Papa’s got a brand new bag!

Once it was clear that I no longer had the fire I believe is required to play hockey anymore it was pretty easy to hang up the skates and call it a career. I am one of the fortunate players that was lucky enough to run out of gas before I ran out of opportunities.

I am very thankful to all the teams, coaches, managers and team mates that gave me seventeen years of professional hockey. I made many great friends and have maybe a few too many memories locked away in my head. Looking back I don’t even have bad memories of all the bag skates!

Last summer around this time my friend, Jason Gregor, invited me to co-host his show on Fridays at the Pint for a couple hours. I thought it would be fun to try so off I went. Gregs is such a pro and easy to work with that by the time I left for Sweden I felt very comfortable on the air. Plus I realized I loved doing it!

After getting home from Sweden I was asked by the Team 1260 if I would co-host other shows over the summer. Of course I jumped at it and got a chance to work with pretty much all of the 1260 personalities. It was a great experience. We were talking all sports and I got a chance to see how much work these guys put into their shows.

Fast forward to last week when I was offered the chance to host my own show. Awesome! I was jacked. Great opportunity for me while doing something I really enjoy. So I am now hosting my own show Monday to Friday, 9pm to 12am on the Team 1260.

Growing up I listened to ‘Sportstalk’ with John Short every night when I went to bed. I think it is great that I get the chance to be like him! A big part of my show will be doing Oiler post-games. I am really looking forward to this. Tune in after all weekday Oiler games to get some insight and opinions on all the action! Of course, I wouldn’t be me if I couldn’t mix in humour!

Marc Majeau is my producer and wingman off and on the air for the show. Can’t wait to start Tuesday with you buddy!

I still want to be on the ice. I love the game of hockey and was looking for a way to stay active within the game. I was given so much by hockey I wanted to give some back.

I found a way to do that by joining Mount Carmel Hockey Academy. I am thrilled to be working with the student athletes there. I will be working both on and off the ice with them all. I am not sure that I am the guy to teach them how to score fifty in the NHL, but I do know and understand the work required to put a player into the position he could get the chance to do so.

Of course I will still be writing here at the Oilers Nation. When I was approached to do this last fall I wasn’t sure how it would all go. I really enjoy it and I appreciate all the feedback I get in the comments section, good and bad.

Just to set the record straight, I don’t care if you blew me kisses or chirped the hell out of me while I was player for the Oilers or any other team. The slate is clean. To be honest I never cared either way, as a player you can’t!