Episodes
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For the Season One finale of Hockey Press Pass, we were proud to be joined by John Buccigross for this discussion on the NHL's return to ESPN, his approach to play-by-play, the work of colleagues John Tortorella, A.J. Mleczko Griswold, Kevin Weekes and Ryan Callahan, the next steps for women's hockey, his approach to nutrition, and so much more. On behalf of the Hockey Press Pass and Islanders Forecheck team, thanks to all of our guests this season and also to the listeners for the fantastic response to the show. We'll see you down the road.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village
Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
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Should referees be made available to answer questions from reporters after controversial calls? How have the refs enforced the new standard for crosschecking? What should fans expect from the refs in the upcoming playoffs? Will the success of female officials in the AHL this season result in history being made in the NHL in 2022-23? Former NHL ref turned Daily Faceoff rules analyst Tim Peel tackles every question, tells us about his love of the job, favorite colleagues, and advice to officiating prospects, and surprises us with a revelation about his childhood in this candid conversation.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village
Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
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Episodes manquant?
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This episode is the finale of a two-parter in which Chris answers some of the questions you've sent during the season about his time in the media and as a PR executive with the Islanders and in the National Women's Hockey League.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer/co-host: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village
Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
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This episode is the first of a two-parter in which Chris answers some of the questions you've sent during the season about his time as the Islanders' VP of Communications.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer/co-host: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café in Huntington Village
Go to HelloFresh.com/presspass16 and use code: presspass16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!
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Kevin Kurz, who took over the Islanders' beat for The Athletic in the middle of this season, made the atypical jump a decade ago from the PR staff of the Flyers to covering the NHL. Kurz is a skilled, dedicated and diligent reporter with a distinctive voice in his articles and Twitter posts. Over 35 minutes, we get to learn more about his career, process, and approach, and his early views on the Islanders. After the interview, Lou Pellegrino relays a listener's question about Chris's favorite coaches. The discussion leads to Chris sharing a personal story about a moment involving Al Arbour.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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On the day the NYI announce long-term injuries for Cal Clutterbuck and Scott Mayfield, Brian Compton of NHL Dot Com joins the show to help us interpret Lou Lamoriello's direct comments about the need for "hockey trades" in the offseason. In addition, Chris gets to a series of your questions about Barry Trotz, the fisherman jersey and aspects of his time working for his hometown hockey team.
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer & Co-Host: Lou Pellegrino
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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As the Closing Bell rang on the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday, Chris and Lou discussed the Islanders' lack of deals, the contract extensions for bottom-six veterans Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise, and why attention turns to Jakub Chychrun, Filip Forsberg, other unknowns, and hopes for the offseason. But as a PR colleague of Chris always says, "Hope is not a strategy."
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer & Co-Host: Lou Pellegrino
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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With the NHL Trade Deadline near, Chris Botta and guest producer/co-host Lou Pellegrino got together Saturday morning to try and deliver the kind of pre-deadline show you’d expect from Hockey Press Pass/Islanders Forecheck. The show opens with former NHL goaltender and current Sabres analyst Martin Biron providing his viewpoints on goalies available at the deadline, including Semyon Varlamov. Later on, the hosts debate the merits of moving certain Islanders before 3 p.m. Monday, and Lou asks Chris about his experiences as the Islanders’ PR guy at the trade deadline.
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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Thanks to the generosity and class of Brendan Burke, this episode has it all: an inside look at his preparation for his next game; the crucial and challenging years in the minors while wondering if he’d ever get the call to the NHL; the job interviews and process leading up to a contract offer to do Islanders play-by-play; the dynamic in the booth with Butch Goring and Darren Pang; keys to staying sharp (and rested) while traveling across North America in his work for the NHL on TNT. There’s a lot here for hockey fans, broadcasting aficionados, and aspiring announcers to learn from enjoy.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Guest Producer: Lou Pellegrino
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
Stick Taps: Blair Cofield, Sean Dennison
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After Pat and Chris ponder the impact of the Islanders’ recent impressive wins over Columbus and St. Louis, Michael Grabner joins the show to add his perspective from a very unique NHL playing career. Michael shares what it’s like “in the room” in the days leading up to the trade deadline, how it feels to be traded (at the deadline and, by the Islanders, during training camp), his view on whether the current team needs to undergo major changes, what he remembers about his time on Long Island, and – as they say in these podcast write-ups – much, much more.
Hosts: Chris Botta, Pat Boyle
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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Overcoming a dangerous bout with Meningitis in Intensive Care to return to the NHL with the Blues, play great, and win the Masterton Trophy. Being the second player named Jamie from his junior team to hear his name called at the NHL Draft (oops). Playing for Al Arbour and getting the nod to go into games after Ron Hextall got Game Misconducts. Transitioning from popular teammate to successful broadcaster. The goalie market at this year’s NHL trade deadline. We discuss all of this and a whole lot more with Jamie McLennan of TSN.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producers: Lou Pellegrino, Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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After Pat and Chris break down the latest Islanders loss and Lou Lamoriello’s comments about roster decisions before the trade deadline, ex-NYI dman and current Blues analyst Jamie Rivers joins the show. Jamie previews Saturday’s tilt at UBS against St. Louis, talks about Vladimir Tarasenko and Pavel Buchnevich, and shares memories of his time with the Islanders, including a classic about a team-endorsed beer-drinking session late in the evening before a game in Toronto.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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As we enter a crucial time for the sport coming off the Olympics and powerhouse viewership numbers for the gold medal game between Canada and the U.S., it was time to speak with Kristina Rutherford, the gifted features writer for Sportsnet. In addition to the usual Hockey Press Pass inquiries of our guest about the NHL, her career, process and advice for aspiring journalists, Kristina and Chris discuss the current climate in women’s sports and what’s next for women’s professional hockey in North America.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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In Chris’s opinion, no one has covered the NHL team beat better over the last quarter-century than Michael Russo. In this interview you’ll get an idea of why Mike is so good, as his love for the game and journalism comes through. Mike covers everything, from the impact the Islanders made on him while growing up on Long Island, to his approach to serving fans as a reporter, to maintaining relationships and working through hurdles with players and coaches, to his time covering the Florida Panthers and now the Minnesota Wild.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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After an impressive victory by the Islanders over Boston, Pat Boyle and Chris Botta decide it’s all perfectly okay to be on two tracks: Barry Trotz and his players will stay focused on trying to win the next game and the one after that, and Lou Lamoriello and his hockey ops department will monitor the trade market. On the latter, Chris shares what he’s learned and what he believes could be the return from trades of several Islanders, from a No. 1 goaltender in Semyon Varlamov, to respected vets Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise, to younger players Anthony Beauvillier and Scott Mayfield, and even one veteran who may surprise you.
Hosts: Pat Boyle and Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
Stick-Taps:Hello Fresh – America’s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.dot/presspass16 and use code presspass16 for up to 16 free meals + 3 free gifts.
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Before ESPN got the NHL back, Emily Kaplan wrote nonstop for ESPN.com. Now you can find Emily everywhere on ESPN platforms – on game telecasts, on “The Point,” co-hosting the podcast “In The Crease,” not to mention her frequent appearances on “Around the Horn.” Get to know a lot more about this brilliant and relentless journalist in this wide-ranging interview with Chris Botta. This episode is sponsored in part by Hello Fresh – America’s #1 Meal Kit. Go to HelloFresh.dot/presspass16 and use code presspass16 for up to 16 free meals + 3 free gifts.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: HelloFresh, InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Café
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Jiggs McDonald has called some of the most memorable moments in NHL history, from his time with the Islanders, Panthers and the early days of the Atlanta Flames and Los Angeles Kings. In this conversation with Chris, the Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster shares stories about working with Bill Torrey, Al Arbour, and his boothmate, Ed Westfall. He also shares tips on the craft of play-by-play, picks some underrated Islanders dynasty members, and tells us what he thinks of the new TV voice of his old team – Brendan Burke.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Cafe
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With Trevor Zegras dazzling at NHL All-Star Weekend with his trick shots, and as the development of Oliver Wahlstrom under Barry Trotz continues to be a hot topic around Islanders Country, Rob Schremp was the perfect person to speak with this week. As a former first-round pick, leading scorer in the OHL, and a magician with the puck whom one teammate says “may have been ahead of his time,” Schremp has a lot of insights into the coach-prospect dynamic from his own unique and challenging career.
Guest Producer & Engineer: Lou Pellegrino (thanks, Lou!)
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: Main Street Board Game Cafe
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Former Islanders defenseman and current RDS analyst Bruno Gervais joins Chris to share his view on the current plight of the NYI, his admiration for Noah Dobson, and his concern about the potential for hasty trades. Bruno also provides a lot of insight into his time with the unstructured Islanders, some of his notable teammates, and the legacy of Clark Gillies.
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In an episode dedicated to the memory of beloved Hockey Hall of Fame forward Clark Gillies, Justin Bourne joins Hockey Press Pass to talk about making the transition from Division I and AHL/ECHL player to analyst. Along the way, he recalls his participation in an Islanders training camp, discusses his views on the Maple Leafs, NYI, and John Tavares, and reminisces about how Bob Bourne Hall of Fame Night at Nassau Coliseum led to Justin reconnecting with his future wife, the former Brianna Gillies. This interview was recorded ten days before the passing of Clark Gillies, Justin’s father-in-law. The Gillies and Bourne families are forever in our thoughts.
Host: Chris Botta
Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney
Producer: Pat Boyle
Presented by: InStat Hockey, Main Street Board Game Cafe
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