[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign
[00:00:04] Speaker B: 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. Now here's your host.
Thank you Scott Geezy, and welcome to the Parting Shots Podcast, available wherever you get your podcast. Subscribe today. Thanks for joining me from the Parting Shots Podcast Studio in Schenectady, New York. It's our last podcast for February and we're going to talk hockey, college hockey and Winter Olympics hockey on this edition of the podcast. The Union men's hockey team plays its final regular season games this weekend. They go to Yale on Friday and Brown on Saturday, and there's still a chance that the Garden Chargers can get a first round bye in the ACAC Hockey tournament. I'll speak with Brandon Byrne, Nick Young and Cameron Corpy from Tuesday's media availability.
Meanwhile, the Union Women are playing still they after their upset of Clarkson last Friday. They'll take on top seating Yale in the best of three ECAC Hockey Tournament quarterfinals down in New Haven, Connecticut. So it'll be a doubleheader actually for the men and women down at Yale on Friday, all three games and New Haven, of course. Game three necessary Sunday. All three games will be at 3 o'. Clock.
I have interviews with head coach Tony Macy, defenseman Stephanie Bourque Ford, Carrie Ann Engelberg and goalie Emma Ryumi, who made that incredible save early in the third period where the puck hit her face mask hit the goalposts, hit her neck and down her back and she reached around with her catching glove and smothered the puck on her back and was a number two SportsCenter top 10 highlight late Friday night. So I'll talk with them.
We'll talk some Winter Olympics hockey with Union goalie Monya Wagner, who just came back this week.
She earned a bronze medal with Team Switzerland. They beat Sweden 21 in overtime in the bronze medal game. I'll talk to her about her experiences over there in Italy.
Excuse me. And then Josh Skiba, the former Union women's head coach, now an assistant coach with the New York Sirens of the pwhl. He was an assistant coach for Team USA Women and they won the gold medal in dramatic fashion, a 2:1 victory or team Canada in the gold medal game. I'll speak to him about his experiences over there in Italy. So got you covered for hockey on this edition of the podcast. Coming up, let's talk Union men's and women's hockey here on the Parting Shots podcast.
You guys just didn't want it bad enough that should have been an easy win. What were you doing out there? You gotta hustle. You could have made that play if you'd been open.
On the car ride home after the game.
[00:02:53] Speaker A: When you think you're helping by telling me what I did wrong and what
[00:02:57] Speaker B: I need to work on, all I
[00:03:00] Speaker A: hear is that I'm not good enough.
That I'm supposed to be perfect.
[00:03:06] Speaker B: That it's not okay to lose on
[00:03:09] Speaker A: the car ride home.
[00:03:11] Speaker B: All I need to hear is how
[00:03:13] Speaker A: much you love me and enjoy watching me play.
That my worth isn't determined by my performance.
That even on my worst day, I am worthy.
That you see me learning, growing and doing my best.
[00:03:28] Speaker B: And that is enough.
This message presented by NSFA and the New York State Athletic Administrators Association.
Welcome back to the podcast. The Union men's hockey team concludes its regular season this weekend with a pair of road games. They go to Yale on Friday at 7 o' clock in New Haven, Connecticut at Ingles Rink. And then it's on to Brown at the ME and Auditorium in Providence, Rhoda for a 7pm game Saturday. Right now, the Garner Chargers sit in sixth place. They're still mathematically alive for an ECAC hockey tournament first round. Bye.
They have to get a lot of help this weekend. They got to win their games of regulation and Harvard and Princeton face each other Friday. Princeton right now in that fourth place spot for the first round. Bye. Union needs to beat Yale in regulation on Friday and have Harvard beat Princeton in regulation on Friday. That'll set up a interesting scenario on Saturday while Union's playing Brown, Quinnipiac is at Harvard and Princeton is at Dartmouth. So Union must take care of its own business and hope that Quinnipiac and Dartmouth help the Gardner charges out on that way. But the Union is least guaranteed a first round single elimination game next week.
Excuse me, but yeah, we'll see what happens with them. Of course you'll get followed by coverage. I'll be here in the office, but I'll be following the game on espn.
Of course you heard from Union men's head coach Josh Hauge on Wednesday. Let's hear from the players. Let's hear from Nick Young, Brandon Burr and Cameron Corpy.
Well, guys, I mean, you sit in sixth place as we speak here on Tuesday, but you're still on the shot for first round. Bye. Things have to, you know, you guys got to win your games this weekend and get some breaks this weekend with Harvard and Princeton.
Obviously they play each other Friday night. So what's the focus this weekend? Just Worried about yourselves or you keep an eye on what's going on elsewhere?
[00:05:36] Speaker C: Yeah, no, we're. We're completely focused on us. And that's kind of how we've been the past couple weekends is, you know, we've said it over and over again, but one game at a time and, you know, we can only control what we can control. So go in and Friday night, go beat a hockey team.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: Brandon.
[00:05:50] Speaker C: Yeah, we gotta focus on the games we can control. So just win those games and obviously we'll be looking at the scoreboard, but just gotta focus on ourselves.
[00:05:57] Speaker B: Cameron?
[00:05:58] Speaker C: Yeah, same thing. I mean, just focusing on ourselves and trying to get the points we need to get.
[00:06:02] Speaker B: Well, last time you guys played Yale, it was not one of the better games. You lost 41 here at M and T Bank last month. What's going to be the key this time to turn things around down there in New Haven?
[00:06:13] Speaker C: I think we just need to do what we, we know how to do, play our game. And I think if we play our game and do the right things, we'll come up on top.
[00:06:20] Speaker B: Brandon?
[00:06:20] Speaker C: Yeah, I think if we play how we have been the past couple weeks here, we should be fine.
[00:06:24] Speaker B: Nick?
[00:06:24] Speaker C: Yeah, just focusing on the details, and that's something we really harped on the last few weekends is every little detail. If you go out there and win your shift, then it's going to help the team win. So.
[00:06:35] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, regardless of how the standings wind up shaking out next week, you're playing playoff hockey. How important is it to continue that strong play going into next weekend and kind of keep the momentum going into the playoffs?
[00:06:46] Speaker C: Yeah, I think it's super important. I know we've kind of talked about it for the past two weekends or so, but just kind of getting hot at the right moments and kind of keeping that, being consistent with it is super important for us down the stretch.
Yeah, it is very important. We obviously, obviously we want to be playing our best hockey come playoff time, and I think we're getting really close to that.
[00:07:02] Speaker B: So just going to keep it going, Nick. I mean, you guys have beaten the last four. You guys have won in different ways. The shootout victory over Cole 876, you know, great efforts against four 1F wins against Cornell and Harvard and you tie Dartmouth coming back from a 31 3rd period deficit. Do you guys like the way you're playing right now? I mean, you think you're in probably the best stretch, at least in conference play?
[00:07:31] Speaker C: Yeah, I. I think so. I think we're playing some really good Hockey, I think obviously, you know, with a 76 game, there's still some things that we're trying to clean up. And you know, the good thing is like you're saying we're winning in different ways, which proves to us that no matter what the score is, no matter what the situation is, we always have a chance. And that belief is something that's going to hopefully carry us a long way.
[00:07:50] Speaker B: Cameron?
[00:07:51] Speaker C: Yeah, I think like Nick was saying, we're winning in different ways and I think for me at least, it just shows us that we're a good team and we can win regardless of what type of game it is.
[00:08:00] Speaker B: Brandon, you guys are getting a lot of scoring and balance attack here.
Lucas Buzio's been on fire eight straight games with a point. Jacob Jeannette had his best game of his college career on Friday.
How important is it to have that kind of balance and not just rely on one or two players?
[00:08:17] Speaker C: Yeah, it's super important.
We have the skill in our room. We all know it. And if we can get that consistently, I think we have a really good shot of making a big run here.
[00:08:25] Speaker D: Nick, I think you talked about it last week with the way you guys were practicing the week before leading into it, you guys feel like it's not just the play you're putting on display in the games, but also in between. That's also hitting a peak at the right time.
[00:08:37] Speaker C: Oh, 100%. It's the practice and the work ethic, it's the workouts, you know, it's everything in between. And the more detailed we've been the last few weeks, it's really trailed into the weekend. We can't just, you know, have an iffy week of practices and show up and play our best hockey. So I think we, we just keep harping on that every single week in practice. Being consistent, being dialed in, it's. It's going to help on the weekend.
[00:09:01] Speaker B: Got two Americans here and one Canadian. How happy are you guys with the, you know, British? Shaking his head right now. But this.
What was your action Sunday when you watched the game?
[00:09:12] Speaker C: Oh, man, I chills a little bit of tears when they brought out Goudreau's kids and the jersey.
It's just, it's such a proud moment for all of us to be American, see us win gold for the first time in 46 years. It was really special.
[00:09:28] Speaker B: Cameron.
[00:09:29] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, it was awesome. Obviously being a goalie, watching Hellbug 2, you know, have that game was, was really awesome.
[00:09:36] Speaker B: Let's leave it with Brandon for His thoughts.
[00:09:38] Speaker C: It was obviously pretty devastating. You know, I thought Canada had it, but it was really touching seeing the Goodreau stuff. So it was all okay.
[00:09:46] Speaker B: Now let's focus on the Union College women's hockey team. I'll be quite honest with you, I wasn't expecting to talk about Union College women's hockey on this podcast. I had predicted that the Garner Charger will lose their first round single elimination game last Friday against Clarkson. I called it 6 1.
Union jumped out to a 2 nothing lead. Clarkson got a late first period goal and it was just basically holding on the rest of the way. And just an incredible victory for Union. Its first ever win up at Cheal. And it could not have come at a better time, especially for head coach Tony Macy, the former Clarkson associate head coach. He got the best of his former boss, Matt Derozier. So it was just an incredible. I watched that game in the office before heading to M and T Bank center for the Union men's game against Harvard.
And last few seconds there, I'm just watching and I start screaming, they're going to do it. They're going to do it. I was just totally stunned. Of course, the highlight of that game was the remarkable, incredible. I don't know what other adjectives I could use. The save that Emma Ryumi made early in the third period on a shot that came from the left wing boards, it seemed to deflect a little bit, then hit Ryomi's face mask, hit the crossbar, hit her neck, started rolling down her back and it was close to going in.
Ryumi had the wherewithal to reach around with her left arm and that catching glove and she trapped the puck on her back. Play was stopped. The officials went to review to see if the puck had crossed the line and sure enough, it did not. And that was a big, big moment for the Garda Chargers and the big 21 victory. Now they set their sights on Yale, the top seed in the Ecacade tournament. They had a first round bye last week.
Those two teams met two years ago in the first round game and Yale won that one.
So it's going to be interesting down there. I mean, yield. Union feels confident in talking with head coach Tony Macey, some of the players on Tuesday. They're excited and I don't blame it.
It's money in the bank right now for this team. They're playing with house money. That's probably a better way to say it. So can they pull off the upset? I don't know, but I think they'll give Yale a hard time. And they in fact, in both games against regular season games against Yale this season, they had leads, especially down at Ingles. They were up three nothing after the first period and gave up. They just fell apart the last two periods of that game and lost. So we'll see what the Garner Chargers do down in New Haven this weekend. I had a chance to talk to several members of the team. Let's start with head coach Tony Macy.
Tony, has the excitement of last Friday's win over Clarkson died down?
[00:12:37] Speaker E: I hope so. That's the plan. Right. Like, you know, it was good in the moment, good that day. You know, we definitely enjoyed the win. But like I told the girls, like, hey, we got to move on to the next opponent. That's the way playoffs is. So we got to look towards Yale and I think we've done that so far.
[00:12:57] Speaker B: How important do you think you can carry that momentum over against this top seeded team? Obviously you have played them tough. You had a 3 nothing lead down there earlier in the season. You also led them here one nothing in the first period. So it's not like you can't play them, you can't compete with them.
[00:13:13] Speaker E: Yeah, I think it's again, a testament to our league like top to play bottom that everybody competes hard.
You know, I do think that we've had our, our moments with them where we've done things well. I also think that it's going to be a lot of what I've said to the players, like it's going to be a lot of copy and paste of what we did last week to Clarkson.
You know, they generate a lot of shots, whether they be on purpose or not. They do put a ton of pucks towards the net and try to create chaos around the net. So that's what they, they, they look to do. So we got to make sure that we're defending the right way and, you know, have to, again, rely on some goaltending.
[00:13:52] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, after going on the road against a ranked opponent, winning a playoff game on the road, how can last week give you confidence going into this week doing the same thing?
[00:14:00] Speaker E: Well, I think the confidence is part of what we've been trying to do. Again, I, I feel like I kind of been a little bit of a broken record to you guys. But the big thing is we've been trying to play playoff hockey for a while here and try to get to this, this moment of being in the right frame of mind. And I think we did a good job of that last week and took Advantage of our chances.
You know, scored on a power play and then scored again on something that we'd worked on during the week. So I think a lot of it's just us preparing the right way.
[00:14:32] Speaker B: You mentioned goaltending. Obviously, Mony is back now from this Winter Olympics, but Emma was out of this world last Friday, including that incredible save she made on her back. I mean, at this point, you have to ride the hot goaltender.
[00:14:48] Speaker E: We'll see. You know, I think the big thing is, like, see what this week holds. And, you know, I think Emma's done a really good job in Monia's absence. And Wags actually flies in tonight at 7. So it's gonna be one of those things where we're just gonna have to see what happens towards the end of the week here, and all goalies are prepared.
[00:15:09] Speaker B: Looking back at that save on the replay, does it still amaze you how she was able to keep that puck out without, you know, hits her face mask, hits the crossbar, hits her neck, hits her back? And she had the wherewithal to reach around and freeze it on her back?
[00:15:25] Speaker E: Yeah, to do it in the moment's pretty impressive, right? To have that awareness. You know, we've seen her do those types of saves in practice, so it didn't surprise us. The big thing that surprised us was that it was a review and we actually won it. I think that was the biggest thing because we've missed so many this year that we end up going back and looking and be like, ah, we were actually right anyway. But the fact that they were able to see it and come out on our side, I think was. It was a good surprise for us.
[00:15:54] Speaker B: Did she get robbed for the number one Sports center top ten plate? She got number two, but that was an ordinary dunk that got number one.
[00:16:03] Speaker E: I'll give the dunk. It was a good dunk. But, yeah, I always err towards the side of hockey when it comes to those things because I do feel like being on the blades, on the ice and the saves that happen in hockey are a lot tougher than, you know, a six or seven footer dunking a basketball. But that's just me being a hockey person
[00:16:23] Speaker D: going into this week. Last week, it was just a one game playoff. Now it's two out of three. Does the mindset and mentality change at all or is it just we got to worry about Friday night, we'll worry about Saturday when we get there?
[00:16:33] Speaker E: Yeah, we can't look past one game at a time. Right. You can always get ahead of yourself. You know, whether you win the first game or you don't, it doesn't really matter. Like, you got to be next shift mentality, next game mentality. So we're at the point right now where this weekend's a little bit different than last weekend, right? Like you can put all your eggs in one basket, per se, in a one game opportunity where now, hey, we've got to definitely look at it as one game at a time. There's also going to be times during the game where, hey, we're, we're gonna probably have to limit some minutes here and there, but again, you want to try and get that, that first one under your belt so that you know later on you're not kicking yourself for not doing that.
[00:17:21] Speaker B: What are the keys for this to win this series?
[00:17:24] Speaker E: I think it's probably going to be the big one is going to be score more goals than they do and keep more out. But I think that, I think the big thing is going to be, again, defend inside the dots, make it tough on them, make them have to go through all five of us and then win the special teams battle. Their special teams are up there both on the penalty kill and power play. So we got to stay out of the box and when we do get our opportunities, make sure we bury them.
[00:17:48] Speaker B: How thrilled are you for Ammonia winning a bronze?
[00:17:51] Speaker E: Oh, it's awesome. Like, she, she FaceTimed us. We were back and forth with her. I even text her at closing ceremonies because she was briefly on the closing ceremony video.
So she just. It's a surreal thing for her right now and it's going to be really awesome when she gets back. I think we're going to try and plan something on campus next week through housing and things like that to celebrate her.
[00:18:18] Speaker B: Were the American women's players celebrating the U.S. victory over Canada and the Canadian players? Was there any rift there with the team here?
[00:18:27] Speaker E: I'm not going to lie. We might have had Adriana, our athletic trainer, had the, the game going because we were practicing at the time at SUNY Canton, so she had the game going on her computer. And when they won, we were in our, our end of the practice shootout. So people got a little excited. So it was pretty good for you
[00:18:52] Speaker D: guys last weekend you were able to play from a lead and held on in the end. Something we've seen you guys do. How important is it for this guy for this weekend to be able to play from in front once again?
[00:19:00] Speaker E: Well, I think the big thing is, like, if you get the lead, it's great.
But we can't just rely on that. We've got to know that, hey, they're a good team and if they score, we've got to be able to play from behind.
I think it's, again, it's that next shift mentality that we have to have. We can't look at it as, hey, if we get the lead, great. If we don't, we also have to know how to play from behind. So I think getting the lead is always what we want to do, but we can't just rely on that to have energy and try to win the weekend that way.
[00:19:35] Speaker B: We'll turn our attention to Winter Olympics women's hockey as we'll speak with Union goalie Monya Wagner, who won a bronze medal with Team Switzerland, and Josh Skiba, former Union women's head hook coach, now an assistant coach with New York Sirens and the pwhl. He was an assistant coach for Team USA and their gold medal winning team. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
Well, Emma, take us through that save third period.
What happened? Because, I mean, the reaction you had and the be able to. The wherewithal to know to, you know, put your glove behind your back and freeze it. Just take me through that play.
[00:20:13] Speaker F: Yeah, I think it was coming from a weird angle.
Just hit my face and then usually when it hits your face, it comes back in front. But then I just felt it on my neck, so then I knew it was gonna go back. So, like, go down. So I just, like, lean forward, try to catch it. And yeah, I did.
[00:20:31] Speaker B: When it went to video review, were you concerned?
[00:20:34] Speaker F: I was, but. And there was also the facts in Clarkson that there's no, like, we don't see it. Like, there's no, like, board where we can see the video. So I was, like, confused. And we couldn't see it. Like, our coaching staff couldn't see it. So nobody really knew what was gonna happen.
But then they said it was no goal.
[00:20:50] Speaker B: So when they said it was no goal, what was your thought reaction there?
[00:20:54] Speaker F: I was happy. I was really happy. It was 2:1. I think that going in would have changed the game a little bit. So I'm really happy it did.
[00:21:02] Speaker B: Let me ask you guys, how big was that save and how incredible were you guys to the reaction to that?
[00:21:07] Speaker G: Yeah, no, I think it was definitely huge. I remember coming off, like, the corner and I saw it on the back of her head and in my head, I just thought, oh, God. So I tried to get back in the front as fast as I could. And then somehow she had it. And I was like, oh, my God. Like, I was like, I knew it didn't go in just because of the angle that I was standing. So I was like, no, I was like, I knew we had this one in the bag. I knew it didn't go in, but that was a crazy save. And like all games, she stood on her. Her head for us, so she played great and, like, we couldn't ask for anything more.
[00:21:34] Speaker B: Carrie Ann.
[00:21:35] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:21:35] Speaker F: I mean, I'm not surprised. She's always making saves like that in practice, and she's always, you know, making the crazy sob. So I think that it was nothing out of the ordinary for. But I mean, I think like you said, if that went in, that would have been a big change in the game for us.
[00:21:48] Speaker B: Do you feel you got robbed by ESPN for not being the number one SportsCenter play only number two?
[00:21:53] Speaker F: I didn't even see the first one, so, no, I think it's okay.
[00:21:58] Speaker H: I don't mind,
[00:22:01] Speaker D: you know, go on the road last week, we just go down line. You go on the road last week, you take down a ranked team. Now you got to do it again. How can last week's win kind of give you guys confidence going forward, giving you guys even more confidence than you already have going into this weekend?
[00:22:13] Speaker F: Yeah, I mean, we knew it wasn't going to be easy. Like, everybody knew, like, it was going to be a hard game. And we know for this weekend, too, they're not going to go down easy. So we're just going to have to be close to perfect and try to win those games.
[00:22:27] Speaker B: I mean, how you guys have played Yale, you've had leads against Yale, first period, leads against Yale, especially down there, three nothing. And unfortunately, you guys weren't able to hold it. What's going to be the key this weekend if you get leads, to be able to hold on in this best of three?
[00:22:42] Speaker G: Yeah, I think it's going to be the same thing that we did to kind of take down Clarkson. I think they're a very similar team, and obviously they're very good and. And we have to give them respect, but not too much respect that. That we back off and kind of let them run plays in our D zone. So I think it's just really going to be focusing on being really good in our D zone and taking down time and space. And I think if we do that, then the offense will come and how
[00:23:03] Speaker B: important will it be like you did against Clarson to get. To get out to the lead?
[00:23:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:07] Speaker F: I mean, I think it's huge. I think, you know, all the goals came in the first period, so getting a good jump to the game because playoff hockey is hard and I think just playing strong through three periods.
[00:23:17] Speaker D: Yeah, I mean, one big difference. You gotta win two this weekend. Two out of three. Does that change the mindset or mentality going into the weekend? Or is it just we're gonna worry about Friday and then move on from there?
[00:23:25] Speaker H: No, not at all.
[00:23:26] Speaker G: I don't think that our mentality changes too much. And just one day at a time. So we just want to fight for another day. So whatever happens, it's Friday, shift by shift, whatever happens then, then we'll move on to Saturday, and if we need to, then Sunday. But I don't think our mindset changes at all.
[00:23:40] Speaker B: How much do you guys throw from Onya winning a bronze?
[00:23:43] Speaker G: I think it was crazy. We were watching it on, on the bus, and when they won in ot, the whole bus started screaming. So I think we're really happy for her. And. And again, it's a huge experience and it's. And it's crazy. She just lived out one of her. Her long, like, dreams. And I think we're all super proud of her.
[00:23:58] Speaker F: Yeah, I think she said it all. We're very proud of her. It's a huge accomplishment, you know, getting to the Olympics and winning a medal there. So, of course we're all super proud of her. We're excited to have her back and see the medal.
Yeah, she's just amazing. She's been amazing for us this year too. So it was just so fun to see her succeed and have. Have this medal. So it's really cool.
[00:24:17] Speaker B: I can't imagine there was much cheering when the U.S. beat your Canadian squad in the overtime.
[00:24:24] Speaker G: Yeah, that one. That one hurt a little bit. We were actually practicing during then, and someone had their computer on the bench and.
And yeah, someone let out a scream. And I looked over and there was an American screaming. So I thought, oh, that can't be good. And it was not good.
[00:24:38] Speaker F: So.
[00:24:40] Speaker B: By the way, Emma, do you realize a lot of these TV announcers around ECAC mispronounce your last name?
[00:24:46] Speaker F: Yeah, I'm from Quebec. It's been like this, like the whole year. Even here at the start of the season was hard, but I don't take it personally. It's a hard name because, I mean,
[00:24:57] Speaker B: everybody thinks mom, Rayon the goaltender first, you know, broke in with the Tampa Bay Light and the first female play in NHL game. So they just assume without looking at the line chart about the pronunciation.
[00:25:07] Speaker F: Yeah, well, it's the same last name, so you should pronounce the same. So realm. Like in English. It's the same.
[00:25:15] Speaker B: We'll turn our attention to one Winter Olympics women's hockey as we'll speak with Union goalie Monya Wagner, who won a bronze medal with Team Switzerland, and Josh Skiba, former Union women's head hook coach, now an assistant coach with New York Sirens and the pwhl. He was an assistant coach for Team USA and their gold medal winning team. You're listening to the Parting Shots podcast.
[00:25:45] Speaker A: The ECAC Hockey Championship returns to Lake
[00:25:47] Speaker B: Placid, New York this March. Witness the first ever ECAC Hockey Women's Championship in Lake Placid on March 6th
[00:25:53] Speaker A: and 7th and the Men's Championship on March 20th and 21st. It happens at the legendary Herb Brooks
[00:25:59] Speaker B: arena, the home of miracles.
[00:26:01] Speaker A: You believe in miracles? Yes.
[00:26:04] Speaker B: Don't miss the battle for the 2026
[00:26:05] Speaker A: title in an NCAA bid take. Tickets are on sale now at lakeplacid Olympic Center.com ECAC Hockey the Educated decision.
[00:26:20] Speaker B: Welcome back to the podcast. The Winter Olympics wrapped up on Sunday and of course we saw the dramatic USA men's team winning in overtime to win the gold medal, the first in 46 years coming on the same day that the US beat the Soviet Union in Lake Placid in that miracle on ice. The USA women, of course, they won their gold medal in dramatic fashion and 2:1 victory in overtime River Canada.
But the big news is Moni Wagner, the Union junior goaltender, she was with Team Switzerland and they won the bronze medal. They beat Sweden in overtime 2 to 1, and it was a great experience for her.
On Wednesday at M and T Bank Center, I had a chance to sit down with her. She just got back from Italy on Tuesday night and she had the bronze medal draped around her neck. She let me touch it. I didn't break so when I touched it. But it's just, it's just. I think that may be the first time I've been up close to an Olympic medal. It's just that was just thrilling to be able to just see what that medal looked like. And the smile on Ammonia's face. You couldn't wipe it away afterwards.
A lot of the men's players were just in awe of looking at the bronze medal. I have a story on DailyGazette.com and in the Thursday's print edition. I was the only reporter over there on Thursday, so I can brag about that just a little bit. So. Well, here's my conversation with Monya Wagner.
Monya, first of all, congratulations.
Wearing that bronze medal around you, how does it feel?
[00:28:02] Speaker H: It's unreal. Like you can't really describe it. And I feel like every time I look at it, I still can't believe what we did. I feel like it's gonna take a lot more time to like let it sit in and like actually realize what we've achieved as a team.
[00:28:17] Speaker B: Now you do not get to see any ice time or. You didn't dress for games, right?
[00:28:21] Speaker H: I dressed for two games.
[00:28:23] Speaker B: What was that? Even though you didn't play, what was the experience like?
[00:28:26] Speaker H: It was amazing. I mean, so many people showed up for all the games, it was basically sold out. And I feel like just being in that environment, getting to play in front of like, I don't know how many. It was like 12,000, 14,000 people in a packed arena and having your family and friends there, it's just such an amazing feeling that they're all part of it too. And yeah, like, unreal.
[00:28:51] Speaker B: What were your expectations and did they exceed your expectations?
[00:28:57] Speaker H: Like my personal expectations, I feel like I was, I didn't have any expectations going in. I was like just open minded and let everything, like soak everything up and learn from everything and adapt to what's given to me. And I feel like the overall experience is something that I'll never forget. I'll probably talk to my kids about or my grandkids and yeah, I feel like no expectations, but it was, it was unmatched and like a dream come true.
[00:29:30] Speaker B: What was it outside of hockey? What was the. All that whole experience like being in the Olympic village and hanging with your teammates, hanging with other Olympic athletes.
[00:29:40] Speaker H: It was really cool.
I mean, getting to see those elite athletes and being with them, like sitting two tables next to a Jack Cruz or something.
You don't realize what you're part of in that moment.
And it was just really cool. Like that high level of sportsmanship everywhere is something you don't get to experience anywhere else.
And I feel like the overall experience, overall feel of just living there in that bubble is like you're just in a different world for those two weeks. And yeah, it's amazing.
[00:30:22] Speaker B: Take me through the medal round process. You obviously lost in the semifinals. You get to take on Sweden, a team that maybe ranked third behind the US And Canada.
What were the expectations going into that game and what did you need to do to pull off the win?
[00:30:41] Speaker H: I mean, we've played Sweden a lot.
We've known like we Know the team, we know that we match up well against them. So I feel like every one of us already has had experiences and like past moments where we knew we were faster than them or better than them or ended up pulling off a win somehow. So that really helped us. And I feel like the overall team culture, everyone was going for each other. We all, every single one believed in it, that we could do it. And then, I mean, once you're playing for it, it's just, there's not much going through your head. Just like another game.
[00:31:20] Speaker B: What was it like watching that Bronzeville game against Sweden? We had to be nerve wracking.
[00:31:25] Speaker H: It was, it was awful, I don't think. I think watching is way worse than being on the bench or on the ice.
Yeah, there was moments where I couldn't sit, I was on the ground or couldn't watch the game really.
But still, that final moment when Alina Mueller scored that unbelievable goal, like you just blank out and you just run on onto the ice and get to celebrate. And yeah, like, it was, it was amazing.
[00:31:56] Speaker B: Where were you sitting? In the stand. Were you in the stands or else?
[00:31:59] Speaker H: I was in the stands for most of it.
Just the same seats as everyone else. Basically nothing like private or exclusive.
And then once we went into overtime, we all made our way down and in between periods, I also always was with the team, so you're still part of it. And I supported them as good as I could, helped out the staff while I was there. But yeah, after, for that overtime, we went down next to the bench and it was really, really nerve wracking.
[00:32:31] Speaker B: How wild was the celebration when she scored the goal?
[00:32:34] Speaker H: I honestly blanked out. I feel like a lot of us did.
Those are just emotions that you only get in sports. And yeah, I feel like that that feeling is very hard to describe, but a feeling that I'll cherish forever. And I also, like get to go back and enjoy it over and over again.
[00:32:56] Speaker B: When you, when they announced your name and put, they put the medal around your neck, what was going through your mind?
[00:33:04] Speaker H: I feel like disbelief and just also like a proud moment that we get to do this. We get to be part of this moving stone for Swiss ice hockey, for European hockey.
And I feel like you, Yeah, I don't know, you just enjoy it in that moment and just you celebrate the bronze like it is a gold. Like for a lot of us it is the same thing. And, and to do it with that team, it was really special because as I said, the group was amazing.
[00:33:38] Speaker B: Was that the first Time that Switzerland's medal to women's hockey?
[00:33:42] Speaker H: No, we did. We had a medal 12 years ago in the 2014 Olympics.
Also bronze. And that was the first time that they ever got a medal at the Olympics.
[00:33:52] Speaker B: So it would be the second team to switch Latina player. What does that mean?
When it brought.
[00:34:00] Speaker H: I mean, as I said, it's going to be huge for Swiss ice hockey. I know a lot of girls look up to this team and look up to us, so I feel like it's going to be amazing to see that part going forward and keep growing the game and then hopefully in a couple of years, we get to do it again and again and maybe strive through that silver or gold eventually.
[00:34:22] Speaker B: What about far as four years down the road? Are you hoping for another shot for the Winter Olympics?
[00:34:30] Speaker H: I mean, for sure it would be really cool, but four years, a lot of time, a lot of things can happen in that, and I feel like it's going to be a goal in the end, but I need to focus on what's. What's up next, and then little steps lead up to bigger goals.
[00:34:46] Speaker A: Of course.
[00:34:46] Speaker B: I obviously have the games this weekend.
Did you. When you.
When you saw the result of what happened on Friday against Clarkson, I mean, how happy were you? How surprised were you?
[00:34:57] Speaker H: I feel like both.
I couldn't watch it because the live stream didn't work. So I was just on my phone looking at the stats and I couldn't believe it. I think we were partying somewhere else with the team at that point,
[00:35:15] Speaker C: but
[00:35:15] Speaker H: I was, like, in disbelief and so much joy and happiness for that group.
Obviously, Emma also played an amazing game, and so, yeah, I was happy that my season is gonna keep going and that I get to get more time with this group here, too.
[00:35:35] Speaker B: World Championships, any chance at that point in Switzerland?
[00:35:39] Speaker H: We'll see. It's moved to November this year, so anything's up in the air. The Swiss team just announced that our coach is resigning. So we'll get a new coach. That's still up in the air. We don't know. So I feel like that's going to be for sure a goal. But, yeah, as I said, we'll see what summer brings and then hopefully I can be part of that team.
[00:36:04] Speaker B: How much fun is it, worrying about that metal around your neck?
[00:36:07] Speaker H: It's pretty heavy, honestly. But no, it's. It's amazing. I've been showing a lot of people and showing my parents and my family at home, too. Before I left to come back to school was an unmatched Feeling because they've done so much for me. So it's like rewarding for me and for them to like bring back something and just celebrate with, with them.
[00:36:32] Speaker B: Have you had a chance to show
[00:36:33] Speaker H: your teammates here some of them? I haven't actually seen all of them yet because I got in late last night. But I mean they're, they're just as happy as I am about this. And yeah, I hope it, it's going to be even more luck for this weekend too.
[00:36:50] Speaker B: Of course. As I said earlier, the USA women's team won in dramatic fashion 2 to 1.
Megan Keller's overtime goal won it. Hillary Knight's tip in of a shot late in the third period tied the game was an extra attacker goal that sent the game into overtime. Josh Skiba, who was the Union women's head coach from 2017 until 2024, he was an assistant coach over there in Italy with Team usa. He's been part of that program for a few years now.
It started when he was at Union and he had a chance just he was coaching up at there and he's now an assistant coach with the New York Sirens of the Professional Women's Hockey League.
On Wednesday, I had a chance to talk with Josh Skiba about his experience and wondering why he didn't get a gold medal.
Well, Josh, first of all, congratulations on the gold medal. I know, first of all, the coaches don't get medals. Why is that?
[00:37:48] Speaker A: You know what, that's a great question. I think, you know, certainly it's for the players.
I think the coaches go home with a lot of the pride. And I think we were lucky enough to meet Snoop Dogg and he gave us a Death Row Records necklace. So that was kind of like our gold medal in that fashion. So we're pretty happy with that.
[00:38:05] Speaker B: Oh, that's great. Just talk about that whole experience, being involved in that, being over in Italy, being with the team. And I mean they had, they ran through, they basically ran through the, you know, qualifying round and the semifinal before they got to Canada in the championship game. What, what was that whole experience like there in Milan?
[00:38:23] Speaker A: Well, I think, you know, going back, I mean it's. You build this whole process for four years, right? You start. And I was fortunate enough to be asked to be part of this, this team, you know, going back to Denmark in 2022 and always with the goal in mind of trying to build, to be part of the Olympic team. And I think, you know, going through all of the whole process to get to here was, was a journey in itself. And I think when you finally get to the.
It's unbelievable everything that you get to do there, the people you get to meet, the experience itself, the games, everything is pretty magical and spectacular. So to be able to go through all that, to have the experience in Italy, to be there with my family, just to represent your country and to be encouraged every day to put on the Stars and Stripes and just, you know, feel the sense of pride that you have to represent your country. Mental win at the very end. I mean, you couldn't ask for a more storybook kind of experience, to be honest with you. So it was, it was everything you wanted and more.
[00:39:30] Speaker B: You guys played so well. I think you only gave up one goal going into the, to the gold medal game. I mean, how well was this team playing heading into that gold medal game?
[00:39:40] Speaker A: Well, again, like, I mean, you have a special group of, of women there in that locker room, right? And you know, you could feel it from, from day one when we, when we came to Italy, we, I remember the very first practice that we had. You know, we wanted to get, everybody's coming from their pro teams or the college teams and we wanted to get on the ice and just kind of get people their plain legs, you know, under them a little bit. And we got out there and the tone was very different than what we'd ever seen.
Just you could see, you know, 23 women that were driven, that wanted to win. And it was kind of a special feeling. We talked about it afterwards as a staff but very special group of women just in terms of their drive, their determination, how connected they were, what they were willing to do for each other and you know, just lucky to be part of it honestly and try and keep that and facilitate that in the right way. But a really special group, good young players, really good veterans, really good icons and leaders.
So when you have that mix, I think you're, you're in, you know, it's a really good recipe for victory, I think.
[00:40:48] Speaker B: Yeah, you get to the gold medal game. You had beaten Canada pretty handily in the preliminary round, but turns out Canada takes a one nothing lead. And that lead goes late in the third period and it desperates in time for Team USA and Hillary Knight comes through. Just talk about that whole play, that getting that extra attacker goal to tie it and send it into overtime.
[00:41:12] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, we, we knew going into that game, I mean, Canada was going to give us their absolute best, you know, especially with the way the round robin game went. And you know, they had two days off after their semifinal, which means their players were going to be well rested, just like ours.
But we knew that we were going to get their absolute best. Kulan was back in the lineup, everything. So they really set the table. I thought they played a really good first period.
You know, kind of dominated us in a few ways in that period. But I thought the game started to turn and, you know. Yeah, it took us down to that last moment when, you know, you put people on the ice like Hillary Knight and, you know, what she's meant to this federation for so many years and knowing, you know, again, kind of what we needed in that moment. And, you know, she breaks a USA Hockey record in that moment and just what it meant for the game. I mean, it just. That's what Hillary Knight does, right? And that's what she brings to your team. So, you know, I thought we played well to get to that point and then you felt kind of the momentum continue to change in our favor and, you know, again, led by those icons and those special moments.
[00:42:21] Speaker B: An incredible redirection, too. Great hand, eye coordination on that play by night.
[00:42:26] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, she's in that spot and then that's kind of her.
That's her home. Right. I mean, that's where she scored a lot of goals for this federation for her entire career. And I mean, you know, big players make big plays and big moments and, you know, she's probably the best representation of someone that does that.
[00:42:45] Speaker B: And then over time, and Megan Keller gets the golden goal, a great move, puts the puck between the Canadian goaltender's legs. What was the celebration like when she scored?
[00:42:58] Speaker A: It was. It was really special. I mean, you just.
It can go both ways, right? I mean, we had. We had a play earlier in overtime where, you know, Abby Murphy breaks up a two on zero that, that the Canadians had, I mean, our goaltender to make some huge saves and, you know, it could go both ways, you know, and she makes a play in a key moment and I can't even tell you, I mean, we. I think we. I was up top. I sit up top now during the games and coach from up there and, you know, just. I think we had three group hugs with video coach and I think just. Just watching the players and running down and seeing the players and how emotional they were and just feeling the, the aura kind of around the group after we won was. Was really special and something you won't forget. And again, just to do that with like, you know, families there and just the surroundings and how, how. I don't know how you Feel about just again, representing your country in that moment is just such a special feeling that you can't really explain. It's just such a. It's such a good feeling to be part of that team and lucky enough to be able to coach them.
[00:44:03] Speaker B: When you got downstairs before the medal presentation, what was it like down there on the ice?
[00:44:09] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, just so, so grateful. Like so many, like, hugs of staff members and the players and just, you know, it was kind of like, hey, we did it. We set out on this journey a long time ago and it was something that we wanted to work towards and, you know, we felt like we did it, you know, and we had to overcome. I mean, the Canadiens are a really good team. You know, there's reasons why they've been good for so long and why they won in Beijing and why our games against them throughout this whole four year process has been, you know, back and forth.
So it's hard. It's hard to beat a team like that. It's hard to win those games, but just so grateful and so happy for everyone that they were able to find that final result.
[00:44:57] Speaker B: Are you hoping to be part of this in 2030?
[00:45:00] Speaker A: You know, if I was offered it, I would love to continue to be part of it. I mean, it's such an addicting environment. I've said that from day one.
To be able to be part of it, the things you get to do again, the people you get to meet, the places you go, it's such a nice compliment to what we do every day, whether it be college or coaching the pwhl. It's just, it's awesome. It's something that drives you. And I think also I owe a lot to John Robleski and what he's taught me.
I think I've become a better coach in the last three or four years just because I've been around someone like him. So I think he's taught me a lot about the game and I think it's just, there's. There's so many positives to the experience, so I would love to continue to do it.
[00:45:46] Speaker B: Do you get a chance to talk with your former goaltender? Union. Union. Monya Wagner for Team Switzerland. And how was that?
[00:45:53] Speaker A: I did well. A couple moments. I mean, I felt so, so proud of her. Just seeing her like, receiver, bronze medal and, you know, when we brought her to campus on the recruiting process, it was something that we had talked about. We knew it was a goal and she was, she had been part of the U18 process at that time, but she was kind of the outside looking in from a national team perspective and she's kind of worked her way up and you know, she took over starting role there at Union and just, just worked her way to be in that conversation.
And when she got named to the team, I was just so. I mean, I couldn't be more proud of someone that wanted that and what we wanted to see here for her as well. So I'm glad that she got that and for her to be able to come home with the bronze medal to see what her country was able to do, I mean, it was spectacular. So, yeah, I had a chance to catch up with her briefly at the one rink one day for practices and stuff and she was. It was great. It was great to see her again. Just so proud of her being able to be part of that.
[00:46:49] Speaker B: How's life in the PWHL with the New York Sirens?
[00:46:53] Speaker A: It's been great. It's been such a different, like, schedule. So different than college. Right. Like you have the way practicing games are, but I love it. I love the competition level and again, like the experiences we get here that the crowds you get to play in front of and just the intensity of the games that we have, you get to coach the best players in the world every day. So it's a pretty rewarding experience. And again, you learn a ton about yourself and about coaching and how to coach the best players and how to be better. There's a lot of things that challenge you and push you. So I think every day that you come here, there's always something that you can take on that's exciting.
[00:47:31] Speaker B: You keeping tabs on Union, what they're doing. I don't know if you noticed, but they upset Clarkson last Friday in the first round.
[00:47:38] Speaker A: Yeah, 100%. I reached out to Tony and yeah, hopefully they continue to do well. I know they have a good chance here, hopefully in this next round to continue to press forward. But yeah, really proud of them for making this next. And I think, you know, you look at the group that they have right now and how they're scoring and you know, you got players like, you know, leaning Engelbert and some of those players that could score and score on the power play makes a huge difference for your team. So I'm excited for their group. I think they're. I think they're going to continue to get better.
You know, I came back and watched their early season tournament at the new rink and just seeing where the team's at and where the new facility is at, I mean, I Hope that program continues to grow and grow because I want nothing but for the best for them.
[00:48:21] Speaker B: Oh sure. You come up to the tournament, you don't stop in the press box, say hi to me.
[00:48:27] Speaker A: I'm trying to be in. I was in, I think I was there with my daughter. I brought her because it was like lunchtime. So yeah, I was trying to be in and try and watch the games and because I. Yeah. Not pulled in 20 different directions, I wanted to sit and watch and chat. Yeah.
[00:48:39] Speaker B: What do you think of the new arena?
[00:48:42] Speaker A: It's awesome. It's honestly really cool. I got a, I got a tour, walked around.
They did a great job and I'm sure there's things that like any rink they want to continue to find ways to tweak. But when you look at it from coming from Mesa and what they have now, what the players get and the facilities they have to be able to live in every day, it's remarkable. And I think from a recruiting perspective they're going to go nowhere but up. But just from an environment perspective perspective, seeing like what it's like there for a game, it's pretty cool. And in the location, everything like around the restaurant, it's just, it's just so I know something that they've been working to towards for, for a while and it looks great from every, for everything that I saw.
[00:49:29] Speaker B: I'll be back to wrap up the podcast and have the latest winners in the Daily Gazettes auto racing contest in just a moment.
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[00:49:54] Speaker A: gonna get to the truth.
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Back to wrap up the podcast, the week two winner in the Daily Gazettes auto racing contest was Jeff Thayer of Schenectady. With 30 points, Jeff wins a $50 gift card. Congratulations, Jeff. The VIP winner was me. I had five points. I was the only VIP player to record any points. That's weird. 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.
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This week on the Stan and Friends Podcast, Business editor Stan Houdy invited Gazette writers, both young and old, to talk about their experiences heading into the USA Men's Hockey Gold Medal Game and eventual win. I'm on that podcast. You'll get to hear my thoughts. Subscribe to the Stan and Friends podcast as well as the Stan and Shen Podcast on all your podcast listening platforms.
That wraps up another edition of the Parting Shots Podcast. I want to thank Brandon Burr, Nick Young, Cameron Corpy, Tony Macy, Stephanie Bourque, Carrie Ann Engelberg, Emma Ryumi, Monya Wagner, and Josh Skiba for being a part of the show.
If you have questions or comments about the podcast, email them to me at shot. That's s c h o t
[email protected] follow me on X Threads and Blue sky 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 hockey,
[00:53:04] Speaker A: Sam.
