Fire & Ice Podcast
A Coachella Valley Firebirds podcast.
Fire & Ice Podcast
The Desert Sun's Fire & Ice Podcast -- Pac. Division Finals -- Mid-Series Media Roundtable (May 19, 2026)
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Can the 'Birds do it again? Needing to stave off elimination for the third time in as many playoff series with back-to-back wins, CV looks to force a deciding Game 5 vs. Colorado in the Pacific Division Finals. Get prepped via this Mid-Series Media Roundtable featuring Shad Powers and Andrew John from The Desert Sun, and Kevin McGlue, VP, Communications & Broadcasting and play-by-play voice for the Colorado Eagles.
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Greetings, friends, and firebirds fans, and welcome to the Desert Suns Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. Coming in from Palm Desert, California, a mere back against the wall scenario, Python, parentheses, again. That's how far away we are from the Birds Home Mice of Acurachure Arena. I'm your host, Judd Spicer, fourth season, Coachello Valley Firebirds hockey, fourth season of Fire and Ice, fourth season in the playoffs, and third time in as many series in this version of CV that the Birds gotta get it done again. Stave off elimination. Did it twice in the first round against Bakersfield, did it twice in the second round against Ontario, and now gotta do it twice again. This time in the Pacific Division Finals against a very good Colorado Eagles team. Here to break down as much, we'll get to it shortly. Special mid-series media roundtable episode. Yours truly going to be joined by some familiar faces, or at least for this audio medium voices. Chad Powers, Andrew John from The Desert Sun, going to be joining us here shortly. Also, very enthused to welcome Kevin McGlue. He is not only the VP of communications and broadcasting, there is an ampersand in there. Additionally, if not perhaps moreover, at least on game days, Kevin, also the voice of the Eagles, doing a play-by-play for Colorado. Looking forward to this media roundtable coming up shortly. In the interim, let us recognize those who make this show go. The Desert Sun newspaper has been informing our valley for nearly a century now, founded back in 1927. Get all your local news, sports, festival, dining, politics, event, and firebirds information. Oh, let's not forget the Coachella Valley Lakers. You can get that too at DesertSun.com. Or heck, just go get yourself a physical, tangible, handheld newspaper. Desert Willow Golf Resource is also right here in sunny palm desert, California, home to the Mountain View and Fire Cliff courses, respectively. One of the best municipal, one of the best public golf facilities west of the Mississippi, undoubtedly. Look up those 36 holes online at desertwillow.com. Great time, by the way, to be teeing it up over at DW. Love these shoulder seasons. We've had some great weather, very, very temperate for the most part. Desert Willow, also home to the awesome and on-site Palm Desert Golf Academy. Again, you can check that out online at Desert Willow.com. Be mindful, by the way, when you're making tea times at DW for this week, both the Mountain View and Firecliffe courses, playing host to the women's D3 National Championship. Emory University, I believe, is uh is the favorite heading in, but also some strong suitors. NYU, Carnegie Mellon. They're playing both courses, as I just mentioned. First time, by the way, that the D3 Women's National Championship has been at a host site west of Texas. So be mindful again this week when making those tea times over at the Mountain View and Firecliffe courses. Otherwise, tee it up. Tee away. By the way, love the good putt to puck segue. You tee it up over at DW and then just 1.5 miles away to the Birds Home Ice of Acrocher Arena. All right, friends, let's get to both the nitty and the gritty in this Firebirds Freeze Frame segment. Of course, Firebirds Freeze Frame has a couple great new sponsors for this fourth season of CV hockey because ice action is not limited to Acrocher alone. Hockey fans is taking some pregame drinks, post-game toast. You need only look up to the high desert. We're our Firebirds friends at both the 29 Falls Beer Company and the Ground Squirrel. That's G R N D S Q R L. They're both served up some off meets and incredible beers in downtown 29 Falls. Ground Squirrel for Top Fitzdile, Scratch Made menu, and that's that with rotating list of craft beers. Those taking a photo power play. They're brewing up their own common beers right off site. And wait for it, they are televising every Firebirds playoff game and regular teams. They're doing it right now. Every game, home or away. Great place to kick up the get a handcrafted beer right off site. And watch the birds versus the eagles for all the tough playoffs. Look, if you're a local speaking fucking scene, once it does get hot, cool off. Maybe you're a desert guest, you're up your orange hospital tree, fine beer town. Look, you might be celebrating a bird's win. Perhaps drowning your stars like we did after game three, after a tough loss. I have to tell the 29th Falls for both ground squirrel and the 29th Folks here company. Your high desert hockey focused. Alright, dude. As I mentioned, for reveal facts against the wall again, uh first down one two in the specific division finals series. First is the Colorado Eagles, been here before, been here against the Eagles before. That was a few years back. More recently, don't need to look too deep in that rear view. I reiterate, Birds were down 0-1 in the first round against uh Bakersfield, best of three, got it done winning two straight. Birds were down in round two versus the first place Ontario Rain. The I-10 rivals needed to win a couple back-to-back to advance, play onward. They got it done. And now CB needs to do it a third consecutive time. They will attempt to extend the series, keep the season alive this Wednesday night at Colorado Blue Arena. You're my boy, Blue. We need you to be our boy because the boys need to win. Forcing deciding game five. This Wednesday night, Birds at Colorado. That is a 6.05 Pacific time puck drop. Uh, and then the proverbial asterisk, if needed, if hopefully needed. I think we can editorialize a deciding game five would take place in Colorado, in Loveland at Blue, my boy Blue. We need you to win. We need you to be our boy in games four and five this Friday. CD at Colorado would also be a 605. Need to ask Kevin McGlue. Notice that throughout the throughout the years, not just this season, throughout the years, there's always the 05 suffix on the clock for that mountain time taking place in Colorado. Need to ask why that is. There's got to be some reason. That is the schedule as it stands. Interesting series to date. Uh, it's been competitive as anticipated, although the scoring certainly would suggest a more polarizing uh series of outcomes. Uh birds of cost, of course, rather lost that first game. Uh got shut out 3-0 at Acreshire Arena last week. Game two, the birds came back, shut out of their own. 4-0. Great game. Couple goals for J.R. Avon uh to even the series at one. Game three was a very good-looking hockey game. Birds got on the board early. Leighton rode shorty to give the birds an early lead. Colorado tied it in the second, and things just kind of fell apart for CV, at least defensively from there. It gave up a lot of pucks in our own zone. Uh Colorado rather ended up running away with that with a 4-1 win. Per the players, thus far throughout the postseason, OFM Oscar Fisker Molgard continues to lead both the Birds and the AHL in goals and scoring throughout these playoffs. 11 points, respectively, seven goals paired with four assists. He is tied, by the way, for that league lead uh in goals and playoff goals with J.R. Avon, the aforementioned J.R. Avon, seven goals, really availing himself quite well. Both of those gentlemen are throughout these Calder Cup playoffs. Sandwich in between uh Oscars, 11 points and JR's eight. Yanni Newman, nine points throughout these Calder Cup playoffs, three goals paired with a team high, six assists. Uh Jagger Furkas also with eight points in these playoffs. And the Router also having himself a great season and a great second season, that meaning the playoffs uh with seven points. And again, got the shorty to get the birds on the board first in the eventual game three loss. In net, Nike Coco continues to have himself a very solid postseason for the Firebirds. Now a cumulative record through the Birds 11 playoff games of six and five, goals against a 2.55 and a save percentage of 0.908. On the opposite side of uh of the Nets, Trent Minor, man, he has had himself an outstanding playoffs. Got to give the pat on the uh on the back, proverbially, when it is due. Trent now seven and two in these uh playoffs. Uh 1.18, not a misprint there, Firebirds, friends. 1.18 goals against and a save percentage, also not a misprint. This is what the stats bear out. Save percentage of 9.50 for Trent. Oh, by the way, through those nine starts in the playoffs for the Colorado Eagles, four shutouts. Not a real shocker, by the way, for Trent Minoring. He played four games. God, Colorado, man, they got some serious goaltending depth. He's played four games, by the way, in the regular season for the Avalanche. He went 1-0-3 in the NHL this year with the 2.03 goals against doing that in the NHL. Oh, and he had one shutout. Colorado showing their scoring depth throughout these playoffs, something that we were certainly mindful of, if not concerned about. Uh, they've received scoring from 15 different players throughout their nine playoff games, including multiple goals from nine, uh, matching it up with Coachella Valley. We've got uh contributions, gold contributions in our 11 games from 11 different players, including multi-goal efforts throughout these playoffs from seven different dudes. More specifically for this series, for the uh the specific division final series, mentioned the two goals from J.R. Avon in the game two win. Uh Leighton Road got his uh lone goal of this series shorthanded in the game three loss. Colorado has received um a couple of goals from uh TJ Hughes, matched three assists thus far through the series. Well, Chase Bradley has two goals to complement his four total points in the series. All right, gonna dig into these numbers, gonna dig into these stats, gonna dig into this playoff series, gonna dig into this analysis and much, much more. That's gonna wrap up the Firebirds freeze frame segment. Thanks again to the Ground Squirrel 29 Holmes Beer Company. And let us baton pass, let us segue to this mid-sea uh mid-series, rather, media roundtable. Yours truly, Shad Powers and John from the Desert Sun, visiting us from Colorado, Kevin McGlue. Alright, Firefox friends, as prefaced, Cavalcade of Stars, great mind milk we've got for this special playoff edition mid-series media roundtable. Start with the reintroductions, our friends from the Desert Sun newspaper reporter Abby John and Chad Powers. He is the sports and leisure editor. Also very pleased to welcome coming to us from Colorado, where he is the VP of Communications and Broadcasting. He is the play-by-play voice. They call him the adhesive, which keeps the Eagles together. Kevin McGlue. Hello, Kevin. Thank you for joining us, man.
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you so much. Appreciate being on.
SPEAKER_02We're also inclined to like you because on your Twitter handle you have Steve Martin as the jerk as your your background photo.
SPEAKER_01Naven Johnson is a uh he's a hero of mine. Naven R.
SPEAKER_02Johnson. We can do an entirely different show on Carl Reiner. Uh we should probably stick on the ice for this episode because there's much to discuss. Uh I'm not gonna I don't like they don't like to say it's an emergency episode, but it is needed and it is timely. There's the birds' uh wings against the wall yet again for the third time in this miniseries. Needed to win back-to-backs, the stave off elimination, move onward. Both squads looking, of course, to get to those uh Western Conference Finals, uh, which currently would look like a battle with the uh Holling Chicago Wolves, won a couple of games uh at Grand Rapids. That series now moves back to Chicago, but I digress. Kevin, I'd be a uh a bad host if I didn't let you start first. That's what my mom would say. You've got to be a good host and a good guest. Uh let's just start with this, Jets. Your general emotional state through three games of this series were of course sticking to hockey now, not your personal life.
SPEAKER_01You know, I guess uh from my perspective, it's it's been a really, really entertaining series. Uh, two very good teams, uh two teams uh that I think have really outstanding goaltending. Uh and and it's to me a uh really uh defining of what this Pacific division is is all about. Uh I personally think this is the toughest division to get out of in the American Hockey League. Uh I just, you know, you you go top to bottom and anybody has a chance to get hot. Uh anybody has a chance to to uh go on a run and get themselves uh potentially all the way to the Calder Cup final. So, you know, I I think that this has been a series that's uh that's been interesting in the fact that at least the last two games, you know, you've had both teams with good jump in the first period. Uh you've had two teams that have gone two straight periods in the first and second, you know, generating a lot of good chances. Uh goaltenders coming up big, and then all of a sudden the third period of has really been the defining period uh in both game two and game three. I think you figured out a series and you figured out two teams. So you can pretty much bank on the fact that you know game four will probably be completely different. It'll probably attract meet from the first period on. But uh I I think it's been a good showcase of of what this division is all about and the fact that uh that there is some just outstanding hockey that's been played for 72 games in the regular season and now into the postseason. And uh these are the two best teams right now remaining in the playoffs out of this division. And I think whoever wins a series has a very realistic chance to uh to do something special moving forward.
SPEAKER_02Shad Powers will pass the baton to you. Kevin answered that entire question. This is an audio medium, but with a very sanguine look on his face. So as well as he should, up to one with the rest of the series in Colorado. Shad Powers, looking at it from the Firebirds lens, are you as hopeful?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, obviously it's you'd rather be ahead two to one than down two to one, but but like Kevin said, and and he's right, this whole season it's just been a lot of parody in the Pacific Division. And this series has been like that. If you just look at the final scores, it looks kind of like three lopsided games, but it but as we know, all three games were very much in doubt heading into the third period, either tied or you know, something close to that. So it's been um an entertaining series in that regard, in that like it's almost like you know, wake me up when the third period starts. That's when all the action's been happening. Um but uh but yeah, as if you're the Firebirds, of course, the the solace that you can lean on is that you've already done this twice. The bad part is you don't want to be putting yourself in this position all the time. But to um Backs Against the Wall is when they played their best. So, you know, in that regard, there's something to be um still feel like there's some reason to have confidence there. But but certainly um I've been very impressed with Colorado. Um, I think what's been impressive to me the most is how is how quickly they sort of counterattack. That that's something that I didn't see a lot from Ontario or Bakersfield or uh from ourselves even during the year. So I like that about Colorado. Uh you you think you're you think you know, all of a sudden it feels like a play where you're on the on the right foot and then all of a sudden they've turned around and going the other way and it and it's it's in the back of the net. So goaltending's been amazing in both both ways. So I don't know, it just seems still still feels like a toss-up of a series, but uh you know, to win two straight games in Colorado is gonna be a tall task.
SPEAKER_02Andrew John coming off of game three that was uh particularly tight uh for just about 40 minutes and then the the wheels kind of came off for the birds. So a little selling here for a day or two uh in the desert proper, but uh as we head into game four, your general emotional state.
SPEAKER_03You know, as someone who would love to see the Fibers continue their season, it's it is a little difficult going into this game because Colorado has been so solid. Um but you know, as mentioned previously, games have all been tight and the Fibers haven't lost back-to-back games in this postseason. So they've also won a few times already in Colorado this year, um, and they've had their backs against the wall several times in this postseason. So I think there's reason for optimism if you are someone who has a rooting interest in the Firebirds. Uh there's reason to believe that this thing can at least go five games. Um that being said, yeah, I mean, this is obviously a very tough team that the Firebirds are playing. Colorado is solid. I was actually just kind of looking at the rosters, and Colorado has like 13 guys that were born in the 1990s, and the Firebirds have five, so the the age difference is quite quite stark. And I think that play that shows itself in the playoffs. Um so I think that for the series you gotta be feeling really good if you're an Eagles fan. But if you're a Firebirds fan, you know that the Firebirds uh have what it takes uh to win at least game four and force of game five.
SPEAKER_02Kevin, we'll turn it back to you. Um there's a lot of things to to choose from, as the gentleman uh referenced. Uh Colorado has played particularly well in this series in a lot of different facets, but if there's one that you want to point out that has you particularly hopeful that the Eagles will fly onward, what might that be?
SPEAKER_01Uh you know what, and and again, I think I'd I'd preface the whole thing by saying that uh there's nobody that's that's taken this for granted that that this thing's gonna get wrapped up and it's gonna get wrapped up in game four, and and uh that this is gonna be uh done deal. I I think everybody's you know very respectful of the fact that uh this is a very accomplished Coachella Valley team. It's a team that's been in this situation before, not only this season, but has had so much success in the past and uh built a really impressive winning tradition in a short amount of time. But uh this season to see that they've you know faced this situation now for a fifth time, uh it's it's kind of old hat to them. So I think everybody is very mindful of that and very, very respectful of what they've done so far. But you know, as far as what uh I think you've been impressed with with Colorado, at least from my end, is uh limiting the shot volume. And knowing that you know what if you can get your netminder uh the lane to see the puck and uh facing, let's say, an average of which they're right around 24 shots against per game. Typically, whether it's the regular season or the playoffs, you're probably gonna put yourself in a in a pretty good spot to try to walk away with the result you're looking for. Uh I don't think this is an Eagles team that, you know, while they do have great speed and transition, uh some really good offensive weapons, that the this isn't a team that necessarily wants to get into a track beat, that wants to get into a 5'4, 6'5 type of game. Uh I think it's a team that uh, you know, as Shad had mentioned, you know, you try to play strong defensive play in your own zone, turn the puck around, head up the ice, see what you can create uh with some of that speed. But to me, it's it's been in the defensive zone. Uh, and really it's a 200-foot game. They have a great forecheck, and it starts all the way down on the other end. Uh just trying to keep the shot volume down, try to limit some of those big time chances, which you know, we've seen uh J.R. Avon take advantage of and Edward Shalle. And uh, you know, there are gonna be some of those that are gonna be peppered in with those 24 shots. But you know, if they can hover around those uh those marks, uh I think traditionally it puts you in a good spot uh to set yourself up for when you get your chances and you capitalize, you're probably gonna like the result at the end of the day. So for me, it's it's a defensive play, uh, not just from your decor, uh, but starting with your forwards uh down in the four check and trying to win battles along the walls.
SPEAKER_02Um, those battles were undoubtedly won in a very succinct flash of time in game three. Chad Powers turned it back to you from the birds' vantage, from our nest. What has you particularly hopeful, even though the birds are down one-two?
SPEAKER_00Well, like aside from what we've all been talking about, how they've been in this situation, almost seem to relish it in a way when you when you hear them talk after the game. Um, of course, there's that confidence of having been there before and having won in Colorado before uh recently in the at the end of the season. Um I'm a little I'm encouraged by Coco, Nikkei Coco the goalie. Um, he you know, we were a little dubious about him heading into the playoffs, to be honest. I think we could it's fair to say he did not have a stellar finish this season, I wouldn't say. But um in game two, naturally, I thought was his was his best game, but he just looked extra sharp, you know, kind of like the Coco we've seen in years past. Um, you know, yes, the Eagles uh scored four in in the most recent game, but you know, I I didn't put a lot of those on his uh shoulders entirely. Um so that kind of gave me some confidence. I haven't seen him play a A game as great as he played in game two in a long time. So the fact that it that's out there for him to you know showcase again, knowing that he can do that, um, gave me a little more confidence than I than I had coming in. Um but I really agree with what Kevin said. Uh that's that's what's been impressive about Colorado is they really limit the grade A chances. Um even when you're controlling the puck in the in the offensive zone, it's it's hard to even you know get that pass that leads to the to the easy shot. You know, they they've got the great shell around the goalie, goalie's playing great. So yeah, he's right. That's that's the truth that's been the tough part, I think, is generating quality scoring chances against this defense.
SPEAKER_02Andrew John, whether it be a player, whether it be a metric, whether it be a scheme, whether it be something, pardon me, you're seeing on the ice for the Firebirds, what still has you hopeful?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I think the the the biggest thing that has me hopeful for the Firebirds is that this is a team that uh in this series hasn't really been massively outplayed. Uh both teams have, you know, as mentioned previously, have been very, very solid uh for most of the the series. And I think that that gives the Firebirds uh a lot of hope knowing that they haven't really been massively outplayed in their two losses. They were both close, uh, even though the final score may not have been. And so I think that is a major plus for a team that has also showed that you know they can win with their backs against the wall. It's not like they're going into this one knowing they've been in this position, you know, four times already this postseason, and now they're playing a team that they know that they can hang with. Uh so I think those are all things, especially for a young team. This is one thing we talk about a lot with the Firebirds, is a very young team. And I think that that's really important for a young team to have that kind of confidence when you're playing a very good team on the road.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, brief interjection before I turn it back to Kevin. I think the quote that sticks with me most throughout this postseason, the birds had lost a tough game three at home to Ontario. Jagger Furk just came in the media room and he basically said, going back to Toyota Arena, he's like, I I like games like this. It's like you just you leave everything out there, you don't leave anything in the tank. He didn't seem like he was sweating it at all. He seemed to kind of relish that opportunity that stuck with me, and it's shown uh this 4-0 record for the elimination games thus far. Kevin, inversely, turn it back to you now, sir. What has you concerned right now with the Eagles that they can close this thing out?
SPEAKER_01Uh you know, I think uh one of the concerns that uh maybe has popped up in this series as opposed to the first two series where you know Colorado had some really good success is is the power play. Uh Coderado's not been able to break through on the man advantage in this series against uh Coachella Valley. And uh, you know, obviously, specialty teams just have this knack of uh playing big roles in big hockey games like you're gonna have uh in game four and potentially in a game five. Uh so I think Colorado's got to find a way uh to get some rhythm going. Now they've been without Jack Ashawn, who's been up with the Avalanche. Uh Jack Ashawn didn't win the defensive Defenseman of the Year award, the Eddie Shore Award, but uh I think he had every case to be made to win that. I mean, he is that dynamic of a player, and uh he's a guy that runs that power play. And to not have him and also to not have your captain so far through the first three games of this series and Jason Magna, uh, I think has had some impact on that power play. But you know, for me, I think uh, you know, Colorado, to be fair, is has done a tremendous job up to this point on the penalty kill. Uh so that's been good to see. But if there's one thing that I think has been a concern uh so far in this series, at least from the Eagles standpoint, not what Coach Hell is necessarily throwing at them, but uh some internal things any find any traction so far in the power play.
SPEAKER_02Shad Bowers akin to yours truly, a little salt and the pepper in that beard. We're sweating out yet another series. What has you uh worried? What has you concerned about the Firebirds heading into game four Wednesday night?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think I'm a little worried about some of the stars being absent. That's that's been a um uh problem for the Firebirds. You know, as we said, goals have been hard to come by against Carl Rao anyway. So you might need some sort of individual special performances. I'm thinking of guys like Logan Morrison, um you know, for you mentioned Furkas earlier, just guys that we know can do these things. Um I'd just like to see, you know, it's it's time. You know, I mean, there's no uh there's no tomorrow. So I'd like to, I think it'll I think to win both of these games is gonna require a few special moments from from our top offensive players, and we haven't really seen that much at all in this uh series. You know, most of the goals have come on a breakaway or or things like that. So um, you know, we've seen Mitchell Stevens do it recently, uh, you know, things like that. We just need these guys that are having counted on all year to score our leading scores. It's time, you gotta make some plays, and I haven't seen much of that. Of course, most of that credit goes to Colorado in their defense, but at the same time, you know, you know, yeah you're leading scores for a reason. You you've you have the ability to make plays when when they're not there, uh need to see a little bit of that, even if it doesn't result in a goal, some some great looks, things like that. I just haven't seen enough of that from the offensive playmakers of the Firebirds.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Lomo. We like our Lomo here in the desert leading score this season, but just one goal through 11 playoff games, game four might be his time to really step up, pop a couple netters. Andrew John, you're a very positive guy by nature, but what's got you worried heading into this fourth game of the um of the series against the Eagles?
SPEAKER_03Well, I think to Kevin's point, the the the the uh power play on both sides have has really not been there in this series, and I think that uh that does have me worry for the Firebirds because they've traditionally uh had a hard time with the with the power play throughout the season. And then in the postseason, they've struggled to win games when not scoring uh a power play goal. I think they're two and five this postseason when they don't score on the power play. And so, you know, that's that's real problematic. Uh they of course have won all their games, all their postseason games when they have scored a power play goal. So uh Colorado is 90-something percent on the PK uh this postseason, and that's uh something they really have dialed in. And uh the Firebirds, as good as they have been on the PK, have not quite been as good. They haven't been quite as good as Colorado. So those are all things that are really concerning for the Fibers because I think they really do need some special teams goals uh in these next game or two games if it goes to five, in order to finish to uh to win this series. And and uh right now there's not a lot of uh optimism that that will happen.
SPEAKER_02Friends, you're tuning into the Desert Sun Super Fire and Ice podcast presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort mid-series media roundtable featuring Andrew Chow and Chad Powers from The Desert Sun, joining us from Colorado, the VP of Communications and Broadcasting, and the voice of the Eagles, Kevin McBlue. Gents, I want to step back a little big picture here if you suffer me for for a moment. Both of these franchises, uh, Firebirds, of course, just in the fourth year. But Colorado, look, hasn't been in the AHL all that long, not since the 2018-2019 season. Eagles are seeking their first uh appearance in the Western Conference Finals. Uh birds, uh, we got the banners hanging aloft in Acreshur Arena, but still, of course, seeking that first Calder Cup championship trophy. There's a little playoff history here back to the inaugural season where the birds were down, one-two, although it was flipped because we had the games coming back to Accurshire Arena. A little bit of an interesting note, and that a couple players uh that appeared in that series still appearing in this series uh on our side. Uh, Gustav Olafson, John Hayden was also on the roster um as Ian McKinnon. He played Hayden was hurt in that series. McKinnon is hurt now on the Colorado side. Uh Wyatt Ahmed. I'm gonna call him a Duluth, Minnesota native, so I can give a little flowers to my alma moder UMD. He's listed sometimes as Duluth, sometimes as Hermantown. But I just want to kind of give all that context. Both teams and their respective existences, say for the COVID years and those pauses, they've been in the playoffs each year that they've played in the American Hockey League. Kevin, turning it back to you. Does any of this, does all of this, is this a motivator, does it mean anything, or are we just looking at right uh what's in front of our face for game four?
SPEAKER_01Uh gosh, I I don't know how much of a factor necessarily that plays, but uh certainly for the fan bases, you know, it's it's something that uh has a lot of meaning and would be special. And I know uh it's been a tremendous accomplishment what what Coachella Valley has done uh so far in a short span uh in in their existence to go and win the Western Conference twice. Uh, but I know it's got to be frustrating to to get there twice and just come up short. So, you know, you you want to try to get the monkey off the back. But for you know, Eagles fans uh had great success at in the previous two leagues that they were in and had a chance to uh to win two championships in each of those leagues, a Central Hockey League and then the ECHL. And uh I think that the fans feel like this is potentially a special group that they have right now. Uh and uh a team that has kind of had to take some lumps. You lose Jack Ashawn with the call-up, you lose your captain to injury, and uh you didn't end up winning a big game against Ontario late in the season to get the uh uh the Pacific Division title and lock down that home ice advantage. So, you know, you had some some battling that you had to do uh along the way here in the playoffs, but you know, to me, I think that internally and in that room, it is uh knowing that this is the hardest game to win, an elimination game, against the team that has been the most difficult team to put away because nobody's been able to do it here in the playoffs. Uh, so I think that there's there's probably gonna be uh just a sense that, hey, we're gonna get the absolute best look that we're gonna see all series uh from Coachella Valley starting on Wednesday night. Uh, and there's no question about it. The good news for the Eagles, I think, is hey, you had to do the same thing against San Diego, and you got a uh a good look from them, and you had to do it against what I thought was a really good Henderson team. And Caldero's in a somewhat similar situation and able to uh finish off that series against the Silver Knights. So, you know, there's a little context, there's a little experience in in being in this role as well as uh trying to finish a job and uh to to advance from there. So, you know, I think for that that player uh group, they're gonna draw on some of that and and look at uh some previous success that they've had. But uh I think that they're extremely, extremely respectful of uh of their opponents, knowing that uh uh they have faced this situation now four previous times, and no one's been able to get them. And I think you have to respect the heck out of that.
SPEAKER_02Shed powers for bitter beather, uh desert and the firebirds franchise. We we remain closely tethered to those banners hanging and uh I guess we call them near misses. Uh we could go on and on about that. But are you looking at this from the macro or the micro? And and and and what do you think that this game four means to the franchise as a whole? Or is it something that like look, this is right what's right in front of our face. Let's let's try to get to game five.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I think I think I look at it in two ways. Yeah, of course, our fan base uh is used to deep playoff runs, so in that regard, making the third round is not um you know something that that gets everybody excited. But I would say, in my mind, for this year, I kind of feel like, and maybe this is um a Pollyanna way to say it, I kind of already feel like we're playing with house money a little bit. I think getting this this deep in the playoffs as far as we already are has been a good great accomplishment for this group. Uh it would it's farther than I might have expected before the season and even when the playoffs started. So with that sort of feeling like this round has been sort of gravy in a way, I think that helps with the I think that's why that also why they have a little bit of confidence and a little bit of swagger about themselves in in these elimination games, is that you know, I think they're feeling good about that already. They've accomplished more than last year's team. That's always a nice goal. So it's kind of you're right, it's kind of weird. There's different layers. Um, we our fans have come to expect deep playoff runs, so this is not surprising, and it's you know, um not a reason to celebrate yet. But I think I've been impressed with what this team's already accomplished. So everything they do from moving on has, you know, uh will be sort of like cherry on top for me. But um, all that being said, there's no reason not to keep it going, and they have the ability to do that. And like Kevin said earlier in the podcast, I think whoever emerges from this series will be a totally legitimate contender for the Calder Cup final. And Kevin, we can give you the stat that we always talk about is that the team that knocks the Firebirds out of the playoffs has won every Calder Cup in the Firebirds' existence. So if Colorado were to finish off the series, you can uh throw that one out there to you. Listen, it's it's uh that's a harbinger of a Calder Cup.
SPEAKER_01Uh you know what? I guess I never really even realized that. It was pretty impressive. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Pressure. Well, pressure's a privilege. Andrew John, we turn it to you. Uh, looking at it from a couple different lenses: the franchise, the fan base, the media, head coach Derek Laxdall, guys that have been around here a long time every year, John Hayden and so forth, or is this just game four in front of our face?
SPEAKER_03No, I think it's I it feels a little bigger than that. I think uh one one thing that is different about coving the covering the American League or following the American League as opposed to the NHL is that you know that the same group isn't gonna be able to run it back next year. Whereas in the NHL, you lose, and it's like, well, okay, maybe we got a group that can do it next year. But with with the Firebirds and and I'm sure with the Eagles as well, you have guys that you know won't be here next year that are special guys. Uh guys that come to mind are you know Oscar Fiskel Mogart and Jacob Malanson who both spent a good chunk of the final stretch of the season with the Kraken this year. And I have every expectation that they will start the season with the Kraken next year. Then there's Yanni Newman who you know spent the first half of the season really with the the Kraken. Uh there's guys like John Hayden, who are veterans who I uh you know might not be back next year, who've played an integral role with the Firebirds in four years. So you know that these guys will be moving on most likely at the end of the season. And that is really, I think, a difficult part of uh following a team that you feel you know has a chance to be special because it just the feel is gonna be different next year. And uh it's it's a little somber, you know, to be honest, uh, because guys who you know Firebirds fans have loved to follow just aren't gonna be there. So uh there will be new guys, but I I will say that this is you want to you want to get everything you can out of every group because you know that it won't be the same as next year. And I think particular in particular this group, because this group has been so fun and so special in its own little way.
SPEAKER_02Fellas, we're gonna wrap it up with this one, and I will uh preface um if we're gonna get to uh uh game five and what will happen in game five, kind of a an amalgam uh preface, if you will. It does uh concern me a bit that uh Kyle Rattle's top four scorers from the regular season. Of course, Kevin referenced uh Jason Magna out, but the other three gents uh Messrs Nielsen, Bare Boulet, and Gushen have not scored in this series, and yet the Firebirds are trailing one game to two. Turn it back to what Shan Powers said about we need we need some step up, whether that's like a a little more JR Avon. We've seen so much. We've seen a lot of greatness from Oscar Fisker Mulgard, some Mitchell Stevens moments. I think we're gonna need some somebody like that, some individual. I know this it's the ultimate team game, but some awesome individual moment, if not moments to see game five. The mulligan portion is that I I I think we will get to that game five, but hearkening back to the history and the context, the Firebirds, as you remember, we when we beat Colorado back in 23, then we we smoked him in game five. I think it was a five-nothing shutout. So I I think that somewhere in the Loveland in the blue arena vibe that we're gonna get to that game five, but the gentle sway of the universe karmically, I think the Eagles are gonna advance to uh their first uh Western Conference finals. Kevin McGlue with that offer, turn it back to you. What do you see in game four? And um, if the Firebirds can get it done, what do you see uh to conclude the series?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know what? Uh as far as game four, I I expect more of the same where these two teams I think are both gonna come out flying right out of the gates. First 10 minutes, uh, should be some really entertaining hockey. Uh I think what could decide this game is if one of these two teams can actually get a foothold in those first 10 minutes and all of a sudden change the feel of the game uh moving forward into the second and third period, because uh it really has been uh a dogfight where you get to the third period and then you decide who's gonna walk away with the win at the end of that night. So, you know, I think if one of these two teams can find a way uh to get on the board early, uh, can find a way to take a lead into the first intermission and just play some consistent uh hockey with discipline as well. You know, we talked about some of the power play struggles, but you know how that goes is as soon as you start talking about how neither team is is finding much traction on the power play, things break open. So I think it's uh it's gonna require some discipline as well, which is uh sometimes a challenge when you you're in a highly emotional elimination type game. Uh, you know, all of a sudden guys start doing things that that maybe uh is a little too far and and and getting outside of uh what they traditionally do and do well. And next thing you know, there's a power play that determines the the entire game. So I think uh the winning team is is gonna have to be disciplined. I think uh the winning team is probably gonna find a way uh to get on the board. Uh if it's not in the first 10 minutes, then it's in the first period. And I think that's probably gonna help dictate a lot of uh of what this uh game four will be all about.
SPEAKER_02Shad Powers, will we see a game five? And if so, what will be the outcome?
SPEAKER_00Um yeah, that's it's tough. I mean, I I've I've felt like all year, excuse me, and in in specifically in the playoffs, you can really just throw a net over these top five or six teams in the Pacific Division. I haven't felt like there's been a big difference. I think these teams are very evenly matched, and so with that in mind, we've seen it all across sports all of our lifetimes when one team is in an elimination spot and the other team isn't. There's just a human nature that takes over where that desperation somehow leads you to win. So with that in mind, I will take the firebirds in game four. Um, but it's it's not gonna be easy, and I have been impressed by Colorado's ability to close out series as we talk about the Firebirds' ability to stay alive. What about the Eagles' ability to close out and not even get to those those winner-take-all games? Um, that's been impressive about their playoff run so far. So they've got the makeup to do that, certainly. Uh, but I think it's gonna go to game five, and then I think I agree with you, Judd. If it does go to game five, even though the firebirds have shown a lot of fortitude there, I think it's just you can't stretch that so thin every time. It's not just gonna, you know, and Colorado I think is the best team they've played so far, even better than Ontario. So I'm gonna say it does go to game five, but I agree. I think I think it's gonna be a Colorado, you know, finally uh pulling the rug out from under the the Firebirds and uh and walking away with a game five win and uh moving on.
SPEAKER_02Andrew John, we're gonna wrap it up with you, sir. Your prediction.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I do think Colorado wins the series. Um I I I will say that I do think Firebirds will take this uh game four. I but it is gonna be so tough. I wouldn't be surprised if if Colorado uh finished it out. I will say that you know, we we've talked a little bit about how the the Firebirds will be playing with some desperation and that gives them an advantage. Well, think about the Eagles, they're gonna be playing with some desperation too, because they don't want this to go to game five, where it's kind of uh you know, puts them in a much more vulnerable position. So I think it's gonna be a very entertaining game, very physical. I think the what the Firebirds need to do is set the tone with the physicality early in the game if they can, because that's something that uh they didn't do in game one, and John Hayden specifically mentioned that that was a regret that they had in game one, is that they came out kind of uh not as physical and aggressive as they should have, and that allowed Colorado to really dictate the the pace of the game and and control much of the game, and uh that's something that the can't the Fibers can't allow in game four if they want to win.
SPEAKER_02Gentlemen, so much appreciation for your time and John Chad Powers from the Desert Sun and Kevin McLuch joining us, the voice of the Colorado Eagles. Good luck all the way around, fellas. See how this thing shakes out.
SPEAKER_03Alright, thanks, Jed. Thank you so much. Thanks, buddy.
SPEAKER_02All right, Firebirds Flock. It's gonna wrap it up for this special playoff episode, mid-series media roundtape of the Desert Suns Fire and Ice Podcast, presented by Desert Willow Golf Resort. So appreciative of your time, your interest, your ears, your ongoing support of this endeavor. Gratitude goes to this episode's guest, Media Roundtable guest, Andy John and Chad Powers from The Desert Sun, who follow all their work, all their Firebirds coverage, much much more at DesertSun.com. Kevin McGlue, appreciate Kevin's time. Kevin, of course, VP of Communications and Broadcasting and the Play-by-Play voice for the Colorado Eagles. Kevin's call coming up, of course, this Wednesday night, game four, birds versus Eagles Blue Arena in Loveland, Colorado. That takes place 6.05 Pacific Time. Game five, asterisk, if needed and necessary. Deciding game five would take place also in Loveland, Colorado. Blue Arena, Birds at Eagles, 6.05 Pacific Time Puck Drop. Additional thanks, of course, goes to the presenting sponsor of this Endeavor, Desert Willow Golf Resort. Also right here in Sunny Palm Desert, California. That's where you tee up at the Mountain View. It's where you play the Fire Clip course. You get those tea times online at Desert Willow.com. Be sure to check out the awesome, excellent, and on-site Palm Desert Golf Academy. You're poking around at Desert Willow. That's home to all your swing, knowledge, education, tutelage, and instructional needs. Again, writer's note, recorder's note, host note, be mindful when making those tea times at Desert Willow this week as they are hosting for the first time ever, West of Texas, the women's D3 National Golf Championships. Sponsor of our Firebirds freeze frame segment. So great to have them on board this season, both the Ground Squirrel and the 29 Palms Beer Company. You can find them yonder High Desert up in the 29 Palms. Those are your high desert hockey homes. Don't forget 29 Palms Beer Company. They're brewing up their own phenomenal beers right on site. Great place to kick back, have a homemade brew, and they're televising every Firebirds regular season and playoff game, whether it be home or away. So you're looking to watch on Wednesday night? Yeah, got the team watch parties that take place here on the desert floor, or as we say in the business, the low desert, I guess. But you want to go check it out, an especially unique place, really tasty food, really tasty beers, go watch with your friends at the 29 Balms Beer Company. Probably get dinner at the Ground Squirrel first. What a great potent power play. Alright, dudes, will there be more games to watch at Acrocher Arena this season? Will there be more episodes of the Fire and Ice podcast? That all remains to be seen. We'll find out. See if the Birds can stave off elimination for a fifth consecutive time in these Calder Cup playoffs this Wednesday night. And then hopefully we got something to cheer for. Hopefully we got something to watch. Hopefully we got something to root for and fly forward with the deciding Game 5 Friday night in Colorado. Thanks again, everybody, for tuning in, and as always, you welcome
