Wranglers Watch - Episode 25

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Now here's your host.

The voice of your Calgary Wranglers.

Sandra Prucina on SportsNet960 The Fan.

It's the Wrangler's penultimate home set for the 25-26 season.

Thank you so much for making time for us on your weekend.

The Colorado Eagles in town.

One of the top teams in the Pacific Division.

Certainly a side that's got called her cup winning aspirations.

Has been hovering at the top of the division for most of this season.

So I am excited to share my conversation with Eagles Assistant Coach Kim Weiss.

She was promoted from video coach to her current assistant role earlier this season.

And she has had quite a journey to get where she is today.

So yeah, before we dig into the Eagle season, I want listeners to get to know you a little bit better.

Your journey, it's an awesome one.

Growing up in Maryland, what were your earliest hockey memories?

Oh, my earliest ones would have to be in our in our basement.

My dad and my brother shooting Thomas calls at me as I was popped in front of a net.

My brother's two years older, so he was playing hockey.

You know, by the time I was kind of walking and so.

So yeah, they brought me down to the basement and I was the de facto goalie.

So that's that's definitely where I fell in love with the game.

Was this a mini stick sort of situation or were we talking full gear?

I think we were we were full tilt.

I didn't have any gear.

I had like a baseball mitt and I think my dad kind of like hockey glove is a blocker.

Until as I got a little older, then I got the goalie, you know, kind of a street hockey gear for the basement.

As a goalie, but early on, there was not much padding.

I think it was a tennis ball and it's in a real stick.

You know, it was the early 90s.

So a little bit of a different time back then, but.

But yeah, that's that's where the kind of the I guess the passion started.

When did you decide that you wanted to pursue it a little bit more?

Did your dad throw you on skates and say, let's give this a try or were you more interested because of your brother?

I was definitely interested because of my brother and I yeah, I think once I was four, I think is kind of when I started skating and playing.

So pretty early, especially for when I was growing up outside Washington DC back then, there weren't a lot of kids playing hockey, you know, my brother and I were.

We're one of the few kids in our entire grade school that played.

So it was definitely abnormal for for that area.

But my my mom's from 20 year Quebec and my dad's originally from Connecticut.

So they both had a big passion for hockey and obviously threw my brother into it and then I followed suit.

So I'm just going to guess.

Did you like the capitals and then you mentioned Quebec?

So was it Nordics?

Was it Canadian's who were you cheering for at a young age?

Yeah, it was the capitals.

My parents, the company that they worked for had had a sweet ethic at the old cap center out in the land over Maryland.

And so they would bring us to the games.

Because again, there wasn't a wasn't a huge hockey culture in DC back then.

And so whenever they wanted the box, they could go because not not many of their other co-workers wanted to go.

So yeah, so we were going to cap games from from a very young age.

How would you like growing up in terms of players?

My favorite player growing up was Peter Bondra.

Being a cap fan and then obviously he was pretty electric in kind of the mid 90s or so.

Peter Bondra was one of my favorites.

Holy Colesig was a goal tender for the capitals.

I actually wanted to be a goalie and my parents kept kind of keeping me out of the net as much as possible.

They're like, well, you can sub, you know, you can be the backup goalie when the goal is sick or doesn't show up.

But I never played goalie full time, but I always wanted to.

So it was always a goalie at home in the basement.

I always have a player out.

So Peter Bondra and Oli were my two favorites.

Love it. Legends for sure.

At what point did you realize, Kim?

Hey, I'm pretty good at this.

I could pursue this and then end up in the NCAA.

But did something click for you while you were a teenager?

I think, you know, I think it helped seeing the Olympics in 98 for for women.

You know, before that, like obviously every time that you watch talking as a kid as a girl, it was.

It was boys and men, you know, on your TV.

So to get to see women on your television set in the Olympics in 98.

I think that made me realize like I always dreamed of playing in the NHL because I didn't know any better, right?

As a little kid and then and having a brother that also dreamed of playing in the NHL.

So then you see that and you see the Olympics and I think that's for a lot of women in my generation.

That was the moment you realized like, oh, we can have something to dream of too in this game.

And so obviously you didn't make the Olympics, but it did make me realize that.

You know, I can strive for something and try to play at the highest level I could.

So funny you mentioned that we're around the same age and 98.

I think was a really pivotal moment for me too because I just looked at Menon Reo and everything that she was doing.

And I had her autobiography and everything that she was able to just be this trailblazer and bust open that glass and suit up for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I think I know we say it a lot, but if you can see it, you can be it.

Did you find it was something that related to you as well?

Yeah, for sure. I remember that as well. I remember Menon. I mean, I was little.

I was, I think I was three, three years old when that that happened, but like I said, I wanted to be a goalie.

So I remember like kind of, I think I remember seeing it in the newspaper, actually, not on, not on the television set, but.

I think the 98 women really paved the way for, you know, for this, this generation of.

Of women and hockey, whether it's women and women, hockey or, you know, obviously me over on the men's side, I think without them doing what they did and.

And showcasing how good the game to be, you know, really, really paved the way for the rest of us.

What was your time like at Trinity College?

Oh, it was amazing. You know, like you said, you, you start to dream about kind of what you want your career to be when you're a kid and.

I wanted to be a college hockey player and, and I wanted, you know, I'm pretty competitive person, so I wanted to win.

And while we didn't win a national championship, we, you know, we did the best that that program had ever done at the time.

My class and I were, you know, the winning is class.

To come through those doors and first time that they had gone to the NCAA tournament, you know, playing in the championship game for the league.

Just kind of pushing that program forward. It was a, we've a dream come true to get to do that with a bunch of teammates that are still really close friends with me today.

Yeah, I believe it. And what was it like we're in the sea there?

You know, it was, it was an honor for sure. I think.

I clearly still have a big passion for the game. And I think that's, that's ultimately why my teammates voted being a captain was.

I just, how much I, I cared about the team, how much I cared about hockey, you know, how much I was willing to train to try to be my best for myself and for my team.

So it, I don't want to say it came naturally, but I, I think I just had this passion that that others recognize.

And I know it's something when I talk to my, you know, I still talk to my teammates today. They're like, not surprised that that I'm now coaching.

And this is what I do given how much I gave to, to our sport back in those years in college.

What kind of a leader were you? And I always love asking people this question because some people are vocal, but other people lead by example and others follow suit. Where was your style?

I think I was a little in the middle. I know I remember I was very, I was very imperfect leader. I'll say that. It took me, took me time to learn. I was fortunate to have the city for more than one year.

So I had a chance to, to redeem myself after the first year, but I had a really high standard for myself. And I got very frustrated when I didn't meet that standard.

And I remember having a teammate come to me and say, like, you know, we love your intensity, but like you're, you're almost too hard on yourself. And it discourages us, you know, and like, I had to kind of take, take a step away and realize that I had to care more about the group.

You know, it actually helps my performance, so that my, my last year was my best year. I think because I learned how to, how to put, you know, the team before myself, a little bit, now there's before myself. And I think I got more vocals then in just enjoying the game, you know, and enjoying the process.

And kind of cheer and others on and not internalizing it. So I think early on I was more of a lead by example, just with my work ethic. And I think I became a much better leader as my four years went along in my, my senior year of thinking about more about the group. And how do I inspire others. And it's not just through my play, but through, you know, acknowledging their successes. Right.

If someone has a good shift or a block shot, making sure you go over and give them a tap or shout it out on the bench. So I think I was fortunate to have some good leader ahead of me that, like I said, kind of passed down some, some wisdom and some feedback, which I think, you know, isn't always that common that people feel comfortable.

Sharing those things, thinking that I'm going to take it in a negative way, but it obviously helped me grow a lot and made me a much better leader.

Just given your answer there, I think this will probably be a no brainer and I already know what you're going to say, but did this prepare you for coaching, because clearly it did.

Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think the biggest thing that prepared me for coaching was having great coaches. That's why I became one. I was super fortunate. And in my youth hockey career and my college career to have some really great coaches that you could just see how much they believe in you as a player, how much they care to both the team.

You know, their preparation and I just felt so indebted to them for what they did for me and my career and me as a person that I wanted to pass that forward, you know.

And so, like I said, I was super fortunate. I know a lot of other people got into coaching because they had negative experiences.

But I was fortunate to get into it from from a long line of unfortunately, at that time, it was all men, you know, until I got to college, I had some female assistants, but I had a long line of men that coached me that were wonderful people and leaders and just really inspired me to be my best.

After graduating, so you go straight into coaching, was the transition easy because you were a captain?

Yeah, I'd say so. I think I couldn't imagine not being a part of a team. So I think that part made it easy too. I watched some of my friends, you know, go from college and playing to a desk job or sales or, you know, and I was fortunate that I got to keep putting my skates on.

I think in that sense, it was easy and that your your body is kind of used to that rhythm of getting ready for a season and, you know, the beginning of a year and all that.

And so I got to kind of just stay in that flow state of you, you know, you train in the summer and then September rolls around and now you're thinking about your season ahead.

It came pretty natural. It was something that I was always coaching camps in the summer anyway in high school and in college. So it was something that I had been doing for a long time, but then obviously to get to coach your first team and be a part of, you know, the part of the season from the other side was a different perspective, but definitely felt like I was kind of born to do it.

Must have been pretty full circle for you, spending time behind the Trinity bench. What was that experience like for you going from player captain coach?

Well, I was coaching the men's team. So it was definitely it was a little odd going into the the locker room down the hall.

So that was probably the biggest biggest change was not turning into our locker room at the beginning of the hallway, but walk in kind of 15, 20 more feet to go into the men's room, but it was incredible.

It was honestly, it was hard to leave. You know, it was only there for one year. We won our league championship that year.

We played actually in the national championship game in our building and lost.

And, but it was an incredible experience.

I'm super fortunate to still be in touch with a lot of those young men still a couple of years later now.

Because obviously we just had a similar bond, right? Like we all chose Trinity and Trinity chose us.

And so it was a really really special experience. And like I said, when I got offered the job with Colorado, I had to I had to really think about if I wanted to, you know, if I wanted to leave my alma mater to come to the AHL, which I think.

On paper, I know when I talked to Aaron Schickloth, our old head coach who offered me this job, he was like, you're going to not, you know, you're not going to go to the AHL over division three NCAA hockey. And I'm like, yeah, you don't understand is that this place is pretty special to me.

So it was a hard job to leave, but it was so fortunate to get the experience.

Tell me about the jump from college to pro. What was that like?

I think the biggest difference is just the age of athlete, you know, the first time that I had players that were essentially my age, you know, we had Chris Wagner and Jason Magna last year or both, you know, I think a year younger than me.

So it was the first time being around a group with with the age that spread out, but to have players that were, you know, legitimately men and husbands and fathers.

You know, you always coach, you know, you through junior or college there, you got that age separation, you got that life experience that you can share with them.

And then you get here and obviously some players that might have more life experience than you. So, so I think that was the biggest transition for me from a coaching perspective, just the mentality of how, how do you bond with these players versus.

I said, I think when you have life experience to share, it's a little bit easier to come in and lead.

And so just kind of trying to find a different way to bond with these guys here in Colorado, but the hockey was, you know, I think that was honestly an easier transition, you know, the game.

The game doesn't change a time from level to level like the execution gets better, it gets faster.

But the same same things that make you win and lose hockey games in in college or, you know, basically the same things that make you win and lose games in pro.

I think back to something Jessica Campbell said when she was originally hired by the Coachella Valley firebirds and I remember talking to her and.

It was about a year in and she said they just treat me as a coach, so was there any sort of culture shock for you getting to the American hockey league or has it always just been.

I'm coach Kim doesn't matter that I'm a woman. I'm just coach Kim.

Yeah, I think I was fortunate that when I came here, this was now my fourth men team, you know, that I that I was acclimating to.

So I'd been through the process a few times where obviously there are players and coaches that haven't been used to having a woman around the locker room or the coaches room.

And so when I was a younger coach and I went through it and junior, you know, like I'm learning what the what challenges there could be along the way.

But now I know, you know, I'm pretty comfortable in that transition and knowing what somebody who hasn't experienced it yet might find uncomfortable or might find different, right? And so.

So it was I think it was pretty smooth and pretty seamless. I would hope that our players and staff would say the same. I think.

Again, I'm also fortunate that I've been coaching a long time. I'm pretty confident into I am as a person and a coach that I can come in and and just be authentic and, you know, I think people obviously gravitate to somebody that is comfortable in their own skin.

Yeah, love it. Okay, let's talk about this season for the Colorado Eagles. I can't believe it. It's what the end of March here. So we're near in game 72.

You guys high in the Pacific Division standings. It's been this see saw you in Ontario, you in Ontario. So how would you assess the Eagle season up to this point?

Yeah, I know this is an organization that has high standards and that we're a team that wants to be that number one seed every year. And obviously last year we're able to do that this year.

We're in the hunt. I think I think recently we've talked more about it's not necessarily about ending the the regular season number one. It's about playing your best hockey in March and April. So I think that's where we're focused right now is just, you know, trying to find our best version of the Colorado Eagles.

At this point in the year, you know, we had a lot of success early. We've had, like you said, we've had some some stumbles here along the way to allow Ontario to get up to the number one spot.

But I think for us we're less focused on that number one spot. We're more focused on can we find our best game right now because, you know, obviously you look at what habits for did last year at the end of the regular season and then through the playoffs.

You know, that's what's going to matter come playoff time is are we playing our best not did we finish first.

Yeah, the Pacific divisions kind of funky, right? So the first it through the seventh get in, but the first gets a buy. I would love your perspective actually on this Kim.

Do you think getting a buy in the first round is beneficial or a detriment? And the reason I say that it's almost like catch 22 right because.

Okay, you you do the round the best of three. So you lose one game and you're already on the brink of elimination. However, if you get the buy, then you're sitting around waiting. You're just practicing.

You're not getting in any game action. So how do you assess that as a coach? What's better?

I think I think it also depends on where your group is at, you know, I think for us last year when we got the buy like we needed.

We needed a week to breathe. We had some guys playing a lot of minutes. We had some guys that were injured coming back.

You know, and so it was able to buy us some time. So for us last year, it was, it was beneficial. I think for some other teams, like you said, you know, like maybe you, I think if Abbotsford would have gotten the buy last year.

And you slow that momentum of you're playing your best talkie. And now you're sitting around for a week.

You know, it might not be the best thing for you. So I think every year it's a little bit different. It depends on where you're at. We're going to be coming off or when we come to you, we're beginning a two week long road trip.

So we're literally on the road for 14 days and six games. So we've been on the road a lot this second half. So I think, you know, if we get the buy, it'll be nice to sleep in our own beds for a week.

If we don't get the buy, hopefully we're at home and we're still sleeping in our bed, you know, that week anyway. So I think, like I said, I think every group like the specific is so different from team to team and travel and our experience and the division versus yours up in Calgary versus somebody like Ontario who buses to a lot of their game.

That's just so it's so you so unique within this division. So I think it means something different to each group.

What was the motivation after last year? So you guys, I'd say were the favorites and then Abbotsford comes in off that ridiculous heater and then they go and they win the whole thing. But how motivated was your group? And with the AHL, it's such a unique league where there's so much turnover. So it's not like you were starting with the same group running it back come September October.

So what was that mentality at game one? Okay, we got to get back back there and be vindicated.

Yeah, I think, you know, there's a lot of temptation to talk about last year, you know, and I think that goes for a lot of teams and like you said this year, it's a different group.

We have a lot of the same players, a lot of the same leadership in Jason Magna and TJ Tine and Jacob McDonald being back in our team.

We also got a new head coach in Marco test too, you know, so as much as we want to be proud of the season that we had last year and we did a lot of great things.

I think for us, when we started this year, it's like, you know, that's in the rear view mirror and we got to look forward and know that we have the pieces to go on a run because a lot of those pieces are back.

But I think living in last year gets gets a little scary, so I think from day one, we've just kind of focused on how do we get the most out of this group that we have now.

And no, like I said, at the beginning of this, you know, kind of talk was our organization has high standards, you know, and that starts from our ownership and our GM's all the way down to our head coach and our captains, you know, everybody here wants to win a championship, they don't just want to win their division.

So I think that's, you know, that's been talked about a lot this year is this is what's what the championship caliber and are we living up to it?

What is leveling like as a hockey market? Of course, you're the feeder team for a very successful NHL franchise, but I think you could essentially stand alone as well because it seems like it's really passionate there.

It's awesome. Yeah, I had no idea that it was going to be as incredible of a hockey market as it is when I moved here.

And I remember the first week I got here is walking my dog and, you know, this is an older couple came over to say hello, said, but, you know, don't recognize you and your dog like we walk this trail every day.

And after I moved to the area and I said, I work for the Eagles and they're like, oh, I love the Eagles, we go to every game.

And I swear, every person I've met in the last two years, they all know our team, they all love our team. It's, it's insane to have such a strongly tight knit community.

That just loves our team and they're passionate about the Eagles like they know what's going on. They know they know when a guy gets called up, it's really, really cool to be a part of.

And obviously it's a huge advantage when we play at home to have that crowd behind us and cheering for us.

And I also had read something that they're going to do upgrades on the arena. And I think that's pretty cool if you think that they're thinking of investing in you.

So that means you're such a crucial part of the infrastructure of that city.

Yeah, absolutely. It's, I would say that the, the Eagles and Northern Colorado are super tied together and it's awesome that there's, you know, going to be a long term investment in the team being here.

Because it is, it's a community that has rallied around this team and supported them when they were back in the, you know, the CHL, the ECHL.

These fans love the Colorado Eagles. And as a result, I think the players here love playing in Northern Colorado.

Last one for you, Kim, before I let you go, I would love to know what is your favorite road stop.

That's a good question. It's tough because they're like it's again, the division's so different.

It's hard not to say Coachella just because the weather like when you get off the plane and any walk outside and it's 85 degrees and there's palm trees.

So I feel like my, my first image was me going on a run in Coachella.

But I also, I like where we stay in Calgary. It's nice that we're right in downtown and you're kind of, you know, there's a ton of just restaurants and shops and things to do and we're in Calgary.

And I'll throw in San Diego as well. San Diego is just another just great city. Same thing to weather. Like we, like I said, we're pretty spoiled here in this division when it comes to road road stops.

Such a great conversation with Colorado Eagles assistant coach Kim Weiss really enjoyed it. A big thank you to her for sitting down for a chat, making some time for us.

And you'll see her behind the bench, assisting Mark Latestu at the Saddle Dome this weekend. Now she was also a guest coach for the avalanche in 2324.

She's worked in various capacities at the big clubs development camp for a number of years.

So combined with her work with the Eagles in the a HL. She has certainly created quite a resume for herself.

And I think she is a name to look out for in the future on the other side of the break. This week's Wranglers headlines.

And we've got more from a recent flames talk conversation with general manager Brad Paschol.

This is Wranglers watch on sports net 960 the fan.

You're listening to Wranglers watch on sports net 960 the fan.

Now here's the voice of your Calgary Wranglers Sandra Prucina.

Welcome back. Significance AHL news over the last week. And first here sports net, Celia Friedman breaking down his recent report about 19 year old CHL players in the American hockey league.

Yeah, so one of the other things that was discussed was 19 year olds in the AHL. It's not allowed right now, but there is room for it.

And what the league and the CHL and the AHL are working on is a proposal that will allow 19 year olds who've been selected in the first round to play in the AHL as soon as next season.

There will be no limit on the amount per NHL team.

People don't think there's going to be a ton of them, but teams didn't want a limit. If they had more than one, they wanted to be able to send more than one.

That's what they're working on. The NHL PA still has to approve, but that's what they're working on 19 year old first rounders being allowed to play in the AHL as soon as next year.

So the current NHL CHL rule doesn't allow teenage players from the WHO, OHL or Q who have been drafted into the NHL to play in the AHL if they're 19.

And a change to the rule would allow NHL teams to offer more specific, more catered development options for players.

And we know that really well here in Calgary because of Zayn Perrek, the 19 year old drafted out of the OHL.

And therefore he was ineligible to join the Wranglers for more than that two week conditioning stints. It happened in January.

You all likely remember it very vividly. I do too because he was outstanding.

Five points in four games, two goals, three assists, one of them being a game winner and he was scoring at a nearly 17% clip.

So you saw him quarterbacking the power play unit and his confidence was growing.

So certainly one of those stories we will follow going forward in the American League also making waves around the league this week.

The Boston Bruins and taught prospect James Hagen's agreeing to an AHL tryout agreement for the remainder of the season.

If you remember, they picked up the 19 year old forward seventh overall in last year's draft.

23 goals 47 points in 34 games as a junior to lead Boston College in scoring.

And he was absolutely beaming after his first pro practice.

It was fun. It was really exciting being out there, being able to, you know, my first pro practice.

It's, you know, it's definitely something I'll never forget.

What did the last few days been like for you from Friday to this week?

Yeah, you know, honestly it's just that it's been really exciting.

You know, just waiting to see what the next chapter looks like and, you know, now being able to be here.

You know, I couldn't be more excited.

Is there something energizing about having to prove yourself all over here to kind of start?

Yeah, you know, I love it. You know, it's, you know, there's a saying, you know, nothing's given everything there.

And so it's just knowing that, you know, you have to, you have to earn a spot wherever you go.

So it's going out there. It's working your hardest. It's, you know, trying to show everything you've worked for, you know, with you guys off.

The questions of the last, like, 28 to 48 hours for people many times that you get.

Hey, when are you signing? When are you signing?

You know, it was, it was just kind of talking to my family.

Obviously being with my brother, I was super helpful.

I'm the guy that, you know, I can lean on, I can be around.

It was awesome.

You know, it's, it's definitely kind of a hectic couple hours, couple days.

But, you know, it's just, it's great now.

Being here and, you know, it's just getting a few rolling out.

What were your priorities for getting the plan for you?

What did you want to do as you discussed it with the world?

What would be helpful when you come out of it and turn to here?

Turn to.

When you're here, when you're there and developing and so forth.

Yeah.

Just wanting an opportunity, you know, wanting to go out there and show, show your game, you know, you work for this your whole life.

It's to be able to have an opportunity to be able to go after this and play tomorrow night.

It's something that's really special.

Was, was starting here something that you were kind of upward, did that make sense to you?

From development standpoint?

Yeah.

It's, you know, once, once you were, I heard that, you know, I was, I was really open for it.

You know, to create a chance to be able to showcase your game, to be able to, to be a part of a team like this.

You know, to be able to be around a group like this as well.

You know, you can only, you can only learn so much.

So it's so great.

Was there a moment after Friday's game where you were kind of hit you like?

I'm going to be a pro in matters of days or others.

I mean, my, my head wasn't there.

I was really focused on standing in the moment.

You know, obviously it was devastating losing that game.

You know, you never want to have your season and like that.

It was tough, but it was more just, you know, being in the moment, being around, you know, your family.

Being around guys, even around for two years to, to the seniors, where that was their last game as well.

It was, you know, it was tough, it was heartbreaking.

So it's just kind of being in the moment.

What was the music from Green's management coaches about what they want to see from you standing here in problems?

Yeah, just, you know, go out there, give you your all.

You know, they're giving, giving me an opportunity here.

So it's, it's up to me to, to make the most of it.

Was there a conversation about this being kind of a short-term stint at all when you were in discussions about this?

You know, I just, you know, you let agents talk and deal with that stuff.

You know, I just, I want to be able to play hockey and to be able to have this opportunity.

It's something that you just have to try over almost, like I said before.

What would be the case that you made for yourself to, to get a call from?

You know, just hopefully you can go out there and, you know, showing, showing everything you work for,

showcasing your game, trying to be responsible if they're in the coaches' trust.

And that's a big thing if you can get called up.

So you have a small chance with some of the guys out there, who's the reception like?

And was that just to kind of go over with this practice for people to view?

Yeah, you know, I'm super grateful that one of these guys have been so, so accepting to be coming in today.

You know, the second I walk through those doors, they're able to help me out on the areas just having little combos about,

you know, what to expect.

You know, the drill's out there, where to go, what to do.

So something that, you know, I'm super grateful for right now.

It's such a good group of guys in that locker room and to be around it, something that you just have to soak in.

Honestly, what an addition for Providence, a side that's already clinched a playoff for us,

definitely a colder cup favorite.

They'll take the Atlantic will likely take the Eastern Conference should be a good battle with Grand Rapids to game 72.

Okay, let's spend a little bit of time here breaking down the Wrangler's recent three game California road trip.

Their last two plus road stretch of the season.

And it was a weekend back to back Saturday in Bakersfield Sunday in San Diego, some thick travel, a quick turnaround.

The team with one goal losses in both one nothing to the condors five four to the goals.

I appreciated the effort in both games falling just short.

And I think once we have a chance to do a wrap up on the season, digest what's happened.

We'll circle back to the number of one goal losses and just not being able to get over the hump in some of those games.

So their power play let them down in Bakersfield.

Oh, for seven, that includes a five on three.

And that was the story full stop.

You score on one of those and we're having a different conversation right now in San Diego.

Calgary entered the second period down for nothing, but in a span of a minute and a half, three unanswered goals.

Carter King, Clark Bishop, Dryden Hunt, five for the final, but I was just really impressed with the resolve of the group.

They're now leaning into habits that will benefit them come next season.

I was also really happy to see David Cilia get rewarded with some top six minutes.

He's worked hard in a bottom six role, particularly as a center and in the face off dot.

So good to see him elevated.

Also in that game, Etienne Marin took a vicious cross check from behind.

Luckily, he was okay, but it was straight in the numbers from Sam Calangelo.

And he was given a game, this conduct, but the league also handed him a two game suspension as a result of that play.

Then a five, two loss in Coachella Valley to conclude the trip and the results combined with the out of town scoreboard.

So the Wranglers eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since arriving in Calgary.

And obviously this is something will break down more before the season concludes and will have our final Wranglers watch episode.

Now general manager Brad Paskell.

He was a guest on flames talk this week, really good conversation with Pat and Logan quite candid about the Wrangler season.

Well, how would you sum up this season so far and and kind of put into the words the first vote in a five six of this season?

Yeah, I, you know, I think of the last four or five years, you know, I think I think we've done a really good job developing players bringing players up to the flames, have them, you know, as full time players in the NHL lineup.

So I think that's something.

And, you know, I think we built a really good culture and expect to win every night.

And, you know, the Marically you're going to have the ups and downs, right, the uncontrollables of, of, of, of losing players and not having that necessary debt.

And I think we ran into a little bit of that this year.

And which led to, you know, the performance where we're, we're, you know, not in the playoffs this year for the first time in four years.

Hey, so that's, I mean, that's a quick summary of it, but I can tell you that really proud of the job that that Brett Sutter has done.

First year of the helm.

You know, just how organized is what a great communicator.

You know, our effort, night in and night out has been consistently really, really strong.

And, you know, I think just, you know, was losing some key personnel, especially in the back end.

And, you know, not having, you know, above average goal tenning for the most part.

I think, you know, essentially that that's where the team is right now.

And that's, you know, it's just one of those things.

It's, it's one of, as you mentioned, one of those things and some of that key personnel.

To, to essentially lose your, your top pairing from last year.

Because Netsav has been with the, the flames for the vast majority of the season.

Brestevich has been up for a lot of the year too.

You know, Griddens now up with them.

So that takes a big scoring punch out of it.

Cooley has had a great year with the flames and was so good for the Wranglers last year.

Is it, is it one of those situations where, because, because, as we know, as you said to us many, many times,

winning is a big thing. And, and the organization has always felt that winning in the American League is a big part of development.

And yet we're seeing a lot of development successes on the big team this year.

Does, does that make the, the record this season with the Wranglers?

Maybe a, a little easier to swallow because of what you're seeing with some of these players playing in the NHL?

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, that's, I've said a number of times.

I mean, that, that's why it, that's why there's a league.

And that's why you have a team in the league is to, is to get players out of there and playing meaningful minutes in the NHL.

And I think we've done that, you know, through a number of players.

You know, I think we're like 12 or 13 players that have played at both the Wranglers in the NHL team this year.

And, you know, that's what, that's, that's, that's what we're in the business of.

So, you know, really proud of that.

You know, you look at some of the older players that we have in the Wranglers.

Like Marty Firk has 25 goals and tried and hunt for, you know, he's been up and down and dealt with an injury.

I mean, he's, you know, he's at like 1.2 points per game.

You know, arguably the best player in the Pacific division and one of the best players in the American League and,

and know that he can come up and give you depth games as well.

And then, and then progression of some very young guys.

You've seen that sort of the lineup. You mentioned gridden.

You know, of just his success as a young 19 year old player in the American League.

And then, and then having such a, you know, I guess prominent role right now with the NHL team is.

I mean, it's just, it's, it's a lot of pride for the, for the group of the Wranglers for sure.

Um, what, and, and then that same for some of your young players and, and for guys like Suniav or Sergeyev or.

Some of the other young players that are on the team right now, dealing with a little adversity.

What, what can that do for development? Do you think?

Yeah, no, for sure, Pat, it's a learning for these guys.

I mean, you look at a guy like, like Adar Suniav, you know, he has 15 goals.

You know, if you look at the first 12 games of the year, I think he might have had one point, right?

So for him, it was just the transition of moving from college to pro.

Leaving the NHL camp and going to the American League and, you know, disappointment, but wrapping your head around that and then being a pro.

You know, he arguably is one of our, one of us, not the most improved player on the team, right?

So, you know, you love to see that progression in a, in a young player like that.

I mean, this guy can score with the team and an organization that's having trouble scoring.

I mean, these are the types of players that we, that we want to bring along and, and, you know, given him ample opportunity to play power play time and, and five on five and, and just, and learn the pro games.

So, you know, he's the guy that, you know, we'll see where things go in the NHL, with the NHL flamethrower.

Here's the, here's the guy that, you know, might get an opportunity down the stretch and, and, and just give him a little taste going into the summer and going into to next season.

But you're, you're right. I mean, there's, there's been some good progression of guys, you know, even Etienne Moran is a young defenseman, you know, getting regular reps now.

And, and, you know, you see the confidence level of this game, grow every game.

Has yet some learnings that, you know, that he recognizes and we recognize absolutely.

But, you know, I think it in the long run that's going to be better for him.

Want to ask you, because, and, and I know Logan's got some, some, some specific player questions he wants to get into with you.

I want to, you mentioned right off the top that the job that Brett setters down in his first year as a head coach, he talked about his preparation, so on and so forth.

And, and again, with some difficult circumstances and, and at times feels like a different group of players that he's working with on a game-to-game base is just based on some of the, the circumstances this year.

What, what has made Brett such an impressive or what has made this year such an impressive one as a first time head coach for Brett?

What's really jumped off the page to you, Brad?

You know, just as a first year coach, like, he doesn't come off like that.

And I think that just goes with his vast experience as a player playing over a thousand pro games.

And just as knowledge of the game and it's, you know, just a general feel around the room at preparation preparation for practice preparation for games and his meetings, his, his in game bench decisions.

You know, he eludes confidence that you wouldn't normally see from a first year coach.

So that's probably the biggest thing for me is just, you know, leaning on his experience.

You know, obviously with just with his family, his players, but, you know, him as an individual.

You know, I think that is, that's really shown through, through player development with our team this year.

And that, that's what stands out the most for me.

Yeah, we're chatting with Brad Paskel.

He is the AGM and VP of hockey ops of the Calgary Flames and the general manager of the Calgary Wranglers in the American League.

He joined us here on Flames Talk hour two on this Wednesday logo.

Brad, I want to talk to you about the goal tending for your team this year.

And the Wranglers have had some great goal tending in their time in Calgary.

Obviously with Dustin Wolfe in the year that Devon Cooley had last year.

It was a whole new situation for your group this year.

And specifically with Arseny Sergeyev who's gotten a lot of games down the stretch here.

And even before he got hurt, Owen Saye who got a good amount of games in for your team.

How would you have looked back at the season for both of them?

Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, Jordan Siglet is our director of goal tending.

And Mackenzie Scapsky is our Wrangler goalie coach.

Look, these two guys have done a great job of not only bringing in players, but, you know, just working with them.

So, you know, as they mentioned out the top pay, you know, with Saye and Sergeyev,

their young players, first year pros, you know, they had some learning as well.

There's no question.

We, you know, we had some good meetings with them at the start of the year and said, you know, at the end of the day,

we want you to play as many games as possible.

If they're in the America League, if they're in the ECHL, you know, at the end of the day, we don't want you having a year and meeting where you're playing 12 or 15 games on the season.

We're not, yeah, playing 40, 50, 60 games that have meaningful minutes and meaningful development.

So, that's what we've seen, especially from Sergeyev, starting in the America League and now really, you know, leading the charge for us.

And you can see just as Jordan and Mackenzie have worked with them of just, you know, his movements in the nets and, you know, is vastly improved.

And he's the young player work cited about, you know, that we drafted and signed and giving him this opportunity of a good stretch of games is really good.

And Owen say was a creation signing that identified by Jordan Siglett played extremely well and then unfortunately blew his knee out and had had a year and a year ending surgery.

So, you know, not to make excuses, but that, you know, another factor that affected the entire team performances is losing him and then losing close the top for 12 or 15 games during the season as well to injury.

Now, when you're, you know, one of the late season additions to your group has been Brendan Othman, who came over in that trade with the New York Rangers in their organization.

I'm curious what you've made of him. I know that when we've talked to Brett, he's been very impressed with him.

I think he's been one of your best players since putting on the red, white and yellow, Brad, I'm curious how you've seen his time in your organization.

I mean, I have a, I have a long history with him and in not personally, but just watching him, you know, both in junior and then drafted by the Rangers in the first round, watching him play in America, Lincoln Hartford, watching him play in the NHL.

And, you know, I think the intangible he brings is a lot of quite frankly organization we don't have of a player that's dog on a bone hard to play against physical.

But at the same time, you know, can make plays and, you know, I think that, you know, from a management standpoint, pro scouts that, that he was attractive to us of acquiring him and a deal at the deadline, giving him an opportunity to, to be under our roof and, and, and see him up close and see what he's all about.

And, you know, going forward, hopefully he's the long term fit for us, but, you know, I think like, like anybody, when you, whether you change jobs or in this case, change organizations on a hockey team, you know, it's a little bit of learning.

You have excitement, but nervousness and you saw that a little bit with osman, but I think he settled in. We haven't played all situations, power play, PK.

And, you know, another guy, I mean, he's played, he's played a number of NHL games, how's the NHL experience and, you know, we just feel that he's in the right age group and, and bring some intangibles that we don't have necessarily with our, with our prospect group.

And I was going to just add on to that. You mentioned the fact that he's played NHL games with the Rangers organization. I know there's a lot in terms of bodies right now for the team and only so much you can do with recalls.

Would you like to see off and maybe get a look in the NHL before the seasons out?

I would, I would for sure. You know, you see what he does in the NHL and you always want to see. Now, you know, there's a long list of players that I love to see get in the NHL. So it's hard just to single up one or two, but he's definitely one of them.

You know, he's, he's, you know, new to the organization, getting to know him and, you know, of course he'd like to see him not only in the NHL now, but in the NHL.

So, you know, he's a player that, you know, I'll continue to talk to Craig in the management group about yours. We go forward and knowing that we still have a few recalls.

You know, he'll be definitely in the conversation amongst others.

Brett, now you talked about the year for William Stromgren, who's up to 42 points this year, got his first taste of NHL action a couple of months ago, up with the big club for I think it was three games when it was all said and done and then back to to work with your group.

I think, you know, probably on pace to be right about at the same point level he was last year, which can be a big thing for a team that hasn't scored a lot.

How have you sort of liked Williams game this year and what did that call up mean to him?

Like a strong season from William again, deserved his first NHL call up and playing NHL games, you know, was player of the week for, you know, at some point here in the American League and well deserving of that honor.

You know, William, William is like a number of players. It's just working on consistency.

You know, using his speed, being physical, you know, when I say physical, it's not not that he's willing to fight or but it's it's winning puck battles and battling and and being first on the 4 check and hitting players and getting the puck on the 4 check and getting to the net.

And you see that was William time in a time out, you know, and as I mentioned, it's just consistency.

You want to see it every shift, every game, and that's what players learn in the American League, including William in an area that you have to keep folks soon on.

You brought up it's in Moran with Pat a little earlier when you're talking about, you know, some of the amount of guys that have gone up to the NHL this year.

I love the attend situation. It was kind of an interesting one because if you had all the bodies that you had at the beginning of the season, it might have been hard to work.

It's in as much as he's gotten in this year. So is that maybe one of those silver lining things when a guys go up to the NHL or go to different organizations.

There's opportunity around for somebody to pick up those minutes is it's been one of those guys that you've seen do that.

For sure. And it's good, but he needed some time. Like he quite frankly, the first, the first number of games. It was, you know, a little bit overwhelming and a little bit over skis and, you know, that's part of learning and developing too.

But, you know, when we lost solely off of waivers, who's messed up becomes a full time NHL player.

First, it would spend most of the time in the NHL, you know, an opportunity open for him. And, you know, at times he needed to play, play meaningful minutes and games early in the season.

And we sent him to rapid city in the ECHL and we went there with a great attitude knowing that, hey, this is valuable for him and is in his progression as a player.

And, yeah, to, you know, I think he's another guy that, you know, he needs to have a massive summer of training and building the strength, continue to build on it as a young player like all young players, but including himself.

And, but now getting some meaningful minutes here, you know, working the power play and, you know, I think that's, he's going to go into the off season saying, hey, you know, this was good.

Now, now I know what it takes. I know what I got to do to be a full time, but not only a full time pro player, but an impact player. You know, that's the next step for him.

Before I pass it over to Pat to close things out, Brad, I just wanted to ask you for maybe some of the listeners that don't know how important for you is that pipeline between the Wranglers and Rapid City, because we've seen that utilize this year.

Maybe more than we have in a number of seasons for your group.

It's been really good. You know, Dave Smith, the head coach there, came from NCAA college.

First year of coach, so he's figuring out that lead, but we have a great rapport. We talked, you know, probably three, four times a week at least.

Their ownership down there is just awesome.

Spire motor sports that they own a NASCAR team amongst other things, and they're just great individuals, and they treat the players so well.

But from a hockey standpoint, no, it's good. Like, and it's something I, going forward, like, I mentioned off the top.

You know, we did lack some depth. It wasn't like we, you know, we were using players out of the ECHL.

But, you know, I think with our record here lately, it's losing players, the injury losing players to the NHL, which is fantastic.

And that's where we're in the business of, but from the day to day operations, you always want more depth.

And that's something I think will work with them on throughout the off season as well.

And more with Brad Paskell of the flames and Wranglers, just quickly, do we, do we have an update or kind of an updated timeline on when you might get Rory Karen's back with you? How's that progressing, Brad?

It's progressing really well. Rory's from practicing with the team the last number of days. He's at the cusp of returning.

And, you know, I, I fingers crossed sooner than later. Does that mean it's going to be this weekend for the home games on Friday, Sunday, perhaps.

He's not playing tonight in Coachella, but, you know, I see him returning for sure before the end of the season, but the hope is sooner than later.

Okay. Okay. That is good news and appreciate that. And last question for you. And, you know, logo Astia about a guy like Hoffman, potentially getting recalled.

He's a little bit about Suniev and maybe an opportunity for him down the road. You know, you've got, you've got yourself and, and your coaching staff.

Obviously, you've got Craig and the rest of the management staff. I'm really curious whether, whether it's now or earlier in the season, kind of what the process is like when, you know, when you all come together and, and make the decision as to what player is going to get recalled or what players are going to get that opportunity even going back to game 82 of last season.

What, what, what is that process like Brad and, and how does the, the group come together to come up with that decision ultimately?

Yeah, good, good questions. You know, ultimately, as a management group, I feel we work really, really well together.

Good communication. I mean, ultimately Craig is the general manager and, and he'll make the final call. He comes to a number of Wranglers games when, when, you know, when he's in town and the flames are in town.

Him and I have regular dialogue about who's playing well, who's developing, who deserves the call up. So I think that's probably the first step is just myself and him chatting about how things and, like I said, he's, he's about the games as well.

He's the first hand getting that information, you know, to him and then, and then really talking as a group of maybe what we need if there's a specific position.

We're looking for a right when you're a right shop player versus a left shop player.

And then, and then who are the top candidates? Not so that's, you know, in season, it's just really good communication and just, you know, being honest of, you know, I think we like to reward people as well of who's, who's deserving.

And I think we've shown that we've done that players that are deserving. I mentioned William Stromgren of his play of, you know, there was, it was obvious that if we needed to call somebody up, even if we didn't, he deserved to call up.

So that's, you know, I think you want to reward people that deserve it.

And then, you know, at times you want to reward people that deserve it, but also you want to, hey, they're playing well or they've had a good stretcher.

It'd be interesting to see how they do at the NHL level for a few games. And, you know, I think we might see that down the stretch with a number of people and, you know, we've seen it throughout the year. And I think that's, you know, that's all part of why you have an NHL team, especially in your city.

To be able to see your prospects at the highest level. And, you know, I think we've done a really good job with that. And, you know, I know that's a mandate for Craig.

And in our entire management group. So, um, but that's really the process. It's just really good communication.

So that's Wrangler's GM Brad Paskel on Flames Talk with Patton Logan, a lot to digest. Brad mentioning the team's lack of depth, no above average goaltending for most of the season, but he did mention he's really proud of the work that Brett Sutter has done as a first year head coach.

Sunday's Puck Drop versus the Eagles, 1 o'clock right here on SportsNet 960, the fan, the team celebrating the next generation. So Matt Coronado, player pins.

And you'll see the youth Jersey, which is designed by seven year old Avaly. They'll be auctioned off with net proceeds going to Ava's charity of choice, which happens to be the Calgary Humane Society, all of your ticket information up on the Wranglers website.

Also, before we wrap it up, I want to thank Colorado Eagles assistant coach Kim Weiss for joining us in the first half of the show for an outstanding conversation.

For Wrangler's Watch on SportsNet 960, the fan, I'm Sandra Prussina. Please enjoy the rest of your weekend.