Never Far from Home

Bryan Smith began playing hockey a little later in life, but was able to catch up quick. We talk about his journey through his playing days, through his short stint as a seasonal employee enjoying th…

Brent Pearson began skating from the age of two. He was born into a family of hockey players and figure skaters, as his mom was on the ice at high levels of figure, and his father was a hockey guy. I…

Kam Fink began playing roller hockey, and within a few years had transitioned to ice. We step through his journey, including a couple tough years in Peewee, all the way through his college days. Like…

Kaitlyn Shrode started skating around six years old. She is the younger of the Shrode sisters, and tells many stories of growing up in the hockey household she did. Her tales span youth time spent in…

Taylor Shrode began playing hockey when she was ten. She fell in love with the game a few years later when she started traveling for a team on the Front Range of Colorado. She talks about her trip th…

Bobby Davis began playing hockey around nine or ten. He shares tales from a young age of the impact his mom and dad had on him, not just on the ice, but in life. He was well travelled in the game by …

Nicco Cardarelli began playing hockey early in his childhood. He gathered rather quickly that it would not lead him to the NHL as a player, but he accepted this, and found a love of the game amidst t…

Kyle Hayton began playing hockey when he was seven. He found more of a pssion for the game around twelve, and pursued his dreams of playing professionally. His journey took him through many stops, an…

In the first ever State of Hockey Address, Mike Cochran returns to the show, as we talk about what the first one hundred episodes have done. There is a recap, touching on some of the favorite episode…

Sheldon Randell grew up in Newfoundland, and was started skating at a very early age. His dad was a big influencer in his hockey, and he shares some fantastic stories about the many car rides he had …

Paul Podkulski became involved with hockey as a fan as a young child. He grew up in upstate New York, but because of family, he was a Flyers fan. We go through his fandom, and how he eventually found…

On a special edition of the pod, I am joined by two figure skaters to tell some great stories. Alex and Michelle Aiken chat about their respective time growing up within the figure skating world, and…

Dajon Mingo began his journey in the rink on figure skates. He participated in that capacity from 5-7, then found himself in hockey. He talks about his journey from his time in the youth leagues of M…

Laura Belluccia was a figure skater in her younger days when she grew up near Tampa. She got into a few of her favorite memories from her younger time, but our conversation quickly led to her current…

Kevin Gintoli began playing around nine, and it was my pleasure to talk to him. Our conversation spanned his days playing competitively at the youth level, through his time in the beer leagues, where…

Jimi Drinkall began playing hockey in his twenties, after attending a professional game in his local rink. He loved the physical side of the game, and found himself a home with the Ice tigers within …

Garrett Gintoli was born in to the hockey life. He talks about his first experiences within the rink, and gets in to his other timeline impacts. This one went a little off the rails, but was a fantas…

Michele Gintoli began playing at the same time as two of her brothers, and quickly was drawn in to love the game of hockey. She talks about her storyline, which includes girls teams in her youth days…

Peter Gintoli began playing when he was four. His family all jumped in to the sport, and the four kids playing was the first introduction that mom and dad had to the hockey scene. Things progressed f…