WHL Unfiltered

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WHL Unfiltered is just that: two guys who love junior hockey like you do, talking current events from Brandon to Portland, Prince George to Regina. Show hosts Jeff Hollick & Chad Balcom have taken very different paths to get here, & offer different perspectives. Experienced, passionate, educated, &…

Chad Balcom & Jeff Hollick


    • Oct 1, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 60 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from WHL Unfiltered

    WHL Unfiltered & Pucklandia are moving

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 43:47


    First, we'd like to thank everyone at DUBNetwork - past and present - for the opportunity to have these two podcasts on the network over the years.  WHL Unfiltered was actually Paul Figler's idea, recruiting Jeff Hollick & myself to host. Best of luck to Darren Dupont moving forward, as we see what's next for DUBNetwork. Attached is the 1st episode of the new version of the show, featuring Oil Kings GM Kirt Hill. It was time for WHL Unfiltered & Pucklandia to go independent.  We hope you'll join us. -Chad https://soundcloud.com/whlpodcast

    #SEAvsPOR 2nd round preview w/Thom Beuning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 28:22


    Longtime PXP voice of the Thunderbirds, Thom Beuning, joined us looking at the upcoming Seattle vs Portland series, and how we got here.

    2nd round Winnipeg ICE preview w/ Mike Sawatzky

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 35:12


    Mike Sawatzky covers the ICE for the Winnipeg Free Press, and he gave us some of his time looking at the ICE and their 1st round triumph over PA, as well as looking forward to the Moose Jaw series.   We spoke about how a 16 is leading the ICE in playoff scoring, the impact of adding of Jack Finley, the coaching philosophy of James Patrick, the atmosphere in Wayne Flemming, 15 year old D-man Jonas Woo, and much more Subscribe to your local paper

    Eastern Conference Playoff Preview w/Andrew Peard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 69:59


    As the voice of the Oil Kings, Andrew Peard has been around the top teams in the Eastern Conference all WHL season, & shared his perspective on all the 1st round matchups, the first of which starts in Edmonton.   We even talked about friends of the show like Perry Bergson and Guy Flaming

    Western Conference Playoff Preview w/Casey Bryant

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 68:45


    We were joined by Casey Bryant taking a look at the Western Conference Playoff picture, mostly team-by-team.  As the PXP voice of the Silvertips, he's witnessed the best of the group, as teams tried to knock off Everett all season.

    Catching up with Peter Loubardias

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 76:54


    Peter Loubardias covers more than just the Calgary Flames, and we had a wide ranging conversation from Don Hay, the changing demographics of players, Darryl Sutter, what its like calling PXP of games, WHL Playoffs, and beyond

    BEST OF: Toby Boulet

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 46:25


    One year ago, We spoke with Logan Boulet's father, Toby Boulet, about organ donation, Green Shirt Day, dealing with tragedy, what kind of hockey player Logan was, & beyond www.greenshirtday.ca

    Nick Marek talking Winterhawks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 56:58


    We caught up with Winterhawks PXP voice Nick Marek looking at the remarkable turnaround Portland has experienced since American Thanksgiving, the veteran presence behind the bench, having a World Junior goaltender, getting back to having real crowds, the US Division Pennant race, and beyond

    Troy Gillard talking Red Deer Rebels

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 52:52


    The Red Deer Rebels are having a strong season, but still overshadowed by Edmonton and Winnipeg - we thought it would be fun to take a look at the best team that no one is talking about. Rebels PXP voice Troy Gillard shared with us stories about Chase Coward being close with guys like Stuart Skinner & Joel Hofer, what its like filling the shoes of Cam Moon, what its meant to have Steve Konowalchuk coaching the team, Arshdeep Bains signing with the Canucks, and much more

    Kevin Dudley with the Spokesman-Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 33:48


    Kevin Dudley joined us looking at the Spokane Chiefs overall, the clash with Portland we just witnessed, what to expect in this stretch of 5 consecutive games between the two clubs, the changes in the Chiefs front office over the last few years, and much more Subscribe to your local paper

    Saskatoon Blades Head Coach Brennan Sonne

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 64:32


    Brennan Sonne joined us looking at his first year guiding the Saskatoon Blades to a successful season to date.  We looked at his background as an Everett Silvertip, both as a player and assistant coach,  influences like Kevin Constantine, Mitch Love, Doug Soetaert, Dennis Williams, and more.  We also looked at this Blades team, and some of the reasons they've played well this season.

    Steve Ewen of the Vancouver Province

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 68:35


    One of our favourite guests, Steve Ewen, dropped by to look at the state of the Vancouver Giants, the newspaper industry, the current covid crisis in The WHL, the upcoming trade deadline, and much more. Subscribe to your local paper

    BEST OF: Kishaun Gervais

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 57:12


    We spoke with Portland Winterhawks forward Kishaun Gervais (in July of 2020) about growing up on the reserve, playing in places as different as Yorkton and Portland, his clothing line (Teddywear) and its connection to mental health awareness, what Black Lives Matter means to him, and more https://www.instagram.com/teddywearclothing/

    BEST OF: Grant Fuhr

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2021 27:28


    We spoke with 5 time Stanley Cup Champion & Hall Of Famer Grant Fuhr, about his WHL days in Victoria,  The Edmonton Oilers, & more Recorded in September of 2018

    Casey Bryant Talking Silvertips

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 62:34


    We were joined by Casey Bryant as we welcome him to the WHL, look at the Silvertips legacy, the culture that Dennis Williams has developed, Casey's NY roots, his work in Danbury (and the netflix documentary), the only loss for Everett this year, and more

    Edmonton Oil Kings GM Kirt Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 54:36


    Kirt Hill was kind enough to give us some of his time while he's working with Team Canada Black for the Capital City Challenge.   We spoke about the Oil Kings winning the division in the shortened season, bringing in Luke Prokop, Edmonton's run to the East Final against Prince Albert, getting Jake Neighbours back from the NHL, knocking off an undefeated Winnipeg team, & more

    Kelwona Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 49:50


    Kris Mallette joined us on a rough day in BC.  We spoke about the flooding, the Rockets success so far this season, Kris' pathway to the HC job in Kelowna, winning the 2015 WHL Championship, playing in the minors for 9 years, his time playing for the Rockets, learning from Peter Anholt, and much more

    Power Panel w/ Perry Bergson and Lucas Punkari of the Brandon Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 74:27


    We take a trip to speak with two of our favourite newspaper scribes Lucas Punkari and Perry Bergson:  topics include the Wheat Kings being decimated by injuries, league attendance, the upgraded video feed, OHL trade insanity, the state of local news, and beyond (the audio gets better as the episode goes on)

    Craig West talking Tri-City Americans

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2021 80:02


    Craig West has called games for the Tri-City Americans for 23 seasons, and he joined us in a wide ranging conversation about Stu Barnes, watching Bobby Orr in the Great Western Forum, missing one game in his TC career, the return of Sasha Mutala, calling minor league baseball, the potential of rookie Dwayne Jean Jr, the need for cancer screenings, the success of Bob Tory's long tenure in TC, and more

    Joshua Critzer with PNW Hockey Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 79:48


    We look at the Winterhawks 9 games in with Joshua Critzer, as well as his journey establishing PNW Hockey Talk, Portland icing a shorthanded lineup all season, struggling vs Everett, and we finish with a look at Kyle Beach as a WHL'er and a man

    Talking Winnipeg ICE with Brian Munz

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2021 32:39


    The new PXP voice of the Winnipeg ICE, Brian Munz, joined us looking at the hot start the ICE have enjoyed, Savoie and Geekie on top of the draft rankings, Munz journey back to the WHL, and beyond

    EMERGENCY PODCAST: Dean Brockman has resigned

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 45:46


    Recent WHL Unfiltered guest Dean Brockman unexpectedly resigned from the Swift Current Broncos.  We go sans guest for a discussion about Brockman's time in SC, Saskatoon, Humboldt, & more

    Mike Benton: From Silvertips to Kraken

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 48:11


    Mike Benton's hockey journey has led from a successful 5 years with the Everett Silverips, to becoming the inaugural Seattle Kraken Studio Host.  We spent some time discussing what its like to join the NHL's 32nd team, expectations for this season,  calling the longest game in WHL history, working with Dennis Williams, and beyond

    Dean Brockman

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 45:10


    Swift Current Broncos Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations, Dean Brockman, spoke with us about bringing normalcy back to the iPlex, coaching rebuilding teams, developing Matt Ward, bringing in new assistant coaches, evolving coaching strategy, and more

    2021 Kickoff with Bill Wilms

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 82:24


    We spent some time prepping for the new season with longtime colour annalist Bill Wilms:  TV coverage pulling in casual fans, Jeff Odgers views on fighting, the new streaming package, NHL assistant coaches seeking WHL head coaching jobs, how the on-ice experience of the short season will benefit players this year, & much more

    Rob Vanstone talking Regina Pats and beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 67:49


    Regina Leader-Post Sports Editor Rob Vanstone joined us looking at the upcoming WHL season, Connor Bedard, the rest of the Pats, Coach Patty Ginnell, Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, Peter Loubardias, & much more

    Winterhawks PXP Nick Marek

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2021 49:31


    We checked in with Nick Marek to see how the Winterhawks have been handling the truncated season, how this years experience will benefit them in the future, riding the bus with hockey minds like Mike Johnston and Don Hay, dealing with the uncertainty Marek faced during the long offseason, and […]

    Les Lazaruk talking Regina Hub Centre

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 54:16


    We were joined by Les Lazaruk, longtime voice of the Saskatoon Blades.  Topics included the strong start the Blades have enjoyed,  early success for Connor Bedard, Head Coach Mitch Love’s rising stock, what life is like in the Regina Hub, and beyond

    Kamloops GM Matt Bardsley

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 55:05


    Its always an interesting conversation with Kamloops VP & General Manager Matt Bardsley.  We spoke about his journey to the Blazers, life in the BC hubs, his philosophy in building a hockey team, building on the rich history of the Blazers, and much more

    James Gallo: 1,000 #WHL Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 69:24


    We spoke with James Gallo, fresh off hitting a special milestone 1,000th game of Moose Jaw Warriors PXP duty.  We also touched on his 6 years of colour work for the Warriors, some of his favourite players with MJ, The Crushed Can, what its like in the Regina Hub, and […]

    Toby Boulet

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 46:25


    We spoke with Logan Boulet’s father, Toby Boulet, about organ donation, Green Shirt Day, dealing with tragedy, what kind of hockey player Logan was, & beyond www.greenshirtday.ca

    Darren Dupont

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 71:13


    We spoke with Darren Dupont about calling games in the Regina Hub, Connor Bedard, DUB Network, his work with The Rod Peterson Show, and beyond http://RodPedersen.com/ListenLive

    BEST OF: Kaleb Dahlgren – Humboldt Bronco

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2021 57:59


    We spoke with Kaleb Dahlgren, who’s much more than just a Humboldt survivor.  We talked about his Bronco days, his college career at York, his work with Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, playing for Darcy Haugan,  Logan Boluet & his legacy, chirping Johnny Gaudreau,  and more.  (originally recorded in May 2020)

    Ryan McCracken talking Bob Ridley night

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 71:43


    Ryan McCracken covers the Tigers for the Medicine Hat News, and was in the building for Bob Ridley’s 4000th game.  We spoke about what “Rids” means to the city of Med Hat, as well as the successful weekend the Tigers had playing meaningful WHL games

    Byron Hackett talking WHL Central Divison

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2021 59:56


    Red Deer Advocate Sports Reporter Byron Hackett joined us looking at the Rebels living at the rink,  the new video streaming package,  trade deadline, & more hot topics as the WHL is about to drop the puck.  Subscribe to your local newspaper.

    Rob Vanstone talking WHL Regina Hub

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 45:52


    We spoke with the Sports Director of the Regina Leader Post – Rob Vanstone – about the recently announced return to play plan for a hub in Regina.  All 5 Saskatchewan teams as well as the two Manitoba teams will hunker down in the Queen City – we spent some […]

    Mitch Love talking Team Canada & Saskatoon Blades

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 52:18


    We spoke with Mitch Love, fresh off of medaling on Canada’s coaching staff, while he’s preparing for the upcoming WHL season.   Building culture in Saskatoon, bubble life, working with the best junior players in the world, and more.

    2021 World Junior Championship update w/Nathan Sager

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2021 74:37


    Nathan Sager joined us looking at the 2021 WJC so far, as well as a broader conversation about what junior hockey might look like moving forward.  We also spoke about his podcast SportsLit https://sportslit.ca/

    Chris Peters 2020 WJC Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 75:08


    Its never too early to start talking about World Juniors, so we had Chris Peters on to do just that.  Currently with ESPN (pending free agency), Chris has been following this tournament for many years, although the upcoming WJC will be like no other.  Our wide ranging, free flowing, fun […]

    Perry Bergson – return to play, and Kelly McCrimmon’s legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2020 73:44


    We were joined by longtime listener of the show, and Wheat Kings beat writer for the Brandon Sun, Perry Bergson.  We spent some time talking about the plan for returning to play in January, then looked back on the 25+ years that Kelly McCrimmon dedicated to the Brandon Wheat Kings […]

    Joel Henderson – NHL Draft Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2020 74:34


    Joel Henderson, of Dobber Prospects and FC Hockey, joins us looking back at the recent NHL Draft, and how the WHL players slotted in.  We also spent some time talking about scouting philosophy, the differences between the leagues,  and the advancements in video scouting.  Joel is also an accomplished musician  […]

    Justin Froese talking #2020NHLDraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 57:43


    We spoke with the Head of Western Canadian scouting for Future Considerations, Justin Froese, about some of the WHL talent getting picked this draft, as well as digging down into the scouting process, and how it’s changed over the years https://nhlentrydraft.com/

    Mike Boyle: summertime chat

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2020 66:32


    We caught up with longtime PXP voice of the Spokane Chiefs about the playoffs that never were, the use of Native imagery by both the Chiefs & Indians, what the landscape might look like in the US Division when we resume play, & what day to day life is like […]

    BEST OF: Dave Manson

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2020 29:04


    We were fortunate enough to speak with former Prince Albert Raider Dave Manson about his time playing for PA, behind the Raiders bench, as well as his storied NHL career

    Kyle Dumba

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 37:24


    Calgary HItmen alum Kyle Dumba has been active lately with the Hockey Diversity Alliance, The Lake Street Council (https://rebuildminnesota.com), taking classes at SAIT, and working some summer jobs.  He took time out of his busy schedule to speak with us about his brother Matt Dumba, and some of the projects […]

    Kishaun Gervais

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 57:12


    We spoke with Portland Winterhawks forward Kishaun Gervais about growing up on the reserve, playing in places as different as Yorkton and Portland, his clothing line (Teddywear) and its connection to mental health awarness, what Black Lives Matter means to him, and more   https://www.instagram.com/teddywearclothing/

    Brady Leavold – Hockey 2 Heroin Road 2 Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 91:31


    We spoke with former Swift Current Bronco and Kelowna Rocket Brady Leavold about jail, violence, addiction, mental illness, homelessness, overdosing, and even a little WHL hockey.    “Leo” once had a promising hockey career path, to have it all come crashing down – to the point of being homeless on Hastings […]

    BEST OF: Making Coco – The Grant Fuhr Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2020 62:09


    We’re joined by Adam Scorgie: the producer of a new Biopic about the great Grant Fuhr entitled “Making Coco”  – spanning his young life through modern day, including his time with the Victoria Cougars of the WHL https://makingcoco.com/

    Wacey Rabbit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 63:14


    We spoke with former Saskatoon Blade & Vancouver Giant Wacey Rabbit about his path as an Indigenous hockey player,  winning the Memorial Cup,  his pro career,  aspirations to remain in the game post-playing days, and more.  Was a topical conversation for the times we are experiencing at the moment, as […]

    Dave Hunchak: talking hockey in a COVID world

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 83:55


    Dave Hunchak is a former WHL Head Coach, mental heath survivor, and hockey parent, and more.  He joined us looking at hockey in a post-COVID world and what that might look like.  NHL, WHL, baseball, etc – we tried to take a look at what we are up against to […]

    BEST OF: Adam Purner: Winterhawks Video Coordinator

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 50:25


    Adam Purner wears many hats:  Events Manager in Portland’s business office, Video Coordinator working with the on-ice coaching staff, & Goaltender Development Coordinator for USA Hockey for the state of Oregon.  He joined Josh & Chad to break down some of his duties in each role

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