand up guys, like, Richter was was a hybrid back in '94, but but Bernie was like that his pads barely went above his knee.

Shin pads.

Barely covered the top of his knee. So he wasn't going down.

Everything. Yeah. It reminds me of the conversation about the Gear Segment we're about to have. Looking at burgers Indeed. And how and how the the new heatings are a lot nicer because there's actually a thigh rise on them.

I don't know how they did it back then. My knees would be just gone.

Gear

You're right, about that. Let's get into our Gear Segment brought to you by The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Langley, thehockeyshop.com.

I should say that's for last week's Gear Segment. This week's Gear Segment, we're gonna take a look at Warrior youth gear because this is the time of year when a lot of young goalies, maybe you've been trying the association gear, Maybe maybe you maybe it's time. You you're gotten into the preseason. The association gear isn't cutting it. You find out you're actually gonna get to be a goalie for the first time full time.

Mom and dad, what do I do? Well, first thing you do is you go to the Hockey Shop. We're gonna outline why the new Warrior G seven is a great option for your young goaltender in the youth line, but we've talked a lot about different options over this summer. And so if now is the time, whether it's the gear we're about to preview or any of the other options or if you're an association looking to update your gear, make sure you go to The Hockey Shop Source for Sports. Talk to Cam and his crew. I've been in there when they outfit the little rollies.

It's cute, but it's also a place where they have a lot of knowledge. They understand the importance between gear that's gonna make them feel safe, but still gonna allow them to move. There are lots of different options out there. You can spend a little. You can spend a lot.

And what I love about Cam and his crew is they're never going to steer you purely towards spending a lot if it's not the right thing for your young goalie. So if you're in the market for this, like I said, we got a great segment coming up on an option from Warrior, but also make sure you check-in with their experts at thehockeyshop.com, at the Hockey Shop Source for Sports in Langley to get the right gear for your young goaltender. They've got lots of options, and they'll make sure they get you something that's gonna work for the little goalie in your life.

To the Hockey Shop, we go with Woody and Cam.

Itty bitty. Y'all should've had Hutch on camera today. This might have fit him. Tough bounce. Said the guy who actually got his hand in the child's glove.

Got a tough bounce.

Yeah. Hey, listen. Small hands. What can I say? Soft hands though, Cam?

Soft hands.

Well, let's get this Ritual on the road.

With the Ritual G7, is this now I always get confused. Youth? Junior? What are we

you. We are talking about the smallest of the small.

This is the smallest of the small? Yes. What makes this line and it is a good time of year. If you're grabbing gear, you're association set. Maybe you're the equipment

manager of an association. All

those things.

Welcome back to The Hockey Shop Source

for Sports. A much delayed introduction because we were having some fun with the Warrior Ritual G 7 Youth Line. Yes. 22 plus a half on my pads.

What ones did you

have there? Yes. Different sizes. Walk me through what makes this one a good alternative, a good option.

Let's start with

the pad first. Look how thin that is.

So when we're at this stage of the game, we are focusing on getting the goalie out on the ice, getting him comfortable, him and or her comfortable associated with position, ease of use, ease of play. That is where this pad comes in and excels quite a bit. I would consider a little bit of step up from like some of the basic youth offerings that are out there. This gives a very, very easy to do up pad step by step. I know at some point, like, especially with the young goalie parents, there can be a bit of intimidation.

There we go. With getting, you know, your young goalie strapped up and set out on the ice. This makes it very simple, very straightforward, very workable, extremely lightweight, but still very, very functional. Things that carry over that are kind of like shrunk down, you still get that same flat face design. Nice.

Super thin face. So so Correct. Light, mobile. Flexible.

Yes. So not 100% the exact same as what we would see on like the next size up or anything like that, but nice functional knee strap.

ARS is interesting on the toe tie. Rather than having to figure out toe ties.

Just an easy

Clip it through the toe. Boot of the skate?

I mean, the one thing that would be, you know, for sure a highlight too as well is that there's gonna be some still player skates at this age for sure. So this is still easy to get around that first part of that holder of that player skate as well. But if you do make that transition to goal skates, which is ideal, still easily through the toe clips right in. Clip her

in one Velcro around the calf.

One Velcro around the knee.

Velcro around the knee. An extra strap, like, basically built in knee protection.

See it thigh board. Thigh board thigh wrap. I mean, ideally, move into a knee pad, if you do, you can still unlace this and get rid of it, which

is perfect. Oh, listen. I was kinda hoping they'd bring the thigh board back for the senior models because that thing was a cheat code. Moving forward. You're probably too young to even remember a thigh board, aren't you?

Just don't worry. You just like you ignore

it because you don't know.

No. I just ignore it because of how bad they were.

They they they did the job.

Effect pad rotate. Anyway, it doesn't matter. So moving to the side of the pad, they do not do not have a plastic slide piece that Warrior's become known for. But at the youth, is a little bit excessive. We're most worried about getting, you know, that child on the ice, getting mobile, starting to learn those fundamentals.

Once we step up to the junior, that's when we get the slide plate.

Okay. Super light. What size range for the pads?

So twenty, 22, twenty four. Plus a half. Correct. Alright.

Gloves, blocker. Super easy to close, which is so important at this age.

Yes. So gloves specifically, super lightweight, easy to close right out of the box. Very, very simple.

With some adjustability. So smaller hands, bigger hands. If the glove is a little big on you, chance to crank it down on the back, really get get it fit tight. Got your finger stalls. Just an easy to close, easy to manipulate.

Most focused on

having something that can operate and be fundamentally usable rather than having two blockers on the head. So, speaking of blockers, thin, lightweight, small adjustment, tight fitting hand,

Perfect for

those young goalies.

Should we test if it fits on Kevin's hand? Oh, does. That's not good for me.

Okay. Chest. Beautiful. So completing the line, Warrior does have their youth offering for their chest. Two sizes available, small, medium, large, medium, large.

Second, adjustable arms. Simple backplate design, to slide on, easy to fit into, very mobile as well and giving enough protection for that young age. Great overall option. If you guys want to learn more about it and or talk about it, you can give me a call (604) 589-8299 or 1-800-567-7790 or check all of this equipment out at the hockeyshop.com.

I'm smiling. I'm I'm normally mister Negative. I'm a little, you know, chirping you all the time, but, like, the big smile because it's just the itty bitty goalies. Like, they're so cute. Like, I'm picturing, like, a little itty bitty goalie in this stuff, and it's it's making me happy, Cameron, the next generation.

We'll end this on a positive then. Happy Woody.

Do people ever walk by while you guys are recording those Gear segments and create a studio audience?

Yes and no. We record them before the doors open. Every now and then, we're struggling to finish up before customers start rolling in. But, there are definitely employees that come and hang out and and get involved. There's also careful editing happening because there are so many online orders to fill that there are employees running back and forth occasionally as we're filming picking gear off the off the wall to stuff in a box and send off to somebody on the other side of the country.

So, yeah, it's a it's a fun place to be when when it's time to record. I do understand though, Kevin, that there may have been a hall of famer in the hockey shop this week. Not sure if he was purchasing goalie gear or not.

Yeah. And that was it wasn't the Brodeur statue either.

This is No. No. A real live one.

Breathing. Mhmm. Saw it on social. How about jumbo Joe Thornton just casually dropping by and hanging out at the Hockey Shop? And maybe there's a youth tournament in town.

I don't know if I I don't know what why he was here, but he was here.

Start a rumor. Maybe he's trying out for the Canucks this year. PTO?

They they need a center. Yeah. And I bet he could still play. Listen. It just goes to show you that that is the place to be.

Like, when when you're in town, whether you're our friend Cam Matwiv coming up all the way from Los Angeles on a flight to buy gear or people we know coming in from Calgary or the East Coast, making sure that any visit to Vancouver includes a visit to the hockey shop. We've got another we've got we've got our Aussie coming back. He's you know, he's gonna he'll be here in town soon.

That's right.

He's gonna go check out the hockey shop Source for Sports. Or if you just happen to be a, Joe Thornton, legend of the game, you just drop into the biggest hockey store in town, and that is the Hockey Shop Source for Sports. So hopefully, they got it on social. Our friend Jeff Bata, who is a goalie coach coaching overseas right now, has caught up with him this summer running some privates. He was at Connor Hellebuyck's camp, and then doing some work with Paris O'Brien.

He's the one that sent the photo on social. His son was there and got a picture with Joe. It was pretty cool.

I would love a picture of Joe with a goalie mask on.

Just the beard coming out?

just to see just to see that thing.

He's so good. It's like hockey's equivalent.

Got the size. He could even a hell of a goalie.

It's a hockey's equivalent of the football player with all the hair flowing out the back of his helmet. Yeah. Goalie mask, everything coming out the front. That'd be brilliant.

Best best long beard playing pro hockey in a goalie mask has to be Mark Dekanich, Vancouver, North Vancouver native. Remember he had the beard coming out like good four inches below the bottom of the mask?

Couldn't do it. I couldn't possibly do that.

I have I have like a short beard that I keep and even that in long game starts to get irritating.

Well, just Is that

what you call that, Woody?

The fit. Fit with 05:00 weird. The chin cup, everything. Yeah. Woody, I'm trying to save you, buddy.

Sorry, buddy. Yeah. I'm I'm too busy taking the dig.

He's been growing that since he was 16. It still hasn't come in.

It's mean. That's mean. Yeah. Just because he can't grow a beard doesn't make you a bad person. That's what I watched The

The problem is he can't see it because it's white.

That's true. That's true. I watch him dig into Cam every week. Somebody's gotta go after Woody every now and then.

Now Cam can grow a beard.

Cam can grow beard on his legs.

Did you guys see the the post, Logan Thompson is enjoying training camp with his summer goalie coach, along with the Capitals goalie coach? Just I thought that was interesting. And good on the Capitals for being open to it. Good on Logan for exploring it. I think I think there's a slippery slope there.

Everybody can be their own judge. I was I was quite frankly surprised at it, but you you don't see that very often.

No. You definitely don't. And, listen, shout out to Justin Cardinal, who's the goalie coach. Let's make sure we get him in here. He also works with Adin Hill, I believe, in the off seasons, with the Vegas Golden Knights goaltender.

So a goalie coach from the Calgary area who's who's had a lot of success with these guys and gets to be a part of training camp. And if there's anybody who's gonna be open to it, it's gonna be a guy like Scott Murray, the goaltending coach of the Washington Capitals. Like, he will you know, we know other guest coaches that he's brought in for training camp as well in the past. So good for him for being secure enough in his position to to be open to it because it's you're right, Daren. It's it's not the norm for sure.

It's definitely unique. And it what's what's really interesting is we've like, times have changed a lot in this regard. Like, it used to be a lot of the times your private summer goalie coach app also happened to be an NHL goaltender coach for another team. Like, that was fairly common. Wasn't that long ago that I know a goalie coach on the West Coast whose contract actually permitted him to be on the ice in season with teams in the Eastern Conference, just not with the Western Conference?

Like like, things have changed in this regard. Right? So, hey, maybe this is this is another part of those changes. We hear a lot over the years, whether it's from NHL goalie coaches or from the summer goalie coaches. I think a Cam Talbot's goalie coach coach, and I'm I'm brain cramping on the name right now.

Why do I wanna say Granger? But the dungeon that he used to go to, he always, whenever Cam switched teams, made sure he reached out to the goalie coach so that the work they did in the off season fit with the focus that the goalie coach saw as maybe needing to be something that was paid attention to. And we hear a lot of goalie coaches that do the same with private goalie coaches the other way. Make sure that relationship is open. Make sure you're all on the same page.

Make sure that everybody's speaking the same language using the same terminology as you go through your summer, and maybe this is just an extension of that. So, good on Logan for, you know, going to bat for his guy in the off season. Good on Scott for being open to it, and and good on Justin Cardinal for approaching it in a way that, you know, allows everybody to feel comfortable with it.

It it tells me that everybody's on the same page.

Right. You

also If you're if you're you're going to do it. Right? Visual Edge ProReads, great segment. All we're at ingoalmag.com. One of the great things I've been talking to a lot of people in and around the hockey world last couple of weeks between the rookie camp up in Denver and, being at our training camp and and in San Jose last night, and, everybody raves about ProReads and brought you by Visual Edge on InGoal Radio Podcast.

Well, the only reason they get to rave is because we have such great goalies that are willing to give us their time to go over the videos. And one of those goalies this summer, despite having a second child and being really busy running around with little kids, was Eric Comrie, who spent over an hour with us in August. And this week's ProReads focuses on sort of a couple different parts. It's a low high play into the middle of the ice. So he talks about depth and what are the keys to knowing when you can take that ice.

Well, what would be some of your keys, guys? If if you've got a puck coming out to the middle, coming out to the high slot, and you're coming off the goal line, knowing when to stop and set and choosing that depth, what factors do you think would matter the most?

Get in the middle of the net as fast as you can.

In terms of how far out you come.

No. Know. Depth of the the shooter, like where he is.

Yep. Traffic around you.

That's the one that Eric identified, knowing that the traffic was converging in front of him rather than off to his side. So if a rebound spilled away, there wouldn't be backdoor tap ins. The other key that he talked about, and this was a great one because we talk a lot about patience and patience off the release, and we've had a lot of different goalies sort of identify their keys to it. How to develop it is a focus a lot of weeks in our pro drills and our pro reads. This week, Eric talked about their key to identifying it with Wade Flaherty in in Winnipeg, how they sort of measure when their goal is being patient, and that is whether they are dropping before the puck is off the stick or whether it's already off the blade before they initiate that.

And Eric talked about that as one of his keys to patience and to tracking properly. So all of that is in this week's ProReads video breakdown with Eric Comrie of the Winnipeg Jets, and all of that is brought to you by our friends over at Vizual Edge. ProReads, Daren, I appreciate the kudos, to everyone who shared them with Daren is all about helping you see the game better. Read the game better. Vizual Edge gives you the cognitive and visual tools to do just that.

Whether it's diverging to see a puck coming at you with your eyes or converging to quickly scan the zone. That and so many other visual tools, visual sort of, skills are developed using the Vizual Edge system. I'll I'll turn it over to Jordan Binnington who said Visual Edge has added a quality element to my preparation as a goaltender. I use the game day drills every game before heading to the rink. It's a combination of recognition, reaction, and focus that activates my brain and eyes to feel ready for what's to come.

That is what Visual Edge does for Jordan Binnington, the Saint Louis Blues and team Canada. You, of course, can get access to that same training 10% off using the code InGoal, I n g o a l, all caps. And if you wanna get 20% off as an InGoal subscriber, you get that. Just click on the ProReads each week, and as a subscriber, you'll be logged in and get access to the 20% discount code. If you're not a subscriber, why not?

That code alone will pay for your subscription, and I guarantee you what you learn from our ProReads will go well beyond that value as well. So make sure you check it out today. ProReads presented by Vizual Edge.

What's the official term when pucks in the corner or off to the side and you're scanning the front of the net? Like, head checks.

Official term?

Well, there's tons like hedge look offs

Look offs. Yeah. Hands. So so I gotta I gotta get way better at that. But one area that what you're talking about right now with Eric Comrie would help.

It's I I'll look. I'll follow the puck over, but I'm not moving fast enough. I get I I gotta get my body going instead of waiting, watching the puck and waiting for it to get to wherever it's going and going, oh, it ended up in a guy's stick right in front. I gotta get over there. Gotta kinda make it all one in one motion.

Yeah. It's, easier said than done. I had that happen on a couple of rebounds week. I'm like, oh, there it is. Oh, and the guy chipped it back in when I didn't expect it.

And it's like, oh, yeah. Probably should have been there by now. Yep. I think that's I think I think that delay between my brain and my body has something to do with the fifty two years that I've been on this earth there, and I'm not sure we can we can fix that.

I I say we just need more reps.

I'd rather you do it your way, Daren, where you're watching the puck and then you're going in and filling space versus what so many young goaltenders do is move without first tracking it with their head, and then they're arriving on the scene where they know it's supposed to be and now they're looking for the puck and trying to relocate it. There's such this over urgency to get there. You can make a save. Frankly, you can make more spectacular saves your way because you're going in late with that arm to make the save on the puck. You know absolutely where it is.

Versus a lot of kids, they end up in position and you wonder why they didn't stop it. It's because they were late getting their eyes on the puck or they leave the puck behind and then they're picking it up in their peripheral as they beat that. They feel like they've beaten the pass over, but they've lost focus on the puck at the same time.

Body instead of vision, moving instead of looking at how many times I'm not gonna toot the ProReads horn because we've had two of them in recent weeks that emphasize the same thing, and we're gonna hear a lot more from last year's Calder trophy finalist, Dustin Wolf of the Calgary flames. Everything he does is head first in his movement. Everything leaves with vision. And the way he moves his head to achieve that vision, Daren, helps him bring the body along as fast as anyone in the game. And with with the with arguably, and this is according to you, Saros, frankly, so it's it's his peers saying this, some of the best rotation of footwork and movement into angle early that we see in the NHL today, all triggered by not just looking early, but the way he looks at the puck as he moves.

Rotational footwork. I would love a session on that.

I have some rotational footwork. It's usually counter rotational, and I fall down.

Parent Playbook

Well, I'm just happy that Hutch filled a void for me. Papa Hutch. It's almost like you're giving me a personal parent segment brought to us by Stop It Goaltending U, the app there, giving me some some kudos on on how I handle that stuff. The parent segment this week, brought to us by Stop It Goaltending U, the app, dealing with just how to how how did you phrase it? How to be better?

[crosstalk] Let them struggle. Let them struggle.

Let them struggle. Your kids need to struggle.

I don't do that very well.

How should be a really good goalie dad for my skates?

My wife and I actually had that conversation the other day. It's it's it's hard to step back and let your kids struggle, whether it's jobs or school or

sports. So

And I need to give kudos. It is my wife, Jill, who came up with this week's subject. She works in the InGoal office now, and and she thought this was something important to talk about.

Brought to us by Stop It Goaltending U, the app.

Stop It Goaltending U, the app. This week segments, get new content every week. I wanna go over some of the highlights this week. The daily primers, quick one minute videos that you get, looks at focus, attitude, and energy. All things we can control as we head into our new hockey season.

They've got a a great goalie one zero one with a tracking and skating warm up video. So a great little quick drill that you can take on the ice to help your tracking, help your skating, help you get ready, whether it's for a practices or for a game. They've got video accompanying that one. They've got a butterfly push or recovery drill that you can take onto the ice in a practice situation to work on those fundamentals. And for funsies, they got a preview with predictions of the twenty twenty five, twenty six NHL season.

All this week, all new on the Stop It Goaltending U app where they bring you twenty five plus years of experience led by Brian DeCourcy and the Stop It Goal Tending team, all boiled down into a simple app that you can digest a couple minutes at a time, or when you've got more time, sync into their longer videos and their deeper dives. It's all an option. You control how much you put into it, but I guarantee you if you put anything into it, you will come out on the other side of Better Goaltender. It's all the Stop It Goaltending U app. And, of course, best of both worlds, when you buy a subscription to the Stop It Goaltending U app, you also get an InGoal Magazine premium membership.

So you get all their content, all our content, more than enough to keep you developing as a goaltender no matter what the age.

How to take a deep breath? Hutch.

Our son has struggled many times in his life. It wasn't this weekend though when they went two and o against your Brandon Wheat Kings, Daren, but, we have let him struggle many times in his life.

Your gaslighting.

Yeah. I'm sorry, I just have to. You might be able to come back at me in two weeks, who knows? We'll see what happens.

And Mattie sent me a couple of notes too.

Did he? And I'm

like, I told him I was proud of him. I was happy for him. I'm not gonna cheer against him by any means. But

But you're probably hoping for the one nothing shutout win or something in the shootout.

But it would it would have been nicer than Yeah. 15 against in two games.

Yeah. It wasn't it wasn't really a a goalie friendly score this weekend. Anyway, parents, I'd like you to look forward and, and think about what you would like your child to become in life, not as a goalie but as a person. And I will bet that most of us would hope that one thing they will become is resilient. Life throws us so many curveballs as adults and as parents that we have to be able to handle and one of the greatest measures of a person, many say, who will be successful is that ability to persevere in tough times or when faced with hard tasks.

They call it grit. The same goes for goaltending. Whatever you imagine their future might be in goal, the NHL, NCAA, junior, they are going to face adversity and there will be nothing as a parent that you can do about it. There'll be teammates they don't get along with, coaches they don't gel with, long stretches on the bench or even in the stands, teams that trade them, injuries, tough games. Our children will not grow into that resilient person or that resilient goaltender if they don't get to experience struggle or even disappointment.

They need experience to develop grit. Struggle leads to growth. So how can we help our children as goalie parents? In short, don't fix everything. Don't rush to step in.

It's okay if things don't go their way. Don't complain to a coach when they're pulled or an association when they don't make the team they want. Not only will they lose the opportunity to struggle, I've yet to hear the situation where this has helped. Let me know if I'm wrong. Don't make excuses when there are tough games.

Frame them by all means. That was tough. There were a lot of grade a chances and so on. But as we said before, don't blame. Don't pull them out whenever they feel unwell or even tired.

Of course, I'm not saying to play injured, but I've met too many youngsters whose parents pull them as soon as they feel a little bit unwell. Sometimes we have to push through even if it's uncomfortable. Don't help them avoid the things they dislike. Off ice training that isn't goalie centric, skills practices that, let's face it, aren't fun for goalies, the team run around the lake. Too many parents make excuses for their kids so they don't have to experience discomfort.

Don't always look for the newest best team, the best training. It's okay for them to play for a team that loses. Your team obligations may have to come before that other opportunity no matter how fun it seems. I'm not saying the house league coach who insists they focus only on hockey is right. But if your kid's invited to something fun but has practice, the team comes first.

So, as parents, when do we step in? Well, you're the parent and you know what your child can handle better than I do, but I would say look to see what they can manage. It's okay to help them manage and learn ways to deal with their emotions in a healthy way, but don't fix unless it's really necessary. If they're skipped in the rotation, it's not the end of the world. Maybe teach them how to ask the coach why it happened, but don't go yourself.

But if they're put in a backup role as a child where equal play should be happening, well that's different. Step in carefully. If a coach tells them they should be able to play when they're a little bit sore, that's okay. Help them get ready. Let them tell you their worries and reassure them, but don't pull them out.

But of course, if somebody tells them to play when they're seriously injured or a concussion diagnosis or something, yeah, that's the time you step in as a parent. If they're cut from a team, I doubt you can fix it. Give them a hug, maybe guide them in asking for feedback on what they need to improve. Tell them you love them no matter what, then help them get back out there playing the game they love. Our son was cut from the WHL in a year he expected to be there.

That night he was on the ice with his U eight team back at practice. If they hate skills practices, don't tell the coach they have a test to study for. Help them frame the sessions and adapt. Just like last week's guest, Erica Howe told us in giving us suggestions on how to make the most of those sessions. Sometimes our desire to fix is really a desire to soothe our own pain as parents seeing our children upset.

But we need to let them struggle. Struggle leads to growth. It will help them as goaltenders and as adults. It's hard on us as parents to watch our kids struggle. I know that as well as anyone. Hang in there. I'm here if you want to chat. parents@ingoalmag.com.

Outro

How does your voice get deeper as you go into that?

I don't know.

I think letting your kids struggle will be easier for me in in that team environment, like letting it play out a little bit. Mhmm. I'm not a run to the coach type guy or was never run to the coach type person. Not that it didn't bother me. Of

Of course.

When when decisions were made or your our child was overlooked, but it's it I could see why it's difficult, but I also wish more parents were better at it.

And I think as a parent, you have to think about what's gonna happen as a result of you doing this. Like, I really I have not heard of a parent complaining about a tryout and then their child being suddenly put on the team. So it's gonna make you feel better, but it's not gonna help your child in this situation. And I absolutely know of children who have lost opportunities in years down the road because associations didn't want to deal with the parents who were difficult. I'm not saying that's right.

I'm just telling you that's kind of the reality of the situation. So you need to be careful about what you're doing. Helping your kids struggle through it, giving them support, teaching them the skills to deal with that, not complaining, I personally believe is is the better way to handle it. There are obviously exceptions to everything and and as I've said already, you know your child and your situation better than me. I'm just giving thoughts here, but that's the way I see

it. Woody?

I got nothing. I know how hard it is. I struggle with this all the time. Not even like, it's just hard to see them. Not not even not succeeding, but just not not getting the opportunities you think they should get or not like but there's nothing you can do.

Hutch is right. There really isn't. Getting mad doesn't help. Supporting them hopefully helps. I get disappointed sometimes.

Like, it's not even about opportunities. I get disappointed when they make bad decisions. When when they about training, about eating, about health, and you've shown them all these ways and they still maybe take a shortcut or don't don't do the things that you think they need to do to give themselves the best chance. But even then, they have to learn the lessons themselves. Beating it into them isn't gonna help.

I think that's a great point, Woody. That's not not something I considered in putting this piece together, but it fits in there with letting them struggle, letting them make mistakes, on their own. It's I came at this one this week from the perspective of not stepping in when other people had sort of control over what they were doing, but their own control and letting them struggle through that, I think, is, equally, if not more important.

Yeah. It's it because at the end of the day, they're not gonna listen to me anyways.

And don't run around to other parents either. That that that also gets nasty.

Yeah. Yeah. You don't you don't run around in the gossipy sort of way of complaining to every parent, and and it also ends up sort of putting down the other kids if you think your child belongs somewhere that another kid has has been. I don't think that's a good luck in you.

Totally agree with that.

Think okay for us.

Totally deserve to be better than that kid.

But I think it's okay for us to have our own support group. Like if one of you guys had a child that had been through a tough time and wanted to phone up and have a conversation about it, that's not running around to other parents. That's not I don't think what you're meaning here, Daren. It's it's more just in the rink where you're just complaining about how unfair everything is that, it doesn't really help anybody. It brings everybody down.

And I've got a lot of ties to Brandon still, on the coaching staff and within the organization and the city, and, that was a tough one on the weekend. But if I was going to lose and I had friends at the game, on that opened the season on Friday, and it was if I was gonna lose, I'm glad it was to Mattie. K? That that was good. And I told Mattie that.

I was I was happy for.

You're good.

And in the next breath, Daren says, there will be money on the board for the rematch courtesy of mister Millard.

No. I will never do that to Mattie. We gotta fix our own game. And and if if Mattie's successful, good on him. And I'm happy for him.

He won both games.

And he looked good at the InGoal Magazine equipment too. Let me tell you.

Yeah. He's he can't get rid of that now.

There's there is another set on order. Yeah. There is another set on order set.

Is gonna mandate that one, Daren.

But yeah. Well, we can we can alter it. So if the logo's not as present, as long as he continues the good vibes.

Logos are The logos are covered as per league regulations.

Good. Good.

Still a sick setup.

Yeah. And I'm happy for him, Matty. I've never cheered for Moose Jaw ever. Maybe once, but not not too often. So that was a first for me.

I wasn't cheering against him.

I know what you're saying. I know what you're saying. It's okay.

I want

I've been to many games.

And I I didn't tell him. I was I was proud of him. Happy for him. He's he's he's he's grinded this out.

You guys you guys sound like me watching the preseason game right before we started recording recording with with Devin Levy on on one one end

There you go.

And Jet Greaves on the other. And I'm feeling not like a parent, but having been there in Montreal when they met for the first time at the CCM event and watching that relationship really take off and how much goalie geeks they were, and they both just they're like, they're perfect. Like, they're both so similar in so many ways. So watch them go head to head in the preseason. Didn't know who to cheer for.

I was cheering for great saves. And, boy, let me tell you, Greaves make a few. That's how I feel this season.

Fun to watch. His performance at the end of last year, how much does that carry over and give him the confidence to grab hold of this thing as a full time NHL? It's gonna be fun to watch. Our thoughts and, obviously, sympathy is, going out to Bernie's family, Gina and, and company. Also, Ken Dryden and Eddie Giacomin.

We get a breath here. But, it also does allow us to reflect and and pass along some of our memories about, what these guys did to pave the way, in this, wonderful position of, being a goaltender in hockey. Thanks, gentlemen. Appreciate it. We'll talk to you next week on InGoal Radio, the podcast.