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Today's guest is Michael Campoli, a recent winner of the TV Show Wall of Chefs (Season 2 - Episode 8). Born in Point-Claire, QC., Michael began his college hockey career playing for the Boston College Eagles. After one season in the NCAA, he left to join and captain the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL until ultimately becoming a McGill Redbird in 2019. During his U Sports career, Michael scored two goals and four assists throughout 28 games. Perhaps his most notable achievement came last week when he was a contestant on the Food Network's TV Show "Wall of Chefs." After completing three unique cooking challenges against four other competitors, the 24-year-old delivered under pressure and won the $10,000 cash grand prize. Michael graduated from McGill (2021) with a degree in Economics and Finance. After his studies were complete, he was offered and accepted a full-time position as a financial advisor for Deloitte. In this episode, we discuss his passion for cooking, experience on the TV show Wall of Chefs, and so much more!

Today’s guest is Brandon Skubel (#11), a second-year at McGill, studying Industrial Relations.  Born in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON., Skubel joined the Redbirds in 2020 after playing three seasons for the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the QMJHL, where he registered 41 goals and 74 assists in 178 games.  The six-foot, 205-pound power forward has scored 4 goals and 1 assist through 9 games this season. Skubel was also recently named McGill's athlete of the week on December 5th after his hat-trick performance in the Corey Cup victory over the Concordia Stingers.  Off the ice, Brandon exuberates an entrepreneurial spirit and is an avid learner. As if balancing hockey and his course-load wasn't enough, Brandon also can be found trying to grow his business as the owner/operator of Student Works Painting in the Niagara region.  In this episode, we discuss his incredible work ethic, intriguing hockey career path, and so much more!  For more info about Brandon, check out: https://mcgillathletics.ca/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/brandon-skubel/9859  Season interrupted: NOTL's Brandon Skubel plays hockey for McGill: https://www.niagaranow.com/news.phtml/5492-season-interrupted-notls-brandon-skubel-plays-hockey-for-mcgill

Today’s guest is Alexandre Gagnon, a second-year at McGill, studying Physical Education. Born in Gatineau, QC., Gagnon captained the Cote-du-Sud Everest of the LHJAAAQ where he registered 67 points in 38 games. The five-eleven 176-pound forward joined the McGill Redbirds in 2020. Gagnon is a speedy and tenacious forward that has tallied 1 goal and 2 assists through 12 games so far in his USPORTS career. Off the ice, Alex is a hard-working individual with great time-management and leadership skills. Alex's brother, Mathieu, has committed to play for the Redbirds next year and is currently the captain of Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL). In this episode, we discuss his insane fitness testing score, adjustments to taking classes in English, and so much more! Also, it was a great week for McGill alumni Louis-Philip Guindon (2016-2021) and Ryan Penny (2018-2021).  For more info about Alexandre, go to: https://mcgillathletics.ca/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/alexandre-gagnon/9849 McGill hockey grad Guindon wins first AHL start, deep in the heart of Texas: https://mcgillathletics.ca/news/2022/1/29/mens-hockey-mcgill-hockey-grad-guindon-wins-first-ahl-start-as-laval-edges-texas.aspx Four goal penny leads blaze to victory: https://www.coventryblaze.co.uk/2022/01/24/four-goal-penny-leads-blaze-to-victory/

Today’s guest is Taylor Ford, a fourth-year at McGill, studying Education. Born in St. Lazare, QC., Ford was drafted 38th overall by the Halifax Mooseheads in the second round of the 2013 QMJHL Draft before being traded to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, where he netted over 240 QMJHL games. The six-foot 195-pound defensemen joined the McGill Redbirds in 2018, where he currently serves as an alternate captain.  Ford brings a physical presence to the lineup while recording 7 points and 58 penalty minutes as a valued teammate in 63 games. Aside from his on-ice contribution, Taylor also has a passion for sharing his love of the game with today’s youth. With over eight years of experience coaching hockey at the minor level, Taylor aspires to combine his education and hockey experiences to influence the next generation of athletes. In this episode, we discuss his decision to major in Education, his experiences so far at McGill, his aspirations to play professional hockey, and so much more!  For more info about Taylor, go to: https://mcgillathletics.ca/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/taylor-ford/9847

In 2012, McGill won their first Canadian Championship in Men's Ice Hockey. It was the culmination of a run of 5 spectacular seasons for the Red & White which had them win 4 of 5 Queens Cups. McGill has not had such an amazing streak since the 1930's where they won 10 of 12 Queen's Cups with WWII in between.  This trio of captains, however, took it to the top after a bitter loss in the final game in 2011. It was the captain, himself, Evan Vossen who scored the "Golden Goal" in overtime, to culminate his 5th and final year at McGill with a storybook finish. Marc-André Dorion was playing with a broken thumb and Maxime Langelier-Parent had just helped kill a 5 minute man-disadvantage to set up the overtime. This Captains Meeting has a very special chemistry to it as clearly these 3 are still "walking tall" ten years later.... lets listen in.....

McGill hockey game recaps against Carleton, UQTR, and Concordia twice. Former hockey captain Nathan Chiarlitti joins the show to talk about his book "More Than A Game," his time at McGill, and more! 

McGill Hockey Game Recaps against UQTR, Concordia (OUA Season Opener), and Ottawa (FMH Homecoming). Also, a discussion with alternate captain, Jordan Ty Fournier about his epic shootout game-winner, growing up with two older brothers, and more! 

Red birds symbolize passion, courage, war, health, well-being, culture, and tradition. There are many red birds with many different symbols, yet they all have one thing in common: their bold and passionate nature. This absolutely symbolizes our new Redbird associate coach and former captain, Patrick Delisle-Houde. As you listen to the podcast, you will remark that each one of these adjectives above are in his story and the way he tells it. Patrick Delisle-Houde has been appointed as full-time associate coach with the McGill University men's hockey program. A native of Quebec City who turned 30 on Aug. 15, Delisle-Houde (BSc Kinesiology '15, MSc '17), returns to his alma mater after four years with the Montreal Canadiens, where he served as the NHL team's strength and conditioning coordinator. Currently working on his doctorate thesis at McGill, he has published several essays dealing with training methods, strength and conditioning and physiology to name a few. "The ultimate team player, Pat has a relentless work ethic and commits himself to improving his craft on a daily basis," said Urquhart, who first mentored him while serving as assistant coach at McGill. "He brings passion, strong leadership skills and an understanding of how sports science contributes to team success." Both bench bosses have earned undergrad and master's degrees from McGill which provides the program with arguably one of the most educated coaching tandems in Canadian university hockey history. "PDH", as he is known, missed only four games over his five seasons at McGill, from 2012 to 2017, where he served his final two years as team captain. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward tallied 171 points, including 68 goals, in 204 games overall, to go along with 318 penalty minutes. He ranks second in the team record book for most career contests played, seven shy of the standard set by Evan Vossen. In 2012-13, PDH merited OUA all-rookie team honours and he culminated that freshman campaign with the Guy Lafleur Trophy, presented to the Quebec university player who best combines hockey excellence with academic success and citizenship. In each of his five seasons, he earned Academic All-Canadian status as well as making the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll. Prior to enrolling at McGill, PDH skated four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, suiting up with both Rimouski (2008-2011) and Moncton (2011-12), where he posted a combined 70-113-183 record in 286 regular season games. Source: https://mcgillathletics.ca/news/2021/8/11/mens-ice-hockey-pdh-leaves-habs-to-become-full-time-associate-hockey-coach-at-mcgill.aspx

McGill Hockey Game Recaps vs. Queen's (Oct. 13th), RMC (Oct 16th), and Concordia (Oct. 22nd & 23rd). Also, captain Sam Tremblay sits down with host Quinn Syrydiuk to discuss philosophy, the upcoming season, and more! 

David Urquhart was appointed full-time head coach of the McGill University men's hockey team in May, 2021. A 2018 inductee to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame, Urquhart spent the previous three seasons as an assistant coach of the San Diego Gulls, an American Hockey League affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. During that span, he helped guide the team to a 92-60-17 record in regular season play and three playoff berths. The 36-year-old native of Thorold, Ont., is the 30th bench boss in team history and the 13th former McGill player to take the helm of the historic 144-year-old program, which played its first game on Jan. 31, 1877. He replaced Liam Heelis, who was serving as interim bench boss. Urquhart played for McGill and served four years as a full-time assistant coach (2014-2018) under the direction of Kelly Nobes. He also was head coach of the Serbian national team at the 2018 IIHF Div. 2 world hockey championship. A graduate of McGill's Desautels school of management in 2008, Urquhart majored in finance and entrepreneurship. In 2019, he completed a master's degree in sports psychology at McGill. For his thesis, he interviewed six of the most successful coaches in U SPORTS and the NCAA to discuss their coaching vision and learn how they built cultures of excellence to win multiple national championships for their respective programs. Urquhart was recruited to McGill in 2004 out of the GHJHL, where he skated for the Welland Cougars (2001-2004) and Thorold Blackhawks (2000-2002). During his McGill playing career, Urquhart was a three-time OUA all-star from 2004 to 2008. He also merited All-Canadian honours -- earning a berth on the second team in 2006-07 -- and concluded a brilliant university career with 23 goals and 107 points, along with 330 penalty minutes, in 147 games overall. More than a dozen years after his last varsity contest, he remains tied with Mike Babcock as the ninth-highest overall point-scoring defenceman in McGill history. He trails Marc-André Dorion (192 points), Dominic Talbot-Tassi (190), Gilles Hudon (152), Martin Routhier (135), Ryan McKiernan (117), David Bahl (110), Bryan Larkin (109) and Luc Latulippe (109). Named to the OUA all-rookie squad during his freshman year, Urquhart won the Bobby Bell Trophy as Team MVP in his third collegiate season and in his senior year, he captained McGill to the Ontario University Athletics conference championship in 2008. It marked McGill's first Queen's Cup league title since 1946. Fluent in three languages -- including French and Italian -- Urquhart also speaks some German. He was a two-time OUA conference nominee for the Randy Gregg trophy, awarded nationally for combining hockey ability with academics and citizenship. He made the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll, merited Academic All-Canadian honours, won the Richard Pound Trophy for athletics leadership over his McGill career and received the University's prestigious Gretta Chambers Award for student leadership. Urquhart went on to a solid professional career, including stints in the AHL with Hartford (2008-10) and Hamilton (2010-11), where the six-foot, 195-pound rearguard played 130 regular season games, scoring six goals and 23 points to go along with 78 penalty minutes. He also had stints in the East Coast Hockey League with Charlotte and Wheeling. He then headed overseas to play for three years in Italy, where he patrolled the blueline for teams in Valpellice (2011-12) and Pontebba (2012-13) before guiding Ritten-Renon to a league championship in 2014. Source: https://mcgillathletics.ca/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/coaches/david-urquhart/1176

Allan reminisces and recounts with host Ken Tyler, the experiences, events, mentors and methods, benefits and beliefs from his journeys from Montréal and McGill to today.

Bio: Francois has been the president and CEO of TC Transcontinental since 2008. Francois skated for McGill from 1985 to 1988 before graduating with a science degree in agriculture. Prior to thathe played junior for St. Jean and Verdun and was a draft pick for the Boston Bruins. His former coach, Ken Tyler, described him as “a very responsible up and down winger with good speed and puck skills. He was a terrific teammate and very popular and respected in the dressing room.” Prior to joining TC Transcontinental, François worked as General Manager of Canada Packers. He is a graduate of the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School. He also serves on the boards of directors of CAE, The Conference Board of Canada, the Flexible Packaging Association and the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation, in addition to actively supporting Portage. In this regard, in 2018, the non-profit organization paid tribute to him as a distinguished Québec business leader on the occasion of the Soirée des Grands Philanthropes. Furthermore, Francois and his brother Martin recently contributed to create The Francois and Martin Olivier Athletics Award, that provides scholarships for francophone members of the McGill’s men's hockey program. Show notes: Favourite time at McGill: Team building on the trip to Czechoslovakia Book recommendations: Good to Great – Jim Collins Leave No Doubt – Mike Babcock Quote: Believe in yourself. Having your mind in the right place and having your head down and working hard can bring you a lot of success. Advice: Find people that you trust. Invest in surrounding yourself with the right people. Find mentors to give yourself a sounding board. Avoid isolating yourself. Early in your career keep an open mind to new experiences before choosing your true passion. There are many paths that lead you to where you need to go. Trust in “les bonnes etoiles” Mentors: Mentors make you think or ask you questions that make you reflect. Got a lot of peer mentorship from the McGill Hockey team. Conversely, when you get to be a mentor for younger people, often the mentor gets as much out of relationship as the mentee. Leadership: The followers take the values of the leader. When choosing your team/staff, first find out if their values match the organization. He looks for humility and tries not to be blurred by the talent. “Any organization will only attain it’s maximum potential by unlocking the potential of each an every individual. Then, if they work together, the potential is multiplied by ‘x’. My job as a leader is to create the environment where everybody can unlock their full potential.” Resiliency: You have to believe in yourself no matter what people say. If you feel deep down that you are doing the right thing, then you will come out of whatever slump you are in. In tough moments, don’t isolate yourself. Being resilient is much easier when people are supporting you and giving you advice. Pressure: Prepare and work hard. Do the things other people aren’t willing to do. This will help you deal with pressure. When you are able to stay balanced in mind and body, you can go to bed at the end of the day and say “I did everything I could today”. At that point you can disconnect yourself and reset. Mastery: When you’re young, mastery is a lot in the eye of what other people say. As you get older, you realize that mastery is internal to you. You feel it when you are at the right place and you have done the right thing. Sometimes you feel like you are close, but you can always do better. When you are close to it, you should take the moments to enjoy it.