Gordon Goodenough: Yes, hello, we are the unofficial podcast of the Matt: Okay. Gordon Goodenough: Sydney Bears Australian Ice Hockey League team. My name's Gordon Goodenough. I'm joined as always by Matt and Nathan and by a very special guest, the president of the Sydney Bears Ice Hockey Club, Bianca Musico. welcome along, Bianca. Great to have you. Bianca Musico: Thank you, very excited to be on the pod. I've decided to unofficially name it the Bears Beers and Bees podcast for the evening. So you're welcome. I've taken Gordon Goodenough: Yes. Bianca Musico: that upon myself to do that. Gordon Goodenough: We we can call it the the Bears bourbon and beebs podcast really, 'cause we've all we've Bianca Musico: Yes. Gordon Goodenough: all got whiskies or bourbons or what have you, unplanned. so it's it's great to have you, Bianca. we look forward to sharing some questions, of course. We've got Nathan, San Francisco Giants had a huge win last week over the New York Mets and are only nineteen and a half games back of a playoff spot. Nathan: Yeah, we're doing doing great. It's been fantastic. Been a good ride. Gordon Goodenough: And Matt got got you as well. Your cubbies are going pretty good, pretty good. Matt: MVP is going to take it out. I'm delighted to see you with us because about time we injected a bit of class into proceedings. So thank God you're here. Bianca Musico: I don't know. Be careful what you wish for, gentlemen. Gordon Goodenough: So we we do have some good questions off the bat, Bianca. Lulu has got a few. Well one of them is which is a a great introduction, how did you get into ice hockey? What's where did that passion for the sport come from? Bianca Musico: good question. It, I was always a big sport fan. We were a big sport family growing up. was always better at watching them than I was at playing them. I grew up dancing, but I always loved watching rugby, soccer, all of it. I was actually home from school ill one day and I was in high school and there was a flyers game on the television and I watched it and I was like, That's a pretty cool sport. like this. Did a bit of research into the flyers, enjoyed the broad tree bully law. So that's why I said be careful what you wish for them out about injecting bit of class into into the group. And that was kind of it. But obviously, back then, there wasn't a lot of access to the NHL and NHL content. So I started following on Twitter. And then started watching it when I bought the NHL package for the first time and that was sort of it. There wasn't really any moment where I sort of fell in love with the sport. It was just kind of this gradual, gradual, I guess, awakening to the sport. And then I was studying journalism at uni and, you know, my tutor at the time said, you know, get into the type of journalism that you want to be writing for. And I wanted to be a sport journalist back in the day. So I thought, well, rugby union has enough men writing for it. I doubt I'll get a look in just yet. So I wonder if we've got an Australian league that I can cover. And then I found the dogs first actually. of of law there. was actually, I was covering the ice dogs then did a season. Yeah, a season helping them like most good talent where you have the same strategy at the Bears. If you find someone good, out come the claws and you retain them and you do everything you can to try and keep them. And then after my first season with the dogs, I kind of went, maybe this sport isn't really. for me and a friend of mine said, no, no, why don't you come meet the, meet the crew at the Bears. And I was like, nah, I don't know. I don't know if I really want to, don't know if I really want to do that. He said, no, no, you got to come meet Matt. And I said, yeah, I've met him. was the guy with the red wings jersey at the USA Canada game. I don't know if I really want to go hang out with a wings fan. And he's like, no, just come to the AGM. Just come to the AGM. And so I, turned up after my Christmas party after work. So you can imagine the state that I was in. Nathan: D. Bianca Musico: And I got there and it was a very spicy AGM, the first AGM that I was at. And I was just sat there thinking, what the bloody hell am I doing here? And then afterwards out came the coronas. And before you know it, I'm now entering my 13th year with the best, I don't know what document they made me sign at that AGM that says I couldn't leave, but. No, I met them. It was a completely different vibe. You know, back then it was, was Matt, Wayne, Andrew were kind of the sort of three main people that were running the club. And, you know, it was just from the get-go. Funnily enough, the guy that brought me to the AGM, he's long gone. And I guess I'm the consolation prize for the club. But no, it was... just you you kind of found your people a little bit it was a really good the early days were very rogue but it was a lot of fun as well it still is but yeah that's how my foray into the nhl and then into finding the bears. Gordon Goodenough: I I think that's answered actually a couple of questions from Angelique who had wanted to know your favourite NHL team, which is the Flyers. And Bianca Musico: I am a Flies fan. Gordon Goodenough: and then I think well I don't want to presume actually. Angelique also wanted to know what are your thoughts on fighting? Do you think it's a distraction, a bit of fun, or should it be allowed in the AIHL as suspensions are cumbersome for the team? And then she references Stephen White in that question. What what are your what's your take? Nathan: Friend of Bianca Musico: I Nathan: the show, Stephen White. Bianca Musico: Yeah, I love what he's putting out at the moment. Talk about hot takes on Instagram. what a platform. Yeah, well, look, yeah, I'm a broad tree bully. So I do think there's a place for fighting in the game. I think to a degree, it does make it fun. think when there are, well, I think if you look at the way the NHL do it. you still get penalized for it. I don't think it's suspension worthy. I don't think it should be suspension worthy in this league. I know there's conversations around player safety and whatnot, but everything in moderation and fighting is a part of that for me. Gordon Goodenough: an another question here, this is from Mads. wanted to know I I think we've we've talked a little bit about what made you want to start working in sports or hockey. but the the second part of that question is, do you have any tips for someone wanting to work in the field? Bianca Musico: Yeah, be open to doing absolutely everything. That would probably be my first tip. You know, I think it's interesting because the Bears are such a unique organization in the sense of, know, we're all volunteer. So I work in it. I do. It's two full time jobs, just to be clear. It's absolutely a job. But you're not you're not in that traditional sort of sports administration environment, corporate environment. But I can only talk from my experience and I look at myself as a, know, bright-eyed uni student that sort of came into the club. And it was just, let's just try everything. and it helps when you've got an environment around you that supports that and facilitates that and we've done some absolutely crazy things. We tried to put dry ice on the ice so the guys skated out in a cloud of know red smoke. We've tried to get partnerships that we absolutely had no business trying to get. you when you signed, we signed our first $20,000 sponsor and we walked out of that meeting and we were like, this is what rolling in money looks like folks. Like that all comes from just saying yes to so many opportunities and putting yourself into environments where you are challenged. So I think be prepared to fail and fail fast and learn how to fail well. But Also, don't be afraid to put yourself in the room. I have spent many years in my career, not just with the Bears, but in the real world, being the only woman in rooms. I've been very blessed that I've worked with some excellent men. I've worked with excellent women. But it starts with you and you've got to be willing to put yourself in there and just... try and if you love it, brilliant keep doing that and if you don't like I said fail fast learn how to fail quick and fail well and then just move on to the next thing. Gordon Goodenough: D do you have a a favourite memory since working with the bears? This one's another question from Mads. Nathan: Be very careful, Bebes. Bianca Musico: I have so many, that's a really tough one. The first game we had back at Macquarie in 2017 is up there. That was the first time that we saw a full sellout and what could be a glimpse into our future. After that game, was just, I think six of us running everything on game day. put that into context we now have about 38 volunteers that help out on a game day so that we were all just a bit shell-shocked at the end of it but that was such a cool experience that we were just kind of like wow there are this many people that want to turn up to a game that was quite a fun memory. my goodness, it's not really Bears related, but I guess one of the opportunities that hockey has given me, I was sat at my desk at work and I got a phone call from Maddie and he said, listen, I've got Wayne Gretzky down at Lady Macquarie's chair. Do you want to come down and interview him? And I said, yeah, cool. Give me like 10 minutes to get down there. And I went up to my boss and I said, gotta go. be back in a couple of hours. And I was, well, maybe all 20. one, 22, he was like, what do mean? are going, you don't have the authority, you just tell me you're going out for two hours. So listen, I was like, I gotta go down and interview Wangretzky. And he was like, how the hell did you get that opportunity? And I said, he's here in Sydney, I work with the Sydney Bears, I don't really have a lot of time to give you the backstory, like I gotta go, they need me down there. And again, great guy to work for, he was like, yeah, absolutely, get it, go. So that's an opportunity that most Canadian journalists dream of. And I just happened to be in the right city at the right time in the right sport. That was a pretty, that was a pretty great memory. The big one, obviously 2019 winning the cup. My God, what a, what an absolute ride. That was such a challenging year, 2019, off the ice. was just one of the most challenging, but one of the most, one of the years I grew a lot, let's just say, as a person, and it really tested, I guess, my mental resilience. And being, when we're in Newcastle, I was sat in the stands and I was just waiting in the corner and we were down two very early on in the first period. We'd just beat Canberra who'd pretty much gone undefeated that entire season. So that semi felt like a grand final. So we were all a bit like emotionally drained from that. So we were like, how do we conquer that beast and then lose in the grand final and be two down so early? And then I think it was Raddy and Douda got two really quick ones at the end of the first or toward the end of the first. We're like, okay, we're in this. And then another one and then another one. And then they pull their goalie and I'm waiting in the corner, just waiting to get over to that bench. And there is no greater feeling than watching that clock count down from 10 and knowing that there is absolutely no way that they're getting. they're catching out. And then Danek, who was a brilliant import, got that empty netter. And it was just, it's just imprinted in my brain, just the sticks and the gloves, the helmets all going, and then I'm sprinting across the rink because I just wanted to be on the bench with everyone and just that feeling afterwards being on the ice and you lift that cup for the first time. It makes every nonsense, every shitty email absolutely worth it and it is addicting and that is probably a large reason why i'm still here because i am definitely chasing that feeling again not only for myself but i want that for nate i want that for the people that weren't with us in 2019 that deserve it so much for the players it's just yeah it's yeah unbelievable Nathan: That was an incredible Gordon Goodenough: Do you Nathan: day. Just the energy and it was I was yeah, Bianca Musico: Were you up there in Newcastle Nathan: I was I was in Newcastle. I was actually right behind I think Riser tied it up. Was it early in the third? I look, it was a long time ago, but I was actually right behind Bianca Musico: Yeah. Nathan: Riser's I'm I'm sure it was a game tying goal. in the Bianca Musico: in the Canberra game. Nathan: in the no, I think it was in the it was in the grand final. I'd have to go back and look at the box score. Maybe it maybe it was in the Canberra game. Bianca Musico: I didn't turn it in every pick or go. Nathan: But the like the weekend was unbelievable. What's he say what's he saying in the background? It was the Canberra game. Yeah, right. Gotcha, gotcha. But it was fantastic. Bianca Musico: Yeah. He just yelled out from the other room and said, Canberra. Yeah. Nathan: Like we had such a there was a huge group of fans there and yeah, like just the energy was unbelievable. Bianca Musico: Yeah, it was very special. I've got a soft spot for the Perth Thunder. We always have a bit of standing rule with their management that if it's not us, it's them. So it a bit of a weird one to be in the Grand Final with them. Yeah, there's no other emotion to describe it. Gordon Goodenough: Going from there to this season, Jules wants to know if you have a personal highlight for this season, twenty twenty six. Nathan: Think about it. That this should be a really easy one. Bianca Musico: I mean, I think for me, what? I didn't realize it was a right or wrong answer. I'm gonna know your. Nathan: Think about it. Bianca Musico: the highlight of this season. Matt: Please, please don't leave the witness Mr Graham. Bianca Musico: Why are you pointing at yourself? I was going to say how many women Nathan: Working Bianca Musico: we've had turning up to games, but what was your, what was, what should be my answer? Nathan: W perhaps working alongside me? Is that is that an option? Bianca Musico: okay. Sorry. Nathan: This is your first edit, Gordy. Bianca Musico: Sorry. Hold on. Actually, I saw this note here. Yeah. Working with Nathan Graham, not Nathan: Yeah, check your WhatsApp. Bianca Musico: Scott Graham, not Matt Burrell. Nathan: Yeah, that exactly. Bianca Musico: No, I mean, we do have a very exciting, every year is a highlight working with Nate. No, the biggest highlight for me was just how many women we had at games this year and just sort of meeting so many and hearing from so many that we had really created this environment that felt really safe, but also where women felt welcome to actually enjoy sport. So to have that. It was just an absolute highlight throughout. also worked with some really incredible brands this year. I come from a brand strategy background. I run a media network in the real world. But to be able to work with Bingley, Tesla, Liquid IV, know, these brands that carry such equity, not only in the Australian market, but in international markets as well, like that is a dream. come true. That is something that if you had told me 12 years ago, hey, just wait, just wait, like you'll get there. I would have been like, yeah, I'll keep trying. you know, it's been, God, it's been such a pleasure just being able to bring some of those things to life and just seeing all the new fans that have come through the doors. not one particular highlight. Although I think it was... maybe Goose's or Ruben's game tying goal against the Rhinos and everyone just went absolutely ballistic in Macquarie. That was But just hearing that place go absolutely mental, that is, there is no greater highlight. Gordon Goodenough: That that really segues nicely into a question from Holly Ann Tays, who says that I'd love to know a little bit if the success of the twenty twenty six season changes the way that the management team prepare for the twenty twenty seven season. So you mentioned some of those partnerships. wha how does that kind of factor into next year's planning? Bianca Musico: Yeah, I mean, I think for us, it's just bigger and better. think we've said, unfortunately, we've set a very high expectation for ourselves on what we can deliver. So for us, it's about how do we build on that and what else can we do? You know, I think we had a really successful year with things like our merchandise. And if you spot that really messy corner over here, that's some new and exciting things that are coming, which I probably should have cleaned up before I jumped on the call. Matt: I thought you were going to give us a sneak peek, Bianca. What a scoop that would be for the podcast. Bianca Musico: well, maybe we'll see. We'll see if, Matt: Has been has been cheeky but Bianca Musico: I'll give a little sleep peak in a sec. but yeah, so it's really just, we've got a baseline now of what we can achieve. And so now it's how do we build on that? obviously retaining a lot of the partnerships that, that we've had this year, but then you know, again, this is why this environment is so cool to work in because it's like, cool now, what else do we do? What else can we do? And that's a really exciting thought to have going into next season. But a lot of it, we've kind of built the playbook. So a lot of it will be maintaining the energy that we brought this year. Gordon Goodenough: an another question that we've got is what does your typical game day routine look like? so what does your typical game day routine look like? And do you have any game day rituals or superstitions? Bianca Musico: My game day ritual, I mean my game day looks like about 15,000 steps. That's probably why you see me everywhere. It really, it kind of depends. So the morning is very much, I don't have any game day. Actually, that's a lie. If we've won, if I've worn a shirt that we've won in, I will wear the same shirt for the next game. I won't wear it until we lose, it just has to be the next game. That is probably the only superstition that I have and the success rate is really poor. So it's not a very good one to have. I will continue to do it. But what does a typical game day look like? So really I start heading to the rink at about quarter past two. This year we had a lot of our merch because there were so many people coming to games. We actually had to store the merch in a mobile. storage van and that was my responsibility this year. So I'd get to the ring, park the Scott and I would start unloading then as the volunteers started coming all of us would start unloading all of that. We would set up all the merchandise stands, bring all the tables down, set up for VIP, set up the top VIP section. We would then, set up the AV unit. So Mike from the ThoughtFox media team created what was arguably my lifesaver this year, which was all the incredible graphics that you saw on the Jumbotron at the rink were all controlled out of this really easy device that Mike and his team built for us. So I'm in charge of setting all of that up. And then once the game gets going. I have sort of 10 minutes where I can just sort of sit and breathe. And then it was straight into sort of chatting to sponsors, sort of helping out the corporate hospitality team, you know, with serving or anything like that, keeping a general eye on things. Sometimes I have to run over to the, to the scorer's box and get something going with the scoreboard. It's really just about being a point person for anything that goes wrong that someone can always come and grab. me. And then after the game, normally I just mindlessly drive down to the governor and have to go sit by myself for about 20 minutes to just decompress before I go talk to someone. But that's a typical game day. So we started to, we don't really get out of the rink until about 8, 8.30. By the time everything's sort of all packed away, everything's clean and tidy. So yeah, my first thought after that is I'm very, very hungry. And so the governor always takes care of me after that. Gordon Goodenough: And looking forward to next season we had quite a few people ask whether the club has any theme nights planned, any pride nights and how fans can support the club during the off season. Bianca Musico: Yeah, we are always looking for theme nights. We really did want to do a pride night this year. It was just one of the ones that unfortunately once the season gets going. you hold on for D-Laf until September. And the thing with having a game of such importance like a Pride night is you really want to do it right and partner with the right charities in the past. We've partnered with a really great charity called Wear It Purple. We did a proper jersey for that night. So I didn't really want to do it. I have very high expectations for myself. it's my weakness and my strength. So I couldn't do it. justice I know it needed to. So that's why we didn't have one this year but yes absolutely it's on in the plans for next season. You know this year we did do a you know for the love of hockey night where we celebrated how everyone has found this game. I think Australians have probably the most unique journeys into into hockey. That's something that we we definitely want to continue. If you've got any suggestions I'm always open to to that and what's important to to our community. So definitely let me know and then we can always plan that. Canada Day will always be a game that we do every year. The Teddy Bear Toss is something that we've started doing for the last couple of seasons. That's definitely going to continue. worked with Tower de Monday Youth Services this year. They're a really brilliant charity. help, you know, upwards of 70 children on any given evening and help them get off the streets. We're really looking forward to continuing that partnership. Same with our partnership with Gotcha for Life. So we'll do a mental health round. This year we did a mental health month. So all of August was repping Gotcha. So yes, is the short answer to that long winded response there. But if there are any causes that our community want us to get behind and to use our platform for. We are absolutely all about doing that. So just let me know which ones you want us to look into. If you've got charities that you want us to support, we can't support all of them, but you know, there's definitely a few I think that we can do and plan for next season. Gordon Goodenough: how fans can support the club during the during the off season? Bianca Musico: support during the off season. Just keep engaging on socials, keep sharing through ideas. We'll always try and do, we'll try and find ways to keep. fans engaged. You know, the biggest thing that you can help with is, you know, if there is a partnership that you guys really want us to try and explore, like just let us know. I think the biggest thing that we've always tried to maintain from when we were having, you know, 60 fans at a game through to, you know, as many as we've had this year. is really open lines of communication and really trying to deliver on a fan experience or partnerships or anything that our community are asking for. So, you know, if you've got ideas, like I said, goes back to that point. Don't be afraid to speak out. Don't be afraid to shoot me an email. I always love reading them. So that's probably the best way. We've got, you know, some new merch that's dropping. you know, any ways that... You can help the club financially if you know a business that you want to maybe get involved and maybe you're not quite sure how. Like I said, flick them our ways, like all those things that, and again, I think we've set the bar so high that people think that this is a professionally run organization. And then they probably meet Nate and they go, no, probably not. I'm joking. But you know, it is, we do for a very small team of volunteers. do a really bloody excellent job of running the club. But you know, we are volunteers and all the sponsorship revenue that we get in is all found by a volunteer team. know, any way that we can help or we can get help from. that aspect or like I said just supporting new merch drops or you know getting the good word out there about the bears you know all of that helps tremendously it's the reason why we've been able to be so successful this year. Gordon Goodenough: I've only been part of the club for a few years, but it's been absolutely awe inspiring to see the amount of work that both yourself and Nathan do to keep the club running and you know, ones like Maddie Burrell as well. That I I can't imagine the Bears without yourself, Bianca. I can't imagine the Bears without yourself, Nathan. Like it's it's not a a reality that I want to envision. so thank you. for all the work that, you know, you guys have done and that specifically yourself, Bianca, due to, you know, getting these partnerships on the ground and and making the game day experience one of the top game day experiences in the league. it's it's been phenomenal. So thank you. Bianca Musico: no, thank you. That's, Matt: Yeah. Bianca Musico: that's very kind. That's very kind. Thank you. We do. We put a lot of work into it, you know, not just Nate and I, like I said before, Scott does a tremendous amount of work. You know, Nick from a treasury aspect, you know, you have to very have, no one likes the accountant. I like Nick. You know, he does a phenomenal job. He keeps Nate and I in check most of the time. Nathan: He's not bad for a bean counter. I'll give it to him. Bianca Musico: you know Marlon on a game day, Andrew Bourne on a game day, you know it's all the things that a lot of people don't see that happen sort of behind the scenes so it's definitely a team effort. I wouldn't be able to do what I do without the support of the people around me. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, no, I I see Scott running around all the time and he's usually got a very focused look on his face. he's carrying like seventeen different things and no, but Bianca Musico: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: it's it's very impressive to watch from the fringes, so it's yeah, thank you. Matt: When we were asking people for questions for this show, you were described by people as being the queen of Macquarie, a real badass and iconic amongst other things. Bianca Musico: Wow. Matt: So the question that I have for you is, do you see yourself as a role model for other women in sports leadership? And if so, does that feel like weight or a motivation? That responsibility. Bianca Musico: I would encourage anyone that has given any of those titles to have a half hour conversation with me. They might change their opinion. loaded question that, I, I don't necessarily see myself as, as a role model. I think it is just something that has happened. naturally. I enjoy giving women a platform and giving women an environment where they can really dominate, especially in worlds where traditionally women don't get a look in. And I don't necessarily feel it as a weight, I feel it more as an honour that I get to be part of their journey. You know, I always say that when you volunteer for the Bears, really take the most out of it, do whatever you can. If it's going to help you get further in your career, if it's going to help you get further in, in, you know, personal goal, take what you can from this club. Because that's what I did and it's allowed me to, sort of get to where I am. outside of the Bears as well. So I find it's truly a privilege to be able to be a small part or a big part of the journey of not just the women that come through the club, but you know, the men that we get through as well. You know, there's been some learnings, there's been, you know, some realizations of, we're to make everyone happy. And, you know, there's going to be things that you do that you go, this is going to be really good. And then before you know it, someone's calling out that you hate women because you didn't do the right thing for women or you weren't thinking about this section or Matt: Mm. Bianca Musico: you weren't thinking about that. And it's tough. you know, like I said earlier, there are years and there are moments where your mental resilience is really tested. But there are also moments of growth and opportunities for growth. And I think that it really teaches you to focus on the right things and to focus on the good things. So sometimes it feels really heavy, sometimes it feels like an anvil. I've actually started a a sub stack where I'm going to documenting my time as the part-time president of the Bears. And I wrote my first piece, it's something I'm challenging myself to do. And I described, sometimes when you get through a season, you know, it's this weight that kind of sits on your chest. I kind of apply the same metaphor to how it feels sometimes being in this role. And it's kind of this constant pressure, and you probably know what I'm talking about. And then you kind of feel like you get used to it and you're like, okay, I can manage this. And then in the background, someone's like, the next little bit of the anchor, the next chain of the anchor and you realise it because it's happening one rung at a time. And then before you know it, if you can kind of visualise those old school cartoons where the villain's there with the guns and then suddenly he gets squashed by a piano, that's the feeling, is when that sort of last anchor chain is cut and that... and all kind of drops and you're the poor bugger underneath it. Sometimes it really hits you and it hits you really hard. And then other moments though, that you have these really high highs. Matt: Hmm. Bianca Musico: But I think, you know, for all the reasons that you feel that way, you feel that pressure, you get crushed by, you know, the overwhelming sense of responsibility of, my goodness, you know, there's a thousand reasons why you want to be here. And so I kind of look at it like that. And one of the big reasons is I know that other women can look to me and go, okay, I've got a... I've got someone that's going be my champion. And that's my biggest thing. You want to come in and you want to work. I'm going to do everything I can to help you with whatever it is that you, and I hope that's sort of how it comes across. It's what I try to be. That's what I try to, I try to be for other people. Matt: And last one, it's a little bit deep. Who would you say, yeah, look, I'm here to ask the tough questions. Who Bianca Musico: Jesus, deeper than that. Freaking out. Nathan: Yeah. Matt: would you say have been the biggest influences in your life and in the job that you do now for the Bears? you know, you can include mentors in that as well. I'm kind of opening half a window here for you to mention a certain someone, but I'm really hoping that you don't. and you come up with something meaningful and inspiring for a sort of look at him laughing in the background. Bianca Musico: my mesh. Hold on a second, Nate's just sent me a message. It's me. Yeah, Matt: Yeah. Yeah. Ryan's jumping around in the background going, no, it's me. Nathan: Hope he's clothed. Bianca Musico: yeah, Role models, mean, first and foremost, my mum. You know, she is the first woman I looked up to. really hardworking woman gave up her career to raise a family. It was a product of a generation that didn't lift up women and didn't celebrate women, especially women in the workforce. So I've learned a lot of my resilience from her. Broadly, you know, I look at Supe. in the NHL and I just look at her and I look at what she's overcome and I look at the, I think I can have a tough time with some of the commentary that I receive in such a small scale with the Bears and then you magnify that by a bunch of, you know, hundreds of thousands of idiots online that think they've got an opinion worth sharing. I think I look to that and I look to what she's accomplished and what she faces in. in a world that doesn't think that she belongs and now she kind of has that, nah fuck you I do belong here. So more broadly her. God there are so many women you know. I think in my career, just managers that I've had, CEOs that I've worked for, largely women that have made it a point to celebrate the people that work for them. And I've learned a lot from those women about how you can be strong and you can be kind. You don't always have to be nice. And I think that's a really hard lesson, I think for women particularly to learn. Yeah, but yeah, if I had to pick two, just to not go on another sort of 30 minute rant about all the incredible people in my life, would definitely be my mum and would definitely be a super at a broader level. And Nate, of course, Gordon Goodenough: Yeah. Matt: Look at his little face, you've made his night. Nathan: My time's done here, Gordy. I've got I've got what I need out of this session. Thanks very much, everyone. Bianca Musico: You Matt: Awesome, thank you. Nathan: And Bebs, you've been unbelievable. I've told you this. these environments are they're difficult to describe. I think I've even said on the pod here, or perhaps I was definitely at some point, that even myself, I when I walked into the Bears in 21, I thought I knew a fair bit about people and business and you know, building meaningful and productive relationships with a very broad group of people. When you when you spend five minutes flat in these environments, you very quickly realize that in fact you know very little. Very unique. The mechanics of it all is extremely I feel like it's almost exclusive to this sport in Australia, not to mention all the peripheral noise and expectation and criticism. an opinion, etc. It is a very, very difficult environment to navigate. You know, j just to get by and just to sort of keep the lights on, let alone actually propel a club forward like you have and like we have under your leadership. so, you know, for anyone listening out there, when you do see Bianca around the rink, stop and say hi, have a conversation. these small engagements mean a hell of a lot. to people running clubs, not not just ours, but that of every club around the AIHL, there's a lot of tireless workers in these environments, and there's certainly a lot of people that don't get anything close to a thanks. and they carry a very heavy personal toll throughout a season. So from everyone attached to our ecosystem, Beebs, you've been absolutely unbelievable to work with. it's been one of my most enjoyable components. being attached to the bears. so yeah, massive thanks for everything that you've done. you should be extremely proud of where we're where we're placed at the moment. Bianca Musico: thank you, mate. And thank you so much for reading the WhatsApp message that I sent you to read out just then. So thank you. No. Gordon Goodenough: We'll we'll edit all this out, don't worry guys. Bianca Musico: No, thank you. I do appreciate it. Yeah, it's like I said, it's an honor and a privilege to be able to represent this club. You know, we've got such an excellent off-ice crew, but we've got a really good group of excellent men. as well that play for us. And I think that's rare to have a squad as respectful, a squad as engaged, a squad that is so committed to being not only great athletes but also great people as well. I can count on one hand, you know, people that we probably wouldn't have back. And I think when you've been around for 12 years, that's probably a good thing that that number is so low. And that is really a testament to the work that everyone does and the culture. fit that comes with bringing people into the Bears. It's something that we work really hard at doing, whether it's a volunteer, whether it's a player. It's just been bloody fun, to be honest. It's challenging, it's hard, it's not easy, but it is. It's fun. Gordon Goodenough: we're gonna we're gonna race through the Eastern Conference preview for the twenty twenty six twenty seven NHL season where the Stanley Cup champion is going to be Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs Bianca Musico: Definitely not going to be the leaves, you that much. Nathan: That's for sure. Gordon Goodenough: It's it says yeah, it's coming down Yong Street. It's coming down Yong Street. Yeah, no, I know. No, we well we're we're self we're self deprecating, mate. It's it's the Nathan: Such a delirious group of people. There's so many as well. It shocks me. Bianca Musico: Hahaha Gordon Goodenough: the only thing that allows us to survive. Nathan: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: but Nathan, you're gonna take us through quickly the Florida Panthers outlook. Nathan: think their outlook's very good. This team's a wagon. and really you look back on last season, it was probably just injury that held them back. you know I I look at I look at their roster, the forward group is phenomenal. You know, you're probably looking at you're probably looking at a third line here of something in and around Lister Ryan and Brad Marshand once he's back fit and probably Lundell at 3C I think that probably tells you everything you need to know about the forward group. they're also built in a manner that, you know, we we saw them win a cup. They are built for a battle, this team. They've got skill, they've got size, they've got big game players. again, you know, it's hard to poke holes in this team. I'll be interested to see how Markstrom goes. now that Bob has moved on and downgraded himself. I would expect a bounce back from Markstrom. if they get maybe league average or slightly better out of Markstrom, I think these guys are gonna be one of the benchmark teams in the East. D groups, it's deep, it's strong. special teams look good. You know, Maurice has done the job before. You know, Zito's an absolute wizard. absolutely love this team. Lundell, Bennett, Barkov up the middle. Loaded on the wings. This thing's it's gonna be a wagon. Matt: Sign in Brady Garnet Hathaway and Radko Goudas has made them even more unlikable as hard as that is to perceive than they were the year before with Matthew and Brad Marchand so yes, rats, a lot of them. Nathan: Yep. They're a nasty outfit. I'll be interested to see if Brady can actually take it, take his game into another level. you know, he's a really good sort of peripheral kind of guy. but I'd be interested to see what his offensive ceiling could end up looking like playing with, you know, a group like this. So yeah, look, I think if you're a if you're a Panthers fan, you're probably entering this season feeling pretty good about yourself. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, I I think it's good for the rest of the league that they've just decided to get all the players that people hate and just put them all on the run on the one team, Radko Goodis, the Kachuk, Sam Bennett, Marshon, just just put all on the one team and then you can just direct your energy of hatred into one one point. very but yeah, ver very scary team. Tampa Bay. Who's gonna take us through Tampa Bay? Matt: I can do the lightning for you. Finished last year with a 50-26-6 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs. John Cooper, widely regarded as the best coach in the NHL. Interestingly, Darren Radish left and they signed almost a ready-made replacement in John Carlson. Expect Carlson to run the first powerplay unit. which is very strong, Braden Point, Kuturov, Jake Gensel, they've got a lot of firepower there. Yeah, I expect the Buccaneers, the Lightning to have a bounce back season this year. I'm super excited to the Florida and Tampa games always have a little bit of spice. I think there's been record penalty minutes in a couple of their games in the last couple of years. Vasilevski returning after picking up the Vezina again, second year running. I Kuch was leading scorer in the NHL. So there's enormous pedigree. They're getting a little bit older. Simon Carlson doesn't help that, but I suspect he'll be good for a boat full of points running that power play. And we'll see the lightning in the shakeup. Gordon Goodenough: the next one's the Leafs. I'll take the Leafs. they fired Barube, which I was skeptical as to whether they would do it. I thought New GM comes in, actually, GM John Chaker goes from managing Wendy's to the GM of the Leafs and I thought that he would use you know, new GM, you've often gotta get out of jail free card to just fire the coach. he wasn't my guy, bring your guy in and that kind of r eases the pressure. But to be fair, they got rid of Barube, which was the smart move. They brought in Jim Hiller, who was assistant coach under him of whom we do not speak. he's the current coach in Edmonton. And they've they've added, as Matt said, Darren Radish was the the big splash. they they added Nick Paul from Tampa Bay Lightning as well. they've they've got Babrowski, how many starts is B Babrowsky gonna get? they traded away Joseph Wall. they traded away Nick Robertson finally. so we'll see what happens there. I think, you know, the playoffs would be a pleasant surprise, I think, for the Leafs. They did draft first overall Gavin McKenna. I I don't think that they're favourites to make the playoffs. They'd certainly be pleased if they made them though. but yeah, their long term outlook. is probably not as ch cheery as as we've seen in the past. Boston Bruins. Did you wanna take on Boston, Bianca? Bianca Musico: Yeah, sure. I think they'll be, look, mean, always think Boston has one of those seasons where you, they are a bit of a wild card. Like what does Paterka look like coming into that, coming into that team in saying that, you know, they have lost, Copasalo? you know, losing him, like where does that leave that team? You know, I think it'll be interesting for them. I personally am, you know, just by default. Can't go for awesome and don't want them to do anything good. But I do think that they will be an interesting team. think they, I wouldn't necessarily say it's a rebuild. I would say it's more maybe a re-tooling. You know, they did make the playoffs last year. They've added some D. I don't know. mean, who do they have on center would be sort of my big question. That's going to make a real, real difference. But again, good goaltending can make or break a team. And I think, you know, if you've some of these teams, like you look at Florida, for example, you know, that's their new goaltending. Where does that leave them? And I think, you know, Swainman keeps doing Swainman. Nathan: I think you touched on the biggest question mark there. Their their center group looks very underwhelming, to say the least. but Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, I mean Nathan: yeah, it's tough. Gordon Goodenough: what is is Pavel Zat Za Zaka, is he still slated to be their number one C? Matt: Yeah, Zach is 2C, the corpse of Elias Lindholm Nathan: Yeah. Matt: at 1C. And then Gordon Goodenough: yeah. Matt: James Hagans, I think that depending on what hopes on him, he was drafted last year. Might be a bit too soon for him, but. Gordon Goodenough: He sc He scored Nathan: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: a beauty of a goal in development camp. Yeah. Nathan: Yeah, he's a he's a jet. Hagen's is a jet. They've got some good younger guys. You know, p pastor will be for you know he'll probably bounce back, you know, a tidy forty goals. I think they're very similar to the Leafs. I think they're outsiders looking in. May maybe bubble if they get it together. Perhaps, but Bianca Musico: That's what I mean, they can pull it together when they need to. Whereas I think the leaves tend to shit the bed. Sorry, Matt. Matt: I think you raised a very good point Bianca about Boteca. He wasn't used at all well or right in Utah. He's playing for a German coach. He's a German national. I think he could be a little bit of a surprise if he gets on that wing with the opposite wing to Paster. Probably doesn't really matter who's playing too much at centre. So yeah, Nathan: Yeah. Matt: I'm keeping my eye on Boteca. I think he could be... a little bit of a surprise this season. could bomb completely but we'll keep an eye on that one. Nathan: Good shout. I'm actually keen to see like a nineteen minute Peterka with power play one time. I I really rate Peterka. He just hasn't been given full deployment wherever he's been. Buffalo, he wasn't given a you know a crack. He was more of a secondary guy, second line guy. Same at Utah in a tough forward group. So I think that's a good shout. I'm actually looking at Peterka as like a value pick in fantasy this year, actually. but no Gordon Goodenough: Yeah. Nathan: one cares about that anyway. Gordon Goodenough: Do you wanna take Buffalo, mate? Bianca Musico: you Nathan: I really like Buffalo. Lucas Herman will be thrilled that I've that I've made that claim. I like the way they're built. I think there's a big risk there with Josh Norris, player I love, but he the poor guy just can't stay fit. but I like what Buffalo are doing. It it didn't feel like that long ago where they were one of the laughing, you know, points of of comedy in the league and all of a sudden, you know, they've they've drafted some guys. Their their D group is outstanding. I like some of the ads they've made there. They picked up Zellweger for next to nothing, almost a bag of pucks. we'll be very interested to see what he does. I think there was some rumor that perhaps they were looking for goaltending. oop UPL They probably need him to move to the next level and really take ownership of the net. But they got a lot of weapons up top. I think Josh Stone's up for a big season. Tage Thompson is is absolutely unreal. and they've got this group of young guys, you know, your Quinn's, your Bensons, Noah Oslin is an unreal player, pretty versatile kind of guy as well. And they're a team that can probably roll four lines as well. So I think Buffalo are a playoff team, and potentially a bit of a danger team as well in the East, I think. Matt: They also robbed Chicago blind in that trade for Bowen Byron. I think they got the fourth overall Nathan: Yeah. Matt: pick. I Nathan: Yeah, yeah. Matt: think since Kevin Adams left as GM and stopped talking about not having palm trees in Buffalo, is Kekkeleinon the GM there? Yeah, is. Yeah, Nathan: K Kekalin's the GM there now. Yeah. Matt: I think we've seen a massive uptick and they've got firepower up front and a solid blue line and Yeah, I think you're about right, Nathan. They could be one of the powerhouses in the Atlantic this season. Nathan: Yeah. And they've also got that young emerging center as well, Consta Hellinius. Matt: Yes. Yep. Nathan: he looked apart when he got you know, big show time last season. yeah, I this organization has really turned around quickly. I like they've got a good asset base. You know, Kekka Linen, I think, is a pretty well respected guy. Lindy Ruff is an interesting wrinkle as a Dallas fan. Lindy Ruff was a bit of a polarizing figure in Dallas. That was a long time ago. But I think under Ruff, at a minimum, teams will be very offensive. They'll be entertaining. but he's gonna need he's gonna need the entirety of that D group, I think, knowing knowing Lindy Ruff. But yeah, they're they're gonna they're gonna be a team to watch for sure. Gordon Goodenough: O Matt: Very good. Gordon Goodenough: Otta Ottawa. Who wants to take Ottawa? Matt: You should, Gordy. You were born there. Gordon Goodenough: mate, I was born south of there. In Prescott. Yeah. Alright. Matt: You were born there. But thank God Nathan: Can we get our facts right? Don't embarrass me like this. Matt: you moved over to the blue and white side of Ontario. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, well when I was born there was no Senators, so pretty easy. Pretty easy choice. Senators they they got swept in round one of the playoffs last season. you know, they they had Daniel Alfredson, their former captain, leave to join the Toronto Maple Leafs. They had Brady Kachuk, their current captain, leave to go to the Florida Panthers. They just can't keep their captains. and if they boo all their former captains is it's gonna be a lot of people to boo. but they do have some good young players. I think Jake Sanderson was excellent quarterback in their power play. Took a step over Thomas Shabbat, who I thought a couple of years ago was was kinda gonna be locked into PP one for the foreseeable future, but Jake Sanderson was excellent. They've got you know, Drake Batheson. is is gonna be back and healthy and good for them. Stutzler. you know they've they've got some pieces. they've got Lin Linus Allmark who struggled last season a little bit. they had at Levi Mur Muralinen who Matt: Yes. That's the backup. Gordon Goodenough: who who provided some some really good cover. yeah we'll we'll we'll see what happens there. I I would be they they made a a big move to get William Eklund out of San Jose. He's a really good playmaking guy, so you know, whatever line he's on, there's gonna be opportunities for goals. but yeah, I I would be sceptical to s to pick them to make the playoffs this season. I think it it might be a a a bit of a tough one in the nation's capital. Nathan: You might have to a stake bit on that. I like Ottawa. Gordon Goodenough: Really? Nathan: Yeah. Look, I don't think I don't think they're gonna go all the way, but I think they're a team on the up. Love their top six. They Batheson done. Love Batheson as a player. I think he's one heck of a player. those additions, Zettelund, Eklund. you know, even though they gave up a ninth to get Eklund and a couple of prospects, I think that's a good return. Matt: Thank Nathan: yeah, I like the way they're built. Pinto at three C. I think that indicates that you've got you've got a group there that's legitimate and you know what you said, you they've got two two big D in in Shabbot and Sanderson. and All Mark, you know, he'll be solid at at a minimum. I yeah, I I like Ottawa. So get get your stake bet, odds in. Gordy we can talk offline. Gordon Goodenough: credit ends next. Matt: Yeah, maybe I should take this one and try and see if I can do Go Proud. Martin Saint-Louis, possibly the best dressed head coach in the NHL, returns. He added Derek Lalonde, former Detroit Red Wings head coach and Leafs assistant coach. I think Kent Hughes is quietly one of the best GMs in the league. He's doing an unreal job signing his young core. to what looked at the time to be very large contracts, but now the cap has gone up. They are the envy of the entire league and that top line of Suzuki, Caulfield and Slavkovsky is just dynamite Lane Hudson, probably one of the best offensive demon in the league. And Noah Dobson is extremely decent as a number two defenceman. He tends to pick up the heavy minutes. and acts as a proper defenceman rather than a point scoring machine like Hudson does. Look, I think they made it to the conference final, bullied a little bit, I think, when the chips were on the table. This is a team that's ready to make the next step. It'll be interesting to see if this young core does it this year. But I think they're a good year's end for the Canadians and that's not an easy thing for me to say as a Leafs fan. Gordon Goodenough: Detroit, another favorite team of yours, Bianca. Bianca Musico: Troch. Gordon Goodenough: you get to cover cover them. Bianca Musico: I mean, losing Eiserman, you got Larkin with, you know, the trade request. I think there's been a really interesting almost mass exodus of US captains asking to leave clubs. Which I think is is really interesting. I mean, I'll be completely honest with you guys, I haven't done too much too much deep diving on on Detroit short of being like, I just don't even know. it'll be interesting to see how a team performs with, you know, lack of lack of direction. Like, you know, I I really like Steve Eisenman as a as a GM. I think, you know, unfortunately I don't think what he was trying to build at at the wings really paid off. but Yeah, I it'll be interesting to sort of see what happens with with Larkin, I think, is sort of the big the big question mark there. You it's it's obvious he's not gonna be be captain, but you know, who is who sort of fills that that leadership role in in any capacity on the ice, off the ice. Matt: Yeah, they're on struggle straight on they I would I would be very surprised if the next captain wasn't Marit Sider. He's a proper proper player. Big boy does, you know, puts points up, throws the body block shots, shoots the puck. But yeah, this is a team in top to bottom in a good old proper mess, isn't it? So I would expect Detroit to prop up the Atlantic. Thank God we've got one team worse than us, Gordie. Nathan: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah. I I mean not be not having a a proper GM in place to take advantage of the last day that you can sign players to to an eight year contract and not being able to sign Marco Caspar. it it's a joke. it Nathan: Yeah. It's a shambles, this club. On and off the ice, they are a shambles. Gordon Goodenough: Washington Capitals. Matt: 9 euro, I think Nathan: This is an interesting one. I think the caps I think they're a playoff team. I'm not entirely sure that I understand their strategy necessarily. but look, I the the contract to Leonard, I think, appears to be a bit of a controversial one. I think Leonard is going to be one heck of a player. I think that contract will age well. And he will take over from Tom Wilson at some point. Somewhat similar profile of player. He's probably got a little bit more upside on the offensive side, I think. Jordan Cairo, great addition. I thought the Tuck signing was a little bit maybe slightly desperado. but look, I think they're solid enough. I think they've got enough pieces to be a playoff team this year. but I long term prospects, not necessarily sure. but I think they're an interesting watch. goaltending could be a little bit of a question mark, but the who's the head coach there? Carberry. who I think may have been, was he part of the Toronto outfit there at some point? Yep. Matt: He was assistant coach, Yeah. Nathan: he seems to really have that team well drilled. he probably lacked a few pieces last year, and overall they had a pretty good year. So I would expect them to have enough to be Dangerous enough. Boon Jenner is an interesting addition there as well. So I yeah, I think they're deep enough to do something, but I think this is a team that might have some cap dramas at some point in the future. But Gordon Goodenough: Can I just say a stat for you? Do you know what Nathan: Please. Gordon Goodenough: p what percentage of power play time Alex Avech Avechkin was on the ice for for the Capitals last season? Nathan: Ninety six. Gordon Goodenough: ninety one point six which was down from the previous season of ninety seven point five per cent. I think there's a scenario where we see in twenty thirty six Alexander Ovechkin, fifty one year old Alex Ovechkin sign another contract Bianca Musico: Ha ha. Gordon Goodenough: trying to he's on nine hundred and ninety six career goals trying to get to a thousand. they were feeding him power play minutes last season. And I think it was detrimental to their you know, their their prospects. So it does Carberry have the guts at some point to be able to say to Ovechkin, you're not you know, if he's not performing, you're not getting it done, we've got to put Alex Took here, we've got put gotta put Jordan Cairo up here in your spot. Does that happen? Matt: Hmm. Nathan: Yeah, I I think the best thing for this organization is for OV to hit mate whatever whatever the number is, you you'd know the number, Gordy, you're the you're the stats guy. But the sooner that he gets to this elusive number, I think everyone wins after that and they can dial this guy down. Because he he let's be real, he he's a liability at the moment. It's all name value, Matt: I think he's already here. Nathan: the guy's a liability, hit your number and mate disappear. Gru incredible career. Hit your number and get out. Matt: He's already hit the number. Get rid of him. Nathan: We gotta move on. Matt: Yeah. They've got Jacob Chickren is a good defenceman. And I mentioned Lane Hudson earlier, his younger brother, Hudson, another defenceman is coming through this season. So it'll be super interesting to see if he develops as quickly as his brother did in Montreal. If he does, their caps will have a heck of a player on their hands. but yeah, I think I think that's the $64 million question, isn't it? How big are Spencer Carbree's stones this season to tell OV that it's all over Red Rover and you've got the scoring record and it's highly unlikely anyone's going to beat it, so please go away. That's the conversation that needs to be had, right? Nathan: Cole Hudson, massive sleeper candidate in fantasy. I think he across two seasons with Boston College, he posted 80 points. This guy can play. This guy is a jet. Gordon Goodenough: next next team up is the Carolina Hurricanes. Is that you, Matt? That's it's up next Matt: Well, I can see why you came to me because, you know, I most closely resemble Rod the Bod out of any one of us on the court. Stanley Cup champ... What do mean, wow? Stanley Cup champions? Gordon Goodenough: More like E Eric Tolski. Nathan: mate, look y hey mate, you're well put together, but Rod is he's high altitude on the spectrum, but anyway. Matt: Well, OK, then I'll be Eric, ask me instead. They deserved it. They've been close for a number of years. I don't think anyone begrudges them picking the cup up last year. They've been very smart. Analytics plays an enormous part of what Telsky and Brynda Moore are trying to achieve in Carolina. They've managed to do it with Frederick Anderson as their number one goalie. Now he's flown the coupon headed off to Edmonton to reunite with He Who Shall Not Be Named Look, I think the Hurricanes will take a fair bit of beating again this season That's Sebastian Ajo, Svechnikov Who else plays on the top line? Elas? Dangerous Nathan: Ela's, yeah. Matt: and you know when you've got 87 year old Jordan Jordan Stahl, still performing at superhuman levels in the playoffs. Just shows what the culture they built there. So good on them. Congratulations, Mr. Brynda Moore. And let's see what you got in your locker for this season. Gordon Goodenough: Moving on to the Rangers, they missed the playoffs for the second straight year last season. Chris Dury is under pressure, promised a a retool, and then has kind of done the opposite of that. which is interesting. they've they lost Vincent Trochek, traded him away, obviously traded away Panarin for a pittance. he had all the power there. did pick up a Pavel Dor Dorofa Fayev from Vegas, who should help them on the power play, brought Sean Derzy in to provide some support on PP two behind Adam Fox on PP one. a few other players, Bjorkstrand, Joe Villeno from Detroit as well come over. when you've got a goaltender like Igor Shisterkin You know, you you're probably in with a chance. we'll see we'll see how they go. it's gonna be a struggle to get out of that division. but you know, the Rangers definitely have some pretty nice pieces. Matt: I don't think Chris Drory is a particularly good GM. There was a very damning series of revelations about the way he treated players last season or the season before. And here's a hot take. Don't actually think Mike Sullivan's that good a coach. I think this is a team headed in the direction of Detroit. End of hot take. Gordon Goodenough: how do you like the islanders, Bianca? Bianca Musico: I think they are going a pretty going through a pretty big transition period. you know, I think they're what's their identity gonna be like after losing Lee. again, another captain. Matt: Mm-hmm. Bianca Musico: they also lost a couple of they l they lost their backup goalie, they lost another defenseman. they do have Michelli coming in again another goalie Vanachek I think they'll be okay. I'm a big Schaefer fan, personally. I just think he's just what a what a personality to have in in the NHL and what a again when you talk about character on an on and off the ice. I think as a defenseman, wow, what a guy that you can really rally and and and build a team around. I go back to goaltending too. I mean They're not losing Sorokan, who again you have a goalie that has a a standout year, you've got a a a kid like Schaefer that you can build a a defensive core around. Is that enough of a of an identity to kind of get them through this transition? it'll be interesting. wouldn't necessarily say they're going through a a a rebuild, but I think it's more so how do they develop that young roster and how do they keep a franchise like that competitive. Who knows, maybe they will be New York's team when the Rangers implode by Matt's hot take. Who knows? Matt: It's all about Schaeffer, isn't it? And as you say, Sorokin is one of the top Nathan: Yeah. Matt: five goalies in the league, in my opinion, he's just as solid as a rock. but yeah, I would, I would actually argue whether the Islanders are materially trying that hard to win this season. think it might be smart for them. Matthew Darsh, think is their general manager, might be smart for them to have a couple of years and stockpile some high draft picks and put, put a young core around Schaeffer. Gordon Goodenough: New Jersey, Nathan. Nathan: I think they're a team that need to start doing something. They've got high talent level. I love the trade for Evangelista as well. strong up the middle should be a great power play, should be one of the better power players in the league. I I just feel like this team, for whatever reason, has been a bit of an underperformer. I think there's a lot of pressure in Jersey this year. goaltending, perhaps a bit of a question mark as well. Jake Allen, mate, maybe I'm not giving him enough praise here, but Jake Allen is your starting netminder. I know he was really solid last year. I just feel like that has an expiry date. I don't know if that's fair or not, but it it wouldn't fill me with a lot of confidence. So I think I think the net minding is a bit of a question mark with Allen and Dawes there. But look, you look up and down the lineup, there's a lot of pieces there. They should be a good team. They should comfortably be a playoff team. But thereafter, not sure. They they've sort of flirted with success, like meaningful success. they also probably need to stay healthy. You know, Jack Hughes has missed a lot of time. Nico Heesha, who I think is one heck of a player, has also missed a lot of time. you Bratt had a down year last year. He needs to find his his typical level. See you, interesting one. Playoff team, question mark beyond that. Matt: This could, I'll take again, this could be an entirely different team on or around the trade deadline, depending on what the other Hughes brother decides to do in Minnesota and all the signs are at the moment that he isn't going to sign a contract extension. So have the devils got the assets to swing a trade and if they do look out. Nathan: Yeah. Yeah, it'll it'll be interesting. I I really think there's organizational pressure on the Devils. Matt: They've got Sonny Maiter. Sonny Maiter is the new GM. I think he's a Tulski student. Came out of the Tulski stable. I don't know if he will be trigger happy. I think he's quite measured. I really wish the Leafs had appointed him as GM. So yeah, I think he'll be crunching the numbers and making some smart decisions there. I... I trust Sonny Maitre to do the right things and build the devils into a team. I really do. Nathan: Yeah, that'll be interesting. Cause obviously Tolski's known as sort of one of the the you know true analytics forward guys. He's tasted success now. so that'll it'll be interesting to see whether that does lead to some potential changes in Jersey or not, if there is a bit of a change of method there. Gordon Goodenough: Pittsburgh Penguins, Matt. Matt: Yeah, our former GM, our former GM, much missed Kyle Dubas, I'd rather have him back than any of the clowns we've had in the recent past. He performed miracles with a really very, very average roster last season. They lost in the first round of the playoffs, I believe, to your flyers, Bianca. And we Bianca Musico: Sure did. What a wonderful way to kick off a playoff run. Matt: never... We never saw that coming in a million years. They've also got a kind of a Vechkin 2.0 problem in that, but to a much lesser extent Crosby, but certainly Malkin and Chris Lutang are getting very long in the tooth and they're trying to do the right thing and, you know, honor the legacy of those players. But, you know, I think Dubas is doing a half decent job in putting a bunch of no names around that. aging core and still getting results. He had Anthony Manta there last year and he had an unbelievable season. He's ended up at Devils this year. He finally fired Tristan Jarry into the sun, which is, you know, always going to help your NHL team. I think they'll struggle to make the playoffs. It'll be interesting to if they can repeat, but they've got a couple of... good young boys coming through. So they may be a team to watch in the next three or four years time. I think maybe last year was an aberration. I'd be delighted if it wasn't because I'm a big co-Odewis fan. Sorry, Bianca. Bianca Musico: That's right. I'm I'm also a big Carl Dubers fan. Not at the not at the Penguins, but I did like what he was doing in in Toronto. Gordon Goodenough: And flyers. Nathan: Sharp guy. Gordon Goodenough: We we we we should get you to do the flyers, Bianca. You've you've covered a lot of their rivals. Bianca Musico: Yeah. I I love what Danny Brier has been has been building over the last couple years. you know, and I think under under Rick Tocket, As a team, you know, well I can't remember what the actual percentage was, but it was what was th three and a half percent or something like that of of making the playoffs and then, you know, having a Battle of Pennsylvania as as playoff round number one. and that series in general was just really exciting hockey. Don't need to talk about the second series, that's all good. season ended after the first, that's all that's fine. you know, I think interestingly for us, I think goaltending has always been probably one of the weakest spots on on the fly. You I Vladar's had a had a good season. He had a good playoff, had a good playoff run. It'll be interesting to see what Wall brings to net minding this year. But I think for me, I I think you you potentially have Cuturier sitting on on a fourth-line centre, which is y you talk about depth. I mean short term a guy that's also getting getting a bit long in the tooth to keep that phrase going. But, you know, you've got Michkov entering his his third year, you've got Martine in going into his first full season. you got Zegris, you know, there is just so much young talent that I think for a really long time a lot of Flyers Faithful were when's the rebuild gonna be ending and when are we actually gonna start you know, being competitive and I I really do think this will be the year that we see a a material difference in in the Flyers. this idea of him being a really hard team defensively, I think that's that's something that we're gonna continue to see this year. I'm just really excited to to be chatting about the the Stanley Cup champions for the Nathan: Oof. Bianca Musico: upcoming season. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah. Nathan: You've got Alex Bump. There's anything is possible. Gordon Goodenough: Did Bianca Musico: Hmm. Gordon Goodenough: how how did you feel as a fan to see the offer sheet from Briere for Leo Carlson? Matt: Yeah. Bianca Musico: You know what? I thought it was really interesting. I it would have been great to have him. I mean, I I think he would have been overpaid. I think I agree with the sort of general consensus on on on that. But if it was just a move to kind of fuck the ducks a bit, I'm also on board with that too. You know, if we're talking about hot takes, like if if that was the strategy of, you know, maybe retribution for, you know, the cut of the cutter situation. You know, look, I mean like I said, I think he would have been a a really good addition. I don't know how I would have felt about him taking up so much of that so much of that cap space, but I like it. I like it. Matt: Daniel Brea Bianca Musico: No, that's what I mean. I love Danny Brier. Like when I was when I first started watching the fires, I I I loved I loved watching Danny Brier on the ice and I loved watching him off of it. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, so Blue Jackets, six straight years, missed the playoffs, fired Dean Everson, hired Rick Bonus, and he had Matt: Yup. Gordon Goodenough: a had a good start, but then the the team had a really poor finish. Zach Rorensky was a big topic during the off season. you know, did he demand a trade? Did he not? in the end he he kind of said, you know, I I wanna stay. Adam Fantilly we'll see what happens with him. I I don't think he's reported to training camp, has he? yes, Fantilli. Still no still Nathan: Don't think you signed. Gordon Goodenough: no contract. Boon Jenna, the captain, again he left to go to Washington. Marchment left. we'll we'll see we'll see what they can do. They they I I saw a thing the other day that they're trying to give Kent Johnson all the opportunities that they can. He had a terrible season last season. so we'll we'll see you know, may maybe he's able to bounce back with you know, different coach, different players. goaltending, they've got Jet Greaves, who had I think he had one of the highest rates of quality starts in the NHL last season. you know, fifty five odd starts. you know, if he can repeat that, we'll we'll see what happens. But goaltending is voodoo wizardry and ball crap, according to Steve Dangle, which I kind of agree with. So who knows? We'll we'll see we'll see what they are. I think they're gonna need a A bit of luck. A lot of luck. to make it out of the metropolitan. Is that it? Is that it guys? Almost Matt: I think we've covered everybody. Nathan: Very good. Gordon Goodenough: mate. Eighty three minutes and counting. well thanks for staying with us. Final thoughts before we Nathan: did you want to very quickly do bears around the world or around the globe? What do we call that? What Gordon Goodenough: yeah, of course. Nathan, you've Matt: Yes, we've took... Bianca Musico: Yeah. Nathan: do we call that? Matt: We should call it the Amiens section. Gordon Goodenough: y'all. Nathan: D do you want to take us through that update from France, Matt? Because I'm not qualified, so Sort it out, gents. I'm not qualified, so Matt, get on with it. Gordon Goodenough: Nathan, you've you've got the pronunciation you've got the pronunciation lined up. Seitsee Seitsee gave you a voice clip, didn't he? How do you Nathan: No, not yet. I've gotta request it. Matt: No, not yet. But I saw Saïd say he a primary assist on an Amiens goal the other day. So that's Nathan: I'm ill. Matt: your roundup from France. Bianca Musico: Mm-hmm. Matt: Come on, night. Nathan: Well done, mate. I love sitting on mute, by the way. all right, so it's there's only a couple of points here. So Kev Sadowski, he is returning to Birmingham, Alabama. he jets off tomorrow. and he'll he'll rejoin the Birmingham Bulls for his second season in the SPHL. And Brett Bamber, who we unfortunately didn't see a great deal of only through injury. right shot D man offensive guy. he has signed with and this is gonna be a good one as well for you guys. I think that's Feltre in Italy. Gordon Goodenough: Yeah, Italy Italy's the correct Italy's the correct Nathan: Is there any feedback? Are we? It sounds about right. Excellent. Bianca Musico: Mm. Nathan: so he his season kicks off September 26th in Italy 2. And that's all I've got. So for anyone that I've missed, apologies. but I don't think I have. It's a pretty, pretty quick update. Gordon Goodenough: Great. well we will be back next week to preview the Western Conference. and Nathan's gonna finalise that pronunciation of Amiens for us, to update Bianca Musico: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: us on Nick's sites and how he's going. Nathan: You're our new French correspondent, Gordy. I'm I'm done. I'm Bianca Musico: Ha ha ha. Nathan: at a white flag. White flag, that one. Matt: How French. Nathan: Shout out to Louis Alive for walking me up a terrible, terrible, unmanicured path to Amion. Bianca Musico: Yes. Gordon Goodenough: Right, Nath Nathan sent through Nathan sent through just to the group chat with myself and Matt, this person who spends about two minutes leading into how to pronounce Amiens and he's got a very seductive voice. Matt sent it. Yeah. Matt: No, I sent that to the... yeah, sorry. I have to... Bianca Musico: Mm. Matt: I'm not going to let Nathan take the fall for that, but I did send it. He did have a seductive voice, didn't he? Very French. Bianca, should we pin you down on a quick sneak preview of the merch? Bianca Musico: sure. okay, so I'll show you guys one of the is what I'm gonna make Nate wear next next pod. We'll have Bears bucket hats that are coming into Nathan: I will look sensational in that. Bianca Musico: the summer. That's one of the designs, so you can see. Matt: That's very cool. Bianca Musico: Yeah. So we'll Gordon Goodenough: Beauty. Yep. Bianca Musico: have some bucket hats coming in. Matt: Mm-mm. Bianca Musico: For our North American friends, we will have some warmer ones. I will give you guys a hint. so what I'm gonna show you is actually we designed these in conjunction with Anthony Kimlin. So Kimmer actually had a had a hand in putting these together. So I guess this parlays quite nicely into anyone that does buy one of the 150 season passes that are available for purchase. So hopefully by the time this podcast is released, all 150 have sold out. You will all go in the drawer to win one of this was the new secret merch item that we dropped on on socials. so that's the front, matches the the bucket hat design. Matt: That's a hat. Bianca Musico: And then we've got Sydney Bears. Matt: very nice. Bianca Musico: Ice hockey club. So I mean this is a an extra large. you know, so the yeah, the the Bears fun fact were established in nineteen eighty two. We were established out of Macquarie ice rinks. So we've got a really lovely history with with the venue. So, you know, we really wanna celebrate sort of where we've come from with that merch designed with with Kimmer. There's a couple of other pieces in there that that he's designed, but I do have to leave something to the to the imagination, but that will be released next week. Nathan: Looks that actually Matt: Very cool. Nathan: looks really good, beeps. I don't mean to sound surprised either. Bianca Musico: Thanks, thanks. Actually, actually, that actually looks really good. Thank you, mate. As Nathan: Yeah. Gordon Goodenough: thank you thanks for coming on on the the the pod Bianca great to hear a a bit of your story, the background, and thank you for sharing the the news as as well. the if if you would like to purchase your twenty twenty seven season tickets, get onto the Bears socials and website. You'll be able to do that there. phenomenal. Any final things you you that we've missed, Bianca? Anything we've missed? Bianca Musico: No guys, thank you so much for having me on the bees bear We are the Bears, Beers and Beeves podcast for the night. Thank you so much for having me on. I'm sure this is probably the the first and the last time that you'll have me on. Matt: I think you've fitted in perfectly Bianca, we have no idea what we are, we get all the names wrong. The abuse that you've dished out in Mr Graham's direction has been top class. Please come back, we'd love some more of you. Bianca Musico: I will come more prepared. I I realise my my stat game on the the broader NHL pictures and quite up to the standard of you three, so I will I will make sure to to come with some more absolute belters that send Gordo and Nate into into another planet. Gordon Goodenough: thanks for joining us. yeah, good luck with everything this week. We will be back, of course, next week to preview the Western Conference. In the meantime, go bears. Matt: Go Bears! Bianca Musico: Cobez. Nathan: Go bears.