Bonus Episode: Daryl Evans Interview

You can learn a lot about hockey by watching highlights, but you learn even more by listening to someone who’s lived every layer of the game. We’re joined by Daryl Evans, LA Kings radio analyst, lifelong skating teacher, and the man who scored the overtime winner in the Miracle On Manchester. He takes us back to street hockey roots, a first season where he could barely skate, and the power-skating breakthrough that flipped his entire path. We also get practical advice for beginners and adult skaters, including why learning how to fall safely is often the first real skill that unlocks confidence.

Daryl shares a story we won’t forget: helping a 101-year-old step onto the ice one more time. It turns into a lesson about mindset, community, and why hockey feels like a family in every rink and every city. We also dig into one of his most famous habits skating without laces and what it taught him about ankle mobility, edge control, and letting your feet work naturally.

Then we go deep on Kings history and Kings hockey today: what it was like being drafted, playing alongside Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor, calling games on radio, and preparing with old-school handwritten notes so the broadcast sounds alive instead of read. We talk Jonathan Quick’s legendary 2012 run, Anze Kopitar’s place in franchise history, and what the Kings need to do to push forward, including the big questions around center depth and Quinton Byfield’s next step. If you love the LA Kings, NHL storytelling, and the craft behind hockey broadcasting, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the show with a hockey friend, and leave a review with your favorite Kings memory.

Transcript

Street Hockey Beginnings And First Net

SPEAKER_00 1:14

Welcome back to Royally Quack, a special edition. Kings fans, you got please just you gotta listen to this one. We have Daryl Evans. Radio analyst. He does the TV stuff too. He's so fluid and so great. Um I can't tell you how excited I've been about this interview. It's it's uh I'm a little speechless, I think. So anyways, let's get to a question for for Darryl. We want to hear about your early years as playing as a kid. Playing hockey.

Power Skating Breakthrough And Teaching

SPEAKER_04 2:00

Well, it wasn't something that came natural. Um uh my dad never skated a day in his life. He uh he was an all-round athlete, but uh eventually played baseball. Uh he was in the Brooklyn Dodgers organization, never played for the big team, uh, but never had skated. And we used to play street hockey, we didn't have a lot of money. And my uh neighborhood buddy, his dad, talked to my dad about putting us in in-house hockey at the time, and uh that's how it all kind of started. And because I hadn't skated, I couldn't skate. And the first uh couple of games of the season, the team that I was playing on, we uh coach had come out. We had a buzzer, I think, that went every 90 seconds and used to put me out, stand me on the blue line. I was like a you know, a pile on cone. And after 90 seconds were over, he'd come pick me up, put me back on the bench, and this went on for a few weeks. And then eventually, a couple of guys in the team, the coach's son was our goalie, and he was the best player we had on our team because we all played street hockey together, so everybody was familiar with each other. And you know, the kids in the team were saying, you know, let Warren come out and play. You know, he you know, he's our best player. And the coach said, Well, you know, who's gonna be our goalie if we put it pull him out of the net? And they said, Well, put Daryl in net, he's our ball hockey goalie. So I ended up playing goal that year, so they put me in net. And I remember my very first game, I had a shutout, probably had maybe three shots on goal, but I'll tell you I had 75 shots on goal. So I, you know, I've said, but uh I barely stood up in the net. Uh ended up getting a 2-0 shutout, and the team I played for was the Rosehurst Realtors. We beat the Barnes Bobcats 2-0, and that's the way I started my hockey career uh in goal. So I should have stayed a net. Uh maybe I would have had a longer career, but it was a lot, it was a lot of fun. I I loved that position. I was a scrawny little kid. And uh my mom and dad, one Saturday that we played, weren't able to make either one of them weren't able to make it. My dad was working a Saturday job, and my mom was probably with my brother and my sister. We only had one car in the family. And I went with my neighbor, and uh I come back home, and one of the kids in the league kind of flipped the puck a little bit, and he flips one up and it hits me in the face. My mask was like your sunglasses probably had more protection than my mask did, and it hits me right between the eyes. So I come home and I got these two rocky raccoon eyes, you know. I've got two black eyes, my nose has got a little bit of a bend in it. My dad comes home from uh his his work and we sit down for dinner and he goes, son, and he goes, and how was hockey today? I said, Ah, dad, I loved it. He's looking at my face, you know, and it's all banged up. And he said, Well, next year you learn to skate or you don't play. Where the hell am I gonna learn to skate by next year? You know, like this thing, you're gonna give me a magician to work with, you know, and so he put me in a power skating school in that spring. And I remember the skating coach that I had, he called me spaghetti arms because my arms were all over the place and I was flailing and flopping all over. But whatever he said, or whatever, however, he showed me to skate had an impact on me. And I started skating. And when the fall came around to start the next season, I tried out for a travel team and ended up making a travel team, and everything just kind of took off. So that was uh that was the first years uh nobody in the travel league had heard of me or seen me play before because I hadn't played any travel hockey, I'd only played one year of uh in-house stuff, so I was kind of new to the game of hockey, and I kind of caught them a little bit off guard with my skating ability, and here I was somebody six months later that couldn't stand up, and yet now I was catching people's attention with my skating ability. So I give a lot of credit to that first skating coach that I had. He um had a real big influence on teaching me on how to skate. And uh ever since then, I've I've always put a big emphasis on on the skating part of the game. Uh within two years, one of the older coaches, um, one of the I think it was the the midget team, he'd come to my coach that year and he said, uh, you know, who's the you know, who's the kid number 12 on your team? He goes, Well, he's kind of new. He says, you know, he's just his first year in travel. He goes, Well, he's a nice skater. He said, I'd like to hire him as a junior instructor. So I started teaching before my 11th birthday. So I was 10 when I started teaching. And I've been teaching ever since. So 55 years of teaching skating, and I can honestly say that I have lost no passion in teaching skating. I love it. I love non-skaters uh because I know the impact that it had on my uh on my game and my uh you know, ability to be able to play the game of hockey and get involved in hockey. So I try to give everybody the best opportunity to be able to do that, and I think it all starts with skating. So uh that that that goes back to day one for me.

SPEAKER_03 6:49

That's amazing. I I can say this, I barely know how to skate if that I think I've skated three times my whole life, once in the last ten years. So I I didn't follow my butt last time we went out. So but I was I was holding on to the the M boards a lot. Let's just say that.

SPEAKER_04 7:15

You know, you talk about that and it's you just gotta get that confidence, get yourself away from the boards. And one of the th first things I've learned is to teach people how to you know how to fall, so you know, so to speak. That way, when you're on the ice, especially for adults, like for kids it's easy, you know, you're two feet tall, so you haven't got a long, long way to drop when you when you fall. But for adults, you know, people are you know six feet tall and things like that, you fall from there. You can you know you're gonna hurt yourself, especially if you go down awkwardly. So I think if you learn to control your body movements when you feel like you're out of control, I think that helps you and it gives you the confidence. So first couple of things, you know, go down on your knees, get yourself back up. Everything you want to do is going forward. You want to make sure, just like you're out on the street, you break your fall with your hands. You know, you you don't want to do a face plan or anything like that. But the sensation of going backwards and having that sliding motion, uh, that's not fun. And you know, that's where the injuries come from. So I think unfortunately, teaching you how to fall is probably one of the first things you need to do before you learn to skate.

SPEAKER_00 8:18

Wow. Well, I've never skated, so I can't even speak of any of that. But I did play street hockey for I want to say eight years. As an adult. As an adult. Yep. I I uh I ended up being pretty good. From never you got any desire to get on the ice. Uh the falling part, Daryl, I would you'd have to come help me with that because I'm probably gonna get hurt.

SPEAKER_04 8:49

Okay, I'll tell you a story. I just and this just was just recent, within the last two weeks. I had a gentleman and he came out to skate, he'd reached out to somebody at our rink, and they said, We have an older gentleman that hasn't skated in years, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and it's on his bucket list to skate. And I said, Okay, they said, Would you help us out? I said, sure. So it turned out I was working with one of the uh figure skating coaches on the other side because it was one of her neighbors, and he's an old Canadian fella, and he he served, uh, you know, he was he served in uh in uh i i for the for the country and hadn't skated in almost sixty years. I said, Well, how old is this fella? And it turned out he was 101 years old. So he brought him out and then uh he came in on a walker, and it was just like he had this smile on his face, and he goes, Yeah, I want to skate one more time. He said, I haven't skated for years, I want to skate one more time. So I said, Okay, we're gonna put a helmet on you. I said, Okay, that's a good idea. And he had like he was really sharp, like we had great conversation and everything, and put him on his feet, and he was like a solid guy, you know, thick guy, and put the skates on him. I got a skate sharpened by you know the king's trainers and that, so I made sure that the you know the edge that he had on a skate was was a good one. And we put him on the ice, and what I did was I brought out one of the nets. So I used the nets for him to have kind of like as a pushing tool, and then I supported him from behind. And he got out there and we started on one blue line, he kind of pushed the net and we were guiding it. We went to the far blue line and and come back. He goes, Well, he goes, you know, my feet are my feet are tired. He goes, Well, I said, you know, you haven't skated in 60 years. I said, if I'm on the road for a couple of weeks, I haven't skated. I said, My feet will feel it for not being in my skates. I said, then top it off. I said, You're 101 years old. I said, you know, that that's gonna play into it a little bit too. He goes, and the smile he had on his face the entire time was unbelievable. So uh just you know, little things like that are just a reminder on how special our game is, and and uh you you can't do anything that you want to do. It's it's all in your mind. It starts in your mind. If you believe you can do it, you can do it. So that guy was 101, so I'll I'll pick up with you in about 60 years and we'll get you going.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

60 years I'm gonna be uh 128.

SPEAKER_04 11:18

So all right, 128. All right, so you're gonna you'll you'll beat you'll beat his record. How's that? You'll beat his record.

SPEAKER_03 11:24

Yeah, I mean I I would like to learn how to skate a little bit better, but like where we live, there's really no open ice rinks near us. I think the closest one I have is a a roll, like a roller hockey rink, right? And stuff like that. But like I said, I'm just afraid, like I said, of getting hurt, especially since my job is pretty physical and stuff like that. And if I get hurt, then I'm kind of screwed.

SPEAKER_04 11:47

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

Um but but while we're talking while we're talking about this the skating and everything, I do have a question. So I've seen and I've heard that you don't like to skate with laces. Now, how far back does that go and why?

Learning To Fall For Confidence

SPEAKER_04 12:02

Well, again, it starts right back to when I first started with that first coach uh that that I skated with. And, you know, of course, you know, my dad did my skates up, you know, he pull them all the way tight to the top. Every lace is, you know, every eyelid is you know laced and everything like that. And he said, Well, you should leave like the top eyelid or two undone. He says, Give you a little bit more flexibility in your ankles. Okay. So I elected to leave two undone, and then and then uh he goes, and you don't want to tighten them too tight. I said, Okay. And I I just got used to it from there. And then there was times that you know different pair of skates, uh, you know, I'd leave three, four, five eyelids undone, and then I learned the or not learn, but then I used to tape my skates. So I used to tie them real loose, but I would tape them so you know my feet wouldn't slip out of my skate. Uh but I could basically turn my feet almost around in inside my skates. And now as I think about it years later, our feet are like our hands. If you restrict them and you put them basically in casts, you limit your mobility and the push you can get. So it's probably been 20 years that I haven't used laces. But I remember when I went to Europe at the end of my career, when I came back, I put uh probably about an 18-inch lace. I put it through like two or three eyelids just so I tie my skates on so they wouldn't fall off. So it's been going for quite a while. And now the point is I just can't bend over to do them up. So that's it's uh it's just it's just it's just gravity now. I can't get down there. So it's but uh yeah, it's it's definitely a conversation piece. I know a couple of kids that I've worked with over the years. You know, the kids will say, you know, coach, coach, you know, how come you haven't got any laces in your skates? I said, Well, I said, when I was young, your age, I said, you know, we didn't have a lot of money. I said, so when my laces would break, we'd tie them in a knot. I said, and then they kept breaking so many times there was nothing left to tie, so I had to learn to skate without them. So I said, over the course of my career, I said, I've saved$246,912.36. And their eyes just, you know, they light up like a Christmas tree and they go, wow. So they go up and see their parents after, and you know, I'll see their parents on the way out. And they said, you know, they said, What'd you say to my kid today? I says, What do you mean? Like, you know, what happened? They said, I don't know, something about$200 million, dollars. And I go, Oh, I said, that's the only thing they remember. I said, they don't remember anything about skating. I said, but they remember what I told them of that. So I told them the story and they killed themselves laughing about it. But I tell that to every little kid that asks me that question, they get a big kick out of it.

A 101-Year-Old Skates Again

SPEAKER_00 14:39

That's a great story. That's a great story.

SPEAKER_03 14:43

I've I have heard that I want to say it's the Hudson kids. They're they're their dad taught them to skate without laces because it would help them skate better and turn better. So is that was that the same thing that happened with you?

SPEAKER_04 14:57

Uh, not really. Um, I just like I say, that just to have one skating coach said that it gave me a little bit more mobility with my ankles, and then I just kind of took it from there on my own. Uh, and it just kept getting, you know, I take one more eyelid undone, then another one, then another one. Although if I save$246,000 in in laces, I spent twice that in the amount of tape that I used to put around my ankles. That I remember too.

SPEAKER_00 15:21

Well, you were you were actually custom making it so it worked for you. Exactly. So and I had I understand that completely. I'm glad you do it. I used to do well, I used to do it because I was a basketball player. Okay. Um the high top shoes, you had to wear those or your ankles would get broken. But you know, so uh and I had to learn to loosen them up so I had that mobility at times. But you had to have the lower one tighter just because otherwise the shoes come off. So sort of the same thing. So well let's uh let's move let's move on. You know, the draft is a uh a big to-do anymore. I know we're not doing it uh in a location like we were doing before. It's more virtual now. But where were you when you got drafted by the Kings? And and how is it different than it is now?

Why He Skates Without Laces

SPEAKER_04 16:19

Uh the draft was such a special time. It was at the old forum in Montreal, and I remember our agent at the time, he took a bunch of us down there uh potentially we were gonna get drafted. And I remember sitting in the stands at the old Montreal Forum and listening to the NHL teams call your name out. And uh, you know, what what an honor it was. Uh and you know, I was sitting there with my buddies, and you know, there's only 21 teams in the NHL at that time. My friends were getting drafted by Montreal and Toronto, Detroit, New York, you know, some of the original six teams, and and I was just kind of jotting things down. And by the time it came to my my name being called, which was in the ninth round, you know, I I kind of like I heard my name, but I didn't hear it. And my buddy said, Hey, you know, Daryl, you know, he says, You just you know, you you just got drafted. I and uh and they tell me, and I'm not sure if they said, I, you know, I said, Well, where did I go? You know, because I didn't I didn't hear, I wasn't paying attention. I was still writing down the pre you know the previous picks and things like that. I said, You went to Los Angeles. And I guess my response was, well, that's a fine place to be going to play hockey, you know, because they went to New York and all the traditional hockey markets, and I was going to California. But uh what uh what a dream and what a you know what a life it's been for me uh to have gone to Los Angeles. Uh and I remember when I first got to LA and I saw the you know the caliber of hockey within the youth uh um group of players, and I said then that if I ever had the you know the luxury of being you know and uh you know privileged to be able to play in Los Angeles and play at the professional level with the Kings, that I would help out with with youth hockey. And I've been committed to it ever since and helping the game grow because I know what an impact it had on my life. And uh, you know, and here we are, you know, I'm 65 years old now, so uh it's something that has you know been right at the forefront of my life and everything that I do, the people that I've met, the relationships, the places I've been able to see. So I wanted to make sure that I gave something back and uh so proud of uh you know what's happened with the game of hockey. You know, you look at California, you know, teams like Anaheim, San Jose, Vegas, uh, you know, Utah, all you know, all getting teams, you know, after you know what the Kings were able to establish out there and you know the American Hockey League. Uh it's it's just just great to see. So I I'm proud to be part of that and still be part of that, and fortunate enough to be you know still part of it and having to be able to have an impact on it.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Wow, that's you know it's uh uh amazing. I mean, I I I've already got more than on some of these questions than I ever expected from you. So this is you're you're like I said, you're just fluid.

SPEAKER_03 18:59

Anyways, um Well before I have a question before we jump to the show. Oh, you're gonna interrupt me? Okay, I'll let him interrupt me.

SPEAKER_04 19:07

Hey, come on, let's all get along here. Come on now. No, let me put my referee jersey on.

SPEAKER_03 19:13

All right. So your first year with the Kings in 81-82, what was it like playing with someone like Dave Taylor and Marcel Dion?

SPEAKER_04 19:22

Uh that was that was really special. Um, you know, watching, you know, I started watching hockey at a young age. You know, I remember, you know, Saturday night, uh, you know, hockey night in Canada was always a big thing growing up, uh, you know, being able to stay up a little bit later and watch that when I was a child, you know, with my dad. And you know, you get to learn some of these guys, and you know, then being drafted by the team, you know, you start to kind of identify, you know, players like Dave Taylor, and of course Marcel Dion was more known, and then Charlie Simmer, the you know, the triple crown line. But stepping on the ice with those guys was uh was really something special. And just watching the way that they maneuvered around the ice, the control that they had of the game. That line, that triple crown line, was a special line. You know, modern day uh when you look at a trio of players, the chemistry that those guys had was phenomenal. But uh Dave Taylor's, you know, still a real good friend. See him all the time, you know, at the ranks, uh, have the utmost respect for him, the way he conducted himself on the ice, true leader, uh, you know, then you know becoming the general manager and things like that, the way he operated the business, uh just have the utmost respect for the way that uh he conducts himself. And uh, you know, he's like I say, proud to you know have a relationship with him. You know, Marcel we see from time to time, and you know, his record uh you know just went down with Andre Kopatar scoring a couple of goals in uh New Jersey to you know to take him off a record that he held for 45 years. And uh again, he's you know a real jovial type of guy. I always enjoy his conversation, but you know, just watching them uh the you know the true professionals that they were, the way they conducted themselves in the game. Um, you know, I very fortunate to have played you know with guys like that. Dave Lewis was another guy, I had a lot of respect for him, and uh those older players, you know, they they have an impression on young guys coming in, and I was fortunate to be around some good ones.

SPEAKER_03 21:15

Yeah, it's funny because I actually ran into Dave Taylor at that rookie face-off the same day we met you. So, because I think he's working for the Blues now. Is that what I remember?

SPEAKER_04 21:25

He's been with the Blues for a number of years, ever since he left the Kings, and does a phenomenal job with them. And we have the like I say, we have the luxury of being able to run into him because he's you know he stayed out in the uh on the west coast, and that's his uh the games that he goes to, like Anaheim, you know, and and places like that. We see him all the time and then in in LA. So uh be able to we able to stay connected there uh quite frequently.

SPEAKER_03 21:48

Like I said, but he he was great. Uh fortunately my dad, I don't think, saw him, but I did get a picture with him.

SPEAKER_00 21:55

We we we were together and he we were gonna go say hi and he turned around and walked away. And I didn't want him to feel like we were chasing him, so we went back down and sat down, and then later he went off to do something else and he ran into him. Yeah, and I was I was really jealous. I mean, because you know, I walk up and I think you were talking to my wife at the rookie face-off, and I was like, my eyes went, whoa, yeah. You know, because like I said, I I can't tell you how much how often I listen to what you appreciate.

SPEAKER_04 22:31

We appreciate that. Uh appreciate all the support. And again, anytime you ever see Dave Taylor around, he's one of the most approachable guys out there. Don't be afraid to go up and shake his hand. Uh uh he's a great conversation and uh you know he loves to share the you know the experience that he's had throughout his career and he's had you know greater ones than i being a general manager running a team and things like that and again to play side by side with Marcel for so many years I'm sure he's got some great stories he could share with you. Yeah no that that'd be great to have a lot you know I I gotta tell you Daryl don't count yourself short because you don't be bringing my height into this don't be starting out okay come on that's uh oh my god I can't believe you went there geez um you you I'm one of the tallest people in my family come on I'm one of the shortest then Daryl that makes me one of the shortest too because you know how tall I stand but but you bring the game to people and a lot a lot of times where they're not watching and you bring it alive well you know I yeah one of the things that I learned early and you know I've privileged to have Nick Nixon as my partner for so many years that you have to describe the game because people aren't watching it. So you've got to you've got to bring the game to life. You know on TV I don't want to say you know it's easy or anything like that but on radio you really have to be descriptive to be able to paint a picture. And you know like I say I was fortunate enough to be alongside Nick Nixon for so many years and listening to him and I remember even before I started working with him I used to listen to a lot of Kings games coming home from work because I was driving at that time especially when the Kings were on the road and I'd listen to Nick and uh I could you know I could visualize what he was saying. So I I guess in in a way I guess I you know I try to copy you know what the way that he you know brought the game to to life for the fans and uh had the you know the great seat beside him for so many years you know sitting beside him and listening to him and even if I closed my eyes I could you know I could see what what was happening in front of us just because I had listened to him for so many years prior to that.

SPEAKER_00 24:41

Well you know we had we listened to him all the time we've been blessed you know Bob Miller Nick Nixon and you're carrying that on if you I mean I know you're you're pretty humble about it but you're carrying on they're not as missed as much as they would be because you're so good you're so good at what you do. Yes I mean you you know Jim Fox also um uh does the an analytics on TV a lot yeah and he he's different than you and he's good um you know we're so blessed to have the announcing teams that we have in hockey and one thing about our podcast that we're trying to do is get the hockey better known.

Draft Day At The Montreal Forum

SPEAKER_04 25:23

Yeah no we we appreciate that I mean the the game's still in its growing stages and right now the game might be as healthy as it ever was globally especially I think our biggest growth right now is coming in women's hockey and you know of course with the Olympic year that we just had and the U.S. winning both the men's and the women's championships I mean I think we're gonna see another big spike here in the years to come you know look at all the non-traditional hockey markets that the game is being played in now I'm sure that the professional women's hockey association their league is going to grow I think we're gonna see it on it on the West Coast in in in the near future and the NHL uh you know will continue to uh you know to do what they can to to be able to support that but our game our game is in a good spot and you know and not speaking for Jim Fox but I'm sure you know he'll probably echo the words that I say too I mean we're we're blessed and fortunate to be around Bob Miller and and Nick Nixon for so many years having guys like that to uh you know to broadcast the games and and to work alongside from them. They did a great job at you know teaching me and I'm sure Jim will like share those same type of thoughts but you know Jim's got his you know his way of calling things and you know I call things my way and um and I think that's uh you know that's which is also unique because if everybody called it the same way it wouldn't be the same. I think you have to bring your personality whatever it may be or your style of calling the game because that's what people gravitate towards. And uh Jim does a great job on TV I've you know we did a couple years there with Nick we were doing a simulcast and I really enjoyed working with him uh again uh just being able to listen to him I know the way he's describing the game as well for all the games that he's he's called and that I've listened to uh he does a phenomenal job on our TV broadcast and uh I'm very fortunate to work with him and learn from him uh as I did with Bob and Nick for so many years.

SPEAKER_00 27:13

Yeah you guys I like I said I I've been a Kings fan probably not at the start because I was nine years old when the Kings became a team. Okay. But I can tell you I I did watch and listen to it but then I gotta tell you the Triple Crown line got me into hockey. And then when I started playing street hockey it it became a thing. And next thing you know I'm going to games you know my wife's going to games you know our family is very hockey oriented even though I'm the only one that ever played any kind of form of it.

SPEAKER_03 27:53

I don't think people wanted me playing just because of how big I was as a kid. I'm pretty sure I would have cr I I probably would have really hurt some kids growing up.

SPEAKER_04 28:03

Yeah probably he he's a he's a he's a big boy well yeah I I Daryl I did have my so my soccer coach also he was a season ticket for the Kings and he used to if he couldn't go he would text everyone on the soccer team hey I got Kings tickets who wants them I mean he know he knew I was a Ducks fan I've been a ducks fan my whole life he hated giving them to me but he knew I would at least appreciate it and I would always go I I took so many different people I took different friends I took my dad I took my grandpa like I said I always try to bring someone different so then they can experience hockey and like the enjoy enjoyment of the game that I had and he actually tried to get me to play goalie for his adult team when I was 18 I'm like and I was like Cowan I'm like first of all I appreciate it but that's like one of the hardest positions to play in sports um he's like well you have good hand eye I'm like yeah but I'm like I don't know how to skate and you know I'm not flexible at all and he's like well you're a catcher in baseball and stuff like that I'm like that's totally different you you didn't you didn't realize he was mad at it he just wanted to shoot bucks at you that's all yeah probably I mean no I didn't piss him off trust me I did a lot less pissing off than I saved that team a lot so as the goalkeeper for soccer but he's like it's like he's like it's the same thing I'm like no it's not I'm like I know I watch so like I said I I just like I said I we like I said that's one thing we wanted to do with this podcast was like to show and bring in new hockey fans you know even if they if they want to root for a different team Daryl today you're helping with that just so you know so I mean I'm I'm so proud of our game and and again especially you know coming out to California uh you know years ago and you're going back to you know 81 on my first trip out there 45 years just to see the growth and now to see like I say teams in Anaheim San Jose Vegas you know all over the place the minor leagues is out there uh you know boys and girls playing sled hockey uh field hockey uh roller hockey you know ball hockey it's just hockey is now you know it it's uh it's on the map out there and there's so many kids now that come to the rink and want to get a stick in their hand we've had some great sponsorships over the years that have helped us out in being able to put sticks in kids' hands uh you know experien you know giving them experience of playing ball hockey so it you know it takes a it takes a whole uh community to be able to do it uh you know it can't be done by an individual and you know the support of the professional teams has been outstanding but uh you know it's guys like yourselves again you know getting on the air promoting let people hear about it somebody's gonna hear about it you know you talk about in you know giving tickets you know from you know a ducks fan giving them Kings tickets you know somebody that go wants to appreciate the game everybody can't cheer for the same team because if we all cheered for the same team it wouldn't make it as much fun I mean I I love listening to the banter between fans in different arenas like even on this road trip you know we're sitting back in New York right now and every building we've gone through has got hundreds of Kings fans wearing their jerseys and they're embraced with the fans from the other team you know they're taking pictures together they're in conversation some of these people make these circuits they make these trips year after year and they build relationships with these people so the hockey world the hockey family is a great family and uh it's great to be part of it.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

Yeah that's it's so much fun to be part of this whole thing and I'm just happy we me and my dog are doing this podcast together you know talking hockey because we we used before we started we would both talk on the phone because I'm a truck driver he he drove for work too and our conversation on the phone was literally our podcast without recording it.

Helping Youth Hockey Grow In California

SPEAKER_00 31:49

Yeah that's pretty much what it was then he wanted to do a ducks podcast just to give you a quick story about it. And he goes I don't want to do it alone I want to bounce it off someone so we we have a friend if you ever listen to our podcast uh we call him Captain Chaos his name is Adam Adam your name got even and mentioned on this one a special one well and he couldn't do it and then we couldn't think of anybody else and then I mean I I was a medical courier okay and and I'm coming out of a hospital and I go how many rivalry podcasts are there? And I go well you know if you say that it's gonna be you and I'm I wasn't sure I'd be comfortable doing this at all. So I brought it up to him he liked the idea and then we started to come up with names. And I mean I gotta tell you he he's most everything is him but I came up with the name Royally quacked I go and when I it just popped in my head and I called him immediately he loved it and then it happened and I gotta tell you that third pop first podcast I was awful literally awful on it.

SPEAKER_04 33:01

I go it's becoming more fun I mean because you know people like you you guys are example for us even to to be able to how to express ourselves uh to to our fans and they're your fans too all so I mean it's just been an incredible uh journey with him and sometimes I'm thinking I'm holding him back now you know what we all we all learn from each other every day uh you know just engaging in conversation I mean picking each other's brains and that's what's so great is people are so open to be able to share their experience their paths or some of the people that they've come across because that's how we all learn. I mean there's been pioneers in our game pioneers when it comes to podcasts and things like that. And you know I'm sure if you listen you know back to your first podcast and you see where you are today you're gonna go wow I can't believe you know that's the way it started. I mean you guys do a great job and you know just keep doing what you're doing because uh you know people love listening to it.

SPEAKER_03 33:59

Like when we first started this I didn't think we would ever be interviewing you on this podcast to be honest. But here we are and I'm enjoying every second of it. And the thing is like we're I feel like we're also growing the game because I like I have buddies at different jobs I've had since I've started this they're going to games they're watching games in like the job I'm at now like the Four Nations after after watching the four nations and the fighting and stuff like that they now they're into it. Like I just I could see the game growing more and more like every year. I I see it.

SPEAKER_00 34:31

Yeah it and the nice thing is is then you see the NHL with the the way they're promoting it with the a lot of those young stars you know quinnes and Charlie McAvoy and those little commercials they do the funny little takes you can see on Facebook with Sidney Crosby and and uh Marc Andre Fleury. Oh yeah I mean those I mean they're those are hilarious. I'm I'm I'm laughing half the time and I go and it and it it puts a great light on the sport and then the other great light on the sport is we don't have as many controversies as most of these other sports do. And we got some really you know I mean maybe you know more than we do or we see but I mean I don't see the controversy in hockey like we do basketball, football even baseball at times. So and I think it's you know if you want really good role models these hockey players man they're working hard. I mean you think about it you got razor blades on the bottom of your shoes and you're hitting the guy on the boards going how fast I mean it's incredible what hockey players do. And you know if we can ever get everyone to see a game up close like close to the to the uh glass and you watch we watched McDavid at Anaheim playing against the ducks and watching him up close oh my God. He called Cody calls him McJesus.

SPEAKER_04 36:07

I mean he's just no it's it's m magical when you watch you know again everybody that makes it to that level is a great player. You know you're one of 700 people across the globe you know playing in the National Hockey League. But when you see the elite like in the Four Nations or whether it be the Olympics and things like that and these young kids today the skill set that they had you know we had to be taught as kids. These guys are teaching themselves you know through YouTube videos and things like that. The stuff that they're capable of doing today think these are things that we couldn't even dream about as a kid and not only they're doing it they're applying it and they're succeeding with it. You know when you see a couple of these kids over the next number of years you know these you know guys like Celebrini and things like this and Hughes who we're talking about McDavid you know these guys win cups where do you see the kids that you know gravitate and follow the sport and you know start to learn a little bit about these guys and their personalities they're great ambassadors of the game already but I think it'll even go to a whole different level you know when over the next few years. The game is so exciting the parody in the game the competition the competitiveness there's still that physicality and the aggressiveness which I think attracts a lot of people they love to see the physicality they like to see the odd fight here and there. And I think the league has done a great job at you know kind of controlling you know the the craziness of it you know we don't see the bench clearing brawls like we used to have 30, 40 years ago and things like that. Things are way a lot more under control. I mean yeah people you know I know people you know they they talk about that and they'd like to see a little bit more you know more of that kind of stuff but I think the game's in a healthy spot there's a a nice combination of of the skill and again it's it's two sports in one you know you got the uh you know skating ability and playing the game of hockey the speed that it's at the size of some of these guys I mean these guys are monsters out there some of these guys 6'7 6'8 250 60 70 pounds and they're they're basically dancing on an eighth of an inch of steel out there and then what they do with the puck you know you look at the Michigan move the wraparounds and all that fancy stuff and I know a lot of people don't like that kind of stuff but it does make people watch the game and when they see you know things out of the normal that that's what attracts people so uh these kids are going to continue to keep creating these type of things and uh there's gonna be people watching for a long time.

Sharing Ice With Kings Legends

SPEAKER_03 38:29

Absolutely if it helps put the puck in the back of the net why not yeah I mean I guess I as a I guess Ducks fancy and Zegers doing those Michigan goals like who cares how the puck goes in as long as it goes in right like I mean yeah I'd love to see that like the little alley oot pass he made in Buffalo like I I I remember where I was at when that happened because my phone was blowing up we were at Disneyland doing our our family night or family like for Christmas we go out and I get notifications on my phone Zgris like I like 30 notifications just from every single like Twitter page Instagram page and all of it was just the Z passing it over to the net to uh Sonny Milano and he put it in the ball I was like wow like just that one play blew up my phone.

SPEAKER_04 39:18

Yeah I think you know with that generation of players that is coming in you know guys like Ziegris in that right now I think as the older generation continues to move on there'll be more and more of the Ziegress generation that's playing in the league. And the kids coming behind them are going to be as skilled if not even more skilled than you know guys like Ziegris in that today and celebrini's and this time we can't you know you you don't think it's possible but we never thought anybody would be able to do more than guys like Burgretzky did throughout his career and Mario Lamuse and things like that. But every generation continues to keep improving. So I think as the older generation moves aside they're they're not too accepting of that they think it's you know a little bit hot dogish type of thing you know to to try and do plays like that. You know if you go back 20 years ago somebody would have taken your head off for doing something like that. But I think with more players this next generation of guys coming up it's more accepting. So I think we're going to start seeing more of the kind of fancy type of stuff the showtime so to speak type of hockey and believe me there's a there's a lot there's a lot of skill out there and there's a lot that can be done at such a quick speed and uh you have to respect these guys for the talent and skill that uh that that that they bring to the rink each and every day.

SPEAKER_00 40:37

Oh absolutely I totally agree with you um it is so much fun to watch I watch hockey and it has nothing to do with the Kings or the Ducks I'll watch any game yeah you know because you there's something spectacular happening just about in every game a save sometimes you know yeah it's very unpredictable very unpredictable yep yeah the I mean I've seen some windmill saves I don't even know how he saw the puck but he caught it and made the save and I'm going like whoa there's a number one star of the game right there. I'm going like wow so so I I had a question for you and what is your favorite King's hockey moment? And I I'm sure there's a lot to choose from but we're curious what meant most to you well I think you know clearly it's got to be the Kings when they won that first Stanley Cup.

SPEAKER_04 41:32

Just uh you know listening to my partner Nick Nixon and watching the emotions over in the booth beside us with Bob Miller and Jim Fox. You know, even though we weren't players uh you know in that moment it was something special and you know the days that followed that the parade the tears in the fans' eyes you know going down that parade route uh it was it was special and you knew that it not only meant a lot to the players that did it it meant a lot to a community people that invested so much time and money and so much you know big part of their life you know season ticket holders for 30 40 years seeing something like that happen it was it was really a magical moment. So there's no doubt that winning that first Stanley Cup uh that moment that uh you know listening to both Bob and Jim announce that the Kings have won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history uh those you know those words will echo in my head so that that's clearly clearly number one and then you know other special things you know most recently where we just saw Andre Kopotar becoming the highest scoring king in franchise history um you know special player from from day one and I remember when he scored his first goal against Anaheim when he went around pronger and my partner Nick Nixon made the call and the goal and made a great call and my follow-up was we're seeing a special player here this guy's going to be around for a long time he's gonna do a lot of special things and for 20 years he hasn't let us down. He's you know he stepped to the front of the stage each and every night with the team on his shoulders and what a king he's been yeah well you know it's funny we had a special kings episode I think Eddie Garcia was on it um and we had someone bring up well you know how can you say Anze Kopotar is better than Marcel Diana and he doesn't even he's not even the point leader for the team and I I I think Eddie met that question pretty good and and I I I he said it so well I didn't even have anything to add.

SPEAKER_00 43:35

And I go Anze I go it's a career I mean so he's uh was Marcel a 200 foot hockey player like Anze is I mean he's he's done everything I mean everything I mean I my wife kind of hit it because I'm in our walk-in closet that's where I do the podcast so I can have quiet and um but I have a copotar sweatshirt I got a jersey I mean you know he's he's been special so special I mean I love Luke too Robotai Gretzky was awesome he changed hockey coming you know to LA um I don't think we have San Jose or the Anaheim ducks without him at least coming. You're 100% right yep you know and then and then we gotta say the the Mighty Duck movies obviously are the other reason why and that Bruce McNall needed money. So he sold part of that the rights to the area which you know a lot of people are angry with But then again, the the more hockey we have the better. I mean and we won two cups. Hopefully we're gonna win another. Um I'm not sure this year.

SPEAKER_04 44:54

You know what? Anything is possible. All you gotta do is get to the dance floor.

SPEAKER_00 44:59

You know, we saw that in 2012, did we not?

SPEAKER_04 45:02

Yes, we did. You know we did.

SPEAKER_00 45:05

But you know, I we had a young Jonathan Quick, which has there ever been a better Stanley Cup run by a goalkeeper or goalie ever?

SPEAKER_04 45:19

Well, I mean, you you just I mean, that whole season, you know, Quick had the team on his shoulders. I mean, uh, I can't remember exactly what the number was, but it was something crazy. How few games had the Kings scored less two goals or less. And you know, he almost had to play a perfect game every night in order for the Kings to get points. You know, they get in as the number eight seed, but the numbers in the Stanley Cup playoffs, 16-4 record, a 141 goals against average, 946 save percentage, a couple of shutouts. Those are numbers that are going to be untapped. I mean, it's just like it was just it was unbelievable. I mean, I you know, I used to stand behind a goal because I watched practice from the from the end zone all the time, and I just watched him. And he had the same effort and energy in practice that he did during the games. And that's what that's what allowed him to do in the game. Of course, there's some luck involved. There's always luck involved in everything that you do out there, but you also have to practice the movements in order to put yourself in that position. And still today, you know, he just recorded a shutout, you know, a week ago. Uh what a career he's had. You know, 40 years of age, the wear and tear that he's had on his bodies, still got to compete. One of the guys that I thought if a goaltender was ever to wear a C, Jonathan Quick would have worn a C for the Kings because he had that much respect from his teammates.

SPEAKER_00 46:37

Oh, no doubt about it. Uh incredible. Obviously, the greatest uh USA goalie uh ever. Yeah, hands down, you know.

How Great Radio Brings Hockey Alive

SPEAKER_04 46:46

Uh you know, and no doubt about that. Yeah, yeah, hands down. So, you know, it's it's neat when we go around the rings now and we see some of the kids that Jonathan Quick was their hero growing up, and for him to still be playing in the league, and these guys are cutting their teeth in the NHL now is great. And you know, watching youth hockey, all the guys that are wearing number 32, uh just goes to show you the impact that he had uh you know across the board uh with with his with his efforts, and of course, most of those efforts being you know when he was with the Kings, but still after that, you know, going on to win a cup uh after that and you know playing with the Rangers, Vegas, and uh you know, it's just uh again it's the compete in his game. Uh what what a uh what a great role model for a young goaltender, not the biggest guy, not standing, you know, 6'6, 6'7, but boy, did he cover a lot of net uh in a lot of different ways.

SPEAKER_03 47:36

He didn't know and he liked to be low, I noticed. Like he he would look between players' legs, like I'm watching him, and he's like doing this, and I'm like, man, and he's still making those saves on the top shelf. I'm like, man, how is he doing that?

SPEAKER_00 47:52

Like that's crazy. He was an incredible athlete, that's for sure. I mean, yeah, obviously, um, he's gonna get a statue one day. Well, how long is he gonna play, do you think?

SPEAKER_04 48:04

You know what? This you know what, the situation, the situation that he's in right now, you know, the Rangers didn't have a good year or aren't having a good year this year. But I remember going back, especially when Shisterkin was hurt at the beginning of the year and just watching him play. And he played some darn good games that he didn't get results in just because his team wasn't scoring. Uh, I can't remember how many games the Rangers lost at home. They couldn't win a home game and they couldn't score any goals. And, you know, the role that he's in now, I think he's accepted his role. He understands that he's not a number one goalie. He's not, he doesn't expect to play 65, 70 games a year like he did in the prime of his career. So, you know, if he knows he's playing 20, 25 games a year, he's gonna give you his all. And when I look over my shoulder, if I'm on that bench or if I'm a coach, I know I'm gonna get his all when he's in there. So as long as he says I want to play, I've got I would have no trouble. I wouldn't mind having a guy like that. You know, teams are going to, you know, three goaltenders next year where they can sign that, you know, that extra goaltender to have a guy around. Uh, but uh I think just the the example that he provides, as long as he's willing to do so and his body is you know is is standing up to it, uh I I would not be surprised to see him come back again.

SPEAKER_03 49:17

Yeah, especially since he he's from he was a Rangers fan growing up. He's cl that's close to home for him.

SPEAKER_04 49:23

Yeah, Connecticut, yeah. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 49:24

Yeah, so so like it's if if the Rangers want to keep paying him, you know, the league minimum to be the backup, I can see him just keep going.

SPEAKER_04 49:31

Yeah, he's not playing for money, he's playing for he just wants to play.

SPEAKER_03 49:35

I'm just that's why I said the league minimum because that's oh yeah, yeah, the minimum. And I could just see him just totally just staying there just to keep going and playing and enjoying it.

SPEAKER_04 49:43

He might have been one of the most underpaid guys in his career as well, because remember, he took a friendly deal so the Kings could be able to, you know, keep the guys that they had on the roster you know on the team and provide, you know, he wanted me, he knew what he needed around him. He knew he needed his teammates. And there was definitely money left on the table uh when he negotiated his contracts because I'm sure there's everybody in the league would have sitting there and said, We'll take him in a heartbeat, and they would have paid him whatever he he said he wanted at that time because of the impact that he had uh on any on any given game.

SPEAKER_00 50:16

Yeah. Well, you know, the one thing I hope happens is uh when he does decide to retire that he signs a one-day contract and retires a king. Do you think that might happen?

SPEAKER_04 50:27

Uh, you know, I I that hasn't that hasn't even crossed my mind. Um you know, that's uh you know, uh uh you know a fairy tale, storybook type of, you know, thing that would be incredible. I mean, would I love to see it? Of course, I'd love to see it. Uh, you know, I again I was one of his biggest fans when he when he was with the Kings. I still am. I still follow what he's doing, and I'm looking forward to seeing him here. We're in New York right now. We're gonna see him in in the next day, and it's always good to embrace him. Uh, I taught his son how to skate, and uh his son is uh now following his dad's footsteps. Um he's uh where's that number 32? And every movement he makes in the net is just like his dad. So uh you know maybe he's gonna quick he's gonna hang along uh long enough so his son makes it to the NHL and then he'll just let him step aside and let him fill in for him.

SPEAKER_03 51:18

No, there you go. From one quick to another.

SPEAKER_04 51:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:23

Um you want to ask the question? You go ahead. I've been asking most of them. Yeah, so um we we want to know is how did your broad broadcast career get started?

SPEAKER_04 51:34

Yeah, that's uh that's kind of a crazy story. Um I was at the end of my career, I went over to Europe to play. I played a year in Italy and a year in England. And when I went to England, I went over as a player coach.

SPEAKER_00 51:46

And I've heard the story, I think, on Locked on Kings.

SPEAKER_04 51:51

Yeah, I think I better make sure I get it the same. I better say the same thing then, I hope. You know, at this age, you forget what you say sometimes. But uh, you know, I had negotiated a contract to go back and uh to coach there for for four years. And uh I was at a barbecue one weekend and somebody asked me, you know, what I was gonna do when I retired. I said, Well, I kind of retired, you know, I'm coaching now. And they said, Well, you ever thought of selling cars? And at that time, there's keys that went in the cars, and I said, I don't even know where the key goes in most cars, let alone, you know, anything about a car. I said, Well, come see me tomorrow. So I went in and I talked to a fellow the next day, and whatever he said to me, or whatever he put in my coffee that day, uh convinced me to retire from coaching and start selling cars. And I remember going home and telling my wife at the time I was married, and I said, Oh, I said, you know, you know, gonna, you know, we're not going back to Europe. And she was from California. She goes, Oh, she says you got a job with the Kings. I said, No, I said, I'm gonna sell cars. She goes, You don't know anything about cars. I said, Yeah, that's what I told them, but they told me I'd be good with my personality. And then she says, she followed up. She goes, Well, what are they gonna pay you? I said, I didn't ask. And she goes, What do you mean you didn't ask? So I go to the in the office the next day and talk to the guy who you know offered me the job. I said, What am I gonna get paid? He goes, Well, you know, you're on commission. You know, it's like, you know, if you don't sell over you know a certain period of time, you get minimum wage. So I go home and I tell her that. She goes, Commission? She says, minimum wage. She says, we're gonna starve. She says, you know, like you don't know anything about cars. I said, that's what I told him. I said, but he still told me I was gonna be good. Took me nine days to sell my first car. So I started in September, took me nine days to sell my first car. My tenth day, I sold five cars. By the end of the year, I was in the top handful of salespeople in dealerships our size across the country. Um, I had a great sales manager, taught me the business. I dove right into it. And time goes by. I'm at the airport one day picking up my brother. And that was at, you know, times when you could pull up on the curb, you could walk in the front doors of the airport, leave your car curbside, and walk back out. Well, Kings had just hired a new general manager, Sam McMaster, uh, that was in the Gretzky time there. And Sam was my general manager when I was nine years old. And he comes off and playing, hey Sam, how are you doing? He goes, you know, what are you doing? I said, Well, I said, I manage a Cadillac dealership. He says, Really? He says, I'm gonna need a car. He says, you know, I says, I'll, you know, give me your card. He says, I'll give you a call tomorrow. And he asked me what I was doing at the airport. I was told I was picking up my brother, and he knew my brother because he knew my family from Toronto and talked to my brother for a couple of months. He goes, Well, I'll give you a call tomorrow. I said, Oh, well, yeah, right. Well, he's been just being kind to me. I'll be down by 10 o'clock the next morning. He gives me a call and says, Hey, Darrell, he says, the King's told me to go ahead and get, you know, get a car from you. So they put us together with the PR department, and we ended up working a deal where we traded a few cars, we got a few season tickets, we got a picture in the program, and uh a 30-second radio commercial. And all the obligations have been fulfilled. We got the season tickets, we were going to games. Uh, got the picture in the program was me on the use on the car lot uh alongside the cars, and 30-second commercial hadn't been filled yet. And our advertising group that was handling hadn't talked to the kings. So the kings called me and they said, Hey, Daryl, you know, your advertising group hasn't called us. You know, you're losing out on airtime. And I said, Well, what you know, what are you guys looking for? You know, what do you what do you need? And he said, Well, you know, we need a 30-second commercial. So I talked to my boss and you know, my own uh president of my company, and I said, Hey, we're losing out on airtime. He goes, Well, why don't you go do it? I said, What do you mean, me go do it? I said, I don't know anything about doing a you know a commercial or an ad or whatever. He goes, Ah, he says, You'll be good. He says, you know, they know who you are. I said, they don't know who the heck I am. I says, you know, I was, you know, I was just a you know a player there for a couple of years and this and that. So I went in, uh, called, told the kings that I was gonna do it. And they said, okay. And Nick, who was my partner, uh, he was doing the games at that time. And uh he said, Well, would you like to come to the game as well? I said, Yeah, I'll come to a game. So I said, okay, come in at four o'clock, we'll do the commercial and and then uh stay for the game. Sounds good. So I get to the uh the old forum at that time and get there, you know, a little bit before four o'clock and go upstairs. And at that time, the the analyst on the broadcast was uh Mike Allison, the guy who had played against Kino for years. Yeah, yeah, junior hockey in that. And I said, Oh, you know, well, where's Mike? He said, Oh, you know, something happened back home whether somebody had passed, and he says, you know, he's making arrangements, he's gonna come do the game, and then he's gonna fly out tomorrow. I said, Oh, you know, sorry to hear that. So I'm sitting around, we did the commercial, and you know, everything was good. And then I was looking down, the game notes were there, and I saw that the Kings had a game the next night, and they were gonna play the St. Louis Blues. And I said to them, Well, who's gonna do the game with you tomorrow? He goes, Well, I hadn't thought about it. I said, I'll do it with you. And that's how I did my first game.

SPEAKER_00 56:36

Oh wow, what a story. I think.

SPEAKER_04 56:38

So being in the right being being at the right place at the right time and feel that you could do the job. I don't know what what made me think I could do the job, but but that's that's how it all came about.

SPEAKER_03 56:49

Wow. I mean I'm uh you know Derek, can you invite me up there so I can just you're like, hey, I could do it. Even though I'm just gonna do it. What are you trying to do? Take my job? Come on. No, no, no, of course. No, I could not do that. No, you I'm just saying I want to do something with sports so bad. You have no idea. But I was like, And you're doing you're doing it. You're doing it. Oh, I I want to get no, like paid. Like, I don't want to be doing what I'm doing anymore. Like, I mean, I love what I do, but I'd rather do something more with sports related. I feel like I it's more of my calling.

SPEAKER_00 57:22

Who knows? Maybe maybe you'll become a famous podcaster and make lots of money. Let's hopefully. You know what?

SPEAKER_04 57:28

Don't ever worry, don't worry about, don't ever worry about how much money you make. Find something that you like to do, and you feel you never work a day in your life. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 57:35

Yeah, I've heard I've heard that so many times, Daryl.

SPEAKER_04 57:37

Yeah, and it's it's so true, believe me. It's so true.

SPEAKER_03 57:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:40

Well, we're both sports nuts. We love most every sport. And you know, I can say now I could see this being a dream. I mean, I'm I'm I'm three years older than you, but I'm ha I have so much fun. I get to do it with my kid. It's such a blast. But um I want to skip the next question, Cody, and go to the other one because it it it deals with what we talk about, and then we can go to that question. Um because that's a really the biggest question I want to ask you, but we're gonna skip it for a second. Can you tell our fans what your typical day preparing for a game night is like and how long does that take?

SPEAKER_04 58:26

Well, for instance, we got a game tomorrow, so um start doing preparation. I'll do my pre- I like to do my preparation at night the night before, um, or the day of the game. Like if we didn't play for four or five days, I wouldn't do too much for the first couple of days. That's not to say I'm not watching hockey or monitoring what's going on, but in my actual preparation, uh I'm old school still, I write everything down. Uh I don't do a lot on the computer. Everything is handwritten. So I'll usually, you know, depending on the you know the opponent that we're playing against, if they're playing the night before, then I usually wait till the next morning to do my prep work. But uh I'll get all my notes uh you know set up. Um day of a game, head to the rink early in the morning. Sometimes I'll get a workout in before. If not, I'll do it uh after the pregame skate. But I'll go watch practice, uh, get a chance to talk to the guys, a couple of interviews, we talk to the coach, go back upstairs, finalize my notes, uh, you know, go through the sports can that uh you know covers all the cities and you know, just see what all the hot topics are around the league, watch a little bit of you know, sports shows and sport channels, uh check in on a couple of podcasts, what's going on, and then uh get a workout in uh and you know, clear my head, get it all straight and ready for the you know to go down. And usually I like to go downtown about three o'clock for you know a 7, 7:30 game, three o'clock or so. Uh sometimes in the afternoon I will skate with some kids. Uh I might go out and do a lesson or two before I go downtown. But aside from that, I'll go downtown and uh when I get down there, I know our sponsorship groups and things like that. Um I'll sometimes I'll speak to a couple of groups, do a little chalk talk before a game. I enjoy doing that because it gives me a chance to be able to kind of say the things that I've kind of put together in my preparation for the game. And uh it's just a way of getting uh prepared for the game. And then after the game, uh, you know, but it's a post-game show, uh going downstairs, uh, talk to the coaches again, talk to the players in the locker room, and roughly get home around midnight after a game and you know, and then look forward to doing it the next day. So it's it's a full day, uh, but it flies by. And it's great, you know, uh, you know, after getting downtown, you should get a chance to see, you know, the visiting team, uh, their media people, um, talk to the broadcasters from that team, and just uh the people in the rink. It's just great to you know bring that hockey fly family together and and uh get prepared for the you know for the evening ahead.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:59

Well, I gotta tell you, you're doing a great job with whatever you're doing preparing for the game. It just sounds like it's so fluid. Um I mean it it doesn't even look like you're pausing to look at a note for something. It's like you remember everything you prepared for. Well, and you do it.

Why The Sport Keeps Getting Faster

SPEAKER_04 1:01:19

One of the things I actually when you say that there, that I actually learned when I was in the car business, because I remember going to my first couple of uh you know things with the uh uh in the car in the automobile business that was there's so much information being thrown at me, and I'm sitting there, you know, I'm write trying to write down everything. And then my boss at that time told me, he says, you know what? He goes, pick out the things that you think are important or the things that people want to hear. And he said, then you want to nail those things. Like you're not gonna you're not gonna learn everything, you're not gonna know everything inside out. He said, So what you do is you pick out the things that you think are important, and of course, over the years, you know, I've massaged that a little bit. You know, you keep tweaking, you know, the way you prepare for a game, you learn a little bit from other broadcasters, and I've had, like I say, the great luxury of the guys that I've worked with, and Bob Miller, Nick Nixon, and Jim Fox, you know, Alex Faust over the years, and now you know, even Josh Schaefer. Uh, you know, I learned from these guys. So I I I put that to my prep. But um that was something I learned way back. So now I pick out you know certain things. So that way when it comes, I don't want to be reading notes during a game. The stuff that I I'm saying is in my head. I've studied that you know during the afternoon. The stuff like like going into yesterday's game, I know Kopatar needs you know one point to tie Marcel Dion. I know he needs two goals to get to 450 his career. I knew that Adrian Kempley's got a seven-game point streak going on. I know that he's had two seven-point games or seven game point streaks in the last 17 games. So, you know, those are things that I think are important that people want to hear. So that stuff is in my head. I when I listen to other broadcasts and different sports and all that, I can almost tell when somebody's reading. You know, it's on Jay Copetar, he just scored a goal and now he needs to, you know, for this. So it's I think the more the more knowledgeable about the things that you want to talk about, the better it's received by the by the by the listeners. And uh I I I pride myself in that. Um it's a lot of study, a lot of reading. Um, I I you know, I think I find myself that I learn when I put things from you know pencil or pen to paper. I think I'm learning it as I'm writing it and reading it together. So that's one way of uh myself being able to retain things.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:29

Well, I gotta tell you, you do a fantastic job at it. I mean I I never have been disappointed with how the broadcast goes, except for when we lose, of course. Um I don't like that part of it. But um I had my man.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:43

I had my man. Can't blame me.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:45

I mean, like like I said, I I always enjoy the game. Uh the results sometimes I don't enjoy.

SPEAKER_04 1:03:55

Yeah, no, I mean it and and that's that's what makes it tough, you know. And I know as as listeners and watchers, you know, viewers, and you know, even people that aren't you know, maybe watching or listening to that particular game, it's you know, they they they they take it personally. I mean, they they've got a lot invested in their teams, and it hurts when their team doesn't perform the way they want them to do. And that's why I think a broadcast is is so important for the way they they the way they translate what's going on and for you to be able to understand it and giving you behind the scenes information as to you know why this is happening, or you know, this is not, you know, uh this is not characteristic of this team, you know, that this this is just uh you know something that's not gonna happen all the time. So that's that's what's important, and that's why I think being around the team every day is so important. Uh, you know, I invest a lot of time going to the rink every day. I don't miss practice, um, I don't miss pregame skates, uh, you know, unless I've got a meeting to go to or if you know I'm doing an appearance somewhere. I'm at that rink uh doing something hockey every day, and uh that's what I think allows, again, you know, just to base the uh to build the uh the knowledge of what's going on with within our team and within the league.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:04

Well, your passion definitely comes through the radio. Just want to tell you that. So I mean you can tell that you're prepared and you're ready and you actually love what you do. But I'm gonna ask this question because uh to move it in a just a little bit different direction for just this one question. Tell us about your suits and your inspiration behind your amazing outfits, because I'm telling you why. Um we were at church before this, and uh I was mentioning to one of the guys there about we're having you on, and my wife pulls out her phone and shows a picture of your suit, and she took a picture of your matching shoes. And I'm going, and I actually wrote this question before that, but this just made it more interesting. Just to answer because I don't know if how often you spoke about that. I can't remember ever hearing what's what got you started, because I mean you light up the arena with what you do.

SPEAKER_04 1:06:15

Well, I I remember growing up and I remember when my mom and dad, you know, w when I bought when they bought me my first three piece suit. And I remember just how good it made me feel. Uh again, we didn't have a lot of money as a family growing up, and you know, to be able to get something like that was was special. And um that that was you know, that was real cool. And I remember my grandmother, she gave me a pocket watch that I you know, I took so much pride in wearing for so many years, uh, you know, with the vest and that. But um I think that's where it it all started. And and then eventually, you know, when it started to, you know, be able to buy my own clothes and, you know, I w I was playing, I just like things that were a little bit different. Um, and then when I first started to get a suit actually made, you know, and got presented with the cloth books and looking through them, it was the different stuff that caught my eye. And now as I look back at it, I think my suits are a little bit of a reflection of my personality. I mean, people say that I've got a lot of life and a lot of energy. And I think my suits reflect that. I like things different. I like things shiny. And it's just something that continues to keep growing. And I've got a young lady back in LA that uh she makes my suits now. Gentleman's Jersey is the name of her company. And she used to work on our uh our ice crew team years ago and you know she was at Fashion Institute and she said that uh you know I said to her yeah I asked all the kids what they were doing. She said I'm at Fashion Institute and this and that and I said oh men's clothing she goes no no no women's clothing I said well if you ever start you know selling or doing men's clothing I said let me know I says you know I'll be your first customer so a couple of years go by and um you know she came to uh my second Stanley Cup party with my son my son had invited her and she told me she was working for a men's clothing store. So she said can I bring you some of the books so she brought me some of the beautiful pinstripes and checks and things like that real, you know, real nice uh cloths. I said well you know me I like things a little bit different. And her eyes lit up my eyes lit up. She says all right she says I'll come see you in a week and she brought me some of those you know crazy materials that I wear now and um it uh it's just grown from there. So she's got her own little company and now when I go down to the you know the cloth store with her downtown I walk in there I'm like a kid in a candy store you know I'm looking around and uh you know I'm just looking all these materials and the young lady that was helping us out the one time we went, you know, the young lady makes my suits you know she's a beautiful young lady she has blonde hair you know she's always dressed to the nines and she goes one way I go one way and I'm yelling across hey Brook you know like you got to come see this one. And the young lady that was helping us says she goes oh she goes sir she says I don't know if that'll go with her skin color or you know or her or her hair and that I said it's not for her I said it's for me. She goes oh she says you want to make a tie. I said like heck I said I want to make a suit and I proceed to show her some of the pictures where the suits that this young lady had made for her. She goes wow those are cool so um like I say I I just like different things and uh I think there's a lot of energy and a lot of life it's a conversation piece for sure and I know you know over all the years you know a lot of people say I couldn't pull that off but you can pull it off you can put anybody can pull anything off that they want but uh I I love getting dressed up I love getting dressed up for you know for a game for a broadcast and uh I I love the fact too that uh that people notice it as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:37

How many suits do you bring on the road with you? Because like I know like sometimes you can plan it out they're like no I'm not filling this suit this game I've got to wear something different.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:46

But when I go plan that out well when I go on the go on the road I gotta be I gotta be a little bit more uh restricted because obviously I don't have the luxury of my closet and you ask how many I have I have roughly about 60 suits um that I that I swing into the rotation but on the road I'll take uh uh one suit for every game and then a suit to wear on non-game days so on this trip we've got a five game trip so I'll take six suits with me how many checked bags do you have well we we have the great luxury right now of traveling charter with the team so we're able we don't have to check a bag uh if not I'd be wearing one suit with probably six or seven different shirts and ties for the week.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:31

Because like like I said we're we're I'm planning and I'm like I have one check bag I'm like do I need to bring this do I need to bring that I'm an overpacker I know I am I it's a I'm horrible at it I'm trying to get better just like just like anything the more you do it I remember when I first you know broke into the league and I went traveling you know I was taking so much stuff with me I'm going I don't need all this stuff like you like the bag that I roll out with five or six suits in it you'd be shocked there's some great luggage out there they that really covers covers your uh you know your your clothing and uh and and keeps it and it's not big and bulky like you think it is.

Favorite Kings Moments And Kopitar

SPEAKER_00 1:11:09

So does this same uh lady that makes the suits make the shoes?

SPEAKER_04 1:11:14

No doesn't make the shoes so shoes I just kind of I'll kick around I mean I I like I like patent leather again it's got a little bit of a shine I'll I like that so I've got different styles of patent leather shoes. I think the one um one uh pattern shoe that uh you're probably talking about uh or she's talking about uh I just happened to go with that that one suit but I just saw those in a store and uh I got those um you know there's a couple of shoes that match you know colors but that wasn't done uh I just I just they were bought separately they weren't brought in you know together as a set I just kind of I pieced them together as I as I I got going.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:51

Obviously we thought they went together and had you had them made specifically for you but I gotta tell you no no no no no no no not I don't get I I didn't get paid as a player like they do today.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:02

Maybe I'd be doing that today but no chance.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:06

But but like I said not everybody could pull off what you do but you've made it your own and now it's probably hey what's Daryl gonna wear tonight? We want to see it. I mean because you always look fantastic and you always got that biggest smile on your face because we know you're we know you're doing what you love. I mean it's it's it's just apparent in everything that you do. And you're so approach Yeah go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 1:12:36

We all we all have the choice to do what we want. Find something that you want to do and you know I found something that I have a lot of passion for and a lot of love for um and I enjoy doing it. And because I like you say you know it it comes out in the way you carry yourself. And you know if if something you know doesn't make you happy then you shouldn't be doing it. Because I think when you do something that you like I think people pick up on uh the passion and how much you how much you embrace what you're doing. And uh there's no doubt and I you know you can never tell me enough it does you know it never gets old people tell me that you know when I see you you you love what you do and I do love what I do and you know I'll never I'll never pull back on that I I couldn't find anything you know I wouldn't change anything that I'm doing my life right now.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:22

So you know I you gotta promise me this um you don't retire till after I retire. Because I mean we lost Bob we lost Nick and two great people I I can't I know Jim's probably gonna retire pretty soon because he's been backing off on uh doing the TV stuff a little bit. I'm sure he'll retire pretty soon I hope you're gonna continue and forever man so I mean I just I just totally enjoy it.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:57

I I mean I enjoy it and um I don't have any intentions on you know stepping away from it uh I just you know I have too much uh too much fun doing it I've got I've got a lot invested in it and um you know I've built some great relationships you know over the years I love the connection with the people you know going around from city to city like bus drivers ushers uh people that we come across on a consistent basis year in and year out it's just it's it's it's just such a wonderful like I say the hockey world just being part of this you know this this dream has been incredible for me so uh I have no intentions on going anywhere you know in the future uh I want to do this as long as I possibly can and you know I've I've got to gotta continue to keep doing my homework you know keep up with youngsters that are you know that are coming into the game so I'll learn from another generation uh that comes up behind me as uh the same way that I've learned from the one that was ahead of me paving the way.

Jonathan Quick And The 2012 Run

Kings Playoff Push And New Coach

SPEAKER_00 1:14:53

Well you know you you you you seem to have your act totally together bro just gonna be honest. That's awesome. And I it's good news for Kings fans because I know I've never heard anybody say anything bad about you. So um and in this world that's that's news if you really think about it. So I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_04 1:15:18

Now a little bit about the Kings how can the Kings get back into the playoff race well it's you know they dug themselves a little bit of a hole um there has been definitely a real positive um boost since uh the coaching change and it's kind of natural uh you know a team always feels responsible and I remember even DJ Smith the you know the coach now for the Kings he even said it as well that you know as an associate coach at the time you know you all feel responsible when uh somebody is relieved of their duties as Jim Hiller was um so he's definitely had an impact uh the team has bought into the energy that he brings he's an energetic guy he's a loud guy um also you know an individual that had coached in the NHL before and he told us straight out that he's learned a lot from the time that he coached before uh he's a different coach he feels he's a better coach from the guys that he's been an associate to what he's learned from them uh ears open uh he's learned to deal with the generation the players because his kids are basically the age of some of these young guys coming up so um I like the direction the Kings are going right now. Unfortunately they're dealing with a couple of significant injuries but you know you can never replace guys like Kevin Fiala. Hopefully Joel Armia maybe that will return before the you know the regular season comes to an end. Kuzmenko as well we'll see what happens with him. But I think we've seen a lot in the young players um I think that uh you know that uh Ken Holland did a really good job at the deadline you know he didn't give up a lot to go out and bring the players in that he did you know we see that you know Lot I think has brought a spark to the team um you know and uh I think that you know those guys are going to have an impact uh moving forward you know Joseph played his first game with the Kings and I thought he was good brought exactly come as as as advertised you know energy type of guy um I think some of the young guys you know are gonna are getting a great opportunity it's a kind of a uh an audition time you're getting put into different roles because of injuries and because of a new coach so you're earning your you know your extra ice time but the kings are in a good spot right now I still think they're in a spot where they can control their own destiny. The runway is a little bit on a shorter side now because of where they are in the season and the games that they have left and the opponents that they play against but um you just have to take it one game at a time. I know there's a lot of um you know watching you know out of town scores and things like that but you've got to take care of your own business. If you don't win your own games uh nothing's gonna happen you can't expect other teams to continue to keep losing so um you know I think they've underachieved a little bit this year I think the expectations were a little bit greater and one thing that uh DJ Smith said one of the first things that he said to us he didn't think that the Kings had gotten over the defeat against the Edmonton Oilers last year in the playoffs. And that was the first time we've heard you know the the the coaches say anything like that. So I think that was kind of you know they they kind of dug their heels in at that point and said okay enough's enough let's park it and leave it and I think now that they've moved on so I I think uh they're going in the right direction now it's just a matter of executing and getting it getting a job done. Uh it's not going to be an easy task but it's it's one that's attainable.

SPEAKER_00 1:18:41

You know one thing I said at the start of the season you know because we've obviously got knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last four years is one of the keys was for Quentin Byfield to take another step up. Um I know he plays hard I see how hard he plays why hasn't he taken that next step? What does he need to do? I mean I know you're an expert at this more than I am and I want to I want to hear the answer to that because I think he's key. I really think if we got him playing not even as good as Celebrini but somewhere towards that how much better would we be and I think the key no go ahead go ahead no I I don't I want to hear that answer from you.

The Accidental Start Of Broadcasting

SPEAKER_04 1:19:33

I'm ready yeah I w I wish I had that answer. Um you know I I think when you when you look at Byfield uh he's a great talent his skating ability his size he shoots the puck extremely well I still think he's he's a young guy growing into that big body and a big responsibility I think you look at the time when he played on the wing with Kopitar and Kempe and I think they were great mentors for him uh they did a great job in you know getting him to the next level to I think where we really started to believe that you know quent byfield is going to be a superstar in this league. Sometimes it takes players a little longer. Look at how long it took uh on you know Adrian Kempe to get to the level where he's at now and right now he's a he's an elite player well respected clear across the globe uh by any team in a national hockey league as well. Well Byfield you know he's he's got a ways to go to get to that you know he's a guy that can kill penalties he's a guy that play on the power play play the wing play center you know he's got to get a little bit more efficient in the face-off circle I look at sometimes you know with Kopotar when you look at him in his position the role that he is the figure that he is within the organization you know he sits atop the Kings Mountain with the most points now in franchise history that can be intimidating for a young guy you know byfield's been with us a handful of years but you gotta remember he's still just a couple of years into his twenties I think with Kopotar stepping aside I really gonna I think we're really gonna see Byfield evolve because now the team gets put upon his shoulders. Like I still think you look aside you know you use it almost as a crutch like Kopey will do it. And Kopey's not going to be there next year. So you know that's I think he's gonna be that guy that's called upon. And I think you know DJ Smith right now, you know the way he's putting the lines together I like the chemistry that he's got on his line he's making him take more of an alpha role on that line. You know whether or not you know he is a centerman or a winger maybe he might be a better winger who knows with the ability to still be able to play center that might get all ironed out here in the offseason too when the Kings find out I mean with Copetard leaving who they acquire whether it via trade or free agency in the in the center position because you know the Kings need help down the middle of the ice there's no doubt about it. They went out and got Dubois that deal didn't work out and then Deneau leaving at the beginning of the year you know that kind of left a little bit of a void but what it did was it gave the Kings an opportunity to be able to assess what they had in the organization. Armee has been a great addition to this hockey club um his versatility his ability to be able to play up and down the lineup different positions. So he's been a great asset. So I think the Kings will get that figured out but I think you'll see byfield here and you know hopefully it starts now and I think we're starting to see a little bit of that direction going with the line that he has right now with LaFerriere and Trevor Moore. They built a lot of chemistry they're you know they might not be getting the results that they're looking but the the opportunities are coming about and you know the King's organization for the last 20 years has always been anybody regardless of who you are how many goals you've scored you're playing a 200 foot game. So he does play a 200 foot game and that's that's a credit to him for buying into that a lot of young guys you know you get drafted high and you're I don't need to do that this is this is my game I'm going that way. So he has bought into that and that's a that's a credit to him. So uh that you know that tells me he's coachable. Uh you know he's not on an island of his own he wants to help the team and he's learning to help the team so I I think next year is a real pivotal year and I think we're gonna see the Quentin byfield that a lot of people you know in the organization and around anticipated he would eventually become well that's a great answer.

SPEAKER_00 1:23:30

And I you know I I have a guy at work that it's I mean to be honest he every time he'd come in I'm a supervisor now so I stay in the office I don't drive as much and he'll come up he goes so when are we gonna fire Hiller? When are we gonna fire Hiller?

SPEAKER_04 1:23:47

And then he goes why don't we just get rid of Byfield I go he's I I same thing you said he's young I go he does play 200 foot hockey I've noticed that I mean he's play a penny killer you know and he goes well you know look at what Celebrini's doing I go Celebrini's a special talent you know I mean it really is I mean for yeah he's like McDavid came in and just he could play you know not every teenager can come in and do that and I go and you know one thing I buy feels like six five and it's a little takes them a little longer to to get into that big body you know they're just not as agile as a you know that that four inches makes a difference you know six one to six five and so go ahead if I can just interject there for a second like and when you look at you know again and Cellabrini's one heck of a hockey player believe me uh you know he's got he's got everybody's attention you know being picked by the Olympic team going out there playing the way that he did excelling the way he has but a lot of times these young guys these young guys when they start out at you know 18 years of age you know let's face it they're not getting drafted by the Stanley Cup championship team they're getting drafted by a team that is in immediate need. So those players are coming in immediately like when Quentin Byfield was drafted by the Kings there was a Copitar there was a Dano these guys are in place so you're not stepping in the one C right off the bat.

SPEAKER_00 1:25:17

That's true.

SPEAKER_04 1:25:17

You know so celebrating he goes in and again he's earned every little bit of it but you know he can play that position but I think that's where like young young guys like that you'll see their numbers like e even Bedard you know like he he goes into a non-playoff team you know the young guys in Anaheim look at the way how much that they've developed over the first couple of years you know like Zegris is a great example too you know he goes to a team that you know was a non-playoff team and you know it took a change now look at the where his his game's evolved he's playing a you know more complete game so it takes some players a little bit longer. And you know you're gonna get young players that are going to come in and because the team's lower in the standings they're getting more of an elevated role. So that's going to increase the situations the offensive situations you're gonna play the power play because you know people want to see it. They're selling that your organization is selling that because you know they've got they've got to they've got to generate some some energy within the fan base. And um so I think you know I I'm gonna give byfield a little bit of benefit a bit of a doubt in that regard that you know he's he's had a you know a tough uh act to follow for the for the years and tough guys to beat out like how do you sit there and say I'm gonna play Quentin Byfield over Anj Kopotar when Andre Kopotar doesn't go away. He just keeps coming out and doing what he's been doing for 1500 games.

If The Kings Fall Short

SPEAKER_00 1:26:33

Yeah it's incredible what Kopotar's career has been. Obviously probably the greatest king ever as far as just being a king. I mean because we obviously Gretzky was the great one but he didn't have his whole career and even his best years were in Edmonton. And then Marcel also had played other he played at Detroit and then I can't remember who he played after. Rangers and so forth so um I had one last question for you um do you want to say it Cody you want me to an another jersey question for for Daryl something to kind of switch it up ask ask your question and then I'm gonna change it up after okay if the Kings fail to make the playoffs or get knocked down out in the first round again what needs to happen next I mean I you got a hockey mind probably far beyond what we have.

Game Day Prep And Note Taking

SPEAKER_04 1:27:35

I'm curious what you would think I think you know if if you're looking at if you're looking at the Kings team um you know there'll be a question with regards to coaching um I think DJ Smith is going to get himself a really good chance here to you know prove himself and I think he's definitely trending in the right direction. So that'll be a decision that'll be made between you know Ken Holland Luke Robotai you know ownership and things like that and and the direction they want to go with coaching. I think that DJ Smith is showing right now uh in the response that he's gotten from the team uh the indication that he can do the job there is a need as I said they've got to address the centerized position they're gonna need help up the middle uh they're gonna have to get uh you know a little bit younger they need the injection of speed I think some of the King's young players um like LaFerrier's you know he's progressing nicely we talked about byfield he's got to take that next step coming into next year uh Brant Clark is definitely growing a lot he's you know he's he's stepping in the right direction he's now taking over that number one Position on a power play. I think the King's already made a step that reflects in going into next year and has already had an impact. That's the addition of Artemi Panarin. You know, he's he's a legit player, a legit superstar in this league. You know, and he's proved that what he can do and the impact that he can have on a game. He's a game changer. Um Kevin Fiala coming back and healthy will definitely have an impact. I think the Kings need another puck mover on the blue line. They need uh another little bit of uh youth energy and puck mover coming back from the backside. I think when the team was built going into the season, they were built to compete in the first round of the playoffs. What's it gonna take to beat a team like the Edmonton Oilers? So they added veteran defensemen, guys like Cody Cece, Brian Dumeland. Uh you already got Joel Edmondson back there. A lot of experience back on the blue line. Play that big, heavy style of playoff hockey. But before you get to the dance floor, you've got to be able to play regular season hockey. And this year is a real, real unique year because of a compressed schedule within an Olympic year and everybody going to the Olympics. You look at the injuries taking three weeks out of the schedule. So I think all general managers have to be a little bit more patient and ownership. Don't be too drastic when you go into the offseason, say, oh, get this, get rid of this, get rid of that, get rid of this. Let's settle things down. Again, this is one year, it's been a real abnormal type of year. So I think you really have to assess what you've got going on. So the Kings, I think, centerman, puck moving defensemen, um, and they need a little bit more from you know from their younger guys. So younger guys need to take that next step. I think because of the way things went, you know, you move Fogle out, uh, Corey Perry gets moved out. This gives the young guys a chance. So they're going to get a good chance to take a look at guys like like Ward. You know, you've seen what he's capable of doing. Helenius is having a big growth this year. Malot, that fourth line has been really good. Um Wright has come up and opened up some eyes. So I I think the Kings are they're right now analyzing, assessing a lot of things. And um, you know, whether or not you know drastic changes are made, uh, I think the one thing that we can say is there's going to be a you know a legit, you know, top top end centerman out there that'll be able to assist, whether it be byfield in that position, and uh a puck moving defenseman. Uh I think uh you put that in the Kings lineup. I think uh the Kings are you know still a very competitive hockey club and they've got a lot of a lot of tools that still have potential to grow.

SPEAKER_00 1:31:16

I love that. Okay, Cody. Change the pace.

SPEAKER_03 1:31:23

I see you have you've had five different jersey numbers across your career. Can you tell me which one was your favorite jersey number and why all you picked those numbers?

SPEAKER_04 1:31:34

First of all, I didn't pick them. Back back back then they assigned them to you. Even fifty even 15 in LA, I didn't pick that number. I think I might even have worn number three for the first game when we were on the road because back then the trainers carried just a couple of extra jerseys and they had Velcro on the back of them. So off came the name, uh, on went to the next guy. So uh none of those numbers were by choice. I don't even remember what all my numbers were. I couldn't even tell you what the numbers that I wore uh in all the places. But uh uh the number 15, um, you know, it's just that was that was given to me. And uh so I always I always look at that. That's got that's got a special place in my heart, you know, because of uh, you know, the way things went for me in in in Los Angeles. First of all, them giving me the opportunity to play on the Kings, and uh, you know, and then fortunately to be able to have some success and and go on what I do now.

Miracle On Manchester Goal Story

SPEAKER_03 1:32:25

Okay. And the last question that I have is you scored probably one of the most famous goals in Kings history. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:32:32

Can you tell me the question I was gonna ask?

SPEAKER_03 1:32:35

So can you like tell me like what was it like scoring the overtime winner for the Miracle Man Miracle on Manchester?

Suits Style And Road Wardrobe

SPEAKER_04 1:32:42

Uh, you know, it was it was something unbelievable. Um, and I've said it, you know, time and time out. Something I've learned to appreciate more over the years than I probably did that actual night. I'm gonna tell you a unique story that I tell everybody about that particular game. Well, first of all, the playoffs that year, um, the roster got expanded from 19 to 20 players. Now I got called up with 14 games left in the regular season, so I played 14 games. I think I had two goals and six assists, I think I had eight points. The year before that, Don Perry, who was coaching the Kings during the year 81-82, the Miracle of Manchester, he was my coach in Saginaw, Michigan. I got called up to the Kings farm team in the International League. And I played three games for the last three games of the regular season. I ended up scoring three goals and three assists. And Don Perry, who was the coach down there, he said, Hey, Zadrell, he says, I like the energy that you provide. He says, you know, if you'd like to stay stick around, he says, you know, we'd like to have you around for the playoffs. He says, You won't play because the only way you can get into a game is if four players are hurt. So the chances of that happening in the playoffs are slim and none, and slim just left on the bus. So I said, okay, you know, I'll be, you know, I'll hang around and stayed there for seven weeks. They went on to win the championships in the International League, and great experience. He got to know me, I got to know him. The next year he was my coach in New Haven, Connecticut. Started the season off there. Midway through the season, he got called up, became the coach of the Kings. I broke my wrist in January, and the trade deadline comes up in March. I get called up by the Kings. And of course, Don Perry's the coach there, and he goes, Hey, Daryl, he says, you know, just like a couple of years ago when you got called up to Saginaw, he says, You've got some injuries, you know, you're going to get some ice time and and all that. And I said, Oh, you know, great. Of course, he was familiar with you know who I was and what I was and what I was capable of doing. And so I played the regular season. After the regular season ended, he says, Well, he goes, you know, the guys are healthy and odds. So he says, You probably won't, you know, probably won't play in the playoffs again. I said, no problem, you know, I'll be around. And next day he comes to me and goes, hey Darryl, he says, the NHL, he said, uh, we were just in a meeting with George McGuire. He says, they're expanding the roster from 19 to 20 players. He says, I'd like to get you, you know, you know, to dress you in the game, you know, for that 20th player. He says, No, no, you're not going to play. He says, but he goes, your energy, he says, your positivity. He says, I think you'd be, you know, great to have on the bench and you know, be around. I said, hey, you know, put me on the bench. You know, he says, I'll be a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. Give me a couple of pom-poms, all yell scream, you know, I'll do whatever I got to do. You know, have the best seat in the house. So it comes about, the roster gets expanded, and I get I get that 20th spot. So we go in Edmonton game one, and the game's not going too well. Edmonton jumps out to a 4-1 lead. I'm on the fourth line. I'm down at the end of the bench there with my linemates, not getting much ice time. And you know, he's looking down the bench and he's probably looking, you know, I've got a couple of stiffs down there. Let's put those guys out there, you know, we know see what they're capable of doing. Well, we go on to win the game 10-8. I had two goals, two assists. I was a first-star hockey night in Canada from my very first playoff game. So, you know, what you know, w how how could the night get any better than that? Um, and the next night, we go, you know, we're playing at Edmonton. The Oilers beat us 3-2 in overtime. Gretzky scores, and, you know, of course, Edmonton finished 46 points ahead of us that year in the standings. So they were supposed to trounce us, you know, 3-0. So already 1-1. We'd we'd already won the series in our mind, you know, like, hey, we don't have to do anymore. You know, we we got a game. Let's let's have let's have a parade, you know, like this. This is great. So we go back to LA and you know, Edmonton's got the momentum. They had the 3-2 overtime win, and they jump out to a 5-0 lead in the Miracle on Manchester. Well, that game's going along. I get in with nine in the third period. Our mindset was, you know, let's win this period. We got it, we got to give our fans something, you know. And that was a mindset. We win the period, and then we can set the tone for the next game and try and even things up. So we go out, Jay Well scores early on the period, make it 5-1. Crowds into a little bit, midway through the period, we get a goal as 5-2. And now it's kind of looking respectable. Um, at nine, with I think it was 9.56 left in the third period. That's when they had that dancing room in the NHL when there was uh an altercation going on. And if you hung around and you danced with a partner, you got 10 minute misconducts. So I got 10 minute misconduct along with everybody else that was on the ice. We all went to the locker room. And I remember one of the guys saying, I know, take your gear off. And I said, No, you know, like, you know, you never know. You never know what's going to happen, you know. Like, you know, give me a chance. You know, I'd love to get a chance to play in overtime. And we proceed to go on and, you know, get to within three, you know, made five three, made it five four. And with five five seconds left, Steve Bozak ties it to make it five five. So in overtime, we start the game off in the penalty box because we still got four seconds left in our misconducts. So we go over there, and first whistle we're able to come out. And then I remember going to the bench, we go there, and we're sitting on the bench, and can't remember what teammate dumped the puck towards the net. And Grant Fuhrer, who was the goalie for the Oilers, he had a chance to play the puck or hold on to it. He elected to hold on to it. And now as I look at that, it's like it just stands out in my mind that you know, you should have played the puck, get rid of it. And we had a face-off in the offensive zone, and Don Perry, our coach, throws Doug Smith of Steve Bozak, and myself. So we were three rookies going out on the ice here in an overtime game, a 5-5 game. And I was playing on my off-wing. And at that time, the way the face-off circles were on the ice, there was only one hash mark. So I was lined up right beside Kevin Lowe, and he's got his stick in my gut, and my, you know, I'm going like, ah, this is ridiculous. You know, I got to get away from this guy a little bit. So I backed off about two, three feet, you know, so he couldn't get his stick on me. And of course, Doug Smith works magic, he wins the draw. I go towards the puck, close my eyes, hammer it, goes over Grant Fear's shoulder, we win the game six-five. Two nights later, we play again in in LA. They beat us three to two again. And there was no plan on being a game five, right? Like, I don't want to say there wasn't a plan, of course there was a plan, but there was nobody thought the series was ever going five games. Both teams flew on the same plane going back to Edmonton for game five. Quietest plain, quiet as plane ride I've ever been on. It was, and then we went in, we won that game 7-4. And what was ironic, that was the year the Greske gets 92 goals. I think they set the record for the most goals in NHL history in the series. We win the 10-8 game, we win the 6-5 game, we win the 7-4 game, and they win the 2-3-2 games. We won all the high-scoring games, and they had all the firepower, which was really crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:39:13

And that's like the complete opposite of like King's 2. Like even right now, like that's that's crazy.

SPEAKER_04 1:39:21

So that's the day of the miracle on Manchester, after the pregame skate in the morning, I get a call at the hotel, at the Airport Park Hotel. And it was my old uh Billet family that I lived with in Niagara Falls in junior hockey. And I get a call and say, Hey Daryl, this is Carl Johnson. Hey, Mr. Johnson, how are you, sir? He goes, Oh, Mildred and I are visiting my Air Force buddy down in San Diego. Any chance I can get tickets to a game tonight? And I said, Well, I said, I've had my, you know, we got two uh two tickets as a player. I said, I have my two tickets as the game sold out. He goes, Okay, I'll take them. He says, I'm not sure if I'm coming with Mildred or I'm coming with my Air Force buddy, but he said, I'm coming to the game. I said, All right, I'll give you a couple of passes, I'll meet you after the game. He says, Deal. I said, Okay. Now, Carl and Mildred, the family I live with in junior hockey, they were an elderly couple. They'd never been to a hockey game in their lives. So the first game, Steve Larmer was my roommate from the Chicago Black Sock. He was my roommate in junior. We lived with the same family. And we invited them to a game one night. So they come to a game one night, and we go home after the game, and Stevie and I were smiling, and you know, she had a little cup of cocoa and a little piece of pie waiting for us when we got in, and she was in her, you know, in her night robe and her things ready for bed. And she said, Oh, she says, boys, that that was a tough game tonight. And we're sitting there going, what do you mean, tough game, you know? We because we won the game 7-4. And she goes, she goes, Wow, she goes, and so uh I think Stevie said, he goes, Well, what do you like, what do you mean, like tough? You know, like what she says, well, we left when it was 4-1. And we said, Well, we came back, we won 7-4. And then Carl, the Carl the husband comes out of the bedroom and goes, damn it, Mildred. He says, I knew we shouldn't have left. He says, you know, he said, we should have stayed. So I said, No, you can never leave a game until it's done. So that's story number one for there. I get traded my last year of junior down the road to Brantford, Ontario, and it's about an hour drive or so from Niagara Falls. So one Sunday afternoon we play a game at two or three o'clock in the afternoon. I invite Carl and Mildred down from Niagara Falls. My mom and dad are coming down from Toronto, and we're gonna they're gonna come to watch the game, we're gonna go have pizza and spaghetti after the game. Okay. It's late in the game, a couple of minutes left in the game. Three-nothing for the other team. And Mildred says to Carl, Oh, Carl, let's just go. Daryl's, Daryl's not gonna want to you know see us after the game. He goes, Mildred, you go, remember that 7-4 game? He says, You know, Daryl told us you can't leave till the game's over. He says, There's only two minutes left. He says, No, he says, we gotta stay. So I scored with a couple of minutes left, made it 3-1. With six seconds left in the game, I set up my partner, uh my line mate, we made it three to two. We're lined up at center ice. So the centerman, he ties up the centerman. I just the puck's laying there, I just want to throw it at the net to get an offensive zone face-off. Goalie misplays it, it goes in the net. So we tie the game 3-3. And in over time, I score, so we win three, you know, 4-3. I had three goals and an assist, and you know, two and a half minutes of play or three minutes of play, whatever it was. And wow. So that story, of course, sits with him. So the night of the 5-0 game, Edmonton's ahead, 5-0 at the end of two periods. Carl had come to the game with his Air Force buddy. And at the end of the second period, his buddy goes, Come on, Carl, he goes, Let's go. He goes, This game is well over. He says, This is long over. And so Carl proceeds to tell him the two stories that I just told you. He goes, Carl, he goes, that's junior hockey. He said, you know, this is this is the NHL. They're playing against Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers. And he says, See the little guy with the beard? He told me you never leave a game till it's over. He says, So I'm not leaving. So if you want to go back, go back, he says, I'll stay at the hotel tonight with Daryl and I'll take the train back tomorrow. Well, he talks him into staying, and uh, you know, the rest the rest is history after that. And the guy they stood around after and he said, I had to stay and shake your hand. He said, I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself. And uh so and with regards to Carl Johnson, my Billet family uh uh there, I should have bought him season tickets everywhere I went because every time he came to a game Magic Matt Magic showed up. So uh I just thought that was uh a good story to tell.

SPEAKER_00 1:43:25

That is such an awesome story, Daryl. I mean, I and it, you know, coming from your lips to our fans, I mean, I I I gotta tell you, it's been what a what a great episode. I mean, I was totally excited when Cody called me and said he he had got you to uh come on, and I'm going like, man, this this thing we're doing is it's growing. And you know, people like you help us.

SPEAKER_04 1:43:56

Least we can do it. It's great to see people like yourselves that want to promote our our great game because there it is a great game, and there's so many great personalities in our game, so many great people, and so many great stories to tell. And uh uh, like I say, I I appreciate all you guys do and and your efforts to be able to you know expand and grow our game to you know some people that uh you know have never have never watched a game.

SPEAKER_00 1:44:21

Well, it's our ultimate goal is to to bring hockey above football. You had your work cut out for you there.

SPEAKER_03 1:44:30

We we do, we do, but I mean I gotta tell you we all we need is Daryl and his billet family, and we can make that comeback.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:39

I love it. You might have to go to training camp as a player next year, then.

SPEAKER_00 1:44:43

I bet you could I bet you could score a goal still. I bet you could.

SPEAKER_04 1:44:47

Oh, geez. You know what? People, you know, because I I I keep myself in relatively good shape. You know, I keep, you know, I work out, I train, I run and jump rope and all that kind of stuff. People say you can still play. I said, are you nuts? I said, the speed of this game, I said, these players are so quick. I said, I'd be standing centerice, they dropped the puck. I said, the puck had already gone into one of the nets. I wouldn't know which one it was, and we'd be lining up again for the next one. I said, it's I said, I wouldn't even try to compete. I said, these guys are so strong. I mean, the training, the, you know, the stuff, the knowledge that they have. Uh, you know, I watched the guys train in the gym, the, you know, the flexibility, the range of motion of their muscles, the size that they are, it's it's like I say, it's it's it's humbling when you see how good these guys are today.

Why Seeing Hockey Live Converts Fans

SPEAKER_03 1:45:28

Yeah. Well, you've given us you know an hour and almost 45 minutes. Uh we don't want to take too much of your time and everything, especially on your probably one day off uh before tomorrow, and then and you got to travel back. Do you want to plug anything before we get out of here?

SPEAKER_04 1:45:46

I mean, I just uh you know, just again, plug listening to guys like yourselves. And you know, if you haven't seen a game live, go out and watch. And I know uh sometimes people complain about games being expensive, but I know the practices are always open to the to the public. So you get a chance to go into a practice rink, you can be able to see the players. It's more of an intimate setting. You're right there, you can see the expressions on the guys' faces, you can hear them talking to each other. They're a lot more relaxed, and sometimes you can get an autograph or you know, you get a puck flipped over the boards, but get yourself around our great game and you're gonna meet some great people. It's uh it's a fun place to be. It's been a big part of my life and will continue to be a big part of my life uh for eternity.

SPEAKER_03 1:46:24

I I always try to tell people if they've never they're not a hockey fan. I always tell them, like, well, have you my first question is, have you ever been to a game live? And 90% of the time they're like, No. I'm like, I guarantee you, when you go and see a game live, you're you're gonna become a fan. And they're like, really? And it's funny because when the uh the two friends that we're going to Nashville with, um he used to make fun of me because I used to always get updates for you know the Ducks games, Angels games, and stuff like that. And he's like, he's like, is hockey even that fun to watch? He's like, I've seen it on TV and stuff like that. I'm like, I'm like, okay, how about this? When the I think it was like the playoffs just finished and stuff like that for the Ducks. And I was like, hey, next season we're gonna go to a game. And you're gonna see what I'm talking about. We go to a game, the ducks were losing, I want to say like two by one, I know for sure one goal, and there was like five minutes left. They're like, hey, let's go. I'm like, no, I'm not leaving. We're only down by a goal. And he's like, he's like, they're not coming back. I'm like, hey, if you guys want I drove myself. You guys want to leave, leave. Be my guest. I'm staying. And sure enough, everyone ended up staying. Corey Perry ties it with like six seconds left, and I think they just started doing three-on-three overtime. Okay. So this is when before coaches got ruined three on three overtime, and it was just chaos for five minutes, and we were all hooked, and then they go into shootout, and the ducks end up winning. Now he's a ducks fan, he goes to games all the time. Um, back then, uh him and his wife at the time, they went to the next home game without me. Like, and and now he's uh and so now he's a hockey fan. And so I'm like, that's why I was talking like go to games live, and it's gonna change your perception on the game, and you're gonna see how entertaining it is.

SPEAKER_04 1:48:16

It is I think I think that's definitely the key, is to get to a game live. Uh, it's one of the most addicting sports out there, and I think you really have to be in the arena to free appreciate it, feel the energy, feel the speed, the physicality in the game. After that, it makes it a lot easier to watch on TV. But you get there live, and you're gonna convert a lot of people into becoming hockey fans.

SPEAKER_03 1:48:36

And well, we always try to bring new people, and I always tell them like if you have questions, ask. Like, I will happily like what's this rule? What like why do they call that? Oh, like what's that blue line? What's the red? I love helping people learn the game.

SPEAKER_00 1:48:50

Yeah. You know, so we actually have hockey 101 episodes in our first season. Oh, you know, about rules, about what what's icing, all you know, all the terminology, even though it's not always used, which some of it I didn't even know.

SPEAKER_04 1:49:07

Well, I think that I think that that's something that you can learn as you go on. You don't need to know all that, have all that knowledge to watch your first game. You know, like there's gonna be I mean, there's still things come up in a broadcast, you know. We even still pull, you know, you know, something will happen, and we'll look at the rule book and like, okay, you know, like no nobody knows at all. I mean, yeah, you know, and you don't have to know it all to enjoy watching the game.

SPEAKER_03 1:49:27

And that's why I tell people like just go to a game. If you're confused, call me, text me. Yeah, so I I actually had a friend who was watching, he was watching the playoffs. He's like, hey, like, why did they call this goal back? And then I go on my phone, I look at the play, I'm like, oh, like you can't run into the goalie, it's goalie interference. Yep. Even though that's what that's a one rule that I I can never understand. Especially after watching the Ducks game last night. So um, I don't know if you saw that play or not, but let's just say I heard I heard about it.

SPEAKER_04 1:49:56

I haven't seen it yet, but I heard about it, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:49:58

Yeah, it was just I'm not happy about it. It was go they didn't call it, but it was go. I mean, he basically skated right into the his right skate, pulled his foot out, and the puck went by him on the left, so he couldn't push off.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:12

I mean, I can't nobody nobody was near the player. So he the the senator, uh auto senator, I don't want to say a stutzla, he went in on his own, nobody forced him in. Because I know that's the big thing. Yeah, and he like I said, it wasn't all contact, but it was enough where just enough to prevent him from doing his job. Yeah, yeah. The puck went to Husso's left, and he could and since Stutzla kind of hit Husso's right skate, Husso. Couldn't push off and moves. And yeah, I was like, I don't know how even the senators broadcast was shocked that they didn't call it. So, but like I said, that's one rule I will never understand. But um, but man, you gave us almost two hours of your time. We really, really appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 1:50:57

Appreciate you, Daryl. Um, like I said, a lot of times I listen to the game on the radio. I I I love it on the radio. I you guys are great. I mean, I miss Nick, I miss Nick, but you know, you guys always seem to pick up someone who can do it, and you know, obviously he's probably learning a lot from you. So I mean it's I appreciate it again.

SPEAKER_04 1:51:22

And uh yeah, Josh is doing a great job. He's been with us now for a handful of years. Uh started off with the rain and you know, did a couple of games. He's done a couple of games on TV. Uh he's got a great future ahead of himself. And you know, John Kelly coming over to working with Jim on uh on the TV side of things. Uh, you know, the wealth of experience and knowledge he has of the leagues, having worked with St. Louis for so many years, you know, we're we're blessed to have him as well. So we've got uh we've got a we've got a good group, and I think uh our group, you know, just tries to, you know, br bring a pr uh across uh you know a good uh production of what we're seeing on the ice and uh uh try to be as uh you know as unbiased as possible, you know, just uh make sure that you know we we tell you what you know what we're seeing or hearing.

Final Thanks And Subscribe

SPEAKER_03 1:52:08

Well thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it. Um like I said, Dad, you want to say anything else before we get out of here?

SPEAKER_00 1:52:15

Well uh this was a special episode. We don't have to do our usual sign-off and stuff. Uh I mean if if you would hang on for a second, you could I mean he created a song for us that we'll play at the end, or is it gonna play?

SPEAKER_03 1:52:29

I'm gonna I I gotta add it post-production, but I can I could probably play it um after we I stopped the recording.

SPEAKER_00 1:52:37

I mean, Eddie Eddie Garcia was pretty impressed with the song. Yeah. Okay. All right, so let it roll.

SPEAKER_03 1:52:43

All right. Well, let me we'll stop this and then I'll I'll after we're done recording, I'll play it for you. So thank you everyone again uh Rolly Quacked, and thank you, Daryl Evans, for this amazing interview episode.

SPEAKER_04 1:52:54

Don't please a like and best of luck. Subscribe. Yeah, best of luck, guys. Keep up the great work.

SPEAKER_00 1:53:00

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:53:08

Father and son, upon so strong, talking hotkey all day long. Royally quacked the podcast show, sharing stories highs and lows. From the keys, to the dark day go and go, King Go.