The guest is Ed Bourget, Director of Hockey Operations at Buckingham Browne & Nichols (BB&N). The discussion delves into Ed's extensive background in hockey, from playing high school hockey at Shrewsbury High and Sacred Heart to his professional stint in Europe. Ed provides insights into his new role at BB&N, focusing on supporting both the boys' and girls' hockey programs. The conversation also explores player development, managing the grueling prep school hockey schedule, and balancing the demands of athletics with academic and personal life. Ed emphasizes the importance of rest, development beyond just hockey skills, and preparing for life after the sport. The episode concludes with reflections on the evolving landscape of hockey recruitment and the significance of enjoying the process.

Topics

00:19 Ed's Hockey Background

01:26 Coaching Philosophy and New Role

03:09 Player Development and Training

09:51 Recruiting Process Insights

17:49 Balancing Academics and Athletics

21:59 Life After Hockey

22:55 Path to Coaching

25:28 Future of Prep School Hockey

30:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the New England Hockey Journal's Rink Wise Podcast, hosts Evan Marinofsky and Patrick Donnelly discuss various updates in the sports world, focusing particularly on the recent US Open and the New England D1 Championship in baseball at Polar Park. While updating on baseball, the hosts delve into the major topic of the week—the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft. They provide insights into significant picks, including a detailed analysis of picks from New England and the implications for prep schools, junior hockey leagues, and the National Team Development Program (NTDP). The podcast also explores potential recruiting battles between the USHL and Canadian junior leagues, value picks, snubs, and the future of New England players in junior hockey. The episode wraps up with insights into what the changes in draft dynamics might mean for the evolving landscape of prep and junior hockey.

Topics

00:31 High School Baseball Championships

02:30 QMJHL Draft Overview

05:29 Impact on New England Players

10:36 Future of Junior Hockey and Prep Schools

13:18 Quebec Ramparts' Bold Move

15:47 Carter Meyer Draft Reactions

16:41 Quebec's Strategic Draft Picks

18:46 Notable Draft Picks and Surprises

20:09 Underrated Draft Picks and Value Finds

22:45 Draft Snubs and Missed Opportunities

27:10 USHL vs. QMJHL: The Recruiting Battle

30:31 Concluding Thoughts and Future Updates

Evan and Patrick Donnelly are joined by Eric Boguniecki, a former NHL player and current scout for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth. They discuss Eric's impressive career, his transition from coaching to scouting, and his insights on player development. Eric shares personal stories about his son's unique path from baseball to hockey, emphasizing the importance of multi-sport participation for young athletes. The conversation touches on the evolving landscape of prep school and junior hockey, the impact of the CHL ruling on college commitments, and the potential for new NCAA Division I programs. Additionally, they dive into personal anecdotes about their love for hockey and the emotional highs and lows of being a sports fan.

Topics

00:46 Introducing the Special Guest: Eric Boguniecki

01:22 Eric’s Career Journey

01:51 Life on the Road as a Scout

03:21 Transition from Coaching to Scouting

04:58 Scouting Insights and Player Evaluation

06:21 The Importance of Hockey Sense

12:26 Balancing Sports and Family Life

16:53 Jake Boggan's Unique Path in Sports

17:15 Challenges and Changes in Prep School Hockey

36:45 Hockey Prep School Culture

37:16 Memorable Football Moments

38:25 Jake's College Recruitment Journey

40:37 NCAA Recruitment Rules and Challenges

42:00 The Impact of Transfer Portals

44:03 The Future of College Hockey

47:46 Hockey's Growing Popularity

55:12 Overtime: Personal Hockey Stories

Evan and Pat discuss the recent Mass. Hockey Festival for both boys and girls, providing insights on standout players, snubs, and potential future stars. The conversation also touches on the unpredictability of New England weather, their personal gripes about hockey, the impact of youth sports' financial demands, and fun insights into their hypothetical Zamboni ride theme songs.

Topics

01:38 Mass Hockey Festival Overview

02:06 Boys' Festival Highlights

04:28 Rising Stars: Oh Eights and Oh Nines

10:23 Notable Snubs and Surprises

12:22 2000 Tens: Future Prospects

15:22 NTDP Aspirations for 2010s

18:13 Personal Anecdotes and Girls' Festival

19:05 Stock Risers: Girls in Hockey

19:37 Standout Performances at the Festival

22:32 Young Talents to Watch

24:55 Future Stars: The 2010s

30:24 Unpopular Opinions in Hockey

37:04 Overtime: Fun and Final Thoughts

Evan and Pat reflect on the recently concluded boys prep hockey season, discussing standout teams, surprising performances, and key players. They highlight teams like Deerfield, St. Mark's, Dexter, Rivers, and more for their unexpected success. They delve into the contributions of standout players such as Carter Meyer, Joe Salandra, Billy McCaslin, and others. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of the CHL on the future of prep hockey and look ahead to how teams might shape up next season. The episode concludes with an 'overrated or underrated' segment, adding a fun twist to the in-depth hockey analysis.

Topics

00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter

00:34 Reflecting on the Bruins' Season

01:34 Prep Hockey Season Recap

02:21 Surprising Teams of the Season

12:59 Standout Players and Performances

17:42 NTDP Evaluation Camp Insights

21:48 Analyzing Pandolfo's Potential

22:22 Lessons from Sears' Development Path

24:14 Impact of CHL on Prep Hockey

27:50 Teams to Watch Next Season

29:52 NHL Draft Prospects

33:28 Overtime: Underrated or Overrated

39:46 Wrapping Up the Prep Season

Evan and Pat reunite in the studio to discuss the end of the girls' hockey season. They reflect on the exciting season, highlighting standout teams like Loomis Chaffee and Nobles. The discussion covers how various teams performed, their top players, and expectations for the next season. Goal-tending performances and uncommitted prospects are also spotlighted. The episode concludes with a fun 'overrated or underrated' segment featuring items like wearing jerseys to games and bubble hockey.

Topics

00:37 Reflecting on the Girls Season

01:18 Loomis Chaffee's Dominant Performance

03:14 Nobles and Andover: Season Highlights

05:29 Rivers and Exeter: Rising Teams

06:26 New Hampton's Elite Eight Aspirations

07:50 Dexter and BB&N's Strong Seasons

09:29 Thayer and St. Mark's: Surprising Runs

11:25 Tabor's Competitive Season

12:46 Deerfield's Adaptable Strategy

13:46 Standout Players of the Season

17:17 Williston's Unexpected Playoff Exit

19:06 Top Goalies of the Year

21:38 The Lone Goalie's Journey

22:07 Uncommitted Standouts to Watch

25:17 Prep Transfers and Future Prospects

26:52 Teams to Watch Next Season

30:18 Overtime: Overrated or Underrated?

38:18 Wrapping Up and Future Coverage

Evan and Pat preview the MIAA State Championships, scheduled for Sunday. They discuss the format of the preview, likening it to their 'Rinkwise' podcast, and emphasize the appeal of concise and direct coverage. The preview covers multiple divisions, starting with the Division 4 boys' matchup between Winthrop and Dedham, analyzing their paths to the final. They move on to the Division 1 girls' game, highlighting the journey of top-seeded Hingham and underdog Bishop Stang, and consider the potential for an upset. The Division 1 boys' final between St. John Shrewsbury and Catholic Memorial (CM) presents a similar narrative of an unexpected finalist versus a dominant favorite. Division 2 boys see Billerica facing Canton, both teams with impressive seasons, followed by Division 3 boys' clash between Nauset and Medfield, illustrating Nauset's dominance. Finally, they preview the Division 2 girls' game between Milton and Medfield, noting Medfield's impressive run as a lower seed. Throughout, the hosts reflect on past tournament experiences, the impact of team momentum, and the excitement of unexpected matchups in the championship.

Topics

00:43 MIAA State Championships Preview

02:02 Division 4 Boys Championship Preview

03:36 Division 1 Girls Championship Preview

07:07 Division 1 Boys Championship Preview

13:11 Division 2 Boys Championship Preview

15:17 Division 3 Boys Championship Preview

18:09 Division 2 Girls Championship Preview

21:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Pat and Evan provide a detailed recap of the boys prep hockey championship games. Key highlights include Cushing's dramatic 4-3 victory over Dexter in the Elite Eight, Andover's commanding 4-1 win over Westminster in the large school bracket, and Kimball Union's 5-3 triumph over Berkshire in the small school final. The episode delves into critical moments, standout players, and season trajectories for the teams, emphasizing Cushing's underdog story and the exceptional performances of individual athletes across all games. The discussion also touches on Cushing's improbable rise and key strategic elements in Andover and Kimball Union's wins.

Topics

00:55 Cushing vs. Dexter: An All-Time Classic

01:35 Cushing's Remarkable Journey to the Elite Eight Title

03:14 Key Moments and Players in the Cushing vs. Dexter Game

06:56 Andover vs. Westminster: Large School Championship Recap

11:05 Kimball Union vs. Berkshire: Small School Championship Recap

14:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts