Cowboy up and crack a beverage—the "number one college hockey radio show in the nation" is back with a massive celebration of American hockey dominance. This morning, Jeff "The Wise One," Coach Dean Wilson, and Doc Phil Johnson are joined by legendary guest Dave Morinville to break down a week for the history books. From the professional stage in Milan to the collegiate trenches in Kalamazoo, the guys explore why "grit" is currently outmuscling "skill" on every level of the ice.
The episode features an inside look at the United States’ monumental Olympic Gold Medal victory over Canada, alongside an exclusive breakdown of the University of North Dakota clinching the Penrose Cup. With postgame audio from the North Dakota locker room and expert analysis from the "Voice of UND Hockey" Mike Lemoine, this is the ultimate primer for the second season: the playoffs.
Key Moments
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USA Gold: Grit vs. Skill The crew discusses the "monumental achievement" of the USA Men’s Olympic team. Dave and the guys praise GM Billy Guerin’s roster construction, arguing that while Canada had the flash, the U.S. won with "gritty" players who were willing to "tow on the same rope." Special nods go to Captain Auston Matthews’ two-way play and goalie Connor Hellebuyck "standing on his head" in the final.
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Penrose Cup Champions The guys celebrate the University of North Dakota’s 5-3 road victory over Western Michigan to secure the NCHC league championship. Mike Lemoine joins the show to discuss the "Lawson Lunatics" environment and how UND's depth—with five different goal scorers—proved to be the difference-maker.
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The Locker Room Reaction Hear directly from the champions with postgame comments from Head Coach Dane Jackson and players Bennett Zmolek, Ben Strinden, and Sam Lorelli. Coach Jackson highlights the "workmanlike attitude" of his 15 new players and the emotional payoff of seeing Zmolek find success after two years of injury adversity.
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The Rise of Sam Lorelli Moorhead’s own Sam Lorelli earns high praise for his transformation from a depth defenseman to a top-five staple for UND. Doc Phil notes that in his postgame interview, Lorelli never used the words "I" or "my," exemplifying the "team-first" culture that won the league.
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Goaltender Philosophy: Pedal to the Metal As the playoffs loom, the coaches debate whether to rest starters or "keep the foot on the gas." Coach Wilson sticks to his "take a gal to the prom, take her home" mantra, while Doc Phil argues for keeping the momentum of a winning streak alive at all costs.
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The "L" Sticker and the USA Jacket The studio turns into a "chirp fest" as Dave Morinville walks in wearing a red, white, and blue USA Hockey jacket, nearly giving Coach Wilson a heart attack. The guys tease Dave about whether he’ll still fit the jacket when he’s 111 years old.
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NCHC: The Most Dangerous League The guys discuss the sheer depth of the NCHC, noting that 10 of the top 16 teams in the nation could potentially come from just two conferences (NCHC and Big Ten). They warn that in the upcoming tournament, "taking a shift off" is the quickest way to find yourself out of the bracket.