Latest / College Hockey Mouth / Episode 30: Avery Gugliotta and Joie Burns | Univ. of Tampa Women's

Transcript

Episode 30: Avery Gugliotta and Joie Burns | Univ. of Tampa Women's · College Hockey Mouth

• speaker-0: Hello everybody, welcome to another episode of College Hockey Mouth, a College Hockey South podcast. I'm gonna be your host for this week, Danny Baum. Our usual host, Devin Sarah, is at the ACHA Nationals. He's gonna be calling a few of those games out there for the Division III Nationals, which we'll cover in a bit. I'm joined by my co-host this week, Gavin. Gavin, how was your weekend? speaker-1: ⁓ not too bad. You know, I like I said last week I just feel like things are just happening after playoffs. They just it never stops. It's just, you know, playoffs were like five days hockey and then just back to normal school work. So a little bit busy and then you know, I'm just I'm ready for ⁓ the summer. I can't wait for the summer, a little bit of a break. speaker-0: Well, I'm completely with you. I w I was ready for summer. I don't know about you guys. You guys might be far enough south that you didn't get hit with this we I'm I feel like I'm I'm gonna sound like a billion years old and partially because we have one of the main perpetrators of our of the running gag in our internship group that I get called unk because I'm older than everyone. But I'm about to complain about the weather. Okay. So Sunday, yeah, Sunday I'm I'm out playing around of golf. It was a beautiful day. All right. I was wearing a short shorts and T shirt. It was like one of those days you get like you get a little bit of cloud coverage and it's like, ⁓ that feels great. Like you're airing you're airing your shirt out, get a little breeze, you know what I mean? And the very next day, Gavin, all right, and I've talked about this on the podcast a bunch. I'm a runner. Run every day. I run outside. It was actually snowing. Okay, I live in North Atlanta. It's not it's not like I live in like the Midwest or something. It was actually snowing. All right. And it wasn't just snowing snowing. It there was howling winds. So for like half of the track, the snow was blowing directly into my face. So it feels like I'm at goddamn Lambeau Field when less than twenty four hours ago I was sweating my balls off on the golf course in a t shirt and shorts. So I don't know. Like I think that no good punks of tiny Phil needs to he's gotta bring more specifics because I I do not know like what what's going on, man? I like I said, I was ready for summer. The temperatures were great. You go outside, you get a little bit of a tan. But now like I've had to wear sweatpants. I don't know, was the weather like in in Tampa, Gavin? speaker-1: I just gotta say it was fifty today and it was beautiful. It was perfect. It was perfect weather. There was no snow and the s and the sun was out. So it was fifty, the sun was out, it was great. Perfect beach weather. Wow. speaker-0: Fi fifty isn't great for Tampa, but the one time I went down to Tampa it was Gaspy Weekend. It was freezing at the what was the name of the the rink there? I forget. speaker-1: Nest Hockey Academy. speaker-0: Yeah, yeah. ⁓ my god, th there like howling wind, you could hear it from inside. And that rink is cold as yeah, that that that place is nuts. But anyways, enough about us, Gavin, because we have a couple of very special guests. ⁓ one I don't really know if I would consider a guest because she is on the CHS staff, but a couple of college hockey South conference champions and AAU national champions from the University of Tampa. Joey Burns and Avery Gugliata. Guys, thanks for coming on. Yeah, thank you. Okay, so you guys are on spring break now. So has the has the celebration just continued or has it like tapered off a little bit? Have you you guys had some downtime? speaker-2: Thank you for having us. Nice having some downtime. We definitely we haven't got ⁓ for nationals yet, we get the trophy back soon. ⁓ it's pretty cool. They're gonna engrave it with like our roster and our name. So we haven't gotten that back, but when we get that back, we'll definitely more of a celebration. But it was definitely cool after the game. ⁓ we had a little bit of a celebration with the team. It was really cool ⁓ to get to do that with everyone. It was just awesome. speaker-0: Yeah, I mean me too. I'm back in Chicago for a break, so seeing all my hometown friends and stuff like that. Definitely g some good downtown going on, getting away from school, but still celebrating from the great weekend as well. speaker-1: Well and you and Joey, you mentioned being back home, obviously growing up in the Chicago area playing for the North Shore Warhawks. What made you choose University of Tampa kind of throwing the north out the window and going to Florida to play hockey? speaker-0: Yeah, it was honestly just like a no brainer, like great team and like I knew that, knowing their team from last year and stuff, and just watching them like on ⁓ Kalachaki South YouTube when you guys live stream and stuff like that. And you know, just the weather obviously is a big factor in that and I just love the warm, love the beach, so that was also a big pull and ⁓ the great school as well. Great academics, great programs, so it was just a automatic yes. Gavin, that was such a boost to my ego hearing that that someone made their decision based off of watching our broadcasts. Like I I I I really needed that. I I had like no idea. I guess so. I guess so. Alright, well Avery said you guys have like a Macklin Cellebrini Will Smith type of relationship. Do you guys wanna explain that to us? You know. speaker-2: We just like we just shoot the shit with each other and Joey just like she's like my little brother. Like we like push each other's buttons. It's just like could have at least said s I met Joey this year. ⁓ I was just like one of the girls in the group chat. I was like, who who needs a dri who needs a ride to the rink? And Joey, like first day was she's been riding shotgun in my car, and it's first day after practice, she goes, Okay, so I just want you to know, like, I you're driving me the rest of the season. speaker-0: A little brother, let's roll with it. speaker-2: I'm sitting shotgun. I was like, all we're good. We just got along from day one and ⁓ she's been a great addition to the team so far. speaker-1: Well th this brings up an important question then. Who who's the Tyler Tafoli? Like who's having the the bunk bed situation? When are we getting the Tampa Spartans bobbleheads of the bunk situation? When when are those coming? speaker-0: That be so fire. Yeah, that would be fire. speaker-1: No, but who's who's the Tyler Tafoli of the group? speaker-2: I I don't know, Grace maybe? speaker-0: Yeah, great yeah. All of the freshmen. All of the freshmen. speaker-2: Yeah, I drive that with like one freshman Yeah, and ⁓ me and off is on a different line, I drive all them and it's ⁓ definitely some interesting car rides, but they're very fun. speaker-0: There's every freshman on the team. ⁓ my god, I can mat you're like the dead mother to to all the the freshmen. speaker-2: Basically, yeah. speaker-1: Every pulling up in a van next year. ⁓ speaker-2: Literally all we were going to Jacksonville for Nationals and I I could barely fit I had five five of us in my car and I couldn't see on my back window. We had so many bags in the car. I had other people take our overnight stuff. We'd like snacks. It was just like a mess. And like the just it was just so funny driving all them all season. speaker-0: ride back was was pretty disgusting though with all the hockey gear. Yeah. And it was like it was like the hot, like humid in the with the bat with the with the bags in the back for the whole week. It was just suck. The car was definitely not in its best shape. speaker-2: Little ripe. That's yeah, it was not not fun. It was It was also like nine o'clock at night when we're leaving the rink. So we didn't get back to Tampa till like one AM. So we were all just in the car blasting music for like the first two hours, windows down, and then Joey just looks at me, she goes, All right, I'm taking a nap. I go, What? She's curls up in a ball in my front seat. All right, good night, man. speaker-0: Might be an understatement. Safe Yeah, it was it was interesting though. ⁓ we kinda got to see your team at like three different stages of the season. You know, we we had the tournament in Columbus, which was, you know, your first few games of the season, then Gasparilla, which was like a midpoint kind of and then playoffs, and then we got to see it nationals, of course. How would you describe like your growth from those first games where it J like in my observation, it looked like you were just trying to find your way in Columbus. Then Gasparilla, it looked like you were a little bit more confident. And then you were a complete breakout star like the postseason and at playoffs and nationals. Would you would you say the same? Yeah, I feel like it was it's definitely s transitioning to college hockey. It's a different game in like southern hockey in general, it's a different game compared to playing up north. But ⁓ just like finding chemistry with my teammates and I grew up playing with one of my line mates, Grace Cotter. ⁓ all throughout my childhood and then our other our ⁓ other wing, Ella Schaefer, just finding our chemistry. Like I think that was a big part of it. And they helped me so much and I wouldn't be a star like you said in the playoffs without them. Fed me for a lot of the goals I had and assists that they finished and just I think our chemistry and just finding really the game that I wanted to play at here at Tampa. Yeah, assist by the way, Gavin, we we've we found this when when we were doing research. I think Grace Cotter had an eight assist game. at Nationals. Like what in Yeah. What on earth happened there? speaker-1: I will say me and Danny were looking at it and dan I told Danny was like, No, that's not possible. That's the whole playoffs and then and then we were looking at it. We we looked at the game, I think it was ⁓ Quinnipiac. Yeah. You guys scored nine goals, she had eight assists. I mean just absolutely abs speaker-0: Is that good? I don't know if that's good at all. Yeah, she's awesome. I mean, she's just a great player and a great like offensive defensive player and she really she really works hard on both sides of the ice to get things done. So shout out speaker-1: And then we brought up the Gasparilla Classic and Avery you kind of helped get behind the jerseys that we saw there and that you guys used at Nationals, ended up lifting the trophy in them as well. So obviously the team really loves them. ⁓ what was kind of the idea behind the jerseys and what went into making those? speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, so our coach Carlos, ⁓ Carlos Piñeros, he was ⁓ the main mastermind behind the jerseys and I really just like helped bounce ideas back and forth with him and try to design those really well. ⁓ we really wanted to like incorporate Tampa's history into them and having the pirate ship logo on them. That's something that's like huge for Gasparilla. ⁓ so he has a big pirate ship that comes in and that's also like really It's tweaked a little bit for copyright, but it's like pretty much what the Buccaneers logo is. It's like the U Tampa. So that was really awesome. And we wanted to make them like just as like pirate and like just as specially as we could. ⁓ we know just how much people really go crazy for those types of jerseys that are something different that you don't really see too often. And it was really cool being at Gasparilla in playoffs, like the amount of compliments that we got on those jerseys and so many people looking to buy them and We're just really supportive of them. So that was awesome. And the team, everybody loved them a lot and wanted to just continue wearing them. I think those like those moments, like having those like specialty jerseys for different tournaments, it's really good for morale too. Cause it's just like something different. It makes us feel like we're not just like a call like a club team. It's more of like a college hockey team, just in general. It just like makes everyone feel like we're so much more official. And so that's really awesome. And that definitely I think gave us such a big boost going into playoffs, like Look good, feel good, play good. We're like, ⁓ let's rock these and just have a great time at playoffs. speaker-0: Yeah, for sure. I I remember seeing the the z the designs of them and I th I thought the white ones were gonna look better, but seeing them on the ice, the black ones are just incredible. However, I I do have to say the I w I I don't even know what the guy's name was, but one of the guys that was doing commentary at AAU called you guys the Tampa Pirates the entire time. speaker-2: Yeah, we get we kept getting called Tampa Bay, the Buc like some he called us the Bucks at one point. And that was a little weird. My dad texted me after the game. He's like, Why are they calling you Tampa Bay Buccaneers? I was like, I I don't know. speaker-0: I don't know Guy was confused. I I think he was a little confused. But for Gasparilla, th those were your first games as an assistant captain, right, Avery? I'm sure that must have been rewarding for you. You'd been a part of the program for, you know, two and a half years at that point. ⁓ you know, what was that feeling like? Yeah. speaker-2: They worry, yeah. Was a really cool feeling getting ⁓ the A on my jersey. We had a really great senior, Laura McGregor. She graduated ⁓ in the at the end of the fall semester. And so I had some pretty big shoes to fill stepping into that role. But ⁓ it was just really cool getting selected and like voted by the team to step into that leadership role, getting recognized for that because I just love this team and like I love all my teammates and just supporting them in any way I can on and off the ice. Really awesome. So that was cool though. experience that and have the first games at the A and get to wear those jerseys all throughout playoffs and represent the team well and just represent the university was really cool for me. speaker-1: And now a question for this one's for both of you. You guys obviously won the conference championship and nationals was right around the corner. What was the mindset coming off of that championship? Was it time to celebrate or was it just kind of real quick back to business, focused on the big prize and then celebrate both after? speaker-2: I feel like we're really focused on the big picture even before playoffs. We really were going into this postseason, just knowing like we're like after the past two years, like I played for three years, like having those two back-to-back second places, we were really just like, no, we're going this year and we're we're going home with it. We have a lot of really good seniors out where I'll graduating too. Like, no, let's get it done for for each other and make this happen. And ⁓ our whole mindset through playoffs is just like We need to win this and to get to nationals and win that. So ⁓ I think we celebrated the wins as they came, but we didn't get too ⁓ caught up in anything. We kind of just like take it day by day and continue pushing forward so that we could get that overall national win. speaker-0: Yeah, pretty much exactly what you said, like celebrated every win and after playoffs we took a little bit more time, just like really soaked it in, especially in the bus ride home. Just took the time to focus on the moment, but we knew we knew we weren't done and we knew we had another big week coming ahead of us. And there was no doubt in r I don't think any of our minds that we were gonna go into nationals and fight hard and try our best to win and got done. Get her done. Get her done, kid. It assists for Avery who's speaker-2: Got her done. speaker-0: Playing the third co host setting up Joey for the question. But yeah, Avery, you you're a part of the Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we we believe me, we need all the help we can get. ⁓ no, I know. Get getting help from Avery in in a garage right now. speaker-2: So Of course. Someone's gotta do it. I don't know. I'm the personality hire. I know it. It's okay. speaker-0: So the last three seasons or the three seasons you've been a part of, ⁓ you know, you were with a really, really, you know, tremendous senior class that helped establish your program as really like the top dog in the women's division. But now it you know, it's kinda bittersweet now because now, you know, it it's come to an end for them. What are your emotions like knowing that they played their their final game? speaker-2: It's really sad. Like I've known these girls for three years and it's it is really bittersweet. Like at our last game, realizing like we did it. We got the win. But it's also like we we did it for those girls who it's their last season who helped build this program. Like my freshman year is like first year in CHS and I remember our first weekend as a team. We played a tournament against a bunch of just women's leagues teams and we got our asses handed to us and we were like, All right, like we're just gonna be in here and just do this for fun. And then we ended up going in and going undefeated. For CHS and that was just something really cool. And just to see the growth of this team and see how these this senior class has developed from my freshman year and like I've grown with them and not only knowing them as teammates but as classmates, as friends. Like I know like w we all have friendships that are gonna last forever. And all these girls are so supportive of one another. And I'm so excited to see what their futures hold. Like outside of hockey, all of them have such big things in store for them. So I'm just It's sad seeing them go, but I'm glad to see them moving on to bigger and better things. I'm just so excited to see where where their future stake comes. speaker-0: Yeah, I wanna start a petition to make sure that Laura McGregor gets her name engraved on on the trophy as well. speaker-2: Dude, me me too. I mean, I think we're gonna make that happen. We made sure we got her some stuff. So she's she's good. speaker-0: Perfect, that's awesome. speaker-1: Yeah. And Joey, we talked about you kind of finding your footing halfway through the season, starting to get confidence and you ended up being November second star on only your third month with the team. What was that like being recognized by the conference as a freshman on one of the strongest teams in the women's division? speaker-0: Yeah, that was really cool. I mean, I wasn't really expecting it. Avery kinda midweek was like told me she was like, Keep a look out on your Instagram, ⁓ my god. speaker-2: I didn't snitch, I did not snitch. speaker-0: She just said keep a lookout and she was kinda keeping it. She was I didn't know what it was gonna be. I thought she like said speaker-2: I said it's something on our team's Instagram, not in speaker-0: I thought she sent like a I thought she sent like an embarrassing picture of me to like U Tampa's like Friday beers or something like that. And that's that's exactly what I thought it was gonna be. And then it was ⁓ start of the month and I was like, no way like that was super cool and I just like I wasn't expecting it so just like super unexpected, I was just like wow and then Avery was like, Told you and then I was like I was worried the whole week. But she kept teasing Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You can't you can't you can't have her in any speaker-2: try to like rage bait her make her a little mad so that she was like, dude, what are you doing? speaker-0: It sounds like you're rage baiting me right now. speaker-1: Every's fired. speaker-0: Low key. speaker-2: I was fired after that national anthem, guys. I w this is speaker-0: We'll get to that. We're we're gonna get to that. Believe believe us, we're gonna get to that. Actually, you know what? Let's go there. I'm I almost cursed, but Go in the segue. Joey, when when when did your ⁓ team figure out that Avery was gonna sing the the anthem? Two minutes before when she was like tweaking out. Yeah, she was like she was standing by the glass before the game and she was like like shaking, like her her whole body was shaking and I was like, Yo, what's going on? And then she was just like, I'm so scared. I'm so nervous and I was like, For what the game? And then she was like, No, I have to sing the national anthem because I lost fantasy and I was like I couldn't stop laughing and like that whole time. speaker-2: I was sitting there getting ready for the game and my captain Lauren Clority comes in. She goes, Avery. And I was like, what? And she was like, what's this? I hear you're singing the anthem. And I was sitting there like getting dressed, like kinda like singing to myself. So I remember the words. And I just I was like, guys, I don't want to do this. It's not by choice. I like I have to though. It was not not a fun pregame for me. speaker-0: Yeah, and I I'm pretty sure I asked you, ⁓ like after the game, like w was that the least nervous you've been for a game ever? The thoughts about the game just like completely went out of your mind. Like, forget the game. It's just all about the speaker-2: ⁓ yeah, during warm-ups I was like on the ice, like sitting there, still like trying to practice it to myself. Obviously, it didn't help much. But I was like sitting there saying to myself, my teammates kept like, yo, coming up and be Aver Avery you're gonna do good. You got it, you it. And was like, Leave me alone. Do not speak to me right now. I'm gonna freak out. And then we they call us for the starting lineup and Kyle looks at and he just goes, I was like, This is hazing, this isn't fair, but I got it done, kind of. speaker-1: Well, I j I just have to say, when you see week seven that two people didn't know that you had to change your lineups f each day, that was not the recipe for success for Avery. It it's week seven, you're ⁓ and six, maybe one and six at that point, and you're like, You have to change your lineup every day. That's when we knew it was it was pretty much sealed. speaker-2: The season, one of my friends, I I faced them during she was helping me pick the team and I was like, I got this in the bag, like I'm winning. And yeah, and then Zoe and I who played for South Carolina, she was ⁓ she was like, What do you mean we have to change our lineup? I was like, Sorry, but what do you what do you mean? And I was already at that point ⁓ and six. I was like, Well, I'm I'm cooked. And I helped come up with the punishment, of course. speaker-0: Yeah, ⁓ Joey speaker-2: I was just hoping Danny would lose. speaker-0: I th that's what I was about to say. At that point in the season, it was gonna be either me, Zoe, or Avery. Like I played I played Zoe and Avery back to back weeks and beat ⁓ both. I was like, all right, got this in the bag. Not never opening the fantasy app again. And I didn't, 'cause I'm pretty sure that was around Thanksgiving. I still haven't opened the fantasy app since. speaker-1: Yeah, went to Europe, never touched it, and it sat pretty all the way to playoffs. So now now we're in the playoffs in that league, so speaker-2: I was optimizing my lineup every day after that. I was like, what do I do? speaker-0: And still came in last? Wow. Well, you created a forever moment. A forever a forever memory. It's gonna go down in history. One of my favorites for sure. The voice the voice crack was like the cherry on top. speaker-2: Still So bad. My my family called me. Exactly. They were like, they call me like Avery, what the hell are you doing? And I was like, I I I I was trying to my mom was like, I wasn't I didn't know you were doing that. I was Yeah, I was trying to avoid it. Cause I I knew you guys were gonna make me do it, but I thought if I just didn't bring it up, nobody else would. And Devin, of course, comes up and he's Avery singing. I was like, Devin, go away. Like stop it. speaker-0: And then you had to send me some. speaker-1: to let it slide. I was willing to let it slide. I was on the den rink. I didn't get to see it, so I had to watch the video. It's okay. Everyone can watch it on the YouTube podcast from two weeks ago if you missed it. speaker-2: Yeah, but I appreciate you though. Missh. That's how my friends got the video. They screen recorded and sent it sent it to me 'cause I wouldn't send it to them and I didn't talk to them like two speaker-0: Yes. ⁓ If we should recreate it right now. If you had to pick a different song. Maybe it was it was just Star Spangled Banner is is pretty difficult to do. Historically. speaker-2: Yeah, probably just sing like shipping up to Boston or something 'cause you typically when I lose my voice at the games I I feel like I could sing that pretty well. speaker-0: Well, speaking of playoffs, I I remember doing a lot of our previews for it and a lot of our conversation was about a potential rematch between you guys and Alabama for obvious reasons. But the story coming out of it really was more about your semi final game against Florida. 'Cause not only was it like a tremendous game, really, really well played, but it was a little chippy. It was a little there there was a little post whistle stuff. What do you what your guys' memories of that? And do you think you guys have made a a new rival in the Gators? Yeah, ⁓ that ⁓ that game was pretty hard and it gets chippy when games get close like that and people really the want gets higher and the drive gets higher. But yeah, I'd say any team we play is a rival in my mind, but ⁓ definitely UF got ⁓ got a little ⁓ higher in the rankings, closer to Alabama in that game. Avery. speaker-2: Yeah, it's definitely ⁓ definitely emotions are high during the game. ⁓ we all want it really bad. And you know, I think that was a fun game for us to play as a team. It gave us a lot of momentum going into the final championship game and then also nationals, knowing that like in closer games like that, we have such like passion as a team, such drive as a team to make those moments and those wins happen. So that was huge for us, I think, overall. But yeah, definitely. UF props to them. Like it was their first year's official team and coming out the gate like that was super cool for them. But definitely, ⁓ definitely somebody to watch out for a rival, I guess. But like Joey said, everyone for us is a rival. speaker-0: Gavin. Gavin, these were the PR media training answers. Okay. They they're they're not they're not speaking their minds right now. I can I can see it on the faces. Like for for Flor ⁓ for Alabama, that rivalry was mainly contained to like comment sections on various Instagram and TikTok posts. But no, you you guys you guys were going back and forth, which was awesome. I love that kind of hockey. So you know what, you guys want to keep it friendly in public, that's fine. But Gavin, I I know that's not the case. These these guys hate Florida. They hate speaker-1: It all it all boils over t for next year and maybe we start the season off with ⁓ Florida Tampa at the Columbus Classic. I don't know. I don't make the schedules, but I could I could see that being a matchup at the tournament that always starts off the year. So obviously you guys got the national championship win, but one of the coolest things that we saw from an outside perspective, obviously, Abby Murphy talking to you guys pre-game speech before you guys went and played Syracuse. How did that happen and what was that like having a Olympic gold medalist talked to you before one of the biggest games of the season. speaker-0: Yeah, it was super cool to have Abby c ⁓ speak to us before the game. Obviously someone who is like big in the game and has played a lot of at a very high level, the highest level. And just to have her support and to know that she was watching us, I think meant a lot to the girls and meant a lot to me and just she just gave us some good good pointers, some good words and fired us up for the game. So it was really nice. Avery, how'd how'd you like it? speaker-2: That was really cool to have Abby talk with us. ⁓ she's a good she's been a supporter all season and she always makes sure that like anytime on our Instagram she always swipes up and congratulates us and cheers us on. So that was really cool being able to talk to her before the game and hear it from somebody who's been in so many championship games and the biggest games in the world. So that was really awesome. It really made us ⁓ just feel great going into that national championship game, knowing that like we had the support of somebody who's so big in the hockey community. So that was just that was really speaker-0: Really great. Yeah. Avery, ⁓ you you were a part of the previous two championship games, which you guys ended up falling short in. How did it feel to finally get over that hump and win and especially against Syracuse, who you guys lost to last year? speaker-2: That was that was just really cool. I I kept telling my teammates who had been there for the past three years. I kept looking at them saying, guys, third time's the charm. Third time. We'd all we had all known how that felt to lose and be in that situation. We just told ourselves it we're not letting that happen again. Like we want to make sure that like they're all going out with a bang. So that was like just a huge confidence booster for us as a team and just knowing that like we can We we can't get it done and that we did get it done. So that was just that was really cool to experience after being there for so long and working so hard to finally get that achievement was just so I I think deserved and so wanted from our team. speaker-0: Yeah. And as we ⁓ draw a close to the season, we still have ⁓ one more event, All-Star in Nashville. And Joey, you were you were chosen and selected by your own teammate to to be on a part of Team Braga for the festivities in Nashville next month. Avery was a part of this last year. ⁓ has Avery told you about her experience last year in Nashville? No, she hasn't. Is there a little story going on I don't know about? speaker-2: personality hire of the All Star Weekend. speaker-0: Basically that I can confirm. So Avery, how'd it go? speaker-2: First of all, ⁓ well we we did the the skills competition, you know, and as we've seen from my stats, I'm not I'm not a shooter. So I was like, let me join the fastest skater competition. And ⁓ I guess I d I didn't prep too well. I didn't have the sharpest blades and first turn of the fast skater competition, I completely wiped out, hit the boards, and it was the loudest noise I've probably ever heard in my life. Go silent. And I didn't really have much I just got up and I was like, let's go cheering on the crowd and So that was a little embarrassing. ⁓ and then I also did the most creative shot, and I didn't tell any of the team. We all were like, ⁓ no, what are we gonna do for it? Like, I guess just like some sort of deke, and I go up to take my shot and I just drop the gloves and I I had a mini stick with me. I I pulled out and I had the mini stick and I shot. I still missed the shot. Clearly. We we we could have we could have expected I would have missed the shot. But offensive offensive. That happened, and then I also Yeah. And then for the last game I actually ended up hopping in net. University of Miami goalie. She was she used to be a skater for their team and she was really integral part of their team. She was saying how she wanted to skate out. So third period I swapped a gear with her and I hopped in net for a little bit. ⁓ wasn't my best performance, but you know, it was it was a really fun weekend and it was just cool to be there and represent the University of Tampa in a not the best way, but I guess a fun way. speaker-0: She was there for a good time. No, she didn't. She she le you could blow on the puck and it would it would travel faster than this shot that that got past Avery. Like legitimately. Like if it I I could have I could have timed. speaker-2: Right, ⁓ exactly. Cash from the blue line and speaker-0: timed it with a calendar basic this shot. It it was not great. But other than that, I mean I think she made a couple of saves. She and she got an assist. Well shout out to the shout out the goalies and shout out to whoever left a tripwire behind the net for your fastest skater competition 'cause man, you God, that was definitely speaker-2: I didn't see the puck guys. I couldn't see the puck. That that was so bad. I've never been more embarrassed in my life and I like couldn't I couldn't just like do anything about I was just like I have to get up. What I like I'm fine. I gotta just you know, finish the lap and I had the slowest time. Could I gotta rerun, but it's okay. I probably would have fallen again. speaker-0: Well, Would you rather relive the the fastest gater fumble or single speaker-2: Skater. I know you're gonna say national anthem. Skater. Skater hundred times. speaker-0: That's fair. That's fair. Well, this has been a blast, guys. I don't know if I s I don't what's up? I don't know if I said it, but after the after the game, my I I went in my family group chat. My family group chat, I leave a group chat with all my cousins and ⁓ one of them texted who just disrespected the national anthem once then that showed April and sh speaker-2: The biggest fear is like somebody's gonna say like look at this girl, he's so disrespectful. I'm like, No guys, I just can't sing. Like it's ⁓ no disrespect. speaker-0: The text were flooding. Who is this girl? God, it worked out so perfectly worked out so perfect. All right, guys. Well, it's been awesome having you on. ⁓ congratulations on ⁓ you guys won the Columbus Classic, the Conference Championship, and the National Championship. Joey, you're headed to All Star Weekend. ⁓ Avery, you're a personality hire. Congratulations on that. And you guys are gonna be at the forefront of the Tampa women's team for next year as well. ⁓ thanks again for coming on. speaker-2: Awesome. Thank you guys for having us. This was blast. speaker-0: Yeah, thank you. It's a lot of fun. Wanna thank Avery Gugliata and Joey Burns from the University of Tampa Women's V twenty twenty-six AAU National Champions, also twenty twenty-six C champions, for joining the podcast. It was a fun conversation. They definitely do have a ⁓ interesting bond there. ⁓ and it seems like they ⁓ they're gonna be a team to watch for next year and a program that's just gonna get continue to grow. ⁓ also wanna mention that They have their prospect weekend coming up. ⁓ on April fourth actually. They're gonna be running a youth hockey clinic. ⁓ and then the weekend of April tenth and eleventh ⁓ is when their prospects weekend is. They have a meet and greet on Friday, April tenth. ⁓ it's a hundred and seventy five dollars. The practice jerseys included. You get to meet the players ⁓ on the team, ⁓ practice with the team. It's a very well established and well-run program, obviously, with the accomplishments they've had this year. It's a growing division in CHS and ⁓ it's really exciting to be a part of. So if that's something that interests you, I definitely recommend checking out the prospect skate. Speaking of skates, we're gonna skate through the Division II National Championship recap here. Wasn't Wasn't ⁓ the results we were really looking for, Gavin. Had a couple of ⁓ two teams travel out to St. Louis and neither neither were able to get a win. But ⁓ I think if we dive into this a little deeper, ⁓ obviously Tampa finished ⁓ and three in pool play, losing first to Army seven to six in overtime, then losing to Michigan State eight to four, and then finally on the last day, nine to two to Oklahoma State, who just lost in the national championship a few hours ago. But You peel back the curtain a bit. ⁓ you know, the the the catch with Tampa was of course the goaltending ⁓ situation and knowing Kyle Meyer wasn't gonna be available with ⁓ an injury issue, and also Sebastian Fontana, who started about forty percent of Tampa's games this year, also wasn't available at Nationals. So they had to pull off Eddie Zane from the division three team, had very, very limited experience with the M2 team. Really battled hard, tough situation for Eddie to be in, ⁓ but it ultimately looked like that really affected Tampa's game. And unfortunately, and almost cruel irony, when you get to the backup goalie or the third string goalie, they get to their second game against Michigan State and Eddie Zayn goes down with an injury as well. So they had to move on to their fourth string emergency backup, the e bug to the e bug, if you will. Caden Harak, who was who accepted a job with the Tampa Bay Lightning earlier this year and was the equipment manager for Tampa, had to suit up and you know, we really have to salute Caden for his efforts. Didn't didn't come away with a win, but just like Eddie, man, he w he was put in the in a really, really tough spot and he battled. speaker-1: And yeah, big credits to both of those goaltenders obviously playing on that kind of stage when you lose your starter is tough and it's tough for a team morale standpoint. And that army game, the overtime loss, that was a tough one. It honestly could have gone either way. I could see that overtime going a million different ways. And ⁓ shout out to Eddie Zayn for keeping him in that one. And then obviously left the game against MSU pretty early and and Caden came in, played Kept Tampa in that one. The the score might not show it as much, but if you were watching the game, Tampa was in that one late and MSU kinda pulled away at the end. But I mean, it it's an unfortunate way for your season to end, obviously losing your starting goaltender and it just it's a tough place to go and play against some of the top teams and him two. speaker-0: Absolutely. Tampa had aspirations of achieving a a second straight national championship this this time in ACHA. Unfortunately, you know, the circumstances didn't work out, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Life isn't fair. And, you know, shout out to Florida Gulf Coast Division Two team, which just won the national championship. And over time, their division three team will get underway in a little bit. We'll talk about them in a second. Second Division Two team that was playing This past week. Florida Atlantic, tough loss on the first day to St. Mont Venture. They were up three to one and ⁓ ended up losing the game four to three in regulation. And on the second day, ⁓ tough loss to Saint Thomas, who ended up winning the group and losing in the semifinal. And then on the last day, you know, it's an ugly look. An eight two lost to Utah State. You wonder where, you know, the the minds were of the FAU players at that point, knowing that they weren't gonna be able to advance. And, you know, if they were completely a hundred percent motivated. Nevertheless, Gavin, it's a you know, it on paper it it looks bad, but I think we can both look at these two teams and their seasons this this year and know that the O and three at Nationals doesn't define them and that they're a lot better and have a lot more to hang their hat on than this O and three record. speaker-1: Yeah, absolutely. And I I think it kind of sets the the mindset for next year is obviously nationals didn't in the way that you wanted to. Last year both of these teams were national champions. So, you know, maybe and we talk about sometimes it's tough. You win one and sometimes the hunger's there and you want to get back and injuries get in the way, things happen. ⁓ both teams are completely different rosters almost, at least on the FAU side. A lot of new pieces came in. Some graduated, some left the team. So it it's tough. But I think both of these teams are so well coached programs that next year they're going to be back in that same spot. I don't have any doubt that this year was just kind of a hey, we got to get it together during the off season and and get back to work when the next season starts. speaker-0: Right. And you never know what ⁓ two is gonna look like next year, especially in college hockey south. There's always teams moving up, out, down. So I still think there's bright futures for both teams. As you mentioned, FAU was looking for a second straight national championship. Didn't work out, but we still have hopes, Gavin, for ⁓ a second national champion in the conference this year to join the ranks of the Tampa women's team with by the time you're hearing this, group play will have ⁓ been completed. Or at least will be close to be completed. And we hope at least one of our teams, it may be more, it could be a maximum of of three teams ⁓ that could advance to the semifinals and win their groups. We'll run through this quickly. Florida Golf Coast. Boy, would that be a story, Gavin, if both Division Two and Three could win a national championship in back to back weeks. They take on Oakland, Central Maine community, and then Sacred Heart, Devon. Our our Michigan hockey expert who's on the scene there highlighted the Oakland game as potentially the pool deciding game. So eyes on that one. Middle Tennessee State trying to get over the the end of season woes and the semifinal loss to Tampa. They play Saint Vincent, Northwood, and then Grand Valley State, another strong Michigan team. ⁓ and then we get to pool D, if you will, which has Tampa and South Florida. And of course, Gavin. You know, these teams travel I don't know how many miles ⁓ a away from home, and they just play the teams that are in each other's backyards on the first day. So we're recording this on Tuesday night. They play tomorrow, Tampa and South Florida, then South Florida gets Wentworth Tech, then Air Force, a really, really strong Air Force team. ⁓ and Tampa will play Air Force Second and then Wentworth Tech. And as by the time you're hearing this, these games have been decided. We wish these teams the best of luck and hope that we have, I don't know, one, two, three teams in the semifinals. Boy, that would be a real thrill. And honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised, Gavin, because these are some really, really quality teams and we'll have all the opportunity in the world to ⁓ advance. speaker-1: Yeah, I l I like all of these ⁓ three teams. Tampa obviously played USF at CHS playoffs and we kinda know how that one went, but Tampa was never really out of that game. Maybe maybe we see a different tail of the tape this time. These teams go back and forth, but USF looked really good during playoffs, looked really dominant during playoffs, and we talked to Grant last week. Their mindset is that the pe the guys in that room have what it takes to get it done and they did it at playoffs. You can't argue with that logic as Rand Dietz is fully expecting that team to go a long way and win that pool. And then MTSU kinda you talked about it had some woes, lost in the semifinals. But I think that was a a defining moment for them where you decide what team you're gonna be. Was that how you want your season to end? Or are you gonna deal with the adversity, figure it out, land in St. Louis and get it going? And FGCU looked like they were ⁓ saw some stories today. They were loaded up, getting on the jet, getting ready to go to St. Louis. So that That team's ready to go. ⁓ I'm super excited to watch BJ Ricardi. We talked about him against CHS teams and just over the course of the season had the most wins in CHS, ended up being the goalie of the year. So that's a guy that I'm super excited to watch and see how he faces off against some of these other teams in the ⁓ three division. speaker-0: Yep. And we are obviously both very excited and I'm sure CHS fans all over the over the map are excited to watch our teams compete for the ⁓ three national championship. Once again, by the time this is released, you'll know the results of these games. ⁓ but as we wrap up here, these these are the last meaningful games of the season, Gavin. ⁓ I'm I'm gonna put you on the spot here a little bit. Is there one moment from this season? that sticks out to you. It it it could be a good one, a bad one, it provoked emotion. Give me something that that sticks out from your memory from this season. speaker-1: You know, one of the games that I'll say kind of sticks out for me is ⁓ I talked about that J U squad all year. I got to drive up to Jacksonville, see them play against Florida Southern where I where I go to school. So kind of an interesting game 'cause we know there is a division difference between those teams, but that Jacksonville ACDC program, I'm so excited for what they've got going in the future. I I've said it multiple times. I think they're such a well coached group and a lot of those guys are freshmen. sophomores, so underclassmen and they've they've got a lot going for them. So I think that's one of my bright spots. But also just honestly getting to be at all the tournaments. Columbus, I missed out on Vets Cup, but Columbus, Battle at the Beach, Playoffs, Gasparilla Showcase, you name it, we were there. So it it was a good it was a good season getting to call games, be it games, j even just witness great hockey. Even if I wasn't on a game, you know, I'm in my environment when I'm in a hockey ring. So I I I'm excited for all of next year's tournaments already. I mentioned on the interview Columbus Classic for next year. I'm I'm already excited for that. Whatever storylines we get out of that are gonna be fantastics. speaker-0: Yeah. ⁓ I ⁓ I'll say for me, ⁓ and th this is something that happened ⁓ God, a about a week ago now at this point. ⁓ we when we did the all star draft, hearing Will Marshall, your guy at at Florida Southern, you know, the easily hands down the best player in the history of the program, by the way, that they should retire as number. l s legitimately, no one should ever wear a nineteen again for Florida Southern. Captain America picking all of his teammates from Europe in that all star draft. They're damn near. And, you know, being a part of that Europe trip, it you know, it it gave me a little bit of a different perspective. You know, you never know how much a person really takes that experience to heart. But, you know, seeing him pick all those guys and you know he he picked the coaches too. You know, th that was really cool to me and just the whole Europe trip. What a what a great group of guys and You know, a bunch of experiences. The interns were great. And yeah, I I would say that as well as meeting all the different people along the way. Such a great group of interns we've had this year. Produced a lot of really, really great content that wouldn't have been possible without them. So yeah, I'll I'll I'll ⁓ I'll say Will Marshall picking his Europe teammates. It kind of put things in perspective for the season. But we're not done yet, folks. Not done yet. We'll hopefully have some teams in the semifinals and in the championship game for M3 ACHA national championship. And then April seventeenth through the nineteenth will have All Star Weekend to close the books on what's been an amazing and historic ⁓ season. It's about time to wrap up. And that's what I'm gonna going to do here. Thank thank you again to Avery and Joey for joining the podcast. They were great conversation. Thank you to Gavin for joining and good luck to Devin on the call this week for the D three nationals. And thank you, our fan base, for watching. We hope you continue to come back. We appreciate everyone who watches and supports. So that's all for this week. Thank you and have a good evening.