Mike 0:59

Welcome to the latest edition of the Lightning Talks Podcast, brought to you by Lightning TV. And in this latest episode, we're gonna get caught behind the scenes of the lifestack Noting Kings Lightning ahead of the 2026-27 season. I'm Pimmy and I'm joined here by the amazing Harrison. Harrison, how are you doing, mate?

Harrison 1:19

I'm doing alright, thank you. Thank you very much. Uh very hot again, but it's another episode. Looking forward to it, and that season's getting ever so close now.

Mike 1:27

It is, and yeah, this heat wave, I just want to be back in a nice rink now. I'm I'm I'm I'm bored of this hot weather now. Need a bit of rain. Yeah, probably by the time needed. Probably by the time the recording has gone out, we've probably had like five days back to back of monsoons now. But yeah, fingers crossed, we need it. Uh, but on our latest episode, we have got two new additions to the Lifestack Milton Kings Lightning. But I'm not going to introduce them, I'm going to let you gents introduce yourselves. So let's start first of all with Lightning's new number three.

Jake 1:57

Uh hello, AMK fans. Uh Jake here with I'll be wearing number three this year. Um, I spent the last four years in North America um trying to improve my hockey game, and uh now I've decided to uh join Milan Keynes. Uh really excited to get started.

David 2:12

Hey Lightning fans, David Thompson. Um, I played for Telford Tigers the last year and three quarters, kind of after um made the move from the Polish League. Um, yeah, really, really excited. Kind of getting to that point in the summer now where hockey's on the brain all the time. So um very eager to get over there.

Mike 2:31

Thank you very much, gents, and thank you so much for giving up some time of your summer and your off season. I know uh it's uh a time for you to rest and almost unwind from hockey, but thank you for giving up your time and coming on the podcast tonight.

David 2:43

Yeah, of course. Happy to do it.

Mike 2:45

Uh so I think we'll kick straight in and I think we'll go a little bit your hockey journeys. And David, you touched upon it first of all. Obviously, you came up uh played college a bit in in uh in in Canada and then played over in Europe uh before coming to Telford. So how did that journey come about? So being in Poland and then going from a I don't mean spoke. I think both the Jared said uh playing over in Sweden, uh Jared White said about not being able to speak the language and coming back to an English-speaking country was uh was one of the setting points. Was that something that sort of turred you for going to Shropshire?

David 3:24

Yeah, I think um, you know, me and I obviously Eric Henderson, who's on Telford still, um, you know, we played together in Huntsville, and um I had signed in the Polish league that year, and my coach was asking me for a winger. So I mentioned Eric. We both went over together, um, and it just wasn't a good situation. Um, the team was kind of a lower end team in that league. Um, and the league's very good, it's high quality uh hockey. It was just very dependent on what that team's budget was, where that depended on how you were gonna do as a team. Um, so we uh me and Eric ultimately decided we need to kind of get out of here. And um Telford came up, and after some talks with Tom at that time and and my agent and stuff, yeah, it was it was kind of it was the best case scenario. So we we ended up getting out and going to Telford. And yeah, what it has been easier. I've played in I played in hockey tan in Sweden and played in Poland, and um it's just it it does make life easier being in an English speaking country. And I just like the people. I've found like the people are really nice in the UK, and um it's just uh it's a good lifestyle. And I think now, you know, joining Milton Keynes and being in a on a team that's like in the win now mindset, and they we want to see success, I think that's something exciting, and ultimately that's why I decided to sign here.

Mike 4:51

Uh and with with joy that was that uh a conversation you initiated with Pete, or was that Pete that approached you? Was it a little bit of a bit of 50-50?

David 5:01

Yeah, I I think I wasn't a hundred percent sure what I wanted to do after last season. Um just with life and kind of me finishing my school, um it just it's it was getting to a point where I wasn't even sure technically if I was gonna play. Um but yeah, I had my you know, my agent was reaching out and talking to some teams in the league, and um he and Pete had some conversations and there was some interest there both ways. And so um after some deliberation, kind of seeing where my girlfriend was at too, and and we we kind of decided, yeah, this was the right place. But I think it was kind of a thing of mutual interest. I don't know if necessarily it started one way or the other. Um yeah, I'm just very happy that it worked out the way it did.

Mike 5:52

And I know Harrison mentioned it before we uh started recording this. Uh he he has mentioned on comments we'll be actually calling you scoring for the lightning rather than against them, and I'm sure there'll be a number of Milton Keynes fans relieved that you'll be uh putting the puck in the net for the lightning this time rather than against them. Because I know you've uh scored some big goals for Telford over the last year and a bit for the Tigers against the Lightning. So I think it'll be uh very popular choice that you're uh be wearing the uh the black and gold of the Milton Keynes team this season. Uh and Jake, obviously you came through as junior at uh at Coventry, you came through the the Blaze development there, and then you mentioned you went over to North America, so with Ontario Hockey Academy, and then you played uh in America as well for the last two seasons. Uh, how did that journey come about? Because I know quite a few of the young Brits now, especially in this league, have done the similar journey playing in the USPHL uh USPHL as well as uh that you've done. Um, is that something that it came naturally, or do that what you thought was the best for your development?

Jake 6:57

Yeah, so like you said, obviously, I um I spent my whole uh junior career playing for commentary. I always wanted to play in Canada or America in the future, it was always a dream of mine. Um, so after my last year of juniors in commentary, um obviously I finished my GCSEs at that time as well. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do, but um, I still wanted to follow that dream of going to go and play in Canada in America. Um, so now obviously I played um for the Ontario Hockey Academy for two years. Um, had the opportunity to do postgrad, but then I chose to uh join a junior league in America, um, which I played in Florida for one year. Um, and then this past year I just played in uh played in Nashville. But yeah, it was uh them four years were some of the best four years of my life. Um but yeah, no, it was really, really great experience. So yeah. Absolutely, yeah, because um obviously hockey's obviously the big spot over there, so um, you know, experience in that was uh was definitely great. Um so yeah.

Mike 8:11

And uh got GB call-ups both for the under-20s, and then also as well, uh you got called up to the uh for camp for the senior side as well. Uh so big experience from there. And I know uh you were a teammate uh with the under-18s and under-20s with uh Lightning Zone Archie Salisbury. So uh uh have you heard a bit about Milton Keynes off of Archie at all? And and what have you heard of the Lightning that made you choose uh Milton Keynes?

Jake 8:36

Yeah, that's right. Um I played with Archie a few years um at GB. I've heard heard great things from him about Martin Keynes, definitely the fans for one. I've heard they're absolutely amazing. Um so you're really looking forward to playing in front of the fans. Um uh yeah.

Mike 8:52

All right, great stuff. Uh Harrison.

Harrison 8:55

Yeah, I wanted to um go back to you, David, and just because when Pimmy um left it, uh we were talking about the amount of goals that you scored. Having looked at it, 87 goals in 96 games for Telford. Um, and it was your best career goals to game ratio. What about that sort of move to Telford? Was it as you said about the English-speaking country? Do you think that that helped it, or do you think it was just right place, right time that made you just push on as much as you did?

David 9:29

Um I'd love to have an answer for you, but I don't know if I necessarily do. Like, I I think you know, I've I've always kind of been an offensive player um in college. You know, I had some good seasons with U of T and I got to play for Canada at the World University Games. And um I I don't know what it was. I think the transition to professional hockey was kind of right as COVID was happening for me. So it was like really hard to train, and we didn't have access to our gyms and ice in Toronto. Like it was such a hotbed at for that time in COVID. And um, I just don't know if necessarily I was ready for that transition at that point. And then as I kind of started getting my feet under me eventually, I think it just timed up perfectly for when we did go to to um to Telford. And yeah, I think it was it was a little bit, I guess, of a right place, right time. I think I was given the opportunity and I was kind of ready to play, and it just, you know, things worked out the way they did. Um yeah, I would say that.

Harrison 10:32

And I do want to briefly touch on as you've mentioned it, you joined with uh Eric Henderson. That partnership was, I don't know about you, Pippi, but it was probably one of the more feared partnerships in the league um in since you both joined. What was it like playing with him, especially as you said, you played with him at your younger days as well?

David 10:52

Yeah, I love Hendo. I think he's a he's a really good player, super um detail oriented, and he's got a really good brain. He's just really good hockey IQ in a good sense. And um, we actually played together um that whole season in Huntsville, um, for well for the most part, and then I got called up to Cincinnati and played played there for for a couple for a game and then came back and things were different. But it was yeah, we played together for most of that year. I think it was just one of those things where I'm primarily a shooter, he's primarily a passer, and it was just like a good partnership. Um, and I think you know, the move to Milton Keynes, I think there's a lot of guys like that. I you know, that was the thing I think that attracted me was they have such a good like British core, and um, you know, you know the imports are are gonna be are gonna be good good quality guys, and so I was really excited about kind of coming here and you know, you see guys like Norris and County and and Gulliver and like you know, guys whose games I I admire, and um it's just it's really exciting, and I think you know there's gonna be another step forward and things I'm gonna add to my game that are gonna take me another level this year, so yeah, and that's that's great to hear as well.

Harrison 12:08

I'm sure fans will love to hear that as well. And and Jake, obviously, a slightly sort of different uh path for you, but there are still a lot of names in the NIHL that uh would be familiar to you from your youth. So uh you ended up playing with the likes of Louis Newell, Jasper Foster, and Rhodes Mitchell King in your Coventry youth days. So, I mean, what is it like for you to sort of see that at that point you were just a Coventry youth player with these um your teammates, and now you're all in the in a big league of hockey, which the NIHO has become, and getting that GB call up as well.

Jake 12:48

I mean, it's great, yeah. Um, obviously, I back in Coventry I used to play up with them guys um because obviously they were a few years older than me. So coming back into the um the English league and being able to play against these guys and you know catch up with them, it's it's great. There's also a few guys that I played in Canada with who uh who I'll be playing against, so that'd be uh that'll be uh that'd be really good. Um and then on to the GB call call-up. That was that was definitely a surprise for me. I really wasn't expecting that. Um, but no, it was uh it was a great experience for me. Um I learned a lot from all the uh the pro guys. Um but yeah, it was a really surreal experience to be honest.

Mike 13:28

Great, thanks, Jake. Um and obviously like uh Harrison mentioned uh David's uh your your goal production, but having a look back at your stats, um it's very much you you don't really seem to like have more goals than assists. It's very much a very similar is that part of your game that you're just as comfortable setting a teammate up as you are uh finishing and finishing the move and scoring the goals. Is that just something in your game that you've always worked on?

David 13:56

Yeah, I just think however offense comes, it comes, right? And I think the mindset of you know um kind of taking what's given is kind of how I've played the game. I think um my assets as a player were always you know, shot, hands, hockey sense, and um I think that comes out in not just my scoring, but in playmaking as well. Um yeah, I don't necessarily I don't know if I necessarily think of myself as yeah, like primarily a scorer. Um I think I kind of adopted that role, especially when I start playing with Eric. Um, but I can definitely do both. And I just kind of go out there and try and compete. And I play when I when I am producing and stuff, my mindset is on strictly, I want to not only win this game, I want to like dominate this game, I want to show the other team they shouldn't be on the ice with us. Like it's very, it's very intense. I would say I have an intensity about me competitive, like with my competitiveness.

Mike 15:01

So uh that was touched upon. I think uh Pete mentioned it in his uh interview with both Aaron and also with uh with Chris earlier on in the uh offseason, and he mentioned that uh there's a grit and uh doggedness and determination to your game, and you're not afraid to go into the dirty areas and you'll mix up in front of the net, you'll do the screening if need be and you'll just do what's required of you. Is that something the game you enjoy that physical nature and that competitive side?

David 15:30

Yeah, for sure. I think um, you know, probably modern days you would look at like a Kachuk or something, or maybe a Marshawn. I think for me, the guy I always tried to play like was like a prime Claude Giroux. Um, I think when he was in his Philadelphia Flyers days, I think that's kind of who I try to like play like the most. And I think he's a rat, he's chirping guys, he's getting in guys' faces, you know, he's not maybe not necessarily fighting, but I think that's something that I'm gonna bring in a little more now um to this game to this season. Um but yeah, I think I think if you're not like at least for me, if I'm not doing that, then it's like you're not as in I'm not in engaged as much. I need to be chirping guys. That's when I play my best hockey is when I'm yelling at somebody. So so I try to try to do that anyway. You know, there's a couple guys on this team who I'm excited to play with instead of against. You know, I think of a game in Solway last year. I'm excited to to see Carter Hamill, their their podcast here is hilarious. So I'm I'm excited to see those guys.

Mike 16:37

I'm not gonna lie, the second you said there's someone you're you're enjoying to be playing alongside, I just instantly went Carter. And I don't know if that's and that's meant in the best possible way about Bart as well. That's the best way, yeah.

David 16:50

No, I love his game.

Mike 16:52

Uh and Jake, I was up to you uh come through that junior side of things, and you've been playing in North America. A lot of the Lightning fans probably won't be familiar with your sort of game style. So, how would you describe yourself? Are you more of a stay-at-home defenseman or more of a two-way, or do you like going the attack-sided side?

Jake 17:09

I think overall I'm a pretty defensively sound defender. Um, battle hard in the corners, compete at a high level. Um, I think a big thing for me this season is I want to improve on my uh my offensive offensive play as a defender, you know, creating creating chances chances in the offensive zone. Um but yeah, I think for me, I just this season I just want to work on becoming an overall um sound defender, um, you know, focusing on the small details and um you know uh creating creating uh creating goals and uh being off an offensive threat.

Mike 17:45

So yeah. And you've got uh some experienced players alongside you to help you both sides of those of that game. So obviously think of uh James Griffin, uh, who has played quite a few years back now. Uh sorry to griff on that one, but played for the Blaze before. But you've also got like sort of Ed Nags who's uh come through as a junior from Milton Keynes and Pete gave him his first call up, and now he's an established name in the NIHL. And then, of course, you've got like younger guys as well, such as Malik, who's become a natural leader of the team, and not forgetting, of course, uh the assistant coach Lewis Christie, who's uh probably is the ultimate stay-at-home defenseman in lightning history, uh, always put the team first. So there's a lot of experience that you can learn from in that defensive side of side of your game and from that attack attacking mindset, isn't there?

Jake 18:37

Absolutely, yeah. I think especially because we're all a young a young D Corps, I think um, you know, will be uh lots of uh learning curves that we can learn off each other. So I think that'll be great. Um so but yeah, that's that's uh I'm just really looking really looking forward to uh being a part of that D Corps, young guys, um great skaters, great players. Um, so yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.

Mike 19:02

Uh and you've both mentioned the fan base here, and uh I'll start with you, Jake. You've you've you've told about it, you've probably not really experienced Milton Keynes uh home fans on there. Is that something that you're quite looking forward to? And likewise, David, you've you've come into the rink before as as the bad guys say to speak, uh being on the opposition. Are you quite looking forward to uh hearing that noise in support of you?

David 19:28

Uh yeah, no, I definitely am. I think it's um, you know, I think there was a little bit of it like where you like being the villain. I think I like being that guy that everybody hates. Um but yeah, it's definitely gonna be a different level of support when you have that many people, you know, cheering for you rather than wishing you were off the ice. So um, yeah, I'm really excited. I've I've been fortunate to play in some um some cities and places where you know the fan support was fantastic, and uh Milton Keynes is right up there with that. Like it's you know, it's tough, it's top-tier organization. I think it's the way players are treated and run, and the the just the passion from the fans, you can see it. Like, at least I saw it as a visiting player last year. Um, that's something that it that really excites me.

Jake 20:41

Yeah, for sure. I think um the atmosphere is what you know makes the makes the game so fun. I think uh playing in front of all them fans here in the chats, um, it'll be great because I actually I think it was March. I think Milton Clean Mil and Keynes actually played Talford and I came and watched that game. Um, but yeah, the atmosphere was amazing, I couldn't believe it. So um being able to play in front of all these fans is it's definitely something I'm looking forward to.

Mike 21:07

Great to hear, and I'm I'm sure the uh the fans will be looking forward to that. And we do say uh to every one of the new guys that's been on the podcast so far, the fans will come up with a song for each of you as well. So uh be sure to uh listen out, or if you have got any requests, uh be sure to uh speak to the relevant people up in the uh the noisy blocks because they'll be singing your names very soon, I imagine.

Harrison 21:28

You say that as if you're not one of them, Pimmy.

Mike 21:30

I don't know what you're talking about. I I I have no idea. I I've never chirped David before when he scored against us for Telford. I don't know what you're talking about.

David 21:40

No, nobody's ever done that. That's for sure.

Harrison 21:46

You gotta get on it, uh Pimmy. You gotta get a chance started.

Mike 21:50

Be quite tough to do from the commentary box, though. I need to remain impartial. So uh yeah, someone else may have to take up the reins for that one for me for that one. I don't think I can multitask that well.

Harrison 22:02

No, but I do uh I want to sort of like just briefly speak on the as you said, you've mentioned a few of the players that you're looking to play with, but I just want to touch on the league in general as well. That especially for you, David, as this will be your technically third season um in the league. Um, and then Jake, this is your first coming in. But starting with you, David, have you seen the progression of the league as you've been in it? Because from an outside perspective, watching it does feel like every year the league is just getting up and up a level.

David 22:41

Yeah, absolutely. I think the first year we came in, yeah, it was uh from that year to last season. I th I noticed a jump in play. Um, I can only imagine it's gonna get better next year. I think uh, you know, even just from talking like with my agent and stuff, like we're we're good friends, not just an agent like client relationship. So talk just talking to him. Just seems like so many guys from here now want to come over and play in the NIHL. Um and it's become a popular destination, which is great for the league. It just makes it, you know, more competitive, um, less watered down. And I mean, I think the imports that teams are getting now are like very quality imports. Um, and the British talents only getting better, you know. So it's um it's an exciting time to be in the league, and uh it'll be it'll be a fun season, I think.

Harrison 23:34

And then yeah, Jake, as as this is relatively new to you, you said you came over to watch uh a lightning game last season. Could you judge from that what the sort of the level is? Were you expecting it to be as high a level as that? Were you or what were you expecting really?

Jake 23:52

No, I think I was I was really impressed with how um how the game was. Like it was really fast-paced um and physical, and especially with now that the imports have now been I think they it's added an import, right? So I think obviously um more high-quality players will be joining the league, which is you know it's gonna make it a more competitive league. Um and like David said, the the British prospects, um they're coming in as well, so they're making it more competitive as well throughout the teams and stuff. Um, but overall, yeah, like when I came to play, it was it was great to watch, it was fast, it was it was competitive. So um with it being my first my first time playing this league, I'm really looking forward to uh the high tempo and you know all that stuff.

Mike 24:37

So great to hear. Uh and obviously now with as at the time of recording, it's already a couple of weeks away from the start of the season. Uh how is the uh preseason prep going on? Are you going uh both sort of in the gym? I know uh David you mentioned earlier, obviously you're you're working at the moment in Toronto, but uh when you've got that free time, is it being a case of if you can getting on some ice and being able to uh get ready for head of the uh meeting up with the team in a few weeks?

David 25:08

Yeah, for sure. It's my summers, I always look forward to summer training. Um, yeah, I do I'm obviously mentioned you guys before, I'm doing my master's in clinical psychology, so to be a psychotherapist, deal with addictions and stuff. So my days are all the same, it all just blends into one long week. But it's um yeah, I always get up, go to the gym, do my workout. Um, Pete sent us our plan, so I just kind of followed that. Um, and then uh after the workout, yeah, I've been skating twice a week, roughly, which honestly, the last couple of seasons I just hadn't had time, and I was just doing goalie schools and just shooting pucks on goalie. So um I feel better at this point in the summer than I have probably the last couple of years just from skating with guys. My one of my close buddies is Matt Alvaro, he's captain of Guildford. So we have a a good pro group skate um in the summers here. Um a lot of EI guys, some guys in the Liga, like high-end, very high-end European leagues, um, which has been great. I've really uh benefited from doing that. Um, but yeah, it's always like get up, work out, do whatever I gotta do for school, go to work, repeat the next day. So it's very regimented, but um I'm at my best when I do that.

Mike 26:21

Great hearing. Obviously, Jake, uh there's not as many rinks in Daventry as there are in Toronto, but uh, have you been able to chance to sort of get uh get ready like with the regimes like in the gym and if possible getting some ice time in either Coventry or Milton Keynes?

Jake 26:37

Yeah, absolutely. So uh I've been uh there's been a skate on in Cobb once a week. I've sort of been hopping in that. Um, and obviously Milton Keynes have just started up their summer skates, so that's twice a week. So um obviously go down there, see a few of the boys, good to see the boys, and then obviously um Pete sent out a training program, so doing that um, you know, throughout the week, and then also I've had a summer job, so I've been pretty busy because my um my off season started end of March time, so a bit earlier to you guys. So um it's getting to that stage now where it's just I'm itching to get started. It's I've been waiting around too long, so uh um, but hopefully these next couple weeks will fly by and then before you know it will get started.

Mike 27:21

Definitely, and uh obviously don't want to wish the time away, but I know uh a number of fans are chomping at the big to get back at the rig. And obviously, no hockey since early March. I imagine you're possibly just wanting to get on get on the ice now and just uh shoot some pucks now.

Jake 27:36

Sure, yeah, absolutely. It's it's been a long off season, so uh so yeah, just can't wait to you know meet all the all the new guys and get started.

Mike 27:45

Uh I know some of the guys have said that there's uh there's a WhatsApp group, so have you sort of been sort of chatting and getting getting to know some of them as well uh just just over the summer and uh getting to like fill them a bit so uh socially and sort of know what they're about?

David 28:02

Uh I had a couple guys like reach out and say, like, welcome to the team, excited to have you. I haven't personally like been the loud personality that I normally am yet. I think uh you don't want to come in too hot, but uh yeah, once I get there and meet the boys and stuff, then I'll be able to kind of I'll feel a little more at ease uh chiming in here and there, but for now I'll let the uh returners kind of operate the group chat.

Jake 28:26

Absolutely, just been laying low, yeah.

Harrison 28:30

I can imagine that the group is probably navigated by mainly the Hammels. That's that sounds like the ones that would come in.

David 28:38

Oh, yeah. Carter, yeah, haven't met Carter yet, but it's he's he seems like a very lively personality, which is very similar to me. So I mean, I think he's pretty funny in there.

Harrison 28:50

You did meet him with the gloves off uh in Solway last season.

David 28:54

He had his gloves off, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He had his off, yeah. I just stood there and soaked him. Yeah, that was a funny game. That was a funny game. He's like, I'm dropping him. I'm like, go ahead. I just tried to win the face off. Yeah, I think I got it on him, though. It showed up on my insta, so sorry about that one, Carter.

Mike 29:16

I wanted to know now, David, if you're on Carter's list that he mentioned on his pod now. But he's probably had to strike you off as you're a teammate. So uh that'll be interesting to see.

David 29:26

That was my first thought when he said that. I've watched all the podcasts, I just love I just love it. So it's yeah, it was it was funny he was saying that, and I'm like, yeah, well, I guess I'm glad not in Telford anymore. Get the wrath of the hammel.

Mike 29:41

Uh and obviously, David, you've you've been in this league for uh uh a couple of years now, and the the other three the non-British trained guys, so the two Jared and uh Brady, they're new to the country and new to the league. So um do you feel that there might be a little bit of that extra leadership for you for those guys to sort of sort of tell them this is what the league's about and warn them against some of the uh some of the more uh characteristic rinks, shall we share shall we say in in the league? I mean, especially like we meant we talked about Solway, it's a great facility to go up to, but it's a very, very small pad, isn't it?

David 30:18

Yeah, it is. It's honestly um I kind of like playing there just because the neutral zone's so small, like it punishes turnovers. Like if you're good, if you're you know, I think a team like us is gonna thrive in a rink like that because they just think we have so much talent and speed, and that you know, we get going if we get pucks going the other way in the neutral zone, we're gonna have a lot of two-on-ones, a lot of odd man rushes. Um, as far as the leadership, I mean, I'm happy to answer any questions they have, but I mean, these guys are are pros and have played in, you know, even Jared, like or whale is like this being his first pro year. Like he's played at UNH and he's played D1, he's played in the AJ, like uh, you know, all the places these guys have played. I mean, Brady played in the league I played in in Sweden last year, and you know, he's done well. And I mean, he was a five-year-old guy. These guys know what it takes. Um, you know, I think there's obviously I don't know. I'm trying to think when I first came to the league, there there probably is an adjustment a little bit. Um, but I think they'll do just fine. I think they're gonna adjust pretty quick. And um, you know, I've tried to see video on on them, and you know, I'm not a goalie expert at all, so I haven't, you know, I can't comment on Whaler. I just but I think the speed and the way you know Whitey and and Brady play, I think they're gonna be just fine.

Mike 31:36

Yeah, great. And uh Jake, obviously there's a few rinks that you're familiar with from your junior days. Are there any uh particular buildings that you're thinking, I know it's tough to go in there that you're thinking if we go away with two points here, I'll we'll have done well.

Jake 31:51

I think PIBA is up there for sure. I think uh very uh very cold rink. Um I've heard lots of stuff about the locker rooms as well, so uh um but yeah, I think I'm not entirely sure which other ones I've played at, but I think yeah, PIBA is up there for sure. Um it is a it's a tough one because the fans as well they're right on top of you right by Aplexie. I think the the whole fans as well as well. I've heard some stuff about them, they can be pretty brutal. So uh looking forward to uh to playing uh to playing up there.

Mike 32:26

Amazing. I know the guys uh up in hull. I know they like to try and create an intimidating atmosphere, especially in the their home barn it. So there are some tough but tough things to go and get points points off in there. Um obviously though with the wider eyes pad at Milton Keynes, uh I think it's the biggest pad, is the biggest pad in the league. I think it's them that and uh Ice Sheffield because they're both Olympic size. Is that something that adds to the game as well? Because obviously there's a lot of far skaters on there, there's a lot of young guys. Is that really the energy that you can see, especially later on in the games, where forcing turnovers that could be a good good opportunity for the team for the lightning to bury teams?

David 33:05

Yeah, I think um yeah, I think it's definitely something that plays to our advantage. Um, I honestly think we'll be good in any rink. Like I just I think of like a fast team, team that plays hard, competes hard, like like our team, and I don't see where we would fall short in a small or large ring. Um, I think the way you play could slightly be different, depending on if it's a bigger or smaller rink. Um, I I've played in different systems, like Sweden's very puck control, like don't dump pucks in. Like we at least that's how we played. Um, it was just if you if you don't have anything, you circle back, and like it was very like almost soccer style, where it was just possession. Um, and then you know, you go to a rink like Telford and it's completely the opposite. Um, and it was just, you know, I feel like I would try and get in harder on four checks and hit guys and be more physical. Whereas you do that in a bigger rink, maybe you're out of position. But I think I think the way Pete's gonna have us play, those hits are gonna be there where you're not throwing yourself out of position, you know.

Harrison 35:11

So I've not got much left. I do want to just ask both of you to sort of like give yourselves a message for the fans and what they can expect from you both.

David 35:20

Um, yeah, I'll go first. Um I would say, I mean, I'm sure they've seen me play the last couple of years with Telford. I'm sure they kind of have an idea of what to expect, but you can expect somebody who won't uh shut their mouth, probably. Um yelling a lot at other guys. Um, but no, trying to I think just someone who competes, someone who competes hard, wants to win, is gonna go out there and score, is gonna go out there and produce, um, and just someone who's gonna play with a lot of passion. That's what I'll say.

Jake 35:53

Yeah, I think from me, uh you can expect uh a lot of physicality, um, you know, high intensity, uh puck moving, um, you know, again in the nitty-gritty areas. Um probably as well, like David being a bit chirpy as well. You can probably expect some of that as well. Um yeah, that's that's uh that's what you can expect from me.

David 36:19

Perfect tandem, me and Jake.

Jake 36:21

Absolutely, yeah.

Harrison 36:25

Teams aren't gonna want to come up against you two.

Mike 36:30

Definitely. Uh Jake, David mentioned earlier if he uh modelled himself about wanted to play a bit like uh Claude Lemieux. Was there any player that you wanted to emulate when you were coming through or that you looked up to?

Jake 36:44

I think there's a few guys. I think uh Quinn Hughes, I think he's he's a great hockey player. You know, he's the way that he skates is unbelievable. Uh Rasmus Darlene as well, the way they move perks, see the ice, um, you know, high IQ. Uh it's just so I think you know, I like to I like to watch how they play and you know try to try to you know play like them. Obviously not as good as them, but uh that's how I like to mirror my game. Great stuff.

Mike 37:11

And uh a quick up quick personal question there. David, I'm gonna make the assumptions you're a Toronto boy. Are you a Maple Leafs fan?

David 37:21

Toronto sports all the way. Every Toronto sports team's tough right now for the Jays, but I still watch every game, and it's just yeah, yeah, I love I'm diehard. Everything Toronto, yeah. Great stuff, and uh obviously Toronto uh did it get caught up in the World Cup fever uh earlier on in the yeah, there was a bunch of games because I work for the Toronto Transit in the summer, so um, I'm in like the subway stations, and so it was just chaotic for those games, especially the days that they had games in Toronto too. That first game that Canada played, like it was the city was buzzing. So um, yeah, I followed it. Um my brother is a big soccer fan. I I haven't got into that fever yet. I'm very much basketball, baseball, hockey, uh, and golf. But yeah, it was it was awesome. It was cool to see. Like the city is such a diverse city, Toronto. So it's you know, it was that city was buzzing.

Mike 38:16

Amazing, amazing. It it did look pretty spectacular. I saw the games at the Canada games, especially in Toronto and in Vancouver. So it looked like the fever had definitely caught on there, which was great to see because we know about hockey is massive over in Canada, but I know it, especially in Swaddle, the the Jays and the Raptors as well. They do get the crowd scene as well. Uh Jake, how about you? Is there a favourite NHL side of yours?

Jake 38:41

I'm I'm a Penns fan, Bitspoke Penguins. Um, I don't even I don't even know how, but I think just some been watching them from a young age, I've been to a pens game, obviously. I think Sidney Crosby as well. I think he's a great player. Um, so yeah, just uh just a pens fan from the start, really.

Mike 38:58

Uh that's fair. And I suppose I suppose actually when watching it probably would have been when it was Crosby and uh Molkin and the Heyday probably wouldn't have been yeah, so yeah, exciting teams to watch then. Uh uh David, can the Leafs get the playoffs this season? We won't talk about last season. We won't talk about last season at all because right now that was a mulligan.

David 39:18

That was a mulligan, but uh I don't even know if they had a season. Did they play a hockey game last year? I don't know. They didn't show up, that's for sure. But um I'm more right now, I'm I'm stressing over the Jays right now because all the returners have uh have not been performing well, and then the Raptors. I'm waiting to see what happens with this Kawhi Leonard trade. So um I think the Leafs can do it. I think they've they'll be a bubble team probably. If I had to guess, they're gonna be on that brink of do they make the playoffs, do they not? But that's also the Toronto bias in me. I will never I will never shoot down Able Leaf team, the Raptor team. It's just the delusion that we have.

Harrison 39:54

Not the first round, right?

David 39:56

Yeah, yeah. They got McKenna and he looks good right now in the summer skate you see. So we'll see. We'll see how it goes. I like the moves they've made. So yeah, we'll see.

Mike 40:06

And uh are you heading when is it the uh you head up back over to the UK? Is it just a couple weeks before the uh the first game against Rostock?

David 40:15

Yeah, so we get me and my girlfriend leave the 25th in the evening. We'll get here or get to uh London, we'll get there the 26th in the morning. Yeah, yeah. Very excited to get over. Yeah.

Mike 40:28

I I imagine so. And obviously, you mentioned you mentioned your girlfriend as well, with obviously families and partners, especially for this sport, they they do almost it's also they load load you out for for our entertainment over the season without them their support, people wouldn't be there at all. So massive thanks to uh the wives, girlfriends, partners, and the families for all the players.

David 40:53

Yeah, I'm very fortunate. She's been very supportive, and she's kind of like you know, she's a big reason why I'm still playing and will probably continue to play even when my school's done. I'm able to um start my post-hockey career virtually and work in online clinics, so I'll be able to play and do that. Um, and yeah, she's been she's been a rock, so very fortunate.

Mike 41:14

And has that been somebody you've been interested in getting into uh as well just with with your studies? Is that an interest of yours?

David 41:22

Yeah, so the way where I'm at in my program, so I'll be done all my schooling by April, by the end of the hockey season, and then May uh next summer I'll start my clinical practicum. So I'll be in um some uh addiction-based psychotherapy clinics, and I'm gonna do a sports psychotherapy clinic as well to help with athletes transitioning out of professional sports into, you know, they're no longer an athlete anymore. So um yeah, I'm I I'll be doing that. That's all virtual, which works with hockey. Um, I've already talked to the, you know, I have a couple interviews in September when I get there. And uh yeah, it all works out with the scheduling, luckily. So yeah, that's a hundred percent something I'm gonna do. Um, I think definitely a few years of doing both will will be manageable. And then when I'm ready to kind of I eventually want to open my own practice, uh my own practice and and stuff. So when I do that, then I'll probably shut it down. Yeah.

Mike 42:17

Oh, that is amazing. That's uh especially the sports stars coming out of sports. It's something that's not really talked about enough enough, and especially this day and age of social media, we often see the money some of these elite sports stars go, but it's all they've known all their life, and then suddenly these sports careers, especially in the game at hockey, careers could be over quite quickly, like you lose an edge or something, and then that's uh a career career done, and it's a quick transition. So have that it's something that's really, really good. Um yeah, yeah, for sure.

David 42:48

No, guys, that's your identity, right? And then as soon as you you transition out of your sport, you lose your identity, you don't know who you are. So a lot of guys struggle with that. A lot of guys and girls struggle with that, yeah.

Mike 42:58

Yeah, amazing. And and Jake, outside of hockey, is there uh any interest that that you have on there? Obviously, you were over in America, there's probably a lot of uh learning and growing over there, but now you're coming back playing CD hockey in the UK for the first time. But is uh is that the the career path you want to say stay on hockey for now, or is there other stuff as well with that's in your interest?

Jake 43:21

I think for now, obviously, the hot the hockey career, you know, that's I can see myself playing for I don't know how many more years, but also on the side, I'm actually doing a personal training course, level three. So uh, you know, over the season I'm I'll be uh uh completing that that's online as well. So um, you know, I have something to fall back on if you know if you know something bad was to happen, uh touch woods and nothing does. Um but uh but yeah, no, I'm completing that at the moment, so hopefully I'll be done with that by the end of the season. And uh so uh but yeah.

Mike 43:54

Uh that's amazing, and just fantastic to hear from you both. And I can hear from you both, you're you're buzzing and really excited to be uh putting on the lightning jersey very soon, and I'm sure the fans will be just as excited to see you on the ice for that very first time. Uh, tickets for those games are now available, so be sure to check the lightning social pages for all the details for that and for the meet the players that's going on ahead of that Rostock game. Uh, the final message from you both. Uh for any fans who are umming and houring about whether they should buy a ticket or not to come and watch a lightning game. What's the one met what's the one message for them both to uh persuade them to come and uh watch the games?

David 44:36

Do you want to see me and Jake yell at people come watch us play?

Jake 44:41

There you go, it's been said, it's been said, there you go.

Mike 44:45

Perfect. Well, thanks so much for your time, Tom guys. Uh obviously, uh very busy time is going on, and it's uh still a couple of weeks left of it before the season starts up. But thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. It's been great to talk to you about. Thank you very much.

David 45:02

Thank you. Yeah, thank you for having us.