Episode Transcript
[00:00:03] Speaker A: The following program is brought to you in living color on dailygazette.com or wherever you get your podcast.
The Daily Gazette Company presents the parting Shots podcast. Now here's your host, Daily Gazette sports editor Ken Shot. Thank you, Scott Kesey, and welcome to the Parting Shots podcast. Available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me from the Party Shots podcast studio studio in Schenectady, New York. And that's our weekly visit with Union men's hockey coach Josh Howsey. Josh, welcome back. A miserable day out there as you drove in from the campus.
[00:00:41] Speaker B: Yeah, a lot of rain, but you know, it's. It could be snowing or it could be a lot colder. So we'll take it.
[00:00:47] Speaker A: I gotta apologize everybody who listened to last week's podcast.
The equipment was fiddled with a little bit. It was over modulated and had no clue it was until after I was putting it together. So we apologize for that and we'll make sure that we're not over modulated on this edition of the podcast. So Josh, let's get into the weekend. Last weekend it was a tough road trip. Union dropped a 21 decision to Princeton and fell 3 to 1 to Quinnipiac. Give me your general assessment on the games.
[00:01:16] Speaker B: I thought Friday just the energy was down a little bit and you know, give credit to Princeton. They worked really hard, limited our chances and you know, we didn't generate as much as we would have liked to.
You know, Saturday I thought we generated chances we just weren't able to finish. And you know, it was a game where I thought we could, you know, it was two games I thought we let slip away. But you know, at the same point I think it's a good learning experience for us and we got to put it past us and move on.
[00:01:46] Speaker A: Yeah, let's go to the Princeton game. As you mentioned, I think the intensity was sort of lacking in that game. Princeton, you know, this is Princeton team coming off a two game sweep of then 12th ranked Ohio State. So they had a lot of momentum coming into the game and they didn't show any signs of a letdown. I mean, is it fair to me, is it fair to say Union lacked intensity in that game?
[00:02:03] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, a little bit. I think it's, you know, it's, it's really hard when, you know, you just are playing and it's just if things aren't going the way you want them to, I mean, we got to the rink, we had, you know, again, no excuses yet, a couple of guys with a little Bit of, you know, a little bit of a flu situation, but like they were playing and they're in the lineup, they got, we got to be ready and we got to go. And I just felt like we all kind of felt sorry for ourselves a little bit there and, and maybe felt like we were owed more than, you know, Princeton's not going to give us anything. We have to go earn it and we just didn't do that.
[00:02:40] Speaker A: Yeah, well, personnel shot Union 13:9 in the first period was a scoreless first period. Then early in the second, Luke Pelletier scored to give the Tigers one nothing lead. And then Union found themselves down two men. Jacob Jeanette was called for slashing the stick out of Miles Gunty's hands at 728. Then 12 seconds later, Colin Fergus was called for holding Gunty after a face off. And the Tigers made the Garden Chargers pay as Noah De La Durante scored on a shot from the slot at 842. I mean how tough was that goal to give up?
[00:03:11] Speaker B: Yeah, you give that one up and I mean that ended up being the difference in the game.
I thought the slashing penalty was a really good call. Like we can't be doing that and you got to, you know, you got to kill that off. The face off penalty was, I mean it was really tic tac and to put someone down 53 was disappointing but you know, you got to find a way to kill that. We did a really good job the first few 50 seconds and then made a mistake and ends up in the back of your net.
[00:03:35] Speaker A: Yeah. The Ferguson penalty ends up getting killed off and then Union gets a power play when David Moss called for slashing. 10:16 and Kaden Viega scores on the power play. Sort of a fluky goal. You got to stick on him. I think a prince of defender actually pushed the puck into the net. May it cuts the lead to one. We getting the feeling that this could be the start of a comeback.
[00:03:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I thought that, you know, up to that point we hadn't played our best hockey and if we had a, you know, a really good third we'd find a way, you know, unfortunately just weren't able to muster up enough and couldn't, couldn't get another one.
[00:04:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:04:07] Speaker A: And as you mentioned that Union was unable to get the tight end goal. The Tigers take the one goal victory. What was the post game message to your team?
[00:04:15] Speaker B: I just. That is disappointing, you know, that we, you know, we're in that situation and you know these are huge points and you know, we can't let them slip. Slip through our finger.
[00:04:25] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, next up, it was Quinnipiac as a quick turnaround for the Garner chargers. There's a 4pm face off up there in Hamden, Connecticut. You have to get out of Princeton quickly and you want to get to the hotel in Wallingford, Connecticut, and we'll talk about the travel venture the team had to endure in a little bit. The Gardner charges me in that first period. Showed a lot more energy in that opening period. Union was very physical and the garter charges outshot the Bobcats 14 9. The game was scoreless after the first period, but you had to be feeling good about the effort.
[00:04:53] Speaker B: Yeah, the effort was outstanding and that's, you know, what we've come to expect with this group, that we haven't had to beg him to work hard too many times. And when we play physical and tough, we're a really good hockey team. And I think that's, you know, that's the way we played in that first period. Would have liked to see us finish a couple of the opportunities. We had an open net on a backdoor pass that we didn't finish on and just, you know, there's some pucks around the net where we weren't as strong on them as we'd like, but, you know, we're generating chances.
[00:05:19] Speaker A: Yeah, you know, 15 seconds into the second period, Union catches a break to take a one nothing lead. Nate Hanley's in the Quinnipiac left corner. When he set the puck to the net, it hit someone in front and went in. I mean, that had to feel good to get the lead in a building where you had struggled. And as you mentioned just before, the fact that you missed some easy chances.
[00:05:37] Speaker B: Yeah, and, you know, I think that was just, you know, you work really hard and you're going to get rewarded. And that was, you know, what happened there. We won a foot race to the puck and, you know, went to the. We cleared to the weak side and then threw it at the net and, you know, got lucky. So it was one of those things like, okay, this is going to go our way tonight. But unfortunately, again, yeah, it didn't.
[00:05:57] Speaker A: Yeah, Quinnipiac got its offense going shortly after that Blade and Blaze fires a shot from the top of the right circle that beats the screen. Kyle Chauvette at 4:23. Travis Traylor scores a power play goal 8:22 later to give the Bobcats lead. And Victor Chernesky an air makes it 3:1 with 325 left in the second.
Unfortunately, once again, the power play goal comes back to bite the team there in second straight game, ends up being the game winning goal.
[00:06:25] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, this one was, you know, five on four and just right off of a face off, you know, we let them drive to the back post and yeah, that's, that's what's going to happen when you let teams do that.
[00:06:35] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:06:36] Speaker A: Meanwhile, Quinnipiac goalie Dylan Silverstein protects the lead in the third period, stopping all 12 shots he faced. He finished with 34 saves as Quinnipiac wins it. I mean, how frustrating was that to end the weekend?
[00:06:49] Speaker B: You know, it's been a spot for us where we have been outplayed the last couple years pretty bad. And I thought, you know, that wasn't, wasn't the case, but we didn't get a result. And at the end of the day, this is a, this is a result business and you got to find ways to get them and you know, the effort was much better. But again, there was a ton of pressure on us we felt because we let one slip away on Friday with, with a poor effort and you know, then you're grasping at straws when you, when you do that.
[00:07:16] Speaker A: We talked after the game and you mentioned you thought that the team may have been nervous trying to finish their chances against Quinnipiac. I was curious as to why you thought that. Because the Unions ranked still ranked in the top five in the nation, scoring at 3.4 goals per game. I mean, it would seem the team like would be confident instead of nervous about, about that. What were your thoughts about that?
[00:07:35] Speaker B: I just felt like we were gripping our stick a little different than we normally are. I thought we usually play pretty loose and when we have those opportunities this season, like we've finished. So they should have confidence in our guys are it's in a talented group and you know, on Friday night, like if we get a chance in the first 30 seconds, like I would expect us to bury it. And that's, you know, that's the mindset we have to have. But when you, you know, have a disappointing game like we did the night before, I think it just, we, you know, everything was just that much more important for us.
[00:08:05] Speaker A: Well, let's take a break. I'll have another mess of rig memory. When we come back, we'll talk about the Union's interesting bus trip from Princeton to Quinnipiac. And we'll preview the final games of 2024 as Union host Vermont for two games this weekend. And we'll have a question from our listeners. You're listening to the Parting Shots Podcast.
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The parting shots podcast presents another Mesa Rick memory, this one from forward Daniel Carr, who played for Union from 2010 to 2014, was a member of their 2014 national championship team and was one of the team's most prolific goal scorers. And he was one of my favorite interviews in my four years covering him. Here's his memory of Messer Rink.
[00:11:13] Speaker G: I think, you know, I think senior night was really special. I think, you know, having my family on the ice with me after the game, you know, not everybody's no life happens. My dad's not here anymore, my grandfather's not here anymore and I still get to see that picture of that big smile on my face and to enjoy like such a special experience for my me and my family. Together was with people that I care about and don't care about me. It's just amazing.
[00:11:39] Speaker C: That was great catching up with you, dan.
[00:11:41] Speaker A: And maybe 10 years from now, if I'm not retired.
[00:11:44] Speaker G: Yeah, you'll have to come back even if you're retired, Ken, for an interview.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: Welcome back to the podcast. I'm host Ken Schott. I'm joined by Union men's hockey head coach Josh Howey. Before we talk about this weekend's two game series against Vermont at Mesa Rink, I want to ask you about the team's travel situation from Princeton to Quinnipiac. I mean, you had some issues with the bus. Ubers were involved. What exactly happened?
[00:12:07] Speaker B: Yeah, so just, you know, getting out of town, it's. Yeah, obviously you're going through New York City and there's a lot of traffic. Well, unfortunately there was a, you know, a bad accident where a car was flipped over. So, you know, we had some, some time there just sitting in traffic and, you know, hopefully everybody's okay in that accident because it didn't look, it didn't look great. And then once we kind of got through all that, it was a situation where the bus was overheating and they had to shut it down and try to let it cool down. So it was sitting on the side of the road for about 45, 50 minutes and end up getting to Quinnipiac after a while, a little bit later than normal. We were expecting to be there right around 12:30. Instead, we rolled into town closer to 2:00 and. And then the bus kind of had the same scenario where we had to let it cool down. And during that time we just decided to call Uber so the guys wouldn't have to wait.
So, yeah, we got in about four different minivans and different vehicles and just kind of shuttle everybody over. And then the staff and a couple players were at the end. We ended up getting in at about. Got on the bus at 3 as it was going and got in then. So it was a crazy one. Not what you're used to, but, you know, one of those things I'm sure the guys will talk about 10 years from now.
[00:13:24] Speaker A: I mean, I've never called Uber, so I don't know, but it seems like if you're calling Uber at 2 o'clock in the morning, it's not for a bus situation.
[00:13:31] Speaker B: Yeah, I'd like to say our guys have never done that before, but they probably have. And, but yeah, this one was a little bit of a unique situation.
[00:13:38] Speaker A: Was that more. One of the more Unusual trips you have. I, I've, I have traveled. You know, when I was traveling, there's two trips I really didn't like. Although I got going to Prince, I was going home to Philadelphia for me, so I like that. But it's driving over the Georgia Washington Bridge, going through New York City. It doesn't matter what time of day it is, there's traffic and so that's that and going up to north country, probably the two toughest trips. But was that more one of the more unusual trips you've had as a coach?
[00:14:05] Speaker B: Yeah, I've definitely had some unique ones. This would go up there and this one is more of a frustrating one just because you knew the importance and you know, as a coach, I don't know, I'm always just thinking worst case scenario and how do we handle and what do you do when this goes wrong or what's our next move? So when I was an assistant, it's a little less stressful, but you're sitting there just. And a lot of the stuff you can't control. So I was more in just like, how do we make sure we're ready for tomorrow?
[00:14:31] Speaker A: And with the 4:00pm start, obviously if it's a 7:00pm start, you're probably not too concerned. But the 4:00pm start, I think you had to change a lot of things in your preparation for the game Saturday.
[00:14:41] Speaker B: Yeah, we were a lot. We really limited our meetings and in all reality we probably will do it, you know, going forward because I thought, I thought we played really well in a lot of ways on Saturday. So, you know, going forward we'll probably limit our video and just kind of focus on us as we, you know, get ready for our Saturday opposition.
[00:15:00] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, let's move on to this weekend's non conference games against Vermont. These are the Garner Chargers final games of 2024, coming off last weekend's losses. I mean, how important is it for the team to win both of these games and go into the holiday break feeling good?
[00:15:14] Speaker B: Yeah, I think just trying to, you know, make sure we're playing our best hockey here to end it. We've done a lot of positive things here in the first half and, you know, really want to, you know, make the guys feel good about themselves heading into break.
[00:15:25] Speaker A: Well, Vermont, which is making its first visit to messel rink in seven years, is 4, 8 and 3 overall, including 3, 4 and 2 in Hockey east play. Freshman Max Strand leads Vermont and scoring with three goals and nine assists. Freshman forward Colin Kessler and senior forward Joel Mata each have 10 points. Kessler has five goals, three of which have come on the power play and has five assists. Mata has three goals and seven assists. What more do you know about the Catamounts?
[00:15:50] Speaker B: Yeah, they, they've had some good wins. You know they've, they've beat UMass twice. They've been in really in really in every hockey game. So they make it difficult. They've played some high scoring games, some low scoring games. So I think they're comfortable really with any style. Last season we played them and it was you know, two good games. So would expect to be the same this weekend.
[00:16:09] Speaker A: Yeah, you split up there winning 54 on Friday, coming back and scoring three goals in that second period and dropped a 41 decision on Saturday. I mean other than the Mayor's cup game against RPI in January, these are the final non conference games of the season and it's the last time to experiment with things. How do you plan to approach these games?
[00:16:26] Speaker B: You know, really not any different at this point. We want to try to, you know, end on a positive note. So it's really focusing on us.
[00:16:35] Speaker A: Well, one aspect of the team's play that has to, I think has to get better is the penalty kill. I mean last year there was second in the country behind Boston College killing off 87.9% of the power plays allowed. Just 17 power play goals scored, eight short handed goals. That was tied for second with Canisius one behind Air Force. This year Union is 50th tie for 50th with Northern Michigan at 76% as teams already allowed 12 power play goals.
And late me last year, you know, power by goal.
It took 11 games this season to allow 12 goals last year.
Last year was in game game 23 against Brown that they allowed the 12 power play goals. So what do you got to do to fix the penalty kill?
[00:17:23] Speaker B: Well, yeah, I was actually on a call here this morning with Wisconsin's assistant coach and we were talking about penalty kill because we're both in unique situations where last year they were third in the country, we were second and you know, this year I think they're 52nd and we're 50th. So we were bouncing different ideas off each other and kind of looking at our analytics. You know last year we gave up 18, 18 goals on the penalty kill. But our expected goals against on the penalty kill was 29. So there was 11 goals that you know, when it hit the post it went out where this year, you know, we've given up, you know, 12 and our expected goals is 8.7. So it's, you know, we've pucks are going in this year that weren't. But at the same point, you know, we have to, you know, focus on our detail and make sure we're more prepared. You know, we spent a lot of time on Vermont's power play this week and really making sure we know how to handle it. And, you know, for us, that's been, you know, a point of emphasis. We know that's an area for us to be better. We have to clean up. So it's all about us and just having our details and our habits down.
[00:18:24] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, missing two, their top pelicans last year and Billy Eamonen and the Ben Tupker probably. It doesn't hurt, doesn't help.
[00:18:31] Speaker B: Yeah. And the one thing they did was like they won that first face off for us, you know, and when you get that first clear, it makes a huge difference. And, you know, right now we're, we're not doing a great job getting that first clear. If we lose the draw even, we're not getting it all the way, you know, all the way down 200ft. So, you know, for us, it starts with that first face off and really trying to win it. But again, if you don't, you got to be comfortable killing in your own zone and making sure we're doing a good job.
[00:18:58] Speaker A: I want to ask you about Union freshman for Ben Luther's ball game. He's got off to a great start with eight goals and seven assists in his first nine games, but he hasn't scored a goal in his last six games and has just two assists. Any concern about him at this point?
[00:19:09] Speaker B: No. Ben's a stud. He'll be, he'll be dialed in for this weekend and, you know, it's just for him taking, you know, one game at a time and not getting too focused on anything. It's, you know, this is the time of the year where the first year players really, they hit a little bit of a wall, but he'll, he'll push right through it and he'll be, he'll be great.
[00:19:25] Speaker A: Well, this will be our only podcast this week, so let's hear from the players. Defenseman and team captain Cullen Ferguson, goalie Kyle Chauvet, and for Carter Korpi, who were at Tuesday's media availability.
[00:19:39] Speaker C: Guys, this is the last game before your holiday break. How important is coming off the road losses to Princeton and Quinnipack? Is it for you guys to get a couple wins heading into holiday break and feeling Good about yourself, starting with Colin.
[00:19:52] Speaker H: Yeah, I mean, it's really important. We just want to. We want to keep working hard every single day, not take a single day for granted, hone in on our systems and our details and get a couple wins this weekend.
[00:20:03] Speaker C: Kyle.
[00:20:03] Speaker I: Yeah, I agree. I think we just want to go out there and compete. You know, obviously we want to get the two wins this week, weekend, you know, especially going in before break. But I think we just want to focus on us as a team, just our details and habits.
[00:20:16] Speaker C: Carter.
[00:20:17] Speaker J: Same thing. Just kind of get back on the track we were on and hopefully blow out a couple. A couple wins before the break.
[00:20:23] Speaker C: What do you think you need to do to get back on track this weekend against Vermont?
[00:20:27] Speaker J: Maybe a little more detail in our game. I think we got away from it a little bit on the road.
You got to compete a little harder. We got away from it a little bit there and earn our opportunities.
[00:20:40] Speaker H: Yeah, I think just stay hard on the four check and more detailed in the defensive zone and we should be all right.
[00:20:45] Speaker I: Yeah, I agree. Just being, you know, on both ends of the puck, like winning the battle in front of our net and winning the battle in front of their net, too.
[00:20:53] Speaker B: Colin, what do you think?
[00:20:54] Speaker H: Are you looking at this Vermont opportunity?
[00:20:57] Speaker B: You know, you go back into non conference, what kind of opportunity, opportunity does this give you guys, where you guys can kind of try to figure some.
[00:21:04] Speaker H: Things out before you go back into that league play? Yeah, I mean, I honestly think, like, whether it's in conference or out of conference, we take the. It comes with the same amount of weight. We want to win it just as badly, and we just want to keep giving our full effort. We can use what we've learned from the past weekend and use that against Vermont, and hopefully we come out on top of 2 wins card.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: I want to talk a little bit.
[00:21:30] Speaker C: About the penalty kill. Last year was number two in the country. You guys were awesome on it, allowing just 17 power play goals this year. It's been a struggle. People are allowed 12 this year. What do you have to do to get the penalty kill back on track?
[00:21:46] Speaker J: I think we just need to play more as a unit. There's a lot of things that go on the penalty kill, and we all got to be on the same page. I know we're going to be dialed in on that this week and for the rest of the year, but I think we'll be all right.
[00:21:59] Speaker C: Josh was mentioning that you guys are top of the country as far as the entry, but once they get in the zone, it seems, it's when things seem to break down a little bit, what do you have to do to keep the match the entry and when.
[00:22:14] Speaker A: They get in there, what do you.
[00:22:15] Speaker C: Have to do better?
[00:22:16] Speaker J: You just need to communicate a little better. Last year I think we, we were really good on communication, getting bucks out quick and that created opportunities for us.
[00:22:26] Speaker H: Yeah, I think we just need to communicate a little bit better.
I think we all need to be on the same page as far as pointing out guys and who you have. We have a bit of a new system, so we all believe in the system. It just comes down to execution now.
[00:22:42] Speaker C: Kyle.
[00:22:43] Speaker I: Yeah, I mean, there's not too much more to add to that. I just think like being able to sort things out a little bit better. And just like I said, being on the same page and just competing out.
[00:22:54] Speaker C: There, how important will it be to get in on track as you get back into the conference play and climb up the standings?
[00:23:01] Speaker I: Yeah, no, I think it's huge. I mean, obviously special teams are an important part of the game, either on the kill and on the power play, but I think it's going to be important. But I know I'm confident in our group that we're going to get it sorted out.
[00:23:12] Speaker C: Josh uncullen. I mean, this team has been, was scoring goals at a good pace and then this past weekend, just one in each game.
I think Josh was talking about maybe in the Quinnipiac game, you guys got a little tight and maybe nervous. For teams scoring almost three and a half goals a game, why would this have struggles like that and be nervous?
[00:23:35] Speaker H: I mean, I think it's just, it happens, you know, we score a lot of goals and sometimes you're just going to have games where you might only get one. I think we need to be harder. I think we need to be harder in front of their net and we need to get to their paint. But I mean, yeah, these things happen. It's not like we're just going to all of a sudden expect that we're not a goal scoring team. I think we're just going to keep doing what we're doing. You know, we take what we've learned from this weekend and just keep moving forward.
[00:23:55] Speaker C: Carter.
[00:23:56] Speaker J: Yeah, I think we had our chances for sure throughout the weekend. Unfortunately, that didn't go our way. But you can't dwell on the past and you have to look forward to the next weekend.
[00:24:06] Speaker C: Well, I got the story from Josh after Saturday's game. Can you guys give your thoughts on the bus breaking down and The Ubers and all that stuff.
[00:24:16] Speaker J: It's unfortunate, but at the end of the day, there's nothing you can do about it. You gotta be ready to go no matter what.
[00:24:20] Speaker C: Is that the strangest thing you ever guys ever experienced?
[00:24:24] Speaker H: No, no, no. Juniors is a little weirder.
[00:24:27] Speaker J: North American.
[00:24:27] Speaker H: I slept through the whole thing, to be completely honest. So I just woke up and we were at the. Our bus wasn't moving, went back to sleep, got to the rink and then they said our bus wasn't starting again. So then we started calling Ubers to get, to get to the hotel. I mean it's.
Sometimes the bus breaks down, you can't worry about it too much. You gotta go play hockey.
[00:24:47] Speaker C: So is it a pain? Is it a pain just because you have a 4:00 game or put it back after driving through New York City from Princeton?
[00:24:53] Speaker H: Yeah, I mean it's less ideal than a 7 o'clock game, but at the end of the day it's. You're going out and playing the same game you've been playing your whole life. So.
[00:25:02] Speaker I: Yeah, I mean obviously we don't control the schedule. We just, we go out and play. So no matter what time the game is, if it's at 1 4, like 7, it doesn't matter. Like we just got to be ready to go no matter what happens. Strangely, your experience, I think I've had it way worse in juniors, so it wasn't, wasn't too bad.
[00:25:22] Speaker A: We would like to hear from our listeners. We have a question from Mike did not leave a last name in the email. He writes that earlier this season, and this is. He's talking more to me, I think I wrote that something special might be brewing with the Union men's team. That seemed warranted at the time. But Union is just 3, 4 and 1 over its last eight games, including 1 and 3 in league play. What do you think has fallen off for Union over the last eight games? Was the earlier success a product of beating and these are his words, not mine. Mediocre to bad teams like Army, Stonehill, Mercy, Harrison, rpi.
[00:25:53] Speaker B: Yeah, that was a. What? Hell, I think, you know, there's some good opponents like any, if you're playing anyone in college hockey, they're, they're good. I mean I don't care if you're, if it's 1st or 64th and you know, in the pair wise. So, you know, for us I think it's, it's a little bit of just kind of growing up as a team and learning how to win every Single night.
I'm proud of our start, and I think that it's a good group and we're going to continue to take steps. Is everything going to go perfect for us this year? No, I don't think it's going to be that. But we're continuing to get better and we've done a lot of good things. And yeah, all we can do is focus on who we're playing. And right now, that's Vermont.
[00:26:35] Speaker A: Yeah. And a couple weeks ago, Denver was undefeated and hosted Arizona State for two games. And Arizona State won both games. Anything can happen in this game. That's why they play the games. They don't play them on paper.
[00:26:44] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, you look at Dartmouth and St. Lawrence, and I don't think anybody thought that, you know, not on my bingo card. Yeah, you know, St. Lawrence was going to get that game and, you know, they, they got Dartmouth and so did Clarkson, too.
[00:26:56] Speaker A: So, I mean, that was shocking to see Dartmouth losing home.
[00:27:00] Speaker B: Yeah, it's one of those, like, it really is in our conference. Anybody can get anybody this season. And really, it's turning that way in college hockey. I mean, you're going to have some teams that are, you know, at the bottom, but at the same point, like, it's, it's, it's hard to win. And that's something I have to, you know, do a little better job is actually enjoying them because they're really hard to get because, you know, you always are looking towards that next one. So for us, it's, it's finding a way to get, you know, get a couple here against Vermont and then, you know, enjoying a little bit of a break.
[00:27:30] Speaker A: We should mention Saturday's game. A couple of things are going on. That's the toy drive for the cocoa house.
If you bring a toy, everybody gets a free hot chocolate and the first 35 people that bring a toy get a blanket. So that's a good deal. That's always been a great initiative, which is started by Josh Kosak years ago.
[00:27:51] Speaker B: Yeah.
A lot of things in life here are bigger than hockey, and this is just another one. If you have a chance to give back. I think this is an amazing opportunity. And, you know, our relationship with the Coco House has been, has been great. And, you know, again, like, as you mentioned, I'll start it by Josh.
[00:28:08] Speaker A: Yeah. And then after the game, there'll be a skate with the, with the team. And of course, as we get set, once these games completed, the really, the countdown is on to the final games at Mesa Rink.
[00:28:19] Speaker B: Yeah, we're in the, in the stretch drive and you know, again, our guys will be, they'll all be going their separate ways here for a couple weeks right after the game and, you know, and enjoying some time with their family.
[00:28:30] Speaker A: Of course, you'll be busy next week with no games until after the new year. You'll be out on a recruiting trail. So we'll say this will be the final podcast for us for 2024 and I hope you have a great holiday with you and your family and be safe out there on recruiting trail.
[00:28:47] Speaker B: Yeah, I appreciate that and thanks for everything you do for our program and with the podcast.
[00:28:52] Speaker A: Well, I appreciate you coming on the podcast and we have a, have a lot of fun with this. I think it's really taken off for the last couple years since you've started we started doing this and I think this gives the fans a chance to understand the program better, understand you a little bit better, and understand my job a little bit better sometimes because I got to ask, got to ask tough questions. You may not like some of the questions I asked, but you always answer them and I appreciate that.
[00:29:16] Speaker B: Yeah, I think that's something you don't realize when you're the assistant is you got to answer all the hard questions sometimes. But, you know, it starts and ends with me as far as decisions with the program and you know, I gotta take responsibility for the good and the bad.
[00:29:28] Speaker A: Of course you gotta do a cab curry wheel for Clarkson when he was working.
Probably easy. No, I'm just kidding, Cap.
[00:29:36] Speaker B: Yeah, Had a cast of characters, so it's been good.
[00:29:40] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, Josh, appreciate again, happy holidays to you and your family and we'll talk after the games this weekend.
[00:29:45] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:29:46] Speaker A: All right, I'll be back to wrap up the podcast and have the latest winner in the Daily Gazette's U pickup football contest in just a moment.
Stay informed with the Daily Gazette's E edition. Download our app, sign up to receive our newsletters and enjoy exclusive reader rewards when you join our growing community. Community today. Head over to www.dailygazette.com to check out our membership plans. And remember, when credibility matters, trusts the Daily Gazette.
[00:30:26] Speaker F: If you really want to know what's going on in your community, you have to read the Daily Gazette. We don't take a side. We're right down the middle and we're going to get to the truth. Our reporters and photographers are out in the field bringing you updates every many with trust, accuracy and integrity. From the first page to the last page. Independent, probing journalism. We're finding out what's going on in the community where nobody else is covering. It's who we are. It's what we do.
[00:30:57] Speaker B: Hi, this is Daily Gazette reporter Chad Arnold. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and a Prosperous and Healthy 2025.
Hi, this is Daily Gazette reporter Amir.
[00:31:08] Speaker A: Adichie and I would like to wish.
[00:31:09] Speaker B: You a happy holiday season and a great 2025.
[00:31:14] Speaker A: Hi, this is Daily Gazette news editor Andrew Puglis. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and a Prosperous and Healthy 2025.
Back to wrap up the podcast and before I announce the winner of the Daily Gazettes yous Pick a Football contest, I want to send out a make a personal note here. I attended York College, Pennsylvania from 1981 to 1985. Graduated in May of 85 and the president of the school was Dr. Robert Yazway.
He was a wonderful man.
Got to know him through he's he attended the York College basketball games when I was the statistician and also the radio play by play voice of the of the Spartans and occasionally he'd come on at halftime. We talk about college life, what's going on with things that York College of Pennsylvania, your College of Pennsylvania, when I attended was a very small school but everybody knew each other and I think that was one thing that made Dr. Yazway such a great person. He interacted with the students. He even taught an algebra class. I mean how many school presidents teach a class. But he was always involved with the students and talked to them, listen to them and he was just a wonderful man.
I was very fortunate to know him in my time at York College and he's going to be greatly miss he passed away November 24th at the age of 91. His wife had just passed away a couple weeks before. They had been married for 66 years and it was tough to hear when I read it my your College of Pennsylvania newsletter that Dr. Yazway passed away and like I said, a wonderful person and very supportive of the college, very supportive of me and I'll never forget that and rest in peace. Dr. Yahweh.
The Week 14 winner in the Daily Gazette's you pick a football contest was David Diaz of Schenectady with a 121 record. David wins a $100 Hannaford gift card. Congratulations David. The VIP winner was Nick Platel, Grand Premier Tire with an 113 record. I went 9 4. I improved to 148 and 60. My Gazette colleague Adam Schindler was 10 3. He is 145 and 63. I'll announce the youe Picking Football Contest winner's name, and that winner's name will appear in Thursday's Daily Gazette. To play, go to dailygazette.com and click on the U Picking Football banner.
Just because COVID 19 mandates are easing, that does not mean you should relax. Be vigilant. If you have not gotten vaccinated or received a booster shot, please do so. Do it for yourself, do it for your family, and do it for your friends.
Don't forget to download the Daily Gazette app and sign up for our E Edition so you never miss a headline. Subscribe today at www.dailygazette.com. we have a lot of great specials going on. When credibility matters, trust the Daily Gazette. That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots podcast. I want to thank Josh Houje, Cullen Ferguson, Kyle Chauvet and Carter Korpi for being a part of the show. Even though I'm taking next week off, I'm expecting to do a podcast I have tentatively scheduled ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kirchen to be on. We'll certainly have a lot to discuss.
If you have questions or comments about the podcast, or any questions for Tim, email them to me at shots. That's s c h o t t dailygazette.com follow me on X Threads and bluesky at Slapshots.
The views expressed on the Parting Shots podcast are not necessarily those of the Daily Gazette Company. The Party Shots podcast is a production of the Daily Gazette company. I am Daily Gazette Sports Editor Ken Schatz. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Party Shots Podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good hockey.
