Get ready to cowboy up for another high-stakes episode of "The Hockey Guys," the nation's definitive voice on college hockey. This week, the crew—The Wise One, Crazy Eddie, and Coach Wilson—breaks down a grueling night of "old-time hockey" where physical battles and men's strength took center stage. With the NCAA tournament picture tightening and the Olympic torch burning bright, the guys explore the thin line between making the cut and watching the playoffs from the couch.
The episode features two heavy-hitting guest interviews: Concordia College's Kirk Gollum joins to discuss the high-pressure race for the MIAC playoffs, and Brian Idalski, head coach of the Professional Women’s Hockey League's Vancouver Golden Eyes, provides a masterclass on the evolution of women's hockey and the intensity of the "best on best" international rivalry.
Key Moments
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The Battle of Men: UND vs. Miami The guys analyze North Dakota’s razor-thin 1-0 victory over a transformed Miami squad. Jeff and Eddie marvel at Miami’s physical evolution into a "heavy" team that forced North Dakota into a brutal, 60-minute defensive grind.
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Concordia’s Playoff Pressure Cooker Coach Kirk Gollum pulls back the curtain on the MIAC, explaining the "weird year" where even a strong winning record might not be enough to crack the five-team playoff field. He discusses the "next man up" mentality as the Cobbers battle critical injuries to key players like Carson Triggs.
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Vancouver’s Golden Eyes & The 12,000 Fan Mark Brian Idalski discusses the massive success of the PWHL in Vancouver, highlighting the incredible 12,000-person average attendance and the "full circle" moment of coaching former UND standouts like Ashton Bell and Kristen Campbell at the professional level.
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The US-Canada "Hatred" Shift A fascinating deep dive into the changing camaraderie of women’s international hockey. Idalski and the crew discuss how the PWHL has turned once-bitter rivals into teammates, potentially softening the "instinctual hatred" that used to define the cross-border rivalry.
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Bubble Watch: The Eastern "B" Schools Crazy Eddie breaks down the peril facing Eastern powerhouses like Boston College and Boston University. With Merrimack pulling off big upsets, the guys discuss how "bubble teams" are in danger of missing the tournament unless they win their conference outright.
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Goalie Greatness: The Mike Richter Race The spotlight shines on UND’s Juan Spunar, a top-10 finalist for the Mike Richter Award. The guys debate the old coaching adage: "You should never lose a game because of a goalie, but you should win a game because of one."
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T.J. Oshie’s "Free Stick" Recruitment Coach Wilson shares a hilarious sidebar about what it took to get T.J. Oshie to North Dakota—apparently, a promise of ten high-quality free sticks was all the legendary sniper needed to make his decision.