lifestack: More Than a Name on the Shirt | Lightning Talks

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Hello everyone and welcome to the Lightning Talks podcast with me and special guest Mike Pinney.
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Good to have you back on.
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How are you doing?
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I'm good, thanks, Harrison, buddy.
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It's been a while, but uh glad to be back on a podcast again, talking all things Lifestack MK Lightning with you.
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Yeah, perfect.
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And you were obviously at the game on Saturday.
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I think was that the first time that you had a little special guest with you?
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Uh it was with alongside me.
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She did turn up for one of pre-seasons, but she was just with mum.
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Uh so uh uh yeah, bless Sarah did turn around at me and say, not again, yeah.
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I need you to help out with that as well.
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So it was uh two of us double teaming.
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It's a different experience going to a hockey game when you've got a six-month old, I can tell you that.
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Uh a lot less chanting up in block 11.
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Yeah, I can imagine it's probably the quietest that you've been at the ring in a while.
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It was, I mean, it's good though.
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The bar, the bar is good, and the benefit of watching the game in the bar is if you miss anything on the ice, you could just look at the screen in the bar and you can see the uh lightning TV replay.
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So uh it was good to re-see uh Malik's goal because I'd missed it, so I could catch it back up on the replay there and then.
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I think a lot of people missed it, but obviously, we'll talk about that in just a moment.
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We'll start with the first half of this podcast.
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We'll go through everything that has just happened in the weekend, just gone, obviously, starting with the game on Saturday, which was a league and cup fixture against Sheffield Still Dogs.
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Now, they came into this game with no away wins, but they were 100% at home.
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So I think it was probably going to be a difficult one to predict because they've got a lot of quality on that squad, but when you've got an away record so far that they've just struggled a little bit, you kind of don't know what to expect from them.
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Yeah, a little bit.
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It's a little bit like uh we were for a time last season as well.
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Um, as you say, a quality side, well drilled, very well coached, uh, for whatever reason, they they like the home comforts but are struggling on the road at the moment.
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And uh you wouldn't afford it though with the uh the blistering start that they made in the opening 40 seconds though.
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No, and that was one of the themes of really the game on Saturday, is that every period there was at least a goal in the first two and a half minutes, and uh it seemed to just be one of those that neither team really woke up defensively, but they were really ready to go on the offense.
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Yeah, I don't know if the uh the the delay caused by the uh broken plexi may have uh impacted a bit or threw a couple of uh the players or the or the squads off of their routine, but uh well Stilllock scored early doors, and then Liam Stewart came back straight away early doors and scored again.
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So I don't think you can blame Rustiness as both teams look raring to go and uh were quick off the blocks.
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Yeah, I think it's it's one of those that we do also have to shout out um Dave and James at Planet Ice for getting that fixed.
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I think it was a uh a shock puck during warm-up that um broke the plexi, which was two frames away from our behind the gold camera.
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So there was a slight second of worry there as well.
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That could have been costly, but uh yeah, yeah, as you say, credits of all the rig stuff and also as well uh AIB security as well for making sure that people could still get to their seats because obviously it was the main walkway uh in front of block two round there, and also as well, shout out DJ Bertie because uh I know he'd got some extra country songs, I think he almost ended up using most of them pre-games just to try and get the crowd warmed up alongside Pucky.
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So uh credit to everyone for keep keeping entertained.
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And I I think uh the 50-50 sellers and the supports club guys did quite well as well, getting the uh the extra tickets sold in that delayed interval.
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Yeah, I think it worked out quite well, and in in the end, really, it was not the longest of delays.
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I mean, we've seen it happen at um Planet Ice MK before.
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I'm pretty sure one of uh our guys were responsible for it happening in Bristol as well last season.
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So it's it's not something that's uncommon at this point.
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No, and I think someone shared on social media it was this weekend last year as well that it happened in the game against Leeds.
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So it seems to be something on that on that weekend and that that game week weekend that it seems to happen two years in a row.
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I don't know if uh Dave and Jimmy are gonna try and take a holiday this time next year, it just to up so that to be better fixed the Plexy again.
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Second weekend in October.
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That's the one to keep in the diary for them.
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Um but yeah, obviously a blistering start.
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I mean, Jonathan Phillips.
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I mean, let's talk about him for a start.
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He had an absolute cracker of a game, and uh we said it on comms that it was just he doesn't look like he's the oldest player in the league, he doesn't play like he's the oldest player in the league, but he's just still got so much quality, so much net front presence, and he's always in the right place.
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Yeah, he just reads the game so well, he just knows where the puck's gonna be, and he knew exactly where Walker Sommer was gonna pass it to to him there.
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And it's his trademark goal, he gets to the net, he just knows where to do it in the little lift.
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He's done it for GB, he's done it at the Steelers, he's done it for the Steel Dogs over the years, and yeah, he's he's still putting points on the board, and it he's like a fine wine, he just seems to be getting better and better with age.
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Yeah, I mean, there's you just never know when he's gonna pop up, but the Steel Dogs were playing such a high forecheck for a lot of that the game, really.
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And Jonathan Phillips was one of the main arbiters of being that player that's just putting the pressure on.
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And it didn't take long though, as you said, for Lightning to respond, Liam Stewart responding, and then Malik Martelli.
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I think it was just a shot through traffic, really.
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That I don't think Shane Owen was really aware of where the puck was and how quickly it ended up going past him.
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No, and I I think a few people were asking, was it deflected?
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Did uh Sean Norris deflect it because he was doing a very effective screen?
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I don't know if it took a little nick, but it might have come off of the Steel Dog's uh defenseman stick, but just beat beat Owen over the over the glove side and into the top corner.
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It was a beautiful finish from Martelli, and good for him to get his scoring goal scoring account are started off.
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Yeah, and I mean David Thompson as well got himself five assists on on Saturday night.
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He got his first on that goal, and Lightning obviously went into the first period break with that, just that one goal advantage, which on the basis of it was probably a little bit fair, um, just with how good the Steel Dogs were at that sort of four check.
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However, the end of the first was really a turning point because Lightland took control of the game more in the second, despite there only being two goals in the second, the loss of CJ Garcia for the Steel Dogs was really the turning point.
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They lost that real big defensive unit that had held them together, not just through last season as well, but he was an assistant captain going into the game as well.
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So you're not it's not just uh an import, you've lost one of your leaders, and it was a massive loss, and I think most people could notice it.
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Oh, for sure.
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I mean, as you say, he's he's a leader on there, and I I stand by it, he's one of if not the best D man in the league.
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He's he's up there, he was quality last season, and his experience from the higher leagues comes across and he he can make something happen.
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And I think there was that little loss on that on that blue line.
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Obviously, they've got the likes of uh Johnny Kirk and Ben Morgan, who have got the experience, that leadership, but just someone I think when Garcia's on the ice, uh other players can just relax a bit because they know he's there to tidy up and he just has that aura and that presence on the ice, and yeah, he was he was a big miss for them uh for the remainder of that game, and it was a bit difficult without that sort of player who can maybe turn the game, have that little bit of X Factor missing.
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And I think, yeah, Slava and the dogs definitely missed him in those final two periods.
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Yeah, I mean the first two goals of the second period, or the only two goals of the second period, um, once again came within the first two and a half minutes.
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And you're talking Dante Salaturo with a shot that Jordan Hedley saves, but it just bobbles over him, he's not sure where it is.
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It's an unlucky one, but Salaturo deserved a goal.
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I think he was one of the standout players for the Steel Dogs, and then Sean Norris.
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I mean, Sean Norris had a hell of a night as well, got himself a hat-trick manor match in the end.
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But I think that the goal in the second period was the one that maybe had a bit of a talking point to it because if you've seen the replay, the highlights are up.
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Um, it does come off of escape.
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Yeah, um I it was discussed actually a little bit uh by a few fans in the bar, that one um just talking about a Sadatoro's one.
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Unlucky for Jordan Headley, he got something to it on another day that deflects, and it sits on the top of the roof of the net and the whistle blows, but it just sort of dropped up in the air, dropped and then trickled over the line almost in slow motion.
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But then, yeah, that Sean Norris one looked like it was a bit of a coming together possible little hook on that.
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I mean, he looked like he was falling.
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I don't think it was a deliberate kicking motion, but it definitely was redirected with the skate.
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And had it I it would have been harsh to disallow it, but it also I can understand the the viewpoint from the still dogs protesting, saying it was kicked in.
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Um yeah, it it's one of those ones I think if it was disallowed, you'd probably think we'd be discussing it either way, whether it went in or didn't.
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Um it wasn't the game-winning goal and it wasn't the decider in the end, which probably would have made it more of a talking point, but it it meant that Lightning Stall had that lead at the end of period two.
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Yeah, I think the the other thing is that the ref was so close to it, and he took a good second or two before he gave the goal.
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But the fact that he was had a clear sight of it, took that couple seconds and then gave the goal, tells me that he had a good angle, he was just making the decision.
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I think he must have been confident that it was a clear goal, and I don't think there's much you can criticize the ref for because he was in a perfect angle.
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Um, but yeah, end of the second, Lightman still have a one-goal advantage, and then again in the the third period, another relatively early goal from Sean Norris.
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It was that top line that played or played the part on that night because I mean I'm looking at it now, and you've got Sean Norris from Waite and Thompson, Sean Norris from Waite, Thompson, Waite from Thompson and Hazeldyne, Norris from Waite and Thompson.
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That line played a massive part in the game uh overall, but the penalty shot want to come on the onto that Mac Stewart.
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He won the penalty shot, he used a burst of pace, and Liam Morris.
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I think it was a it was a bit of a sandwich, really, and he hooked him, and you just knew that Mac was going to take it.
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Yeah, and he stepped up confidently.
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I think had it been two penalty shots we'd had beforehand and hadn't scored either of them.
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And I know I think it was Sean was the week before, and he kicked one off the post, but Mac just knew it as soon as he skated up, he knew exactly the move he was gonna do, he knew where he was gonna put the puck and he executed it perfectly.
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And then and on country night as well, he did a celebration to match it as well with the old Lasso and then uh holstering the gun as well.
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So uh, yeah, uh five five out of five for the uh for the penalty shot, and I think ten out of five for the uh the Sally afterwards.
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Yeah, and I mean still dogs again they got back into it, they tried to mount a comeback, but we've got to mention Shane Owen.
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There was a little bit of uh a coming together with him and Max Stewart.
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Um, in terms of from our view, we've got obviously got replays on on the stream, and what it appeared is Max Stuart was bearing down on goal, and I think it was Davy Phillips has sort of come in at an angle and nudged him into, or Ollie Nags has nudged him into Davy Phillips, who's then pushed him into Shane Owen, and Mac has fallen like forward onto Shane Owen.
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So, but with how close and how quick it was all happening, it looked like Shane Owen thought Mac was just doing it, just going through on purpose, and he did throw a throw a few glove punches at Mac on the ground and became public enemy number one.
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Yeah, um, I think obviously the benefit of the replay, I've it did look uh from where I saw it as well that Mac got knocked into there.
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I don't think there was any intent, but obviously you've conceded seven.
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Shane Owen's probably a little bit frustrated and annoyed that he's had a lightning player and the final two minutes bump him.
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He's reacted.
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Uh I think it was with the catcher.
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He he he did throw a couple on uh on Mac.
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He got given a two-minute roughing minor.
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Obviously, we saw last season with the blocker punch from Jordan Headley, he got a five plus game for it.
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Is it is something you can't do.
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Um doesn't look like there's any DOPS action on there, and I think Dogs will be quite happy that you only got the two-minute minor because we'll come on to it in a bit.
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But he had a blinder the following night at Ice Sheffield against Leeds.
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Um the game was done there, and I know a few people say, Oh, someone should have stuck stuck up, and I was like, nah, because if you fight in those final minutes, that's an automatic five plus game.
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So I think there was a few words had.
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I I I don't know if the replays were being shown or not.
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Uh, but if I think probably would have seen them back, Shane would probably look back at it and go, okay, yeah, heat at the moment I did overreact a little bit, a little bit silly.
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I I think it would just brush that under the side and yeah, carry on.
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I think Odin Nags was fair to try and play it physical and stop Matt getting near the crease.
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Mac was going because he thought I could possibly get a rebound here over David Phillips as well.
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Had a player come in, so you you nudge him out of the way.
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The only place over Matt could go was forward, lose his balance and straight into Shane Owen in the goal.
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So yeah, it it's hockey, it happens.
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It's that's the nature of the physicality of the sport.
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I'm just gonna say just move on.
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Nothing to see here, really.
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Now it did happen.
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He's had the Panzermine booze from the the crowd at MK.
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He'll probably get them when he comes back to Milton Keynes later on in the season.
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Uh we we do block 14, especially.
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They do love uh Bancer with the goalies, and I'm sure it will happen this weekend as well with uh Heskin and Farl as well.
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Yes, I can imagine it will.
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But obviously, Lightning took away the win in the league and the cup, big two points in the cup as well.
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Um, but we move on to the Sunday game.
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Um, less goals in this in this one, but it was, I think, as close an affair as most people thought it would be.
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Um, Romford looking really good this season.
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They're one of the inform sides, they're one of the sides to be really worried about um playing.
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And they're coming off of the back of a shootout victory against Swindon, and they're full of confidence.
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And you could see that with a goal early doors again, seems to be a really a bit of a theme at the moment that Lightning are conceding on the one one of the first or the second shots of the game.
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And I'm pretty sure if I remember rightly, it's the fifth game in a row that Lightning have conceded first, but four of those have gone on to win, so it doesn't seem to be an issue in the sense of how it's coming about, but TJ Anderson got the the scoring going, and then it was the import show Barrett Kerwin doing what Barrett Kerwin's done oh so well already this season, got that two-goal advantage, and it just gave them a little bit of a cushion.
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And Lightning didn't really know how to respond, and it wasn't until Carter Hamill fired what was I would say speculative, it wasn't exactly a nice angle, but it's just got a near post and it's beaten CC and it's just sort of given Lightning a little bit of a lift, and going into a period break two one down as opposed to two-nil down, you've got to give yourself a little bit of confidence, especially if you don't have the best period.
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Yeah, for sure.
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I think that was a good important goal to get as well.
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I know they say to a two-goal lead's the toughest uh to defend in hockey, but you'd rather be two goals ahead than two goals behind, especially in a tough drink like Romford, and just getting that goal on the board just would have given all the boys a bit of a lift, a bit of confidence.
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It also just I think as well, the longer that game would have stayed at nil, the more confidence Cece would have got, the louder that home crowd would have got at the Sapphire.
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And it when that place is full and it's passionate, it is rocking that building.
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Uh, I'm sure it probably was uh on Sunday evening as well.
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The fans get behind their team there, and it and it's tough to play when they're on their A game, and they've been on their A game for the start of this season, and that's credit to Sean Easton and that and that Romford side.
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Uh so yeah, Carter getting that and Carter keeping his rich vein of form going as well was good for the Lightning, and it just made that thing and put that doubt in the Romford players' minds a little bit of oh, one mistake, one unlucky bounce, and suddenly from being two goals ahead and playing quite well and confidently, we're we're in a tie game.
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Yeah, and it was a bit of a battle in that first period.
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Lightning definitely weren't the better side of the two.
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The second period was a little bit more end-to-end, and obviously at Romford, you've got those long changes on that second period.
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The benches could not be much further away from the attacking zone.
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So it was another period where you just saw that every opportunity to attack, you were dumping it to get a change because of the fact that you've got to make that long change.
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Lightning had to defend a five-on-three, which they did incredibly well, and then Romford had to also defend a five-on-three as well.
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So both opportunities for a five-on-three for each team, Romford having the goal advantage, couldn't build on it.
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Lightning couldn't use it to get back into the game, and it wasn't until Liam Stewart scored even strength in that third period, makes it two all, and all of a sudden the momentum's changed, and Lightning are the ones that are pushing to try and get that winner before it goes into overtime.
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Doesn't happen.
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You get to overtime, and it was a very tense overtime.
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There wasn't really too many opportunities for either side.
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It was not the prettiest of hockey in overtime, really, but Lightning got it to a to the lottery that is a penalty shootout, and I mean, credit to Romford, two nights in a row, they take it to shootout against top sides, and they got a four-point weekend.
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And in all fairness, I think it was probably a deserved victory, and I think Lightning did deserve a point out of it as well.
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I think it's pretty much what they said from Saturday as well.
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The Swindon fans said I think both teams deserved a point, but I think Romford on the Banner's probably would have better offer too.
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And if you'd have said to a Romford fan, yeah, this weekend you're gonna take the Defending League champions and the current undefeated side so far this season to penalty shots.
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I didn't say anything else.
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Romper fan, I think, hey okay, that's fine, right?
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Two, maybe three points offer them.
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He goes, Oh no, no, no, guys, you've got a four-point weekend against them.
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Confidence will be sky high.
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And yeah, Sean Easton, he's very good at picking some absolute studs and diamonds from uh from Canada.
00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:27.039
He did it a few years back with uh with Schufeld and Miller.
00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:43.519
He's looks like he's done it again with uh Coen and with Piccolo, they've really set the ground running, and you've got a quality netminder in in CC, plus as well, a lot of local talented Brits who know what it's like to play for Romford, they play for that front of the shirt.
00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:48.000
They've got the ingredients there and you can't write them off.
00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:57.759
You can't write off the Raiders, and as they've shown so far this season, they're taking points off of some big teams, and they're going from strength to strength.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.880
It that's going to be a tough, tough building to go and get points on.
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.759
I can't see them dropping many, many points at the Sapphire this season.
00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:09.440
No, and I mean one of the only they've they sit third in the league.
00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:14.880
We'll look at the table just quickly, and Lightning obviously still sit top with 15 points.
00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:23.359
Obviously, getting that one point on Sunday does give them a bit of an advantage over the Seahawks, who sit just behind them on 14 points.
00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:31.039
Um, and we'll start talking about the Seahawks as we look at the weekend ahead because that's going to be a massive set of fixtures.
00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:40.319
Romford sit in third with 12 points, and that just shows you that Romford so far this season, eight games played, 12 points.
00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.279
We've only lost two games, and one of them was at Lightning.
00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.720
So it's been a very good start to the season for the Raiders.
00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:49.119
Swindon, they sit in fourth.
00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:53.519
Sheffield, Basenstoke, Peterborough, and Leeds make the top eight.
00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:56.319
Very interesting to see Leeds down in eighth.
00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.759
It's not somewhere we're used to seeing them, but it might just be.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.480
Bit of a transitional uh period for them.
00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:07.359
Telford set in ninth, Galway in tenth, and Bristol in 11th.
00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:13.279
And a quick look at the cup standings as well because both games that weekend for Lightning were a cup game as well.
00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:16.160
They sit in third in the table.
00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.519
Five games in the cup played, nine points.
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:22.480
You can't really moan too much about that.
00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:27.680
Um Hull and Romford sit uh just above the Lightning on 10 points.
00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.519
Um, and that is it for the teams that have maximum points.
00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:37.039
So Lightning doing very well to stay with the top pack, and then they've got Hull this weekend.
00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:42.640
One of those is a cup game, and that's gonna be the one that Lightning are definitely gonna be wanting to get the points at.
00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:52.400
I mean, they're gonna want the we're gonna want the points either way, but you just want to stay near the top of that cup standings because Lightning didn't qualify for it last year and they're gonna they're gonna be hungry.
00:22:53.279 --> 00:23:02.559
Oh, yeah, and uh Pete said that at the start, he wants he wants to compete with all f for all three pieces of silverware this year, and uh the cup is a good one to get going.
00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:10.960
Uh early doors, but if you win that cup, it does help sometimes it does help you build momentum and gets you going for that rest of that uh that season.
00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:14.079
And likewise as well, uh you want to win every game you play.
00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:17.519
These players uh hate to lose, they don't like losing.
00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:21.519
So you you want to be winning every game and going out to win every game you play.
00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:23.599
Yep, certainly do.
00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:27.359
And uh in terms of that, that will be the first section of the podcast on.
00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:33.920
And we now have an interview, um, courtesy of Tom, and it is with our title sponsor, Lifestack.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:37.680
Great, well, what a pleasure to be part of the Lightning Talks podcast.
00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:47.759
My name's Tom Roberts, one of the directors of MK Lightning, and I'm joined with uh two of our very special partners uh in the form of Lifestack.
00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:49.680
Um why don't you introduce yourself?
00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.960
Steve, go ahead first.
00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:54.480
Sure, thanks, Tom, and uh thanks for inviting us on today.
00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.880
Um so my name is Steve Bianchi.
00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:59.119
I uh grew up in Guelph, Ontario.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:07.680
And uh, this being a hockey podcast, maybe I'll just give you a little bit of uh hockey pedigree just for the people out there, so it's not just all business talk.
00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:17.599
Um so uh when I was young, and I mean I mean quite young, I used to actually uh get taken to the Guelph holiday player games, which is the OHL team in Ontario.
00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:20.240
Um, and my uncle used to take me to those games.
00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:26.799
And I was fortunate uh way back, earliest memory of success was 1986 Memorial Cup.
00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:37.680
Um so I Memorial Cup was actually hosted in Portland, so I didn't make the match, but I did see them win the league title, beating Belleville, uh arch enemy uh of Guelph.
00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:41.200
Uh and I still have the commemorative puck, actually, from that win.
00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.599
So it's uh one of my prized possessions.
00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:47.119
Um but it's interesting, uh they were coached by Jacques Martin.
00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:54.400
Uh so if any fans out there listening know that's uh quite a pedigree in terms of a coaching um personality.
00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:59.359
Um followed the Guelph uh team, they eventually became the Guelph Storm.
00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:12.240
I went to high school with a lot of uh feature NHLers, and then I moved to Ottawa and became an Ottawa 67s fan, uh season ticket holder, and was fortunate uh to watch Brian Kilray's team win the Memorial Cup at home in 1999.
00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.720
So another puck to my collection.
00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:23.440
Um but uh fun fact, my wife and I actually got married in the Ottawa Civic Center, which is where the Ottawa 67s used to play.
00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:28.720
And we have our wedding photos on the Zamboni and in our season tickets uh seats.
00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:35.200
So uh so if that's not a bit of hockey uh nerdom for people out there, I don't know what is.
00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.920
Yeah.
00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:42.079
I mean, it's very hard hockey nerddom to beat, Steve, I'm sure.
00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:50.400
Yeah, my wife's not pleased with the oil stains on her uh wedding gown, but you know, it's it's there for posterity now.
00:25:50.799 --> 00:26:03.839
Um yeah, and uh I've always been fascinated by how uh the clubs come together, and at the end of the day, everything, regardless of what happens in the middle and behind the scenes, everything at the end of the day from the fans' point of view really works out.
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:06.000
Communities are always great.
00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:18.559
Um, and uh I was talking to some people at the last match and from different places, different parts of the world, and it doesn't really matter how big the world is, the hockey community always finds itself, it finds it seems, you know.
00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:20.160
Uh so it's really, really cool.
00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:29.119
Um and uh in terms of business side of things, uh my business kind of prospects or or interests started shortly after hockey.
00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:34.960
Um so I started my first company when I was 10 years old, um, going door to door selling comic books, actually.
00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:40.400
Um and then when I was 14, I was doing payroll for my parents' hair salon and modeling their inventory.
00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:44.799
So I've always kind of been much more of the how things work kind of person.
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:49.599
Um and uh yeah, it's a real pleasure to be here and speak to you today, Tom.
00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.119
Nice.
00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:56.079
Well, uh before we go to Claire, I just gotta share my own uh tenuous Guelph connection as well.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:27:00.720
Once went to a hockey camp there and spent a summer at Guelph University.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:07.519
So uh played played on their twin ice pad there and ran around their sports fields, and that that was a great part of the world.
00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:11.039
Incredibly hot in the summer, incredibly cold in the winter.
00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:18.079
So uh yeah, got to know Guelph and uh and and that suburb of the sort of Toronto area quite well, really good.
00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.079
So, Claire, over to you.
00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.160
No pressure.
00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:27.519
This is where I totally embarrass myself because my hockey pedigree is below zero.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:42.960
Um, so so in fact, last game was my very first ever hockey game, and you'll have to excuse me when I call it ice hockey because the only hockey pedigree I do have is growing up being a field hockey player here in the UK.
00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:45.519
Um, and I was actually uh a goalie.
00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:53.759
So the only the only tangible connection I have is I do understand what it's like to stand in 10 inches of polystyrene all the time.
00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:58.720
Um so yeah, that that's pretty much as much as I can give.
00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:11.359
Um, but I um I've known Steve for for a few years now, and we've been working together on and off over that time, and um yeah, Lifestyle kind of came out came about as a product of that.
00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:17.839
Before that, we've both worked in uh a number of different companies, big and small.
00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:29.359
Um, and so we were trying to work out how we can bring that knowledge and some of the things that we've seen businesses do into the business that we have today.
00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.279
Fantastic.
00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.319
Well, welcome.
00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:38.559
And um, talking of working together, why don't we get onto it and talk a little bit about Lifestack?
00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:44.960
Um, Lifestack is uh MK Lightning's title partner this year, and it's fantastic to have you on board.
00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:53.440
But um, it's a relatively new brand, and I think we should possibly start with just talking about what does Lifestack do?
00:28:53.599 --> 00:29:07.200
Maybe I can express that in the form of look, somebody stopped you in the bar and we were, you know, bumped into you in the bar on Saturday night, Claire, but uh, if if uh someone bumps into you in the bar and says, What does Lifestack do?
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.319
What is the answer?
00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.680
What would you say to them?
00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:14.720
Yeah, I mean, I I think we we got pretty good at practicing this on Saturday night, actually.
00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:27.680
Um, but um essentially, Lifestack exists to uh free business owners so that they are not the thing that everything has to run through in their business.
00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:31.359
Um and that shows up in any number of ways.
00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:38.400
It shows up with the laptop on holiday, it shows up with the seven o'clock meetings that you can't miss.
00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:44.880
Um, it shows up as being the person who always has to have the last sign-off on everything.
00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:49.200
Um, and it's the thing that Steve and I have seen in businesses over and over and over again.
00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:58.960
And it doesn't matter whether they're uh a small business of like two to five employees to like a really massive thousand-person strong business.
00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:14.880
There are things that an owner and a founder knows about their business that they never work out how to put into the business itself to build that knowledge into the business.
00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:23.680
And so what ends up happening is they become that person who has to do it, sign it off, uh, make it work.
00:30:54.490 --> 00:30:55.530
Yeah, fantastic.
00:30:55.610 --> 00:30:57.930
And uh, I mean that's that's that's really clear.
00:30:58.090 --> 00:31:04.890
And if I think about the the types of um uh ways of contacting, and we'll come on to those later on.
00:31:04.970 --> 00:31:09.530
But one of the things you say is book a book a call with us, book a consultation.
00:31:09.610 --> 00:31:18.890
And if a business owner is picking up the phone to you, and maybe I'll put this to you, Steve, you know, if a business owner is picking up the phone to you, what sort of situation are they in?
00:31:18.970 --> 00:31:22.170
Are they are they in crisis or are they just planning for the future?
00:31:22.330 --> 00:31:24.970
What's going on in their world at that point in time?
00:31:26.009 --> 00:31:34.730
Um yeah, it it's it really uh it changes from owner to owner and in their circumstances, but usually there is a trigger.
00:31:34.970 --> 00:31:57.530
Uh quite often, it's somebody that's either starting to feel a little bit worn out and tired, somebody that's uh potentially wondering why they're putting their heart and soul and working so hard in their business, and they see their colleagues with other businesses, you know, out golfing or, you know, on a Saturday night at the uh rink watching a match, and they're thinking, you know, how do they get this time to do that?
00:31:57.769 --> 00:32:10.570
Um and sometimes it's uh the other end of the spectrum where you have somebody that's built something, uh, and when you ask them why did you build this business, they typically say, you know, I built it for my family, prosperity, uh, and those sorts of reasons.
00:32:10.730 --> 00:32:14.009
And now they're at the stage where they're thinking, how do I hand this over?
00:32:14.090 --> 00:32:16.090
Uh, and and how can I do something else?
00:32:16.250 --> 00:32:25.930
So it's it's it's a life cycle, and I think one of the first things we do is just try to figure out exactly where uh the person we speak to is coming from, where they are on that journey.
00:32:26.170 --> 00:32:33.530
And then uh we walk them uh through a pretty quick little diagnostic just to kind of do some test steps and whatnot.
00:32:33.690 --> 00:32:42.330
Uh, and uh, all being well, if if it seems like we might be a good fit for them and them a good fit for us, we start by booking uh a day with them.
00:32:42.410 --> 00:32:44.810
Uh so about six hours it takes.
00:32:44.890 --> 00:32:57.769
And what we do is uh we basically go through their day, find out where they're spending their time, uh, what that time actually enables the business to do, and whether it helps the business uh progress or if it actually slows the business down.
00:32:58.250 --> 00:33:07.769
Um, what decisions are inherent in that that uh they might not even realize that they're taking, or they've made themselves the only person uh that can take those decisions.
00:33:07.930 --> 00:33:20.570
And we map this all out and we start to look at what can be done to get capacity back, and which capacity uh can be freed up that can be reinvested to create more capacity effectively.
00:33:20.730 --> 00:33:39.450
Uh and once that's all mapped out, um, then we can actually start to create instructions uh on how we can uh build that out, and people can basically have uh leave that day with a two-week, really detailed plan of what they can implement to get some time back, priorities for the next quarter, how to actually take them forward and action them.
00:33:39.610 --> 00:33:40.810
And we don't leave them on their own.
00:33:40.890 --> 00:33:45.370
We have regular calls with them at 10, 20, 30 days in uh and stay in touch.
00:33:45.530 --> 00:33:59.210
And uh we really try to make sure that they can progress the business and see it so they start working on their business uh and start to value and get appreciated for owning it rather than being one of the workhorses that are driving uh all the productivity in the business.
00:33:59.769 --> 00:34:00.970
Yeah, fantastic.
00:34:01.130 --> 00:34:10.329
And uh I think Claire, you you coined the phrase, or between you coined the phrase, the owner's tax, which which seemed to sum it up really well, right?
00:34:10.489 --> 00:34:14.809
There is uh there's obviously a lot of benefits in in owning a business, running a business.
00:34:14.969 --> 00:34:20.329
There is some sort of tax that comes from being the owner, as Steve has described.
00:34:20.489 --> 00:34:30.889
But if I think about the the interventions that you described, Steve, in that sort of two-week plan, and and this is to you, Claire, you know, thinking about the types of things that those might be.
00:34:31.050 --> 00:34:39.610
If I'm a client and we're in that two-week plan, bring to life, give me a sense of the sort of things that we might be changing.
00:34:41.050 --> 00:34:46.010
So it it can be anything from who you hire and why you hire them.
00:34:46.170 --> 00:34:56.010
Like often, if you ask a founder why they hired this person, they'll say, Oh, you know, they they fit into our culture really well, or they brought this specific skill.
00:34:56.250 --> 00:35:09.690
Um, and actually what they really mean is that they have a set of unwritten rules and beliefs that drive why they hired this person.
00:35:10.090 --> 00:35:13.289
Um, and because they've done it for so long, they don't see it that way.
00:35:13.369 --> 00:35:17.210
They just see it as, yeah, this person was the right fit for my company.
00:35:17.450 --> 00:35:29.210
And actually, when you when you break it down and you you really simply list out what those rules are, that is the kind of um, you know, we use the phrase IP.
00:35:29.289 --> 00:35:39.210
It's it's literally the the DNA of your business that is what makes it your business as opposed to just a generic business that hires people.
00:35:39.450 --> 00:35:51.690
And so it's really about just being really obvious about exactly what those things are, writing it down, and then finding out a way to um to build that into the business.
00:35:51.849 --> 00:35:57.930
So Steve and I have a methodology or a belief, I guess, that we say analog first.
00:35:58.329 --> 00:36:08.170
Um, and that's really crucial in in the age where every Tom, Dick, and Harry, sorry, Tom, is is um using AI for everything, right?
00:36:08.809 --> 00:36:11.930
AI is only as good as the information you give it.
00:36:12.090 --> 00:36:19.610
And so the reason why we say analog first is we we literally want people to pull out a piece of paper and be able to write it down.
00:36:19.769 --> 00:36:25.450
Because if they can do that, then you have something to actually work off and something to build off.
00:36:25.530 --> 00:36:41.450
And so that's why we we really focus in on building these rules and working out what the DNA of that company is that lives in the founder, because only then can you actually build them the system that works when they're not in the room.
00:36:42.250 --> 00:36:43.530
Yeah, that's fascinating.
00:36:43.610 --> 00:36:57.610
It's it was tempting to think of the kind of interventions you'd might make, it you would make as being things like, ah, you know, stop doing this process or automate that or, you know, outsource this, but this feels more visceral, right?
00:36:57.690 --> 00:37:04.730
This is the heart of the business and being able to free up the things which are causing that owner's tax, right?
00:37:04.889 --> 00:37:13.610
And uh, Steve, it's about that that sort of DNA which makes it it different from a traditional sort of consultancy, I guess.
00:37:14.010 --> 00:37:18.970
Yeah, I mean, we're not gonna go in and and coach, uh, for instance.
00:37:19.050 --> 00:37:25.450
Um, we're not gonna try and tell experts in their business um how to run their business because they're clearly successful.
00:37:25.610 --> 00:37:30.329
Uh what we are going to do is help them, like Claire said, write these things down.
00:37:30.490 --> 00:37:43.050
And in writing them down and then activating those, what I try to help people understand is you can you can get evidence that the job or the system or the business is working by seeing some of the things that are happening.
00:37:43.210 --> 00:37:48.490
And that doesn't mean that you have to do it yourself, but you can learn to stand back and just watch for these things.
00:37:48.650 --> 00:37:54.250
Uh, and then the proof, of course, is that it actually delivers the outcome that it's supposed to deliver.
00:37:54.410 --> 00:37:56.730
So we kind of separate evidence from proof.
00:37:56.970 --> 00:38:26.570
And, you know, the ultimate test where we try to um get people is that they can actually step away from the business for 30 days and not only return to a business that's one still there, uh, but two, that it's actually thriving because they're uh now tapping into the hearts, the minds, the brains of all the people that help make that business successful, and each can bring their own, uh, but to a standard that doesn't require that owner to personally check every line, uh quality check before something releases.
00:38:26.730 --> 00:38:39.130
Uh and you see this in you know creative industry where you know layouts have to be just so, all the way through to manufacturing and terms, uh, you know, term sheets with suppliers, um across the board.
00:38:39.369 --> 00:38:41.050
And everybody has their own nuances.
00:38:41.289 --> 00:38:45.050
Accountants like to check the numbers and make sure everything's right to the third decimal place, right?
00:38:45.130 --> 00:38:46.570
Or or the currency exchanges.
00:38:46.809 --> 00:38:50.490
Designers want to make sure that the Pantone colors are exactly matched.
00:38:50.650 --> 00:38:58.010
I mean, whatever that nuance is, but it's always a standard that is almost impossible to hit, especially if other people don't even know what it is.
00:38:58.809 --> 00:38:59.210
Great.
00:38:59.369 --> 00:39:07.050
And um, look, this is uh a partnership which we're incredibly excited about between uh MK Lightning and Livestack.
00:39:07.130 --> 00:39:09.130
Let's talk about that for a few minutes.
00:39:09.369 --> 00:39:16.170
Um what was it that that Steve sort of encouraged you to take that next step?
00:39:16.329 --> 00:39:20.889
You're already a season ticket holder, yourself and Claire had formed this business.
00:39:21.210 --> 00:39:25.369
What was it that uh made you want to take the next step and become our title partner?
00:39:25.690 --> 00:39:31.769
And what do you see in and around the club that makes this feel like the right partnership for you and Lifestack?
00:39:32.809 --> 00:39:37.930
Yeah, I mean, I I think it comes down to three uh distinct things, uh, really.
00:39:38.329 --> 00:39:41.849
Uh first is um just looking at what this club is.
00:39:42.010 --> 00:39:47.050
And you know, Tom, as you and the other directors have said uh yourselves, you run the club.
00:39:47.130 --> 00:39:52.650
Uh you might on paper own the club, but you really truly say that it belongs to the community and the fans.
00:39:52.889 --> 00:39:54.730
And, you know, that's not a slogan.
00:39:54.889 --> 00:39:56.809
You live that day in, day out.
00:39:56.889 --> 00:40:13.130
Uh, and the passion from the team um of all the volunteers and all the formal uh people associated, the the supporters club, uh the security people that that stand in the um stairways, and you know, everybody is there aligned to a common goal.
00:40:13.289 --> 00:40:16.490
Um and that's not a business plan.
00:40:16.570 --> 00:40:19.610
That's something you feel when you're in the Thunderdome, you know?
00:40:19.769 --> 00:40:25.289
Um, and so part of that means that there's passion there and and a lot of people that care.
00:40:25.450 --> 00:40:26.410
And you've got proof.
00:40:26.490 --> 00:40:37.769
I mean, when I was just talking about evidence uh and proof, I mean, the the club has a story, how it was rebuilt, um, you know, and and kind of went up into the elite league, back into the NAHL.
00:40:38.090 --> 00:40:41.450
Um, and people will get rewarded uh for putting that passion in there.
00:40:41.610 --> 00:40:46.329
So in 2025, I mean, you know, it's the championship uh team, right?
00:40:46.730 --> 00:40:48.570
Uh so there's there's that piece.
00:40:48.809 --> 00:40:55.369
And then when you look at the demographics, you know, 75,000 fans come into that uh Thunderdome every season.
00:40:55.530 --> 00:40:57.450
I mean, you know, that's that's huge.
00:40:57.530 --> 00:41:00.809
And then you consider the population of the area and whatnot.
00:41:01.050 --> 00:41:10.410
Um and a business that basically is built for and belongs to the community and the people is exactly the kind of business that we aspire Lifestack to be.
00:41:10.490 --> 00:41:16.650
Uh one that actually supports people that own uh and run a business because they care about it and and truly belongs to them.
00:41:16.889 --> 00:41:29.210
Uh the second thing, um, and if we go back to, oh I don't know when it was, Tom, maybe March, uh, but you know, when we first approached you, we said we're we don't want just our logo on a board, right?
00:41:29.369 --> 00:41:32.090
We said this wasn't about advertising for us.
00:41:32.329 --> 00:41:41.610
Um potentially uh, you know, we gave back or or or negotiated out of the things that a typical sponsor would have asked for in return.
00:41:41.930 --> 00:41:45.130
Um, and that's because we wanted something else instead.
00:41:45.289 --> 00:41:54.090
We wanted to bring what we can do in our skill set to help you, help the supporters club, help the players, the fans, and everyone else to have a great experience.
00:41:54.329 --> 00:42:00.970
Um, and by doing that, it means that we're not just kind of visible, um, but we're also useful.
00:42:01.210 --> 00:42:08.329
And I think the utility side of that is what uh Claire and I kind of cherish more than you know just having an advertising budget.
00:42:08.650 --> 00:42:13.690
Um, and then I think the the final thing is um Milton Keynes.
00:42:13.769 --> 00:42:17.050
I mean, personally, Milton Keynes is kind of my UK ice hockey home.
00:42:17.130 --> 00:42:19.930
I mean, I've only known ice hockey in Milton Keynes.
00:42:20.170 --> 00:42:24.170
Um admittedly, I did go to Peterborough once, but the ice was horrible.
00:42:24.410 --> 00:42:31.050
Um, but uh yeah, aside from that, uh I I coach inline hockey uh just up the road in Northamptonshire.
00:42:31.210 --> 00:42:37.690
Um Claire and I back her game, Her Voice, which is a podcast about uh women changing the face of ice hockey.
00:42:37.930 --> 00:42:49.210
Um and you know, we worked together, we started up the uh or restarted the business networking club uh in a venue that is, you know, perfect, I would say.
00:42:49.369 --> 00:43:04.730
Uh Planet Ice um, you know, might have its uh challenges here or there, but one thing you can't deny is that when you want business owners to take a break, when you're in Planet Ice, you cannot take a call on your phone or check your email because it's uh it's the biggest Faraday cage in Milton Keynes.
00:43:04.889 --> 00:43:06.329
Um so there's no signal.
00:43:06.570 --> 00:43:23.130
Um, you know, and it's it's basically that whole atmosphere coming together and everything kind of clicked for us, and it was um really exciting for us to be able to make a proposal uh and and see if we had aligned values and uh vision on how we could support one another.
00:43:23.369 --> 00:43:34.329
Um and as Claire said, I just while we've got the opportunity on Saturday uh against Sheffield, we hosted uh approximately 50 people up in the uh the bar area.
00:43:34.650 --> 00:43:38.730
Most of those people had never been to a hockey match in their life.
00:43:38.889 --> 00:43:42.730
Some of them have seen it on TV with the Olympics, but never been to one.
00:43:42.889 --> 00:43:45.769
Uh they all said how fast it was, how accurate it was.
00:43:45.849 --> 00:43:51.930
Um I I think we've got certainly 50 new fans for sure, um, judging by the reaction we got.
00:43:52.010 --> 00:43:58.490
And so just a special uh call out, if if you don't mind, just to say thanks to the hospitality team and and to Pucky for coming up and visiting and making it.
00:43:58.650 --> 00:44:00.809
It was really a truly magical evening.
00:44:00.889 --> 00:44:03.050
Um it exceeded all of our expectations.
00:44:03.210 --> 00:44:04.889
Everybody had such a great time.
00:44:05.130 --> 00:44:20.490
Um and uh, you know, we want to continue that um in and make sure that we can kind of help the team expand, not just by making it more convenient for existing fans to come, but expand, get new fans in there to see what this is all about and join the community.
00:44:20.889 --> 00:44:21.369
Very good.
00:44:21.530 --> 00:44:34.490
And uh, Claire, if I can come to you just to sort of uh wrap up, why don't you give us a feel for the kind of things that That we'll be doing together in this partnership and uh tell us a little bit about the owners and ITOF as well.
00:44:34.809 --> 00:44:35.849
Yeah, absolutely.
00:44:36.010 --> 00:44:47.930
Um, so Steve has already mentioned the um the business club, which is the the networking series uh networking events that you guys put on before, and we've now um really happily revived.
00:44:48.010 --> 00:44:51.849
Um, so that's uh a Friday every month.
00:44:52.010 --> 00:44:58.650
Um the next session that we've got coming up is the 6th of November, and then after that it's the 27th of November.
00:44:58.889 --> 00:45:03.210
Slightly um uh what's the right word?
00:45:03.369 --> 00:45:07.690
Uh the dates are slightly haphazard because of half and Christmas this side of the year.
00:45:07.849 --> 00:45:12.970
But um, if you if you check any of the socials, you'll find out when the next date is.
00:45:13.130 --> 00:45:27.130
Um, and then the other thing, yeah, is is so as part of our sponsorship deal, we obviously get season tickets um and we put our heads together and thought, well, how can we make the most out of these amazing tickets?
00:45:27.369 --> 00:45:31.210
And as Steve said, you can't get signal for love or money in there.
00:45:31.289 --> 00:45:35.690
And so it's actually the perfect place to send a business owner who needs a night off.
00:45:35.849 --> 00:45:39.369
So we've developed um this initiative called the owner's night off.
00:45:39.610 --> 00:45:50.329
So if you know a business owner who just needs a little bit of a break, you can nominate them and then to win a pair of tickets to any of the home games going forward.
00:45:50.490 --> 00:45:54.090
Um, we Steve and I will personally select them, we'll reach out to them.
00:45:54.329 --> 00:45:57.210
No sales involved, you're not expected to do anything with us.
00:45:57.289 --> 00:46:02.650
The most we might say is uh Steve will just pop by on the night and and say hi.
00:46:03.130 --> 00:46:12.970
Um and yeah, that it's really just to give back and give owners a chance to just go and do something completely different, completely fun for the evening.
00:46:13.130 --> 00:46:19.450
So yeah, if you know, if you know a local business owner who needs a break, this is the uh the place to send them.
00:46:20.170 --> 00:46:20.490
Right.
00:46:20.650 --> 00:46:26.889
And those uh those owners, those nominations can be made through uh LinkedIn, through your website.
00:46:26.970 --> 00:46:29.769
And is the website the best place to contact you as well?
00:46:30.170 --> 00:46:33.610
Yeah, if you go to lifetuck.studio, you can find us.
00:46:33.690 --> 00:46:46.329
Um if you want to nominate an owner, um yeah, you can check out our LinkedIn, check out um any of the Facebook or Instagram pages, both on uh your sites and our sites.
00:46:46.490 --> 00:46:51.289
Um, and so you should be able to find it relatively, relatively easily.
00:46:51.690 --> 00:46:52.490
Brilliant.
00:46:52.730 --> 00:46:53.369
Awesome.
00:46:53.530 --> 00:46:56.170
Well, uh I think we'll uh we'll wrap it up there.
00:46:56.250 --> 00:46:59.450
It's been fantastic to have an initial conversation with you.
00:46:59.530 --> 00:47:03.369
It's uh an exciting business that you've formed together.
00:47:03.610 --> 00:47:12.170
Um, Claire, I love that you're now calling it field hockey, which is what the Canadians call field hockey because hockey is just hockey, right?
00:47:12.329 --> 00:47:13.130
Ice hockey.
00:47:13.289 --> 00:47:17.690
Um, so Steve, you're doing a great job training on the lingo there.
00:47:17.849 --> 00:47:33.369
Um it's uh it's great that you've you know been to games, you've you've hosted the event that you had on Saturday, and going forwards, um, we're going to see some real momentum form through the business club and some lucky owners who get the owner's night off.
00:47:33.450 --> 00:47:35.450
That's a fantastic initiative.
00:47:35.610 --> 00:47:38.490
Um, we're absolutely delighted to be partnering with you.
00:47:38.730 --> 00:47:46.250
Truly believe that this can be an extremely strong sort of proposition out there, and we're we'd love to support and work with you on that.
00:47:46.329 --> 00:47:49.050
And we thank you very much for your support.
00:47:49.289 --> 00:47:52.410
Now, back to the overall podcast at this point.
00:47:52.570 --> 00:47:53.289
Thank you, Steve.
00:47:53.369 --> 00:47:54.090
Thank you, Claire.
00:47:54.329 --> 00:47:54.809
Thanks, Tom.
00:47:55.610 --> 00:48:09.610
Well, thanks to Tom for a very, very interesting interview and to Steve and Claire from Lifestack, uh, not just for joining us on the podcast, but also for all that they're doing with Lifestack along with the lightning for this season as our principal sponsors.
00:48:09.690 --> 00:48:12.570
But uh Harrison, uh, it was remiss of us.
00:48:12.650 --> 00:48:20.170
We forgot to go through uh the other fixtures uh in our roundup, so we'll do that quickly before coming on to the uh whole preview.
00:48:20.570 --> 00:48:46.329
Yes, and starting off on the Friday night where Basenstoke Bison were at home to Bristol Pitbulls, and Bristol got themselves their first win of the season away at a very tough ranking Basenstoke, who's had a very good start to the season, um, coming off of the back of well, uh a very just so to it's a guy being their star player, and he couldn't do the work for them on Friday night.
00:48:46.410 --> 00:48:51.050
And Bristol Pitbulls came away, it was that star top line, the imports did the duty for them.
00:48:51.210 --> 00:48:56.410
5-2, the Pitbulls beat the Bison on Friday, the Saturday night.
00:48:56.650 --> 00:49:00.809
Swindon Wildcats hosting the Romford Raiders on their country night as well.
00:49:00.970 --> 00:49:10.650
But the Raiders took the victory in the shootout, a big two points for Romford, and as you said, Swindon fans actually relatively happy with the point that they gained.
00:49:10.809 --> 00:49:17.369
And I have to mention Ben O'Connor returned for the Wildcats, a massive player for them.
00:49:17.530 --> 00:49:30.410
They missed him towards the back end of the season last year, and they fell off a little bit towards the end, and they won the title still, but it wasn't as pretty as it was starting to look at the start of the season, and Ben O'Connor was a big reason for that.
00:49:30.650 --> 00:49:46.250
Leeds Knights lost in overtime at home to Basenstoke-Bison, a repeat of last year, where the bison went up to Leeds and beat them in overtime, and the bison getting a little bit of revenge from the previous night's game against Bristol.
00:49:46.410 --> 00:49:55.130
Brendan Selen getting that winner in overtime at the castle, and Leeds just struggling again to get some momentum going.
00:49:55.289 --> 00:50:04.410
Bristol Pitbulls couldn't make a four-point weekend as they hosted Solway and went down 7-4 to a arsenoless Solway.
00:50:04.809 --> 00:50:07.849
Um, that's a big miss for them, but it didn't seem to affect anything.
00:50:08.090 --> 00:50:09.289
Still got the victory.
00:50:09.369 --> 00:50:16.970
And Peter Bruphantams hosted the Hull Seahawks, Hull getting the victory down in Breton, five goals to three.
00:50:17.130 --> 00:50:18.809
I think there was a fight in that as well.
00:50:19.050 --> 00:50:27.930
Josh Hodgkinson and Joe Gretten um going at it, and it's always a feisty fixture between those two, but Hull getting themselves their first two points of the weekend.
00:50:28.010 --> 00:50:30.010
On the Sunday, there are only four fixtures.
00:50:30.090 --> 00:50:36.010
The Sheffield Steel Dogs bounced back and beat their Yorkshire rivals, Leeds Knights, 3-2 at Ice Sheffield.
00:50:36.329 --> 00:50:47.289
Big victory at Ice Sheffield for them, keeping their home form as good as it is, and the Knights just submitting them to another tough weekend.
00:50:47.610 --> 00:50:54.329
Solway hosted Telford and were up for most of the game, but Telford fought back and beat them 4-3 up in Dum3.
00:50:54.570 --> 00:50:57.450
So it was Solway's first home game in a good couple weeks.
00:50:57.610 --> 00:51:20.250
Romford obviously getting the shootout victory at home to the Lightning, and the Seahawks battling from 2-0 down at home to get a victory against the Phantoms, to just put that pressure on Lightning, knowing full well that this weekend it is Milton Keynes Lightning and Hull Seahawks, a double header, home and home.
00:51:21.369 --> 00:51:24.730
If you're a neutral, these are the games that you want to watch.
00:51:25.769 --> 00:51:49.450
I mean it it's it's crazy, it's it's it's match weekend number five, and we've already talked this is could potentially be a a decider in maybe the le in the in the later league standings, and uh yeah, I know for the both sets of players, both coaches, uh it'll just be it's just another game, and then Sundays it will just be another game.
00:51:49.690 --> 00:51:54.250
But for the fans, and I think neutrals, as you say, Harrison, this is going to be built up.
00:51:54.329 --> 00:51:56.250
This this is this could be big.
00:51:56.570 --> 00:52:22.570
Oh yeah, and I mean you look at fixtures between Lightnin and Hull over the years as well, especially since the Seahawks has resurgence, and you think back to the cup final in 23-24, you think about playoffs last year, um, you even think earlier on in that 23-24 season when in the league Lightnin won every single home game except for one, and that was the second weekend of the season against Hull.
00:52:22.970 --> 00:52:30.170
So there's a bit of history between these two sides, and I mean playoffs last year caused a bit of a ruckus.
00:52:30.410 --> 00:52:44.889
There was it was Hedley versus Haiskinen, and both netbinders got their fair share of uh chance from the opposition, and it just seems to be like a really weirdly well-built rivalry now.
00:52:45.210 --> 00:52:47.050
I I absolutely love games against Hull.
00:52:47.130 --> 00:52:50.730
I think it's just the way that Matty Davis sets the team up to play.
00:52:50.970 --> 00:52:56.490
I I they all that a lot of them are local lads, they play for the passion, they play for the shirt.
00:52:56.650 --> 00:53:03.130
Matty is very, very passionate about uh hockey and hull and and the Seahawks organisation as a whole.
00:53:03.530 --> 00:53:05.610
I I I think they're some of the best games.
00:53:05.690 --> 00:53:12.970
It's two teams, both with passionate fan bases, both with really dedicated players, they want to get one over the over the other.
00:53:13.210 --> 00:53:16.090
I actually think there's a bit of a healthy respect there as well.
00:53:16.250 --> 00:53:18.410
I I I think there's like that mutual respect.
00:53:18.490 --> 00:53:20.809
I think they respect the way they play.
00:53:20.970 --> 00:53:23.450
There's different little rivalries on the ice that you see.
00:53:23.530 --> 00:53:27.450
There's going to be little subplots over this weekend, and the fact it's a double header as well.
00:53:27.530 --> 00:53:34.329
So anything that feels unresolved from Saturday is likely to roll over onto the Sunday away game.
00:53:34.570 --> 00:53:41.849
I think they potentially could both be two very big crowds at both rinks, and two very, very good games.
00:53:42.010 --> 00:53:44.970
And yeah, I I honestly can't wait for them.
00:53:45.050 --> 00:53:46.809
I think they'll be fantastic.
00:53:46.889 --> 00:53:54.410
I imagine uh that one of the fan podcasts from uh from up north, the the the lads from Slapshot will probably be talking about it as well.
00:53:54.490 --> 00:53:59.530
I imagine they'll be they'll be pumped for it, the fans will be pumped for it, players will be pumped for it.
00:53:59.690 --> 00:54:04.570
There's a few former Lightning guys on the whole team, there's a few former whole boys on the on the Lightning team.
00:54:04.809 --> 00:54:07.450
You've got step brothers playing against each other as well.
00:54:07.530 --> 00:54:09.530
There's so much going on for this game.
00:54:09.690 --> 00:54:12.809
I I cannot big it up more than it can do.
00:54:13.849 --> 00:54:24.250
If you haven't got a ticket, get it, or if you can't get to the rink, get the stream because seriously, it's gonna be a superb weekend of hockey between these two sides.
00:54:24.490 --> 00:54:28.170
It really is, and I mean it's the the lightning and the Seahawks.
00:54:28.329 --> 00:54:40.889
You can tell that the fan bases are as you said, they are up there with probably some of the best in the league for for both, and it's gonna be a busy night if you're at the Hull Ice Arena on Sunday or if you're at the Thunderdome on Saturday.
00:54:40.970 --> 00:54:44.329
So, as you said, get your tickets for both games.
00:54:44.490 --> 00:54:59.050
If you can make it to the away one as a as a lightning fan, do it's a long journey, but it'll do the boys a lot of good having the support in the away block because Hull is a very tough place to go, and most teams find that out.
00:54:59.849 --> 00:55:00.809
Yeah, for sure.
00:55:00.889 --> 00:55:05.450
But is A-block the opposite corner for other diagonal side?
00:55:05.530 --> 00:55:10.650
They're they're loud, they're passionate, they they like to uh they like to chirp as well.
00:55:10.809 --> 00:55:12.090
Some of the banter there is good.
00:55:12.170 --> 00:55:17.369
I I think uh that game in Hull, I it's the kind of game I think David Thompson will be in his element.
00:55:17.450 --> 00:55:24.490
He'll he'll want to play up to the crowd, and I think it yeah, he'll he'll definitely want to watch on that Sunday uh from a likely point of view.
00:55:24.570 --> 00:55:25.369
I think it'll be Tom.
00:55:25.610 --> 00:55:28.090
I think he cut I think that's probably what he saw in the Canada.
00:55:28.250 --> 00:55:30.889
He probably put a circle on that date of like Holloway.
00:55:31.130 --> 00:55:31.610
I don't know.
00:55:31.690 --> 00:55:34.250
We had some previous last year when he was up there with Telford.
00:55:34.410 --> 00:55:37.930
I think he got a winner as well, and he he did shush the crowd a little bit.
00:55:38.090 --> 00:55:45.050
So I I yeah, I I think it's a game he'll he'll be he'll be licking his lips at and he'll be chomping at the bit ready to get on the ice for.
00:55:46.329 --> 00:55:52.329
And it's it's one of those as well where the lightning players have to walk in front of the whole fans to get on the ice as well.
00:55:52.570 --> 00:55:57.690
Which, if you're whole, you've got to take full advantage of that as a whole fan base.
00:55:58.170 --> 00:56:02.250
Use that to your advantage, create the atmosphere, make it a difficult place.
00:56:02.329 --> 00:56:17.849
Because that's what that's what as a home team, that's what you want to do, and that's what that's what lightning try to do as well, especially with the bring-on the lightning chant, whether that be home and away, it's not it's an intimidation factor, and hull are one of the better places that you can try to be intimidating at.
00:56:18.090 --> 00:56:19.289
Oh, oh, yeah, for sure.
00:56:19.450 --> 00:56:30.730
I I I don't mind that you should be but when the team turns up uh beforehand, yeah, yeah, be be nice, let them know where the facilities are, treat them with hospitality the same with the fans.
00:56:30.889 --> 00:56:33.289
The second that puck drops though, that's the enemy.
00:56:33.369 --> 00:56:36.889
You're in you're in someone else's barn, you're in someone else's town.
00:56:37.930 --> 00:56:39.289
You're not meant to be welcome there.
00:56:39.610 --> 00:56:47.769
And and as the awaitard, you're there to just get in, get those two points, get out of town, and be like, Yeah, we've got the win, we've taken it on there.
00:56:47.849 --> 00:56:51.450
We had some of our fans with us that have helped make it make the noise there.
00:56:51.849 --> 00:56:52.170
Yeah.
00:56:52.490 --> 00:56:55.690
The second that buzzer goes, yeah, shake hands, it's the game.
00:56:55.769 --> 00:56:59.450
You say, Yeah, good church and everything.
00:56:59.769 --> 00:57:09.210
But for that 60 minutes, you make it intimidating, you get you give your home team the edge, you give your side the the any advantage that you can, you go for it.
00:57:09.450 --> 00:57:15.930
Maybe it's a bit old-fashioned of me and old school, but no, but that's any advantage you can get, you make the most of it.
00:57:16.170 --> 00:57:18.010
No, I'm 100% for that.
00:57:18.090 --> 00:57:24.170
And the the the Seahawks have got a very sort of like it's a relatively low ceiling as well, so the noise stays in there.
00:57:24.250 --> 00:57:26.809
It is one of the noisier rinks in the league.
00:57:27.050 --> 00:57:31.050
Um what there isn't again, I don't think we can pick it up anymore.
00:57:31.130 --> 00:57:35.050
It is it is the fixture, really, to look forward to.
00:57:35.369 --> 00:57:40.490
And whether you're a Lightning fan, a Seahawk fan, or if you're a neutral, enjoy it.
00:57:40.570 --> 00:57:52.730
These are the sort of games that players will get up for, that the fans will get up for, and that later down the line, this could be, as you said, a really important fixture in defining league standings.
00:57:52.889 --> 00:57:57.849
And these are two teams that right now are up there with being the favourites for trophies.
00:57:58.250 --> 00:58:03.130
So you can't it's there's nothing more that can really be said about that.
00:58:03.210 --> 00:58:08.809
This is just one of the top the two of the top teams battling it out to see who's in the best spot.
00:58:09.050 --> 00:58:09.849
Yeah, definitely.
00:58:10.010 --> 00:58:21.769
And we've not even really touched on the the talented players that you're going to be seeing, but we've got I think hull of the best penalty kill currently in the league, lightning, one of the top power plays.
00:58:21.849 --> 00:58:32.970
There's special teams could play a factor on here, but there's certain players on there that just are headliners and they're absolute stars, and we'll be starting both netminders.
00:58:33.050 --> 00:58:44.650
You I think at the moment, statistically, we've got the number one and number two net miners in the league from the save percentage point of view in uh heads from the lightning and uh Heskin and for Holt.
00:58:44.809 --> 00:58:52.650
Obviously, Jared Whale was back and he was he was he was back uh last weekend, so we may see Whale make a start, we don't know.
00:58:52.809 --> 00:59:10.809
But what a treat of just from the net miners, and then stacked rosters on both sides, attacking threats on both sides, and yeah, everywhere you look, there's there's there's there's scoring on all three lines for both teams, really, that that that you can see, and that there's there's depth there, there's quality there.
00:59:11.050 --> 00:59:13.849
I I think both games will be very close this weekend.
00:59:13.930 --> 00:59:21.769
I can't see a blowout barring a big mishap, or maybe like a major penalty, which will just sway the game one way or the other.
00:59:22.010 --> 00:59:35.610
Yeah, and I mean you said it as well, the PK for Hull 91.67% at this point, but Lightnon sitting second with 84.21, which you go to last season, that would have been one of the league-leading penalty kills.
00:59:35.769 --> 00:59:40.329
The the power play seems to be the one that is sort of a bit of a miss for Hull.
00:59:40.410 --> 00:59:43.930
They sit ninth in the league for power play, 22.73%.
00:59:44.490 --> 00:59:51.210
And when you've got players like Cody Monzen, Ulsleck, Bobby Chamberlain, Finlay Ulrich, and that just naming four of them.
00:59:51.610 --> 00:59:55.369
It is a bit of a surprise to see them that far down when it comes to power play.
00:59:55.450 --> 01:00:04.410
And those those stats will be something that um Matty Davis will have a look at because last season the P the power play for them, it was top of the league.
01:00:04.809 --> 01:00:07.130
Yeah, that that surprised me a bit.
01:00:07.450 --> 01:00:13.050
But we'll be saying ninth 22% isn't bad, isn't it isn't bad by the stretch.
01:00:13.130 --> 01:00:15.050
I think obviously it's still early days.
01:00:15.289 --> 01:00:20.010
We have still got some teams on that 40% power play, so I think that will start to even itself out.
01:00:20.090 --> 01:00:27.610
But as you say, the likes of Mons, Chamberlain, Sveck, Patrick Brown, who's been a great signing for whole this season as well.
01:00:28.250 --> 01:00:30.329
There's a lot of attacking talents on now.
01:00:30.490 --> 01:00:38.889
I do wonder if they sometimes miss that bit from the blue line that they had with uh Brock Bartholomew last year when he he was very handy on that on that power play.
01:00:39.610 --> 01:00:43.690
But I think we've got it with Archie and with Kel on both power play lines.
01:00:43.769 --> 01:00:48.250
There was almost that quarterback role on the blue line, they could just look for the pass and they can set things up.
01:00:48.490 --> 01:00:52.410
However, both teams have scored shorthanded uh a few times as well.
01:00:52.650 --> 01:00:55.610
So special teams I think could be a big big say.
01:00:55.690 --> 01:01:04.250
And these games do get tasty, and so I think we'll probably be seeing both both teams' PP and PK lines out over the course of the weekend.
01:01:04.570 --> 01:01:12.650
Yeah, I can't imagine it'll take long before we see someone in the penalty box at whether that be a Lightning player or a Hull Seahawks player.
01:01:12.730 --> 01:01:20.490
But in terms of you look at like the the points from the league, David Thompson currently joint most points in the league with 18.
01:01:20.650 --> 01:01:26.010
Um Hull's top point score is Cody Momm's with 15 points from eight games as well.
01:01:26.170 --> 01:01:33.849
But that also just shows that Hull being right near the top of the table, but their player not being near the top of the points.
01:01:34.010 --> 01:01:36.809
It just shows that the points are being spread about.
01:01:37.050 --> 01:01:41.289
They've got a lot of players of quality, especially on that offensive lineup.
01:01:41.690 --> 01:01:56.650
And I think if you were to try to pick, say, a weakness from Hull, it might be the defensive unit when it comes to they don't have that import D, maybe that is, as you said, like that block bar following you, that just sort of or your CJ Garcia of the Steel Dogs.
01:01:56.970 --> 01:02:03.849
If you're gonna point out maybe a weakness there, and I think you could almost say the same of Lightning, with that they've not got that import D either.
01:02:03.930 --> 01:02:07.369
So I think this weekend is probably gonna be a story of the D- Men.
01:02:08.010 --> 01:02:15.769
It it is weird we say that that's probably the weakness of both sides, and yet Hull and MK are the best two defensive sides currently in the league.
01:02:15.849 --> 01:02:18.650
But I don't know how much of that is, as we said, down to the netties.
01:02:18.889 --> 01:02:57.690
I mean, the the the two best uh two of the best penalty killing units on there, and often it said your best penalty killer is the netminder, and both Heads and Hesky have absolutely superb netminders, and the stats show that at the moment they're they're playing blinders, so defensively, you maybe can afford to maybe drop that and not have that import the leader when you've got someone like Heskin and got someone like Hedley in there that can win your games on their own, and it it'll be it it's such gonna be such an intriguing two games this weekend, so many battles across there, and two best defensives, uh two teams with stacked with attacking talent.
01:02:58.170 --> 01:03:01.289
Yeah, it these are the games that you get excited for.
01:03:01.450 --> 01:03:06.650
Like you I'm absolutely buzzing for this weekend, it'll it's gonna be an amazing weekend of hockey.
01:03:06.970 --> 01:03:15.450
It really is, and that will about round us up for our preview of next weekend's fixtures and the the podcast.
01:03:15.769 --> 01:03:21.849
But as we have said on multiple occasions, this weekend's gonna be uh a class of hockey.
01:03:22.010 --> 01:03:23.849
Um, you're gonna want to get your tickets.
01:03:23.930 --> 01:03:29.769
If you've not got your tickets, whether you're a lightning fan or a whole Seahawks fan, get your tickets at either rink.
01:03:29.849 --> 01:03:34.490
It's going to be a Barnstormer, both at the Thunderdome and at the Hollow Ice Arena.
01:03:34.650 --> 01:03:41.210
Um, obviously, Lightning tickets that you want to go to the website, or you can find out on the socials as well.
01:03:41.690 --> 01:03:44.170
But that'll be about it from us, Pimmy.
01:03:44.490 --> 01:03:45.369
Good to have you back on.
01:03:45.450 --> 01:03:47.369
Thank you very much again for coming on.
01:03:47.690 --> 01:03:51.450
It's been great to be on F, and uh, I won't leave it so long next time.
01:03:52.570 --> 01:03:57.769
Yeah, let's hope it's not as long, but you obviously do have other commitments, so that's perfectly fine there.
01:03:57.930 --> 01:04:05.610
But yeah, that'll be about it from us at Lightning Talks, and we hope to see you at the weekend for the Fixtures against the Seahawks.