The Bagchucker Podcast

The Bagchucker Podcast: Episode 2 -"Summer Recaps and Training Camp Tales"

• cmace30@hotmail.com

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In the second episode of the Bagchucker podcast, Mace and Skillsy reflect on their previous episode, discuss technical video mishaps, and share their journeys of self-improvement through summer activities like international retreats and fitness challenges. They delve into training camp dynamics, comparing the experiences of rookies and veterans in the NHL. A notable discussion centers around PK Subban's criticism of a preseason hit on Patrick Laine, debating the balance of respect and competitiveness. The hosts also touch on personal wellness, with insights into carnivore diets and fasting cleanses, and explore the continuous quest for fulfilling competitive outlets post-retirement. They conclude by suggesting the formation of broadcaster Olympics for team sports and expressing eagerness for upcoming podcast episodes.



SKILLSY:

All right. Welcome back to the Bagchucker podcast, episode number two. Mace what did you think of episode one?

MACE:

Yeah,

SKILLSY:

be

MACE:

some mixed feelings. I actually think it really went well. I thought at the end of the at the end of the episode, I'm like, man, that went well, we didn't have to do any retakes. It was a one take. We did it all the way through. I thought that was good. We got kind of the content. We introduced what a bag chucker is, how it's evolved, all the things. But I watched back and my video, cause we're going to do this both on YouTube and all Spotify and all that kind of stuff, I had the My camera mounted on my laptop, which is right here, what I'm looking at right now. So every time I'd put my hands on the table, it would like, it would jiggle around and it was awful. I'm like, Oh my God. So I'm like, damn. And then, uh, so I was cutting and I was trying to do the editing. And I figured out how to do like the little, uh, social media, you know, like snippets or whatever. And then I sent you one. What'd you tell me about yours? Like, how do you think it went? How do you think it went?

SKILLSY:

Marv, just marbles in my mouth. Uh, the fact that I'm talking on any forum, nevermind doing my job of broadcasting is it baffles me. I just had the marbles in. So I'm going to work on that baby steps. This will be better, but, uh, I thought overall it was, it was, you know what, if someone likes it, that's great. If they don't like it, that's great too. Uh, we got stuff to say. We, we want to talk about some things. So let's just let it

MACE:

Let's set a rip.

SKILLSY:

I

MACE:

I know. You know, what's funny. It's the worst watching yourself. Cause I watch you. I was like, Oh, this is a great clip. That's why I sent it to you. I'm like, Oh, this is a great one. It was about, uh, we'll, we'll play it on social media, but it was about McDavid and then about your experience of how you lost and then won the cup. And like, it's like a, it's like a drug. And I thought it was great. You're like, Oh my God. But that's what I, every time I was talking, I was like, pure cringe. I'm like, Oh my God,

SKILLSY:

that, that, uh, but so I'm working on it. I'm working on it. Anyway, let's, let's go. Uh, what do we got? What do we got today? What are we talking about? Let's talk about. Hey, I think this kind of an overview of everything we want to talk about on the podcast, but you know, we had summer off, you know, we got to get into summer. We got to get into training camp. Training camp is different and it seems like it's different every year. And it's, it's progressing maybe for the good or the bad. Um, you know, we can talk about diet. We have to get into your diet specifically that people need to know about your diet. Uh, what else do we got? Uh, training. There's a big difference between training now and when, when we were in the league, isn't it? Uh, so anyway, we also, I did see a PK Suban citing of a video about the Patrick line, a thing that I really wanted to, to get on top of and, and try to, Break that down. So I need your help on that, but go into summer. How was your summer

MACE:

my summer was fantastic. And I use the last two years, especially I've used it for personal growth, trying to educate myself, trying to be better and, and do all those things. And I did something this summer that I've never done before in my life. And I think I told you about what we got together with you and Lindsey with after one of our events or whatever. And so I went to Switzerland and I went by myself to this group. It was like this group of all these people from different backgrounds, different nationalities that have different expertise in these you know, categories. It was kind of a, it's kind of a bonding networking type of a thing. Yeah. It was incredible. I was like so nervous and scared to go just because I'm like, what am I doing? I'm like, this is going to be, you know, I, I didn't know, I didn't know, but I'm like, you know what, I'm going to do it because I'd never done anything like this before in my life. And I did it. I went, I went to this retreat and we learned some We took a class in firearms, which was one of them. And the other part of it was we got a masterclass in, in cigars. And I'm not a cigar smoking guy. I don't know anything. I've never probably smoked until this retreat two cigars in my life, but I went there anyway, it was really good. It was a bunch, it was men. So they not only did that kind of stuff and learning certain special skills, but they also did parts where you have to like open up in a group, which is really Tough to do and you're seeing other people struggle with it and you see someone struggle and then you go and You know It makes it easier because you you kind of get that bond and everybody's trying to there for the same reason pretty much But I did that so that's a lot to unpack. I went to yeah,

SKILLSY:

that's the

MACE:

you probably weren't even thinking that were you? Did I tell you I did I tell you about all that?

SKILLSY:

I, you told me you did something, but we never, you know, the way go, we got

MACE:

Well, there's part of it

SKILLSY:

I was expecting to make fun of you for the Kumbaya

MACE:

there was,

SKILLSY:

were doing. And, and then you just threw in, you came over the top rope with the, with the guns and cigars. And I'm like, okay, that's, that's not so bad. You know, I can open up if I have

MACE:

yeah, it was, uh, it was awesome. We, we do definitely, we definitely need to get into that. It's, uh, it's part of the grim hustle. If you ever seen those videos on, um, on Instagram, it's, that's how I kind of got, uh, I found out about this retreat or whatever. It's really cool. Then I went to park city with my girlfriend. We went hiking, did all the things, biking and all the things that you would do there. That's kind of our annual summer thing. And obviously the kids and the family, uh, all the sports did that. And it's just, you know. a great summer. Um, but I think this is probably the most I've ever excited to be back to hockey, to be honest with you. It's been a long time. I kind of had the itch with everything that happened this summer with the Preds. I'm excited to get back. How was your summer?

SKILLSY:

good, good. A lot of family time. I do two camps, one in Nashville and one with AJ Malesko in Nantucket. Um, so those are two weeks that, you know, I've, I've been doing for a few years now, which was a lot of fun. Uh, it's nice to get away. I, we have a place up in, in Maine, Moosehead Lake, beautiful spot up there where that's my, My Haven, right? I go up there and, you know, you get with the family, no, no phones, no service. You're kind of off the grid. And so it's nice to shut down and I'll tell you this, there's nothing better than having a beer on the water with a grill, you know, just sitting there, you know, taking it all in, watching sunset. So it's a good chance to decompress and, uh, spend some time with my, my family, my mother, my father. So overall a great trip, but I'll say like you. I'm excited to get back to work. I think, you know, summer you decompress, you take a break, you blow off some steam. But, uh, I agree for some, for whatever reason, this year seems like it's going to be a good one. So I'm excited to get back to it. And let's be honest that I do well with structure. I need like a routine. I need a schedule. If I don't have a schedule, I get squirrely at times, you know, I can do seven to eight days of vacation. But then I start to get I need to have my routine and get back to it. So I'm excited to get my routine back

MACE:

Yeah, we're creatures of habit. We've just, it's, it's inbred in our DNA, I think, especially playing hockey for so long. And Uh, there's another episode too, is how you handled that after you're retired, because that's when I struggled with it. I didn't think that I would, because I'm like, Oh, I got to play, you know, until I was almost 40 years old, I got to retire on my own terms. And then all of a sudden you're off and you don't have the texts. You don't have the itineraries. Like, Oh my, Oh shit, what do I do now? You know, it's a, it's a different mindset, but, uh, yeah, we'll get into that deeper.

SKILLSY:

summer, even the summers, everyone says, Oh, you have time to decompress, but I worked out Monday to Thursday. It was that, you know, 7 30 or 8 AM every Monday to Thursday. I had to be accountable. I had to be at Mike Boyle strength and conditioning. And we had a group of about 10 guys and all summer I had that structure. And so. When you don't have to be anywhere, you don't have to train. You don't have to eat right. Uh, you can fall off the rails. And it's a struggle for a lot of guys, but I rely on workouts, you know, working, you know, training and, and then. You know, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, let it, let it rip and go out with the boys or go out with the family and you kind of get away from it. And that's what summer used to be. And now summer where I don't have to work out, it's like I'm getting

MACE:

You're not, you're, you're disciplined.

SKILLSY:

my body, my

MACE:

Yeah. Well,

SKILLSY:

and I'm not getting fat. I just

MACE:

What?

SKILLSY:

Isn't there a difference between being fat and

MACE:

Yes, sir. There could be.

SKILLSY:

know, when you're just like, I'm just sluggish and slow. I need to get back into the gym and get a routine because, uh, you know, not, not being fat, but feeling sluggish and gross, um, is, is very

MACE:

Yeah, we don't have that. That's the thing, too. We'll have to do a retirement episode because you don't have the competition. You don't have that compete with yourself the same. Obviously, when you're playing, you have to compete against guys you hate and guys you respect and just, you know, to win was the ultimate goal. Now, when you're playing against yourself, it's a battle upstairs, right? You've got to try to figure that out in your mind. Mhm.

SKILLSY:

And if you have a summer off and you can chill out and do nothing, it's great, but you lose that urge to do something better. So I'm proud of you for going over and. Taking that trip that retreat. That's uh, that's really cool. But yeah, we have to we have to get into the

MACE:

We will.

SKILLSY:

that

MACE:

It was awesome.

SKILLSY:

but moving on training camp has started And we're in the middle of it and Every time training camp comes out. I always laugh at you know, john totarella still does the 45 second laps like just how many how many laps can you do? Uh, just trying to break his team. Uh What do you think of the progression of the way training camp is it used to be? A lot more games. It used to be a more of a battle and now it feels like teams are just trying to dial it in. They have their little things that they do, bonding, bonding stuff. I feel like they're dialing in more on the season than ever.

MACE:

Yeah. And I think you should because you look at any training camp, pretty much the roster turnover. Now, you know exactly who's going to be on our team. There might be one or two spots that you're saying, okay, well, we're going to this guy or this guy, a young player coming in and the salary cap. Now, when we're playing, it kind of came into play. But if you can get a guy that's Yeah. You know, performing well at making 800, 000 opposed to a guy that's making 2 million, he may be more valuable because even though he may not be as good or ready in the role that you want him, but because of the money he's making. But it's so hard because I think that. When you look at training camp and to your point, what it used to be, it used to be, you're coming in here to make roster spot. If you're on the team, you want to show the coach, you came in shape, you're ready to compete, all those things. But now it like, really, does it matter? You got to cut, nobody comes out of shape anymore. Like we can talk about the evolution of that. I feel like when I was growing up and, uh, trying to make a team, and this is something I had to learn as a goalie, because I got called out at the end of my second pro season in the American hockey league, um, I was like, I've always been a blue collar, hardworking guy. Like that's, it was my thing, but I was a goalie. So I didn't do it in the gym. I did it. On the ice and I did it, you know, the way that I competed that way. And, uh, I remember Mark Nemish was the strength coach for the national predators. And I was playing my first year in Nashville's organized agent, which was their first year in existence. So at the end of the year, I had a decent year for my age, 21 years old. And, uh, He calls me and he's like, Hey, Mason, you know, we got along great. And he, he said, uh, he's like, Hey, he's like, how'd you think the year went? You know, he's being all nice and everything. I'm like, I think it went great. I'm like, you know, I obviously I could do this better and this better. And that was the first year that I was kind of taken over as a starter. And, uh, we get around to that. He goes, yeah, he's like, you know, how'd you think, you know, training went? I'm like, yeah, it went good. I'm like, you know, he's like, yeah, he's like, you worked so hard on the ice. He's like, I love your work ethic. And he said, but let me ask you something. He's like, He's like, do you want to make a, do you want to make the NHL? And I said, I'm like, yeah, I'm like more than anything. I'm like, I want to make the NHL. I'm like, this is my like everything. And then he looks me dead in the eye and he goes, well, you got to get in the fucking gym. And I was like, Whoa. Yeah. And I, and I know that, and I knew that like, it's one of those things where somebody calls you out on something and I'm like, holy shit, but I didn't. Understand then, and this was 1999. So this is when you remember goalies just. They go in there for the token, ride the bike and blah, blah, blah, and everything. So I got that and I came back that whole summer. It was the most incredible, I guess, transition for me as a, as a player. I went from 205 pounds, not in great shape, maybe almost 210 pounds and not in the great shape, uh, to one, I came back to camp at 180, did a complete transformation that was probably too late, but we didn't have the specialized stuff, but But that was the biggest wake up call I think I've had in that, uh, in that regard, and it was because of training camp, that's what pushed me. So I feel like that year I might've kind of let the on ice stuff go a little bit, but I think now there's more balance, but nobody comes out of shape anymore.

SKILLSY:

No, I, I, I think first test was the Boston Bruins. 1997 was, uh, you know, 16, one tens. You just had to run and do it under 16 and a half seconds. And it was, if you had trained at all, it was easy. And then practice after that was really the hard part. And Pat Burns said, like, I don't care if you can run, I want you to be tired when you get on the ice so I can see what you do when you're fatigued on the ice. And so I, and training camp. me, it was like, just every time I turned around, someone's knuckles were in my face. It was just like a, a battle and you had to compete and try to earn a spot. I had no right having a spot. Uh, but there was a holdout and a blue chip first or second round or held out and there was a spot open and I took it. The, the best part is speaking of talking to coaches. Uh, Burns called me in and he said, kid, it looks like you made the team. I, I don't see it, but Jacques leper, the assistant, the assistant coach says, I don't, I, he says, I don't see it, but Jacques really likes you. So here's the deal. You do whatever he tells you to do. And if you don't, you're gone. And I'll tell you another thing. If you're not the first on the ice and the last off, then you're gone. You, this won't last. And so, uh, you know, I always, I always kid about that. It's like the most honest conversation I had up until that point, but I appreciate it, Pat Burns was the toughest, one of the toughest people. I think I've ever been around and a tough coach, but he was honest and he put it right in my face. And I think there's something to be said for. Okay, you have this spot and you can lose it in a second. And so you better dig in and find a way and make it happen. So, uh, that was my first experience. And after that, you know, it's funny. We, we talk about all the, the bonding that you go through. And the difference between a rookie and a vet, you know, you do the team bonding stuff, right? And we've all done that, the, the military stuff or the, you know, of the Kumbaya stuff. And it's, it's, it's different in every training camp, but, uh, rookies and vets are, they look at that different, right? I mean, it's a, it's a different thing when you're coming in. I got to make this spot or you're a vet going in. I'm going to have some fun at training camp and get

MACE:

Yeah, exactly. And I think it's, it's also like as a veteran, it's what your status is. Like if you're a superstar, you got nothing to worry about. I've heard stories of Wayne Gretzky doing the bench press test. He's like, put me down for one. He didn't even do it. He doesn't have to do it. Right. He's like. He's going to get as whatever, 200 points a year and all this kind of stuff. What does it matter if he can lift, you know, 185 or 225 pounds? It does not matter. But when you're a younger player and I'm this, that's how I made the NHL. It's, it's how these guys make it when you're not on the radar. It can put you on the radar because you know, first thing, okay, well, you had some success in the minors. Can he play against NHL competition? And I think to your point, they put more stock in exhibition and training camp because it was more of a battle. Kind of a thing. They encouraged it to be like that. I think now, like, why would you want to get anybody hurt? But a guy like coming into, let's say the Preds training camp or veterans now, you know, Stamkos and Yossi, and you just want to get through it. You're in a, you're in a situation with a lot of these teams. Just start the regular season. Just go get your reps, get, you know, get the hands feeling good. Get the looks on the power play.

SKILLSY:

Yeah,

MACE:

up to speed,

SKILLSY:

get up

MACE:

there's also guys like, you know, in, in the Pratt situation, like Parson and Thomas, you know, two really good prospects play in the NHL. Like these guys are fighting for a spot, so it matters to them. And that's how I was when I was in training camp and that's how you were. That's how you made it. That's how I made it is because you know, you out competed somebody that might've been in the conversation. And, uh, I love the Pat Burns team because at the end of the day, as a player, whether you personally like to hear that or not, at least you know where you stand and that's all you can. And then it's up to you, then it's up to you. All right, listen to this guy, do this, do that. If you don't do it, you've been told there's no sugar coating and it's, you know, where you stand, but it's, it's different, but you see guys going out there with that different mindset. You're talking about trying to kill each other when someone's just wants to go out there and get a couple reps. Oh,

SKILLSY:

And the fitness, the fitness thing was, is funny because I remember every year and every season I played, I was afraid I was on the chopping block. I, I, I sign a three year deal and go to training camp and be like, God, this guy, this kid looks good. I bet, you know, like, like if my groin was hurt, you know, I'd be like, I got to fight through it. I'm not taking a break here because this kid's going to steal my job. And that was. Yeah. Fear was real for me. And the other thing I always laughed at is I'd be in the locker room and some monster would come through just some jacked kid. And I'd be like, who is that kid? My God, I'm, I'm scared to death. And I get out on the ice and I. You know, knock him over in the corner and he would just fall down and you'd be like, how is this kid that jacked and he falls over? Meanwhile, I got a guy like P. J. Axelson was one of my favorite.

MACE:

he's awesome.

SKILLSY:

was with him. So skinny, just thin, good Lord, you cannot get him off the park. You just like, he would battle and compete, go underneath you, wiry as hell. And these guys would, would steal jobs and, and jump out there and be beasts on the ice. And so I always laugh at like, okay, that's great that you can lift weights. And you do need that. You do need to take it to the next level. But there's something. You know, the farm boy strength, you know, that the Western Canadian boy, you know, all about the farm boy strength, that guy looks like he's got nothing, but

MACE:

Oh,

SKILLSY:

you're not

MACE:

well, do you remember the name? Uh, this is so funny because the training camp stories are the best. Wade Brookbank, who was the same as me, we kind of came in where we both got our opportunity to actually make the NHL. I played the minors for a bunch of years. He's the same age as me. I think he showed the scouts for Chicago now. And, uh, He's that he's the farm strength guy. I'm like, he's coming in to be a tough guy. His upper body is like, he's not that big. He doesn't like no, you know, real definition or not one of those kind of guys, but Holy crap. Could he chuck them and it with anybody, you know, just farm strength.

SKILLSY:

once you got on here, it's like a seatbelt just lock you down and

MACE:

Yeah, just like straight ball, like just straight punches, like just knew how to do it. Like, and, uh, it was crazy. One of the funniest lines is on hockey that I ever heard was from him. And I got picked up. Remember they said the waiver draft, um, after training camp. And so you, you protect a certain amount and then other teams could pick you up. Anyway, that's how I came back to Nashville. I went off to Florida and I was in Florida training camp. And I got picked up on the waiver draft. He got picked up on the waiver draft. And so we're going into the regular season. And it was Trotsky, Barry Trotsky's head coach. And we get bagged every single day. Like every, Thomas Fokun is a goalie. I wasn't playing. I think I played 15, 17 games that year. Like not like, you know, so I was there to like, be the, my, my know my role. And I was just happy to be in the NHL. So we, we got like, it was the whole week. The adrenaline just, you're finally going to make the NHL as a full time player and we're getting bagged after bag after bag, and then all of a sudden we're going to go to the Titans game on Sunday. Sunday we go to the rink, just get bagged. We get our, uh, our first paycheck and we're walking over like, so we get it, like pick it up in our mail spot and we open it up.

SKILLSY:

No direct

MACE:

Yeah, we're both like league minimum. Yeah. There's no direct deposit. It's like, you have to go to the, you know, do the old school, go deposit it, sign it in the back. And, and, uh, we're just like, so tired. It was just him and I, so we're walking over to Titan stadium. We're going across. We're like, should we open it? And we're like, yeah, and then we both open it and Brooke bang, Brookie goes, fucking bag me all you want. I just, I was so tired and I was thinking exactly, I just died. We just both died laughing. It was hilarious. It was like, you know, that's league minimum. You go from making 40, a year to, I think at that time it was like 400, 000, which is a lot of money, but not, you know, in the NHL now, but it was just a holy shit was that funny.

SKILLSY:

well, he was a guy that had to battle that that's, that's the big thing I look at now is how do you, how do guys stand out? I like, of course there's so many skilled players, it used to be like, you can go out and fight. I still think there's a lot of scouts that are looking for that grit, that determination, get, get, get it. Nose dirty around the net, but you can't just go out and chuck him and fight like brookbank did. Like he went out there and proved himself every day, uh, fighting or doing whatever it took. It's hard now. These guys are skilled and they got to make plays, but then they, they got to play within their game. It's a, it's more of a learning curve, but, uh, I think that's the, one of the. The toughest things for these young guys to do is to step up when it matters when you're playing against NHL talent in the preseason. But, uh, speaking of that, why don't we hit it? P. K. Subban came out and was real upset about Patrick Laine getting hit. What did you think of that hit? And, and what do you, we got to, we got to dig into, responsibility of a younger guy playing against veterans. Uh, you know, I, I don't think, hope he didn't do that on purpose, but man, that's tough. I'm preseason when you got a guy like Patrick line is trying to build some excitement and get back into his career. And then he takes that step back with a

MACE:

Yeah, that's, that's really tough. I think, uh, you know, Subban has been very outspoken in his, uh, new role is a analyst with ESPN, but you know, some of my agree with some of I don't, this one, I really agree with, I think, but it's, it's tough, but I think that's the preseason talk that we're going back to. I'm like this kid, what was his name? Something Pari. I can't remember his, uh, anyway, it doesn't matter. It might in the future.

SKILLSY:

PK said, I'm not going there. I'm not going to the game

MACE:

Yeah,

SKILLSY:

you. I'm going to see Patrick Laine. You have to have respect for that.

MACE:

but should he though?

SKILLSY:

you can't

MACE:

No, you can't take the hit. You can't that's the that's the debate, right? He's trying to make a name for himself

SKILLSY:

the question.

MACE:

And to your point before how do you make a name for yourself? Well, it's not cheap shotting a superstar He's probably thinking i'm assuming, you know in a split second. He's like, oh my god. I'm gonna get danced so hard here I better get a piece of him and obviously it was it was awful But you have to you do have to recognize that one play is not going to define your career, you know But it having said that I don't know if somebody that's coming in and trying to make a team is thinking that because they're thinking, this is my chance. This is my opportunity. I have to make a name and I can't mess this up. I potentially going to mess this up if he dances around me on the penalty kill. I look like an idiot. So it's a tough one to really monday morning quarterback because you don't want to hit those guys. You don't want to hurt those guys. But when you're a competitor, yeah. And you're going against someone. I mean, you played against some, you know, Lemieux and Yager and this and

SKILLSY:

role.

MACE:

want that, you end up playing against those guys. So you're like, I'm not going to be nice to this guy. That's how I make my name. I don't make my name by stopping, uh, you know, Joe Schmo on a breakaway. I make my name by stopping back in my day, Paul Korea, team Aslani, all those kinds of guys, Joe Sackick, like, Oh, you know, so it's tough, but any cheap shot you have to be accountable for. And whether people like fighting in the game, well, that's, that's what takes all that cheap crap out of it is if you're accountable the next time you're not going to do it, but you probably should.

SKILLSY:

Immediate, immediate accountability. Immediate accountability. If you get fined three or four days later, who cares? If you someone and you get punched in the face 17 times, you, you tend not to do it. I, I,

MACE:

That's the deterrent. You don't want to get exactly. It's if you're going to do it, you should.

SKILLSY:

role as My role as a shutdown defenseman in the NHL was to play against the best players. And I, I was allowed to play hard. I think the best players in the world like it when you play hard, playing against jogger, Lemieux, Gretzky, uh, all the way down Crosby, Ovechkin. They want have someone battle hard. They're competitors and they love it. I think they thrive on like, okay, I got a big game. This guy's going to come at me and we're going to play hard. The second, and this is back when, you know, Lemieux, Yager, Gretzky days, if you touched them with any intent of hurting them, you got a guy right in your ear. You know, if I went after Matt Sundin, Ty Domi was going to jump over the boards and as fast as he could cross check me in the face. So you knew how to deal with that and you learned quick. And now I think the NHL. with fines. Okay, that's great. But there's got to be a level of accountability and that, you know, the instigator rule that was put in where you can't go in and start a fight. I think it at times it hurts the game. And so think PK is talking about a level of respect for veterans. totally a hundred percent agree with that, there's also got to be a level of respect from the veteran to the rookie that I'm trying to make my name here. Get your head up because, you know, you can't just float through

MACE:

That's a great point.

SKILLSY:

preseason games, you can't, you can't float through them. You have to play them. You have to respect that that kid needs to play hard against you. Now, I think the kid went over the line with the leg check on line A. You, I think line A has to respect the fact that he's going to go hard, but

MACE:

Yeah, no, that's a great point. I think that that is the point in this is the topic that you brought up is how does a rookie approach it opposed to a veteran? Obviously, the intentions and the meaning of, you know, Each game and training camps, not the same, but you have to, as a veteran, you have to respect that. Hey, there's guys out there. I was one of those guys, you know, talking about, you know, line a, maybe he wasn't because he was the second overall pick or whatever, but there's guys out there trying to make a name and trying to achieve their dreams. I got to give them the respect and the game that, you know, maybe I'm not going to go balls to the wall, but I'm going to go out there and I know someone's probably gonna try to take my head off because I want the puck a lot. I want to get, you know, I want to get into it and be ready for the regular season. So I'm going to keep my head up. I'm going to, you know, be ready for someone trying to, you know, come after me and give the game, I guess, in essence, the respect it deserves. And maybe he didn't. I think a lot of players now it's when you go through the middle of the ice. And you'd never want to see a dirty hit. But the re the reality is there's going to be times where guys don't mean to do it, but they're going to do it. You have to protect yourself. Just like when you're walking across the street, you don't walk across the street and don't look to see if there's any cars coming. You know that they, they should probably stop and not, you know, keep going, but you're going to, yeah, yeah, I did that when I was younger and it doesn't, uh, I got away with it, but you never know if you're playing with fire on that one. But that's a great point. Yeah.

SKILLSY:

Yeah. PK, a shout

MACE:

Yeah.

SKILLSY:

for bringing that up.

MACE:

It really is.

SKILLSY:

Something that a lot of people have been discussing for years, but, um, you know, it, it, it was good. I, I, I do like his analysis. Not always, not on his clothes and his, and his swag, like, come on, settle down PK,

MACE:

We'll get into that too.

SKILLSY:

but on, um,

MACE:

older though. He's like, he's like newer generation. So we'll have to, we'll have to tear it down to the generational stuff because some stuff that all the kids look, think looks good and I'll come out wearing something and my daughters, they'll just look at me like, Oh my God, you're embarrassed.

SKILLSY:

Yeah, you're,

MACE:

I'm actually not. I am not. I'm not. He's, uh, he is though.

SKILLSY:

me a black suit and a black tie and call me on,

MACE:

Yeah.

SKILLSY:

my way. Uh, all right, Mace, I've been dying to ask you this. Uh, where does the diet stand? Because maybe I should let you explain your carnivore diet that we had to endure last year. You know, Hey Mace, what do you feel like eating? Oh, steak, Just, just an absolute beast of a diet. Where is it now? And can explain to the listeners, your diet,

MACE:

Yeah. Well, we, we talked about this. This is a lot about, you know, kind of how diets have changed in the evolution of hockey and what guys eat now. But, um, last, I always want to try new things. I'm always like looking for either Fitness stuff to just get me into something that I can really stick with that I can get on board So I'm like, you know what I tried I don't know if was vegan or whatever it was But I tried that for 30 days back actually was in the lockout when you and I were teammates I tried I just wanted to see if I could do it. I did it. I didn't love it I didn't love how I felt. I only gave you that 30 days. Maybe you need to give it more

SKILLSY:

Mace, you shouldn't eat your food's food.

MACE:

That's yeah, that's a good point.

SKILLSY:

Never eat

MACE:

a good point. So I got into one of these things. I, I, you know, the old Instagram, something came up and it was like carnivore diet. I'm like, well, what the hell is this? So I started looking into it and then I'm like a researcher. So I'll go on YouTube and I'll be like, yeah, watch this doctor, this person, this person, this person. And I'm like, okay, I'm like, I'm going to try it. So I did it and it was crazy. It was, uh, the first week there's days where you don't feel good because I guess when When it's like the elimination diet, I'm eliminating, eliminating everything from my diet except for meat and eggs. That's pretty much all I ate for the first 10 days was eggs in the morning with bacon and then a ribeye at night at six. I'd eat twice a day, so 11 o'clock in the morning I would eat. My breakfast and then six o'clock at night, I would eat my steak. And there were some days where I felt like absolute crap. And they said this, so I was ready for it. I'm like, you know what? I'm going to stick to it. But after that, I probably, and I was still in, I was in decent shape. I didn't really have to, I probably could have lost like five pounds to be in good shape or whatever, two weeks in 11 pounds down felt unbelievable. Just like the clarity of mind and everything. And it was, it was, it was incredible. So I did it for three months, completely disciplined cut down on, uh, you know, drinking. The only thing, if I ever wanted to drink, I drink like a little bit of whiskey or something like that. Straight alcohol that doesn't have any carbs or sugar or sorry, sugar in it. No sugar, no desserts, nothing. I felt incredible. I felt strong, but also the same.

SKILLSY:

You look like an old Greyhound bus seat is what you did. You

MACE:

I was, yeah, I still, I'm still in good shape, but I've, uh, I changed it. So I do more of an animal based diet where you, you get your carbs from, uh, either like sourdough bread or honey or fruit. But I, so I still do a version of it. And, uh, I cheat every now and then like the odd day, like who had pizza last week and, uh, you know, some peanut butter protein balls, which you shouldn't have, I guess, peanut butter is not good for you anymore. I just found out. But so I got to delete those from the, the, who knows, right? I don't know, but anyway, I, it changed the way I eat now and I feel great. And, uh, I try to add things. I don't eat as many vegetables as I used to. I used to love vegetables and I found, uh, who knows what to believe anymore. Some of those have some inflammatory, uh, things depending on the person. So I think you have to do it. The best thing that I did was stripped down and then you'd add things back in and see how you responded to whatever you're adding back in and then try to find a balance and I feel out of a good balance right now, but still working on it for sure. Yeah.

SKILLSY:

Well, just in full disclosure, it was, it was a pain in the ass in my lifestyle because I'd be like, what, what are we going to do for dinner tonight? And you're like, I guess we're going for a steak, like there's no other options. Um, and you know, I, I'm all for that. I'm all for a good steak, but I can't, I can't eat. That much. I eat more fish than I used to. I, when I was playing, I would dummy a porterhouse and you know, it was a soup salad appetizer on the way home. I get a subway sandwich. I like, I was just feeding the beast. I would eat everything. And, and, and then now, you know, I'll go out and you know, Hey, we're on a road budget. We're not, we're not going to the same restaurants we used to go to. And now we're, you know, saddle up at a bar and have a wings and a six pack and call it a day, you know? So that was, more my diet, but I don't, I don't eat as much as carbs. Uh, I think there's something to be said for just leaning down and what you did, obviously if you feel good, then it works for you, right? That's the

MACE:

And at the end of the day,

SKILLSY:

funniest, the best one was, was when we went, we were in Chicago, we go to a pub I'm like, I, I'm not going to eat here. I don't want to eat pub food. I'd rather go get like a, even if I go to a restaurant, just order a piece of fish, you know, just like I don't need a full, Entree appetizer, everything. I just want something to eat. you were like, no, we'll just eat here. And I turned around and you had stacks of burgers a plate. Six, six of them just stacked up burgers. The best was the waiter looking at you going, do understand. You told me you want six. stacked up you just sat there like they were pancakes and

MACE:

yeah, they were, I know

SKILLSY:

It's such

MACE:

it is, it's actually embarrassing and the looks that you get from the, uh, who's ever serving that night is, uh, is pretty, pretty interesting. But, uh, I know,

SKILLSY:

when we go for lunch, we were in vancouver for lunch. What did you say? Um, It was like a

MACE:

yeah, I

SKILLSY:

uh, give me six eggs over easy and bacon And the guy was like, did you just say six eggs? Yes, but I don't

MACE:

know.

SKILLSY:

come

MACE:

And the, uh,

SKILLSY:

Just slap them down on my plate and with a, with

MACE:

yeah, and we're going to do the cholesterol thing because, uh, I did it actually after the first, uh, 10 days I did this whatever genetic like blood testing all these tests and I have another one coming up So we'll get the blood results because that's the biggest thing right is the what's the what's good cholesterol? What's bad cholesterol my AC 1 3, which is the diabetes thing? All that was good But my I think it was the HDL cholesterol was really high but I guess when you the One that matters is when you put them all together. And that was fine. But, uh, that was over, over a year ago that I did that test. So maybe I'll do that test and we can break it down just to see if, if I'm an idiot or if it's like there's something there or not, I don't know. I don't know. I feel good. So it should be,

SKILLSY:

Oh, I'm in, I'm in the middle of a cleanse. So I I'll see, I'll see

MACE:

what's the cleanse? What's the cleanse?

SKILLSY:

I, I always usually take one day of fast and then I reintroduced food. It's just a simple, yeah, I just a fast for a day. And, and then, you know, it's the first time you do it, it's hard, but you know, if you look around every religion, every culture has some sort of a fast. So there's a reason it's just, you shut your body down and it gives yourself a chance. And so you do a fast for a day and then. add in some, you know, fruits, vegetables. And then, you know, as you go, you start to, you whittle down. best part about it is you just feel your stomach contract and it's, and it's over, you know, like your, your, your body totally resets and then you can build up. And, you know, I'll tell you what, if, if I get. After two days of fasting, if I see a plate of spinach, it's like the best thing that ever happened. It just like put that, that's the best thing. That's, it's amazing. Broccoli are

MACE:

That's awesome. I've heard those are actually really good because it helps also, uh, kill off the senescent cells, the zombie cells and regenerates your whole system actually. And disease, disease and inflammation,

SKILLSY:

I don't know what you just said. You threw a

MACE:

well,

SKILLSY:

out there. I

MACE:

disease and inflammation resides and all that kind of stuff. But I just, that's because I got a colonoscopy a few years ago. So I had to do it for 48 hours, which was, which is crazy. But, and back then it was, uh, that was about three or four years ago, but I was craving a boneless. Buffalo wings. I don't know why, but that was two days of that. And, uh, yeah, anyway, that's another topic, but that's good. I want to, I should try to do that. So do you drink water? Like any, uh, electrolytes are in there.

SKILLSY:

Yeah, you can do it, uh, you can do it on any level you want, you know, you just try to drink water, you drink a ton of water, and it flushes out your system, and then you, and then you reintroduce foods, you know, so date, Day two, you do green vegetables. Day three, you do fruits and vegetables. Day four, you bring in, you know, steamed fish or steamed chicken, you know, some sort of protein, um, try to do without red meat, which is going to be tough for you, not bringing in red meat until, just cause it's harder to digest, you know, you just wait off on that for seven days and, um, shout out to Matt Nichol, my, the.

MACE:

Uh, Beth, that's

SKILLSY:

Toronto that I'm still, I'm still doing it, Matty. I'm still doing it. He said, you need to do a reset. And, uh, and I did it and, and I'm

MACE:

awesome.

SKILLSY:

it

MACE:

That's awesome. That's awesome. He's a great guy. We got to get him on. We'll get him on as a guest one time too. And

SKILLSY:

One of the smartest

MACE:

he's incredible and a great guy too. I know, you know him well, but I've met him, you know, a few times on the road, in our travels in Toronto. We've had some, some good nights conversations. I love that guy. Yeah.

SKILLSY:

Yeah. Just, it's the beauty. All right, Mace. Let's move on. We got, got to talk about training cause I know, I mean, talk about the, being the better man. You're just working on yourself all the time. And then you came out of the blue and started training for, what were you doing? Jiu Jitsu?

MACE:

tried jujitsu and, uh, when you're trying to be a better man, that means you've got a lot of stuff to work on. So that's, I recognize that about myself and you know, one of the hardest things I think, and tell me if, if you don't relate to this is when I retired, uh, probably the biggest thing was I, I just, I didn't have a platform to compete. I had nobody to compete with. I just didn't have that thing that I feel like that was my. Everything in my life at one point was, I just love to compete. You know that we go on the road and we play, if we play cornhole and darts and you know, whatever it is, we're not just playing for fun, you know, we're playing to win it, but I think that's ingrained in your DNA. And I know that is for me. And I really struggled with that a lot. And I took up, you know, pickleball I'd played when I was at my parents actually played, which was, you know, long time ago. And then it became a thing. I'm like, you know what? I can do this. I tried to do arm wrestling. I tried to do all these things, arm wrestling, you don't want to do. Cause that's a, I couldn't even throw a tennis ball for six months after I went into an arm wrestling tournament, stupidest thing, but you know, so I thought, you know what, jujitsu is a good way where you can still have that physical contact and learn something that I had no idea how to do. And it was a very, I would say, nerve wracking thing. The first time I went in to the Jiu Jitsu is Gracie Bar up and Franklin. The first time I went in there, you know, there's a lot of, uh, Things you have to learn how to even tie the belt, you know, you wear a gi and tie the, uh, your belt, uh, the right way, the way that you step onto the mat and, you know, you bow and, uh, just the respect level. But I'll tell you what, it was, uh, it was amazing. I did it for probably three months ish before I kind of injured myself and had to take a step back with my back stuff. Uh, we've talked about that before, but. Yeah. And, you know, probably wasn't a smart thing. I heard my back of my hand, what you're going to do when you do something that is like that. But it gave me that rush. I just couldn't wait to go every day and learn something new. And, you know, I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything. And the guys there and girls there too, everybody that was there was, was just phenomenal in the way that like anything is with fighting or martial arts, but especially the respect level of you're going out and you're trying to. Obviously beat the person, however you beat them, get them in a submission. For me, it was, you know, survival. They're like, you're a white belt. You don't know anything. Just try to survive, right? Don't get tapped out, you know, this kind of situation, but it really gave me that back where I felt like. It was, uh, you're competing against yourself, trying to control your breathing, trying to not have that other person tap you out until you gain, you go against the professor, which is a black belt with a bunch of different, it was crazy. The one guy I went with, he's like, do you want to see how many different ways I can choke you out? I'm like, sure. It's like, it's like, it's like, every, every which way. And I was like, Oh my God, I just, but I was amazed by it. It's like anything. It's like a guy that's a beer league player coming out. It's like, all right, skillsy. I saw you play like, let's go one on one. Okay. You just, you can't do it. You're not a professional. And I didn't think that it was because I know, but it was, uh, a very invigorating experience. And I, I'm going to want to get back into that once I get fully healthy. Actually, I think I am now, so I might start doing it again, but it was just, uh, it gave me that rush back. I absolutely loved it.

SKILLSY:

Yeah. You missed that. And everyone says, and I get a lot like, Oh, I'm so competitive, you know, like why, how come you're not competitive? Um, cause if I get competitive, you're going to know about it. Like, like, it's not a healthy thing. It's not, it's not fun to go. If, if I get competitive and we'll play, You know, we always play shuffleboard and you and I are always teammates and we, we're competitive and like it gets, it gets fiery, but I have to

MACE:

Yeah,

SKILLSY:

it, you know, like I can't

MACE:

no

SKILLSY:

and I'll tell you a story. I, I retired and I was living in Massachusetts and, uh, a group of guys were like, Hey, we're going to play some flag football. And so I get out there. And I'm, I'm like, this is going to be fun. We'll snap it around. I used to play football. I don't know if I told you that 500, 000 times that I a quarterback, uh, you

MACE:

Tom brady better than but whatever.

SKILLSY:

probably, probably better than Tom Brady, but whatever, uh, but so I'm all fired up. I'm excited to go play. And this is like a year or two after he time. And I'm still in shape. I'm still like ready to go. And we get out there and like, I I'm coming off the line and this guy like pops me and like, And I was like, Whoa, like he actually made contact with me. And I was like, okay, okay. All right. Like, um, this is, this is different. And then all of a sudden this game started amping up and these are all like dads and just normal guys, like a couple athletes mixed in, but like just normal guys. And so got pushed, I got shoved and then I started to get into it a little bit. And then like the wires. I don't want to say they're crossed, but I started to get over the edge. And so I catch a pass, I'm running down. One guy dives for a flag. I look and there's another guy trying to cut me off. So I try to jump over him, get my elbow right into his teeth and he spits his teeth all over the place. And I'm like standing there and you know, what, what is that, you know, way

MACE:

Yeah. Oh, yeah

SKILLSY:

you know, like the. That's the whole feeling I had. And I'm like, I'm that guy. Oh, everyone's like, oh, the guy. I'm like, dude, I'm so sorry. And he's like, oh, what the hell? Oh, he picks up his teeth and gets in the car and drives away. And I was that jackass

MACE:

on them

SKILLSY:

that

MACE:

well if you There's nothing like the guy that wants to go after the uh athlete and say and you know I could do this

SKILLSY:

yeah.

MACE:

you do it, it's like, uh, if you mess with yeah

SKILLSY:

you, mate. been feeling awful about it for a long

MACE:

Well, you don't want to hurt anyone,

SKILLSY:

of friends that were like,

MACE:

but if you want to enter the arena like that and make it that way And and just you want to go full bore if you better expect the other person's full bore So was it mess with the uh mess with the bull you get the horns?

SKILLSY:

you

MACE:

mess with the balls. Don't mess with skillsie

SKILLSY:

I was, no, that was, that was wrong. That was wrong on my part. But anyway, I think that whether you're playing games or, you know, playing tennis, any competitive edge, I think I do miss that. And I try to, you know, I hit the heavy bag, try to like blow off some steam, but there's nothing quite like man to man, like go, I go. And, you know, every time I play in an alumni game, I get into, you know, I get the skates on and I start to feel it again. And it's like, just, just a little hint of

MACE:

and stuff that like counts that matters. You know what I mean? It's, it's, you talk about the preseason, regular season playoffs. There's, there's different levels to how much it means, because if I'm playing something for fun, like you said, I used to be bad when I was younger. I, I had to win everything or, you know, I wouldn't, but I would, I would feel that. And. You know, as you get older and you're playing, you know, board games with your mom and your grandma and your dad, you're like, all right, you gotta, you gotta tailor it down and kind of know the room a little bit. Um, but there's not that outlet for us anymore. I still don't, as much as I love challenges and, you know, fitness is maybe one of those that I have now that's, but it's still like, it's a competition with myself and it's more about being consistent. You know, I can't, I can't like go against myself and say, you know, Yeah, baby. You know, I'm not winning. I am essentially because I'm being consistent. So it's a good thing that I'm developing, you know, good habits and that was hard enough to do in its own right. But you don't have that one on one team competition where if I lose this game, it's going to sting real bad. And if I win, it's going to be the, you know, the best feeling where you give everything that you have and you win the game and then you get, you get to do it again two days later. You know, it's, we don't have that anymore. Maybe we never will

SKILLSY:

I just, I watched the USA golf team just win the president's cup. Um, what side were you on, you on Canada

MACE:

international world.

SKILLSY:

or were you American now?

MACE:

I got to figure that out. I got to figure. Yeah,

SKILLSY:

Mike Weir.

MACE:

where is it?

SKILLSY:

forever. Anyway, anyway, they, they said it, they came out, they're like, Hey, I, I, we don't play a team sport. So now, now we're in a team atmosphere. It's so fun. To be pushed by your teammates and your teammates push you and you push them back and you try to get better as a team. And, and that's, that's what we're looking for. So if there's any ideas, anyone has any ideas of

MACE:

Well pickle, I think pickleball is one where we

SKILLSY:

without knocking someone's

MACE:

you know What we got to do is we got to start a broadcaster Olympics or something like that Pickleball we really got into remember we got a new before the COVID and all that we'd bring our paddles every trip and we'd play And that was great. Obviously, you know, it's a good way to Stay in shape a little bit, have some fun and you get the competitive juices going. But I think that we could probably take a step in that department. The coaches play.

SKILLSY:

Yeah.

MACE:

Yeah, we do. Cause that's a fun one. That was awesome. And now there's more, way more places to play. Cause that, that sports just exploded.

SKILLSY:

That's right.

MACE:

we'll maybe have to take on a, we'll have to throw some challenges out there to the other, uh, broadcasters or podcasters and we'll do a pickleball thing. So we can maybe do that because

SKILLSY:

know, I'm

MACE:

what, what a chick. Lets do the hockey, the road hockey tournament, which is hilarious. That's, that is next level.

SKILLSY:

know if

MACE:

No, but pickleball,

SKILLSY:

That seems,

MACE:

pickleball or, or dodgeball. We could go, yeah, pickleball. We can, yeah. We don't, we don't have to do the road street hockey, but pickleball we could. And, uh, I think we should do that. I think we should start a, a attorney.

SKILLSY:

All right. It's in. Well, we've talked a lot. What else do you have to

MACE:

Not much. I mean, I'm just, uh, episode two, so we're wrapping up here. So I probably, I think it was good start and uh, yeah. Therapeutic. It was. I got a lot of stuff. I think we got some stuff out. We cleansed a little bit.

SKILLSY:

We got, we got a

MACE:

yeah. Not only do you cleanse your insides, you cleanse the spiritual part. Is

SKILLSY:

it's a, it's a cleanse. all right. That's a wrap Mace. Thanks for listening guys. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review and follow us on social media all things bag chucker.

MACE:

cheers everyone.