Never Far from Home

Kyle Hayton began playing hockey when he was seven. He found more of a pssion for the game around twelve, and pursued his dreams of playing professionally. His journey took him through many stops, and we explore stories from most. Enjoy the tales of a tendy who, dare I say it, seemed to have his stuff together.

In the first ever State of Hockey Address, Mike Cochran returns to the show, as we talk about what the first one hundred episodes have done. There is a recap, touching on some of the favorite episodes, and there is an update to the trip itself. The boys end with a little NHL hockey talk as well. Enjoy, and thank you for your support through the first 100. The promise is alive, that each episode we...

Sheldon Randell grew up in Newfoundland, and was started skating at a very early age. His dad was a big influencer in his hockey, and he shares some fantastic stories about the many car rides he had to take, playing in a town an hour away from his home. He goes on to tell of his personal growth in terms of loving the game, and how he loves it more now than he did as a kid. Enjoy!

Paul Podkulski became involved with hockey as a fan as a young child. He grew up in upstate New York, but because of family, he was a Flyers fan. We go through his fandom, and how he eventually found himself working for a company that has the NHL as a client. Paul also shares some stories about Florida hockey players. Enjoy his many tales, and details.

On a special edition of the pod, I am joined by two figure skaters to tell some great stories. Alex and Michelle Aiken chat about their respective time growing up within the figure skating world, and they touch on histories that include a combined 13 national championship appearances, with five medals. They also talk about their transitions into the coaching world, and just what the community of t...

Dajon Mingo began his journey in the rink on figure skates. He participated in that capacity from 5-7, then found himself in hockey. He talks about his journey from his time in the youth leagues of Michigan, through his junior career, and into his pro days. He tells stories along the way, and it was a great chat with another good hockey guy. Enjoy.

Laura Belluccia was a figure skater in her younger days when she grew up near Tampa. She got into a few of her favorite memories from her younger time, but our conversation quickly led to her current tales. We talked about the ideas of rink, community, and what those things can do for everyone who participates. Enjoy our chat!

Kevin Gintoli began playing around nine, and it was my pleasure to talk to him. Our conversation spanned his days playing competitively at the youth level, through his time in the beer leagues, where all roads lead. More importantly to both of us, we were able to touch on the factor of family. He was the fourth of four siblings I have had the pleasure of interviewing, and we went into what family...

Jimi Drinkall began playing hockey in his twenties, after attending a professional game in his local rink. He loved the physical side of the game, and found himself a home with the Ice tigers within the first year or so of trying the sport. Enjoy his many tales from starting to play, to the adversity he faced with only six members of a squad, all the way to rebuilding an organization into one of i...

Garrett Gintoli was born in to the hockey life. He talks about his first experiences within the rink, and gets in to his other timeline impacts. This one went a little off the rails, but was a fantastic interview with yet ANOTHER member of Clan Gintoli. Enjoy the latest installment.

Michele Gintoli began playing at the same time as two of her brothers, and quickly was drawn in to love the game of hockey. She talks about her storyline, which includes girls teams in her youth days, and coaching more recently. She also continues playing on a woman's team. Enjoy the many tales she slings around, as the second Gintoli to captivate the NFFH audience this week.

Peter Gintoli began playing when he was four. His family all jumped in to the sport, and the four kids playing was the first introduction that mom and dad had to the hockey scene. Things progressed from it being something fun, to the realization that he could take it somewhere, and Peter did. He talks about his lengthy career including time in High School, Juniors, College, Semi-pro, and also we d...

Paul Novak was born and raised in Germany. His father was a sports fanatic, and Paul, along with his older brother Joe, both followed suit. Paul grew up in the rink community, and played hockey for years. His journey has taken him all around the world, for work, and he tells tales from each point along the way. That includes his time in Korea, organizing the Kimchi Cup. Enjoy his rich history of t...

Matt Schoepflin was another guest born into hockey. His father played, and had a love of the game, and it bled over to Matt. He grew up in Colorado, played most of his youth hockey there, then ended up at a boarding school, and then played four years of college. He went on to coach, and has great stories he shares from all those avenues he has explored within the rink community. Enjoy.

Katie Mandigo was born into hockey. She was skating from a very young age, and found a passion for the game she knew she wanted to pursue as far as it would take her. She told me stories about growing up around the rink at Middlebury, where her father coaches the women's team, including one about some puck snowmen... I hope you enjoy her many tales as much as I did!

Kush Sidhu grew up playing hockey in Montreal. He moved stateside, and continued to grow his love for the game, eventually finding himself working with Northeastern as a goalie, then a goalie coach for the girls side of things. He has many tales from his playing days, and even more from the coaching standpoint. Enjoy his many stories.

Alexis Pearson never played organized hockey. While she grew up in Minnesota, and skated in her early days, she never found herself in organized forms of the sport we love. Her father did, however, find the passion within his little girl when she was almost twelve. Alexis talks about knowing, from her early teens, that she wanted to partake in the sport at its highest level, in the capacity of bro...

Bill Mandigo grew up playing hockey, and had a great head start, as his father was a player himself. We delve into a few of his stories from his time spent playing, but things ramp up when the conversation shifts to coaching. His stories span time spent at a number of different schools, before he finally landed at Middlebury. His coaching has spanned decades, and his tales are just as impressive a...

Bill Beaney Grew up in Lake Placid. He was skating from the age of two or three, and forged a love of the game in one of the most prolific sporting communities in America. He tells tales of his competitive playing days, including a four year stint at UNH. Our conversation also heads into his robust coaching career, and the many connections and relationships he has made through his time as a bench...

Jessi Pierce became fascinated with hockey, and the rink, at a young age. She grew up a fan, but became more heavily involved her senior year of high school, when she was the statistician for her high school team. We go in to the tales of her time in college, running around between her 18 internships, then head through her path that lead her back to Minnesota, and eventually in to her job with the...

Matt Billman got introduced to hockey in the roller rink, and found an immediate love for the game. He quickly realized he was destined for the ice, after an encounter with an olympic sized rink, and his story was only just beginning. We discuss his time as a competitive player, through his college years, his stint working for the UFC, some coaching, and of course we tie it all together with the b...

Brandon Enroth had his addiction to hockey begin when he started watching the game. He talks about going to his first Capitals game with his dad, and the love of the sport that was born from it. He played some roller and street hockey as a kid, and began ice in high school. His tales span his years as a fan, to those playing competitively, and of course, his journey to the beer league. Enjoy.

Harry Gehring began skating early in life, and played organized hockey starting around five. He spent most of his childhood in Minnesota, headed to St. Louis for college, and found himself in DC eventually. His tales span his years from the competition of youth, to the beer league mentality as an adult. Enjoy.

Rugge Preto started playing hockey when he was an early teen. He grew up in Argentina, and talks about his experiences that lead to him falling in love with the game, and eventually taking it to the highest level he could in his home country. He has great tales of travel to Canada to represent his country, then again to Germany for the World Cup. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. (Please for...

Heather Lorden got involved in the skating world at a very young age. She was instantly drawn to the rink, and quickly moved through the figure skating ladder. Her journey includes stops in Steamboat, where she began, CSU, where she came upon some realizations of times since past, and finds itself currently on the lakes of Wisconsin. Enjoy her many tales.