[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign
[00:00:03] Speaker B: the following program is brought to you in living color on elliot gazette.com or wherever you get your podcast.
The Gazette News Group presents the Parting Shots Podcast.
[00:00:15] Speaker C: Now here's your host and shot.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: 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 in Schenectady, New York. It's a college hockey centric podcast on Thursday edition. Of course you heard from men's head coach Josh Howdy, the Union men's head coach, on Wednesday's podcast. And we talked about the games last weekend against Colgate and Cornell, the two victories, and previewed this weekend's Harvard and Dartmouth matchups. Those will be the final home games of the regular season for the Garner Chargers. They're hoping for at least one game in the ECC Hockey tournament at MT bank center, maybe more than one if they get a first round bye.
In fact, they take on Harvard Friday night at 7 o'. Clock. Team that's right in that final first round by slot Union five points behind the Crimson for that spot. And then Dartmouth on Saturday, 5 o' clock face off.
And after the game, nine seniors will be honored. Those seniors are Brandon Burr, Ethan Benz, Nate Hanley, Carter Korpi, Parker Lindauer, Colby McArthur, Cal Mel, Brendan Miles and Nick Young. You'll hear from all those seniors coming up in the next few minutes as I try to battle this coughing.
Excuse me, I'm going to try plow through this. I'm not going to stop the recording here, but it's just this cold has been freaking annoying.
So we'll talk to those nine seniors with separate interviews for most of them so you'll get to hear from them. The Union women are on the road for the ECAC Hockey Tournament first round game. They'll take on Clarkson at 3pm Friday at CHEO arena in Potsdam. Union the number 12 seed, Clarkson the number 5 seed. We'll hear from Union Wilson women's head coach Tony Macy and players Stephanie Bourque and Matty Leaney. And I'll speak with Harvard men's head coach Ted Donato. He's now the all time winningest coach in Harvard men's hockey history, passing the man who was his coach for that 1989 national championship team, Bill Clary. So we'll talk to Ted a little bit about that. So coming up, we'll talk Union men's and women's hockey here on the Parting Shots podcast.
Are you an enthusiastic sports fan? Want to have fun and get in on the action.
[00:02:37] Speaker D: Heck yes.
[00:02:38] Speaker C: That'd be awesome.
[00:02:39] Speaker B: Have great attention to detail. Want to stay active. Definitely. Want to give back to the student athletes in your community?
[00:02:46] Speaker C: Obviously, yes.
[00:02:48] Speaker B: Then you'd make an excellent high school sports official.
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[email protected] welcome back to the podcast. As we mentioned at the top Union men in action this weekend at home. The final home games of the regular season at MNC Bank center with Harvard at Friday night at 7 in Dartmouth on Saturday at 5pm of course, after the game, nine Union men's hockey seniors will be honored and on Tuesday had a chance to talk with a lot of them to reflect on their careers.
We're going to first start off with Nate Hanley. Follow that up with Ethan Benz and then Brendan Miles, Cal Mel and Carter Korpi. Let's begin with Nate Hanley.
Nate, how big is this weekend coming up for your final home games of the regular season?
[00:03:45] Speaker E: Yeah, it's a huge weekend.
[00:03:46] Speaker A: Obviously there's some openings in the playoff spot, so we need these six points and hopefully head up the ranks a little bit.
[00:03:53] Speaker B: Not having Brandon in the lineup had to be a little frustrating. But the fact you guys scored 11 goals without him in the lineup, what does that say about this team?
[00:03:59] Speaker A: Yeah, it's definitely huge to show how
[00:04:01] Speaker E: deep we are and that we could score that many goals without Brandon, who's
[00:04:05] Speaker A: obviously a heck of a goal scorer.
[00:04:07] Speaker B: What do you miss about him not being in lineup?
[00:04:09] Speaker A: Scoring goals and his locker room presence are obviously two huge things.
[00:04:14] Speaker B: How big of a weekend is this considering you guys are still on the hunt for first round Bye. You take on Harvard Friday night team, you're five points behind for that last spot. And of course Dartmouth on Saturday team is giving you trouble. So how big is this weekend to, you know, keep that fight alive for home home ice, first round buy?
[00:04:30] Speaker E: Yeah, I mean, it's the biggest weekend of the year.
[00:04:32] Speaker A: Obviously we all want to buy really bad and home ice for the second round, so hopefully we can get that.
[00:04:38] Speaker B: Your final two regular season home games, obviously you'll most likely be playing at least one, maybe more than one here at MT Bank Center. Looking back on your career here, you know, between the move from Messer Rink to here, a lot of excitement with this program with Josh Algae as a head coach. He's been your head coach all four years here. What has your career been like at Union?
[00:04:59] Speaker E: Yeah, man, it's Been a heck of a four years.
[00:05:01] Speaker A: So many great guys, so many great memories and obviously the coaching staff has been unbelievable.
[00:05:05] Speaker E: We've had some good teams.
[00:05:06] Speaker A: So excited to finish it off, hopefully
[00:05:09] Speaker E: with an ECAC championship.
[00:05:12] Speaker B: Ethan, just can you reflect on your four years here at Union? Obviously your final two regular season home games coming up this weekend, you know, probably have at least one more, possibly two or three more. So what do you remember about your four years here at Union?
[00:05:26] Speaker A: Yeah, it's a little bittersweet, it's coming to an end, but I couldn't be more thankful for the four years I've had here. I've made like second families here and this place has been like a second home for me. So it's been a really great experience.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: Any particular memory of sticks out?
[00:05:42] Speaker A: Nothing too particular. I just remember our senior class has always been super tight.
Always doing everything together since the first day we got here. So we're like a band of brothers almost.
[00:05:52] Speaker B: So, Brendan, want to get your thoughts? You know, three years here at Union. What are your most memorable moments?
[00:05:59] Speaker C: Yeah, I think about a lot of different things.
[00:06:03] Speaker A: Obviously the Ireland trip this year was pretty incredible.
I think about like even after getting a sweep or getting a win on a Saturday, just hanging out with everybody after the game, celebrating things like that.
I think those are like really the
[00:06:20] Speaker C: things that I'll look back on and
[00:06:22] Speaker A: just be so appreciative that I made good friends like that.
[00:06:26] Speaker B: So, Cal, for you, what are your most memorable moments?
[00:06:28] Speaker A: I'm going to have to go with the friendships as well, especially in today's world with the transfer portal. Guys are heading in and out, but you know, we've kept a pretty, pretty big, poor group here that, you know, we never talked about it, but kind of subconsciously we all just decided to stick around just because we were having so much fun. Then we had some great addition like B. Miles Percy. Just couldn't be better than that.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: Carter, for you, your most memorable?
[00:06:52] Speaker E: Yeah, same thing. Definitely the relationships.
[00:06:54] Speaker A: It's some guys that I'll never forget
[00:06:57] Speaker E: and they'll always be friends for life.
[00:06:59] Speaker B: And yeah, now the four other scenes we're going to talk to are Brandon Burr, Parker Lindauer, Nick Young and Colby McArthur. We talked a little bit also about the game. In fact, Brandon Burr questionable still for this weekend. He missed last the Colgate Cornell games with a lower body injury. He has practice. You heard Josh Algae mention that on Wednesday's podcast. So still not sure if Burrow will be ready. But of course, you know, team leaders with 17 goals. He was not missed, obviously, over the weekend. Union scoring 11 goals in the victories over Colgate and Cornell. But having a sniper like Burr in the lineup, especially for these key games, and Union can use him. So let's hear from Brandon Burr, Parker Lindauer, Nick Young and Colby MacArthur.
Parker, let's begin with you. How are you feeling? I'm sorry, Brandon. Sorry. I'm going to start with you. How are you feeling right now?
[00:07:58] Speaker A: Much better. Definitely better this week.
[00:08:01] Speaker B: How frustrating was it to miss games? There's only the first two games you missed since your freshman year. How frustrating was it?
[00:08:08] Speaker A: I mean, I wouldn't say frustrating like, I'm disappointed I couldn't play, but the boys got the job done, so I couldn't be happier for what happened.
[00:08:14] Speaker B: Yeah, talk about that because, I mean, obviously you're the top goal scorer, and to see this team score 11 goals in two games with that, you don't laugh me. Is that. How encouraging is that as we head down home stretch?
[00:08:23] Speaker A: I think it's super encouraging. I mean, everyone on our team knows it now. Hopefully the league knows that we can all score goals. And it doesn't have to be me, obviously.
[00:08:31] Speaker B: Now, big weekend. You're still in the chase for first round. Bye. You got the team you want to get past Harvard. They're five points up on you right now. Then, of course, Dartmouth on Saturday. So how big is this weekend to continue the role you guys are on?
[00:08:43] Speaker A: Yeah, it's a big weekend. We need to keep it going. But as I mentioned last week, it's just one game at a time. We got to focus on Harvard first and then Dartmouth after Parker.
[00:08:52] Speaker D: Yeah, kind of same thing. Obviously, we want to finish as high in the sands as possible, but we're just gonna control what we can control. We can't really control the other games going around throughout the weekend, so we're gonna focus on Harvard first and then move to Dartmouth Saturday.
[00:09:07] Speaker B: Nick. Yeah.
[00:09:08] Speaker A: I mean, we all know every game from here on out is gonna be important, but just keep echoing the message that, you know, we take things one at a time, one shift at a time, in order to really not look over anybody and get everyone possible.
[00:09:19] Speaker B: We can backtracking a little bit. Colby was a question I had about with Brandon, without him in the lap, you guys scoring 11 goals over the weekend. Me? How important was that?
[00:09:28] Speaker A: Yeah, really important. Obviously, maybe we would have scored 15 with Brandon in the lineup. He's one of our best goal scorers, so, yeah, it was nice to get some goals without him.
[00:09:37] Speaker D: Yeah, just Going back down the line after conference play maybe hasn't gone the way you guys wanted to complete that comeback Friday night and then complete your first weekend sweep in ECAC play. How big was that for confidence going forward down the stretch?
[00:09:51] Speaker A: Yeah, really important. Obviously, you want to play your best hockey at the end of the year. So getting that sweep last week and then hopefully another one this weekend. So enough that, yeah, I was really happy that we were able to get that sweep. I think that's something that we really needed to prove to the group that we can sweep an East CAC weekend. And like Colby said, just leading into playoffs, it's the time to get hot. And so that was a really good weekend for us.
[00:10:14] Speaker B: Let me ask you guys, the seniors here, start with Brandon, you over three years here, what sticks out? What are the most memorable moments playing here at Union?
[00:10:25] Speaker A: I mean, winning the Marist Cup's always nice, but I probably could go with the Ireland trip.
[00:10:28] Speaker E: That was once in lifetime experience and
[00:10:30] Speaker A: it was a great time.
[00:10:31] Speaker B: Parker, for you, two years, are you happy with the moves and how.
What are your most memorable moments?
[00:10:39] Speaker D: Yeah, absolutely. Maybe. I wish I could have got here a little earlier than I did, but I'd have to say the Ireland trip, too. That's once in a lifetime.
[00:10:49] Speaker B: Nick, for you, you were one. Josh said you're one of the late recruits. You got here, you know, obviously when he's joined the program here. What are your most memorable moments playing here?
[00:10:59] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think I always think back to my first game ever, and, you know, it was really packed and it's a crazy feeling that you're never really going to replicate. But then other than that, like these boys said, Ireland trip was something that's super memorable and I'm never going to forget forever.
[00:11:14] Speaker B: Colby.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: Yes, obviously, the Ireland trip, the Mayor's Cups, but I think the lifetime friendships that we've made, it's great.
[00:11:23] Speaker D: Just back to you. You guys talked about getting hot at the right time. What are some of those steps that you need to continue taking in order to. To be playing your best hockey down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs?
[00:11:33] Speaker A: Yeah, obviously, just playing confident. We all know what we what way we need to play. We need to play hard. We need to come to forecheck so we can continue that going to the playoffs and we have a great opportunity.
Yeah, I think it just kind of stems from our practice. We have good practices all week and guys are dialed in to the little details and focusing on the right things that leads into the Weekend. And I think that that last week was our best week of practice and Atlanta begin. So kind of just focusing on every day in practice, staying mentally sharp, physically sharp. That's, that's pretty big key.
[00:12:06] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, the, the days leading up to the weekend, I guess, are kind of what we look for. If we're banged up, if we're hurt, or if we need to take a day off, we will. Just like Brandon, we want everybody to be healthy at the end of the year. And that's kind of our goal is to get hot at the right time and play with confidence.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: I don't really know how I can answer that. They set it perfectly there.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: Now let's talk about the Union women's hockey team. Their season on the line. Friday at 3 o', clock, they'll take on Clarkson in the ECAC Hockey Tournament first round single elimination game. So a lot of work in store for Union trying to pull off an upset against the fifth seed at Golden Knights and Clarkson, an unusual position of being in a first round game. They're normally in the top four in a first round bye, but the league this year was very tight and very competitive. And so we'll see what happens with Union. The Garter Chargers lose both meetings against Clarkson this season.
So we had a chance to talk with Tony Macy, the women's head coach on Tuesday, and here's what he had to say.
Tony, Friday, Clarkson back in. Course, that's your place. You coached there for a while. I mean, how special of a match up is this on Friday?
[00:13:22] Speaker E: You know, having been there for as many years as I was, being on the staff with Matt and, you know, being part of that program and having some, some really good success there, you know, it's always good to go back there. My wife's family's from there, My kids are all born there. So for me it's kind of cool because I get to go back, see some family.
But at the same time, it's one of those ones where you want to go back and make sure you get the job done.
[00:13:50] Speaker B: What do you have to do? That's a big question. Obviously, they're a ranked team. They beat you guys combined, 10 to 3 this year. What do you have to do?
[00:13:58] Speaker E: Well, I think we got to make sure that we don't give them any easy ice anywhere. We got to make sure that we're playing hard within the dots.
We got some things that we're going to work on this week that are specific to their team.
So really being able to focus in on that not having to worry too much like normally you do on a weekend where you have two different opponents, where now you can put all your focus on one.
So I think the big thing is just making sure that we defend hard and then when we get chances, especially special teams, we got to take advantage of those.
[00:14:31] Speaker B: How important will it be to keep the offense going? I mean, you got the one nothing victory over Dartmouth. You didn't really do much after the first period goal, but against Harvard you had plenty of chances. Just couldn't bury itself. So how important will it be to play like that game against Hart and bury the chances?
[00:14:46] Speaker E: Yeah, I think, you know, game against Dartmouth, we were working on a few things to try and get some video for this week, so might have been a little bit too worried about the defensive side of stuff, so got back into some other things on Harvard to try and generate some offensive video clips that we needed as well. So I think the big thing is just going to be able to show them what we were doing well and then being able to execute it in practice and then take it into the game.
[00:15:14] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, this is a Clarkson team that's ranked very highly in the country. They're going to have good moments in this game. How do you make sure the team doesn't get dipped too low when something doesn't go their way?
[00:15:23] Speaker E: I think a lot of that just you got to settle in and, and trust that our structure is going to be able to. To make them have to go through five people like again. They're, they're a good team. They been able to play hard all year against really good opponents as well. So the big thing for us, I think is, you know, got to have good defense and our goaltenders have been playing well, so making sure that we let them see pucks and help us keep us in the game.
[00:15:50] Speaker B: How important will it be? Look, probably Emma's going to start on Friday.
How important will it be for her first big test with the playoffs here?
[00:15:59] Speaker E: Yeah, I haven't really made decision yet, but, you know, I think both goalies have been ready. So, you know, Emma had the start last time at Clarkson, so she does have the experience of playing there.
So I think the big thing is just making sure whoever's ready to go is comfortable, obviously for a good thing. Monya's not going to be back. She's going for a bronze medal. So for us, we're just making sure that we have both goalies ready to go.
[00:16:29] Speaker B: You did, you know, play overtime game up there last year. Can you Build. Look at that game and, you know, maybe at that film and see what you guys did to get that game to overtime and maybe pull out a win?
[00:16:42] Speaker E: Probably not that game. They. They had a completely different team last year. Their back end was really strong. Obviously, Haley win who's on the US Team right now was there and a couple others that are already in the PWHL making, making money there. So I don't think we can draw too much off of that. We just got to look at, you know, how they played against their last opponents, the Princetons, the Cornells, the teams that had success against them and try to do the same thing.
[00:17:11] Speaker D: When you're one of the teams that's going on the road in the first round of the playoffs, you know, you may be viewed as an underdog. Does that allow you guys to play with a little less pressure and just go out, play free, play loose?
[00:17:21] Speaker E: To an extent. I think the big thing is like, it's playoff hockey, right? If you can't get up for playoff hockey, then we were probably in the wrong business. So, you know, this is what you work for.
You know, two years ago, this wouldn't have even been a game because they only had eight teams. So for us, you know, we've just been working towards playoffs and trying to get ourselves mentally ready to play one, one team. So we've been really stressing, just, hey, give us one more day. That's all we want.
[00:17:48] Speaker B: Can you take any experience of last year's game at Brown winning there into this game?
[00:17:52] Speaker E: I think so. I think that's a good one that we can. We can draw from.
You know, they. They were ahead of us.
You know, we had success during the year against them, but we knew that we were going to have to put a pretty flawless game together.
And it came down to making sure it was tough on them, not giving them chances on the power play to get things going and being able to bury our chance, which, you know, Kerryanne was able to get both. One as an empty netter, but, you know, we stayed out of the box and didn't give him those extra chances. So I think that's going to be a big one.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: Did it surprise you that Clarkson team, normally contending for a regular season title, finished fifth this year? That's maybe a testament to how tight the league was this year.
[00:18:33] Speaker E: I mean, it came. The whole league came down to the last games, basically, right? So we ended up having co champions with Yale and Princeton, and even going into Friday, there were teams from one to seven that could have Intermixed all the way through. So I think it just is a testament to how strong our league is.
And then, you know, I think that the games themselves are just tighter now. There's a lot more teams that defend better.
There's a lot more teams that, you know, still have the high, high offense, but their secondary groups are now better than they were in the past. So I think it's just a testament to one, the coaching in our league, but also the players.
[00:19:18] Speaker B: Now let's hear from team captain and senior defenseman Stephanie Bourque and junior forward Matty Delaney. I also want to thank Stephanie for coming out every week, except for one week she missed the Mayor's cup press conference. I don't understand that one. I gave a little rough time about that. But, yeah, Stephanie was insightful, and I always appreciate her coming over and spending a few minutes with the media at M and T Bank center on Tuesday. So here are Stephanie Bourque and Matty Leaney.
Well, big weekend here for you Friday. Clarkson, tough opponent, obviously nationally ranked.
What do you got to do to pull off the upset?
[00:19:59] Speaker F: Yeah, I think we just have to be in the right mindset, and I think we just really have to focus on having a good defensive zone and getting for the D to get pucks quick up to our forwards and putting pressure that way. I think if we focus on not giving them time and space in our D zone, then we'll have more success in the ozone. So I think that's really what we have to stick with this weekend.
[00:20:17] Speaker B: Maddie?
[00:20:18] Speaker G: Yeah, I agree with everything Steph said. I think it's just being confident in our structure and being confident in our skill level and within each other in the locker room and everything and just playing a hard D zone, giving them no time and space. I think we'll be just fine.
[00:20:29] Speaker B: The game against Dartmouth on Friday, you guys won one nothing. You didn't get much offensive chances after that first goal. You had a lot more chances against Harvard. I think Tony was saying you were experimenting with some things in that game on Friday.
What did you learn from this weekend and how do you apply it to Clarkson?
[00:20:51] Speaker G: Yeah, I think it's just getting ready for playoff hockey. Playoff hockey. There's not really going to be a game where it's 7:1 or anything. It's going to be close game. So learning how to protect a lead against Dartmouth and then learning how, when it is a close game, keep getting chances against Harvard and stuff like that.
[00:21:06] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, sometimes playoff hockey things aren't going to go your way. So it's just really sticking with it and having belief in your system. We were trying something new, and I think we did a decent job with it, and I think it was good to practice it against a different team, not just against our team when we know what to do.
So I think it was just putting us in the right frame of mind. But I think a game like a playoff game, it's always a tight game, crazy atmosphere and things like that. So things aren't always going to go your way. So you just have to kind of stick with.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: Yeah. Last year you went down to Brown and won that game down there. How much do you take confidence from that and trying to go up to Cheal on Friday and try to pull off the same result?
[00:21:44] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, last year was. Last year I think we had a different team. I think this year we have a lot of belief in our locker room. Yeah, we might be the underdog and people might not think that we have a chance, but it's always good to have that underdog mindset. So we have nothing to lose. So it's kind of just really taking it day by day and we just want another day to fight, and that's what we're going to do on Friday.
[00:22:03] Speaker D: Yeah. Having that underdog mindset, does that allow you guys to go into this one a little bit looser? Pressure's off, kind of just go play a game?
[00:22:09] Speaker F: I think for me personally, maybe a little bit, just knowing that a lot of people might have doubts about us, but I think, like, we know what we can do in our locker room and our coaches have a ton of belief and I think we're really excited to play and we're really excited for an opportunity, and I think that that'll be good opportunity, not just for this year, but for the program in general.
[00:22:28] Speaker G: Yeah, I think what we're doing right now is our motto is just one day at a time and just fighting for another day. So that's how we're going to go in on Friday and just get our all.
[00:22:37] Speaker D: You both mentioned playoff games can get tight. It's going to be nitty gritty. It's going to be tough to battle. Holding on against Dartmouth, holding on to the Mayor's Cup. Can holding on to those slim leads and finding ways to those tight, intense games come out on top? How does those games give you guys confidence going in?
[00:22:52] Speaker G: Yeah, I think those games definitely teach you a lot. I think in both games you kind of notice, like, we get caught in our D zone kind of last couple minutes. So learning how to bear down, and we kind of say a lot on the bench, like, settle in. That's going to be huge going into playoffs. Yeah.
[00:23:06] Speaker F: And I think it's not just always about going into that protective mindset. Like, you know, oh, we have a lead, so we need to kind of step back and. And not be as offensive. I think it's just, yeah, we do have a lead, but we got to keep pushing forward, and I keep. Keep doing that. So I think those games definitely helped us learn that. And also how to kind of bear down, like Maddie said, and block shots and, you know, like a bruise at the end of the day, it's going to hurt, but nothing feels better than winning playoff game.
Yeah.
[00:23:30] Speaker D: I mean, just for two leaders on the team, what's kind of the mindset going in. Word spread to the other girls about dealing with some adversity. This is a good team. They're going to find a way to have some sort of momentum play at some point.
[00:23:41] Speaker G: Yeah.
[00:23:41] Speaker F: I think it's just really having confidence in our system and having a lot of belief in our locker room. We proved it day in and day out that we do put a ton of work in, and this is like what we've been working for all season. So I think everyone is in the right frame of mind, but it's just pushing that. You know, it's going to be hard, but we do have to do the little things right. And focus on having, like, good sticks in the D zone and playing the body. And that's kind of what we've been preaching to the locker room.
[00:24:04] Speaker B: What do you have to do for the previous two games against Clarkson? What do you have to do differently this time besides obviously score more goals? The obvious answer, but what do you have to do differently as far as maybe getting them to get them frustrated?
[00:24:18] Speaker F: Yeah, I think staying out of the box is a big one. They have a good power play, obviously, but I think definitely another one. I think the first game against them, we played okay. I think the second game was a lot better for us and was good for our confidence. And I think it's just really harping in the D zone to be able to not give them that much respect. Obviously, they're a good team, and we know that, but is just really making sure that we're not giving them any time and space. As soon as they have the puck, a Garnet jersey is going to be all over them.
[00:24:46] Speaker B: Coming up, we'll talk with Harvard and men's head hockey coach Tandonato, whose Team comes to M and T Bank center on Friday to take on the Union College men's hockey team. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:25:04] Speaker C: The ecac hockey championship returns to lake
[00:25:06] Speaker A: placid, new york this march.
[00:25:08] Speaker C: Witness the first ever ecac hockey women's championship in lake placid on march 6th
[00:25:13] Speaker A: and 7th and the men's championship on
[00:25:15] Speaker B: march 20th and 21st.
[00:25:17] Speaker C: It happens at the legendary h.e.r brooks
[00:25:19] Speaker A: arena, the home of miracles.
[00:25:23] Speaker C: Don't miss the battle for the 2026
[00:25:25] Speaker B: title and an ncaa bid.
[00:25:27] Speaker A: Tickets are on sale now at least.
[00:25:28] Speaker C: Lakeplacid olympic center.com ecac hockey the educated decision.
[00:25:42] Speaker B: Welcome back to the podcast. My next guest became the all time winningest hockey coach in harbor men's hockey history earlier this season and his team will be at MT bank center to take on Union at the seventh field of Friday.
[00:25:54] Speaker F: Right.
[00:25:54] Speaker B: It's head coach Ted Donato. Ted, welcome to the podcast. How are things going?
[00:26:00] Speaker C: Thanks, Ken. Great to be on, you know, kind of in, in the grind right now. So a lot of, a lot of mixed emotions at this time of year. You know, feel on top of the world after a, you know, good win and then you feel like you're in the bottom of the barrel after a, a tough loss. So a lot of emotional roller coaster over the last few weeks, but really excited to see if we can finish strongly.
[00:26:28] Speaker B: Yeah, it's been a tight year. I mean, Quinnipack's starting to pull away a little bit, but we see Dartmouth and Cornell were tied at what point is a three way tie at one point at the top of the standings? I mean, in your years of, you know, playing and coaching in this conference, have you ever seen it so tight like this, this late in the season?
[00:26:44] Speaker C: No.
It's really interesting and I mean, I think we often hear, you know, hey, this, you know, anybody could do this. And you know, and, and the reality is, you know, you know, there's some truth to that, but, you know, the top, you know, few teams are certainly separated, but I do feel this year more, more so than any other year I can remember.
You know, I, I think there are teams, you know, in, in the middle and even towards the bottom that I think are capable of playing some really good hockey. And it would not surprise me to see them in, you know, Lake Placid and be dangerous in Lake Placid as well.
So that's kind of my take. I feel like Quinnipiac has kind of separated from the crowd and, you know, everybody else is, you know, is trying to really Find their groove. I think Cornell, you know, had a long stretch where they played really well. Obviously Dartmouth had, you know, an incredible start, but, you know, I think right now there's a lot of different teams that I'm sure feel like they're playing their best hockey of the year.
[00:28:00] Speaker B: Yeah. As I mentioned in the Open, you passed. You became the all time winning men's hot coach at Harvard, surpassing the man who was your coach when you played there and of course, guy that you the national championship in 1989, Bill Cleary.
What was that moment like when you guys beat Brown 73 to become the all time winningest coach?
[00:28:23] Speaker C: You know, it was, it was a cool moment. I, I think, you know, we had Coach Cleary come on the ice. That meant a lot to me just because, you know, both as, you know, both professionally and personally, you know, the impact that, that he's had on, on me and, you know, all the players that had had the, you know, fortune of playing for him. So I think that was great.
You know, it, it does get me to think about, you know, how grateful I am, you know, to be at a place that I, that I believe in and I love and, and, and all the great, you know, players, but more importantly, the great human beings that I've been able to work with.
You know, it's, it's truly an honor and you know, I'm excited to try to have more success and, you know, impact more kids in a positive way. But it's, it's, it was just, it was a special night.
[00:29:27] Speaker B: When you played for Coach Cleary, what did you learn from him and how have you applied that to your coaching style?
[00:29:35] Speaker C: Well, I think he instilled a lot of confidence, you know, in us as a group and in us as players.
You know, I think he was pretty simple with his rules as far as team rules. It was, don't do anything that, you know, hurts, you know, hurts the program or your family. And you know, I think, you know, he kind of empowered, you know, the, the quality of people that were within the program to kind of manage that. And, you know, we, we were, you know, we didn't spend a lot of time, you know, worrying about the other team. You know, we, we tried to, you know, play a certain style and a certain, with a certain speed and skill and all those things and, and how we managed. Relationships are all, you know, something that I try to emulate. Certainly he was, you know, an all time great. So that's not an easy, you know, act to try to emulate. But, you Know, I think, you know, as we.
As I get older, I, you know, I appreciate even more, you know, the experience I had here and want to provide, you know, the same, you know, level of enjoyment for our players.
[00:31:01] Speaker B: How have you changed as a coach when you. From when you first started to now?
[00:31:07] Speaker C: Yeah, I think I've changed a lot. And I think, you know, I think if, you know, if you're not changing, you've fallen behind, really. I think whether it's systematically, whether it's, you know, the times, whether it's NCAA rule change or, you know, or stylistic changes. I think I'm very much a hockey fan and enthusiast and, you know, I watch a lot of hockey in the off season. I try to spend a lot of time talking, you know, to people.
I'm fortunate to have some, you know, some good friends that are, you know, coaching at the highest level or working skills. And, you know, I do really enjoy learning, you know, about, you know, how the game is changing. And so for me, you know, it's, you know, it's. It's a. It's a learning process. And, you know, I, I, you know, I learned from my assistant coaches. I learned from, you know, from the players. And, you know, I think, you know, I want to try to stay as current as I can, you know, with, you know, what we're doing from a skill standpoint.
[00:32:24] Speaker B: I'm trying to remember, when you came in, did you have any coaching experience went prior to becoming the head coach?
[00:32:30] Speaker C: None.
[00:32:30] Speaker B: None.
[00:32:30] Speaker C: None. So. Yeah, so. So I had to learn a lot. I felt like the hockey part, you know, was natural, if you will. You know, my dad was a, you know, a coach in, you know, pretty much growing up, you know, in, you know, in high school. Coach football and basketball and baseball and, you know, a little bit of hockey.
My younger brother's a coach, so I've been.
I've been around it a lot. So the hockey, I think, was, you know, somewhat natural. But, you know, I think, you know, you have to relearn, you know, how to. How to teach and, you know, and kind of, you know, I think the mistake sometimes is easy to make that you, you know, you feel like you knew all this stuff all the time when, you know, there's been a lot of years and, you know, you kind of watch a lot of people as opp Player. You watch a lot of people, you know, that are your coach and you try to add in, you know, some of, you know, some of what you learn and, you know, being able to break it down. So, you you know, you can help kids that are, you know, trying to, you know, learn elements of the game.
So I think, you know, for me, it's, you know, certainly, you know, the hockey part came natural, the, you know, the.
The strategy. But.
But I do think, like, you know, I had to learn the recruiting landscape. I had to learn the admissions landscape, had to, you know, kind of had to learn, you know, how to, you know, you know, build a program and, you know, and kind of, you know, work. Work around all the things that are unique to college coaching versus just coaching a hockey team. And I think that it's been fun, but there was a lot to learn.
[00:34:20] Speaker B: You mentioned the recruiting process. How has that changed, especially with the transfer portal? And how does that transfer portal affect the school like yours in the Ivy League? Because it's tough for you guys to get people out of the transfer portal.
[00:34:36] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, right now, it's kind of a bizarre landscape. And I think that even, you know, I think most coaches would agree that, you know, you know, I think we all kind of recognize that, you know, hey, players should be able to, you know, have the freedom to be able to, you know, switch school if it's not, you know, a great fit for them.
You know, maybe players should be able to, you know, take part if there's, you know, revenue being made.
So a lot of that stuff I think, you know, in theory, you know, most coaches would agree with. But. But I think the.
The rollout's been awfully quick, you know, and, you know, whether it's, you know, junior hockey or nil or, you know, opening, you know, different, you know, levels of professionals, you know, to. To college hockey, you know, it's.
I don't know if there's anybody to blame. You know, it certainly feels like the NCAA hasn't really been, you know, the NCAA for a few years. And I'm sure there's. There's reasons for that, you know, with. With all the litigation and things like that. But, you know, I. I'm hoping that, you know, that there'll be a little bit more guardrails, if you will, you know, because I don't think, you know, I don't think when. When we talked about opening up to, you know, major junior players, you know, anybody had in mind that we would be opening up to, you know, you know, guys that have played in professional hockey, you know, and I. And I think, you know, so I think there's this. Right now. There's been a lot of unintended consequences. You know, the movement is, you Know, just seems somewhat out of control and, and, you know, I think, you know, as. As we move forward, I'm sure they'll. We'll put some guardrails up, you know, so that'll make it a little bit, you know, more reasonable.
You know, it's, you know, in some ways, we're kind of operating old school style, if you will. You know, we, you know, we. We want to recruit kids, we want to develop them, we want them to, you know, graduate from Harvard and, you know, you know, their. Their hockey opportunities, but also, you know, use it as a, you know, a life opportunity to, to, you know, to use your hockey to go to a great school and be part of that, you know, community and network going forward. So, you know, we still believe pretty strongly in that, you know, it's coming out of, you know, Covid and then the fifth year with COVID it seems like we've.
We've kind of been dealt a curveball, you know, almost every two years. So hopefully, you know, as we settle down, you know, we believe, you know, that we'll be in a good spot and that we can have success and we can be a program that, you know, is successful on and off the ice, and guys are still going to have the opportunity to not only play at a great level and go to a great school, but, you know, possibly, you know, move on and go play it, you know, the highest level. So, so we do believe in, in, you know, kind of our, you know, process.
It's just been a few curveballs in the last couple of years that have made it a little bit more challenging.
[00:38:18] Speaker B: Your team's in fourth place right now. That last spot for the first round by in the ECAC hockey tour and five points up on sixth place Union. Talk a little bit about your team. What do you like about them?
[00:38:29] Speaker C: Well, we've been, we've been resilient.
You know, I think we've been a little bit streaky. So, you know, we've kind of, you know, you run off a few wins, run off a few losses.
You know, I, I think, you know, we've had a goal all year to try to finish in that top four and get home ice in a buy. I just think that if you can pull that off, it just gives you a little bit better opportunity to maybe have a healthier team. As you kind of come down the stretch, maybe it allows you to, you know, avoid the one game where, you know, and I feel like this year that one game is as dangerous as it's ever been because I Feel like, you know, there's all sorts of teams, you know, that, you know, that have shown that they can be really good. You know, I think you look at, you know, Princeton, you look at Union, you know, Clarkson, you know, those are really good hockey teams that have put some really good wins together. So, you know, this is, you know, this is, this would be a pretty competitive two weekends here. And you know, I think right now for the most part, we have control over our destiny. We just have to go out and win the games in front of us.
[00:39:49] Speaker B: You know, you did something on January 19 that nobody has done, had done previously against Union, has not done since he shut them out. That four nothing victory there on that Monday afternoon. What, what was the key to that victory?
[00:40:03] Speaker C: Well, I thought we did a good job killing a couple of their penalties.
You know, I thought our goaltender was excellent.
You know, we played, you know, with, with the lead, you know, and, and you know, I, I can say that, you know, I was happy with it at the time, but I'm even more, you know, more, you know, proud of it now that I see that they scored 11 goals last weekend and watching, you know, watching that puck go in the net as, as much as it has over the, you know, over the last few weeks for them. But they're, they're a dangerous team. I mean, you know, I have a lot of respect. I think, you know, they're, they're, you know, a very good team that, you know, is good offensively. You know, it's got really good balance, got some good leadership in some of their older guys, you know, you know, Dunbar has been, you know, as good as anybody offensively in our league on the back end.
So, you know, they post, they pose a lot of challenges. I'm excited. We haven't played in the new building yet, so that should be fun. But this is, in some ways it's got some playoff, you know, feel to it.
[00:41:20] Speaker B: You mentioned they scored 11 goals a week and that was 11 goals without Brandon Burr who was out of the lineup last weekend with a lower body injury. And the week before against Clarkson, they scored seven and eight, seven overtime. Also the, they've been really putting the puck in the net and that's, it's kind of scary for, for a team like that.
[00:41:39] Speaker C: No, I agree. I mean, I think they've all year they've, they've done a good job, you know, on, you know, with scoring goals, you know, as you said, Burr and mother's bar and you know, and you know, the numbers that Dunbar is putting up.
You know, they're, they're, they're a dangerous hockey team. And you know, for us, you know, we've, you know, we've, we've struggled recently trying to find the back of the net and our power play is, is not where we want it to be. But you know, this, that can all be cleaned up at this time of year with some, you know, big goals and big games. So should, should be a great challenge for us this weekend.
[00:42:18] Speaker B: Well, I know you love your Dunkin Donuts coffee and I don't know if you're staying at one of the hotels near the rink or whatever, but there is a Dunkin Donuts within walking distance of the, the arena.
[00:42:29] Speaker C: Wow, that's great. That's great. That'll give us a little, a little Boston feel to it.
[00:42:33] Speaker B: Well, Ted, appreciate, appreciate a few minutes. We'll talk to you on Friday after the game. I look forward to seeing you.
[00:42:40] Speaker C: Sounds great. Thanks. Thanks for having me on car.
With on I guess con.
Thanks again. I appreciate it. That's Ted Du.
[00:42:53] Speaker B: Now we wrap up the podcast and have the latest winner in the Daily Gazette celebration contest. For just a moment.
[00:43:10] Speaker C: If you really want to know what's
[00:43:12] Speaker B: 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 gonna get to the truth. Our reporters and photographers are out in the field bringing you updates every minute 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 community where nobody else is covering. It's who we are. It's what we do.
[00:43:46] Speaker E: Foreign.
[00:43:53] Speaker B: The week one winner in the De La Gazettes auto racing contest was Gloria Lockhart of Amsterdam. With 35 points, Gloria wins a $50 gift card. Congratulations, Gloria. The VIP winner was Scott Lucher of Capital Land GMC with 30 points.
I'll announce the auto racing contest winner's name and that winner's name will appear in Saturday's Daily Gazette. To play, go to dailygazette.com and click on the auto racing contest 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 Gazettes. That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots Podcast. I want to thank Brandon Burr, Ethan Benz, Nate Hanley, Carter Corpi Parker Lindauer, Colby McArthur, Cal Mel, Brendan Miles, Nick Young, Tony Macy, Stephanie Bourk, Maddie Leedy, and Ted Donato for being a part of the show.
If you have questions or comments about the podcast, email to me at shot. That's s c h o t
[email protected] follow me on bluesky x and threads at Slap Shots.
The views expressed on the Parting Shots podcast are not necessarily those of the Gazette News Group. The Parting Shots Podcast is a production of the Gazette News Group. I'm Ken Schott. Thanks for listening and I'll catch you next time from the Parting Shots Podcast studio in Schenectady, New York. Good day, good sports.
