UNDER REVIEW: Interview with Jack Pridham

0:00Justin: Hey, Andrew. Andrew. Oh, it's just me, Justin, flying solo today because the coach has challenged the play and the interview has been called back. In honor of our graduating overager class, we thought we'd bring back our interview from last summer with Jack Pridham. At that time, we had just found out that he was coming back to Kitchener and after decommitting from the ncaa and well, that choice was a good one for all of us. Did anybody say Memorial Cup champion? Jack also was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks, but on June 1, 2026, his rights were set to expire, so he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. You know who else is on the Tampa bay lightning? Sam O'Reilly Jack is headed to the University of Denver this year to I guess finally play NCAA after. After decommitting. I don't have to tell you how amazing this season was having Jack in the lineup, putting up so many goals and assists and points and that's what those things add up to. And just playing amazing hockey. Unbelievable in the Memorial Cup, man. Just such a rock, rock star, superstar, awesome human being. We had a terrific time talking to Jack in this interview last summer. And now, since I'm rambling, here's our interview with Jack Pridham.

1:23Andrew: Hey, Andrew.

1:24Jack Pridham: Hey, Justin.

1:25Justin: Hey, Jack.

1:26Andrew: Hey, Justin. Hey, Andrew.

1:27Jack Pridham: Hey, Jack. As in Jack Pridham, the star forward for the Kitchener Rangers, who, I mean, is coming back. That's what we're all. The question was on everyone's minds. We heard that he was decommitting from Boston University. We know that he's been in camp with the Chicago Blackhawks, drafted in the third round. We're really excited to have him here and we're going to answer that question. But first we're going to talk to Jack about November 2024. Jack, thanks for coming on the pod.

1:59Andrew: First of all, thanks for having me. Yeah, I'm looking forward to this.

2:07Jack Pridham: Welcome to the AudPod where we're talking Kitchener Rangers hockey with the AudBalls themselves. Andrew and Justin.

2:17Justin: Take it away, fellas.

2:21Jack Pridham: We're going to. We're going to talk about November 2024. We get this breaking news story that the NCAA is going to allow Chloers to play in the NCAA. And subsequently there's this news update that a player from the BCHL is coming to join the Rangers that they drafted. We had no idea that that was you. We had no idea that that was you were going to be such an impact player for the Rangers. Last year we. When did you first hear about that rule change and were you Anticipating coming to Kitchener last year or even earlier than that.

2:52Andrew: Yeah. So I actually heard about the rule change, probably just as everyone did, to be honest. I think it was kind of something that. I think it was something that kind of. No one really people expected it to happen, but just. Just a matter of when. So I think that I was in West Colona, obviously. I loved it there. We had a great, A great team and obviously had great teammates around me and great billets out there too. So I think when the rule change came out, it was, I wouldn't say necessarily a shock. It was kind of a new. A new thing to test and something that I would. I wanted to do playing against higher competition and ultimately Kitchener drafts me back in 2021. So kind of full circle moment, just being able to come and play for such a great, A great team and be a part of it.

3:42Justin: Well, what was that like back in 2021 when you were getting. You got drafted by multiple leagues, really. Right. And, and so getting drafted by Kitchener, what was your, what were, what were your thoughts back the Aud and how has that gone into coming to the team now?

3:55Jack Pridham: You were also drafted into the USHL, right, in 2022?

3:59Andrew: I was, yes. Yeah. Our, our 05, a troupe we talk about all the time has went through a lot with first obviously the pandemic happening, so, you know, not having the. Having the full year, and then this happened to us this year of the new rule change. So 05 have been in the middle of everything. But it was great to obviously be drafted by kitchener back in 2021. And the plan was for me and I went to Saint Andrews College for my grade 11 and 12 year and I wanted to keep both options open. And then I was fortunate enough to commit to Boston University in my grade, end of my grade 11 year at St. Andrews and went to West Kelowna after my grade 12 year and the start of what would be my grade 14 year. But obviously there's. There's no grade 14 years, just another gap year until going to college. And then the rules change happened and I was able to come to Kitchener. So crazy.

4:58Justin: You.

4:58Jack Pridham: It's awesome to have that many paths, obviously for yourself, and obviously you worked really hard to be in a position for that. But you're from Stouffville originally, right? It's not home. As much as you enjoyed West Kelowna, Kitchener is a lot closer to home.

5:12Justin: Right.

5:13Jack Pridham: What was the experience coming back to Andrew and like, coming into that locker room? You said in your Chicago press conference that you knew A couple guys like, so from.

5:22Andrew: From before.

5:23Justin: So that.

5:23Jack Pridham: That helped you, but specifically, what was it like and who helped you kind of like, get acclimated to Kitchener? Like, whether it be Billets or just coaching staff or. Or people around the team.

5:34Andrew: Yeah, I think Ando and I grew up together, so having him. Yeah, he lives in Markham. I'm from Stouffville, so we're not. We're like 10 minutes apart. And we played in the Waxers together, like, a long time ago. Not like Novice and like Minor Adam those years. So we knew each other from all the way back then. Played baseball against each other growing up. So obviously just kind of just stayed in touch with him, and I feel like he was one of my closest, closest buddies when I came to Kitchener, just obviously knowing the captain, and he explained how kind of it works here and how great it is. So very fortunate for him. And obviously, we had a great team and great teammates as well, too. I think that right from day one, it was everyone what seemed to me was getting along, and we had a great group of guys. It was a really fun year. And obviously our coaching staff is great, too, so all three coaches are amazing. So it was really fun.

6:31Justin: Okay, you got to tell us a little bit about that. Ando. Welcome wagon. Welcoming you in. We had Ando on the pod, and it's like, we know he's a bit of a. He's a character. I imagine that it wasn't just, hey, welcome to the team. What happened?

6:46Andrew: At first, I was, like, calling Matt, because I'm just so used to calling him. I'm so used to calling him Matt. I'm so used to calling him Matt. Matt. And everyone's calling him Ando. He's. Who's Matt? That's one of the first thing he said is like, who's Matt? I'm like, you. I've been calling you Matt like, our whole lives. And he's like, it's Ando. So that was kind of my first kind of welcoming moment to the team. Guys laughed about that and stuff, but I was just so used to calling him Matt. Just growing up with them, like, no one really called him like, Ando back then. Like, maybe his Markham friends or and stuff did, but I was just always Matt.

7:25Justin: Right.

7:25Andrew: So who's Matt? I'm like you. So that was kind of a fun,

7:31Jack Pridham: a funny moment personality out here.

7:34Justin: Right.

7:35Jack Pridham: Built himself a whole image.

7:36Justin: Yeah. When we had. When we had him on, he. He really played down that. Like, he liked to be calling Ando like, he was like, it's true. Yeah, whatever. Whatever people want to call me, it's totally fine. But now we know. Now we know the truth. Ando.

7:50Andrew: It's true. It's true. Matt. Matt doesn't fly. It's just Ando.

7:54Justin: Yeah. Except for Mom.

7:56Andrew: Except for Mom.

7:57Jack Pridham: He did tell us. He did tell us. Mom calls him Matt.

7:59Andrew: Yeah. Yeah.

8:00Jack Pridham: Okay. I brought up the Chicago press conference before we went on a little tangent there. You were drafted to the Blackhawks in the third round. We talked to Ando and Swicky about their. Their draft experiences. What was it like for you leading up to that draft? And did you have an idea that Chicago was invested in you specifically?

8:19Andrew: Yeah, the draft preparations were great. I was fortunate enough to go to the NHL combine in Buffalo in the start of the start of June, so that was a really fun experience. And to be able to meet all the different prospects and guys up in the draft, it was actually a funny story too, from the combine. It was my first time meeting Hu. We were doing like a Tron Maple Leaf survey in this, like, breakout room. Just, I was in there first, then he came in. It was just us. And like, I didn't. Obviously I knew who he was before. Like, I never really met him face to face. So that's our first interaction. And then I guess two years later, we're playing together on the same line. So we talk about that all the time. Just how we met each other just in Buffalo in the random breakout room, and now are, like, really good, really good buddies and playing together. So that's another good story. But no, it was great. Obviously, being down at the sphere in Vegas with my family, that was something that I'll never forget. And I did talk to Chicago at the combine and a bit before throughout the year as well, too. So I had an idea that they're interested, but obviously the draft, you never really know what's going to happen. And I'm just really fortunate to be selected by them.

9:28Justin: That's awesome. And it's got to be pretty exciting. Chicago, they're a pretty exciting team up and coming right now. They kind of were. Were down low for a while, and it seems like they're on their way up. You feel like you're a big part of that. Andrew and I have talked about that on the podcast. We just can't even believe, like, some of the players that Chicago has. And. And then we learned about you coming in here in November. We were like, now we're. Now we're watching another. Another Chicago guy. So be exciting.

9:54Jack Pridham: And, and can you speak to that? Like I now, have you done two camps with Chicago or just the one.

10:00Andrew: I've done two camps, but their development camps were all, all off ice. Oh, wow.

10:06Jack Pridham: Okay.

10:07Andrew: So there's no.

10:08Jack Pridham: What's that like.

10:09Justin: Yeah, what's an office?

10:10Andrew: Yeah, it was, it was really fun. You know, the first day's fitness testing, kind of like a general, I feel like most teams do that. And then throughout the week we're just working out and just a lot of like team bonding activities and fun activities. This year we were able to take a boat tour around the city playing beach volleyball or cooking those fun activities and just be around, around the guys and the prospects. It was great.

10:35Jack Pridham: That's awesome. That just sounds like an awesome field trip, man. I'm going to be honest.

10:38Andrew: Yeah, yeah, it was really fun.

10:40Jack Pridham: That's great. I, I, we appreciate sharing the, the funny draft story. Ando, of course you've probably heard said that he was a werewolf to Ottawa and they ended up drafting him. So yeah, anything is possible is what AudPod listeners can believe. So we've talked about drafts quite a bit. You were drafted to Kitchener, you drafted to Tri City, and of course you're committed to, or you were committed previously to Boston University. We talked about that a little bit. You're a coveted player is basically what it is. You've put yourself in that position as, as easy as it sounds that you've, you've worked this hard to, to get into this kind of like coveted position. What's it like trying to navigate once you're in this position where it's teams are vying for the right to have you play for the Aud this stage? And, and it's a, it's a leading stage.

11:28Justin: Right.

11:28Jack Pridham: The end goal is always the NHL. But was there someone specifically who, who guided you to help guide your choices or mentors or teammates or, or like for other like players, professional players. And, and when did you make this decision that I'm going to try and make Chicago and if not coming back to Kitchener?

11:47Andrew: Yeah, for sure. I think that obviously my dad was a huge part and being a mentor for me growing up just with the position he was in working for the NHL office and then with the Leafs? I think obviously he's been talking to me and stuff throughout my whole hockey career and journey, as well as my mom too. I think just being around the players as well too, like the Leafs players, I'm fortunate enough to, I trained down their facility in the summer, so I get to train with some of their pros and obviously they have all their development coaches and skating coaches and chefs and strength coaches. So it's a great atmosphere to be in. So I was fortunate for that growing up around that. And I think that just I made the decision at the end of the year that I'm not going to go to Boston University anymore. And after playing a lot in Kitchener, I liked where my season and game was at. I just want to try to put my best foot forward and earn a contract with Chicago. And if not, then I'll be back in Kitchener. So I think that's kind of the plan.

12:46Justin: That's amazing. It's awesome that you, that you had all these paths and thank you for sharing that. It's really cool to hear where it is that you came from in, in this decision making process that I'm sure is not easy. Yeah, it's definitely, definitely not an easy decision.

13:02Jack Pridham: Did the, did the Rangers make it easier for you in the sense of obviously they knew that you were committed. So there was obviously, I would think, no pressure from them.

13:13Andrew: Yeah, I think that they just left it up to me, obviously from day one. Like, I loved Ed Kitchener. It was. It's so fun and just being around the guys and having the staff that we do and the fans and all the community support, it's. It's unreal to play in. And I just wanted to play, play again another year there and try to win a championship. I think that's the end goal. But, you know, just taking it one day at a Tommy Kut it's, it's awesome. Like I have all. Everything I say about Kitchener's great, so I love it. So it's, it's awesome.

13:45Justin: That's, that's music to our ears. This was a magical season that you had in Kitchener. Yeah. What, what's the, Aud the secret sauce that made this team just gel so well?

13:56Andrew: Yeah, I honestly think just like the group we had, everyone was just so close and like, everyone like hung out together. There was not really like the older guys not hanging out with the younger guys. There's. Everyone was just together. I think that's really important. If you want to be a good team, everyone's got to be a part of it. So I think that's kind of something that I would Sam O'Reilly noticed was the older guys were like Parse and Swicky and Missile and they're all just being around the younger guys and everyone's together. So I think that was the biggest thing, just the one team aspect. And I think obviously that's really important.

14:35Justin: It's so nice to hear when it's not just. Yeah, the. Everybody. Because it is so age based at this and we've all been to high school and things like that. Everyone sticks in their grade. Everybody sticks with their. So it's. It's nice to hear that. Yeah, I know that Ando's a big driver that it sounded like Swicky and Parsons were big drivers of that and just making sure that, yeah, everyone felt like a group. That. That's awesome. And. And now you're the overager. So what. What are you taking from. What are you taking from these guys for the. For the young guys coming in?

15:03Andrew: Yeah, I think that just. I think leading by example is probably the biggest thing I, I learned from those guys, just how hard they work every day. I think everyone just takes it one day at a time too. We obviously have them go in mind, but I think just one day at a time is all you can really do to help achieve what you want to achieve. So I'm really excited for this year and it's going to be a lot of fun.

15:24Jack Pridham: No hazing. No hazing this year.

15:29Andrew: There's none of that going on.

15:30Jack Pridham: That's good.

15:31Justin: We like that. We like that.

15:32Jack Pridham: Nice, happy, positive, inclusive atmosphere.

15:35Justin: That's what we want.

15:35Jack Pridham: That's what we want in hockey.

15:38Andrew: No, that's great.

15:38Jack Pridham: Going back to Kitchener and talking about the atmosphere, especially the atmosphere. We're relatively new Kitchener Rangers fans, so we're. We don't pretend with. With any of our guests. And we've had like the who's who now on the pod. Unbelievably to us that we're. We're relatively new. So we. We were having our first real Kitchener Rangers experience alongside you. It was like, it's our first year following the team and here we are now. What I want to ask you though, about it is the atmosphere in the Aud when you first got there. Obviously it's a little different regular season, November. We know that the attendance tends to spike later in the year and people get more excited around playoffs and stuff like that, but obviously that's a historic building. What's it like walking out onto the ice for the first Tommy Kut there and then contrast that to playoffs when playoffs started, and we'll talk a little bit about that. But tell me about taking the ice at the Aud for the first time.

16:34Andrew: Yeah, it was great against Peterborough. Not gonna. I was nervous, not gonna lie. I don't really get too nervous for games, but I think just being there and just, like, looking around the rink, it's.

16:45Justin: Holy.

16:45Andrew: This is massive. Like, it's. Especially the one. Especially the one side with the seats going all the way up to the top. It's. It. So I think just like they gave me the rookie lap, so I got this. Got the Soo the Soo perfect by myself. And I think I went on too early. I was so nervous. Like, I went on to the Rats. The Raptors are, like, skiing around and. Yeah, I used to, like fixing the mesh on the back. What am I doing out here? Yeah, they're like. Yeah, they're, like, yelling at me like, what are you. Like, what's going on? I was on, like, way. I was on early. Like, I was just ready to get out there. And, yeah, the refs are still behind the net, like, fixing the match, and I'm like, shooting a pocket. What's going on? No, that was. That was great. And yeah, we played Peter Row the first game. I remember Sean Safaro telling me, you think this is loud? Just wait until playoffs nice and playoffs hit. And it was just a totally. Just. Oh, it was like the fireworks went off the start and game one, and we're all like. I was like, not scared, but I was like, what is that? I've never liked. Everyone was like, they're just so loud in there. And yeah, it was great. The first period, that game was like, holy.

17:57Jack Pridham: Yeah, of course.

18:01Justin: You know what?

18:02Jack Pridham: That's. That's definitely it earned.

18:04Andrew: Yeah. Like, it was like. It was so physical and fast and just so fun. Like, it was. It was great. And then. Yeah, it was just so loud. Just like looking around, just seeing everyone in there just like, on their feet. It was especially the overtime winner, too. And Rome scored. It was. It was a. It was great. And yeah, the atmosphere is so fun. So cool to be a part of.

18:26Justin: Sorry to jump. Jump back at the. To the beginning of that, but, like, how long were you in Kitchener before you jumped on the ice for your. For your first game?

18:35Andrew: I think it was like, I don't really remember the exact date, but it was definitely, like, only a few days. Like one or two, maybe two practices. And then I just jumped right into the lineup. But they're still trying to figure out, like, the paperwork with Hockey Canada and stuff, so I didn't know if I was gonna actually play that first game against Peterborough. Ultimately worked out and thankful for that.

18:56Justin: Adds a couple more nerves probably, too, if you're like a little girl. Yeah.

19:00Andrew: Yeah, for sure. I do remember, though, when I was in Kelowna and like the rules change happened and then I found out I was going to kitchen and it was like I packed my stuff in half a day and was just gone. It happened so fast. I remember going upstairs and telling my billet mom, my billet dad, he scouts for the Leafs actually. So he's Garth Malarchuk's his name. His brother was Clint Malarchuk, the goalie who got his next place escape. Yeah, so he was, he was on the road and I went upstairs and told his, his wife Donna that I'm, I'm leaving like tomorrow morning, like early. It's like midday right now. And you know, she just helped me downstairs and just pack up all my stuff and just like that I was gone. Wow. I mean, I guess everything just happened so fast. It was just when I got to Kitchener's kind of one of those things where at first obviously you took it in, but just your mind's like in a thousand places and it's, it's just all over the place. I was just in Kelowna like an hour like not an hour ago, a day ago. Now I'm in kitchener and the three hour time change and we're getting picked up at 5:30 in the morning for like my medicals. So that's two, that's 2:30 Kelowna time, like time like a three hour time change. And like it was, I just had so much adrenaline, like I was ready to go. But yeah, yeah, it was just still early. But yeah, it's funny.

20:19Justin: Absolutely.

20:20Jack Pridham: It probably helped a little bit that you couldn't really think about it too much. You just had to go. You basically had a trade deadline experience, honestly, in a way, right. You're, you're such a young player and that doesn't really happen all that often. But yeah, it was that difficult like with saying goodbye. You like that group of guys out there and obviously, yeah, you knew Ando. But what was that like having to just say goodbye to your teammates out there?

20:43Andrew: Yeah, for sure. It's definitely hard to say goodbye. I think anytime you say goodbye to your teammates, no matter when it is, it's, it's obviously tough. They all supported me and in my decision and were rooting for me along the way. And it's still, still talk to a lot of them now, which is, which is great. So I think fortunate for that too, just building relationships out there and carrying them to now when I'm in Kitchener. So it's of course the hockey world just building relationships everywhere.

21:11Jack Pridham: Yeah, I'm sure you'll run Into a

21:13Justin: few of those guys in the future somewhere, too?

21:16Andrew: Yeah. Yeah, for sure.

21:17Jack Pridham: All right. So we did. We brought up playoffs a little bit before we get more in depth into playoffs, because there's a specific moment I want to talk to you about. I think you know what moment it is because Jackson Parsons came on here and stole a little limelight from you. But before we get into that, there's a regular season moment that we got to talk about, and it's the Michigan, of course. Obviously, that's a move that gets practiced a lot, but what is your mindset in that moment to, like, I'm gonna try this. Had you tried it? Had you scored in. In organized games before? Or was that just something that just popped into your mind? Because it was just, like, the perfect moment. You're in your instincts to do that.

21:54Andrew: I definitely tried it in games. Not, like, obviously a lot, but I've definitely tried it before in a game. And most of the time, it's so hard to even get on your stick. Like, it just slides right off, and you don't really have a lot of time. Obviously, you like to mess around with it at the end of practice, going around the net and stuff. Practicing. But, yeah, I remember just took a hit to make a play in the corner. Paco just passed me behind the net, and I was like, okay, I'm trying it. That was so much space. Like, I'm trying this.

22:21Justin: Yeah.

22:21Andrew: And I just got. I just got it up so fast and, like, just.

22:24Justin: You did.

22:25Andrew: Threw it in the net, basically. And at first, I didn't even know it went in. Like, my celebration was delayed.

22:30Justin: Yeah.

22:30Andrew: I'm like, where it was. Yeah. And the Aud then everyone was. It was just. Was so loud, and everyone just did it, like the Michigan and stuff. So that's pretty cool. But credit to my teammates here for getting me that puck.

22:43Jack Pridham: Awesome.

22:44Justin: Yeah. Watching it, it looked like you were. You were sussing out the situation. There was, like, a lot going on in front of you, and then you just. It didn't even feel like you thought about it, like, on this, when we were watching it. It just. It didn't even. It felt like an instinctive thing, and it was like.

22:57Jack Pridham: Yeah. Yeah, exactly like you said. It happened so quick. It was like. It was. It was a Michigan, but it was one of the Aster. Michigan. Sometimes you see it come up and. And they telegraph it, and you just did it, like, in one movement. And I. I was gonna ask, did you know it went in because you just skated away?

23:15Andrew: Yeah. At first at first I like, didn't know it went in like it, like you said, it just, it went up so fast. Like normally it doesn't go up that fast. Like it takes time to get momentum or just stop and then you see guys do it. But I think just. It was just where the puck was and on the stick was just. It went up really fast. And I remember the guy in Guelph tried to swat down my stick as well too. And I think I was just fast, faster with my movement. So yeah, I was there.

23:43Justin: Out dueled them.

23:44Jack Pridham: Yeah, exactly. I was going to say. Now I, I don't, I don't specifically remember what the score was in that game, but there, there didn't seem to be too much of bad blood after you did that.

23:55Andrew: Yeah, I'm not really sure what the score was either, but I think I was just in shock what just happened. Yeah, for sure. Like everyone's just in shock on the bench. Oh my God. What just happened?

24:07Justin: Really?

24:07Jack Pridham: Yeah, yeah.

24:08Andrew: It's like a video of Trent like going like this on the Rogers like broadcast or something like after I scored. So that's pretty funny.

24:18Jack Pridham: Oh, so here's. That just, just popped into my head. Trent Swick came on here and was constantly cracking jokes. Like we had to, like we had to almost censor the man. Is he, is he cracking jokes like that all the time around the team? Is he a funny guy?

24:31Andrew: He's a really funny guy.

24:33Justin: He.

24:33Jack Pridham: He brought it here.

24:34Andrew: I feel like people might like, he does. I wouldn't say he's. People might see him as not necessarily a shy guy, but when he's around the boys and stuff, like he's cracking jokes and it's a great time. Yeah, he's a great guy as well too. Really funny.

24:48Justin: Is, Is he the funniest guy in the, in the locker room or is

24:51Jack Pridham: there, is there, is he a contender? Yeah, he's.

24:55Andrew: He's up there for sure. Arkie's up there. Our cat.

25:00Justin: Oh, yeah.

25:00Andrew: I think everyone's, everyone's just kind of like, everyone just goes. It not goes at each other, but everyone's chirping each other and no one's taking it personally and they're just giving to each other.

25:09Justin: We all build off each other.

25:11Andrew: Yeah, that's. I think honestly that's why like, we were close as well too. Like no one like took it personally. Like you, if you get tripped, you get it right back. Like it's right. Everyone knows, like, you don't really necessarily mean it. It's just, you Gotta suck it up and then just give it right back to the next guy. It's. It's funny, like, everyone just having a good time and. And stuff, so it's great.

25:31Jack Pridham: It definitely seems like the Rangers as a whole organization, even off the ice, the coaching staff is a lot about humility and not necessarily about, like, egos and individuals even looking back through their history.

25:41Justin: We did a.

25:42Jack Pridham: We did a thing last year where we highlighted previous, like, we called it the Gro. And it was the greatest Rangers of all time. And it was like, so many different players, but there was no, like, necessarily just one player on each team that was, like, did everything, you know, and. And that was the epitome of you guys last year. Like, the fact that I think, like. I think like, Missile Jevic had the most points, but he was like, something like 30th in the league in. In points, in the standings. It just spoke to, like, how incredibly deep the team was. Did you feel that every night that no matter what, like, one line was going. Every line was going, for sure.

26:20Andrew: Yeah. I think, you know, UC does a really good job of that, too. Everyone's involved with playing. We roll all four lines and. And stuff. So I think everyone's getting the reps and come playoff time, everyone was ready to play. I think everyone just is playing for the team and. And not themselves, which is obviously makes all the difference just having that and kind of those type of guys. So. It was awesome.

26:42Justin: That's awesome. We. We've been. We've been big fans of ucahocus and the way that he leads this team, like, it's been. It's. It's. He's a hard. He's a hard guy to read via the television.

26:52Jack Pridham: Yes, it.

26:54Justin: But every time we talk to anybody about him, all they ever have to say is, like, very positive things that he has. Very. He's like, great at communicating with the team and things like that. Is that your experience as well? Sounds like it was from your last.

27:06Jack Pridham: For sure.

27:07Andrew: Like, from day one, he's. He's been awesome for me, just the details he has in the game. And we do video, like, individual video and stuff, too. The first few days, he, like, would just pull me in and run me through all the systems and stuff, just so I understood it and just took the time to be with all his players and stuff. So I have nothing but great things to say about uc. He's. He's awesome. At first, I was, or still am definitely intimidated by him. Yeah, man. I think everyone. Everyone is. But we all, absolutely all go, go to war for him and we all love him. So he's a great coach and a great person.

27:43Justin: I always get the impression that it's like if you have a bad interaction with him, like you might be walking down an alley and he'll be there in a leather jacket and combing his hair back and you're a slick back. It's all over now. It's all over. All over.

27:56Jack Pridham: He just.

27:56Justin: He doesn't have to do anything.

27:57Jack Pridham: He just gives you a look and you leave town. That's the. That's the vibe that we get from. From coach a hocus, which is what you want. I think we've been in positions where we needed a position of authority, and when you're a little bit scared of them, I think you're. You play better for them now, for sure. Yeah, we, we. We've talked extensively about last year and we haven't talked about the big moment that we teased and brought you on the pod. Here was you reacted to something that we posted from the episode with Jackson and Trent where Parsons took a lot of credit for that penalty shot goal in game six to go up two. Nothing on the pod. We have said collectively as a fan base, that was the moment that we all realized you were going to win the series. Not just the game, but the series. Like the. I was in the Aud that night. It was absolute pandemonium. I've been to NHL playoff games, lots of the Aud it was the same intensity in the crowd. People were losing their minds in the stands, basically. Take us through that moment from your perspective, Jackson. You and Jackson had that extended conversation. It seemed like it took a long time to set that penalty shot up.

29:09Andrew: Yeah, that was a really very cool moment. I think right after the actually going back to when we played Owen sound, Jackson told me or not helped me with what to do on another goalie. And I scored as well too. So obviously we got to go back to him. He's right.

29:30Justin: Yeah.

29:30Andrew: So, yeah, against Windsor, I went down to his end and he told me, he said, do the same move you did before, having your forehand backhand and then quick forehand, low glove. And that's what I did and ultimately worked. And I was just so fired at my celebration. Carried all the way down to him and just hugged him in the end. But no, it's very cool, especially putting your team up in a game like that and just hearing the. Hearing the fans, it was awesome.

29:56Jack Pridham: And what was like being a part of that, that reverse sweep like you're down three to nothing. We've said a lot about. You guys weren't playing the way you had been playing, and it was just like a matter of time that you were going to positively regress and you were just going to. You're just going to start playing Rangers hockey. And. And it was like. It was just like the worm turned. Windsor just didn't know what to do with you because the real Rangers showed up in those. In those. In those last four games. What was that like from your mindset, you being like a leader offensively on the team? That, like, this is what we have to get done. We just have to stay focused and. And we need to score and we need to keep the puck out of our net. What was it like being one of those guys in that dressing room?

30:37Andrew: Yeah, I think that kind of, like I said before, just one. One day, one game at a time. I think when you're down 3 0, you're obviously backs against the wall. You're playing for your lives. So I think kind of everyone just came together and I think stuff started clicking for us as well, too, offensively. I think game four is when. And I. We got a few. And there's. That's obviously great. Anytime you can put your team up and score. I think kind of just being together and just like realizing it's going to. You can only win one game. You can only play one game, and that's the game you're in. I think that's just what we did. Just focus on. We just got to win the next day practice and then get ready for the next game. You just got to win one at a time. So they just treated it one at a time.

31:25Jack Pridham: Yeah. And Luke Ellinas the man with ice in his veins.

31:27Justin: Hey. Just.

31:28Andrew: He was on.

31:32Justin: Yeah. He was a man on a mission.

31:34Jack Pridham: Truly.

31:34Justin: Truly.

31:35Jack Pridham: You all were. It was such a cohesive group, and you just all believed and we believed. But like I said, it was. It was your penalty shot goal where I was like, oh, yeah. Oh, they're gonna win in seven. Okay.

31:45Justin: I was at home and I could. I felt like I could feel the Aud At home.

31:48Jack Pridham: Seismic. Seismic activity.

31:52Andrew: Yeah. No, it was awesome.

31:54Justin: All right. We. We have. We have taken up a lot of your time already, and we. We really appreciate you coming on the pod. But before we go, we. We have some business that we. That we have heard from other people. I'll let Andrew take it away, but we got to get your opinion on a couple things here.

32:09Jack Pridham: Yeah, actually, a couple of our guests, Jackson Parsons, Sean For Faro, they have lofty goals for you. They both mentioned that you should be. If there was a betting favorite, you should be the betting favor win overager of the year, which would be three overagers of the year in a row for the Kitchener Rangers. And Swicky said that you would score the most goals in the OHL next year. So no pressure, but does something like that even play a part in your mindset when you are setting goals now in this off season, are you thinking about individual statistics or are you just focused on come back, win a championship and get in a position to play in the NHL?

32:47Andrew: Yeah, I think you just said it perfectly. Just the team first. I think at the end of the day, we just got to win. I think just winning is obviously the most important thing. So, yeah, I just want to win.

33:00Jack Pridham: We appreciate that and I think we. I think if it's a byproduct that you score a ton of goals, we'll all be very happy about that. But yeah, just win. And we don't care if it's one nothing every game, for sure.

33:11Andrew: Yeah, that's all you can do, too. We all want to just win and it's going to be fun, fun year around the team. So just win.

33:20Justin: Yeah. What b better way to end it? Thank you so much for coming on the. The podcast with us, Jack. It's been a. It's been a treat to get to know you a little bit better, get to hear a little bit about you and your life behind. Behind the. The hockey. Yeah. Thank you so much.

33:32Jack Pridham: And honestly, we had. We. We fully. We had. We were. We were in mourning when. When the. The season was over. We had let you go, man. We were like, oh, Jack Pridham he's gone. What a year that was. What a flash in the pan for Kitchener that was. We're going to miss him. And then the bombshell drops and here you are on the AudPod. And if you're not in Chicago, you're in Kitchener. Minds are blown. So we thank you so much for including us in your off season.

33:57Justin: Andrew and I were talking about trying to get a flight down to Boston. Let's go see. Yeah, we were down there. Yeah.

34:05Andrew: Yeah. I really appreciate it. Thanks for doing this and set it up. It's. It's awesome.

34:09Justin: Yeah.

34:10Jack Pridham: And I think you mentioned that your liney there, like, Christian Humphreys might want to come on. You might have to set that up next, I think.

34:17Justin: Yeah, we got.

34:19Jack Pridham: Yeah, you've been. Christian, if you. If you're listening, you've been nominated.

34:24Andrew: Humps is nominated. Next up, Humps is nominated. Perfect.

34:28Jack Pridham: All right, Humps.

34:29Justin: We love it.

34:29Jack Pridham: Goodness.

34:30Justin: That was a delightful conversation.

34:33Jack Pridham: That was. Right.

34:34Justin: He.

34:34Jack Pridham: What a. What a.

34:35Justin: What a.

34:35Jack Pridham: A nice, articulate young man. Really exciting to talk to Jack Pridham about coming back to Kitchener first. Firsthand.

34:44Andrew: Yeah.

34:45Jack Pridham: To his face.

34:46Justin: Yeah.

34:46Jack Pridham: We got to see. We got to say, are you coming back here? And the answer is yes.

34:50Justin: This is the closest to breaking news that we'll ever have.

34:53Andrew: Ever.

34:54Justin: Ever. Yeah. That was. That was awesome. Yeah. I'm so happy he's back.

35:00Jack Pridham: I'm so happy he's back. He'll never know how happy we are because, like, I. I told him at the end of that interview was that, like, we let go of you, man. Like, we were like, all right, what a. What a time. That was better to, you know, it was like. It was like pulazi. It was like, better to have pugged and lost. It was. It was better to have had Jack on the team for a year than to not had Jack on the team for a year, so.

35:21Justin: But you know what I liked hearing? You know what I liked hearing? He said the word championship.

35:26Jack Pridham: He did.

35:27Justin: He did. That's it. The motivation is clear. This is.

35:31Jack Pridham: And he doesn't care about the individual awards. All right. Okay.

35:34Justin: All right.

35:35Jack Pridham: I know. Listen, listen. We know that Jackson stacked them up, and we know that Swicky has his best shooter and the best friend on the team guy and all that kind of stuff, but Jack Pridham is locked in. Okay? Is locked in.

35:49Justin: Never have I felt. Yeah. Never have I felt like somebody has more of a mission in a room. Jack is ready. He's ready for battle.

35:57Jack Pridham: He is. He is. UCAH has. Has scared the team into being ready for battle.

36:04Justin: I'm also glad to know that we aren't the only ones that are scared of us.

36:08Jack Pridham: I was gonna Sam O'Reilly think he downplayed it a little bit. I think it was an appropriate level of downplaying how scary the Juice is, so.

36:15Justin: Because he might be listening. Yeah.

36:20Jack Pridham: Well, you know, Sean keeps reposting our stuff, you know, and then I see. I see Coach Ahokus is in there liking stuff. So. Yeah, it's.

36:29Justin: I.

36:29Jack Pridham: You know, I'm almost like, are we gonna run into him somewhere? And he's gonna be like, you guys.

36:33Justin: Yeah. Where it's going to be in an alley. He's going to be wearing a leather jacket. He's going to be combing his hair back.

36:38Jack Pridham: Ah, yeah. And he's going to be like, I just Thought they'd want a selfie or something.

36:41Justin: Yeah.

36:42Jack Pridham: Yeah, we just run away square.

36:44Justin: Yeah, we just run away. I'll wet my pants. Yeah, no big deal.

36:46Jack Pridham: Yeah, that's okay.

36:48Justin: Thanks so much, Jack, for coming on the show. This was awesome. I think we're going to keep doing some interviews until. Until basically the season starts, so.

36:56Jack Pridham: Yeah, I don't know. We'll see.

36:58Justin: There might be another one coming up.

36:59Jack Pridham: Yeah, I guess there was a nomination there at the end, so perhaps we'll try and set it up. No promises, but this is the Aud pot. And it does seem like things are rolling in, rolling downhill when it comes to the interviews. People want to be on the AudPod.

37:12Justin: I don't.

37:13Jack Pridham: I'm still not certain why, but I. I really appreciate that all.

37:18Justin: I'm not even convinced that I want to be on the AudPod.

37:22Jack Pridham: I know week to week, I'm kind of thinking sometimes, okay, all right. I'm on the Aud episodes.

37:27Justin: It's like, okay, well, here we are.

37:29Jack Pridham: But you know What? It's been 40 episodes and I feel like we have to keep going at least until we see them win a championship. So essentially, if you want the Aud pot, if you hate the AudPod, you better cheer for the king. Rangers don't win.

37:47Justin: Yeah, there you go.

37:49Jack Pridham: Yeah, there's someone out there who's hate listening to us. I know we're. I know we've reached that status. So, yeah, yeah, for sure. the Aud there.

37:56Justin: For sure.

37:56Jack Pridham: All the rest of you, which is every last one of you that is listening, thank you so much for listening.

38:01Justin: Thank you.

38:02Jack Pridham: We have had a tremendous amount of support, like I said, from the team now, from personalities, but most of all from people who like, like and engage with us on the social medias at the AudPod on TikTok Instagram. And you can find us on YouTube, search Theod Pod Kitchener Rangers We come up. You'll find us. You're smart. You'll find us.

38:24Justin: You'll find us. Thank you, of course, to Ken Born our director of branding and marketing.

38:29Jack Pridham: I heard Papa Born might be coming out here.

38:31Justin: So Papa Born is coming out. I. I think he'll be in town for the season opener, the home opener.

38:38Jack Pridham: Papa Born. Papa Born Paging Papa Born.

38:41Justin: Will be.

38:42Jack Pridham: Paging Papa Born. You gotta come down to the Aud with us. Perhaps. Yeah, I don't know.

38:47Justin: Of course we gotta thank the prodigal

38:49Jack Pridham: producer, Liam, the phenom.

38:52Justin: Also, we gotta get Liam to the odds. So we do.

38:55Jack Pridham: It's been. This has been long Overdue. I mean, you know what? It's fine. Covid is long in the past. Him doing remot okay. For the AudPod.

39:02Justin: Yeah.

39:02Jack Pridham: It's coming to an end. Okay.

39:04Justin: Some in person once a week. You know, all this business we do.

39:08Jack Pridham: We do. And you got to get that ando jersey.

39:10Justin: Yeah, I gotta get the ando jersey. Right?

39:13Jack Pridham: So putting pressure on his parents here. Get the ando jersey. Take him to a Rangers game.

39:17Justin: I know. I know Jeff is listening because he's listening with Liam right now.

39:21Jack Pridham: Just cost you $200.

39:23Justin: Jeff, we gotta. We. We gotta thank Tim Uniacke just in case he has to save this episode.

39:31Jack Pridham: Tim, you know, he probably. He probably won't because Jack Pridham technical was on point.

39:37Justin: This is the first remote interview that we've had that wasn't just a disaster immediately. So it's true.

39:44Jack Pridham: I mean, I think we spent 10 minutes watching Trent Swick mime. I can't hear. I can't hear.

39:50Justin: So, hey, I. I loved every minute of it.

39:54Jack Pridham: Same. Same. If only I could go back.

39:57Justin: Yeah. Thanks, everybody, for listening. Hey, Andrew. Or. And as always, you can find us at. And as always, you can find us at.

40:08Jack Pridham: Jack Pridham said it. You'll see us soon at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.