In this episode, Brandon Caputo and Cam Halbert recap the month of February for the Niagara IceDogs which included giving up 70 goals over 14 games, a 4-10 stretch overall for the inexperienced but talented group. Gavin’s Leadership Lounge with IceDogs captain Gavin Bryant updating us on the spirits in the room, as well as Monthly Maintenance with IceDogs GM Wes Consorti as they plan for the final month of the season and early preparations for key offseason decisions and the OHL Priority Selection draft.
Interview Segments:
Intro: 0:00
Gav’s Leadership Lounge w/ Gavin Bryant: 37:23
Monthly Maintenance w/ Wes Consorti: 58:51
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You’re listening to the armchair GM Sports [Applause] [Applause] Network this is Rod Mahood your in-game voice of the niagar Ice Dogs and you’re listening to the dog pound podcast on the armchair GM Sports Network your podcast source for all game analysis team interviews and upto-date news regarding the Niagara ice dos Kini overtime ice dos
Win to ail Thomas Thomas has the angle coming in he’s vering does it again 52.1 seconds to go the Niagara welcome in to another episode of the dog pound podcast the official podcast of your nager Ice Dogs proudly brought you by Global Pet Foods or pets are undeniably part of the family and
All four of their great nager region locations beron Caputo and cam Halbert are with you to discuss the ice dogs last month of game here as we do uh always on the arm Shar GM Sports Network if you’re watching us on the video version of the podcast make
Sure to hit like hit subscribe and smash that Bell if you enjoy watching our glorious faces on the video forum and if you’re listening to us uh today on demand on your favorite listening platform thank you very much for doing that as well make sure to give us a
Follow at Dogpound podcast for all of our Ice Dogs content and as well we’re available on Facebook Instagram Tik Tok where we posting a lot more shorter content shorter reals for you guys and here on our YouTube channel so with that said we’re going to go over the ice
Dog’s last little bit of results here obviously hasn’t been the month that that they’ve wanted with results but uh we’re going to have Captain Gavin Bryan on for another gavs leadership Lounge segment and as well we’re going to have iock general manager West consor on uh
Kind of a small uh look ahead to the draft and just uh looking over kind of the team’s performance and and his thoughts as we are in the final month of the regular season what he’s looking for uh for the team as we move into the off
Season so with that said cam I know there’s going to be one more game recap you’re going to be on and and for those for those that don’t know we do a game recap after every home game at the rink so that’s usually available the morning after the games um so Camp General
Thoughts I I know they just went on the road for supposed to be two games the game in Barry was cancel be due to uh something to do with the ice unsafe uh conditions there so they’re going to have to go back up up to Barry to play a
Game so the game against North Bay obviously a loaded North Bay team and the ice dugs have had a little bit of trouble there but uh and even on Thursday against the Ottawa 67s which our game recap is available on demand as well you know what what are your
Thoughts on on the team as of late uh playoffs pretty slim at this point but the fact that they’re still mathematically and I’m going to use that term loosely still uh haven’t been eliminated yet that’s a plus for a team that was 30 points out last year
Yeah I mean we talked about this quite a bit like they’ve already you know they’ve already surpassed last season’s point total which I believe was 33 which is crazy to think um and they still got about nine game nine games to go I believe y um and uh it yeah like we we
Talked about this all all year long as long as they’re still in games you know near the end of the season where it’s not uh where it’s not just kind of pack it in that being said it does look like the team is kind of run out of gas um to
The Finish Line right yeah exactly just kind of we’re starting to see some bad habits where you know the whole year their compete level has just been uh lights out and I you know regardless of the of the skill on the other team they played every game super tight and now
We’re into that stage where we’re we’re kind of shifting from uh the team this season and now towards more personal accolades in the future and I think that that while that North Bay lost 93 to a team that I think is going to be very tough to play against in the
Playoffs um is uh that rubrick scored and so did Zada um you know Gavin Bryan also gets one as well but he’s kind of been steady Edy the whole year but Robi just continues to to score and break rookie records for the ice dogs and uh we’ve talked about that kind of at
Nauseum with 24 he’s now the franchise leader and think it like say what you will but the last four years of the Niagara ice STS but they’re like they’re uh alumni are like they if you were to put like the alltime alumni for the Ice
Dogs up against a lot of teams like it’s not that it’s it’s pretty impressive and when you consider that Ryan has now scored the most out of any rookie that’s more than ail more than Phil thomasino you know I even more than Freddy Hamilton back when he because he had a
Really crazy really good career at the Ice Dogs in terms of being forward you got Ryan stro ver hay like the fact that he was able to beat all those guys you know in his early stage of his career not that he’s going to be them um that I
Think those expectations are a little lofty but I think that it still opens the you know the case to be said that he might be you know we’re talking about an odds on NHL drafted player in what we could assume probably the top 90 at least right now going into his draft
Year and I think that as the season goes along that’s at least something to watch for where we didn’t have that last year it’s definitely encouraging start for Ryan robi’s career uh as a 16-year-old in this league and he’s playing alongside Kevin he now and Gavin Bryant
And we’ll ask Gavin about that a little later on in our uh leadership Lounge but yeah you mentioned it there Ryan robri is now the official leader for Ice Dogs rookies with goals and I’m trying to pull up the the graphic here and I I lost it here but regardless he uh 24
Goals so he was tied with uh Christa Souza and Marco insam for uh rookie there it is four rookie goals uh not just as a 16-year-old but overall he had broken the 16-year-old record which was 21 that was co-h by keil Thomas and um Kevin he and he’s
Shattered that and now he’s he’s went for the the overall rookie record so that’s great to see for Ryan Rook we know uh the work that he’s put in and just the kind of special talent that he he is for this Ice Dogs group and drafting him second overall in last
Year’s draft uh you know he I to me he’s even exceeded expectations for his first year because to ask a 16-year-old to to score 24 goals on a team that doesn’t score a lot and and is in a rebuild that’s really T tough and lofty expectations to expect a guy like Ryan
Robi to do it but we talked about it all year he’s been able to to produce and like you mentioned lead rookies in shots he continues to to throw pucks on that and continues to to get better and we’ve seen him play a little bit of Center but
I think that they they’re more comfortable with putting him at the wing for his first year as he continues to learn how to play the center position at the OHL level continues to work on his faceoffs and things like that but I think we’ll see Ryan Rober at Center as
Early as next season on a full-time basis but I’ve enjoyed seeing him on that left wing this year because he’s so Dynamic I think that one of the biggest things this offseason whether it’s an overage or a trade um or even someone that’s currently on the team they need
To find like when you look at the roster makeup of of the team obviously the two on forward in in Kevin and and Ryan and robri and and as well as Gavin Bryant I mean let’s not take anything away from Gavin because he’s having a pretty good
Offensive season as well um but they first Kevin leads the OHL in shots and roer leaves rookies by a ton in shots they need to find I think in a perfect world you can split them up and have someone who can feed them like just get them into positions where they can shoot
And use their shot I think is going to be a massive a massive thing that could you know only only assist you still think that Rober ends up at Center I think that he they’re going to try to put him at Center because I think that was his natural position and he’s got
The size like you you quickly mentioned there and obviously it’s nice to see him skating down that left wing but I think where he’s most valuable is as a center Iceman in this league and same with Ethan Zada I think he’s a guy that when they drafted him they weskin already
Said every team needs an Ethan z a guy that’s a a great 200 foot centerman that takes key defensive offensive zone draws and I think if when they end up becoming a playoff team Ethan Zod is going to be one of those key guys that you’re going
To need for a deep playoff run um you know and that middle six uh Center Ice position so I look at both those guys that they took with their two top five picks they’re obviously not going to have two top five picks this year but it’s uh they’re continuing to build that
Core with Kevin and like you mentioned that whoever their next first round pick is going to be huge as well for the organization so like you mentioned I think yeah going out and getting another playmaker they have Gavin Bryan who’s a playmaker to to play with one of them
But if you want to split them up Definitely Maybe if Alex asadorian takes another step forward but again like like you mentioned both those guys are Shooters so they’re they’re both playing together which is crazy is they’re both uh they both shoot a lot so um I know
That’s what’s so surprising is that they play on the same line essentially now and um I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that I think that Kevin is I think that the the part of robi’s game that’s going to take a little bit I’ve talked about this throughout throughout
The the season is that defensively he’s a little passive but as he’s gone along this year he’s gotten a little more physical especially in the last game uh and I think that you know when you’re 16y old in the OHL 16 to 20 is a massive
Jump in age just as like a you know human being like you’re you’re just going up against fullon adults so you know that I think that’s the part of the game that takes a little bit longer to to come together and we saw it with Kevin this year Kevin’s been extremely
Physical I mean to be honest I want to say that he’s got to have yeah he’s second on the team in penalty minutes behind uh behind fedo so and that doesn’t surprise me I lowkey thought that he might be a little bit closer but fedo I think he might have a couple of
Game misconducts or something he’s almost had 100 pins um but yeah like so Kevin is definitely gotten more physical um and he’s bigger than you think too um so I’d love to see Ryan kind of get that edge next year and you know not all players are going to play like that
Especially when you’re as gifted offensively as as Ryan is but I think if that’s what’s going to determine if he’s going to be a great centerman or not I think that is there’s times in the defensive Zone he’s a little passive looking to get up the ice a little bit
Early um but you know that that can all come with age so um but I’m what I’m really curious is we talked like last year they made a million trades um to try and to try and make the team more competitive and obviously it just did
Not work out and they made a concerted effort to not just make trades to make trades this year that that didn’t happen while there was a bunch I’d be willing to Guess that more than half the team is still on the roster and that’s including the over agers that age out um going
Into next year do you feel like that or do you think there will still be quite a bit of turnover I think there’ll be some turnover like in every team and obviously fedo is graduating so yeah but I do think that they like the the main
Core of this group it’s so such a young group that a lot of those guys uh you don’t have to make tough decisions with them yet the guys that they’ve already moved out they’ve kind of made tough decisions with with with all those 04s
They were going to have so I I I think they’ve kind of addressed that situation and they’re not going to have to have as many tough decisions with a lot of their players but as Ben Buro said last week you know there’s going to be guys fighting for spots the next nine days
Whether that be with this team next year or showcasing themselves for whatever that next level of hockey might be for them so this is kind of that timey year where the teams that aren’t uh you know going to be involved in the playoff race are still jockeying for position as far
As their their personal uh aspirations we know that Connor fedo really wants to score and Ben budro talked about that um you know for his next level of hockey and it it’s just really tough right now because the ice dogs are going up against a bunch of teams that are are
Really forming up and gearing up for the playoffs so they’re they’re really uh you know putting out their best efforts on most nights and it’s also a shame that the ice dos have multiple teams within their division um all going for it at the same time so that also East is
Wide open that also makes it uh harder with the with North Bay and Sudbury and Miss aaga like those are are three formidable teams there within your division that are are trying to jockey for playoff positions so it’s even tougher for the ice dogs right now but
You’d think that hopefully when the I guess the cycle of Junior Hockey continues to go in the other way you start to see in a year or two the ice dogs have those 93 victories against some of those teams I think yeah I think that’s the big thing we we’ve we’ve
Talked about this a ton too just getting NHL drafted prospects from the Ice Dogs is going to go a long way for future ice dog players to be excited to come there I think that they still have one of the best venues in the in the league um and
Now it’s more about getting the the H last four years kind of just away from the franchise um but I mean you look at Windsor like Windsor is at their cycle they went all in and it for two years blew up in exactly they kind of blew up
On them um in one of the most shocking that that’s got to be one of the most shocking OHL first round exits not that kitner was bad but the fact like that Windsor team is was nuts including Shane Wright right so um but they also have like potentially two first rounders on
Their team this year right and I think that’s what still the ice doogs are missing but we’re going to get a glimpse of that next year when robick is probably a consensus top two round pi I would I’m so curious um you know hopefully we have um Step Ellison from
The daily face off talk about prospects on our on our draft show but I’d be so curious to see where what like the prognostic are on on Ryan robba because there was a lot of Scouts um in the game we we talked about that in our recap
Show for the game against um Ottawa right now obviously Ottawa has a lot of top end players a lot of drafted players as well but you’re you know again you’re going to start Ryan’s going to start getting the spotlight a little bit when you start when you almost put up 30
Goals as a 16y old in the OHL right like if he continues um when we went back and looked like at ke’s year he kind of had a down year scoring but U like a point-wise he increased right and now I’ll be curious to see what happens next
Year with uh with Ryan um you know depending on who he gets to you know get to play with and then looking at the updated lineup from the most recent game against North Bay it was interesting uh Ben Buro started off with the usual I
Guess third line if you want to call it Mason Ray Ethan Zod Mike Lev then you had Ryan robri Gavin Bryant Kevin he and then Ivan galanov Alex asador Matthew Paris Evan Klein Andrew ver Mulan and and William Stewart and then they actually had an extra forward in rafic
Dean because they’re obviously still missing a six defenseman frolab padar fedco veton and then chanowski was the 50 uh with Robertson starting against his former team still no podo and wek but it was interesting to me the thing that stuck out there was ardam frolov
And we I heard about that last week when I did that article on him uh the coaching staff said they’re really going to try to to put him in in situations to increase his offensive game and he talked about wanting to take a step forward with his offensive game so I
Think the coaching staff is kind of trying to Showcase and give ardam frolov that opportunity uh to be able to to Showcase himself offensively on uh with big minutes on the power play and uh you know continue to to gain that confidence for a 16-year-old defenseman oh
Absolutely I think that’s like I think when you take a look at the Ice’s roster and what they still need if Ryan if if Rober can be a center then you have a number one quote unquote franchise Center as much as you can have a franchise player in the OHL it’s only a
Foure three or foure cycle right so um you kind of have that Center they lack a defenseman that that moves the P well they don’t because wek but wek’s been injured a lot of his career and uh so you know it’s tough to tough to rely on him because he’s so
Good he was he was so good this year he is a great OHL defenseman um but yeah we we kind of lack that big offensive force from the back end and I think that’s I’ve said this a million times too I think that’s the biggest reason why
Their power play is struggles as much as it as it does because they can’t get someone who just bombs it from the point um especially after they moved Sev who probably had the hardest shot I he was the only one willing to use it I I guess
Um so getting frolov to be on the more offensive side of things is is great because he’s also someone that’s gotten a little bit shipper and and willing to go to the dirty areas and play less passive in the defensive Zone he been he’s been very good this year like it’s
It’s the galanov and Zada they get a lot of attention because they’re forwards but in my opinion he is the second best of the four of 16y olds like he has he has been very good defensively and on a lot of nights he he he performs very
Well I think I think he has struggled a little bit without Sev um I think that pairing just as it got along in the year I think it started off a little rocky but as it got along before the deadline they were really good and to be honest
Some Nights the best pairing um so now that he’s got a year under his belt I think that if he can get a little more offensive that would go a long way for the ice so because that that’s the next thing they’re missing I think they have
A starting golender I think that Owen Flores specifically is a top 10 starting golender in the OHL next year especially when um you know some of the other guys age out and things like that because I believe um Simpson is is an over Ager this year right and I believe dentus I
Could be wrong on dentus I can’t remember but um so he I I think that he is truly a a a top 10 golender so now you’ve got the potential of having a of a Topline Center a starting a good starting goal tender we’re just missing that final that that defenseman and I
Would love in the draft I know we’ll talk about this in a more show I’d love to get your thought so when we we talked a little bit that it doesn’t appear to be a consensus number one at least yet we’re still early on with the draft
Process and it’s it’s a lot harder because you’re talking about 15y olds and you know what I mean um but a defense usually takes a little bit longer to to to get going you know we look at schaer was first overall and he’s had a pretty good season robi’s had
A fantastic season but I don’t think that it’s a case has already made that that Rober isn’t is going to have a better OHL career than Schaefer I think it just takes longer um and in the first year I think it’s a little bit easier for forwards to shine than defenseman
Because I don’t think the offensive game and the confidence kind of grows yet so if frolov can turn into that and be like a 30 40 if he could I I don’t need him to be rodwin vincio um because he was probably the last great offensive defenseman the ice dogs have had who’s
By the way shout out to him because he looks like he has turned his career into you know Fringe NHL like Fringe Prospect to like legitimately going to play in the NHL at some point he’s uh and I believe he was drafted by Anaheim yep they are just a factory of defenseman so
Like that that blue line in Anaheim is going to be amazing like so fun to watch as a sharks fan that hurts a little bit but um that said like they missed that I think that frolov getting it would be huge yeah and I just kind of want to
Talk about uh I guess the where where do I want to go with this like again it was a tough month and they gave up 79 goals in the in the 14 games because I’m I’m looping in the one game that they played against North Bay
And we heard Ben Buro you know he was very candid a few weeks ago about uh you know just limping to the finish line and and trying to get those guys in there to to believe that they can compete on a nightly basis when they’re undermanned
And and the the skill just isn’t up to Snuff of some of these uh loaded playoff teams that have gone out and and really um you know bolstered their lineup with with acquiring a lot of topend talent so I mean when you look at the last stretch of games here camon obviously they’ve
Been giving up a lot of goals but it it seems like there’s encouraging spots within games that they can build off of we talked about Ottawa how they they could have easily been ahead two or three in that game before Ottawa really got going and took over and even in a
North Bay game uh just penalties really really did the Ice Dogs in and not being able to score in the power play they were 04 uh five or six on the power play against North Bay and then they gave up three Power Play Goals so I mean when
You look at the the scores you say wow these games are lopsided but when you actually watch the games um there are stretches of games where they do compete like you said they they compete on most nights and and they can go toe-to-toe with these teams it’s just hard to do
For 60 minutes with such a young group that uh is rolling with five defenseman and and has so many 16-year-olds in the lineup and it’s just uh like despite the results being very one-sided and lopsided do you still see where the coaching staff and where management can
Can say okay this is where we’re gonna you know take bits and parts of it as we go into next year well like early on in the year I social media and the and the like your I don’t want to how do I want to phrase this you know where you stack
Up against other teams like it is not something where you can be oblivious to how your team has performed in the regular season compared to other teams and I think what what has happened and this happened very early on last year and the coaching staff I don’t think was
Able to manage it really at all uh and it’s very hard to um but when you know that your last place team or near the bottom and you’re going up against a stacked team like and you get scored on early or a couple goals early and you
Don’t have the confidence that you have the horses to get back into it that’s when you start to see this now the first three quarters of the Season all the way to the end of January they didn’t play like that at all like it was like how
Many games did we do where it was tied in the third right and they might give up three goals in the third or you know or lose in overtime or whatever but it it was stunning to see just because of how quickly last season was or how and
Then quick quickly getting into this season and how different it seemed and now what you’re seeing is these guys know the season’s over and they’re trying to run it out and that I’m not saying that that’s um that’s everyone’s mentality but I think and I don’t think
They go into every game like that but I’m talking about like once it’s 4 nothing like a game against Kingston they give up a goal eight seconds in and it’s just like and they just got they just gave up 10 to them the night the game before right I think it just it’s
Very tough mentally to ask teenagers to forget about what’s going on and just play and that’s something that will come with maturity and growing as a hockey player and just a kid like they’re the kids and that’s the coaching staff’s biggest thing I don’t think that the way the
Season has ended the last few weeks has any indication on how next season is going to go and again as a fan who’s very critical I I have been very critical um of the team and management and the coaching staff i’ I’ve said this once this is no no knock on Coach kabara
There’s a different vibe when when head coach Buro took over um that just felt like I’m I mean in the first post game we did he’s like I’m gonna be here for a couple years like that’s what like I I don’t want to say for btim but I believe
That was like you know kind of how how he stated he himself was like I’m G to be here for a little while I’m going to make sure that we do this right and that just kind of as a fan who has been watching hockey my whole life like it
Just that gave like calm and I know that the how the game is games have gone to end the season it won’t be like that next year because I think I bet you any money that next year we’re not chasing last place or that last playoff spot for
A few months I would bet that even if we’re 10 and 10 after the first 20 that wouldn’t surprise me honestly that’s what I kind of expect is 10 and 108 and 8 and 12 something like that where we’re right in the middle or even six through
Eight but not Five Points back of the last playoff spot four weeks into the season and I think that that’s what we’re going to see him what to expect and I I really don’t take any of the results like I said I’m I’m watching and
I was watching the North Bay game and I rubric scored and I was like that that’s a good moment as a fan and and what I want to see going into next year that’s important and then I want to see some growth for some other players um you
Know going into next year and also like Gavin Bryant has he was like one of my favorite players after training camp watching him and you talked him up nod him I didn’t really know about him when he was in ow and sound he was you know
And um but you said he was a great locker room guy and it didn’t really mesh when they did the no Captain thing I don’t think that works in the OHL I’ll be honest with you I think that you need someone when when everything goes off
The rails or you lose a tough game to have Five Guys waiting to see who steps up and talks I think that you need one and uh Gavin is a pro and um it’s felt better on the ice and things like that so next year um I I think that this is
Wiped clean I I go into next year with the F the rest of the league better like if they if they say that the ice dogs are automatic basement dweller again I think they’re way off base and that’s just scoreboard watching yeah I mean before we wrap up the Ice Dogs you know
We look at it 12 points back of Barry it uh but the fact that they’re still not mathematically eliminated yet the power play is still un which is under 10% now that’s got to change got to something that if they want to move up this conference a little bit they got to get
Up there uh at least over you know a 15% power play 99.6% is just not going to cut it and I think the the coaching staff recognizes that and Ben BR talked about that just uh uh them not being able to execute and he’s going to put
The guys out there that are willing to to put in the hard work on the power play that uh could hopefully get this thing turned around that that’s the thing like I think that so we’ve been very lenient with the coaching staff knowing that you know they took over
Halfway through they didn’t get a training camp they didn’t get to give any input on their guys and who they want to bring in or or say that this isn’t really fit the system the one thing that they need to figure out is the power play and if they can’t get
This group to get a 12% power play let’s say because that’s probably more wins like if their power play goes from 9% to 12 like we’re probably talking like they’re six points out in the final week of the season and um if if it if they
Can’t get what they’re trying to do to work early on next year they need to just try something completely different and that’s on the coaching sta because yeah it has not worked that is the one area that has just not worked all season long regardless of the coaching staff
Right I think the compete level is High um when the coaching change I think that some of the the the offensive players have taken a step up um and and I you know and I think that Flores has really stepped up too but the power play has
Not changed from the start of the year to the end of the year we’re going to have more on our on our show after we take a break we’re going to hear from Gavin Bryant on our leadership Lounge we’re going to hear from iog general manager uh West consort in segment two
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Years last year more more homes cancel cable TV than ever before why it’s just too expensive for half the price of cable you can get fubo TV and watch the live sports and TV you love try free at fubotv.com this is Alex asadorian it’s Ryan Rober this is Ivan gallan this is
Gavin Bryant and this is the dog pound podcast the official podcast of the Niagara Ice Dogs Welcome back to part two of today’s dog pound podcast and our monthly wrapup for the month of February Brandon kuto and cam Halbert are back with you thank you to those today listening in on demand audio on your favorite uh listening platform and to those giving us a a
Watch on the YouTube version make sure to hit like hit subscribe and smash that Bell if you enjoy this kind of content on our Network and our monthly wrap-up shows and our all of our great video content that we re-release here on the network on our YouTube channel make sure
To give us a follow at Dogpound podcast and if meta is back up by the time this episode comes out Facebook Instagram Tik Tok we and all that good stuff for you as well so cam before we get to our seg first segment today with Ice Dogs
Captain Gavin Bryant I just want to kind of highlight uh what he’s been able to do this month 15 points in the 14 games he’s up to 44 points in 53 games overall and since taking over the captain after the trade deadline I don’t think you
Could ask for a better guy to lead your team than Gavin Bryant even going through these tough times he’s he’s a constant Pro he doesn’t get too high he doesn’t get too low and he’s just such a a great presence for that young group we see the the way that he interacts with
The young players you know embracing Kevin and Ryan and some of those other rookie Zada teaching them the ropes of what he of what it is to be a pro in the OHL level um and I think Gavin Bryant kind of exemplifies all that you’d want
The other guys to look up to as a leader well there’s been games we did the Ottawa game when it was kind of over early um and I talked about this you can see the guys that have the high motor without the puck when they when they’re
Losing badly that’s usually when it goes away You’re passive you’re just trying to get the game over with Gavin isn’t that he is always on it he makes life hell as much as he can whenever he’s on the ice how many um how many goals did
The iceo score this month 40 and how many points did gevin Bryan have he had 50 15 points he had six goals that’s like I mean I just quick math like that’s like 38% of the Ice Dogs goals he had an impact on like so that just goes to show like the season
May be over and might be winding down and sure obviously Kevin and rubri get all the accolades because you know they’re the ne they’re the highest rated and whatnot uh in terms of like you know potential NHL draft picks but there’s Gavin Bryan almost 40% of the ice dog’s
Goals when the season’s over impacting them and making sure that he doesn’t end the season limping into it and that’s something that I I think should be noted like that that’s what you want out of a captain and uh that that’s exactly what he’s doing and I think that next year
Going into a full off season um with him I hope we give him the playoff run that’s like that’s something like I think him and Flores they deserve it and um I I I’m excited to see them get a playoff birth next year and he’s got a
Lot of Pride too and there’s nobody that wants to win more than Gavin Bryan and and continuing to to keep his head up despite some tough results for his team and and not sulking and not uh not giving a bad example to those younger players like the galanov and the Zas and
The frolovs that when you go through these tough times it’s how you kind of battle through the adversity uh more so than when you’re going through the good times and I think Gavin Bryant is showing that um you know tenfold of of how to act and how to act on and off the
Ice when you’re going through tough times and continuing to work to try to get better and to try to set a good example for the team that you represent with that Crest and and the regions team that uh that the Ice Dogs represent I think Gavin Bryant just exemplifies what
You want from a great captain and I think once it’s all said and done if we’re able to give him you know a playoff Run next season you can put him in some of those other great leaders that the ice Dougs have had over the
Past just because of uh you know the the type of character and the way that he’s built as a person 100% 100% could agree more so we’re going to get to our Ice Dogs uh segment here with the Ice Dogs Captain gavs leadership Lounge brought to you by the golf Lounge nagar’s
Home for golf and Sport year round located in the Best Western carcraft Hotel in nager Falls visit nager golf vacations.com to learn more to host event or to book your golf Bay today here is ice dog’s Captain Gavin Bryant on his team’s play over the last month
And what he’s looking for uh for the team to finish out strong for the 2023 24 season back on another gavs leadership lounge with the Ice Dogs captain Gavin Bryant brought to you by the nagra golf Lounge Gavin uh first off you know when we talk about February for
You the results weren’t there as a team you were 4- 10 overall but for you personally um I want to you know just highlight you a little bit you had a over a point a game you had 15 points in the 14 games you’re up to 44 points in
53 games uh this season I know you know you you’re Ultimate Team guy and you want the team to have success but when you’ve finally started to get going here with your your offensive game and being more of an offensive Catalyst for this uh for this team here now that you’ve
Been given the C uh you know do you take pride in in knowing that your offensive numbers have also you know continued to go up in that sense uh yeah for sure I mean um a big thing coming in for me this year was um just trying to trying to get my
Offensive output a little a little higher I mean um I felt like I had uh I had consistency issues in the uh in my past two years offensively wise and even playing wise so I think it was just big for me to hit hit a couple career highs
This year get a couple more goals but um again like uh you know me I’m I’m uh as big a team guy as it is and um no it’s just uh it’s been uh it’s been a tough go here in February but I mean uh I’ll
Give it to the I’ll give it to the guys they they’re staying positive in the room and obviously the coaches are staying positive themselves so it’s uh it’s been uh it’s still been a healthy and uh good environment for me to be around so so yeah and you talk about I
Mean a hattrick you know you had a couple of three-point games a four-point game like uh I know you you obviously want to be consistent throughout the season but having those big output games like does that just give you a little bit more jump and a little bit more
Confidence to know that that you’re capable of that because I know you’re very hard on yourself as well so you know seeing those results happen is that kind of uh you know a little bit of gratification in yourself for all the hard work that you put in on an off the
Ice yeah for sure I think uh I don’t think one player in the world they’ll say that they hate scoring goals um so that’s uh getting getting stuff like that is good and I mean just um uh more on a team output as well just uh seeing seeing the other guys produce seeing
Ryan get his uh get his record there seeing Uh Kevin uh still able to put up some goals and other guys still hitting their uh career highs and career years it’s uh it’s good to see for sure because I mean again with it being with the with the down year it’s been just
Standings wise and whatnot it you’re still you’re still Gathering positives out of it and that’s been the big message that we’ve gotten from our coaches is just trying toh gather positives each and every night and each and every day whether we’re at the rank or at home whatnot but um no it’s still
It’s still good to see that uh other guys are fine in their offensive output as well yeah good segue there because obviously I know you don’t like to talk about yourself so I want to talk about some of the other uh players you mentioned Ryan breaking not only the
16-year-old goal record but then a few weeks later ends up breaking the Ice Dogs rookie goal record uh completely there um I know you guys had a little embracer in Miss Saga not sure what happened uh you know after dur when he broke the record in North Bay but uh you
Know as the captain and a guy that’s 16 years old just uh how proud are you of him and uh you know how how much you think that that mean means to him that he has a supportive Captain like you to to be able to be there and and uh you
Know be happy for him as much as you are for yourself in those uh instances yeah you know what I got a lot of respect for for Ryan because each and every day whether I’m on his line or not he’s always asking questions always trying to be a sponge you reminded me of
Me when I was a rookie just trying to be a sponge trying to soak everything in and just to see he’s very he’s very to himself just whether it’s in the room and whatnot but um just to see him get uh get that record and having the offensive output that he’s been having
The last month and all year to be to be frank is just uh it’s pretty cool because again he’s just a uh he’s he’s a great guy he just wants to he’s always wanting to learn and you got to appreciate that as an older guy a guy that’ll listen a guy that’s always
Looking to learn and um no I just couldn’t couldn’t couldn’t be happier for him and what’s it like playing with uh with two Wingers like Kevin he and Ryan Rober obviously two guys that are prolific goal scorers and yourself being a playmaker and the 200 foot guy the guy
That takes the key draws and you know grinds down low just uh how how’s the chemistry kind of coming along with the three of you there and and with Kevin and Ryan obviously being uh the the last two Ice Dogs to break the 16year old goal record and they both like to shoot
A lot so uh with you and your playmaking ability how has that uh you know Trio kind of worked out for you guys it uh it makes my job pretty easy right like like you said I just got to get them the puck and uh good chance
They’re putting it on net and another good chance going in the net the way they’re playing so it’s uh again it’s it’s pretty easy to play with those two I mean they’re uh they’re their uh their IQ and their coverage in is uh is really easy and then um seeing
Those two go up on a two on two TR and me trailing behind is just uh pretty fun to watch sometimes but no they’re Elite they’re Elite Shooters elite passers elite skaters and uh no it’s just uh it’s it’s fun playing with those two and uh makes me feel old because uh they’re
Two and three years younger than me but um no they’re uh it’s fun to play with those two for sure it’s okay when you get to be 31 Gavin you’ll feel really old like me but uh yeah um who’s a guy maybe that’s flying under the radar
Right now that you think is you know really tried to work on on his craft and and you think really going to have a a strong final nine games of the Season that you know maybe a guy that’s uh you know not getting the type of recognition
That Ryan or or Kevin get but you see him putting the work on and off the ice and and the results uh you know should eventually come for that guy yeah you know what I think everybody’s putting in the work that needs to be done um especially this late
In the season and with the position we’re in I think just again like I said just a matter of being positive or whatnot and everybody’s doing it a good job of that I’ll I guess I’ll Spotlight um uh Mason Ray a little bit uh ever since he came over he’s uh he’s just
Been a a breath of fresh air for sure and I think it’s uh it’s been a breath of fresh air for him himself I don’t know I don’t know what is uh what his playing time was like in Branford but uh he’s really really taking on a good role
This year that’ll definitely move in the next year and um no just the way he conducts himself off the ice again and uh his game on the ice is just uh pretty pretty energizing from uh from a bench standpoint when he’s out there laying hits uh whether it’s eight nothing or uh
Z z he’s still playing the same way and it’s just uh it’s pretty appreciative from uh my end and I think it’s pretty appreciative from the rest of the guys on the team as well yeah he’s definitely a guy that’s cut uh that’s caught our as well uh doing the post games and
Watching him in the games he’s definitely a big body and you know you could tell that the potential is there and why he was a second round pick in this league so um that’s definitely a guy you look at to you know take a big step uh next little bit and they maybe
Even going into next year but uh Ice Dogs Captain Gavin Bryant’s with us Gavin a few more quick ones for you before I let you go um what is the message to the group of for the final nine games you got five of them on the road and with that nice rescheduled game
And Barry you’re going to have to go back up there so it’ll end up being seven games in the final 10 days so that’s going to be a grind stretch you’re going to get I believe three days off before or three days off after the Peterboro Ottawa trip there so you’ll
Have a little bit of a time to rest but then that final stretch is going to be a key one for you so kind of what’s the message to the guys as you go into that and and trying to to get through a tough stretch there to close out the season
Strong yeah like I said I think uh the biggest thing is just staying positive obviously but um I think the other thing too is just uh just continuing to play for each other I mean uh we got we got a guy on our team that has nine games left
In his OHL career and has had a very very long OHL career so that’s uh it gets me emotional for sure but it should get the other guys emotional as well just to to play for uh play for feds and uh just play for the play for a lot of
The other guys too like just the uh older guys I would say including myself just uh that are trying that don’t have much time left in this league that are uh trying to trying to make hockey your career and uh just trying to trying to fin finish off the year well and then
Even for the younger guys too that are in positions to uh whether it’s their draft year this year it’s their draft year next year the year after like there’s always there’s always people watching and I think it’s just uh I think people are going to watch what’s
Uh watch these last nine games as to how how we you respond as a team being uh being a last place team how we just respond and whether we give up or not and I think that’s just that’s the message right there is we can’t give up
We have nine games left so just playing for each other I think will be the uh biggest key here in the last nine games absolutely and your coach has kind of been very uh candid and and he’s been hard on himself as well and you can tell
Uh you know he’s very passionate about being the head coach of the Ice Dogs and you know it it hasn’t been an easy stretch so uh how have you guys kind of responded to to Ben’s message as of late and and uh you know he’s very hard on
Himself as as well as as you guys as the players so uh what’s what’s the feel in that room as far as uh you know Ben’s kind of message and and how you guys are kind of receiving that and and want to make sure that you go out there and and
Do the best for him and and the other coaches that are you know trying to make you guys better I can’t say enough uh enough nice things about our coaching staff so but uh I think it’s just a it’s a voluntary thing in the room where I think every
Single guy in that room would run through a wall for each one of coaches in that room and um I think when they uh I again I’ve I’ve spoken so much about how they prepare us and their preparation for us before games before practices on a daily basis it’s just uh
We’re so grateful to have them uh in in that room but I think just when uh any anytime they’re speaking it and uh I think they just they’ve gained enough they’ve gained the respect that they deserve in the room where when they’re speak and everybody listens and um that
Hasn’t changed from uh when Ben was named head coach and uh even since the start of the year when uh he was the assistant and um no I just think uh I think even even towards the end of the year like I said it’s just going to be
Uh no-brainer for us just uh going to war with him and um all of us are sponges taking in everything that they say that the amount of hockey knowledge in that room is uh is grateful for us and um know I just think uh I think it’s
Pretty it’s a pretty easy statement to say that um for the rest of the year that uh it’s uh it’s all years when those when those guys come into the room for sure well said Gavin so last one this is going to be you know the toughest question I’ve asked y all all
All interview here mager golf Lounge is the sponsor of this show so um you know have you been out on the Range yet have you been out golfing yet you know uh I know you’re a big golf guy so the weather’s been been nicer out there so
Has uh has number 19 been out there been able to hit a couple of balls as of yet yeah you got me on a good day I just got finished uh nine holes at Beachwood uh me and uh me and Mason Ray I think uh
Razer was a 43 I was a 42 so six over for me and seven over for Razer but uh no it’s a good we we said that’s a good that’s a if you had told us we were going to shoot that before the round uh we’d call you crazy so that’s a good
Start to the year but um looking to improve those numbers once we get into June June and July but um no it was good to good to get out Beachwood was good in pretty good conditions for March so uh no it was a it was a fun time not bad
Definitely a lot better than Colin Ward shout out to him from the dog cast I’m sure uh he’s probably going to be in the 50s this year so uh Gavin thanks so much for uh for doing this and uh look forward to to what what’s to come the
Last month of the season and uh for yourself personally and for the team and and really appreciate you doing this segment uh throughout the year and giving us your time uh despite after some some tough results and things like that so really appreciate it awesome thank you Brando you’re the best there
Was another installment of gav’s leadership lounge with Ice Dogs Captain Gavin Bryant the last one of the Season we want to thank Gavin for giving his time throughout the season with the post games and with our segments here it’s been a pleasure getting to know him off
The ice as well and a very good leader as we mentioned beforehand so uh he’s already got out in the course it’s it’s looking nicer out there he’s been getting out there with Mason Ray hitting some balls so uh that’s good and uh we
Got to try to get him in the golf Lounge soon as well but uh 100% with that said cam uh quick thoughts on what you thought about uh Gavin Bryant and and what he he’s kind of looking for uh through the rest of the season here as
We wrap up I’ll be honest with you I think the camaraderie is something that isn’t talked about enough we’ve had you know um the Ice Dogs be viewed as kind of a a tough culture over the past couple years um and they’ve gone a long
Way to fix that and I think that you started seeing these guys be friends off the ice and that goes a little bit long like goes a little bit further I think that that is is is definitely what’s needed on a championship team um and I think that because these guys and what
We open the show with I don’t think there’ll be as much turnover nearly as much um and that that’s going to go a long way that these guys are all boys I think that’s uh that’s really important so that was kind of like the undertone
That I took away from that I I’m happy to hear that uh you know some of them are are getting together and I even tried to ask him a couple of personal questions about his uh stats of late in his offensive game and he said he didn’t
Really want to talk about himself so uh that that ended quickly but he did mention that uh you know he he really wanted to improve on his offensive game and and showing a little bit of uh uh more of consistency than he did in Owens sound last year even though he almost
Had a point of game uh with the ow and sound attack in the half season that he did play there so um again looking for big things for Gavin Bryant not just the rest of the 10 games but hopefully going into next season Dawning that sea I’d
Really love to see that once again and and again thank him for uh doing that segment for us sponsored by the nager golf Lounge all year long but cam we’ll move on here before we get to ice doogs GM West consort I mean when you look at
The the upcoming games for the ice dogs and we’ll kind of just quickly uh glance over this I mean they’ve got nine games left in that reschedule against Barry uh that they’re going to have to go back up to Barry which is unfortunate but and they’re going to play a Tuesday and a
Wednesday game back toback in Barry and in Brandford so that’s going to be uh really tough there on a Tuesday and Wednesday seven games in their last 10 days and Gavin Bryant just talked about them uh remaining positive and uh making sure that they’re uh ready to go
Refreshed and and and it’s going to be a a tough end of the the season there but when you look at seven games in the last 10 days and and the opponents that they’re going to be playing they do play The Barry Colts twice they play Peter
Burrow they play Erie who they’ve had success against and then some divisional games against Miss Saga and Sudbury to end the season at home Branford still on on the schedule as well a team that they obviously want to take down and end that 23 game losing streak to them so is
There anything that you can kind of look at in the last nine games or so and say you know we want to see this X Y and Z as far as the results go for the remaining schedule I would like to see you know some differences on the power
Play you know they’re just trying something different I think just just going into next year I would like to see Zada as high in the lineup as you can go same with gall anov um just because at 16 like they got to get some run to see
What they what they can be and they might not be first or second line players they might be third liners which is again on a championship team that’s not a bad thing um if that and that is what the goal is I would love to see them beat Branford goodness gracious
Like just end that streak um but no I I would also like to see honestly the thing I want to see the most of the next nine games is fedo get his goal I want to see him get a goal at home he is there’s something to be said about
Someone who is willing to play as hard as he possibly can for a team that has no shot at winning a championship like that that’s a quality that is not in very many people and fedo wanted to come here wanted to be home for his overage season and has taken this season in
Stride and he has been hard to play against every night and he is a pleasure to watch and I hope over the next few games he gets his goal and Gavin Bryant talked about that too we want to finish off strong for for feds and and Connor
Fedo and all he’s given to them this season because every time there’s a there’s an after the whistle scrum number four is in there battling for his guys and he’s standing up for everybody he’s willing to go uh every single player on the opposing bench and that’s
Just the kind of player fedo is even though uh it’s going to be a tough end with not not really getting into the playoffs in his overage year he’s really taking pride in this role and wherever he goes to in the next journey of his hockey career um I think that that means
A lot to to for the coaching staff and for everybody to kind of see the kind of guy that he is and and for the young group as well the ardam frolovs and the Callum chanowski is the younger defenseman on this team to know you know
Uh when you become an older player in this league uh that’s the way that you should act at all times and I’d really love to see fedo get the goal as well ardam frol would love to see score as well because he hasn’t gotten on the
Board yet and he really wants to to get going offensively a guy that Gavin Bryan also mentioned was Mason Ray and I do think that he’s going to be a player that could really put the ice dogs over the top if he really takes that next
Step in his development again this is a guy that was a second round pick by the Branford Bulldogs he’s got the size he’s working on his skating a little bit better we’ve seen him get a little bit more opportunities and he’s shooting the puck more being more confident with the
Puck uh with the opportunities that he’s been given here in Niagara in a kind of a middle six role there that he never really had the opportunity on a loaded Branford Bulldogs team so I look at Mason Ray too is another guy to take a step forward next year uh not just the
Other the four 16y olds that we always talk about but if if those other players like the Mason Rays can also take a step forward that’s going to be so huge for this group next year to to give them another added Dynamic I mean like something we never talk about or we
Haven’t in quite some time and he’s had a kind of a tough finish the year but Levan and Paris have been great all season and I I don’t think they get enough credit for the trades that they made like the the coaching staff or the management staff made some great deals I
Mean the Gavin Bryant deal alone um is one of the best that the ice dogs have made if you look back on the deal that was the one for Dean wat corre and they got a second round pick and they got a second round pick like and you got a
Captain out of it that deserves to be a captain um you know and then they get Paris and Lev who were were kind of cast off from from London and uh they’ve been great this year at at a certaint like at multiple points of the Season Paris was
The leading scorer and Levan had you know was just scoring every other game and I think that going into next year again if you can put those players in the positions that they should be so not having to rely on Levan to be the goal scorer of the team if he slotted
Into the second or third line that makes the lineup that much stronger that you’ve got someone down there that can that can do that and I think that’s what they’ve got to do obviously the the the overage question is going to be another one they’ve got they’ve got some pretty
Difficult decisions to make about overages for this team and it they’ve got to get them right um unfortunately this year okay you’re rebuilding and it actually looks like a rebuild as opposed to last year um next year it’s like you kind of have to get it right missing the Playoffs next year is
Just you know like it gets dicey not just for the fan base but you know a lot of these ohlers only have four years five years right we go a third year of no playoffs and and Kevin hasn’t sniffed the playoffs like that’s a how many times do you draft the NHL drafted
Prospect in the second round you know like that’s tough to do and they’ve really got to make sure that they take advantage of the last couple years of Kevin and robri and and everyone growing but moreover putting the players on the team that have been successful this year
So like Paris and Levan um you know even I mean uh it gets a little bit tougher when when it comes to like Klein because over Ager and we’ll have to see the decisions to be made but um you know a putting them in the right place to
Succeed is going to be really important for this team and even like Stuart and veran as well because we’ve seen flashes from those guys as well even though they’re not uh getting you know the top end playing time they’re making the most of the minutes that they’re getting on
That fourth line this year exactly like like there’s been there’s been nights where the fourth Line’s been the best line that game against uh Ottawa or Kingston Ottawa I was I think it was Ottawa yeah they were they were the best line it wasn’t really it wasn’t
Particularly close um so and I think they know that they’re battling for next year um and you know that that’s good that they aren’t just mailing it in for sure yeah so we’re going to get to our final segment today and that is with iock general manager Wes consor our
Monthly maintenance brought to you by Wild Bills Auto Repair helping customers stay safe and confident on the road in nagas in 2012 in honor of the late William Robert Hunter here is ice dog GM West consorti on the team’s play and going forward here as we look for the
Final nine games and towards the off season back in our monthly maintenance segment brought to you by Wild Bills Auto repair with ice dogs general manager Wes consorti Wes thanks a lot for uh joining us we didn’t have y on last month we had the director of
Scouting Adam Henrich on so I guess I’ll start there um obviously uh looks like it’s going to be another top five pick for you guys this year maybe even higher um how pleased are you with the scouting staff’s work so far and uh as they gear get geared up here ready for another
Important draft class uh hopefully hopefully uh going to hit on like you did with the ‘ 07 draft class yeah obviously it’s been a uh busy last few months with our scouting staff and um you know there’s some high-end players at the top of the draft so you know lots
Of visits lots of interviews lots of checks um just making sure that we’re um doing our part um our diligence on our side um it’s been a good process players um not picking this High U anymore in the near future so um but again it’s an exciting time for the organization to
Get um you know we’re going to be getting a high quality um franchise like player again so we’re um we’re excited about that and talking about the current team obviously the results haven’t been what you’ve wanted uh over the last month four and 10 this month and 79
Goals against obviously uh you made some moves at the deadline to trade out some some of your depth uh on the back end and and acquire some some future assets future future draft picks so um you know how do you think the coaching staff has I guess adapted to what they’ve been
Given as far as the roster goes for the rest of the season and uh you know going through some tough times right now with injuries and and still guys in and out of the lineup yeah it’s been difficult no doubt but you know at the at the same time
We’re excited with the future that we have you know we are giving our young guys lots of looks lots of important minutes um coaching staff has done a great job um giving our young guys important minutes because um you know they’re ging valuable experience um you know we’re young team one of the
Youngest in the league and and things you know games that we’ve had um you know most recently you know will happen to a young team unfortunately we’re going through it um we believe this will be the last time we go through it um but again our future is bright um these are
These are times that are tough no doubt um but we feel strong going in the future with the the core young group that we that we will have um to propel the team uh in the future so you did sign those three uh players that were I guess Associated players there uh to
Give your your guys I guess a little bit more help and help in depth down the lineup there um obviously it’s been a a rough go here only having five defensemen uh dress throat a little bit part of the Season here so how do you
Feel like uh the guys on the back end have been able to kind of respond and and really lug some top end minutes especially guys that maybe haven’t been used to it like chanowski and ardam froloff yeah for sure it’s um you know increased minutes for those guys back there
They’re doing an admirable job um you know the younger guys are getting again more minutes more opportunity more responsibility um and it’s a learning curve no doubt um we feel that the minutes they’re getting right now will you know we’ll shape them into more mature um players um coming up for us so
Um for sure it’s difficult um you know lots of minutes are are being logged by those guys um and you know it’s it’s memorable and you know they they’re doing they’re acting like pros when they’re doing it and uh you know it’s um you know for them it’s just about
Getting more experience and um this is a way to do it despite some some really tough lopsided losses there have been some bright spots at the top of your lineup there with guys like Kevin he leading the way in goals with 29 Gavin Bryant since been giving the C has uh
Really been on fire here 15 points in his last 14 games and then Ryan Rob obviously breaking not only the 16-year-old goal record but now uh the overall rookie record for goals for the franchise so can you speak to those three guys in individually and and maybe together now that they’re playing uh
Alongside each other on how they’re kind of leading the way here uh with this uh exciting young group yeah obviously Kevin’s you know having a tremendous year um you know there’s lots of eyes on Kevin all the time um you know with it being his draft here and um he’s he’s
Being very professional on and off the ice through the process um he’s taken a lot of calls lots of interviews um and he’s doing his he’s doing his job on the ice he’s always the hardest working guy on the ice and he’s one of the most professional players off
The ice so um you know as far as his game as a whole I think he’s third he’s he’s I think he’s ranks third and ‘ 07 draft eligible players for goals scored um and I you know it’s five on five points um are near the top for 07
Draft eligible um sorry 06 draft eligible player so um he he’s he’s been a encouraging spot for the team and you know everyone you know wants to be around him and he loves he loves being around the guys and you know it’s a exciting time for Kevin um and you know
We’re going to be very excited for him um coming up in uh in June and Ryan robri just obviously yeah I mean you know Ryan is is you know advertised um just like we thought he would be um he’s he’s doing things that he’s always been
Doing and scoring goals in a lot of them um again he’s he’s gaining valuable experience he’s um he’s been good with his teammates we’re just excited U for his progression and um Ryan understands you know the type of player he is and and what he means to the team and the
Franchise and um you know he he is young but he understands um you know what’s what his role is and and what it’s continue going to be so it’s um know Ryan’s just he he is he’s just a machine and uh we’re excited um to see what he
Can do in the future and and Gavin has just been you know one of the best uh guys in the room one of the main reasons why we brought him into the team was to you know be a leader to the core and um he’s been great on and off the ice and
Good with the young guys and he he is the right guy to steer um steer the team for sure and what’s the message to some of those other players down the lineup uh your dep players as you know they try to finish out strong here in the last
Nine games obviously making the playoffs would be tough sting at this point uh so obviously you’re looking to next year but a lot of guys trying to battle and earn spots uh for next season possibly so you know what’s the message to some of those other guys uh down in the
Lineup that are are looking to to get more of an opportunity and looking to to get more of a look as we go into uh the offseason and uh you know wanting to be a part of this team going forward next year yeah obviously you know just like
Every other team guys are jocking from positions throughout the year and you know as it gears towards the end of the year um you know the the stick may be gripped a little tighter um but you know our guys have to continue to battle and and and prove that they’re you know
Everyday guys and and you know that they’re being professionals you know throughout tough times um and doing every they can whatever they can to um you know be top of mind for our coaches when uh you know when things come up and things are discussed so uh
You know uh tough spot to be in but unfortunately it’s it’s the nature of hockey um you know guys you know there’s a long lineup of players that want to play and um unfortunately you can only have so many on your team and you know for the most part guys have been good
And lastly uh obviously Connor fedco is your only uh over Ager and he’s really trying to to battle for you guys uh to end off his OHL career but you got some tough decisions to make uh in the offseason regarding uh the goal tending position obviously own Flores would have
To come back for his overage year and Charlie Robertson who you acquired from the North Bay Battalion uh can you speak to to the go tending Tandem and although they’ be giving up a lot of goals um you know the help maybe hasn’t hasn’t been
There in front of them on on most nights and their stats uh may not tell the the story of how well they’ve been playing for your group yeah like they’re battling hard like th those are two quality um hockey players um Quality teammates um good people um just
Battling every night um you know they work hard in practice they work hard in the video room with their goalie coach um they’re trying to get better every day and um you know it’s um it can get difficult for sure U but they’re doing a good job being professional getting
Through this and um you know great great teammates great leaders in the room guys love them so um you know they they’re doing a good job and Connor you know he’s Connor’s Connor you know he he’s playing hard he understands um you know this is his last year in the league and
He’s trying to do everything he can to get some more looks when he’s done playing Junior so you know we’re going to do everything we can for him as well too so um we’re excited to see what he can do in the future as well ice general manager West consor in our monthly
Maintenance segment West thanks a lot for doing this and for doing this throughout the season I know it’s been a a tough time for for the group overall but really appreciate you taking the time every month to uh to G on and and just speak to fans about their concerns
And and what’s going on with the team so look forward to the off season and and speaking to you come draft time appreciate it thank you for your time there was Ice Dog general manager Wes consorti on our monthly maintenance segment brought to you by wild B Auto
Repair cam uh final one of the season for Wes on the show as we get into the offseason and final month here uh of the 2023 24 season General thoughts there from what the general manager of the Ice Dogs had to say I mean like said he said
Everything that we’ve been kind of stting like you know trying to see what the the players up and higher in the lineup for the future getting them going the as the season winds down um and then with the focus on the draft this draft is going to be if last year wasn’t the
Most important this year is is definitely going to be because um if it if it doesn’t go well man like it’s awfully tough but if it goes well like what we just saw with this last draft class we’re talking about playoff team for sure and I think
That that’s where all their focus is going into this year or to wind down this year um as well as a full off season of working with the coaching staff as well I think is going to be huge so cam as we kind of look ahead here uh the weekend upcoming Ottawa
Peterboro their last kind of overnight road trip of the year and then the seven out the last 10 games so I know you’re going going to have be on one more game recap so by the time we do our season recap show at the end of March here what
Are like what you already talked a little bit about you want to see like guys score score goals and things like that but what would be realistically a success uccessful end of the season for you by the time we come on here and do another kind of season I guess you could
Say monthly recap but it’ll be the end of season recap one more one more home win um you know to give the fans that show up consistently I want to see one more home win for sure I want to see them beat teams that they should beat
You know we talked about this all season the reason why they’re not in a playoff spot or close is because for whatever reason they could beat these top end teams but they just struggled all year against you know the teams lower in the lineup so or lower in the standings like
They’ve got a couple games against Peterboro and Barry I want to see them win those or at least make them competitive um you know and maybe close the gap even further um but yeah then it’s just it’s mostly just individual that I want to see you know Kevin getting 30 fedo
Getting one frolov as well um a good sendoff another home win would be huge but yeah like close the gap even further just kind of end on a high note Ryan’s at 24 he’s got nine games imine he get if he gets six more it’s not out of the realm of
Possibility but he’s going to need a hattick game or something big but he is he’s the the most amount he shoots more than any other rookie in the league so who knows and they’re going up against some tough teams Sudbury missas Saga Branford I would love to see them
Finally beat Branford that would be like the icing on the cake for me to finally you know snap that going into next season so they don’t have to kind of worry about that uh when they’re trying to do a bunch of positive things going in next year to kind of get that
Branford uh record out of the way but uh no again we’ll see what the final nine games hold for the Ice Dogs seven in their last 10 so it’s going to be a tough stretch but as you heard from Gavin Bryan and Wes and sorty uh these guys are Battlers they’re going to
Battle to the end and even though they they might limp to the Finish Line they’re going to give it all they have here for the final uh stretch of home games here uh for the ice dogs with five four still remaining so make sure to to come down to the Meridian Center and
Support this team as you’ve done all season long so thank you to all the fans for listening today and watching us all season long on our monthly Recaps Cam and I really appreciate you guys coming to us every single month uh for our thoughts and and giving you the great uh
Segments as well uh from those in and around the team so that’s going to wrap up our final monthly wrap-up show of the 2023 24 ice dog season right here on the dog pound podcast the official podcast of your Niagara Ice Dogs proudly brought to you by Global Pet Foods where pets
Are undeniably part of the family in all four of the great Niagara region locations until next time for cam howbert my name is Brandon Caputo and this has been another installment on the armchair GM Sports Network we’ll talk to you again very soon you’re listening to the armchair GM Sports Network
1 Comment
Someone needs to be looking at GB, he should be playing at a higher level following his OHL stint. Class act, tons of quality on the ice. How is he flying under the radar?