Latest / Inside Cyclones Hockey / Bryton Thaxton Joins The Pod To Talk Clones Upcoming Series vs. Woodsmen

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Bryton Thaxton Joins The Pod To Talk Clones Upcoming Series vs. Woodsmen · Inside Cyclones Hockey

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1:40
SPEAKER_03: Hello, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of the Inside Cyclones Hockey Podcast.
1:47
SPEAKER_03: I'm your host, Mark Robinson, bringing you another weekly episode of everything going on in the world of Wassa Cyclones Hockey.
1:57
SPEAKER_03: We got another great episode for you this week.
2:06
SPEAKER_03: We don't have a home game for a few weeks here, but we've got a lot of exciting things going on at Marathon Park to look forward to.
2:14
SPEAKER_03: Some exciting promotions coming up here soon.
2:17
SPEAKER_03: We're going to break them all down.
2:18
SPEAKER_03: We're going to get everything all previewed and set up with Zach.
2:22
SPEAKER_03: Zach, how are you?
2:23
SPEAKER_03: How are things?
2:30
SPEAKER_04: I'm doing good.
2:30
SPEAKER_04: Looking forward to getting back uh to Marathon Park for the for our fans to see our team again.
2:36
SPEAKER_04: As obviously you said there's a long 35-day to um break between hockey here.
2:41
SPEAKER_04: So a lot of uh obviously for me for a lot of planning for the upcoming season of what's uh what's gonna be happening, but uh looking forward to getting people back here soon uh on Black Friday.
2:53
SPEAKER_03: Yep, it's uh it's the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, as Zach mentioned, that uh we'll see the Cyclones home at Marathon Park next.
3:02
SPEAKER_03: Uh in the meantime, they'll play uh the Wisconsin Woodsman this coming weekend at the Toma Ice Center.
3:08
SPEAKER_03: They'll go to St.
3:09
SPEAKER_03: Louis the following weekend to play the St.
3:12
SPEAKER_03: Louis Junior Blues, uh, and then the next two games on the schedule following that November 14th, November 15th slate is that Black Friday, and then the following Saturday, November 27th and 28th, uh, versus the Rochester Grizzlies.
3:27
SPEAKER_03: Uh so the opponent that the Cyclones faced last, uh a narrow 5-4 loss for Wassa.
3:35
SPEAKER_03: They'll be back in the building back at Marathon Park to face them.
3:38
SPEAKER_03: Uh, but some hockey ahead, but uh we're gonna preview and put the eyes more on what's coming up in November at home.
3:49
SPEAKER_03: Um, obviously those two big divisional weekend pre-weekend series will be big, but keeping our eyes more on when we'll have home fans back in the building, like we mentioned on the those two days after Thanksgiving.
4:02
SPEAKER_03: Uh so Zach, just want to turn it over to you, kind of give fans the opportunity to to picture and preview what uh what promotional stuff we've got going on on those Friday and Saturday games and what uh what local fans can look forward to.
4:15
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, so for our game on Black Friday, Friday, November 27th, that's gonna be one of only two family nights this year presented by our friends at Festival Foods.
4:27
SPEAKER_04: Um where our family nights are historically.
4:30
SPEAKER_04: Uh they've been really, really popular, and uh what they uh what fans receive on those games is the ability to save up to 20% on tickets um at the game on November 27th.
4:44
SPEAKER_04: Um that is one, like I said, one of only two games that we reduce prices on tickets specifically.
4:51
SPEAKER_04: Um so if you want to save a little bit of money before the holiday season, great opportunity.
4:56
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, if you have family in town for the Thanksgiving holiday, we get a always historically a really good crowd for both of these games.
5:05
SPEAKER_04: Um obviously that's doing part two that uh as well.
5:10
SPEAKER_04: So join us on uh November 27th, and then um if you can't make that game on the 28th on Saturday night, it's gonna be our clones, draw things, sports pack giveaway banner that's gonna go to the first 250 fans for that game.
5:27
SPEAKER_04: Uh as always a quick reminder, uh, because I know some people can uh get it convoluted sometimes as doors open for the giveaway game one hour prior to um so six ten p.m.
5:42
SPEAKER_04: for that Saturday, November 28th game, as you know, Mark.
5:47
SPEAKER_04: Um the fans in lost are passionate.
5:50
SPEAKER_04: That means they show up at uh 4 4 30.
5:54
SPEAKER_04: 6 10 p.m.
5:55
SPEAKER_04: Um doors opening 2 fans.
5:58
SPEAKER_04: So get there early.
6:00
SPEAKER_04: Uh a good um advice that I always offer fans are maybe asking about that.
6:06
SPEAKER_04: Hey, when if you get there, make sure I get it.
6:08
SPEAKER_04: Or the giveaway that's in 250 corny.
6:11
SPEAKER_04: Um for that one, I would make sure that you're there um no later than 615.
6:16
SPEAKER_04: Um, if you want to make sure to get that giveaway item um for that game.
6:22
SPEAKER_04: So a lot of things kept coming.
6:24
SPEAKER_04: Um, the other thing I want to preview too that um I don't have the details for you quite yet, so we'll have those in some upcoming episodes.
6:31
SPEAKER_04: But that weekend as well, we'll have a Black Friday merch sale going on.
6:35
SPEAKER_04: So that's always a really popular merchandise weekend, obviously, for us.
6:39
SPEAKER_04: Um, to get all these cyclones here, but we'll uh release those details here in the coming weeks on on the podcast um for fans to um be aware of what's going on that weekend on merchandise.
6:51
SPEAKER_03: Awesome.
6:51
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, absolutely.
6:53
SPEAKER_03: Uh as usual, you can get your tickets at loss of cyclones.com slash tickets for either one of these two home games that are coming up here, like I mentioned, uh, not for a few weeks, but still definitely stuff to look forward to.
7:08
SPEAKER_03: Family night, always a good time having people with the ability to save some money on tickets, come out and enjoy some hockey.
7:16
SPEAKER_03: Uh, and then a clones drawstring sports pack giveaway.
7:19
SPEAKER_03: Uh, nothing like getting all these cool items.
7:22
SPEAKER_03: We've we've joked in the past, Zach, uh, I think more so last year, but you know, now as good a time as ever to bring it up as we almost, which is crazy to think, hit the halfway mark.
7:32
SPEAKER_03: But always curious, you know, if there's any fans out there who can get their hands on every single physical giveaway item, you know, whether it's the bobbleheads, the hats, the jerseys, the shirts, uh, the magnet schedules, all the different stuff.
7:47
SPEAKER_03: Uh so if you're trying to, you know, really take advantage of being able to come to a Cyclones game at home and you want to make sure you get your hands on one of the clones drawstring sports pack, which this is the first time I've seen, I've seen this item.
7:59
SPEAKER_03: I'm almost certain we didn't give something like this away last year.
8:03
SPEAKER_03: Um so if you want to get your hands on something awesome like that, make sure you get there with ample time prior to puck drop doors open at 610.
8:12
SPEAKER_03: Uh so getting there, like Zach said, right around the the 6'10, 615 sweet spot is uh is best practice.
8:20
SPEAKER_03: Uh and something else to keep in mind by the time these games roll around.
8:25
SPEAKER_03: Can't pull the card and say, you know, come come wait in the in the lovely, beautiful weather for for a uh a clones drawstring sports pack.
8:36
SPEAKER_03: Probably gonna be a little bit chillier come end of November, but uh doesn't mean you can't bundle up and put some warm clothes on, come spend uh Thanksgiving or the weekend after Thanksgiving, that is watching some Psy clones hockey.
8:50
SPEAKER_03: Uh and then last thing, last thing I'll say on all this, which it's crazy to even think that this is the case.
8:56
SPEAKER_03: Uh, we also do have a very home heavy schedule for the latter half of the NA3HL season.
9:03
SPEAKER_03: But these two games that we're talking about, the 27th and 28th, that's just two of four games left in the year of 2026.
9:11
SPEAKER_03: We won't get too much into detail on what's going on in December, but there's two more games in December following the 27th and the 28th games in November.
9:20
SPEAKER_03: So we've only got four home contests left in the year 2026.
9:24
SPEAKER_03: So make sure that you're getting out and you're enjoying hockey uh for the remainder of the year before we roll into 2027.
9:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, no doubt.
9:34
SPEAKER_04: I mean, uh it's kind of crazy.
9:36
SPEAKER_04: I know I think you even mentioned earlier, uh, there's about half of our games that have been played, but only four home games.
9:42
SPEAKER_04: So for me, a lot of cyclones hockey, and I know for people here in Wassau specifically.
9:48
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, when the weather turns bad as we get in December, um, obviously it's comforting uh for them to know that uh there's something to do on a Friday or Saturday night in Wausau.
9:58
SPEAKER_04: Um we're happy to provide that.
10:00
SPEAKER_04: So um I know I'll schedule a pickup.
10:03
SPEAKER_04: Um, I know I've heard it from some people about the light schedule early on, but uh that's just it is what it is, and um you know what that all that means is we're gonna have a lot more coming uh later on in the year.
10:16
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
10:17
SPEAKER_03: Uh but for now, even though we've got tons and tons of home games to look forward to in 2027, still some away games that we've got to keep our eye on, which Cyclones fans can always stream and watch on NATV.
10:31
SPEAKER_03: Uh but time flies with this season, as you guys know.
10:35
SPEAKER_03: We you know, we always talk about how quickly it flies by.
10:37
SPEAKER_03: Uh, in the blink of an eye, we're gonna be celebrating Thanksgiving with our friends and family.
10:41
SPEAKER_03: And then what better way to have some post-Thanksgiving activities than come out for hockey on Friday, the 27th of November for Family Night, presented by Festival Foods, and Saturday, the 28th of November for the Clones Drawstrings Sports Pack giveaway presented by banter.
10:59
SPEAKER_03: Zach, you got anything else for us?
11:01
SPEAKER_03: No, that's up.
11:02
SPEAKER_03: Go clones.
11:03
SPEAKER_03: All right, sounds good.
11:04
SPEAKER_03: One more reminder get your tickets at wastacyclones.com slash tickets.
11:08
SPEAKER_03: And in the meantime, make sure you're staying up to date and keeping an eye on the cyclones in their away contests as they gear up to play the Wisconsin Woodsman this coming weekend and the St.
11:20
SPEAKER_03: Louis Junior Blues the following weekend.
11:22
SPEAKER_03: All right, we're gonna kick it to break here on the Inside Cyclones Hockey Podcast, hear from all of our partners that make this podcast possible, and we'll return shortly.
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13:15
SPEAKER_03: Welcome back to the Inside Cyclones Hockey Podcast.
13:18
SPEAKER_03: Thanks so much for letting us take a pause here from all of our wonderful sponsors.
13:23
SPEAKER_03: And it was worth the wait because we've got an unbelievable interview for this week's episode of the Pod.
13:29
SPEAKER_03: A right shot forward originally from Gaylord, Michigan, who tallied 43 points in his final year of high school hockey with Gay Lord High School.
13:40
SPEAKER_03: Currently in his first year with the Wassa Cyclones, he has four goals and three assists for seven points, playing a pivotal role in the success of the team so far this year.
13:50
SPEAKER_03: I am absolutely pleased to welcome Brighton Thaxton to the Inside Cyclones Hockey Podcast.
13:55
SPEAKER_03: Brighton, thank you so much for joining me.
13:57
SPEAKER_03: How are you, man?
13:59
SPEAKER_02: I'm doing great.
14:00
SPEAKER_02: I couldn't be better.
14:00
SPEAKER_02: I'm having a blast this year.
14:02
SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having me, Mark.
14:03
SPEAKER_03: Absolutely, man.
14:04
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we're we're uh we're stoked to get you on the pod.
14:06
SPEAKER_03: And, you know, hearing from some of the newer guys this year who I, you know, didn't get to know last year because you know, you guys weren't here, and then it's awesome to you know get to learn all these new stories and hear about all these different sorts of hockey careers.
14:22
SPEAKER_03: That's a that's a big uh it's a big perk of getting to do this podcast job.
14:27
SPEAKER_03: It's super awesome.
14:28
SPEAKER_03: Um, well, cool, man.
14:29
SPEAKER_03: Uh yeah, I got a lot, a lot I want to talk to you about in terms of just the cyclones, where you guys are at as a team this year.
14:35
SPEAKER_03: Uh, but before we get into that, uh, I just want to get to know you a little bit uh as a person, as a hockey player.
14:41
SPEAKER_03: Um, so you're from Michigan, you've lived there for sounds like basically your entire life.
14:48
SPEAKER_03: Um I just want to know how you ended up in a pair of skates for the first time.
14:52
SPEAKER_03: How did you get into hockey?
14:55
SPEAKER_03: How did you start playing?
14:56
SPEAKER_03: Where did your hockey journey begin?
15:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh yeah, so I started skating around two, three years old.
15:04
SPEAKER_01: You know, it all started out with my dad.
15:06
SPEAKER_01: I think a lot that's where a lot of players start out, is probably with your dad.
15:09
SPEAKER_01: And um I just started out might hockey and and uh the IP program in Gaylord, Michigan, and kind of grew up there, and that's kind of where I started out.
15:20
SPEAKER_03: Well, I feel like everybody starts all sorts of different sports at a young age, whether it be, you know, everybody goes through the soccer phase, everybody will play like flag football at some point.
15:31
SPEAKER_03: Uh as a young kid, you know, for me at least, and from a lot of the people I've talked to, you kind of you kind of play everything.
15:37
SPEAKER_03: You kind of get a feel for everything.
15:39
SPEAKER_03: But but at one point you do kind of have to narrow it down.
15:42
SPEAKER_03: You have to you have to pick the sports that you're passionate about, you have to pick the ones that you want to pour, you know, time, physical, mental effort into.
15:50
SPEAKER_03: And if you're taking it seriously enough, you have to pour enough time into the ones that you want to maybe take to the next level.
15:57
SPEAKER_03: Uh, and it seems like that's hockey for you.
16:00
SPEAKER_03: So at what point, you know, growing up, going through the process of playing mites, you know, getting better, getting into high school hockey, at what point did you realize and make the connection in your head that that hockey was not just something that you you know you tried and did, it was something that you were passionate about and that you wanted to take seriously?
16:19
SPEAKER_01: Uh yeah.
16:20
SPEAKER_01: So I just kind of think, you know, it's something I was just always around.
16:23
SPEAKER_01: Um I had an uncle that played in the North American League.
16:27
SPEAKER_01: Uh my my papa growing up, he was a coach, my dad played all growing up, and I think it was just something I was always around, and you know, it's kind of just always what I heard too.
16:37
SPEAKER_01: So um I think just that being said, um I think it was more so kind of being forced into it in the beginning for sure.
16:47
SPEAKER_01: And then uh I kind of just started to fall in love with it.
16:50
SPEAKER_03: And some sometimes the you know, being forced into it kind of works in your favor because you just you know you keep you keep doing it, you keep engulfing yourself in the culture of it, and and that you know ends up working out obviously really well for you because flash forward to now, you're playing juniors just like you know your dad and you know other people that are important to you and your family, which is uh which is super cool.
17:13
SPEAKER_03: Um all right, so moving through the uh moving through just the the progression of your career, uh high school hockey is obviously you know a pivotal moment for young guys like you.
17:25
SPEAKER_03: You have to, you know, you have to take it seriously and play well if you want to get to a point where you can take hockey to the next level and be in the position that you are in currently right now, which is playing juniors.
17:36
SPEAKER_03: Uh, and it seems like you did a pretty solid job at that.
17:39
SPEAKER_03: Uh in 20 in your 2021-22 season, you tallied eight points in 18 games, and then those numbers just exploded from there.
17:47
SPEAKER_03: 38 points uh during that 2022-23 season and then 2023-24, um, 43 points, 27 goals.
17:56
SPEAKER_03: Uh, what about high school hockey?
17:59
SPEAKER_03: You know, did you learn about yourself?
18:01
SPEAKER_03: Did you learn about your game?
18:02
SPEAKER_03: And I guess what's the story behind seeing those numbers progress so much uh throughout your time uh playing at Gaylord High?
18:10
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think a lot of it is just, you know, it's a wake-up call for sure.
18:15
SPEAKER_01: Um I played uh house hockey growing up, up until high school, so that freshman year definitely smacked me in the face a little bit.
18:23
SPEAKER_01: Um just the speed, the pace, you know, the the decision making, all of that.
18:27
SPEAKER_01: I just wasn't really ready for it.
18:29
SPEAKER_01: But I mean, we had a great uh group of upperclassmen and just like being able to to just learn off them and experience that kind of um that kind of level of play.
18:39
SPEAKER_01: I think it definitely prepared me better for my sophomore season, and that's that's kind of where I just was able to take the jump.
18:46
SPEAKER_01: I think I did a lot of work in that offseason as well, just like um just learning how to prepare myself a little better for those games.
18:55
SPEAKER_01: And uh yeah, I think I just found um kind of an i identity there.
19:00
SPEAKER_03: That's awesome.
19:01
SPEAKER_03: And that's uh that's an interesting time of in life in general, too, because you know, you're learning a lot about yourself.
19:07
SPEAKER_03: You're kind of choosing and figuring out, you know, what you want to come after high school, you know, is it college, is it, is it juniors, is it going straight into the workforce?
19:16
SPEAKER_03: There's there's all sorts of decisions that you have to make, you know, whether it's hockey or not.
19:21
SPEAKER_03: Um with that in mind, uh similar to the question I asked in terms of like if there was a pivotal moment growing up when you realized hockey was something you wanted to take seriously, was there ever a moment uh during high school, like a specific moment in time that you remember uh clicked for you where you decided that you wanted to do do juniors, that you wanted to keep playing hockey at a at a high competitive level?
19:44
SPEAKER_03: Uh and then I mean, if you don't have like an exact moment in your mind, uh I guess just more general, like what made you uh and prompted you to decide to to to play junior hockey?
19:56
SPEAKER_01: Um I kinda I think I just always kind of wanted to play as far as I could.
20:02
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I think as a kid we all kind of have that dream of playing in the NHL.
20:06
SPEAKER_01: So um that was just always kind of the dream and the goal.
20:10
SPEAKER_01: I mean uh now I think the goal is I just want to play college hockey.
20:16
SPEAKER_01: And you know, obviously taking the next step would is junior, so that's I'm here now, and um but as far as like something that really just flipped the switch for me, um it's not high school, but uh I lost my dad when I was 11 and um it definitely kind of forces you to to grow up a little quicker than most.
20:43
SPEAKER_01: And um I just started uh thinking like ahead of time and um the decision was you know, do I want to just go work or do I do I um wanna keep playing hockey and see where that takes me?
21:00
SPEAKER_01: So I think ultimately um I just kind of chose the the hockey path, you know, it's kind of just all all that I knew and it's what I it's what I knew the best.
21:10
SPEAKER_01: So I'm just trying to fulfill that.
21:13
SPEAKER_03: That that's really cool, man.
21:15
SPEAKER_03: I'm I'm I'm really sorry to hear that about about your dad, and that's that's a really hard thing to go through for anybody, especially uh, you know, at the age that you did.
21:24
SPEAKER_03: Um so yeah, really, really sorry to hear that.
21:27
SPEAKER_03: And it it's you know, it's it's it's always cool to see somebody take a tragedy in life and you know turn it into something that is driving them and and motivating them and making them passionate about something.
21:42
SPEAKER_03: And it seems like that's it seems like that's where some of your drive and passion is coming from for wanting to keep pursuing hockey and for wanting to be you know involved in the sport for as long as you can.
21:53
SPEAKER_03: So that's that's really inspiring.
21:55
SPEAKER_03: That's that's really cool.
21:58
SPEAKER_03: Uh so moving on.
22:00
SPEAKER_03: On from high school hockey, uh, you obviously ended up with the Cyclones.
22:07
SPEAKER_03: What was the process?
22:09
SPEAKER_03: What was the story behind deciding you wanted to play juniors and then going and actually finding the teams that you wanted to be a part of, and then narrowing it down to whatever the decision was for you, and then landing in Wassa.
22:22
SPEAKER_03: What was that whole process like for you?
22:24
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so uh last year I played for the Sioux Indians up in Sault Ste.
22:29
SPEAKER_01: Marie, Michigan, and um I was affiliated with the Sioux Eagles.
22:33
SPEAKER_01: Um I got called up for a couple games and I was there for playoffs.
22:39
SPEAKER_01: Um so I I knew I wanted to play junior hockey then, just I knew it was for me.
22:45
SPEAKER_01: I I fit in and it I just had so much fun.
22:49
SPEAKER_01: So um I uh Taylor Carey, our goalie coach here, um, he's from the same hometown as me.
22:55
SPEAKER_01: I've always kind of had tabs with him here and um so I kinda I kinda um just heard about Oisea as well.
23:06
SPEAKER_01: Um Oisy got me a camp invite to Houston.
23:09
SPEAKER_01: I ended up just going to a uh the Windigo camp and you know I didn't make it, but I think that kind of just drove me.
23:18
SPEAKER_01: And I I wanted to, you know, come here, develop, and uh see where that takes me.
23:26
SPEAKER_03: I've I've never played for Oisty, because I've never played hockey in the first place, but he just has such contagious energy.
23:34
SPEAKER_03: He he he rubs he rubs off on um he rubs off on people in such a in such an inspiring way.
23:42
SPEAKER_03: I mean, it happened to me.
23:43
SPEAKER_03: Um it was pretty cool.
23:45
SPEAKER_03: So that's that's awesome.
23:47
SPEAKER_03: And you know, those connections are you know they're important in getting you to the places that you need to be, and you know, utilizing a connection like Taylor Carey, where you guys are able to level on the fact that you're from the same town and stuff like that.
24:01
SPEAKER_03: That's that's super cool.
24:02
SPEAKER_03: And it, you know, it seems like going and doing those knoll camps too, it it got you right where you needed to be for uh for this season, which which segues perfectly into what I want to talk about next, which is you this season.
24:12
SPEAKER_03: You're you're having a pretty solid start uh for your first year of junior hockey, four goals, three assists, seven points.
24:18
SPEAKER_03: Uh before we talk about your actual play and how how things are going out on the ice for you, what was the transition like from uh playing for the Sioux Indians and playing high school hockey to moving up to the NA3?
24:30
SPEAKER_03: Uh I always love hearing about what that transition is like because it because it's a it's a significant jump from my understanding, moving up to to junior hockey.
24:38
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, definitely.
24:39
SPEAKER_01: Uh that first game we had against Peoria was definitely a wake-up call for sure.
24:45
SPEAKER_01: Um, I wasn't aware of how heavy a play was gonna be.
24:48
SPEAKER_01: So I definitely got uh put on my butt there a couple times in the first couple shifts.
24:53
SPEAKER_01: And um after that first game, I kind of started to get a little more comfortable, just you know, just realizing how much more time I actually have.
25:00
SPEAKER_01: And um in that sense, just um it's just a lot heavier of a game for sure.
25:07
SPEAKER_01: And um I think after the first couple games, I started to get in my groove and started to find my place and my role and started to fulfill that, and uh I think that kind of just leads to right here.
25:21
SPEAKER_03: That's awesome, that's super cool.
25:23
SPEAKER_03: Um, and how how do you feel about about your game and the way that you're you know playing out on the ice on a nightly basis, uh, you know, considering partly the stats that you've put up, but also just reflecting on the 16 games in general.
25:39
SPEAKER_03: Like I think, I think there's a lot to say about um, you know, if there's nights that guys can you know not necessarily have a big scoring night, but make an impact out on the ice.
25:50
SPEAKER_03: Uh so I guess just I'll leave it as open-ended as possible.
25:53
SPEAKER_03: How do you feel about your game and your skill level through 16 games played?
25:58
SPEAKER_01: Um, there's definitely been growing pains, that's for sure.
26:01
SPEAKER_01: Um, I find that um when I'm at my best game, I can I can make a pretty big uh impact.
26:09
SPEAKER_01: I mean pretty pretty big asset.
26:12
SPEAKER_01: I um I do know that um I just have to stay engaged.
26:18
SPEAKER_01: Um when I'm engaged and I'm just always looking at the next play.
26:22
SPEAKER_01: That's when I'm at my best game.
26:24
SPEAKER_01: And you know, when I play physically, I know that um I can just help my pla I can help my team uh all 200 feet.
26:32
SPEAKER_03: So yeah, and kind of like the last question that I asked you, and you know, you kind of touched on it perfectly.
26:39
SPEAKER_03: Physicality is one of the most important aspects of playing at this specific level, just because guys are out there giving it their all for however many minutes they're out on the ice, and just teams in general are giving 110% physical effort for 60 minutes of hockey.
26:54
SPEAKER_03: Uh, it's it's a it's a no-joke amount of fight and physicality out there in terms of this league.
27:01
SPEAKER_03: So uh that's a big that's a big thing to understand.
27:03
SPEAKER_03: And you know, for someone like you that's playing your first year juniors to already understand that is um is really crucial.
27:10
SPEAKER_03: So that's that's awesome.
27:12
SPEAKER_03: Um moving things over to more of a a team-driven conversation.
27:17
SPEAKER_03: You guys are 16 games played, eight wins, seven losses, one OT loss.
27:23
SPEAKER_03: You have seven points, and you're pretty, or 17 points, excuse me, and you're pretty much sitting right in the middle of the pack of the central division.
27:29
SPEAKER_03: Uh Rochester, Wisconsin, and West Bend, who have um notoriously been solid teams over the last few years, uh are not too far in front of you.
27:40
SPEAKER_03: Uh, and then you know, you guys comfortably sit in front of teams like St.
27:44
SPEAKER_03: Louis and Fox Cities, and it's a close, it's a close spot for that four five with uh Wassa and Peoria.
27:50
SPEAKER_03: What what do you what do you feel you know is worth noting and mentioning and discussing when it comes to this team?
27:56
SPEAKER_03: What are your overall thoughts on this group, this team, what you guys have accomplished and what you're gonna be able to accomplish moving forward?
28:04
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, I think this is probably one of the more special groups I've been a part of in my career.
28:09
SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, we're just so close.
28:11
SPEAKER_01: We're all um for the most part around the same page.
28:14
SPEAKER_01: You know, when we get on the ice, we have one thing in mind, and that's when we just want to go out there, punch them in the throat, take their game, and just shove it right at them.
28:23
SPEAKER_01: So I think I think uh what we all have in common is we just want to win.
28:28
SPEAKER_01: And um in my past I haven't won a ton.
28:32
SPEAKER_01: So I'm just really eager for that trophy.
28:35
SPEAKER_01: Um I came here because I wanted to win.
28:38
SPEAKER_01: And it's not guaranteed, you always gotta work for it, but I think with the drive and the the dedication and the motivation that we all have, um we can really get something done.
28:49
SPEAKER_03: For sure.
28:50
SPEAKER_03: And and you're so right in that there is a winning culture within this organization.
28:55
SPEAKER_03: That there's you know, turnover every year, whether it be coaches or players, like a guy like Oisty gets to go up to the knoll.
29:02
SPEAKER_03: You see a lot of guys either age out of any three and go play in college, or you know, guys, it's as simple as just get bumped up to the next level and go play in the knall.
29:13
SPEAKER_03: Uh, but what I'm getting at is there's always enough of a core that continues to move through the years and pass on that winning culture.
29:22
SPEAKER_03: And it's been here enough to the point where you guys are on like a pretty significant streak of making the playoffs.
29:28
SPEAKER_03: You're always you're always in the playoffs, which um, which is something that's it's super important.
29:33
SPEAKER_03: And it, you know, it matters to be consistently in that spot, and it makes a difference for a you know a team that has to get through, you know, a long season playing against really tough divisional opponents, and and that's a that's a really important thing to consider.
29:46
SPEAKER_03: Um when you look at the the season so far, the 16 games that you guys played, um, it didn't get off to the greatest start.
29:56
SPEAKER_03: I think you guys lost five of your first six games.
30:00
SPEAKER_03: Um, and then you started to find kind of find your groove, things started to maybe dial in a little bit more, and then now you're, I mean, winning record.
30:11
SPEAKER_03: You guys have won the majority of your last few games, minus the most recent one versus um Rochester.
30:19
SPEAKER_03: But what was the what what kind of clicked for the for the team in your eyes?
30:24
SPEAKER_03: Like, what was the turning point in your opinion that allowed you guys to kind of get under your skates a little bit and start winning games?
30:30
SPEAKER_03: Like, what was that moment in your head where you guys were able to kind of figure out what you needed to do to win as a team?
30:36
SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, I just kind of I think we kind of just got fed up, honestly.
30:41
SPEAKER_01: We don't like that L.
30:43
SPEAKER_01: And um we we had a a big discussion as a team that you know we can say it's good, but in until we we change it ourselves, you know, it's not so um I think we all just really came together as a team and we're bearing down and we're just doing the little things and consistency is the word for this, I'd say.
31:05
SPEAKER_03: I like that consistency's consistency is key, uh, especially with a season like the NA3 where you're facing the same opponents, you know, so to say, throughout the majority of the year, minus some one-off schedule anomalies here and there where you play like you know, a Minnesota team uh that's not in the central division, you're seeing these teams pretty frequently and you're getting familiar with them.
31:30
SPEAKER_03: So finding that consistency and finding what works with your guys' game and your guys' style of hockey, as well as being able to know your opponent, I think that's that's crucial.
31:40
SPEAKER_03: And you know, for somebody like me who's following the team and keeping an eye on that, I feel like that's a trend uh that I'm significantly noticing.
31:49
SPEAKER_03: Um looking ahead to the weekend series, I want to ask you about playing the Wisconsin Woodsman.
31:58
SPEAKER_03: Uh, this episode will release Friday morning.
32:01
SPEAKER_03: We're recording uh the day prior, but for people listening, uh, this game puck drops tonight at uh 7.15 Central, and then you guys play him again Saturday, 7.15 Central as well.
32:13
SPEAKER_03: Two away games.
32:14
SPEAKER_03: What are some of the keys in your eyes to getting off to a hot start against uh a Wisconsin Woodsman team that, like I mentioned, is second in the standings, uh, but not too far ahead of you guys.
32:25
SPEAKER_03: They're 9-4-1 with 19 points, and they've actually played two less games.
32:30
SPEAKER_03: What are some of the keys in your in your mind to get a good to get a good weekend of hockey out of playing against Wisconsin?
32:36
SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, uh, I mean, we've already beat these guys.
32:40
SPEAKER_01: Um, like you said, they're in the number two spot for a reason.
32:43
SPEAKER_01: They're above us, so we still have some proving to do for sure.
32:47
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think we just really gotta bear it, bear down in that first period.
32:51
SPEAKER_01: I think if we we can play a full 60 minutes on them, we can just come out with a W.
32:56
SPEAKER_03: Sweet.
32:57
SPEAKER_03: That's that's awesome.
32:58
SPEAKER_03: I'm looking forward to I'm looking forward to keeping an eye on it.
33:01
SPEAKER_03: And quite honestly, I I think this could be you know a big turning point for you guys this season.
33:07
SPEAKER_03: Uh it's interesting.
33:10
SPEAKER_03: The three teams that are ahead of you, not that this matters too much, have all played less games than you guys.
33:17
SPEAKER_03: Uh so you've seen the ice more, and you guys have seen, you know, seen seen a little bit more hockey.
33:22
SPEAKER_03: And I think that that works to your advantage a little bit.
33:25
SPEAKER_03: I think that you can, you know, tack a few more games on this weekend, and I think that can give you guys a little standings bump, which is awesome.
33:33
SPEAKER_03: So looking forward to keeping an eye on those games and uh excited to see what you guys can uh can accomplish this weekend versus Wisconsin.
33:40
SPEAKER_03: Uh before uh before I let you go, want to ask you just a few kind of general personal questions, uh, let the listeners get to know you a little bit.
33:48
SPEAKER_03: Uh draw on the drawing the perspective a little bit farther away than just hockey.
33:52
SPEAKER_03: Um I always like to ask all the guys, are you uh are you a hockey fan uh as much as you are you know into playing?
33:58
SPEAKER_03: Do you have a do you have a team you root for uh in the NHL, or maybe you're like a Michigan or Michigan State fan, or you do you follow hockey at all?
34:06
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh I was always a Wings fan.
34:09
SPEAKER_03: Okay.
34:10
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of crazy because I've only been to one Wings game ever.
34:13
SPEAKER_01: But uh Yeah, I always like the Wings.
34:16
SPEAKER_01: I watch them.
34:17
SPEAKER_01: So uh yeah, I'm a I'm also a Michigan fan, and that's just that's just the root of the family.
34:24
SPEAKER_03: Fair enough.
34:25
SPEAKER_03: That's awesome.
34:25
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, Red Wings are a cool team.
34:27
SPEAKER_03: They got they've got cool hockey history.
34:28
SPEAKER_03: There's some some odd stuff going on there right now, but uh that aside, uh super, super cool team to to have fandom for for.
34:37
SPEAKER_03: So that's that's awesome.
34:38
SPEAKER_03: And I guess I guess that makes sense because it's you know in Michigan.
34:41
SPEAKER_03: It's right there.
34:43
SPEAKER_03: Um when you're not playing hockey, what kind of stuff do you like to do?
34:46
SPEAKER_03: What are your uh what are your other hobbies?
34:48
SPEAKER_03: What are what are some of your other passions?
34:50
SPEAKER_03: Because uh juniors are a grind, but surely it can't take up all your time.
34:54
SPEAKER_03: There's got to be, you know, some free time and some stuff to to do on the side.
34:59
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, um I c I play a little bit of video games.
35:03
SPEAKER_01: Uh I I like to golf.
35:06
SPEAKER_01: It's kind of coming to an end here.
35:07
SPEAKER_01: Hopefully we don't start getting snow very soon, but um, yeah, uh, I also I like music, so I play a little bit of guitar and okay, there you go.
35:17
SPEAKER_01: And um, that keeps me pretty busy in my off time and I like to work out, so I got a few hobbies and uh I'm always pretty busy.
35:26
SPEAKER_03: That's awesome.
35:27
SPEAKER_03: Guitar's a good one.
35:28
SPEAKER_03: I don't think that I've heard that one from anybody on the team, both this year and last year.
35:35
SPEAKER_03: Um maybe actually, maybe one guy I can think of now that I say it out loud.
35:39
SPEAKER_03: But uh I I play the guitar.
35:41
SPEAKER_03: I play the guitar since I was seven, so I can I can relate to you on that.
35:44
SPEAKER_03: That it's a it's a great hobby.
35:46
SPEAKER_03: It's it's super fun and it's um it's something you can do for basically forever if you keep up with it.
35:52
SPEAKER_03: So it's that's awesome.
35:54
SPEAKER_03: What's um what's the anytime anybody asks me about golf, I always ask this question.
35:59
SPEAKER_03: What's the best and the worst club in your bag right now?
36:03
SPEAKER_01: My best club?
36:04
SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna have to say my uh my driver.
36:10
SPEAKER_03: Oh, there you go.
36:11
SPEAKER_01: My driver right now, and my worst club, probably my putter.
36:15
SPEAKER_03: That that I mean that's that's golf right there.
36:18
SPEAKER_03: If anybody doesn't play golf, that that sums it up.
36:21
SPEAKER_03: You can usually you can usually get it off the T and hit it far, but as soon as you got to control your shots, as soon as you have to make a putt, make a chip, and like actually have finesse for the average golfer, or for me at least, it just it just it all goes it all goes down the drain.
36:37
SPEAKER_03: It all goes terrible.
36:38
SPEAKER_03: Um, driver's probably my best club right now, too.
36:42
SPEAKER_03: Um my worst is my my long irons are terrible.
36:46
SPEAKER_03: Anything below six, like a five or a four iron, just atrocious for me right now.
36:51
SPEAKER_03: But at the end of the day, it's just going out there, having a good time.
36:54
SPEAKER_03: Golf's fun, and I know a lot of the guys on the team like to play, so I'm sure that's something you guys can do in your free time, at least for now before before it starts snowing.
37:01
SPEAKER_03: Right.
37:02
SPEAKER_03: Awesome, dude.
37:03
SPEAKER_03: I got one more question for you.
37:05
SPEAKER_03: What have been some of your favorite things about Wasa?
37:08
SPEAKER_03: What do you love about the town, the people?
37:10
SPEAKER_03: What kind of stuff have you seen, checked out, places to eat?
37:13
SPEAKER_03: Just what kind of things do you like about Wasa?
37:15
SPEAKER_01: Um, my favorite part is probably uh probably just Rib Mountain.
37:22
SPEAKER_01: Rib Mountain is sick, and uh we've gone on a couple team hikes there, and so it's just been a blast every time we go.
37:31
SPEAKER_01: Um just like other things, like the fans are unreal.
37:36
SPEAKER_01: Like just it's so cool to have all that support.
37:39
SPEAKER_01: Like, you know, it's just it's such a cool thing to see all these kids after the games, they want autographs, like only a junior hockey player, but it's so cool.
37:48
SPEAKER_01: Like they think we're they think we're professionals, and it's just it's just it's surreal to like see all these kids like think so highly of us, you know.
37:58
SPEAKER_01: It it inspires us for sure.
38:00
SPEAKER_03: Which is super cool.
38:01
SPEAKER_03: I remember I remember seeing a lot of that last year, and it's um it's definitely it's definitely awesome.
38:07
SPEAKER_03: Um well, cool man.
38:08
SPEAKER_03: That's uh that's all the questions that I got for you.
38:10
SPEAKER_03: Uh no, if you don't have anything to say, don't feel any pressure.
38:14
SPEAKER_03: But anything you want to say?
38:15
SPEAKER_03: Shout out to the listeners or the fans or anything like that.
38:20
SPEAKER_01: Uh let's go clones.
38:22
SPEAKER_03: Heck yeah, awesome.
38:23
SPEAKER_03: All right, Brighton Thackson joining us on the Inside Cyclones hockey podcast this week.
38:28
SPEAKER_03: Brighton, thank you for joining us.
38:29
SPEAKER_03: Super great to get to know you and good luck versus the woodsman this weekend.
38:33
SPEAKER_03: Let's let's let's get a sweep.
38:34
SPEAKER_03: That's what I'm that's what I'm feeling.
38:36
SPEAKER_03: I think I think it's gonna happen.
38:37
SPEAKER_02: Thanks, Bart.
38:38
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38:41
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39:06
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39:43
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39:48
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39:50
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39:54
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40:03
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40:07
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40:13
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40:21
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40:26
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40:32
SPEAKER_03: And as always, go clones.