Blue Line Banter
Blue Line Banter is podcast about hockey, business, life, and everything in between.
info_outline
Ep. 20 - Mikey Lee III
04/25/2021
Ep. 20 - Mikey Lee III
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by my favorite guest of all time – my son, my main man, Mikey Lee III. Mikey was born in 2013 and plays on the Junior Canes Super 8 hockey team as well as the 8U Snipers of the PHHL. Mikey started skating when he was three years old and fell in love with the game after attending his first Carolina Hurricanes game back in 2015. Our discussion covered Mikey’s early days in the game from learning to skate, to the Hurricanes First Goal Program, his first hat trick, all the way up to recent days and winning the championship at the Country Western Showdown in Nashville TN with the Junior Canes Super 8 Red Team. Mikey also had an opportunity to share an amazing story about the time he met Sebastian Aho in the grocery store. Sebastian Aho happens to be Mikey’s favorite player so we wanted to make sure we reserved Episode #20 for Mikey. Recording this episode with Mikey was such a blast and I’m thrilled we were able to create this memory together - I will cherish it forever.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/18851096
info_outline
Ep. 19 - Kaleb Dahlgren
04/22/2021
Ep. 19 - Kaleb Dahlgren
On April 6, 2018, sixteen people died and thirteen others were injured after a bus taking the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team to a playoff game collided with a transport truck in a rural intersection. The tragedy moved millions of people from across Canada and around the world to leave hockey sticks by their front door to show sympathy and support for the Broncos. On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Kaleb Dahlgren, the former assistant captain of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and one of thirteen survivors of the tragic bus crash. In the face of adversity, one can either back down or stand up and fight – Kaleb is a fighter, someone who will never back down. Having an opportunity to meet Kaleb and learn about his inspiring life story of heart and grit in the face of unprecedented loss and adversity has changed my life forever. Kaleb recently wrote a book titled Crossroads: My Story of Tragedy and Resilience as a Humboldt Bronco, the book Crossroads is available wherever you purchase your books – please go out and purchase a copy, I hope it has the same profound impact on your life as it did mine.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/18824225
info_outline
Ep. 18 - Alyssa Gagliardi
02/26/2021
Ep. 18 - Alyssa Gagliardi
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Alyssa Gagliardi, head of Girls & Women’s Youth and Amateur Hockey for the Carolina Hurricanes. Outside of that role Gags is also an Assistant Coach & Player Development Coach for the Carolina Jr. Hurricanes as well as a Board Member for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA). Our discussion covered Alyssa’s early days playing youth hockey and moving to Raleigh around 10 years old, her time spent playing at hockey powerhouse Shattuck St. Mary’s where she won a National Championship, her college playing days at Cornell, winning gold in 2014 with the US National Women’s Ice Hockey Team, all the way up through her time spent competing in the CWHL and later joining the Boston Pride of the NWHL. We also spent some time talking about the growth and future of women’s hockey, some important concepts around developing youth hockey players, and we wrapped up with Gags sharing an awesome story and memory about a triple overtime game while playing at Cornell. You’re not going to find many people with a more impressive hockey resume than Alyssa Gagliardi and I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun I had during this conversation. Thank you for listening.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/18105689
info_outline
Ep. 17 - Sam Weinman
02/03/2021
Ep. 17 - Sam Weinman
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I’m joined by Sam Weinman, award-winning sports journalist and author of Win at Losing: How Our Biggest Setbacks Can Lead to Our Greatest Gains. Sam has long studied the ripple effects of losing. But as a father of two competitive boys, he struggled to convince them that failing - whether losing a hockey game or bombing a math test - can actually be a critical part of success. So he sought out the perspectives of men and women who have turned significant setbacks into meaningful comebacks - and sometimes even new careers - to illustrate how we can not only overcome defeat, but grow stronger from the experience. Our discussion showcased the ways in which our most difficult moments can be turned into powerful growth opportunities. There are so many incredible takeaways in this one and I hope you enjoy the talk as much as I did.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17806859
info_outline
Ep. 16 - Rich Cohen
01/29/2021
Ep. 16 - Rich Cohen
Hi everyone this is Michael Lee. On this episode of Blue Line Banter I’m joined by Rich Cohen. Rich is the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football and also The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse. He is a co-creator of the HBO series Vinyl and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. He has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Harper’s Magazine, among other publications. Our discussion today covers his most recent book, Pee Wees: Confessions of a Hockey Parent, which takes us through a season of hard-fought competition in Fairfield County, Connecticut, an affluent suburb of New York City. The story is part memoir and part exploration of youth sports and the exploding popularity of American hockey, Pee Wees follows the ups and downs of the Ridgefield Bears, the twelve-year-old boys and girls on the team, and the parents watching, cheering, conniving, and cursing in the stands. It is a book about the love of the game, the love of parents for their children, and the triumphs and struggles of both. This latest book by Rich Cohen has already reached #1 Best Seller status on Amazon a week after the release and after having a chance to read it for myself I suspect it’s going to stay there for a while. I hope you enjoy this discussion with Rich Cohen.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17739533
info_outline
Ep. 15 - Larry Sprung
01/22/2021
Ep. 15 - Larry Sprung
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I’m joined by Larry Sprung. Outside of his day job running Mitlin Financial, Larry has a deep hockey background as a player, coach, and also as the father of two boys, Zach and Jeremy, who he’s been able to share this beautiful game with. Our discussion covered his early days at the rink playing with the Little Rangers in Rockland County, some of the unique characteristics that make the hockey community so special, the bond created by traveling to youth hockey tournaments and camps with his boys, the story about how he got an opportunity to play with the Israeli National Hockey Team, and Larry also shared an amazing story about the time his boys were playing on the pond in Lake Placid and had a chance encounter with Stanley Cup Champion, Mike Richter.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17650604
info_outline
Ep. 14 - Rob Schremp
01/15/2021
Ep. 14 - Rob Schremp
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I’m joined by Rob Schremp – and what an incredible journey in hockey he’s had. Rob was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and played for the Oilers, New York Islanders, and Atlanta Thrashers in the NHL. Our discussion covered his youth playing days including his 11 year old campaign where he lit the lamp over 350 times and had over 600 points, winning the Memorial Cup with the London Knights in 2005, how the game has evolved over the years, how things are going for him and his family currently living in Latvia, and we finished with an overview of 44 Vision Hockey – the online coaching platform he launched which offers specialized 1-on-1 video analysis with some of the best coaches in the world. Schrempy was one of the sickest skill players of his generation and incredibly entertaining to watch out there on the ice. I hope you enjoy this discussion with Rob Schremp.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17560721
info_outline
Ep. 13 - Eric Rigsby & Jon Walker
12/30/2020
Ep. 13 - Eric Rigsby & Jon Walker
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Eric Rigsby and Jon Walker, two of the four hosts on one of the leading podcasts in all of hockey, Beers in the Lot. Our discussion covered a range of topics including how they fell in love with the game, coaching youth hockey, playing in adult leagues and the Slapshot Cup Tournament in Johnstown PA, what led to the idea for their podcast Beers in the Lot, and of course many other stories that had all of us dying in laughter. These guys are such a blast to hang out with and I feel like we can talk together for days about hockey and life in general – I hope you enjoy this discussion with Eric Rigsby and Jon Walker.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17369558
info_outline
Ep. 12 - Sara Civian
12/17/2020
Ep. 12 - Sara Civian
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Sara Civian, Staff Writer for The Athletic, covering the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to The Athletic, Sara covered the Boston Bruins and also spent five years as the managing editor for Onward State while attending Penn State University. Our discussion covered Sara’s early days growing up in Boston and playing high school lacrosse, her move to Raleigh NC to cover the Canes for The Athletic, the outlook for the Hurricanes upcoming season, a behind the scenes look at Sara’s gameday routine, and we of course touched on her fire Twitter account that is now approaching 60,000 followers – give her a follow @SaraCivian, I think you’ll love the content. This discussion was so much fun, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17238557
info_outline
Ep. 11 - Thomas Whitmeyer-Weathers
12/17/2020
Ep. 11 - Thomas Whitmeyer-Weathers
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Thomas Whitmeyer-Weathers, Director of Youth Hockey for Polar Ice NC and the General Manager of the new Wake Competition Center in Morrisville, NC – home of the Carolina Hurricanes team practice facility. Our discussion covered Thomas’s early days playing youth hockey and when he fell in love with the game, how coaching youth athletes has impacted his life, the mantra of “creating hockey players for life” and how important that concept is to him, playoff hockey in Raleigh NC, and Thomas also shared an amazing story about when he was given the opportunity to sound the siren for the Carolina Hurricanes. Thomas has had major impact on my life and was the driving force behind encouraging me to get involved with coaching youth hockey – something I’ll always be grateful for.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17235623
info_outline
Ep. 10 - Wade Minter
12/11/2020
Ep. 10 - Wade Minter
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Wade Minter, the Public Address Announcer for the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. Our discussion covered Wade’s background growing up in Southside Virginia, his early experience as a PA announcer, how he got the opportunity with the Carolina Hurricanes, and the many ways in which he has given back to the community through his involvement with the Canes Foundation. We then went into questions from Canes Twitter, some amazing stories including a behind the scenes look at his gameday routine, a memorable goal he scored during the Canes Alumni charity game, and many other hilarious stories straight from his office at PNC Arena – which is directly next to the visiting teams penalty box. This was such a great talk and I hope you enjoy the stories and conversation that I was fortunate to have with Wade Minter.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17150042
info_outline
Ep. 09 - Vladan Chase
12/09/2020
Ep. 09 - Vladan Chase
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Vladan Chase, host of the Never Far From Home podcast, one of the leading and fastest growing podcasts in all of hockey. Our discussion covered Vladan’s early days growing up in Steamboat Springs, how he fell in love with the game, his family and siblings, a very fine tequila by the name of Dano’s, some stories from his playing days, and how his podcast isn’t really just a podcast, but also a journey and adventure that will take him to all 50 states over the next several years interviewing and meeting some of the most interesting individuals from all corners of the hockey universe, or community of the rink as he likes to call it. Thanks for tuning in!
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17129429
info_outline
Ep. 08 - Chuck Norris
12/05/2020
Ep. 08 - Chuck Norris
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Chuck Norris, owner of the Fayetteville Marksmen, a veteran-owned and operated professional hockey team competing in the most elite independent hockey league in the United States, the Southern Professional Hockey League. Our discussion covered Chuck’s background and early days attending Detroit Red Wings games with his father, lessons learned as a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group and Paratrooper in the United States Army, the importance of doing things the right way, and his purchase of the Fayetteville Marksmen in April of 2017. Chuck Norris is the kind of guy you want leading you into battle and certainly someone I would never bet against. He had me ready to run through a couple brick walls after our discussion and I hope you find the conversation as inspiring as I did. Thanks for tuning in.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17073809
info_outline
Ep. 07 - Taylor Marchin
12/03/2020
Ep. 07 - Taylor Marchin
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Taylor Marchin of the NWHL’s Connecticut Whale. Prior to joining the Whale, Taylor spent time playing professionally in China and was also a member of the Yale Women’s Ice Hockey Team. Our discussion covered Taylor’s early years growing up on Lake Saint Clair, a story of resilience and toughness that led to her attending Yale University, the heart Taylor showed during her college career not missing a single game - playing in 123 straight, and the upcoming National Women’s Hockey League season and 2021 Isobel Cup Playoffs which will be held at Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid. Taylor’s hockey and life journey really inspired me and I have a feeling the best is still yet to come for Taylor Marchin. I hope you enjoy the show.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17056994
info_outline
Ep. 06 - Bill Beaney
12/03/2020
Ep. 06 - Bill Beaney
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by the legendary ice hockey coach Bill Beaney. Coach Beaney led the Middlebury College men’s ice hockey team to 8 NCAA National Championships including five straight from 1995-1999. Our discussion covered lessons learned from his college coach and mentor Charlie Holt, the importance of small area games in practice, his overall coaching philosophy, and of course the epic National Championship run in the late 90s. Coach Bill Beaney is one of the winningest ice hockey coaches in NCAA history and I’ll always remember the wisdom he shared with me during our talk together.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17049170
info_outline
Ep. 05 - Shane Willis
12/01/2020
Ep. 05 - Shane Willis
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Shane Willis, Head of Youth and Amateur Hockey for the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to his current role with the Hurricanes, Shane spent over a decade playing professional hockey and made his NHL debut for the Carolina Hurricanes in 1998 while enjoying a career high 20 goals and 24 assists in the 2000-2001 season. Our discussion covered Shane’s early days playing youth hockey in Sylvan Lake, the current state of youth hockey in North Carolina including the gold standard Hurricanes First Goal program, the meaning of “Earn It”, what makes Rod Brind’Amour so special, and the unique friendship he shares with many of his colleagues including Tripp Tracy otherwise known as Tripper, Mike Maniscalco otherwise known as Big Rig, and the awesome Abby Labar. This conversation with Shane was such a great time and I really hope you enjoy it.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/17021639
info_outline
Ep. 04 - David Hoffman
11/24/2020
Ep. 04 - David Hoffman
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by David Hoffman, Owner of Hertz Arena and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades located just outside of Naples, FL in Estero. Our discussion covered David’s recent purchase of the Florida Everblades from Peter Karmanos, his passion for the Naples community, the upgrades and improvements him and his team have made to Hertz Arena, the friendship he shares with GM Craig Brush, and David also shared a heartfelt story about his grandson and how the hockey universe created a lasting memory for him. I had such an awesome time talking with David and I hope you enjoy the discussion.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/16945088
info_outline
Ep. 03 - Roger Grillo
11/20/2020
Ep. 03 - Roger Grillo
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Roger Grillo, with USA Hockey. Roger joined USA Hockey in 2009 having spent the previous 12 years as head coach of Brown University’s men’s ice hockey team. His tenure at Brown was highlighted by a Final Four appearance in 2003. Prior to coaching, Roger was a member of the University of Maine hockey team for two seasons and was a NHL 10th round draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks. Our discussion covered Roger’s path from player to coach, his perspectives on developing youth hockey players, and we also went into some commonly debated topics in youth hockey such as full ice v. half ice/cross ice.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/16895390
info_outline
Ep. 02 - Neil Conway
11/20/2020
Ep. 02 - Neil Conway
On this episode of Blue Line Banter I am joined by Neil Conway, Owner of Conway Goaltending and Founder of Easy Crease which is an innovative ice hockey training product designed to mark a crease anywhere a goal is positioned during hockey training sessions. Neil’s playing career spanned over two decades including his time spent with USA Hockey at the U17 and U18 level, along with 5 seasons playing in the OHL, and he also took home a National Championship while playing at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Our discussion covered Neil’s playing days, the evolution of youth goalie development, coaching at the NCAA D1 Level, the unique aspects of being a hockey goalie, and we finished up with Neil sharing a story about one of his favorite hockey memories.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/16893407
info_outline
Ep. 01 - Ryan Minkoff
11/20/2020
Ep. 01 - Ryan Minkoff
Ryan Minkoff is the founder of 83, LLC, a global ice hockey agency representing players at the junior, college, and pro level. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he became the first player from that school to play pro hockey. In this conversation we discuss his path from youth hockey in Minnesota, to club hockey at UW, all the way up to making it at the pro level. We also covered his new book titled 'Thin Ice' which chronicles his inspirational hockey journey from unknown to elite.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/16887980
info_outline
Ep. 00 - Intro to Blue Line Banter Podcast
11/17/2020
Ep. 00 - Intro to Blue Line Banter Podcast
In Episode Zero of Blue Line Banter, Host Michael Lee discusses why he decided to launch this podcast and shares a fun story about his son Mikey meeting Sebastian Aho in Harris Teeter after scoring his second career hat trick.
/episode/index/show/bluelinebanter/id/16839395