6 Degrees with Mike McKenna

Mike takes questions from the social media, answers them, and tells a few stories along the way.

Former NHL goaltender and 3-time Stanley Cup winning goalie coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Jim Bedard joins 6DMM to talk about his career. Plenty of amazing stories from one of the game's best people, including his run with Mike to the 2018 Calder Cup finals.Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used with permission.

Ty Conklin stops by to talk about his career. From his youth in Alaska to finishing up with the Detroit Red Wings and playing in 3 outdoor games for 3 different teams, there's no shortage of good memories. Episode 50 of 6DMM!

Kirk McLean stops by to talk about his legendary NHL career. The 2011 Vancouver Canucks Ring of Honor inductee, 2-time Vezina trophy finalist, 2-time NHL All-Star as plenty of stories and cool equipment details!

2004 NHL Rookie of the Year Andrew Raycroft stops by to talk about his career on the ice and now i the broadcast booth.

Peter Budaj stops by to chat about his path from (then) Czechoslovakia to the NHL.

Chris Moynes is the Managing Director of ONE Sports + Entertainment Group, and a Senior Financial Advisor with Aligned Capital Partners Inc. He's the author of two books geared towards professional athletes: The Pro’s Process: An Expert’s Approach to Wealth Management for Professional Athletes, as well as After the Game: Challenges for the Retiring Professional Athlete.

Born into a hockey family, Ray Shero blazed his own path to the Stanley Cup. In this episode, two former St. Lawrence University Skating Saints (Ray '84 & Mike '05) compare notes spanning their careers.

Mr. Goalie Glenn Hall talks about his Hall of Fame career

2-time Team Canada Olympic Gold Medalist Shannon Szabados stops by to talk about her trailblazing career in both women's and men's hockey.

This episode the tables are turned: in advance of the Henderson Silver Knights inaugural season, VGK's Gordon Weigers interviews Mike and asks about his time in the American Hockey League. Some classic tales...basically a Greatest Hits from Mike's time in the "Iron League."

A great conversation with the first NHL goaltender to ever score a goal...something he did twice! Not to mention he also won a Vezina trophy and Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 1987. A great career on the ice that has continued off, where he won a Stanley Cup with the LA Kings as Assistant GM, and followed that up with a stint as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers.Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

From the mid-70's until the 2000's, mask maker Greg Harrison produced more custom-fabricated masks for NHL goaltenders than anyone on the planet. A one-man band, Greg hand laid fiberglass, sanded, painted, and crafted wire cages for his one-of-a-kind creations. Truly a renaissance man, Greg has countless stories about the goaltenders and their masks. Some of his clients include Potvin, Belfour, Gratton, Rutherford, Giacomin, Meloche, Hayward, Casey, Hextall, Fuhr, Dave & Ken Dryden, Rhodes, Weekes, Wamsley, Tugnutt, Essensa, Hanlon, Beaupre, Fitzpatrick and many, many more. At one point Greg was making masks for an estimated 80% of NHL goaltenders.

Jax Taylor, formerly of Vanderpump Rules on Bravo TV, talks about his life-long passion for goaltending.Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

Swedish goaltender Tommy "The Gambler" Söderström talks about his career in Europe and the NHL. Yes, we talk about his helmet/cage combo, classic no-tape stick blade, plus much more about his time in Philadelphia and Long Island!

Legendary Minnesota North Stars goaltender Jon Casey shares a coffee and tells some amazing stories about his time in the National Hockey League, college hockey at North Dakota, and his youth in Minnesota. Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues are also in the show!

On this episode of 6DMM, Grant Fuhr stops by to talk about his illustrious NHL career. The 5-time Stanley Cup winner and Hockey Hall of Famer talks about everything from the dynasty in Edmonton and his suspension to his resurgence in Buffalo and St. Louis. Plus, plenty of gear talk!

2020 Stanley Cup Champion Curtis McElhinney of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops by to talk about his career.Like what you hear? Please subscribe to 6 Degrees with Mike McKenna via iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc. Drop a rating and let us know who you'd like to hear from!6DMM is part of the Bleav Podcast Network. Interesting in advertising on the show? Contact Bleav at Bleav.com or e-mail the show at 6degreesMM@gmail.comSpecial thanks to SkinFX Wraps for supporting 6DMM.Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Metal Blade Records. Used by permission.

On this week's episode I'm joined by second-generation IndyCar race winner Graham Rahal. He's a passionate hockey fan from Columbus, OH so there's plenty of Blue Jackets talk, along with a cool VGK connection late in the interview. Of course IndyCar is front and center: we talk about the new aeroscreen, safety, and what it was like to race for the legendary Paul Newman. Plus plenty more! Enjoy.

On this episode Mike is joined by Goalie Gear Nerd, the ubiquitous internet guru of all things goaltending equipment. We talk about his love for the position, how he became enamored with the gear side of things, and what the future may hold. This episode tops the list for all the gear geeks out there. Enjoy! 

On this episode I'm joined by Jay Weinberg, the drummer of Slipknot. Long before Jay picked up the drumsticks, his main focus was hockey and goaltending. He grew up in New Jersey loving the Devils during the glory years of the late 90's and early 2000's. Today, Jay lives in Nashville and still plays men's league when not on tour with Slipknot. His big break in music came when he was 17 and asked to join Bruce Springsteen on tour in place of his dad Max, who had prior commitments with the Conan O'Brien show. We talk all things goalie, music, and The 'Knot. m/

On this week’s episode I’m joined by Philadelphia Phantoms and RPI Hall of Famer Neil Little. An 11th round selection by the Flyers in the 1991 NHL draft, he spent his entire 10-year career in North America with the organization before heading overseas to finish out. He won two Calder Cups with the phantoms and despite dressing 40 or 50 NHL games, only had 1 start and two appearances. He’s a folk hero in Philadelphia not just for his incredibly consistent goaltending, but also his willingness to mix it up with opponents. One of the true beauties of the game. Enjoy!

Round two with Jamie McLennan! Jamie had an amazing run in the NHL, playing 254 games. Over his 16-year professional career, few excelled at and embraced the role of backup goaltender like Jamie did. He now works for TSN in Canada as an analyst along with doing radio Toronto. If you enjoyed this episodes, please make sure to check out his book: "The Best Seat in the House: Stories from the NHL: Inside the Room, on the Ice and on the Bench," co-written by Ian Mendes. Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

This week's guest is Jamie McLennan. This episode is split in two, so be sure to download the second half next week! Jamie had an amazing run in the NHL, playing 254 games. Over his 16-year professional career, few excelled at and embraced the role of backup goaltender like Jamie did. He now works for TSN in Canada as an analyst along with doing radio Toronto. If you enjoy this episode, please make sure to check out his book: "The Best Seat in the House: Stories from the NHL: Inside the Room, on the Ice and on the Bench," co-written by Ian Mendes. Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

Hey everyone, on this week’s episode I’m joined by Michael Leighton. During his career, he played in 111 NHL games, led the Philadelphia Flyers to the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals, and posted more shutouts than any goalie in American Hockey League history. On top of that, he was also a 5-time All-Star and 2008 Goalie of the Year. Leighton played for nearly 20 teams during his pro career and is a sure bet to be inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame. He’s truly one of the good guys in the game. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it!

On this episode Mike is joined by his first goalie coach, Lindsay Middlebrook. After playing 37 NHL games over the course of 8 professional seasons, Lindsay retired to St. Louis, Missouri and began coaching youth hockey in his spare time. A decade earlier, he attended St. Louis University, where he played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the Billikens. Lindsay coached the '83 St. Louis AAA team that won the prestigious Kamloops International Bantam Ice Hockey Tournament, which launched the careers of many players, including Mike. He was the first St. Louis resident to run a proper goaltending camp, which he called Goaltending By Design. If you grew up in St. Louis in the 80's or 90's and played goalie, Lindsay's influence and guidance was invaluable. It was a pleasure recording this episode and talks of a second episode are already in the works! Enjoy.

As titled: it's a free-wheeling Q&A session with Mike. Intro/Outro: Under the Norther Star, by Amon Amarth. Used with permission.

On this week’s episode I’m joined by Scott Foster, the Chicago-based accountant that famously played 14 minutes of shutout hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018. We talk in depth about what it meant to himself as well as friends and family, and the crushing amount of media attention that resulted from it. We also go into Scott’s college career at Western Michigan and Chicago beer league hockey. It’s an incredibly story and I’m so happy Scott was willing to come on and give his perspective. Enjoy!

On this week’s episode I’m joined by Mask Artist Ray Bishop, a professional painter with over 20 years of NHL experience. He’s worked with Ryan Miller dating back to his time at Michigan State, and counts goalies Jimmy Howard, Cal Peterson, and Alex Nedeljkovic as clients. Ray painted the last 7 masks of my career and also worked with Hasek, Belfour, Turek, Montoya, Khabibulan, Manny Legace, and many more. Ray’s an amazing artist and a true pro to work with. Enjoy! Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star; by Amon Amarth. Used with permission.

On this week’s episode I’m joined by IndyCar drivers James Hinchcliffe and Marcus Ericsson. As you’ll find out, hockey isn’t the only sport I’m passionate about, and it was super cool comparing and contrasting what we do as professional athletes. Marcus grew up in Sweden playing goalie and Hinch is from Toronto, so these guys are true hockey fans that know the game well. Thanks to Dan Layton of Honda Performance Development and Veronica Knowlton of Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for making this happen. Hit the gas! Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

On this week’s episode Mike is joined by Mark Bernard, the Vice President of Hockey Operations for the Chicago Blackhawks. Bernie’s spent 30 years in hockey, from his playing days as a goalie, to coaching, management, and as you’ll hear in this podcast, everything in between. Saint Bernard is a living legend in Norfolk, Virginia and his name appears on the Stanley Cup three times for his work with the Blackhawks. He’s an amazing story teller and he played for John Brophy, so you know this is going to be a fun episode. Enjoy!

On this week’s episode Mike is joined by Peter Mannino, the current head coach of the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers. Peter has won a pile of championships, and probably none bigger than the NCAA D-1 in 2005 with the Denver Pioneers. He played 7 years pro and won his first NHL start with the New York Islanders. Of all the goalie partners Mike's had, Peter ranks right near the top in terms of who was the most fun. They may have only been teammates for just over a month but had a blast! Peter is one of the best story-tellers to come on the pod and you'll hear why in this episode. Enjoy! Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used with permission.

On this week’s episode Mike is joined by Marty Turco, the winningest goaltender in Dallas Stars history and 2006 member of the Canadian Olympic team. Before pro, he attended Michigan University, where he won 2 national championships and more games than any other goalie in the D1 record books. Turks revolutionized goaltending by creating the eponymously named Turco Grip, forever changing how we handle the puck. Hope y’all down in Texas enjoy this one. In honor of Dime and Vinnie Paul...Getcha Pull! Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used with permission.

On this week’s episode Mike is joined by veteran National Hockey League defenseman, avid hunter, and former Binghamton Senators teammate, Eric Gryba. Since playing together he’s logged nearly 300 NHL games and now hosts his own TV show called Grilling with Gryba that airs on Wild TV in Canada and the Pursuit Channel in the US. This one’s for the Sasky boys. Enjoy!

On this week’s episode Mike is joined by the 1999-2000 Vezina Trophy winner Olaf Kolzig. This Washington Capitals legend racked up over 300 wins during his NHL career, along with two All-star nominations and the King Clancy Trophy in 2006. Olie the Goalie won the Calder Cup in 1994 with the AHL’s Portland Pirates and appeared twice for Germany in the Olympics. He also fought the best man in his wedding, which you’ll hear all about in this episode. Cheers!

This week’s episode of 6DMM features Ray Barile, Head Athletic Trainer of the 2019 Stanley Cup Champion St. Louis Blues. Ray has spent over 20 seasons in the National Hockey League, worked 2 Olympic games, and done countless tournaments with USA Hockey. We talk about the demands of his job, working with a multitude of coaching staffs, and legends like Brett Hull, Chris Pronger, Grant Fuhr, and Curtis Joseph. We also talk about a massage guy nicknamed "Weird Al." You won’t find a more experienced or respected athletic trainer in our sport. Ray’s a great guy and seeing him lift the Cup this June was awesome. Enjoy!

Todd Brown becomes the first second-time guest on 6DMM. Because everyone enjoyed the in-depth gear talk last go-round, we decided to do it all over again! Discussion of goalies such as Tim Thomas, Ilya Bryzgalov, Henrik Lundqvist, Peter Budaj, Pekka Rinne, and more! Can you guess who asked for a set of pads with different height? A glove that doesn't open? It's all in this episode. Enjoy!

Jeff Glass joins 6DMM and tells his wild story of how after 4 seasons in North America, 7 seasons in Russia, and another 1.5 seasons in the AHL, he won his first NHL start for the Chicago Blackhawks as a 32 year old rookie. His success and dedication led to Jeff being nominated for the Bill Masterton trophy. Also included is lots of gear talk, getting a dog in and out of Russia, and the road less traveled. Jeff is still writing chapters: he is the first active goaltender to come on 6DMM and share some stories. Enjoy!

Long time AHL, NCAA, ECHL, OHL, NAHL referee Jamie Koharski talks about the trials and tribulations of attempting to make it to the NHL as an official. Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a referee? Have you been guilty of yelling at them? Or have you even wondered how much money they make? It's all in this podcast along with a bunch of great stories about grinding in the minors! Intro/Outro: Under the Northern Star, by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

The first woman ever to play in one of the four major professional sports in North America, Manon Rheaume, joins #6DMM to talk about her life and career in the game of hockey. From her time growing up in Quebec when no other girls were playing youth hockey, to winning a silver medal for Team Canada at the 1998 Olympics, it's all in this podcast. Manon was and is an inspiration to so many young athletes - myself included. Enjoy!   Intro/outro: Under the Northern Star by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

Glenn Hall joins the podcast. Do you really need any more of a description? He's one of the greatest goaltenders to ever grace this earth, and this entire interview is chock full of his wisdom. Enjoy the podcast! Intro/Outro: "Under the Northern Star" by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

Dave Allison joins Mike to talk about his 9 year playing career and 30+ seasons behind the bench as a coach. This might be the first podcast ever recorded that the guest relives having over a dozen bench-clearing brawls in a season, then quotes Henry David Thoreau. Dave is one of those undercover amazing personalities that few fans really know about: hopefully this podcast lets you know more about one of the most colorful and caring men in the sport. Intro/Outro: "Under the Northern Star" by Amon Amarth. Used by permission.

Don Beaupre joins 6DMM to talk about his 17 season, 700+ NHL game career. There's plenty of gear talk along with some really interesting contract details from his time with the North Stars and Capitals. Also included are a few fun stories about the 2016 Stadium Series Alumni game where Don stole the show for the Minnesota North Stars squad. Oh yeah...we also talk about Al Iafrate! Enjoy.

Glenn 'Chico' Resch joins the pod! He describes playing without a mask, winning the Stanley Cup in Long Island, becoming a color analyst working alongside Mike Emrick, and watching a young Martin Brodeur mature into quite possibly the greatest goaltender of all-time. Chico is one of the nicest men in all of hockey and a friend to all. Enjoy!

Marty Biron joins 6DMM and shares his journey from being a rabid Nordiques fan to an NHL goaltender, and why he used the same pair of skates for 20 years!

Maine Mariners bus driver Sampson comes on to talk about life on the road. Sampson is one of the funniest and most interesting people you'll ever meet: he's a stand-up comedian that's appeared on BET, an actor, a Marine, a Mason, a Shriner, and a proud father. He might be the most interesting man alive! This podcast turns into a stand-up comedy routine at times, so be prepared for vulgar language. YEA DOGG!!!

Goalie equipment representative legend Todd Brown talks about his 20+ years in the industry. Lots of gear nerd talk along with some amazing stories about goalies like Hasek, Belfour, Kiprusoff, Joseph, Lundqvist, etc. Pro goalies all know Todd as one of the best gear reps in the world. Listen and you'll know why!

Greg Millen joins Mike to discuss his 600+ NHL game career, along with his post-career job in broadcasting. Stories about Roger Neilson, Ron Caron, Gretzky, Hull, Sutter, Federko, Wamsley and many more! Mike credits Greg with the reason why he wore 29 for a portion of his career as well as why they are both full-right. Plus, Greg explains his ugly helmets and Aeroflex pads!

Ron Tugnutt! Hear about his miraculous 70-save performance, legendary playoff games, beer-splashed masks, his presidential campaign, teammates shooting pucks at coaches, and much more! Ron had a lengthy NHL career and his honesty and candor in this podcast is outstanding. Cheers!

Mike is joined by his friend and longtime goalie coach Chris Economou. The guys talk shop about Econ's journey through the coaching ranks and his philosophy on the position. You won't want to miss his story of backing up Martin Biron in the AHL for the Rochester Americans!

Mask maker Gary Warwick, Jr joins Mike to discuss his company's past, present, and future in the sport. Gary is a second generation mask maker: his father Gary Sr first founded the company years ago as a hobby. Since then, Warwick Mask has become one of the most widely used in hockey. There's a lot of history in this episode. Enjoy!