85: A Champion Returns

It was an emotional 48 hours in Rangers land: Ottawa called up Jackson Parsons, a GROAT, and Memorial Cup winner Gabriel Chiarot came home from Abbotsford. A week after we were scraping the barrel for something to talk about, the boys handed us two wins on top of it. Cameron Arquette put up 3 goals and an assist in a 5-2 win over North Bay, then set up Jiří Gombár's overtime winner in Owen Sound, 49 seconds from a shootout. Since we recorded, Sam O'Reilly made his NHL debut in Buffalo on Nov 11, which only helps Andrew's case that he needs to be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. And Owen Sound's ice-level host shouted us out, he did his research, and we do not.  Follow us on Instagram & TikTok | @theaudpodcastWatch us on YouTube | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.comEmail | [email protected]⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Cold open: our boys are going to the NHL1:18 - Chiarot's back, Parsons gets the call and the O'Reilly Hall of Fame question14:01 - Game Recap 1: 5-2 over North Bay and Arquette's hat trick20:31 - SeatGeek Ad21:32 - Game Recap 2: OT win in Owen Sound on Hockey Fights Cancer night35:48 - Owen Sound's ice-level host: definitely not Steve38:32 - 3 Stars43:29 - Tanner Adams: 15 picks and a lost season45:29 - The week ahead: Erie, Barrie, Ottawa and Sudbury48:26 - Connor Hellebuyck: no backbone50:45 - Thank yous and the road trip crew Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/THPN10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mason Hriczov stopped all 35 Flint shots in a 3-0 win in his first home start, then Jason Schaubel stopped 34 of 37 against Guelph while the Rangers managed 18 shots. That one ended 3-2 for the Storm, their first win at the Aud since 2024, and Justin breaks our soft rule on the refs: Ben Hrebik forearm shivers Cameron Arquette in the crease, nothing gets called, and the puck goes up the ice for Vladimir Dravecky's winner. Andrew remembers his great-grandfather Thomas Nicholas French for Remembrance week, goalie coach Jake Paterson gets a surprise star, and two goalies get one celebrity couple name. Blue paint nerds, make your case: was that interference?  Follow us on Instagram & TikTok | @theaudpodcastWatch us on YouTube | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.comEmail | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Cold open: breaking a flaccid rule1:46 - Remembrance Day game and a jersey with the Aud on it2:37 - Andrew's great-grandfather, Thomas Nicholas French3:44 - We're bad at Facebook: the ticket giveaway7:25 - Friday: Hriczov's 35-save shutout of Flint14:11 - Tuesday: Guelph finally wins at the Aud18:11 - The soft rule breaks: a game full of fights and calls24:01 - Hrebik's forearm shiver on Arquette27:12 - The OHL's 'Ranger defeater' caption31:27 - The instigator and Ashton Kucherov33:53 - The ceremony we never got to see, and we're not Rogers sleeper agents35:54 - Third stars: Arquette, Schneider and Gombár38:00 - Second star: goalie coach Jake Paterson39:49 - First star: the Schaubsczov41:35 - This week: North Bay, Owen Sound and Puckin' Up44:40 - Spencer Byers' Hockey Fights Cancer mohawk45:58 - An 11 am school-day game in Erie47:07 - Thank yous: Papa Born, Tim, JJ and the HPN49:29 - Schaubsczov, Schaubsczov Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cameron Arquette finally joins the AudPod, and partway through the interview his billet brother and captain Andrew MacNiel barges in to call him an absolute donkey. Arqie talks bringing the Memorial Cup home to Wheatley (there was a marching band), the Smurf line with Tanner Lam and Haeden Ellis, a reverse sweep of the Windsor team he grew up cheering for, and his first game at the Aud. Before that, the AudBalls break down 3 of 4 points against Guelph: Arqie's two goals in a 6-3 Friday win, Ryan Roobroeck's hat trick in a 6-5 Sunday loss, and a Jason Schaubel save Andrew would put up against any save made in that crease in 3 years. Arqie's verdict on the captain's room: "a complete disaster." Follow us on Instagram & TikTok | @theaudpodcastWatch us on YouTube | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.comEmail | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Cold open: smiles, silly faces and summoning Arqie1:59 - Halloween costumes: Lightning McQueen and Princess Donut4:33 - Guelph, the best team in the CHL?7:19 - Friday: Arqie scores twice in a 6-3 win10:56 - Sunday: Roobroeck's hat trick and a comeback point14:41 - Tanner Lam confuses the officials24:23 - Three stars of the weekend31:19 - Schaubel's flying save and the holy goalies34:27 - Cameron Arquette joins: the Wheatley Weasel himself36:00 - Bringing the Memorial Cup home to Wheatley41:17 - The Smurf line and road stories43:09 - Captain Andrew MacNiel crashes the pod47:03 - Memorial Cup memories and Jussi Ahokas52:43 - The Windsor reverse sweep55:30 - First game at the Aud58:11 - This year's team and the Guelph weekend1:05:31 - Arqie roasts his billet brother1:07:12 - After the interview: what a guy1:11:03 - Thank yous: Papa Born, Tim's audiobook, JJ and THPN1:13:35 - Guelph and Flint this weekend1:14:00 - Bloopers: the missed intro takes Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Rangers took 5 of 6 points this weekend, so the AudPod's three stars are back. It started with a 4-3 shootout loss to London after a comeback from 3-1, with Kaden Schneider going coast to coast for his first of the season. Then the 5-game losing streak ended against Niagara with Jiří Gombár's first goal, and Jason Schaubel was lights out in a 2-1 win in Oshawa. Cameron Arquette, now known as the Wheatley Weasel, had 5 points in 3 games and is both hosts' first star. Plus Daniel's voicemail on Roman Andreev, and a home and home with Guelph on deck. Shootout: real hockey or for casuals?  Follow us on Instagram & TikTok | @theaudpodcastWatch us on YouTube | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.comEmail | [email protected]⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Cold open: an octave lower and the opposite of ASMR0:59 - Guelph week, Sean Furfaro, and no Wendy's at the mall2:22 - London: a shootout loss and Kaden Schneider coast to coast8:26 - Niagara: the losing streak ends and Gombár gets his first14:46 - Ryder Roberson's fight, and Oshawa dressed as the Bruins17:13 - Oshawa: LaBrash's tip, the artist, and Tanner Lam's 6th22:18 - Three stars: Gombár, Romano, Schaubel, special teams and the Wheatley Weasel28:16 - Next up: double Guelph31:17 - Voicemail: Daniel on Roman Andreev37:32 - Leave us a voicemail, and the thank yous  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Oktoberfest from the AudBalls, who spent Thanksgiving watching the Rangers come home from Flint, the Soo and Saginaw with 1 point out of 6. The Soo game stings the most: the best period of hockey the Rangers have played this season, a 2-1 lead in the third, then the worst bounce a goalie can get and a loss in overtime. So the good, the bad and the ugly is back for the first time in 2026, with fast starts and Mason Hriczov on the good side, a power play that went 1 for 8 on the bad, and Flint's Nick Bogas, who sounds bogus to us. In the mailbag: the KW Titans, teddy bear toss plans, what we actually do for work, and Guelph missing the playoffs, which we stand by. Third in the West with Guelph on the outside: are you with us or against us? Follow us on Instagram & TikTok | @theaudpodcastWatch us on YouTube | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.comEmail | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Cold open: Happy Oktoberfest0:43 Oktoberfest, wurst and a Thanksgiving road trip2:55 Three road losses: time for the good, the bad and the ugly4:24 Watching London live, Sean's episode and the AudPod power rankings6:28 Wednesday in Flint: a 5-2 loss that felt closer11:58 The Soo: the best period of the season, then an OT loss17:32 Santala scores his 6th live against London17:55 Saginaw: 0 for 5 on the power play19:18 Saginaw's top line and the unhinged number 6624:03 The good: fast starts and Hriczov in net26:17 The bad: the power play and the shooting29:06 The ugly: plays in front of the goalie, and missing MacNiel32:24 Looking ahead: London tonight, Niagara and Oshawa34:47 Mailbag: do we care about the KW Titans?37:01 Teddy bear toss plans and A Buck or Two38:59 What do the AudBalls do for work?39:52 Top Rangers moments, and our predictions stand41:57 Thank yous, and JJ nails the voiceover again  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everybody has an Italian friend who can do anything for $80, so for episode 80 the AudBalls bring in theirs: rinkside broadcaster Sean Furfaro. Luca Santala ties Saginaw with 1:53 left and wins it 10 seconds into overtime, the Luca-to-Luca connection with Luca Romano is officially a thing, and Alex Forrest's vision has all three of them impressed. Then the Rangers lose 6-0 in Guelph, a game the three of them watched about two periods of combined, and Sean explains why Guelph still won't win the Western Conference: you caught us in the standings, don't plan the parade. So with rivalry week against London coming, should the AudPod put out its own power rankings? Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcastWatch us on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.com Email | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Cold open: the Aud Squad is back1:43 Episode 80 and the $80 Italian friend2:25 Friday vs Saginaw: a should-win game at the Aud5:15 Scoring summary: Alex Forrest's vision on the power play6:22 Wassilyn, Zhilkin, and Anstis ties it up9:05 The Luca-to-Luca connection: Santala ties it, then wins it in 10 seconds12:33 Power plays, and the penalty R-Town earned14:18 Sunday in Guelph: the 6-0 game nobody watched15:27 0 for 6 on the power play, and a guarantee19:45 Guelph fans in the DMs, and Sean's Western Conference prediction23:03 Around the league: Brantford, Sudbury, Sarnia and Hazel McCallion24:27 The 3 stars of the weekend31:51 Looking ahead: Flint, the Soo and Saginaw36:08 Mike Farwell is back on the radio38:04 OHL power rankings, and the AudPod power rankings pitch42:30 Merch wraps up, and the AudPod hat in Florence44:15 Rivalry week with London is coming45:17 Thank yous, and bring $80  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

BUY OUR MERCH! Only Available Until Oct 5. Free Shipping in Canada! Seven shutouts and a 0.86 goals-against average in U16, then two years of waiting behind Jackson Parsons and Christian Kirsch. Now Jason Schaubel finally sits down with the AudBalls, and he says he'd play all 68 if you let him. He ranks the Rangers goalies by intelligence (Parsons up top, everyone else "all the way down here"), explains the salt-spiked water bottle and the shirt changes every period, and tells the story of the "can we talk?" text from Jordan DeKort that had him thinking he'd been traded. Before that, the guys run through a three-game weekend: a 4-3 loss to Erie, a 4-3 overtime comeback in Erie for Mason Hriczov's first OHL win, and a 6-3 win over Kingston, plus the Luca Santala trade. Jason says he'd love a goalie fight, so who should he drop the gloves with? Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcastWatch us on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.com Email | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Cold open: the last days to buy the merch2:30 The throwback jersey is back, and tiny letters around the league6:15 Luca Santala comes over from London13:02 Friday: a 4-3 loss to Erie at the Aud18:03 Saturday: a 4-3 OT comeback in Erie and Hriczov's first OHL win21:39 Sunday: 6-3 over Kingston in the new jerseys27:50 The AudBalls' 3 stars31:47 Looking ahead: Saginaw, Guelph and Flint33:12 Jason Schaubel joins: the crease is finally his41:01 Ranking the Rangers goalies by intelligence43:17 Blackhawks rookie camp, salt water and shirt changes46:52 Jordy DeKort to Nashville and the 'am I getting traded?' text50:16 All 68 games, and backing up Mason Hriczov52:29 Taking care of a goalie's body, and why he became a goalie at 854:23 New teammates, Santala's shot and road roommates57:33 Playing for Jussi, and leading a room with 11 rookies1:00:52 What the Kitchener fans mean to him1:03:09 Jason's take on the Leafs trade1:04:14 Goalie fights and the Owen Sound stick to the throat1:08:07 After the interview, and the thank yous Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's a story the AudBalls have never told before, and they finally do: how a rain-soaked 2:30am parking lot outside the Aud turned into center ice with the J. Ross Robertson Cup in their hands, the exact photo now on the pre-sale t-shirt. Opening night was a hard-luck 1-0 loss to Owen Sound and a Ryerson Leenders shutout, but Jason Schaubel stood on his head at the other end, and after two years of waiting his turn he's both hosts' first star of the weekend. The very next night the Rangers got revenge, winning 4-1 behind Ryder Roberson's first OHL goal and a two-goal Tanner Lam night. The guys also roast Owen Sound for handing the losing goalie the first star in game one, and clock Guelph getting outscored 11-1 and sliding in the power rankings already. Was the Schaubel spear to the throat a penalty, or just too fast to call? Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcastWatch us on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.com Email | [email protected] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Cold open: buy the merch, and a story that's never been told2:46 The J. Ross Robertson Cup at 2:30am8:31 Banner night: raising the Memorial Cup banner10:53 Opening night: a 1-0 loss to Owen Sound and Leenders' shutout14:47 The Schaubel throat spear and MacNiel's instigator16:17 Standouts from game 1: Ellis, Lam, Arquette, and Puglisi22:00 Revenge in Owen Sound: Roberson's first OHL goal and a 2-goal Lam night29:37 Ranting on Owen Sound's homer 3-star picks31:15 The AudBalls' 3 stars of the weekend38:30 Looking ahead: Erie, Kingston, and Guelph's freefall  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight the Rangers raise the J. Ross Robertson Cup and Memorial Cup championship banners and open the season at home against Owen Sound, so the AudBalls bring back Rogers TV voices Dan Polischuk and Jason Hagholm, the show's first-ever returning guests, for the full season preview. They relive the championship run out of Everett and Kelowna, note Sam O'Reilly's Memorial Cup MVP, and hear Jason pick Jack Pridham as his own tournament standout. From there it's Pridham's late playoff surge, Luca Romano's something-to-prove season, who wears the letters, new pickup Dmitri Toporowski arriving from the pro ranks, and breakout picks Haeden Ellis, Weston Cameron and Avry Anstis. Dan and Jason size up how new bench boss Jeff Kyrzakos fills Jussi Ahokas' huge shoes with his own spin, and a predictions round closes it out with one of the hottest takes Jason says he's heard in a while. As Jason puts it: don't get too high. See you at the Aud. MERCH & Website | theaudpod.com  Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcastWatch us on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersEmail | [email protected]  ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Cold open: new hats and Temu knockoff jokes 1:04 Welcoming back Dan Polischuk and Jason Hagholm 2:13 Reliving the Memorial Cup: Everett, Kelowna, and picking Pridham for MVP 6:50 Pridham catches fire, and Luca Romano's something-to-prove year 11:26 Breakout watch: Haeden Ellis, Weston Cameron, and Avry Anstis 13:44 Who wears the letters: Romano, Bilecki, Lam, and MacNiel 19:50 Dmitri Toporowski arrives from the pro ranks 22:02 New imports and the disrespectful power rankings 24:15 Alex Forrest, the Sutherland Cup winner still growing into his frame 27:30 The culture shift after winning it all, and the Oscar Hemming tinfoil hat 33:15 Jeff Kyrzakos fills huge shoes with his own spin 40:57 Jason Schaubel's time to be the guy 45:18 Predictions: goals, assists, penalty minutes, and the hottest hot take 1:01:23 Merch drop: the shop opens today, closes October 5 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cut by Ottawa, cut by Kitchener, cut by London, then signed as an undrafted walk-on and finishing as a Memorial Cup champion: Matthew Hlacar's story is the one the AudBalls have wanted to tell since he first dropped the gloves at the Aud. Now a Brantford Bulldog, he sits down to relive the 10-guys rule Ando preached, the deadline that made the room believe, the Sault Ste. Marie shootout winner that lives in AudPod lore, and the dad who begged him not to get suspended before the hotel was paid off. Plus Muay Thai at Darkside, favourite dance partner Ryder Boulton (now a teammate), the Arky mattress prank, and whether he is ready to walk into the visitors' room at the Aud.Follow us on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ &⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcastWatch us on⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠ | @theaudpodcast-kitchenerrangersWebsite | theaudpod.com Email | [email protected]:00 — Cold open: undrafted to Memorial Cup champion0:49 — Thoughts with Matthew Mayich2:05 — Brad Flynn, the 13th forward, and leaning into the physical game4:28 — Cut by Ottawa, Kitchener and London, then signed5:42 — We got 10 guys: Ando’s rule and the toughest room in the league7:00 — The deadline, Woolley, and we didn’t load up for nothing8:03 — A Brantford Bulldog now, a Hamilton kid close to home9:02 — Tossed from the game, then sitting in the stands with dad10:29 — Silky hands: the Sault Ste. Marie shootout winner12:19 — Tom Wilson, Lucic, and staying engaged as a healthy scratch15:30 — Brandon Merli’s skates, Brantford’s assault bike, and Muay Thai at Darkside19:00 — Favourite dance partner Boulton, and the new fight rules21:12 — Saying goodbye to the group, and the jersey wall22:45 — Joining Brantford: it’s the best of the best24:11 — Roommates, Avry Anstis, and the Arky mattress story27:40 — Woolley, the London Knights, and celebrating the Cup32:03 — Sign-off: walking into the visitors’ room at the Aud Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.