The Bucks Network Podcast: Recent Episodes
Chris Keck
Welcome to the Bucks Network Podcast, the official podcast of BucksNetwork.ca. This podcast is the number one source of interviews of current and former players, coaches and staff of the Cranbrook Bucks, as well as others relative to the Bucks and the BC Hockey League.
Episode 13 of the Bucks Network Podcast features a sit-down interview with Wenatchee Wild General Manager Bliss Littler.Littler discusses a playing career that included some junior and college hockey before getting into coaching.A career behind the bench led Littler to Wenatchee, where he’s coached in both the North American Hockey League and the BC Hockey League with the Wild organization.Littler details his time in Wenatchee, signing a 10-year extension as GM of the Wild, and the young careers of his children Cade and Grace as well — among other things. Enjoy!
In episode 11 of the Bucks Network Podcast, Chris Keck is once again joined by the Bucks play-by-play voice Wylie Henderson. The two of them discuss the Bucks first full regular season in the BCHL and look ahead to the team’s first-ever playoff series against the Prince George Spruce Kings. You will also hear clips from Bucks players AJ Vasko about playing in Prince George, Noah Quinn about playing in big games, and Rhys Bentham about getting to playoffs and committing to Yale University. Enjoy!
In episode 10 of the Bucks Network Podcast, Chris Keck is joined by Wylie Henderson as the Bucks broadcast duo teams up for the first time on the show. The episode features an interview that Wylie recorded with Mike Di Stefano, the BC Hockey League’s all-time games played leader. Di Stefano played 297 games over five seasons in the BCHL before heading over to Italy to play three professional seasons, and also playing internationally for Italy as well. Chris and Wylie open the episode talking briefly about the end of the Bucks regular season before providing some background on Di Stefano. You’ll then hear the interview with Di Stefano, who talks about navigating through his five years in the BCHL, turning pro, and then wrapping up his hockey career to settle down with his family. He provides some great knowledge, insight, and experience to hockey players of any age. Chris and Wylie them wrap up the episode with some takeaways from the interview, and briefly talking about what’s next for the Bucks and the podcast. Enjoy!
Episode 9 of the Bucks Network Podcast features an interview with Cranbrook Bucks forward Noah Quinn! Noah is from Nelson, BC, and was one of the first members of the Bucks expansion team. He discusses his time in Nelson, leaving home at 13-years-old to play U15 at Okanagan Hockey Academy, then playing U18 AAA with the Kootenay Ice. He also talks about his first taste of junior hockey with his hometown Nelson Leafs of the KIJHL before his two years in Cranbrook with the Bucks. Noah is second on the Bucks in scoring this season and was recently named the BCHL’s 3rd Star of the week after an exceptional weekend. Check it out to learn all about the future Bemidji State University Beaver and current Cranbrook Bucks star Noah Quinn!
Episode 8 of the Bucks Network Podcast features an interview with Cranbrook product and Bucks defenseman Quaid Anderson. After giving a brief update on the Bucks season, I jump into the interview with Quaid. We discuss his career from playing U18 AAA with the Kootenay Ice, then on to his two years of Jr B with the Beaver Valley Nitehawks, and lastly his two seasons in Cranbrook with the Bucks. Get to know Quaid a little better as he answers some rapid fire questions, as well as some fan submitted questions. I hope you enjoy episode 8 of the Bucks Network Podcast, featuring Quaid Anderson!
In episode 7 of the Bucks Network Podcast, we feature part 2 with former Bucks assistant coach and current Newfoundland Growler Todd Skirving. In a follow-up interview to part 1, we catch up and discuss his current season with the Growlers. From a strong start, to a tough mid-season stretch, to what will surely be a grind as the season winds down, and everything in between, Skirvs once again generously gave up some of his time to talk all about his current season with the Growlers. The interview wrapped up with some rapid fire, and a quick chat about the Bucks current season. Enjoy!
In episode 6 of the Bucks Network Podcast, you can hear part 1 of our feature with former Cranbrook Bucks assistant coach and current Newfoundland Growler forward Todd Skirving. Todd grew up in Thunder Bay, ON, where his career took off playing U18 AAA with the Thunder Bay Kings. He then played three seasons of junior hockey in the BCHL and USHL. Following his junior career, Skirving played NCAA Division One hockey while attending RIT. He then turned pro and began his ECHL career, where he is in his fourth season and has one Kelly Cup Championship to his name. When his 2020-21 season was cancelled, Skirvs joined the Cranbrook Bucks for their inaugural season as an assistant coach. We discuss all that and more in episode 7 of the Bucks Network Podcast!
In episode 5 of the Bucks Network Podcast, Chris Keck quickly recaps some of the Bucks recent games before being joined by the play-by-play voice of the Vernon Vipers, Graham Turnbull. Graham shares his thoughts on the Vipers including why they struggled in the first half of the season, how they’ve turned it around, why they’ve been so good during a 7-game winning streak, and looks ahead to the 4 matchups between Cranbrook and Vernon in the next 8 days.
Episode four of the Bucks Network Podcast is an interview with Cranbrook Bucks captain Rhys Bentham. After revisiting his last five seasons with the Calgary Royals program, Rhys discusses his two seasons with the Bucks, and more specifically some of the big moments for him and the team. We wrap up with some rapid fire, where you will learn a little more about Rhys, and then look ahead to the Bucks road trip this weekend.
Episode three of the Bucks Network Podcast features former Cranbrook Bucks and current Toronto Jr Canadiens goalie Christian Trianni. The episode includes a pair of previously recorded interviews, in addition to catching up with Christian on his current season. The first of two classic interviews was recorded last March after Christian left Cranbrook due to the prolonged COVID-19 shutdown. He talks about his career to that point, how he ended up in Cranbrook, and why he left. Chris and Christian then recorded a second interview in September after he signed with the Toronto Jr Canadiens for this season, and described the relationship he had with the organization and why it was a good fit. They finish up by discussing his season so far, being in another COVID shutdown, and expectations coming out of the break in their season.
In episode two of the Bucks Network Podcast, Chris Keck chats with Bucks forward AJ Vasko about his career to this point, including his path from La Salle, Manitoba to Cranbrook, BC. That path included a season of U15 AAA with the Pembina Valley Hawks and three seasons at RINK Academy in Winnipeg, before making his way over to Cranbrook. Vasko discusses various topics at each of the stops throughout his career, including extensive discussions about his two seasons with the Bucks. There is also a bonus clip that Chris and AJ recorded from the Penticton Pod during last year’s BCHL 2020-21 Pod Season. The episode wraps up with some rapid fire, where you will learn a little more about AJ. Enjoy!
Episode 1 of the Bucks Network podcast is a 3-part interview with the first player in Cranbrook Bucks franchise history, Noah Leibl. The 19-year-old from San Diego, California was traded earlier this season from Cranbrook to Victoria, but he allowed Bucks Network to stick to the plan and have him be the debut guest on the podcast. The first interview of the episode was recorded while Noah was in quarantine ahead of the 2020-21 Pod Season. Noah chatted with Bucks Network’s Chris Keck to recap his career to that point in an interview that inspired the creation of this podcast. In part two, Noah joined Chris from the Penticton Pod to discuss the first two games in franchise history. In the third interview, Noah returned to Cranbrook for his second season with the team and discussed the remainder of the Pod Season, before shifting his focus back to the current season, and where the team’s focus was at shifting from the preseason to its second regular season. Best of luck to Noah in Victoria and we can’t wait to have him on again in the future!